Sitting at the empty table, he watched his sister wash the dishes from the food and saw Teddy finish wrapping the plate to take to Joe. A frown came over him when he thought about her and the situation he was now in. Cal came back into the kitchen and took the plate from the kid.

"Make sure she eats."

He chuckled and said "I think I can handle the job Boss."

Teddy rolled his eyes and looked over at his silent uncle. Reese caught the look and stood up. Cal offered him the food and he reluctantly took it. Leaving the kitchen, he stopped in the hallway long enough to grab his coat and walked outside. The barn light was on and he crossed the snowy ground.

Stepping into the warm building, he found the horses eating their dinner but there was no sign of Joe. Letting out s sigh, he walked into the office and put the plate on the table. The barn had been equipped with modern appliances since he was a kid and he made sure they were all still functional every year. Leaning against the empty desk, he crossed his arms against his chest and took a deep breath. A slow movement caught his eye and he looked back at the doorway.

Bear stood looking at him and Reese could see the struggle he was going through. He pushed off the desk and approached the dog. Bear stepped back and that was when he heard the approaching hooves. Looking at the doors, he watched her lead her horse in with the cold and wind adding color to her face. She saw Bear standing and he sat down as she walked her mount to the stall.

Reese watched her quickly settle the horse in and shut him in for the night. She hung the tack and returned to her friend. He nuzzled her hand and she rubbed his ear. His body was shaking from the moving about and she took a deep breath. Knowing she was going to regret it, she picked him up and felt him jerk from the impact and her ribs cry in pain at the same time. She was about to head to the stall when Reese took the coon dog from her arms.

Silently she followed him back to the stall and watched him lower Bear into the warm straw. The dog whined for her and she sat next to him. He rested his head on her knee and she pulled off her riding gloves. Tossing them down onto the straw, she unzipped her coat and shrugged out of it. Carefully she lowered Bear's head to the straw and moved onto her knees.

She loosened the wrapping around him and found his wound still shut. The tenderness was to be expected and she carefully wrapped him up. Standing up, she felt the pain shoot through her but ignored it. Slipping out of the stall, she walked back to the office and dug out the heating pad in one of the cabinets. Reese watched her heat it briefly in the microwave and carry it back to the stall.

Kneeling next to the dog, she lowered the pad over his wounded body and he let out a sigh. Rubbing his head, she watched him close his eyes and shook her head. Grabbing her gloves and coat, she left the stall and returned to the office. She hung the coat up and stuffed the gloves in the pockets. Turning around, she stopped when she met Reese in the doorway again and he nodded to the plate.

She slowly looked at the food and heard "The order is to make sure you eat."

"I'm surprised they are sending you on this job."

"Last time I checked, you didn't have an appetite problem."

Her eyes turned back to him and she said "That was seven years ago."

"I know."

Looking away from him, she moved to her bag hidden behind the desk and opened it. He watched her dig out a bottle and pop the top off.

"Are you taking those?"

"They're for Bear."

He watched her dump out two pills and put the bottle away. She zipped the bag shut and unwrapped the food. Thankful for the variety of food Calli always supplied, she tore off a few bites of the steak and left the office. Reese followed her back to Bear and watched her carefully kneel in front of him. His eyes opened and his ears went up when he caught the scent of meat.

She held the food back and he let out a pathetic whimper. Smiling, she caught his mouth and forced his jaws open long enough to slip the two pills down his throat. He swallowed for her and nudged at her closed hand. She opened her hand and let him eat the food off her palm. His tail wagged as he enjoyed the food and she rubbed his ear.

Standing again, she left the door and heard "You're real good with him."

"He's more than just an animal."

Reese watched her look back at him and said "I know. You always had a soft spot for animals."

"They don't abandon you."

His eyes narrowed and he watched her stiffen for the coming remark. Taking a deep breath, he shook his head and pushed the snide comment aside.

"I came out here to apologize."

She leaned against the stall and asked "By choice?"

"Quit making me regret it."

"It's not a hard question. Did they send you out here to apologize or did you suddenly realize I mean no threat?"

His amber eyes were dangerously cold and he growled "We both know that is a bunch of crap."

She took a deep breath now and said "You're right. I'm sorry."

"For?"

"For being as defensive as you have been. It's not easy being around you."

He watched her look back down at Bear and heard "If I had been paying more attention this wouldn't have happened and you wouldn't have to be in this situation."

He couldn't tell if she was just filling the silence with words or putting the blame for their situation fully on her shoulders. That was no where near the truth. He knew she couldn't have prevented this if she wanted to. The bandits have been bothering them for the last two years. There was no way her or any of her brothers would have known the danger right now.

She looked back at him and said "Thanks for the food."

"I can't go back in until you eat it. Those are the orders."

"You don't have to tell them anything."

Lying to his family was one thing if it was just about him, but there was no way he could lie again about her. She read the uncertainty that briefly filled his eyes and walked back to the office. He followed silently and found her leaning against the desk with her gaze out the window. The food had been placed on the microwave and left to go bad in the cooler temperatures.

"Joe."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The last time he had said her name was seven years ago and these past years hadn't changed the way he said it.

"Go inside and be with your family."

He leaned against the door way and continued to stare. Her eyes never met his and he was glad. They were still so captivating and each time he saw them light up it tightened the painful grip on his gut. Seeing that he wasn't going to get anywhere, he left the doorway and walked outside. She waited a few minutes to ensure he was inside and let out the restrained breath.

Her hand rested over her throbbing ribs and she closed her eyes. She wasn't sure whether the ribs were causing the pain or all the old memories he was stirring up inside her. Opening her eyes, she left the office and killed the light. Moving back to Bear's stall, she sat down next to him and stroked his coat. Her eyes drifted to the open entry of the stall and some of the memories began to play back.

Seven years ago...

The rocking of the coach brought her back to the land of the living and she opened her eyes. Looking out her window, she saw the sun high in the afternoon sky and stretched her arms. Soon she was able to make out the town and checked to make sure she had everything. When the coach stopped at the depot, she heard the driver get down and approach the door. He opened the door for her and helped her down.

Her trunk and travel bag were placed on the porch and she paid the coach driver. He smiled and climbed back onto his seat. Flicking the reins, the pair headed back out of town and she took in the air of her old home. A whistle caught her ear and she looked back toward the main part of town. She was able to make out the approaching horses and waved at her approaching family.

Her twin brother, Cliff, jumped to the ground first and ran up to her. He spun her around in a big hug and kissed her temple.

"It's about time!"

She laughed and caught his arm as the small bout of dizziness let up. Her old brothers Jeff and Billy chuckled as they tied the horses up and their father, Mack, loaded her trunk before greeting her. He took her in his arms and she hugged him back. It was still settling in that she was finally back home and away from the dreadful city.

"You've grown."

She smiled and said "I'm just glad to be home."

Jeff caught her shoulder and walked her over to the waiting stallion they had purchased for her when she announced her return. Rubbing the velvet soft nose, she swung up into the saddle and felt everything close to being perfect. Her family joined her on the dirt road through town and Mack drove them through town. People she had known her whole life were waving and welcoming her home and that was when she saw him. He was loading a pack onto his horse when their eyes connected and she felt the jolt his smoldering gaze left.

They rode home in silence and it gave her time to dwell on him. She remembered the wild spirited boy she had known when they were children. He was so grown now and it was startling how she found him preoccupying her thoughts immediately. They had been friends before the neverending family feud reared its ugly head and tore them apart. He was a complete stranger to her now but instead of just forgetting about it, her mind wouldn't let go of his dark amber gaze holding hers.

"Hey Joe, we're home."

She snapped out of her thoughts and found them watching her with smirks. She smiled to ease their minds and dismounted. Cliff helped haul her stuff into the family home and up the steps to her room. He put the trunk below the south window and stopped at the door.

"Need any help?"

She shook her head and said "No, I'm good."

He nodded and left the room to just her. Looking around the old room, she walked over to her bed and picked up the photo of her mother. It was no surprise that she resembled this woman physically but everyone expected nothing graceful or feminine out of her. She was real close with her brothers, just as rowdy at times, and she never once regretted it. Putting the picture down, she moved to her trunk and opened the lid.

Silently she unpacked her items and filled the empy dresser with her clothes. The closet was filled with some hang ups and a few jackets. Her spare boots rested on the closet floor and she closed the trunk. Sitting down on her bed, she looked out her window and smirked. She was finally back home and felt like her old self. A knock came from behind her and she looked over her shoulder.

Mack entered the room and joined her. He looked out the window and she knew he was up to something. That was one of the traits she had gained from her mother. She had always been able to read people and her father was no challenge either.

"I said no party."

He chuckled and said "You know we couldn't let down all our friends. They're waiting for us back in town at the dance hall."

She rolled her eyes and he kissed her brow. She watched him leave the room and groaned. Falling back onto the bed, she covered her eyes and fought back the annoyance. Lying there, she allowed her body to slowly loosen and slip into a sense of tranquility. Those eyes returned and she didn't hold back the smirk this time.

If the town was going to be waiting for her to appear, she wouldn't be surprised if Reese Blackburn didn't show. She had a good feeling he would be around but not where he could be seen near them. His name ran through her head again and she opened her eyes. Tonight would prove to be more interesting than she expected.