Jessica ran to Jarrod's room pushing the door open and ran to the bed. Jarrod was asleep and Jessica immediately saw a few bruises on his face. She lifted the blanket to investigate further but she did not see anything as Jarrod was fully clothed. The movement woke Jarrod up who moaned in pain.

Jessica bent down and wiped the hair from his forehead as she gently kissed it. She asked quietly, "How are you feeling?"

Jarrod moaned again in pain as he tried to get up, "Hurting."

The doctor entered the room and went straight to the patient. "I'm glad to see you are awake Mr. Barkley. How are you feeling?"

"Horrible."

The doctor nodded, "That is to be expected given the knot on your head." The doctor continued his examination ignoring Jessica and her father which upset both of them.

"Well Mr. Barkley you should be okay in a few days. However I would suggest against you travelling due to the concussion you received."

Jessica was fed up with the doctor ignoring her, "Doctor I'm his fiance' could you please tell me about his injuries?" She spat.

The doctor looked at Jessica and back to Jarrod who nodded his head. "Very well. He was pushed out of a carriage this morning in front of the hospital. A few of the nurses managed to bring him in and tend to his injuries. Other than the few bruises on his face and the concussion he's fine."

Ben asked, "Did anyone see the driver of the carriage or who pushed him out?"

The doctor responded, "No it was too dark for them to see anything. However I did contact the sheriff and he is questioning the employees of this hospital to see if anyone saw something."

Jarrod tried to sit up but got light-headed and laid back down moaning. Jessica turned her attention back to Jarrod and said, "What is it Jarrod?"

He looked at her with glassy blue eyes and said, "Thirsty."

Jessica found the pitcher of water and poured Jarrod a cup. She helped him sip the water so he would not have to raise up again. He smiled at Jessica and said quietly, "Thank you Jess."

Jessica smiled at him and placed the cup back down on the table. She watched him doze back off to sleep and asked the doctor, "When can he leave?"

"I would recommend he stay another night so we can monitor him."

Jessica looked from Jarrod to the doctor, "May I stay with him?"

The doctor smiled, "I don't see why not. I'll get one of the nurses to bring you a cot to sleep on."

Jessica asked, "What do I need to watch for?"

The doctor spoke, "Wake him up every four hours and ask him simple questions to make sure he is alert and aware of his surroundings. Also make him drink water to keep him hydrated and if he starts vomiting please let one of the nurses know immediately."

"Thank you doctor." Jessica extended her hand which the doctor shook.

"Your fiance should be fine ma'am but the next twenty four hours will be a little rough for him due to the head injury. I don't want to give him anything for the injuries because of the concussion so he will be in some pain."

Jessica nodded her head, "I understand doctor." She looked back to Jarrod who had went back to sleep and turned to her father. "Father I need to go to the hotel and get a few things so could you sit with Jarrod until I get back?"

"Of course."

The doctor spoke, "If you will excuse me I have other patients I need to check on. If you need anything let the nurse know and she'll find me." The doctor left.

Jessica turned to Ben with tears running down her face, "How could they do this to him?'

Ben comforted his daughter, "I don't know honey but I will get to the bottom of this." Ben walked away from his daughter and looked at Jarrod who was still asleep. He said quietly, "This is my fault and I'll make sure whomever did this to him will pay."

Jessica joined her father beside Jarrod's bedside, "You don't know that father."

Ben replied angrily, "The hell I don't. I am the one who insisted he demand the meeting and look what happened." Ben walked away and said, "Go back to the hotel and get what you need, I'll stay with Jarrod."

Jessica patted her father's arm as she walked out of the room. Ben sat back down beside Jarrod and looked at the young man. He whispered, "I'm so sorry Jarrod, I promise I'll find out who did this to you."

Jarrod moaned in pain and looked at Ben, "Where's Jessica?"

Ben smiled at his future son-in-law, "She went to the hotel to get a few things but she'll be back."

Jarrod closed his eyes again and said, "I'm thirsty."

Ben poured another cup of water and helped Jarrod drink it slowly. He laid back down and said, "They did this to me Ben."

Ben swallowed, "Are you sure Jarrod?"

Jarrod opened his eyes and said, "Yes."

Ben sighed, "I am sorry Jarrod, this is my..."

Jarrod interrupted him, "Don't blame yourself." Jarrod tried to sit up but couldn't and laid back down moaning again. "I did meet the 'bosses' as they like to be called."

"And?"

"You were right, it's them and they wanted to make sure I got the message that if I kept pushing my luck I would end up like my father."

Ben spat, "The railroad." Jarrod nodded his head. "What about Archer? Is he involved in this?"

"I think so but I don't know what his connection is to this."

"You think they may be forcing him like they are you?"

"At first no, but now I think he may be an unwilling participant."

"Well while you were missing I got some good news Jarrod." Jarrod looked at Ben as he spoke, "My men have found the other witness and they're taking him to Chicago where I am going to meet him to talk."

"Why Chicago?"

"He'll be safe there." Jarrod moaned in pain again, "Get some rest son, we'll talk later."

Jarrod smiled and closed his eyes going back to sleep. Ben sat next to Jarrod making notes on his pad and questions he was going to ask the witness and Phil Archer when he found him.