"I don't like spending the night away from Molly." Bryan Gallagher stated to his brother as they settled their horses into the livery. "And now I've had to do it two nights in a row."

"I know Bryan, but this is almost finished. Besides we still don't know if the shooting was related to the bank robbery or to--." Colum's words were cut off by the sudden appearance of Mary Travis.

"Gentlemen, good morning." Both men touched their hats in response. "Mr. Gallagher," she turned toward Bryan, "how is Molly doing this morning after last night?"

"Last night? Did something happen? We were out at the ranch all night." Bryan felt his heart begin to beat faster.

"When she took the dinner over to the jail . . .well, two of the men were able to escape. From what I understand the men threatened to hurt her."

"You said two of the men, what happened to the third?"

"The third is still over in the ja . . ." Mary's words trailed off in the air as Bryan started at a run for the jail. Colum was only a step behind trying to catch his brother.

JD jumped from his chair as Bryan burst through the door. "Mr. Gallagher what do ya want?" He tried to move in between the cell and Bryan.

"Move out the way boy. I want him." Bryan pointed toward KC who sat in the back of the cell. "He and his no account friends were going to hurt my daughter. Let him out of there." The anger spat forth from Bryan like a fire.

"Whoa now, I think you need to step back." JD put out his hands to keep Bryan from stepping any further. Bryan slapped JD's hands away pushing the young man back.

"What's going on in here?" Buck's tall frame blocked out the light in the doorway. Josiah stood close behind him. "JD?"

"My brother and I have some business with your prisoner." Colum stepped between Bryan and Buck.

"Now, we don't want any trouble gentlemen. Why don't we step outside for a moment and discuss this." Josiah's calming tone settled over the flared tempers. The two brothers exchanged a quick glance before nodding in agreement. Bryan took a last look over his shoulder at the figure of KC, who through out the entire scene had not moved a muscle from where he sat on the bed.

Bryan's eyes took a moment to refocus in the bright sunlight outside the jail. "Da? When did you get back?" He saw his daughter approaching from the direction of the saloon. He also noticed that she wasn't alone. Lily was with her.

"Molly? Are you alright child?" He grabbed his daughter and pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Da, I'm fine. What's wrong?"

Bryan released his grasp and looked at the small crowd that surrounded them. "Let's go home." He grabbed Molly's hand and started to pull her away. A quick glance over his shoulder lingered on Lily for a moment. "These aren't the kind of people I want you spending time with." His last comment was low and audible only to Lily and Josiah.

Josiah turned to Lily. The look of shock on her face lasted only a second before she replaced it with a strained smile. "If you'll excuse me gentlemen, I need to get back to the saloon."

Josiah waited a few minutes before heading for the Gallagher house. Colum answered the door when he knocked. "Colum, I was hoping I could have a word with Bryan." Colum left Josiah standing out front.

"I know what you're going to say Josiah," Bryan emerged from the back of the house. "You're going to say that I shouldn't have gone to the jail to cause trouble. That I should just let a judge deal with that boy. But he was going to hurt my daughter."

"I don't think you heard all the happened last night. Yes, someone did want to hurt Molly, but it wasn't Casey. That boy kept the other two from trying to ride out of here with her."

"I didn't . . . I just assumed . . . " Bryan shook his head in defeat. "I just don't know what to do anymore Josiah. I thought bringing Molly out here would be good for her . . . for both of us. Her mother's death hit her so hard."

"She's a strong girl Bryan. You can be proud of the way you're raising her . . . mostly." Bryan looked at him confused. "I heard what you said when you were walking away from the jail, about the people she was spending time with." Bryan looked away a little ashamed. "I'm not the only one who heard it, Ms. Patterson heard it too."

"I know she's your friend Josiah, but . . .," he wrung his hands, "I've heard things about her." Josiah sighed. He knew what Bryan was talking about, he'd heard the rumors about Lily since the tornado. He'd tried to squash them as best he could.

"You can't believe everything you hear brother. I'll admit that Lily is no angel, but neither am I, neither are you. But she has a good heart and can be a good friend. And from all that's gone on around here in the last few weeks, I think a good friend is exactly what you're Molly needs."

"Maybe you're right Josiah, maybe you're right."

Lily tried to push Bryan's comments out of her mind as best she could. She knew what people had been saying about her since the tornado, but she didn't think that Bryan was the type of man who'd believe idle gossip. It was mid-morning and the saloon was almost empty. There was a crash of breaking glass from behind the bar. A dark head popped up with a sheepish grin.

"Uh, I'm sorry ma'am. It was only one glass." Lily watched the young man place the piece of broken glass on the bar.

"That's alright Joseph, its only a glass." The second one you've broken today, she thought to herself. It had been Terrance's idea to hire someone to help out in the saloon, especially since he was going to be gone for a few weeks. Terrance had hired Joseph when she was out one day. He was a nice enough young man, about the same age as JD, but he was clumsy. "I'm going upstairs to check on Mr. Larabee if you need me Joseph."