"Amanda! Amanda?"

She could hear Penny calling her and tried to drag herself into consciousness. Without her pills, the horse ride up here had been exhausting. She had eventually stopped sneezing as her sinuses had clogged and she had just concentrated on trying to breathe. She had been so debilitated by the time Earl had dragged her into the old building at gunpoint that she hadn't been able to keep herself from sliding into unconsciousness. Now coming awake, she could feel her chest was still tight and she struggled to take a deep breath, which was difficult because of the angle that her hands were tied behind her back.

"Amanda?" Penny called again and she forced herself to open her sleep- encrusted eyes. She could see the princess seated across the room, arms handcuffed to a wooden post that ran floor to ceiling.

"I'm awake, I'm awake," she finally managed to answer groggily, using her elbows to force herself upright.

"Thank God!" said Penny. "Now look, Earl obviously didn't plan on bringing two of us, because he's only got you tied with baling twine. Do you think you can move over here? There's some broken glass over here and you should be able to cut yourself free."

Amanda blinked slowly at her, hearing the urgency in her voice but barely able to pull together the energy to respond. She shook her head trying to clear it, then began to shuffle cross the room on her knees to the glass Penny had pointed out. Sure enough, once she had managed to grasp a shard, it was only seconds before her hands were free.

"Are you ok?" she asked Penny, finally.

"I'm fine," answered Penny bitterly. "Just angry. I heard Bo arrive a little while ago – he's been downstairs talking with Earl, but I haven't been able to make anything out except that he's angry too. Whatever he wanted from Rheza, he obviously didn't get it."

"If he hasn't, then what's he going to do with us?" Amanda asked worriedly.

"I don't know, but let's not find out. What can you see from the window?"

Amanda crawled to the window and peered out through the dusty glass.

"Looks like Bo rode Sultan up here but he's by himself because there's no more horses. There's a barn but I can't see any other buildings. The sun's just coming up so I can tell we're facing south and oh! There's someone up in the trees." She made a small noise of delight as she recognized the shadowy figure. "Francine! Francine is up there! Thank goodness – I was so worried about her when we left."

"Is she alone?"

"I don't know – I can't see anyone else." Amanda shifted position to try and look further to her left when they heard Bo give a shout of anger below them - he'd obviously spotted Francine as well. They could hear him scrambling downstairs and then the sounds of footsteps moving out the back door. From her position at the window, Amanda could see the two men come around the side of the house and move towards the barn, keeping it between themselves and Francine so she couldn't see them.

"I think they're going to get away," she muttered, struggling to open the window so she could get Francine's attention. As she did so, to her horror, she saw Lee appear around the far side of the barn and slip inside, unaware of the two men approaching him from the other side.

"No, no, no, no, no!" she cried out, wrestling more frantically with the window.

"What's the matter?"

"It's Lee – they've got him cornered in the barn and he doesn't know it!" With a final grunt of effort, Amanda finally managed to get the window open and leaned out to yell a warning. "Lee!"

Too late she realized she still couldn't get enough breath to shout properly and the barn was just too far away.

"Lee!" she sobbed. She leaned out the window and began waving frantically at Francine who acknowledged her with a wave but didn't understand that she was trying to warn them.

She hobbled to the door, hoping it would be unlocked but of course it wasn't. She half-ran, half-skipped back to the window, ignoring the shooting pains in her ankle, and watched as Bo inched forward around the front of the barn, slipping under Sultan's neck, still just out of Francine's line of sight. As she leaned out the window to try and yell again, she felt something in her pocket hit the sill. She looked down, puzzled, then felt a flood of relief as she realized what it was. She dug into her pocket, pulling the slim metal whistle out and leaned out the window again. Sucking in as deep a breath as she could, she blew into it as hard as she could, hoping her mother was right about whistles carrying further than voices.

For a split second, time stood still and then it seemed to her that everything went into slow motion. Lee spinning to see the source of the noise and lifting his gun, Bo lifting his pistol in a mirror motion and then to her horror, Sultan rearing up, pulling loose from the tie rail screaming and crashing back down on Bo, iron-shod hooves striking his head and knocking him to the ground. Twice more he reared, continuing to land on Bo's prone body until he'd stopped moving, skull cracked and blood oozing into the dirt. Attracted by the commotion, Earl ran around the corner, skidding to a stop as he saw Bo, then looking up to find Lee with his gun trained on him.

Amanda couldn't hear what happened next but she could see Lee gesturing to Earl to drop his weapon and Earl tossing it to the side, as Francine scrambled down the hillside to join them. Earl stood quietly as she handcuffed him while Lee checked on Bo. She saw him look up at Francine, shaking his head; she turned away from the window and slumped to the floor, looking nauseated.

"What's happening?" asked Penny frantically.

"Bo's dead," answered Amanda listlessly. "Sultan killed him," she added at Penny's shocked look. "Francine was right about him and the whistle."

Comprehension dawned on Penny's face as there was a crash at the door, then a second, and then Lee fell through as the door flew off its hinges. He landed on one shoulder, and rolled onto his elbows, gun still in his hand as he looked around wildly for any more of Bo's men.

"Floor again, Butch?" asked Amanda with a tired smile.

"It's been working for me so far," he answered with a grin as he climbed to his feet. "You both ok?"

"We're fine," answered Penny. "What about Rheza?"

"He's fine too. Francine and the royal guard stormed the palace and saved the day before we even got there." Lee was busy picking the lock on Penny's handcuffs, and helping her to her feet. "He's waiting for you back at the main house and he's probably just about out of his mind by now." He walked over to Amanda who was gripping the window frame and dragging herself upright. He scooped her up with a sigh, and headed for the door,

"Come on, Sundance, let's get you home before you do yourself any more damage, ok?"

She knew she should protest, but she was just too tired and queasy, so she just let herself relax in his arms and closed her eyes.

"Hey, are you really ok?" he asked, worried at how quiet and pale she was.

"It was my fault," she answered, not opening her eyes.

"What was your fault?" asked Lee in confusion as he navigated his way down the stairs.

"Sultan – it was my fault. I forgot how he reacts to the whistle and I was really only using it because I tried to yell to you, but you couldn't hear me from so far away and Francine didn't know you were in trouble and I was just trying to get you to turn around in time and then I blew it and Sultan just went crazy and…"

"A-man-da!" Lee didn't know if he was more relieved at the rush of words that sounded like his usual Amanda or horrified at the note of hysteria in her voice as she blamed herself. He walked out the front door, wincing when he saw Bo's body still lying in the dirt, and executing a sharp right turn to walk around to the side of the house to lower her onto a bench under the overhanging roof. She still wouldn't look at him, dropping her face in her hands as Penny sank down onto the bench beside her. He looked at the princess helplessly, having only partially understood Amanda's story.

"Bo trained Sultan to freak out at the sound of a whistle," she explained, placing an arm around Amanda's shoulders. "We think he was going to try and make my death look like an accident. He was planning all this for a while."

Lee stared at her in shock, and then back at Amanda who was rocking back and forth, obviously in shock herself. He crouched down in front of her, pulling her hands down to hold them in his. "Amanda, that was not your fault! You weren't trying to hurt Bo, you were trying to help me and it is not your fault Bo was insane enough to train that poor horse to be dangerous."

"I suppose so," she said tonelessly, obviously unconvinced.

"He's right," said Penny, pulling Amanda in closer. "You didn't do anything wrong and you saved Mr. Stetson."

"As usual," quipped Lee, squeezing her hand. He looked up as Francine rounded the corner to join them.

"Amanda, are you sure your last name is King and not Blake? Your knack for saving Marshal Dillon here is starting to border on farcical."

To Lee's relief, for some reason, it was Francine's caustic remark that finally brought out a hiccupping laugh from Amanda. "I'm so glad to see you. When we had to leave you there…" The laugh turned into something that was also half a sob.

"I'm fine," answered Francine, immediately. "Stop worrying and start thinking about how you're going to help me spend my danger pay bonus in the shoe department at Nordstrom's when we get home. Speaking of which, I can hear the cavalry coming," she said, jerking her head behind her.

"Good, we need to get these two home," Lee answered, straightening up.

Amanda's head finally really lifted at that, eyes wide. "Do I have to ride all the way back down?" she whimpered. If she hadn't looked so worried, Lee would have laughed at how much more anguished she looked about the prospect at getting anywhere near a horse again than anything else that had happened to her so far.

"No, Sundance – you get to go home in style." He pointed upwards and Amanda realized she could hear the unmistakeable sound of an approaching helicopter.

"Oh good." Her look of relief was followed almost comically fast by a look of rising panic. "I've never been in a helicopter."

"Don't look so worried," laughed Lee. "It's not like you have to fly the thing."

Not so many hours later, Amanda was propped up against the pillows of a hospital bed back in DC, complaining bitterly that there was no need for her to be there.

"I'm perfectly fine," she groused to her mother. "My breathing is back to normal and my ankle isn't any worse than it was when I left on the trip! I don't understand why I have to stay here." Even as she said it out loud, she realized she sounded exactly like Lee and looked down to hide her smile. Oh my gosh, I've spent way too much time with him in hospitals.

Dotty ignored her complaints and busied herself, fluttering around the bed, adjusting the blanket and pillows and then picking up Amanda's clothes and starting to hang them in the small closet. She stopped in her tracks, staring at the jeans disgustedly. "Oh Amanda, Darling – you can't wear these home! They're positively coated in horse hair! You'd be having another allergy attack before we even left the hospital! I'm going to take these to a dry cleaners so we don't bring any of this hair into the house!" She began to empty the jean pockets onto the table, pulling out a scrap of paper and unfolding it. "What's this? – oh my!" She held up the paper. "You actually got Bo Johnson's autograph for me?"

"I actually did," replied Amanda tiredly. "You should hang onto that Mother – it's the last autograph he ever gave – it'll probably be worth a fortune."

Dotty dropped it onto the table as if it was a snake. "I simply cannot believe Bo Johnson turned out to be a homicidal maniac! Whatever could have possessed the man to try and kill Penny? She's so nice!"

"Mother, you know we're not supposed to discuss it in public," scolded Amanda. "That man from State Department said this whole thing needs to stay secret so it doesn't interfere with US-Zakirian relations."

"Well! I should think that relations should be just fine considering it was Americans who rescued their royal family!"

"And who tried to kill them in the first place," Amanda reminded her.

"Well, yes, I suppose that's true too," agreed Dotty sadly. "And you of all people ended up in the middle of all of it! Just by leading a school tour! I mean, how incredible is that – I mean you are not the kind of person who ever has adventures are you, Amanda? And then when you do, you're all mixed up with movie stars and royalty and killers and well, I can just imagine how this could end up being one of those movie of the week stories on TV!"

"Except we're not allowed to tell anyone," Amanda reminded her again.

"Except we're not allowed to tell anyone!" Dotty looked momentarily deflated, but then perked up again, dark eyes full of mischief "Still, it's fun to think about! Who do you think would play me?"

"Mother!" Amanda was laughing outright now.

"Well, you know who could play Penny? That dark-haired girl from that show!" Dotty paused as Amanda laughed harder. "Oh you know the one I mean! That show with the three girls who solve crimes and there's two of them with dark hair and one had short hair and one has long hair, and one looks just like her! Jaclyn Smith!" she finally crowed triumphantly. "She'd be perfect!"

"Yes, she would," agreed Amanda. As Dotty continued to natter on, Amanda let her mind drift back to the events of the day. Never have adventures indeed, she smiled to herself.

The helicopter had been carrying Billy, Fred Fielder and Sammy Dane, who she remembered from helping with Alexei. Lee had gone to greet them and there'd been a few minutes of discussion before Lee had come back to the bench and lifted her up again. "I'm to see the three of you safely back and brief Prince Rheza, and then come back to help Dane take the horses back down the trail."

"Is there room?" asked Amanda doubtfully, looking at the small enclosed space.

"We'll be fine," answered Lee, stepping up into the open side of the 'copter and sitting on the bench with Amanda on his lap. Agent Dane helped Penny in to take the empty space beside them, and then slid the door shut as Francine scrambled into the front passenger seat. He gave the pilot the thumbs up and Amanda felt the lurch as they went airborne.

She might have enjoyed the trip if she hadn't been so terrified.

"How are you doing?" she heard Lee's voice laughing in her ear.

"I'm doing just fine," she squeaked.

"Open your eyes!" he laughed again. She hadn't even realized she'd had them scrunched shut until that moment. She eased them open and realized they were flying over the trees and down the valley, bathed in golden morning light.

"Oooh," she exclaimed as they lifted over a hill and she could see the Blue Ridge Mountains rippling away into the distance.

"Better going up than down?" asked Lee.

"Much better," she answered, gazing out the window raptly at the incredible view.

Within a minute or two, they were landing back at Bo's compound. Efraim paced quickly across the landing pad to slide open the door and Penny launched herself out of the helicopter, running across the open space and into her husband's arms. They stood there for some time, arms wrapped around each other, not speaking but rocking back and forth as if they couldn't bear to let each other go. Efraim had gone to help Francine out, grinning ruefully when she leapt out before he could get there, although she did pause to stroke his cheek and exchange a quiet smile of relief before heading towards the house. He turned to see if Lee needed help, but he too was already on his feet, and stepping out of the helicopter, bent over under the slowing blades to follow Francine and still carrying a now-protesting Amanda.

"I am perfectly capable of walking by myself, Lee," she scolded. Catching his raised brow and twitching lips, she amended. "Alright, maybe not perfectly capable, but adequately capable!"

"Humor me," he answered. "I just want to make sure you don't get into any more trouble before I put you in the care of the Zakirian Royal Guard!"

"Lee! I do not get into trouble any more than anyone else!" She continued to argue with him for the rest of the walk to the house; he would never admit what a relief it was to listen to her rambling on about all the reasons he should put her down although she'd given up actually physically trying to escape him – just as she'd never admit how much calmer she felt in his arms and how bereft she felt when he placed her gently on a couch inside.

She was just sighing at that memory when her hospital room door swung open and the object of her thoughts walked in, carrying a large bouquet.

"Hey Sunda-" he stopped abruptly as he realized Dotty was there. She in turn had stopped in mid-flow to stare at him.

"Ahhhhh!" he stammered, whirling to leave. "Sorry! Wrong room!" In the blink of an eye, he'd vanished, leaving Amanda struggling to control her giggles.

"It doesn't have to be!" Dotty called after him.

"Mother!" scolded Amanda in a scandalized tone.

"What? That could have been opportunity knocking and besides, he was cute!"

Not that cute, Amanda just stopped herself from responding.

Dotty sighed. "Although now that I think about it, he was married anyway."

Amanda could no longer hide her laughter. "How do you figure that, Mother?"

"Well, he was obviously looking for a child, wasn't he?"

"He was?"

"Didn't you hear him?" Dotty explained. "He said 'Hey son' when he walked in." She gave a mock sigh. "What a pity – such a handsome man. His wife must be a very lucky woman."

Amanda gurgled with laughter, knowing she was never going to let Lee hear the end of this one. "I'm sure she is, Mother."