Bryan was only half listening to the talk going on around him. His mind was focused on his young daughter, Molly. At 19 she was at that age where she wasn't quite a woman but, noticeably enough (especially to the opposite sex) no longer a girl. Oh how she reminded him of her mother. Physically she shared traits from both Kathleen's and his families. Her dark hair with the auburn highlights that came out when she pulled it up came from his side, while her dark brown eyes and delicate face came from her mother's. It was in mannerisms that mother and daughter had both been so much alike. Both were kindhearted and quick with a smile. Kathleen had had a strength that he hoped would come out in his daughter in this place.

He often wondered, as he did now, if his decision to stay was the right one. He noticed his daughter being quieter than was usual for her. Some nights he could hear her crying in her sleep. His brother nudged him out of his thoughts indicating that the question he'd ignored was meant for him.

"Have ya heard anything that's been said?" his brother's deep brogue asked him, his usual good humor was replaced with annoyance.

"Do we go now or do we wait?" another man asked the question again. They were speaking in Gaelic, in case they were being watched. Bryan looked into the fire they were all standing around at the ranch Colum was now in charge of.

"We wait. We wait for them to find Bry. . . Ms. Callaghan. It would look out of place to go now with her still missing." The other men were anxious to get this one done with, having had several near misses with the seven protectors before the events of the past few weeks had left some injured and some out of the town proper for a good length of time. Bryan didn't wait for a reaction but instead broke from the group and walked to his horse that Molly had seen fit to call Nicholas. He smiled at that thought. She wouldn't get anymore than an arms length from the animal but she'd named him.

"Can't ride out now, it's too late to head back," Colum's voice came from behind. "You won't carry a gun." Bryan shook his head.

"It'd scare Molly too much."

"She needs to know. You have to tell her."

"Don't start on me again about my daughter. I promised Kathleen. It was the only real thing she ever asked of me."

"She'd understand. Stop underestimating her. She's a stronger girl than anyone gives her credit for." Bryan sighed.

"No, Colum, she's not. I've been gone too long. I need to get back to her."

"You can't protect her from the whole world. You know that and it scares you to death."

"You're right. But I can protect her from this," Bryan turned to face his older brother. "I won't steal her innocence like that. And if you tell her, Colum, I swear I'll turn us all in." That said, Bryan resigned to not riding back for the night and walked to the house knowing his brother knew he meant what he said.

Molly let her mind wander as she hung the freshly washed linens on the closeline in back of the house. She had been writing to Emily nearly every day. Sometimes she'd send the letters, other times she'd tuck them in her journal, thankful for an outlet to get her feelings out. She'd never felt so lost or out of place in her life. Bryn was still missing. Lily seemed to have recovered from her own ordeal, only limping ever so slightly now.

KC was still pretending she didn't exist. Her father was spending more and more time at Colum's ranch. He'd been offered a position at the bank keeping their books in order. A noise similar to that of thunder shook her out of her thoughts. She stepped out from behind the clothes to see two riders coming in fast, and stopping outside the church. Curious now, Molly put her hand up to her forehead to shield the sun from her eyes and saw JD get down off his horse. The rider next to him was on a jet-black horse.

The rider dismounted and almost as if she knew she was being watched turned to face Molly. She was the most exotically beautiful woman Molly had ever seen. Suddenly Molly got the same feeling she felt whenever Mr. Larabee or any of the other protectors looked at her, as if her very soul was being read. She turned around to finish her wash, curious at who this woman was.

Cheyenne dismounted her horse with a smug smile on her face. She'd been out riding when she met up with JD who was still searching for the missing woman. Like he had many times before he challenged her and Black Wind to a race to the church. And like he had many times before, he'd lost the challenge. Buck and Josiah had come out of the church to witness JD's defeat. Never one to miss an opportunity to give JD a hard time, Buck immediately set in on him.

"Someday you're going to learn the hard way that you'll never beat her, boy. And I hope that I'm there to see it."

"Aw come on Buck, you know that I would never?" with each word, his voice became softer and softer until it was no longer audible. Buck followed his gaze to across the street where Molly Gallagher had turned away from watching the small group to hang another sheet on the line. 'Oh he had it bad for that girl,' Buck thought. He smiled and was about to say something to JD but he was cut off by the voice of Molly's father interrupting them.

"Excuse me, I hope that I'm not interrupting anything," his deep voice asked. "I was wondering if I could speak to you for a moment, Josiah?"

"Of course," Josiah answered him. He nodded toward Cheyenne who simply nodded back and led her horse toward the livery. "What can I do for you, Brother?" Josiah asked Bryan.

"I actually was hoping you would do me a favor? It's about Molly?" Bryan wasn't quite sure how to ask what he wanted to. Molly was like her mother in that she never wanted her father to think that anything was wrong. She'd always found comfort in church and in her religion and he was hoping that, while Josiah was not exactly a priest, he could speak to and bring some comfort to his daughter.

"Bryan, is something wrong?" Josiah asked.

"I can't really be sure. My wife's death was hard on both Molly and myself. Coming here was even harder. I thought it would help both of us if we just started over. But Molly's been different somehow. I can't quite explain it. With Mrs. Callaghan missing, it's been frightening for her. I know that she was getting close to her and to Ms. Patterson but I was wondering if you could speak to her. Perhaps see if maybe she'd open up to you. I know that I'm asking a lot?" Josiah cut him off.

"I'm not sure what help I can be but I'll surely try," Josiah reassured him. "Molly's lucky to have you and your brother to care for her." Bryan thanked him with a handshake and went across the street to see his daughter.

Emily had sent to Molly and her father an entire edition of The Charlottetown Times, the Island's newspaper. Molly was now on her way to The Clarion's office to see if she could get another edition of the previous week's paper to send to Emily. She'd never really met the editor, a woman named Mary Travis but had heard about her from various people. She was a widow with a young son named Billy. Stepping inside the office, Molly could hear the printing press and saw a blond hared woman operating it. She looked up at the sound of the bells on the door and smiled at Molly.

"Can I help you?" she asked wiping her hands on a towel as she walked to the front counter.

"I was wondering if you happen to have a copy left over of last week's edition? I wanted to mail one back home," Molly asked.

"Let me see, there might be one around here somewhere," the woman said just as a little boy came in from the back. He shyly smiled up at Molly she smiled back. "Here you are Miss?"

"Gallagher, Molly Gallagher," Molly answered.

"Ah, yes, Colum's niece," she said offering her hand. "I'm Mary Travis," she said as Molly took it. "And this is my son Billy,"

"Hi," he said softly.

Molly smiled and curtseyed to the little boy saying, "A pleasure to meet you Mr. Travis," causing the little boy to giggle.

"Are you our new teacher?" he asked in little-boy seriousness. Mrs. Travis smiled to Molly.

"This town is doing a search for a teacher and I've heard that you were going to school to be a teacher in Canada. Charlottetown University is a very prestigious school," she said.

"Well, I haven't really thought much about it, but we'll see," she said to them. She thanked them before she left into the cool evening. On her walk back to the house she noticed Mr. Standish and Mr. Wilmington placing saddlebags on their horses, preparing to go out looking for Bryn. Curiosity got the better of her and she walked over to them.

"Well if it isn't the brightest evening star of all, hello Miss Molly," Mr. Wilmington greeted her. Molly had yet to grow comfortable in his presence. Unable to help it, she blushed at the comment.

"Are you off to look for Bryn?" she asked softly.

"As a matter of fact, we are," Mr. Standish replied to her, mounting his horse trying not to wince at the pain that shot through his leg. She noticed that it just seemed to be the two of them going off.

"Aren't others going with you?" she asked as Mr. Wilmington mounted his horse.

"There's a lot of ground to cover, it's best if we're spread out," he said to her.

"I'll say a prayer that your search is safe and that you bring her back to us," she said to the two men. They smiled down at the young woman, tipped their hats to her and rode off. Molly stood a moment and watched them go, a lump forming in her throat. Clutching the newspaper Mrs. Travis had just given her to her chest, Molly walked toward the church wanting to light a candle for the men's' safety and Bryn's safe return.

Dusk had brought with it near darkness in the building as Molly quietly made her way up front to the candles. Placing the paper on the front pew, she lit one candle with another, blessed herself and knelt down to pray. Tears filled her eyes as a wave of loneness filled her and memories that she'd being trying so hard to let go of started to replay in her mind.

"Molly," a man's deep voice near her caused her to jump up startled. It was Josiah. He was standing so close to her and she didn't even know it. Looking behind him she saw that the woman she'd seen earlier, riding with JD was standing near the door in the back of the church. "Molly are you alright?" he asked stepping toward her. She took a step back.

"I'm fine," she answered softly. "I just. . . I didn't hear you come in. I'm sorry I shouldn't have taken it for granted that the church would be open at this hour. . . " He cut her off.

"I never close the church. It's here for whoever needs it." Molly picked up the paper from the front pew. Josiah noticed her hands were shaking. Her father was right, something was upsetting the girl. "You can come here whenever you need to, understand?" he said, dropping a hint to her. Previous experience taught him when it was best not to push and he knew better than to try and fight fear with force. She nodded.

"Good night, Mr. Sanchez," she said walking up the aisle. Cheyenne stepped away from the door to let her through. Molly turned to her, "Goodnight, Miss" she said to her before stepping out into the night.