Liam felt relief flow through him as he shoved his money into his pocket. He'd made a tiny fortune for just one month of work and it would ensure that he wouldn't have to spend quite as much time trapping for a while.

Liam wanted to have plenty of free time as he truly learned about his wife and married life.

And damn was he ready to get home to Emma—if Emma was still there. After the way they'd parted he didn't know if she would still be around or if she'd tell him to go to hell and not want to see him again.

Hell.

"You want to head to the saloon with me for a night or two before you head back?" Nathan asked, hopping into his saddle.

Liam was quick to shake his head. "No."

Nathan chuckled. "In a hurry to get back to that woman of yours you've been pining after the last few weeks?"

Liam simply shrugged and swiped at his brow with his bandana. "Thanks for the job, Nathan."

"In about three months I'll be making another run. I've gotta take a herd up over the mountains and deliver them to a base out west. You want in on that one?"

"How long?"

"It'll probably take a good three or four months is my guess."

"No, I don't reckon I want to be away from home for that long," Liam declined. Hell he was going crazy enough after only about a month without Emma. He couldn't imagine what three or four times that would feel like.

"Alright then, Liam. Good luck with the married life. I think I'd rather take a bullet to the leg."

Liam merely tipped his head and the men parted ways. There had been a time not long ago when Liam would have agreed with Nathan, but that had been before Emma. Now it was time to go home and make things right with her.

If he rode hard, and he knew that Honey could handle a quick pace, Liam could make it home in about three days. Three days and he'd be holding Emma in his arms.

The journey wasn't as long as it felt... anticipation had made every mile feel like ten. But now he was close.. just a few miles from town where he would check in at Anita's to ensure that Emma hadn't been staying there, and then he'd head home.

The day was beautiful and Liam was enjoying the warmth of the sun on his face when the peace was suddenly shattered by the echo of a gunshot.

A bullet tore through Liam's shoulder from the back, ripping through the front of his shirt upon exit and slamming him from his saddle.

Liam went for his gun but as he collided with the ground, his head struck sharply against a rock and the world began to spin. Liam tried hard to hold onto consciousness but it was no use—his world quickly went black.

Moaning, Liam returned to consciousness, only to be greeted by darkness. It was night.

His body was weak and sluggish and his shirt, as well as the dirt beneath him, were soaked in blood. As Liam rose to sit, his head swam and he quickly vomited into the grass beside him.

Who the hell had shot him? Liam didn't have enemies.....

Except for one.

Silas Hawke.

Did that mean Emma was in trouble?

If Patrick had allowed Emma's father to get his hands on her again, Liam would kill him. He'd forgiven the man once. It wouldn't happen again.

Liam was a peace-loving man. He hated tension and violence. But he wasn't scared to fight and if Silas had laid a hand on Emma, the man would die. No more second chances. Liam would kill the bastard.

But first, Liam had to focus on not dying himself.

He let out a whistle and heard Honey's instant snort in reply. Seconds later her nose was nudging his uninjured shoulder.

Liam took hold of her neck and let her strength pull him to his feet. "Thanks girl."

Liam couldn't seem to focus his vision. His mind kept swirling and his eyes were seeing double and triple of everything around him.

Somehow, Liam managed to hoist himself onto Honey's back. He knew he was bleeding heavily. He wouldn't make it much longer if the bleeding didn't stop.

"Let's get to town, Honey," he muttered as he hung limply in the saddle.

Honey seemed to understand and her hooves began to carry them in the right direction.

Liam wanted to stay awake—he needed to stay away.

But still the world fell back into black.

"Good morning, Emma," Patrick greeted as he stepped into the cabin.

Emma smiled and looked up from adjusting the colorful blanket she'd sewn over the sofa. While sewing clothing still proved too complicated for her, she'd found that pillows and blankets were much easier.

She'd sewn several new pillows for Liam's bed as well as a pillow for Patrick who was still insisting on living in the barn instead of sleeping on the sofa.

Emma had thought about making pillows and blankets along with her pies to make money but she didn't know if she could....

Would Liam want her earning money? She was his wife now and, no matter how much she hated the truth, it still was truth that he owned her.

She couldn't make pies and sell them or make pillows and blankets for money, without asking his permission. She was already scared enough that she'd had to go shopping for supplies while he'd been gone and put the supplies on his credit.

Would he be angry?

But surely Liam had known that Emma would have to have supplies during his absence.

"What are your plans for today?" Patrick asked.

Emma glanced out the window. "I was hoping to go into town. Anita asked me to come to the house the last time she was here.... Would you mind taking me?"

"Of course not. I'd say you're mighty tired of staring at the same four walls day in day out."

Emma nodded and smiled gratefully. Patrick truly was a good man and the two had grown very close in the last month. She trusted him whole-heartedly and that spoke volumes to the kind of man he was.

She had kept herself busy but she needed to get away for the day. While Patrick was a good man, he tended to keep himself busy away from the cabin during the day and Emma spent much of her time alone.

"I'll go ready the horses," Patrick said as he opened the door. "Come on out when you're ready."

Emma glanced around the cabin once she was alone again. Everything was neat and tidy. Freshly washed clothes and sheets were hanging on the line in the valley behind the cabin and there was nothing for her to do.

So, Emma donned her shawl to ward off the chilly morning air and stepped outside.

She waited patiently on the porch until Patrick led his horse and Misty from the barn. "Well come on then, darling, and we'll go to town. Though, I probably won't come to Anita's with you. I'm not liked too much over there."

Emma mounted Misty and they headed down the trail. "Anita has her reasons," she reminded him quietly. "But if she could get to know the person ya are now, she might change her mind."

Patrick chuckled and shoved his hand through his graying hair. "If only everyone in this world was as kind as you are."

They rode in a comfortable silence for a long while before hoof beats rushing toward them reached their ears. Patrick instantly pulled his gun and brought his horse in front of Emma.

Fear bloomed inside her. Who could be coming? Was it her father? She hadn't heard from nor seen him since the night he'd kidnapped her from the dance. Emma had hoped he'd moved on... but had he?

Relief filled her when she recognized Kyle and Chase. But her unease quickly returned when she saw the desperation on their faces. "Emma, hell, we were coming to get you," Kyle announced.

Emma swallowed hard. "Why? What's wrong?"

She'd spent some time with both Kyle and Chase. They had told her the truth of their relationship and, if anything, it had made her more comfortable around them.

"It's Liam..." Kyle began.

Chase rose close to Emma and she met his eyes with despair. "What....?" She whispered.

"He'sbeen shot, Emma," Chase whispered. "He's at the docs. You should probably getthere quick."