�Mr. Hayes doesn�t like a lot of meat, so we�ll just scramble him some eggs and cook him some oatmeal.�

Daniel smiled and nodded as he picked up their empty dishes. �Is there a river or lake nearby?�

Jonas chuckled. �Not too close. Why do you ask?�

�Cleaning these dishes,� he indicated the dishes he held. �Washing� and� um� other stuff?� he blushed.

Jonas looked at Daniel as he got the basket of eggs out of the icebox. �There have been amazing inventions, Daniel.� He set the eggs on the small kitchen table and walked over to the sink. �How did you get your water?�

�In buckets from the mountain lake. We kept it in barrels� but the two we had broke a long time ago�.�

Jonas put his hand on the arm of the sink pump. He slowly lifted it, then pushed it down. He did this several times, watching Daniel as the young man�s questioning gaze studied his actions. Soon water was splashing into a large pot in the sink.

Daniel�s jaw dropped open and his eyes widened as he slowly stuck his hand out. He grinned.

�Ha�� he chuckled lightly as it ran over his fingers. �It�s cold!� He exclaimed as he brought his fingers to his mouth. �Tastes good.� He smiled shyly.

Jonas smiled and nodded, putting some of the water into a smaller pan on the stove. �Mr. Hayes had a toilet added to the bathing room last year. His brother, Peter, is a bit of a tinkerer. He saw the newfangled gadgets when he was back East last year. Brought parts all the way from New York. Cost a pretty penny. It took them and three of the men four months to get it designed, built and working correctly; but it�s a site better than an outhouse, especially with the cold coming on like it is. Mr. Hayes does like his conveniences. I can show you to it, if you need to relieve yourself.�

He looked at Daniel for an answer. Daniel shook his head.

�I�ll show you soon enough, anyway. Mr. Hayes will need help with bathing and everyday functions. Next thing he wants to add is a boiler for hot water. That has to wait until the horse sales next year. Now this contraption has been a godsend.� He opened a door and poured a glass of juice. �It�s an ice box.� He spoke slowly. �Keeps things cold. Just send men up to the mountains to cut ice and bring it back. Goes up here. Water runs out the bottom to the back and outside the house through a sealed pipe under the box.

�For now though, until we get the boiler, we heat water on the stove.� Jonas laughed quietly and set the pan to boil.

He cracked two eggs in a bowl, quickly stirred them with a fork, then got out another pan and started heating it.

�Would you help with the oatmeal?�

�What do I do?�

Jonas measured the oats into the boiling water, then handed Daniel a small towel and a long-handled wooden spoon.

�Use the towel to hold the handle. Be careful, it will be hot. Stir carefully with the spoon until it starts to thicken.� Jonas put a bit of fat into the hot pan while watching Daniel out of the corner of his eye. The young man stood a bit stiffly, stirred a bit awkwardly, but he figured it would fade as the young man became used to civilized living again. �He�s doing very well, considering.�

Jonas poured the eggs into the hot pan, stirring and scraping quickly. When the eggs were finished to Darren�s discerning taste, he turned them out onto a plate. Then he got out a bowl and a small pitcher from the icebox. He looked at the oats and nodded to Daniel.

�I think those are fine.� He stepped back and motioned Daniel to spoon them into the bowl. After Daniel had finished he poured a bit of cream on the oats, then chopped a small apple and added it to the mixture.

�Thank you, Daniel.� Jonas took out a small wooden tray with short legs and placed the plate, bowl, and cup of juice on top. Then he got out another small towel and silverware, adding them to the tray.

�Now if you�d come with me? I believe Darren will be too weak and sore to feed himself. If you could do that for me, I can get an earlier start on the housework.�

Daniel nodded, but Jonas could see that he was nervous.

�Don�t worry. Mr. Hayes is a good man. I think you two will get along.� Jonas winked and they went upstairs.

Daniel followed Jonas back upstairs. They stopped at the first door. Jonas tapped once for propriety, but opened the door without waiting. He walked in and set the tray on a small chest of drawers beside the bed, then put a hand to Darren�s forehead.

Daniel stood behind Jonas, peeking around him at the man on the bed. He was as pretty as Daniel remembered.

�No fever, that�s good.� Jonas commented as Darren�s eyelids fluttered a moment before opening.

�Jonas.� He whispered softly.

Daniel found himself smiling at the sound of his voice.

�Good morning, Darren. How do you feel?�

�Terrible.�

�I brought you some breakfast. And some company.�

�I�I don�t��

�Nonsense, Darren. You�ll want to meet this young man. You owe him your life. He�s recuperating from being shot by Frank. Misunderstanding. And I�m telling you, you can trust him completely. I give you my word.�

Darren�s pain-glazed eyes studied Jonas. He closed his eyes a moment as he nodded. �Okay.� He replied, his voice still feeble.

Jonas smiled and turned his head. �Step up, Daniel, he doesn�t bite.�

Daniel�s eyes were wide. One corner of his mouth turned up in a half-smile. Jonas felt his uncertainty as he stepped up hesitantly.

�Mr. Hayes, I�d like you to meet Daniel. Daniel, this is Darren.�

Daniel smiled nervously and nodded his head.

Darren managed a weak smile. �Thank you, Daniel.�

�I need to check your injuries, Darren. Make sure they aren�t infected. I�ll be as gentle as I can��

Darren nodded.

Jonas walked around to the other side of the bed to check the leg wound. �Would you bring me that jar on the dresser please, Daniel?�

Daniel tore his gaze away from looking at Darren to turn toward the dresser. A large jar sat there. He walked over, picked it up, and took it to Jonas. He watched Jonas intently and grimaced at the sight of the gash on Darren�s leg.

�Would you lift his leg a bit please?�

Daniel did as asked. He was as gentle as he could be, but Darren still bit his lip and groaned softly.

�I�m going to have to drain this, Darren. Let me get this bandage off the rest of the way, then I�ll go get some warm water and some towels so I don�t mess your bed up too much.�

Daniel watched Jonas. The big man�s hands were quite dexterous and made quick work of removing the bandages.

�I�ll be right back,� he said as he left the room.

Daniel watched him go, and then looked at Darren again. �Do� do you mind if I sit on the bed? It might be easier on your leg.�

The tightly clenched eyes opened, and Daniel gasped lightly. He�d never seen blue eyes. He knew his were green; he�d seen them in his reflection. His dad and the old lady had both had brown eyes. He smiled gently.

Darren nodded once silently and closed his eyes again.

Daniel carefully eased himself onto the bed, and then lowered the injured man�s ankle onto his thigh. He watched the prone man. He seemed to sigh, and the pain lines on his face eased just a bit.

�How?� Darren asked without opening his eyes.

�I think maybe you should rest.� Daniel said gently. Darren opened his eyes and looked at him questioningly.

�We�ll have time to talk when you�re feeling better. If you let me stay, that is.� Daniel lowered his gaze self-consciously. �Jonas seemed to think you would. I�ll be helping him take care of you.�

The big man came back in the room with a basin, towels, and a knife.

He set the basin on the floor and arranged the towels under Darren�s leg.

�I sterilized the knife, Darren. I�m afraid it�s going to hurt.�

Darren nodded.

�Take my hand.� Daniel said and held his right hand out toward Darren�s good left hand.

Darren grasped it. Jonas got the hand towel from the tray and offered it for Darren to bite down on. He took it, and Jonas began.

Daniel pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes as Darren squeezed his hand. Daniel watched as his breathing became ragged, wishing he could do more.

�Finished. I�m just going to let it drain a bit, Darren. Then I�ll put the Doc�s salve on and re-bandage it.� He went over to the dresser, poured something out of a bottle into his hand, then walked around and picked the juice up. �Put this on your tongue, Darren.�

Darren opened his mouth, still breathing heavily. The towel dropped free and Jonas dropped the pill in his mouth, then lifted his head and tilted the glass to his lips. It seemed to take all of Darren�s meager energy to sip the juice. When he finished, he slowly licked his lips. Jonas eased his head back down, and then set the glass back on the tray.

Daniel watched as Jonas gently rubbed the salve over the wound. Darren still hadn�t released his hand so he could tell exactly where the man hurt the worst when he would squeeze Daniel�s hand.

The arm injury was quickly checked.

�Daniel, could you move around to the other side and help me raise Mr. Hayes so I can check his back injury?�

He made to move, but Darren still had his hand.

�Darren, could you let Daniel go for just a minute?�

Darren�s eyes opened a bit. He stared at Jonas.

�I need him to go around the other side.�

Darren turned his gaze to Daniel, then toward their hands. It took another minute before he released Daniel�s hand.

Darren watched the young man get up and move around his bed. He was tall and thin. Taller and thinner than himself, for sure. His hand had been rough. Calloused. Yet it had been gentle, too. His dirty blonde hair went at all angles, like he�d just gotten out of bed. He watched as Daniel sat down on his left. His face was creased, as if he�d done a lot of worrying, but his green eyes were bright with curiosity� and� concern?

Darren wasn�t sure what he saw there, but overall he liked it.

�If you�ll take his left arm, Daniel, I�ll ease him up from this side.�

Darren had no energy. He let them lift him, moaning softly in spite of himself.

�Can you hold him steady?�

He felt Daniel nod. He lay against Daniel�s shoulder as Jonas rolled his shirt up. He inhaled slowly. Daniel had an earthy smell about him. But it was a good smell. And all male. Darren sighed lightly.

�All done, Darren. Your back looks good.�

They shifted him again. He was sitting up a bit this time. Jonas must have rearranged his pillows.

�Daniel is going to help you with your breakfast so I can get on with my chores. Doc said you need lots of rest. Daniel here is supposed to rest, too, but his shoulder is doing pretty well from the looks of it. Daniel?�

Darren watched as he turned toward Jonas. He suddenly seemed a bit nervous.

�Relax, son. I was just going to ask you to wait until Darren is asleep before you bring his dishes down.�

Daniel smiled bashfully and nodded. �Okay.�

�He�s got a sweet smile and an amazing voice.�

Then the intense green gaze had captured his again, the smile still on Daniel�s face.

�What would you like first?� Daniel asked shyly.

�A kiss from your lips.� Darren thought, but blinked and reminded himself he knew nothing about Daniel. �What did Jonas make me?�

�He made eggs. I made your� oat-meal.�

He said the word slowly, as if he wasn�t familiar with it.

�I�ll start with the oatmeal then, please.�

Daniel�s smile widened. Darren slowly placed the towel he�d had in his mouth under his chin.

Daniel spooned up some oatmeal, and offered it to him. He closed his mouth over the spoon and Daniel pulled it back.

The oatmeal had cooled some, but it was still very good.

�It�s wonderful. Thank you.� He complimented, and was rewarded with another meek smile. Daniel offered him another bite and they continued in this manner until oatmeal and eggs were finished.

�I�d like to thank you again. Jonas does so much for me. I am very grateful you�d help him like this, after what my man did. I�m sorry about that.�

�It�s okay.� Daniel shrugged uneasily. �The man said he was sorry. I was scared.�

He offered Darren some of the juice. He was feeling a bit stronger after eating and had an easier time drinking the juice.

�Tell me about yourself, please? How did you save me? Why were you scared of my men?�

�There were so many� so big� the Stallion left us there alone.�

�The Stallion?�

�He came and got me. To help you.�

�Sounds like an amazing horse.�

�He is. Very smart, too. Always knows when I need him most.�

�Oh?� Darren prompted after a short silence.

Daniel shrugged again.

�Were you living in that cabin I found?�

�Yeah. But it�s going to be too cold this winter. It�s too old. I was going to move into the cave, but that won�t be safe anymore, either. The wolves��

He grimaced and Darren nodded. �I have no idea why they attacked,� Darren said, more to himself than Daniel. �They came out of nowhere.�

�I saw a cave when we came to help you. They may have come from there. I think they�re out of food.�

�What makes you say that?�

�My trap. They ate it, bones and all. They do that when they�re really hungry. That�s why the cave won�t be safe.�

Darren had a hundred more questions, but the need for sleep grew stronger.

�Well, Jonas was quite right. You are more than welcome to stay here.�

A hesitant smile curved Daniel�s lips as Darren�s heavy lids closed for sleep.