A/N: Happy new year to everyone. Again, I apologize for the delay in posting but Christmas is one of my busiest times of year and both myself and SSC have just been crazily busy. Luckily I'm back on track and have actually been writing like a demon for once :)

All my thanks to SSC for the beta, additions and suggestions, I've missed you over the hols, hun but uber thanks for all your help!

Well, time for a little thinking on everyone's part. Let's just say the poop is very soon to hit the fan. LMAO.

Chapter 65

It was mid afternoon when the captain headed into town. He'd spent a little time around the estate, observing the workers and trying to do a little thinking.

On the positive, it seemed as though things were moving on pretty quickly with the rebuild of the stables. In fact, the construction was way ahead of schedule. A few days ago, the Captain would have seen this fact as overwhelmingly positive. Now he wasn't so sure. He did see, an obvious negative, his workers didn't look all that happy about their new helpers.

That didn't sit well with him.

He almost bumped into the sheriff as he entered the office. The lawman seemed to be on his way out when the rancher pushed through the door.

"Oh…sorry, Jim," the captain apologized immediately.

Removing his hat and running a hand through his balding hair, the sheriff smiled. "Not a problem, Captain. What can I do for you?"

Captain Sidle pointed his thumb over his shoulder. "Were you on your way out? I can come back later if you want."

"It can wait," the sheriff replied and gestured to his desk. "Please…sit." He walked back to his desk and sat with a leisurely groan.

The captain followed. Removing his hat, he dropped it onto the furniture and then slipped into the chair opposite the sheriff.

"So…" Brass asked, "…how can I help?"

Leaning forwards in his seat, the captain laced his fingers. "I need…" He hesitated, looking to the ceiling.

"This is hard for you isn't it? The sheriff asked, pulling open his drawer.

"Admitting, I'm wrong?" the captain continued, returning his attention to the younger man. "Yeah, I'd say so."

After pulling a bottle of scotch from his drawer and placing it on the table, the sheriff flicked his eyes to the captain. His eyebrows rose. "You're admitting you're wrong?"

Biting down hard on his bottom lip, the captain nodded. "About a lot of things."

"Hmmm…" Brass pulled the cork from the bottle, held it up and cocked his head. "Drink?"

"A little early isn't it?"

Chuckling, the sheriff reached for two glasses from the same drawer. "It's never too early, you know that." Pouring the amber liquid into two small shot glasses, he pushed one in the captain's direction. "Cheers!" he proclaimed, picking up his glass and holding it in the air between forefinger and thumb.

With a soft snort, the captain picked up his glass. "Cheers."

Both men downed the scotch, each showing their appreciation with a fine gasp once the alcohol had been consumed.

After refilling each glass, the sheriff placed the bottle back into his desk drawer and leaned back in his chair. "So, what's on your mind?"

The captain sighed. His mouth opened as he was about to respond to his friends question; however, he was cut short when the door opened, interrupting their conversation.

The two men stood upon seeing Catherine appear in the doorway.

"Oh…" she said with a sarcastic tone, "…two birds with one stone…" Her eyes narrowed, "…how marvelous."

Brass cornered his desk, stepping up beside the captain. The two men looked at each other with uncertainty and an identical frown.

"What?" they asked together.

Catherine smiled and called to her chaperone, who was waiting outside. "I'll be fine, you wait out there." She closed the door and approached the two men. "Did I interrupt something?" she asked shrewdly.

"Almost," the captain replied with a smile.

With a gentle snort, Catherine walked in between the two men, a very obvious swagger in her movement and sat where the captain had been. She gestured them forward with a crook of her finger. "Well…don't let me stop you."

Again, the two men looked at each other, still looking a little befuddled. The captain cleared his throat and shrugged his shoulders. He turned and sat beside Catherine as the sheriff re took his own seat.

Looking to the captain, Catherine smiled. "Would you like to go first or shall I?"

"Please…" the rancher held up a hand, "…you go ahead."

Suddenly Catherine's expression seemed to change, to one more serious and her eyes sprang to Brass. "So…" She strummed her well manicured finger nails on top of the desk, making a rather irritating ticking "…how is the investigation into my father's killer, Sheriff? I'm still waiting for an update or any news at all as a matter of fact." Her brow rose as Brass shuffled in his seat.

He pulled on his collar. "I am working on it, Catherine, believe me, it is one of my top priorities. It just takes time."

Exhaling through her nose, she leaned forward, looking him dead in the eye. She didn't look happy. "Oh come on," she snapped. "We both have a good idea who had him killed; don't dare tell me you don't."

As the sheriff sought an answer, Catherine's head snapped around to the captain. "And you…you know it too. I'm surprised at you. No…I'm shocked."

"What did I do?" the captain questioned.

Now Catherine was the one looking bewildered. "What did you do?" she returned. "Have you not taken a look around you lately? You have McKeen as your partner…of all the people. Grissom left because of it and you didn't do a damn thing about it and as for Sara…I can't believe you are so blind as to…"

"Alright, enough!" Brass cut in as both the Captain and Catherine turned to him. "Catherine, I know…you are hurting but having an idea about who is behind your father's murder, isn't enough. I need proof, you know that. Hard evidence and nothing less." His eyes flicked to the captain and he looked rather shocked. His mouth was open, his eyes fixed on the desk, a deep frown on his forehead.

"I…" the rancher began, "…have come to realize that…maybe I have made some mistakes." He looked to Catherine. "I came here to try and find out how big those mistakes may have been."

"Oh…" Catherine whispered. "Then…maybe…we are thinking the same thing?"

The captain's shoulders slumped. "I don't know what to think…"

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It had been an odd sort of day for Grissom and as he flopped down into the rocking chair on the porch, he rubbed the back of his neck with a sigh. There was a bottle of bourbon on the table in front of him and he stared at it. He'd placed it there with all intensions of drinking it but something was stopping him.

Working his jaw from left to right, he took his eyes from the bottle and propped his feet up onto the table. Tilting his head to the sky, he watched as the sun began to set in the distance and thought about his day.

He'd woken with a headache, well to be precise, a hangover. He was all intent on spending the day moping around again. Hadn't he the right to do that? But then Teri came and things changed, just a little. The question she had asked him actually seemed to kick him off his self destructive streak and he hadn't been able to stop thinking about what she had said. Well, for the most part anyway. There were the odd moments when he did stop thinking, when he had to concentrate on the task at hand. Helping Hodges fix the barn roof was one thing that needed his full and undivided attention otherwise he could have fallen the twenty feet from the roof and killed himself.

He actually felt remotely pleased with what he had accomplished that day. Fixing the roof, helping exercising the horses even though Dante wouldn't leave his stall. Grissom was worried about him. The horse was just too damned stubborn. Then he fixed several fences and chatted with Hodges about future horse breeding. They had come to the conclusion that it would be a good idea to buy another stallion, so that would be something else to keep Grissom occupied in the days to come.

After all that, Michael had returned to tell him that everything was set in regards to staying and working at the Millers. Grissom was happy for him and they worked out a schedule where Michael would spend half the week with him and half the week with Teri's father. Michael and Hodges then had an early supper with him as he decided to call work to an end for the day. They both then went on their way towards their respective lodgings, leaving Grissom to his own devices.

The crickets began singing as darkness began to rear its head. Grissom found there was something oddly soothing, yet really annoying about that sound. He neither loved it nor loathed it. It was an odd feeling. Snickering to himself he removed his feet from the table and leaned forward in the chair, placing his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together. His eyes caught sight of the bottle again and he shook his head, shifting his glance to his boots with a huff of hot air.

Sara leapt back into his thoughts and his eyes closed, his gut tightening. "Why….?" he whispered, tightly clenching his eyes together. Why had Sara suddenly ended their relationship? Was it because she wasn't who she represented herself to be and that she had wanted the wealth and luxury that Hank could give her?

Grissom thought of every conversation, every moment, every touch between them; Sara seemed so happy. Could it really be that she had fooled him that badly?

Sighing softly, he closed his eyes. It seemed more likely that Terri was right, that Sara had been somehow coerced into the marriage to Hank. And yet, this revelation didn't give him an immediate comfort. If Hank had threatened Sara, why wouldn't she just have told him? They could have worked something out. Why hadn't she trusted him?

He knew these questions would stay with him until he worked out all the answers he sought. Sleep, would more than likely, not be coming to him that evening…

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The small Sidle convoy had come to a halt about thirty miles from it's destination. The threatening darkness prevented them traveling any further so they stopped at a hotel that had been recommended by Hank and found lodgings for the evening.

Several rooms had been taken by the group. Laura and Sara would share as would the female servants and the men, so three rooms in total.

The place seemed busy, horses and coaches pulling up and leaving all the time. The hotel was located in the small village of Brookmont and seemed popular amongst travelers and people who were passing through as well as the local villagers. It was only the second place they had passed where one could find lodgings though, so it was bound to be busy.

While the required items were being unpacked and taken to the rooms, Laura suggested they had dinner and also order something for the workers. Sara had agreed, she was starving as still, she hadn't managed to eat. It wasn't helping her physically at all and by the time they had arrived at the hotel, she was feeling extremely drowsy even though she had been sitting for most of the day.

She knew it was because she hadn't eaten.

The restaurant with adjoining bar was reasonably large but cozy with its low oak beamed ceiling and feature fireplaces of which there were several. The unmistakable smell of hops and barley caught the senses as one walked in from the gallons of stout and ale currently being served to the hotels customers.

The night had turned cool so Sara and Laura decided to sit close to one of the cozy fires as the large building could easily get drafty. They were escorted to a table by a young, energetic, plump, rosy cheeked server who informed her guests her name was Charlotte and she was at their total beck and call.

Sara had to smile at the young girl's enthusiasm. Maybe this why this place did so well, friendliness always brought people back. Either that or the girl was drunk.

There was a vibrant buzz around them as people ate, drank, chatted and laughed. It was nice, Sara thought. She allowed her attentions to be captured by the obvious activity around her. The interactions of the guests and staff around her were a welcome reprieve from the dark tortuous thoughts that had been her only companion as of late.

They sat, ordered some wine and water and Sara smiled again as the aroma of the food caught her nostrils. Her stomach grumbled but she found it frustrating when she came to order though. Most of what was on offer was meat, mainly local produce from the surrounding farms and no doubt, woodland. Luckily, their server was very understanding and she managed to organize something that she hoped would satisfy her guest. Fresh vegetables, corn cobs, rice, a stew made out of several varieties of beans and fresh bread had been laid out for the non meat eating heiress and Sara was very happy with the offering. Laura ordered a hearty beef stew with boiled potatoes and was as equally happy when the food arrived.

Laura ordered similar to be delivered to the workers and then they began eating.

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The captain arrived home just as darkness fell. He hadn't expected to be out as long as he was but with what had transpired, he was just now, well, in a daze. He was happy but certain things yet to be concluded, fought against his total euphoria.

It was just a shame his wife and daughter were not there to hear the news.

Upon approaching the outer stables, he noticed as all the McKeen workers were all packed up and leaving for the day. All bid him good evening as he passed by them. He looked around from atop his horse, best he could through the lack of light. All of the debris from the fire had now been removed. All that remained from that disastrous event was a charred plot which they had begun digging up.

"Uncle!"

The captain tilted his head to the right to see his two nephews heading in his direction. Nicholas took the horses reins as his uncle dismounted.

"Good evening, boys," the older man responded as he removed his gloves and slipped them into his pocket.

"We were getting a little worried about you," Gregory said, nodding to his brother. "Where have you been? You have been gone for hours."

A smile graced the ranch owner's lips. "How nice to be thought of," he chuckled. He looked back to the plot. "I see quite a lot of progress has been made today."

The two boys exchanged a glance. "Yes," Gregory replied. "The colonel's workers are…well…" He rubbed the back of his head.

"What?"

"Oddly determined," the younger man continued. "They are in such a hurry to get everything done. We are exhausted. Why are they in such a rush all the time?"

The colonel frowned. His earlier thoughts intruded upon his happy mood.

Nicolas rubbed the horse's nose and added his thoughts. "Yeah, we know what hard work is uncle, but this is getting silly. They try and get us to do five jobs at once. It's like they have a time limit to get this all done and now, there is even talk of night work, under lantern light. We…" He pointed to his brother, "…don't like that. How much energy do they think we have? And we don't think it's all that safe either."

After a long moment of thought the captain clapped his hands together. "Well, don't worry yourselves. McKeen's boys are no longer needed here so, you will not have to take orders from them anymore and if things had gotten so bad, you should have told me."

Both young men looked confused. "What do you mean no longer needed?" they said together.

With a coy grin, the captain patted his horse. "Put him down for me, Nicolas, and then both of you come to the house and I will explain." He sucked in a deep breath and puffed out his chest. "Tomorrow is a new beginning…for all of us and we no longer have to worry. That…I will guarantee…."

Or so he thought…

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Contently licking her lips after her final mouthful, Sara placed her fork down and leaned back in her chair. She felt so full and as though she could pop at any moment. Her plate was empty and so were the numerous serving dishes in front of her.

Laura laughed as she wiped her mouth on her napkin. "I see you have your appetite back. Did you enjoy that?"

Sara smiled. "Very much so. It most certainly did…hit the spot."

"Good."

Mother and daughter looked towards the bar as a sudden burst of laughter boomed through the room. They saw a group of travelers most definitely having a good time as their drinks were refilled.

Sara sniggered as she picked up a glass of water and sipped from it. "Nice to see people enjoying themselves," she commented.

"Something I haven't seen you do for some time," Laura responded.

Shuffling in her chair, Sara fiddled with her glass and her smile faded. "I can't say I have had much to enjoy lately," she mumbled under her breath.

Laura frowned suddenly at Sara's confession. "I would think that this period in any young woman's life should be a very enjoyable one," her voice was tender and soft. "I mean you are planning a new life with someone that you are supposed to…."

Sara gave her mother a look that stopped her words cold. Her face seemed blank but her eyes were dark and stormy. Whatever was on her daughter's mind was not up for discussion at that moment.

Laura sighed. "I'm sorry, Sara. I didn't mean to spoil the mood or upset you."

"It's fine."

"Do you…want to talk about it?"

Sara shook her head. "Maybe we should just turn in for the night?"

A sorrowful look passed over Laura's face but she nodded. "If that's what you want."

Sara stood with a weak smile. "It is."

"Alright." Laura stood and held her arm out to her daughter.

They walked into the reception area and approached the stairs. Laura went first and began climbing but as Sara placed her foot onto the first step she stopped upon hearing the sound of a child laughing.

She noticed her mother had disappeared as the steps sloped up to the right but she didn't follow and turned around. She smiled upon seeing a young boy and girl running around in circles near the check in desk just a few feet away. Her eyes then drifted to who she presumed was their parents. They looked extremely well off, well dressed, clean and tidy.

Sara's eyes fixed on the woman. Her right hand rested over her stomach, which was slightly swollen.

"You're not feeling sick again are you?" the man asked tenderly.

The woman smiled, took his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. "No, dear," she replied with a smile. "Not since this morning."

"Good." He smiled and placed his hand gently on her tummy now. "You give your mother a little peace," he said to her stomach with a chuckle.

As Sara listened to them laughing, her eyes widened and then darted from side to side. Her stomach turned, the once delicious food she had eaten now in imminent danger of being acutely rejected. Her pulse hitched; her breath quickened. Without even realizing it, she was slowly shaking her head in obvious denial as her symptoms from the last several days now made perfect sense

She now realized.

It can't be.

No.

Oh…no….

A/N: I'd say I can imagine a light bulb above Sara's head but they didn't have them back then, lol. Wonder if her father has one too? All my thanks to everyone for their reviews. Please keep them coming, as I now have three chapters backed up (seriously). Reviews may aid me to post faster, lol. Maybe ;-D Have a great day!