Lily grabbed a bar towel snapping Buck lightly on the arm. He feigned shock and injury.

"Now what was that for?"

"You know very well what that was for."

"Aw, come on, you can't blame me for wantin' to have a little fun."

"Just behave yourself."

Business seemed slower tonight and Lily couldn't say she was sorry. She was tired and wanted nothing more than to sleep. The doctor in Stillwater had warned her about fatigue.

"Ezra," she laid a hand on his shoulder. "I think I'm going to step out for a few minutes."

"Everything alright Lily?" It hadn't escaped his notice that she'd seemed a little bit off. He had hoped that with the extra help around the saloon she'd bounce back to her old self.

"Just feel the need for some fresh air."

Bo Jun rung the mop for a final time. She had decided to take care of the kitchen's floor before anything else. The water filled bucket threatened to tip over as she carried it toward the back door.

She set the bucket down and pulled the door open. The sweet scent of evening wafted to her nose. The air also carried voices hushed in whispers. Bo Jun pressed herself against the door waiting for the people to pass. She didn't intend to eavesdrop on the pair but their voices were so clear and close. Immediately she recognized one of the voices. Lily.

"A baby?" It was a man's voice, familiar, but she couldn't yet place it.

"Yes, a baby. I saw the doctor in Stillwater. I. . . I wanted to tell you Nathan because I'll probably need your help along the way."

'Nathan', Bo Jun recognized the name of the black man who was part of the town's protectors.

"I'll help ya anyway I can Lily. But, I don't know much about pregnant ladies or babies."

"Well, I've got Mary too."

"Who all knows?"

"You, Josiah, and Mary."

"Nobody else?" There was another question implied with his voice. From where she stood Bo Jun pondered their words. She could guess who was the father. It had not escaped her notice that Chris left Lily's room every morning.

"No one else yet. Please, Nathan, don't say a word to anyone." Lily pleaded with him.

Bo Jun stayed in place till the voices died and their footsteps receeded into the darkening night. With a heavy sigh she sat on the backsteps. She felt guilty for having the illicit knowledge but hoped that she might use it to help her new employer.

Chris slipped quietly from the bed. He leaned against the window sill and looked down at the street below. Behind him Lily murmured and tossed restlessly in her sleep. She always moved a lot during the night, but lately he noticed that she was hardly still a moment each night.

Sarah had never moved in her sleep. She would curl up next to him and not move a muscle all night. A warm tingle crept over his body as the memory of her soft body flooded his mind. She'd wear a long flannel nightgown that covered nearly every inch of her body. A smile played at the edge of his mouth as he remembered chasing her around their small house in it. He watched the woman across the roomm from him. Her bare arm and shoulder shimmered in the moonlight. Unlike Sarha, Lily was fond of sleeping in next to nothing.

The two women were different in so many ways. Sarah had been a rancher's daughter and happy to be a rancher's wife. Lily had come from money and had travelled halfway across the world. Sarah had loved cooking and taking care of Adam and him. Lily had grown up with servants and was used to bein taken care of.

He smiled to himself when he thought of their differences in the bedroom. Sarah had been a virgin and naive when they'd married. Lily, on the other hand, knew things that would make most grown men blush. His body surged with the memory of what they'd done earlier.

"Chris?" Lily's sleepy voice broke through his thoughts. His eyes focused on her, pushing Sarah's face from his head.

"Yeah?"

"What are you doing?"

"Just thinking."

"About what?" He moved back to the bed and laid down beside her. She could see him trying to form an answer.

"Nothing important." He turned his body to face her. "Go back to sleep."

Lily watched as Chris closed his eyes. She bit her lower lip to stave off tears. She knew exactly what he'd been thinking. It had been all over his face, as it had many times before. He'd been thinking about Sarah and how she was nothing compared to his dead wife. She rolled away from him letting hot tears stream silently down her face.

Sunlight streamed through the window warming Chris's face as he slept. In his sleepy state he reached across the bed expecting soft flesh and found only an empty bed. He rubbed his eyes and looked around the room.

Chris started to rise when familiar footsteps in the hall stopped him. Lily entered the room examining the saloon's ledger. His hand shot out grabbing her arm pulling her on to the bed. She gave a startled cry as the ledger fell from her fingers.

"Chris!"

"Good morning." He said the words with a lecherous drawl as his mouth fiercely sought hers. She stopped him quickly.

"I don't have time this morning." Lily gave him a coy smile and pushed away from him. Chris growled in frustration and threw himself back on the bed. She moved to her dressing table and began to repin her hair into place. "Chris?"

"Yeah."

"Has. . . has Vin ever mentioned to you having an interest in Molly?"

"What?" Chris sat up quickly in surprise. "Why?"

"No reason."

"Lily..."

"The girl might have a bit of a crush on him."

"She told you that? What about JD?"

"She didn't exactly say that she did."

"What exactly did she say?" Chris stood and began to dress.

"That's none of your business. She came to me in confidence. I just don't want to see her hurt."

"And you think Vin would hurt her?" His voice rose with anger.

"I didn't say that." She crossed her arms defensively.

"What were you tryin' to say?"

"I. . . I don't know." Lily threw up her hands in frustration. She turned away from him slumping into a chair. She covered her face with her hands not wanting him to see the tears that had begun to flow. In her mind she knew that this was not something to cry about. But there had been something in his eyes. Something again telling her that she wasn't Sarah.

It was several minutes later before Lily realized Chris had left the room. She was startled by the small hand that touched her knee. Looking down she found Bo Jun kneeling next to her. Her exotic features etched with concern. The younger woman held out a hankerchief.

"Thank you." Lily took the piece of cloth and blotted her eyes.

"Is everything alright?" Bo Jun had heard the raised voices and the unmistakable sound of crying from Lily's room.

"Yes, yes, everything is fine. I don't know what came over me."

"It is not unusual for a woman to suffer these fits when carrying a child." Bo Jun had seen enough children born in the Imperial household to know that a woman was often not herself during this time.

"How do you know?

"I am sorry. I heard you and Nathan speaking of it." Bo Jun lowered her head.

"It's alright. I should have chosen a place with more discretion." Lily patted her hand. "I'm glad you know. It would be nice to have a friend to talk about it."