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Ron roared around the corner of the road, the bike for once performing perfectly despite the cold start. It was one of his greatest pleasures, the run out to Follyfoot in the morning. He never tired of letting the bike speed around the quiet country lanes, the roads empty of all traffic. As he rounded a corner the sun shone directly into his eyes, blinding him. He throttled back and braked, the bike skidding on the loose gravel as he turned into the lane leading to the farm. As he approached the gate he looked briefly at the paddocks, seeing them empty. As he stopped the bike and climbed off to open the gate he lifted his sunglasses and stared at what he could see of the yard and surrounding buildings. Something wasn't right.

With a growl his bike rolled to a stop in front of the cottage, his motor dying after a final rev, the silence overwhelming after the noise of the engine. Looking over at the yard he saw all the stalls still shut up tight, only one door swinging open and no sign of anyone mucking out or feeding the horses. Even the donkeys were still penned in their stable, the yard empty of life.

"What the hell.......Steve ? Dora ?" Swinging his leg over Ron pulled off his helmet and hooked it over the back seat rest. As he walked to the cottage door he pulled off his leather gloves and tucked them into his jacket pocket.

"Must be all having a lie-in," he muttered, opening the gate to the path leading up to the cottage's blue door. Without knocking Ron breezed in, his mouth open to call a greeting that never made it past his lips.

"Come in and join the party Mr.Stryker, we've been waiting for you,"

Standing stock-still in the doorway, Ron stared at the tableau around the table, his eyes registering the haunted look on Dora's face compared to the positively militant expression on Sluggers. Both of them were seated by the fire, Slugger in his favourite armchair, Dora perched on the arm. The man who had greeted Ron stood at the end of the table, tense and poised for action, his hand griping the handle of a wicked looking pistol, fully cocked and ready to fire if Ron was any judge. Raising his hands, Ron smiled weakly at him, noting that Steve appeared to have missed the party somehow. He cocked an eyebrow at Slugger who imperceptibly shook his head in reply to Ron's unspoken query. Taking it to mean that they either didn't know where Steve was, or that they did know and there was nothing Steve could do to help the situation, either way, things were not looking good.

"Well this is a pretty mess," said Ron, his arms held away from his sides, bent at the elbows, palms facing forward. "What do you want ?"

"For starters you can sit yourself down, there at the table will do. I wish to finish my breakfast, so kindly supplied by mine host,"

Ron sidled around to the indicated place, his eyes never wavering from the gun held in the dishevelled mans hand. When Ron was seated the man pulled out a chair and sat down, pulling a plate towards him to start shovelling food into his mouth, never once taking his eyes off his hostages or lowering the gun.

After clearing his plate the man indicated for Dora to pour him some tea but Slugger got up in her place and saw to the kettle. Ron watched Slugger lift the boiling hot kettle and half expected the ex-boxer to try something but then he looked at the man and saw the gun pointed unwaveringly at Dora, forestalling plans by either to try anything. Ron leaned back in his chair and watched as the man polished off several slices of toast as well as two cups of tea. His three hostages watched him, although Ron caught Dora looking anxiously out of the kitchen window, her face pale and set.

Finally the breakfast was over and the man wiped his mouth on a napkin before sitting back, one hand coming up to stroke the rough beard covering his chin.

"I could sure do with a shave, this beard itches like blazes. You girl, go fetch what the old man uses, but be quick, I wouldn't want my finger to slip and cause alot of pain and unnecessary bloodshed."

"Its in my kitbag girl, on my dresser, you can't miss it," Slugger told her, patting her hand reassuringly. Dora smiled weakly in thanks and walked out of the room, her footsteps thumping up the stairs. Within minutes she returned and handed over the shaving kit before rejoining Slugger at his chair.

"I don't suppose you want to tell me how this is going to play out. We do get visitors you know, people pop in all the time....like Bert, he's a regular, especially about ten-o-clock," Ron offered helpfully, not sending a single glance to his fellow captives. He had recognised the man from his photo in the lead story of the local paper. Henry Masters, the disgraced butcher that traded in stolen horseflesh for human consumption. Ron knew all about desperate men on the run from the police and despite Henry's deceptively civilised manner, this man was very desperate. Ron didn't fancy their chances if he didn't find a way to get the man away from the farm.

"I'm sure if anyone turns up you'll do the necessary Mr.Stryker...or shall I call you Ron,"

"Call me whatever you like, just don't shoot me," retorted Ron, laughing nervously, his grin dropping as quickly as it had appeared.

"In that case Ron, you can bring round whatever vehicle they use in this place. Bring it to the front door and be quick about it."

"Oh sure...of course.....um....only one problem, I don't have the keys,"

"Who does ?"

"Ur....a bloke who comes in later in the morning," bluffed Ron, not willing to give Steve away if the man didn't already know about him.

Masters only laughed, loud and harsh, "If you are referring to the lad in the stables, he isn't likely to be doing much today.....or any day for that matter,"

"What do ya' mean?" demanded Slugger, reaching up to pat Dora's hand that was clutching at his shoulder. "You haven't killed him ?"

"I didn't take the time to check if he was still breathing..but I don't imagine I hit him that hard......of course, you could go and find out......and get the keys at the same time," Masters giggled to himself, the gun wobbling in his hand. "I hope he isn't in the habit of hiding them.....he's not in any state to tell you where they are," giggling again Masters wiped away tears of mirth, completely ignoring the looks of horror on his audiences faces. Ron looked over at Dora, seeing her white face he lifted his hand to draw Sluggers attention. Slugger must had felt the slackening of her hand on his shoulder because he looked up just as her eyes rolled back in her head and she pitched forward. He caught her before she hit the floor, holding her as Ron rushed forward to scoop her up in his arms, her head lolling bonelessly on his shoulder. "You're mad!" spat Ron, turning to carry Dora out of the kitchen to the sitting room across the hall. Masters only laughed louder, Slugger giving him a wide berth as he followed Ron to see him drape Dora on the old sofa, handing Ron a cushion to put behind her head. Masters wandered casually into the room behind them, watching as they fussed over Dora, his face still split by an insane grin.

"Can't stand wishy washy highly bred females," he mused, pulling back the curtains to look out onto the yard, "always crying or fainting or some such weakness, can't stand it,"

"I'll go and get the keys," offered Slugger, his dour face devoid of expression. Masters looked him up and down.

"Okay, old man, you get them and get straight back here, no messing about, I want to be on the road before any of your....'visitors' arrive, so don't dawdle,"

As Slugger turned to leave Masters waved the gun at him and called out. "Remember Old Man, I wouldn't want to use this toy on these young people, so don't be too long. I'll expect to see the...whatever it is you have..out the front in five minutes."

"Five minutes," Slugger repeated, turning his back on the room and leaving, the front door banging behind him seconds later.

Ron sat on the couch beside Dora, one of her hands in his which he rubbed absently, his attention flicking between Dora's pale features and the man staring at them with insane eyes.

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Slugger hurried as fast as his legs would carry him, across the yard to the door swinging open that led to the loft above the stalls. His heart was thumping painfully and he dreaded what he might find. He had to pause as he entered, his eyes taking time to adjust to the gloom. Several of the horses whickered to him, moving restlessly in their stalls. Wasting no time, Slugger snatched the spare keys from their nail by the door, before turning to climb the stairs. He had a foot on the bottom step when he looked down and saw something bundled in the corner under the stairs, hidden in the shadows.

"Oh my gawd,"

Kneeling down, he peered into the space and saw a booted foot.

"Steve...Steve lad, can you hear me ?"

He reached out a hand and pulled the canvas away that had been thrown carelessly over the body to hide it. Still unable to see much in the dusty darkness, and knowing that the madman in the cottage wouldn't wait much longer, Slugger tugged at the exposed limb, pulling Steve into the half-light of the stable. He reached to the boys neck and felt for a pulse, finding it weak and erratic but still there. Breathing a silent prayer, he spread out the canvas and rolled Steve onto it, pausing briefly to check his breathing and heartbeat.

"Sorry lad, I'll get help to you as soon as possible.....just 'ang on, for gawds sake, don't die on us now,"

As he struggled to his feet he realised his hands were coated in sticky blood. Clenching his fists, Slugger struggled to his feet and lurched out into the sunshine, pausing briefly to get himself under control. Looking up he saw Masters at the window of the cottage, his eyes burning like coals in his dirty face. Swallowing down his rage, Slugger hurried back and around the side of the building to the garage where the landrover was parked.

Within seconds the engine roared into life and he backed it out, bringing it around to the front and parking beside the gate. Leaving the engine running he hopped out and returned to the cottage. Masters met him at the door.

"Took your time old man.....what kept you ?"

"Had to find them, didn't I,"

"Is that all ?"

"You'll get life for that boy.....you didn't have to murder him,"

Masters laughter died in his throat, his mouth falling open, face pasty under the layers of dirt, his eyes opening wide. "He's not dead.....he can't be!"

"I suggest you get out of here right now, I've left the engine running,"

Masters gaped at Slugger before turning and racing back into the cottage. Following him in, Slugger heard him ripping out the phone in the office the crash making him wince. Ron came to the door of the sitting room, his eyebrows raised. Slugger only shook his head, peering past Ron to see Dora still stretched out on the couch.

"Is Dora alright ?"

"Yeah, she's playing possum, came to a minute or so ago, but I thought it better if she stayed out of the picture,"

They heard another crash and Masters fled out of the office and into the kitchen. Slugger waved Ron back into the sitting room, closing the door behind him before turning to enter the kitchen. Masters was sweeping the dishes off the breakfast table, his expression wild.

"Money, I need money," he shrieked at Slugger, waving the gun around erratically. Slugger calmly walked over to the mantelpiece and reached for the tin containing the housekeeping. Without a word he handed it over to Masters. Feverishly the man ripped the lid off and emptied the contents on the table. Scooping up the notes Masters indicated for Slugger to sit down in the chair by the fire as Masters sidled towards the kitchen door, shutting it quickly behind him before running out of the front door and jumping into the landrover. With a shower of gravel, Masters floored the excelerator, shot out of the yard and through the gate, splintering it in the process.

Slugger only waited for the landrover to disappear from view before running to the sitting room and throwing the door open. Dora and Ron stood just on the other side, wide-eyed and anxious.

"Dora, are you alright girl?" receiving a nod, he carried on, "I need you to saddle Copper, Ron can help you, and get to the phone box down the road, we need the police....and an ambulance, and be as quick as you can,"

Ron looked as though he wanted to say something but Slugger forestalled, raising his hand to cut off whatever he was going to say. "Not now Ron, get going girl....Steve's life may depend on it,"

Dora jumped as though stung, her eyes stricken as she pushed past Ron and ran out of the cottage, Ron waiting only a second before following. Slugger turned and hurried into the office to collect the first aid box. By the time he had everything he needed, Copper was dancing around the yard with Ron at his head while Dora cinched his girth. As she mounted Ron released the reins and Copper leapt forward, thundering out of the yard and across the paddock, Dora taking a shortcut to the road to reach the phonebox faster. Ron waited for Slugger to reach him before opening his mouth.

"What can I do ?"

"Get the rest of the horses seen to Ron, they've been neglected enough this morning, get as many as you can out into the paddock,"

"But..." Ron started only to be halted by a glare and a raised finger from Slugger. Drawing a breath the older man reached up a hand to pat him on the shoulder.

"There's nothing you can do for Steve. I'll take care of him, you take care of the rest. "

Wasting no more time, Slugger hurried to the stable leaving Ron standing in the middle of the yard.

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The farm was swarming with people. Dora watched it all from her perch on the top of the stone wall by the gate, tears trickling down her face unheeded. She'd returned to Follyfoot as quickly as she could after phoning the emergency services, Copper responding to her urging's, flying across the ground back to the farm, arriving lathered with sweat and mud. Dora had immediately gone to enter the stables only to be stopped by Ron and forced to wait outside. He hadn't been able to tell her how Steve was as Slugger hadn't allowed him in either, only that they were both to look out for the ambulance or police, whichever arrived first. Dora tried to argue but Ron only clamped his arm about her shoulders and steered her away, back to where Copper stood with his head drooping. Between them they rubbed the valiant horse down and released him into the paddock with the other horses where he promptly rolled, his kicking legs bringing a wan smile to Dora's face. But then they had to wait, Ron hearing the siren first as the ambulance made its way down the driveway to Follyfoot, passing over the demolished gate before pulling into the yard after Ron opened the gate wide. That had been ten minutes ago and they still hadn't come out of the stable. Her Uncle had arrived shortly after the Ambulance and hugged her fiercely, his mouth pulled into a grim line as Dora poured out most of what had happened. Ron filled in the gaps and he was still explaining when the police arrived. Now the Colonel was in the cottage with the police and Dora waited in dread for the ambulance men to reappear. A constable came out of the cottage and walked over to the wall.

"I'm to ask you both to come in and make a statement,"

"I don't want to leave," Dora whispered.

Ron only hesitated a second before pushing himself away from the wall and grinning at the policeman.

"I'll come quietly officer...you can do yours later girl,"

"Thanks Ron,"

"Lead on, my public awaits," clowned Ron, marching off with the bewildered constable.

Minutes later the two ambulance officers appeared carrying a stretcher between them. Dora jumped down off the wall and ran over. Steve lay swaddled in blankets, his head swathed in bandages. The two men carried him to the back of the ambulance and loaded him aboard while Dora watched, Slugger coming up beside her and reaching an arm around her shoulder in comfort.

"He's tough, they reckon he'll pull through alright,"

"Oh Slugger."

"They have to take him to the hospital for x-rays and other tests,"

"I want to go with him," Dora announced, breaking from his embrace and walking towards the ambulance. She caught one of the men's arms as he stepped down from the back.

"Please, can I go with Steve ?"

The man turned to look down at her, a refusal poised on his lips but he changed his mind and nodded, taking her hand to help her up. Slugger watched, worry creasing his forehead. Shaking his head he turned to walk back to the farmhouse, the first aid box tucked under his arm.

"Its a bad business," he muttered, turning back to watch the ambulance back out of the yard and drive off slowly back down the driveway and out of sight.

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"Don't fuss girl, he'll wish he never left the hospital!" Slugger's chiding brought a flush of embarrassment to Steve's nurse, her lips compressing into a militant line.

"I'm not fussing, I just don't think he's well enough to go back to the stables to sleep,"

Steve listened with amusement as Dora and Slugger fought over his care. He'd only returned to Follyfoot two days ago after a week of battling a secondary infection and suspected concussion from his encounter with Masters. The infection had left him weak and he wanted nothing more than to get back into the usual routine of work at the farm but Dora had other ideas. She'd insisted he stay at the farmhouse, taking over the spare bedroom. Steve had worried that her Uncle might have something to say about it but to his surprise the Colonel was all for the idea, picking Steve up from the hospital and ferrying him home in the Jaguar. He had welcomed being back at Follyfoot despite the excellent care he received at the hospital, it just wasn't the same, and, more importantly, not close enough to Dora. He knew she had ridden in the ambulance with him but that was only because Slugger told him she had, Steve had been out for the count and unaware of the bustle around him until later that night, by which time the Colonel had dragged Dora home to rest.

Ron had visited Steve and told him what had happened with Masters, the mans subsequent escape in the landrover only to be recaptured at a roadblock just outside Tockwith, Ron making sure he exaggerated his own heroics to Steve's chagrin. He fumed every time he thought of the danger Masters had put them all in and chafed at his enforced confinement. Now he was back home and basking in the attention from Dora, his eyes following her everywhere, whether in the room with him or from the kitchen window as she worked around the farm. Slugger watched his singular focus with tolerance, keeping Steve from over exerting himself and incurring Dora's wrath during the day, sitting back and watching the sparks fly at night.

"Dora, I'm feeling fine," Steve interjected, pushing himself to his feet and forcing the antagonist to focus on him. "I'm used to sleeping above the horses.....I'd almost say I miss them." He noted the quick flash of hurt darken her eyes. "It's not that I don't love having you fuss over me, its just I need to get back to where I was, and that's not here."

"But Steve.." Dora started only to stop when Steve placed a finger on her lips, ignoring Sluggers interested look.

"No buts, Sluggers right, you're spoiling me," he smiled, noting the flash in her eyes at being thwarted. "I'll move back out there tomorrow,"

"Fine...don't blame me if get sick again," she huffed, plumping down on one of the chairs and glaring out the window. Steve sighed and exchanged a glance with Slugger who only shrugged and turned back to the tea kettle. Sitting down again, he reached across the table and took one of her hands in his, holding on when she tried to pull away. "You're short handed Dora, Ron's snowed under as it is, the sooner I get back on my feet the better....you know that,"

"Yes...but..." she stopped, seeing him raise an eyebrow, "Oh alright, but I insist on cleaning it up before you move in, its a dump and a health hazard,"

"Hey hang on, its my room, I like the dust...and its not a health hazard," Steve argued, still holding her hand.

Slugger watched indulgently as they argued amicably for the next few minutes before trailing off and simply gazing at each other in a manner that Slugger was sure would make Ron groan in disgust, if he was to see it. Clucking his tongue he plonked two mugs of tea down on the table making them jump back and look up at him.

"Enough you two, its getting late, are you going to say goodnight to Copper Dora ?"

"Oh....um....sure," she stuttered, flushing as she remembered the last time she'd used that ruse. Steve just grinned smugly making her want to slap him.

"I'll come with you if you like, its a nice night and I could do with the exercise," suggested Steve, giving Dora a wink.

"Oh you," she exploded exasperated.

Shortly afterwards they wandered into the moonlit yard, both stopping to stare up at the fronds visible on the end of the branch above their heads.

"There's you miracle Dora, this old tree blooming after all this time," said Steve, reaching out and taking her hand.

"It is, isn't it."

"Come on, poor Copper will be wondering where you've go to," he teased, tugging her towards the stalls.

They leant on the half door, Copper nuzzling Dora's hand as she fed him some horse nuts. Steve patted his glossy neck receiving a nibble of affection for his efforts. Laughing they pushed him back into his box and shut the door.

They walked back down the yard, stopping once more beside the blasted tree trunk, the moonlight casting dark shadows around their feet. Dora leant her back against the trunk and stared up at the stars glittering above their heads.

"Isn't it beautiful," she breathed, unaware that Steve was not looking at the stars but at her.

"It sure is," he agreed, moving closer so that he stood close enough to smell the faint perfume of the hand cream she used. "Quite lovely."

Turning her head Dora realised he wasn't even looking at the stars, his dark eyes fixed on hers. As if responding to some unspoken signal they leant in at the same time, their lips meeting in a sweetly chaste kiss that lasted scant seconds but reminded them of all their past kisses, leaving them longing for more.

"I'm glad you're home Steve," whispered Dora, reaching up to sweep an errant lock of hair from his forehead before entwining her arms around his neck and offering her lips for another embrace.

Slugger lifted the curtain out of the way and peered out into the clear night, his eyes noting the figures under the old tree. As they merged into one he let the curtain fall, leaving them in the care of the lightning tree.

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The End.