A/N: Sorry guys, I would have this up sooner but college is crazy. Enjoy.

Chapter Five

Frank awoke to the sound of someone moving around the room. He looked around and noticed Mattie was sweeping out the room. The morning sun was falling on her slender form as she moved. He sighed as he watched her. She wasn't paying any attention to the fact that he was awake. She turned and stopped abruptly.

"I didn't mean to wake you," she said shyly.

"You didn't," Frank said sitting up a little.

He winced as he felt the stitches in his side pull at the wound. Mattie put the broom against the wall and walked over to him. She pulled the sheet down and looked at the bandage. There was a small amount of blood on it. She walked over to the wash basin and came back with fresh linens.

"How much longer am I suppose to stay here?" Frank asked as Mattie removed the old cloth.

"I don't know," Mattie said never looking up at him. "If you think you could ride now you are welcome to leave."

Frank nodded. He was in no hurry to leave this place. It was empty in a way, yet it held all the life that he missed. He watched as Mattie worked on his wound. It hurt terribly when she pushed against it. She could feel him tense and quickly pull away.

"Where did you learn how to do this?" Frank asked.

Mattie looked up with a small sparkle in her eyes. "Do what? Doctor you?"

Frank nodded.

"When I came out here I had to learn. My brother was a sheriff so he was constantly getting into trouble."

Frank nodded. Then it hit him that she was only one in town. He still wondered about that. Finally he let out a sigh. "Why are you the only one here in town?"

Mattie looked up, giving him a funny look. Frank studied her face, trying to decipher what she was not saying.

"I'm not the only one here," Mattie finally admitted.

"But the day I came here most everyone had their windows boarded up and looked empty."

Mattie nodded. "The day before you came there was a huge storm and many of the people closed up, and they are just now getting around to reopening."

Frank laughed at his ignorance. He couldn't believe that he had been dumb enough to think that the town was a ghost town. Mattie smiled as she stood up.

"What about you?" Frank asked. "Are you reopening?"

Mattie splashed some water on her hands and turned to the mirror. She had a plain view of Frank sitting there, waiting for her answer. She thought about what she could say and what she couldn't.

"No," she said lowly. "I was getting ready to leave and go back home."

"Why? You have this little place and the town seemed really nice."

Mattie put on a fake smile. She grabbed her broom and began to busy herself with the little chore. Frank was used to seeing a woman do that. He had seen his mother do it when she didn't want to talk about anything. He turned away from her and saw what a glorious day it was outside.

"Where am I?" Frank asked.

"Heaven Springs, Kansas," Mattie said, walking out of the room.

Frank watched as she left. The name of the town rang in his head. It fit the little place perfectly. He had never seen a place quite like this. He closed his eyes when he felt some added weight on the bed. He opened them and Mattie was sitting there. She looked so amazing sitting there with her hair falling in her eyes and the sun hitting her face. He wanted so badly to touch her.

"I'm leaving because my brother was killed here," She said and looked down at the floor.

Frank sat up and gently brushed his hand over hers. Mattie jumped a little at the accidental caress. She then turned to him.

"I was trying to start a business, James, my brother, was going to help me. He was shot three months ago."

Frank nodded. He knew all too well what it was like to lose someone that you loved. He looked away from her for a moment and then turned back.

"How does Buck fit into the picture?"

"I was supposed to marry him. He is a very rich rancher." Mattie let out a heavy sigh. She had probably never told anyone this story. "I didn't want to marry him, but James thought it would be a smart match."

Frank was starting to see things more clearly. He nodded that he understood and then turned toward the window. Mattie looked at him and saw his eyes searching for something that she couldn't see. He then turned back to her.

"Where do you call home?" he asked.

"Liberty, Missouri," Mattie replied and stood up. "Excuse me, I have to go start lunch."

Frank felt as if a ton of bricks had hit him. He fumbled in his mind what this meant. Mattie had been Missouri before. How did she not know who he was? Then he remembered the war. It had made leave town for five long years. That was probably why he had never seen her. He sighed and leaned against the pillows he was safe with her.

Mattie sat the bowl down on the table as quietly as possible. She was in no mood to have him try to get up and come see what had happened. She walked over to the stove and stirred the soup. Things were working out perfectly. She smiled and turned back to the table. Underneath the bowl was a piece of paper. She walked over and picked it up and read it.

"Wanted, Frank and Jesse James," Mattie felt a wicked smile cross her lips. "Five hundred dollars. Dead or Alive." Her smile got bigger with that last line. She should have let him die on the porch, but if she had she would never find Cole Younger.