Liam felt the bullet tear through his arm. Emma jerked in his lap and fear overwhelmed him. Had she been hit? Her head was mere inches from his arm... had the bullet.....?

Liam glanced down at her, saw the fear on her perfectly intact face and pulled his gun as he slid from Honey's back and pulled her with him.

The shot had come from behind them to the left. Liam spun that way, saw the man standing in the brush, preparing to take another shot which was being hindered by Colt and Honey, storming around them.

Liam aimed his weapon and squeezed the trigger. The blast of the gunshot reverberated through his body and the sound of the bullet striking flesh filled his ears.

The man's body fell, disappearing among the leaves and branches of the bush he'd been taking cover behind.

"Emma, I need you to stay here, okay?"

Emma's grip on him tightened. "No.. don't' leave me alone," she pleaded. "You were shot!" Her voice was near hysterics as she noticed the bloody wound on his arm. "Are you okay?"

Liam took a deep breath. His nerves were strained and his attention was on everything around them, waiting for another threat—but he had to stay calm on the outside for Emma.

"I'm fine, love. It's just a scratch. Stay behind me. I need to make sure he's dead."

Liam headed toward the man, his eye scanning all around them at once, just in case another shooter was lying in wait.

When Liam flipped the dead body over, Emma gasped. "That's... that's my uncle... it's my father's brother."

Liam tensed. It was one thing if Silas wanted to send men after him—but he'd crossed one hell of a line sending his brother to shoot him when Emma had been so close. What if that damn bullet had missed him? What if Emma had.....

Liam shook his head to end that train of thought.

"Liam... my father must have sent him...."

Liam could hear the fear in Emma's voice and it angered him. She had been doing so good. Growing stronger and braver and had even managed to knock Bethany on her ass today. She had laughed and been completely carefree tonight.....

Why wouldn't Silas let go?

"Come on, Emma. Let's get home."

The ride home was tense. Liam made Emma get on Colt and he rode on Honey, making wide circles around her as he kept a sharp look out for any other threats.

They made it to the cabin safely. Liam helped Emma undress and she helped him clean and bandage the deep gouge the bullet had torn through his arm.

Emma was trembling as they climbed into bed and Liam wrapped her tightly in his arms. "Sleep, love. He won't hurt you. We're safe in the cabin."

"He's never going to stop, is he?" she whispered, her voice nearly emotionless as she stared into the night.

Liam held her tighter and kissed her brow. "Just sleep now, love. I'll keep you safe."

It was several long hours before Emma trembles and fitful sleep gave way to deep slumber brought on by sheer exhaustion.

Liam was exhausted as well and his arm was throbbing painfully, but he had no time for sleeping. He had some business he needed to tend to.

Climbing from bed, Liam slipped into a change of clothes, pulled on his boots and slid his gun belt onto his hips. He cast one last long glance at a sleeping Emma and left the cabin, stepping out into the predawn night.

He was surprised when he ran into Patrick just stepping out of the barn. "Where have you been?" Liam asked. He'd assumed his father had been fast asleep inside the cabin they'd recently finished for him.

Patrick cleared his throat and averted his gaze. "Town. I got busy." His gaze narrowed as he returned it to his son. "Where are you going?"

Anger bubbled in his blood as Liam glanced down the road to town. "Emma and I ran into trouble coming home. We were shot at and my arm got grazed—the bullet barely missed her head." Liam took a deep breath to calm himself. "I shot and killed the bastard and it turned out to be Silas' brother. I plan on taking him up that mountain and dumping his body on Silas' doorstep. This has to end."

Patrick lowered his hand to the gun on his own hip. "Do you want me to go with you?"

Liam shook his head. He could handle things on his own. "I need you here to watch Emma. Don't let anything happen to her."

"You can count on me, son," Patrick agreed.

Liam nodded. "I know I can."

Without another word, Liam went into the barn and saddled Misty. Colt was Emma's horse and didn't mind him as well and Honey was still shook up from the attack earlier.

Just as Liam had hoped, the body was still where he'd left it. Liam tied a good length of rope around the bastard's ankles and attached the other end to his saddle horn.

He clicked his tongue and urged Misty forward, ready to deliver Silas' present.

The trip up the mountain was slow going and took a while. The body tangled up on roots and brush several times and Liam hadn't wanted to push Misty too hard while carrying the load. He was happy that he didn't meet anyone—he could only imagine the reaction if someone happened upon him hauling a dead mountain man up the mountain by his ankles.

Finally Liam reached the run down shack that had once been Emma's home. It was mid-morning and plenty light outside but the house was silent.

Liam let out a whistle and waited.

Seconds later Silas came out the front door with a smile—which quickly vanished when he saw Liam seated upon Misty.

"What's the matter, Silas? Were you expecting someone else?"

"What the hell are ya doing up here?" Silas growled. "Ya damn well oughta know ya ain't welcome here."

Liam folded his arms on his saddle horn and nodded back toward his cargo. "I brought you something."

Silas's gaze dropped back and every ounce of color drained from his gnarled, bearded face. "That's Clem....Hell, did ya murder my damned brother?"

Liam shook his head. "No."

"Then how the hell did he die?!" Silas bellowed.

Liam shrugged. "I shot him."

"So ya did murder him!"

"No. It was self-defense. The man was lying in wait and the bullet he shot into me missed my wife's head—your daughter's head—by inches."

Silas swallowed hard and his eyes scanned Liam. "So he did manage to shoot ya?"

Liam was livid. Beyond angry. He wanted to pull his gun and put a bullet right between Silas' eyes.... But Silas was unarmed and Liam was in his territory.

"It was just a scratch, Silas. Sorry to disappoint you," Liam added when Silas' face fell. "Did you miss the part about him nearly killing your daughter?"

"That whore bitch is no daughter of mine!" Silas snarled. "And I didn't have nothin' to do with Clem bein' on that road. Don't you come up here lookin' fer trouble with me!"

Liam slid from the saddle and walked back to Clem. He untied the rope from the man's ankles and then slowly stepped toward Silas—happy to see the fear in the coward's eyes as it became clear he was fighting the urge to flee into his shack.

"I think it's time we get a few things straight, Silas. I reckon I've given you the wrong impression of me. You seem to think I won't fight back and that's just not right."

Liam was standing toe to toe with the trembling man now. His fists were clenching and he was using every ounce of self-control he had to avoid pulling his gun, or his knife, and silencing the man forever.

"Emma is my wife. She is off limits to you. I don't want you to look at her, approach her or speak to her again. You're going to stop destroying my traps. You're going to stop sending your family to do your dirty work and you're going to stop attempting to send bullets into my back. You're going to forget we exist because if you don't....." Liam slid his knife from its holster and at it at the other man's bobbing throat before he could blink. "...I will end your goddamn life. Are we clear, Silas Hawke? You've met your match in me and you need to realize that before it costs you your life; the way it did your brother."

Instead of anger in Silas' eyes, Liam saw nothing but raw fear and it satisfied him. "Are we clear, Silas? I need to hear you say you understand me."

Silas nodded which made the knife presser tighter against his throat. He quickly stilled and his shaking lips formed the word yes, though no sound was able to escape.

Liam stepped away and holstered his weapon. He walked back to Misty, keeping Silas in his peripheral vision as he moved, as slid onto her back.

He felt a moment of amusement when he saw the wet stain spreading across the front of Silas' trousers.

"I would say I'd see you around, Silas, but, I truly hope I don't—for your sake."

With that, Liam led Misty away, leaving Silas still standing motionless.

It was a tense ride down the mountain. Liam wasn't sure if he was going to take a bullet in the back or be rushed by a posse—but neither happened.

He made it safely back to his cabin and was leading Misty to the barn when his father came charging from the cabin. His gray hair was a mess upon his head and he looked more than a little frazzled.

"What's going on?" Liam demanded, instantly worried about Emma.

Patrick snorted. "She's madder than an old wet hen, Liam. She's not happy at all that you rode off this morning and she's smart enough to know where you went.... Good luck, son. Your wife is one angry hell cat."

Liam sighed. "Take care of Misty for me."

"Gladly," Patrick grumbled, taking the reins. He paused. "How did it go? Did you....?"

"No, I didn't kill him."

"I think that was a mistake," Patrick scolded with a click of his tongue.

Liam glared at the older man. "Murder isn't something I'm fond of doing," he stated. "Especially to an unarmed man on his own damn property which is surrounded by hundreds of his kinfolk."

The door to the cabin opened quickly and Patrick shook his head. "I'm tending the damn horse."

"What in the hell did you think you were doing this morning, Liam?" Emma demanded.

Liam looked up at his wife standing on the porch in her bare feet. Her hair was falling out of the fancy coif it had been in yesterday and she was still wearing her nightdress and robe. Her face was flushed and her blue eyes were flashing as she stood there with her hands on her hips, glaring at him.

It was one hell of a terrifyingly beautiful picture.

"I thought I was delivering a body to next of kin and protecting my wife."

Emma shook her head. "You could have been killed! You never should have went up there alone!"

Liam stepped onto the porch and kissed her brow which only caused her to stiffen and step aside to allow him to pass. He sighed as he stepped into the cabin. "I didn't die, Emma. I'm right here, safe and sound."

"Dumb luck," she grumbled.

Liam found himself chuckling as he slipped off his gun belt and hung it by the door. "I'll take it."

He plopped himself down on the kitchen chair and was happy when Emma settled herself down on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. "Did you kill him?" Liam was barely able to make out her muffled question.

"No, love. I didn't kill your father."

She pulled away and stared at him with wide eyes. "Why not?"

Liam blinked several times. "You want me to kill him?"

Tears filled her blue eyes. "He's not going to stop if you don't, Liam. He's never going to let us live in peace."

Liam pulled her into his chest and held her tight while she cried. He rubbed soothing circles on her back and kissed her hair tenderly. "He will, Emma. I talked to him. You don't have to worry."

After several long moments, Emma pulled away, wiped at her face and got to her feet. "I'd better start breakfast."

Liam stood and took her hands in his. "I'm not all that hungry. Why don't we climb back in bed and stay there for today? That sounds a hell of a lot better to me."

Emma smiled. It was a ghost of a smile and it didn't quite reach her red-rimmed eyes but Liam would take what he could get. "That sounds better to me too."

,{@ө