The next day after she dropped Matthew off at the airport. Krisa headed home to pick up her dad and her bags to head to the Walker ranch. When she arrived Krisa found her dad waiting for her outside. Tommy thru the bags in the car and got in .

An the two headed out to Wallker Ranch.

"Did Matthew get off alright?"

"Yeah he did."

""Good whats brothering you babygirl?"

"I'm worried dad. What if Matthew finds out I told Cordell."

"He won't Krisa his hours away in Houston and we are here safe in Austin."

"Let's hope." Krisasaid as she turned on the road that lead to Walker ranch. When they pulled up at the house Tommy got out of the car. Krisa got out nd looked around worried. Tommy grabbed they're bags and walked up to the door. Abby was waiting for them.

Welcome, come in you too." she said as she let them inside.

"Thanks Abby, thank you for letting us stay here." TOmmy said as they all walked back inside the house.

"Krissy are you okay sweet girl?"

Yeah my nervous are just shot i think."

Abby hugged wrapped Krisa in a hug as she walked into the house. The two women headed into the kitchen. Cordell was sitting at the bar. He smiled at Krisa when she walked in.

"Hey Krisa."

"Hey Cowboy."

""You doing okay?"

"I'm scared honestly. I'm terrifed they could be watching us. Starson is known to have eyes all over Texas. Cordi are you sure this is a good idea?"

Cordell stood up and walked over to Kriisa pulling her close and hugging her tight. Krisa breathed in Cordell's cologne. The familiar smell of whiskey, coffee and that dam shampoo he always use was comforoting to her. In away because Cordell made her feel safe and sound. The two stood in silence for a long moment until Abby and Tommy walked back into the kitchen. Only to stop when they saw the two.

"Kris.."

"Yeah?"

"Do you umm.. I mean are you?" Cordell asked in his own way.

"I'll be alright Cordi, you don't have to worry to much."

"i know just if he calls or anything be sure someone isi close by okay. If we had more to go on we could tap your phone. Since we don't…"

"I got it Cowboy. I promise anything from them and i will let you know alright."

Abby and Tommy watched from the dinning room at the two and then turned to each other. With a smile Abby spoke.

"You know those two won't admit it but theyre connection is stronger now then ever."

"Oh believe me I see it. Krissy might have ran because of Cordell. Only I always knew her heart wouold come back home because of him."

"She's a good kid Tom, always had been . she might have left due ot a broken heart but she cme back home when it had healed."

"Abby I wish she hadn't left. I know she was hurt back then. Honestly I wish i had made eher stay and face it.At least then she wouldn't have that Matthew."

"Tommy you couldn't allow a heart borken girl to stay here. An honestly lets face facts if she hadn't left she wouldn't have turned into this amazing woman who is with us now. Abby said.

Tommy nodded in agreement. he knew Abby was right. If Krisa had stayed back then there is not telling what kind of person his daughter would have become. Abbby gave her old friend a supportive smile. She knew how worried Tommy was about Krisa. Because she as a parent knew the same feeling. Abby was just about to ask Tommy a question when Bonham walked into the house.

"Tommy"

"Hey Bon"

"I got you all set up in the guest house. An Abby I think has Krisa set up in the guest room."

"That I do." Abby agreed.

"I thought Krisa was staying with me in the bunk house. Cordell said as he and Krisa walked into the dinning room.

"Uh no, I'm staying here." Krisa said as she walked into the dinning room snacking on a hand full of popcorn.

"What's wrong with stying at my place ?" Cordell asked stealing a few pieces of popcorn.

"Stella and Auggie. I don't want them being uncomfortable with me staying in the same house."

Abby, Bonham and tommy all laughed when Cordell's eyes went wide and his mouth gapped open like a fish. Krisa laughed to as she playfully closed his mouth.

"You aren't a cat fish Cowboy."

"Hey!" Cordell said smaking her hand away.

everyone laughed at this it reminded them of when Cordell and Krisa were kida and would play around like this. It was nice to once agaiin see the two joking around.

"Look Cordell, Krisa will stay here. She doesn't want to make it akward for Stella and Auggie. An that is understable she doesn't want them getting the wrong idea." Abby explained.

"I don't think it would be akward darlin I just think she's being respectful to the kids." Bonham said.

"I'm respecting Emily."

"That''s good of you baby girl."

"I'm going out to the barn." Krisa said as she left the dinning room and walked out to the corall. The horses always seemed to calm her down. She didn't want to be in the same room with Cordell and start a fight about where she was going to sleep.

"I figured you'd be out here Krissy." Liam said suddenly from behind her.

"Dammit Li! i hate when you do that."

"Liam laughed as he leaned up against the fence of the corall. the two stood in silence for a moment.

"I think Cordi is mad at me. Because i won't stay at the bunk house with him and the kids. "

"So let me guess your staying here?"

"Yeah I just.. I didn't want to make thing akward form Stella and Auggie. I mean i don't want to disrespct Emily. I know she's gone but she still Cordell's wife and I cant disrespect someone who is dead."

"Always careing about everyone else . Krisa you wouldn't be disrepecting Emily. Not by a long shot. An as for Stella and Auggie they would understand."

Krisa sighed as she feed chopper who had walked up and nuzzled her hand. Liam smiled as he watched her. The two stood in silence for the longest time just takeing in the quiet. When Liam spoke

"He never understood why you left you know.

"Does he need too?"

"Krissy you never even told me the real reason why you left. It's like one day you were here and the next you disappeared. Honestly he was worried. You know Cordi if he didnt see he would have gone looking."

"Did he?"

Liam didn't say anything and that gave Krisa her answer.

"Do remember the day before homecoming that year? "

"Yeah who wouoldn't."

"I had basically come out here to ask Cordi if he wanted to go with me. Only he was out rideing with Emily, Hoyt and Gerri that day. I didn't stick around to wait. I left went back home and asked my dad to let me go to Houston to live with my grandparents. I honestly was just hoping to escape it all."

"So you did run because you love Cordi"

Krisa nodded in replie she didn't want to say it out load again. Because it hurt to much. Liam place his ahdn on Kris'as hsoulder and rubbed her shouder in comfort. he knew the turth and he had for a long time. Liam knew Krisa loved his brother but he also knew that Krisa would have never wanted to disrespect emily. An he also knew that if she had it would make look bad to Stella and Auggie. An that was the last thing she would ever want to do is look bad to the kids.

"There you too are." Cordell said walking up to them.

"Hey" Liam said Krisa just smiled.

"Krisa, you're phone has been going off." Cordell said handing her the phone.

Krisa took the phone seeing she had at least five missed calls and three text messages from Matthew. Looking nervousley at Cordell and Liam she dailed Matthe'ws number putting the phone on speaker.

"Hey babe."

"Hey nane, you okay I called you like five times."

"Yeah sorry I was busy helping dad."

"Packing i hope."

"Kinda so whats so important?"

Dad is having a dinner for some cilents in Austin this week he wants to know if you would join him."

"Yeah sure, when?"

"Next Tuesday at seven"

"Where?"

"The old Texas hotel down town."

""Formal wear I suppose?"

"Black tie"

"Right Ill be there. Tell you're dad I'll meet him there."

Good, job babe I'll give him the RSVP"

"Alright babe."

"Yeah, I gotta go babe love you.."

"Love you." Krisa said as she ended the call Cordell and Liam looked at each otherr in silent conversation not saying a word to anyone.

"Youre not going alone."

"Bull shit you aren't going." Krisa told Cordell.

"Krissy you can't go alone and for all you know this could be a trap and dangerous one at that." Liam said.

"I won't put any of you in dangerous I'm going alone and so help me if you two try anything I won't forgive you." Krisa said as she walked away from the two and headed inside.

"We aren't going to let her go alone are we?" Liam asked Cordell.

"Hell no she's crazy if she honestly thinks she's going alone.""

"Then what do we do?"

"We follow her I'm not going to loss her again Liam."

""You won't."

"Dam right I won't because so help me if I loss her again I'll loss my mind." Cordell said.

"You won't Cordi, believe me big brother you will not loss her again."