Feeling the sunlight warming his cold neck, he urged his stallion Champ up a hill and stopped. The family home met his eyes and he felt the relief spread through his cold and tired body. Champ gave a happy call and started down the hill. His ears were up with his anticipation to be home and Reese slowed him when they were trotting down the snow covered drive way. The stallion stopped when they were outside the barn entrance and he swung out of the saddle.

The boots crushed the snow and he felt every inch of his stiff back groan. Hearing horses talking inside the warm barn, he walked Champ indoors and found Cal hanging water buckets. The man stopped work and chuckled at the sight of him.

"I don't know which of you looks worse."

"Funny."

The man smiled and said "I'll take care of Champ. Go say hello to your sister."

"She in the kitchen?"

"Yes sir. She has been cooking up a feast to welcome you home."

Reese shook his head and loosened his bag from Champ's back. Slinging it over his back, he glanced back at Cal and found the guy adjusting locks on the stalls. Leaving the stable, he walked across the bright driveway and climbed the porch steps. He opened the door slowly to keep from alerting his sister and shut it softly. His bag rested in the corner and he slid his tan cowhide gloves off his hands.

Stuffing them into his pockets, he unzipped his coat and slid it off. He hung it in the closet and walked down the hallway. The aroma of the upcoming dinner led the way into the warm kitchen and he leaned against the doorway. His sister was busy peeling potatoes and he shook his head.

"The last time you peeled potatoes you needed stitches."

Calli jumped at his voice and looked over her shoulder. She put her peeler down and came around the counter. He took her into his arms and hugged her as fiercely as she hugged him.

"Welcome home!"

He chuckled and kissed her head. Holding her at arms' length to look her over, he found her in still in one piece and smirked.

"Glad to see you're doing okay."

Calli stepped back and asked "You heard?"

"I heard."

She bit back the small wave of fear and asked "What did you hear?"

He leveled his amber eyes on her and said "That you could've gotten both you and your son killed because of me."

She patted his arm and said "We're perfectly fine."

"Thanks to Cal."

Nodding, she walked back to the sink and picked up her peeler. His eyes lingered on her and she focused on keeping her hands steady.

"I hear you were letting someone rest here this winter."

The peeler slipped and she barely managed to keep from knicking her finger. Taking a deep breath, she looked back at her brother and saw the annoyed look on his face.

"Reese, don't start."

"It was reckless Calli."

"They would've died!"

His fist hit the counter and he growled "Like you nearly did when you took a stranger in the last time?"

His tone left her speechless and she lowered her eyes. She couldn't look at him when he was right. A door slammed open in the hallway and she looked up in time to see Teddy tackle his uncle.

"Uncle Reese!"

He caught the growing boy and ruffled his hair.

"I see you're still growing."

Teddy nodded and looked up at Calli. She wasn't sure if he could keep quiet about the identity of their guest but hoped he would know to at least go back outside and finish his chores.

"Mom, I finished my chores."

"Good."

He left his uncle and approached her. She picked up the peeler and continued peeling the potatoes.

"Can I go?"

"You know you're not being fair."

He moaned and said "Please! You said once I got them done I could go!"

"Calli, what is he talking about?"

She looked back at Reese and sighed. Turning to her son, she nodded and he jumped in glee.

"Let me check with Joe."

He nodded and took off out of the room. Reese heard the door shut again and watched his sister. She was hiding something important about their visitor and it was driving him crazy. Calli kept her focus on the peeler as she finished the last potatoe and they heard running boots returning. Teddy ran into the room and Reese watched his sister begin dicing the potatoes.

"Where's Joe?"

Teddy smirked and said "Coming."

She shook her head and filled the pan with water. Setting the pot on the stove, she began boiling the water and dried her hands. Carefully she turned to Reese and found him still watching her.

"You don't have to worry. Joe has been a big help."

His customary frown appeared and she smirked.

"You know the guests don't have to work. It's not their job."

She smiled and saw the brunette woman reach the doorway. Joe didn't falter when she noticed Reese but did lean against the doorway. Teddy ran up to her and threw his arms around her.

"Mom said I can go."

She ruffled his hair and said "Meet me out on the porch."

He darted out of the room and Calli saw the look cross her brother's face when he heard that voice. Silently he looked over his shoulder and felt his gut clench. She met his gaze but no recognition appeared on her face.

"You wanted to see me?"

Calli nodded and said "Don't let him get carried away."

She smirked and said "I think I can handle him."

The mother smiled and Joe left the room. Calli watched her brother stare at the empty doorway and noticed the fist tightening at his side.

"You okay?"

"What the hell is she doing here?"

She rolled her eyes and said "She's the guest. Pass was closed with an avalanche."

He turned his fuming gaze on her and said "She could have easily left."

"Reese, she isn't here because of her."

"Then why the hell is she?"

Calli sighed and said "I take it you didn't put Champ in his stall when you returned."

"Cal took care of it."

"That is because it is being used."

His dangerous gaze grew darker and he left the kitchen. The door slammed shut behind him as he walked outside and stopped on the porch. He saw his nephew sitting on the stallion and watched her climb into the saddle behind him. She handed Teddy the reins and secured her boots in the stirrups. Cal appeared next to them and handed her a gun recently polished.

He patted the horse on the rump and the stallion took off. Reese waited for them to disappear from his view and crossed the driveway. Cal caught his smoldering gaze and took a deep breath. He let the man walk past him and followed him inside the barn. Champ was resting in a free stall and Reese looked back at him.

"I had to use the stall. I'll move Champ back in when the poor guy is able to move about easier."

The amber eyes narrowed and he watched Reese walk down the aisle. Stopping at the open door, he saw the dog resting in the straw and looked back at Cal.

"He isn't strong enough to walk to the house or else he would be mending in there."

"What is he doing here?"

Cal rubbed his neck and said "He got caught in the avalanche with his owner and took a bullet for her."

"Her?"

He swallowed the lump in his throat this man always created when unhappy and said "Joe."

"I know who. Why are you helping her?"

"She was my former employee and the only one out of the family that didn't hate me for coming to work for your family."

"How long ago did this happen?"

"A month after you left. I think it was when the family usually drives their horses through to their winter sale."

Reese shoved a hand through his hair and took a deep breath. He looked down at the coon dog and saw it open its eyes. Those sharp brown eyes studied him with the same expression he was use to getting from the owner.

"Bear isn't the only victim Reese."

He looked back at Cal and heard "Joe puts on a good show but she's still mending."

Cal saw the brief look of worry flash before it faded away to the usual cool expression on the man's face. He walked to the barn door and his employer followed him. Cal led him around the barn to the back and uncovered the corpse.

"Calli didn't tell anyone but this guy wasn't killed by me."

Reese studied the point blank bullet hole and asked "How does this have anything to do with their injuries?"

"Besides the fact that carrying this body with me made them worse for Joe, it doesn't. This fellow was looking for you and fell upon Calli and Teddy. Joe shot him when he would've shot Teddy."

"She what?"

Cal nodded and said "That is why Calli is letting Teddy learn how to handle the gun from her."

His frown deepend and he heard the horse approaching from the field. Walking back around the barn, he watched her dismount and help Teddy down. The boy was holding his hand and had a cloth wrapped around it. Reese didn't stop the growl from escaping and he watched them enter the barn. Cal took the stallion in and settled him back into his stall while the two disappeared into the office.

Reese stopped at the doorway and watched her skillfully unwrap the small hand. A small knick was seeping and she opened the first aid kit. Applying some ointment, she wrapped the small hand and the boy looked away.

"Are you done yet?"

She smirked and said "I thought you were a man."

He looked back at her and said "I am!"

"Then quit squirming already. I warned you this would happen if you got too anxious."

He bit his lower lip and she stepped back. Teddy held his hand up to look it over and looked up at her. He hopped off the desk and hugged her. She bit back a groan and he stepped back.

"Sorry. I keep forgetting."

She ruffled his hair and said "It's fine. Why don't you go see what your mom needs help with."

Teddy released her and slid past Reese on the way out the door. Joe closed the first aid kit and put it away. She took a deep breath and glanced at the man. His blonde hair and amber eyes were the same as she remembered except for the harder edge in his stare. He was still dark compared to his sister and she could see how the rodeo contests had changed him.

"You shouldn't have taught him."

She ignored the condeming tone and said "He wanted to learn and your sister agreed that it was time for him to handle a gun."

He rolled his eyes and asked "How long are you staying?"

Biting back the groan, she held his gaze and said "When the pass clears I'll be out of your hair. Until then I'll try to not upset you more than I already am."

Her sarcastic tone was totally opposite from the gentle one she had with Teddy and it left him a little stunned. Silently she pushed past him and walked down the aisle. Cal caught his gaze and shook his head. The man had to have heard that brief conversation and didn't look happy about how he handled himself. Reese looked away from him and watched Joe slip into the open stall.

Cal handed her some wrap and watched her in the stall. When she went to stand, Cal helped her up and watched her arm support the injury briefly.

"You just won't listen to Doc."

She met his gaze and said "You know I never do."

The man smirked and said "I'll finish up. I bet Calli wants you cleaned up for dinner."

She glanced over at the silent observer and said "I'm going to eat later."

Cal shook his head and she walked past him. Reese watched her walk outside and turned back to Cal. The man shut the stall up and headed in his direction.

"You better get a grip on your temper while she's here. If word gets to town that you don't, we both know things will get a whole hell of a lot worse."

The man silently left the doorway and they left the barn. They made their way up to the porch and stepped into the warm house. Their jackets rested in the closet and he grabbed his bag. Taking it upstairs, he stopped at the landing and saw the light on in the guest room at the end. Shaking his head, he walked to the other end and opened his door.

Clean clothes were waiting on his bed and he tossed his bag next to them. He carried the clothes into his bathroom and shut the door. Letting the shower heat up, he leaned his hands on the sink and stared into the mirror. He could see the subtle difference from that unhappy encounter and shook his head. He took a quick shower and dressed in the clean jeans and black t-shirt.

Grabbing his boots, he pulled them back on and laced them up. Silently he left the room and headed down the hallway. Stopping at the stairs, he saw the light on in the guest room again and knew he was going to regret what he was about to do. He knocked on the door and waited for the response that never came. Pushing the door open, he found the room lit from the bathroom light and noticed the bag on the bed.

Turning to the bathroom, he watched Joe leave the room with some items and she tossed them into the bag. She pulled open the bedside table drawer and withdrew the letters. Slipping them into the bag, she zipped it shut and looked up at him.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm not staying in here."

He rolled his eyes and said "You don't have anywhere else to stay at night."

"I'll bed with Bear. He's not a grouch."

Shoving a hand through his hair, he sighed and she slid the bag over her shoulder. She walked into the hallway and he followed her to the stairs. Silently she walked down to the first floor and stopped at the closet.

He stopped her from getting her coat and said "Quit being so noble."

She put distance between them and said "I'm just trying to be civilized for you."

His amber eyes lit with his rising temper and he said "You're a guest. You don't sleep in the barn with the animals."

"I prefer animals over people like you."

She jerked her coat free and slid it on. He took her bag and she stared back at him with the same intensity he gave her.

"Your dinner is waiting."

"I'll get to it once I've gotten through your thick head."

"My thick head? I'm not the one that instantly started attacking when we met."

"I attacked? You bit my head off in the office."

"Do you think I want to be here? I'd rather be still buried in that avalanche than be standing here in front of you."

"Why are you here then?"

"Because I asked her to stay so Bear could heal."

They both turned at the interrupting voice and found three people watching them. Teddy was staring at Joe with hurt and she let out a sigh.

"You don't want to be here?"

She looked away and Calli said "Don't listen to her Teddy. Your uncle just got her riled up. Of course she wants to be here."

He smirked and Cal said "Both of you come eat and let the food calm your tempers. We don't need a full blown fight tonight."

Reese didn't budge and she jerked her bag free.

"They're waiting."

Calli shook her head and said "You're coming too Joe."

She looked back at the woman and really hated to be so hard on her. She slid her bag over her shoulder and walked outside. The door shut quietly behind her, not giving away the anger boiling inside her and Teddy looked up at Reese.

"You can't treat Joe like that!"

He walked back into the kitchen and Calli shook her head.

"After dinner you will go apologize. She's done nothing but help us while she's been here. You need to do the same."

He watched her leave and met Cal's gaze. The man slowly smirked and shook his head.

"Yeah, she means nothing to you. That is a bunch of crap."

The man chuckled as he walked back to the kitchen and left Reese alone in the hallway. Taking a deep breath, he shoved a hand through his hair and closed his eyes. Coming home was never this difficult and he knew they were right. She was right. He should be able to be civil towards her while they wait out the pass opening back up.

If she hadn't gotten his blood pounding when he had seen her he may have been able to not be defensive. The woman had grown a lot since their last time together and it just reminded him of what could have been. Pushing those dark thoughts aside, he walked into the kitchen and joined the family for the dinner prepared for his return.