Chapter Three

Suddenly, a pair of bright blue eyes were glaring at him, and Trixie quickly sat bolt upright.

“Dan!” she exclaimed. “What are you doing?”

“I was attempting to put a pillow under your head,” he said wryly.

“Oh.” She looked chagrined. “I guess I fell asleep, didn’t I?”

“It’s rather late,” Dan told her. “I expected you to be asleep. Now that you’re awake, you can take the bed, if you’d like.”

“Take the bed?” she asked. “What on earth are you talking about?”

“Well, I really don’t want to send you home this late - I’m afraid you’d fall asleep before you got there. And the streets of New York are at their worst this time of night. So, you’re spending the night.”

Trixie stared at him, flabbergasted. “I am, am I?” she demanded.

Dan smiled winningly at her. “C’mon, Trix. It’s the most sensible solution. Really.”

Almost unwillingly, she smiled back. “I guess you’re right. But I won’t turn you out of your bed. This sofa is perfectly comfortable.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely,” she assured him. “However, I would like to borrow a T-shirt or something to sleep in.”

“No problem.”

Dan went back to his room, and retrieved one of his clean T-shirts and brought it out to hand to Trixie. While she went into the bathroom to ready herself for sleep, he quickly settled the blanket and pillow on the sofa for her. Then he went to Ryan’s room.

Ryan’s door wasn’t latched and Dan pushed it in gently. The light from his room shone across the hallway, allowing him to make out the boy’s sleeping form, curled in his top bunk. His cheeks were pink in sleep and his mouth was open, emitting a tiny snore. Dan smiled at him, the love he had developed for this orphan boy swelling his heart once again.

The next morning, Trixie yawned herself awake to the smell of coffee. A very loud whisper came from the kitchen.

“Do you want me to go wake her up?”

Trixie immediately recognized Dan’s low chuckle. “No, Ryan, you don’t need to wake her,” he said in a very low voice that Trixie had to strain to hear. “I’m sure she’ll wake up on her own soon.”

“Why’s she sleeping there anyway?” came another very loud whisper.

Again Trixie strained to hear the answer. “Because I got home rather late last night, and I didn’t want her to risk getting home by herself.”

“Do you like her?” Ryan was forgetting to whisper.

“I like her a lot,” Dan replied, his voice still very low. “She’s one of my best friends.”

“Oh,” Ryan sounded crestfallen. “Just a friend?”

Dan made an extra effort to refrain from laughing. “Yes, Ryan, just a friend. But a very good friend. One that I would trust with my life - or yours.”

By this time, Trixie had heard enough, and was having a difficult time controlling her own giggles. She sat up in her blankets and turned around to see over the back of the sofa. Ryan and Dan were both sitting on stools at the snack bar.

“You two are loud enough to wake the dead!” Trixie told them, her laughter making her voice ripple.

Dan merely smiled at her. “Good morning, sunshine!” he said. Then his lifted a cup toward her. “Coffee?”

“Sounds heavenly,” she sighed. Sitting back down on the sofa, she grabbed her jeans and slid them on under Dan’s T-shirt. Then she padded barefoot to sit in the remaining stool in front of the snack bar. Dan slid the cup of coffee in front of her.

“Mmm, thanks,” she said.

Dan took another swallow of his coffee, then jumped off his stool. “So, what does everyone want for breakfast?”

“Breakfast?” Trixie said. “I normally just have toast or a bagel or something.”

“You should have some pancakes,” Ryan said excitedly. “My .... Dan makes great pancakes!” Ryan’s ears turned red at the tips at his near slip.

Trixie ignored his verbal stumble. “Pancakes, huh?” She eyed Dan speculatively. “Just how may dishes did Mr. Maypenny teach you to cook?”

“Lots of stuff,” Dan said easily.

Trixie grinned. “By all means, let’s have pancakes!” She glanced at her watch then, and grimaced. “Um, not to rush you or anything, but I do need to get to work. Do you mind if I clean up a bit while you cook?”

“Of course not,” Dan assured her. “Your pancakes will be ready by the time you’re done.”

Twenty minutes later, Trixie was dressed, her hair was freshly combed and mascara applied as she sat down to a plate of golden-brown pancakes. Liberally smearing them with butter and pouring syrup over them, she cut into them and took a bite.

“Mmm, these are good!” she said, savoring that first bite.

Ryan was demolishing his pancakes. “See, I told you!”

Trixie quickly finished her plate, and her cup of coffee. “I hate to eat and run,” she said, “but I’m going to be late.” She hesitated, then offered mischievously, “You know how much I’d love to help you with the dishes ...”

Dan laughed and waved her off. “Yeah, I know you and housework! Go, I can handle the dishes. Besides, I owe you for staying with Ryan last night.”

Dan walked to the door with Trixie, who paused before opening it. “So, how was your date, anyway?”

A wide grin split Dan’s face and lit his eyes. “Fantastic!” he breathed.

Trixie’s eyes widened. “Wow. She must really be something!”

“She is!” Dan pulled the door open and gave Trixie a hug. “Thanks again for your help, Trix.”

“You’re welcome - but just remember, I still want to meet her!” walking out of the apartment Trixie gave Ryan a jaunty wave.

“I like her,” Ryan announced as Dan walked back to the kitchen.

Dan ruffled Ryan’s hair as he walked past. “You do, huh? I’m glad.”

The two finished eating their breakfasts, and then Dan got up to wash the dishes. “I think it’s time you got dressed, young man,” he said.

“Okay!” Ryan said cheerfully as he ran to his room.

Later that morning - much later, after Dan had convinced Ryan that he only needed to pack a couple of extra changes of clothing - Dan had gotten his car out of the apartment building’s garage and they were headed out to Sleepyside.

“Who’s going to be there?” Ryan asked.

Dan gave Ryan a quick look, picking up on the nervous tone of his voice, before he answered. “Uncle Bill and Aunt Joan will be there, and the horses of course,” Dan told him. “Mr. Maypenny will be at his cabin. I’m sure others will be around for you to meet, I’ve told about almost everyone who lives close by.” He glanced at Ryan from the corner of his eye, wondering about the apprehension the boy was showing. “You don’t need to worry about these people, Ryan. They’re all like family to me, and I know they’ll love you too.” He smiled reassuringly. “Besides, you know I’ll be there with you the whole time.”

Ryan tried to smile back. “I know. I’m not worried, not really ...” Ryan stopped and swallowed convulsively. He plastered a smile back on his face. “What about the Bob-Whites?”

Dan made a mental note to make sure he didn’t leave Ryan alone over the weekend - no matter how much he loved and trusted these people, he had to remember that they were strangers to Ryan. Sighing inwardly, he smiled at the thought of his six closest friends. “I don’t know if any of the Bob-Whites will be around. I think they’re all pretty busy.”

Driving up Glen Road in Sleepyside-on-Hudson, Dan never failed to feel as if he’d come home again. It was a feeling he’d treasured ever since his Uncle Bill had convinced him he could have a home here. This time, Dan was anxious to help Ryan to feel that this could be a home as well. At the very least, Dan wanted Ryan to feel that the people here were family.

Dan reached the dirt road that lead into the game preserve and followed it back to Mr. Maypenny’s cabin. Looking at the snug cabin, nestled into the greenery, Dan felt a sense of pride. He had had many lessons to learn when he first came here to live, but he had learned them well. He hoped he had become a man of whom Mr. Maypenny could be proud.

Dan stopped in front of the cabin. “Hop out, buddy, this is it!” Dan said happily. He jumped out of the truck and grabbed the duffel bag with their clothes from the back.

Ryan followed much more slowly. He’d never seen a place like this in his whole life. The most trees he’d ever seen were in Central Park. Looking around he felt as if the forest went on forever, and like he could walk for miles and miles without ever seeing another living soul. All that aloneness and privacy felt strange - like for the first time in his life he could run and jump and shout all he wanted. But he also wondered just what might be hiding behind the tree trunks, waiting to pounce on him.

Dan stood by the front of the truck, waiting for Ryan to come around. When he did, Dan ruffled his hair, then put his hand on Ryan’s shoulder and gently pushed him onto the front porch.

“I want to warn you, buddy, Mr. Maypenny looks like a rather fierce old man,” Dan grinned at his first memories of him. “Don’t worry though, he’s really nothing but a marshmallow underneath.”

Ryan nodded, and slowly moved toward the door. Dan was just reaching to open it when it was flung open from inside.

Standing in the door, the midday sun bright on his face, was a grizzled old man. His white hair sprawled over his head in short curls. His white eyebrows were very bushy, and seemed to be drawn down in a scowl. His face was very wrinkled, and his mouth was set in a straight line. Then Ryan looked into his eyes. Blue eyes, which seemed to be dancing in merriment as he growled at Dan.

“Well, Daniel, it’s about time!” the old man said gruffly. “I wondered when you’d remember to come out and visit me again!”

Dan laughed at him, then threw his arms around the older man’s broad shoulders for a quick hug, which was heartily returned.

“You old fraud,” Dan laughed softly. “You knew I’d never forget you.”

Stepping back, Dan quickly drew Ryan forward. “Ryan, I want you to meet a very special old man. This is Mr. Maypenny. Mr. Maypenny, I want you to meet my new son, Ryan.”

Ryan hesitated, then held his hand out, speaking clearly, “It’s very nice to meet you.”

Mr. Maypenny took Ryan’s hand in a firm, but gentle, grasp. “It’s very nice to meet you, too, Ryan,” he said.

After lunch with Mr. Maypenny, Dan took Ryan on a walk through the preserve, heading for the Wheeler’s Manor House, and the stables where Bill Regan would be found. Ryan was fascinated by all the different trees and plants as they walked, but the closer to the stables they got, the more nervous he became. Ryan had seen horses from a distance in Central Park. He’d never gotten anywhere near them, because they seemed so very big he was sure they’d step on him and not even notice. Now he was about to enter the horses’ home, and he wasn’t sure he’d come out again.

Ryan stopped worrying about the horses as he got his first look at the Manor House, the Wheeler’s mansion. He stopped, gaping.

“That’s a house? For just one family?” he asked.

Dan chuckled. “Yup. That’s a house for just one family. Although, in addition to the family, they have a live in manager - Miss Trask - a cook and a maid.”

“Wow,” breathed Ryan. “They must be really, really rich!”

A low chuckle announced the presence of a tall, stocky teenager with curly blonde hair and bright blue eyes, walked out of the shadows at the door of the stable. “You know, that’s just what I asked the first time I met Honey Wheeler - she’s the daughter of the guy that owns the place.” He laughed again. “I think Trixie was completely mortified when I ran up to this girl shouting ‘Hey, are you rich?’”

Looking at the teenager, Ryan realized that he was talking about his Dad’s - Dan’s - friend, Trixie Belden. Ryan’s eyes narrowed as he realized that the teen looked just like Trixie. “Hey!” Ryan said, unconsciously echoing the teen, “Are you Bobby Belden?”

The teen laughed again, and reached out to ruffle Ryan’s hair. “Yup, that’s me! How’d ya guess?”

“Miss Trixie came and stayed with me last night,” Ryan explained, “and you look just like her.” Ryan glanced at Dan and added, “Besides, Da ... Dan told me about everybody in Sleepyside, and I guessed who you would be.”

Bobby quirked an eyebrow at Dan. “Well, that’s very smart of you. And I’m guessing that you must be Ryan.”

Ryan nodded vigorously. “Yup, that’s me!”

Dan’s laughter burst his control at Ryan’s second unintentional mimicry of Bobby.

Bobby guided Ryan into the stables, Dan following behind.

The interior of the stable was cool and shadowed. Dan reveled in the smells of fresh hay, clean leather and horses. A couple of horse’s stuck their heads over their stall doors, curious to see their visitors.

“Hey, Regan!” called Bobby. “I just found this pair of hoodlums outside ... what should I do with them?”

A big man stepped out into the walkway, his red hair gleaming in the sun. He stopped as he caught sight of Dan, putting his big, freckled hands on his hips.

“Well, Bobby, I’m not sure - I think this pair of miscreants might need to be roughed up some,” he growled. The smile that played around his mouth betrayed him though.

Dan laughed and walked up to the red-head, throwing his arms around the broad shoulders for a quick hug. “Just who’s gonna try to rough us up. Uncle Bill?” he asked with a grin, sizing him up. Regan was slightly taller than Dan, but Dan’s muscular chest and broad shoulders where a match for his uncle’s.

Regan returned the hug, then pulled back and playfully punched Dan’s arm. “I will!”

Dan immediately dropped into a fighting stance with his hands up to guard his face. “Oh, yeah, old man?” he grinned. “Let’s see you try!”

“You challengin’ me, boy?” Regan laughed. “Fine!”

Regan reached out to swipe Dan’s head, but Dan ducked and slapped his hand away. They continued to move back and forth, laughing and taunting each other. Before long, they were wrestling on the floor, while Ryan watched in amazement and Bobby cheered them on.

“What’s going on here?!”

Ryan jumped, startled by the woman’s voice. He looked up to see a pretty, brown haired, woman wearing a sundress and sandals, glaring at Dan and Regan.

Dan and Regan immediately separated, laughing, and helped each other up. Ryan sneaked another peek at the woman, and realized that she was close to laughing herself, she wasn’t really angry.

Winking at Ryan, the woman continued to berate Dan and Regan. “Is this any kind of display to put on in front of Dan’s new son? What on earth are the two of you thinking?”

Dan’s face fell in embarrassment. “I’m sorry, Aunt Joan,” he said. He turned to Ryan and stopped in startlement when he saw Ryan’s broad grin and barely contained laughter. Dan turned back to Aunt Joan, and saw her grinning too. By this time, Regan was standing next to Joan with his arm around her waist, and was also grinning.

Slowly, Dan grinned too. “Alright, alright, you got me.”

Turning back, Dan beckoned Ryan closer and put his arm around Ryan’s shoulders. “Ryan, this red-headed joker is my Uncle Bill. The pretty lady with him is Aunt Joan.” Turning to the couple, Dan continued, “Uncle Bill, Aunt Joan, this is my son, Ryan.”

Regan held out his hand, which Ryan took. “Nice to finally meet you, Ryan,” Regan said. “Welcome to the family!”

Joan took Ryan’s hand in turn. “Hi, Ryan,” she said. Then she leaned down to talk to Ryan in a conspiratorial fashion. “You and I will have to try to civilize these two barbarians.” Joan straightened up again with another wink at Ryan.

Dan objected. “But, Aunt Joan, you’ve already civilized me! Really! I’m not a barbarian--” he lowered his voice so that no one but Ryan could hear, “anymore.” He laughed then and gave Joan a hug. “It’s good to see you, Aunt Joan.”

Joan smiled at him fondly. “It’s good to see you, too, Danny. You boys are staying for dinner with us, aren’t you?”

“We wouldn’t miss it!” Dan assured her.

The rest of the afternoon, Dan watched and offered gentle reassurances as Regan introduced Ryan to the horses, and, with Bobby’s help, managed to coax him into the saddle for a short ride. Ryan, unaccustomed to horses, was a bit timid around what to him were giants. Bobby’s gentle teasing and Regan’s firm hands convinced him to try it. Once he was seated, tall enough to see the whole world, he thought, much of his fear left him.

By the time the horse had been groomed, and the leather cleaned, and Bobby had run down the long driveway to his home, Ryan was talking to Uncle Bill non-stop. Once they, along with Dan, had climbed the stairs to the apartment above the stable, Ryan ran into the kitchen, shouting, “Aunt Joan, Aunt Joan! I rode a horse!”

Joan gave him a big grin. “Good for you, Ryan!” She then turned to all the men, saying, “Dinner’s about ready, and Mr. Maypenny should be here in a few minutes. You three need to get cleaned up!”

Dan took Ryan’s hand to lead him into the bathroom. Regan paused for a moment to kiss his wife. “Mmmm,” he said pulling back slightly from her lips. “I always did like dessert first!”

Playfully slapping Regan’s arm, Joan grinned and told him, “Go get cleaned up!”

Soon, Dan and Ryan had returned to the kitchen. “Um, Aunt Joan?” Dan began. “Could I borrow your phone? Just for a quick call!”

Joan glanced over at them, in time to see Ryan roll his eyes. Quirking an eyebrow at Ryan, Joan smiled at Dan. “Of course you may. Why don’t you use the one in the extra bedroom?”

“Thanks, Aunt Joan!” Dan said, already heading out.

Watching Dan disappear, Joan mused out loud, “Now, I wonder who he could be in such a hurry to call?”

“It’s probably his new girlfriend, Vicki,” Ryan offered, grinning at the thought.

Joan gazed after Dan with a speculative look. “Really?”

In the bedroom, Dan dialed the phone. The line on the other end rang three times and Dan found himself holding his breath until a fumbling noise let him know that his call had been answered.

“Hello?” came the sultry, sexy voice of Vicki James.

“Hi, Vicki. It’s Dan.”

“Dan!” Vicki sounded very glad to speak to him. “I was just about to leave for my parent’s house. I’m glad you caught me.”

Dan grinned into the phone. “I am too ... I was hoping I’d be in time. I just had to talk to you.”

“Is everything alright?” she asked anxiously.

“Everything is great,” Dan hastened to reassure her. “Except that I find myself missing you.”

Vicki laughed lightly. “Daniel, you saw me just last night.”

Dan shrugged. “I know. But I want to see you again. And again. And ...”

“I get the picture!” Vicki laughed. “We already said we’d get together sometime next week.”

“Yeah, but I have a hard time waiting that long.”

“Dan ...”

“Yes?”

“I’m really glad you called, and I’m excited about seeing you again. But, right now, I really need to go.” Vicki paused, but Dan said nothing. “I’ve got to get on the road. It’s going to be late enough as it is by the time I get there.”

Dan sighed. “Okay. Listen, you drive carefully, you hear?”

Vicki laughed softly. “I hear. Call me Monday, okay?”

“Okay. I’ll talk to you then.”

The next morning, Ryan awoke slowly. He looked around the room that he had shared with Dan, and realized that Dan’s bed was already empty and the covers pulled back into place.

Ryan climbed out of his bed and quickly ran downstairs. As he came out into the main room of the cabin, he could hear voices. He followed the sound into the kitchen, and found Dan and Mr. Maypenny sitting at the table, a cup of coffee in front of each.

Dan looked up as Ryan entered. “Morning, buddy!” he said cheerfully.

Mr. Maypenny looked around. “Good morning, Ryan,” he rumbled. “Would you like a cup of hot chocolate?”

“Morning!” Ryan answered them. “I’d love hot chocolate, thank you.”

Smiling at the enthusiastic boy, Mr. Maypenny got up to heat some milk.

“What would you like for breakfast today,” Dan asked him.

Ryan sat down next to Dan, his brow furrowed in thought. “I don’t really know,” he finally answered, “but something that doesn’t take too long to fix - I’m hungry!”

Dan laughed and reached over to ruffle Ryan’s hair. “You got it, buddy!”

After a breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast, Dan and Ryan helped Mr. Maypenny clean the kitchen and do his morning chores. Just before lunch, they headed to the lake, where they were to meet others for a picnic.

“Dan?” Ryan asked tentatively as they walked.

“Yes?”

“Do you know how to swim?”

“Sure I do!” Dan said, looking down at Ryan in surprise. Suddenly, he stopped and turned to face the boy. “You can’t swim?”

Ryan shook his head, his eyes downcast in embarrassment.

Dan squatted down to look Ryan in the face.

“Hey, it’s okay,” he said gently. “Everyone had to learn sometime. I guess it just hadn’t occurred to me that you hadn’t had a chance to do that yet. Don’t worry - I’ll teach you.”

“You will?” Ryan asked hope returning to his voice, his eyes searching Dan’s face.

“Of course I will!” Dan assured him. “That’s what Dad’s are for, isn’t it?”

Dan and Ryan were met at the lake by Mr. and Mrs. Belden with Bobby; Tom and Celia Delanoy, with their 7-year-old son, TJ, and 4-year-old son Michael; both sets of Lynch twins - Larry and Terry, who, like Bobby, were about to turn 16, and Mary and Kerry, who were 14 - with Mr. and Mrs. Lynch; Regan and Joan; and Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler, with their 8-year-old son, Matt.*

Soon the charcoal was heating in the grill, plastic bowls of potato salad, coleslaw, and fruit salad had appeared on the table, along with bags of chips, hot dog and hamburger buns, ketchup, mustard, pickle relish, onion slices and everything else anyone could want to put on their hamburgers and hot dogs. Coolers full of sodas and juice for the kids and beers for the adults were set under the table. The lake was quickly filled with playing and laughing teens while the adults relaxed nearby. Ryan, TJ, Michael and Matt played together in the shallow water, splashing each other and enjoying the cooling water.

After lunch, a volleyball net was set up. Dan and Ryan formed the beginnings of a team, with Tom, Regan and the other two youngsters joining them. Bobby and both sets of Lynch twins formed up to play against them. The ball went back and forth, wildly flying everywhere. The rules of the game were not much heeded by anyone, but all were falling over themselves with laughter. By the end of the game there was no clear winner. Afterward, the kids all pitched in to clean up the mess before everyone headed home.

That night, Dan tucked a very tired Ryan into bed.

“Da ... Dan?’ Ryan said as Dan pulled the covers up to his chin. “I think I like your family and friends.”

Dan grinned at him. “I knew you would, buddy. They’re good people.”

**********************

Sunday was spent relaxing in the preserve after helping Mr. Maypenny with his morning chores. Dan and Ryan drove back to the city after a tasty lunch.

Word Count: 4431

As always, a heartfelt "THANK YOU!" goes out to my editors, Trish and Mal, for keeping me in line!

Did I forget to mention that in my universe, the Wheelers got pregnant and had a son named Matthew Wheeler Jr. (Matt) a couple of years after they adopted Jim? I am working on that story now ... it's just not ready yet.

| |

| Story Ratings | Jixemitri | Jixemitri Author's Page | Jixemitri Message Board | Trixie-Belden.com | Random House Trixie Belden Page | What day of the week was...?

Background and buttons courtesy of