Roland had the press going, and the door barred.

"Mama what is going on?" Roscoe asked, he was really getting worried about Quentin it had been over a week, but Mr. Dutcher had seen his horse Posey, two nights ago in town out past the Keene and Warwick place so Roscoe had assumed he had stopped in to see his mother.

"I don't know son," she said, and sighed.

"There has been a murder, here in Amberly, two nights ago," Jack whispered.

"Oh Lord," Naomi cried.

"Anyone we know?" Roscoe said, thinking he knew why Roland had the door locked he didn't want anyone bothering him he was getting out a special edition.

"Whitney Timberlane," Jack said, then added softly so Naomi wouldn't hear, "Could not have happened to a nicer guy."

Roscoe tried not to laugh, almost everyone disliked the man, even his own son. But still knowing there was a killer out there made him feel uneasy. Where was Quentin?

Jack still was a a deputy constable and Seth had called him and the other two in to help him move the body and ask around about when he had been seen last. He had been seen two nights ago by his son and wife, he told them he was going out south of town to sign some papers and purchase some land from MacGregor a Scotsman who lived out there. He repeated to Roscoe what he knew. Knowing Roscoe would keep his mouth shut.

MacGregor never saw him, but Clive Martin had been coming back from a parishinors home and saw the man heading towards MacGregor. MacGregor was one of the few people who had no reason to kill Whitney. Whitneys horse was also stolen, when he didn't arrive back home. His wife assumed he had spent the night with McGregor drinking rum.

One of Coats men looking for lost sheep had found the body under a wagon, which had been parked in the field the evening of the day he was to go to MacGregors.

The farmer who had parked the wagon had been in the pub that night, Seth had seen him, he was going to Arcadia to visit his new grandson, so he was in the clear.

Lewis had written up the names of everyone in that night and the times to the nearest he could remember them coming in, Both the Timberlane brothers had been in, and so had Oly Swensen, most of Coats men, Timberlane's son Westly had been there as well as Keith Timberlane, they had gone with Oly Swensen to help him move a couple of crates, they were things he had ordered for his wife and his fourth anniversity. So four people who wanted to kill Whitney the worse were covered.

Not many people knew of the murder, and Seth had asked that the deputies not mention the murder only where they were at and if they had seen Whitney.

"Another man went missing, just like that Warwick fellow a bit over three years ago," one of the men at the bar said.

Lewis nodded, even though he knew this was different. He was one of the few people who knew Whitney Timberlane was dead, and after the trouble he caused for half the town, including Jack Keene and Octavia Warwick, no one would mourn him, not his own son, who was so upset by the way he treated so many he spent half his time trying to help them out without the knowledge of his father.

Not his wife or other children who felt they were living in the house with a stranger for the past five years.

On the lighter side, Roland and Amelia's romance was in full bloom, Roland thought Quentin was right she was a woman, and the right one for him.

Quentin was wondering what was taking his dad so long, he felt useless and wanted to do something. Kivak and Wenday took him to where his father had been building a new lodge on a piece of land near where he lived with Daygleesha and her parents.

"We could work on this," Kivak said, he had been assigned to guard Quentin, only to ease the mind of Coryn and a few of the others. Saban trusted Quentin completely.

"Good idea, I hate just sitting around," Quentin said grabbing his fathers axe, he began to measure the log and Kivak and Wenday helped him.

"I would really like to kiss Wenday but how do I say may I kiss you in your language?" Quentin asked, after he had changed into a loin cloth which was cooler to work in.

Kivak laughed gently and shook his head."There is none of our words for kiss, because Jayman is the one who brought it to us."

"Kiss," Wenday said smiling and nodded, she had seen Jamie kiss Daygleesha and had wondered how it felt.

Kivak watched them kiss, he had been jealous at first, then he had hoped that Wenday would get tired of Quentin now he had decided to let the Great Spirit guide things. If it was really love there would be nothing he could do anyway.

Quentin found he really liked being here and he loved Wenday.

Quentin was surprised how quiet and good Jayrun was, he played quietly with a toy Quentin had made him from wood scraps.

Finally after three days Jamie returned, and Quentin hugged his father, and said, "How is mother."

"She is doing fine with her new man," Jamie said and now he sounded more sad than angry

"What? You must be mistaken, we will go back there together," Quentin said glancing at Kivak and Wenday, "She has no man father! I would know."

"You go back I will finish the roof on the house, I guess it will be just me and Jayrun," Jamie sighed.

"No I am coming back I have to take a manhood test so that I can marry Wenday," Quentin said.

"You both go, I will stay in the new lodge, I will watch Jayrun, I will tell my father you build the lodge for me," Wenday said, thinking it would impress her father, it was the best lodge she had ever seen, it even had two windows, which could be covered in winter to keep out cold.

"But my father only brought my horse," Quentin said, thinking Posey could not carry them so far without it breaking her down.

"Take Khee," Kivak said gestering to his mare.

Jamie sighed and looked at the two young people, which had now been joined by Nona came up and smiled at Kivak and said something.

"Son are you sure you want to come back here?" Jamie said wondering if he could leave. "Yes I am a man now," Quentin said, taking Jayrun to Wenday.

"All I need to do is pass the test to prove it," Quent said thinking he understood now what Roland meant about love.

Jamie nodded he understood, and he was glad his son had taken Jayrun if it was true Octavia had no man then Jayrun would need a family.

The pair returned, and Jamie waited in the barn while Quentin got his mother outside to talk to her alone.

"Quentin where have you been?" Octavia asked, "Your uncle Ethan was here and . . ."

"What?" Quentin said, he remembered stories about Ethan her little brother, and shook his head, his father must have seen Ethan.

"My brother Ethan was here for a couple of days visit, but he had to hurry back. Now where have you been?" Octavia demanded.

"Looking for father, if you would have talked to Roland he would have told you this," Quentin feeling a bit angry at his mother but unsure why.

"What?" Octavia said a bit dizzily.

It was obviouse that she had no clue he had even been gone from town or why.

"A trader knew father was with the Indians, he was hurt, he didn't remember what happened, he remembered you, but thought it was fifteen years ago. Before you had me and came here," Quentin said.

"Your father is alive?" Octavia asked feeling as if the colour had gone from the world and it was spinning slightly.

"Yes! He is in the barn but mother . . . " Quentin could say no more, she was running to the barn.

Quentin went in to talk to Maylissa, she was the one that would understand and explain things to his mother. He also had to tell her about Wenday and why he had to leave and she would have to be the oldest. He loved his little sister so.

In the barn they immediately fell into each others arms. "Oh Octavia, I thought I would never see you again," he said and kissed her, she held him and cried.

They were still talking when Quentin mounted Posey, took Khee's lead and rode out of the yard for maybe the last time for a while, he had to see Roscoe and Roland, then he was going back to marry Wenday.

Maylissa watched him go, and cried, now she had to be the oldest, the strong one, Quentin was depending on her. He had explained about their father's injury. She wished for the millionth time she was a boy.

Roland had just came back from a town meeting.

"Quentin, Seth is looking for you," Roland said, looking at Roscoe and Quentin.

"I don't have time to go talk to him, Roscoe can explain more, but my dad is back and I came to say goodbye for a while, I am going to live up north," Quentin said.

"But that is Indian territory." Roscoe said wide eyed.

"That is where my dad was, I met this girl we are going to get married, and adopt a child, it is a long story, I have to go, I will try to slip into Arcadia from time to time to send you letters, and come for a visit. But Roland it is how people should live there." Quentin said.

The two young men watched Quentin leave. He and Roscoe had packed blankets, pillows, and pots and pans and other empliments onto Blossom and Khee.

"I just hope his mother isn't too angry when we have to order all new blankets for the Inn," Roland sighed.

"She won't his dad is back," Roscoe said and sighed, he was glad Quentin had found him a woman but why couldn't she come here.

"Quentin found Jamie?" Roland said.

"Yes, out there with those Indians," Roscoe sighed, he was grateful to Roland, or he wouldn't have a man to talk to, Terrance was always too busy.

"You really think he won't be back?" Roland asked.

"No he took his dog, and his other horse too," Roscoe sighed.

Seth entered the bar, just as Roland went to help Lewis.

"Wasn't that Quentin?" Lewis asked.

"Yes," Roland sighed.

Seth turned around and hurried back out the door.

"Wonder what is wrong with Seth?" Roland asked. Lewis shrugged he had been so upset about not finding Whitneys killer.