Not certain what to do, or how to respond, Charlie looked to the adults around her for guidance.

"Here, now," Murdoch said, reaching down to gently pry Burl's fingers from Charlie's arm. "You'll see her after a bit."

Burl latched onto Charlie with a fierceness, and a strength that surprised them all, and that startled Charlie.

Charlie caught her breath at the action, as Burl looked up at Murdoch and said, "No! You'll take her and I'll not see

her again!"

A quick look between Murdoch, Johnny and Scott, and Murdoch then said, more firmly, "No, Burl, you'll see her

soon," as Scott very deftly loosened Burl's fingers, and released Charlie.

When Charlie was standing, free of Burl's grip, Murdoch began to talk to Burl quietly. Scott took Charlie out of the room

into the hall.

"Are you alright?" Scott asked her.

Charlie nodded, but Scott felt her tremble. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"Bit frightening, hmm?" he asked her.

"Not frightening, exactly," Charlie said. "It was-" she hesitated.

"Startling?" Scott supplied, and Charlie nodded.

"Yes."

"Why don't you go on out to the kitchen and get yourself a snack before bed," Scott suggested.

"I'm not hungry-Teresa and I were eating while we were waiting-"

"Alright. Get a glass of milk then, and go on upstairs. I'll be up soon," Scott said.

Charlie nodded, looking back at the room, where they could hear Murdoch's voice, still talking to Burl.

"He really thinks I'm Lettie," Charlie said, sounding regretful and confused.

"For the moment, he does," Scott said.

After another look at Scott, and at the room, Charlie headed off to the kitchen.

Upstairs, in her bedroom, Charlie put on her nightgown, and sat at the window seat. Teresa came after a bit,

tapping on the door, and coming in. The two girls sat at the window seat, and Charlie felt better just having Teresa there.

"Why does he think I'm Lettie?" Charlie asked.

"He's just confused, Charlie."

"Where is he going to sleep?"

"Murdoch is giving him his room," Teresa said.

"Do you have to go back downstairs?"

"I'll stay with you, until Scott comes up," Teresa said, and sat, with her arms around Charlie.

Lancer

When Scott did come, Teresa didn't stand immediately. She kept her arm around Charlie, and said,

"How is he?" to Scott.

"He's in bed. Nearly asleep, I think. Murdoch's going to sit with him awhile," Scott said.

"Well, that's good," Teresa said. She patted Charlie and stood up. "Goodnight, Charlie." She paused beside

Scott, and reached up to kiss his cheek. "Goodnight, Scott."

"Goodnight, Teresa," Scott said. He came over to stand beside the bed. "Come on. Time to get into bed."

Charlie went to scramble up onto the bed, and snuggled down under her quilts.

Scott sat down on the edge of the bed, tucking the blankets up around her.

"How long will Burl stay here?" she asked.

"I'm not certain."

"Do you think he'll still believe that I'm Lettie tomorrow?"

"I don't know, kiddo. Hopefully, he won't."

"Oh," Charlie said, sounding small.

"I don't want you to worry about it," Scott said, smoothing back her hair from her face. "If he does, we'll make

certain that he doesn't cause you any harm."

"I'm not worried about that," Charlie said. "Burl wouldn't ever hurt Lettie. So, if he thinks I'm Lettie, then he won't hurt

me."

Lancer

By the time Charlie woke, washed and dressed the next morning, and went down to the breakfast table, Burl was

already seated, to the right of Murdoch, and next to Teresa.

All three Lancer men and Teresa greeted Charlie, wishing her a Good Morning.

Burl was silent, but he appeared to be eating well. There was a platter of eggs and sausages in the center of the

table, and biscuits in a basket.

"I must have overslept," Charlie said, taking her chair at the table.

"No. We've only just begun to eat," Teresa said.

"We thought you might want to sleep a little later this morning," Scott said.

Charlie shook her head, and Johnny reached out for the platter, handing it off to her.

Charlie ate her eggs and two of Maria's biscuits, smothered in apple jelly.

"That was a fine meal," Burl said.

"Would you care for more?" Murdoch asked him.

"No, no," Burl said, waving a hand. "I'm stuffed to the brim, I am."

As they finished up their meal, Burl ran a hand over his chin.

"Might I be able to have a shave?" he asked.

"Absolutely," Murdoch said. "We'll see to having a bath prepared for you, too."

So Murdoch went off with Burl, and Charlie helped Maria with the breakfast dishes.

"I wonder if Burl will really take a bath," Charlie wondered, as she wiped the plates dry.

"I hope so," Teresa said, fervently.

Charlie was outside a bit later, hanging around the corral with Johnny and Jelly, when Val came riding up.

"Mornin', Val," Johnny said in greeting.

"Morning, Johnny. Jelly," Val said. "Hullo there, Charlie."

"Hullo," Charlie said, following Johnny as he walked to meet Val, who was getting off of his horse.

"I'm missing a resident at the jail," Val said.

"He's here," Johnny said. "We collected him late last night. He was wanderin' around in the south

pasture."

"Wandering around, huh?" Val asked.

"Yes. And singing," Charlie volunteered.

Val gave her an raised eyebrow. "Was he?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'm glad you found him-I've been worried about the old codger," Val said.

"He's having a bath now," Charlie continued with her information.

Val nodded, looking amused. "How about that?"

"Val doesn't wanna know Burl's every move, pequeno," Johnny said.

"Oh," Charlie said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Murdoch came walking out from the house to greet Val.

"Val," he said.

"Morning, Murdoch. I hear you acquired a visitor last night," Val said.

"That we did." Murdoch turned to Jelly. "Those clothes of yours fit Burl fine. Thank you, Jelly."

Jelly waved a hand. "Wasn't as though I had much say in the matter-"

Murdoch gave the crotchety old ranch hand a nod. "Yes, Jelly, I'm aware. Would you go see about refilling the wood box?"

Jelly wandered away, muttering to himself.

"I'm just not sure what to do with the old fellow," Val mused. "Beyond locking him up in the cell every night-so we don't have

a repeat of his wandering, like we did last night."

"Right," Johnny said. "There's no guarantee he'll make it out our way again. He might end up a hundred miles from here."

"Could happen," Val said.

"Couldn't we use some of the money that Teresa got from selling his material?" Charlie spoke up. "And rent him a house

in town?"

"I don't think he can manage by himself any longer, J.C.," Val said, looking down at Charlie.

"I'm of the same belief," Murdoch said.

Charlie formed the question she wanted to ask, but, before she could ask it, Murdoch took Val off into the house

for coffee and cake.

"Come on along, son," Murdoch told Johnny. "You too, darling," he said to Charlie.

"Be there in a minute," Johnny said. He went to begin picking up the hoof-trimming tools he'd been using.

Charlie tagged after him, and began to help gather things up.

"Johnny?" she asked.

"Hmmm?"

"I think Burl could stay here, with us. Don't you?"

Johnny gave Charlie a quick look. "I don't know if that's such a good idea, pequeno," he said.

"You mean because it would be lots of work to tend to him, and all?"

"Well-that's part of it."

"We could all take turns helping him with things, and looking after him," Charlie said.

When Johnny was silent, only putting the tools away, Charlie said, "Isn't that right? We could all do that, couldn't we?"

"I think that's a suggestion that would need to be put to the whole family," Johnny said.

"Okay," Charlie said, determined to do just that.

Lancer