Wow I am on a roll. 2 updates in less than 24 hours GO ME! Well here we are deep in the heart of drama central. Duke's not dead, he's after Kathleen, and he SHOT JOE! And I'm happy to add it's only going to get worse from here. I hope you all are enjoying the story so far and where I've decided to take it. Please, please PLEASE review guys. The more reviews the more motivated I am to write. And the more I write the more ya'll will get to read and not be left on a cliff edge for weeks at al time. So thank you ahead of time for reading and to those few dedicated fans of mine. 3 you guys.

"Kathleen it's getting dark and there is no sign of him let's just head back already."

Lila had started complaining about a mile back. Kathleen was doing her best to ignore her but she was being very persistent. They had gone quite a ways so maybe taking a short break wouldn't be that bad of an idea.

"Alright we'll take stop and take a break right around that bend." Lila smiled and took off on Cochise. Kathleen smiled despite herself and got down off Junie she was just stretching when she heard Lila scream. Kathleen didn't think twice when she just left the horse and took off running toward her sister, but what she didn't expect was what she was about to see; Lila on the ground crying uncontrollably and screaming over a body. Kathleen's mind didn't register at first what was going on she was frozen in place staring at the body, then it hit her it was Joe. Kathleen didn't realize she had moved till she found herself over Joe applying pressure to the wound. He had been shot square in the chest and was lying in a growing puddle of blood. She turned him over to find that the bullet had not gone all the way through. She wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. Words left her mouth asking for a rag or something to stop the bleeding. Kathleen heard ripping sounds and didn't flinch when Lila handed her a strip of her brand new $50 dollar dress. Kathleen looked down at Joe he was pale, deathly pale and barely breathing. She lifted a shaky, bloody finger to his neck and closed her eyes praying to feel something. She let out a relived sigh when she felt the steady slow beat of his pulse beneath her fingers.

Kathleen was barely able to hear a soft broken whisper from Lila," Is he dead?"

"No he's alive but barely; he won't make it much longer if we don't find help soon." Kathleen didn't even recognize her own voice when she spoke," Go get the horses and ride on to see if you can find someone. Adam and the others were supposed to come behind us." She was interrupted by the sound of a gun not too far off, about the same time she heard more horses and looked up to see the face of Adam. His face dropped when he saw his brother lying on the ground. Adam rushed to his side and began asking a million questions," What happened?"

"I don't know we just found him like this a little while ago. I've been trying to stop the bleeding, but all I've been able to do is slow it down. He's in bad shape Adam."

Hoss and Isabelle were close behind and Kathleen could here Isabelle's sharp gasp as she discovered the situation.

"Is he alright?" Isabelle saw Lila curled up in a ball a little ways away and went to her wrapping her up in her arms like she used to. Lila couldn't hold it in anymore as she began to sob on Isabelle's shoulder.

"Someone shot him Izzy. Why would anyone wanna shoot Joe?"

Isabelle did her best to comfort Lila, but what Lila had said earlier kept ringing in her mind.

"Not trying to be heartless Lila, but you did wish him dead earlier."

"I didn't mean it; I was just mad and upset. I didn't really want him to die. Oh Is he can't die he just cant."

Kathleen managed to get ahold of herself as she thought over there options," Adam you need to get him home now. You, Hoss, and Isabelle take him home on the horses."

"What about you and Lila?"

"Something spooked our horses. We'll try and find them, but we can just camp here for the night and you can come back with more horses after you get Joe home."

"I'm not leaving you here Kathleen."

"We're not far from the ranch you'll be back before you know it.'

"Kathleen-"

"Adam you need to go now, Joe can't wait he needs help now."

With defeat in his eyes Adam knew she was right, Joe needed help.

"Fine but I'll be right back don't go anywhere."

"Hoss you ride ahead and get the doctor, Isabelle you can come with me."

"Adam you better take care of him. If anything happens to him I will never forgive you."

"I won't let him die Lila."

Adam took an old tarp lying nearby and some branches and made a carrier for Joe. Isabelle laid on there with Joe keeping constant pressure on the wound while Hoss went for the doctor. Kathleen and Lila watched with heavy hearts and tears in their eyes as they pulled away. All they could do now was wait and pray.

About 15 minutes later Kathleen heard a sound nearby. She had been sitting against a rock with Lila in her lap.

"Did you hear something Lila?" Kathleen searched through the darkness for a shape or sound. Adam had left some supplies behind such as the stuff to make a fire and a blanket.

*crunch*

Kathleen was really starting to panic now she got up and grabbed a stick and began walking around slowly trying to find the source of the sound. Suddenly she was grabbed from the back one arm went around her mouth to muffle her screams and the other pinned her arms to her side. Kathleen jerked trying to free herself, but it was no use. Lila watched in fear as she saw someone grab her sister. Kathleen stood still waiting for the sharp pain of death or anything really. She felt a breath against her neck and then her ear as he whispered," Hello love, it's wonderful to see you again."

That's when Kathleen put two and two together. The man released her as she spun around and laid eyes on him for the first time in 5 years. She felt her knees buckle as she held in a cry of utter shock. Her hands flew to cover her mouth as a single word escaped her lips.

"Duke."