THE WALKER RANCH

"I didnt see John this morning. If he went along, then he went without a pole. I didn't loan him one," Robert said, "I only saw Andrew. And, yes. I am already watching the storm. As I told you last night, they're safe here. Nothing happens on this farm that I don't know about, really. "

"She's gone, Robert," Katherine said, coming in.

"That's what I thought I felt," Robert said. "Couldn't have been long ago, then."

"No. The sofa was still warm."

Robert sighed. That meant she'd fallen asleep one more time talking to Remus. A very old pattern, but usually it meant she was hurting somehow. "Let's have breakfast, Kate. "

Steven looked concerned at Rbert when he said John had not taken a pole "erm Robert can you tell if johns close by?" he asked him " hes ushually not so wreckless" he said finishing his tea , but no sooner he finshed John ran in "oops sorry , morning dad " he said setling at the table "I wanted to go fishing with Andrew but he left so quick i missed him" he said pouting at both Robert and Steven "well maybe next time" he looked at Robert "keep an eye on Andrew please" he said softly to him finshing his tea.

"Of course," Robert said simply, "Well, John, he's not going to get as good a breakfast as you will. Have a seat. Andrew isn't used to having a family. He has a lot to learn and adjust to. That means sometimes he might need just a little bit of time by himself to think. I don't think he's going to be gone long. Its going to rain. That will put a stop to his fishing. They won't bite well in the rain. "

Katherine set a plate of raspberry scones on the table and a large bowl of fruit salad. She went back, got the quiche out of the oven and cut it and served slices on plates and sent the plates over magically to everyone. She sent a glass of juice over to John. "Help yourselves to the scones and the fruit," she said.

John smiled seeing the scones on the table then the orange juice " guess not " he said looking to Steven for permishion to take one "go on" he said and john took one and Steven too a peice of quiche eating it he smiled " this is good" he said finishing his tea to wash it down with . He looked out the window "do you actually think he'll come back just because its raining?" he asked "you said your self he's not use to a family yet" he looked to Kathrine to ask if he could have a refll of tea.

"Of course. He's not used to a family, but I do think he'll come out of the rain," Robert smiled. "Besides, he went out at daybreak. he won't need to be gone much longer. Unlike your house, there's no tree house here for him to go off to. he'll have to come back sooner or later. " He watched Katherine refill John's tea. "Would you and your dad feel better if I went out and checked on him?" he asked John.

John looked at Robert then at Steven then back and nodded "thanks Robert " he said smiling to Kathrine as she filled his cup once more "he may not be my son in flesh but I feel as if he was " steven said ruffaling Johns hair "he to me is my brother I don't want anything to hurt him." John said "I know he is alittle out going for me but even still I don't want him hurt."

"Okay. You two stay here. I'll go. I can feel that storm moving a lot faster now. You'll be better indoors. John, if you take your dad upstairs, clear up to the attic, I think you'll find something to do up there. Its a great place for a rainy day." Robert got up and took a rain jacket for himself and draped a spare one over his arm. "Just in case," he said.

OOC: upstairs is a full scale rec room. I'll try to email you a pic.

steven moved with john up stairs looking wide eyed at the room they walked into "ok you want a game first" he said eyeing the pool table "yeah and i'm going to beat you " he said dragghing a chair over to the table and picking up the cue. Steve set up the tabel and john broke . steven was impressed he knew how. Steven could not help worry about Robert and Andrew out in the storm.

Robert knew right where Andrew was. He was always aware of presences on the farm. He apparated right to him, as the wind began to kick up. Andrew was perched on a large, flat rock, overlooking the creek that was running fiercely because of the upcoming storm.

"I heard you coming," Andrew said, not looking back at Robert.

"I meant for you to," he said to the boy. "I didn't want to startle you."

"I'm never scared," Andrew glared at him coldly.

"I bet you aren't. I believe you," Robert said. "Catching anything?"

Andrew held up his stringer where he had at least 8 nice sized fish on it.

"Well! I'm impressed. Either they're biting, or you're a good fisherman," Robert said.

"They're not biting the best," Andrew said. "I went over and got Frog. He showed me where there was a school of them hiding."

"That's a pretty good frog. How's the arm?"

"Good."

"Good. I'm glad. How was your breakfast?"

"FIne. Why are you here? Am I in trouble?"

"No. Not yet. But if you get caught out in the big storm that's coming, you could end up in more trouble than you can get out of."

"I can get out of anything," Andrew glared again.

"What happened, Andrew? Something remind you of your father?"

"Got an owl from the ministry. Everything my father owned is mine. I don't think I want it. The money is helpful, but I can fend for myself. I could do without it. It's more than I will ever use."

"I think you might be right. When you get older, you'll know what to do with it. " As he spoke the thunder and lightning started. The lightning struck a limb on a tree above Andrew and swept him down into the raging current of the creek. Robert used his wand and elevated him out of the creek and landed him on dry land, just as a torential rain began, with winds that were so fierce that they nearly lifted the boy away. Robert grabbed a firm hold on Andrew and ordered the boy to hang onto him. He put on his own raincoat and enlarged it magically to wrap Andrew in it. He apparated back to his study with Andrew hanging onto him.

Robert used magic to dry Andrew, his hair and his clothing. He made Andrew behave long enough to check him for any injuries. "I think you were very lucky, Andrew. You seem to be fine." He replaced the boy's sling on his arm. "Steven and John are upstairs in the attic weathering out the storm. You're welcome to join them. I'll show you the way." He led Andrew to the stairs and directed him up to the attic.

steven was relived that andrew wsa fine he looked at Robert as John broke another round of pool " storms looking pretty bad Robert guess were here for awhile, but i should go back to my ranch and secure it the poor pigmy puffs will be terrified" he said walking down teh stairs nd to the main door .

Aperatng to his frm he locked up and shut all the sutters , the lightning strecking across the sky as he did, moving to the barn he found the pigmy puf huddled in a corner picking it up he placed it into his pokets the barn was themn locked and he returned to Roberts farm just as a boom brock over head the pigmy puff huddled down in his pocketas he pushed open the door to the kitchen closing it once moe as he stood dripping in the kitchenshivering and cold he could not help sneeze as he felt a drip of cold water run down his back .