Kathryn sat on the slopes of the small hill on the north side of their camp, her back to it.

She had seen Jesse ride off in the early morning hours. The sun was just starting to appear, but the fella had been too spirited; he had explained he would not be able to sleep another wink. "I'll sleep plenty when I'm dead!" had been his logic. With a sigh showing her displeasure, she had let him leave.

She had been on this hill ever since.

She had no clue where Raph had wandered off to.

As long as Cody wasn't around, it wasn't something she needed to be concerned about.

She was contemplating what possible reason Raph could have to dislike the man as strongly as he did when Ernest's voice rang out "Kathryn!"

She arched a brow as she rose to walk down the hill and meet him. She must have done something to earn his respect if he was using her given name and dropped the formalities.

When she reached him, she inclined her head. "What can I do for you Ernest?"

He sighed heavily. "Some of the others are getting... restless."

Kathryn sighed as well. She knew who he was referring to. Even with Sid "laid up" he was still whipping up the others in his group into a mutinous annoyance. "How can I help?"

"I'm taking Percy and Amos. I would also be bringing Sid, too, if I could; but with his injury-"

Kathryn couldn't stop the snort of derision.

He smiled, nodding his head at her to show that he agreed with the sentiment. "As such, can you stay and keep an eye on the camp?"

She stiffened at the request.

She knew what he was really asking her to do.

He was asking her to keep an eye on Nick.

She swallowed hard, but nodded her assent.

"Sure thing."

Jarrod came down the stairs, a smile on his face. An idea had just occurred to him on the case he was working on and he couldn't wait to see if his hunch was correct.

As he passed the parlor, he stopped dead in his tracks. "Heath?" He inquired of the figure standing at the opened doors to the garden, his gaze looking out, but not seeing, not present.

When the other didn't acknowledge his question or presence, the smile slipped from his face, replaced with a concerned furrow of his brow.

Approaching the silent figure, he made sure to make enough noise so as not to startle the pensive gentleman.

Reaching the golden-haired young man, Jarrod cautiously placed a gentle hand on his brother's shoulder.

Heath jumped and turned to face him. "Boy, howdy, Jarrod you raised me about a foot off the floor."

Jarrod smiled kindly. "My apologies, brother. In my defense though, I did call out to you."

Heath's eyebrows drew down in confusion.

Jarrod chuckled fondly. "I know you are the quiet to Nick's... exuberance, but something seems to be troubling you." Perching himself on the corner of the table, the tray of liquor looked mighty tempting if he was going to deal with a troubled Heath. He honestly didn't know who was more stubborn, Nick at any given moment or Heath when you tried to get him to tell you what was troubling him. He folded his arms over his chest and crossing his ankles, beamed an encouraging smile. "Come on, Heath, tell me what's troubling you. To be honest, it's quite disturbing. I wish I had your patience when it comes to dealing with the world; nothing ever seems to faze you."

Heath sighed and turning from the doors, ran a hand down over his face before bringing it back up to touch the back of his head.

Jarrod arched a brow at the actions. Though he may not have lived with them long, Jarrod had charged himself with getting to know his brother as well as he did Eugene and Nick; as if Heath had always lived with them.

He had succeeded as many times he would recount an event from years past only to have Heath gently remind him with a kind smile that he had not been there when it had happened. But also in those reminders was the delight that they thought he was so much a Barkley that it seemed only natural that he would have always been around.

And because of that, Jarrod knew that Heath was very troubled.

He stood up again, his uncrossed arms dropping to his sides. "Tell me, Heath; tell Pappy."

Heath huffed in frustration as he started pacing in front of Jarrod.

Jarrod waited patiently and soon enough, Heath threw up his hands. "Honestly, Jarrod?! I wish I knew! All I know is that I have a bad feeling."

Jarrod took a step forward. "About Nick?" He pressed.

Heath hesitated, before casting his eyes down to the floor and giving a small nod of acknowledgment.

Jarrod sighed heavily and grabbing a shoulder said comfortingly "Heath-"

"I should have gone with! I should be there, now. Instead, I let my pride and anger-"

Jarrod barked out a laugh. "Pride? Anger? Am I talking to Heath or Nick?"

Heath gave a small smile, showing his appreciation of Jarrod trying to comfort him. "That's right, Pappy. Me; I just didn't feel good about doing a drive this late in the season and I wanted, needed Nick to acknowledge that I was right; that he trusted, respected my experience, my judgment."

Turning back forlornly to the doors, he stated softly "Pappy, I think I made a very big mistake."

Jesse screamed in frustration.

Then, thanked Ernest for training Twister so well as the horse didn't react to his agitation.

There was a tree! A d**n tree blocking the entire path! He'd have to backtrack... who knew how far... and search for yet another way to get back to Stockton!

He had been hoping to make the trip in a day, barely two. But at this rate, it would more likely take three days.

He couldn't let Kathryn down! He couldn't let Nick down.

He owned the man a lot; this was the least he could do to repay him.

And yet, it seemed that something was trying its d**ned hardest to keep him from his goal.

First, there had been boulders strewn across the road in such a way that he could not maneuver around them.

And somehow, he was still confused at to how, when he had searched for another way, he had come across the road, washed out. If he had been on the right path, it should not have been there.

The fact that it was meant that he had gotten turned around.

He snarled and turning Twister's head, started back the way he had come.

A wicked smile graced the figure's face, twisting the features into an ugly mask.

"He's persistent, I'll give him that. But I always win."

Kathryn was still pondering why Raph didn't care for Cody when her thoughts were interrupted by a barely discernible groan of pain.

Her head whipped around to where Nick was stirring.

She quickly made her way to his side, in case he got the foolish notion into his head that he was capable of sitting up. "Sh, Nick. You're safe; stay still."

He stopped moving, but did not relax. Slowly opening his eyes, he choked out "Ms. Quinn?"

Kathryn gave a gentle chuckle as she retrieved a waterskin and, helping him to sit up, aided him in quenching his thirst. "What did I do to make you angry that now you're back to addressing me as if I were a proper lady?"

Nick returned the chuckle. "Good point. Forgot who I was talking to there for a second."

She stopped herself from executing her normal reaction. "Mr. Barkley, if you weren't so injured, that would have earned you an elbow in your stomach."

Nick laughed, then gave a groan of pain. "Don't make me laugh." He pleaded.

Kathryn gave a sheepish apology.

Nick cleared his throat. "The herd?"

Kathryn returned the waterskin to the ground at Nick's side. "All accounted for. Thanks to Raph's warning, we were able to keep them relatively close."

Nick groaned again. "Knew it was a good idea to keep the mutt around. Though I wish that I didn't keep owing him."

Kathryn arched a brow at the declaration and smiled broadly as said "mutt" came bounding up, panting heavily.

She knew he had been around.

Nick smiled and stiffly held out his hand. "Hey there; seems like you saved my hide with the herd."

Raphael eased under the hand so that Nick was now patting his back as his tongue lolled and tail wagged happily.

Kathryn caught the grimace of pain as Nick moved slightly, before he buried it.

She swallowed. "Well, since Raph is here now I'll-"

"Kate, please, wait."

If the pleading in his tone hadn't stopped her, his using Kate most certainly would have.

First Heath, now Nick; she closed her eyes, forcing the tears away.

Nick frowned at Kathryn's rigid stance.

What had he done wrong this time?! D**n it, all he'd said was her name! He felt his blood starting to boil and opened his month to start bellowing when Raphael gave a soft whine of distress.

Nick could tell he wanted to go to her, but he was staying by Nick's side.

No wonder the two got along so well; with how stubborn they both were.

... For that matter...

Kathryn came back to herself at the chuckle.

Snapping her eyes open she turned back around to face Nick slowly, cautiously.

"Mr. Barkley, are you well?" She asked hesitantly; worried that she had missed some hidden injury, afraid that he was going mad.

He smiled that cocky, debonair grin. "Now, what did I do to make you angry at me that you're back to calling me that?" He mimicked back her question from before. He must have seen something in her eyes because, still smiling, he shook his head in amusement. "To answer your question, yes, I'm well. I just realized how stubborn you and the mutt are."

She knelt down in front of him. "You're just realizing that now?" She tried to keep the disbelief from her voice.

He shook his head as he explained "Give me some credit, Ms. Quinn." Another wink, "I've always known how stubborn you two are, I guess it just didn't become clear till now. It's like knowing something and finally understanding it."

She smiled gently. "Who knew a bump on the head would cause you to be so philosophical? I'll have to let Mr. Jarrod know." She teased.

He scowled, probably thinking of all the "fun" conversations he would be subjected to with Jarrod having that piece of information; but then, his face fell. "I'm going to have to get used to talking only to him... again." As one of Kathryn's eyebrows quirked in encouragement for him to continue, he sighed heavily. "I don't know when, if Heath will ever speak to me."

Kathryn quickly hid her smile at his misery. Nick really could be an idiot at times.

"I mean... he has knowledge, experience! Why didn't I listen to him?!" He thundered, running a hand in frustration through his hair. Before Kathryn could answer, Nick gave a self-deprecating huff of laughter. "I know why. My blasted pride." He stated in a soft voice, staring morosely at the ground.

She gave him a sympathetic smile. "I wouldn't worry about it." When he brought his head up to face her, her smile turned bright. "I mean, he might act good and mad, and may ignore you for a time—" If she hadn't been looking at the man, she would have sworn that the whine of despair had originated from Raph. "But you're two halves of the same coin, light and dark, éadrom agus dorcha; I wouldn't be surprised if he's already forgiven you." At Nick's hopeful look, she stopped herself from rolling her eyes and added "He loves you, you love him. Families are supposed to fight from time to time! That doesn't mean the love ever stops or goes away." She stopped as the lump in her throat threatened to appear in her voice and she blinked rapidly to rid her eyes of the tears that had sprung up unexpectedly. She gave him what probably appeared to be a watery smile. "Call it women's intuition."

Nick smiled sheepishly. "That's another thing." He made a move as if he was planning to get up. Kathryn growled "Mr. Nick, if you don't want to return to unconsciousness with another headache, I suggest you stay exactly where you are."

He stilled and blinked owlishly. "Sure thing..." He actually listened, though he did sit up straighter. "You tried to warn me and I brushed it off, even going so far as to attribute it to being a woman." He swallowed. "I'm sorry," he apologized.

Kathryn could feel the sincerity. She sighed heavily. "Though I appreciate it, we're probably horse to horse." At his confusion, she avoided his eyes and explained; about the decision to send for Heath and reinforcements, and how Jesse was alone on the assignment.

He growled, Raphael pushing into his side. "Well... this is quite the mess we're in."