(A/N - These two chapters are parallel; different events that occur at the same time.)

Chapter 9

Emily awoke to low lights and strange smells. Nothing made sense to her. She could hear quiet voices but couldn't see anyone. Eventually she noticed a familiar face just to her right. She shifted her head to look at it. Theodore smiled. "Hello there, my sweet. How are you feeling?"

Emily rolled her eyes around to look at the room then back at Theodore. When she spoke her voice was weak and raspy. "I don't know. Where am I?" She tried to swallow.

Theodore raised her head and held a glass of water to her lips so she could drink. When she'd had enough, he spoke again. "You're in a private room at the hospital here in San Francisco. You've been here since last night. It's now about dinner time." He let that information register.

Emily closed her eyes. Theodore noticed her breathing increase and tears forming in her eyes. He carefully placed a hand on her cheek and spoke softly, "Emily. You're safe. I know what happened. He won't hurt you anymore."

Emily began to sob and shake her head. She opened her eyes and looked at her bandaged arms, one of them with a thicker bandage around the wrist Jason had squeezed. With her other hand she felt a bandage around her neck. She shifted her eyes to look at Theodore. There she saw love and sorrow. Emily couldn't bare it. She turned away and just cried. Theodore sat with her for the rest of the evening with a hand gently resting on her shoulder.

Over the next couple of days, Theodore coaxed Emily to talk about what Jason had said to her, the threats he made. He had requested a police detective to be present, but out of her sight, so there would be a witness and record to all she said. The police immediately put out an arrest warrant for Jason Landry but he had managed to disappear. Staff at the arena thought he and his manager had gone east to find new opponents. The detective began a search to find Landry. He ordered an officer to guard Miss Carter. The officer went undercover as a chauffeur and gardener for Mr. Watkins.

When the doctor released Emily from the hospital, Theodore took her home to Sacramento. With help from some friends he moved Emily into his home. It was large enough to offer her plenty of privacy, yet small enough that he could keep an eye on her. The doctor warned him to move slowly and let her set the pace for her healing, or she might never fully recover.

Two weeks after the attack, Emily tried to return to work for a few hours at a time. No one knew what had happened. They were told she had been sick. Theodore agreed to let her try. He felt she would do better if she had something to occupy her mind. At home she just sat and stared, hardly talking. He hoped that being out of the house would help her heal emotionally. But Emily couldn't focus on her work and became too distraught about being away from the house. She still feared that Jason could return at any time. Theodore finally decided to have Emily stay home and he would take a leave of absence from work. He asked his colleague, David Carrollton for an attorney who could run the practice. David sent over William Thompson who had several years' experience. They also hired a new assistant for Thompson. That left Carla free to handle her regular responsibilities.

Theodore felt there was only one solution for helping Emily. He knew Adam would be in Sacramento in a couple of weeks but didn't dare contact him due the threats Jason had made. He would just have to wait for Adam to come to them.

By late August, Adam still hadn't appeared. Theodore was concerned. Emily had told him before the attack that Adam was due to return by the end of August. He didn't want to ask Emily about it now. The first time he had brought up Adam's name after the attack, she immediately became hysterical. She ran from the room and Theodore found her crouched by her bed, holding a picture of her and Adam. She was sobbing and rocking side to side. It took him over two hours to get her calmed down. Theodore sighed. He would just have to trust that Adam was delayed and would arrive soon.

Chapter 10

After their time in Sacramento, the Cartwrights finally made it home in early August and the celebration over the timber contract ended. Joe left immediately to alert the timber crew and get the work started. Candy snagged Hoss to help with the round up and branding. Adam and Ben began checking the herd counts that Candy had done while they were away. Unfortunately, more cattle than expected had wondered off and the round up and branding took an extra week. It was the third week of August by the time Hoss, Adam and Candy had gotten the drive underway.

Adam was also surprised and pleased to find a letter from Emily waiting for him when he arrived home. She had mailed it during her trip to San Francisco. After reading it he immediately wrote her back. He planned to keep writing to her while on the drive. He gave her the list of towns they would pass through and said he'd send wires from them. He told her to leave her notes for him at his hotel in Sacramento.

As the drive wore on, Adam was anxious to hear from Emily. While they waited out some heavy rains in one town Adam wired Ben to see if any letters had arrived back home. Ben sent word back that nothing had arrived.

As they neared, Sacramento, Adam sent two wires out – one to Emily and one to Theodore – with his expected arrival date. He hoped to have some word waiting for him at the hotel at least. Not having any word from Emily was wearing on him and he was beginning to take his frustrations out on the men. He and Hoss had the night watch together a few times. As they rode around the herd Hoss talked to Adam, trying to get him to open up about the letters and his moods. Hoss finally shared that the family had figured out that a girl was involved and he hoped all the moodiness Adam was showing was a good sign that the relationship was strong. Adam looked at Hoss and hung his head. "I thought it was before we left Sacramento at the end of July but now I'm not so sure. She hasn't written at all, not even a wire."

"Aw shucks, Adam. Relax, why don't ya. You're on a cattle drive. Just wait till we reach Sacramento. You'll see. Iffn she was serious when you left, she'll be a goin' crazy to see you in another few days."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Reckon I am being pretty foolish aren't I?"

Hoss let out a big laugh and slapped his brother on the back. "Naw, you ain't foolish Adam, you're just in love. That makes fools of everybody."

Adam smiled. "Thanks a lot big brother." The rest of the trip turned out a lot better than the first part since Adam was in a better mood.

Upon reaching Sacramento in early September, the cattle were sold and Adam deposited the money in the bank. Hoss paid the men and sent them off with Candy to celebrate. They had orders to be ready to head home the next day. Hoss figured he should spend the evening with Adam since there had been no messages for Adam at the hotel.

Adam filled Hoss in on a little more of Emily's story including her troubles with Jason Landry. Hoss was stunned that Adam hadn't shared any of that with his family. Adam said he felt it best not to due to the sensitive nature of Emily's relationship with Jason. Hoss countered that Landry was plum dangerous and the more people who knew it the better. He saw Adam's look and immediately apologized for sounding judgmental toward his brother. Maybe Adam had other reasons to keep it to himself and Hoss would try to respect that.

After dinner, Hoss managed to get Adam to go for a drink. They spent about a hour with Candy and the hands before Adam decided to turn in. The others came in about two hours later.

The next morning, as the men were getting ready to head back to Nevada, Hoss announced that he was staying behind. Adam grabbed his brother's arm and pulled him away from the group.

"What are you thinking? You need to get home. I don't need any help here. I'm just going to visit with Emily then head home."

Hoss, drawing himself up to his full height, refused to cower at Adam's expression, but lesser men would have wilted in seconds. "I know yer plans, but you ain't heard from her and there could be trouble. Landry's still out there ya know. He could decide to come after you."

Adam cut him off. "I can take care of myself. You've got those other cattle to deliver to Reno and you can't be late. No argument." Adam glared at his brother.

"Okay, suit yerself. But I think you're makin' a big mistake not having me here." He punched Adam in the arm none too gently. "What'll I tell Pa about your gal?"

"Nothing. And not Joe either. I'll talk to them when I get home. I'll be here about a week then I'll ride home."

"Okay Adam. We'll see ya next week. Be careful brother."

The brothers shook hands and Hoss mounted up. Adam watched them leave with mixed emotions. It would be good to have Hoss stay, but he was needed at home, and Adam felt he could handle this on his own. He set off to find Emily. His heart and steps quickened with thoughts of seeing her again.