Rebecca left the bank feeling elated. It had been easier than she had thought to persuade Preston to grant her extra time on the loan. Perhaps she had been mistaken about him. Now all she had to do was figure out how she was going to bring the farm back from the brink. As she stepped down onto the street, her elation slowly began to turn into panic. Two months…two months! How on earth was she going to turn the fortunes of the farm around in two months? It would be an impossible task. She should have asked for more time, she should have…her lack of knowledge about finances hit her squarely in the face. It was going to take a lot more than bravado and the knowledge that she was Angus McKendrick's daughter to turn this around.

As she started to walk back towards the station to pick up her luggage, she was so lost in thought that she wasn't looking where she was going and bumped into someone hurrying in the opposite direction.

"I'm sorry," she said, looking up at a man not much younger than herself. "I wasn't watching where I was going."

"No it was my fault," he replied, "You all right?"

"I'm fine," Rebecca smiled, "really."

He squinted at her, "Don't I know you?"

"Probably," she replied, "I'm from Colorado Springs originally." She glanced at the badge on his jacket, "Well, you're obviously the sheriff."

"Yes ma'am. Matthew Cooper."

Rebecca's eyes widened, "Charlotte's Matthew?"

"That's right."

"Oh my Lord you've grown so much!" she laughed, "the last time I saw you, you were a skinny, shy kid. Now look at you!

Light dawned in Matthew's eyes, "Rebecca McKendrick!"

"The very same!" Rebecca replied, allowing him to hug her. "It's so good to see so many old friends! I was half afraid you would all have fled to Denver."

"No way," Matthew replied, "Colorado Springs'll do me just fine."

"I was so sorry about your mother," Rebecca said, putting her hand on his arm. "That must have been so hard for you. And for Colleen and Brian."

Matthew looked away, "Well, you know what it's like."

"Yes, I'm afraid I do." She glanced behind her at the bank, "I've just met Mr Lodge."

"Preston? He was your first stop when you got back in town?"

"Out of necessity I'm afraid," she made a face, "He wanted full repayment of my father's loan or he was going to take the farm."

"You're kidding?" Matthew looked outraged.

"I wish I was," Rebecca replied, "thankfully I've managed to hold him off for two months to give me some time to get things sorted. I'm heading up to the farm now."

"Let me come with you," Matthew said hurriedly.

"Oh there's no need. I may have been away for eight years but I still remember how to drive a wagon!"

"I…still think I should come with you."

"Why?" Rebecca looked at him hard, "What are you not telling me?"

"Nothing," Matthew replied, "but just…let me come with you."

Rebecca shrugged, "All right. It'll be nice to have some company on the drive." They made their way back through town to the station, chatting about old times and about how much the town had changed. When they reached the station, Horace came hurrying out of the office.

"Got your wagon for you Rebecca," he said, gesturing to where a wagon was standing waiting with her luggage on board.

"Thank you Horace," Rebecca said, "Matthew's going to come up to the farm with me."

"That's a good idea," Horace said. "I'm sure it's not as bad as they say."

Rebecca, who had been walking towards the wagon, stopped suddenly and turned to look at him. "What do you mean?"

Horace and Matthew exchanged looks. "Oh…nothing," the former replied, "it's just that…well…it's been a long time since you were up there…"

"Yes? And?"

"Well…"Horace stuttered, "…have a nice drive." With that, he dived back into the office.

Rebecca looked at Matthew who shrugged and then climbed into the wagon. "I'll drive," she said, grabbing the reins from him. "I'm going to have to be self-sufficient after all."

"It's all yours," Matthew said. Clicking her tongue, Rebecca moved the horse forward and they made their way away from the station and out into the outskirts of the town where the farm was located.

"So," she said, "how are you finding being Sheriff?"

"It's all right so far," Matthew replied. "Had to do some things I don't like, like hanging a man." Rebecca looked at him horrified, "I know. It was tough but…it's part of my job."

"Well, there's being Sheriff and then there's being a hangman."

"Yeah well, he deserved it. Raped a young girl and murdered an old man."

Rebecca shuddered, "Well, I'm glad that you were around to take care of business."

"Whole town wanted him lynched. It got done right though."

Rebecca grinned at him, "I'm proud of you, Matthew. I always knew you'd make something of yourself."

He blushed and looked away, "You know, I had the biggest crush on you when I was younger."

"I didn't know that."

"Well, I wasn't going to tell you," he said, "Besides, I was only twelve."

"With a glorious mop of blond hair if I recall correctly."

"You should see Brian!"

They laughed as Rebecca took the wagon round a corner and came face to face with the farm. Rebecca's laughter suddenly ceased. "Oh…my Lord…" She pushed the horse forward faster until they reached the front of the farm. "Oh my…" she sat and looked at it in horror. "Just…just look at it!"

The entire building looked as though it was about to fall down. Windows were broken, window frames cracked, slates missing from the roof, weeds growing all over the garden and surrounding land. The barns at the back of the property looked equally as empty and abandoned as the main house and the corral gate swung ominously in the autumn breeze.

"I'm sure it ain't as bad as it looked," Matthew said, jumping down.

"But it's…I mean it's…" Rebecca was lost for words. "What on earth happened here?" she looked at him. "Do you know what happened to Henry?"

"Not really. We hardly ever saw him in town and then one day, he was just gone."

Rebecca sighed, "Two months is never going to fix this! I dread to think what the place looks like inside."

"You got keys?" She nodded and stood up. As she did, he saw her wobble and sit back down again suddenly. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine," Rebecca said, "I just…felt a bit faint."

"No wonder," Matthew held out his hand and, when she had regained her balance, Rebecca stood up again and allowed him to help her down. Once on the ground, she leant back against the wagon. "You sure you're ok?"

"Yes," she said, waving him away. "Can you…can you check on the barns please? I'll go into the house."

"Sure," he said, casting her a final glance before hurrying around to the back of the property.

Rebecca let out a long breath and placed her hand on her chest. Her heart was racing and she counted slowly to ten, waiting for it to return to normal. She again cursed Henry, not only for leaving the farm in the state it was clearly in, but for also bringing on one of her turns. Reaching into her bag, she lifted out the set of keys and walked forwards to the front door. As it turned out, she didn't need them. The door swung easily open and a strong smell of damp hit her as she stepped inside. The interior, while instantly recognisable, was forlorn and shabby. The kitchen and living areas where she had spent many happy hours playing while her father worked outside were shadows of their former selves. As she walked slowly through the various rooms, she felt a profound sense of sadness and, indeed, anger. Anger not just at Henry, but at herself for staying away so long.

"Not much happening outside," Matthew said, coming in behind her.

"I should have come back," she murmured. "I shouldn't have stayed away."

"You can't think like that. You didn't know this was going to happen."

"What kind of daughter doesn't come home when her father's dying?" she turned to look at him. "I didn't even say a proper goodbye. Maybe if I'd been here I could have prevented this." She groaned. "Mr Lodge is no doubt loving the fact that I lowered myself to beg for two months grace. He probably knows exactly what sort of a state this place is in and is no doubt laughing himself silly at how stupid I am!"

Matthew didn't know what to say to that. "Well, you can't stay here."

"I have to," she replied, "I've nowhere else."

"There's the boarding house in town," he said, "it's nice. Real quiet." She didn't reply. "Look, why don't I take you back into town? We could have lunch at Grace's and you could meet Doctor Mike. She and Sully will know what to do about starting work on this place. I'm sure folks in town will help you get it back up and running."

"It doesn't look like I have much choice," she replied wearily, "does it?"

XXXX

"Little Rebecca McKendrick," Hank Lawson drawled a few hours later.

"You haven't changed a bit, Hank," Rebecca said.

"You certainly have," he remarked, looking her up and down. "Ya know, if ya can't git the farm back on track, there's always a job for ya at the saloon."

"I'll bear that in mind," she replied mildly. At the moment, being offered a position as a whore seemed far less worrying that the task she knew lay ahead.

"Fact is, I'm lookin' to expand," he said.

"Really?"

"Gonna build me a hotel. Best hotel in town." He grinned at her.

"Only hotel in town."

"Aw, Hank's been talkin' bout this for months," Loren Bray remarked from his seat next to Rebecca, "Fact is, I'll be dead before he gits anywhere close to buildin' it!"

"Have a little faith, Loren," Hank replied. "Ain't that right, Rev?"

"I suppose so," Rev Johnston said. "It's unfortunate, Rebecca, that your first few hours back in town haven't been particularly pleasant."

"Havin' to meet with Preston'd turn even the strongest stomach," Hank said.

"I was referring to the farm, Hank."

"Both experiences haven't exactly been pleasant," Rebecca replied, swirling the remains of her tea around her cup. "Not quite the homecoming I was hoping for."

"Doctor Mike!" Matthew shouting in her ear made her jump. "Over here!" Rebecca looked up and saw a woman making her way over to their table. "Doctor Mike, this is Rebecca McKendrick. She just got back into town today."

"Pleased to meet you," Michaela said, extending her hand. She paused. "Are you Angus McKendrick's daughter?"

"Yes," Rebecca replied.

"I treated your father shortly before he died," Michaela said, "he spoke very highly about you. He was very proud about your studying in Boston."

Rebecca made a face. "Perhaps if I have stayed in Colorado Springs…" she left the sentence hanging.

"You were studying English?" Michaela asked. Rebecca nodded. "You should speak to Dorothy Jennings. She's the editor of our local newspaper, The Gazette. Who knows, you might be able to do some writing."

"I think my time will be well spent fixing up the farm," Rebecca replied gloomily.

"I told you," Matthew said, "Folks'll help you out."

"I don't want charity, Matthew," she replied, "I wanted to do this on my own. I wanted to prove something to myself."

"Like what?" Rev Johnston asked.

"I don't know. That I hadn't completed shunned my birthright? That I'm my father's daughter? I know it sounds silly…"

"Not at all," Michaela said, "it sounds very admirable."

"Thank you," Rebecca replied gratefully.

"Oh Lord," Rev Johnston said, "it's Preston. He's going to start going on about the loan for the church repairs again." He put his napkin down and tried to hurry away from the table, but Preston was too quick.

"Reverend," he said, touching his hat, "ladies. I was hoping to have a quick word with you, Reverend."

"Well, I was just on my way to…"

"This won't take long. It's about the church." Preston paused suddenly. "Miss McKendrick!" Rebecca looked up from where she had been trying to blend into the background. "It's good to see you getting yourself reacquainted with the locals." He smiled at her. "Have you been up to the farm yet?"

"Yes," she replied, through gritted teeth.

"Splendid. I think it's wonderful that you've come back to save your family home. Very admirable, I must say."

"I'm sure you must," she muttered under her breath. "Matthew," she said, "Why don't you show me round town? We passed through it very briefly earlier and I'd like to see it in more detail."

"Sure," he replied, "I'll introduce you to Dorothy."

"Sounds great," Rebecca stood up and all of a sudden, the familiar blackness washed over her and she had to sit back down again.

"Are you all right?" Michaela asked hurrying forward.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine," Rebecca said, taking a deep breath. When she looked up, she saw everyone looking at her with concern including, to her irritation, Preston. "I'm fine, honestly," she laughed, "It's just been a long day with certain unwelcome surprises. I just stood up too quickly."

"That happened earlier at the farm," Matthew said.

"If you come to the clinic I can have a proper look at you," Michaela said.

"No, no, there's no need." Rebecca got to her feet. "See? No problem." The others didn't look convinced.

"Perhaps you should take Michaela up on her offer," Preston said.

Rebecca turned to face him, "Perhaps you should stay out of matters that don't concern you." With that, she took Matthew's arm and walked away from the table back towards town.

"You should listen to Doctor Mike," Matthew said, "she's a good doctor…"

"Matthew," Rebecca said, "please. Just show me round town." He nodded and started to talk about how Michaela had established the clinic. To her shame, Rebecca found herself tuning out. The attacks were coming more frequently now. If she was being honest, she was starting to become very afraid.