"Lily, my dear, you appear fatigued." The dark circles under her eyes had not escaped Ezra's keen eyes. She poured him another whiskey and leaned against the bar across from him.

"Ezra, sometimes I believe this town is just a train stop away from hell."

"Well I've been of the opinion for sometime that this town and the Good Lord are not on speaking terms. Would you care to unburden yourself with what is plaguing you?"

"I suppose the events of the last few days . . . they've just taken their toll." Ezra understood what she meant. Nathan had been kept busy taking care of Buck, who'd been shot when the two were returning from Nathan's room. Two drunk ranch hands had been out in the street trying to shoot down fireflies. The shot which had come from their direction had caught Buck in the stomach. Vin had been grazed by another bullet when he and Josiah had tried tackling the men.

"How is your young charge?" Ezra knew from Bryn that Lily was spending her free moments sitting at KC's bedside.

"It's hard to say. Nathan's upstairs now seeing what he can do." KC had continued to refuse to allow Nathan to touch him. But when KC had lapsed into a fever induced delirium, Lily had sent for Nathan. She was in and out of consciousness and too weak to fight off anyone. Lily had announced that if necessary she would tie KC down to the bed, if that's what it took.

"Where is Bryn? I haven't seen her at all this morning."

"She's over at the hotel with Molly. Have you found anyone who saw what happened yet?" Josiah had been nearby when the shot had rung out. He'd found Molly unconscious next to a stall. Physically she wasn't hurt, but the shot had scared the young girl. Bryn was keeping her company till her father returned.

"Unfortunately we have not. But I'm sure that we will apprehend the culprit." His optimism made a small smile cross Lily's face.

"Speaking of Bryn," Lily was unsure how to approach the next subject, "has she said anything to you about the flowers?"

"Flowers?"

"Yes, the last few nights someone has been leaving flowers for her. The first one was on the piano and then another in her room. Single red roses with a note attached, something about them being from a secret admirer."

"It must be a gentleman of some wealth to procure such delicate flowers. You said one was in her room?"

"Yes, and I can't imagine how someone got up there. I'm sure myself or Terrance would have noticed." Bryn had tried to convince Lily that the flowers were nothing to worry about. But the mystery surrounding their appearance disturbed Lily. Ezra pondered the news for a few minutes.

"I'll have a word with her about this. I must admit I find the news more than a little distressing." Ezra noticed that Lily's attention was drawn to the stop of the stairs. Nathan stood there wiping his hands on a towel its once white material now stained red.

"If you'll excuse me." Lily quickly climbed the stairs. As Ezra watched she and Nathan disappeared around the corner.

A arm clad in black came into Ezra's field of vision as it reached behind the bar grabbing a bottle of whiskey. He turned slightly and saw the familiar face of Chris Larabee on his left.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Larabee."

"Afternoon Ezra." Ezra noticed the gunman's normally stoic expression turn sour as someone approached from Ezra's right.

"Gentlemen, how nice to see you both this afternoon." Terrance's oily voice floated out to greet the men. Neither man returned his greeting. Chris stared straight ahead into the mirror behind the bar surveying the room behind him.

"Where's Lily?" Chris's question surprised Ezra. It was the first time he'd heard him refer to the woman by her first name. Terrance smiled and clucked his tongue in disapproval.

"A piece of advice Mr. Larabee. I've known Lily for a long time and I know how fickle her tastes run. She has been spending a considerable amount of time the last few days that young boy, in fact that's where she is now. I do not believe I would be out of line to venture a guess that you have been replaced."

Ezra watched to see if Chris would react to Terrance's words. His expression didn't change, he continued to stare straight ahead into the mirror. It was almost as if he hadn't heard the words at all.

"You must know how these women can be. One minute you're exactly what they want and the next minute they turn their eyes to a younger man. But if I were you I wouldn't take it personally, she's just that type."

"Give her these." Chris pulled something small out of his pocket and dropped them on the counter. He took his glass and walked to the table in the corner. Ezra just caught a quick glimpse of something sparkling before Terrance scooped up the items and placed them in his pocket.

Ezra took his glass and the half empty bottle and made his way across the room to the same table where Chris sat. The two men sat quietly across from each other. Ezra slid the bottle across to Chris. The older man took it without saying a word.

"Mr. Larabee, may I say something?"

"If I said no, would that stop you?" Ezra thought he saw a hint of a sarcastic smile at the corners of Chris's mouth.

"It may be none of my business, but I don't believe there is anything of consequence occurring between Lily and Casey. Our friend Mr. Sullivan there, shot the young boy and she has been tending to him. I am quite sure that is all that is transpiring up there." Ezra motioned toward the second floor.

"And why would I care one way or the other?" It was no secret to any of the other six men what was taking place between Lily and Chris. Buck had been especially glad to know that Chris had found someone for companionship.

"I was under the impression that . . .," Ezra's voice trailed off as he noticed Bryn approaching their table. "Good afternoon, my dear." Ezra stood to meet her.

"Ezra. Mr. Larabee. It is good to see you both." Chris nodded in response.

"Please sit and join us. I'd like to hear how the young Ms. Gallagher is doing."

Lily knew by the puzzled look on Nathan's face as she ascended the stairs that he had discovered KC's secret. She had warned him before he'd gone in that he might see a few things that he wasn't expecting.

"Uh, I don't know quite what to say." The two stood in the hall just outside the room where KC lay.

"I know, cher. I was quite surprised when I discovered it myself. I'm sure that you now understand why she didn't want you to tend to her both after the fight and now. How is she?" Lily peeked in the room. KC appeared to be sleeping comfortably. Nathan had bandaged the wound and done what he could to stop any further complications.

"I've done what I can for now. I'll come back and check on her later. Now that I know, maybe she won't turn me away." He looked at KC and then back at Lily. "But why?" Nathan didn't understand why the young woman was masquerading as a man.

"I don't know. I didn't exactly have a chance to inquire as to her reasons. But I do hope you'll understand when I ask that you keep this information to yourself."

"You have my word, ma'am."