"Nathan wired for the doctor from Stillwater. She's got a fever that just about driven her out of her mind." Buck saw his friend's grip on the reigns tighten. "Damn it Chris!" Buck cried pulling his horse to a halt. A second later Chris stopped his horse.

"What? What do you want me to say?"

"I want you to say you give a damn. I want you to say you acted like an ass and want to make it up to her. I want to hear you say that you're not blaming her for what happened." Chris sighed heavily and looked away. "You're a stubborn sonofabitch!"

"And what happened between Lily and me isn't any of your damn business." Chris's voice raised in anger.

"None of my business? Lily's my friend too. You don't even know what you've got do you? I see the way she looks at you. It's the same way Sarah used to look at you. Damned if I know why though." Chris finally met his eyes. "And I see the way you look at her. Comparing her to Sarah."

"I--," Buck threw up his hand cutting off Chris's words.

"Don't say you're not. I've known you too long. I see it and the thing is, Lily sees it too. She can see it everytime you look at her."

"She said that?"

"She doesn't have to." Buck pulled off his hat and raked his fingers through his dark hair. "I loved Sarah too. But Lily isn't Sarah and you can't expect her to be. You're so blinded by the past that you can't . . ."

"Can't what?" Chris's voice edged on anger. Buck was one of his oldest friends, but even he didn't have the right to be telling him to act and feel.

"You wanna lose her like you lost Sarah? Keep going the way you are and she'll be dead to you too."

The words hung in the air between them. In some dark recess of his mind Chris knew there was some truth to Buck's words but he couldn't face that right now. He wanted to be alone. He wanted a drink. He turned his horse to the left, in the direction of his house.

"You need me, I'll be out at my place."