A/N: In true Nelli style, this story is only going to be about 20 chapters…I like to end on 0s or 5s :D I've already started planning the sequel! *squees in excitement* Yeah, so get excited! Anywho, I guess I'll write the next chapter now…

Chapter 18

Isabelle woke up with Billy curled up in her lap. Her body ached from sleeping on the couch in the parlor, and she felt tired from getting so little sleep. She gently placed Billy on the couch cushion, smiling in amusement as he snuggled into a little ball. She draped a nearby afghan over his sleeping form and stumbled into the kitchen. Grabbing a mug and filling it with coffee, she yawned widely. She heard a chuckle nearby and turned to see Ezra leaning against the doorframe.

"What?" she muttered, narrowing her eyes and taking a sip of the bitter drink.

"My dear, you are a sight." He walked over to her and brushed some hair behind her ear. "Hair amess, clothes rumbled." His eyes caught hers and they held each other's gaze. After a few moments, Ezra broke the contact. "You look like you've not slept at all well."

Isabelle grimaced at the warmth of her coffee when it burned her tongue, then glared at the gambler. "That would be because I haven't." She felt years older than eighteen, and worry gnawed at her insides. She sighed heavily, walking toward the foyer of her sister's home and the windows looking out over the street. "Shouldn't he have struck by now? Shouldn't this be over?" She nibbled on her lower lip, her brows furrowing in worry as she looked out the windows anxiously.

"Patience. There are times when these things take longer than a few days." He smiled softly at her. "We may have to wait a few weeks for Mr. Connelly to make his move."

Slamming her mug down on a nearby end table, Belle surprised Ezra so much he jumped. "We don't have that kind of time!" She whirled toward him. "This whole thing effects so many people. Mary, Billy, the seven of you. And it's all my fault." Her fury from moments before melted away to a deep sadness that caused tears to well in her eyes.

Ezra closed the gap of space between them in an instant and placed one hand on her shoulder, the other on her jawline, gently coaxing her to look up at him. "Your sister loves you and to her all that matters is that you're safe. Billy loves you and wants you to be here, happy, with him for a long time. And the seven of us love you and will do whatever it takes to make sure you're protected from scoundrels like Mr. Connelly. Even if you caused the trouble, we'll all always be on your side."

The look in Ezra's eyes was full of such warmth and passion, Belle's heart broke. She gave him a watery smile and looked away, anywhere but in his eyes. She'd hurt him so badly and here he was, still completely and totally devoted to her. She finally saw the other side of her many flirtatious escapades and made a vow then and there to never use her pretty eyes and pouty lips to get her way again. Too many good men had gotten hurt so far, but she could keep countless others from going through what Ezra was at that moment, and what Joey had gone through three different times.

Belle pulled away from him and wiped her eyes. Clearing her throat, she felt more determined than ever. "I should be out there helping." Her back was to him as she reassessed the street outside.

Alarm coursed through Ezra and he began to shake his head. "Oh, no. You'll stay right here where we all know you're safe." He closed the distance between them, leaning his mouth down to her ear, his voice barely a whisper. "Your sister –and Mr. Tanner, for that matter- will kill me if I let you out of this house."

Her temper flared but instantly dissipated at the thought of Vin. He was right; Vin knew she could handle herself, but it was more for his sake that she was inside instead of joining in the fray. If he didn't have to worry about her being out and about, he could focus on the task at hand. She sighed.

"It is better for me to be here. With Billy." She suddenly realized how close Ezra was; she could still feel his breath on her neck. She stepped away from him, smiling in embarrassment. "I suppose I should wake him up. He's been reading this book and I've been helping him with-"

She was cut off by a gunshot. Instantly, it was returned. She heard shouting and horses. Her eyes filled with fear as she recognized Everett's voice yelling instructions. In another minute, Terrence's voice followed, "Get the girl and don't harm her!"

Belle scurried back to the parlor and grabbed Billy in her arms. He woke with a start. "What'sa matter, Aunt Belle?" He rubbed his sleepy eyes and frowned up at her.

"We're going to your room, honey," was her only reply as she grabbed up Vin's pistol from where she had set it down on the table. Then she hurried down the hallway and slammed the door shut. She briefly saw as Ezra stood guard at the window, eyes focused on the road and body alert, before the door was entirely closed.

Billy's room was small, with only a small window none of the Connelly boys would have been able to climb inside. After setting the boy down on the bed, Belle locked the door and pushed her nephew's bureau in front of it. She smiled nervously at Billy and looked around. "Want to read your book?" she asked him.

"No." His eyes were wide open now and he looked like a frightened fawn. "They're here, huh?"

Belle nodded. "But let's not worry about that now. Do you want to play with your toys?"

Billy shrugged and walked to his toy chest. Belle sat down on the floor next to him and tucked her skirt around her legs. She accepted the toy horse the little boy handed to her. Outside, the yelling and gunshots continued.

Vin had been resting when the Connelly boys had ridden up. Chris had gotten off the first shot, taking them by surprise. Terrence had returned fire. Across and down the street, J.D. and Buck were quickly making their way down from their rooftop to add two more bodies to the ground fight, and leaving Vin and Chris as the only snipers. Josiah was in an alleyway near Mary's, guns firing heavily at the four brothers. Nathan's shotgun was just visible outside the window of the clinic and a quick look in Mary's front windows told him that Ezra was taking his post very seriously.

He peeked over the ledge on the roof. One of the Connellys, from the looks of it the young one, David, laid sprawled out in the street. He was dead. Terrence shot at the clinic, then down the street. Everett walked slowly toward Mary's house, shooting every so often in one direction or another. Kenneth couldn't be found.

Vin shot at Everett, intentionally missing to make him take some steps back. The man glared up at him, but his brother held up his hand to stop him.

"We just come for the girl. No need to make this harder than it is."

Vin's resolve hardened; Connelly wasn't going to go quietly…he would die first. "The girl is stayin'," Vin yelled back from safety. "Get back to your ranch or face the consequences." Terrence's laugh carried up to him. "So be it."

Vin stood up and took Terrence out with a clean shot through the chest. Everett aimed a shot up at him, but he was taken out by Buck, who had just rounded a corner of the nearest building. J.D. followed after him, Kenneth Connelly in custody. He must have been trying to get around the back of the house to get to Belle.

Vin sighed and slumped over in exhaustion. It was all over and Belle was finally safe…