AUGUST 15, 1861

Ian left the Outback Mill in the capable hands of its foreman five days ago. He'd decided to go out looking for Meg's babies with the thought that if he found the twins and DJ, she might take to liking him as more than just friends again. Well, even if it was wishful thinking, it couldn't hurt anyway. Hungry, thirsty and tired he decided to stop in a small town by the name of Scottsbluff.

A darkened building caught his eye as he entered the town and he smiled. It seemed that no matter where a person went out west, he could always count on finding a saloon. The thought of getting something to quench his thirst had him leading Rogue in that direction. The strong scent of whiskey assaulted his senses as he walked into the saloon and Ian looked around. His gaze immediately fell on a familiar looking man sitting at a table all alone. Daniel was slowing drinking a mug of beer and staring at the scarred wood of the table. It seemed as if Ian's luck was turning. He walked over to Meg's father and sat down without waiting for an invitation. Daniel was so lost in thought, he didn't even look up.

"Daniel," When he received no reaction, Ian cleared his throat and spoke a little louder, "Daniel."

Daniel looked up and saw Ian, but then quickly glanced back down at his beer without saying a word.

Ian frowned at the man's behavior. "What are you doing here?"

"I don't know." Daniel answered.

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"I just don't know. I found myself driving a wagon, but I don't remember how or why I was there. I don't understand. I didn't know where I was, so I turned the wagon around and headed back southeast to Dreamville. I ran into this town and decided to stop and think for a little while."

Ian looked around the saloon and then ducked his head under the table. He couldn't see any of the babies anywhere. His heart began to pound in his chest as he began to fear the worst. What if Daniel didn’t have the babies?  With his loss of memory they wouldn't know who did. "Where are they?" Ian asked.

"Where are who?" Daniel replied as he looked Ian in the eyes.

"Where are the babies? Yours and Meg's?"

Daniel shook his head. "I don't know what you mean. I don't have the babies. They're home with their mothers. Why would you think I had the babies?"

"Because they're missing. And so were you." Ian paused and then continued, "What happened at Meg's house?" When Daniel shook his head in uncertainty, Ian ran a frustrated hand through his hair. He was obviously getting nowhere with Daniel. "Don't you remember the fire?  Meg, Serena, the babies?" Again Daniel shook his head.

"What fire? What's happened?" Daniel's voice had gone tight with concern.

"There was a fire at Meg's house. Meg and Serena are all right. You and the babies disappeared. I thought the babies were with you." Ian answered as fear threatened to close his throat. He eyed the older man intently. "You don’t remember the fire?" Daniel shook his head once more, and Ian cursed softly. "Well, come on then, show me where you came from. Maybe we can retrace your steps and maybe, just maybe you’ll remember something. If nothing else maybe you'll remember something about the babies and where they might be." When Ian stood up Daniel did likewise. Ian turned to leave, but stopped suddenly and turned back to the table. He picked up Daniel's unfinished mug of beer. He quenched his thirst, then motioned for Daniel to follow, and they left the saloon.

The two men traveled the rest of the afternoon but found nothing. They then decided to bunk down for the night and get a fresh start the following day. The next afternoon, as Daniel and Ian tried to reconstruct the doctor's trail, they stumbled upon an orphanage.  Though he doubted the children would be there, Ian didn't see the harm in asking the nuns if they'd seen anything. The three women smiled as they recognized Daniel. The men asked about the children and the nuns confirmed that they were indeed there. When Ian explained the circumstances surrounding the children's disappearance the women were both horrified and saddened and quickly led the two men inside to retrieve the children. Ian and Daniel waited in a small office in the front of the building until two novices entered each holding a child. Ian took Liz as Grant was handed to his grandfather. He smiled at the little girl then looked up expectantly but no other child had been brought out. He asked about the other boy and the women informed him that Daniel had only brought the twins and they had no information about another child.

Saddened and more than a little concerned, Daniel, Ian and the babies continued homeward to Dreamville. They arrived back home on the twenty-third, just two days before the square dance social. Meg heard the horses approaching and waited on the porch with her husband and stepmother for her visitors to arrive. She and Luke slowly made their way to the two men as they dismounted and watched in stunned silence as Ian handed her daughter to her. Overjoyed, she hugged her friend and as Ian returned the embrace, he was very pleased that he was the one to deliver them into her waiting arms.

Serena, who had been sitting with Meg in the parlor when they'd heard the men's approach, was happy for Meg and Luke, but she didn't understand why her baby wasn’t there, too. She eyed her husband but tried her best not to show Daniel that she was upset with him because he was so obviously unwell and because she knew that his lack of memory was torturing his own peace of mind.