Kate kept her distance when they reached Lincoln, choosing to stay behind a low fence with Charley and Dirty Steve. She and Steve had some difficulty getting along, but she was willing to bicker with him rather than face Billy anytime soon. She wanted to believe it was a huge mistake, that he didn't know what he was doing, that he was sorry...but she really didn't know. She wasn't sure she wanted to know what he was thinking...she wasn't sure she ever wanted to see him again.

As Billy skipped along behind the sheriff and his men, she knew she would have smiled, if it weren't for...Her face stung, and she touched her hand to it to stop the pain. Her lip had started to heal, instead of bleeding constantly it was now a red gash, but it was still tender and it hurt to talk at times. The bruise had turned from an ugly purple to a light bluish-green, a good sign, she knew.

When the shooting started, she emptied both her cylinders along with everyone else, then picked up her rifle and aimed. Only Charley's quick hand deflected the barrel and caused the shot to miss Billy. She wasn't really going to shoot him, she assured Charley, but from the look on his face she knew he didn't believe her one bit. Soon all the posse lay lifeless but Brady, who was struggling to grab his gun. Billy stepped on his forearm, and before he put a bullet between his brows, he dared,

"Reap the whirlwind, Sheriff Brady. Reap it!"

Later that day they all stopped by the McSween's, and Alex gave them a piece of his mind. They got cussed out by the mild-mannered lawyer for a good half hour, most of it directed at Billy. The tirade started the moment they dismounted, and continued as they shuffled their feet in the dirt, ashamed and embarassed, but still defending what they knew was right. Alex didn't even notice Kate until Susan cried out,

"Oh Kate! Dear, what in heaven happened to your face?"

Alex turned and saw the still-healing marks on her face and turned to the boys, awaiting an answer. Billy merely stared at the ground, digging his boot toe into the ground. Alex's stare grew more intense, as he shouted,

"Jesus, Billy, I knew you were reckless, but my God!"

Still, Billy said nothing. He set his jaw in a firm line, looking off into the distance.

"It wasn't his fault, Alex."

Everyone turned in a stunned silence to Kate. She was defending Billy, and after what he'd done? Did she mean what she said, or did she feel like it was her fault for yelling at him? No one blamed her, that was certain. Susan took her inside to get something for her face, she thought there might still be some ice in the icebox they could use. While inside, Susan took the chance to give Kate some womanly advice.

"There are plenty of perfectly respectable men out there, Katherine. I don't see why you're spending all of this time with Billy, especially after what he did."

"I'm not spending time with him, I'm spending time with the men my father loved as sons and trusted with his life."

Susan sighed as she pressed a piece of a block of ice to Kate's cheek. Kate hissed in pain as the cold bit into her already sensitive skin. Susan wouldn't let the topic go, and she continued,

"Darling, anyone can see that you're unhappy riding with them."

"I can't stay with you, Susan. I'm sorry but I can't and I won't."

"Then go back to England. Please."

Kate looked into Susan's eyes, which were shiny with unshed tears. She really was deathly afraid something would happen to her. So was Kate. But she didn't know what to say... If anything, Kate just wanted to calm Susan down, so she agreed,

"First thing tomorrow morning."

Susan gave a cry of relief and hugged Kate tightly, saying she knew Kate was smarter than she'd been acting lately. Kate wondered just what she meant by that, but didn't ask. Susan broke the embrace, wiping her eyes and smiling at Kate. Kate smiled carefully back, and they both exited the house to find the Regulators throwing their badges in the dirt at Alex's feet. Kate mounted her horse along with the others, saying her goodbyes and following the Regulators for a while down the road. They reached a part of the road where Kate had a decision to make. Leave them for a steamer back to England, or ignore Susan's wishes and stay. She sat still in her saddle, looking down the road, then behind her at the Regulators.

"Kate?" Doc called at her.

Kate made her decision then, and started down the road that would eventually lead to town, but Doc came after her, riding much faster than she was. He caught her reins in his hand.

"Where d'you think you're goin'?"

"Home."

He stared at her, eyes narrowed in confusion.

"I don't belong here, Doc, I never did. If I leave, Murphy will get the store and leave you alone. ... I promised Susan."

"And what about the promise we made."

She looked past him to the others, and told him,

"Billy certainly doesn't want me here."

"You're afraid of him?" Doc asked, bewildered, "Violent son of a-"

"Not afraid, Doc, I know he didn't mean it. I don't know why he did it, but it wasn't really him. I have to leave you all because ... because I'm unnecessary. A hindrance, that's all."

"That's what you think? You think we've had you with us this whole time 'cause we feel sorry for you?" Doc shook his head "Think, Kate. Think about that real hard."

Doc pulled something out of his saddlebag and handed it across to her.

"You dropped this a while back."

It was Dick's hat. She didn't even remember picking it up. She took it, smoothed out the brim, and put it on her head. Doc reached across and straightened it. Kate gave a crooked half-smile and followed him back to the others.

She rode next to Doc and Chavez the whole time they were in the desert. Soon enough they found a place to camp, and as the sun was going down they built a fire. Kate was the first to bed, asleep almost the minute the sun set. Everyone else filtered off to bed slowly, and Billy ended up being the last sitting by the fire, his folded hands pressed to his mouth. Every few minutes he looked over to Kate's bedroll, watching her sleep, then looking back into the fire. After at least a half hour of this back and forth watching, he shook himself and walked over to Kate. He touched her lightly on the shoulder,

"Katy? You awake?"

She turned over, hearing his voice, and covered her face with her blanket.

"Aw, Kate, I just wanted to talk. ... Please?"

Kate remained unmoved, and Billy sighed in defeat and walked back to his seat on the ground next to the fire. He put his chin in his hand, drawing invisible figures with his finger in the sand. Back in her bed, Kate turned onto her back, watching Billy. He was sitting with his head down, back bent; he looked so...lost, alone. She sat up silently, and drawing her blanket around her, she went just as quietly over to him. He had said 'Please.' Taking a seat next to him, she sighed and got his attention,

"I'm listening."

He turned, surprised, to face her, but looked confused as to where to begin. His mouth moved several times in an attempt to begin a sentence, but here, now, with her right in front of him, he found it impossible to say what he'd rehearsed in his head a thousand times every day since he'd lost his temper. They were simple words, and finally he found them and blurted,

"I'm sorry."

All he got in return was a tight-lipped smile, and Kate turned to face the fire.

"I mean, Jesus. I did that," he added, seeing his mark clearly on her face. "I did that, and I don't know why."

"You were afraid," Kate offered, "Like everyone else. But you've never been afraid of anything in your life. You didn't know who you were anymore."

"Yeah," he whispered, agreeing, "Yeah."

He fell silent for a while, continuing to drag his fingers through the sand nervously. He erased whatever it was he'd drawn furiously and swore,

"Shit. I don't know what the hell to do, Kate. I- I wish I did."

He looked away as Kate saw his eyes start to fill with tears. She touched his face and turned it back to face hers. It scared her, to see Billy so unsure of himself.

"You know what to do. You're just not sure if it's right," she paused, finding the right words, "I trust you."

She leaned in slowly to kiss him on the cheek, and told him he'd better get to bed or he'd be of no use to anyone.

" 'Night, Kate."

Billy went to bed as instructed, feeling comforted but a little strange that Kate had been able to put his feelings into words better than he could. Perhaps she felt the same. He spared one last glance in her direction, then lay on his back, closing his eyes. He fell asleep with a smile on his face.