Thanks for all the reviews so far - really encouraging. It's just dawned on me however how dumb 'Hank and Frank' sounds. Makes them sound like the flowerpot men! If I'd realised before, I would have changed Frank's name, but too late now! Just have to laugh! Also, all I meant about it perhaps becoming boring is that I didn't want readers to think, 'Oh God this is so unrealistic, how can so much crap happen to one couple.' If it gets like that, please tell me!

Emma Jane sat by Will's bedside throughout the night watching while he slept. His cough had subsided, but as he took each deep breath, she could hear a crackling in his chest, indicating the fluid in his lungs. She didn't sleep, just sat watching him, hoping and praying he would wake up in the morning.

The thought that Frank Williams was in Colorado Springs made her shiver. It was all too strange, too convenient that he had suddenly turned up when everything seemed to be going wrong. The situation with the Gold Nugget was also playing on her mind and she had a terrible fear that if things didn't pick up they were going to lose everything.

As dawn was starting to break, the bedroom door creaked and she turned to see Hank standing in the doorway, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"Woke up and ya weren't there," he said by way of greeting, "Ya bin in here all night?"

Emma Jane nodded, "I didn't want to leave him on his own."

He came over and crouched down next to her, "He a'right?"

She shrugged, "His breathing isn't too good." They both sat in silence for a few moments listening to him. "I'm scared, Hank."

Hank put his arm around her shoulders, "I know."

"You know, I look at him and I wonder…" she sniffed, "I wonder if it was all worth it."

"How do ya mean?"

"I mean, what kind of life is he going to have? He's always going to be sick, he's always going to need looking after…" she started to cry, "maybe when I found out I was pregnant…"

"Don't," Hank said quickly, "Ain't nothin' ya could have done anyway."

Emma Jane didn't reply. She knew he was technically right, although she would have been lying if she said she hadn't thought about what some women did in such a situation. "It's my fault."

"No, it ain't."

"If I hadn't been sick when he was born…"

"Stop it, Emma Jane." He put his hand under her chin and forced her to look at him, "Weren't nothin' ya could have done. Lucky ya didn't die yerself." He cast another look at Will, "C'mon, come back to bed for a while."

She shook her head, "I won't sleep."

"Don't know that til ya try." He raised his eyebrows at her.

Reluctantly, she got to her feet and followed Hank out of the room. At the door, she paused to look back at her son, still sleeping peacefully, then quietly closed the door behind her. Back in her own room, she climbed into her bed and pulled the covers around her. By the time Hank came in to join her, she was already asleep.

SSSS

Everything was dark and she couldn't se anything. Couldn't even see her own hand in front of her face, even though she stretched it in front of her. Slowly, she took a step forward, hoping to brush against something that would give her some indication as to where she was, but she felt nothing. She kept walking, on and on as if forever, until she caught sight of a light up ahead. She started to hurry towards it and it grew bigger in her sphere of vision. Then she saw someone standing in the light, a man, tall…broad.

"Hank?" she called out, hurrying forwards, but he ignored her, his back turned, "Hank!" she tried again and when she reached him, she grabbed his shoulder and turned him to face her. And that's when she realised it was him…

"No!" Emma Jane screamed, sitting up quickly in bed. She sat for a moment, trying to bring her breathing under control and when she glanced around, she was surprised to see that the room was bathed in sunshine and that Hank was nowhere to be seen. Checking the clock on the wall, she saw that it was nearly ten.

Gasping, she leapt out of bed and ran around the room, grabbing the first dress she could find and pulling it on. Running out of the room, she dashed into the children's rooms to find both beds empty. She hurtled down the stairs into the bar to find Will and Victoria sitting at one of the tables eating what looked suspiciously like Grace's breakfasts. Hank was sitting with them, smoking, and there were a few customers dotted around.

"Why didn't you wake me?" she demanded, hurrying over.

"Ya were asleep," Hank stated the obvious.

Emma Jane turned to Will and took his face in her hands, "How are you darling?"

"Fine," he replied.

"Do you feel better?" he nodded, "Thank God for that." Her gaze fell on Victoria, "You should be at school."

"Pa said I could have the day off," Victoria replied, stuffing some more egg into her mouth.

"Did he now?" Emma Jane glared at her husband, "Well, I'm sorry, Victoria, but you're going to school."

"But…"

"No buts, please!" Emma Jane threw up her hands, "Finish eating and I'll take you over." She moved over to the bar and started looking over the stock.

"What's the matter with ya?" Hank said, coming over so they were out of the children's earshot.

"What's the matter with me?" she glared at him, "What are you thinking about letting Victoria skip school?"

"What?" he shrugged, "It's one day off. Ain't gonna kill her. Figured it'd be company for Will cause I guess ya ain't sendin' him."

"Of course not, but there's nothing wrong with Victoria and I'm not having her miss school even for one day. You want her to have a decent education, don't you?"

"Course, but…"

"Then I'll take her," Emma Jane interrupted decisively.

"Don't know what the hell's up with ya," Hank grumbled.

"I beg your pardon?"

"One minute yer all happy, next yer actin' like a bear with a sore head," he replied, "Ya sure yer not goin' through the change?"

"I am not going through the change!" she replied viciously, "Just because I'm not spending every minute of the day trying to get you into bed doesn't mean there's anything wrong!" She turned back to the table where Will and Victoria were sitting, "Victoria, now! Go and get your books." Victoria scowled but got up from her seat and stomped upstairs to get her things. "Can you look after Will until I get back?" Emma Jane turned back to Hank.

"Sure," he replied laconically, leaning back against the bar.

"Good," Emma Jane replied. She crouched down and kissed Will, "I'll be back soon and I'll make your bed up for you. Then we can read a story, would you like that?"

"Yes," Will nodded with a grin.

"All right then," Victoria appeared in the doorway, "Come on Victoria, I don't want you to miss any more school." She headed for the door.

Hank watched her go, letting the door slam behind her and shook his head. Then he looked at Will who was looking at him, "C'mon Will," he said, scooping him up into his arms, "How bouts you and me go down to the creek? Reckon Sam can manage," he looked to where the younger man was clearing glasses.

"Sure, Hank," he replied.

"Great, let's go."

SSSS

"Victoria, pick your feet up, please!" Emma Jane declared, turning to look at her daughter who was dawdling along behind her.

"I don't wanna go to school," Victoria mumbled, scuffing her shoes into the ground.

"Well you're going and that's it."

"Will gets to stay at home."

"He's not well," Emma Jane nodded at Loren who was walking with Rev Johnston, "Morning Loren, Reverend."

"Morning Emma Jane," the Reverend replied, "Beautiful day, isn't it?"

"Yes it is," she replied, "Victoria, come on!"

"It's not fair! You love Will more than you love me!" Victoria yelled, causing various people to look around.

Emma Jane turned and looked at her daughter, "That's not true," she said, "I love you both the same!"

"No you don't, you love him more! You spend more time with him, you care more about him." She looked at her mother accusingly.

"No I don't, Victoria…" Emma Jane sighed heavily, "Look, can we discuss this later? You're already really late for school."

"I told you, I don't want to go!" Victoria stamped her foot.

"You're going and that's the end of it!" Emma Jane grabbed her daughter's arm and started to drag her up the hill towards the schoolhouse.

"No!" Victoria screamed.

"Please!" Emma Jane felt tears forming in her eyes and she crouched down in front of her daughter, "Please just go to school, Victoria, please." Victoria, subdued slightly by the sight of her mother on the verge of tears, nodded her head silently. "Thank you," Emma Jane replied. She stood up and took Victoria's hand and the two of them walked up the hill. She knocked on the door and then opened it.

Theresa Slicker stopped what she was doing as they appeared in the doorway, "Mrs Lawson?"

"Good morning Mrs Slicker," Emma Jane replied, "I'm sorry Victoria's late."

"That's all right," Theresa replied, smiling at Victoria, "Come in, Victoria."

Emma Jane let go of her hand and Victoria walked slowly over to her seat. She paused for a moment and then turned and walked back out of the schoolhouse, closing the door behind her. As she walked back down the hill, she replayed Victoria's words in her head, "You love Will more than you love me." It wasn't true, of course it wasn't and yet maybe Victoria had a point. Maybe she did favour her son, but if so, then it wasn't out of any greater sense of love, but of guilt.

SSSS

Frank saw her before she saw him. He was just coming out of the general store when he saw a woman he knew could only be Emma Jane coming along the road. Her head was down, but he was almost positive it was her. Frederick had shown him many pictures of his youngest daughter and Frank could just tell. He hurried down the step and moved towards her.

"Excuse me?" she didn't respond, "Excuse me, Ma'am?"

Emma Jane turned and saw to her astonishment that it was Frank.

Mistaking her look for one of surprise at being accosted, he took his hat off and looked suitably sheepish, "I'm sorry if I startled you."

"N…no," Emma Jane replied, suddenly tongue-tied, "It's just that…I mean I…I'm sorry."

"I'm Frank Williams," he interjected quickly to cover her obvious embarrassment, "I'm assuming that you are Emma Jane Lawson?"

"Yes," she replied, "yes I am."

"You look just like your picture."

"My picture?"

"Yes, your father loves you show you off whenever he gets the opportunity," Frank grinned, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"And…and you," she replied accepting his proffered hand and shaking it, "What…what brings you to town?"

Frank's grin faded slightly, "I…I assumed your father had written to tell you I was coming."

Emma Jane thought back. No, she would surely remember such a letter, "I'm sorry," she offered, "the mail can be a little unreliable. Had I known you were coming…"

"It's all right," he said, "as I said, it's nice to just meet you."

"You're working with Preston?" she latched on to what Hank had told her.

"Yes, at the bank. I thought a country bank might offer me a change of pace…" he trailed off, catching sight of her slightly reddened eyes, "I'm sorry I hope you don't think me presumptuous, but are you all right?"

Emma Jane put her hand quickly to her face, "I…I mean I…"

"Can I buy you a cup of coffee perhaps?" Frank asked.

Emma Jane glanced back over at the Gold Nugget where Will would be waiting for her. Hank had probably put him back to bed and he might even be asleep. Then she looked back at Frank and wondered if socialising with him at all was a good idea.

"Mrs Lawson?"

"Call me Emma Jane," she said quickly, "and yes, coffee would be lovely, thank you."

SSSS

It was a calm, quiet day at the creek. The sun was shining down and the breeze was blowing gently through the trees. Hank sat back against a tree while Will splashed around in the shallow water. He watched his son gamely stamping his feet and laughing as the water sprayed up around him. He had, over the years, had occasion to look at Will and wonder about the past, about where he had come from. Victoria was as fair as himself, with her curly blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Will on the other hand, had dark hair and dark eyes and it was more difficult to see any family resemblance. He had a cheeky smile that reminded him of Emma Jane sometimes, but as for seeing anything of himself…well he was still looking.

"Careful," he called out lazily as Will continued to stamp around, "Don't wanna fall and hurt yerself."

Will stopped what he was doing and looked up at his father. Then he clambered out of the water and hurried over, flopping down on the ground next to him and looking up int Hank's face.

"What?" Hank asked him.

"Am I going to die?" Will asked innocently.

Hank froze as he dragged on his cigarette and looked at Will. He wasn't quite sure how to respond to that one, "What makes ya say that?"

"I get sick."

"Yeah," Hank leaned forward, "Yeah ya do, but that don't mean yer gonna die."

Will looked down at the ground, "Ma looks sad sometimes too."

It almost broke Hank's heart to see his six-year old look so despondent, "Yer Ma just worries bout ya," he tried to reassure him, "When ya git sick, she worries, cause she's yer Ma."

"I don't wanna be sick."

Hank pulled Will onto his lap, "Don't want ya to be sick either. But ain't nothin' we can do 'cept take care of ya when ya do git sick." He held Will against him, feeling the little boy breathe against him.

"I love you, Pa."

Hank felt a lump form in his throat, "I love ya too, Will." He kissed the top of his head, "Ya ready to go home?"

Will didn't have a chance to respond, as all of a sudden there was a shout and a gunshot and three Indians on horseback came crashing through the undergrowth into the clearing. Hank scrambled to his feet, grabbing Will as he did so, and pulled his gun from its holster. He moved back behind the tree out of sight and waited. The Indians were talking amongst themselves, shouting in their native tongue. From where he was standing, it seemed as though one was trying to pacify the other, but they weren't responding. Hank held his breath, wondering if he would be able to move back quietly enough to get his horse without them hearing him. As he stepped back slowly, his foot stepped on a tree branch, letting out a crack that seemed to echo through the trees. The Indians stopped talking and turned around to see where the noise was coming from. Hank waited, his heart thumping in his chest. Perhaps he could make a run for it…

As one of the Indians moved his horse towards their hiding place, Hank took to his heels and bolted through the trees, still holding onto Will who was rigid with fear. He kept on running, not looking back, and was almost there, when suddenly a horse neighed loudly and shot out from the trees beside him. It was one of the Indians and he stopped Hank in his tracks.

Hank moved backwards, but another one of the Indians appeared at his back, forcing him to stop. Will began to cry loudly and Hank held him close to him. "It's a'right," he told him quietly, "it's a'right.." One of the Indians pointed at him and said something Hank didn't understand. "Don't know what yer sayin'," he said, "Don't talk Injun."

The Indian moved his horse forward and repeated what he had said.

"Told ya, I don't…" Hank broke off as the Indian behind him leapt off of his horse and knocked Hank's gun out of his hand. Hank spun around to face him, still clutching Will to him, "Back off," he said, "if ya know what's good for ya."

The Indian merely looked at him and then his gaze dropped to Will, who was clinging to his father and whimpering in fear.

At that moment, Hank would have gladly welcomed an appearance by Cloud Dancing, despite his contempt towards Michaela and Sully's friend, but his prayers went unanswered. The Indian on the ground kept coming towards him, forcing him backwards until he bumped into the other Indian who had come down from his horse. Hank looked between them, knowing that whatever they had planned, it wasn't going to be good.

SSSS

"So, what made you decide to come to Colorado Springs?" Emma Jane asked as she and Frank sat down in Grace's Café and ordered coffee.

"Oh, this and that," Frank replied vaguely.

"I'm sorry," she said, as he didn't say anything else, "I didn't mean to pry."

"No, I'm sorry," Frank said, "I didn't mean to sound so distant. It's…well, it's my fiancée Olivia…"

"You're engaged?" Emma Jane seized on this piece of news. If he was to be married, then there was no danger of anything happening between them.

"Well, no, not any more," Frank replied wistfully, "She…I'm almost ashamed to say it…left me for another man."

"Oh dear. I'm sorry."

"I suppose I should have seen it coming," he continued, "she kept avoiding me, not wanting to go out, not wanting to talk about the wedding…" he sighed, "eventually she confessed that she was in love with someone else."

"That must have been terrible," she sympathised, "is that why you came here? To get away from her?"

He nodded, "I didn't want to keep bumping into her at the same social events, especially if she was with him." He looked into his coffee, "I was talking to your father and he mentioned that he had been speaking with Preston's father about how well Preston was doing out here and it gave me an idea. Before I knew where I was, I was on the train about to sign a three month contract to work out here with Preston," he grinned, "are you very shocked by my rashness?"

Emma Jane laughed, "Considering I ran away from home, got on a train to Denver and ended up marrying the first man I met, I can hardly talk about your rashness." She took another drink of coffee, "So, how do you like our town so far?"

"It's certainly different from New York."

"I remember feeling the same," she smiled, "but over time, you get used to it."

"How long have you lived here now?"

"Since 1857 so that's…nineteen years," she laughed, "sometimes it seems like yesterday, other times it seems like ninety."

"I only meet your husband briefly, but he seems a nice enough fellow."

"Yes, he is. Once you get to know him," she added quickly, "some people think he's a bit abrasive at first but, once you see underneath the exterior, you see he isn't like that at all."

"And you have two beautiful children."

"Yes, Victoria and Will." At the thought of her son, her smile slipped slightly.

Frank noticed, "What is it?"

Emma Jane sighed, "Will's unwell."

"I'm sorry to hear it."

"He's been sick ever since he was born. He was early, you see, and I had influenza when I was having him…" she forced back the tears, "I worry about him."

"I'm sure with a mother like you he has all the love and attention that will make him well." Emma Jane smiled sadly, wishing he only knew the truth. It was so like strangers to dismiss Will's ailments as if they were nothing at all. "And the Gold Nugget," Frank continued, "You have a thriving business."

"Not really." Frank raised his eyebrows. "I'm sorry, I just meant that…well business is difficult at the moment."

"It seemed full when I was there."

"At the moment, yes, but it won't last. We put everything we had into the Gold Nugget and I'm just worried that it's all going to come crashing down about our ears." She sighed again, "When we were planning it all…"

"Oh, so it was partly your idea?"

She nodded, "Jake, Hank's partner, his father died and left him a gold nugget, and we decided to open a hotel to cater for people coming to town. What with the train and everything, it seemed the ideal solution. We just didn't expect to have to battle with Preston."

"So, you have a stake in the Gold Nugget?"

Emma Jane looked at him, "Well…not on paper. It's all in Hank's name."

"But if it was partly your idea and you work there…"

"Married women can't own property, Mr Williams," she reminded him, "we may have the vote in this town, but all a wife's property still belongs to her husband."

"Yes, I realise that, but really, you should have a proper legal document for your share."

Emma Jane stared at him as if he were speaking a foreign language. She agreed that what he was saying was practical, but it just wasn't the law, "Of course that would be nice, but hardly practical."

"But it may be coming," Frank noted, "In a few years time I'm sure we shall see married women being able to keep their own property and have shares in their husband's businesses. You're a bright woman, Emma Jane, why should everything you own be in Hank's name?"

Emma Jane opened her mouth to respond, but she was prevented from doing so by Sully running through the café, shouting her name.

"Sully…?" she stood up quickly.

"Bin lookin' all over for ya," he said breathlessly, coming to a halt at their table, "Hank's horse just came back without a rider."

"What?" Emma Jane wasn't quite sure what he was saying.

"Loren said he saw Hank and Will ride off earlier, and Hurricane's just come back on his own," Sully spelt it out for her, "Something's wrong."

"Oh God," Emma Jane flew away from the table, leaving Frank sitting stunned. She and Sully ran back towards the Gold Nugget where she saw a crowd of people surrounding Hurricane who was standing champing at his bit. They parted as they saw her approach. "What's happened?" she demanded.

"Don't know," Loren replied, "Just saw Hurricane comin' gallopin' in without Hank or Will. Sent Sully to git ya straight away."

"When did they go? Where did they go?" she demanded.

Loren shrugged, "I just seen 'em ridin' off."

Emma Jane turned to Sully, "I thought he was going to put Will back to bed. I thought they were going to be in the Gold Nugget…"

"Ok, ok," Sully said, "We'll go look for 'em. Jake, Horace?"

"Hank's a big boy," Jake said, "he can look after himself."

"I'll go," Horace said.

"I'll come too," Matthew said.

"Daniel…" Emma Jane looked towards the sheriff's office.

"Out of town," Matthew told her.

"I'm coming with you!" Emma Jane declared, "I'll take Hurricane."

"No, reckon you should stay here," Sully said, "I'll get Michaela in case he's hurt."

"So help me God, Sully, I'm coming with you!" Emma Jane repeated, swinging herself up into the saddle, "You can't stop me."

Sully paused, knowing full well she was right, "Ok."

"Is everything all right?" Frank asked, suddenly appearing beside her.

"Hank and Will are missing," she told him fearfully, "Oh God, I hope nothing's happened to them."

"Can I do anything?"

"Frank!" he turned around to see Preston coming towards them, "What on earth is all the shouting about?"

"Emma Jane's husband and son are missing," he filled Preston in as the rest of the posse came together.

"Emma Jane," Michaela pulled her horse up alongside, "Don't worry, we're going to find them."

"But Will…" she began.

"We're going to find them," Michaela repeated.

"Maybe I should go along," Frank said, watching the scene unfold.

"Nonsense," Preston said as the five riders pulled away from the Gold Nugget and began cantering towards the woods, "With any luck, they won't find him."