Chapter Eight! I added some things to this chapter, lots of what Dan said was never said but... Its fanfiction. Diclamer: I own no one. To God Be The Glory. Thanks Idlewilder1 for following this story.

Chapter Eight: Injuries

The next day it was getting dark by the time Dan came in from chopping wood. He had spent the day in the woods, deciding to skip school till he was sent away. He frowned as he looked at the door again; Mr. Maypenny had been gone all day hunting the catamount, and he still wasn't back. He sighed as he thought about the two girls who had come by earlier in the day. Trixie had told him about their clubhouse being broken into, then said that she was wrong and that he was not the one who did those things after all. He had no idea what to say to that. The two girls had practical ruend his life, and they acted as if a apology would fix everything. He didn't know why he had told Honey where Mr. Maypenny was when she waved at him. Except for the fact that he truly did like that girl, she was sweet, and didn't seem as prejudges against him as the other girl.

He moved about starting a meal for the two of them, when he was a familiar smell in the air, a smell that, in his mind, meant danger. He spun around to see Luke leaning against the wall, lit cigar in his hand, and a switch blade in the other. Dan growled

"What are you doing here? You are not welcome here. And stop smoking." He clenched his jaw.

Luke leaned over and tapped his cigarette into a bowl that was filled with more cigar buts. Suddenly there was a thumping on the door, and someone's voice called out,

"Hey, Dan! Open up! Mr. Maypenny's been hurt!"

Dan rushed to the door, after motioning Luke up the stairs towards the attic. He pulled open the door, and saw Maypenny leaning heavily against Brian and Jim, Mart, Trixie, and Honey were crowding behind them. He reached out and grabbed Mr. Maypenny's arm, drawing him into the cabin

"I'll take care of him. I know how. Thanks for your help, but you can go now!" His heart was pounding in fear, both that Luke would be found, and that Mr. Maypenny would be more hurt than it looked. Maypenny suddenly sagged against him, and he did his best to hold him up, but staggered at the sudden weight. Jim and Brian rushed forward as one, gabbing Mr. Maypenny before he fell, and together they carried him to the bed.

After getting the first-aid kit from the bathroom, Dan stood to the side, watching as the kids worked together to help Mr. Maypenny. The girls moved to the kitchen to boil water to sterilize a needle and thread to close the cut on the old man's head. A sudden noise jerked his attention to the bowl holding Luke's cigar buts, that was now on the floor by Honey's feet. Dan took in a breath, biting his lip as the girl cleaned up the mess, and moved off to the kitchen.

Dan waited for a minute then followed Honey into the kitchen. He froze by the entrance, listening to what the two girls were saying.

"It's the same brand we found in the clubhouse. I guess this pins the blame for that right back on Dan." Trixie turned to Honey, "I guess I was right after all; he's just a punk who's here to cause problems. " she turned back to the water that was starting to simmer. "I doubt he even was part of a real gang. Just a group of kids causing problems. Or, he was part of a nasty gang who goes around killing, and taking drugs."

Dan clenched his jaw, shaking his head. He couldn't believe how naive the two girls were, espeshaly Trixie. They had no idea what it was like to try and survive on the street. He sighed, it didn't matter anyway. He wasn't going to be here much longer, and Mr. Maypenny would probably retract his promise to take him in now. He shifted, and the girls, who had continued talking as he was lost in thoughts froze. He glared at them, ignoring Honey's apologetic expression. "What about the hot water? You dames going to take all day getting it?"

Trixie flushed and turned back to the water. "Tell Brian we'll bring it right now."

Dan exited the room, dodging Brian as he moved swiftly into the kitchen. Dan moved to a chair, and sank down into it, scowling at the boys as they hovered protectively over Maypenny. He stiffened slightly as he heard foot steps over head, and mentally warned Luke to be quiet. The two girls came out of the kitchen, moving around his feet that were sticking out. They went to stand next to Maypenny, hardly looking his way.

Brian stepped back as he finished bandaging Maypenny's head "You'll be all right, sir, if you'll just rest here till morning. I wouldn't get up and wander around if I were you. You're likely to get dizzy."

Mr. Maypenny smiled, "Thank you Brian. I'll get along, boy. And much obliged for the bandagin'. The lad here will take care of me now." he turned to look at Dan, and the boy was slightly amused that the other kids turned to look at him as if they had forgotten he was there. He stood and moved to the door, hand on the handle waiting for the others to leave. He frowned when Jim bit his lip as he was looking at Mr. Maypenny who had turned his head to the wall. "Think we ought to phone Doc Tremaine to ride over and see him in the morning?"

Fear of both Luke being discovered, and over Maypenny caused Dan's voice to be harsh. "You heard what Mr. Maypenny said, I can look out for him if he needs it. You just forget about calling any doctor!"

Brian stood strait staring at Dan vishusly, moving towards him "What do you know about head injuries?"

Dan almost laughed, head injuries was one of the most common injuries he had ever had. "I've been conked on the bean a couple of times, I didn't have to drag in a sawbones to cure me." He twisted the door handle pulling the door open, "Now get out of our house." The kids made no move towards the door, and Dan let it shut in disgust, "You rich kids always got to play it your way. Nobody else knows anything. Big men!"

Mart glared at him, "Rich kids! Boy! Are you misinformed. We Beldens aren't rich. I wish we were-I'm lazy. But we live on a farm, and all of us kids work hard to make it go."

Dan felt his temper explode. "Oh, I'm sorry. I had no idea you had to work so hard to have enough food on the table for a family of six, and have leftovers. Here I thought I had it bad when I was laying on the street, practically unconscious from lack of food."

He ignored the looks that the others were giving him, "I didn't know that you had it so bad that you fell asleep after having a day filled with school, chores, and time with friends. I guess I shouldn't complain. The best days I had was when I was with the cowhands. Then I only had to work hard at doing what I was told so I wouldn't be beaten."

Dan took in a deep breath, and let it out through his nose. "Out. Now. I'll take care of Maypenny."

The kids silently shuffled out of the door. Dan watched as they headed out the door, he tensed as Trixie placed her hand on the back of a chair, and he noticed for the first time, Luke's Cowhand jacket laying across the back. Trixie flushed and threw the jacket at him,

"I'm not hurting it." Dan froze as the jacket landed on the ground, back up, showing off the white lettering The Cohands. Trixie stared at the jacket for a moment then as Brian stepped back into the cabin to pull her out she locked eyes with Dan.

Dan could see the confusion in her eyes, and he turned his back on her, moving towards Maypenny.