Champ let out a snort as the bag was tied down on his back and he looked back at his rider. The man was adjusting the strap and met his gaze. He ran his hand over Champ's face and led him out into the winter evening. The family was waiting on the porch and he watched her approach. She had put on a sweater to keep from getting cold and her hair was hanging loose in her face.

He felt her hand wrap around his arm as he walked Champ down the driveway to the end and they came to a stop. They could see the shadowy figures approaching and he looked down at her. She offered him a smile and he ran his hand along her face.

"Promise me you won't push yourself."

She nodded and kissed him slowly. It was meant to soothe the growing ache inside but only made the separation harder. He looked away to take a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Come back in one piece."

Turning his amber eyes back on her, he nodded and she released his arm. He swung up into the saddle and cast her one last look before he turned away. A nudge in the side sent Champ trotting through the snow toward the other riders and he kept his back to his home when he wanted to turn around and forget this job. Greg saluted him as he joined the party and they took off riding through the snow covered country side with the moon their only light. They rode all night in silence and when dawn came, they took refuge in a wooded valley to allow their horses rest and eat something.

Greg watched him sit beside Champ as the stallion grazed and joined him. He took a bite of his sandwich and looked up at Reese. The man wasn't eating anything and was tentavely drinking his water.

"Not going to energize for the next stretch?"

"No point. We have another day's ride before we need to worry about being found, correct?"

Greg nodded and studied the man. He had changed from the incident a year ago. He was harder on the outside but Greg could see the inner turmoil this was having on the man. He knew it had to do with Joe being close to delivering but he still couldn't accept this man being that vulnerable to emotions.

"Get the men back in their saddles. We need to get going."

Reese stood up and brushed the snow off. Champ shook his mane as the man swung up onto his back and Greg mounted his horse. The rest of the team filled in behind them and they resumed a steady gallop through the snow. The day was passed in silence again and Reese ignored the occasional stares as he focused on getting this done so he could go home. Right now he knew everyone was outside enjoying the sun and that his absence would be weighing it down.

Champ's ear went up and he pulled the stallion to a stop. Looking ahead, he felt Champ turn around and he swept the ground. A pile of snow was moving in on them and he shook his head. The furry head appeared and disappeared as he jumped through the deep snow to catch up. Dismounting, he watched Brutus finally reach him and looked down into his black and white face.

"Who's this?"

"My son's dog."

The men started chuckling and Reese ruffled the pup's head. He wagged his tail and leaned into the caress.

"Coming with us?"

Reese looked at the men and then back at Brutus. The dog was old enough to go on long trips away from his pack but Reese knew Will had to be missing him. The bond the boy had with the pup was as strong as Joe's bond with Bear but while Will has been in and out of school Brutus has taken to following him around.

"I suppose we don't have a choice."

"Good. We won't have to ride so hard to let the little one keep up."

A slow frown caught his face but the others just laughed. He took a deep breath and climbed back into the saddle. Champ snorted as they started trotting and Brutus ran alongside without a problem. When the sun was finally setting, they made camp in the mountains that overlooked a valley their information entailed the target's location. They kept a low burning fire to keep the bite of the cold temperatures away and he let Brutus sleep next to his knee.

His head rested on his bag and he tore a bite from his sandwich. Handing it to the dog, he took a bite for himself and cast a look over to the other men. They were each enjoying what could be their last meal in silence and he looked up at the sky. The stars were shining back down at him and he knew the night was just going to be colder. Handing the last bite of the sandwich to Brutus, he pulled his blanket up over his shoulder and felt the dog settle against his chest to keep both of them warm.

"Good morning sleepy head."

His eyes opened slowly at her teasing voice and he found her watching him from his side. She was curled up close to him and he kissed her temple.

"Do we have to get up?"

She laughed and said "You know it's only a matter of time before the presents have to be opened and everyone has to eat."

He let out a low groan and covered his face with a hand. Holidays were never a thing for him and having the family here was no less interesting. He looked down at her and sat up slowly.

"You stay here and I will make breakfast."

She smiled and said "We can both make breakfast. You might try and poison my brothers' food."

"I'm not that bad."

Laughing, she kissed him and climbed out of bed. He watched her pull her light brown locks up and fasten them to the back of her head and she turned her amber eyes on him as she pulled a thick sweater on. She was determined to look decent when she said she was nothing worth looking at. He always found that the exact opposite, especially when he could look at her and see their future children growing inside her.

"Coming?"

His eyes opened with hesitation and he found the early morning sky looking back at him. Brutus lifted his head with a low yawn and he sat up. Brushing the snow off, he found the other marshalls still resting and he stood up. He cleaned his bedding off and carried it over to Champ. The stallion lifted his head from the snow and rolled up onto his feet.

Reese tied the bedding back onto the stallion's back and fished through his pack to find something for Brutus to eat to take the edge of the morning hunger. They split a piece of seasoned ham from the feast a day ago and he watched the other marshalls slowly wake. He rubbed the grease off his hands with the snow and walked to the edge of the area. Smoke was coming from one of the buildings down below and he swept his gaze around the bordering mountains for lookouts. Moving back to the others, he removed signs of his bedding down and watched Greg instruct the others to follow suit.

They walked their horses down a covered trail to get closer and he left Champ out of sight but where the horse could come to him if need be. Kneeling in a tree line just out of sight of the home, he looked down at Brutus and the dog looked up at him.

"If something happens, take this home."

The dog felt him slip the ring onto his collar and licked his hand. He watched a few men come into view and stretch. They were chatting about something and he looked back at Greg. The man was waiting for his que and he looked back around. A bullet struck the ground next to him and they scattered.

"How'd they find us?"

He glanced at the hiding men and said "It doesn't matter. If one goes down, everyone else leaves."

Greg nodded with hesitation and watched him creep closer. He moved out of the trees and slid along the shadow of a building by the main house. Checking for guards, he looked into the building and found men lying on the floor in lumps. His jaw tightened and he heard yelling.

"In the tree line!"

"Get them!"

Holding back the curse, he moved to where he could see and saw the guards closing in on the hiding men. Bullets flew and he saw men circling the tree line from far behind and he frowned. Aligning his gun, he shot two men down before his cover was blown and he ran to another building.

"Get out of here!"

Greg looked back at him and heard "Get!"

Reese leaned against the building and watched the marshalls retrace their steps to the hidden horses and Brutus take off flying. He knew the dog would beat everyone back to his place to deliver the news and just prayed it would strengthen everyone.

"Stop shooting!"

He watched the men stop moving and saw a blond woman appear. She was wearing worn jeans and a sweatshirt. Her curly hair was pulled back and she smiled when she fixed blue eyes on him.

"Well well. It's about time you returned."

His hand tightened on his gun and she approached. She kicked the gun away and knelt in front of him. He held her gaze without a blink and she chuckled.

"Welcome home."

His jaw tightened and she stood up. He knew if he tried anything to harm her he was dead and watched her head back to one of her men. She looked at the man and nodded. The guy lifted his gun and the bullet went through his shoulder. They surrounded him and a blow to his head knocked him out.

He was taken into the building and thrown onto the floor. The woman indicated for his wounded to be mended but without pain medication and left. The other prisoners waited until the healer left and slowly drew closer. One man nudged him and watched his eyes fly open.

"Reese?"

He sat up and gripped his shoulder as the pain ripped through his head. Looking down at his arm, he found it bandaged and his frown grew.

"What the hell? You're suppose to be the one that gets us out of here."

He looked to his right and found himself face to face with marshalls that had gone undercover over the last few years.

"I'm here, aren't I?"

"Shot and taken prisoner. Where's the calvary?"

He looked to his left and found Adam watching without a look of humor left in him. The man had become thin and lost most of his build. A scar had formed on his left shoulder and a wrap was around his torso.

"Sent them out of here."

The man sighed and said "You know that is just going to ruin everything."

"I'm not about to put my family in jeopardy by letting all of them get caught."

Someone chuckled and said "He's been out too long. I think he forgot Abigail's men are all of us in disguise."

He found the talker and growled "I didn't forget."

Pushing himself to his feet, he walked around the room to take in the minute details and stopped by the window. He had a view of the house and saw Abigail standing outside talking with two men. They weren't marshalls undercover but they were working with the law nevertheless. They had made a deal for their lives if they helped bring this woman down.

"How long until we get out of here?"

He looked back to the rest of the men and said "When the right people get here, you'll be out."

One knock warned them people were coming in and he stayed at the window as the door slammed open. The two men spotted him and approached. He knew not to put up a fight, not until his arm had recovered a little, and was pushed outside. They were separating him from the rest and he imagined it was to keep from haing a revolt. He was dragged up to the house and down into the cellar below it.

The men threw him onto the floor and drug him over to the wall. His arm radiated in pain as he was chained up and one guy walked to the door. He watched the other pull out a knife and felt it sink into his side. Holding back the scream, he leaned his head back against the wall and watched the two leave. Moving his bad shoulder, he held his hand against the open wound and closed his eyes.

When the plan had first been drafted up, they hadn't expected Abigail to wise up and not trust her prisoners but she did. He looked up at the barred window and moved his gaze around the cold place. No signs of use other than holding people and a chill ran through his spine. The door opened and he watched the woman enter with a plate of food. She knelt beside him and set it just out of his reach.

"Glad to see you settling in. Now, here's the deal. As long as you behave, I don't kill the others or your family. My men are heading there as we speak. I'm sure poor Joe could take out a few before we got to her. My men have a fascination for pregnant women, especially helpless ones."

His growl made her laugh and she said "Good boy. Now eat. You may be housed here but you won't receive any special medical treatments."

He watched her throw an old towel at him and she walked back to the door. He moved his leg just enough to kick the tray over and ruin the food. She shook her head and he watched her leave. The door was locked and he grabbed the towel. Holding it against his side, he took a deep painful breath and let out it slowly.