A/N: Why do I have the feeling that this chapter is going to leave you all with more questions?

...He was running through the trees...He wasn't sure where he was going, or why, but he had to get there...the gunfire was still all around him...there were wagons off to the right, and somehow they were important...again, there was that shrill scream... "Heath! Help me!"..."I'm coming, Nat! Nat!"...that terrible, terrible silence..."Nat!"...

"Heath! Wake up!"

Sucking in his breath sharply, Heath open his eyes and sat up straight. His sudden movement knocked Nick, who had been shaking him, back. Breathing out slowly, Heath took in the campfire and the sleeping men. "Sorry," he said with a hoarse voice.

Picking himself up, Nick shook his head. "Must have been some nightmare. I'm surprised you didn't wake anyone else up."

"Sorry I woke you," Heath responded, keeping his voice short. He brought his hand up to his face. It was the worst the nightmare had ever been, the memories strong and vivid, so he wasn't really surprised that someone had heard him. He just wished it had been anyone other than Nick.

Crossing his arms, Nick stared at his half brother. "Well, you did a good job of it. You got something you want to talk about?"

At the abrupt question, Heath rubbed his forehead and let his hand drop. "It was just a nightmare, Nick," he said dismissively. "Memories I'd hoped I wouldn't remember. There's nothing to talk 's nothing."

"Nightmares do not equal 'nothing', Heath. Do you think I haven't seen that you're not getting enough sleep? You might think that you can hide it, but I am your brother. You are not fine. What's eating at you, Heath?"

"No one who fought in the war is fine," Heath was goaded into replying. "And if they are, there's something not right in their head."

A strange expression crossed Nick's face in the dim light. "The war?" he repeated. "Is that what this is about? Carterson? You thinking about what Bentell did to you in that hellhole?"

Scoffing, Heath shook his head. "It's not Carterson."

"Then, what?"

Annoyed, Heath pushed himself to his feet. "I'm going to go watch the herd, where I won't bother you any more," he said, snatching up his hat.

Reaching out, Nick grabbed Heath's arm. "Heath, don't you walk away from me, boy!" he exclaimed, his voice losing any trace of quietness. "You're not going to just run away from whatever it is that's bothering you."

Jerking around, Heath brought his right hand up and punched Nick in the jaw. Releasing his grip, Nick reeled back. The dark haired man's temper snapped and he lunged at his half brother, knocking him to the ground.

"Whoa!" Heath heard Cooky's shout as he struggled to get Nick off. There were other shouts, and then, before the fight could go any further, there were multiple pairs of hands grabbing at them. "Get them off each other!"

It took three men to drag Nick up and back several feet. McCall was quick to get in between them two brothers. "That's enough," the foreman said, holding his hands up. "You two need to just walk it off now. Both of you."

Heath was the first to shrug away the hands that were holding him, and he spun on his heel. Nick jerked free and glared at all of the now awake hands. "All of you get back to your bedrolls," the dark haired man ordered, as Heath walked over to where the horses were tied down. "I expect a full day's work out of you all tomorrow."

The men were quick to scramble back to their bedrolls. Nick scowled as he watched Heath ride away from the camp. "You won't learn anything trying to force him to talk to you," Cooky remarked in an off hand manner. "He's got to come to you."

"What do you know about it?"

"Nothing at all, Mister Nick. Nothing at all," was all Cooky said before he moved back to his wagon.

Shaking his head, Nick stalked to his own place by the fire. He stretched out on the ground and put his hat over his face, grumbling all the while about brothers too stubborn for their own good.

Coming out of her bedroom, Natalie smiled as she saw her brother also stepping into the hallway. "Ryan, good morning," she exclaimed, her tone happy. "How did you sleep?"

"About as well as ever, sister of mine," Ryan responded. Natalie's smile only spread wider. "What?"

"You haven't called me 'sister of mine' in years."

Heaving a sigh, Ryan passed her and went down the stairs. Natalie had a skip in her step as she caught up to him. She wrapped her arm around his arm and leaned against him. "Admit it, this was a good idea," she said, her tone needling. "You dislike the city just as much as I do."

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Whether I like the city life or not, you know it's necessary."

Natalie's smile dimmed as they reached the bottom of the staircase. "I really don't need to be reminded," she pointed out. She let go of Ryan's arm and quickened her steps to get ahead of him. She entered the dining room first. "Good morning."

"Good morning, Natalie, Ryan," Victoria greeted from where she was seated at the head of the table. "I hope you slept well."

"Fantastically well," Natalie responded, slipping into a seat at Victoria's left hand. She smiled up at Silas as he poured her coffee. "And it looks like it's going to be a beautiful day. I can hardly wait to explore the ranch."

Heaving a sigh, Ryan took the seat next to his sister. "Natalie, you really need to tone down your enthusiasm," he advised, his tone patiently annoyed. "My apologies for my sister's tendency to wax poetic, Mrs. Barkley. She tends to get carried away sometimes."

Laughing, Victoria shook her head. "Anyone who praises my home is more than welcome to do so," she responded. "You'll be happy to know, Natalie, that you will have the chance to see more of the ranch in the next few days. Gene has requested we all go on a picnic as soon as possible. Jarrod is finishing some paperwork for one of his cases, but he's sure he will be finished by tomorrow."

"A picnic? I haven't been on a picnic in ages!" Natalie exclaimed. "That sounds like a marvelous idea! I can hardly wait!"

Ryan shook his head. "Are all young women so enthusiastic about life, Mrs. Barkley? Or is it just my scatterbrained sister?" he asked.

"Oh, good, you're both up," Gene said as he entered the room. Gone was his suit, and he was dressed in the clothes he typically wore around the ranch. "If you're finished eating, I want to take you both out to pick your mounts for you to use while you're here."

In an instant, Ryan was on his feet. "Ryan, you haven't eaten a bite," Natalie protested. "Do you have to go now?"

Rolling his eyes, Ryan snatched up a biscuit. "I'm not that hungry," he said. "I'll pick a horse out for you, sis."

An almost disappointed look crossed Eugene's face at that. "Oh, no you won't!" Natalie exclaimed, holding her hands up. She allowed herself to be completely distracted from whether her brother was eating or not. "I'll ride in a wagon or walk or just not go anywhere before I get on a horse's back!"

"Coward."

Victoria cleared her throat, recognizing a sibling spat coming on when she saw one. "Jarrod always drives me out in the buggy for our picnics, so it won't be a problem," she assured Natalie. She then turned her attention to her youngest son, "Eugene, you smell like the barn. Please leave before you spoil our guest's appetite."

"Yes, ma'am," Gene responded instantly. "Come on Ryan. We have some of the best stock this side of the Mississippi."

Natalie watched the two leave the room and shook her head. Her eye caught Victoria's and they both ended up laughing. "I don't think I will ever understand men," the younger woman commented, filling her plate. "They are simply impossible."

"I think that one day you'll find just one man you understand, and you'll realize that's as it's meant to be," Victoria responded.

Tilting her head, Natalie raised an eyebrow. "Do I sense a romantic tale in those words?" she asked lightly. "I do love a romantic tale."

"It's not so very romantic, my marriage," Victoria told her, leaning back in her chair. She couldn't help but smile as she remembered her life. "The life I had with Tom wasn't what I expected from my life, but I wouldn't exchange it with anyone else's."

"That's what my mother would always tell me when I was little."

Shaking her head, Victoria smiled. "Then, your mother was a very wise woman," she responded. "Do you have any hobbies, Natalie? Something you enjoy doing to pass the time?"

Taking a bite of the hotcakes, Natalie chewed thoughtfully and then swallowed. "Well, that is an interesting question," she answered. "I have no patience for embroidery or for painting. I sketch a little, but not enough to call it an actual hobby and I never show my work to anyone. I like to read, but only for a short time. I enjoy music, but I don't know if that really counts."

"Do you play the piano?"

"Only a little," Natalie replied honestly. She laughed. "Sometimes I feel like a lazy plantation belle with nothing to do but allow handsome young men to come calling."

Her voice drawled with a perfect southern accent for the last sentence and Victoria laughed. "Well, we'll just have to find something to occupy your time then."

"Oh, I have the feeling I am going to be well occupied while I am here."

"Yes, it's generally very busy whenever Eugene comes home," Victoria commented with a fond smile. "There's so much that he wants to catch up with. And tonight there is an engagement celebration in town that we must attend."

Interested, Natalie tilted her head as she poured herself a cup of coffee. "How wonderful. That is always cause for rejoicing."

"You and your brother are invited, of course," Victoria added quickly. "The Wilsons are a hospitable family."

"Oh, we wouldn't want to intrude. No one knows us from Adam!"

Victoria waved her hand. "It wouldn't be an intrusion. I know Eugene wants to introduce you to everyone he knows," she said shrewdly. She smiled as she saw the younger woman's cheek flush pink. "I hear it's going to be quite the party."

"Then, you've convinced me," Natalie told her. "Ryan is very social when he is in good spirits like he is today. A party will be just the thing."

"Wonderful."