Kathryn tried to thaw her demeanor.

It wasn't his fault Nick had fired her. He was innocent, just like Heath.

"Sure thing, Mr. Barkley. What do you need to know?"

Seeing Nick behind him, she tensed. What was he doing here?! Heath wasn't with him. He wouldn't have told Jarrod what had happened.

"I understand. You're probably wondering why I'm behind the counter. To answer your question, yes, I am working for Albert. He and I have made a deal where if I'm not working," she stumbled, but plowed on, hoping he hadn't noticed "Or putting in my hours with your mother, I would help him out here. He was gracious enough to help me with something and now, I'm returning the favor."

Jarrod, still smiling, looked around. "I can see that. Business is certainly booming today."

"He doesn't need my help for that. Albert's a very good businessman." She bit out, realizing belatedly how sharp it had sounded.

"Don't snap at him! He's the one who signs your paychecks-"

"Then I can talk to him however I want since he won't be signing anymore paychecks for me." She closed her eyes in resignation as the angry words left her mouth.

She hadn't meant to sell out Nick. She had every intention to let Heath inform the rest of the Barkleys why she was leaving. Now she was really wishing she hadn't capitulated to Heath's plea.

She had been ignoring the fact that her illness was rearing its ugly head. She was achy, sore, her injuries were bothering her, her head was aching and she had had enough of people!

All she wanted to do was lay down, sleep and ignore the world for a little bit. Unfortunately, since she wasn't returning to the ranch and hadn't yet acquired a hotel room, she had just kept working. After all, the busier she was, the easier it was to not dwell on the events of the day.

"Kathryn."

She ignored Jarrod's placating tone.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Barkley. I didn't mean to... It wasn't my place... Employment is ranch business. Your brother is just looking out for your best interests."

"Ms. Quinn, please look at me."

She sighed internally. Fortifying herself, she lifted her gaze.

"My brother was wrong." He ignored Nick's soft sound of indignation. "Let's get you back. We'll handle this tomorrow."

She squared her shoulders, ignoring the twinge of her wounds. "I'm sorry, Mr. Barkley. The mercantile is still open for a couple of hours. And even if that weren't the case, I wasn't planning on staying the night at the ranch. I'm staying in town."

Jarrod's smile disappeared, replaced by a thin, hard line. "No, you're not. I'm walking over to the motel right now and canceling your reservation."

"I don't have one." As he raised an eyebrow, she mentally kicked herself. She hated being ill; she blurted things out.

"Then you can't stay in town."

Looking past Jarrod, she glared at Nick. "You don't need a reservation to sleep under the stars."

"You fool! You're not even supposed to be here! You're supposed to be in bed for another three weeks! Actually, you were supposed to be in bed for-"

"Nick, that's enough."

Nick made to start yelling at Jarrod, until he noticed his thundercloud of an expression. Luckily, the amount of customers in the mercantile was dwindling, but Nick realized he had been shouting. He had been broadcasting Kathryn's well-being, to people who probably had no idea...

He stared at his feet, a look of shame on his features. "My apologies."

Kathryn heard, but didn't respond.

Jarrod turned to Albert. "Albert, may I borrow Kathryn for a couple of minutes?"

Albert looked between all of them. He liked the Barkleys well enough. They were a good family, however, the way Kathryn was acting...

He turned his concern on her. "Kathryn, how are you doing?"

She gave him a small, grateful smile. He had known the Barkleys longer, they were customers and yet, he wasn't just handing her over because they wanted it.

"I'm doing good, Albert." Turning her attention to the Barkleys she responded "As I already stated, I'm no longer employed by the Barkley ranch, so unless you gentleman are purchasing something, I have to get back to work. I'll come collect Raphael after the mercantile's closed for the day."

Jarrod recognized that stubborn glint in her fever bright ice-grey eyes. He could wait until tonight; he'd have Heath, Audra and his mother there to help. "Very well. Tonight then." Turning to Albert he bid farewell, ushering an angry Nick out of the building.

As they disappeared out the door, Kathryn sagged in relief.

"Kathryn, you're still healing. And you've done more than enough, especially for your first day of work." Albert joked, his green eyes twinkling mischievously.

Kathryn sighed. "I'm sorry. Mr. Barkley was right. There's a reason I'm supposed to be resting."

Albert "hmmmed" as he placed the back of his hand to her head. "You do seem warm." Caving in to his grandparental nudging he told her gently "There's a room in the back with a cot. It won't be as busy since it's nearing suppertime. It'll be quite slow till we close up. Then, you can come upstairs and have dinner with us before you head out." Not that he'd let her leave. The weather had been getting colder, they'd already had their first light snowfall. It would only be getting worse from now on. He'd be dead before he'd let her sleep outside, even if she wasn't wounded and sick.

Kathryn stumbled past him and passed out as soon as she was on the cot.

A few minutes later, Albert shut the door, leaving a slight crack.

Kathryn groggily roused when she heard voices.

"But Grandpa, I'll be quiet!"

"Megan, she's sleeping right now. She needs to sleep so she can heal. Let's go upstairs, get dinner ready and when we're ready to eat, we'll come get her."

"Promise?"

"I promise, Johnny. Now, come on. I'll help you so we won't make that step creak."

Kathryn groaned as she maneuvered herself into a sitting position. Rubbing her aching head, she groaned again as she realized that she couldn't leave the valley. She owed Mrs. Barkley for the peaches and Albert for the new clothes. She leaned her head back against the wall, fighting back tears. She should never have come here. She had dug herself into quite the hole. Getting unsteadily to her feet, she found the back door and leaving the mercantile, went around to the front and mounted Vacquero.

He could tell something was wrong. He nickered at her. She ignored him and maneuvering him around, had him leave town toward the Barkley ranch.

"You did what?!"

Nick closed his eyes at the shrillness of Audra's shriek of fury.

Looking around, he realized he would get no help. Heath was glowering at him, keeping up his silence; Jarrod was smirking, the smug b*****d. Nick had thought that Jarrod had forgiven him. He'd get his revenge later. And his mother...

"Honestly, Nicholas. I have to agree with Heath. If Jake's the one causing problems, he should be the one that has to leave. Especially since Kathryn seems to put in more work and does her job right."

"We hired him first-"

"And he's been nothing but trouble."

Nick flinched at the simmering anger in Heath's quiet accusation.

Opening his mouth, he was about to continue the argument when Heath added, just as quietly "I want him gone. Please, Nick."

And that was it. After Heath's accusation, his quietness, his hurt...

Rising from the chair, he walked over, placed a hand on Heath's shoulder, squeezing it gently. When Heath raised his head, his face pleading, Nick quirked a small smile. "Sure thing, Heath. I'll let him know before roll call tomorrow."

Heath smiled, big and genuine, the first one he'd given Nick all day.

There was a knock at the door.

Since Nick was the only one standing, he crossed the foyer and opening the front door greeted with a smile "Kathryn."

Kathryn's vision was blurry, had been for awhile — she was surprised she had been able to dismount Vacquero, instead of falling flat on her face — which is why she recognized it was Nick holding the door open by his voice.

Clearing her throat, she was able to say "Mr. Barkley, I-"

Kathryn was petting Raphael. She recognized the feel of it; soft, with just the right amount of coarseness that comes with all wild animals.

Funny, she knew she had gone to get him from the ranch, past that, she couldn't remember.

She was dreaming. She knew she was laying on the ground, outside, under the stars; yet, she wasn't cold and it was soft. She liked this dream. She wanted to stay here for a little longer.

Raphael whined at her.

She almost chuckled at his instruction for her to go back to sleep.

"You're OK. Sleep. We're OK." Or maybe it was you're...

"Did she wake up?"

Victoria sighed as she smoothed Kathryn's bangs off her forehead. "I think she tried to, Jarrod."

"She probably would've, but the mutt whined-"

"Nicholas!" Victoria chided.

Raphael raised his hackles. Victoria held out her hand placatingly. "Good boy; you did good." He angled his head so she could pet him.

Nick threw his hands up in frustration. "I didn't say he didn't." Glaring at Raphael he stated "You did good. She needs her sleep."

Raphael held his stare for a few more seconds, before lowering his head to Kathryn's covered legs.

Audra returned with a bowl of cold water and a washcloth. "Heath rode back with Dr. Merar to get her medicines and to let Albert know that she probably won't be in tomorrow."

"Probably?! If she even tries, I'm locking her in this room."

"Nick-" Jarrod started to chastise.

"No, Jarrod, no. Her fever's back, she's been coughing and somehow, her injuries are infected! Enough is enough. You'd be agreeing with me if she had collapsed in front of you!" That would haunt him for a little bit.

Seeing her at the front door, he was prepared for her to lay into him — and he would've let her — before sincerely apologizing and asking her to return to work for them.

"Mr. Barkley, I-"

Yep, here it came. He readied himself... and caught her purely out of reflex, because he was focusing on keeping his mouth shut and letting her say her peace, no matter what words she flung at him.

As Audra sat down on Kathryn's other side, Raphael silently bared his teeth.

"Raphael..." Jarrod warned.

Audra turned her shocked expression to Jarrod. "Did I do something wrong?" She asked in a small, quiet voice.

Jarrod smiled reassuringly. "No, young lady. Kathryn informed us that when he thinks he has to protect her, no matter if he likes you or how long he's known you, his loyalty is first to her."

The sympathy in Audra's eyes, so like Heath's, didn't soften the glare she leveled at the wolf. "You stop that. That's enough. You can protect her, but I love her, too. She's my friend and she's hurting. I want to help and I'm going to help." After a few moments, Raphael gave her closest hand a lick. She lost her glare and smiling she gave a quick scratch behind his ear. "Apology accepted."

"There was nothing I could do Nick. As soon as I rode in, John told me he had seen Vacquero at the hitching post and — figuring either Kathryn has changed her mind or we had convinced her to stay — had rubbed him down and put him in the barn. He asked me to tell Kathryn he was glad she was back and he'd see her tomorrow. Jake was lurking and told John that she to come back to keep our beds warm."

A deep sigh. "Did you hit him again?"

"Although I really wanted to, Jarrod, no. I got my satisfaction when I told him he was fired and to get off the ranch."

"Just like that? You're telling me Jake left without a fuss?"

A derisive snort. "I wish. No, he didn't leave quietly. But my hands are clean. John and a few of the other hands took care of it."

No, that wasn't right. Nick had told her. Jake was staying because it was what was best for the ranch and he had to think of the ranch... Something was wrong... she wasn't safe!

Raphael was outside. Audra had given him food and water, and let him out for a little bit.

Which is why Nick was occupying his spot by Kathryn.

He was about to ask Heath exactly how the others had "taken care of it," when he felt movement. Looking down, he saw Kathryn's face scrunch in pain? Fear? He placed a hand on her head as she started to toss and turn.

"Hey, now. You're OK. Everything's OK. Go back to sleep."

It wasn't working.

"Nick?" She asked, awkwardly sitting up, propped against the pillows.

Her voice was so small, confused and... it was the first time she had used his name, not Mr. Barkley...

"Hey there, young lady. It's good to see you awake."

She smiled. "But I'm not, Jarrod. This is a dream."

The men shared a concerned look of confusion.

"What makes you say that Kathryn?"

She seemed lucid enough, though her eyes were still bright with fever and a swirl of chaotic colors.

"Because Heath, I picked up Raphael. I'm not at the ranch, I'm outside somewhere, under the stars."

Jarrod smiled kindly. "Can we get you to drink something for us Kathryn?"

She nodded as she relaxed back into the pillows.

"Why didn't you tell Albert you weren't feeling good? You gave us quite the scare."

Kathryn shrugged, glancing down at her clasped hands. "Didn't have anywhere to go. And besides Heath, I figured if I stayed busy, then I didn't have to think about what happened today. Didn't have to think about how I had to leave..."

Jarrod approached the bed, cup in hand. "You're not leaving Kathryn. Not the valley, not this ranch, not this bedroom, not even that bed."

Kathryn smiled sadly. "Of course I'm not, Jarrod. That's why this is such a nice dream. I'm going to stay in it for as long as I can. It's going to be hard to wake up when I have to go back to the mercantile tomorrow." She looked confused. "How did you know where to find me?"

"You forget, young lady, I'm the one who found you this morning in the barn with your new boots, jacket and hat."

"Yeah, Albert left them here. And I don't accept charity so I told him I'd work for him until I paid him back for them."

Now, that wasn't fair, she'd said Heath and Jarrod twice now.

Plucking the mug from Jarrod, Nick offered it to Kathryn. "Jarrod's right, Kathryn, you're not going anywhere. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have fired you."

Taking the mug and drinking it down, Kathryn responded "I don't want to leave, Nick. I like it here. I want to stay." Then, she burst into tears.

Nick panicked. He didn't know how to handle sobbing women. Luckily, Jarrod sat down on her other side and pulling her in so that his chin rested on the top of her head, he whispered comforting words. Heath placed a hand on her feet, lending his quiet strength.

"I have to go, Nick, you said so. You said you had to think of the ranch and Jake was causing trouble for the ranch because of me... you weren't there." She finished quietly, lifting her gaze to Heath. "Nick was there, but not you. Please tell me I didn't leave you guys a big enough mess where you had to stay behind and Nick had to get more supplies."

Heath shook his head, a gentle smile adorning his face. "Nothing like that. We got it cleaned up."

Kathryn still looked confused.

"I ran into Nick in town. He told me some of what had happened. We went to find you, so I could use my lawyerly charms on you and get you to reconsider. You have no idea how glad I was to see you in the mercantile."

Kathryn shook her head. "Doesn't make sense. Where one is, the other's usually there, too."

"That's because Heath was mad at me for firing you."

Kathryn's expression turned to one of stricken terror. "No, no... I'm sorry, Nick. I'm so sorry."

Turning her gaze to Heath, her gaze hardened. "You stop this, you let go of that anger. I just got here, you don't know me. And besides that, he's your brother. He may not tell you as often as he should, but he loves you. I see how he looks at you. Like, like he's scared you're going to disappear on him or something. And I see the way you look at him, at all your family, like, like you can't believe they're yours. I don't know your story, but I'm not worth it. You have to let it go, don't ruin it because of-"

Nick couldn't help it. He reached out and placing a hand on the back of her head — where it was still tucked firmly under Jarrod's chin — he softly informed her. "We're good. We're OK. It's you who's not, but we're fixing that now." He assured her.

He saw her pupils flitting around, terrified. He smiled in soft reassurance. "We got you. Raphael and Vacquero are being taken care of. They're OK. Now, let us take care of you."

Her eyebrows scrunched in doubt. "I... I don't-"

"Kathryn!"

"It's OK, Nick. She's just fallen asleep. The medicine must have kicked in." Jarrod assured his distraught brothers. Gently maneuvering her frame, he laid her back down on the bed and tucked her back under the covers.

Nick turned to Heath.

"I'm sorry, Nick."

Before Nick could interrupt and assure Heath that he was blameless, Heath continued. "I had no right to treat you like I have been all day. You made a mistake, but I shouldn't have let my anger get in the way. I love you too much. I know what it's like to not have you around."

Nick knew what he meant; how Heath had sweated out those 65 days alone, because he had been selfish, had not wanted the family to "die along with him." He went to the foot of the bed, placed a tentative hand on Heath's shoulder. When Heath looked at him and didn't move away, Nick pulled him into a bear hug.

"I'm the one who's sorry Heath. You were right to be mad at me. And Kathryn's right, too. I don't say it often enough. You know me, I don't say what I'm feeling, I do. When you left with Sawyer... well, I know what it's like to think that you'll never see someone again. You came back and — she's right — every day, I have to assure myself that you truly are here; where you belong."

"Thanks for getting rid of Jake."

"Aw, Heath. I'd do anything for you, you gotta know that by now."

Heath pulled back, a broad smile lighting up his face. "Anything?"

Nick fondly smirked and lightly cuffing him upside his head, he leveled a finger at him and growled without any heat "Within reason."

Jarrod gave a snort of disbelief. "We all know you'd move heaven and Earth for this family, Brother Nick."

After a few moments Heath demanded "What's got you grinning like a cat who got the canary?"

"She called you by your names twice; me? I got six."