Kodi.  “Copper!” he called out in greeting.  “How’s it going?”

“I’ve been better,” said Copper.  “Listen, have you seen dad?”

“Yeah, he’s at the vet.”

“The vet?” asked Toby, instantly alarmed.  “What’s he doing there?”

“He fell off the boat early this morning,” said Kodi.  “Nothing serious, just a slight hairline fracture.  The vet said he’ll have to stay off it for a few weeks, but that’s all.”

“Talk about a lucky break, “ said Luna.

Kodi tilted his head in confusion.  “What do you mean?”  So they gave him a brief account of what had happened.  “You mean Steele’s back again?”  He shook his head.  “He’s got more lives than a cat.”

“Not only is he back,” added Toby, “But the tracks say he paid a visit to Balto’s boat today.”

Taya nodded.  “If Balto hadn’t broken his leg…”

“Okay, enough talk,” frowned Copper.  “Let’s go see dad.”

Balto was lying in the hospital waiting room with his leg in a cast.  Jenna and Rosie were there, talking to him.  He was looking a little bit smothered, but he smiled when he saw them coming in.  “Well, Copper,” he said in greeting.  “Now just about everybody has officially paid me a visit.”

“Hi, dad,” said Copper.  “Good to see you’re okay.”

“Ah, it was just a fall,” said Balto, shifting his leg.  “I don’t know why they-ooh!” he winced as Jenna put a paw on his cast to keep him from moving it.

“Balto,” scolded Rosie, “You know you’re not supposed to move your leg until it’s all better.”

“Rosie, Jenna!” called Rosie’s mom from outside.  “It’s time to go home!”

“Gotta go, Balto!” said Rosie as she got up and left.  Jenna planted a quick kiss on Balto’s cheek and followed.

“Shouldn’t you be in the recovery room?” asked Luna.

Balto laughed.  “Yeah, but the doctor said an outdoor dog like me shouldn’t spent too much time in a cage.  Anyway, it makes it a lot easier for people to visit.”

“How’d you break your leg just jumping off your boat?” asked Toby.

Balto shrugged.  “Ah, the doctor said I’m getting old and not getting the right kind of nutrition.”

“You?  Old?” asked Luna.  It was hard to tell if she was laughing at the idea, or just laughing at Balto.

Balto laughed.  “It happens.  They’ve been saying I should be given a home.”  He chuckled.  “In a related note, I have an invitation to move into Jenna’s.”

“So…” asked Luna, getting a sly look, “You planning on going?”

He smiled.  “Not necessarily, but I guess this is as good an excuse as any.”

Copper cleared his throat.  “Um, dad?” he said, “There’s a little problem.”

 “Like what?”

“Steele’s back in town, and he’s planning to get his revenge.”

Balto’s ears shot up in alarm.  “What?  Are you sure?”

Taya nodded.  “He chased me out of town this morning.”

“You?  But why?  You’re…” Balto trailed off as Taya frantically held up a paw and gestured at the other patients.  “Oh, right,” he said, realizing what he had almost done.  “But why would he chase you away?”  Taya gestured at Copper and Luna, and Balto seemed to get the idea.

“He visited your boat this morning, but since you broke your leg he didn’t find you,” said Toby.

Balto’s eyes widened.  “Whoa,” he murmured, “Talk about a blessing in disguise.”

“So what do we do now?” asked Luna.  “If Steele finds out you’re here, nothing’ll stop him from coming to get you.”

“I don’t know,” said Balto.  “I’d help, but I guess this puts me out of the fight,” he added with a contemptuous glance at his cast.

“I know how you feel, grandpa,” said Luna.  “I had a cast once too.”

Toby’s ears sank, but then what Luna said gave him an idea.  “I know what we can do!” he burst out.  “We’ll lure him to the harbor yard, get some crates to fall on him, and bingo!”

Balto considered.  “That might just work,” he said with a nod.  “How’d you come up with an idea like that?”

Toby fidgeted.  “Well, it was what Luna said.  I remembered the time that she broke her legs, and that gave me the idea.”

“Okay,” said Taya, “So how do we lure…” she almost said “dad” but stopped herself, “…Steele into the trap?”

“That’s easy,” said Toby.  “I’ll track him down and tell him to look for Balto there!”

‘And it won’t be a lie, because we’ll be there,’ thought Taya.  But she shook her head.  “Won’t he recognize you from last time?”

“Not if I roll in soot or something to disguise myself,” Toby answered.

Copper nodded.  “It’s too late to do it now,” he said.  “But we’ll do it tomorrow.”

The plan was agreed upon, but fell out of place as soon as they stepped out the door.  “Toby!” yelled Terry, coming up the street.  She ran up and sniffed him to make sure he was alright.  “Where have you been?  Your father and I have been looking everywhere for you!”

“I told you, mom,” said Toby, “I was helping find Luna’s mom.  See?” he pointed to Taya.

“Uh-huh.  And when did you forget to mention that you’d be leaving town?”

Toby hung his head.  “Sorry.  I know I shoulda’ told you, but this was really important.  See, Steele was really mad at Taya, so he chased her out of Nome, and then he and his creeps tried to kill her.  And then this maniac at the fighting ring caught her, and Copper needed my nose to…”

“Hold it, hold it,” said Terry.  “First of all, why would Steele be mad at Taya?”

Toby looked at the others, then hung his head.  “I can’t tell you,” he said.

“Toby…”

“Honest, Mom.  I’d tell you if I could.  Really.”

“You can’t, but I can,” said Taya.  She hated to admit her secret, but Toby had saved all their lives.  Helping him out was the least she could do.  Lowering her voice to a whisper, she said, “Steele’s my dad.  He called me a traitor because of Copper, so he wants to get rid of me.”

Terry’s eyes widened.  “You’re Steele’s daughter?” she asked.

Taya nodded.  “I am.”

“But she’s nothing like him,” said Toby.  “She saved us when Carson caught us.”

Terry nodded.  “Don’t worry,” she said to Taya.  “I won’t tell anyone.  I don’t judge someone based on who their parents are.”  With a pointed look at Toby she added, “I do, however, judge people for what they’ve done.  And you, mister, are grounded for a week.”

“What?” asked Toby.  “But they need me to help them catch Steele!  I’m supposed to…”

“Grounded is grounded.  Your father is out there looking for you right now, and it’s getting dark!”

“I’ll go find him,” volunteered Copper.  “Let him know Toby’s alright.”

Terry shook her head.  “No, it sounds like you all have been through enough today.  I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

As if in answer, snow began to fall.  Copper looked up at it, then at Terry.  “Your son helped me save Taya.  It’s the least I can do.”

Taya lifted an eyebrow.  “As I recall, I saved you guys.”

Copper shrugged.  “Okay, so he helped me find you.  It’s still the least I can do.”

“But you’ll never be able to track him through the snow,” insisted Terry.  “You could freeze out there.”

“He’s in more trouble than I am,” said Copper.  “And my dad tracked down a dogsled team in a blizzard.  I’m sure I can handle one dog.  The rest of you go home.”  And so saying, he headed out into the snow.

Taya looked Terry in the eye.  “I didn’t realize Toby had misled you, but I think it would be best if he were allowed to help us.”

They talked for a long time, and eventually someone suggested that Toby could help with the plan on the condition that he not leave Terry’s sight for the next three weeks and that for the same period of time he would leave any dangerous spot the first time he was told to.  Terry seemed to like the idea, but her experience told her to check the details.  “What exactly do you want him for?” she asked.

“We need him to flush out Steele.”

Terry’s ears slicked