It was only a few hours later when Rose startled awake to pounding on the door downstairs. Her breath froze in her lungs. They had somehow found her. How could they have possibly found her here?

She snatched up her oversized sweater and wrapped it around herself. She could hear Forrest across the hall. She pulled open her door to see Forrest, shirtless, in nothing but his trousers with his suspenders hanging and a gun in his hand.

The pounding came again. Both Peter and Arthur threw open their doors at the other end of the hall. Both had guns in their hands. Peter was dressed, and Arthur wore an open flannel.

She followed them to the stairs but Peter stepped up close to her, his eyes grave. "You stay up here." He told her as the three of them went downstairs.

Rose followed behind them anyway. This was all her fault. If anything happened to them because of her she would never forgive herself. She crouched at the top of the stairs so she could peer through the rails. Forrest unlocked the door and pulled it open, both Arthur and Peter had their guns up and pointed at the head of the man who stood on the porch.

Rose nearly passed out with relief as she recognized Eddie, the slim black man who manned the gas pump.

"They got Dan!" he exclaimed without ceremony. He ignored the guns in his face and turned to face Forrest. "Mr. Garrett they got Dan. I didn't know what to do."

"Shit." Arthur cursed, and ran for the stairs to get his boots. Both Peter and Forrest were already wearing shoes.

Forrest glanced up to where Rose crouched. "Will you get me a shirt please?" he asked. His voice was scary calm as he moved behind the counter and pulled out a second gun.

Rose nodded and ran for Forrest's room. The plaid shirt he had given her to wear all those weeks ago was laying out across the foot of the bed. She snatched it up and ran downstairs. Arthur was already there loading bullets into his revolver. Forrest handed her his guns as he took his shirt from her.

"Who has Dan?" Rose asked quietly. "The Cassidy's?"

Eddie nodded his head. "They brought their friend too, they showed up in their sheets and –"

"Let's go." Forrest took the guns from Rose's shaking hands. He tucked one at the base of his spine and the other snub nosed revolver went into his pocket. "Peter start the truck. Eddie you're staying here with Miss Rose." He walked around behind the bar and pulled out the shot gun. He opened the break action, put two new shells in and snapped it closed. He paused just in front of Rose, so close their chests were practically touching. He pressed the gun into her hands and tucked a fist full of shells into the pocket of her sweater. "Just in case." He said in a quiet voice near her ear and Rose found herself nodding a little frantically.

"Be safe," she called after them as Peter and Forrest headed to the door.

Peter turned around and pointed at her. "You lock the door behind us," he said sternly.

"You be safe too," Arthur said and pressed a kiss into her hair as he breezed by. "Don't worry about us."

She followed them out onto the porch and watched them jump into the truck and drive away. She stood there in the cool night wind and watched the tail lights disappear into the night. She wasn't sure how long she had been there when Eddie finally spoke. "Miss Rose, you best get yourself inside before you catch yourself a chill. It don't do them boys any good you don't take care of yourself."

"I'll be in in a minute." She promised, though she didn't move,
she stood light a sentinel with the shot gun clasped to her chest. What felt like hours later, a warm blanket was set lightly on her shoulders. She jumped a little, but turned to give Eddie a thankful smile.

"They'll be alright Miss Rose," he promised her. "Them boys is tough as old barbed wire." Then, rather than trying to get her to come inside, he took a seat on one of the chairs and waited and watched with her.

"Miss Lilly is still with her mama?" Rose asked, chewing on her lip. She had only just now realized that there was a chance Dan wasn't the only one in danger.

"Yes ma'am. Thank goodness for that. Or they mighta used her to get Dan to do what they want."

"What do they want?" Rose asked, her brow drawing down in confusion. She understood they were upset about being fired but what could the Cassidy's possibly want from Dan.

"They want him to hand over his lumber camp. They don't like him being the boss of white folks."

Miss Rose shook her head. She had never been able to comprehend such ignorant hatred. "Thats ridiculous."

"Bless you for thinking so ma'am."

Rose turned to face Eddie. "The Garrett's feel the same way."

"That they do ma'am. That they do. But ain't everyone like them."

Another hour passed before lights appeared coming down the hollow. Rose hadn't moved from her spot on the porch. She watched Forrest park the truck right at the base of the steps and Peter and Arthur hauled Dan out of the back. The huge man was limp in their arms, and didn't make a sound. She ran to open the door for them and when they passed her she gasped at the sight of his back. His back was a beaten, bloody mess. Deep lacerations oozed blood.

She turned to Forrest who stood behind her.

"I'm going to get Miss Lilly. She will know how to take care of Dan. Why don't you ride with me." He said authoritatively. It wasn't a question. Rose turned to Peter, but he and Arthur were still laying Dan down on his stomach on the largest table.

"Just in case," Forrest added in a quieter voice.

Miss Rose turned to face him, confused.

"There's a chance there could be retaliation..."

Rose understood in that moment just as Peter approached them. "You should go with Forrest to get Miss Lilly. It's two towns over. Arthur and I will take care of Dan until you can get Lilly here." Even Arthur seemed resolved that she leave with Forrest as he stepped up, nodding along with Peter's words.

Rose nodded nervously. "Let me run up and change." She said, suddenly feeling self conscious. She was wearing only a sweater over her thin pajamas, and she quickly slinked up the stairs.

<><><><><>

She and Forrest rode in silence for almost half an hour before she worked up the courage to speak. Forrest hadn't done anything to scare her but he still held that quiet intensity she invariably equated with violence. He was tight and tense and so she was as well. She swallowed and licked her lips and opened her mouth to start but nothing came out.

Forrest didn't take his eyes off the road. "Dan's going to be fine." He reassured her in a quiet voice.

She felt foolish for thinking Forrest wouldn't notice how nervous she was. She was just glad he assumed she was worried about Dan. It would hurt Forrest to know he still scared her from time to time.

She nodded and breathed out a sigh she hadn't realized she had been holding. "Are you all okay?" She asked in a small voice.

Now Forrest did glance at her. She was practically glued to the door on the far side of the bench and he shook his head. She looked about ready to jump out of her skin and it was his fault. He rolled his shoulders and tried to let go of some of the tension but he was stilled worked up from the fight. "Yeah, we're fine." He promised,
giving her a reassuring smile.

<><><><><>

It was dawn before she and Forrest returned to the store with Miss Lilly. She had been in a state the whole slow drive. The roads were bad enough Forrest had to get out and push the truck twice. Miss Rose was exhausted as they bounced into town. She was riding in the middle of the truck bench. It was a tight fit for the three of them, and her leg occasionally brushed against Forrest's as he drove.

Forrest explained everything to Miss Lilly during the first part of their drive so as they slid to a stop in front of the store Miss Lilly didn't wait for Forrest to turn off the truck before she was running up the steps.

Rose followed at a more sedate pace. Peter stepped out onto the porch to greet them.

"How is he?" Rose asked. Rose climbed out of the truck and swayed a little on her feet as exhaustion caught up with her.

Peter stepped off the porch. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gave her a reassuring squeeze. "He'll be fine," he promised. "Arthur and I got him pretty cleaned up, so Miss Lilly just needs to decide how she wants to treat him. You look like you are asleep on your feet. Go to bed Miss Rose," and he dropped a kiss on her head, and propelled her up the steps and through the door ahead of him.

Forrest stood next to the car and watched them. He too was tired and his exhausted mind was going places he never allowed it to. He ran a hand over his face, and scrubbed at his eyes. He followed Peter and Rose into the store, and watched as Rose staggered up the steps to go to bed. Miss Lilly was already tending Dan's back. She had Arthur in the kitchen gathering things for her while she mixed up some kind of paste in a large bowl.

Miss Lilly turned to him. "I'm glad you came and got me. He'll be alright," she said, but she was more reassuring herself than him.

Forrest nodded. "I believe you."

She smiled sadly and went back to mixing up her paste. "I'm gonna cover him in this, then we just need to let him sleep." She looked around the room uncertainly.

"We can move him into my room later today." Forrest assured her.

Miss Lilly nodded. "Why don't you go up and get some sleep Forrest, you look dead on your feet."

Forrest nodded, thinking that was probably a good idea. His ribs were sore from their run in with the Klan, but he wasn't about to say anything about it to Miss Lilly. He would wrap them up himself once he woke. They would need to stay on top of things. It was likely the Klan would retaliate. Though it would take them a few days at least before they were able to reconnect.

He paused outside his door, Rose's door was slightly ajar and he could see where she was curled up already sleeping on top of her covers still in her clothes. He pushed open the door and picked up the quilt from the end of the bed. He tossed it over her and drew the curtains closed dimming the room. Satisfied he returned to his own room to get some sleep.