Hearing the horses talking, she closed her file and put it in the cabinet. Stretching her arms, she rolled her neck loose as she left the office and headed to the barn doors. She found Grace and Will preparing for their afternoon ride and leaned against the frame. Bear appeared next to her and she scratched his ear. He leaned into the touch and she glanced back at the two kids.

Will swung up onto Pagan and Grace climbed onto her mare, Eva. They glanced back at her and she nodded. Will flicked his reins and they took off toward the hills. Bear cocked his ears and she walked across the driveway to the house. Climbing the porch steps, she opened the door and walked through the downstairs to the kitchen.

She poured a glass of water and leaned against the counter as she finished it off. Someone cleared their throat behind her and she glanced over her shoulder. Jeff was watching her from the hall and she put her empty glass in the sink.

"You okay with them not being supervised?"

"I trust them."

He watched her come around the counter and they headed back to the barn. She found Bear listening from the barn doors and they walked into the office.

"Not worried something may happen?"

She shook her head and said "We'll know if we do."

He glanced back at Bear and the dog glanced up at him. Shaking his head with a smirk, he looked over the books she had been working on earlier that day.

"You've got one heck of a system."

She smirked and said "I made sure you can take over when the time comes."

His face tightened and he said "You said you wouldn't talk like that."

"I never gave my word."

"Joe, we're trying everything."

She left the office and said "It's pointless."

Jeff came up next to her and sighed "How bad is it?"

Looking up toward the hills, she said "If I tell you then it will just make everyone worry more than they already do."

"Joe, you're my baby sister. I've got a right to know."

Her brown eyes turned to him and he sighed. Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, he kissed the top of her head and took a deep breath. Bear lept to his feet and started growling. She grabbed her gun from a drawer just as he took off and she followed. Feeling her pulse racing, she followed him into the hills and heard the yelling from up ahead.

"Where is your father?!"

"Get out of here!"

"Tell me boy or I will blow her head off!"

Her blood quickened as she climbed the last hill and heard the gun shot. Clearing the hill, she found Will lying on the ground with Grace next to him and the man raising his gun again. Bear jumped at him and the gun went off again. Racing down the hill, she ran over to Grace and found the blood spreading on Will's shirt.

"Ssh. It's going to be okay."

"Bear?"

"Joe!"

"Grace, is the man moving?"

"No, Bear got him just before the gun went off."

"Mom?"

She took Will's hand and squeezed it. The blood was covering most of his shirt and she tore the sleeve off hers. Wrapping it around the wound in his shoulder, she applied pressure and saw Grace get up.

"Grace?"

"Bear's not moving."

Will tried to sit up but she kept him down on the ground.

"Mom, I have to see if he's okay."

"If you move, the bleeding won't stop."

He looked up at her with tears in his eyes and she barely managed to hold back her own fear. Grace walked over to Bear and dropped down next to him. He let out a quiet whine and she saw his coat staining with blood.

"Mom! He's been shot."

She closed her eyes and clenched her jaw. Every fiber of her needed to get to him and stop the bleeding but she couldn't let her own son die.

"Joe!"

Looking up, she watched Jeff reach them and he knelt down next to them. He looked over Will and then glanced at the man lying still on the ground.

"We need to get him to the hospital."

"Cliff's bringing Daemon."

She caught his gaze and he looked over at Grace. She was holding her hands on Bear's side like Joe was blotting Will's wound and trying not to cry.

"Grace, get back here."

"I can't let him die."

Jeff turned back to his sister and watched her close her eyes. The sleeve was soaked with blood and he took his shirt off. Handing it to his sister, she pressed it against Will's shoulder and watched him move to Bear and Grace.

"Keep your hands right there and press firmly."

She nodded and he checked on the man beside them. The man was nothing but a corspe left bleeding out on the grass and his jaw tightened. Daemon crested the hill and they watched Cliff swing to the ground just as Mack and Billy reached them.

Mack knelt next to her and she said "Try and help Bear. I have to get Will to town."

He looked down at her and she averted her eyes until he moved over to Grace and Jeff. Billy and Cliff lifted Will up as she climbed into the saddle and handed him up into the saddle. He leaned back against her and she secured him with one arm.

"I'll be there right behind you."

She caught her twin's gaze and nodded. Daemon snorted and they flrew over the hill. Will closed his eyes as they left the family home and entered the countryside. She kept her mind quiet by focusing on getting him help immediately when she knew she wouldn't make without breaking otherwise. The sun was setting when they raced into the town limits and chased the innocent people out of the road.

Daemon came to an abrupt hault outside the hospital and she had Will lean against the stallion's neck as she swung down. Doc came outside just as she brought him down and carried him into the building. The man emptied his waiting room and led her back to the examining room. He was laid down on his back and the ruined shirt and wrap were tossed aside. She stayed out of his way as he removed the bullet and began closing the wound.

"How did this happen?"

"They went riding. That's all I know."

He finished closing the wound and looked over at her. The blood was still on her clothes and skin but he didn't comment on it.

"I have the wound closed but you know he needs to go to the center. He won't make it here. He's barely hanging on as it is."

"How long do I have?"

"If you go by coach it's cutting it really close. He needed to go there first."

"He wouldn't have made it."

"I can't say he will make the ride now."

He dug out a spare shirt and slid it over Will's shoulders. He groaned with the jerking of his body and she glanced up at Doc. He grabbed a small pain killer and administered it into his arm.

"It' won't keep him from being aware of the pain but it won't be as painful."

"Thanks."

She picked him up and walked outside. Doc held him as she climbed into the saddle and handed him up.

"Ride fast, but be careful."

She nodded and grabbed the reins. Daemon spun around and they headed down the road. The townspeople ran out of the way again as they flew out of town and headed for the East. Will leaned agaisnt her as the sun set further below the horizon and the upcoming town began to disappear from sight. Daemon was heaving for air when he reached the town and she swung to the ground.

Holding Will in her arms, she stopped long enough to kiss Daemon's face and ran into the hospital. The nurse at the reception desk jumped to her feet and quickly called for the doctor. She carried Will down the hall to the examining room and just laid him down when the doctor and his team entered the room. The receptionist took her by the arm and walked her out into the hall.

"They will take care of him. Let's get you cleaned up."

"No. I can't leave."

The woman sighed and asked "How did you get here?"

"My horse."

"Then take him to the town stables and settle him in. You need a moment to catch your breath."

She wanted to reject the idea but was pulled down the hall. The woman walked her outside and she quietly took Daemon's reins. They walked down the road to the stables and she settled him in a free stall. He was still breathing hard and she got him a bucket of fresh cool water. Hanging the bucket, she let him take a drink and ran her hand along his neck as he slowly recovered from the hard ride.

When his breathing was back to normal and he just required rest, she settled him in for the night and returned to the hospital. The nurse met her in the hall by the examining room and handed her a clean shirt.

"You can change in the next room. I will get an update on your son."

She watched the nurse go into the examining room and walked into the spare room. Changing out of her stained shirt, she looked at the blood all over her skin and located the sink. Quickly she scrubbed all the blood off and dried her skin. Sliding into the new shirt, she left the room and found the nurse leaving the examining room.

"The doctors said he suffered too much blood loss. The outcome isn't good."

"How long does he have?"

The nurse shook her head and said "They can't tell. Could be weeks, could be a few days."

She sat down and took a deep breath. The woman left her in the hall and she ran her hands through her hair. Catching her breath, she looked up and turned her gaze to the door.

"Joe!"

Looking down the hall, she stood up as Cliff reached her and took her in his arms. He hugged her tightly and she closed her eyes.

"How is everyone?"

"They're on their way except for Dad. He's staying behind with Bear."

She stepped back and asked "How bad is he?"

Cliff shook his head and said "He took a bullet too close to interal organs. Dad doesn't think he'll make it."

Looking away, she fought back the anguish and asked "And Grace?"

"On the way with Jeff and Billy. They'll get her here by tomorrow morning."

She took another deep breath and said "The doctors don't expect Will to make it."

Cliff caught her in another hug and kept quiet. She let his touch help her keep together and not break down.