The house was quiet when he returned from the barn. He hung his coat up and walked down the hallway. Right now a good drink was all he could think that would loosen the grip that darn woman had put on him again. Entering the kitchen, he found Cal sitting at the table with two beers and the man held one out to him. Silently he sat across the table and opened the bottle.

Taking a drink, he let the alcohol slide into his system and waited for the glorious relief it would provide him long enough to fall asleep tonight. The man across the table was watching him with his usual training gaze and he knew Cal was just waiting for the drink to hit before asking any questions. He leaned back in his chair and met the man with his calm gaze.

"How much food did she eat?"

"None."

The man frowned and said "You know that wasn't an option."

"The order was to get her to take some of the food."

Cal smirked and asked "And she did?"

He nodded and said "She took a few bites."

"Let me guess, to Bear?"

Reese took another drink and let the silence answer that one. The man chuckled and looked at his drink.

"You didn't kill her did you?"

"Why would I do that?"

"You're pretty hot headed when she's around."

He leaned his arms on the table and slowly said "I don't need the hassle it would cause."

The man stared back at him, surprised that was the reasoning he was providing. He could see the slight difference in the man from the moment he entered the room. Whatever had happened outside was between the two of them and there was no way Cal was going to step into that battle zone unless it was necessary.

"May I ask what happened then?"

"I gave her the food, apologized, and took Bear back to his stall for the night."

"He was up?"

Cal seemed surprised and he nodded. Sipping the last out of his bottle, he rested it on the table and waited. The man had become a friend of some sort over the years of his employment here but he knew the man from his childhood. He could still remember when they would get into trouble back on the farm when he and Joe would do ambush attacks on her brothers. That memory brought a frown to his face and he looked back at the man across the table.

"Calli cooled off yet?"

He nodded and said "I'd be more worried about Teddy. He was still really upset when he went upstairs."

Groaning, he ran his hand through his hair and stood up. He took his bottle to the sink and rinsed it out. Dropping it into the trash can, he looked back at Cal and watched the man get to his feet.

"I'll shut the barn before heading up to my place."

"It's fine."

Cal looked back at him and asked "You let her stay there for the night?"

"Just for tonight."

He shook his head and smirked. It was going to be interesting these last weeks while they waited on the pass to open back up and he wasn't sure who would come out ahead. Tempers were already on edge and now they are attempting to be civil.

"Just remember how long it took you to get her out of your system."

"I know what I'm doing."

He chuckled and said "Sure. You said that seven years ago when I found out."

Reese watched the man leave and his frown returned. He loosened the fist forming at his side and turned the light off. Climbing the stairs, he walked to his room and flipped the light. He walked over to the bed and opened his bag. It took a hand full of seconds to move the dirty clothes to the basket in the closet and he hung the bag up at the back of the small section.

Taking a deep breath, he glanced at the clock across the room and shook his head. Closing his closet, he turned off the light and walked to his bed. His boots hit the floor and he peeled off his shirt. Digging out a pair of sweatpants from his dresser, he lost the jeans and slid into the warmer pants. Moving his bedding aside, he stretched out on his back and felt the warmth surround him.

Adjusting the bedding back over him, his eyes moved to the ceiling and he rested his hands behind his head. The ceiling was dark and still, something he had to get use to after being out under the stars at night traveling. Slowly his eyes fell shut and he let the sleep he had been denying for over twenty-four hours take over.

"Come on Reese."

His eyes turned to his sister and he shook his head. She caught at his arm again but he didn't move. Her disappointment crossed her face for a second and then her cunning smile returned. She spun away from him and walked into the dance hall. He knew he better keep an eye on her but there really wasn't much trouble she could possibly get herself into tonight.

Leaning back in the chair, he propped a boot against the porch railing and closed his eyes. The music was echoing in his head and he could imagine his sister louring some unfortunate soul out onto the dance floor. The music suddenly got louder and he opened his eyes. Looking to his side, he saw the man dragging his dance partner out for some air. The guy led her off the porch and down the street to the stable.

When they ducked out of sight his boot hit the porch and he stood up. Why he was following he didn't understand but he didn't double guess himself. Silently he entered the barn and heard muffled noises from the far end of the place. Skin was hit hard and he saw the guy fall onto his back. He was wiping blood from his mouth and stood up.

"I thought you went east."

The woman stepped into view and said "I went east to get my education you idiot."

Blood was spat on the floor and the man let out a low snarl. Reese saw his fist tighten at his side and caught it when he went to strike her. At first the man was annoyed but when their gazes met, he dropped his arm and stepped back. It didn't take the man more than a second to turn around and leave once that happened.

"Bastard."

Smirking, he looked back at the woman and shook his head. She looked at him and a slow smile crossed her face.

"I thought I'd see you tonight."

"Hey."

Opening his eyes, he found the sun still hidden and glanced at his clock. There was at least an hour before dawn but he knew there was no way he would fall back asleep now. Sighing, he pushed the bedding off and changed back into a pair of jeans. Grabbing a clean shirt, he slid it on and quickly jumped into his boots. He left his bedroom and descended the steps without alerting the other resting habitants.

Stealing his coat from the closet, he grabbed a warm blanket and stepped outside. The lights weren't on at the hands' house up the hill and he knew he would probably be the only one up for a while. Crossing the drive, he found the snow deeper and quickly stepped into the warm barn. The office light was still off and he quietly walked down the aisle. He spotted Bear first and found him curled up against the brunette sleeping beside him.

He approached the door and the coon dog looked up at him. Bear didn't make a sound as the blanket was placed on his master and Reese stepped out of the stall. He didn't need her waking up with him still in view. Glancing around the place, he knew she was going to put up a fight when he told her to bunk indoors tonight.

He took a few steps toward the door and heard "Reese?"

Stopping frozen in place at the voice, he took a deep breath and slowly managed to turn around to find her sitting up. She shoved the straw out of her hair and if the last seven years hadn't happened he might of made a comment or tease about her appearance.

"Thanks for the blanket."

"You weren't supposed to know."

She let the old smirk capture her face briefly and said "Not that easy to fool me anymore."

He stared into her eyes and felt them pulling at him again. Bear lifted his head and let out a moan. She scratched his ear and stood up. Stepping out of the stall, she folded the blanket up and handed it back to him. He took it and watched her retrieve her coat and gloves from the office.

She walked back into the stall and knelt in front of the coon dog. He slowly moved onto his legs and she ran her hands over his body, trying to get his muscles loosened and warmed. His tail wagged as she slid her fingers through his thin coat and he looked over her shoulder at Reese. When Joe stood, she let Bear out of the stall and the dog slowly walked outside.

"Should he be up?"

She nodded and said "It gets some of the stiffness out of his muscles."

"The pain?"

"Pain killers, remember?"

His amber eyes leveled with her and she looked away. Bear was standing at the door looking at them and then he looked toward the house.

"He wants to go in."

Reese looked at him and said "That is up to you."

"I think it would do him some good."

They fell silent before leaving the barn and followed the injured dog to the house. He slowly climbed the porch steps and Reese opened the door. The warmth seemed to revive him and Bear moved quicker through the house. He found the kitchen and began tracking all the scents left over from the night before. Joe watched him from the doorway and then she looked at the man that was digging through the fridge.

He pulled out some breakfast items and asked "How many eggs?"

She would have laughed if it was still just like old times but it wasn't. She remained quiet and he looked at her. They both knew if they weren't careful this pattern would draw them back in and that was too deadly of a road to take.

"Joe, you have to eat."

"I'm fine."

His eyes narrowed and she could feel the new smoldering light play with her. It captivated her more than ever and she still kept quiet, not trusting her voice.

"Calli will force you if you don't."

She rolled her eyes at that and he asked "How are you not hungry? You haven't eaten in at least twelve hours."

"I didn't say I wasn't hungry."

"Then how many eggs already?"

She watched him dig out the cooking items and tried to ignore the memories that started to stir. When he glanced back at her with annoyance settling in, she took a deep breath and told him two. It still didn't please him apparently and she watched him focus on the task of cooking. Bear settled down by the table and she quietly took the seat next to him. He was watching Reese move around and she slowly allowed her gaze to rest on the man too.

Waking to the sunlight on her face, she rolled onto her side and took a deep breath. The quietness made her sit up and she ran her hand through her hair. Her mind was still fuzzy from the night before and she slid out of the warm bed. Finding her flannel waiting for her by the door, she walked out of the room and slid it over her arms. The upstairs was quiet and she walked downstairs.

Food welcomed her and she checked the hallway clock on her way to the kitchen. No one woke up this early around here besides her, especially on the weekend. Stepping into the kitchen, she stopped in her tracks and watched the man move around the kitchen like he lived here. That thought sent a chill through her and she couldn't hold back the shudder. It caught his attention and he smirked at her somewhat startled look.

"Decided to return to the land of the living?"

She walked up to the bar and sat on one of the stools. He handed her a hot mug of coffee and she let it warm her hands.

"What are you doing here?"

He turned the stove off and put a plate of pancakes in front of her. She watched him set out the butter and syrupt and that thought came back.

"I brought you home last night, remember?"

"That doesn't explain you still being here."

He smirked again and said "We both know my presence is not going to be detected unless a miracle brings your family home this morning."

She ran her hand through her hair and asked "What happened last night once I got here?"

"We talked until you fell asleep."

Everything finally clicked and the fog lifted from her mind. She nodded and he handed her a fork and knife. He leaned back against the opposite cabinet and watched her prepare the food to her liking.

"Thanks."

"For?"

Her eyes turned up to him and she said "For bringing me home and for knowing what I'd want to eat."

"Don't you have it when you're home?"

She shook her head as she poured a little bit of syrup on the pancakes and said "I haven't been home in a couple of years. Before then, we didn't do family breakfasts since. . ."

"Since that fall out."

"Yeah."

She took a bite and let the taste flood her senses. Pancakes had been a serious craving for the last few years and he always did know how to make them more interesting. She saw him fix himself a plate and take the seat next to her. They ate the food in silence and it gave them privacy to their own thoughts.

Blinking when the plate rested in front of her, she caught the flash of a smirk on his face and sat back in her chair.

"Back from your thoughts?"

She didn't let those words linger too long on her mind. The trips down memory lane were painful enough without this new situation opening up those wounds all over again. She picked up a fork and took a bite. His sense of cooking was better than she remembered but then again she wasn't surprised. Everything about them had changed and her dark thoughts started rolling again.

Reese sat across the table with his food but kept his gaze on her. She knew on some level they were both in the same boat but she didn't want to think that his was worse. It was still a miracle he was able to be civil at all to her when from the first moment they met the hell that had happened was thrown back on both of them. Instead of complimenting him on the food, she ate in silence and he kept his words to himself as well. Right now the silence was the only way they could be in the same room this long without one of them turning defensive.