"I know, Honey," Fenton replied. "I’m worried too; I have no intention of just leaving Joe and Vanessa out in those woods any longer than we have to."

Frank returned to his parents side to hear them discussing what they were going to do.

"Dad, I’m going to look for Joe and Vanessa. I can’t stand here any longer and do nothing! Chet has already agreed to come with me," Frank told his father, expecting a fight.

"Okay, Frank," Fenton replied. "But if we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it right."

"We?" Frank questioned.

"Yes, we," Fenton replied. "There’s no way I’m letting you and Chet go after them alone. I think the guys that attacked Joe and Vanessa are probably long gone by now. I’m sure they split when the authorities arrived, but we can’t take any chances. I’m the only one legally allowed to carry a firearm, although I don’t think it will come to that."

"What’s the plan, Dad?" Frank said with a gleam in his eyes. Just the simple fact that he would be doing something to try to find Joe and Vanessa, even if it was a long shot made Frank feel better.

"What kind of equipment did you and Joe bring?" Fenton questioned.

Frank thought about his father’s question for a moment. "We really didn’t bring too much this time. We only planned on a hike and a picnic."

Fenton knew better…Frank and Joe were notorious for over doing it when it came to their outings. He was relatively sure that Frank’s ‘not too much’ would go a long way in aiding them with their search and hopefully rescue of Joe and Vanessa.

"Let’s see," Frank said as he went over a mental check list. "Joe had his backpack with him. I think it had a small first aid kit, a couple of bottles of water and maybe a sleeping bag. I put most of the heavier stuff in mine and Chet’s packs. Joe wasn’t exactly a hundred percent today…"

"I know, Frank," Fenton said shaking his head. "Con told your mother and I about that too. How bad was he hurt?"

"He took a pretty hard blow to the head. I’m not sure how long he had been out when I found him, but it was at least another ten minutes before he came around. And, of course, he refused to go to the hospital to be checked out," Frank said, exchanging a knowing glance with his father and best friend. "He tried to hide it, but I’m sure he was suffering form a few lasting effects from it today."

"That’s just one more reason we need to find them," Fenton said worriedly as he searched through Frank’s backpack.

All conversation died, as the three men set about gathering anything and everything they thought they might need. Frank added the larger first aid kit from the van to his pack, while handing the smaller one over to Chet.

Fenton borrowed Callie’s backpack. He removed all the items in it, and put in several more that would be of more use. There were two thermal blankets under the back seat of the boys van, which he folded and stuffed in the already bulging backpack. He was just about to zip it up when Frank presented him with a flare gun. Fenton grinned at Frank, as he added it to his load. He never ceased to be amazed at what his boys could pull out of that van.

"Well," Frank said. "I think that’s it."

"Not quite," Fenton replied with a gleam in his eyes. "There are just a few more things I would like to add to our list."

Frank was puzzled. "What?"

"Three walkie-talkies and their cooperation," Fenton replied looking straight at Ranger Clark.

"We don’t need their cooperation, Dad," Frank said exasperated; they were wasting time. "I don’t care what they say, I’m going after them!"

"No Frank, we don’t need their permission; but their cooperation could prove very useful," Fenton said as he patted Frank and Chet on the back.

"You’re right, Dad," Frank said sheepishly. "I’m sorry."

Within minutes, Fenton had spoken with Ranger Clark who had tried to dissuade them from striking out on their own to look for the young couple, but agreed to help them in any way that he could.

*****

The Hardy men and Chet were now armed with three walkie-talkies and three very powerful flashlights. At least if they were able to find Joe and Vanessa they would be in contact with help right away. Frank suggested that they should head for the stream where he last saw Joe and Vanessa heading off to be alone. So, three very determined men struck out into the night, each secretly wondering if they truly stood a chance of finding them. Although the fog was patchy, it hampered their search greatly.

The trek to the mountain stream would have normally only taken about an hour, but it was almost two hours later when the group reached their destination. Time was ticking away; it was almost midnight. Daylight Savings Time had begun the previous night, and it had been dark out for hours now.

"This is the place, Dad," Frank said shrugging off his back pack for a moments rest. Fenton and Chet soon followed suit.

"How did you guys get separated?" Fenton questioned the young men before him.

"Joe wanted to talk to Vanessa alone for a while," Chet answered. "He promised that they would only head up stream a little ways. We were getting ready to meet back up with them when we heard the shots."

Frank was lost in thought, worry evident on his face. Fenton noticed Frank wringing his hands together, and for a brief moment thought that Frank was cold before he realized that his son was struggling with his emotions.

Joe had a natural knack for finding trouble, and his family often teased him about it mercilessly. Joe usually took it good-naturedly, saying it was just part of his charm. But that night when Con Riley showed up on his door step, Fenton knew this time, that Joe had stumbled across more than a little ‘trouble’. Looking once again at his oldest son, Fenton decided Frank had come to that same conclusion.