The way he had felt being scrutinized under her gaze earlier. No one had dared to attempt to peel back his defences like that, not since Sarah. It had made him feel vulnerable, and he hadn't liked it. Amy had also seemed to recognise this, as she had changed tactic immediately after he had looked away from her. And then he had gone and exposed his deepest emotions to her. Chris let out a long, loud groan as he replayed the events from earlier that day back in his head. All this time he'd been keeping it all to himself, his thoughts and feelings about his wife and son, what had really happened with Ella, heck, even his life story was a mystery to many of his companions. The bitter chill of the wind swept up the sleeves of his shirt, interrupting his thoughts. Weather's getting worse, won't be long til that storm hits, he mentally noted to himself, standing up from the porch area of his ranch. He'd been sat on the wooden steps outside his home since he had arrived back from town, deep in thought. The image of Amy's face kept filling his mind over and over again. That expression she had displayed was troubling him. He was still unable to place it exactly, but the best he could come up with was a mixture of sympathy and horror. But there was something to it that he couldn't work out. Anyone would have looked shocked and scared at his actions, but he had seen another element in Amy's eyes, and it had been troubling him all the ride home, and for hours after. As he reached the top step, he noticed an empty whiskey bottle standing alone on the wooden porch in front of him. Bringing his leg back as far as he could, he released it and kicked the bottle with as much force as he could. The bottle connected with the wall, smashing into pieces and landing on the floor. Chris sighed; kicking the bottle had a slightly cathartic effect, but not as much as he had been hoping. Opening the front door, he walked over to his favourite chair and slumped down into it. He knew what was really troubling him, for the first time in weeks his eyes had been opened as to how he was treating his friends. The anger and frustration he was feeling, he had thought it would be alright if he bottled it up and kept it to himself, as he had become accustomed to doing after losing Sarah and Adam. But something in his interactions with Mary and Amy had forced him to remember all of the incidents when his anger had indirectly been aimed at his friends. Ever since the seven had returned from Red Fork, Chris had kept himself to himself, but whenever he had been feeling angry, instead of telling his six associates what had been on his mind, he had began arguments with them. 'You can't keep going on like this,' he could almost imagine Sarah standing in front of him as he heard her voice in his head.

"Well now, how are my favourite two ladies doin' on this here fine morning?"

Buck Wilmington took his hat off in an exaggerated movement, and twirled his arm in circles as he bent down in a mock curtsey. Mary giggled at his behaviour quietly, it was obvious to her who Buck was really here to flirt with, and as she glanced over and saw the look on Amy's face, it seemed that she was also aware of Buck's intentions. Buck returned his hat to his head and made his way closer to Amy, until he was practically sitting next to her on the bed. The expression on Amy's face as she tried to shuffle herself farther away from Buck each time he edged closer forced Mary to look down and focus on her needlepoint to stop herself from laughing aloud. She had been repairing a pair of Billy's trousers and talking to Amy before Buck had swooped into the medical clinic, and whilst she didn't unwelcome Buck's presence, she had been hoping to learn more about Amy. Somehow she didn't think Amy would want to share any personal details about herself whilst Buck was around, and as Mary looked up, her thought was confirmed. Buck was trying his best lines on Amy, who in reply was staring at him with a despairing look on her face.

" Did I mention tha' you have one of the prettiest pairs of eyes tha' I've ever been privileged ta' see Miss Duke?"

Again Mary had to suppress a snigger as Amy rolled her eyes at Buck's comment.

"Let me ask you somethin' Mr. Wilmington,"

"Of course Miss Duke," Buck grinned, "and please, call me Buck," he added with a wink.

"Okay then, Buck. Does this sorta' thing ever usually work for ya?"

Buck chuckled at Amy's comment, before catching sight of the serious expression on her face. Composing himself he took his hat from his head and held in against his chest.

"Miss Duke, I am offended that you would think so little o' me. Would I lie to a pretty woman such as yourself?"

A disbelieving look filled Amy's face, and as she opened her mouth to give Buck, what Mary expected to be a piece of her mind, Mary stood up,

"Buck, could I talk with you for a moment outside?"

Buck turned to look at Mary, with a questioning look that she could tell meant he didn't want to leave the room.

"That sounds like a good idea ta' me, I was gonna have to ask you ta' leave here in a minute anyway while I bandage up Miss Duke's arm,"

Buck turned to face Nathan, as the man returned into the main room of his medical centre. He had forgotten that Nathan had been gathering bandages and equipment for the back room of the building. Returning his hat onto his head, he tipped the brim at Amy with a wink, before following Mary out of the clinic.

"Is everythin' okay Mary?

"I was wondering whether you've spoken to Chris yet?" Mary asked gently, she knew better than to provoke the situation any further. Buck's jaw tightened slightly at her question, and Mary wondered whether if was wise of her to have said anything at all.

"No, not since the other day, but I'm sure you heard all about that…"

Mary bit her lip at his tone. It was clear he didn't want to discuss the matter, taking a breath she continued,

"I only ask because…well I hate to see you two like this. You and Chris have been friends for a long time, and this whole incident…"

"What about it?" Buck interrupted her with more than a hint of anger in his tone.

"Well, frankly I think its foolish for you two to be at such loggerheads over a simple misunderstanding!"

Buck opened his mouth to argue with her, but Mary continued on before he had a chance to disrupt her again,

"I know how strongly you feel about women being harmed Buck, everybody does. Especially Chris. If you're willing to throw away your friendship over this, well to be perfectly truthful with you Buck, I think that would just be plain stupid! Even Amy doesn't understand why this has caused such an issue between you both! I'm not saying that Chris is blameless here, but honestly, you both need to stop acting like children and talk to each other!"

Buck watched open-mouthed as Mary walked away, leaving him stood in the dusty street alone.

"Is that too tight?"

Amy shook her head as Nathan stared down at her. Smiling her stood up from where he had been kneeling beside the bed to apply the bandages to Amy's arm. We washed his hands in the basin before turning back to Amy with a more stern look on his face,

"There, all done. Now, your wound may be bandaged up Amy, but you still gotta take it easy, you ain't healed fully yet."

"Can I ride with it?"

"What kinda' distance are we talking here?"

Amy's brow creased as she contemplated her answer for a moment,

"I dunno' exactly, I don't usually plan ma' routes that much…maybe Watsonville…"

"Watsonville? That's nearby I believe, I've heard folk talk about it…" Nathan considered the information for a moment, "I suppose if you rode gently Watsonville would be an alright journey, but I mean it when I say ya' gotta take it easy Amy. Whatever reason tha' you got shot for, you can't risk anythin' like that happening again. Do you understand me…?"

She nodded her head without looking at him, and said nothing. Nathan couldn't help but wonder what kind of trouble this woman had been involved with before that had lead to her being shot. Whatever it was, he had gotten the impression from his time healing Amy that she wasn't exactly the most forthcoming when it came to personal information. If I let her ride out of here, what's to say she's not gonna get herself killed? Nathan mused to himself.

"I wouldn' recommend ridin' outta here anytime soon though…"

Amy's head whipped up to stare at him,

"What? Why?"

"There's a storm due to hit town tonight. Even with your arm healed you'd struggle ta' ride though that"

"You don't have any idea what I'm capable of!"

Anger was brimming in Amy's eyes, and Nathan wasn't sure whether it was in defence of her riding abilities, or due to frustration that she might not be able to leave Four Corners.

"Maybe so, but I know what you're not, an' trust me, you ride out inta' that storm and you won't make it even ta' Watsonville. I won't stop ya' if ya' really want to go, but its your choice."

She continued to stare at him for a moment, and it seemed as though she was summing up her options. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a loud knock at the door caught both of their attention.

"Come in," Nathan called out, still gazing at Amy with worried curiosity. Buck entered the room, causing Amy to let out a small groan at the sight of him.

"Buck? What are you doing back here?" Nathan turned his attention to his friend in surprise.

"I wanted ta' ask Miss Duke here a question."

Amy studied his face carefully. The playful nature with which he had been regarding her with earlier seemed to have disappeared. Instead Buck appeared to be aggravated, and she picked up on a slight manner of impatience in his voice. He walked over close to the bed, almost where he had been standing before when he had been flirting with her, but this time he moved differently. Instead of a calm, swaggered walk towards her, he hurried over at a brisk pace, almost marching. He looked down at her, and she couldn't recognise any traces of a smile on his face.

"Did he hurt you?"

It took her a little while to understand just who the 'he' was that Buck was referring to. It seemed that the small amount of time that it had taken Amy to realise his meaning, was too long for Buck,

"Chris. Did he hurt you?" this time he asked it with a little less control in his voice, and Amy could see his nostrils flaring.

"Not intentionally…"

This was obviously not the answer that Buck had been hoping for, as he grabbed the back of his neck with his hand and rocked back on his heel slightly.