Maria learned a lot about the bedridden Willian in the days after his accident. She would be the only one except the doctor, to change and clean his bandages. At night when everyone was in settling down, she would somehow find herself sitting at the bedside of william. Just talkin, hearing how he misses the woods and that ever since he started working he felt changed.

"I don't know how to grow up, Parts of me are so different. I'm changing and can't stop it." William said to maria quietly .

"We all have to grow up, i guess the things that matter stick with us."

William looked at her, noticing how much she was changing too. He didn't want her around here so much but now he couldn't imagine her not being here. Her time sleeping over ended yesterday. He didn't know how he felt about not having her sit with him when sleep did not come tonight.

"I better be going, i gotta get home before it gets too dark." Maria pondered after a moment of silence.

Did your pa come back yet?" It was the day he went and gambled away money they didn't have and get to a whole new level of drunkenness. "yeah." it was simpler to lie than to cause a fuss. Beside its not like Will was going to take her home, being alone with jonesy wasn't as appealing. "goodnight" she smiled.

The walk home was an eerie one that night but Maria made sure to keep a brisk pace. Being a rambunctious child paid off, when knew every hidden trail from the to the end of the tug. The house was dark and cold when the teen entered. To drowsy to light the hearth she went straight to bed.

The next day Maria awoke burning up with a pounding head. The runny nose started on the walk to the Hatfield's. It was the first few days of Harvest that always made her feel sickly.

" If you keep that up you're gonna bring the rafters down." Anes stated from his rocking chair by the fire. The drowsy Girl just keep walking by with a tray to will's room.

Entering the dim room to see the sulking teen.

"Dear lord, it's midday at least try be a little active." He groaned and pulled the sheet back a bit to sit up. Noticing how red her nose was and muffled voice.

"That you out there making all that noise sneezing?" she got her pinched face on, the one she makes when annoyed.

"What's it to you , ?" a coughing fit followed her words and maria found herself gagging on flaum. Bending over with a hand on the wooden bed frame for support, panic was setting in. Then warm hands pulled her hair out of her face and the other firmly patted her back. The injured Will only in thermals and bare feet jumped out of bed for Maria.'

She was on the bench by the fire with hot coffee a short time later. lavicy hovering over watching the pale girl. "it best you stay home a few days, take it easy. I fear we exhausted you these past few day"

"Oh no its nice to help others out. There ain't no other place i rather be." She smiled, the door opened and in came Maria's pa. "I hear you're sick Cricket. Let's go home, i got the wagon all hitched up." relief filled maria pa always took such good care of her.

Bill got her home and feed, bread bits in warm bread. Then when she was all tucked in he sat at the edge of her bed with his fiddle. Bill solemnly played but saw how fast his child was growing. But he did not give her much of the same treatment the following day. His selfish endeavors took priority, even though his paid leave from work was for him to be caring for the sick girl. Harvest was about to start and he dreaded doing it, so he thought was to win a little extra to hire some help. But as always booze was involved. The mean seemingly forgot about even going home for two days, leaving maria alone.

Maria was not waiting any longer. The fact her father was this drunk midday was stressful enough but now everyone was looking on her with judgement in their eyes.

" I ain't here to drag you home pa. Get up and come on!" Her stern voice come out softly. Bill might be a fool but causing a sense was not going to help her now. Cap was in the corner with some tavern girl in his lap. Maria had not expected to feel a sharp stab at the sight. "I'm enjoying myself girl. Get to your course."

"Pa I got them all done. I need you to help me now. You can't always be drinking yourself stupid." he booze in Bill gave the man a bit a temper, standing up faster then maria ever say him move. Her bold attempt at getting him home earned Maria hard swat on the backside.

The whole bar went silent. Knowing it was a lost cause she made for the exit with haste. What small pride owned my Maria had vanished. Will saw the commotion from his table. Maria had been sick the past week staying home. The Hatfield noticed the difference with out her about but knew it was best to let the girl rest at home herself. She looked mighty pale, but winters here did that. Cap assumed she was being taken care of at home during her spell. He suppose the rest of his kin assumed so too.

It was the swat that made Will down the rest of his drink and push the warm body off his knee. Vance took the hint and silently agreed that bill needed a little taking to.

He threw a mean look at bill as he follows the drunk mans daughter. She was in passing the apothecary and heading towards home.

"Maria!" Whipping around she was not expecting to see will there.

"ain't you paid up with that floozy? It's a mighty shame to not get what you pay for." The annoyance was in her eyes, her pale cheeks were a stark contrast to the dark tried eyelid and her red nose.

"Don't play with things you don't know anything about girl. Hasn't your pa been taking care of you?" "It's harvest season, and he's been working, I had to get corse done."

"My pa let yours off with half pay to take care of you." By this time they were on the dirt path. She stopped at the new information to tried,out of breath. He pa was not even there, even when he was given time. Maria's chest tighten even more, her eyes watering.

"Oh...my papa don't care nothing for me William Hatfield." Will saw her lip trembling, touching his fingers to her to for comfort. "You're burning up let's get you to the cabin.

It was dark in the shabby home when they arrived.

Her brow was Sweaty and her body was shaking " okay now get Hatfield. Thank your exporting me back." " you think I a going to leave you? Nah we are waiting for your pa to get back then your'a coming home with us. It's not right the way bill is treating you.

And that's what happened, William had some harsh words for the drunk. They walked back to the Hatfield's home, Lavicy welcomed the stressed maria with a hug, warm bowl of stew and then tightly tucked her in bed.