Author's Note: This is an AU Sentinel Story set in the year of 1893 in Cascade.

Guardian of the Tribe Series

by Lighthouse Hunter

Story 1: Guardian of the Tribe

CHAPTER 1

1893

Thwack, clank!! Thwack, clank!!

The sound of metal hitting metal reverberated along the line, as the railroad workers laid another section of track. The Great Northern Railway was nearing completion of its latest endeavour: The Seattle to Cascade line.

A team of men worked laboriously, sometimes as long as ten hours a day for a modest wage. They laid down wooden crossbeams and metal rails, hammering in metal spikes to anchor the new tracks. Then they shovelled tonnes of ballast to anchor it all down.

Jim Ellison raised the hammer and struck the metal spike which disappeared into the ground. It was monotonous hard work, but at least it was work. Jim was glad when the foreman called a halt for the day. The team of railroaders made their way over to that night's temporary camp. The cook would have already been preparing them an evening meal. Jim couldn't complain about the food, it was hot, there was plenty of it as the bosses knew that if the men didn't restock the calories they lost grafting all day, they would be no good the following day. But taste wise it was always a little bland to Jim and always left him thinking the cook could have done better.

Jim started to erect the tent for the night.

"Hey Jamie," Fergus Stewart called as the Scotsman bounded up to him. "Glad that day's over with."

"You say that every day Fergus," Jim replied good naturedly.

"Aye lad, that I do. We're making good time, I reckon we'll reach Cascade sooner than planned."

Fergus helped Jim finish erecting the tent they would be sharing that night.

Fergus was Jim's friend and had been ever since Jim had joined the crew. They had hit it off straight away. The forty-five year old ginger haired Scotsman was jovial and amiable and instantly likeable. He was outgoing, a joker and always had a smile on his face.

Fergus glanced up at the sky. Sunset was a good hour away, yet but clouds were already building.

"Looks like we could have some rain tonight."

"It rains every night," Jim replied. "It's always raining here."

Jim had never discovered a more disagreeable state than Washington. It was lush and green and it was beautiful, but it always seemed to be wet and dull. Jim couldn't wait for the track to be finished so they could move on to the next job, hopefully somewhere a little warmer and drier.

They ate their meal in silence. Each man hungry after their day's work, with only the sound of metal spoons on metal plates sounding in the air. The meal was bland but Jim ate it ravenously as it filled his empty belly. He knew he could have done a better job but he wasn't paid to cook.

When they were full Fergus, Jim and two other railroad workers Stan Bridge and Earl Ellacombe sat round the small fire watching the crackling flames. The fire was getting low and it was going to be a cold night. A lot of the men went straight to bed in the tents as soon as it got dark to try to keep warm, but Jim and Fergus liked to stay up and watch the night sky and talk. Some nights the sky was clear of clouds and they just sat and looked up at the surreal dome of blackness above them, not speaking just enjoying the quiet. Some nights the sky was full of stars and Jim felt humbled beneath that beauty. Some nights they even saw streaks of purples and greens moving like curtains of colour across the night sky from the north. They didn't know what they were but they were an incredible light show. They were harmless and Jim just enjoyed the quiet beauty of the northern light show.

This evening, there was a blanket of clouds rolling in and Jim didn't think he would get to see any stars this night. He didn't want to go to sleep just yet as it wasn't even dark. He was tired but he just wanted to enjoy the quiet and solitude, as the other men turned in. He didn't want his life to just revolve around getting up, doing a day's work and then going back to sleep only to repeat the cycle the next day and the next. He wanted something, something more but didn't know what or how to attain it.

Slowly a hush enveloped everything bar the odd baying coyote or howling wolf in the distance. It was a peace Jim longed for. Often his senses plagued him and he didn't know why. But often his hearing or his sense of smell would be too high, higher than normal, and he found it difficult to be around men who could only bathe occasionally or would laugh loudly and tell each other raucous jokes that caused the recipient to guffaw loudly. They weren't bad men, just uncouth, unrefined ones.

"I'm going to go get some more wood," Fergus announced. "I want to warm me bones before turning in."

"Don't go far," Jim replied his tone laced with concern. Though it wasn't dark yet, he didn't want his friend wandering round the forest in the twilight.

"I won't Jaime," Fergus replied not surprised by his friend's concern.

Jim smiled at the name his friend called him. Only Fergus called him Jamie. Jim didn't know why he just always had. Fergus disappeared into the nearby forest. The path the railway was taking had already been cleared in preparation for the tracks all the way to Cascade. The forest lined either side of them, tall spruce and fir trees, reaching up and trying to touch the sky.

"What was that?" Jim said.

Stan Bridge looked up from his position round the campfire. "What was what?" he replied. "I didn't hear anything."

But Jim's heightened sense of hearing had heard something in the forest. He craned his hearing and knew it was in the direction that Fergus had gone. He heard something again, the definite but muffled voice of a man. Getting to his feet, Jim raced into the forest.

"Fergus!!" he shouted.

"Ja...lp," Jim could hear the odd letters of words but couldn't make out what his friend was shouting.

The sounds of a scuffle could be plainly heard and a man's cries of pain and fear. Jim burst through the trees and saw Fergus in the arms of a huge grizzly bear.

"Dear God!" Jim cried.

The grizzly bear saw the second human appear but he wasn't scared, he was more than a match for any puny human. He just roared loudly in response.

Fergus was scared for his life, he could feel the bear's claws raking into his flesh; feel the coarse fur on his face as it wrestled with him. He couldn't get out of its clutches.

"Yeah!!" Jim shouted and waving his arms above his head to try to make himself appear larger than he actually was to the ursine.

The bear just growled in response as Fergus realised he was going to die.

"Get away from him!" Jim screamed and rushing forward.

He picked up a fallen branch and advanced not knowing what good it would do, but knowing he had to try something. He swung it at the bear but as it struck its thick arm the rotten stick broke on impact. Tiny shards of wood flying off in all directions. The bear swatted at the human annoying him and caught him on the back and side as the huge claws bit into his flesh. Jim felt the sting of those claws and felt the force of the bear's power as it tossed him round. He ended up on the floor. But Jim had one diametric goal and that was to help his friend. He quickly got back up again and found another stick. Jim struck the bear with the newer stick, it didn't break and the bear roared in reply. Jim just hoped he wasn't annoying the bear and just making him madder. Jim got in another couple of good hits and the bear let the Scotsman go. He was forgotten by this new annoyance.

"That's it!" Jim shouted as Fergus crumpled to the ground. Jim took a step back and the bear followed. He led him away from his friend and soon lost the ursine in the darkening woods. Jim could see perfectly in the darkening gloom, something he was actually glad about for once. He was usually alarmed when he could see more than a normal person could, but he didn't have time to reflect this time. His only concern was for his friend.

Jim circled back to his friend.

"Fergus!!"

Jim gently turned him over. There was quite a bit of blood covering his friend. His shirt and jacket a mass of rips and bloody tears. The Scotsman moaned as Jim moved him and carefully picked him up, cradling him gently. He was still alive. The railroad camp had a doctor of sorts, more a sawbones, and Jim thought, with disgust, that he probably had more medical knowledge than the charlatan sawbones did. He was your last resort if you needed doctoring, but there really wasn't much alternative.

Jim carried his friend to the sawbone's tent and shouted for him. The sawbones staggered out, he'd been drinking. He could smell it on him from six paces back.

Jim was thinking that maybe there was an alternative after all. Jim turned round and went to the supply wagon. That was where his horse was. Lightning was all he had in the world and he had accompanied him across the country. During the day he was tied to the supply wagon and Jim took care of his needs whenever he was able to. The white and grey mare nickered as he approached. Jim lay his friend down and then proceeded to saddle his horse.

"Ellison just what the hell are you doing?" Isaac Forester, the railroad's foreman asked, as he approached.

"Fergus has been mauled by a bear."

"That's what we got a sawbones for."

"That sawbones has been drinking. I'm taking Fergus to Cascade, we must be pretty close to the place by now. There must be a doctor there."

"What if there isn't?"

"Then I'll treat him myself."

"You're a doctor as well huh," Forrester scoffed with not a little sarcasm.

"More than that sawbones I bet," Jim countered.

"I forbid you to leave," Forrester dictated, putting his hands on his hips for emphasis.

Jim kept his anger in check. Forrester wasn't a bad man, as a foreman he was pretty fair, but he was a jobs worth and he couldn't see past the rules and regulations of his employers.

"I'm taking Fergus to Cascade," Jim replied defiantly as he continued to saddle his horse.

Forester watched but didn't say anything further.

Jim helped his barely conscious friend into Lightning's saddle and then climbed up behind him. He didn't acknowledge his foreman he just spurred his horse forward in the direction of Cascade.

Fergus' head dipped forward and he bobbed and pitched through Lightning's gait as Jim expertly steered his horse. Jim's eyes compensated automatically for the night all around them. He didn't realise it but he could see almost as good as he could during the day. He was just too focused on avoiding any holes that his horse's legs could go down. Jim just concentrated on getting to Cascade as fast as he could. He kept Lightning at a steady canter. The horse was young and strong and loved to run.

After nearly two hours of solid riding later and Jim could finally see lights ahead.

"Not far now, Fergus," he said but his friend was now unresponsive and unconscious.

Jim knew he was still alive, he could hear his heart beating strongly in his chest. Jim wasn't sure what injuries Fergus had or how much blood he had lost, but he knew it was bad. He himself had taken some punishment from the immense beast but his were inconsequential compared to his friend's injuries.

Jim tore into Cascade. He saw a man sat on his porch smoking a pipe and enjoying the evening air and asked for the doctor. He was given directions and soon Jim steered his trusty stead along the waterfront to a two storey building. He helped his friend dismount and carried him, in his arms, to the front door. A light shone through a window and Jim urgently kicked the door.

A few moments later the door opened and a young man stood there. He was wearing glasses and holding an open book in his hand. He saw a man holding a second bloody man in his arms and immediately ushered them both inside.

"Bring him through here," the man said taking them urgently through to an examination room.

Jim put his friend down on the examination bed in the middle of the room. The room was clean and smelled of disinfectant. Jim noted how meticulous the medical equipment was laid out. The one wall was festooned with shelving containing all sorts of medical paraphernalia.

"Help me take his clothes off, I need to get to his injuries," the man said.

Jim helped the doctor take off Fergus' blood encrusted clothing.

"Can you hear me sir?" the doctor asked.

"Mmm," Fergus moaned but didn't speak.

"What's your name"?

"Stew...art," he gasped, but talking took too much energy.

"His name's Fergus Stewart and I'm Jim Ellison."

"Mr Stewart, Mr Ellison, I'm Doctor Sandburg."

Jim studied the doctor as he started to assess his friend's injuries. He was young, in his late twenties, with brown shoulder length, curly hair and intense blue eyes. There was a powerful force radiating off the man, a no nonsense attentiveness that brooked no argument where his patients were concerned.

Fergus moaned and Jim looked concernedly down at his friend.

"There are some deep lacerations," the doctor stated. "They will need suturing. How did this happen?"

"A bear," Jim replied.

"That explains a lot," the doctor replied deep in thought. "How about you Mr Ellison?"

"What?" Jim asked realising the doctor had asked him a question.

"I asked if you had any injuries. You have blood on your clothing and what look like tears."

Jim thought for a moment, in the panic of getting Fergus some help, he hadn't forgotten to think about his own injuries. Now that he had stopped to think, he realised he had taken some damage from the bear.

"Just a few scrapes. I'm fine just concentrate on Fergus."

"Mr Stewart's wounds are stable for the moment. Take off your shirt."

"Doctor I'm fine really."

"I'm the doctor here," the young man replied firmly. "I'll be the judge of that."

Jim couldn't argue with that. He took off his jacket and then removed his shirt. He was amazed by the size of the tears in his clothing. His vest was covered in blood but he thought that most of it was his friend's.

"You've got some nasty cuts on your back, left side and arm. I need to treat those but they've stopped bleeding. Why don't you rest for a while, whilst I tend to your friend. I'll treat your injuries then."

"Fine doctor."

Doctor Sandburg covered the injuries with gauze and bandaged them to keep them clean, then he lead his patient to a side room where there were six beds all made up ready.

"Lie on your right side," the doctor said as he helped Jim off with his boots and then helped his patient lie down on the bed.

Now that he was horizontal, Jim suddenly realised how tired he was. The doctor gently covered his patient up with a blanket.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," he said and then moved off to treat the worst injured patient without waiting for an answer.

Jim thought about the doctor as he drifted off to sleep. He didn't trust easily or make friends easily, yet there was something about this doctor that was instantly likeable and trustworthy. Jim realised he felt safe and he trusted him, he didn't know why; he just knew that he did.

>>>>>>>>>>

"Wake up Mr Ellison I can treat your injuries now."

Jim thought he had only just closed his eyes and he was already being asked to open them again.

"Wha?" Jim asked a little confused as to where he was. "Fergus?!" he started sitting up too quickly and wincing.

"Easy Mr Ellison," the doctor said at his patient's side. "Don't move too quickly or you might reopen your wounds."

Once he was sat up the pain subsided. "How's Fergus?" Jim asked looking round. He could see his friend lying in another bed.

"He's fine. I've cleaned and sutured all his injuries. Barring infection he should make a complete recovery. I've given him a sedative so he'll sleep for a while. He'll be pretty sore when he wakes up. Can you walk?"

"I've been walking since I was ten months old," Jim countered.

The doctor smiled but didn't say anything to the comment, as he pulled the blanket away.

"Come into my treatment room and I'll tend to your injuries."

It now had to be middle of the night but the doctor still looked fresh and wide awake. He led Jim into the next room where he got him to lie down on the treatment table in the middle of the room.

"I've not seen you around town before," the doctor stated.

"No, we're with the railroad," Jim explained.

The doctor stirred a medicine round in a cup as he walked over to his patient.

"Drink this," he said proffering the cup.

"What is it?"

"A tincture."

"Of what?"

"Laudanum."

"No thank you."

"It's to deaden the pain. Your back will need stitching. It's either that or chloroform and I didn't think you would want that."

"I don't want either doctor."

"But it will hurt if you don't take something for the pain."

"I've had worse injuries doctor, believe me. I have a high tolerance to pain." The doctor didn't look convinced. "I often have reactions to drugs, so I'd rather not."

"Reactions. What sort of reactions?" the doctor asked intrigued.

"Dizziness, rashes, light headedness."

"To what drugs in particular?"

"Not just drugs, all sorts of things."

"I've noticed you've got some red patches on your skin."

The doctor couldn't help but notice some sore red patches and welts, mainly on Jim's back.

"My skin's very sensitive."

"So I see, mmm," the doctor said as he thought about his patient's sensitive skin.

"There's more. I hear and see things more clearly than I should be able to," Jim confessed.

Jim wasn't sure why he was telling this man, this stranger all this, he just knew he could and that it felt good to finally tell someone instead of denying it and pretending it wasn't happening.

"What do you mean?"

"Tonight I heard Fergus in trouble but no one else around me did."

"You mean your hearing is keener than your colleagues. That can happen."

"If I concentrate I can see things over a mile away, really clearly. I can see in the dark like it's daylight."

"That is unusual," the doctor replied a little incredulous. He looked at the man and didn't think he was exaggerating or lying. He looked a man of impeccable integrity and honesty. Maybe he was delusional, but the doctor didn't think so, he seemed so stable and lucid.

"There's an Indian tribe outside of town called the Duwamish, I go there to treat them. They teach me about their medicines. I can treat your rash with a coneflower ointment they told me about. It's very mild and should help with the irritation."

"Thank you doctor," Jim said gratefully.

"That was a brave thing you did," the doctor added after a moment.

"What do you mean?" Jim replied.

"Fergus told me you threw yourself at the bear. Not many people would do that for a friend. You saved his life."

"I did what I had to. I didn't think about it. I heard Fergus in trouble and I guess I just reacted."

"Fergus would be more than likely dead now if you hadn't 'reacted'."

"It's not a big deal," Jim replied modestly.

"I think it is to Fergus."

Jim just looked at the doctor but didn't reply.

Doctor Sandburg cleaned each wound carefully; making sure all traces of dirt was flushed out. Then he stitched the worst cuts and then bandaged everything to keep the wounds clean. The doctor was amazed that his patient barely made a sound as he worked. Then he put some of the coneflower ointment onto the red patches on Jim's skin.

After he had finished and washed his hands he prepared another draught.

"I want you to take this," the doctor said. Jim looked at him, his blue eyes searching him wondering if he had actually listened to what he had told him earlier. "It's okay. It's a very mild sedative. Just to help you relax so you can get some sleep from the pain. Even with a high pain threshold you will still be feeling sore. I guarantee it won't affect you."

Jim did trust the doctor, even though he didn't know his past medical history, he would know what he was prescribing. Jim downed the liquid without complaint.

"Lean on me," the doctor said as he helped Jim off the examination table and into the next room. Fergus was still fast asleep. Doctor Sandburg helped his patient into bed and covered him up.

"Thank you Doctor Sandburg," Jim replied gratefully.

"You're welcome Mr Ellison. My given name's Blair," the doctor said as he turned down the lantern in the room.

"Jim."

"Sleep well Jim," Blair said as he moved to the door.

The doctor left the room and silence descended, except for the occasional loud breathing from Fergus as he slept on. Jim felt the lassitude from the mild sedative working and he felt drowsy. His wounds were a little painful but more sore than anything else. Jim moved to get into a more comfortable position. The itch from the constant rash he had from his clothes as they chafed his skin was gone.

He smiled to himself as he surrendered to the sedative. As sleep claimed him he thought that maybe Fergus wasn't the only friend he had anymore.

>>>>>>>>>>

Two pale blue eyes blinked open and looked round in confusion. Where was he? He was in a room when he expected to see the inside of a tent. Sunlight was streaming in through a window on his left. Lifting his head he glanced round the room and saw there were other beds and in one of those beds he could see Fergus, his ginger hair all too conspicuously poking out of the top of the blanket he was lying under. Jim couldn't understand why they were here, wherever here was. Jim tried to sit up but his left side hurt and he winced. Then it all came flooding back to him in quick snippets of memory: The bear attacking his friend and riding to Cascade to the doctor. Jim felt his side and felt the bandages there. He felt sore all over but it wasn't too bad.

He swung his legs out of bed and sat for a few moments to get his equilibrium. He was in his underclothes and he looked round for his clothes. They were in a neat pile on the opposite side of the room on a table. He stood, swaying slightly as the room spun, but it only lasted a brief moment. He walked over to his clothes and quickly retrieved them. He went back to his bed and dressed, noting the blood and tears in his shirt and jacket. He had a change of clothes back at the railroad's camp.

Once he was dressed, though putting on his boots had proven the most difficult. Bending down with his ribs bandaged had proven painful but he had managed it. Standing again he moved to the window, relishing the warmth of the sun as it infiltrated the room. Looking out he could see the doctor's house was on the waterfront of Cascade. The sea was a dazzling blue and the clouds had lifted for a change and it looked like it was going to be lovely day. Jim estimated that it was still early. His acute hearing could hear someone moving quietly about in the house and he reasoned it was the doctor. Looking over at his friend he saw that he was still asleep. He unconsciously checked on him with his senses and noted he was just resting, his breathing was deep and regular with no congestion in his lungs, no odour from infection in his wounds and he didn't seem overly warm or cold.

Opening the door Jim went into the next room and recognised the treatment room from the previous night. The sounds of movement were coming from another room off the treatment room.

"Hello," Jim said as he moved towards the sound.

A moment later the door opened and the doctor appeared.

"Jim, you shouldn't be up or dressed," he said as he came into the room. The smell of coffee followed him from the room he had just come from and Jim deemed it was the kitchen.

"I feel fine," Jim replied smiling warmly at the doctor's concern.

"I'll be the judge of that," the doctor replied his eyebrows rising in mock sternness.

"I was just coming to check on you both, but I can't function without a cup of coffee first thing in the morning."

"I know what you mean," Jim replied smiling.

"Come join me."

Jim nodded and followed the doctor into the kitchen. It was small but homely. A small table sat in the centre and Blair indicated for Jim to sit. Blair went to the small stove where a coffee pot sat on top. Using a rag Blair took the pot off and poured his friend a cup.

"Milk?"

"No thank you it tastes better black."

"I quite agree," the doctor replied as he refilled his cup. He replaced the pot on top of the stove and then took a seat opposite his patient. "I checked on you both about two hours ago and you both were still asleep."

"I only woke up a short time ago," he said. "Fergus is still asleep."

"Fergus is doing very well, no fever or infection that I can detect. I'll recheck both your injuries shortly. How about some breakfast?"

Jim hadn't realised how hungry he was until the doctor mentioned breakfast. Jim nodded and Blair got up again and was soon rustling up bacon and eggs for both of them. Jim's stomach rumbled at the incredible smell that was permeating the room. The doctor cut some fresh bread and put some butter out on the table.

"Help yourself," he said. "The locals mainly pay me in kind for my doctoring and not with money, but I never go hungry," he smiled as he tended to the bacon and eggs.

Jim smothered a piece of crusty bread with butter and took a savouring bite.

"There's some jam to go with that," and Blair got a jar out of a cupboard.

Jim couldn't help but smile at the amount of jars that were in the cupboard, there were at least twenty jars of jam. The doctor was obviously too soft when it came to payment and didn't refuse what his patients could pay him no matter what it was.

The doctor chatted conversationally as he cooked and Jim realised he was content to just listen to him babbling on.

After the breakfast was consumed Blair told him he had a clean shirt Jim could wear and showed him where he could wash and take care of any other business he needed to. As he did this the doctor went to check on his other patient.

Fergus was awake and though feeling sore he felt better than he had the previous night. Blair checked his wounds and found them healing very well. The doctor was pleased there was still no sign of infection or any fever. He listened to his patient's heart and checked his pulse. He was pleased with his progress as he reapplied the bandages and then cooked him some breakfast. As Fergus was eating Jim came back in. He had put on the clean shirt Blair had found for him, even though it was a little small and a bit tight, it was at least clean and blood free. Blair was pleased with Jim's wounds and reapplied the bandage. Then he applied some more of the soothing coneflower ointment to Jim's rash, which already looked better.

"You look better this morning," Jim said to Fergus.

"I feel better, though I still feel sore."

"You will for a while yet," the doctor said matter of factly. "You need to stay in bed for a few days at least."

"I can't Doc!" Fergus cried. "If I don't work the railroad won't pay me."

"Your wounds are quite serious Mr Stewart, if you move you could reopen them and you definitely won't be able to work then. You've also lost a lot of blood and will need to rest before starting work again."

Fergus didn't look convinced but didn't say anything.

"What about me Doc?" Jim asked.

"Jim, your injuries aren't as serious as Mr Stewarts but you've still got some nasty gashes on your side. I would feel better if you could rest for a few days before starting any strenuous activity again. I don't want you pulling out your stitches."

The doctor could tell that Fergus was already looking tired but also worried.

"You rest now Mr Stewart, we'll talk more later."

Fergus was already falling asleep as Jim and Blair left the room. Blair took Fergus' plate and cup to the kitchen and washed them. Jim was sat quietly at the kitchen table deep in thought.

"I have some work to do this morning," the doctor said to Jim as he dried the plates and cups. "You should rest as well."

Jim was silent and although he was still feeling tired he didn't think he could sleep just yet. There was too much on his mind. He was thinking about his job on the railroad and how much he hated it. He was also thinking on the future and what he wanted to do with his life.

"I have some books if you feel like reading."

Jim shook his head, his forehead creased in thought, his thoughts were too much in turmoil for him to concentrate on a book.

"Jim what are you thinking?" Blair asked as he sat down opposite his patient.

"I was thinking about staying here in Cascade."

Blair nodded at his announcement. "Cascade is a good place. I'm not sure about what work is available in town but why don't you stay here with me for as long as you need to or until you find something else. There's plenty of room on the second floor. I only sleep down here when I have a patient I want to keep a check on overnight."

"That's very generous of you Doctor, I'd appreciate that but are you sure? You don't know me."

"Blair please. I know enough. A man who would put his life in danger to save the life of his friend...well he's a good man and that's all I need to know." Blair said and then cleared his throat as he saw Jim was looking uncomfortable with the praise. "Why don't you rest for a few hours. I have some patient notes to write up and a few patients to visit in town. Later I want to ride out to the railroad site and inform them of yours and Fergus' conditions."

"I'd like to take that ride with you," Jim replied.

Blair thought about Jim's injuries for a moment, but he also didn't think Jim would take no for an answer.

"I don't think it's a very good idea but I guess we could take a gentle ride out this afternoon so it won't jar your injuries."

"Thanks Blair."

Jim acquiesced then to the fatigue he was feeling and settled down on his bed for a few hours as the doctor did his morning duties.

>>>>>>>>>>

It was early afternoon as Jim and Blair set off on their ride to the railroad. Fergus was sleeping comfortably in the doctor's surgery. Blair had saddled his roan horse Roman and Jim's grey and white mare Lightning. Jim realised that the doctor had also taken care of his horse the previous night, after he had seen to their injuries. He hadn't even mentioned that he had done that, it had been something he had naturally done and not even wanted any thanks for. Jim watched the doctor as they rode in silence for a while. His admiration for the young man growing.

The afternoon was pleasantly warm. It was cloudy now but the sun kept peeking through every now and again and bathing them in warm sunlight. Blair kept the pace deliberately slow, so as not to aggravate or open his patient's wounds. The horse ride wasn't jarring his injuries and it felt good to be up and about.

"Have you always lived in Cascade?" Jim asked.

"No, I've lived there about 4 years now. I went to medical school in England and then when I graduated I came back to America. I travelled across with some pilgrims when they came west to California. I didn't like it much there so I continued to travel. I came north and ended up here. My predecessor was nearing retirement so I took over his practice."

"Does the old doctor still live in Cascade?"

"No he went to live with his daughter in Sacramento. What about you Jim where are you from?"

"The south."

"That's a big area."

"I come from a place near to Georgia."

"You haven't got a Southern accent," Blair observed.

"I lost it years ago."

"You still got family back there?"

"Yes," Jim said his voice full of pain but he didn't elaborate.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you."

"No, it's okay Blair. I haven't been home in a very long time and I don't think I ever will go back again."

"That's sad. Family is very important. My Mom's alive, as far as I know, but I lost touch with her years ago," the doctor's voice was tinged with sorrow.

"That's a shame."

Blair nodded solemnly. "I have an aunt in Boston and I wrote to her when I settled here and gave her my address and to tell my Mom, if she ever contacted her, where I am. That was four years ago now and she still hasn't replied."

"There's always hope," Jim said.

"There is isn't there," Blair replied brightening a little with hope. "You said earlier you were thinking about staying in Cascade. Do you still mean that?"

"Yes I do," Jim replied. "I'm grateful for your offer of putting me up for a while."

"No trouble at all," Blair replied and then turned in the saddle to look at his friend. "What job are you thinking about looking for in Cascade"?

"Anything really. I worked behind a bar before now and in a livery stable. I've also worked as a cook. I like to cook."

"Really?" Blair said not a little amazed that the tall, imposing man enjoyed working in a kitchen.

"I worked in a hotel once but I had to leave. It was okay, I enjoyed the job, but the owner's wife kept trying to seduce me, it got really embarrassing towards the end."

"Oh," Blair replied grinning. "There's a hotel in Cascade but I don't think they need a cook. You can cook for me though," Blair said. "I often don't have time to cook for myself and just grab something quick."

"I can do that," Jim replied.

They followed the cleared ground where the railroad was being laid to the site where the workers were labouring. Jim estimated they were already some three miles further north than they had been the previous day.

Clanking and pounding of metal could be heard as they approached the work area. Blair followed Jim until he stopped and dismounted from his horse. He tied his horse off and Blair followed him.

"Mr Forrester," Jim said to the railroad's foreman.

"Jim good to see you. How's Fergus?"

"Doing better," Jim replied.

"That's good," the foreman replied, though his manner was gruff and aloof.

"This is Doctor Sandburg from Cascade, he treated me and Fergus last night."

Blair shook hands with the foreman.

"I'm Isaac Forrester, the foreman."

"Nice to meet you. I wanted to tell you personally how your men were doing. As you can see Mr Ellison is doing well. Mr Stewart's injuries are more serious, though he should make a full recovery. He lost a lot of blood and needs rest for a few days before he can even think about doing any strenuous work again."

"That won't get this railroad built," Forrester said dispassionately. "The Great Northern Railway is very specific in its edicts about unfit workers."

"It wasn't Mr Stewart's fault," Blair iterated.

"Unfortunately he wasn't injured on the job so there is no recompense. I will have to let him go."

"You can't do that!" Blair exploded but the foreman ignored him.

"What about you Ellison, are you fit to work?" Forrester had not forgiven Jim for riding out with Fergus when he had expressly forbidden it.

"I'm fine but I quit."

"What?! You don't mean that. You're a good worker Ellison, I'll be sorry to lose you."

Forrester wanted the satisfaction of firing Ellison himself.

"I've made my mind up, I only came back with Doctor Sandburg to tell you in person and collect my back pay. I'll take Fergus' as well."

"We don't usually give another man's wages to someone else. But you're a reliable man Ellison, so in this case I'll make an exception. I'll sort that out for you, it won't take a minute."

Jim walked over to some of the men as he waited for his pay to be finalised. Blair watched him talking to them. Jim would miss some of the men, they were alright. One of them handed him a bag and he realised his belongings had been gathered together. Another man had Fergus' belonging and Jim took them as well. He then shook hands with the men and went back to Blair.

"Fergus' and my stuff," Jim explained. "Not much to show for your life is it?"

"It'll be different now," Blair replied trying to sound upbeat. "You'll be able to put down roots in Cascade."

Jim nodded and watched the men returning to work. Soon the clanging of metal reverberated as spikes were driven in to hold the rails down. Jim looked at his hands and saw the calluses there from hard work. He wasn't afraid of hard work, it just felt right to do this. It was time to move on.

Soon he and Blair were riding back to Cascade. Jim had $198 in his pocket, some clothing and his horse. The railroad was in the past now, now it was time to look to the future.

>>>>>>>>>>

CHAPTER 2

Jim and Blair returned to Cascade. Jim was subdued on the ride home. Blair was wondering if his patient had over exerted himself or leaving his job with the railroad was a lot harder thing to do than he had realised. Finally they were dismounting out back of the doctor's surgery outside the small barn where the horses were stabled.

"I'll look after the horses," Jim announced.

"Absolutely not!" Doctor Sandburg replied. "You've exerted yourself quite enough for one day, you're still recovering yourself from your injuries. I want you to rest for the rest of the day."

"Doctor, Blair, they were barely scratches. I feel fine."

"Those scratches took six stitches," Blair replied determinedly, a mulish look on his face.

"Okay Doc you win," Jim conceded. He was feeling tired after his ride but he wasn't going to tell his friend that.

"Let's go check on Fergus first and then I'll see to our horses."

Fergus was sat up in bed waiting for them. The doctor did his customary checks on his patient and was pleased with his progress. Jim lay on his bed and he let the physician check his injuries until he was satisfied the ride hadn't caused any additional problems. Jim's wounds were healing nicely.

"What did Iron Britches Forrester say?" Fergus asked his friend. Jim looked at the Scotsman, but he knew the answer before he spoke. "He fired me huh?"

Jim nodded and Fergus smiled with irony. "Not that I didn't expect that," he replied. "But it still gets you where it hurts."

Blair looked away wishing there was something he could do, but he was only a country doctor and this was out of his league. He left the two men to talk and quietly left the room.

Jim told his friend that he quit too and planned to stay in Cascade, which surprised Fergus. Fergus wasn't sure what he was going to do now. He was nearly fifty years old and getting way too old for the hard work jobs like that on the railroad entailed. Sleeping in tents and living outside in all weathers, that was for younger men. He had to think about the future. Fergus gingerly moved in the bed to lie back down. He wanted to think but he was also tired. He would think later.

Jim saw his friend was tired and nearly asleep. He didn't know what Fergus was going to do but he was definitely going to stay in Cascade. Perhaps Fergus could stay in Cascade too. He felt a certain homeliness for the Scotsman, he would miss him if he left. They'd been friends for a good many years and been through some tough spots together.

Blair took care of the horses, rubbed them down and gave them hay and fresh water to drink. Then he went back into the house, washed his hands and went back to check on his patients. He found them both fast asleep. Knowing that sleep was the best medicine that any doctor could prescribe. He left the two men in slumber as he went back to his duties. He checked his medicines, making a note to order anything he was low in.

It was getting late when his stomach began rumbling. He checked on his patients who were both still sleeping soundly and then went into the kitchen to prepare them all an evening meal. As he prepared the meal he was thinking about what Jim had told him about how he liked to cook. There wasn't much call for a cook in Cascade. The only places to eat were the saloon or the hotel. The saloon's food was basic, even substandard and the hotel's was pricy and only for those who could afford it. There was no place in between that served a decent meal at an affordable price.

Blair peeled the potatoes and set them to boil as he chopped up some vegetables, one of his grateful patients had given to him in payment, his mind feverishly thinking on how to help his new friend.

Jim was tired after supper and Blair soon coaxed him to go back to bed. The doctor also checked Fergus. He found he was doing well and had improved since that morning.

Blair went up to the first floor after supper and went into the room next to the room he used for a bedroom. It wasn't a huge room but it was adequate. There was a bed and a chest of drawers. It needed a dust and a new set of curtains but other than that it would be ideal for Jim's bedroom. It pleased Blair to know that he would soon be having a roommate, he'd lived alone for a number of years, and although he didn't mind being alone it was nice the prospect of someone living with him. Even if it was probably only for a short while.

Next morning Blair took Jim round Cascade. He showed him the newspaper, saloon, hotel, school, bank, sheriff's office, general store, stage office. In a building a few down from the doctor's house, lived a mysterious and clandestine group that called themselves Masons; but Blair didn't know much about them and they kept themselves to themselves. They also saw where work was progressing on the railway station for when the track was finally completed to Cascade.

Jim asked at various places about work. The owner of the general store told him about the local silver mine who was hiring miners. Blair wasn't too keen about Jim going to work down a mine, and Jim wasn't overly keen himself; but Jim thought he might have to consider applying for a job there, if nothing else presented itself in Cascade. Blair told him not to panic about finding a job as he could stay with him as long as he needed to. He had a roof over his head and his patient's supplied enough food for them both to live comfortably on for a very long time. Jim was a proud man and didn't like the idea of Blair providing for him, though he knew the doctor was sincere and it was offered out of friendship.

Later that morning Blair visited some patients as Jim stayed at the doctor's house to keep Fergus company. Fergus had gotten out of bed that morning as he was feeling better and stronger. The doctor was very pleased with his progress. Jim and Fergus played cards for a while and just chatted inconsequentially.

When Blair returned home around lunchtime and walked through the front door, there was a delightful aroma in the air. He walked into the kitchen and found Jim beavering away.

"I hope you don't mind," Jim said when he noticed Blair come into the kitchen. "But I cooked lunch."

"Of course not, you live here too. Are you sure you feel up to it though?""

Jim realised Blair was asking him as his friend and not as his doctor.

"I feel fine, even better now that I'm earning my keep."

"Well if it tastes as good as it smells you can stay here forever" and Jim smiled. "I'll just wash up," Blair added walking over to the door.

He looked in on Fergus who was sat up in bed looking hopeful.

"What's that smell?" he asked.

"Jim's cooking lunch."

"Jim! Great, that man can rustle up a gourmet meal with literally no ingredients what so ever."

Blair smiled as he left to get ready for the expected meal.

The meal was as delicious as it promised to be. Jim had cooked cornbread, steak with vegetables and even baked an apple pie.

"That was amazing," Blair commented after he'd consumed a second piece of apple pie.

"There's more pie left," Jim said.

"I couldn't eat another bite," Blair replied, patting his comfortably full stomach. "I need to do some home visits outside of town this afternoon but I'm not sure I can move."

"Visits where?" Jim asked wondering how far Blair's practice reached.

"The Duwamish are an Indian tribe outside of Cascade. I usually visit them once a week."

"They let you treat them?"

"Yes. They were sceptical at first but I treated the tribe's chief and shaman called Seahawk. He was suffering with pains in his chest, though I couldn't find anything wrong with him. He made a miraculous recovery and after that the rest of the tribe welcomed me with open arms. I think that Seahawk wasn't as sick as he pretended to be."

"Why did he do that?"

"He's a very wise man. I think he knew I had powerful medicine and trusted me." Jim could relate to that he had felt at ease with Blair the moment he had first met him, as he had an easy way about him. "Why don't you come with me? It's only an hour's ride and there's something I'd like to show you on the way back."

"Okay," Jim replied intrigued. "Sounds good."

"I don't think I could ride just yet though," Blair laughed, he was too full from the incredible meal.

>>>>>>>>>>

Jim let Blair lead him north to the Duwamish tribe. They rode through fertile land, lush and verdant. Tall trees clung to the sides of tall cliffs but Blair knew where he was going. Jim admired the scenery. White clouds scudded across the tops of the mountains in the distance. He could see them clearly but he closed his eyes and tried to force his eyesight to become normal. He had difficulty sometimes maintaining his focus and it caused him to have headaches.

"Are you okay Jim?" Blair asked his friend and patient, as he could see his forehead was creased and he wondered if it was from physical pain or a painful memory.

"I'm fine," Jim replied opening his eyes and looking at his concerned friend.

"I have trouble with my senses sometimes and I find myself focusing too much on one thing. I'm okay."

Blair was thinking, his natural instincts as a doctor coming to the fore. He wanted to help his friend. He had no experience with someone whose senses bothered them. It was not something he had studied at medical school.

"Tell me more about the problems you have with your senses."

And Jim told Blair about how he could see further, smell things, hear things. In fact all five of his senses were better than average. Blair listened with rapt attention. Jim went on to further explain how they could sometimes spiral out of control. He could focus on something and lose a period of time. It was unsettling sometimes.

Blair absorbed everything his friend told him.

"It's not far now to the Duwamish," Blair replied and they continued to ride, his mind churning over on ways to help and alleviate his friend's sensory symptoms.

The Duwamish settlement was alive with activity. They were a peaceful race and lived in large wooden longhouses. Both men were welcomed enthusiastically by the tribe's children, who ran round their horses laughing and smiling. They weren't scared by Jim's presence, instead they had a natural curiosity for white men. Jim followed Blair to the largest longhouse. It sat near to the edge of the ocean.

Immediately a tall Indian came out of the dwelling and walked over to Blair.

"Greetings Shaman," he said in English.

"Greetings Seahawk," Blair replied in Duwamish. Visiting the Duwamish regularly he had slowly learned words in their language and he had taught them words from his own. He could hold simple conversations in their language, so long as they didn't speak too fast. "Jim, Seahawk is the tribe's leader and shaman. Seahawk this is Jim Ellison."

Seahawk regarded the white man with two dark brown intelligent eyes.

"Welcome Jim Ellison," he said.

"Thank you," Jim replied inclining his head in respect to the man's position.

"Shaman pleased you and you friend to come in and refresh yourselves," the tribe's leader said.

"Thank you, we would be honoured," Blair responded.

Blair allowed one of the children to take his horse's reins and he indicated to his friend to let Lightning be put into the care of the tribe. Blair took his medical bag off the back of Roman's saddle before the roan was lead way. Seahawk walked into the longhouse and Blair and Jim followed.

The interior of the longhouse was cavernous and smelled of bread and various cooking smells. They assaulted Jim's senses but he didn't let them overwhelm him. Seahawk went and sat on a mound of furs beside a large hearth and Blair sat opposite him and Jim went and sat besides Blair.

The tribe's leader was regarding Jim with curiosity. The Duwamish had not seen many white men and they had a natural curiosity about them. After a few moments they were served with hot tea by Seahawk's wife Running Dear. Jim sipped his tea with interest. It tasted earthy and he had no idea what was in it but it wasn't unpleasant.

Jim was amazed by how civilised the Duwamish were. They treated their guests with nothing but courtesy. Jim glanced round him as Seahawk and Blair talked. The longhouse was plain, a few furs adorned the walls but the majority of the floor was covered with them. It made the room hospitable and warm. He tuned back in to what the two men were saying but they were still conversing in Duwamish.

"Have you any patients for me?" Blair asked Seahawk in Duwamish.

"Yes," Seahawk replied. "One of the babies is crying and coughing all the time."

"Sounds like it could be croup."

"And Stalking Elk has pain in his joints."

"I'll take a look," the doctor replied as he finished his tea and stood up.

"Your friend is welcomed to look round whilst you help my people," Seahawk said. Blair repeated what Seahawk had said to his friend in English.

"Thank you," Jim replied standing also.

Jim watched Blair go to treat his patients as he wandered round the village. It was alive with the Duwamish who watched him cautiously but with smiles and pleasantries. Blair had told him the Duwamish word for 'hello' so he used it whenever anyone noticed him. He watched women preparing various food items. Some were preparing hides. He saw men honing knives and some of the older members of the tribe just sitting quietly and talking amongst themselves.

Suddenly he was surrounded by a large number of the tribe's children whom they had seen coming into camp. They were exuberant with their curiosity, their cries, laughs and screams, were a little too much for Jim to take. He found his hearing too loud and his head started to ache. He didn't know what to do as he didn't want to offend anyone, but then an elderly Duwamish man shouted to the children sharply and they quickly scattered. He came over to Jim and put a gentle hand on his shoulder. He spoke to him in Duwamish, and although he didn't understand what he was saying, he understood the sentiment, and the man smiled kindly at Jim. He was nearly as tall as Jim and was in his fifties, his black hair had more strands of white than black and he had wrinkles round his twinkling eyes. There was a quiet compassion in his eyes as he led Jim to the porch area of a longhouse and indicated for Jim to sit down.

Jim was feeling a little shaky and was glad to sit down. He sat back and savoured the relative peace. The other Indians were watching him curiously and Jim smiled back at them. Feeling better now that it was quiet again.

Blair came over to Jim presently and said he had treated his patients. He could see Jim looked pale and tired, though he looked calm and relaxed. It had only been a few days since he had been injured himself.

"We'll head back to Cascade now," Blair told Jim.

The kindly Indian told Blair how the children had made a nuisance of themselves and the doctor thanked him for taking care of his friend. Blair waved to his Duwamish friends as he and Jim rode out of the camp.

"I smell fish," Jim stated.

"The Duwamish pay me in fish for my medical services," Blair smiled as he indicated his bulging saddlebags. "Fish for supper tonight"

"Why did Seahawk call you a shaman?"

"It's the only word they have for someone who treats the physical and spiritual needs of the tribe. It's their only word for doctor."

They rode for half an hour until they came to a river that was enshrouded by dense trees.

"We'll leave the horses here, it's only a few minutes from here," Blair explained.

The doctor led Jim through the trees to the edge of the river. Jim could hear something in the distance getting louder; there was a definite roar of some kind, which was muted by the dense trees.

Once they were at the river, Jim could see why his friend had wanted him to see this. The waterfall was thirty feet in front of them. It had to be sixty feet high, a ribbon of water that cascaded over a rugged lip of sandstone and plunged towards the river below. The tiny droplets of water were suspended in the air for a moment before plummeting down to coalesce with the river below. Jim felt his eyes focusing in on the individual droplets of water and followed them down. Blair's hand on his shoulder interrupted his focus and he realised he had become lost for a few seconds by the mesmerising trickle of water. Jim assured his friend he was okay.

"You should see this place when we've had some rain. The waterfall's at least four times its present size."

The sun was shining on them and there was nothing but the hypnotic sound of the waterfall and the odd insect chirping and bird singing in their immediate vicinity. It was the perfect place.

"It's incredible," Jim said mesmerised by the falling white water.

Blair could see Jim's whole demeanour relaxing. The trip to the Duwamish had been too much for his friend. The children were rambunctious and had made the problems with his senses more acute. Blair was using every scrap of medical knowledge he possessed to find a way to help his friend overcome his sensory impediment. The waterfall never failed to revitalise and rejuvenate his thoughts. The peace and tranquillity was inspiring.

"Are there any waterfalls like this where you're from?" Blair asked Jim.

"No," Jim replied, remembering his home, the home he had left over ten years previously. "I grew up on a plantation near Georgia. My mom died when I was quite young and my father ruled with a rod of iron. Nothing my brother or I did was ever good enough for him. As I was the eldest he expected me to take over from him. Then the war broke out. The Civil War years were tough. I was only seven when the war broke out. My father tried to hang on to his slaves."

"Your father had slaves," Blair replied horrified.

Jim nodded. "I was only a boy, I didn't understand. It was just our way of life. My father was a traditionalist. To him it was a way of life. He was never the same after the war. My brother runs the plantation now. The slaves were freed, some stayed on, some left. You have to understand my father was a firm but fair man where the slaves were concerned. He only ever treated his slaves as human beings, not like some of the slave owners did."

"Even though he owned them."

"It wasn't perfect I admit."

"What about you?"

"I left home as soon as I could. Not because of the slave issue but because of my father. We never really got on. I left home at fifteen and joined the Army. I lied about my age. I spent ten years in the Army. Then my father died and I went home to Georgia. But I didn't fit in and soon left. My brother Steven is very happy there and the plantation is doing well. But it wasn't home for me anymore. So I left and just drifted, I've never found anywhere I wanted to set down roots."

"What about your family?" Jim asked his friend.

"I told you about my mom and how I've lost contact with her," and Jim nodded sadly for his friend. "But you know I truly believe I'll see her again one day."

Blair took out his gold pocket watch from his waistcoat pocket. He looked at it reverently for a moment.

"My Mom gave me this before I left for medical school. It belonged to her dad. It's all I have of my family, barring some memories."

Jim nodded in understanding and then asked "What about your Dad?"

"My Mom never told me who he was."

"That's tough," Jim replied.

Blair nodded and then continued. "I was a war baby. I think my father was a Union soldier and was probably killed in the war. She would always cry whenever I asked about him, so eventually I stopped asking."

"Perhaps she'll get chance to tell you one day."

"Maybe," Blair replied thoughtfully and then he looked at his friend. "You know if we'd have been older when war broke out we'd have been on opposing sides."

Neither man liked the sound of that, coming face to face with the other on a battlefield with the sole intention of killing the other. How many other people had faced their friends during that war and even had had to kill their friends for their country. The Civil War had been a terrible ordeal for both sides. The two friends hoped the country never split itself down the middle again and ended up at war, hoping that any differences could be settled peacefully with words instead of guns.

"Blair, would you have fought if you had been called to?"

"I'm a doctor Jim; I'm sworn to preserve life. But I also believe that people should be free. I don't know if I could ever raise an arm against another man. What about you?"

"I agree but it was hard for men of my father's generation to change their way of life. I've been in the Army and fought for my country, I'm very patriotic to my country but also doing what's right is important to me. The war changed the south forever."

"I'm just glad we didn't have to choose or test our beliefs," Blair said.

Jim couldn't help but agree wholeheartedly with that "Let's go home," Jim said.

He put his arm round Blair's shoulder, and taking a last appraising look at the waterfall, he guided his friend away from the natural wonder.

>>>>>>>>>>

Next morning Jim left early to ride to the silver mine to ask about work. Whilst he was gone, Blair checked his patient and found that Fergus was healing well. The doctor told him that he was well enough to be discharged. Fergus had been thinking whilst he had been laid up about his future. He had decided that he had had enough of working on the move. He had a sister who lived in Denver and planned to go stay with her for a while. Fergus told Blair he was intending to leave soon. Blair knew that Jim would be upset when his friend left.

Blair had had some ideas on how to help his friend and he went about putting them into action whilst Jim was gone.

>>>>>>>>>>

Jim rode into the main area of the silver mine. The sign said 'Sareston Douglas Silver Mine'. There was a log building near to the entrance and two further smaller buildings nearby. The silver mine itself was a large maw in the side of the hill beyond. Jim couldn't see far inside the circular hole that indicated where rock had been blasted and moved by hand in search of the silver metal inside. He didn't like the look or feel of the place and he'd only been there for a few minutes. As he gazed into the entrance tunnel he hated the thought of being underground. The darkness seemed to suck at his eyesight, trying to draw it in and trap it inside into that darkness. He wasn't sure how far underground the tunnels went or what conditions were like, but if they offered him a job, Jim thought he might have to take it. Maybe it wouldn't be as bad as his tortured mind was dredging up. He'd never worked in a mine before and had nothing to compare it to; so maybe this mine was okay after all. He kept telling himself that, trying desperately to believe it.

There were no jobs in Cascade so he might have to take this job or move on. He didn't want to do that. He liked Cascade and he liked Blair. Blair seemed to understand what he was going through and it was right that a problem shared was a problem halved. He felt more relaxed and at ease than he had for a very long time.

Jim spoke to the silver mine's foreman a man by the name of Buck Tavandish. He told Jim there could be an opening and that he would have to speak to the manager first. Jim wasn't sure he wanted the job but he left it hanging before riding back to Cascade. Letting destiny take its course.

When he got back to Blair's house, he could hear movement in the basement. He went to the door that led down to the basement from the kitchen. Blair came up immediately on hearing Jim call him. He had some dust and cobwebs clinging to his clothes, as if he'd been tidying up or something down there. Blair was being mysterious about what he was doing in the basement but Jim was a guest in his house so he didn't feel like he could pry. So he let it drop.

"How was the mine?" Blair asked. He decided to tell his friend that Fergus was leaving later.

"I'm not sure I like the idea of working underground at that place," Jim replied truthfully. "But I don't know if I have much choice."

"Well whilst you were at the mine. I had an idea. Come with me."

Jim's curiosity was roused and he followed his friend outside to a building two doors down from the doctor's house. The building was empty. Smiling Blair produced the key and opened the door.

"What is this place?" Jim asked.

"It used to be a restaurant but the owner died and no one wanted to take it on. It's been empty for six months," Blair explained.

Inside was a large room. Tables and chairs had been piled up and covered in old sheets on one side. The floor was covered in dust and there were cobwebs hanging from the ceiling. Motes of dust hung in the air, stirred up by their feet as they walked in.

"I went to the bank this morning and spoke to the manager about renting the building."

"I don't understand," Jim replied.

"Jim you like cooking, and I've tasted your food. Cascade is crying out for a good restaurant. I thought you could open the restaurant up."

Jim was staring at Blair incredulously, his mind not taking in the words. He could have been speaking Duwamish for all the sense he was making. Jim was totally speechless.

"Jim I want to go into business with you. The majority of the stuff's already here. Whilst you were at the mine, I came and had a look around. There's a large kitchen and a lot of the equipment is already still in place. This place doesn't need that much doing to it. A bit of a clean, some TLC and she'll be ready to open."

"I...I don't know what to say."

"Think about it as I show you around."

Jim let Blair show him round the building. The kitchen was large with an equally large store room off of it. A large room under the floor made a good cold larder for perishable foods. It was perfect. Jim's mind finally caught up and he saw the potential in the place. There were three rooms upstairs; one he could turn into an office and the other two into bedrooms or extra storage rooms.

It also meant he would have a job and he didn't need to take a job at the silver mine. He could stay in Cascade and earn his keep. He turned to Blair who was looking immeasurably pleased with himself.

"You could even live here if you wanted to, there's plenty of room upstairs," the doctor said but he had to admit he enjoyed having Jim living at his house.

"Do you want me to move out?" Jim asked wondering if he had overstayed his welcome.

"No," Blair replied straight away. "It's been nice having a roommate. I'd miss you if you left Jim," and Jim knew Blair was telling the truth.

"I'd like to keep living with you if you'll have me," Jim replied.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," and Blair grinned, a weight lifting off of him. "So, what do you think?" Blair asked.

"What do I think? I think it's perfect, Doc."

"I knew it; I knew you'd see the potential too."

"What happens if something goes wrong though?"

"I put the doctor's surgery up as collateral."

"Oh Blair I don't know about that. It's too much of a risk."

"Pah!" Blair replied. "I've tasted your cooking, once people start eating here you'll be an instant success and I'll help you out whenever I can."

Jim felt his emotions threatening to break loose. No one had ever done anything so incredible for him before. He was a man of few words and found it difficult to articulate what he felt inside. At the moment he was full of gratitude and totally overwhelmed by his friend's generosity and forethought.

"Th-thank you," he managed to say.

"You're welcome," Blair replied. "So we're partners, then."

"Partners, I like the sound of that," Jim replied.

Jim and Blair shook hands to finalise their business agreement and the hand shake quickly turned into a hug.

"Thank you Blair."

Jim looked round again, his mind buzzing at the things he wanted to do and how he wanted to approach the venture. He had never felt so energised and invigorated. He was the happiest he had ever felt in his life. He was finally going to have a permanent home and be doing something he wanted to do and enjoyed doing. And he had Blair to thank for all of it.

>>>>>>>>>>

CHAPTER 3

Jim's injuries healed a little more each day and Blair was soon able to remove the stitches. Jim felt content and having a real purpose in his life, he threw himself into the renovations of the restaurant, working from sunup until sundown. Blair helped him as much as he could when he wasn't seeing to his patients. Between them they cleaned, painted, took stock and prepared for reopening.

As Jim dusted the restaurant he sneezed a lot, the dust irritating his sensitive olfactory senses. Blair smiled after listening to another hefty bout of his friend's sneezing.

"Bad case of sternutation you got there Jim," Blair stated.

"What?" Jim replied as he wiped his running eyes.

"Sneezing Jim," the doctor replied with a smile.

Jim just shook his head and gave another hearty sneeze. Soon the dust was under control after they had wiped everything down and cleaned vigorously. The restaurant was looking spick and span and was definitely to Jim's satisfaction.

Blair was pretty handy with a hammer and nails and helped Jim repair some broken furniture. Soon the dining room was filled with tables and chairs awaiting their first customers.

During this time Fergus left. Jim was sad to see his friend leave. He even offered him a job at the restaurant but Fergus wanted to see his sister in Denver. They had always been close and his brush with death had instilled a desire in him to see her again. Jim told him that he could come back any time to the restaurant and he would always have a job waiting for him.

Fergus visited the restaurant to see the work being done and he was impressed.

"It looks good," he said. He turned to his friend, tears in his eyes. "Aye Jamie lad you're a good man, I'm going to miss you." Fergus stated as he hugged his friend goodbye. Then the Scotsman turned to the doctor. "Thank you Doctor Sandburg for all your good care."

"You're welcome Fergus. Have a safe trip," Blair replied.

The doctor wouldn't take any payment from Jim's friend for his doctor's services or for letting him stay on at his house until he was ready to leave. He knew he would need every penny of his severance pay to start again in Denver. Fergus was overwhelmed by the doctor's kindness. Then Blair left the two friends to say their final goodbyes.

Jim walked Fergus to the stage and waited with him until it was time for him to get onboard and then all too soon the stagecoach was racing out of Cascade. He was going to miss Fergus, they'd been through a lot together over the past few years. But it was a chapter of his life that was over now as the stagecoach disappeared from view out of Cascade, Blair and Cascade were his future now.

When Jim was busy working on the restaurant, Blair was busy on his other project in the basement, which he was keeping a surprise for his friend. He was also working on diagnosing why Jim's senses were so acute. He had done some simple tests and discovered just how far Jim could see, how incredible his sense of smell was, his hearing was the sharpest he'd ever seen, his touch and taste receptors both above any normal persons. Blair sent telegraph wires to some doctor colleagues to see if they had any met any patients with like symptoms. Though the condition wasn't detrimental to Jim's health, and he was perfectly well; it was piquing the scientist in the doctor.

The restaurant was finished after five days of intense work. Using his pay from the railroad Jim had ordered some supplies, extra table cloths, lanterns, cutlery and crockery and they would take some time to arrive, but in the meantime he could open his restaurant and start getting customers through the doors.

That is if any customers came.

Jim got the newspaper to print some basic posters for him advertising the restaurant and when it would be opening. He also took out an advert in the paper. They put the posters round Cascade. They also told anyone they met and Blair was always sure to mention to his patients about the grand opening of the new restaurant.

Blair could see that Jim was nervous about the opening the next day. After supper Blair decided to show his friend his surprise. So far he had had six replies from his medical peers and no one could shed any light on his friend's heightened senses. Blair was making it up as he went along and he could see how his friend struggled sometimes with extraneous noise or smells. So Blair had a sort of solution, which he hoped would help and he just hoped Jim thought so too. The doctor picked up a lantern and took his friend down into the basement.

"What are we doing down here Doc?" Jim asked. "You want me to get that sternutation again?"

Blair smiled. "It's a bit dusty sorry; I've been working down here. Sort of a pet project you could say," Blair explained.

"What working on the restaurant not enough for you?" Jim joked.

Blair didn't say anything but took his friend over to a sectioned off corner of the basement, which had created a smaller inner room. Blair opened the door and stepped inside and then Jim followed him inside.

Jim looked round the small room a little apprehensively. The walls, floor and ceiling were all padded. There was a bed and a lantern on the wall. Other than that the room was bare.

"It's a padded cell!" Jim cried, not being able to hide the antipathy from his voice. A little hurt and shocked his friend would create such a room for him. Had he mistaken his friend's understanding of the problem he had been having with his senses so acutely?

"No, no Jim," Blair admonished. "It's a quiet room. Whenever your senses act up come here. It's soundproof, the material on the bed and walls are feather soft so they won't irritate your skin. The lantern has a subdued light so it won't be too bright for your eyes. My only intention was to help you. I hope you're not offended?"

Jim was speechless. His friend had created this for him to help him. Now that he mentioned it, it was quiet here and that was with the door wide open.

"I don't know what to say," Jim responded. Overwhelmed by his friend's generosity and caring.

"You don't have to say anything."

Jim felt overwhelmed. "When Fergus left he said that I was a good man. He was wrong, you're the good man. To do this for me...." then Jim choked and up he couldn't speak.

"I just hope it helps you," Blair replied quietly.

"Thank you, Blair I'm sure it will."

>>>>>>>>>>

The next morning was dreary and wet. It had started raining sometime during the night and it didn't look like stopping in the foreseeable future. Jim didn't let it put a damper on his day. Today was the first day of the start of his new life. After breakfast Blair had gone off to do his rounds. Jim went to the restaurant. He was opening at 11 o'clock and wanted to start preparing the first meals. He planned to bake some bread and muffins and then wait and hope for his first customers to walk through the doors.

>>>>>>>>>>

Blair had to ride out to a farm on the outskirts of the town to check on the toddler son of the farmer who had a nasty case of whooping cough. As he rode back into town after seeing his patient the doctor thought about his friend. It was after midday, according to his grandfather's pocket watch, the restaurant would be open. Blair had wished he could have been there for the actual opening of the doors but his patients came first. Luckily his friend knew that and accepted it on face value.

After Blair put Roman in the barn out back he went straight to the restaurant. He could hear people's voices before he got to the door. As he walked inside he was pleased to see that it was pretty full of people already. Blair knew that Jim was working on his own. He hadn't hired any staff yet as he wasn't sure if he would have any customers. It looked like the customers were pleased with their food too. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable. Blair went straight into the kitchen.

"Need any help?"

Jim's head snapped upon hearing his friend's voice.

"I could kiss you!" Jim replied the relief evident in his voice.

Blair smiled at his friend, he looked like he had been run ragged but he was enjoying himself immensely. He could see the look of pure satisfaction and fulfilment on his face. Blair took off his jacket. "What do you want me to do?"

"Deliver these meals. The table nearest the door."

"The Jenkins."

"That's right," Jim replied.

"Consider it done."

"Thanks Doc," Jim replied.

The next few hours saw Jim and Blair working together to cater to the hungry Cascadians who had flocked to Jim's restaurant. By four o'clock there was on a handful of customers left, eating cake and drinking coffee.

Jim and Blair sat in the kitchen too tired to move and enjoying a welcome cup of coffee themselves. Neither had had time for lunch despite the meals they had dished out.

"Well I call that a success," Blair stated. "Mr Jenkins raved about your apple pie and Mrs O'Mally said she had never tasted cornbread so light. I had a few comments about my 'day job' waiting tables. I don't suppose it's every day that the town's doctor has two jobs."

"I think we've created a monster," Jim said after the coffee had started to revive him. His feet were killing him. "They'll be coming back for supper later," he groaned.

Blair laughed. "I think you need to hire some help," Blair replied as he tried to move his aching feet in his shoes.

Jim nodded.

"You know I'll help you in whatever way I can."

"Thank you Blair," Jim replied. "Without you none of this would have been possible."

"You're welcome, though my feet are objecting wholeheartedly to another shift tonight. You don't need to thank me, I'm just glad the restaurant's a success."

After the evening meals were served both men were tired by 10pm and Jim closed the restaurant. Any customers now would probably go to the saloon for alcohol rather than food. It had been a phenomenally successful first day. Exhausted they went back to the doctor's house and were soon in bed.

Jim lay awake for a few minutes as his mind tried to catch up with what had happened to his life. He was tired but it was a good exhaustion as his tired eyes finally closed; but he had a huge smile still on his face.

It was just after midnight when Jim woke, something had disturbed him. He listened with his heightened hearing and could hear voices down the street. At first he thought it was just the saloon's revellers but there was something nagging at him. He got out of bed and went to the window, opening it he looked up the street. The moon was shining on the water in the bay causing the moon's twin to shimmer and ripple with the tide's movements. Though it was dark Jim's heightened eyesight could see people milling about outside the sheriff's office. He listened and heard the word 'mine', 'trapped' and 'cave-in'. He quickly concluded there was trouble at the mine. He also knew that Blair would probably be needed. Grabbing some clothes quickly he pulled on his trousers and a shirt and then grabbed his boots as he moved to Blair's room. He went in and shook his friend awake.

"Blair!"

"What!" the doctor replied, a little confused at being woken so promptly from a sound sleep but immediately knowing something was wrong from his friend's urgent tone.

"There's trouble at the mine," Jim explained. "I think you're going to be needed Doc."

"How do you know?" Blair asked as he sat up in bed, scrubbing the last vestiges of sleep from his eyes.

"Heard some folks talking outside the sheriff's office."

Blair's eyebrows rose in delight at the distance that entailed for his friend to have heard voices let alone heard what they were saying.

"I'll go find out what's happening?" Jim said as he pulled on his boots and rushed from the room.

Blair grabbed his clothes and hastily put them on. In his mind he was thinking what medical supplies he might need, wondering what conditions they might face at a cave-in. Blair quickly finished putting medical supplies in his bag and extra supplies in a saddlebag. He knew he would possibly need bandages and other implements, though he couldn't take everything he wanted to, just the bare necessities. Jim came running back in.

"Looks bad," Jim stated his voice grim. "Ten men have been trapped underground for over six hours. I'll saddle Roman and Lightning. You 'bout ready to leave Doc?"

"Yes," Blair replied looking round one last time and mentally counting off what he had already packed.

Blair joined Jim out back and they rode out with the sheriff and his deputies to the Sareston Douglas Silver Mine to see what could be done for the trapped men.

>>>>>>>>>>

CHAPTER 4

Jim, Blair, the sheriff and two deputies arrived at the mine. There was a deathly silence hanging in the air as they entered the site. Men were hanging round the entrance with their heads down, looking dejected and exhausted. The foreman Buck Tavandish was there amongst the men but it didn't look like much was being done to rescue the trapped miners.

The men dismounted from their horses and went over to the group.

"Buck," the sheriff said. "What's the situation?"

"Sheriff Solon I'm so glad you're here. We've got ten men trapped with no chance of getting to them. It's too risky. There's no way we can get to them," he re-iterated.

"Your man said there had been a cave-in," the sheriff stated.

"Yes, in the main shaft."

"There must be some way to reach the men?" Blair asked, not ready to give up on the trapped men just yet.

"Doctor Sandburg you're also a mining expert I take it," Tavandish said not a little sarcastically.

"No, of course not, but there are ten men trapped and they might need medical help."

"Don't you think we've already tried everything possible," Tavandish replied emphatically. "I asked the sheriff here...because some local men work in the mine. Families need to be told."

"You can't give up on them yet," Blair knew he wasn't ready to give up on the men yet.

"Don't worry Doc, we'll do all we can to rescue the men," Jim said to Blair. "Tavandish have you a map of the mine?"

"In my office. So you're a mine expert too."

"No, but if I was trapped in that mine I would hope that someone out here was doing everything feasible to get me out."

Tavandish nodded and Jim and Blair followed the foreman to his office. Jim pored over the map memorising every shaft and tunnel.

"The cave-in's here," Tavandish stated pointing to a spot on the map.

"What about this tunnel," Jim pointed out a tunnel which ran parallel to the other tunnel that contained the cave-in.

"That tunnel isn't used anymore, it's blocked. I've already sent men down to check and they tell me it's impassable."

Jim had a feeling that that tunnel might be the men's only chance. Blair was looking at him with anticipation hoping that he had the answers. That his special senses might be able to detect something the other men couldn't.

"We'll check it out," Jim said and Blair nodded at him in agreement.

"It's a waste of time," Tavandish reiterated.

"It's our time to waste," Jim replied as he and Blair moved quickly from the office.

Blair grabbed his medical supplies and at the mine's entrance they were given hard hats and a lantern each. Silently both men walked into the mine.

The mine was dank and cold. The air was damp and water dripped everywhere. It ran down the walls and pooled on the floor, making the ground muddy and treacherous underfoot. Their boots squelched as they walked. Blair followed his friend who deftly knew where he was going. They checked the cave-in first but it was solidly blocked with huge boulders. There was no chance of getting the men out that way. Then they followed the disused tunnel until they came to the blocked area.

Blair remained silent as he let Jim scan the blockage for any signs that they could get through it.

"I can feel an air current," Jim stated as he gazed at the dark lumps of rock.

"I can't feel or see a thing," Blair replied at his left side.

Jim's pupils dilated, nearly totally obscuring the pale blue of his irises. In the darkened tunnel it looked like it was more like twilight to his eyes and not the near darkness they found themselves in.

Jim followed the disturbance he felt in the air to the right hand side near to the roof. He climbed up the debris of boulders and saw a slight opening. He moved some of the smaller rocks aside and a few more clattered down, moved by the disturbance he was creating.

"Watch out Doc," Jim said as the boulders cascaded to the ground.

"Okay Jim," Blair replied taking a step back.

Jim continued to move rocks out of the way and the air current increased. After a few minutes Jim glanced into the widening hole and looked through.

"I think we can get through here," he announced.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Jim replied. "Roof looks stable. It looks a tight squeeze but I'm sure we can get through. I'll go first."

"Be careful Jim."

"I will," Jim replied and Blair could hear a scraping noise and then a muffled sound. Jim moved rocks aside as he advanced.

Blair raised his lantern and saw his friend's mud encrusted boots disappear into the hole near the ceiling. The doctor scrambled up the boulders to the hole and shone his lantern into the breach. He couldn't see very far.

"Jim."

"Yeah, I'm here Doc." Jim replied.

"It's about a seven foot crawl. Pass your bag through and then your lantern. I'll grab them and then guide you through."

"Okay," Blair replied doing as he was told.

When the lantern had disappeared through the gap, Blair was suddenly plunged into total darkness. He couldn't see his hand in front of his face and he purposely took deep breaths to keep at bay the hysteria that was very near to the surface. He trusted Jim but this darkness was all encompassing and not a little frightening. It felt like the darkness was suffocating.

"Okay Doc," Jim's voice said from the other side. He was holding up a lantern giving Blair something to focus on. "You'll have to crawl on your belly."

Blair lifted himself up into the gap and started to crawl forward. He crawled with his arms, every now and again feeling a bit of jagged rock sticking out from the side of the crawlspace or from the roof. The doctor focused on the light Jim was hold up, as he guided him telling him to duck his head or watch out for something from the side. It felt like hours, but in reality only a few minutes later, and Blair was on the other side of the obstruction.

When Blair was on the ground on the other side of the blockage, the first thing he noticed was that his feet were ankle deep in water. He could hear it steadily trickling all around them.

"Well have to be quick," Jim said, not wanting Blair to be concerned but knowing that the mine was filling up with water from all the rain they'd had recently.

"How far?" Blair asked.

"In about forty feet there's a passageway that links up with the other tunnel. We should be about thirty feet or so from the trapped miners then."

Jim handed Blair his lantern and the two men set off, splashing and squelching along the disused tunnel.

"Stay close," Jim said and Blair had every intention of doing just that. He wasn't sure where he was and was relying on Jim's instincts to lead them safely in and safely back out again.

They found the passageway, which was thankfully still open, and went through into the main passage. They trudged through the water which was now at calf height. They weren't in any imminent danger but it looked like the tunnel would totally flood at some stage in the future.

"I smell blood," Jim suddenly said in the darkness.

Blair was getting fed up of tripping over rocks and other obscured bits of rock on the uneven ground. He knew Jim was sure footed even in the gloomy interior. If the situation wasn't so serious he would ask his friend what he could actually see in the mine. Blair couldn't see much further than the dim light his lantern was casting.

The tunnel veered to the left and they came round a bend.

"I see something," Jim said.

"What is it Jim?" Blair couldn't see anything in the all encompassing darkness.

"I see movement. They're alive."

They sloshed through the water with more urgency now that their goal was in sight.

"Hello!!" Jim said as they increased their pace.

"Hello," replied a male voice in the darkness. "Thank God!"

There were the moans and cries of jubilation of more male voices as they realised rescuers had found them.

Blair was thinking that Jim had smelled blood so there were definitely some injuries. In the darkness they came upon a group of men huddled together. Jim counted six of them.

"Is anyone injured?" Jim asked.

"Smith's the worst off," one of the men said. "The rest of us are pretty banged up, a few broken bones but we're okay."

"I'm Doctor Sandburg," Blair said as he immediately started to check each man's condition.

The majority of them were walking wounded. One man had a broken arm and another cracked ribs. The other three men had some nasty cuts and bruises but they were otherwise fine. The sixth man was another matter. His left arm was wedged under the worst of the cave-in. The arm looked crushed from what Blair could see. He was lying in the water on the floor of the tunnel and he looked cold and in shock.

"How did you get in here?" one of the miners asked Jim.

"We came in through the disused tunnel. We managed to create an opening and squeeze through. It's our only way out," Jim told them. "We were told ten men were trapped," Jim added.

"Four men are under that," the miner said bitterly indicating the rock fall. "They were ahead of us. They couldn't have escaped."

Jim scrutinised the blockage and could detect no life beneath it.

Blair was checking out his last patient and didn't like what he found. Smith was lying on the floor in the cold water which was now up to his chest. The water was steadily rising and Blair knew the man would drown if they couldn't get him out. He did what he could for the man which wasn't much in the conditions. They had to extricate him and release his trapped arm and they had to do it quickly.

"Jim," the doctor said calling his friend aside.

"We need to get Smith out of here quickly. How do we move that boulder that's pinning his arm?"

"We don't," Jim replied gravely.

"What do you mean? We've got to; he'll drown if we don't!"

"Doc, if we try to move any part of that rockslide the roof will give way."

"But we moved part of that other rock fall to get in here."

"That was different that rock fall was stable. This is, this is entirely different. The boulders are a lot bigger.

Jim's enhanced eyes were taking in the blockage. There were tons of rock above their heads and who knew how many feet it went into the tunnel beyond. He could hear the miniscule creaks in the ceiling above them, any change in the circumstances of that cave-in and the whole tunnel would fall in on their heads.

"Doc," Jim added soberly. "The man's arm is crushed, even if we did move the boulder the outcome would still be the same."

Jim didn't say in words what he was thinking but Blair knew immediately to what he was inferring. The only recourse was to amputate the man's arm.

"Jim, I can't amputate that man's arm in here! The conditions are not exactly ideal for surgery of any kind. It's dark, wet and hardly sterile."

"It's his only chance."

Blair wiped his hand over his face, suddenly feeling the pressure of what was being asked of him. He was wondering if he could perform the surgery and thinking what he had in his medical bag to accomplish the task. He knew he had everything he needed. But could he do it and under these conditions? He knew he had no choice, time was running out.

Blair was remembering what he had read about surgeons in the Civil War and how they had amputated limbs proficiently and in mere minutes. They were so proficient at it, through necessity. Often amputating because it was easier than trying to save the limb, time and resources were against them due to the sheer number of casualties constantly arriving from the battlefield. This wasn't the Civil War but time was definitely against them as were the conditions.

Blair nodded to Jim and went back to his patient. He knelt down next to him, so he could look him in the eye as he told him the grave diagnosis.

"Mr Smith," Blair began as he tried to find a way to tell his patient what he had to do to save his life. "We can't move the boulder off of your arm."

"What! You going to leave me here to die?"

"No, there is an alternative," Blair stated.

"What alternative?" the man was bordering on hypothermia from the cold water, let alone the shock of having his arm crushed by a huge piece of rock.

"I can amputate your arm," the doctor replied matter of factly, trying to remain calm and professional.

"No. No!! You can't do that!" Smith exclaimed starting to panic. "My arm. No! No!!"

"I'm sorry but it's the only way," the doctor replied sadly.

Jim came over and stood next to his friend.

"Mr Smith," Jim said squatting down. "The water is rising quicker now, we have to get out of here fast and it's a good walk out of here in difficult conditions. We've risked our lives to rescue you. I know it's not easy what the doctor is asking you to consider. But it's either your arm or your life. Which is it to be?"

Blair was a little horrified by his friend's diffidence and his cold tone, but he also knew he was right. There wasn't time to coddle the patient. It was life and death � all of theirs. Jim didn't tell anyone but the creaking in the roof was getting louder and more frequent. The tunnel was going to cave-in, he didn't know when for certain, only that it was definitely going to happen. Jim also knew that Blair wouldn't leave his patient willingly. And time was running out.

Smith was crying softly as he gave his permission to the doctor. Blair immediately began to prepare his medical equipment.

"Jim, I want you to hold this gauze over Mr Smith's nose and mouth, it's chloroform so don't breathe the fumes yourself. Pour a few drops on every few minutes." Blair instructed as he prepared his scalpel and small medical saw. He was going to cut the arm off just above the elbow.

Blair performed the operation quickly and efficiently. Jim was impressed with the way his friend wielded his scalpel, making deft work of the skin and muscle beneath. The sound of the saw going through bone echoed eerily round the tunnel, making the other miners wince and feel sympathy for their colleague and friend. Then Blair was cutting through the muscle and tissue on the other side of the arm, leaving a flap of skin to form a seal over the wound. Blood was flowing freely and Blair tied off the arm's artery to stop the man bleeding to death. He finished as quickly as he could, knowing he could properly sterilise and dress the wound once they were safely outside.

He indicated for Jim to remove the chloroform and soon the miner started to come round. Blair prepared some laudanum for his patient as he knew the journey from the mine would be painful and uncomfortable for him if he banged his arm. He bound the injured stump against the man's side to protect it as much as possible.

"He's ready," Blair said to Jim.

Jim nodded and picked Smith up and put him over his shoulder, preparing to carry him out. Smith moaned softly, the dose of laudanum keeping him oblivious to any pain he might feel. The water was now up to their thighs and still rising.

Jim ordered the other miners to follow him and with Blair bringing up the rear they started their trek out of the darkness. It was slow going and tiring wading through water, trying not to trip over unseen boulders and other hazards. Blair and Jim had worked solidly at the restaurant the day before and had only had a few hours' sleep before the situation at the mine had become known to them. Both men were exhausted and were functioning mainly on adrenaline. Jim was sure footed as he retraced their route. Blair was making sure the other miners kept up and none of them were left behind.

Finally they came up to the original rock fall in the derelict tunnel. This wasn't going to be easy to get the injured men through the tiny gap. The man with the injured ribs was going to find it really hard going. Blair gave doses of the laudanum to both injured men. Not enough to make them insensible but enough to help them get through the tight gap. If either of the men got stuck in the tight passage then the rest of them would be trapped with the rising water.

Smith was barely coherent, the cold, shock and blood loss were all taking their toll on the man. Jim went through the gap first, feet first, and then gradually he dragged Smith through behind him on his back.

Blair stood in the freezing cold water as one by one the miners crawled through the tunnel with the lantern. The water was up to his waist and he felt the coldness seeping into his bones. He held the lantern above his head. His teeth chattered as he waited for his turn. The doctor could almost hear the darkness calling to him all around him. The doctor in him reasoned he was a little hypothermic himself. He struggled with confusion for a few moments. Why was he so cold? Why was it so dark?

"...air. Blair...!!" Someone was calling his name, it was muffled and distant. "Doc will you get a move on!!!" It was Jim calling to him. "Don't make me come back there for you!!"

Jim sounded miffed and angry. Tiredly Blair climbed the rock fall to the hole.

"Jim?" even his voice sounded confused.

"Blair, thank god!" Jim shouted. "Are you okay?"

"C..cold," Blair replied, making no move to climb into the passageway.

"We're nearly there my friend, you've just got to come to me and then we'll be safe."

"Okay Jim," Blair said but didn't make a move. "It's too dark."

"You have to move your legs."

Legs? What were legs. Blair managed to inch forward. He pushed the lantern ahead of him and climbed into the crawl space. Jim pulled the lantern through and then held it up to shine into the gap, to light his friend's way. The miners were all waiting with the second lantern below.

"That's it, keep coming," Jim encouraged as his friend moved incrementally slowly forward.

Finally Blair was within grabbing distance and Jim grabbed onto his jacket and pulled him all the way through. Jim hugged the doctor to him. He was shivering and Jim could feel how cold he was and he helped him down to the floor below. This side of the rock fall was dry, the water not finding a way through yet.

The other miners were all sat on the tunnel floor, huddled together and resting for a few moments. Jim rubbed Blair's legs to get some warmth and circulation back into them. Suddenly he stopped and stood up and turned his head to listen. He could plainly hear a flash flood of water coursing ever closer through the tunnels behind the blockage.

We have to get out of here fast!!!" Jim shouted.

The miners immediately got to their feet and started moving quickly to the exit. Jim picked up Smith and slung him over his shoulder. Then he grabbed Blair to his side and started running fast down the tunnel. He could hear the roar of water behind them, behind the blockage. The rock fall held for a while but it coursed through the hole they had escaped through, creating a cascade of water into the tunnel behind them. The rock fall wasn't any match for the water and it easily smashed the blockage aside. Water and boulders careered down the tunnel towards the escaping men. The floor and walls began to shake, trying to upend them as they desperately sped towards the entrance to the mine and safety.

"Faster!!" Jim shouted as the first wave of the water lapped round their ankles. It quickly rose in height and soon threatened to sweep them off their feet, but Jim could see the entrance ahead.

"We're nearly there. Keep running!!" he shouted, keeping a tight hold of Blair and the miner over his shoulder. He was sure Blair was going to have bruises where he was holding his arm. There was no way he was letting Blair fall over in the miasma swirling round their feet. Jim heard a couple of the miners gasp as debris in the flood bumped into them, but they all kept on their feet and kept on running.

Finally they were out of the mine. Water cascading all round them. Other miners were helping their injured colleagues and someone took Smith from Jim's shoulders.

Jim sucked in huge lungfuls of air as he realised they had made it. Blair was on his knees next to him breathing harshly.

"You okay Doc?"

"Yeah...never better," Blair gasped. "Nothing like....a brisk run....to warm you up," he joked between gasps of breath. "You heard the flash flood coming didn't you?"

Jim nodded as the doctor rose to his feet, feeling a little warmer and steadier. Blair was incredulous that Jim had heard it coming. It had given them the extra time they had needed to escape.

"I've got patients to tend to," Blair said looking round to see where the injured miners had been taken to.

"Doc you need rest yourself," Jim said.

"I can rest when my patients are taken care of. All I need are some dry clothes and I'll be fine."

Jim knew there was no point in arguing with his friend. Jim spoke to the foreman and soon they both had clean, dry clothing and the doctor was busy tending to his patients. As Blair did his doctoring, Jim gave his account of what happened in the mine to the foreman Tavanish.

Tavanish knew that the mine was finished. There was no way they would ever be able to get it working again. The company would have to look elsewhere and start new mine workings. It was also regrettable that four men were still unaccounted for and it looked like they were buried beneath tonnes of rubble when the cave-in initially happened. The mine would be their tomb for eternity.

Jim went back to the main building which housed the men and which was now a 'hospital'. Blair was busy checking over the injured. He'd finished the amputation on Smith and cleaned and tidied up the flap of skin over the amputation site. He was pleased with the wound considering the conditions where he'd had to perform the surgery; and that barring any complications, the man would make a full recovery. Finally every injury was taken care of, every bone set and all the injured miners were resting comfortably.

The sun was long up and they've been at the mine for nine hours. Blair couldn't remember the last time he'd slept. Jim could see he was on the borders of exhaustion. He hovered attentively as Blair swayed on his feet slightly.

"Time for the doctor to take a piece of his own medicine I think," Jim said as he steered Blair to a bed.

"I do suddenly feel a little light headed," Blair admitted sitting down on the bed. Before he knew it he was lying down and Jim was covering him up.

"Sleep Blair."

"Doctor's orders!" the doctor said smiling but he was already feeling very comfortable and sleep was calling him. He was asleep in moments.

Jim lay on the next bed to his friend and watched him for a few minutes as he drifted further and further into sleep. He had been very impressed with his friend. Not just the professionalism he had showed in the mine; but the fact that he hadn't faltered into going in there in the first place. It had taken guts to go into a mine that had already caved in once, with the prospect of a second cave-in a real possibility.

A short time ago Jim had felt some slight tremors in the ground. He didn't think anyone else had felt them, but he knew the tunnel where they had been had finally caved in.

Blair was a rare person, honest, brave and Jim was proud to call him friend.

Finally he too succumbed to his own tiredness and his eyes closed and he slept.

>>>>>>>>>>

CHAPTER 5

Blair woke after only a few hours too concerned for his patients to sleep for longer, but though he was still feeling tired he felt a little better. He immediately checked on his patients, glad they were doing okay. A short while later Jim woke up, he was startled at first to see the empty bed. He soon located his friend checking on the casualties. Jim lay back and closed his eyes as he remembered their rescue of the miners.

Jim opened his eyes when he heard footsteps getting closer.

"Hi Jim. Sorry did I wake you?" Blair asked as he sank back wearily onto the bed next to his.

"No, I was already awake. You okay Blair?"

"Me, I'm fine, just tired. I've been checking on the patients and they're all doing well. Smith's got no sign of a fever and his wound looks clean. Considering the conditions I had to operate in, he's doing really well."

"I think that has something to do with the doctor. You did good Sandburg."

Blair smiled as he blushed slightly at his friend's praise.

"One of the miners said there's food available if we want it, but I'm too tired to eat."

"Maybe later," Jim replied as he lay back and closed his eyes. Sleep was what he needed most at the moment.

They both lay down and rested for a few more hours.

It was afternoon when they both woke again. Blair immediately checked on his patients, but knowing he would have been woken before if there had been any change in their conditions.

Jim sat on the edge of the bed and stretched.

"I have to get back to Cascade," Jim stated as he walked over to his friend, he needed to get back to his restaurant

"I think I'm going to stay here overnight, the men should be over the worst by then. I can make a visit once a day for a few days. I'm not too worried about the broken bones, they were all clean breaks. They'll heal in their own time. It's Mr Smith who is the most badly injured, I want to check on him for a few more days, though I'm not expecting any complications."

"But it'll put your mind at rest if you do," Jim observed.

"Yeah," Blair replied, glad that his friend understood.

"I'll come back tomorrow morning," Jim stated as he prepared to leave.

"You don't have to, I can make my own way back to Cascade."

"I know you can, I want to. And it'll let Lightning stretch his legs."

"Okay then," Blair smiled "See you tomorrow morning."

Blair watched Jim ride away, hoping that his friend would be okay on his own overnight. If his senses became a problem he wouldn't be there to help him. Though he had his quiet room now, should anything affect him. Blair hoped that that would be enough.

Jim rode back to Cascade and didn't have much time to prepare before the evening clientele started to arrive at the restaurant. He was busy cooking and serving most of the evening. It took his mind off the incident at the mine and what Blair was still coping with. He was missing Blair's help in serving the food, but more than that he was missing his friend. Blair's enthusiasm and love of life was infectious.

The evening went by quickly as Jim was kept busy until gone 10pm. A couple of his customers had given him the names of some women who might be able to work for him; he planned to talk to them at his earliest opportunity.

It was nearly 11pm by the time Jim returned to the doctor's house. The hastily written sign Blair had written the day before saying where he was if he was required by anyone in town, was still on the door. Jim left it and went straight up to his room. He was exhausted. He hadn't remembered eating that night but he was too tired to go back down to the kitchen and prepare something. He went straight to bed and sank gratefully into the comfortable bed. He was asleep in seconds.

>>>>>>>>>>

Blair had been kept busy all that day looking after the injured miners. He was still optimistic that they would all be fine after a few days. Smith would take the longest to get better but there was no sign of infection, and he didn't have a temperature. It looked like he was going to be alright.

Blair was wondering how his friend was coping back in Cascade with the restaurant on his own. The doctor had to admit he had enjoyed waiting on tables. It had been something different to do and he had found it a good way to talk to people. He had mentioned to a couple of Jim's customers about coming to see him at his surgery when they had admitted to him a few symptoms. He felt a bit weird drumming up business via his friend's business, but if it turned out it helped people then no harm no foul.

Blair did his rounds of the injured miners and then went back to bed. It was nearly 10 o'clock by his pocket watch. As he closed his eyes he wondered what Jim was doing. He was looking forward to seeing his friend and going back home tomorrow. He realised how empty his house would be now without his friend living there. They had only known each other a couple of weeks and yet Blair couldn't imagine Jim not living there. His presence was an integral part of making his house a home. He hadn't realised how lonely he had become before Jim had arrived in Cascade.

With that notion in his thoughts Blair gently drifted off to sleep.

>>>>>>>>>>

Jim arrived early at the mine the next morning as he said he would. Blair had already done his rounds of his patients and was still pleased with their progress. He told Foreman Tavandish that he was going back to Cascade as he had other patients to attend to, but that he would be back regularly over the next few days to check on the injured miners. Tavandish told Blair to give him his bill as soon as possible and he would make sure it was paid promptly. Blair was pleased that he might actually be paid in money this time.

Jim and Blair rode back to Cascade. The sky was a deep azure blue with the odd soft wispy cloud way up high in the almost perfect sky. They chatted as they rode and Jim told his friend how busy he had been at the restaurant but that he had the chance of some help soon. Blair was a little disappointed that Jim needed to employ staff, but he knew he couldn't wait on tables indefinitely. Some medical emergency might come up and he might be able to help Jim one day and then it wouldn't be fair on Jim if he was left to cope on his own. Blair asked Jim how his senses were and he told him that they weren't causing him any problems.

They took the long way round to see the progress of the railroad. They stopped a few miles outside of Cascade and Jim used his heightened eyesight. He saw the men working on the railroad. Blair couldn't see anything at all, despite the forest that had been removed for its laying. Jim could also hear the sound of the metal hitting metal and the men shouting instructions to each other as they worked. Jim estimated that the railroad was now only seven miles from Cascade. Blair was really impressed by his friend's ability to hear and see so far.

"I've never seen or heard that far before," Jim said, a little amazed himself.

"Maybe as you were looking so far in the distance, your hearing hooked onto your eyesight and went along for the ride."

"Maybe," Jim replied thinking his friend could be right.

"That's just incredible," the doctor's mind was whirling at the possibilities. Jim's senses were just astounding. The more Blair found out about them, the more excited he became.

Then they turned back towards Cascade as the sun was beating down on them and it was starting to get hot.

"The first thing I'm going to do is have a hot bath," Blair said.

He'd managed to wash after being down the mine but he still felt grimy and unclean.

"That was the first thing I did this morning," Jim replied. "I was too exhausted last night. I should have waited until you got back to conserve water."

"That's alright," Blair replied. "You know we were really lucky yesterday that that mine didn't cave in round us. Your incredible eyesight and hearing down there saved our lives."

Jim just shrugged. "I was just glad we were able to save those miners' lives."

The doctor nodded and they rode in companionable silence for a while, each with their own thoughts of yesterday's events.

>>>>>>>>>>

Jim and Blair continued their daily routines. Blair continued to ride to the mine every morning to check on his patients. The mine was in the process of being abandoned. The men also leaving until a new mine was established. Jim hired two women to help with the restaurant. Emily Saunders a pretty young girl helped serve and Prudence Rogers a matronly woman helped him cook and also serve when required. Jim had been asked by some of his customers to open for breakfast as well, so in essence he could open all day every day and have a steady clientele going through his establishment. Blair had been right his restaurant had been what Cascade had needed. He realised how much people wanted to eat out and socialise. The saloon and hotel's restaurant hadn't been enough to satisfy the majority of the inhabitants of Cascade.

Then the railroad reached Cascade and the last spike was ceremoniously laid by the head of the railroad. The railroad workers frequented the saloon and revelry went on into the night. They let off fireworks and were generally rowdy for hours. Jim had worked at his restaurant for most of the day and he was tired. He and Blair had had a late supper and then they had gone to bed. But the rowdiness followed Jim every time he tried to get to sleep. He tossed and turned in bed, he couldn't block out the loud celebrations. Jim's senses were bothering him his hearing too loud, so he went down to his quiet room. Glad of Blair's foresight in building it for him. He lay on the bed in the tiny room and listened to the quiet. He was finally then able to fall into an exhausted sleep. The sound of carousing and revelry so muted he was able to finally block it out.

"I heard you moving about last night," Blair said next morning at breakfast.

"I couldn't sleep; the party was keeping me awake."

"I could have given you something to help you sleep."

Jim shook his head. "I'd rather not rely on drugs. I went down to the quiet room."

"Did it help?" the doctor replied eager to learn if the seclusion and peace helped his friend with his sometimes recalcitrant senses.

"Best night's sleep I've ever had," Jim replied.

Blair grinned, glad his idea had helped.

"Were your senses bothering you last night?"

"A little. I just couldn't block the sound from the saloon and all those people shouting and screaming. I even heard gunfire."

"They were just letting off steam," Blair countered. "The sheriff would have been keeping things under control." Then Blair became thoughtful. "We'll have to see if we can work on that and see if we can get you to tone down and be able to control your senses more, so you're more in control. You still look tired Jim."

"I'm alright," Jim replied taking a long drink of strong, dark coffee.

"I'm going to the mine this morning for the last time. All the men are moving out and Mr Smith can be moved now. Then I was thinking about riding out to the Duwamish this afternoon and I was wondering if you wanted to accompany me. It's a lovely day and the change of scenery will do you good."

"There's so much to do at the restaurant."

"Emily and Prudence can handle things for a few hours. You've been working really hard Jim, you need a breather yourself and I could do with the company."

"Okay," Jim acquiesced. The ride would do him good and Lightning for that matter, his horse was getting lazy at not being ridden so much lately.

"Great," Blair replied, looking forward to getting away from Cascade himself. He loved his time with the Duwamish as they were fascinating people and the ride there and back was very therapeutic and relaxing.

>>>>>>>>>>

CHAPTER 6

The Duwamish welcomed Blair and Jim unreservedly. They always received visitors hospitably and graciously. Nothing was too much for someone who wished to speak with them. Whatever they had was offered wholeheartedly to their guests.

Jim had been watching the sky as they had ridden out to the Duwamish's settlement. The sky was blue and a light breeze took some of the heat out the afternoon. He could feel something in the air. Like a scratch he couldn't find to itch. Something wasn't right but he wasn't sure what.

"Seahawk welcomes us," Blair said as they sat down on plush furs in the longhouse. There was a roaring fire and they were offered refreshments.

Blair thanked the tribe's chief and Jim watched the two men converse for a few moments. The doctor's vocabulary was pretty good, he could hold a conversation with the man quite well. Then Jim's eyes moved to the open window, something was coming he was sure of it.

"Are you okay Jim"? he suddenly heard Blair's voice ask. He was momentarily taken aback by hearing English being spoken and that it was directed at him.

"Fine Doc, just thinking," Jim replied.

"I'm sorry to be speaking in a language you don't understand but Seahawk only speaks a little English and I'm eager to learn their language."

"That's okay. I was wondering if you could teach me some Duwamish."

"Really," and Jim nodded. "I would like that."

"I don't know what sort of student I'd make but I'd like to be able to say hello and simple things to them."

Seahawk spoke then and Blair replied.

"I told Seahawk your wish to speak their language and he is honoured by your request."

Jim looked at the old chief who dipped his head in respect for Jim who smiled back at the stately man.

"I told the chief that you have exceptional eyesight and hearing. He wonders if you would like to go on 'search' with the tribe's hunters one of the days."

"Search?" Jim asked.

"For game."

"They want me to join in their hunting."

"Yes," Blair replied. "It is a great honour and not often bestowed on any visitors, Indian or white. I've been coming here over three years myself and never been asked."

Seahawk spoke again and both men looked at the Indian. Jim waited for Blair to translate.

"He said you are a 'Guardian of the Tribe'," Blair told Jim.

"What does that mean?" Jim asked.

"He said that in the past there was always a Guardian who had an esteemed position in the tribe. He was the one the others deferred to before going out on hunting trips as he always knew where to go for the best hunting. These Guardians could detect changes in the weather, when it would snow or rain. Their senses were always sharp and better than anyone else's' in the Tribe. Seahawk wants to know why you keep looking out of the window."

"Tell him I keep feeling as if something is coming," Jim told Blair.

As the doctor told the chief his words Jim's eyes moved again to the window. There was a breeze coming through the window, it was noticeably blowing over them now. So much so that both Blair and Seahawk also now gazed out of the window.

"Seahawk said that you could feel the change in the air long before anyone else could and that a storm is approaching."

"I felt it on the ride here," Jim stated "but I wasn't sure what it was."

"Wow," the doctor replied and then Blair listened as the chief gave instructions to some of his people.

Immediately the Duwamish men and women started to move about. Seahawk spoke to Blair again.

"Seahawk says that if you can detect the storm so far away that it must be a bad one."

"We should get back to Cascade then," Jim said.

"We'd never get there in time. It's best we stay here and ride it out. Storms can be really nasty out here."

The anticipated storm arrived quickly. The Duwamish were adept at preparing for all kinds of weather that the ocean or the Cascade mountains threw at them. They soon had the longhouses secured and Jim and Blair's horses were taken to a lean-to out back with the tribe's horses. The Duwamish settled down as the wind howled round the longhouses. The dwelling was suddenly lit up by a fulgent flash of lightning that was so close that it made everything appear white for a second. Jim closed his eyes but even then the flash seemed to burn inside his lids.

"You okay Jim?" Blair asked.

"Yeah, that was close," Jim replied as the resultant clash of thunder reverberated around the room.

Jim held his ears from the compression blast as the thunder seemed to echo round his brain. He couldn't tone down the intensity of the sound and his head felt like it was going to split into two. As a doctor Blair knew he had to do something to help his friend's suffering. Jim's quiet room seemed to be the best place for his friend at the moment but that was too far away now that the storm had broke.

Seahawk spoke to Blair who nodded.

"Jim they have a cellar. It will be dark and quiet and will help you."

Jim nodded as the heavy pitter of rain tinkled on the wooden roof of the longhouse. Within a few moments it changed to a deluge as the storm raged its full fury.

Blair helped Jim down into the cellar taking a lantern with him allowing a little light into the otherwise dark interior. Blair laid some blankets he had brought down with him onto the floor. He helped Jim lie down and then covered him up.

"Have you a headache Jim?"

Jim nodded slightly, obviously in a lot of pain. Blair disappeared back upstairs and prepared a draught of willow bark tea. Jim took the tincture grudgingly and then lay back. The doctor then laid a cool cloth on his friend's forehead.

"Any better?" Blair asked.

"A little," Jim replied. His headache was still raging and he could still hear the thunderstorm but in the cellar it sounded a lot more muted and bearable. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Try to get some sleep. They'll let us know when the storm is over."

Jim tried to sleep but he couldn't and tossed one way and then the other.

"I can give you something to help you sleep," the doctor offered.

"No, I'd rather not," Jim replied. "Talk to me."

"About what?"

Jim looked at his friend in the gloom. He could see him perfectly even in the cellar's lambent light. There was an aura glowing round his form and he thought that it was probably as a result of his bad headache.

"Teach me some Duwamish, it will take my mind off my headache."

"Okay," Blair replied. "Let's start with the word for blanket."

Jim listened as his friend told him different words in English and then Duwamish. Jim couldn't remember them all but listening to his friend's gentle and familiar voice made the headache recede. Blair watched as his friend eventually drifted to sleep and he finally looked relaxed and pain free.

>>>>>>>>>>

CHAPTER 7

Jim and Blair returned to Cascade later than they expected. The storm had finally abated after a few hours. One of the Duwamish women had ventured down into the cellar and told the two men that it was safe to come back up. Jim felt much better after lying in the dark and quiet of the cellar and his headache had completely gone.

The restaurant was busy when they got back but Prudence and Emily had things well in hand. Jim knew what a godsend those two women were. Jim and Blair pitched in and soon the customers were being taken care of.

Emily came into the kitchen just as Jim was finishing preparing another meal for a customer.

"Jim there's a man who wants to speak to you."

Jim wondered with dread if it was a complaint.

"Did he say why?"

"No," Emily replied "he just said he knew you."

"Okay thanks Em. I'll take these meals."

Jim left the kitchen and served the meals. Then he looked round and saw Isaac Forrester the foreman from the railroad sat at a table.

"Mr Forrester," Jim said as he approached his table.

"How are you Jim?"

"Fine thank you. Did you enjoy your meal?" he enquired noticing the empty plate in front of him.

"Very much thank you. If I'd have known you could cook like that I'd have employed you myself instead of that no good cook the railroad did." Jim smiled, but he still wasn't sure about his former foreman's motives. "Jim," Forrester said earnestly. "I just wanted to say I was sorry at the way things ended."

"You mean the way you dismissed Fergus and readily accepted my resignation."

"Yes, um, well I was a little angry that you disobeyed my orders that night and brought Fergus to Cascade. I realise now you did the right thing. Where is Fergus? Is he okay?"

"He's fine. He's gone back to Denver to his sister."

"I'm glad he's okay. I liked that ornery Scotsman."

"Me too," Jim replied with a grin, he still missed his friend.

"I'm glad you're okay Jim."

Jim had never heard his foreman speak so plainly.

"What are you going to do now?" Jim asked.

"This railroad may be finished but there are always railroads to be built. We'll be pulling out in the morning. The St. Paul to Seattle line is now being built; we're going to help build that." There was pride in the foreman's voice as he spoke. "The Seattle to Cascade line will be joining other lines soon. It's progress Jim and it's coming fast. If you ever need a job Jim come look me up."

"Thanks Mr Forrester but I've found my home here. I can't see me leaving Cascade anytime soon."

"I'm glad Jim."

Forrester held out his hand and Jim took it and they shook.

Without a further word Forrester left. Jim watched him go. He had never liked the foreman but he knew he had a tough job. He was always by the book, too much so, for Jim's liking. Sometimes you needed to be flexible and bend the rules a little. Something Forrester could never do. The Great Northern Railway thought highly of their foreman, as he always got the job done efficiently and effectively, and that was all that mattered to them.

Jim cleared away the used crockery that Forrester had used, seeing the healthy tip he had left. Jim kept that aside for Emily as she had served him. Forrester must have enjoyed the meal to leave such a nice sum as a tip, as he never did anything that he didn't mean.

Jim went back to the kitchen a pleased man. For the first time in his life he knew he was doing the right thing. After his life in Georgia and then the endless years of drifting he had finally found his niche. And he had a certain Dr Blair Sandburg to thank for that.

It was still early but Jim decided to leave the restaurant for Prudence to lock up. He went back with Blair to the doctor's residence. Jim and Blair talked for a while, about general things. Jim practiced his Duwamish and they talked about the restaurant. For Jim it was nice to just sit in a comfy chair and relax for an hour. Jim felt his eyes trying to close so he left his friend reading in the parlour and went up to bed. He was glad for the darkness and tranquillity of his room. Cascade was mercifully quiet that night and he sank into the comfortable mattress with a contented sigh and soon fell asleep.

Jim woke suddenly, he wasn't sure what time it was, but it was still night. He could hear a thunderstorm in the distance and thought he might have to sleep in his quiet room if it moved closer. But then a smell assaulted his nose and he leaped out of bed and quickly pulled on his trousers and boots. He could smell smoke and it was getting stronger every second. He grabbed a shirt and moved swiftly into Blair's room.

"Wake up Doc there's a fire!!!"

"What! Where?" Blair mumbled sitting up in bed.

"I don't know but it's close."

"Do you think it's the restaurant?" Blair asked as he pulled on his trousers and boots.

"I don't know." Jim moved onto the landing and checked the stairs. They were clear of fire.

"Okay," Blair replied as he hastily pulled on his other boot.

Blair could also smell smoke now, it was strong and acrid. Before he left his bedroom he grabbed his grandfather's watch. It was his most valued possession and he didn't want to leave it behind. It was dark but he didn't stop to light a lantern, instead he felt his way along the landing to the stairs.

"Hurry Blair!!" Jim called from the landing.

The two men hurried downstairs. Blair started to cough as the smoke was getting noticeably thicker the closer he got to the ground floor. So much so that it was tickling the back of his throat. The doctor could also see a glow out the front of the house to their right.

"Jim!"

Jim was just ahead of him. "I think it's the building next door."

"The horses," Blair said.

Jim and Blair moved through the house, coughing on the smoke that was getting thicker and thicker every moment. They could hear crackling and a steady glow of orange from their neighbouring house shimmered outside. The horses were neighing in panic obviously scared by the acrid smoke all around them. They went into the barn and tried to soothe the animals with calming words. Roman was prancing nervously and reared up several times. They managed to untie both horses and turn them loose. Knowing it was too dangerous to ride them, they were too skittish and scared but they could find them easily later. The horses wouldn't roam too far but they would get out of harm's way.

Now Jim could hear people shouting and screaming and he realised the fire had spread quickly. The upper storey of the doctor's house was already ablaze with nothing to stop its progress, the fire had moved along the roof space to the adjoining properties. The entire row of houses were now on fire.

"We have to get out of here, Doc," Jim said and turned to see his friend kneeling on the ground, coughing from the sheer quantity of smoke that was in the air.

Jim heard a roar as the fire flashed over and hungrily leapt to anything it could consume. Too late he realised the fire was behind them now and the buildings behind them were on fire. How had the fire moved so quickly?

"Come on Blair!" he said grabbing his friend with urgency.

They had to move quickly otherwise they would be cut off. If only they could get to the front of the house, they could seek refuge on the waterfront away from the smoke and flames. Jim used his enhanced sight but could see no way out. The ground floor of their home was now engulfed. The flames licking at the outside of the building from all the failed windows. Jim was amazed at just how quickly the fire had spread to consume everything he could see. The whole world looked like it was on fire. There was no escape. Blair was barely conscious after inhaling too much of the black smoke. The smoke seemed to coat everything and Jim could taste it in his mouth, it was inside his nose, it was everywhere.

They hunched down by the barn both hacking on the smoke, their eyes streaming from its irritation. Blair collapsed and Jim caught him. He cradled his friend in his arms, his head lolling onto his chest.

"Shh, it's okay Blair," Jim replied seeing the fire advancing on them.

There was no escape. The fire was all round them now. He could almost picture the flames as fingers, clawing at the air and the buildings round them, trying desperately to reach them. Everything was either orange or black. He could hear people in the distance shouting and trying to put water on the fire but it was too little too late.

Blair was nearly unconscious, his breathing laboured because of the smoke. Jim didn't try to revive him. It would be kinder if he was asleep when the fire reached them. Though judging from the smoke they would be long dead before the flames actually reached them.

Jim closed his eyes; it was difficult to breathe, to concentrate. The heat was unbearable, his skin felt on fire from the heat of the advances flames. He knew he was dying. He could feel Blair's familiar form curled up at his side. At least they would die together.

Jim opened his eyes and found himself standing on a prairie. Everything was orange tinged and he could feel the heat coming up out of the ground beneath him.

"Blair?" he called as he turned around, but there was nothing but parched grass in every direction.

A roar behind him made him turn and he saw a large black cat standing a few feet away from him, its yellow eyes gazing intently at him. Next to him lay a wolf, his head lying on his paws and his tongue lolling out of his mouth. The wolf whined and he looked sick or injured. Slowly the cat altered in shape until it became human. It continued to transmogrify into Seahawk. Jim looked at the Duwamish chief and shaman with incredulity. The wolf still lay prone at the shaman's feet.

"Seahawk where am I?"

"Guardian of the Tribe you and the young shaman will walk together again and accomplish much. Look behind you."

Jim turned and saw himself and Blair together but they were dressed differently, they were wearing strange clothing and were in a large brick building with other people. The room was full of desks and the people were milling about or sat behind the desks. He was sat at one of the desks, the doctor was next to him, and they were happily chatting and smiling. The scene looked so different, so alien. Yet they were together.

"Is this the future?" Jim asked as he turned round to face Seahawk but the shaman was gone.

"Jim?" the voice at his side said averting his attention.

Jim turned and found himself back in the present in the smoke filled alley behind Blair's house.

What a strange hallucination Jim thought to himself as he glanced down at his ailing friend.

"It's okay Blair..." and Jim couldn't speak anymore as he coughed, it was getting more difficult to breathe.

The air was scorching hot and he felt his skin prickling from the radiated heat. The very air in his lungs felt hot. He felt like he had to fight for every molecule of oxygen. The conflagration roared and raged angrily all around them as it exulted in intensity as it raged out of control.

Blair was murmuring and trying to open his eyes, his breathing was coming in short gasps. "Shh, it's okay Blair. Go back to sleep," Jim soothed.

He would save Blair this torment and watched as his face became slack and he lost consciousness. Jim's lungs burned with every breath now. He shielded Blair in his arms the best he could.

A beam fell from the ceiling in Blair's house crashing loudly, and sending flaming ashes out through the failed windows and door towards them. Some settled on them and Jim brushed them off before they could ignite their clothing or their hair. The air was so hot, like a furnace. Almost unbearable. So hot.

This was it. Death was close.

Jim glanced through the smoke as he could see the silhouette of a man standing in the billowing dark cloud.

"Hello!" Jim called.

The black smoke rolled and billowed away from the figure. Jim's watering eyes focused on the image, it looked like Seahawk and he was beckoning to them.

"Blair," Jim said thinking that perhaps there was a way out after all, but there was no response.

Seizing the moment, Jim lifted his friend and hoisted him onto his shoulders and immediately started to run. Taking as deep a breath as he could he ran towards the Indian. He followed his instincts and didn't stop running until the smoke gave way and suddenly he was breathing clean air again. It had never tasted so sweet.

Seahawk was just ahead of him and Jim put Blair down on the ground and checked his friend.

"He's not breathing," he told the Indian in a panic. "Come on Blair!! Don't die on me now."

Jim was thinking back to the hallucination when Seahawk told him that they would walk together again. Did that mean that Blair was going to die now? There was black soot on Blair's face around his mouth and nose, from breathing in too much of the black smoke. Jim himself felt like he had swallowed too much of that smoke himself, his lungs felt irritated even though he was now breathing in sweet untainted air again.

"You can't die now Blair. I won't let you. I don't know what to do. You're the doctor here not me!" Jim cried at his inert friend.

"You must breathe air into the shaman's lungs," Seahawk said calmly. "Put your lips on his and breathe air into his lungs and repel the smoke. Quickly Guardian."

Jim didn't hesitate. He sealed his lips on top of Blair's and blew into his mouth. Again and again he repeated the action, replacing he hoped the bad air with good.

Finally, just as he began to think it was hopeless, and Jim began to feel the desperation of grief welling up in him, Blair took a shuddering breath and then a second. Blair coughed but his eyes remain closed. Jim pulled Blair up and cradled him in his arms, gently rubbing his back as Blair struggled to get air into his compromised lungs.

"That's it," Jim said soothingly. "Slow and steady Blair."

Blair's bleary eyes opened and he coughed. He could taste the smoke in his mouth and his lungs felt irritated as if there was a weight pressing down on them.

"Jim?"

"Yeah Doc, I'm here," and Blair leant into his friend with relief. "Come on Doc we can't stay here."

They had escaped the fire but they still weren't totally safe. Jim turned to thank Seahawk but the man had vanished. Supporting his friend Jim helped Blair up and they made their way to the waterfront. They sat on the beach quietly and regarded the buildings where they had lived and worked. The doctor's house and the restaurant were well both ablaze, as was every building along the waterfront and beyond, including the building the Mason's used, the clandestine sect that no one knew much about.

"It's all gone," said Blair in a quiet sad voice. "All my medicines and books, everything." His voice was raw, almost broken with sorrow.

"We can rebuild," Jim replied optimistically putting his arm round his friend's shoulder. "I can have my restaurant again and you can have your surgery. Perhaps we can build one building and share it."

"Maybe," Blair replied not daring to hope too much. It broke his heart seeing his home totally engulfed by fire.

The fire had started to die down now, its fuel spent. Though there were still pockets of fire sporadically breaking out in the buildings, but the worst of the fire was over. Everything they owned was gone.

"Blair, I came here with nothing."

"Now you still have nothing," the doctor countered.

"No you're wrong. Now I have the best friend I've ever had."

Blair nodded solemnly; feeling a little overwhelmed by his friend's words. He raised his arms and embraced his friend, taking silent comfort and support.

They sat like that for a while, arm in arm, watching the remains of their home vanish as the buildings collapsed one by one in on themselves. Blair took out his pocket watch, the only thing he had managed to save. He grasped it tightly in his soot stained hand. Other people made homeless by the fire also came to congregate on the beach. Later people, whose homes had not been directly affected by the fire, noticed them and brought them water and blankets.

Dawn came with a resplendence of orange and reds. Blair was asleep on the beach and Jim watched his friend dutifully, guarding him. Every now and again he would look at the now smouldering buildings feeling sad for all they had lost. The thunderstorm had moved on but had left a bank of grey clouds in its stead.

Jim suddenly had a thought. He remembered Seahawk the previous night beckoning to him and telling him how to save the Doc's life. It came to him in a flash of understanding. Seahawk had spoken English to him � perfect English. Blair told him that he had only halting English as Blair always tried to speak their language when he went to the village, so he would learn it. The Duwamish had little interaction with the white people, so there was no way that Seahawk could know English that perfectly. It didn't make sense, but neither did the strange hallucination he had had. It was probably best not to rationalise it or dwell on it.

Jim sat on the beach with Blair huddled in a blanket in his arms. The doctor was still shivering, mainly from shock, as the night wasn't overly cold. Least it wasn't raining Jim thought ironically.

Blair was stirring. Now they had to find somewhere to stay until they could start rebuilding their lives again.

"I..." cough "need to..." cough "help...the people," Blair uttered between hacking coughs.

"You're in no condition to help anyone," Jim replied coughing himself, he could still taste the smoke in his mouth. "Besides all your medicines are gone," he added then kicked himself for reminding his friend just what he had lost.

"I could...do...something," Blair gasped and coughed.

"Don't talk," Jim replied kneeling down next to his friend. "I can tell your lungs aren't congested just irritated by the smoke."

"You'd make a...good doctor....yourself," the doctor replied a little breathlessly.

Jim smiled "I think I'll leave that to you Doc."

Jim saw the owner of the general store and beckoned him over.

"Do you know if there are any injured?"

"Only a few minor ones from what I gather, three are still missing though," he added sombrely.

"I can...see anyone...who needs...my help," Blair told him.

"I know Doctor Sandburg, but you look all in yourself. You take care of yourself, we'll come get you if we need help but I think we can handle anyone that may need attention."

Jim gazed at the carcases that had once been homes and businesses, places of laughter and enterprise. Now they were empty shells. It was ironic really how quickly they had been lost, in only a few hours. Now the occasional tendril of smoke drifted up lazily into the cool morning air, other than that all was still and quiet.

As the night wore on more and more people who had been made homeless left the waterfront, they had been taken in by friends and family. Jim thought anyone of them would take in the doctor, but they didn't know him as he was still a relatively unknown quantity to them.

Movement on his left caught his eye and he saw six Duwamish warriors walking towards them.

"Blair we've got company," Jim said indicating the Duwamish to his friend.

"Crying River welcome," Blair said in Duwamish and standing to formally greet the warriors.

Jim and Blair were still covered in soot from the fire, with holes burnt in their clothes from the glowing embers.

"Seahawk sent us to help you," Crying River said.

"How did he...Seahawk know we...were in trouble?" Blair asked, still easily breathless, but trying not to cough.

"He walked with the spirits last night and told us to come here to aid you."

"There was a fire," and Blair began to cough again.

"Blair?" Jim asked behind him. He had recognised a few of the Duwamish words his friend had spoken.

"Seahawk sent his warriors to help us," Blair told his friend.

"How did he know we were in trouble?"

"He walked with the spirits," Blair explained.

"I don't think I need to know any more," Jim uttered and Blair smiled and his friend's reticence to hear anything slightly mystical.

"Our horses ran off last night," Blair told Crying River.

"I will send Stampeding Buffalo and Shouting Bear to find them," and then gave orders to two men to go retrieve the two horses.

The two Duwamish men immediately leapt onto their ponies and rode away. Jim hoped the Indians would be okay in the town but Blair had told him they had visited Cascade before and so far the people saw the Duwamish as no threat to them.

Blair felt light headed then and suddenly sank to his knees.

"Are you alright Doc?"

"Yeah," the doctor replied. "Just a little dizzy."

Crying River indicated to Black Rain to bring a pony forward. There was no saddle but Jim leapt expertly onto its back. Black Rain helped Blair up and with Jim's help he was soon sitting in front of him on the pony, a blanket wrapped round him.

"Lean back onto me Blair," Jim told his friend wrapped his arms round him to keep him steady on the horse.

The Duwamish started to lead them away from the scene of the devastation. Blair turned his head towards what was once their home.

"Don't look Doc," Jim said quietly.

Blair looked away and closed his eyes. He felt so tired and he let the gait of the pony lull him into sleep. He knew he was safe in Jim's arms.

>>>>>>>>>>

The next thing Blair knew they were at the Duwamish. He was being helped down from the pony and they were going inside the longhouse. They were given warm water to bathe with and Duwamish clothing as their own was patched and cleaned. Jim helped to clean his exhausted friend and he was asleep as soon as he settled onto the sleeping furs in the longhouse. Jim was overawed by how welcome he was, and he could understand Blair being welcomed so easily because he had known them for a number of years. But he was a stranger to them. He knew then he wanted to learn more about these gentle people, not just their language, but also their ways.

They were shown where they could sleep and one of the Duwamish women gave Blair something to drink to ease his irritated chest. Blair asked what was in the tincture, ever the doctor, and was pleased by the medicinal contents.

Jim and Blair spent a week with the Duwamish recovering from their ordeal. Jim learned more of their language every day. They went fishing with the other men and just relaxed and recovered.

Then it was time to go back to Cascade. They rode Roman and Lightning bare back, their saddles having been destroyed in the fire. It was then that they both realised that they had literally lost everything bar their horses and the clothing on their backs.

Cascade was busy when they got back. Work had already started on rebuilding and the destroyed buildings were steadily being demolished and removed ready to be rebuilt. Jim and Blair picked through the remains of their home to see if there was anything worth salvaging but the fire had been thorough and everything was either black and charred, or smelt so badly Jim's sensitive nose would always smell the slight aroma of smoke on them.

"What should we do?" Jim asked his friend.

"What options do we have?" Blair felt browbeaten, everything was gone. Seeing the blackened shell of his former home now made it all too vivid and real.

Jim was glad the things he had ordered for the restaurant hadn't arrived before the fire. He had something to start over with once the restaurant was rebuilt.

"We can stay or we can leave and start new somewhere else."

Blair thought for a few moments. "I say stay," he finally said but with strength and determination in his voice. "I like it here. Cascade is my home."

"I like it here too," Jim said feeling a certain fondness for Cascade himself. "Cascade's my home too."

"It's settled then we stay."

Cascade was their home and they were determined to stay and re-establish their lives. The fire wouldn't destroy their spirit and they would rebuild and once more reclaim what was theirs.

>>>>>>>>>>

1996

James Ellison started buttoning his shirt when the door opened. He was fed up of hospitals and tests, with no answers forthcoming. He desperately needed help with his senses before he went totally insane.

The door opened and a confident young man entered wearing a white coat and glasses. Jim looked at the man inquisitively as he seemed familiar and he wondered if he had met him before somewhere. Surely he would have remembered such a vibrant individual.

Jim's memories flashed to an amber hued prairie with a big black cat watching him, a grey wolf at his side. The cat changed into a kindly looking Indian. Then the scene shifted to a huge fire, it was all around him and he felt terrified as he felt its heat licking at his skin. The scene changed again and the young man was there smiling at him as they both admired a large waterfall. Jim knew that waterfall was near Cascade but he had never been to it and he knew he had never been to it with this man.

He blinked and the unnerving images vanished just as suddenly as they had appeared.

He realised the young man was speaking to him.

"Detective Ellison, I'm Doctor McKay."

"Your name tag says McCoy."

Story 2: Shadows and Spirits

CHAPTER 1

Spring 1894

Blair stood outside the building he shared with his best friend Jim Ellison. He glanced up at the new building. He could hardly believe it had only been seven months since the devastating fire that had wiped out the waterfront of Cascade, including his house and Jim's restaurant. Now the buildings had all been rebuilt and it looked like that terrible night had never happened. Blair didn't remember much of the events of that night; he had been unconscious for a large portion of it. With a shiver he remembered the smoke and the heat from the fire that had ripped through their home and surrounding properties. Jim had saved his life that night.

Now he and Jim shared the same building. Blair had his surgery on the ground floor next to Jim's restaurant and they shared the living accommodation above.

Blair has just finished his rounds and was returning to his home for a bite to eat. That afternoon he and Jim were riding out to the Duwamish to spend the night. Blair was looking forward to it. He and Seahawk were going to walk the spirit plane together. The elderly shaman knew that Blair had the potential to be a powerful shaman with training and had taken him under his wing. The walk on the spirit plane being his next lesson.

Jim had prepared a light lunch for them both and they were soon headed towards the Duwamish's encampment. The Spring this year was milder than most and days like today were a joy to get out of Cascade. The air was still cool in the mornings and at night, but during the day the sun's gentle warmth was a blessing. The clear skies and sun in the summer months would be intolerably hot but a day like today it was perfect. Blair always liked to be warm, but sometimes even he found Cascade in summer to be too stifling and hot.

Now Guardian and Shaman were sat on a thick fur rug in a longhouse of the Duwamish. Jim's command of their language grew by the week. Blair was proud of his friend, at how quickly he had learned the tribe's language. Sometimes they spoke only in Duwamish to each other, usually at night when they were alone in their home. They found the practice helped keep them both fluent in the language.

"Seahawk, you said that we would go on a spirit walk on my next visit," Blair said in Duwamish.

"I did," the elderly shaman replied but didn't elaborate.

Blair was just about to ask the shaman more about the spirit walk when the stately chief turned his head to acknowledge his wife, who had silently entered with a ceremonial wooden bowl in her hands. The bowl contained a thick white liquid. Running Deer knelt beside her husband, bowing her head as she offered him the bowl. Seahawk took the bowl and Running Deer silently stood and left the three men. This was something for shaman only and no other member of the tribe would interfere. Jim was present because he was a Guardian and had a close connection to the young shaman.

"Drink this and we will begin," Seahawk said.

"What is it?" Jim asked, not masking his apprehension at what his friend was about to do.

"It is a flower that grows near here which we use to help ease us onto the spirit plane." Seahawk continued and used a Duwamish word neither man knew. The doctor deduced that he was explaining that the flower derivative was a hallucinogen of some description.

"I don't like this Doc," Jim voiced in English looking at his friend with concern.

"Don't be worried Jim, the Duwamish have been doing this for generations. It's perfectly safe."

"Guardian," Seahawk said looking directly at Jim. "I will guard your Shaman's spirit with my life. He will be safe, on my honour."

Jim nodded his head feeling reassured by the chief's words. To voice anything more would be to dishonour and offend their host. So Jim held his tongue and watched as Blair took the bowl from the elderly shaman's hands. With a reassuring smile to his friend, Blair raised it to his lips and drank some of the liquid. It was bitter but not unpleasant. The elderly shaman took the bowl from the shaman in training and also drank a portion of the white liquid.

"Take my hands," he said to Blair.

Within moments Blair felt strange and light headed. He felt his whole body glowing from the inside out and he felt drowsy, but also safe and euphoric. He felt his eyes closing and when he opened them again everything had taken on an amber glow, and he wasn't sitting in the longhouse any more. It also looked like it was twilight, so it looked neither day nor night. Seahawk was standing next to him as Blair glanced round taking in their surroundings.

"Are we on the spirit plane?" Blair asked, as he saw there were trees all round them, and that they stood in a clearing. He expected the spirit plane to be different somehow. Blair glanced up and saw through the canopy of trees that there were stars visible, sparkling like diamonds in the sky above.

"We are," the old shaman replied.

Mists began to swirl up round their feet, rising steadily higher.

"What's that?" Blair asked as the mists surrounded them, floating above their heads, but not thick enough to obscure the trees or the stars.

"The mists of time," Seahawk explained. "Within their depths we can see the past, present and future."

"Future?"

"Yes, although the future is not set in stone, it is possible to briefly glimpse what may come to be. I always see the same thing," there was a note of sadness in the elder shaman's tone.

"What do you see shaman?" Blair enquired.

All around them in the mists shining white pinpricks of light began to appear, they floated like ethereal will-o-the-wisps. The tiny stars twinkled within the mist, glowing constantly.

"What are they?" Blair enquired.

"They represent the white man."

Blair gasped. "But there's so many of them."

Seahawk nodded sadly. Then Blair could see some red stars interspersed randomly amongst the white ones. "And the red stars?"

"My people."

The young shaman was saddened by this. The Duwamish were few in a sea of many white stars. The elder shaman could tell his young friend was upset by what he was beholding.

"I am sorry," Blair replied.

"My young friend you are not to blame. The time of the redskin is over. It is the order of things. This is why Running Dear and I decided not to have any children. There is no future for them. Now is the time of the white man. He will continue to make this country his home. Many more will come."

"Can we see the present?" Blair asked, as he didn't want to contemplate the future any more. It was too scary to think about.

"Just think what you want to know and the mists will answer."

Blair thought about his life in Cascade and then his thoughts turned to Jim. A black jaguar stepped out of the mists followed by a great grey timber wolf. They were both magnificent animals. Blair remembered Jim telling him about the black cat during the fire.

"These are yours and your Guardian's spirit animals," the elderly shaman stated, knowing which animal belonged to which man. He had seen the grey wolf many times in his spirit walks. "They will guide you both when you have need of them."

Blair instinctively knew the wolf was his spirit animal and he was entranced by him. The wolf was strong and loyal. Jim's black jaguar was impressive, sleek and deadly. He towered over the wolf, but was no threat to him.

"What of your spirit animal?" Blair asked the shaman.

Seahawk looked to his right and a magnificent golden eagle soared overhead. It squawked once before vanishing into the mists once more. It was as stately and graceful as the shaman. The black jaguar and grey wolf turned and walked into the mists and vanished.

The past was easier to visualise, or so Blair thought at first. Blair thought about the father he had never known. He thought of what his mother had told him about how they had met during the Civil War. But Blair didn't know enough about his father to find any focal point where he could see Naomi and his father together. Blair felt frustrated at his inability to see the father he longed to know more about.

"That is enough for one day; it is time to go back," the Shaman said noticing his friend's exasperation at not finding the answers he sought.

"How do we return?"

"Just think of your body back in the longhouse and you will return."

Blair thought about returning and the next thing he was blinking awake.

"You okay Doc?" Jim asked.

"Yeah fine," Blair replied a little disturbed by what he had seen. "Thank you Seahawk."

The elderly shaman nodded his head, honoured to have helped the young shaman on his fledgling steps to becoming a fully fledged shaman.

They sipped tea for a while and talked until another member of the tribe entered the longhouse.

"Yes Shouting Bear," the chief said.

"We are preparing to leave on search and was wondering if the Guardian would like to join us." Shouting Bear glanced over expectantly at Jim.

"What are you searching for?" Jim asked.

"Elk."

"I would be honoured to accompany you," the Guardian replied in Duwamish.

"See you later Doc," he said as he got up and followed the hunter out of the longhouse.

Blair waved as his friend disappeared out of the door. Jim could go off traipsing round the forest looking for game but Blair was happier to stay in the longhouse, sipping tea and talking to the chief.

>>>>>>>>>>

The search had been very successful. Jim and the Duwamish hunters had returned triumphantly the next morning. The warriors talked excitedly of how they had shown Jim to shoot a bow and arrow and with his first shot he had successfully struck a large buck. The carcass of the elk was quickly taken to be butchered. Every part of the animal would be used, from its hide down to its entrails.

Jim walked over to the main longhouse where Blair and Seahawk were sat on a wooden bench on the porch.

"I see you had a successful search," Blair stated and Jim nodded grinning.

"From the excited hunters I would say it's going to be a search that is going to be talked about for many moons," Seahawk added.

"You used your Guardian abilities didn't you?" Blair asked.

Jim nodded. "I saw movement in the trees about 400 yards ahead of us. I didn't think I just reacted, the elk came into focus and I fired. I guess I was lucky."

Blair smiled at his friend's modesty, but knowing that Jim was probably the only person in the whole tribe that could have made that shot.

"The tribe want to adopt me," Jim said smiling broadly.

"That is a high honour," Blair replied, pleased that his friend had been so readily accepted by the tribe.

"You are the first Guardian in many generations," the old chief said.

The tribe had been talking about adopting the Guardian for some time into their tribe. The fact that he was learning their tongue spoke volumes of his commitment and dedication to their people.

"But I'm not Duwamish," Jim replied.

"In your heart you are."

Jim smiled and acknowledged that fact. The Guardian knew that Blair had been 'adopted' years ago by the tribe as he had treated their ailments and become a friend to the tribe. Seahawk had given him the honorary name of Healing Wolf, in honour of his friend's healing abilities and also the spirit animal the elder shaman had always associated with him.

"Would you allow us this honour Jim Ellison, to adopt you formally into our tribe?"

"I would be honoured," the Guardian replied.

"Then we shall have a feast and an official celebration. You will be embraced by every member of the tribe and then you will officially be Duwamish. Nothing will change, you will be able to live in the white city with the doctor; but in your heart you will always belong with us."

"My heart already does," Jim said truthfully. He had never felt so content or at peace than he did when he spent time with the tribe. He liked Cascade and his life there with the doctor, but part of him also sought out the quiet pace and gentle way of living of the Native American tribe.

The tribe was in good spirits as they prepared a feast for that night. Jim and Blair did their part by collecting old wood for the huge bonfire that would be at the centre of the festivities. Blair was deep in thought as he and Jim searched the surrounding forest for dead pieces of timber and twigs. He was still thinking about his spirit walk and what he had witnessed. How this way of life was in decline. How the peaceful Duwamish and their gentle ways were on the verge of becoming extinct. It saddened him deeply but then he saw Jim's face and the pride he could see there. Jim understood the honour the tribe was bestowing on him. Why couldn't more white people accept the Native American nation instead of trying to eradicate them? America was a large continent; there was more than enough room for both races. The doctor pushed aside his melancholy thoughts, knowing he had no answers. Tonight was Jim's night and he would be happy for his friend.

The festivities began as the sun set. As the sunset bathed the sky in a golden glow and the stars began to appear one by one, the tribe lit the bonfire and roasted part of the elk. The juices ran off the succulent meat and spluttered in the fire beneath it. The story of how the elk was killed reverberated round the bonfire and excited children listened with huge eyes as they lapped up the tale.

Seahawk drew everyone's attention as he addressed the tribe.

"We have many reasons to hold feasts. When our gods are bountiful and bless us with a good search or a new born is welcomed into our tribe. Tonight is no less special. Our friend Jim Ellison is to be adopted into our tribe. Jim please come forward."

Jim got up from his place beside Blair and walked over to the shaman. He stood before him as Seahawk continued.

"Jim Ellison, do you wish to be adopted by this tribe and all her people?"

"I do."

"Then you are hereby given the tribal name of Hunting Elk and are now an honoured member of this tribe."

Then Seahawk stepped forward and hugged the newest member of his people. Then Jim was swamped by other members of the tribe and hugged by each one. When the ceremony was complete the roasted elk was ready and everyone ate the tender meat, accompanied by mushrooms and greens from the nearby forest.

It was late when the festivities wound down and the tribe retired to the longhouses to rest. Jim cast his senses out to the surrounding area as he lay on his bedding. Blair was already asleep next to him. All was quiet bar the odd 'twit-twoo' of an owl and the odd call of a nocturnal animal. Only then did Jim surrender to sleep knowing that his people were safe.

>>>>>>>>>>

Next morning Jim and Blair left to return to Cascade. They had stayed longer with the Duwamish than they had initially intended to. They had responsibilities in town and another life to get back to. Both men promised to return soon as they steered their horses away from the tribe.

The Spring day warmed up after the cool dawn. As they rode Jim suddenly turned his head to the side, he had heard something ahead of them. Soon after, the distinctive sound of unshod horses' hooves was also heard by Blair. Jim thought they were Duwamish but when his incredible eyesight zeroed in on their faces he didn't recognise any of them. But as they got closer Blair recognised them.

"We have to stay away from them," the doctor warned.

"Why?"

"They're Kanatchee," he replied as if saying the name was enough of an explanation. "When I first moved to Cascade I approached them, like I did the Duwmanish, to see if they needed any of my medical skills. But the Kanatchee hate all white men. They threatened to kill me if I ever went near them again."

Jim and Blair gave the two braves a wide birth as they continued home. Jim craned his senses to make sure the braves weren't following them, but they had continued on their way. Jim and Blair stopped at the waterfall on the way home. The sight and sound of the water thundering over the sandstone lip was always a spectacular sight to behold.

They reached Cascade in the afternoon, and though both men had enjoyed their stay with the Duwamish, it was good to be home again.

>>>>>>>>>>

The two men quickly fell back into their lives and the following week went by quickly. The doctor was busy with his patients and Jim was busy at his restaurant.

Blair had just finished with a patient, a young girl with a broken arm. Her distraught teacher had brought her to the doctor immediately she had fallen in the playground. The little six year old girl had started to cry and no amount of soothing from her teacher would pacify her. Blair had manipulated the arm and had felt the fracture. Luckily it wasn't a bad one and would heal cleanly in six weeks. The young girl was now sporting a bright white cast on her forearm and Blair was wiping the last of the plaster of Paris from his hands. He accompanied the teacher and child from his consulting room into the main waiting area. The doctor had given instructions to the teacher to give to the parents of the child.

"If they need any further help tell the parents to come see me. Also if the swelling doesn't go down they are to bring Mary back to see me. Now I want to see you in three days young lady. Okay?"

"Okay," the little girl replied shyly.

As the teacher and pupil left his office Blair became aware of another patient who was quietly sitting in his waiting room. Blair stared at the woman for a few seconds, too stunned to speak. The woman stood up, her lips curling up into a blinding smile.

"Hello, Blair," she said.

Blair thought he would never hear that loving voice or see that beautiful smile ever again.

"Mom!" the doctor cried, his initial shock turning to joy as he smiled warmly at his long lost mother.

Mother and son stepped forward and each hugged the other tightly.

>>>>>>>>>>

CHAPTER 2

Blair brewed water for tea, still in shock from his mother's sudden appearance. Blair had carried his mother's trunk up the stairs to the apartment, wondering how she had managed it from the railway station all by herself. Now they were sat at the table in the kitchen. When the water was nearly boiling, Blair walked over to a cupboard and took out the camomile tea he enjoyed so much, something he had picked up from the Duwamish.

Naomi looked the same as she had the last time he had seen her. Her hair was still a vibrant red, though it was caught in a pleat at the back of her head. She was still beautiful and still had that warm smile he always remembered her having.

"Blair you look wonderful," his mother said. "Life here agrees with you."

"How did you find me?" Blair asked but before his mother could answer he asked. "Where have you been all these years? I've so many questions."

Naomi smiled. "And I'll answer them all. But first I have a present for you," she said smiling broadly. Naomi disappeared for a few moments before returning with a large object wrapped in brown paper.

"What is it?" Blair asked as he accepted it from her.

"You have to open it to find out."

"It's not Christmas or my birthday."

"I've not seen you for a long time and I wanted to get you something." She didn't want to just come right out and say just how many of those birthdays and Christmases she had missed.

Blair didn't say anything, he just smiled and tore at the wrapper, like a little kid at his first Christmas. Inside was a new black leather doctor's bag.

"It's perfect," he replied. His eyes taking in the impeccable workmanship. His last bag had perished in the fire along with everything else he and Jim had owned. He had replaced a lot of his belongings and medical equipment. His priority had been the medical equipment he could use to actually treat his patients with and had so far not replaced his doctor's bag. They were expensive and had to be shipped in.

"Thank you Mom," he said reaching forward and hugging his mom close. "It's exactly what I need. So where have you been?" Blair said as he poured them tea.

"I've travelled the world. I've been everywhere. It was wonderful."

Part of Blair was glad his mother had had a wonderful life but part of him was angry that she had abandoned him for nearly ten years of his life. Blair also thought he detected a note of loneliness in her voice.

"Did you think of me?" Blair said, looking down at the contents of his cup and not at his mother.

"Constantly," she replied, her eyes not flinching from her son's face. "Look at me Blair." Blair lingered a bit longer fascinated by the contents of his teacup. "Blair Jacob Sandburg look at me," she replied more authoritatively.

Blair looked up then.

"I know I have not been the best mother in the world, but it doesn't mean I don't love you. We travelled a lot when you were growing up. You were a grown man when you went to medical school. I just continued my travels. I'm sorry I got carried away by them, but it doesn't mean I didn't miss you. I'm here now," she added hoping that made up for all those lost years.

Blair decided not to be angry at his mother for being away from his life for so long; instead he decided to enjoy her presence now. Enjoy her reappearance in his life before the wanderlust kicked in again and she departed. When that happened who knew when he would see her again.

"Two months ago I went to see my sister in Boston. Joan gave me the letter you sent her telling her where you were. I came here as soon as I knew. But that's enough about me, tell me about you. Your home is lovely. Have you a girl?" Naomi had already checked Blair's ring finger and noticed the absence of a gold band.

"No, there's no one at the moment. I live with someone though. His name's Jim, he's owner of the restaurant next to the surgery. We share the building. It's a long story but in a nutshell last year there was a fire and the waterfront of Cascade was destroyed by the fire, including my house and Jim's restaurant. We were already living together at my house so we decided to combine our properties. It's working out really well."

"That must have been awful, losing everything in a fire, like that," she said sympathetically.

"I did manage to save grandfather's watch," Blair said and then took the coveted gold watch out of his waistcoat's pocket. Naomi smiled warmly, glad that her son still had her father's timepiece.

Naomi took a sip of tea looking ponderously at her son. "I want you to tell me something truthfully Blair."

"Always Mom, I've never lied to you."

Naomi reached across the table and put her hand on top of her son's. "Are you happy?"

"Yes, Mom I'm very happy. Cascade is a great place to live and I enjoy being a doctor here."

"I'm glad," she replied, satisfied in the knowledge that her only son was content in where he lived and what he was doing with his life.

"Finish your tea and I'll take you to meet Jim. I've told him all about you. He's going to be so surprised that you're actually here."

Naomi allowed her son to take her down to the restaurant on the ground floor. They found Jim in the kitchen preparing for the evening meals. He was surrounded by a mound of potatoes and vegetables.

"Jim," the doctor said as he and Naomi entered the kitchen.

"Hi Doc," Jim said in greeting and then noticed the red headed woman walking slightly behind his friend.

"There's someone I'd like you to meet," Blair began. "Jim Ellison, this is Naomi Sandburg, my mother. Mom I'd like you to meet Jim Ellison my best friend."

Jim hesitated for just a moment. He remembered what his friend had told him about his mother and how she had literally abandoned him nearly ten years ago. Now she shows up like a tumbleweed expecting to waltz back into her son's life like she had never left it. Yet when the Guardian saw the look on his Shaman's face and how happy he was to see his mother, his anger instantly evaporated. Jim wiped his hands on a towel and then proffered his right hand to Naomi.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs Sandburg."

Naomi took Jim's hand with a smile. "That's Ms Sandburg, but you can call me Naomi and the pleasure's all mine Jim."

The handshake lingered a moment more before they broke contact. Blair's eyes watching the two of them closely. It was important to him that his best friend and mother liked each other.

"You look busy," Naomi said noticing the large pile of vegetables.

"We start serving evening meals in a couple of hours," Jim replied. "You and Blair must come tonight and be my guests for a meal. It will be nice to finally get to know you Naomi."

"I'd like that," she replied. "I want to know everything about yours and Blair's lives here. But now I'd like to retire for an hour or two. It's been a long journey."

"Of course, Mom. I'm sorry I should have thought of that."

"That's alright sweetie. I wanted to meet your friend."

"Until later Jim," Blair said steering his mom away.

Jim watched mother and son depart. His eyes narrowed for a moment as he regarded Naomi's receding back. There was something about Naomi he couldn't put his finger on. Maybe it was because she had abandoned her son and Jim was by nature not very forgiving when someone hurt the people he cared about. For Blair's sake he would welcome Naomi unreservedly. He just hoped she didn't break his friend's heart again.

>>>>>>>>>>

The meal was an unprecedented success. Jim was able to spend a considerable amount of time with Blair and Naomi. Only helping out occasionally when they were really busy and an extra pair of hands were required in the kitchen.

Finally the restaurant was quiet and it was around 10pm when Blair noticed his mother was starting to flag. It had been a long day for her. Blair told his friend he was going to retire with his mother. Mother and son left to go upstairs to the living accommodation. Blair gladly gave up his bedroom for his mother to sleep in his bed. The sofa was comfy and Blair soon made up a comfortable bed there.

The doctor was fast asleep when Jim came upstairs after 11pm. The restaurant was closed for the night and the Guardian was tired. Jim saw his friend asleep on the sofa and was especially quiet as he moved around, so as not to disturb him.

But then another sound caught his attention. It was muffled but to his enhanced ears it was plain. It was coming from Blair's bedroom. Naomi was coughing and she was definitely trying to hide it. Jim almost knocked on Blair's bedroom door to make sure Naomi was okay. But then the coughing stopped and it went quiet again. He put it to the back of his mind and went to bed.

>>>>>>>>>>

Jim was cooking breakfast as Naomi came into the kitchen. Blair was still asleep on the sofa. Jim had decided to let him sleep for a little while longer.

"How you feeling this morning Naomi?" the Guardian asked wondering if she had slept well.

"Famished," she replied.

"I heard you coughing last night."

"I didn't disturb you or Blair did I?" she asked anxiously.

"No, but I was concerned."

"That's sweet, but I'm fine. I had a bad case of the flu not long back, it's getting better now."

"You ought to let Blair take a look. He's a great doctor."

"I don't want to trouble him over a little cough. It's getting better every day. Actually I think the air in Cascade agrees with me."

Without thinking it was unusual Jim zeroed his senses on Naomi's lungs. He noted some slight congestion there but it didn't sound too serious.

"So, how does ham and eggs grab you for breakfast?"

"That sounds wonderful. What can I do?" Naomi asked.

"Just sit at the table. It's coming right up. There's some hot coffee in the pot. I hope you like your coffee strong?"

"Strong is good."

Naomi walked over to the stove and poured herself a cup. She took a sip and enjoyed the heady brew. It was indeed strong, stronger than she was expecting, but she decided she liked it.

Jim and Naomi were sitting at the kitchen table eating their breakfasts when Blair tumbled into the room. He was still in his night clothes and looked half asleep, his hair sticking out in all directions.

"I heard you stirring," Jim said. Naomi didn't say anything, but she hadn't heard her son moving about in the living room.

As Blair sat down at the table, Jim poured him a cup of coffee. He went about preparing some eggs for his friend. His ham having already cooked and keeping warm for him. Within a few minutes Blair was tucking into his own breakfast.

"One of the perks of living with your own personal cook," Blair said between bites.

"How did you two hook up?" Naomi asked.

Jim and Blair smiled at each other. "That's a long story," the doctor replied.

Jim told Naomi his story of working on the railroad, the incident with his friend Fergus and the angry bear. His desperate ride to Cascade to get medical aid for his badly injured friend, to Blair's idea about opening the former restaurant with Jim running it. Jim explained with delight and pride as he spoke about how his friend had helped him when he'd had no job and nowhere to go. Jim finished the details with a brief description of the fire and how they had lost everything.

Naomi listened with amazement at the tale. She felt a little sad that her son had gone through the trauma of the fire without her, but she was also glad that Jim had been there to help him. She would always be grateful to her son's friend for that.

After breakfast Jim went down to his restaurant. Prudence and Emily were already there serving breakfasts. Blair was in his surgery going over some files of the patients he wanted to visit that morning. He packed the medical bag his mother had given him and then went back upstairs to the apartment. Naomi was sat on the sofa reading. Blair went over and sat beside her.

"What are you reading?"

"Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray," she replied looking up at her son. "What are you doing today?"

"I've had no patients in the surgery so far this morning, so I thought I'd make some house visits. I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me. We can talk and I can show you round Cascade as we walk."

"That sounds a wonderful idea," Naomi replied. "I wasn't sure what to do whilst you and Jim were working."

"It's a lovely Spring Cascade day."

"I'll just get my shawl."

Naomi disappeared into Blair's bedroom for a moment and returned with a brown coloured woollen shawl. It was an earth tone that Blair expected his mother to wear. She was wearing an emerald green dress that highlighted her hair and the shawl added to the warm appearance.

Once outside, Naomi looped her arm round her son's arm and they strode down the street together. They chatted endlessly, Blair introducing his mother to people he knew that they met along the way. When Blair went into a patient's house, Naomi waited outside for him, giving the patients he visited the privacy to consult with their doctor. They were still near the waterfront and Naomi soaked up the vibes from the place her son called home. The sun was warm on her face as she watched the people going by. She decided she liked Cascade.

Ten minutes later Blair emerged from the house. They continued on their way to Blair's next house call. They had just walked down a side alley away from the waterfront, when they heard the sound of gunfire ringing out. The sound was deceptive and seemed to be everywhere at once. Blair wasn't sure where it was coming from. A commotion behind him made him turn just as a man came running down the alley behind them from the direction of the waterfront. The sounds of more gunfire continued to sound from nearby echoing round them. It sounded like a full on gunfight was going on. Blair's immediate thoughts were for the safety of his mother.

The man was in his mid-thirties, with long stringy blond hair and was dressed in standard cowboy fare of blue shirt, black waistcoat and beige trousers. Brown boots and Stetson completed his outfit.

The man looked at Blair and his dark blue eyes noticed the doctor's bag in his hand. He immediately waved his gun and pointed it at the unfortunate doctor. Naomi gasped and held her son's arm tighter. Blair moved his hand and put it reassuringly over his mother's hands which were desperately grasping his arm.

"You," the desperado said to the doctor. "You're coming with me."

"Blair!?" Naomi said scared.

"It's alright Mom," Blair replied trying to sound calm for his mother's sake.

Blair didn't say anything to Naomi but he had noticed the blood on the man's shirt. The dark waistcoat was covering a large portion of it, but as he moved the waistcoat moved aside to reveal the dark red stain. The man had obviously been shot and judging by his actions, demanding help at gunpoint like he was, he had probably been breaking the law to get shot. Blair knew the bank wasn't far away.

The injured man indicated with the barrel of his gun for Blair to move. Blair indicated for his mom to stay put as Blair moved away from her. The man forced the doctor to mount the nearest horse, a young roan who was tied by its owner to a hitching rail. The bandit climbed up behind Blair and forced the horse to move.

"Blair!!" Naomi screamed and then started to cough.

Blair's head whipped round at the sound of his mother's hacking.

"Mom!!" Blair cried.

"Shut up!" the man barked as he nudged the barrel of the gun into Blair's back.

Blair could do nothing but watch helplessly as his Mom continued to cough and gasp for breath, she looked towards her son with fear laden eyes. Blair lost sight of her as the horse went round a corner and the desperado dug his heals into the horse's flank to gee him up into a canter.

>>>>>>>>>>

Jim had rushed out of his restaurant the moment he had heard the gunfire. His Guardian enhanced hearing zeroed in on it coming from the direction of the bank. He ran down the street to find Sheriff Solon and his two deputies standing over the bodies of three dead men. The men were still grasping the bags of money they had stolen from the bank. The sheriff was issuing orders for his deputies to fan out and check for the fourth robber who had escaped. Jim asked the sheriff what was going on.

"These yahoos tried to rob the bank," the sheriff replied. "I haven't got time to talk to you now Ellison, there's a fourth bandit on the loose in Cascade. He was recognised as Calico Joe, a known outlaw. He's on foot and injured so he won't get far," the sheriff replied adamantly.

Though Jim wasn't a fan of the sheriff's, he was a halfway decent lawman. Jim's attention was suddenly diverted when he heard a harsh cough. His Guardian hearing had heard that cough before. He saw Naomi coming out from between the side of a building. She was holding onto the building for support and looking frantically round for help.

"Ms Sandburg!" he called as he raced over to her. "Naomi, are you okay? I thought you were at home."

"Jim?" she said between coughs, trying to get air into her lungs. "Oh Jim. He's got him!"

"Who? What? Naomi where's Blair? Is he with you?"

"Jim...the man took him...they got on a horse and rode away." Naomi coughed and then pointed behind her to the north east.

Jim knew then, with dread clutching at his own chest, that Calico Joe had taken his friend.

Naomi grasped the front of Jim's shirt. "I can't lose him Jim. I can't lose Blair. I've only just found him again!"

"Don't worry Naomi. I promise you I'll get Blair back."

Naomi was coughing continually now. She raised a handkerchief to her lips, to wipe away the spittle and phlegm. Jim could both see and smell the blood that she was coughing onto the hankie. Jim was concerned for his kidnapped friend but he was also concerned for his friend's mother. She looked pale and drawn. As if sensing Jim's dilemma Naomi looked Jim in the eye.

"I'm fine Jim," gasp. "I'll make it...back home...on my own." Cough "Please, find my son."

"I will Naomi. I will!"

Jim could hear the wheezing in her chest brought on by the stress of witnessing her son's kidnapping. He was no doctor, he left that to his friend, but he wondered if Naomi was asthmatic. Someone he knew on the railroad had had that complaint and sometimes his lungs had sounded very congested and he had difficulty breathing. Jim did know one thing, that it was definitely more than getting over a bout of flu.

"Wait here Naomi, I need to talk to the sheriff and then I'll see you home, okay?" When Naomi nodded Jim turned to look for the sheriff. He saw him talking to a witness to the bank robbery.

"Sheriff Solon!" he called as he ran over to the lawman. "Doctor Sandburg has been kidnapped by Calico Joe. They were seen riding in a north east direction."

"Damn!" the sheriff exclaimed. There was something about the lawman's demeanour that made the hackles on the back of Jim's neck prickle.

"What is it?" Jim asked.

The sheriff looked into Jim's eyes, his own dark brown eyes unreadable. "Calico Joe is a known killer. He's wanted dead or alive. He's already killed seven people. He doesn't leave witnesses. I think the doctor is already as good as dead."

"No!!!" Jim exploded, not acknowledging or accepting that possibility. No, his friend and Shaman was not dead! "We have to go after them."

The sheriff's lips flattened to a hard line and he nodded his head resolutely.

"We will son."

>>>>>>>>>>

CHAPTER 3

The posse was forming quickly and Jim was determined to be a part of the hunt for his friend. As the posse was preparing and gathering supplies before departing, the Guardian took the opportunity to return for his own horse. He looked round for Naomi and saw that she was walking home, stubborn he thought, just like her son. He caught up to her and helped her the rest of the way home. She sat forlornly on the sofa as he gathered a few things together. Firstly from the kitchen and then he went into his bedroom. Jim rummaged under his bed for the case he kept there. Opening it he saw the Winchester rifle he sought. He had acquired it just for protection, to keep him and Blair safe should he ever need to. Jim told himself he could shoot anyone if they threatened his or his Shaman's life. He wondered absently before this was over, whether he might actually have to test that resolve.

Naomi's breathing sounded better and her colour was looking more normal, so Jim felt better about leaving her alone. Though the Guardian had thought about asking either Prudence or Emily to sit with Blair's mother a while. Jim promised her that he would come and tell her personally the moment he had any news on her son.

Then he went to the restaurant and left Prudence and Emily a note letting them know he would be gone a day or so and then without anymore hesitation Jim raced to the stable behind their house where they livered their horses. Jim quickly saddled his grey and white mare. Before he left he made sure Blair's horse had fresh hay and water. The Guardian wasn't sure how long it would take to find his friend, but he was determined that he wasn't going to return to Cascade without him. Mounting onto Lightning's saddle, Jim quickly rode through town to where the posse was congregating.

In short order they were off. Jim surveyed the posse. He was entrusting these men with Blair's life. When they caught up with Blair and his kidnapper, and they would catch up to them, his friend's life could depend on how well these men were able to work together to save Blair.

Sheriff Ashford C. Solon was a good lawman, in his mid fifties he had been Cascade's principal lawman for a number of years. Jim knew they would never be friends but he was a dependable man to have by your side in a fire fight. The sheriff's two deputies, Trevor Parkville and Michael Bowden, were both in their twenties. Both looked wet behind the ears. They were an unknown quantity to Jim and he had to trust that they would be found worthy if called upon. The rest of the posse was made up of three members of Cascade. Jim didn't know any of them, he just hoped they didn't get in the way and endanger Blair's life in any way. To save his friend he would barrel through all of these men in a heartbeat if he had to.

The sheriff was a decent tracker, honed by years of being Cascade's sheriff and going after numerous outlaws. Solon stopped at the spot where Calico Joe had kidnapped Blair. He saw the horse's hoof prints in the soft soil leading away and they set off in pursuit. Jim's Guardian eyesight, from his position on Lightning, scrutinised the trail they were following. He imprinted to memory the minutest nick and imperfection that the horseshoes made in the ground. He now knew the hoof prints of the horse his friend had been spirited away on; and would know those tracks anywhere.

Following the tracks the posse rode through Cascade and out into the forest beyond. The trail became harder to track, as the ground was harder and covered mainly in grass. The sheriff had to stop frequently to check the ground for any impressions the horse they were pursing was leaving. Other travellers had come to Cascade from a multitude of different directions. Often their tracks would intersect the ones the posse were following, confusing the sheriff, making him take longer to make decisions. Calico Joe was deliberately leaving a winding trail that was difficult to follow.

Jim was starting to get agitated. He could see exactly which way they should be going. His incredible eyesight could easily pick up the impressions of the horse in the ground. The grass was bent in a distinctive way and his eyes were soon able to detect it instinctively. Every time they had to stop and wait for the sheriff to scout around was costing valuable minutes. Jim wanted to tell him that he could see the right hoof prints amongst the others, but knew he wouldn't understand how he knew. It wasn't the time or the place to be explaining his heightened senses.

Jim was getting more and more frustrated with every passing minute. He groaned when the sheriff stopped yet again to check the ground. The ground had become rockier and was steadily getting higher. They were going into the mountains that surrounded Cascade. Once they reached rockier ground tracking would be even harder. Jim gazed at the trees, trying to see his friend through them and wondering where Blair was and if he was alright.

>>>>>>>>>>

Blair didn't think any less of himself when he admitted to himself that he was terrified. They'd been riding for hours. The man had left a false trail for any pursuers to follow and now they were riding up higher into the mountains. The area around them was very rocky. Huge rounded boulders littered the ground. Hardly a tree grew here and odd tuffs of grass or weeds clung where they could in this inhospitable land. They saw the odd jackrabbit or bird flying high in the azure sky, but other than that there was an all consuming loneliness all around them. Blair wondered where the next human being was. He didn't think many people ventured up this far. Maybe the odd prospector in search of gold or hunter in search of prey; but even they would be few and far between. Blair felt very vulnerable and alone at that moment.

Blair's thoughts turned to Jim and he wondered where his friend was. Was he still in Cascade or was he searching for him? Knowing his friend he was probably searching for him. But what could he do? He was only one man. The doctor knew he could count on his friend in a fight but even he might have a job against someone like his kidnapper. The man was mean and he was hard and dangerous. There was a coldness in his dark blue eyes which suggested that the man behind those cold eyes was calculating and evil.

Blair shivered with fear as he regarded his kidnapper. He hadn't spoken a word to him since they had left Cascade. Blair didn't know where he was now, the twists and turns they had taken meant he had long since lost his bearings.

The man suddenly brought the roan horse to a stop. Blair looked round him, as he wondered why they had stopped.

"Dismount," the man ordered and the doctor readily complied.

Blair stood a few steps away from the horse, his doctor's bag clutched to him as the man dismounted. Blair could see the right side of the man's chest was covered in blood. The man was going to bleed to death if he continued as he was.

"Take care of the horse," the man barked "but don't unsaddle him."

Blair did as he was told. He gave the horse some water from the canteen on the horse's saddle and let him graze on some tufts of grass.

The man moved towards a small hollow in the rocks. There were some items there, nestling in the natural shelter. It only went back a few feet into the rock but it was adequate to shelter you from the elements. It looked like the man had stayed there before. The man sat down and beckoned the doctor over with his gun.

"Take the bullet out!" the man ordered.

Blair moved forward slowly, not making any false or sudden moves. He knelt down slowly in front of the man. The doctor moved the blood soaked shirt aside. Blair knew the bullet was still inside, as there was no exit wound. It wasn't going to be easy to operation considering their surroundings.

"I'll have to operate," the doctor stated.

"That's why you're here and not lying dead in that alley in Cascade," the man replied without preamble.

Blair opened his medical bag. "To do the operation, I'll need to give you something for the pain."

"Nice try doctor, but I don't think so."

"It will be very painful if I don't give you something."

"No drugs. Just do it."

Blair reached inside his bag looking for the appropriate resources he'd need. He took out a clean cloth and laid it down on the blanket next to his patient. Then he took out some gauze, scalpel and some tweezers and laid them within reach on top of the sterile cloth. He needed to sterilise the instruments first, but when he asked Calico Joe about making a fire to boil some water, the man was adamant that that was not an option. Finally the doctor folded the sleeves back on his shirt and took out a small bottle of alcohol that he carried in his bag and liberally coated his hands with it to sterilise them. With nothing else to be done he prepared to operate.

"Remember doctor I'm left handed. This gun has got a hair trigger. Try anything and I'll shoot you where you stand. Understand?"

Blair nodded once.

"What's your name?" Blair asked.

"Calico Joe, if it's any of your business."

"Well Calico Joe, I'm Doctor Blair Sandburg. This might hurt a bit."

Blair picked up the scalpel; he held it firmly in his right hand. Taking pride that his hand wasn't visibly shaking, he was doing a good job of keeping his fear hidden inside. He looked once at Calico Joe's gun and then forced his attention solely on the bullet wound. That was all he could allow himself to focus on right now.

The doctor made a small incision across the wound. Calico Joe grimaced and the gun wavered. Blair tried to ignore it but beads of sweat beaded on his brow. He silently prayed quietly that the man held on to control enough so that he didn't jerk his finger on the trigger and fire the gun unintentionally. Blair concentrated on the wound, using his training to delve into the man's body to locate the bullet. Probing with a finger he felt along the trajectory the bullet had taken for the piece of hard metal. He felt nearly two inches in and there it was. Taking the tweezers he inserted them in the wound down to where the bullet was resting. Calico Joe winced as the metal prongs of the tweezers probed his flesh. Blair grasped the bullet between the tweezer's heads and slowly pulled it out. The bullet inched back in incremental stages. Finally the bullet was out. Blair looked at the piece of lead covered in blood and tissue for a second and then cast it aside.

Blair still had to close and stitch the wound. He did this as quickly as he could. Finally the wound was bandaged. It wasn't a serious wound, though the patient had lost a lot of blood. It hadn't hit any vital organs and as long as it didn't get infected the doctor was sure it would heal cleanly.

Now Blair wondered what value his life held to the bandit. Calico Joe didn't need him anymore. He busied himself putting away his instruments in his bag and forced himself not to dwell on that fact.

Calico Joe was wondering how the bank robbery had gone wrong. He knew he shouldn't have thrown his hand in with those three two-bit worthless dolts. The outlaw had taken great satisfaction in seeing his former gang members gunned down by the law back in Cascade. He was lucky to have gotten out of there alive. Calico Joe struggled to stand up and then glanced round deep in thought.

"We have to keep moving," he announced heading towards the horse.

"You've lost a lot of blood and riding will only reopen the injury. You need to take it easy," the doctor replied.

"Not an option doctor. Now get on that horse!"

"You're taking me with you?"

"You're my insurance policy. If the posse catch up to us they'll have to get to me through you." Calico Joe said the last with a predatory smile on his face, telling the doctor he wouldn't hesitate to use him as a shield.

"Do you think they sent a posse after you?"

"I would."

Calico Joe mounted the horse behind the saddle grunting in pain and then waved his gun at Blair to mount in front of him. That way he could keep his gun trained on him at all times. The doctor could see the man was in pain. He looked pale and a light sheen of perspiration covered his face. As Blair remounted the horse, he felt the gunman's pistol in his ribs.

"One false move and I'll plug you."

Blair nodded solemnly that he had heard and understood him.

"Which way?"

"Keep heading north until I tell you to stop."

Blair urged the horse to move. His thoughts turned to Jim wondering how his friend was ever going to find him.

>>>>>>>>>>

Jim and the sheriff were at loggerheads. The Guardian could plainly detect the smell of the alcohol Blair used in his doctoring. He had smelt it often enough emanating from his surgery. The aroma was coming on the breeze in waves from the north.

The sheriff wanted to go east.

"We should go north sheriff," Jim stated emphatically.

"And what suddenly makes you an expert tracker?" the sheriff enquired testily, not used to having his decisions challenged.

"I know they went north."

"How do you know?"

Jim couldn't explain that he smelled that it was the right way.

"I think Calico Joe laid a false trail for us to follow. The ground is rockier here there's less telltale signs which way they went. I've got a hunch north's the right way."

"Hunch huh," the sheriff said, not holding back the mocking tone in his voice.

The rest of the posse watched the discourse between the two men, not knowing who to believe.

"I've been scouting in these hills for twenty years, son. You've lived in Cascade how long?"

"Less than a year," Jim replied.

"Exactly!" the sheriff replied as if that was all the argument he needed.

"I'm going north," Jim said not wishing to waste time arguing with the sheriff. "It's up to you which way you go!"

Without further word Jim steered Lightning away from the posse. As the sheriff was the head of law enforcement in Cascade and their tracker, the deputies and the rest of the posse sided with him. They watched Jim head towards the north and then followed the sheriff as they veered to the east.

>>>>>>>>>>

The sun was setting fast, the mountains getting dark quicker than on the open range, as the sunlight was blocked by the rock formations all around them. Calico Joe was exhausted and he knew they had to stop. There was no sign of the posse and he was sure the false trail had worked. It would give them precious hours' advantage before they decided to try the north or west. With any luck the posse was history. The horse was also exhausted carrying both of them. He couldn't afford to ride the horse to death. He didn't have the strength to get out of these mountains on foot.

"Stop," Calico Joe ordered.

Blair duly complied and he and Calico Joe dismounted. They had stopped in a small canyon like formation. Rocks surrounded them on both sides with a twenty foot or so clearing between the steep walls.

The doctor couldn't get the idea out of his head that his usefulness to Calico Joe was over, despite the robber saying he needed him as a shield. He couldn't help but wonder if this barren place would be the last place he would ever see.

"Why are we stopping?" Blair asked.

"To rest for a few hours," the outlaw replied.

"I need to check your wound," Blair stated.

"It's alright."

"It won't take a moment."

Calico Joe nodded and Blair approached him. He removed his patient's bloody shirt that was now stiff with his dried blood and the bandage. The wound had opened slightly through the motion of the horse, but it had soon stopped again. There was no sign of infection. Blair rebandaged the wound, satisfied that it was okay under the circumstances.

"Go sit by that tree," the outlaw commanded.

Blair did as he was bid. As he sat down he was firmly tied to the tree. Only then did Calico Joe relax and remove the bedroll from behind the saddle and lay it out on the ground grimacing in pain as he did so. Then he removed a half full canteen from the saddle.

Calico Joe took a long swig. The water was warm but it was wet. He gave the horse some and then let it graze on some sporadic tufts of grass. As an afterthought he let Blair have a little of the water.

"Thank you," Blair said as he slaked his thirst. He wasn't sure the outlaw was going to give him any.

Then Calico Joe checked the saddle bags but there was no food. It was getting colder as night began to fall in earnest. There was no moon and no camp fire to see by. Blair knew why the robber didn't light a fire; he didn't want to possibly tip off any potential pursuers. Blair also knew that they wouldn't be able to go far at night; it was just too dark to see by. One stumble and the horse could fall and break his leg.

Blair smiled to himself, despite his desperate situation. The Guardian didn't need much light to see by. He had already proven that when they had rescued those miners when the silver mine had caved in. Blair had been hardly able to see anything in those dark tunnels, even with a lantern to guide his way. His friend had been sure footed and able to see almost as good as if it was daylight inside those dark tunnels.

"I'm here my Guardian," Blair whispered to the darkness, more than ready to be rescued by his friend.

>>>>>>>>>>

It was a cloudless night, the black sky alive with the sparkling of a thousand tiny diamonds. Jim moved silently through the impromptu camp. As darkness had fallen Jim had dismounted and led his horse through the mountains, the Winchester rifle ready in his right hand. The terrain was rocky and irregular and he didn't want Lightning to break a leg in an unseen pothole. Jim had come upon the cold camp, firstly detecting the heartbeats. He left Lightning and proceeded forward slowly. He saw his friend tied to the tree and Calico Joe asleep on the ground nearby. Jim was torn between going to his friend or negating the threat Calico Joe posed. He decided to warn Blair first in case he inadvertently cried out and alerted the outlaw to his presence.

Blair was dosing, not really comfortable being tied sat up to the trunk of a tree, but exhaustion only making it possible to sleep at all. Jim put his hand over Blair's mouth and spoke directly into his friend's ear.

"I'm here, Doc."

Blair started and tensed immediately on feeling the hand over his mouth, but soon relaxed visibly on the realisation that it was his Guardian.

"Stay silent," Jim whispered.

At Blair's barely perceptible nod, Jim removed his hand from his Shaman's mouth. Jim had his rifle in his hand as he stepped forward, wanting to take Calico Joe in alive if at all possible. He raised the Winchester and levelled it at the supine outlaw.

"Wake up Calico Joe, you're under the arrest for attempted robbery and kidnap," the Guardian stated.

"You the law?" a sleepy Calico Joe asked.

"No, I'm a cook."

Calico Joe had no answer to that. Instead he reached for his gun.

"I wouldn't do that," Jim replied. "I got you covered. Throw me your gun nice and easy."

Calico Joe took his gun out of its holster and threw it towards the Guardian. Jim kicked the gun away and then moved slowly forward, his own gun trained on the outlaw.

"Stand up. Slowly." Calico Joe stood up. "Hands behind your back." Again the outlaw complied. "Turn around."

Jim moved closer, every sense on alert. He stepped up behind the wanted man. Calico Joe waited until Jim was directly behind him and then he made his move. He kicked back using the spur on the back of his left boots to dig into Jim's calf. The momentary distraction of pain was all the outlaw needed. He made a move for Jim's gun but the Guardian had recovered quickly. The two men grappled for the gun, both falling and rolling on the ground as they both continued desperately to get the upper hand. Jim knew that if Calico Joe got the rifle, then both he and Blair were as good as dead. With that incentive in his mind he struggled vigorously to keep hold of his weapon.

Blair could hear the sound of the scuffle nearby. In the darkness he could barely see anything, only the grunts of exertion of the two men as they grappled on the ground. Blair wanted to call out to his friend, but he didn't dare less he distract him. In the tense situation, any distraction could prove fatal.

The seconds ticked by as Blair helplessly listened in the inky darkness, feeling frustrated and totally helpless. The scuffle continued.

Suddenly a shot rang out.

It boomed loudly in the darkness. Blair gasped. The shot reverberated round the boulders of the small canyon they were camped in until finally dying away. The sounds of the scuffle stopped and there was what seemed to Blair a long silence. Blair heard a gasp of breath and a gurgle. He knew someone was bleeding inside, probably from a gunshot wound to the chest. They were haemorrhaging internally and badly by the wet, frothy sounds he could clearly hear.

Blair hoped it wasn't Jim. He desperately pulled on the rope that securely anchored him to the tree. The bindings wouldn't budge. Blair was a doctor and the oath he had sworn on becoming a doctor forbade him wishing death on anyone, but when faced with a choice between Jim and Calico Joe, the doctor knew that Jim deserved to live more. Jim was a good man, an honourable man. Calico Joe was a robber, a kidnapper and who knew what else.

"Please be okay Jim," Blair said desperately and kept repeating it over and over again.

A hand touched him on the shoulder in the darkness and Blair flinched.

"You okay there, Doc?"

"Jim!!"

"F-fine," Blair managed to utter with relief on hearing his friend's voice. "You?"

"Good."

Though he didn't sound it. He was still panting harshly from the fight and trying to get his breathing back on an even keel.

"Calico Joe?"

"Dead."

It was over and the Guardian was untying him and pulling him to his feet. Blair wasn't sure if his legs were going to support him. The doctor felt Jim's powerful arms encircle him and he was lifted and pulled into a fierce hug. Blair was glad of the embrace and returned it without hesitation. They stood there for some time just glad that the other was safe and alive.

Finally Jim pulled away, when he realised his friend was shivering from shock. He removed the bedding that was tied to the back of his horse's saddle. He wrapped both blankets around his friend's shoulders and then gently steered him to sit on the ground before he fell down. Blair went without complaint and sat huddled in the blankets.

"I'm going to get some wood for a fire. Jim needed to warm his friend up. He quickly got a fire started, finding dead brush and kindling nearby. Once the fire was going he took provisions from his saddlebags and started hot coffee and food heating. Blair hadn't eaten since the morning and was famished.

"Was my Mom okay?" Blair asked as Jim prepared the repast. He could see him clearly now in the fire's glow. Being about to see the physical presence of his friend was even more reassuring to the Shaman.

"She was fine. I left her at home."

"I thought Calico Joe was going to kill her."

"Have you noticed your Mom's cough?" Jim asked trying to be delicate, he wasn't the doctor but he knew it was more serious than Naomi was letting on.

"She was coughing when Calico Joe kidnapped me."

"I've heard her at home."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Naomi said she was getting over the flu, but I think it's more serious than that."

"Did you use your senses?" the doctor asked, his natural curiosity piqued.

"Yes, there's definitely some congestion in her lungs."

"I'll examine her when we get back."

Jim let it drop then; his friend had been through enough for one day. He handed him a cup of steaming strong black coffee. Blair accepted the cup with hands that barely now showed a tremor. Jim noted how his friend was pulling himself together, the initial shock of the gunfight over with. As Jim handed his friend a steaming plate of beef stew, he had brought with him from home, his friend's eyes roamed to the lifeless body of the robber.

Leaving his friend to eat his meal, Jim went about burying the man. He might not have been a decent human being, robbing and murdering his way in life, but Jim knew it was the decent thing to do. He could do no less for any man, no matter what they had done in life.

He didn't have a shovel with him but the ground was compact too hard for digging anyway, so Jim found enough rocks to cover the body with. He didn't leave a marker; instead he laid the man's Stetson on top of the mound.

Blair had eaten his fill by the time he returned to the fire. The doctor's head was already lolling forward as drowsiness from the fire's warmth and the warm meal, plus the tiredness he felt from the day's events and hard ride caught up with him. Jim banked the fire and when he was satisfied it was safe to leave for the night, he moved back over to his friend.

He sat down beside his Shaman who was trying to keep his eyes from closing.

"Shh Doc, it's alright. Go to sleep."

Laying the blanket from the stolen horse on the ground he manoeuvred his friend onto it close to the fire. He pushed Blair down all the way, and then lay down behind him, covering them both with the remaining blankets and drawing his Shaman close to his front. Blair relaxed into his friend's closeness, still half asleep. Then Jim listened vigilantly to the surrounding area for any threats that could pose a danger to his Shaman. Only when he was sure it was safe, did the Guardian surrender to sleep. But even in sleep, he kept his senses on alert, sure to become awake at the slightest noise or danger.

The Shaman woke in his Guardian's arms the following morning. Feeling much better than he had the previous night. The sun had already risen and some high wispy clouds were visible above the rocks all around them.

"Morning Doc," Jim's voice suddenly said. Blair hadn't realised his friend was awake. "How'd you sleep?"

"Remarkably well considering how hard this ground is."

Blair grimaced as he tried to move, his muscles protesting sleeping on the hard ground. Both men sat up, stretching their mutinous muscles.

Jim regarded his friend. He definitely did look much better than he had the previous night.

"We'll have some breakfast and then get back to Cascade. Your Mom will be beside herself with worry."

Blair was looking forward to getting back home. Several times the day before he had wondered if he would ever see his home again.

Breakfast was soon cooked and consumed as both men were eager to leave. The two friends were soon riding back to Cascade; both keen to be home again.

>>>>>>>>>>

CHAPTER 4

Jim and Blair dismounted outside the small stable behind their home.

"I'll take care of the horses," Jim told his friend. "You go see Naomi."

"Thanks Jim," Blair replied handing him the reins of the stolen roan horse.

Jim smiled at his friend and watched him rush into their house. The Guardian started to remove the horses tack and curry them. Lightning was pleased to see his stable mate and was soon munching on hay and oats next to Roman. Jim took care of the other horse, whose owner would be concerned about him. Blair had told him how Calico Joe had stolen the first horse he had seen. Jim wondered if the sheriff was back from his and the posses false hunt. They had gone the wrong way as he had suspected. He needed to tell the sheriff the doctor was safe and that Calico Joe was no longer a threat. He planned to do that as soon as the horses were taken care of. It would also give his friend the opportunity to spend some time alone with his mother.

Jim walked into the sheriff's office planning to leave a note if he wasn't there. The elderly sheriff was sat behind his desk and his head whipped up when he saw Jim come through the door.

"Ellison!"

"Hello, sheriff," Jim said.

"I was going to send a posse after you if you hadn't returned by nightfall."

"How reassuring," Jim replied not hiding the sarcasm from his voice. "I found the doctor, he's safe."

"You found him?" the sheriff replied not a little shocked. "Where is he? Is he alright?"

"I left him at home. He's fine."

"And Calico Joe?"

"Dead."

"There's a $4,000 reward for him dead or alive. It's yours if you can produce his body."

"I didn't do it for the money."

"I appreciate that, but the money's still yours. How did you find him?"

"He went north," Jim replied succinctly.

"As you insisted."

Jim nodded but didn't say anything else, he didn't need to crow about it. The kudos of being right wasn't important to him anyway. Only the satisfaction of finding Blair safe and well mattered to him, not what the sheriff or anyone else thought of him or whether he had been proven right.

Jim drew a map as to the location of Calico Joe's body. The sheriff promised to send his deputies out as soon as he could to recover the body.

"There's a horse in my stable that Calico Joe stole when he kidnapped Blair."

"The owner made it known to me yesterday he had been stolen. I'll see that he's returned to him."

"Thank you sheriff," Jim replied proffering his hand.

The sheriff shook the Guardian's hand firmly and then Jim left the office. The sheriff watched Jim leave and then walked to the door. He watched as Jim walked up the street wondering how he had done it. All the indications at the time had been screaming to him that Calico Joe and his victim had gone east. The sheriff knew he was a darn fine tracker, but Jim Ellison had humbled him. He had totally lost all signs of the horse they had been tracking. They had checked north and west but the trail had gone cold and they had had to return to Cascade. The mountains were too vast to go wandering round without a trail to follow. The sheriff had resigned to the fact that Doctor Sandburg was dead and Calico Joe was long gone. He didn't know how Ellison had done it but he was man enough to admit he had done a good job. The young doctor owed that man his life. Calico Joe had killed before and would have killed again; there was no doubt about that. The doctor probably would have undoubtedly been his next victim.

Maybe he was getting old the sheriff mused as he returned to work and Jim Ellison disappeared from view.

>>>>>>>>>>

Jim called in at the restaurant next. He found it had been running smoothly as he knew it would have been. Prudence and Emily had taken over without complaint when he had taken off with the posse. Their first questions were for Blair. The two women were really a godsend and he really had been lucky when those two women had come to work for him.

Jim was still thinking about the reward on Calico Joe. It made him feel like a bounty hunter when his only intention had been to rescue his friend. If he did receive the $4,000 reward for Calico Joe, he vowed to himself to give the money to his two loyal workers.

Then Jim went up to the apartment above the doctor's surgery and restaurant.

>>>>>>>>>>

When Blair returned to the apartment he had slipped in quietly. He found his mother asleep in his bed. She hadn't heard him come in. He watched her for a few moments, thinking how tired and fragile she looked. He had looked at her through rose tinted glasses, remembering how she used to look. Since she had re-entered his life he hadn't stopped to actually just look at her. Thinking about what Jim had said about his mother's cough, the doctor thought that his mother looked thinner than he ever remembered seeing her. There was grey now in her red hair and lines around her eyes. Blair didn't think the lines were just because of her age, but something more.

He went over and sat on the bed next to her. He gently touched her shoulder.

"Mom."

Then he gently shook her shoulder. Naomi's hazel eyes opened slowly, she blinked as it took her a few moments to register her son was sat beside her.

"Blair!!" she cried as awareness returned and she realised her son was safe. "You're alright!"

Tears flowed down her cheeks unashamedly and she crushed her son to her. Blair returned the embrace and smiled.

"I'm fine," he replied. "Jim found me."

"Thank God. I was so worried."

"You look tired Mom," Blair added quietly.

She pulled back from him for a moment before hugging him again, as if she needed to make sure that he was really in her arms.

"I didn't sleep well last night. I was worried about you. When Jim didn't come back last night I feared the worst. Then the posse rode in first thing this morning saying they had lost the trail and when Jim wasn't with them, I didn't know what to think."

"I think it's more than that Mom. I'd like to examine you professionally."

"No!" she said firmly and looked away from him, over towards the window where the afternoon sun was streaming in.

"Mom, I'm a doctor so don't tell me you're just getting over the flu. I know there's something wrong with you."

Naomi looked into her son's cerulean blue eyes and then touched his cheek gently with her slightly trembling hand. She took a deep breath and then got up from the bed and walked over to the window. Naomi glanced out but not looking at anything in particular. With her back to her son she somehow found the courage to speak again.

"There's no need. I know what's wrong with me."

"Don't tell me it's nothing. I know...."

"Blair," she said gently cutting him off. "I know what it is."

"Tell me!"

"I don't want to concern you. There's nothing you can do. I just want us to enjoy...."

"Tell me!!" Blair said firmly, his jaw set and brooking no argument that she would tell him.

"TB," she replied quietly, tears in her eyes.

Blair didn't move. Two letters that was all she had uttered, two letters but their connotations sent Blair's mind into turmoil.

"Tuberculosis," he managed to stammer.

Naomi nodded once, not trusting her voice.

"There must be some mistake." The doctor's mind was whirling with the symptoms of the disease.

"No, no mistake. I went to my sister's doctor in Boston when I first felt the symptoms; he's one of the best in the country."

"But...I mean...oh Mom."

Naomi turned then to look at her son, his face was etched with sorrow and distress. Tears ran down her face as she moved over to him and cradled him to her.

"I'm dying Blair."

Blair couldn't speak as the tears flowed freely from his own eyes. Mother and son stood holding each other for a long time, both letting the tears fall. There would be time later to come to terms with the diagnosis, for now Blair just couldn't help but let the pain and anguish fill him. His Mom was dying. More tears ran down his face, following the trails of his previous tears. Naomi held him tightly as he cried in her arms.

>>>>>>>>>>

When Jim returned to the apartment Naomi was in the kitchen making tea. There was no sign of Blair.

"What's wrong Naomi? Where's Blair?"

She looked up at him with two sorrow filled eyes. Jim could smell the sickness coming off of her in waves, not just sickness, he could also detect her sorrow.

"He's in his surgery. I told him some bad news and he's gone to check his medical books," she stopped making the chamomile tea and looked up at her son's friend. "Jim, I told Blair I have TB. I know my time's short. Blair doesn't want to accept it. I know it was shock for him."

"Oh Naomi, I'm so sorry," Jim replied sad but not overly shocked. He had sensed something wrong from the moment he had first met Naomi.

"I've known for some time. But Blair's took it hard," and she stopped to chew her lip for a moment. "Jim will you look after Blair. Look after my son and always keep him safe."

"I will Naomi, with my dying breath if it comes to it."

She nodded, finding reassurance by his strong declaration. He had said them with conviction and Naomi believed he would to the best of his ability.

"Go to him," she said as she sat down at the kitchen table with the tea.

Jim nodded and left Naomi to sit at the kitchen table. She stared absently into the yellow coloured liquid in the mug in front of her, her thoughts for her son. She didn't cry, but her heart was breaking that she would leave her son alone. No, she told herself, not alone, Blair had Jim. Suddenly Naomi didn't feel so frightened of dying anymore.

>>>>>>>>>>

Jim entered Blair's surgery. The waiting room was empty. Jim listened and could discern his friend's heartbeat in his consulting room; it was slightly elevated to normal. Jim could only hear the one heartbeat; the doctor wasn't consulting with a patient. Jim walked over to the wooden door and hesitated, wondering what he could say, what he could do to make his friend feel better.

Jim knocked.

"Come in," Blair voice called out after only a moment's hesitation. Jim could hear his friend's breathing hitch oh so slightly, before he composed himself to become the consummate professional he was at the prospect that a patient needed his medical expertise.

Jim opened the door and stepped inside.

"Hey Doc," Jim said trying to sound positive.

"Oh hi Jim," the doctor replied before turning his attention back to the book in front of him. "Have you been to see the sheriff?"

Jim nodded. "I just saw Naomi."

Blair nodded but didn't look up.

"You okay?"

Blair nodded again.

Jim walked over to his friend and stood beside him. He put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed reassuringly, but still Blair didn't say anything.

"What are you doing?" Jim asked.

"Checking my medical books and looking up what can be done to treat TB. I'm not getting anywhere," he added his voice tight with emotion and frustration. "All my medical books were lost in the fire last year. I've only been able to replace a few of them."

"Blair, I..." Jim said gently, but the Guardian didn't know what to say.

"I know Jim," the doctor replied, putting his right hand on top of his friend's hand which was still grasping his shoulder. "I know."

"Why don't we go get something to eat? I'll be opening for the evening meals soon."

"I'm not hungry."

"Blair, you hardly ate anything yesterday when Calico Joe had you and you've hardly eaten anything today."

"I will later. I just need..." and Blair sighed. "I need to read a bit more. Okay?"

"Okay Doc, I'll give you half an hour but then you'd better get your butt back upstairs for tea, otherwise I'll be back and drag you upstairs myself."

Blair smiled a small wry smile. "Okay."

Jim walked to the door, as he reached for the handle Blair spoke again.

"Jim."

"Yeah, Doc?"

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Jim left his friend alone then, to do his reading. Only by being proactive could his friend begin to cope with the enormity of his mother's illness. The Guardian reasoned that his Shaman knew all the symptoms and treatments of the disease, as he was a very good doctor. He just needed something to do, to keep his mind occupied, as he came to terms with it in his own time.

Jim ascended the steps to their apartment sadly. He would cook a nice meal for them and do what he could to help his Shaman.

>>>>>>>>>>

The following morning Blair sat at the kitchen table playing with the scrambled eggs Jim had prepared for him. Naomi and Jim also sat at the table. The atmosphere was strained and tense. No one spoke and Naomi and Jim kept giving each other surreptitious looks. Neither knew what to say to Blair. Blair looked like a thundercloud ready to unleash its fury.

"Sweetie, I..." Naomi said her voice tender.

Blair banged his fork down on the table. His solemn face changing to one of anger and frustration.

"Why did you have to find me now?" Blair shouted vehemently. He'd had all night to think on Naomi's declaration and he had woken up angry and resentful. "After all those years when we lost touch and I was hoping you would find me again and we could be a family again. And what do you do huh!!" his anger was loose now and he couldn't hold it in. "You find me when you are sick. You come back into my life only for me to watch you die!! You were always selfish Naomi. I just never realised how much until now!!"

"Blair honey, I never..." and she started to sob quietly, knowing what her son was saying was true, but his harsh words were none the less painful to hear.

Jim watched from the other side of the table but didn't say anything. He could understand his friend's anger. He'd never had much of a relationship with his family. He barely remembered his mother she had left when he had been very young and there was little chance he would ever see her again, if she was even still alive. His father and brother didn't even know where he was, so there was no way his mother did.

Jim could see how upset Blair was, the fury was written all over his face. Naomi was silently sobbing as her son stood up without another word and walked from the room.

Jim listened with his senses as his friend descended the stairs and went out the front door. He turned to look at Naomi. Her head was hunched down and she was sobbing quietly.

"Naomi," Jim said quietly. "He didn't mean it. He's just all churned up inside."

Naomi nodded and her teary hazel eyes turned to Jim with a pleading look.

"I should go after him," she sobbed.

"Let him be for a while," Jim said quietly. "He'll calm down."

"I deserve what he said. What was I thinking coming back here so sick? I should have let him remember me as I was. I was selfish in finding him."

"No, you were just being a mother who wanted to see her son again," he said. "That's perfectly natural."

Naomi nodded. "Go after him Jim, make sure he's okay."

Jim nodded. "Will you be alright?"

"I'll be fine," she replied. "Us Sandburgs are made of stern stuff. I'm feeling a little tired so I think I'll go lie down for a while."

Jim reached for his Stetson and then left Naomi to find his partner. Once Jim had reached the outside it didn't take him long to locate his friend's heartbeat. Blair was sat on the nearby beach, his legs drawn up to his chest and his arms wrapped round them. Jim silently walked over the sand to his friend and then silently sat down beside him. There were tears running unashamedly down his face.

"Is my Mom okay?" Blair asked, wiping at his tears.

"Yeah, she's fine. Worried about you."

"I shouldn't have lost my temper or stormed off like that. She's the one who's sick. I should have....well I should be more understanding."

"Hey Doc, you're only human, it's natural to feel angry and upset. I bet you're not really upset at your Mom are you?"

Blair shook his head. "I feel angry that I'm not a good enough doctor to be able to cure her."

"No doctor can cure TB, even I know that."

The doctor nodded and his blue eyes gazed reflectively out to sea at something only he could see.

"Blair, I never knew my mother, she left when my brother and I were very small. I will never hear my Mom's voice, hold her or tell her how much I love her. You've got that chance Doc. Don't waste what time you've got left with your mom feeling angry and resentful. Enjoy every precious day you've got left with her."

Blair took a shuddering breath and wiped away his tears knowing his best friend was right. He calmed himself and turned to face his Sentinel.

"When did you get to be so wise?" he asked wryly.

"Since I started living with a smart mouthed doctor," Jim replied smiling and putting his arm round Blair's shoulder.

"Thank you Jim," Blair said and leaned into his friend's embrace. "For being my friend."

"Anytime."

Blair gathered himself together, then stood and looked back at their dwelling.

"I'll go speak to my Mom," Blair said.

"I'll be in the restaurant if you need me."

They walked back to the house together. Jim disappeared into the kitchen as Blair went up the stairs to the upstairs apartment.

Naomi was lying on the sofa and her bloodshot eyes looked up at him as he walked through the door. She was holding a mug of tea which was half drunk. Without saying anything Blair walked over to her and sat down next to her. He moved his hand over the top of the free hand in her lap and gently squeezed it.

"I'm sorry Mom," he said.

"Shh," Naomi replied. "You have nothing to be sorry about."

"I should never have shouted at you."

"It's alright," she replied. Naomi reached forward and put her mug down on the coffee table in front of them. "Just give your old Mom a hug."

Blair reached forward tears in his eyes and hugged his Mom to him. Fresh tears leaked from Naomi's eyes as she hugged her son.

"Oh Mom," Blair sobbed.

"Shh baby, it's okay."

They sat there for a long time just holding each other as Blair took comfort from the warm embrace of his mother. She was going to die he had to accept that. He knew he had to be strong as the tuberculosis took its course. As a doctor he could help ease Naomi's suffering and as a son he could be there so she wasn't alone at the end. As hard as that would be to face.

>>>>>>>>>>

CHAPTER 5

As Jim worked in his restaurant downstairs he unashamedly dialled up his hearing every now and again for a few seconds, making sure mother and son were okay. He had never seen Blair so angry or upset. He was glad the two were talking and everything seemed to be alright with them. Jim was glad that Naomi was back in her son's life, even if it was only going to be for a short time. Jim wasn't sure how long Naomi had left and it would devastate his friend when she died. He thought absently how he didn't remember his mother; at least Blair had this time as short as it might be. Blair would grieve but he would still have memories of Naomi. He'd have those memories to remember her in the future, when he was able to think of them without them causing him pain. Jim didn't know what his mother looked like; his father had kept no photos or paintings of her. He didn't know the sound of her voice, the colour of her hair or even the colour of her eyes. His father had been so upset when she left that he never spoke to his children about her.

Jim was interrupted by a knock at the front door, he was going to shout that they wouldn't be open for another hour when he realised it was the sheriff.

"Sheriff," Jim said when he opened the door.

"Ellison, may I speak with you?"

Jim opened the door and allowed the sheriff inside. They went back into the kitchen so Jim could continue with his food preparations.

"Coffee, sheriff?"

"Thanks."

Jim poured the sheriff a cup, as he did so, he wondered what he wanted to speak to him about. The sheriff took a sip of the steaming black liquid.

"That's good," he commented savouring the taste.

Jim checked the bread he had baking in the oven, allowing the sheriff to ask him in his own time. The sheriff removed an envelope from inside his waistcoat.

"This is for you Ellison."

Jim wiped his hands on his apron and accepted the envelope. He opened it and inside was a large wad of notes.

"What's this?" Jim asked.

"The reward money for Calico Joe. My deputies found the body where you said it would be. The $4,000 is yours."

"Thank you sheriff."

"That's a tidy sum of money. Any idea what you're going to do with it?"

"I have an inkling," Jim replied, but not elaborating.

The sheriff took the hint and didn't pry anymore. He finished his coffee and wished Jim a good day.

After the sheriff had gone, Jim split the money into two and waited until Prudence and Emily arrived for the evening shift. He gave them each $2,000. The two women were speechless at first, unable to comprehend that Jim would just give them the money. But to Jim the money was 'blood money'. He had killed Calico Joe to protect his Shaman's life. He was convinced a killer like Calico Joe would have killed Blair and not released him. He had done the right thing but he didn't want anything to do with the money for doing his duty and protecting his Shaman by killing the man. Prudence and Emily had helped him out so many times, without hesitation or grumbling, this felt right to help them out and make them more financially secure.

Jim received another caller before he opened the restaurant for the evening. One of the town's officials, a Mortimer Jeavons, spoke to Jim and told him that the town's council had lost confidence in the sheriff. The town's council were very impressed with how Jim had taken on such a desperate character like Calico Joe single handedly, saved the doctor and then overpowered and killed the outlaw. A man who could handle himself so well in a crisis was the man Cascade needed to be their first line of defence and keep law and order.

Jim pointed out that Cascade already had a sheriff but Jeavons pointed out that Ashford C. Solon was soon to be retired (whether he wanted to be or not Jim thought to himself) and they needed a successor. Everyone on the Council wanted Jim to be that man.

Jim told the official that he was very flattered by the offer. It was an offer he couldn't brush off as the Guardian in him was drawn to protect the people around him. He couldn't deny it was also a dangerous job, encountering and dealing with people like Calico Joe on a regular basis. It was also something he couldn't decide on straight away, he would have to think about it and also talk to Blair about it. It would affect his friend as much as it would him.

>>>>>>>>>>

Jim, Blair and Naomi had an evening meal together before Jim had to return to the restaurant to help out Prudence and Emily. Jim was quiet over the meal and Blair could see that his friend was preoccupied with something.

"What's wrong Jim?" he asked as they tucked into dessert, one of Jim's apple pies.

Jim looked from his friend to Naomi and back to Blair.

"Mortimer Jeavons came to see me today."

"What did he want?" the doctor asked. There wouldn't be a good reason for any member of the Council officials coming to see either one of them.

"He offered me the sheriff's job."

"He did what!" Blair cried.

"I thought the town had a sheriff," Naomi countered, remembering talking to a grey haired man when her son had been kidnapped.

"It does, but after I found Blair when he'd been kidnapped and the sheriff didn't, they sort of lost confidence in him."

"Are you going to take the job?" Naomi asked.

"I don't know," the Guardian replied. "It's a big step to make and a lot to think about."

"What's to think about? I think you should do it," Naomi responded smiling broadly.

"You do. Why?" Jim asked.

"Look at all the people you could help. You saved my son from that horrible man, I know my son and Cascade will be safe in your hands when...well when I'm not here anymore."

"Mom!" Blair cried beseechingly for his mother not to talk that way.

She reached out her hand out across the table and laid it on top of her son's and squeezed it gently. Jim had noticed that Blair hadn't given his opinion about the job offer yet.

"What do you think Doc?" Jim asked.

Blair composed himself and thought for a few more seconds before speaking.

"I think it's a dangerous job and you could make the ultimate sacrifice in serving the people of this town. There are a lot of people out there like Calico Joe, I don't....I'm not sure I can cope with the thought that you'd be putting your life in danger like that every day. What about the restaurant?"

"The restaurant's running itself now. I thought about promoting Prudence to manager, she's the most senior and Emily as her deputy and then hiring someone else to help them out."

"You love cooking," Blair countered.

"I could keep my hand in and help out whenever I could."

"Seems to me you've already made your mind up," Naomi stated and then stood up. "I'll get the coffee," she added and moved away from the table.

Jim and Blair looked at each other, neither saying a word, but realising that she was right.

"I'm proud of you Jim. You'll be a great sheriff," Blair said feeling both proud and a little apprehensive as his friend took on such a dangerous undertaking.

"Thanks Blair," he replied glad his friend was taking this so well.

After the fire the previous year, Jim in particular realised just how precious life was and also at the same time how precarious. They had both come so close to dying that night. Life could be taken from you so quickly, in the blink of an eye. Blair being a doctor knew the fragility of life, he saw how injuries and diseases could overwhelm a patient and take their life so effortlessly.

"I'm really proud of you Jim," the doctor said and he meant it. "I'll back you a hundred per cent."

"Thanks Doc."

Jim was looking at his friend and Shaman with pride and gratitude. He thought that less than a year ago he was homeless and jobless. This man had taken him in and given him his life back and more besides, he'd helped him own and start a restaurant and now he was to become a sheriff. Something he would never have even considered aspiring to before. He also worked with him with his senses, keeping them from overwhelming him and giving him control. He owed Blair so much; he wasn't sure how he would ever be able to repay him.

Naomi poured them coffee in their mugs and sat back down.

"Here's to Cascade's new sheriff," she said raising her mug of steaming coffee. Jim and Blair raised their mugs and they all drank to the new sheriff.

"I'll speak to Mortimer Jeavons tomorrow morning and tell him I'm accepting the position," Jim stated.

Blair didn't say anything he just accepted his Guardian's decision.

>>>>>>>>>>

Next morning Jim told Mortimer Jeavons he was accepting the sheriff's position and the man was delighted. He told him he was the new sheriff effective immediately. Sheriff Solon had already been gently retired, if Jim hadn't accepted they would have found someone else. There was a vote of no confidence after Calico Joe and his gang had robbed the bank and then the doctor's kidnapping. The fact that the town's restaurant owner had found the doctor and not the sheriff, had put the final nail in the former sheriff's coffin.

By midday the new sheriff was in the sheriff's office looking round and settling in. Blair had seen his friend enter the sheriff's building from across the street. Naomi had stayed at home to rest as Blair had undertaken his daily rounds. The doctor was still a little nervous about his friend taking on such a dangerous undertaking, but he was determined to support him. He decided he would not give in to his fear that his Guardian could be killed one day by a robber or someone who thought someone else's life was expendable.

Blair stepped inside the sheriff's office. Jim was sat behind the large wooden desk, a large mound of papers in front of him.

"Afternoon Sheriff Ellison," Blair said.

Jim smiled as he looked up from his desk. He was going through wanted posters and getting familiar with the faces of the wanted men, in case any decided to enter his protectorate.

"Afternoon Doctor Sandburg," Jim replied grinning.

Blair couldn't help but notice the shiny silver star on his friend's waistcoat. It was definitely official now.

"I wanted to bring something to celebrate your new position but I didn't think alcohol would be appropriate, as you're on duty, but my Mom made us some lemonade."

Out of his doctor's bag Blair pulled out a jar of lemonade and two glasses. Jim smiled broadly as his friend poured two glasses. Handing one to Jim, Blair toasted the new sheriff and they drank the refreshing lemonade.

"What happened to the two deputies?" Blair asked.

"Resigned in protest when the sheriff was voluntarily retired."

"You know if you need any help, I'll always be there to back you up."

"I don't want you in danger Doc."

"You admit your job is dangerous then," Blair countered but he was teasing his friend.

"Blair!" the Guardian exclaimed, but his friend was smiling so he knew he was joking.

Jim also knew that his friend was stubborn enough to back him up and want to accompany him on patrols. Putting his glass of lemonade down on his desk, the sheriff opened the top drawer. After only a moment's hesitation he reached inside.

"Raise your right hand," Jim said.

"Jim?" the doctor replied but did as he was asked when he saw his friend's solemn face.

"Do you Doctor Blair Sandburg declare to uphold the position of Deputy Sheriff of Cascade?"

"What! I do," Blair stammered and accepting the position straight without hesitation as Jim knew he would.

Blair would have asked Jim for the vacant deputy's job, but he didn't think his friend would let him in a million years. The Shaman's natural instinct was to back his Guardian up, no matter the danger or situation.

"Congratulations Deputy Sandburg," the sheriff said proudly as he pinned the silver star to his new deputy's jacket. "But it's only a part time position. Your role as doctor comes first. It will only be when I need back-up okay?"

"Okay?" Blair replied knowing how important it was to his Guardian to keep him safe.

Blair looked proudly at the star on his chest and then up at his friend. Jim reached forward and shook his friend's hand, he wanted to hug him but he thought the handshake more formal and befitting the moment.

"Thanks Doc."

Blair smiled. "Shouldn't that be 'Thanks Deputy'."

Jim laughed but then turned serious again. "I don't want you in any danger. You don't even carry a gun. If we get called to a situation together, you will always stay behind me and keep your head down at all times."

"I hear you sheriff," the doctor replied. Then he grew serious for a moment. "I don't know how I'm going to tell my Mom I'm your deputy. She's never been in favour of the establishment. Mom's always been a bit liberal when it comes to rules and the law."

"I noticed," Jim replied. "I'm sure Naomi will be as proud of you as I am."

Blair smiled at his friend's kind words, but he wasn't so sure, he didn't know his mother like he did.

>>>>>>>>>>

CHAPTER 6

The months of April and May came and went. Jim fitted into his new role of sheriff easily and it was a position he was meant to hold. It meant he didn't have much time to spend at the restaurant but Prudence and Emily had stepped up to the plate. With Prudence as manager, and Emily helping her, the restaurant continued to be successful. Jim gave Prudence authority to hire more staff as she needed and she hired a 16 year old Afro-Caribbean boy by the name of Thomas Bankhouse. He fitted in well and helped them wait tables and clean up.

Naomi had been shocked at first when she had seen the deputy's star on Blair's chest. She had opened her mouth to speak her mind and object to the danger he son would be in, but before the words left her mouth she changed her mind. Blair and Jim were a team and they would watch each other's backs. Naomi decided to be happy for Blair though inside she had her reservations.

Cascade was relatively quiet. Blair patrolled with the sheriff as he did his rounds at night, checking all was peaceful and safe, as it should be in Cascade. They always made the restaurant their last port of call to have coffee with Prudence and Emily and catch up with the restaurant's happenings that day.

As June arrived it found the TB steadily advancing and Naomi getting weaker by the day.

During April and May Blair always found time for his Mom and spent quality time with her every day. They went for walks along the beach arm in arm. They had meals in Jim's restaurant together, and sometimes Jim would join them. They talked for hours at a time. Naomi told Blair of her travels and all the places she had been and experienced. Blair loved just to hear his mother talk. She could have uttered gibberish and he would still have found it interesting to just listen to the lilt of her voice. He wanted to remember that voice and everything about her after she was gone. He still couldn't quite comprehend that it was happening. Blair had decided not to think about the obvious outcome but to just enjoy every minute he could, whilst he could.

Blair continued to go to the Duwamish every week to offer his medical services and visit with his Native American friends. He had explained to Seahawk how his mother was very sick and that he wanted to suspend his shaman training but only temporarily. Blair didn't think he could focus on the training with his mother so ill and dying. Whilst Naomi was sick, Jim and Blair rarely went to the Duwamish together. One of them automatically staying in Cascade, to watch Naomi and make sure she wasn't alone for very long.

For Blair having his mother with him was a joy and he enjoyed every moment he was given. Sometimes he forgot that she dying and was brought back to reality with a vengeance when he heard her coughing and he remembered with sadness that the consumption was slowly eating away at her insides.

>>>>>>>>>>

The sun was shining through the bedroom's window and it looked like it was going to be a beautiful day. Naomi got out of bed determined to enjoy the day. The next thing she knew she was on the floor and staring up at the ceiling and wondering how she had gotten there.

There was an urgent knock at the door and a concerned voice muffled through the wood. She couldn't answer, her mind still trying to catch up with suddenly lying on the floor, looking up at the ceiling. The door flew open and Jim rushed into the room.

"I heard a bump. Naomi are you alright?"

Jim rushed over to the prostrate woman, he knelt down beside her and gently picked her up. He placed her back on the bed and called for his friend. The Guardian could smell the sickness on her and it was getting worse.

"What is it?" Blair asked as he came up to the open door.

"Naomi collapsed," Jim said.

"What?"

Blair rushed into the room, as a doctor first and foremost. He had to push the feelings of a son aside for the moment. Naomi understood Jim's words as her wits returned to her.

"I didn't collapse," Naomi said trying to defuse the situation. "I must have gotten out of bed too quickly and became a little light headed, that's all."

"You were lying on the floor Naomi," Jim stated.

"Details," Naomi countered.

"I'll get my bag," Blair said once he was sure his mother was comfortable.

Naomi looked at Jim who was looking at her with concerned eyes. Naomi tried to keep a staunch outer appearance, but inside she was afraid. She wasn't afraid of actually dying, but she was afraid of leaving behind a life half lived. There was so much she wanted to do, there were still places she wanted to visit and explore. Her wanderlust had never been sated. She was a tumbleweed at heart but now she had grown roots and she didn't like that. Now she couldn't leave even if she wanted to.

Blair returned and listened to her heart and checked her pulse. He put a thermometer under her tongue and waited to take the reading.

"How do you feel?"

"I'm alright son," she mumbled round the thermometer. "Just a bit tired."

"You have a temperature," he said steadily in his doctor's voice as he checked the thermometer. "Do you feel unwell?"

"A bit," she replied truthfully.

Blair nodded knowing these were all symptoms of the disease.

"Stay in bed this morning. I'll get you something light to eat. How about scrambled eggs?"

"Sound lovely," she replied trying to sound enthusiastic, and placate her son to stop his worrying; though she wasn't hungry.

When her son had left the room, Naomi glanced over at the window and at the sunlight that was streaming through. It didn't look like she was going to enjoy that sunlight after all.

Naomi managed a few bites of the scrambled eggs, but her appetite wasn't there. Blair didn't push her to eat, he knew it was another symptom of the disease.

Blair went down to his surgery midmorning and dealt with any patients that needed his services. When there was a lull he regularly returned to the apartment to check on his mother. Naomi slept through most of the day and into the evening. Naomi managed some soup for supper and then they talked a little while until Blair could see his mother's eyes trying to close. He kissed her goodnight and then just sat and watched her resting for a little while.

>>>>>>>>>>

Jim had patrolled that night on his own, letting his friend spend the extra time with his mother. When he returned to the apartment, he found his friend staring out of the lounge window into the darkness.

"Naomi asleep?" Jim asked.

Blair nodded but didn't turn round or say anything. Jim walked silently over to his friend. He could smell the tears he knew his friend was shedding and he wasn't sure whether to say anything or just leave his friend to cry the tears he needed to. Jim put a hand on Blair's shoulder, silently telling him he was there for him.

Blair's shoulders sagged and even more tears spilled down his face.

"She's steadily getting weaker," the heartbroken Shaman stated.

"I know," Jim replied. "I'm here for you, Doc. You're not alone, you won't have to face this alone."

Blair turned and Jim pulled him close, cradling his head on his chest as his friend cried his sadness. They stood like that for some time, Jim gently soothing the back of his friend's head. Gently making sounds that it was alright and they would get through the situation together.

Blair had been trying to stay positive and in control, desperately tried to keep his emotions damped down and be the consummate professional he had been trained to be. But he was also a son and his mother was dying. Watching his mother sleep, the feelings had suddenly risen in him. He felt sadness and the reality of the situation and he hadn't been able to push them back down and quell them. The dam had burst and he had been powerless to stop the feelings overwhelming him.

Eventually the tears began to subside and Blair regained control.

"Thanks Jim," Blair uttered as he pulled himself back a little from his friend's encapsulating embrace. He sniffed and wiped at his eyes.

"Any time. You needed that," Jim said, leaving his arms on his friend's shoulders. Then he rummaged in a pocket and found a clean handkerchief and handed it to Blair.

The doctor wiped at his eyes and then blew his nose.

"It doesn't help anything though," Blair replied "falling apart like that."

"You needed to let some of the pain out. I know it's not easy on you being a son and a doctor." Blair nodded. "But you're strong Blair. You'll get through this."

Blair nodded again and took a deep breath, centring himself and pushing away the last vestiges of his tears. Feeling better for his outburst, Blair let his friend guide him to the sofa. Jim made them a hot drink and they sat quietly for a while. Jim monitored Naomi's breathing from the lounge and he told his friend she was still resting comfortably. At any other time Blair would have been astounded by his friend's show of his Guardian abilities, but now he was too sad to feel excited about anything.

When Jim thought that his friend could sleep, he left him to settle on the sofa.

>>>>>>>>>>

Next morning found Naomi weaker. She didn't want to eat or drink anything and just wanted to sleep. Jim stood in the doorway knowing her time was near. The smell of sickness was permeating very strongly from the fragile and still form in the bed.

Blair sat quietly by his mother's bed and gently held her hand. She stirred and her hazel eyes opened, her head turned slightly to gaze lovingly at her son.

"I don't want to die here Blair. Take me outside so I can be free," Naomi's quiet voice requested.

Blair nodded knowing that if he tried to speak his voice would break. Blair caressed his mother's hair with tender fingers. Jim was loitering in the background watching from a discreet distance. He suddenly came up with an idea.

"Doc, can your mother travel?"

Blair's forehead furrowed in concentration. "I think so. What you got in mind?"

"Just wrap your mom up and wait for me, Doc."

Jim moved swiftly from the bedroom and rushed down the stairs to the back of the building. There he saddled Roman and Lightning and brought them round to the front. Then he climbed back upstairs and went into Blair's bedroom. Naomi was lying on the bed. Blair had managed to wrap a blanket round her. Naomi was barely conscious but stirred when Jim started to pick her up.

"Where are we going?" Blair asked as he followed Jim out.

"Somewhere beautiful," he replied and carried Blair's mother down the stairs to their horses.

As gently as he could he lifted Naomi up onto Lightning's saddle and then climbed up behind her. Blair mounted his own horse and then followed behind his friend. He trusted Jim implicitly, his thoughts on his mother's wellbeing and also curious as to where they were going.

They headed out of Cascade towards the Duwamish. Blair pulled his horse up beside Jim's to check on his mother's condition. Her eyes were closed but she didn't seem to be in any distress from being astride the horse. Jim was taking it easy and they were setting a slow pace.

Finally Jim reined in his horse and dismounted, then pulled Naomi down into his arms. Now Blair knew exactly where they were. It was a place he had taken Jim the previous summer after their first trip together to the Duwamish and many times since.

It indeed was a place of beauty. It was perfect.

Blair followed behind his friend as they walked over the simple track through the trees. After a few minutes he could hear the roar. They came out to the edge of the river and there before them was the waterfall cascading downwards. They'd had some rain recently and it was in full flow. Large volumes of angry white water dropped over the lip of the escarpment to the river below. Blair lay a blanket he had brought with them down on the ground and then Jim gently lowered Naomi onto it.

Naomi was asleep but she stirred slightly as she was settled onto the blanket.

"Thank you Jim," Blair whispered but knowing his Guardian would hear him. "For remembering this place. It's perfect."

"You're welcome partner," Jim replied as he stood up and stepped back.

The Guardian of the Tribe could smell death permeating strongly from Naomi and he knew it wouldn't be long now.

Blair sat down on the blanket and drew his mother close, so he could cradle her frail shoulders in his arms. She had lost so much weight, he hadn't realised with all those flowing robes she wore, but underneath she was wasting away.

"I'm going back to Cascade for a while," Jim said quietly wanting to leave mother and son alone. He also had another reason why he wanted to return to their home. He needed to get some things so that he could bury Naomi later.

Blair sat quietly in solemn contemplation, as he cradled his mother gently in his arms.

"It's beautiful," her weak voice suddenly said.

Blair looked down to see his mother's eyes open and she was gazing rapturously at the waterfall.

"It is isn't it," Blair replied looking up from his Mom's pale face to glance at the nearby force of water.

"That's how I feel," Naomi said, as her eyes followed the water down the length of the cascade until it rejoined the river below the obstruction.

"How do you mean Mom?"

"Free. I feel...free," she replied, her eyes still rapt on the waterfall, a large smile on her face.

"It's alright Mom, you can let go now," Blair said as he held her closer. "It's alright."

>>>>>>>>>>

Sometime later Jim returned to the waterfall and found Blair still cradling his mother and holding her hand.

"She's gone," Blair said in a lifeless voice, when he realised his friend was there.

"I know," Jim replied quietly, he could only detect one heart beat. "I'm so sorry Doc," he added as he knelt down beside mother and son. Naomi's eyes were closed and she looked at peace.

Blair nodded his head as the tears continued to slide down his cheeks unabated. Finally when he had composed himself he was able to speak again.

"She's not in pain anymore. No pain," Blair added his voice tinged with pain and spoken in nothing more than a whisper, but the Guardian heard him and felt the pain in those words.

Jim let Blair hold his mother for a while longer without saying anything and just quietly stood in the background, letting his friend grieve. Then he retrieved the shovel tied to Lightning's saddle and started to dig a grave, he made sure it was in sight of the waterfall.

"Blair, it's time," Jim said, keeping his voice quiet.

Blair instinctively tightened his hold on his mother, even though he knew his friend was right. He just didn't think he could let her go just yet.

"Not yet," he said his voice barely more than a whisper, but the Guardian heard it.

"I know it's not easy Doc, but we have to lay her to rest."

Blair nodded and then drew his mother close for one last time, kissing her on her forehead.

"I love you Mom," he whispered and then relinquished his hold on his mother to his friend.

Jim gently picked Naomi up and laid her down on a blanket he had brought with him. He gently arranged her hands together on her stomach and then tied the blanket securely around her. Then he gently lowered her into the prepared grave and filled it in. When it was done, he went over and stood next to his friend at the head. Jim had brought a bible with him and opened it to the passage he wanted to read.

Jim began clearing his throat before speaking. "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou annointest my head with oil. My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever."

As Jim read Blair fingered the gold pocket watch: The watch that Naomi had given to him. It felt like his last tangible link to her.

Then Jim handed his friend some wild flowers he had picked on his return. Gratefully Blair stooped down and laid the flowers on the grave. As he rose he scooped a handful of the soil where his mother was now resting, feeling its cool texture between his fingers.

He felt poorer for having lost his Mom but he also felt richer for having had her back in his life these past few months. He had new memories of her now that he could take everywhere with him. Once the initial raw grief was over he would have those memories to hold onto.

"It's time to go back home," Jim said.

Blair allowed Jim to steer him away from the grave and they walked back to their horses. After he had mounted Roman he turned and took one last look back through the trees towards where the grave was located.

"You can come here and visit her anytime you want to Doc."

"I know," Blair said and then looked gratefully at his friend.

Finally he turned his horse away and the two friends started the ride back to Cascade.

>>>>>>>>>>

Before they reached Cascade, Jim and Blair stopped on top of a ridge and glanced out over the miles of country that surrounded their home. Cascade was now only a few miles to their south.

Blair wasn't ready to face the town and well wishers when they asked how his Mom was. Naomi had ingratiated herself at the store as well as Jim's restaurant's staff. Blair couldn't stop the fresh tears spilling down his cheeks for his loss.

"She's at peace now Doc and in no pain," Jim said hoping to comfort his friend if he could. Blair nodded but didn't speak; he just gazed out at the spectacular view. A condor flew by, wheeling effortlessly on the updrafts of air.

"I wish there could have been more I could have done. There's so much about diseases like TB that we don't know. If only there was more research being done."

"Medicine will advance in time and new knowledge will help diseases to be cured and people will be saved from terrible diseases like TB."

"That'll be too late to save my Mom," Blair replied sadly.

Jim had to agree with that. He looked away at the far distance, his Guardian eyesight automatically scanning their surroundings for anything that shouldn't be there. The Guardian could see clouds bubbling up. A storm was brewing and judging by the direction of the breeze it was coming their way.

"We should get going. A storm's coming," Jim explained.

Blair looked round him at the sun shining down on them and was a little surprised by his friend's statement. Then his brain caught up. "You mean you can tell a storm's coming. How?"

"See those clouds on the horizon?"

Blair looked to where his friend was pointing but could see nothing of significance.

"No, not really."

"Well I can. I see storm clouds."

"Oh wow," Blair replied, never ceasing to be amazed by his friend's heightened eyesight.

They mounted their horses once more and started the ride back home. Blair peppered Jim with questions all the way home. Jim was glad his friend was talking so much; it showed that although he was grieving for his mother, he was going to be alright.

All he needed was time.

And the Guardian would make sure that his Shaman received all the time he needed.

THE END

Author's Notes:

For my previous stories, the Vengeance is Mine trilogy, I was inspired by the reference to Starsky and Hutch in 'The Real Deal' episode. This story was inspired by the 'Breaking Ground' episode and Blair's reference to the Illuminati Masons. Whilst watching that episode my mind wandered and I wondered what Cascade would have been like in 1893 and what Jim and Blair would have been like in that year and the story was born.

Though the Duwamish are a real North American tribe the Kanatchee I mentioned early on in my story are fictitious, as I didn't want to use a real tribe, as the Kanatchee are big trouble. More on them next story.

By the 1890s there had been advances in the treatment of TB, but I decided that Blair would not necessarily be privy to this knowledge being a simple country doctor. TB has many symptoms and forms and in my story Naomi's TB is too advanced to be treated.