�How are we doing, Duggan?�

The old ranch hand nodded to Peter as he walked up for a cup of coffee to warm his fingers with. His hair was still thick, if gray, and his leathery skin was permanently creased with the lines from sun and weather.

�Doing very well, Mr. Hayes. Got about a third of the mares in so far. Doing better than I expected, actually.�

Peter nodded, blowing on his cup before taking a cautious sip. He grimaced slightly. �Frank made the coffee?�

Duggan barked out a laugh. �You already know his coffee, hey? He did. This morning. Too bad Jonas didn�t leave as much coffee as he did stew.� Duggan winked as he added some chopped vegetables to the stew pot.

Peter chuckled and returned the smile before looking up at the sky. It was several shades of gray again. �I just hope the worst holds off till we�re through with the roundup.� �Well, I imagine it will get the men going this morning, at least.�

Duggan nodded. �Running away, if nothing else.� He chuckled deeply again.

�I�ve noticed the men seem a bit� tense��

�That they are, Mister Hayes. What happened to your brother isn�t natural. It�s got them right spooked. I�ve been wrackin� my brain tryin� to figure if I remember such a thing.�

Peter nodded his head and remained silent. Duggan had obviously seen more than he had, even though the man was only two years older than himself. He had grown up in wilds similar to these.

�Seems like when I was a child it happened once. A wolf wily as a man. You know there�s tales about the mountain here-abouts, too.�

�Oh?� Peter couldn�t keep the mild disbelief from his voice.

�She�s a harsh mistress to them what don�t treat her kindly. She favors the womenfolk, abides the men so long as they don�t defile the land. Don�t seem right that she�d allow your brother harm like he suffered. He�s always been respectful. Since he was a lad, I know. So something bad is going on, and it�s got the men spooked, like you noticed.�

Peter nodded and walked out to the corrals. Since Darren wasn�t able to be there to raise the men�s spirits, he knew it would fall to him. It had only been a day since the attack, but he wondered how Darren was doing. He knew Jonas would get word if he took a turn for the worse, and he found himself wondering about the stranger. The threadbare clothes, worn shoes, even his knife had shown a lifetime of wear. Had he been living out here alone? If it hadn�t been for the extent of Darren�s wounds, Peter would have thought him responsible.

�Except he brought Darren back to us. If he�d attacked him�� Peter shook his head. Hopefully Jonas would have all the answers when they returned with the mares. Good thing Darren had built extra barns the last few years. They�d need them this year. He turned at the sound of a lone horse riding up.

�Neils.� He greeted politely.

�Peter, where�s your brother? Wanted to talk to him about the sale.�

�He�s back at the ranch. He was badly injured yesterday.�

�Oh? I�m missing some mares as well��

Peter stared a few moments. Such an odd statement.

�Stolen, I believe.�

�And you are intimating what?� Peter narrowed his eyes.

�Oh, I don�t think your men took them� there�s a rogue stallion. Big. Palomino. You seen it? I�m planning on putting a bullet between its thieving eyes.�

�Why so much anger over something so little?� Peter asked.

�You wouldn�t feel that way if he�d stolen your horses.�

�Well now that you mention it, you must know that Darren has lost quite a few mares over the years.�

�He never talks much to me. Other than about the property.�

�Can�t imagine why that would be.� Peter thought to himself before replying. �Well, he has. I�d estimate about a hundred over the last twelve years. So if anyone had a reason to hate the beast, it would be him. How many have you lost?�

�Fifty the last five years.�

Peter laughed. �Where on earth does he hide them all is what I�d like to know.�

�I�ll let you know when I find them. You say Darren�s up at the house?�

�He�s in no condition for visitors, Neils.�

�Oh? Hurt by wolves was he?�

Peter couldn�t hide his surprise. �How did you know?�

�Just a guess. Let me know if you see that stallion.� He turned his horse, and spurred it away.

�Be a cold day in hell before I do.�

Peter still wondered how he had known. �Mr. Hayes!� Peter turned toward the wrangler, promising himself to talk to Duggan later.

~*~*~*~

Daniel watched Darren sleep for a bit. �He looks better, I think.� Then he picked up the tray and quietly left the room. He used the rail going down the stairs again. It still unsettled him a bit, this downstairs thing, but he figured if he could get used to slippery slopes, he could get used to these.

�Jonas?�

He walked through the big room where they�d eaten breakfast, into the room where they had fixed Darren�s meal. The big man wasn�t there, either. He put the dishes beside the big pan with the water.

�Jonas?� He called a bit louder, but he didn�t want to wake Darren. Perhaps Jonas was outside?

He walked over to the door. It took him a few minutes to figure out how to work the latch, but he eventually got it open. He shivered when he stepped outside. The wind was cold and he was thankful for his warm clothes. He�d have to ask Jonas where his boots were and where he could find the grass to mend them. He looked around as he stepped away from the door. There were buildings everywhere. To his left was a trail that led off into the distance. Across the yard were a dozen huge buildings. They all looked the same. There was a white rail fence that vanished into the distance and seemed to enclose all of them. Off to his right was a smaller building. Chickens and a rooster ran about the large enclosure. Then he heard a sound he recognized. Chopping. He moved off to his right and soon found Jonas around the side of the house, cutting firewood.

The big man looked up from his work a moment and smiled before splitting another chunk of wood.

�Darren�s asleep. I�I wondered what had happened to you.�

�You�ll catch your death, Daniel. Go back inside until I can find you some boots, at least.�

Daniel looked down at his feet and wriggled his toes. �This isn�t so bad. At least they�re dry.�

Jonas chuckled. �Still, you�re supposed to be resting. Go relax. Listen for Darren.�

�Isn�t there any way I could help?�

Jonas smiled again. �Just listen for Darren. That will be a big help.�

Daniel smiled. �Okay.�

He wandered back towards the door, pausing to run his hand through the water in an oddly shaped barrel. He could sit in this one. Maybe this was the bathing place? �No, Jonas said it was a room.� He looked up at the cabin. It seemed enormous. He tried to remember how many other cabins were inside. Perhaps one of them held the bathing place.

Getting back inside went a bit more quickly now that he�d operated the handle once. He wandered around the large room, touching the furniture and all the objects in the room.

�No! Noo! Get away!�

Daniel spun at the sound of Darren�s terrified voice. Had someone gotten inside while he was out? He ran up the stairs, nearly tripping once, and ran for Darren�s room. He threw the door open. Darren was tossing in bed, his arms flailing. Blood blossomed on the bedspread.

He hurried over and grabbed Darren, mindful of his injuries. Right now he seemed to be his own worst enemy.

�Darren, Darren! You�re okay. You�re safe now.� He pulled Darren to him and held him, gently running his hand over Darren�s back. �Shh� shh�� he murmured.

Slowly the injured man quit struggling as Daniel�s words pulled him from his nightmare. Daniel looked at the blanket. The blood was getting brighter. Darren must have opened his wound.

�I�will you be okay? I need to get Jonas��

�Don�t leave me�� Darren grabbed the back Daniel�s shirt with his good hand, pulling him closer.

�It was just a dream, Darren. There are no wolves here. You�re bleeding. I need to get Jonas.�

Darren whimpered, not releasing his hold on Daniel�s shirt. Fortunately for Daniel, he didn�t have to push Darren away. He turned worried eyes toward the door as Jonas hurried in. He saw the big man�s eyes widen, then watched him move around to the opposite side of the bed. He pulled the covers back and his lips formed a hard line.

�I�ll be right back, Daniel.�

Daniel nodded and continued to rub his hand over Darren�s back. He sighed lightly and seemed to calm a bit. His warm breath against Daniel�s neck caused him to shiver suddenly. Jonas returned then with fresh bandage material. He quickly cut off the old and held a towel against the wound before taking it away to check the extent of the tear.

�I�m going to try to bandage it tightly. If that doesn�t work I�ll have to stitch it until we can get Doc Stevens to look at it. I guess if you�ll pull him over a bit more, I can get it done quickly.�

Daniel nodded. He put his right arm over Darren�s shoulder, his left hand under Darren�s arse, and slowly pulled the man across his chest, moving his head gently to his right shoulder. Jonas hastened to wrap the leg wound before it bled further. Darren moaned softly.

The wrap was completed in just a few minutes. They both watched nervously, but it seemed the wrap would hold.

�Let me go get some fresh sheets and we�ll get him resettled quickly.�

Jonas hurried out. Daniel kept his hold on Darren. He knew if he let go, he�d only have to pick him up again and for some strange reason that he couldn�t quite understand, it felt right to hold the injured man like this.

Jonas returned quickly with the sheets. He helped Daniel get a better hold on Darren so he could hold him off the bed.

The injured man�s breathing grew ragged.

�I�I think he�s in pain.�

�Just another minute,� Jonas nodded.

Daniel closed his eyes. His own shoulder had begun to hurt. He needed to hold out just a bit longer, though. His eyes snapped open as he felt Jonas� presence in front of him.

�I�ve got him, Daniel, you can let go.�

Cramped fingers released their hold reluctantly and his shoulder screamed when he moved his arm away. He suddenly felt cold and shivered a second time.

Jonas settled Darren easily on the bed and then came back toward Daniel.

�Sit on the bed, son.�

�What?� Daniel frowned.

�You�re tired, Daniel. And you�re in pain, too; let me check your shoulder.�

Daniel let Jonas guide him to the bed and carefully sat down beside Darren. He grimaced when he raised the arm on his injured side to unbutton his shirt, so Jonas did it for him. There was blood on the bandages, though it was only seeping.

The big man eased his shirt off and then carefully opened the shoulder wrap. Daniel hissed lightly. Then Jonas spread some of the cream from the jar on Daniel�s shoulder before putting a fresh bandage on.

�Now, I want you to rest, Daniel. Maybe stay here and keep Darren company for a bit. I�ve got chores to finish.�

Daniel nodded silently.

�Thank you, Daniel.�

He turned toward the injured man on the bed. �For what, Darren?�

�For caring.�

Daniel smiled self-consciously and fidgeted.

�Could you get that book over on my dresser, please? Maybe you could read to me?�

Daniel looked at the dresser. He knew what a jar was, but he had no idea what a book was. Or what read was.

�Um�� he felt heat on his face and shifted uncomfortably.

�Daniel?� He turned toward Darren, surprised by the emotion in his voice. �What is it, Daniel?�

He turned way, embarrassed. A gentle hand on his arm had him turning back.

Darren looked into the amazing green eyes again. Somehow he had frightened Daniel and he felt bad. It occurred to him, as he studied the other man�s slightly reddened cheeks, that maybe Daniel was one of those many people who couldn�t read. Or maybe it was worse than that?

�Daniel, how long did you live in that cabin? Did your parents teach you?�

�As long as I can remember. I only had my father� he taught me how to survive in the wild. He�he died when I was nine, I think.�

Darren couldn�t hide his surprise. �All these years alone? You seem to be my age, I think, or close to it? I�m twenty-two, you?�

Again he saw the embarrassment, tinged with fear.

�I don�t know.� Daniel�s eyes widened slightly, his frustration evident in his voice.

He slid his hand down Daniel�s arm to grasp the long-fingered hand with his. �It�s alright, Daniel. Don�t worry. Nothing will happen because you don�t remember.�

He kept holding Daniel�s hand until the other man looked over at him again. �You don�t know how to read, do you?� He kept his voice very soft and understanding.

The other man didn�t look him in the eye as he shook his head no.

�You don�t need to be ashamed, Daniel. There are a great many people in this world who can�t read. How about you just bring me the book and if you�ll hold it, I�ll read to you, then.�

The flush to Daniel�s cheeks deepened. Darren gave his hand a little squeeze and soon the green eyes were meeting his.

�You don�t have to be ashamed about anything, Daniel. Whatever it is, I promise you I�ll understand.�

�I don�t know what a book is.� The other man spoke just above a whisper.

It took Darren a moment of concentration to realize what Daniel had said. When he did, he felt so bad. He hadn�t meant to hurt Daniel, even inadvertently.

�Well, then. Perhaps I can begin to repay you by helping you with that.� He shook Daniel�s hand gently and smiled when he looked up yet again. �If you�d just walk over to my dresser, please.� He watched the lanky young man stand up and move to his dresser. �It�s that brown object. Right there by the jar of cream.�

Daniel�s fingers slowly closed over the unfamiliar object. �That�s right. If you�d bring it here?�

The tall man shuffled back a bit hesitantly. Darren patted a space on the bed beside him. �If you�ll sit here, I can show you what I need you to do for me.�

Daniel carefully sat down beside Darren.

�Put your feet up, get comfortable. It�s a big book.� Darren encouraged.

A bashful smile preceded him rearranging his leggy frame on the bed.

�Now, let me show you.� He reached over and turned the book around right side up, then opened the cover. �This is a book by an author called Herman Melville. He�s a writer from Massachusetts. It�s about a whaling ship. See, here�s a drawing. And this�� He pointed to another spot, �is a whale, they�re very big fish. And they live in the ocean.�

He could tell by the look on Daniel�s face he didn�t understand.

�An ocean is a lake that is so big, you can�t see across it.�

Daniel�s eyebrows rose. �Really?�

�I�ve seen it� It was a long time ago, when I was little. Went back East with my father when he brought some of his first stock out here.� He loved Daniel�s gentle smile. �Now, see? There are pages in the book, like this�� he demonstrated turning. �So if you could just hold it over here for me, I�ll let you know when to turn the page.� The slim hands shifted the book. �Put your left hand behind it. It�ll help you hold it easier.�

Daniel smiled bashfully and did as Darren directed. �What�s this?� He asked of something that stuck out.

�Oh, that�s my mark. That�s where I stopped at. But since you haven�t read it. It�s best we start at the beginning.� Darren smiled reassuringly and Daniel nodded.

�Chapter one, loomings. Call me Ishmael. Some years ago�never mind how long precisely�having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world��

Darren continued reading, and Daniel turned the pages as required. He seemed very curious, looking from Darren to the paper and back again. Very intent on his lips. Darren swallowed and licked his lips, but kept reading.

A bit later he stopped, when the book slipped from Daniel�s hand. He glanced over. The young man�s head drooped. He was asleep. For a moment, Darren was disappointed that Daniel hadn�t been more interested. But then he reminded himself that Daniel had been living alone for a long time. That he�d been injured and undoubtedly it had been a long, trying day for him so far. He replaced his marker where they�d left off and carefully took the book away.

A smile played over his lips. He was glad Daniel felt safe enough to be able to sleep. And he was happy that he�d fallen asleep here, in his own bed. He lay back on his pillows, carefully shifting Daniel with his good arm and went to sleep with his own head on Daniel�s shoulder. Hopefully he wouldn�t react badly when he woke.