Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2016 15:59:47 -0400
From: Jim <zarek@roadrunner.com>
Subject: Another Chance: Chapter 68

Disclaimer: This story is fictional.  Some of the things that happened or
will happen with Jim are inspired by bits and pieces of my life.  Parts of
the character are fictional as well. All other characters were made up and
any similarities are just coincidental.  This is gay romance between
teenage boys, there may be sex, but for the most part, it's about their
true love of each other so if that offends you, please discontinue reading.
Also, if it is illegal for you to read such material, you have been warned.
Continual reading could cause a knock at your door.

I hope you're enjoying it so far and that the story draws you in wanting
more.  This story was "inspired" by another story, a great story, here on
Nifty, "Riding Lessons" by Andrew Todd.  Some people have compared my
writing style to that of Mr. Todd's and for that, I am flattered.  While
Another Chance does pay tribute to "Riding Lessons", it is a story of its
own and has its own plot and agenda.  If you have any suggestions or
concerns, don't hesitate to email me at zarek@roadrunner.com
<mailto:zarek@roadrunner.com> .  Thoughts and suggestion are always
welcomed and may or may not be implemented.  Concerns will be considered
and addressed as much as possible.

AND, if you enjoy the stories on Nifty.org, please give a donation to help
cover their expenses.  While the site is currently free, only donations
from loyal fans can help keep it that way.  Any amount will help.



Another Chance

Chapter 68

Colt apologized to Jim for opening the Sorry! game and Jake voiced his
concerns about them not being downstairs when they heard the horse barn
collapse from the tornado.  Zac assured Jake that they were safe and
encouraged the boys to continue playing the game while they waited out the
tornado.  Jim called his mom, trying to assure her that they were safe, but
his phone lost signal while he was talking.

The lights flickered and went out.  Jake screamed and tried moving towards
Jim and Zac but tripped over something and fell.  Jim used a flashlight app
on his phone to give some light until Jackson grabbed two battery-operated
camping lanterns from a shelf.  Jim saw Jake lying on floor and went to his
side.  The boy wasn't moving and had the Twister mat wrapped around his
feet.  Jim nudged him, "Jake, are you alright?"

"Owwwww, Daddy, my head hurts," Jake cried.  Jim flashed the light at
Jake's head and noticed a bump forming in the center of the boy's forehead.

"You're going to be a unicorn for a few days, I think," Jim said with a
smile.  He recalled Jake saying at one time that he wanted to be a unicorn
when he grew up.  Jake smiled and the boys went back to playing their
game. That is, they were until they heard the house creaking and the sound
of wood splintering into pieces.  Jackson looked up and saw the tornado
going right over their heads.  The house was gone.

Meanwhile, Heather looked at her phone when it rang.  It was Jim calling,
"Mom, there's a tornado.  It already took out the horse..." and the phone
went dead.  She immediately hung up the phone and called Nick.

"Park County Sheriff's Department, This is Sheriff Nick Archer, how may I
be of assistance?" Nick answered the phone.  He saw that it was Heather,
but remained professional, knowing that she never calls him at work so as
to not distract him.

Heather was a little frantic, "Nick, Jim just called me from the ranch.  He
said there was a tornado and I think he said that it took out the horses."

Nick wished that he could hold her and tell her that everything was going
to be alright, but truth is, he didn't know what to tell her other than the
usual.  "Just calm down, Heather.  I am getting reports of a tornado in
that area, and I will personally go check at the ranch.  I'm sure the cell
towers or something were damaged.  Do you know if Jackson has a basement?"

Heather calmed down after hearing Nick say he would personally look into
it, "I really don't know.  The only time I was ever in the house was for
Zac's birthday last year."

Nick knew she wouldn't stop worrying until she knew the boys were safe,
"The Sheriff's Department is about twenty minutes away from the ranch.
I'll go check it out and either I will call you, or if I can't, I will have
the office give you a call."

"I can't sit here waiting for you to call.  I'm heading there, myself,"
Heather declared.

Nick knew it wouldn't do any good but he had to suggest it, "Heather, stay
home and let me do my job.  You don't know what you'll see and it probably
looks worse than it really is.  You're thirty minutes away, so if you stay
home, you'll have answers faster."

"Like hell, Nick," Heather became agitated, "That's my family out there.
Joe was on his way already when Jim called.  And Marilyn's husband Vince
took off quickly right before Jim called.  I think someone called him.
Hold on, Marilyn's at the door."

Nick could hear Marilyn talking, "Vinnie should be at the ranch any minute.
The security team called him as soon as a tornado formed.  They don't have
all the details, but saw all the horses leave the barn just before the
tornado demolished it.  They don't know if Jackson or the boys made it
out."

He heard Heather respond, "Jim called me but his phone went dead.  He said
the tornado already took out the horse when it did, maybe he meant horse
barn.  I'm on the phone with Nick and he's trying to convince me to stay
here."

Marilyn chuckled a little, "Vinnie recommended that I do the same and then
said that he'd see me out there in a few.  He knew it would be pointless to
argue.  You want to ride with me?"

"Hello Nick?" Heather spoke into her phone.

"No, this is Deputy Shannon.  The Sheriff handed me the phone and told me
to tell you that he'll see you when you get to the ranch."

"Thank you Deputy," Heather chuckled before hanging up the phone.  She
turned to Marilyn and said, "Let's go."

Brenda reminded them that Austin was with Jim and she was coming as well.
Marilyn concurred, "Yes, you can come with us.  I'm glad Vinnie bought me a
bigger vehicle.  With Zayne and Zack in their car seats, we wouldn't have
had room for three adults in my last car."

Vince Abrams got out to the ranch just as the tornado took out the house.
He watched as the tornado headed for the road and then just vanished
leaving only the destruction that it caused as a sign it even existed.  He
started calling out, "Jackson, Ryan, Colt, Anybody?"

"Dad, we're in the basement, but the stairs collapsed," he heard Zac shout.
There was a gaping hole where the house once stood.  Splintered wood,
clothes and destroyed furniture covered the yard.

Vince grabbed a rope from the back of his Hummer and ran over to the hole.
He threw one end down and told them to tie that end around Jake.  Nick was
pulling up beside Vince's SUV as he freed Jake from the rope.  He also
grabbed a rope from his SUV, then helped Vince pull Austin up.  While
Austin was untying himself, they used Nick's rope for Colt.

Marilyn was pulling into a parking space as they were pulling Jackson up.
Jackson thought he should go last and help by pushing everyone else up.
Marilyn ran for Zac, Heather ran for Jim, and Brenda stayed with the car
and the babies while Austin ran to her.  She wrapped her arms around Austin
and asked if he was scared.  "We thought we were safe in the basement, but
I was still a little scared.  I think I made a mess in my shorts."

Brenda chuckled, "That's perfectly normal when you get scared.  I'm just
glad you're safe.  You smell like poo, but you're safe."

Austin hugged his mom, "Yeah, and I can't get away from the smell."

"Look Grandma, I'm a unicorn!" Jake exclaimed, showing Heather his bump.

Heather had a worried look on her face, "How'd you do that?"

Jim explained, "He tried walking over to me after the lights went out and
he fell."

Heather asked of Jackson, "Where's Ryan?"

"He left at noon for Washington, DC.  He goes before the board for an
extensive interview all next week and wanted a few days to relax.  I think
he knew about the tornado and skipped town, myself," Jackson quipped.

Heather laughed, "How would he have known about the tornado?  Jim told me
about it before the news even mentioned it.  I just wish Jim wouldn't have
been cut off during his message.  So, where are the horses?"

As if on cue, Gold was bringing the herd of horses back to where the barn
used to be.  Jackson looked and every horse was there, safe and sound.
"You did an excellent job, Gold.  You did exactly what Jim asked you to
do."

Colt came from looking around where the barn collapsed, "Dad, the saddles
are twisted and ruined."  He was holding the mangled mess that had his name
stitched into it.

Jackson hugged the teen, "That's alright, I have no deductible so insurance
will cover everything that was destroyed.  We'll get you a new one."

Heather was concerned, "What are you going to do for a home until you get
it rebuilt?  You are going to rebuild, right?"

Jackson smiled, "Jacob has two spare rooms, I'm sure he wouldn't mind
helping us out."

"So," Zac asked, "are you going to convert the party barn into a horse
barn?"

"Nope," Jackson answered.  "The rodeo buildings shouldn't have taken any
damage, I'm sure, since the twister formed between here and there.  We can
house the horses there until a new barn can be built.  And speaking of
rebuilding, Jim and Zac, if Ryan gets the Federal Judge position, when we
move next summer, I would like the two of you to move here and take over
the ranch, so..."

"You mean run it for you, right?" Jim questioned.

Jackson shook his head, "Yes and no.  I mean, I would keep part ownership
and get maybe ten percent of the profits from the meat portion, but I would
like to sell the ranch to the two of you, that is, if Ryan gets the
position and you're interested.  We'll discuss that more once we find out
if Ryan gets the position.  But with that in mind, I thought you boys would
like to discuss plans for the new house."

Austin had joined the group after Marilyn came and got Zayne, and Brenda
was carrying Zack.  "Jim," he grinned, "you should show Jackson some of the
designs that you have."

"You like designing houses?" Jackson was a little surprised.

Jim explained, "I don't get into the specs like a blue print, but I do like
drawing the floor layout."

"Jackson," Heather offered, "why don't you and Colt come to our house for
supper tonight and Jim can show you some of the houses that he drew?"

"What do you say, Colt?" Jackson asked, "You want to taste some of the best
food in these here parts?"

Colt grinned, and teased Jackson, "You think she cooks better than you?"

"Admittedly, I think I'm a good cook," Jackson answered, "But Jim is a
better cook and Heather is even better than him."

"Well, if you don't like my cooking?" Heather joked.

In his most pleasant voice, Colt accepted the invitation, "I think we'd be
honored to enjoy a meal with you, and while there, maybe Dad can get a cell
signal to call Uncle Jacob."

"He should get a signal, and if not, he's free to use our home phone,"
Heather chimed.

"What about Jeff?" Zac inquired.

Jackson laughed, "You didn't see him using my truck yesterday?  He and
Caleb moved in together.  That was one of the reasons that Caleb needed
money and was eager to train that family.  Mom and Dad agreed to pay for
Jeff's housing while he attends school, and they told Caleb that they
wouldn't mind him living with Jeff, but Caleb insists that they split
everything down the middle so they can be considered equals."

Zac nodded his head, "I have to admit, if Jim and I weren't married, I
would want to do the same thing.  But since we are, we each keep a portion
of our checks and deposit the rest into our household account."

Jim glanced at Marilyn and Aunt Brenda as they finally joined the rest of
them, "Why didn't you leave the babies with Joe?  Actually, I'm a little
surprised that Joe didn't come out."

"Joe!" Heather exclaimed, "I was so relieved when I saw you standing here,
I forgot. He left before Vince did."

"I'm not sure what way he normally goes, but I didn't see him on my way,"
responded Vince.

Marilyn concurred, "We didn't see him either."

Jim was looking at his phone, "I'd try calling him, but the tornado must
have taken out the cell tower closest to here."

Nick got on his radio and asked if there were any reports concerning a
vehicle matching Joe's SUV.  The person on the other end was quick to
respond, "Deputies are checking it out right now, sir.  A vehicle matching
that description was left abandoned at the corner of Road 2Ab and Hitching
Post Drive.  It appears to have been forced off the road."

Nick looked concerned, "Did they run the plates?  Who owns the vehicle?"

The voice responded and Jim thought he recognized the female voice, "The
vehicle is registered to Joseph C. Bolt.  WAIT!!!  Oh my word, wasn't that
the boy that you and I were watching over; Joe Bolt?  Him and his really
hot brother, Jim, I think his name is."

"Dawn, Jim is standing right here," Nick chuckled.

"Hi Jim," Dawn quickly said flirtatiously, not the least bit embarrassed by
what she said.

Jim was the one embarrassed, "Remind her that I am married."

Nick chuckled a little, "Dawn, Jim said to remind you that he's married and
let the deputies know that I am on my way."

"I'll let them know, sir," Dawn confirmed.  Nick took off before Heather
could react.  He knew that if she went to Joe's SUV, it wouldn't do her any
good and she would probably get in the way.

Zac walked over to Jim, "What? Have you been cheating on me?"

"Wh-wh-what?" Jim stuttered, "No, you heard me tell Nick to remind her that
I'm married.  I love you too much to ever cheat on you."

Zac smiled, "But you're so cute trying to defend yourself, I couldn't
resist.  I trust you, babe."

Jim wrapped his arms around Zac, "Are you sure we are only related via
marriage?"  Then Jim kissed Zac.

Heather was stunned, "Where did he say Joe's SUV is?  Marilyn, can you take
me there?"

Vince put his arm around Heather, "Hon, let Marilyn take you home.  It
wouldn't do you any good to go to his SUV.  He's not there and we don't
know what happened yet.  Go home, Joe may be trying to call you there, and
let Nick investigate.  You know that if he has anything, he will talk to
you."

"How can I go home?  Joe's out there somewhere?" Heather began to cry.

Jim hugged his mom, "You know Dad looked out for him before.  I trust Dad
and Nick will bring Joe home again.  We don't know what happened, but
between those two, I know Joe will return safely."

Heather kissed Jim on the forehead, "You're right, it won't be easy, but I
do trust Nick to do his best to bring him home safely.  And even though he
is dead, somehow Jon has protected him.  It would be easier if I knew what
happened to him."

Jim picked up Jake, "We're heading home, would you like to ride with us?"
Heather just nodded her head.

"I'm going to help Jackson get the horses in the rodeo barns and then I'll
be home," Zac stated.

Austin looked sheepishly up at Jim, "Can I ride with you or do I ride home
with Mom and Aunt Marilyn?"

Jim tussled Austin's hair, "You came with me, didn't you?"  Austin grinned
as he got in the back seat of Jim's truck.

Heather asked Jim to go by where Dawn said Joe's SUV was but Jim said it
wouldn't do any good to do so.  "Besides, what if Joe tries calling home.
It would be better if we just head straight home."

Heather looked down, "When did you become the parent?  You are right, but
you can't blame me for worrying."

Jim patted her hand, "No, quite the opposite, I'd be disappointed if you
didn't worry about us." Jim pulled in the driveway and there was a box on
the porch.  "Were you expecting a package?"  Heather shook her head.

Once Jim was parked, Heather got out of the truck and picked up the box.
She noticed two things, first that the box wasn't sealed, whoever left the
box merely tucked the flaps. And the second thing she noticed was the box
was very light.  She opened it and gasped, dropping the box.  She started
to faint so Jim rushed over to catch her.  He managed to grab her just
before she hit the ground.  As Jake watched with bewilderment, he was
concerned, "Is Grandma alright?"

Although he was extremely concerned, Jim tried to hide it yet be as honest
as he could, "She will be.  She's just worried about Uncle Joe.  Austin,
can you get the door while I help my mom get inside?"

Jake couldn't help it, it just comes naturally to five year olds, "What's
happened to Uncle Joe?"

Jim picked Heather up and carried her inside.  Austin ran upstairs to
change his clothes.  As he put her on the couch, he responded to Jake,
"That's what we would like to know.  Why don't you join Austin upstairs and
play?"

Heather started waking up as Jake was heading upstairs.  "Those are the
clothes Joe was wearing when he left," Heather cried.  Jim looked in the
box to see remnants of what once were Joe's clothes.

Jim comforted his Mom as best as he could, "I know, Mom.  I'm calling Nick
to let him know."  As Jim reached for the phone, he noticed the blinking
light indicating a message was waiting to be heard.

He hit the play button, it was Joe's voice, "Mom, some men forced me off
the road and grabbed me.  They told me to call you from my phone but since
you didn't answer, they will try calling later.  I'm scared, Mom."

Jim didn't want to use the house phone to call Nick in case they did call
back, so he pulled his cell phone out and looked to see, he did have full
signal.  Jim spoke really fast, as if Joe's life depended on it, "Nick, Mom
really needs you right now.  Someone has Joe and cut off his clothes, even
his briefs.  They left the remnants in a box on the porch.  Then they had
Joe use his cell and call the house.  We weren't home yet, so they'll be
calling back."

"Alright, calm down and say that slower.  You said it so fast that I only
caught about half of it," Nick responded.  He looked at his deputies, "Take
this vehicle back to the forensics lab and tell them to find any clues that
exist.  Once they are done, take it to the repair shop.  This is my
fiancé's son's vehicle and I want to return it to him as good as new."

Jim listened to Nick instructing the deputies and then when Nick was ready,
he repeated what he had said at a normal speed.  Nick told Jim that he was
on his way and he was calling the FBI since this had officially become a
kidnapping.

Nick walked into the house as the phone rang.  The voice ID said, "Call
from Joe Bolt, Call from Joe B..." as Heather put the phone on speaker.

"Joe, are you alright?" Heather cried.

"Mom, they stripped me and..." was all that Joe got out before the phone
was taken from him.  In those few words, Jim could tell that Joe was in
pain and crying.  Jim pulled out his phone and started messing with it.

Another voice came on the phone, "Listen here, lady, I have your son.  So
far he is unharmed and it's up to you whether he stays that way or not.
Don't call the police or he will lose a hand."

Heather wasn't sure if she should tell them, but she figured it was better
than letting them think she called them, "The Sheriff's Department already
called me because they found his vehicle abandoned.  And my fiancé is
the Sheriff.  Just tell me what you want."

"What we want is ten million dollars.  Don't tell me that you don't have
it, I don't care.  I will give you twenty-four hours to get it.  I will
call you back at this time tomorrow and if you don't have it, I will start
cutting off Joe's fingers, one at a time every twelve hours."

Heather wasn't sure what to say.  She didn't have that kind of money and
she couldn't get a loan for it, "I don't know where I will get it, but I
will.  Just don't hurt him."  The phone went dead so Heather hung it up.
"What am I going to do?  I don't have that kind of money?"

Jim smirked, "We could go get Joe."

"Do you know where he is?" Nick asked.  "Why didn't you mention this
before?"

Jim felt proud of himself, "I didn't know before.  As long as the battery
isn't removed from his phone and he's within range of a cell tower or
Wi-Fi, I can find him.  Joe and I downloaded locator apps.  We never
thought we would need them, but figured if we misplaced our phones or went
to a concert or amusement park and got separated, they would come in handy.
Right now, Joe's phone is at...  Crap, it disappeared, they must have
removed the battery again."

"Approximately where was it on the map?" Nick asked.  Jim said that it was
toward Yellowstone and showed where it was on his app's map.  "That's still
a good size area, any chance you can zoom in when they call next time?"

Jim looked as though he failed a major test, "If the battery is in long
enough, I can.  I was trying to do that when it disappeared."

Zac came in the door with Jackson and Colt in tow.  Along with them was
Matt.  "Please tell me that you found Joe," Matt requested.

Zac explained, "Matt heard on the news about the tornado and came out to
check on Jackson.  He also offered Jackson the use of a house until his is
rebuilt."

Jim frowned, "I thought I found him, but they must have taken the battery
out of his phone."

"They?" Matt looked puzzled, "Who is they?"

"I'm sorry, I forgot you weren't here," Jim apologized, almost in tears.
"Someone kidnapped Joe and called using his phone.  They want ten million
dollars by tomorrow or they're going to start cutting off his fingers.
Zac, how much do we have in that fund?  I know it won't be enough, but Mom
needs everything that she can get."

"No, don't touch that money," Matt was rather insistent.  "That's for you
two to get your own place, or as a down payment for Jackson's ranch.  I can
have the money for you tomorrow."

"Thank you, Matt," Heather cried, "but I don't know when I'll be able to
pay you back."

"Hey, Joe is a part of my family," Matt declared.  "I'm not lending you the
money.  I told you that I want to use the money to help others.  I see this
as helping Joe."

Heather wrapped her arms around Matt and just cried.  She whispered in his
ear, "I can see why the boys like you and consider you a friend.  You've no
idea how much this means to me."

"I think I have an idea, but I can only imagine," Matt replied.  "Let me
call my bank and get things in motion."

Nick clasped his hand onto Matt's shoulder, "Thank you, Matt.  Hopefully,
we won't need to give them the money.  Thanks to Jim, we may be able to
find Joe without paying them, but it's nice to know you are there."

Matt, speaking more pointedly, said to Nick, "I do have some questions for
you, being in law enforcement, you may know the answers, but then again,
hopefully you've not seen enough of this and don't."

Nick responded, "No, I have to admit this is my first kidnapping, but if I
can answer your questions, I will."

"Why," Matt began, "would they kidnap Joe and ask for that kind of ransom?
It's not like they really expect Heather to get it, do they?  I'm concerned
that there's more to this than merely wanting money."

Nick nodded his head, "That is a valid question and I have to agree with
you.  Most kidnappers go for rich families, I believe.  Maybe they saw Joe
at the ranch."

"And," Matt continued, "I'm not concerned with the money, they can keep it
so long as they return Joe unharmed.  But once it's paid, how can we be
sure Joe will be returned?  What prevents them from taking the money and
then asking for more, or worse, killing Joe?"

Nick took a breath and lowered his voice so no one else could hear, "Now
you understand why I don't want to use your money if we can find Joe
without.  I've never been a part in solving kidnappings, but I've heard
that the person is rarely returned unharmed, if at all."

Heather looked over at Nick and he was worried that she might have heard
him.  He sat on the couch beside her and took her in his arms.  "How are
you holding up?"  Heather placed her head on his shoulder and just cried.
"I totally understand.  I was angry with what Wallace did to Chris, I can
imagine you're worse.  Have faith, we will get Joe back."

"You don't know that!" Heather cried.

Nick grimaced, "No, I don't, but I do believe it."

The doorbell rang and Jim opened the door.  A man in his early twenties was
standing there.  "I'm Agent Lenny King with the FBI.  Is there a Nick
Archer here?  He called our Wyoming office," the man said as he showed Jim
his badge and credentials.

Jim let him in and told him that Nick was on the couch with his mom.  Nick
spoke up, "I'd get up and shake your hand but right now, Heather needs me."

"I totally understand," Agent King acknowledged.  "I understand that you
are the Sheriff as well as the fiancé to the boy's mother.  I need to
ask you to think like you are not the Sheriff and leave the FBI handle
this.  You are too close."

"Agreed, but I do want to point out a few things I believe will help you.
First, this young man has offered to supply the money the kidnappers asked
for," Nick averred, indicating Matt.

"Very good, hopefully we won't need it, but it doesn't hurt to have a
backup plan." Agent King nodded.  "You said a few, so what else?"

Nick nodded towards Jim, "He has a locator app on his phone and it's tied
to Joe's.  If they put the battery back in Joe's phone, he can find out
where the boy is."

Agent King smiled, "Excellent, let me plug your phone into my laptop.  Then
I can save the image and zoom in even if they take the battery out.  And
what's third?"

Nick looked down and hesitated for a second, "I agree that I may be too
close to truly think logically on this, but you have full use of my
deputies.  And if you go in, I'd like to be a part of the rescue."

Agent King looked directly at Nick, "I have no problem using your deputies,
but I don't think it would be a good idea for you to do anything except
comfort this distraught lady."

"I had a feeling you would say that," Nick responded, somewhat
disheartened.  "Mind if I ask how many kidnappings you have handled?  You
look rather young."

"I am fresh out of the academy about six months.  I joined the Wyoming
office because it sees the least amount of action and therefore is a good
starting point and I was born in Casper, so I have knowledge of the area.
This is my first kidnapping situation; however, I have had extensive
training to handle it, which is more than you can say."

Agent King asked if he could start setting up his gear on the dining room
table to which Heather informed him that they hadn't eaten dinner yet, but
if he needed to, then by all means.  "They probably won't call until the
appointed time, I can wait until after you've eaten.  Kid with the phone
app, what was your name again?"

Jim looked at him, wondering why he was asking, "My name is Jim sir."

"Thanks, Jim," Agent King responded, "Did your app indicate where the phone
might have been last time the battery was in?"  Jim showed him the same
thing he had shown Nick.  "Excellent, that's still a large area, but gives
us a starting point.  Sheriff, do you know of any buildings in this area?"

Nick studied the map, thinking, for a few minutes.  He started pointing to
a place along the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway, "There's the abandoned Smith
Mansion here.  The owner was building it by hand and was blown off on a
windy day.  The house isn't very stable, and is said to be haunted.  Right
here," he continued, "is the Bill Cody Ranch."

King shook his head, "I have doubts that they would use the inn.  I think
the mansion is our best bet."

Nick concurred, "You are probably right, but I'm just letting you know
what's there.  The problem with the mansion is, they can see for miles all
around it, making it nearly impossible to sneak up on them unless you do it
at night.  Also, the building is very unstable.  The owner was building it
completely by hand.  It doesn't even have plumbing or electricity."

King asserted, "All the more reason it would be a more ideal place for them
to use."

"I would recommend," Nick was suggesting, "having a team check it out under
the cover of darkness."  Heather had been rather quiet, so Nick lifted her
head off of his shoulder.  He saw that she had cried herself to sleep.

"I concur," Agent King agreed.  "I know that you would like to be a part of
this operation, and I have checked you out.  Just so you know, IF this were
anyone else, I would want you on the team."

Nick felt a little proud of himself, "I appreciate that.  Did that file you
read include my taking down the guy who abused my son?  I understand what
you are saying, and I agreed at first, but then I remembered that and I
started rethinking.  I want to be a part of this.  I know I can bring Joe
back without anyone getting hurt, except maybe the criminals."

King shook his head, "It's not going to happen.  It's not protocol."

"FUCK PROTOCOL!!!" Nick yelled.  Jake came running out of his room.

Jim put his hand on Nick's shoulder, "Nick, calm down.  You'll wake up Mom,
and I'd rather Jake not hear such words."

"Too late, I'm awake," Heather groggily replied.

"I'm sorry Sweetheart, I didn't mean to wake you," Nick averred as he
caressed her face.

Heather grabbed his hand, "Nick, at least I know you care about Joe.  I
mean, I always thought you did, and I never doubted it, but now I really
know."

"Can you come up to my room, Nick?  I need to talk with you privately." Jim
questioned.

Nick carefully got up and Heather laid on the couch, trying to go back to
sleep, but too worried about Joe to rest.  Having come home shortly after
Agent King's arrival, Brenda decided to fix a light meal so that Heather
could try and relax.

Up in Jim's room, Nick apologized again for using the f-word and so loudly.
"I can understand you being upset.  I agree that if anyone can rescue Joe
it would be you, and I'd like to help," Jim offered.

Nick looked sternly at Jim, "I appreciate your wanting to help, but the
only help I want from you in this is helping me find out where Joe is.  I
can't safely extract Joe if I am worrying about you.  And if I did let you
do this and lost both of you, your mother would kill me."

"So, you're going to shut me out like Agent King is shutting you out?" Jim
questioned.

Nick smiled, "Don't even play that card with me.  IF you were properly
trained in law enforcement or military, I would love to have you join me.
I've seen your martial art skill and I know you know how to use a firearm,
but this is different."

"You are going to shut me out," Jim pouted.

"Only because I love you like a son.  I promise, you get me the location, I
will bring Joe home."

Jim sat at his laptop and started downloading the app.  Once it was
downloaded, he went to settings and put his cell phone number in to
synchronize with its settings.  "Ummm, Nick, what would you say if I told
you, we don't need to wait for them to put the battery back in Joe's
phone?"

"What? How?" Nick asked.

Jim lit up the room with his smile.  "You know how I said it that the app
could be used to find your phone if you lost it?  What would happen if the
battery died or you dropped it and the battery fell out?"

"I would guess, you'd just have to search for it," Nick replied,
"unless..."

Jim grinned even more, "This app on the computer has a `Last known
location' feature.  I can pinpoint exactly where Joe's phone was when it
last had the battery in."

"You do that and you will have been most helpful," Nick agreed.

Jim found Joe's phone had been at the Bill Cody Ranch when the battery was
removed.  "It's not like they would go there to make a phone call and head
back, especially if Joe doesn't have any clothes.  They must be renting a
room there," Nick surmised.  "I know you want to join me, but I need to
work alone, and I have an important assignment for you..."

Jim sulked, "What, fetch you some coffee?"

Nick pulled Jim into a hug, "Don't be like that, I don't want you to go
because I care about you and Joe.  Do I think you are capable?  Maybe more
than some of my deputies, but they were trained for such things.  You're
not.  In about ten minutes, go downstairs.  Agent King will probably ask
where I am."

"You want me to lie to a federal agent?" Jim asked, a look of shock on his
face.

Nick shook his head, "No, I would never ask you to lie. But don't tell him
where I went at all, just tell him that you discovered the `last known
location' feature on your laptop.  He'll probably figure out where I went."

"I don't want to get you in trouble," Jim declared, his face relaxed a bit.

"I'll either come back with Joe and won't get in trouble, or I won't be
able to come back.  If I don't come back, comfort your mom at my funeral,"
Nick half-jested.

"Don't joke like that," Jim shouted.

Zac came running into the room, "What's going on?"

"Make sure this one doesn't follow me," Nick requested.  He slipped out the
window and climbed down the wall.

Heather was sitting on the couch when Jim and Zac came downstairs, "Where's
Nick?"

"Yes, where is the Sheriff?" Agent King questioned.

Jim swallowed hard, "He told me to tell you about a feature of the locator
app that is on my laptop but not the mobile app.  It's called the `last
known location' feature."

King nodded, "Yes, I was looking for that and was surprised that the app
didn't have it.  I have it on my laptop, but since Joe's phone doesn't have
the battery in, I can't get his last know location until it does."

Jim opened his laptop and showed Agent King the last location of Joe's
phone.  King immediately got on his radio, "Agents, there's been a change
in location.  The hostage appears to be at the Bill Cody Ranch.  I can't
tell you the room, but I can tell you that is where they are using his
phone.  And if you see Sheriff Archer, arrest him.  I will decide on what
charges after the boy is safe."

Jim was looking down, he felt like it was his fault that Nick was going to
be arrested.  Agent King looked at Jim, "You never answered my question and
since you didn't say anything when I ordered my men to arrest him, I'm
guessing that he went to go find the boy.  And that guilty look on your
face tells me that I am right.  Sit on that couch and don't move unless I
give you permission.  If that boy is hurt in any way, I will charge you as
an accessory to whatever I decide to charge the Sheriff with."

"Supper's ready," Aunt Brenda called out.  Austin and Jake came running
down the stairs.  Jake looked at Jim just sitting on the couch and jumped
on his lap.

"Aren't you going to eat, Daddy?" the little boy questioned.

"I don't know, Daddy might be in trouble," Jim responded.

Jake asked, "Did you do something wrong?"

Jim gave a slight smile, "That depends on who you ask.  According to Agent
King I did, but I don't think I did.  Nick and Grandma don't think I did."

Jake got off Jim's lap and walked over to Agent King, "Why is my daddy in
trouble?  He doesn't think he did anything wrong."

Agent King turned to look at Jake, he was getting ready to say something
but Jake kept staring at him.  He turned to look at Jim, "Look, I know that
you thought you were doing the right thing.  If the Sheriff is half as good
as his reports say he is, he'll bring Joe back safely.  If he slips up
because he's too concerned with bringing him back, then I could charge him
with obstruction and you as an accessory.  I hope he's successful, I really
do, but I couldn't risk the chance."

Jim was on the verge of tears, "I don't know what you read, but I know Nick
is more than capable of bringing my brother back.  I don't think you should
have shut him out or told your men to arrest him."

King got on his radio, "Regarding the orders to arrest the Sheriff, if he
has rescued the boy, then cancel it.  Only arrest him if the boy is
severely injured or worse."

"Roger that," came the reply.

Jim looked up, "Thank you!"

King gave a hint of a smile, "And you don't have to sit on the couch.  I
won't charge you as an accessory."

Jim stood up and Jake came running to take his hand as they walked into the
dining area.  Jackson looked up at him, "Is everything alright?"

Jim gave a half-hearted response, "It will be when Nick gets back here with
Joe,"

"I've seen him in action, he'll be back soon enough.  Remember what he did
at the ranch when that gang was after Joe and you," Jackson chimed.  Jim
felt better with Jackson's optimism.

Agent King walked in, "Did he seriously take on that many people at once?
Does he think he's Chuck Norris?"

Jackson was quick to sing praises, "He did have help.  Under the direction
of Zac's father, my security staff assisted, but yes, he and they took on
that entire gang.  Only injuries received were the lumps of the gang
members, and some of them didn't make it."

King smiled, "I believe that most of your security staff are former
military."

"That is correct," Jackson concurred, "and the ones NOT former military are
former law enforcement."

"Jim," King started, "here is your phone and laptop back.  Hopefully, I
won't need them once Joe is rescued."

"Good," Jackson stated, "After we're done eating, you can show me some of
the designs that you have."

Jim looked a little sheepish, "Some of the designs I have are not exactly
mine.  I like finding designs and changing them to something I like a
little more.  I have one that I did that with, I think would be perfect for
the ranch.  Their rendition of the house no longer matches my version of
the floor plans exactly, but it gives you an idea of what it looks like."




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