Bryn heard the shot and it woke her from a sound sleep. People were running around near the livery and she saw something that made her heart almost stop. Josiah was carrying Molly towards Nathan's clinic. Heedless of her own illness and her state of undress, Bryn threw on a robe and bolted for the clinic.

She was relieved to find Molly sitting up and talking to Nathan when she go thtere. Lily was there as well, and the injured Buck Wilmington was looking on from his bed. Bryn was glad to see he was looking better, but for now her attention was on Molly.

"Are ya alrigh' child?" Bryn kneeled down next to the obviously frightened girl.

"Don't worry, I just fainted from surprise." Molly looked slightly embarassed at the commotion she had caused.

"Is she well Nathan?" Bryn reached out and grtasped the girl's shaking hands in her own. Shock cooled flesh met her own fever warmed ones and both women knew the other wasn't at their best.

"Sorry for being a bother to you Bryn." Molly looked about to bolt.

"Ah, yer no bother t' me Molly." Bryn smiled kindly, the adrenaline of the fright wearing off. "As soon as yer able, we'll go back t' m' room an' you can stay with m' all night if you wish."

Molly just nodded and looked at Nathan, waiting for his verdict.

"Well, just keep quiet for the night and take it easy for a few days and you'll be fine." Nathan looked over at Chris and shook his head, Molly hadn't seen who had fired the shot.

"Bryn, you feelin' alright darlin?" Buck's weak voice came from the bed.

"Not t' worry Mr. Wilmington. I'm perfectly fine." Bryn was annoyed, she hated her illness getting in her way.

"You got a fever, I can tell." Nathan looked at her more closely. "Take these herbs and put them in your tea, it will help by morning."

"Thank ya kindly Nathan." Bryn gathered Molly to her and led the girl back to her room above the saloon through the back door, shaking her head amusedly at Ezra's insistance at 'escorting' the ladies home.

A figure watched with jealousy at the well dressed gambler taking liberties with his Songbird. No sooner had he rid her of the loathsome mustached cowboy, than she aquired another suitor. Well he would send this one to his death as well.

A week after the incident, Bryn found another rose by her endtable in her room. How were they getting in here? She knew she locked the door every time she went out. Suddenly this no longer felt like an innocent admiration, but something much more sinister.

So far she had managed to keep the notes hidden from Molly who had been staying with her. Her father would be home soon and she didn't want the girl more worried than she had been.

Her cold had finally left her and Bryn was feeling good again. She had just spent the last hour in Nathan's room, keeping the very bored Buck Wilmington company. He was finally begining to recover some of his lost strength from his wound.

It had been a bad wound, deep and the bullet had to be dug out of his ribcage. Nathan had almost lost him twice since then, but fortunately the large man had recovered. Chris Larabee had been very concerned, but not NEAR as concerned as the young JD Dunne had been.

Bryn remembered JD telling her Buck had stayed for almost three days straight in this room with him when he had been shot, and JD felt it was his duty to return the favor. Bryn smiled, at least she had gotten JD to leave for an hour under the guise of helping Molly with her errands.

Bryn smiled at that thought. She had inherited the usual Irish motherly matchmaking habit and thought they would make a wonderful couple. But not one to push things, Bryn limited her meddling to just this one thing. Both Molly and JD needed company and Bryn wanted to get them both outdoors and into the sun.

Bryn walked down the stairs just as Lily was coming up them, dressed for riding.

"Going somewhere?" Bryn smiled, looks like everyone was taking a day in the sun.

"I'm just going for a quick ride, cher." Lily smiled, eyes sparkling gleefully. "One does not waste a day such as this one!"

"Aye, I know what you're talkin' about." Bryn smiled back, fully intending to take her harp out back behing the livery where it was quiet and playing it just for fun.

"I'll be back later this afternoon, if you need anything Terrance will be in charge." Lily smiled at Bryn's almost groan. She knew Terrance and Bryn didn't get along too well, but Bryn was far too polite to tell the man off.

Bryn nodded and headed out the door. As she got to the livery, she noticed Ezra also saddled up and leading his horse out of the barn.

"An' where are ya goin' on such a fine afternoon?" Bryn joined him at the livery door.

"Apparently Mr. Larabee has left town to his cabin and someone needed to fill his slot in the schedule. Ever since that dastardly incident in the barn and Mr. Wilmington's shooting, we have been riding patrol continuously until dark."

"Well, I surely sleep better knowing you men are around." Bryn said sincerely, grateful for their presence when things got out of hand at the saloon. So far no one had gotten close enough to her to lay a hand on her. Oddly it was usually Mr. Wilmington and Ezra who watched over her. The others taking a more passive role.

"I must take my leave of you, my dear." Ezra mounted his horse. "See you tonight?"

"Aye, I'll b' singin' again this evenin'." Bryn nodded and turned towards the back of the livery to the quiet spot she had found near the corral.

Bryn set the small lapharp down and found the chair she had brought out here. She loved spending time out here, just playing quietly and composing melodies. The serenity was a good balm for her nerves.

She tuned the harp unconsciously, feelling the strings for worn places and imperfections, and finding none, began to play a soft song. She had played about an hour when she looked up at a sudden noise.

Vin Tanner was standing there, leaning against the barn, listeneing to her.

"Didn't mean to startle you ma'am." He blushed.

"No bother at all." Bryn said setting the harp down. "Did you like th' music?"

"Reckon it's one of the prettiest hings I've ever heard." The former bounty-hunter said.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it." Bryn almost laughed at his embarassment. "Music is t' be shared, not kept hidden, I'm glad you were here. I just find this the most tranquil place in town, an' i like the view."

"It's real nice out here." Vin agreed "I come out here all the time, look out over the land, watch the horses."

"Amen." Came the soft rumble of Josiah's voice from behind Vin.

"You listening as well Josiah?" Bryn said, grinning.

"I only caught the last few minutes, but it sounded heavenly to me!" Josiah came forward and stood next to Vin. "Nathan just finished his run, Ezra's out now. Nate said he needed to talk to talk to us all, he saw something."

"Ma'am." Vin politely tipped his hat to the beautiful widow, he had really enjoyed himslef, listening to her play. "Maybe I can listen to you again sometime."

"Anytime Mr. Tanner. I would enjoy the company." Bryn smiled, at least his arm was heeling faster then Buck's chest.

Josiah also nodded his goodbyes and the two men left to round up the others, probably in Nathan's clinic with Buck. Bryn returned to her playing, not noticing she had a third, hidden, watcher. One with vengeance on his mind.

He had just come back into town from making sure the pesky gambler man would never get near his songbird again. Now it looked like he had three more people to eliminate, the proprietress of the saloon, who was getting too close to her, and the two men he had just seen talking to her. It was going to be a busy week. Once they were taken care of, maybe he would make himself known to his future bride.

Ezra groaned as he lifted his head above the water again. He had been only a few minutes into his outward spiral in his patrol and had been crossing the river when a sudden gunshot sounded, followed shortly by his horse rearing and throwing him onto the said river. As he landed, the water somewhat cushioning his fall, his leg became entangled in a mass of deadwood, pinning him in place, leg possibly broken.

Now this is a fine mess you've gotten yourself into, Ezra thought as he shivered at the chill of the water. Everytime he tried to rise, the leg twisted painfully every time he tried to rise, almost making him pass out. Finally he just lay there panting from the exertion. He was stuck. He would have to wait for help... assuming help ever came.