Spring had always been Maude's favorite time of year. She thought that it most likely had something to do with how much she disliked winter but whatever the reason, she always loved to see the trees and flowers start to show their colors once more. This year was no exception. It was their first spring in Alabama and Maude had forgotten just how beautiful this part of the country was when the mountains started to come alive again. And life in these foothills was magnificent.

Now that they had found their place in this new home Maude found it difficult to remember exactly what she had loved so much about New Orleans. As for Patrick and Ezra, they were thriving. Patrick had become a very competent and rather savvy businessman but, Maude knew he still preferred his trips to the taverns more than anything that had to do with cotton. Still, he had such a head for the business she sometimes wondered how Edward had manged without him for so long. And Ezra, he and Ethan were nearly inseparable, unless Ezra could be with his horse.

It had been Maude's idea to buy a horse for Ezra on his last birthday, and since that time the boy couldn't get enough of his horse, Dutch. Maude was elated that Ezra had taken such an interest in riding and once the initial discomfort of seeing her baby on such a large animal had worn off she was pleased to find he had a great deal of natural talent for it. In fact, the last few months had shown that he had the makings of a fine horseman and although Ezra was still very young and a little small for his age, Maude never ceased to be amazed at the skill he displayed while riding. As it was, Maude loved to see Ezra ride, almost as much as he loved riding, and she did her best to make a ride together a daily occurrence.

This particular day they had just finished a ride through the woods to the north of the house and Maude was now watching, with no small amount of pride, as Ezra loped around the paddock near the barn.

"Ezra!" She called after nearly half-an-hour. "It's time to come in."

Ezra's face fell as he moved Dutch over by the fence. "Can't we stay out a little longer?"

He had taken on that pouting, puppy look that was nearly impossible for Patrick to refuse, she often had trouble resisting it herself, but she held firm. "Not today, darlin'. It'll be time for tea soon and we have to change."

"Can I stay out?" He asked innocently.

"Ez – ra." Maude answered, a warning in her voice. This was something they had to go through most everyday. Ezra always wanted more time with Dutch and often begged to be allowed to stay out alone, even though the first rule put into place after he got Dutch was he wasn't to go around the animal by himself. At her warning Ezra gave a resigned sigh and obeyed. Maude smiled as he reluctantly handed Dutch off to the groom. "You'll see Dutch tomorrow." She promised.

Ezra nodded gloomily, but his melancholy mood lasted only as long as it took to get back to the house and hear Addy's offer to let him help her make cookies as soon as he was cleaned up. With the prospect of cookies before him it didn't take Maude long to get Ezra changed and back to the kitchen.

Once she had left Ezra safely in Addy's care Maude went back upstairs to change herself. Quickly, she removed her riding habit and donned a day dress. Giving herself a final look in the mirror she made a few minor touch-ups to her hair and hurried downstairs, making it back to the parlor just before the tea was brought in.

Maude and Lola were enjoying their tea when Edward suddenly burst into the room. Her brother's eyes darted around the room frantically before settling on her. Maude's heart skipped a beat as she saw Edward take on a forced calmness before approaching her as if she were a frightened colt.

"What's wrong, Edward?" She asked feeling panic raising in her.

"Maude, I have something to tell you. Now, please, don't panic..."

"Edward! What is wrong?" The only reason Maude could think of for her brother to be acting in this manner was if something was wrong with Patrick or Ezra, and as far as Maude was concerned those were both very good reasons to panic.

"Maude, please..."

"Tell me!" Maude cried, her anxiety mounting.

Her brother took a deep breath. "Today, while we were in town, there was an accident. Patrick was shot..."

Edward continued to speak but his voice faded out when Maude heard those words. There was suddenly a terrible roaring in her ears and it was getting hard to breathe. Her breath started coming in shallow pants and dark spots began to dance in front of her eyes. The roaring intensified and she gripped Edward arm as the room began spinning.

The next thing Maude was aware of was sharp, unpleasant scent. She opened her eyes with a gasp and discovered that she was now lying on the sofa. She brought a hand to her head trying to gather herself.

"Maude?"

She turned toward her brother's voice and found him kneeling beside her, a worried look on his face. "Edward?" She asked.

Edward knew his sister well enough to know that she was asking about her husband. "He's alive." He quickly assured her. "The doctor's with him now."

Shakily, Maude set up. Edward made a small attempt to keep her down but she pushed him away. She was still feeling a bit unsteady but she couldn't see just lying here while her husband was being treated for a gunshot wound. "How...how bad is it?"

Edward hesitated just a bit to long for Maude's liking. "I'm not sure. He was hit high on the right side of his chest. It bleed a lot but he was still conscience when I left him."

Maude trusted Edward of all people to be frank and honest with her but she was picking up on uncertainty she didn't like. A wound to the chest couldn't be good could it? She couldn't help but feel like something being kept from her. She hoped and prayed she was wrong, maybe Edward simply didn't know much, but a feeling of dread she couldn't place was settling over her and the only way she could think of to dispel it was to see Patrick. "I want to see him." Maude said, pushing to her feet and heading for the parlor door.

Edward was knocked off balance by her abrupt move but was soon on his feet as well. "No." He made a grab for her arm. "You don't need to be up there. Not now."

Maude whirled on her brother. "He's my husband, Edward! I have every right to see him!" The dread in her chest had intensified at Edward's words and she could hear the hysteria creeping into her voice. She had to see Patrick. Now.

Edward placed his hands on her shoulders. "Maude, calm down. No one is trying to keep you from him but the doctor's with him now and you'd only be in the way. As soon as he's finished you can go up." Maude defiantly shook her head. She just needed to see him. "Maude," Edward continued. "The doctor knows what he's doing, and he didn't seem terribly concerned when he came in. Please, just try to relax. It won't do Patrick any good to see you so upset. Stay down here, calm down, and as soon as the doctor's through you can see him."

Maude still didn't like the idea but she reluctantly agreed and allowed Edward to lead her back to the sofa. Sinking back down Maude buried her head in her hands and tried to think. She couldn't lose Patrick. She needed him, more than anything. Ezra was still so young, much too young to lose his father. And they hadn't been successful in their attempts to expand their family yet. He couldn't leave them now. There was still so much of their lives left to live.

By the time the doctor sent for her she was on pins and needles. As she pushed through the door to their room she tried to mentally prepare herself for what she would find, and she was ready or the worst. However, the room was now clean and there weren't any traces of the surgery that had just been preformed, and when she could finally see Patrick she was pleased that he seemed to be holding up well. His eyes were closed and he was pale, probably from pain and loss of blood, but he seemed at ease.

"Mrs. Standish?" Reluctantly, Maude pulled her gaze from her husband and focused on the doctor. "Your husband's wound wasn't too severe and he came through the surgery well. My main concern now are the possible complications."

"What do you mean by complications?"

"Infection, mostly. However, it did bleed a good deal so I hope that won't be a concern."

"And without any complications?"

"He should make a full and relatively quick recovery. Send from me if there are any problems, if I don't hear from you I'll stop by to check on him in a couple of days."

Maude nodded and forced a smile. "Thank you." Tipping his hat the doctor walked out with Edward. Once she was alone Maude hurried to the bedside and took her husband hand. "Patrick?" Patrick opened his eyes and gave her a weak smile. "How are you feeling? I'm been so worried."

"Sor-sorry I worried you." He mumbled.

"Shhh, this wasn't your fault."

"S'true. For once I was – m, mindin' – my own – business." He grimaced and shifted some.

A light sheen of sweat covered his forehead and Maude brushed his hair off of it. "Do you need anything?"

Patrick weakly shook his head. "Just – you." He sighed, wincing when the action pulled at the wound on his chest. "I'm tired."

Maude chuckled as she continued to brush his hair. "Then go back to sleep. I'll be here when you wake up." She wasn't sure but she thought Patrick nodded a bit at that before his eyes slid shut again.

Maude remained by the bed holding his hand until she was sure he was once again asleep. Gently she kissed the back of his hand and placed it back on the bed before she quietly exited the room.

Edward was waiting for her when she stepped back into the hall. "How is he?" He asked nodding toward the room.

"He's sleeping again." Her brother nodded. Maude sighed as she leaned back against the door, suddenly feeling the weight of the past few hours. "What happened, Edward? How could..." She trailed off.

Edward scoffed. "It was an accident. It never should've have happened."

"What shouldn't of happened?" Maude was getting the impression there was something her brother didn't want to tell her.

Edward rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head. "We were at the tavern today and there was a poker game...Patrick wasn't playin'. Matter of fact we were fixin to leave. Henderson had lost quite a bit and he uhh, when he didn't have any more money on him, he put up one of his slaves." He shrugged with one shoulder. "There were people there who objected."

Maude gaped at Edward in disbelief. "My husband was shot because some man bet a slave in a card game? A game he wasn't even part of?"

Edward held up his hands in a helpless gesture. "I'm sorry, Maude. There wasn't anything I could do. The bet was accepted and all a sudden this man started rantin' and ravin' about the evils of slavery and the path to damnation. They were trying to throw him out, everything escalated; then there was a shot and...Patrick was in the way."

"Who was it?"

"What?"

"Who shot him." Maude said slowly.

Edward looked, blowing out a breath. "I – I don't know. We never..."

"My husband was shot by some lunatic and you don't even know who it was?" Maude ground out.

"It was chaos, Maudie. I'm sorry." Maude closed her eyes and let out a heavy breath. "Maudie?"

"I'm fine." Maude said opening her eyes. "Excuse me, I'm going to back to my husband." She turned without another word and went back into the bedroom. Setting down by the bed Maude once again picked up Patrick's hand and began stroking it.

There were so many conflicting emotions running through she didn't know how to feel. She was thankful Patrick was doing well, grateful he wasn't too uncomfortable, but a slow fury was burning in her as well. She was angry. Angry that Patrick, as an innocent bystander, could get caught in the middle of such a hateful debate and pay such a high price for it. Worst of all was the fact that a person could do something so heinous and get away with it. Still, she had him here with her and she supposed that was all that mattered at the moment.

She kissed his hand again and smiled as she watched him sleeping; he seemed to be resting well. Oh, how she loved this man. God only knew what she would do if she didn't have him.

A/N: I try to be historical accurate in my writing but I have no idea if anyone in the States observed a strict tea time in the 1840's. But, I like tea so, yeah, my people will have a tea time.