"You have nothing to be sorry for," Nick scolded. "This was not your fault." He held her tight and went for the house as quickly as he could. "Silas," he bellowed as he shoved the door open. "Silas, I need your help."

"Yes Mr. Nick," Silas appeared from the direction of the kitchen. "Mrs. Barkley," he cried and ran to meet them.

"Silas," Nick interrupted. "Heath went for the doctor. I need you to get Audra and the two of you stay with her until the doctor gets here."

"Nick," Audra appeared suddenly at the bannister. "Mother," she screeched. "What happened?" She ran down stairs.

"Mother's been shot," Nick shook his head.

"I'll get the room ready," Silas hurried up the stairs faster than Nick had seen the old man move in ages. "Bring her on up here."

"Come on Audra," Nick nodded to his sister and started for the stairs.

Audra put one hand on her mother and one hand around Nick's waist, the way she had seen her mother do so many times when any of them were hurt or sick. In that moment, she finally understood the gesture. She could feel her mother relax at her touch and she could feel something in Nick too. It was not relaxed to be sure, but it was almost like a relief that helped him regain the strength to carry Victoria upstairs. She understood that her mother did this to feel what her children were feeling, to lend them her own strength and be a participant.

"Here," Audra went for her mother's bedroom door and held it open.

"Sis," Nick sat Victoria on the bed. "I need you to stay with her and keep the pressure up on that wound. Heath will be back as soon as he can."

"Right," Audra nodded. "Silas will you bring some water and fresh towels. I will clean it up now and we will make sure we have what we need for when Doc Merar gets here."

"Yes Miss Audra," Silas nodded and left the room with the water pitcher.

"Mother," Nick sat next to her on the bed and held her hand. "You are going to be ok."

"It's ok Nick," she smiled. "I know you have to go. I'll be here."

Nick squeezed her hand, kissed it and then bent down and kissed her cheek. "I know, I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Where are you going," Audra whispered when he stood up and kissed Audra's forehead.

"I have to go take care of the body," he whispered back. "I can't leave him lying in the corral until the sheriff comes."

"Alright," Audra nodded. "I understand."

"Send Silas if there's a problem," Nick told her and then went to the door.

"Here we are," Silas appeared a moment later with the water and towels. He set them on the bedside table and watched as Audra set to work.

"I have to clean it," Audra looked at her mother as Victoria squeezed her eyes shut and nodded. Audra ripped Victoria's blouse so that the wound was better exposed. She wet a towel and pulled away Nick's handkerchief. There was a lot of blood but less than Audra had thought there could be. She hoped that was a good sign. She gently wiped at the wound and squeezed her own eyes closed when she heard Victoria groan in pain. "I'm sorry," she said quietly and resumed her cleaning of the wound."

"Just do it Audra," her mother's voice was stern but shaking.

Audra finished cleaning the wound and then took a dry cloth and pressed it tight to the wound. She held it tightly while Silas took a long length of bandage and tied it tightly around Victoria's stomach to hold the pressure. Then she and Silas helped Victoria to lay back on the bed. Audra fluffed the pillows and Silas took the old cloth, Nick's handkerchief and the water basin out to bring in fresh for when the doctor arrived.

"Just relax," Audra squeezed her mother's hand and played with her hair. "Heath should be here anytime."

"I know," Victoria sighed. "Audra,"

"What is it," Audra tried not to let panic creep into her voice even though the feeling was overwhelming. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Victoria shook her head. "I just want you to know," she shifted on the bed and grimaced in pain. "I just want you to know that I love you so much."

"I love you too," Audra kissed Victoria's cheek. "But there will be plenty of time for all of that once you are up and around."

Victoria nodded and closed her eyes. She didn't want to move and she didn't want to breathe too hard. Everything hurt. So, she breathed deliberately slow and started to pray. She couldn't go, not yet. She had things to do. But Tom, Tom was waiting for her and she could feel it. She felt guilty; she had missed him so much this morning, even said she was waiting to be with him again; it was less than an hour ago. Now she was pushing away, she was pushing away from being with him. But it was too soon. She couldn't go yet. The children, they needed her.