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Luke makes his way back from the Taggart's place thru the woods. It's quiet there. Freakily so. It hadn't been snowing long enough to penetrate the canopy of fir branches. Anyone out in the open would be dealing with the snow on the ground but he'd be home and dry long before that. Luke pauses long enough at the still to make sure that everything is secure and shut down at the still-- figuring he isn't going to be out there for a day maybe two. After a couple of days it wouldn't matter if it were blizzard or not. He was gonna have to get some time away from the cabin or go insane. As soon as he clears the woods, Luke heads in the direction of the light. Laura had made sure there was a beacon to get him home if it had taken until after dark. The flakes are still large and moist. He'd covered a lot of ground pretty fast. Now there is more of a tromp to his step. It's not wading deep but it's sticking. Luke picks up the pace wanting to get home and figures that Laura will certainly have dinner on. The coffee on. And Barbara Jean would have a healthy snort poured to warm him all the way to the bones.

Marcus is all bundled up in his heavy wool coat with his hands in his pockets sitting out on the porch. Just watching the flakes come down. The women are all in the cabin getting settled in. Hell first snow of the year deserved a little attention. Not like he was really cold, really cold. Not really. The firewood on the west side of the porch created a wind block. Don't know if he'd ever really seen anything like it. Kinda like cotton falling from the sky just drifting down like blowing on a dandelion puffball. The sky is kinda grey and is blending with the distance everything going grey and white as the snow covers and sticks to the ground. Bout the only thing not white yet is the fence and even the tops of the posts are sporting snow caps. Gia comes out of the house with a blanket wrapped around her heavy coat not exactly sure of what it's going to be like but not wanting to miss anything either. Marcus pulls a hand out of his pocket and lets his sister snuggle in next to him as they look out at the weather coming down.

"It's so quiet." Gia whispers.

"Yeah, hard to figure that it's got everyone so freaked out. It's soft. And sure, it's cold and all, but fluffy." Marcus rubs Gia's blanket covered arm. "What's Mama doing?"

"Putting the finishing touches on dinner. She said it was nothing that wouldn't keep if you wanted to stay out here for awhile and watch things."

"But she's not coming out?"

"I don't think we'll be able to really pry her away from that stove until spring." Gia says wryly.

"And Miss Dara?"

"Here." Dara closes the door firmly behind her. She leans on one of the sturdy posts and looks out to the winter land vision developing. It was pretty now. But it was cold enough and coming down steady enough... it was going to look different in the morning. "You tell your brother about Roscoe?"

Gia frowns. "I hadn't yet. He bugged out on the Cassadines, Marcus."

Marcus' eyes narrow. "The way all the Yankees are freaking on the weather that can't be too smart."

"It's not." Dara tucks her hands in. "So you have to figure he's going to be back. There is no way he could make it anywhere else. Goodness knows there is no way he would head to the Quartermaine Spread."

"We warned Mrs. Hardy already." Gia says in a rush. "I'm sure she'll tell Zander so they'll be on the lookout." Gia bumps Marcus with her hip to give him the hint to move over on the bench and then she rearranges the blanket to offer Dara the other side of her. Dara takes a seat on the bench. Gia arranges the blanket so that it is covering all of them.

A low laughing rumble comes out of Marcus as he just shakes his head. "You just wanted to be warm on both sides."

"Don't see why I can't be warm and sociable both!" Gia retorts but she snuggles down in the blanket.

Nikolas eases aside the lace curtains to look toward the North where Uncle and Mr. Quartermaine would be coming. The lamps are lit. And while they would remain lit throughout the night, he had to believe that if they didn't arrive soon that they had sought shelter somewhere in route.

"My brother is extremely skilled. This is nothing." Natasha tells Nikolas from behind him.

Nikolas turns around and grins sheepishly. "And you will not tell him of my concern when he arrives."

"It shall be our little secret." Natasha agrees. She makes no effort to get Nikolas to sit down, to drink something, or eat something, knowing that it will meet with little success. Instead she goes for the distraction. "Miss Emily does not appreciate her... incarceration."

It works. Nikolas steps away from the window. He winces. Miss Emmie had made her displeasure known... loudly. The current silence is in fact making him uneasy. There had been threats but no pleas which in itself was an unusual reaction. "I understand... no, I believe that she has the necessary skills to survive in a hostile environment, Aunt."

"But?"

"I couldn't take the risk. And it would have been a foolish risk to have more people out there when the weather has turned and night is approaching."

"Very practical, very logical. Stefan would be very proud of the way you've thought this through." Natasha agrees with a nod and then picks up her embroidery hoop so that she can look at it rather than her nephew while she gives her opinion. "Of Course if the situation were the same but Miss Emily were not here...."

"Don't say it." Nikolas says wryly.

Natasha looks up. "I do not think I have to. Just do remember this moment should the need ever arrive."

"Are you planning on carrying me up to Grandmother's room, Aunt?" Nikolas grins at that.

"I would find a way." Natasha says calmly. "Now I'm sure that Mrs. Lansbury has quite the list of things she needs to get done. Especially since that scoundrel Roscoe has abandoned his post."

"Of course." Nikolas nods in his Aunt's direction and is halfway to the kitchen before he realizes it is unlike his aunt to have a concern as to how the staff accomplished their tasks... just that they were done. But in the next step he also realizes this is his Aunt's way of keeping him occupied and not out looking for his uncle.

Inside Helena's room, Em traces every inch of the cell. No window. Even the jailhouse had windows with bars but windows anyway. There is a lamp in the room but she isn't idiot enough to knock the thing over there is no way she could get out before the house burned to the ground. What kinda freaks are these people anyway that they'd have an inside room that locked on the outside?
INSIDE now that made sense. Kinda a last resort incase hostiles attacked course they didn't mind burning the place down around your ears which is why you had it on the FIRST floor and connected to a cellar of some kind so you could sneak on out without the smoke killing ya before the flame ever nipped at your heels.
There. Right there. That's the ticket. Em runs her hands over the hinges of the door. The door might lock on the outside but the hinges were still on the inside. They hadn't thought of everything. She looks around for something to take those fancy brass hinges apart.

Zander is distracted from Mrs. Hardy's fine dinner by the snow continuing to fall right out of the front windows of the cabin. Liz looks from him to her grandmother and grins feeling somewhat superior to Zander's awe.

Sarah stands to start clearing plates when everyone is done. Liz stands as well. "I got it. Why don't you and Zander go out to the barn to see if everything is snug out there. Maybe Annabelle is skittish about the weather change too."

Zander says sheepishly. "Actually I got Annabelle when I moved out here. She's probably seen more snow than I have. Am I that obvious?" He looks from Sarah who wrinkles her nose to Liz who nods and grins then to Audrey.

"The first snow is always special." Audrey says kindly. "Be careful and don't be long."

Zander gets his feet under him, balancing a good portion of his weight on the cane Miss Cassadine had given him. "I'll just check on the animals again."

"I'll help, Gram." Sarah agrees. She goes to where the coats are hung and lets Zander assist her with hers before he puts on his own and settles his hat low on his forehead. They step out onto the porch. The earlier signs of the wagon coming thru have already been filled in with wet white powder. Zander holds out his free arm. Sarah strings hers thru it; hugging Zander close and ready to catch him if it feels like he is losing his balance. Zander maneuvers with the skill of necessity. The cow, her calf, the Hardy's horse and all the goats are in the barn along with the two dogs. The sheep are in the corral sheltered together, their plush wool coats making them impervious to the weather even while they shelter to the lee side of the barn. Together they walk thru the barn making sure that all of the critters are settled.

"Are the sheep going to be okay outside?"

"They don't particularly like being inside." Sarah explains. "Even in the worst of weather... which this isn't. Not really. They'll be fine cause they'll stick together. Besides they're the ones wearing wool coats!"

Zander laughs. "True."

"We're going to have to check their hooves tomorrow to make sure they don't have ice or anything in them. But other than that... Gram picked this kind of sheep because they have such a full coat." They have a seat on a nearby bench. It's not toasty in the barn but it's solid and the heat of all the animals makes sure that it isn't chilly either. The chicken coop is separate from the barn but in it's shelter. There would be no threat of the water freezing inside the barn tonight. Outside was another story. "Have you thought anymore about putting in an orchard on your place?" Sarah asks.

Is that really what she wants to talk about? "Sure. All the time." When I'm not thinking about kissing you. "Figure I have to give them a good head start or the sheep would eat them for sure."

Sarah laughs. "You've noticed that too, eh? The goats are worse but I think they are teaching the sheep all their bad habits. They only do it really when they are bored. But you're right. They'd have to be established."

"How many trees do you think I should put in?" Zander pats Sarah's hand between his own.

"I don't know.... a hundred?"

Zander whistles. "And what would we do with all those apples?"

"We could make dried apples, or applesauce or pie, or cid..." Zander cuts of Sarah's list with a kiss that deepens naturally.

Inside the cabin, Liz shakes her head as she dries the last of the dishes and puts them up on the plate rail. She puts the kettle back on and makes sure that the woodstove is just warm enough to keep the chill off but not waste any wood. She knows exactly how long it takes to check on the animals, especially after the milking had already been done. But then she sighs. It's not like she and Lucky weren't... friendly when they could get a private moment. So she figures it's her sisterly duty to keep Gran occupied. She grabs a bag that was tucked away in a corner and brings it over to where Audrey is sitting. "I know it isn't an evening of quilting like we planned but what do you think of this?" She shows Audrey the contents.

"What on earth?"

"Just combings from the summer... whenever I got bored. I don't think I'd want a sweater or shawl made out of it. Probably be too coarse. But it might make an interesting blanket."

Audrey pulls out a handful of fur and pulls it apart. "Did you collect everything, Elizabeth? The horse, Riley, Annabelle..."

"That dog sheds a lot, Gran."

"...the cats, and the goats."

"We've made yarn from the goat's hair before. That's what gave me the idea."

Audrey sighs and shakes her head. "Well I don't see why not. A blanket you say? Don't see what it would hurt to try."

"You're the best, Gran." Elizabeth gives her a hug.

Audrey starts threading the spinning wheel and focuses on the task while she gives her granddaughter instruction. "And if your sister and Zander aren't back by the time the kettle is hot you'll go out and tell them that tea is on."

"Yes, ma'am." Liz grins at her grandmother.

Luke kicks back by the fire with his boots off. Laura had already pried them off of him and stuffed them with an old newspaper and put them a distance away from the woodstove. Bobbie had already poured him a proper snootful and then when he'd tossed that one back she'd been ready with the jug to pour him another. Lulu is cuddled up next to his free arm. "I thought you'd never get home from dropping everyone off, Daddy. You took forever!" Lulu leans in close. "Mama was mean. She wouldn't let Foster stay in the house. Made him sleep out in the barn. What if he gets cold?"

"Cold out there with the cows and horses and such? Not likely, Ladybug. Those stupid chic..." Luke sees Laura's eyes go wide and catches himself in time. "I'm sure they'll be just fine." He covers quickly hoping it would be in time otherwise there were going to be chickens roosting in the cabin. "Where is my harmonica?"

"I know! I know!" Lulu goes running to the ladder and up into the loft.

"I can't believe you!" Laura laughs at her husband and pours him a coffee, handing it to Bobbie who adds a shot and then passes it on to Luke.

"We better get her distracted, Cowboy." Luke takes a sip of his coffee and then straightens to hand his son the guitar that is behind the chair.

"Don't know if my fingers have thawed enough." Lucky says ruefully. Carly slides a tin coffee cup his way. Lucky gives her a look and she gives him a grin. He wraps his hands around the warm cup thawing his hand and the lasting burn of the doctored beverage warms him all the way down to his toes. "Feeling looser already."

"Here it is, Daddy!" Lulu comes down from the loft and brings her father his harmonica. She bounces from foot to foot impatient now for the music to start. Luke taps the harmonica on his knee, and wipes it off. He plays a quick riff that sets toes to tapping. Lucky starts weaving in along strum chords as they fit. Lulu grabs Carly's hands and pulls her to her feet making her dance. Laura and Bobbie start keeping time clapping along as Luke and Lucky move easily from one old tune to another. The plan is in place. Fast songs to wear the little one out and then slow songs to put her to sleep.

Darkness had fallen hours before. Hopefully Stefan and Mr. Quartermaine had sought shelter. It was taking too long. Emily had indicated that her grandfather and Uncle hadn't been far behind her. Of course she had been on horseback and they had been in a carriage. Nikolas, after finishing the chores in the barn that Roscoe had left unfinished in his rush to abscond, has settled into the greenhouse. He's stoked the woodstove to heat the water that keeps the greenhouse warm. And makes sure that the lantern hangs from the rafters so that it can be seen from afar. How to make the lantern even more obvious from a distance? Nikolas runs into the house. "I need mirrors."

"Mirrors? What on earth?" Mrs. Lansbury blurts and then flushes at overstepping.

"To reflect the lantern in the greenhouse out to the distance."

"Nikolas, they have surely sought shelter. Stefan and Mr. Quartermaine will arrive first thing in the morning with a much exaggerated tale to share." Natasha counters stoutly.

Nikolas looks over at Mrs. Lansbury. She nods. "I'll get them for you, sir."

"Thank you, Mrs. Lansbury. Even if Aunt is right, it will make me feel better to be doing something." Nikolas waits impatiently until Mrs. Lansbury comes back with a mirror under each arm. He takes them from the housekeeper and without a further word goes back to the greenhouse.

"Will there be anything else, ma'am?"

"A pot of tea, Mrs. Lansbury. It's going to be a long night."

Out on the range, two men bundled against the cold head in a south westerly direction. Their horses are tired and just putting one foot in front of the other. Edward Quartermaine is riding Stefan's horse with it's English saddle. A contraption he is familiar with but after years in a Western style saddle-- one that just doesn't fit. Still he doesn't complain, Cassadine is riding bareback on one of the carriage horses and leading the other. Could have left the horse out there on the range. Hells bells it was all Quartermaine range. It's not like the horse would have gotten lost or stolen.

"There!" Stefan says all of a sudden. His voice is muffled by the wool scarf that is wrapped around his lower face.

Edward sense the motion of the arm rather than actually seeing it and he squints into the distance. There was a light where before there hadn't been. "Seems we were closer than we thought, might actually get out of this one."

"Keep an eye out for a barbed wire fence-- follow it west and then South to the property."

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