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been close; Zana always called her "Auntie Mag. What-a-ya-say there Zeke?" As Zeke turned back around, George could see the uncertainty all over his young face, but George also saw his strength, and a maturity beyond his tender years. Without a word, and as a person "in charge", Zeke went to his mother, gently took her hands, unfolding and moving them slowly away from her small frame; he never said a word to her, but led her safely to George's truck, and helped her get in. George was right behind Zeke with the baby, and after Zeke climbed in beside his mother, George handed him Zalena.

George tried to keep the conversation between himself and Zeke as light as possible by focusing on what Maggie probably had cooking, what Zana was like when she was Zeke's age, and what George's grandchildren were like now. Eventually though, George ran out of positive energy, and his thoughts consumed him. What would happen when Jeb found out that his daughter, and not one, but two grandchildren were here in Sheridan? George dreaded that less, however, than he did telling Jeb that the three new arrivals in Sheridan would be his and Maggie's house guests, indefinitely. George had always been Jeb's right arm in business, but George didn't care. Zana and the children were not some business deal, and although George had not seen nor heard from Zana in years, Zana was still family to him, and always would be. George was certain that Maggie would feel the same way. George wanted so badly to ask Zeke a thousand questions, one of which was how the hell had they gotten from California to Sagebrook with Zana in the shape she was in? And who had killed Charles; beaten Zana and Zeke; and why? Zeke had to have been in charge. Zana was in a trance or shock, and had been for who knows how long. Of course, there were older questions; they couldn't be answered by Zeke. Why hadn't Zana been in Sheridan for her mother's funeral? Why had she not kept in touch? Except for Zeke's birth announcement, there had not been any communication from Zana. The questions would have to wait; so would the answers.

Jeb had never even tried to contact his daughter and his grandson. It was always believed by George and others that it was Zana's relationship with Charles and her pregnancy with Zeke that had separated father and daughter so very long ago. Jeb's continued rage over it, however, was never understood by any; likewise, Jeb's personality change was disturbingly strange. George and Jeb had been friends for

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