Nathan met her near the bottom of the stairs with a warm smile. "Good morning Molly."

"Good morning Mr. Jackson. I wanted to come up and see Lily."

"Oh, well, she's up in her room now." Molly gave him a quizzical look. Nathan explained as they walked how Lily had insisted on being moved back to her own room during the night. "I didn't want to, but she was kind of stubborn about it. Who knows, maybe being back in her own room'll make her feel better."

Their footsteps echoed on the floor in the empty saloon. It struck Molly how odd it was not to see Lily behind the bar or seated at one of the tables. In her head she said a quick prayer that Lily would be stronger this morning. Bo Jun had heard them enter and met them at the top of the stairs.

"How's she doin'?" Bo Jun's eyes dropped at Nathan's question. Her mouth moved silently several times as she tried to form the words.

"It has not been good." The tone of the woman's voice scared Molly who rushed for the door. Her breath caught in a startled gasp as she saw the scene in front of her. Bed linens were scattered across the floor. Clothing had been been pulled from the armoire and lay in piles.

"Lily?" Molly's voice was barely a whisper as she approached the bed. The older woman lay curled on the far side barely covered by a thin blanket. Molly turned back to the pair in the doorway. "What happened?"

Bo Jun explained in her slow English how as soon as Nathan had left during the night Lily had become very aggitated. She had striped the bed of all its linens before Bo Jun could stop her and then she had begun ripping clothes down. Bo Jun had tried to stop her but any touch only made Lily more aggitated. She'd finally worn herself out and curled up on the bed.

"Lily?" Molly said the name again as she leaned down next to her friend. She pushed a clump of damp hair off of Lily's forehead. "She feels warm." Lily's eyelids fluttered and half opened. Molly tried to hold back the tears. Lily's usually bright shining eyes were dull and empty.

"Lily? How ya feelin' this mornin'?" Nathan leaned down feeling her forehead. "You're right, she does feel warm."

"We need to get her up. I want to put fresh sheets on the bed." This was no request from Molly. She was letting them know what was to be done. "Mr. Jackson, if you'll pick her up and put her over in the chair then Bo Jun can help me with the bed. And if someone will go fetch a basin of water I can try to cool her off a bit."

Nathan nodded and put his arms under Lily lifting her from the bed. After the way she had reacted to Bo Jun's touch just hours earlier he almost expected her to come undone in his arms, but she didn't move. Nathan hated to admit it, but it was like lifting a dead body. He tried to set her down into the chair as gently as possible. He hesitated for a moment before going for the water that Molly wanted.

Molly and Bo Jun worked quickly and silently putting clean sheets on the bed. Molly glanced over several times at Lily. Her body slumped in the chair, her eyes staring forward not focusing on anything.

"What else do you need Molly?" Nathan had reappeared quietly and filled the basin on the bureau.

"Um, nothing. If you will wait outside, Bo Jun can help me change her." Nathan nodded and closed the door behind him.

"Okay Lily, can you stand up?" Molly asked the question in a quiet patient voice. After a little coaxing Lily did stand and let the two women peel the sweat dampened nightgown from her body. Molly took a cloth and wiped Lily's body off with the cool clean water. She continued to talk to her in that same steady voice. She didn't know how much Lily was actually hearing but she hoped just the sound of her voice would be comforting. Once Lily was redressed and settled back in bed Molly looked for Nathan. She found him nursing a cup of coffee downstairs.

"Shouldn't you be gettin' over to the school?" He tried to give Molly a smile.

"I want to make her some tea and then I'll go." Molly's voice started to crack as she spoke. She turned quickly so that Nathan wouldn't see the tears that were starting to stream down her cheeks. Nathan followed her into the kitchen. Molly's hand shook as she pulled a cup down from a shelf.

"Molly." She refused to turn at his voice. She slowly stirred the tea in front of her. "Molly." She felt Nathan's strong hand come down gently on her shoulder. He gave her a reassuring squeeze. "She's gonna be alright."

Molly wanted to ask how he knew that but her voice wouldn't come. She turned to face him and could only nod. She picked up the cup of tea and headed back upstairs. Bo Jun passed her on the stairs and tried to give her a reassuring smile. Lily was exactly as she had left her, half sitting up against the pillows. Her head was rolled away to the side as if she was looking out the windows.

"Lily, here I brought you some tea." For the first time Molly thought she saw some movement from Lily. She sat down beside her and set the cup on the bedside table. "Lily, please talk to me."

"Le..." Lily's mouth barely moved as she tried to speak.

"What Lily?"

"Just. . . le. . leave me." Her voice was weak and tired.

"I want you to drink this tea." Molly decided to ignore Lily's words. She knew that Lily didn't mean what she said.

"No." Lily's eyes finally turned toward Molly. "I just want to sleep."

"Please Lily, please at least drink the tea." Lily's eyes closed again slowly and her head rolled back away from Molly. "I have to go to school now. I'll be back at dinner."

Molly wiped the tears from her face as she walked down the stairs. Nathan and Vin stood up from a table near the stairs. Vin touched the brim of his hat in greeting to her. She wanted to smile in return but couldn't make herself do it.

"I think she went back to sleep."

"Sleep'll be good for her. I'll be with her, don't you worry."

"Come on, I'll walk ya over to the school." Vin reached out a hand to her. Molly only nodded, she didn't have the energy to object. Part of her didn't want to object anyway, she liked the idea of spending a few minutes with Vin. Vin picked up her books for her and they headed out the door. "Why did he leave?" Vin didn't need Molly to tell him who she was talking about. "I don't know Molly." It had been Nathan's idea for him to walk Molly to the school. He had told Vin how shaken she was by Lily's condition. He was fighting the urge to put his arms around her and hold her till the pain went away. He wanted to say more but didn't know what he could say that would make her feel better.

They reached the school and stood together for a moment quietly watching the children playing tag. Vin finally handed Molly her books. Their hands met and without thinking Vin let his thumb rub against her hand several times before pulling away. "She's gonna be okay."

Molly found it difficult to concentrate during the morning. She relied on having the children reading aloud rather than trying to teach. Too many times she would start to speak and felt tears starting to overtake her. Just before she excused them for dinner she vowed to herself that she wouldn't cry in front of Lily. She had to be strong for her.

"How is the prettiest flower on the prairie?" Buck's voice echoed in the now empty church. Molly looked up and found Buck leaning in the doorway. His open smile warmed her heart.

"Afternoon Mr. Wilmington." Molly picked up her dinner pail and walked toward the doorway. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see how you were doing." He had seen both Nathan and Vin earlier and heard about what happened. She shrugged her shoulders and they both stepped out in to the bright midday sun. "I'm going over to saloon. I want to see Lily."

"You know she's gonna be okay."

"Everyone keeps telling me that. But what . . . what if. . ." Molly couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence.

"Aw now come on darling, you know how strong Lily is. Just give her a couple days." Molly desperately wanted to believe that everyone was right. Buck started to say more but stopped. His attention was suddenly drawn to a pair of men standing in front of the hotel. They both seemed to be watching Molly intently and he didn't like it. He made a mental note to keep a watch out for them.

The saloon which had been empty hours earlier was now half filled with men enjoying a midday drink. A game of poker was underway in the corner with Ezra holding court. Molly smiled at him as she passed him. Lily's door was open a crack as Molly pushed it open. Nathan sat in the chair in the corner. He had been talking but stopped as Molly and Buck entered.

"Well hey, Lily, look you've got company." Nathan stood and crossed to them. "She hasn't said a word all morning. The fever's getting worse." He kept his voice low. Buck nodded and sat down on the bed taking Lily's hand.

"Hey darlin'. Now when are we going to get you out of this bed and back downstairs? It just ain't the same not having you pouring my whiskey, just don't taste as sweet."

"It's my fault." Lily's voice surprised all of them.

"What darlin'?"

"He left because of me." Molly could see the beads of sweat on Lily's face. "It's my fault." Molly pulled the chair next to Lily and took hold of her other hand.

"What do you mean Lily? Nothing is your fault." Lily said more words but this time no one understood them. Molly looked between the two men. "I think that's French." For the first time Molly noticed the full cup of cold tea sitting on the table.

"He hates me now. I know he does. It's all my fault. He blames." Lily's words poured from her mouth. She was speaking to the room in general instead to any one of them in particular.

"Mr. Larabee?" Molly whispered the name. "Do you think he blames you?"

Another flood of words poured from Lily's mouth but once again they were unknown to the trio around the bed. Lily sat up a little straighter in the bed her eyes glancing quickly around the room. If she knew any of them in her fevered state it didn't show.

"Don't say that Lily. Chris cares for you." As Buck uttered his friend's name Lily's wild eyes swung toward him a single tear falling from her eye.

"Chris?" She said his name as a plea.

"That's right darlin'." Buck reached out to brush the tear from her cheek. At his touch Lily shrieked and pulled back as far as she could against the headboard. She ripped her hands from the gentle holds of Buck and Molly. She slapped wildly at Buck's outstretched hand her words between choked sobs begging to be left alone.

"Lily?" Molly tried to reach out a hand to her friend. Lily shrunk from her drawing her knees up to her chest. Molly looked to both men for some form of help.

"Come on Molly." Nathan took hold of her shoulder and pulled her away from the bed and into the hallway. "Buck, watch her, make sure she doesn't hurt herself."

"What's happening to her? That's not Lily." Molly was fighting hard to keep back her tears.

"It's the fever. It's getting worse. She doesn't know where she is or who any of us are." Molly nodded knowing what he said was true. She looked back in the room. Buck was sat quietly on the bed. Lily's knees were still drawn up to her chest her arms wrapped around them. Her head laid across her knees her mouth moving with slurred words.

"What do I do?" Any feeling of control that she'd felt this morning was gone. Molly wanted nothing more than to be able to snap her fingers and make Lily whole again. Nathan rubbed his chin slowly trying to think of a response to her question.

"Well, for now I guess you go back to school and try to just get through the afternoon."

Molly slipped down the stairs several minutes later. She had been sitting alone with Lily. Lily had finally laid back down and fallen into a fitful sleep. Buck waved her over to the table where he sat with Ezra. Both men noticed the look of defeat on her face.

"How's she doin' now?"

"She went back to sleep. I should get back to school." Ezra stood and brushed off the front of his jacket.

"Perhaps you will allow me to escort you back." He held out his arm to her. Molly smiled shyly and took hold of his arm. Ezra made a lighthearted comment about the state sidewalk trying to illicit a genuine smile from the young woman. "Mr. Wilmington told me what occurred with Lily. I do wish to thank you for assisting with her care."

"It's nothing." Molly shrugged off his gratitude.

"Do not underestimate your own capabilities." He tipped his hat as he turned and headed back to the saloon.

Buck swirled the beer in the glass one final time before drinking the last of it. Josiah sat sipping a cup of coffee across the table from him. He'd been up to see Lily in hopes that maybe he could get through to her but she'd only lain there turning restlessly in a light sleep.

"I'm gonna ride out to his place." There was an edge to Buck's voice that Josiah could not remember ever hearing before.

"You think he's there?"

"Can't hurt to look."

"And if he is?"

"Then I'll drag his stubborn butt back to town."

"Do you think that Lily would want him only coming back because he was forced to?"

"I don't care." Buck leaned in, his voice dropping even lower. "What I do know is that I can't just sit here with Lily up there wanting to die thinking that he doesn't give damn about her."

"Come Senor Chris, come back to my room." The woman dragged her fingers through the man's light hair. "I can make all your troubles disappear." Her voice purred in his ear.

"Maybe I don't want them to disappear." He picked up the bottle in front of him and drank deeply. The liquor burned as it ran down his throat. He'd lost track of how many bottles he'd gone through since arriving the night before. However many it wasn't enough. Even through the liquor he could still see Lily in front of him. See her lying in that bed pale and weak. "Maybe I don't want them to disappear."