Chris brought his horse to a halt at the livery. It was after midnight and the building was empty but for the horses that lifted their heads at his approach. He had brought his horse in here enough that he knew the lay of the building without the benefit of light. He unsaddled his horse and left him the last stall. An oil lamp burned in the occasional window but for the most part the town was asleep.

He used the back door to the saloon wanting to avoid anyone that might still be around. His step halted momentarily just inside the door. At the table in the corner Molly Gallagher sat. A cup of tea sat in front of her. Her head lay on the table on a pillow of her own arms. He felt a pang of guilt knowing that she was here because of Lily. He should have been here to help out.

He passed through the kitchen quietly not wanting to wake her. His footsteps echoed on the stairs. He reached for the door knob afraid of what he would find on the other side. The room was dark and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust. Lily lay in the bed her skin nearly as pale as the sheets she lay on. He reached out and touched her face lightly. Her forehead was damp with sweat. He suspected that she'd been running a fever.

" I'm sorry."

Chris sat in the chair by the bed and watched her sleep. Her breathing became uneven and she tossed restlessly. For a second he thought she'd wake. But she didn't. Her breathing slowed and she stopped moving. His thoughts turned to the young girl downstairs. He picked up a blanket that was across the end of the bed. She was still asleep at the table.

He stood watching her sleep. A delicate smile sat on her face. He hoped that she was dreaming pleasant things. A smile crossed his face remembering the way she'd stood up to him earlier. He wouldn't have thought she had it in her, but she did. She was a hell of a lot stronger then she even knew about. He felt a rush of regret at the words that he'd hurled at her, as well as the bottle. He hoped that he could make it up to her someway. Chris took the blanket and laid it carefully around her shoulders.

"Molly... Molly, wake up." Nathan's warm voice broke through to the sleeping girl. Molly's eyes opened slowly. She looked around in confusion for a moment unsure of where she was.

"Wha..? I just came down for some tea. I was only going to close my eyes for a moment. I must have fallen asleep. " Nathan and Vin stood in front of her gentle smiles on their faces.

"Sure looks that way. Good thing you thought to bring a blanket down with you." Nathan pointed to the blanket that still hung around her shoulders.

"But I didn't." A thought crossed her mind suddenly. She jumped up from the table nearly knocking over the chair.

"Molly, where are you going?"

"It's Lily. It had to be her. She must have woken during the night and brought it down." She nearly ran for the stairs. The two men followed on her heels. Nathan was hesitant to believe that was the explanation. When he'd left the night before Lily's fever had gone down but was still higher than he would have liked.

As Molly's hand brushed the door knob it was pulled open from inside. She gave a gasp of shock and stepped back. Chris stood in the doorway. Fear flashed through her and she turned away. His hand grabbed her arm stopping her.

"Molly, I--," his words were cut off as Vin stepped between them.

"Get your hand off of her!" Chris dropped her arm from his grasp. He had never heard such anger in his friend's voice. Nathan stood two steps back in the hall watching the exchange in confusion. Molly seemed torn between fleeing down the hall and checking on her friend. A loud crash from inside the room took care of any hesitation she felt. She shouldered her way past Chris into the room.

Lily was awake and out of bed. She was holding the edge of the dressing table. Broken glass lay on the floor from where she'd knocked over a glass getting out of bed. Her eyes still seemed hazy and unfocused as she turned at the sound of Molly entering.

"Lily, you're up? How are you feeling?" Molly took hold of her arm and lead her back to the bed.

"Tired, very tired."

"Of course you are. You need to take it easy." Molly helped her back into bed propping up the pillows so that she could sit up. "We've all been so worried about you."

"We? Is...," Lily's words trailed off. Molly could see in her eyes what she wanted to ask. She wanted to know if Chris was there. She gave her hand a squeeze and went to the door. Molly's heart sunk when she found only Vin alone in the hallway.

"Where did Mr. Larabee go?" Vin nodded his head toward the stairs. He wanted to stop her from following but her eyes were filled with a hope he didn't want to dash. Molly wanted to run down the stairs in pursuit. Chris was on the far side of the room. He watched her approach and didn't wait for her to speak first.

"What is it Molly?"

"It's Lily, she's awake." She took a deep breath and looked at him straight on. "Please come up and see her. I know that if she saw you she. . . she could get better." His eyes drifted past her to the figure that had taken up a protective stance just behind her. Without looking Molly knew that it was Vin. He and Vin stared at each other for several moments before Chris finally broke away. Molly's heart surged with joy as he manuvered through the tables to the stairs.

"I'm going to go make Lily some breakfast." Molly gave Vin a smile as she headed for the kitchen. Vin watched her go still feeling a measure of anger toward Chris. Nathan stepped into Vin's field of vision.

"Wanna tell me what that was all about?" Buck, who sat at a nearby table, perked up at Nathan's question. It hadn't escaped his notice what had just passed between Chris and Vin and he was curious too.

"What?"

"Come on Vin. I think we've all had enough secrets lately. What's goin' on?" Vin pulled off his hat and raked his fingers through his hair. Buck stood and joined the pair.

"Yesterday, Molly went and saw Chris. She asked him to come see Lily." He wondered how much of the details that he should give them. "He said some things to her."

"What kind of things?" Vin took a glance toward the kitchen. He felt guilty talking about this without Molly knowing.

"He called her a child. Told her that the town only gave her the teaching position because they didn't have another choice." Vin left it at that. He'd keep the bottle throwing to himself, for now.

Chris hesitated at the door. He'd spent half the night watching her sleep, but now the prospect of facing her awake seemed impossible. He stepped into the room slowly. Lily had been staring out the window but turned toward him. For a second he thought a little color came to her cheeks. He walked the edge of the room unsure of what he should say.

"Molly... she's been taking good care of you. Nathan too."

"I probably owe them my life." Chris nodded. His path had brought him to the bed. He took a seat on the opposite side from her. He resisted the urge to reach out and touch her. The air between them crackled with tension. They sat silently, each other internally grasping at what to say next.

It hadn't escaped Lily's notice from the moment he walked in that Chris looked horrible. He was in need of a bath, smelling of stale liquor and sweat. His clothes were wrinkled and dirty. Dark circles under his eyes told her that he hadn't slept much the last few days.

"You need a shave." Chris felt himself grin at her words. "And a bath."

"Yeah, I guess I do." He watched whatever life was in her eyes slip away. Her head rolled away and she stared out the window again. He stretched out a hand till it hovered just above hers. It could have been his eyes playing tricks on him, but he thought he saw her body stiffen. Did she hate him so much now that she didn't even want him to lay a gentle hand on her? He drew back his hand and left the room quietly.

Chris took a long time in the bath house. It was quiet and for the first time in days he was completely sober. His head dipped back into the warm water rinsing his hair. He wondered when the last time was Lily had bathed.

He'd never seen her look as fragile as she had when he'd come in during the night. Even after being trapped under a rockslide for nearly a day she'd had more strength than what he'd seen last night or even this morning. He stood quickly sloshing water over the sides of the metal tub. He wanted to talk to Nathan.

Chris waited for Nathan inside his rooms. He didn't have to wait long. Nathan wasn't surprised to find Chris waiting for him. "Hey Chris."

"Nathan." Chris wasn't sure how to start this conversation. "Tell me about it." Nathan didn't need to ask what he was talking about.

"She hasn't been good Chris. I thought we might lose her to that fever." Nathan dried his hands on a towel. He took the seat across from Chris at the table. "I had to wire for the doctor in Stillwater." Nathan paused before speaking again. "You plannin' on sticking around?"

There was a harshness to Nathan's voice that Chris had only heard on rare occasions and then only in anger. Chris's vision drifted to the window on his left. "It wouldn't have been any different if I'd been here."

"You go on believing that if you want to, but . . ."

"But what?"

"But she might have found some strength to fight that fever if she thought she had something to live for." On some level Chris knew that what Nathan said was right, even if he wasn't quite ready to accept it.

"So what do I do now?"

Molly had made arrangements with Ezra for a bath to be sent over for Lily before she'd gone off to school for the day. She'd promised to come back at dinner and make Lily something to eat. The bath almost seemed like too much of an effort for her but she knew that it would be good for her. It almost brought a smile to her face to remember Peter drawing baths for her when she didn't feel well. He would wash her hair and tell her stories of his life when he was growing up. As she sat in the warm water now she tried to imagine Chris doing the same thing with her. They had shared a bath once. So much water had ended up on the floor it had threatened to run out into the hall.

Dressing took more energy out of her than the bath. She sat down on the bed for several minutes and considered even going back to sleep. Things still seemed hazy and she wondered if this was all a horrible dream. She stood and forced herself to walk to the door. She just wanted to go downstairs for a few minutes. She could tell Ezra that the bathtub could be removed. It would also give her a chance to see what state he'd let the saloon slide in to.

The stairs looked a million miles long in front of her. She took them slowly one at a time grasping the hand rail. It was nearly midday but there were the sounds of men enjoying themselves below. From behind the bar Ezra moved quickly to the stairs to help her down the last few.

"Lily, my dear," he took her hand and lead her to the bar. "You are looking quite refreshed after your bath." He raised her hand to mouth and kissed it. "I am glad that you are better. I have missed your company." He gave her a wink before delivering a bottle of whiskey to two men at a far table. Lily's eyes travelled around the room. She smiled at several regular customers. A few of the men expressed their relief to see her looking well.

She wondered what rumors had been circulating about town. For the first time she looked carefully at the men at that far table. The man facing her was eyeing her with curiousity. It took a moment before she realized that she knew him from San Francisco.

Ezra watched the color drain from Lily's face. It also hadn't escaped his notice the way that man looked at her. He quickly left his seat at the poker table and caught her elbow. "Lily? Is something wrong?"

"I . . . I think I need to go upstairs."

The children were happy to see their teacher in such good spirits this morning. She wore an easy going smile and was quick to laugh with them. They were even happier when she let them out a few minutes early for their dinner break. Though she made them promise not to expect this to be a regular occurence. Nothing could dampen Molly's spirits today. Lily was awake and she'd be better now. She gave a quick wave to Ezra and Josiah in the corner as she crossed the saloon's floor. Molly rapped lightly on Lily's door in case she were asleep.

"Come in." The voice was tired but welcoming. Molly found Lily dressed in fresh clothes seated in a chair by the window. "Well hello, cherie, I didn't expect to see you quite yet."

"I let the children out a little early. How are you feeling?"

"I guess I feel as well as can be expected." Molly knelt in front of the older woman and took hold of the hand in her lap. "Nathan has assured me that my strength will return in a few days. And I hear that I have you to thank for my return to good health."

"I was just trying to help Nathan. I didn't do anything."

"Now, cherie, I heard that you about made yourself sick with staying up half the night to watch over me." Molly dropped her head into Lily's lap. She didn't know how to tell Lily how scared she'd been by the thought of losing her like she had her mother. Lily stroked Molly's hair like a mother consoling a child. She leaned over and laid a kiss on the top of Molly's head. Her voice coming in a whisper, "thank you."

Buck had seen Chris enter the restaurant a few minutes earlier. It seemed as good a time as any to talk with him. He knew that Chris wouldn't be harboring any ill feelings toward him over what he'd said on the ride back from Purgatory.

"Lord knows we've said a whole helluva lot worse over the years." Buck mused under his breath as he walked. Chris was in the rear of the room seated alone. A cup of strong black coffe and a full plate of food sat in front of him. He took the seat next to his friend and ordered a plate for himself. "So, you planning on alienating every woman in this town or just the pretty ones?"

"What the hell are you talking about Buck?" Chris's voice was half humor and half sarcasm. His voice was low enough though not to carry to any of the other patrons in the restaurant.

"Molly Gallagher. She didn't deserve for you to talk to her like that." Two things kept Chris from telling Buck to shut up, a room full of people and the fact that his friend was right.

"How do you know what I said to her?"

"Vin told me."

"Vin? How'd he know?" Buck started to open his mouth, but Chris stopped him with the wave of his hand. "Nevermind, I don't care."

The two men ate their food in silence. A local well to do rancher, Simon McCallister, sat at the next table with his wife and another couple that neither man knew. Their clothes were tailored and obviously expensive. Chris thought he'd heard someone mention San Francisco shortly after they sat down. He and Buck both took notice though when their conversation turned to that of the saloon.

"I couldn't believe it when Malcolm told me he saw that woman in there. I thought for sure he must be mistaken." The woman pursed her lips in disgust.

"Now, Mrs. Culpepper, I've talked with Mrs. Patterson many a time and I find her to be quite pleasant." Simon McCallister wiped at the corners of his mouth with his napkin.

"Well I'm sure you did. She always did have a talent for seducing men to believing whatever she wanted. But I tell you that she's nothing but a two-bit tramp. The only reason she married Peter Patterson was for his money. She married him and then she killed him."

"Dorothy, don't say that! You know that he was sick and died of some disease." Malcolm Culpepper laid a hand on his wife's arm. He didn't want her to cause a scene in the restaurant.

"I'll say what I want. I know how women like that are. Lily Patterson is," she paused and looked around her lowering her voice only slightly. "Excuse my language, I'm a Christian woman, but I can't hold my tongue on something like this. That woman is just a murdering whore."

Molly had made Lily's some tea and biscuits to eat. While she ate Molly busied herself putting away Lily's laundry which had come back that morning. She rambled on about the children and what she'd been teaching them in school. It was just so good to have Lily up and about that she didn't care what she told her, she just wanted to talk to her.

Movement on the street below caught her eye and Molly stopped talking. She took a step closer and looked down. Vin Tanner was standing across the street. He'd been talking with a pair of men Molly didn't know but now he stood there alone. She found herself unable to take her eyes off of him. She didn't understand the way this man made her feel. No man had elicited feelings like this from her before.

"Want to talk to me about it, cherie?" Lily had gotten up to see what Molly was so transfixed by. From her vantage point the only thing that Molly could be watching was Vin. A crimson flush rushed over Molly's cheeks. She turned away from the window and quickly began folding a set of sheets.

"I . . . I don't know what you mean. There's nothing to talk about." Lily chuckled lightly.

"Now if you were talking to anyone else they might believe that. Come now, sit down here and tell me what I have missed." Lily had taken a seat on the bed and patted the space next to her for Molly to join her. Molly paced for a moment before sitting.

"I don't know what there is to say."

"Well for starters, have you had any more dreams involving Mr. Tanner?" The blush on Molly's cheeks seemed to deepen at the mention of that dream.

"No." Molly said the word shyly. Lily could sense there was something weighing on the young woman's mind that she wanted to share. She took hold of Molly's hand and squeezed it to encourage her to share. "But he kissed me."

"Kissed you? When?" Lily was surprised by the revelation. She was not expecting that. Molly began to relate how she had run into Vin out at the house and repeated the poem that he had said to her. She had only heard it once but it was burned into her memory. She left out what had occured between her and Chris, not wanting to worry Lily. "How did the kiss make you feel?"

"I don't know." Molly had been struggling with that question in her own mind since the kiss.

"Yes, you do, cherie. You just need to think with your heart." Lily wasn't sure she knew how to explain this to Molly. "When he kissed you, did you want him to stop?" Molly shook her head. "Did it make you feel ashamed or embarassed?" She shook her head again. "The night that JD kissed you, did it make you feel this way?" For a third time she shook her head. "Would you like it to happen again?" A shy smile crept over her face and she nodded. "Well then, I think we know how you feel."

"But I think I did something wrong."

"Wrong? What do you mean?" Molly explained about Vin's breaking off of the kiss abruptly as Brandon approached in the wagon. "Oh cherie, you did nothing wrong. Mr. Tanner obviously has quite a bit of respect for you. A young woman like you has a reputation to protect, especially in a small community like this. Caught alone with a man unchaperoned and in a romantic embrace would have brought scandal to you and your father. If Mr. Tanner did not care for you he would not have bothered to think of your reputation."

What Lily said made sense to her and she wondered why she had not thought of it herself. She gave her a grateful hug for her words and advice. She gave a gasp of surprise as she looked at her watch pin. If she didn't hurry she'd be late in getting the children in from their dinner break.

"I need to go. But I'll be back later. Perhaps we can have supper together?"

Dorothy Culpepper's words hung heavily on Chris's mind through the afternoon. They made him realize how little he knew about Lily's past and her life with her husband. She'd only mentioned him occasionally and had never spoken about how he died. He wondered what would happen if he asked her about it. Ezra told him that Lily had been up in her room most of the afternoon. She had been down two or three times for brief periods, but she seemed to tire easily.

He found her door open slightly ajar. She was sitting on her bed holding a small wooden box. It was made of a dark red wood. He had seen it once before in a drawer half buried under her nightgowns. He didn't say a word but she knew he was there. He sat next to her laying his hand gently against the small of her back. She leaned against him resting her head on his shoulder.

"My grandfather gave this to me when I turned 13. I spent the summer with him on his estate outside of London." She opened the book and a metallic tune began to play. Chris didn't recognize the song but it had a familiar ring to it. "I always wondered if someday I might have a child to pass it on to."

Her words hung heavy in the air between them. Both wanted to apologize to the other. Lily for not telling him about the baby. Chris for leaving her when he found out. But the room was silent, neither could say the words yet.

"There are some people in town. Friends of Simon McCallister, seems they knew you in San Francisco."

"Malcolm and Dorothy Culpepper."

"You know?"

"I saw Malcolm in the saloon earlier, though I didn't realize that he recognized me."

"Uh yeah, they were talking about you over in the restaurant."

"I can only imagine what Dorothy was saying. We were not exactly friends. She didn't think that I belonged in that circle."

"How did Peter die?" For the first time since he'd entered the room Lily turned and looked at him. He saw confusion and a hint of fear in her eyes.

"What? You want to know how Peter died?" Lily pulled away from his body. "Peter was sick for a long time. He had a terrible sickness and died very slowly. It was horribly painful to watch." Her voice began to crack, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Dorothy Culpepper was telling Simon McCallister that you killed your husband." Lily stood so quickly the music box tumbled from her hands and crashed to the floor. She dropped to her knees praying that it wasn't ruined. Chris knelt beside her and took hold of her hand.

"You believe her?" Chris didn't answer. "I can't believe. . ." Tears began to stream down her face. "Get out." She pulled her hand from his. "Please, just leave me alone."