A/N: Hi guys. Apologies for the delay but my life is currently very crazy and has taken a big turn. I have moved to the opposite end of the country and have a new job so I'm not having much energy or time to write so I thank you for your patience in regards to my posting schedule. This chapter is not beta'd so I hope it's ok.

Thank for all your continued support and please keep the reviews coming! And on we go….

Chapter 97

Taylor chatted with Grissom and the captain for a while as the two men gave their renditions of McKeen and what kind of a man he was. They didn't give the man all the facts, some things just weren't for certain ears but they gave him enough of the basics be able to understand exactly how much of a monster McKeen was and what kind of predicament he had put them all in. Taylor listened without asking too many questions and vowed to help where he could. He also offered to send some of his men to escort the Sidle convoy home. Both Grissom and the captain were thankful for his assistance.

After a good, long conversation he was about to leave…

"Oh…" he said, holding up a finger, just as he was about to walk away, "…I almost forgot. I'm not sure how…but I guess we've all had so much on our minds with the storm and...hmmm…such…"

Giving him an inquisitive look, Grissom slipped his hands into his pants pockets and rocked back and forth on his heels. "What is it?" he asked curiously.

The older man smiled. "Well…I have some good news for you…for us…"

Grissom pouted his lips, trying to think what Taylor may be referring to and exchanged a quick look with the captain. "Are you going to keep me in suspense?" he said, shrugging his shoulders.

The older man laughed. "We got the land, Gil," he replied, his face beaming a happy smile now.

"What?"

Taylor's smile grew even more and he repeated his answer. "We got the land…our land…in the outer territories…I got confirmation yesterday…just haven't had chance to tell you with the storm coming. I was going too yesterday but I just didn't get the opportunity…"

"Wow…" Grissom mumbled a little stunned. He pulled his hands from his pockets and rubbed his beard, "…I…I'm not sure what to say…"

"May I ask what you are talking about?" the captain cut in, himself sounding very curious.

Grissom turned to him. "Some time ago, before I left to come back to the Grove, Taylor and I applied for land, in the outer territories, many acres. We had several ideas about what to do with it but didn't come to any decisions as it wasn't guaranteed."

"I see." The captain scratched the back of his neck, his brow furrowing as if he was thinking. "But now it is guaranteed…" he trailed off.

Biting down on his bottom lip, Grissom came to the realization that for the first time in his life he actually could make a drastic change in what he was doing. Fine, his cabin, stables and small plot were great and he'd worked very hard for them but the land he and Taylor had acquired was enough to build an entire new town and that could make such a huge difference to his life and his wealth. But gaining this land now? At this time…

"So what are you going to do?" the captain asked, clearing his throat. "You have an option now that you didn't have before…"

Puffing out his cheeks, the younger man shook his head. "This changes nothing." He noticed as the captain closely studied him. "I have obligations now…" he continued, "…and…a little something I didn't have before. Sara comes first…the land will have to wait." He looked to Taylor.

"I understand," Taylor said. "It can wait. I can hold off as long as you need. I'll talk to a few people…use my influence you know…I have a little…" He scrunched his nose up on a smirk, "…I'm sure they will hold it for us."

Grissom extended his hand to Taylor. "Thank you," he spoke sincerely. "I'll keep you up to date about what's happening and if and when I may be back."

The local man shook his hand firmly. "You just make sure you do that and if you need anything, you better ask."

Smiling, Grissom ran his tongue of his bottom lip. "I will."

"You better," Taylor laughed, turning to the captain and offering the land owner his hand. "It was a pleasure," he said as the captain reached out his own hand. "I hope we will meet again…"

"Yes," the captain agreed returning Taylor's gesture, "You also and hopefully…one day we will get together again...under better circumstances, I hope."

Taylor offered Grissom a wink. "All of you take care now and I will send some boys in a few hours as long as the forces of nature don't pick back up."

That said, he turned and walked away towards his horse.

Grissom could sense the captain stepping up behind him and he turned to face his mentor.

"Funny how things happen when we least expect them," the older man said.

"You can say that again," Grissom returned.

The captain smiled. "I'm sure we can bring this up again at a later time but for now…" He opened his arms out wide, "…time is short…shall we get organized?"

A simple nod of agreement was offered by the rancher and both men stepped away to do what needed to be done.

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Over the next passing few hours the storm that had threatened, demised and never really came. All apart from a few droplets of rain and the wind remained rather fierce and bitter. Grissom had sorted as much as he could with his boys, including shifting the debris of the battered outhouse and managing to get the only slightly damaged water pump functioning again. Now he was ready and happy to leave.

A little before 4pm, with the sky grey but restraining, Grissom and the captain made the decision that now it was time to head back to Maryland.

Everything was packed up and aboard the captain's coach, along with a wagon sent by Taylor which was accompanied by three of his men as he had promised. Dante and Pandora were tied behind the wagon and the Sidle workers waited alongside Taylor's men. The captain, who stood with them, pulled out his pocket watch and double checked the time. It would be getting dark soon enough and although he knew leaving now would get them back to the Grove sooner, he still felt nervous about having to travel during the nightly hours. He did a good job of hiding his anxiety though.

It was bitterly cold. The wind howled around the house. Branches swayed and leaves flew. All travelers were dressed appropriately to keep warm during the long journey.

Grissom worried immensely about Sara travelling in such cold conditions but as he knew, they had no choice, so he would just have to try and keep her as warm as possible.

Inside the cabin last preparations were being made. "Are we about ready?" Laura asked, wrapping her shawl tighter around her upper body.

Grissom turned his attention from bundling Sara up to look at her mother. "Just about," he replied ensuring the second blanket was totally secure around Sara's fragile frame.

Sara just watched him, everything he did, every movement he made. She didn't fight, argue or show any dissatisfaction from anything that he did. It was almost as if she had been struck dumb.

Just as Grissom was about to slip his arms underneath her and scoop her up, she finally spoke. "Where are we going?" she asked, even if it was with a huge amount of effort.

He smiled, softly brushing away a stray hair that had managed to sneak under the hood which was keeping her head warm. But then a thought struck him as he was about to answer. How would Sara react knowing she was going back to the Grove? All the questions…the rumors…the shame…

But, Grissom was an honest man and the last person he would ever lie to, even if a lie was required, was Sara. "We are going back to Maryland," he said, "Back to the Grove."

Sara's brow pinched a frown and a single cough fell from her lips. "Oh…" she whispered, "…why…?"

Grissom bit down on the inside of his lip now but Laura quickly stepped up beside him in an attempt to save him some grace. Sara looked to her mother. "It's just better if we go home, sweetheart. We will be safer in this weather. It's just best all round…" She leaned forward and placed a soft hand on her daughter shoulder, "…Gil is coming too…"

Tilting her head, Sara looked back to her man and he nodded. "I won't leave you," he told her. Sara offered no form of argument but gave him a slight nod in return. Grissom smiled again, gently slipped his arms under her knees and pulled her from the bed. He couldn't quite get over how light she felt now and it was no effort at all to hold her. She snuggled up against him and he kissed her hair.

Laura watched the couple for a moment, a tiny smile upon her lips. "Ready?" she asked for a second time.

"As we will ever be I guess," Grissom responded.

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Grissom carried Sara from the cabin and towards the line of waiting vehicles. The Sidle's coach door was already open and the captain stepped aside in order to give Grissom room to get Sara inside. He did so carefully, maneuvering her onto the wooden seating. Trying to make her as comfortable as possible he placed a pillow behind her head which was waiting on the opposite seat. She tipped her head against the side of the coach and closed her eyes.

Stepping back Grissom looked to Laura and the captain. "If you are in agreement, Captain, I suggest we take it in turns to ride on top. I'd feel better knowing one of us is keeping watch. Plus, we will all need some time to rest, not that I'm sure if I can but, I think this is probably the best option."

"Agreed," the captain replied. "Rana, you travel inside with Laura, I'll take first watch up top with Joe. May be best for you to stay with Sara until she's totally at ease, Gil?"

Grissom nodded although he wasn't entirely sure whether Sara would ever be totally at ease. "I'll just get my rifle and then we can go."

"Okay," the captain agreed.

Grissom stepped back towards the cabin and the captain gestured for Laura to enter the coach. She slipped into the vehicle to sit opposite her daughter and Rana followed, sitting next her.

Laura reached under the seat and pulled out a blanket. Even though Sara was thoroughly wrapped up, Laura needed to be sure she was warm. She carefully placed the garment on her daughter's knee but Sara didn't acknowledge it, she remained still with her eyes closed.

Rushing into the cabin Grissom grabbed his rifle which was propped against the bed but as he swiftly turned to head back out the door he suddenly became very dizzy. A piercing pain shot through his left ear and he stumbled, having to fire out his free left hand to steady himself against the cabin wall. His rifle fell to the floor.

Blinking hard on a groan, he shook his head as the pain intensified. The whole room spun around him and he felt like he was suddenly under water. Gritting his teeth, Grissom sucked in several heavy breaths and attempted to push the sudden pain away. After a few moments, the pain disappeared and the rancher attempted to gather his bearings.

Bending, Grissom placed his hands on his knees and maintained steady breathing in order to get rid of the sudden shock of what had just happened. But he had no idea what had happened. He sighed heavily, picked up his rifle and straightened himself out. He didn't have time for this and it was more than likely just nothing. Probably just stress induced he decided and he tried to push it from his mind.

It was time to go…

Leaving the cabin he went straight back to the coach. "Ready?" the captain asked, pulling up his collar.

"Yeah…" Grissom replied.

The captain nodded and hoisted himself up onto the top of the coach to sit by his waiting worker. "Ready to go boys," he called to Taylor's three men in front of them, two seated in the wagon and one riding along side.

"Yes, Captain," the eldest man called back.

Grissom slipped into the coach and sat by Sara, closing the door behind him. Instantly he closed his eyes as a dull headache bore into his skull.

Laura immediately noticed. "Gil, are you alright?"

Wearily opening his eyes, the rancher gazed at her and swallowed through the dryness which had now formed in his throat. "Umm…" he hesitated, "…yes…why?"

Laura studied him. "You seem to have gone terribly pale all of a sudden."

He cleared his throat now. "I'm fine," he lied. "Just…seem to have developed a little bit of a headache. But…I'll be alright. Don't worry about me." He reached for Sara; gently slipping an arm around her and without even opening her eyes she shifted, her head flopping softly onto his shoulder without fear or discomfort.

The ladies eyes narrowed. "Why don't you try and get some rest," Laura suggested. "It will help."

For once Grissom didn't argue and on a soft sigh, he closed his eyes as Sara snuggled deeply into him. He could feel the heat radiating from her and although it warmed him physically, it still greatly worried him.

The coach jerked and the small convoy was away…away towards what would be…well…

All in all… no one knew….

***"I could do nothing but comply, and I entered it in silence. They both entered after me-the last springing in, after putting up the steps. The carriage turned about, and drove on at its former speed..."

*** - Extract taken fron A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens's

A/N: So...what now? Will they make it back safetly? So much could go wrong... and what's wrong with Grissom :) Let's just say I try not to miss a trick. Let me know what you think and have a great day!