The dance was a huge success. The night was slightly warm, the barbeque pits smelt heavenly as beef, chicken, pork and rabbit cooked in them. Tables were laid out with all sorts of salad’s cheese’s and bread. In the house itself where other tables on which were cakes, biscuits and the punch bowl. Couples moved freely between the dance area and the punch bowl.

“Mother” Audra called as she was swung around by yet another of Stockton’s eligible bachelors “It’s going splendidly”

“Yes dear.” Victoria doubted Audra had heard her.

Jarrod, Nick and Heath had all taken several of Stockton’s prettiest girls onto the dance area and the night was still young.

Heather’s time, Victoria noticed, was being monopolized by a rather handsome young ranch hand. This must be Cass Page.

“So how are you enjoying your time with us Mr Page?” Heather asked as she and Page left the dance area.

“Great place, works not to demanding, good pay.” Page replied, “Can’t complain Miss Barkley.” He thought about what the railroad bosses wanted and how he could get the information without tipping his hand. “Miss Barkley, I hear that there are some really lovely spots around here and that you know one in particular. Mystic Gully?”

Heather nodded. “What about Mystic Gully?”

“Would you tell me about it please, I’m only here till round-up finishes and if I can’t see it then I’d really like to hear about it.”

“Offer to refill my punch glass and I’ll show you some of Mystic Gully” Heather replied coyly.

“Then Miss Barkley, may I get you another glass of punch?” Page played along.

Together Heather and the young cowhand entered the house and made their way to the punch bowl.

Page was surprised when instead of heading toward the table Heather moved slightly to the left of the table and stopped by a medium sized painting.

“This is Mystic Gully.” Heather indicated to the picture. “Or at least part of it.”

Page moved forward and studied the piece.

“You painted this?” He noticed the signature. “This is very good Miss Barkley. It’s very beautiful, like you.”

Heather blushed. Not many men had said things like that to her before. “Thank-you.”

“Cass, please Miss Barkley, call me Cass.”

“If you call me Heather.”

“I’d really like to take you out to the Gully.” Page began, “But your brothers would have me for breakfast if we did, so describe it to me.”

“This was painted in the early afternoon.” Heather warmed up to her subject. “This is the road from the ranch to the Gully” She traced the path. Then went on to describe the rest of the painting.

Page took an interest asking questions every now and again, dropping in the odd flattering remark. “And are there any caves in the area?” He asked finally “Exploring caves is sort of a thing I like to do and I would really love to explore any there.”

“Several, small ones mainly, but there are one or two big ones.” Heather answered.

“I can just see you there, your hair flowing free in the breeze.” Page oozed. “Shame it will never be, but thank-you for painting a picture of it for me, even though it was only in words.” He kissed her.

Outside her den/lair Moonwolf raised her black nose to the breeze and howled

Two- fifty in the morning and Heatherleah Barkley twitched and tossed restlessly in her bed. Images and words spun in her head. The face of the Moon Wolf occurred again and again accompanied by the phrases ‘The hands’ and ‘People from outside’. Slowly the image of the Moon Wolf grew larger and larger. The phrase ‘Trouble from the hands’ repeated over and over again, louder and louder.

As the last large image of the wolf faded slightly. Heather woke shaking.

Somewhere in the night a wolf howled.

“Idiot” She reprimanded herself, slapping her pillow for emphasis “How could you forget the warning.”

Three doors down Heath also woke shaking, with the image of the wolf fading and the phrase ‘Trouble with the hands ‘going around in his head. Getting out of bed he made for the room of the only person who would’ve received/given out the warning. His twin.

He had just gotten past Nick’s door when it opened and Nick existed. One look at Nick’s face told Heath that he wasn’t the only one who’d gotten some or all of the message.

“Wolf’s head? Heath asked

“No just a general feeling of trouble.” Nick admitted.

Heather was not surprised when Heath entered her room after a discreet knock on the door. Being twins this sort of thing had happened before. What did surprise her was that Nick followed him in.

“I don’t know” Nick answered her unasked question. “All I know is that I woke a few minutes ago with The Moon Wolf’s head fading, the message ‘Trouble with the hands’ and the feeling that you’re involved somehow.”

“Heath?” His twin asked

“Me too.”

“ It is a warning.” Heather admitted, “After the storm I did go to Mystic Gully, the Moon Wolf and her cub did appear and they did warn me.”

“And you didn’t think it important enough to tell the rest of us?” Was Nick’s angry whisper.

“I told Mother.” Heather whispered back just as angry. “I was hoping for more solid proof before I told you. As you don’t seem to BELIEVE her like I do.”

Ever the peacemaker Heath intervened with “Keep it down you two or you’ll end up waking the whole house.”

“Too late for that.” Jarrod’s voice sounded from the door. Together with Victoria they were standing, watching the exchange. “Now about this warning?”

“Just that the ranch was in danger and the danger would come from our hired hands and people from outside the ranch.” Heather informed her family. “ And I went and forgot about it. Page must be having a good laugh at this moment.”

“Who said Cass Page is involved?” Jarrod asked “Nick and Heath have hired many new hands recently.”

“The wake-up call I, and it seems Nick and Heath received.”

Victoria and Jarrod looked at the trio. There had been incidents in the past where it seemed Nick and Heath were sort of linked. But this one topped any of those.

“Well as we’re admitting not telling everybody everything.” Jarrod ducked his head. “It seems that I too have left out something.” He paused to take a breath; this kind of news would not be welcomed now or at any other time. “Coastal and Western are up to their old tricks again.”

He let the new information sink in for a moment. The continued. “I was contacted by a man who had heard talk in the café where he worked. Seems two of Coastal and Westerns board or middle managers were talking to two as yet unidentified men my informant heard our family name mentioned.”

“AND?” Nick demanded. This night was getting better and better. The ranch was in danger, his sister and brother knew more then they were letting on. And it seemed that there were spies for the railroad on the property.

“Nothing Nick.” Jarrod replied

“NOTHING?” Nick was in full roar mode. “WELL THEN BROTHER YOU’D BETTER HEAD BACK TO THE CITY AND FIND YOUR INFORMANT.”

“Nick there will be no more from my source. The morning after we met he was found dead. A note requesting another meeting in his pocket.”

“Oh” The harshness went out of Nick’s voice. “So what do we do now?”

“All we can do for the moment is watch all the recently hired hands and see if anybody makes a move.” Heath said. “Just one problem with that..”

“The moving of the cattle and the up coming drive.” Nick finished “They sure know how to pick their times.”

“Most likely planned that way.” Heath surmised

“I’ll speak to Duke, Sam and Harry, let them know what’s happening.” Nick began to formulate a plan. “Jarrod, how’d you like to lose that lawyer suite of yours and join us on the move?”

“If you think it’ll help Nick. Give me two days to clear everything at my office and I’ll join you.”

“Even with the sabotaging of the fence line we’ll be ready to begin soon.”

“Sabotaging the fence line Nick? When?” Victoria asked. This was the first she’d heard about it.

“Friday. Heath noticed it first. He fixed it and then I forgot about it until now.”

“Okay we’re all agreed, brief the foreman and the crew captains, watch the new hands and wait for Jarrod to join us.”

The three brothers nodded.

Heather made her own plans.

“Did you get the information?”

It was Sunday night and Page and Slan were behind the stables again waiting.

“No problem.” Page answered confidently. “Finding out about Mystic Gully was a piece of cake, or more like a glass of punch. Heather Barkley was putty in my hands. From what she told me Slan and me were able to find exactly what the railroad wanted. A huge cave, facing east many chambers for storing things. Semi hidden entrance, not that easy to find.”

“Dry, and well ventilated” Slan added. “Perfect for hiding whatever it is. By the way what is it?”

“Men and guns.” The mysterious voice answered. “Within a week that cave will be home to about thirty or so men, supplies and of course guns.”

Both men nodded their approval.

“Now go about your work and keep a low profile, I don’t know how but the Barkley’s suspect something. They’re going to be watching every new hand, so don’t do anything that’ll tip them off. I’ll see to it that one of you is assigned to the crew that’ll be left behind to watch things while the cattle move is on.”

“What about the line shack?” Slan was eager to continue on with that idea.

“Go for it, but don’t get caught.”

With that Page and Slan retreated back to the bunkhouse to plan their next move.

“Find Growlshard”

The thought repeated itself again and again in Moonwolf’s head.

Softpaw was in danger.

Cautiously Moonwolf lifted her black nose to the air and sniffed. The air was full of scents. Many of them unfamiliar. She knew the scent she was after. Growlshard, although not a fan of hers, was familiar to her, as was his horse. Beside her Littlewolf did the same, just as Moonwolf hoped. For if, in time, Littlewolf was to take her place as The Moon Wolf then the earlier she learnt to recognize the scents of the human pack the better. She kept moving, hoping that as she moved she would pick up his scent. Finally what little breeze there was carried to her what she was searching for. Picking up the pace, and with Littlewolf beside her she set out in the direction the breeze indicated.

Smoke, just what Heath or any other rancher didn’t want to see on their land. Smoke could mean any number of things and none of them good.

Reaching the top of a little hill he could see that it was the line shack. Movement caught his eye. People, two of them. That was all he could make out, he was still just that bit to far away to see their faces.

“Let’s go boy,” He said to Charger. “With the cattle move coming up soon that shack’s going to be vital.”

Page and Slan were too busy to notice the figure on the hill watching. They didn’t even know they had company until Heath was virtually on top of them. It was the whinnying of their own horses that caused them to look-up.

“Heath Barkley.” Page hissed.

Thought he was supposed to be checking out another area.” Slan hissed back.

“Well he’s here now, What’ll we do.”

“That Curtin guy said the railroad wouldn’t shed any tears if a Barkley.” Slan let the sentence go unfinished. “Quick get over here and then do what I say when I say.”

The fire in the line shack was well in control when Heath arrived. Carefully looking around to see if the figure’s he’d observed earlier were still about, he dismounted from Charger and tried to extinguish the flames. It was a lost cause.

Heath never saw the blow coming or who delivered it.

Nick was riding the open space between one work crew and another. His mind was racing between the up coming cattle move and the events unfolding around the ranch.

McCall, Truitt and Stone had accepted what he had told them about the warning. Nick had of course mentioned what the warnings were but not the source they came from. While not saying so with words Truitt had indicated that he needed to talk to Nick in private. Nick planned that little talk for when they were back at the ranch. A flash of silver/white caught his eye.

Sitting in Coco’s path was the Moon Wolf and her cub. Reining Coco to a stop Nick dismounted and cautiously approached the pair. A small growl told him that the wolf thought he was close enough. Two sets of yellow/green eyes looked at him.

“What?” He asked.

The two wolves continued to stare at him.

“This is stupid” Nick thought to himself “Here I am talking to wolves.”

And then he felt it. The pain of something hitting the back of his head and shoulders.

“Heath” Nick knew in a second who was really in pain.

The Moon Wolf looked him straight in the eye. Then her head went back down to her paws.

“Heath?” Nick looked at both wolves hoping for some sort of answer.

The larger wolf got to her feet and began to walk away from him. She stopped, walked back and then walked away again

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” Was Nick’s response “Take me to him.”

As she watched Growlshard mount his horse Moonwolf felt relief. He had received the message. But hers wasn’t the only message he got. She sensed the link between Growlshard and Softpaw kick in.

Keeping up with the wolves wasn’t that hard. The ground was flat and open, which pleased Nick, anything that helped him reach his brother quicker, was welcomed. At some point in the journey the cub disappeared, but in his eagerness to reach Heath, Nick didn’t pay it much attention.

Nick spotted Charger before he spotted Heath. His brother’s horse was wandering untethered near what used to be a line shack.

“Here?” Nick asked the wolf.

The Moon Wolf huffed.

“No matter what I’ve said in the past, I take it all back.” Nick assured the Moon Wolf “Thank- you.”

Running toward the burnt out shell he began to search for his missing brother. Fear was slowly beginning to take control. What if Heath was in the burnt shell?

“Heath!” Was the jubilant shout when he finally found the form of his younger brother. The still form of his brother. Jubilation turned to fear. Kneeling by the blonde Barkley Nick gently lifted him into his arms.

He felt the moisture that covered the back of Heaths head. The hand that cupped his brother’s head was covered in blood.

“Heath, I’ll find whoever did this, they’ll pay my brother, they’ll pay for what they have done.”

Moonwolf heard the vow, heard the love within it and made one of her own. She would help Growlshard in her own way. This human pack was her responsibility and she would do whatever it took.

The approaching sound of hooves and wagons caused Moonwolf to lift her head. The air told the story that Littlewolf had returned and brought with her other members of the human pack. In the wagon following Littlewolf were Howlswisely and Silverwolf. “Nick” Jarrod called as Nick and the still form of Heath came into view.

“Jarrod, Mother, how?” Nick was slightly confused.

“A certain half grown wolf appeared at the back door.” Victoria replied looking at The Moon Wolf and her cub. “It took us a while to understand what she wanted, but eventually we figured it out.”

“Moon Cub” In a flash Nick understood. So that was were the cub had disappeared to. Again he was grateful to the Barkley guardians.

“How bad Nick?” Victoria was beside her sons at once.

“Head wound Mother.” Nick informed her. “I haven’t cleaned it yet and can’t tell just how bad it really is.”

Jarrod knelt on the other side of his brothers and with water soaked cloth began to clear the blood.

“We need to get him home,” Victoria took charge.

Both brothers nodded.

While Jarrod finished cleaning the wood, Nick lifted Victoria into the back of the wagon. Once Jarrod had completed his task the brothers, with every care and gentleness, lifted their injured brother into the wagon, resting his head on Victoria’s lap.

“Hang on sweetheart.” She crooned “We’re getting you home.”

Moonwolf felt relief, Softpaw was safe, and would recover. Silverwolf, Growlshard, Howlswisely and Firefur would see to that.

Thunderclouds blocked the moon. The sound of a thunderclap penetrated deep into the den/lair of the Moon Wolf. A wild wind accompanied the clap. Moonwolf lifted her black nose and sniffed the air. The wind brought many scents into the den. But amongst all the familiar scents was a strange one. Humans, many humans, unfamiliar humans. With that scent came others. One was an unnatural scent. The second was Death. Pricking her ears up she listened. Voices, many voices and close by.

“Get him out of here.” Harry Stone kicked the dead body of Sam Truitt. The gun with which he had shot Truitt still smoked in his hand.

Page and Slan nodded. Both were still a little shaken. They both knew that there was a railroad spy other then themselves of course, on the Barkley range. Neither of them suspected it would turn out to be the mild mannered Barkley crew captain.

“Well don’t just stand there. MOVE IT.” Stone barked. “We’ve got to get these guns unloaded and out of this before morning.”

“Where do you suggest we take him?” Slan queried.

“As far away from here as possible. NOW GO”

Lightening ripped across the sky as Page and Slan picked up the body. In the second that the cave mouth as illuminated both of the mischief-makers saw or thought they saw two wolves. They waited for the next strike. This time the cave mouth was deserted.

“WELL, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?” Stone yelled, “GO”

“We’re being watched.” Page announced, “There’s something out there watching us.”

“Well I don’t see anything.” Stone sneered. “ARE YOU TWO AFRAID OF YOUR OWN SHADOWS? GO.”

“They don’t call this place Mystic Gully for nothing.” Slan put in.

“I don’t care what they call it, just pick up that body and go.” Stone advanced toward the pair menace in his eyes. “AND WHAT ARE THE REST OF YOU STARING AT? GET UPACKING WE’RE BEHIND AS IT IS.”

“Nick, Heather?” Victoria asked quietly as she entered the bedroom where her blonde son lay unconscious. “Any change?”

“No Mother.” Nick replied, never once taking his eyes off his younger brothers face.

He and Heather had maintained a bedside vigil since Victoria, Nick and Jarrod had returned bringing the unconscious Heath with them.

Audra and Heather, who had been in Stockton wrapping up the last details of the dance, were shocked and frightened when they’d arrived at the house.

“Why don’t the pair of you go and get something to eat and then try and get some sleep?” Victoria enquired gently. “Jarrod and I will stay with him for a while. I promise we’ll call if there is any change.”

Nick looked across at his red headed sister. She looked frightened, tired and something else, vengeful? When she was in that kind of a mood Nick knew to expect anything.

“Mother’s right honey” He said walking to her side and taking her arm. “We could both do with some food and sleep”

At first Heather resisted, but the second tug on her arm caused her to stand and walk with Nick out of the door.

“Now that’s something you don’t see everyday.” Jarrod observed.

“That daughter of mine is up to something.” Victoria noted. “We’d better watch her carefully over the next few days. Jarrod you know what she’s like.”

“She’ll take this personally. Start a….” Jarrod broke off. “Mother you don’t think she’d”

“Hunt for Page. Yes if she believes that he is behind this then yes I believed she would.”

Jarrod just shook his head. Life had become very interesting since the twins joined the family.

Heather lay on her bed stewing and plotting. Cass Page! How could she be so blind? She had been warned. Page had used her. He had gotten information out of her. He was in on whatever the railroad had in mind for her family and he was most likely involved in this attempt to kill her twin. He would pay for that she would see to it.

A faint tingling sensation rippled across her head.

“Heath?” She whispered. The sensation grew strong. Her twin was regaining consciousness.

Getting to her feet she opened her bedroom door and proceeded down the hall toward her twins room.

In the room next to Heaths Nick also lay awake. Not only was Heath and what had happened to him praying on his mind, but also there was something else. Something he’d forgotten.

“Sam” Nick thumped his bed with his fist. He’d totally forgotten about his meeting with Sam Truitt.

An odd feeling overcame him, almost like somebody was tapping him ever so gently on the shoulder. It felt familiar. “Heath!”

Nick too headed for his brothers room.

A pair of groggy blue eyes greeted both Victoria and Audra, who had relieved Jarrod.

“Welcome back sweetheart” Victoria took the offered hand and held it tight.

“Good to see you’re finally back with us Big Brother.” Audra sat on the other side of the bed.

Heath tried to speak but the words just wouldn’t come.

“Now don’t try to talk just yet.” Victoria warned, “You’ve had a nasty head injury and I want you to rest.”

“Here try and drink some of this.” Audra held the glass. “Slowly now.”

Movement by the door caught Victoria’s attention.

“We were just about to get you both.” She whispered to the visitors.” But I should’ve know that it wouldn’t be necessary.”

She stood aside and allowed the two people closest to Heath be reunited with him.

“Nick.” Duke McCall shouted to his boss “Been asking all over the place, but nobodies seen Sam Truitt since last night. Seems he hightailed it out around the tenish mark.”

“Did he say anything?” Nick queried. It wasn’t like Sam to disappear and not tell anybody.

“Not to anyone I’ve spoken to.”

“Where’s Harry?”

“Come to think on it haven’t seen him or either of those new hands Page and Slan since yesterday either.”

“Thanks Duke keep looking.”

“Nick what’s the word on Heath?”

“He’ll be fine He woke up early this morning.” Nick smiled. It had been a close thing, but his baby brother would be fine.

“Glad to hear it.” Duke clapped Nick on the shoulder and returned to his duties. This was turning into a lousy day. First Sam went missing and now it looked like Harry was gone as well.

“Mr Barkley.” Russ Toms called as he rode into the yard. “You’d better come to the South pasture there’s something there you need to see.”

“What Russ?” Nick picked up on the urgency in Toms’s voice.

“Its Sam Truitt. He’s dead.”

“Excuse me Miz Heather.” Silas the Barkley’s man servant said “That wolf is at the door again Miz.”

This was just the news Heather longed to hear. If anybody could help her it would be her friend.

“Thank- you Silas.” Heather headed for the kitchen.

“Shall I inform Mrs Barkley?” Silas wanted to know. “Or maybe Mr Jarrod?”

“Thank-you but no I’ll handle it. Mrs Barkley and Mr Jarrod are both with Mr Heath.”

“Right Miz.”

The wolf watched as Heather approached her. This time Heather knew exactly which questions to ask.

“Our hired hands?”

The reaction she expected happened. The Moon Wolf lifted her head, gazed at her with those yellow/green eyes and then put her head back down on her paws.

“Mystic Gully?”

Again the same reaction.

That was all Heather needed to know.

“Thank- you my friend.”

...Continued