"Mr. McCall and the ladies are warming up by the fire. I'll fetch some tea and bring it right in."

"Thank you, Silas. That would be wonderful." Victoria smiled. Silas was always one step ahead of her next request.

As Victoria and Tom entered the room they saw the two women, their guests, close to the fire. McCall heard the couple first and turned to meet them.

"Ladies may I introduce my boss and his wife."

Leah and Rachel turned to face their host.

"Tom!" Leah whispered, as she looked into his blue eyes, eyes that mirrored her son's in color and expression. Suddenly she couldn't breathe and the walls closed in around her. She felt herself falling to the floor and a flood of voices and hands reaching for her as everything went black.

Rachel was on her knees calling to her friend, "Leah, Leah, come on now, open your eyes for me."

Victoria wasn't sure what to think. Did she hear this woman call her husband by name? Nevertheless, right now she needed tending.

"Tom, go upstairs and move the boys to Nick's room. Jake, would you carry our visitor upstairs to the guest room?"

"I'm so sorry Ma'am. My friend is very tired and has not slept well in days. She has been sick with worry since her son has been so ill." Rachel tried to cover the fact that they both were shocked to find themselves in the Barkley home. Of all the ranches in Stockton, why this one!

"I understand. My name is Victoria Barkley," she shared as she took Rachel's arm and led everyone upstairs. Jake followed with Leah cradled in his arms.

"Heath has had a bath and we've gotten his fever down a bit. Tom has moved him to our youngest son's room. He can stay there until we're sure that his mother is okay. The doctor should be arriving anytime," Victoria told Rachel as they entered the guest room.

"Thank you all so much. I'll stay with her," Rachel spoke nervously, as she watched Victoria pour water into the bowl.

"Jake, would you go downstairs and wait for Howard to arrive?" Victoria asked as she handed Rachel a cool towel to use on Leah.

"Sure Victoria, I'll bring him up as soon as he arrives," McCall answered as he headed out the door to give the women some privacy.

"I'll go take care of Heath. Tom will need to get our sons off to bed and he or Jake will tend to the wagon. If you need anything, we're just down the hall. May I ask your names?" Victoria inquired.

"I'm Rachel and this is Heath's mother, Leah," Rachel informed. She wished she would have had a good look at Tom's face when he saw Leah, but everything had happened so fast. Did Mrs. Barkley seem suspicious? Did she hear Leah say her husband's name?

"Well Rachel, it's nice to meet you. I'm sorry that it's under these conditions," Victoria spoke as she hurried off. She heard Heath coughing and thought she heard some tears as well.

"Well, hello there." Rachel smiled as she gazed down at her friend.

Leah still felt sick and as she turned her head toward her friend she felt a wave of dizziness. Closing her eyes she tried to relax as the spinning in her head slowed.

"Tell me I'm dreaming. That this is all just a bad dream!" Leah's voice showed great emotion and fear.

"I wish I could, but it's all very real, Leah," Rachel warned as she brought a glass of water to her dearest friend. She held it so that the petite woman could sip.

"What are we going to do, Rachel? I thought we were free from possibly losing Heath and now here we are right in Tom's home," Leah spoke softly, not wanting anyone to hear if they approached the room.

"Can you believe this house? You're living in a house that doesn't even allow Heath a room of his own and Tom Barkley has this glorious house!" Rachel's tone was full of resentment.

"He has a right to have a home, Rachel." Leah's tone was defensive.

"He has a right to be responsible for his actions, doesn't he?" Rachel countered.

"I don't want to go into that again. I am too tired, too scared, and too worried about Heath!" Leah was firm.

"Well, don't presume that Tom assumes anything. I'm sure he is shocked to see you standing in his home. Who knows if his wife was ever told about his time with you? She's expecting you know. From what I can gather they have two sons and a child on the way. Isn't that nice, he certainly knows how to perform that function! I wonder how many others there are out there in your situation?" Rachel's voice held anger for the man that Leah had loved, still loved.

"Enough, Rachel! He has a wife and a family. He told me that in his letter. As far as his having other children, others like Heath...well you have no facts of anything like that. If that's true then you really discolor the relationship he and I shared. You make it sound like I'm no better than one of the girls at the saloon who pleasure men for money. It wasn't like that! I loved him and he loved me! Heath was born from love, Rachel." Leah's tears were now uncontrolled.

"I know that you loved him, Leah. I'm just saying that I feel the love was very one-sided. I didn't mean to hurt you, but you must be prepared that Tom may not show any signs of ever caring about you. Tread carefully, Leah. Let's follow the plan to ask for his help, not because he's Heath's father, because he's an old friend." Rachel tried to calm her friend as she sat beside her and rubbed her back.

A soft knock came upon the door.

Rachel opened the door to find Victoria and the doctor standing there.