�What�s the verdict, Doc?� Peter asked as Doctor Stevens climbed down from the back of the chuck wagon. Not the best place for the injured men, but the warmest.

�I�ve sewed your brother up. I�d get him home if you can spare the men. He�s goin� to need lots of rest and care, but I think he�ll heal up good as new. He lost a lot of blood, but fortunately most of the wounds weren�t too deep. The only one that worries me is the one on his thigh. That was deep. I think I got it clean, but if it swells or gets red, send someone for me immediately.�

Peter led the doctor over to the fire for a warm cup of coffee. He offered the doctor some of the stew, but the man declined as he took the coffee.

�Any idea what happened?

�Don�t know of any big cats hereabouts� Wolf, maybe?�

They stood by the fire silently for a moment.

�What about the boy?�

�Thin. Bit undernourished, I�d say. Not very well dressed for this weather. Don�t think I�ve ever seen him afore, though. He should mend okay. Bullet missed the joint. Be stiff and sore for a bit, I�d think. Went clean through the bone, near as I could feel, so I�d say with feedin� and a bit of care he�ll be better off, overall, than he was before you found him.

�You say he brought Darren back?�

�Yeah. Riding the biggest and prettiest Palomino I�ve ever seen.�

�Maybe he knows what happened then.�

Peter nodded. �I guess we�ll make do with Frank and Duggan doing the cooking and send Jonas back with them. We�ll bundle them in blankets and send them back on one of the wagons. Won�t have to worry about that boy with Jonas there� You sure you�ve never seen him?�

Doc Stevens shook his head. �Sorry, Peter. If I ever seen him before, it was so long ago I don�t remember.�

Peter slapped the gray-haired fellow on the back. �That�s okay, Doc. We�ll nurse him back to health and then maybe we�ll get our answers. Thanks for comin� out so quick.�

�I�ll leave some supplies and instructions with Jonas, and I don�t mind telling you, I�m relieved you�re sending him. He�s a fair hand with doctorin� and he�s a level head.� The man looked at Peter with one eyebrow crooked as if to dare him to deny it.

Peter chuckled. �That he is, Doc. That he is.�

~~~

Daniel woke with a start. His eyes widened and he sat up quickly, groaning as pain stabbed through his injured shoulder. He was in a bed, and he momentarily marveled at its softness, running his hand over the smooth sheet. He carefully climbed out, gently fingering the mass of bandages around his shoulder. This cabin was large and warm. Sun was streaming through a window. He walked over and pushed a curtain aside.

�Glass?� He touched the transparent surface, not noticing the outside view. His father had told him once that someday they�d have glass windows.

He wondered why he was the only person in this wonderful cabin as he wandered around the room. The fireplace crackled softly and the warmth felt good. There were so many things in this room he had no name for. His fingers were curious, but careful. Who knew what might happen with these strange things.

�I wonder what happened to the man? I hope he�s okay.�

A small smile curved his lips gently as he remembered the fine features and soft skin.

The door opened and he whirled, eyes wide. A huge man stood in the doorway, yet no wind or cold entered. �What sort of cabin is this?�

He watched the man as he entered and shut the door behind him. Daniel took a nervous step backward.

Jonas turned and looked at the young man. His posture radiated fear. Uncertainty. He would need to win his trust. It was his job to learn all he could about him.

�I�m not going to hurt you.� He spoke slowly. He knew his deep voice was naturally calming.

The young man�s posture didn�t change, but he hadn�t really expected anything to change so suddenly.

�My name is Jonas. I take care of Mr. Hayes. The man you helped?� He watched the young man�s eyes narrow a bit, in concentration he hoped. �You did help him, didn�t you.� A statement. Too many questions might frighten the boy more. �And that horse brought you to us.�

�Stallion.�

Jonas� eyebrows rose at the slight defiance in the boy�s voice. His voice was low. Not as deep as his own, but low. He nodded agreement. �A very beautiful horse, your stallion.�

�Not mine.�

�You stole him?� Jonas� voice rose in volume as he frowned.

The boy took another step back. His eyes darted. Jonas could tell he was thinking of running.

�No.�

�I am sorry. I did not mean to frighten you. We are trying to make amends for injuring you. Here. I brought you some clothes.� He walked over to the bed, making it plain that was his only intention. �I noticed when I put you to bed you had no underclothes. That is what these are.� He held up an item. �They go on before you put your pants on. Your clothes� well, I�m afraid there isn�t enough left to clean and patch.�

The gangly young man stood where he was and watched every movement Jonas made.

�After you�ve dressed, come downstairs and I�ll fix you some breakfast.� He saw confusion flit across the young man�s face, but he remained silent. Jonas wondered about it, but until he knew more there was little he could do. �You�ll be safe here. I�ll see to that. Weather�s too bitter to run away. Best to get dressed first, at least.�

His smile was gentle, not taunting, and he left the room, careful not to frighten the young man further.

�Downstairs?� What was downstairs? Was the man crazy? Daniel looked at the bed. At the clothes. He supposed it would be wise to dress first. He walked over and picked up the thing the man � �Jonas... his name is Jonas�� had said was underwear. He thought he remembered having some. Years ago. Back when his father was still alive. He didn�t remember what had happened to it. He studied it. �If it goes on like pants.�

He put his feet through the holes one at a time, and then pulled the material up. He wiggled uncomfortably as the material pressed against his arse. It seemed loose in front. �Hmm� don�t put pants on with the opening in the back� maybe these have a right way?�

Daniel pushed them down, turned them around and tried again. This time the material seemed to caress him and he quivered slightly from the thought.

He pulled the pants on next. They felt so much heavier than his old pants, but they were smooth at the same time. �And no holes.� He smiled gently as he picked up the shirt. The soft cloth felt wonderful against his skin. And warm. This one shirt was heavier than the two he�d had on before. He ran his fingers over the surface of the shirt after he�d buttoned it. �Very nice.�

He walked to the door then, a bit uncertain of what he would find. Daniel took a deep breath and pulled the door open.

�A wall?�

He stepped through the door, and then turned. He turned again, and again. The �cabin� was no longer. At least not to his understanding. There was a walkway in two directions, but one ended in another wall. He turned and walked the other way. Several other doors were there, but where was this �downstairs� that Jonas had mentioned?

He walked a little farther and the walkway opened out on the right. A railing kept him from falling. Farther along it seemed to turn and go down. He stared, mouth agape, at the sight.

This cabin was huge. �A cabin in a cabin? How strange.� He continued to look down. The furniture was so different from what had been in his cabin. Smells impinged upon his senses then, making his mouth water and his stomach growled loudly. Still he hesitated. It was a long way down.

�Jonas?� He called hesitantly and waited. �Jonas?�

The large man appeared from an open doorway and looked up at him. The smile that spread across his face seemed friendly enough.

�Move that way a bit further,� he motioned with his head, one hand holding a bowl while the other moved in circles.

Daniel moved cautiously. Soon he saw why the rail had gone down. It was like the side of a mountain or valley, but without rocks or stones. He looked back over at Jonas, who nodded and went back through the doorway. It only took a moment for him to understand that he should hold the rail while going down. It helped him balance in the unusual situation. This must be the downstairs Jonas had referred to. Once again he found himself standing on a floor and he marveled again at everything he saw. Windows. More doors. Rugs! He hadn�t seen one of those in years, either.

He shivered. Suddenly he felt vulnerable in such a large open space. He hurried across to the doorway Jonas had gone through.

Jonas looked over at the door as the young man hurried through, only to stop suddenly and stare around himself. The way he stared, you�d think he�d never seen a kitchen. �Hmm� the first piece of our puzzle?�

Jonas poured a cup of batter into the pan and it hissed lightly. The boy turned at the sound, looking first at the stove, then up at him. Fear and uncertainty seemed to temper the curiosity in his eyes.

�Pancakes,� he explained. �After we eat, perhaps you�d like to help me check on Mr. Hayes. Darren is how he likes to be called.�

�Darren?�

�The man you saved.�

�Oh.�

Jonas watched as the young man nodded his head silently. He smiled hesitantly.

�It smells good.�

�Hungry?�

They both laughed lightly when the young man�s stomach answered for him.

�I�ll take that as a yes, then. Would you set that table out there?�

He watched the young man with the shaggy blonde hair. �Looks like he trims it with a knife. But then, that�s probably true.� He nodded to himself. He flipped the cakes, then walked over to a cupboard and opened the doors.

�You drink coffee?�

�What?�

�Two plates and two cups, then. Silverware is here.� He opened a drawer, and then went back to the stove.

He finished the pancakes, all the while aware of the young man seeming more and more at ease with his presence. �Not very talkative, though.� He chuckled to himself.

�If you�d take this plate, I�ve got one warming in the oven, and I�ll get us some juice.�

The young man reached out to take the plateful of pancakes.

�Use this towel to grab it with,� Jonas draped it over his hands. �Plate�s hot on the bottom.� He explained, grabbing another hand towel for himself.

Jonas pulled a plate of bacon, sausage and potatoes out of the oven, and then grabbed a pitcher of juice out of the icebox. He walked out to the undivided dining room/living room area and sat the plate on the table. He poured them both juice, then went back to get a small container of syrup.

�Feel free to help yourself.� He said as he sat down at the table. He waited a moment, but the young man just stared at him, his green eyes inquisitive and his head tilted slightly.

Jonas speared a couple of pancakes, placed them on his plate, and then poured some syrup on them. He followed that with some sausage and potatoes.

�Tastes best when it�s hot.� He urged.

The green gaze fell away then as the young man copied his every move. Jonas sat silent as the young man took his first taste of the food on his plate. He chewed for a bit, then smiled.

�This tastes good!�

That was the last conversation Jonas got from him as he finished everything on his plate. Jonas couldn�t help but chuckle at the look of pure want on the young man�s face as he looked at the food still waiting on the plates.

The questioning green gaze was back on him then.

�Go ahead. Plenty left and plenty more to be fixed if you eat it all. Just don�t make yourself sick.� He cautioned as the young man took seconds of everything and some of the bacon, too. It wasn�t hard for Jonas to understand why the young man was so thin, with the appetite he displayed.

�When was the last time you ate?� He asked gently.

The young man looked at him again, thoughtfulness in his gaze as he continued eating. Finally he shook his head. �Two or three days ago, I think. I don�t remember exactly.�

�You have a name? I already told you mine.�

The young man nodded, licking the bacon flavor from his fingers. �Daniel.� He replied, and then tasted the juice. He smiled again. �This is good, too.�

�Where are you from, Daniel?�

The young man gulped the juice down, gasping as he finished. �I�ve never tasted anything so good� um� what?�

Jonas smiled understandingly. �Where are you from? Where do you live?�

�Well, I used to live in the cabin. But it�s too old now. I was going to live in the cave. But it�s not safe either.�

�How did Darren get hurt?�

Daniel looked at Jonas and the green eyes took on a troubled cloudiness.

�Wolves.� He answered softly. �Just like my father.�

�Your father is hurt? Does he need help?� Jonas sat up, worried by the thought of another injured person out in this cold, but Daniel shook his head.

�He�s dead. Wolves killed him. A long time ago.�

Jonas nodded encouragement. Who was it that said �The way to a man�s heart is through his stomach?� He couldn�t remember, but he had known that it should be added that the way to a man�s trust was through his stomach, too.

�That was how I met the Stallion,� Daniel continued. �He saved my life. He�s come and gone ever since. Usually when I need him most. Or when there�s trouble. Like� Darren?� He looked at Jonas, who nodded again. �He needed help, but the Stallion knew he couldn�t do it alone, so he got me.�

�You have him well trained then.�

Again Daniel shook his head. �No.� He shrugged. �I told you, he does what he wants.�

Jonas studied the young man. He prided himself on his ability to read people. He was rarely wrong and came away with the feeling that he was telling the truth.

�So you�re alone?� He asked and watched as Daniel took on the look of longing he�d seen in many transients. He nodded quietly.

Then Daniel sighed. �I should probably be going now� I�thank you� for everything.� He stood up slowly.

�Where will you go?�

Daniel looked at Jonas. Where would he go, now that he knew the cave would not be safe for the winter? He felt as helpless as he had vulnerable after finding the empty trap.

�Doc Stevens said you need at least a week to rest and recover. I�m going to need help with Mr. Hayes. I think even with your injured shoulder you could be a big help.�

Daniel looked away from Jonas� gaze. He seemed genuinely concerned. He ran his hand over the amazingly soft, warm shirt he now wore. The warm pants. His full belly. He looked at Jonas again.

�Will we be eating again tomorrow?� Hope filled his voice.

Shock crossed the big man�s face before Jonas sat back and laughed. A deep, hearty laugh. Daniel tilted his head and his smile grew.

�What?� he asked with an amused tone.

�Now I understand a bit more.� The big man wiped tears from his face as he stood up and walked over to Daniel.

Daniel stiffened. He wasn�t short, but Jonas was a big man. The man engulfed him in a hug, but gently, and slapped his back.

�It will be a pleasure having you here, Daniel. And yes, we will be eating again tomorrow.�

The big man released him, still smiling hugely.

�Now, how about you help me clear the table and then you can help me make breakfast for Darren and come with me to look in on him?�

Daniel relaxed and smiled broadly as well.

�I�d be happy to.�