As they got close to Rock Creek the group split up. Several going down stream and some upstream. Nick and Fred would cover the middle ground between the two groups. Nick knew Jenna to have a good head on her shoulders, so the fact that they did not run across them, or they had not made it back to the orphanage told him there was a problem in their returning. Nick tried to rid himself of all the terrible possibilities that could have happened. He thought of Heath, the fear in those blue eyes as he told him of Jenna and Louie, a strong sense of obligation overwhelmed the sibling...he had to find them...for Heath...he just had to!

Nick and Fred started calling out their names, hoping for a response. The storm the night before had brought down several tree limbs and the creek ran fast, it’s banks washed out by the rise in water level. Looking for any clues, tracks, a piece of clothing...but nothing. The warm sun had not done a good job of drying up the mud saturation along the creek. Nick paused, taking his canteen and downing a good swig.

“They have to be along here somewhere!” Nick voice was agitated. His last sleep had been on the train and he had been running on adrenaline for hours!

“We’ll find them Nick, if you want to head back to be with Heath and get some rest, go ahead. I’ll stop on my way back to town to give you and the family an update.” The sheriff suggested.

“No Fred, I promised Heath I’d find them and that’s what we’re gonna do.” Nick answered as he urged Cocoa forward and continued calling out the names of the lost.

The medication seemed to do little to relieve Heath’s pain or allow him to sleep. As the day slipped away into evening, his fever started to climb again and the torturous effort to reduce his climbing body temperature was under way. The injuries made it difficult to use wet towels to fight the fever, but they tried to position the cool clothes in an effort for the water to work it’s magic. Jarrod was relentless in getting Heath to take fluids, knowing the fever was dehydrating him as it elevated. Heath mumbled and moaned softly as the family cared for him. He called for Nick and they reminded him that Nick would return soon. Doc Merar returned about six and after examining his patient decided he needed to stay the night.

Heath was more incoherent than he had been in hours. Doc Merar once again removed the bandages and cleaned the wounds working to fight the infection from spreading further. The congestion seemed a little worse, but no pneumonia. Howard insisted the family take a break and eat something. They all needed a good nights sleep, their bodies exhausted, they pushed on.

Darkness was making it hard to see anything, as they continued their trek along the creek. Fred fired off a signal that would alert the men to meet up with them. Nick was never one to give up, and if the rest wanted to go back to their warm cozy beds while there was a kid and woman out here somewhere...then fine! But he was not calling it quits!

“Nick, even with the full moon it’s not enough light to find them.” Fred argued. “We’ll continue at first light and have a full day to search.”

“Another night out here and maybe we’ll find a couple corpses, go on...I can’t stop looking.” Nick rebutted.

As the two men waited for the others to join them gun fire filled the air. Three shots, meaning they needed help. Hurriedly they rode toward the sound, Nick’s heart pounding. About twenty minutes North, at the water’s edge, the search party’s horses came into view. Nick and Fred joined the men staring toward the center of the creek. Nick caught a glimpse of some movement, not sure if it was human or animal. One of the men explained that in calling out Jenna and Louie’s names as they rode, they heard a response. The man pointed to a large rock in the middle of the creek, Nick’s eyes followed and called out, “Jenna, Louie are you out there?”

“Nick...is that you? Yes...we’re out here on this rock.” Jenna replied in an excited voice.

“I take it you need help out there to get to land?” Nick questioned.

“Sorry to say...we do.” Jenna called, seeming a little embarrassed.

Nick mounted Cocoa and carefully made his way through the rushing water toward the stranded twosome.

“Nick, you’re a sight for sore eyes!” Jenna’s voice almost sounded tearful.

Nick pulled up as close to the rock as he could. He saw Jenna holding Louie, wrapped in her coat. They both looked cold and tired.

“Are you both okay?” Nick asked.

“Well, except for my ankle and being somewhat cold and hungry we’re fine. I will tell you that the thought of another night out here was causing me some concern.” Jenna admitted.

Nick reached for Louie and the boy jerked back.

“Mister, take Miss Jenna first, I can wait.” Louie stated boldly.

“Okay boy, don’t get yourself in a lather.” Nick laughed.

Nick waved for Fred to come on out, calling that they needed transportation for two. Nick assisted Jenna onto Cocoa and waited while Fred got Louie to the front of his saddle. When back on land, Nick check Jenna’s swollen ankle. She had slipped trying to make her way to the rock where Louie sat, frightened by storm and the rapid water. He had tried before Jenna arrived to make it back to the creek bank, but without a nearby log, would have been carried down stream. Jenna herself had a hard time making her way to him. She lost her footing just before reaching him, but made her way to the rock. She explained to their rescuers that she could never walk the distance back to the orphanage and would not allow Louie to go alone. Nick smiled when she commented that maybe she should have, he had made it all the way to the creek by himself.

Nick asked the question on several of the men's mind, “Tell me young man, did you find Molly?”

Proudly, Louie opened the coat Jenna had him wrapped in, reached inside his shirt and pulled out a tattered, obviously water stained, yarn haired doll.

“Yes sir! Jillie will sleep real good tonight!”

The rest of the men headed back to their homes as Nick and Fred prepared their passengers for the trip to the orphanage. Both Jenna and Louie were wrapped in a blanket and after quick look see at Jenna’s ankle, it appeared to be sprained, not broken. In better light they would make sure. As they started to move out, Nick heard Louie call out to Jenna.

“Miss Jenna, will you be okay without me?” The light haired boy asked, his eyes serious and his look determined.

Jenna gave him a wink and assured him, “Louie, I’ll be just fine, this is Heath’s older brother Nick. Thank you for looking out for me.”

As Nick followed behind Fred, Jenna commented, “Louie takes protecting those he cares about very seriously.”

“ I see that, reminds me of another blond boy I know.” Nick teased.

“You read my mind, where is my favorite cowboy? I just knew he’d make sure we were found.” Jenna sounded confident.

“Well, Jenna, that cowboy has had himself some kinda week! Monday he was thrown, and yesterday Jarrod and I got home late and found him laying in barn, where he had fallen from the loft ladder. He wasn’t doin’ so good when I left to join the search.” Nick’s tone had started light and had taken a heavy-hearted sound.

Nick felt Jenna sigh and lean back onto his shoulder.

“Will he be okay?” Jenna questioned.

“I’m sure he will be, he’s just gonna have some rough days for awhile. That boy just doesn’t think sometimes.” Nick answered, his voice full of concern.

“That’s where you’re wrong Nick, he thinks all the time...most likely too much.” Jenna, spoke softly, as she thought of Heath.

“What do you mean, he climbed the ladder to get a flea bitten kitten down from the loft. He was not fit to be climbing, but he did. Makes no sense to me. Don’t give me that line... thinks with his heart and not his head stuff... I’ve heard it and it just doesn’t work for me.” Nick responded rather sarcastically.

At first Jenna didn’t respond, Nick thought he may have upset her and that had not been his intention. Throughout yesterday’s long night, that had turned into an even longer day his concern for Heath had at times overwhelmed him. If he could get home and walk into his brother’s bedroom and find the boy sitting up, giving him that dopey grin...he’d feel like a new man. Somehow in his heart he knew better. Why didn’t anyone understand his anger at the boy for such a fool thing.

Softly, Jenna spoke, “Nick, we all handle fear and worry in different ways. I tend to think that you show yours with anger. You do understand that Heath knows that and he wouldn’t want to disappoint you for the world. He looks up to you in so many ways, he talks about you all the time, Nick this and Nick that. I know you may not always understand Heath’s motives, but his ways are not yours. You have always had a family, friends, and name. There is a part of Heath that will always feel indebted to all of you and he’ll always feel that he has to prove his love. I know you may say silly...he has to prove nothing, but in that heart and head of his, he does.”

Nick did indeed think it was silly that Heath would think he had to prove anything, but it did seem the boy’s tendency.

“I think I’m gonna have another talk with him when he’s up to it.” Nick shared lightly.

“How did you know where to find us?” Jenna asked.

“That’s an interesting story... Jillie told Heath. She would not talk to anyone else. From what I understand there are only three people she’ll talk to and as hard as everyone tried there was only one thing to do...take her to Heath. You should have seen it.” Nick smiled remembering watching the child, the way she cuddled right up to Heath.

“So then it was Heath that helped find us, I just knew it.” Jenna said warmly.

“Hey, do I get a little credit here, after all it’s me your sharin’ a saddle with.” Nick whined playfully.

Once back at the orphanage, it was confirmed that Jenna had indeed sprained her ankle. They were all relieved that it was not broken, and with some warm food and a nice bed both Louie and Jenna would feel much better. When Nick and Fred were ready to leave, Nick went over to Jenna who was resting on the sofa, under a warm blanket with her ankle wrapped and elevated.

“Jenna, how about in a few days, I come pick you up and take you back to the ranch so you can spend a little time with Heath?” Nick suggested.

“Nick, I’d like that very much. You know this coming Wednesday would be time for Heath and Audra’s afternoon with the children. With both Heath and myself unable to participate, I think the children would love to have Heath’s older brother come play. I could ride back with you and visit for awhile.” Jenna smiled.

Nick was about to say playing with a bunch of kids was... not his cup of tea, when he felt a tug on his vest. When he turned, there was Jillie, in her nightie that traveled to the ground, holding tight to Molly. Nick stooped down and was surprised when Jillie wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a hug. Scooping Jillie up into his arms, he turned to Jenna and announced, “I’ll see you Wednesday.”