"Come on honey," Heath helped Audra stand. "The doctor says you need to keep weight off that ankle for a few days," he picked her up and held her like a child.

"Sure," Audra laid her head on his shoulder and hugged his neck. "I just want to go home," she started to cry again.

"That's where we are going," he kissed her forehead and started for his horse. "Would you rather ride with Nick?"

"Not a chance," she smiled. "I feel bad enough for Coco."

"Very funny," Nick held Charger still while Heath pushed Audra up into the saddle. "Tell me little brother, are you going to be able to manage with her needing to ride side saddle?"

"We will be just fine," Heath smiled and climbed up behind his sister. "Are you ok sis?"

"I supposed," she held the saddle horn with one hand and wrapped the other around Heath's waist.

"Then let's get home," he kissed her cheek and prodded Charger forward.

"I'll catch up," Nick called as he headed for where he had left Coco.

"Audra," Heath said as they trotted back down the trail toward the ranch. "I'm sorry about tonight."

"What do you mean," Audra turned her face to look at him. "You saved me."

Heath sighed. "But I put you in danger too. I never should have taken that shot with you laying there like that."

"Then Thad would have killed you," she turned back and watched the trail. "Heath, I'm angry about what Thad did. I don't understand it and I am scared about what will happen now. But you didn't do anything wrong."

"Ok," Heath smiled as he felt her squeeze his waist tighter and her breathing catch as she fought more tears. "It won't be long and we'll be home."

"Right," Nick was trotting up next to them.

"I have a question," Audra said when she knew that Nick was keeping pace with Heath.

"What's that honey," Nick asked.

"Why were the two of you riding by that grove this late at night?"

"Well," Nick tried to think of an answer. "We, uh, we…"

"You were just coming to check on me right," Audra asked quietly.

"Nick," Heath looked at his brother. "I think she is on to us."

"Well," Nick sighed. "We weren't going to embarrass you or anything. It was just that you said you planned on being home early and when it was so dark and well past the time you told mother, we thought we would ride in and make sure that you were ok," he explained. "We were just going to ride back out if you were dancing the night away with some good-looking cowboy."

"Well," Audra tried to sound appalled. "Let me tell you something Nick Barkley," she could barely see him even in the moonlight. "I am sure glad you did," she took her hand off the saddle and blew him a kiss.

"Me too," Nick chuckled softly. "Me too."

It was nearly two in the morning when they reached the ranch. Nick rode into the corral ahead of Heath. He dismounted and tied Coco to the fence. When Heath reached the fence, Nick lifted his arms and waited for Audra to slide from the saddle. Heath dismounted and tied Charger. Just then Duke, the foreman appeared in the barn doorway with a lantern.

"Nick," he asked.

Audra gasped and turned away so Duke would not see her torn dress and bruised face. "Duke," Nick put up a hand to stop him. "Give us a minute and then put away the horses would you."

"Of course," Duke nodded. "I'll wait inside. Anything else you need."

"No thanks Duke," Nick smiled. "See you in the morning."

"Yes sir," he nodded and headed back into the barn.

"Heath, would you mind," he nodded to Audra who was standing on one leg holding his shoulders for support. "I'll go in and make sure that the door is open and the lights are on for you to get her upstairs."

"I think we can manage," he tapped Audra's shoulder and she put her arm over his shoulder as he pulled her off the ground and into his arms. "You ok?"

"Mhmm," she nodded. "I really just want a hot bath."

"Well then," Nick started out ahead of them. "Let's see what we can do about that."