The trio arrived back at camp about an hour before dawn. Exhausted, Doc went straight to his bedroll and collapsed. After all the crazy shit he had just seen and dealt with, all he wanted to do was sleep and dream of Yen Sun.

The other blond had set up near the fire so he could clean his wound and think. He was tired too, but he had more to do before he could possibly fall asleep. Grabbing some wrappings from their meager supplies and Charlie's bottle of Whiskey, Billy carefully pulled off his shirt. He had two nicks in his left shoulder and some bruises on his side and abdomen from his struggle with one of the asshole's that had come after him and Doc.

After he had told Doc to go back to Kristal the remaining outlaw had chased him and tackled him to the ground. They had fought some before Billy had shot the man in the chest. That was when the first bullet had grazed his arm from Tahakyk's gun, and the rope circled his neck. That damn bastard treated him like a dog.

Swearing under his breath, he gazed down at the bloody gashes. Both bullets had thankfully grazed him. One was deeper than the other though and only inches apart. He wouldn't bleed to death, but he needed to make sure they were cleaned well. He didn't need it to fester.

The man's thoughts shifted to the fiery woman, who had disappeared into the darkness when they got back. It worried Billy. He didn't like the idea of her running around in the dark wilderness alone. His worry was all for nothing because she wasn't gone long. Strolling towards him, Billy noticed she had a small bowl of liquid, which he assumed was water, in her hand.

To his surprise, she stopped next to him. Blue eyes lifted up to her, noticing her gaze shift from his face to the gashes on his arm. What was she thinking, he pondered. He desperately wanted to know and yet was afraid of the answer.

"How ya holding up?" Shadowed green eyes searched the injury on his arm, "need help?"

The concern in her voice surprised him and Billy gave a half shrug. "Nah, I'll be jus' fine. Jus' a surface wound. Nothin' ta worry about." The corner of his lips curled into a coy half smile, "unless ya wanna give it a kiss and make it all right as rain." The joking man wagged his eyebrows at her already knowing she wouldn't do it.

Kristal just smirked and shook her head, "ya can keep dreamin' Bonney."

"Oh I definitely shall. Those are always my favorite dreams." He couldn't resist teasing her. It made him feel giddy at their banter, whether it was her being sarcastic, teasing or even playful. Though the latter part was rare, he loved every moment of it. Life seemed far more entertaining, challenging and even promising with her around.

"Yeah?" She shook her head amused, leaning suggestively towards him, before she smirked and straightened. "Well, it's the only way ya'll get anythin' from me. So ya can jus' keep on dreamin' away." Kristal joked back much to his surprise. "An' ya know it."

Heaving a disgruntled sigh, he lifted his eyes skyward, "alas, I do know it. But how I wish it weren't so."

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched her blow a strand of hair out of her face before she shook her head again, "ya can't sweet talk me, Bonney. I'm immune."

A loud guffaw broke forth from his lips and Charlie who was sleeping nearby snorted. Kristal gave him a dirty look as if to tell him to be quiet. He smiled back apologetically, eyeing her for a moment. She really believed that, didn't she, that she was immune to his or anyone's charm? Well now, he was going to try and change that. "We'll see about that," he muttered under his breath, ignoring her narrowing sharp eyes.

Still smiling, he lowered his baby blues to his wound and dabbed at the part he could reach. "I told ya all that time ago, back when we first met, I'd wear ya down." He glanced at her, happy to know she was still watching him. "An' look, yer at least talkin' ta me now, without glares or threats." He then rose an eyebrow challenging her to disagree with him before adding, "an' I think ya don't hate me no more so I'll take what I can get."

"Well, ya got at least that right. I don't hate ya." Kristal had a soft smirk on her face, her normal guarded expression missing for the time being. Instead she was relaxed and seemed to be enjoying their banter the same as he was. It gave her a softer look on her normally walled up expression. "I dunno if ya wore me down so much... but... I'm here ain't I?"

Billy chuckled, "that ya are. An' outta everyone, I'm glad it's you that're still here... I think its you, I've come to trust the most." His smirk transformed into a soft smile and he then lowered his gaze back to his arm. "You're the one I know will have our backs when it matters most."

Blinking, Kristal stared at him a moment before letting out a frustrated breath. Sitting beside him, she shook her head fervently. "Stop. Ya ain't doin' no good like that." He was only cleaning the upper half of the tears in his arm; he wasn't getting the back side of the gashes. Taking the rag she had draped over her arm, she dipped it in the water bowl and started to clean the blood around the bullet gouges. The water was cold and caused his skin to prick slightly.

The scent that accosted him from the liquid in the bowl made his face sour, "goddamn, what the hell is that?!"

A smirk tore at her lips, "water mixed with some plants that'll help clean an' heal better'n that rotgut whiskey. Smells awful, sure, but it'll help ya heal quick. Works best on cuts."

"Well ain't you full of surprises." He was grinning at her again. "This that Indian knowledge of yours?"

Kristal simply smiled, not acknowledging if it was or not. She simply rung out the cloth and dabbed at the cuts.

Now, he was looking down at her, sitting on her knees beside him, her gaze focused on his injury. Her dark lashes fanned her cheek making her appear innocent. He guessed in a way, she was. Knowing she had never been in love or been with a man in a sexual way was tragic and yet it stirred something inside him. She moved him in ways no woman had ever done before.

When her fingers touched his skin, it ignited a fire in him the likes he had never felt before. How could this woman, who dressed and acted so differently than most other women, set his very flesh a blaze? And it wasn't even with want or a desire. No, that wasn't true, he realized. He did desire her, but not in a sexual inappropriate way. He desired her companionship, her friendship, her adoration, her... attention and maybe even affection?

Wait, did that mean he wanted her... love? Did he feel that way towards her? Shit! Where had all this come from? And why did it feel... right? His heart was pounding at the thoughts running rampant in his mind. Why now? Why had he come to this realization now? Because of what happened with the renegade? Or was it that she had been willing to sacrifice herself for them? He frowned slightly, knowing if he said anything it would make her bolt.

Instead, he swallowed hard, pleasantly surprised at how gentle her touch was. He prayed she wouldn't noticed the thrill that went through him as her fingers caressed his skin. "Well, ain't this a switch. Weren't it me cleanin' your wound last time."

A smirk pulled at her lips, but she didn't take her eyes off the injury. "Ya mean when ya shot me?"

The man made a face, "ouch! I deserve that I suppose."

A quiet chuckle sounded from her, "I'm fairly certain it was Chavez who cleaned m' wound... you cauterized it." A thoughtful expression slid over her face, "an' I do believe I passed out from it."

A frown swallowed away his smile at the mention of Chavez. He was the only other man that showed feelings for the blonde spitfire. "True..." Billy drawled, his expression turning to a pout. "I did give my apologies, if ya remember? An' I made sure ya got back ta camp okay. Wasn't gonna leave ya in the middle of no where."

Kristal gave a soft little laugh, "I remember." She then paused as if carefully thinking her next words. "I don't really blame ya – fer shootin' me. Not anymore at least. I would'a been on guard too. Expectin' it were trouble." Her lips twitched in a small smile, "I do appreciate ya gettin' me back ta camp though. I dunno how ya did it, but I'm grateful ya did." Obviously she didn't think he was capable of carrying her. She poured whiskey onto the cloth and her eyes lifted to him. "This is gonna sting."

"Thought ya weren't gonna use the whiskey?" His questioning gaze lifted to her.

A sigh blew through her lips, "the whiskey's ta help get rid o' infection. Figured, I'd make sure ta burn it all away. Jus' ta be safe."

The man was speechless. The level of care she took to clean a wound was astounding. He was amazed by her use of both her tribal remedies and present medical knowledge. Still speechless, he noticed she was waiting for his approval. He nodded and she went back to work oblivious to how she made him feel.

The man inhaled sharply at the burning sensation that went through his arm, but he was still at a loss for words. He knew he had to be careful with what he said for fear of scaring her off. And he was so close to saying what was on his heart. Taking a deep breath, he let her believe it was because of the wound and not because he was growing frustrated with his wayward thoughts.

"Ya know..." Kristal started, drawing his attention back to her, not that it had really ever completely left. "Ya shouldn't o' taken on Tahakyk. He could o' killed ya, Bonney. Yer lucky he only shot at ya."

"He didn't scare me none. I was more worried about you." The smile on his face softened on her, "ta keep ya safe, I'd do anything Kristal." Apparently his careful thoughts could be shot to hell. He then winced at the stinging sensation going through his shoulder. "But it is nice ta know that ya care."

Green eyes lifted to his face briefly, but when she saw him looking at her, they lowered back to the gashes on his arm. "Ya really do confuse me, Bonney." She said nothing about whether she did or didn't care about him.

Finding her reaction amusing, he looked over at the fire. He didn't want to. He wanted to keep staring at her. From this distance he could see the soft splashing of faded freckles on her tanned upper cheeks. They became more prominent when she blushed or grew red with anger, he had noticed. Along her lower cheek, curling down to her jaw, was a fresh line of blood that was starting to clot and scab over from the cut Tahakyk had caused. He half wondered if it would scar too. She had an older scar that made a half crescent on the left side of the upper part of her mouth, gracing ever so slightly the pink flush of the top of her lip.

Another scar, faded and barely noticeable curled at the edge of her right eyebrow. He didn't notice it before, but being this close he could see the silver glint to it. The shape of her nose was petite, another scar crested the bridge, so faded that he almost missed it. Even still, it gave her a look of innocence when she wasn't flashing him with a glare. Now though it also had blood, stained from where it had bled. He wanted to take in every little detail along her features. He found her natural beauty stunning. She didn't need that face paint shit that the whore's wore. Even her scars gave her a unique classic allure that drew him to her.

"I ain't sure why." He finally answered with a nonchalant shrug, "I'm a pretty straightforward kind of guy." And yet, he couldn't tell her his feelings. He felt like a fraud.

A little laugh of disbelief escaped her perfect lips. Billy stared at those peach colored bow shaped lips longer than he probably should have, a memory flooding his mind. One he enjoyed and wanted to happen again. The kiss he had pressed against those inexperienced lips after she had pulled him out of the river. Damn did he want to kiss her again. He very much doubted she would appreciate it though.

"Straightforward m' ass. Yer as weaselly as they come, Bonney. Tryin' ta sweet talk yer way outta, or perhaps in this case, in ta somethin'." She was looking at him again, her brows lifting expectantly.

"What?!" Billy feigned being offended. "I would never do that to ya. If I sweet talk ya, it's cause I like ya." Noticing her eyes narrow, he could see the walls being built back up. "As a friend of course." He felt the need to clarify even if he didn't really want to. Kristal visibly relaxed and he blew a relieved sigh through his lips. Well, shit! How was he supposed to break down her guards if they were so easily built back up?

"Course." Was all Kristal said as she started to wrap his arm. She was quiet for a while and it made him wonder what she was thinking. She had become quiet and seemingly closed off. Had he scared her off again? Damn! He needed to be more careful!

"I don't think it needs stitches or ta be cauterized." Tying the wrap on his arm, she nodded as she finished. "Ya ain't gonna die," she joked, a hint of a smirk returning to her lips, "congratulations."

A chuckle sounded and Billy eyed her, "well that's a relief. I'll live ta see another day."

"Well ain't ya one lucky son of a bitch, Bonney."

A pang went through him as she called him by his last name again. Damn! He already missed her calling him by his given name. The sound of his name on her lips in that husky tone of hers, gave him a pleasant thrill each time. And now he missed it. "What can I say, I'm a lucky man." He was grinning again, quickly shifting away from what made her uncomfortable. "Now," he turned towards her, "it's your turn."

Confusion lit her hunter green eyes as she lifted them to him, a brow rising in the process. "M' turn for what?"

"Ta be fixed up!" Billy replied cheerfully. Seeing that she was about to protest, Billy shook his head and took the rag and the bowl of her funny smelling water out of her hand. "I aint' takin' no for an answer." He brushed the hair out of her face to keep it away from the gash on her cheek. It was hard not to notice how she watched him like a hawk, her gaze narrowing on him as if she were trying to figure him out. "Ya didn't listen ta me when I told ya I didn't need help, so it serves ya right!"

"Fine," she huffed, relenting and drew her irritated gaze away from him while pressing her lips together in a stubborn line.

Chuckling at her pouting, he had to resist watching her expressive facial features. "Now, I'm curious, what about me confounds ya so?" He dipped the rag into the bowl of water and frowned at how icy the liquid was. He shook his head and set the bowl closer to the fire to warm it up. "I'd be happy ta explain if I can."

Every movement he made, Kristal's ever watchful gaze caught it. Both brows rose at the bowl placed near the fire, but she didn't comment on it. Instead she shrugged, wincing a little, "Ya talk in circles an' jokes, teasin' an' messin' with me. I never know when ta take ya serious."

Using his own body heat in his hands, the blond man warmed the wet rag up, ignoring the stench. Once it was to his liking, he reached out, motioning to her shoulder. Might as well tackle one of the safest spots on her first. "Yer shirt's blockin' the way."

Again, she pressed those lips together and to his surprise she unbuttoned the dirty and bloody shirt and pulled one arm out. She was wearing an off white chemise underneath, but her actions still surprised the hell out of him. He had never met any woman more modest than her. For her to do that in front of him caused him to quirk an eyebrow. It made him wonder if she had indeed grown comfortable enough around him to trust him this much. "Better?" She queried, her voice breaking into the inappropriate thoughts he was beginning to have.

"Yeah... it's uh... perfect." Billy breathed hoping the redness of his face could not be seen. Swallowing, he tried to keep his eyes on her smooth bicep and not trailing down to her pale chest and even further down to the curvature of her breasts. Instead he focused on replying to her statement. "Bein' serious all the time makes ya grouchy. Remember ol' Dick?" It was easy for Billy to divert his thoughts away from what could get him in trouble. "Dick was as sour-faced as they come. Not a fun bone in his body." He smirked at her, "ya ain't like that. Ya like ta have fun. I can tell."

Those dark green eyes rolled once again and she glanced at Billy pointedly. "Depends on yer definition o' fun."

"I can think of a few things..." Billy's smirk lifted into a grin and he wagged his brows again, teasingly.

"Bonney!" Kristal shouted and smacked at his arm.

It wasn't a hard smack and Billy thought he could see the hint of a smirk at the corner of those lips that he wanted so badly to... He shook his head, laughing and feigned holding his arm where she had smacked him. "Ow!" He groaned, still playing with her. "that hurt." It really didn't but he liked messing with her. "I mean like playin' games... ya know, outside with other kids." He watched as her face contorted into confusion again, "get yer mind outta the dirt, Kris. Christ!"

The woman smirked, at him, "mhm, m' mind? I don't think that way... now you on the other hand, I'm sure ya do all the time." Her eyes flashed to him, dancing with amusement in the fire light.

The look in those eyes certainly made him think a few things he probably shouldn't be. But, he wasn't about to be THAT open with her. Not yet. "I happen ta have a rather clean mind, thank ya kindly," Billy protested, though he was grinning at every word that spewed out of his mouth. The warmed up rag dabbed at her cut and he poured some whiskey over it to clean any infection, copying the routine she had done with him.

"Ha! I don't believe that fer shit!" Kristal laughed softly before inhaling at the stinging sensation in her arm. It didn't last long and she was soon shaking her head in amusement. Her expression then shifted to one of thoughtfulness. "Ya said games?" She drawled the word out trying to think of any. "With kids?" She wrinkled her nose as she thought. "The only game I've ever played has been cat and mouse. An' it weren't no kids game."

Finishing up the wound on her arm, Billy shook his head. "Never heard of that one. What is it?"

The woman's gaze was staring at the fire again as she spoke, "it's when yer chasin' down yer prey, teasin', tauntin' 'em. Basically fuckin' with their heads. Then ya finally go in fer the kill an' they realize ya could'a caught them the whole time... but... ya we're jus' messin' around."

Billy frowned at her 'game'. How was that considered a game? What did that Belle and Sam Starr teach her that she thought killing folk was a game? "That ain't what I'm talking about," Billy sighed, reaching for the bowl of warm water. "I'm talkin' about games like playin' hide 'n go seek, or statues, or hot cockles or things like that."

The look she gave him was blank. If he didn't know better, he'd guess she didn't know what any of those games were. She just blinked and wrinkled her nose, which Billy found utterly adorable every time she did that. "Those are games? Funny names fer a bunch o' games."

"They're meant ta be funny, Kris. They're fer kids," Billy explained, his brows furrowing as he searched her face. The absence of her understanding floored him. "Ya mean ta tell me ya've never played any of those kind of games?"

A small shake of her head gave him his answer. She then tilted her gaze down as if ashamed of the lack of knowledge. "No... I never did. Is that so wrong?"

"I just... I can't believe... How could ya not?" Billy was at a loss for words. Even with his childhood, he still played games. His mother had wanted him to have as much of a normal childhood as she could possibly give. "I dunno if it's wrong exactly. Odd, yes. It's what kids do. Play games. And those games are fun. Hide 'n go seek, hopscotch, marbles... all that's fun."

Kristal's gaze half closed, clearly realizing that she had been missing something. She didn't quite know what it was, but she was missing it. "Games weren't part o' m' trainin'. I weren't around other kids really... not long enough ta be friends with 'em an' play. No attachments, I guess. So, I never really had the chance. No one ever showed 'em to me." She gave a half shrug refusing to look up into Billy's eyes and he realized that. "Games were fer kids... not fer me."

"But you were a kid," Billy argued.

"Didn't matter." There was a scoff in her voice. "I weren't ta be like other kids. I was an asset, a tool, a weapon to be used for profit. Ta benefit Belle an' Sam. Games didn't fit in the tough an' rigorous trainin' she had me do daily."

Normally jovial, dancing blue eyes, turned dark with hatred as Billy listened to her. When she put the emphasis on the word 'asset', it reminded him of that night he found her brooding with her horse after speaking with Chavez. She didn't like being called that and now he was beginning to understand why. "But you were jus' a kid. How could she keep you from bein' a kid?" His tone was flabbergasted mixed with his irritation at the idea he was starting to get of Kristal's upbringing.

"Ya don't understand, Billy. I was her little thief, her little cutthroat killer. That's all I've ever been ta her... an' Sam too I guess but he..." she stopped realizing she was saying too much.

Billy's frown deepened, unable to even enjoy the fact that she had said his name again. She had started to open up, to say something he felt might have been important. He waited hoping she'd continue, but she didn't. Damn. What had she been about to say in regards to Sam? "The more I hear 'bout these adopted parents of you'rn, the more I don't like 'em." His sense of wanting to protect her was starting to override his rational thought. He wanted to make them pay. Only problem was, Belle was a woman. But Sam wasn't. Only, he wasn't entirely sure what all Sam might have done.

He truly hoped she would never go back to them. Kristal deserved better. No games? No friends? Rigorous training? How could anyone be so cold? It sounded like they were trying to raise a soldier or some type of cold blooded killer. Nothing more than a slave to their whims. He looked at her now and realized that was exactly how she saw herself too --- a killer, an assassin, a bringer of death. That realization bothered him. That needed to change. He saw so much more in her and he wanted her to see it too.

A sad sigh fell over her lips agreeing with him. "I ain't too fond o' 'em either if I'm bein' honest."

That statement should have surprised him, but it didn't. She had never talked very fondly of either the elder Starrs. And after her admittance of Belle's betrayal, he could tell she was seriously considering an alternative path. He searched her tanned and wind weathered face trying to see past the wall she partially had up. There were cracks and he shook his head wanting to try his luck. "Ya ain't ever gonna go back to 'em are ya?"

Kristal paused, her eyes going to his in the dim light. Blinking, she appeared surprised at the question. "I ain't really thought much 'bout it. I mean we kinda been busy an' I've had other things on m' mind. But... after we're done here... I ain't too sure what I'll do. But if I got a choice, it wouldn't be ta go back ta Belle an' Sam."

"Ya can always stay with me..."

The outlaw's eyes snapped to him. He could see the questioning in them at his slip up. He had blurted it out without thinking. A momentary lapse in judgement, yet he realized how much he really did want her to stay --- with him. After this was over, he didn't want to part ways with her.

Those green jeweled eyes slowly started to widen, when he didn't correct as fast as he probably should have. But, he didn't really want to correct his words. The thought of her staying with him oddly warmed him, setting his very soul on fire. He needed to figure out his feelings and maybe some way to convince her to stay with him.

However, he also didn't want to scare her away. And if he didn't fix his words quickly, he was going to lose her. Clearing his throat, he clarified reluctantly, "I mean all of us."

Now her eyes were narrowing, catching onto his reluctance he was sure of it. Kristal was observant. Maybe even more so than he was. She stared at him a moment longer than was proper. Then again, he doubted she cared a wit about what was proper. Her piercing gaze made him feel a bit uncomfortable, but she finally spoke and he let out a relieved breath.

"Ya don't think y'all are gonna go yer separate ways after all this is said and done?" Yup, she was far too observant. "Chavez wants ta go ta California. Steve'll pro'lly get lost in a whore house. An' Charlie an' Doc... I think they'll wanna settle down... have a family." She made a face at that. "Doc's awful fond o' that China doll. An' Charlie, I think he'll find a girl easy enough. He's a sweet guy. He deserves a good woman ta..." she wrinkled her nose again, "...settle down with."

Billy noticed the face Kristal made when she mentioned settling down and family. It made him wonder what was so wrong with that? Did she feel as he did about being stuck in this unwanted life, the life that the law and people like Murphy had chosen for him? He had to know. "Why the face? Don't that sound nice? Settlin' an' havin' a family?"

This was where he started to lose her. She shook her head and turned away again. She wasn't going to respond, he realized, much to his disappointment. Perhaps he would try again at another time. He was curious to know why she seemed to detest the idea of settling and family. Was it similar to her reasoning of why she didn't believe in love? At this point he realized that he had stopped working on her injuries. His gaze slid to her neck figuring that would be the next wound he should clean. It was pretty bad. "Look up if ya would, Kris?"

To his relief, she did as he requested, but continued to remain silent. His eyes slid over the sliver of red and brown on her neck. The blood was starting to dry and scab over. The sight of it brought on a sense of rage at that renegade again. He didn't like that he hurt her.

Being quick, he dipped the rag into the water, rung out some water and applied it over her neck to soothe it. He was sure it was probably painful. However, as she sat with her neck exposed, unwanted thoughts started to filter his head again. God damn did he want to run his fingers across her delicate flesh! She seemed so vulnerable like this, and a strong sense of wanting to protect her came over him once again. But he also needed to protect her from himself. If he didn't stop the wayward thoughts going through his head, he was bound to do something she might not like.

"So, what did ya do for fun? Or was that forbidden too?" Billy questioned, needing the chatter to keep him focused.

"D'ya hate the silence, or is it jus' me yer oh-so-curious about?" Kristal questioned back.

Thankfully he could see a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. Good, she wasn't so closed off yet. "Maybe a little bit of both." He was more curious about her, but the silence made his thoughts drift. He wasn't about to tell her that though. He dabbed at her cut, curious as to what her answer would be. Or if she would even tell him. Taking a different rag, he poured the whiskey on it and then warned her, "this'll sting." Her nod gave him the approval to press forward and he placed the rag against her throat.

"Shit!" The woman swore, her eyes closing at the stinging sensation that covered her neck. Taking a deep breath, her eyes slid open and she stared up at the dark sky that was slowly lightening with each tick of the minutes passing by. "If ya really wanna know, I read a lot. Fer fun."

"Ya read?" Billy's tone sounded disappointed. "I don't mind the occasional read, but a lot?"

"Don't sound so disgruntled. It passed the time. An' I was able ta live elsewhere in m' mind fer a period o' time. Away from the shit I dealt with. The story could take me anywhere. Least till I was called ta practice, or eat, or work... I liked reading, still do." The fiery female's tone was soft, dreamy, almost sweet. It was a change of pace from her normal gruffness.

"Nah, just surprised I guess. Big time outlaw like you an' I find ya like ta read of all things. Guess I should'a figured. Ya we're always readin' at Tunstall's. I always thought it was strange." He chuckled softly, dabbing at the cut now with the whiskey soaked rag. He wanted to make sure it was all clean before he offered to wrap it up.

"I ain't no big time outlaw. I ain't Belle. Least not yet..." Kristal wrinkled her nose again and smirked. "Readin' was relaxin', it helped take my mind off o' not bein' able ta ride. Tunstall had a good deal many books an' a wide variety o' genres." Her tone had switched to a bitter sadness. "Wish I could'a read more of 'em."

Billy watched her and had to swallow back his own emotion. He missed Tunstall a great deal. The man had been a role model and father figure that he had desperately missed. The loss of John had taken its toll on them all. But Billy took it the hardest. "Yeah... " It was the only thing Billy could think to say. Emotion was often something he tried to hide. "So, what else would ya do for fun? Besides readin'?" Changing the subject seemed the best idea.

Kristal raised a brow and tilted her head to try and look at Billy, but the blond man kept cleaning her wound making it hard to move. With a sigh, she reluctantly answered, "I used ta make friends with the critters. Or, at least I thought they were m' friends. Lookin' back, I think most of 'em wanted ta get as far away from me as they could. But fer a kid with no friends..." She shrugged letting her words trail off. It sounded pathetic and in a way, it kinda was. It was also rather sad to think of her as a child with no real friends to play with or talk to.

"Critters? Really?" Billy chuckled, unable to resist finding that amusing. He tried to envision her surrounded by little animals but couldn't. His mind kept wanting to go elsewhere, the more she exposed that bare neck to him and he was trying to stop it. "Want me to wrap your neck? I got this bandanna ya can use."

Eyeing him out of the corner of her eye, Kristal shrugged, "sure, I guess." Honestly what else was there to use? "An' yes, critters." She pursed her lips and then inhaled sharply as his arms went around her neck, his bare torso coming close to her face. Closing her eyes, she tried to keep her own thoughts off his bare chest. Feeling the need to defend her childhood form of fun, she continued. "What's wrong with that? I used ta find injured little animal's an' nurse 'em back ta health. Had a chipmunk once as a pet, till Belle found out an' panicked. God damn that had been hilarious. Chippy scared the shit outta her —"

"Ya named your chipmunk, Chippy?" There was laughter in Billy's voice as he interrupted her. If the others weren't asleep he probably would have burst out laughing.

"What's wrong with Chippy? I was 'bout eight years old, Bonney. Jus' a damn kid." Feeling the need to add how old she had been, Kristal started to pout a little. He was making fun of her! "I think it's a perfectly good name fer a chipmunk!"

Her defense only made Billy laugh even more. The man knew he needed to calm down in order to finish bandaging her neck as well as not wake up everyone around them. As he was trying to wrap the bandanna around her cleaned wound, warm air blew through her lips tantalizing the hairs on his chest. It sent a shiver through him, one he hoped she didn't notice. "Okay, okay." Billy breathed, chuckling a little to hopefully draw attention away from the fact that she had aroused him. "I'm sorry... continue."

"No, I don't think I'm gonna... if yer gonna make fun," came her stubborn response and she turned her head away from him, eyes still closed.

"I'm sorry... c'mon, Kris. Please." Billy knew he was begging, but he really did want to hear more. Not only should it calm him down, it would continue to keep his attention elsewhere... instead of on... Damn! "I'm enjoyin' the story. Really!" His gaze lowered to find her head tilted away from him and her eyes closed. Baby blues slid down to her lips and he nearly lost himself.

Clearing his throat, he tried again only to see her eyes now open and staring at him. He was sure he saw confusion mixed with curiosity and a little bit of that fire deep in those depths. "Por favor, querida..." He whispered, not above begging to her. He had never begged for anything in his life, but she made him feel, and now, even do things that were unusual for him.

To his surprise, her head jerked to the side and her eyes squeezed shut. And if he didn't know better, by the shock of red blooming over her cheeks, he would assume she was blushing. Well, how the hell had he managed to do that? And how could he do it again? God damn did he want to reach out and make her look at him again. Instead, he just tied off the bandana and lowered himself back onto the rock he was sitting on grateful to have a bit of distance between them again, at least for the moment, so he could clear his head.

The woman opened one eye to look at him before straightening her head and gently touching the bandana. She seemed far more interested in the makeshift bandage than indulging his curiosity. Well fine, he needed to clean her other wounds anyway. His eyes lowered to her chest and he hesitated. The gash there was long, sliding just above her cleavage.

Kristal frowned at the blond's line of sight before realizing that the Indian had slashed her across her collarbone. She tried to look down, but it was painful with the wound at her neck. Seeing Billy's eyes lift back to hers, he silently asked her permission to take care of that wound too. With a sigh, Kris rolled her eyes, "fine..." she breathed relenting to both his pleas.

A grin returned to Billy's face and he again started to rinse the rag in the water bowl before dabbing it at her chest. He held great care to keep his eyes upward and not let them stray down to the curvature of her breasts. He was not a louse. His mother raised him better than that. And yet it was so damn hard. "So, go on..." Billy offered urging her to continue.

"So, anyway... Chippy, scared the shit outta Belle. Ran through the house an' out the front door. Some o' Belle's gang would camp out in front o' her house an' that day there had been about six or so o' the men sleepin' on bedrolls in tents on her property. Chippy ran right over them, as Belle tried shootin' the poor thing dead. She ended up shootin' one o' her men in the ass an' another in the leg." She was chuckling as she recalled the memory which easily brought a smile to Billy's face. "It was chaos. Sam got so mad that his men was bleedin' out from his wife's overreaction. All 'cause of a tiny chipmunk." She didn't bother to add the trouble she had faced after the fact.

"Weren't the only critter I snuck home neither. I found a raccoon kit an' thought I was gonna try an' raise it. I learned m' lesson though when it's angry momma came fer it." She motioned to the scar at her brow and lip, "from the 'coon. It got m' face good. Made me right purdy." She smirked at her own sarcasm.

"It adds character," Billy stated. He wanted to tell her she was quite beautiful, but figured he'd pushed his luck for one evening... Or was it considered morning now?

"Ha! I'm sure it does." Rolling her eyes, she rubbed at her brow absentmindedly "I'm jus' grateful I didn't lose an' eye. As it was, Belle was mad 'bout it fer weeks sayin' if I had ended up half blind she'd a' left me in an alley in Wichita."

"Mother of the damn year," Billy grumbled under his breath. It wasn't often he disliked women, but Kristal's 'mother' happened to be one of them. Though, he did note that she had mentioned Wichita. He wondered when she had been in Kansas. Another thing to question her later.

Those green orbs turned on him again and she raised an arched brow curiously. However, she didn't comment on his sarcastic opinion before continuing. "I liked ta climb things too. Belle said I was fearless." She shrugged, maybe she was in most things. "Tried ta follow a squirrel up a tree once. Made it pretty high. The squirrel didn't like it much though. Belle tol' me I had to get my own ass back down the tree or it was m' new home. She weren't gonna come up after me."

Billy's expression darkened even more. What kind of mother would do that? Then again, Belle wasn't Kristal's birth mother he had to remember. Maybe the woman wanted to keep from having an attachment to Kristal. It was still strange though. How could anyone raise a child and be so cold towards them? Then again, Henry Antrim had treated him terribly too. The blonde's husky voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"Tried ta catch a hawk once. Was stupid o' me too. It was sittin' all pretty in the loft. Right on the ledge. I lunged, it flew off an' I sailed right over the edge. Couldn't even stop m'self. Ended up breakin' my wrist." She held up her left arm, twisting her once injured appendage. "Couldn't practice m' knife throwin' fer weeks after."

"And let me guess, that ol' hag of a mother of your'n, told ya somethin' else condescendin' about ya hurtin' yerself." The man's tone had become darker, more bitter the more he heard how Kristal had been treated.

"Well..." Kristal debated on whether to tell him the truth. His reaction was starting to worry her. She worried at her lip, gently biting it unsure if she should tell him.

Apparently she had picked up on his bitterness towards her mother. He patiently waited, hoping she would continue. To his relief, she did.

"Belle swore if I broke m' wrist again, she'd break the other an' still make me practice all my knife an' gun skills." Kristal shrugged trying to act like it was no big deal. And to Kristal, who had become used to the way things were, it really was no big deal. "Pain's a powerful motivation, or so Belle likes to say."

"Course she did," Billy spat darkly. He wanted to question her more about her upbringing, but he knew she was already close to putting her walls back up. It didn't make him any less angry at how she had been brought up though. "She sounds like a real piece of work. I'm sorry ya had ta go through all that, Kris. Ya didn't deserve it."

The apology drew her gaze back to him and she pressed her lips together. The expression on her face revealed so much and yet so little that Billy couldn't tell what exactly she was thinking. But he worried that she thought the opposite of what he said. Did she think she deserved that sort of abuse?

Shaking her head, she didn't respond but merely dropped it altogether. "Anyway, those were m' forms o' fun."

The blond sat there staring at her. He knew she wouldn't respond to his sympathy towards her, but it still bothered him. Looking into her eyes he wondered what else she had gone through that he didn't know about. Kristal Starr was so damn tough, hard headed and strong. He couldn't picture her bowing down to those forms of abuse, but then again she had been young, right?

Scratching at his jaw, he remembered her cut along her cheek. He had just finished cleaning her collarbone and his eyes trailed to her cheek. "So, no hide 'n go seek or jacks or marbles or nothin'? Sounds like ya got some learnin' ta do." He was smiling again as he took the rag with the smelly water on it. Reaching up, he gently held her chin between his thumb and forefinger. "Turn your head to the right a little." She did as requested and he began to blot the rag against her cheek.

Unable to move her head, Kristal's eyes snapped to him. "I don't think so, Bonney. I never learned... it ain't no big deal." She blew through her lips in a wistful sigh, "I ain't a kid no more. I ain't gotta learn nothin'."

"We should all still have a little kid in us." Billy was now grinning at her. He was even closer to her face now and he could see the firelight dancing in her eyes. In the dim light, her irises were a deep forest green, but occasionally, the fire caught the golden highlights in her eyes. No wonder her eyes often seemed to spark with fire. "An' I say I'm gonna teach ya. It'll be fun."

"Honestly, I'm perfectly fine not knowin', Bonney." Kristal was trying to protest but Billy wasn't going to have any of it. He was determined to get her to play at least one game. And maybe, if she liked it, she'd want to learn more.

"Do this for me an' we'll keep from headin' to Lincoln. We can go to Fort Sumner and lay low for a little while. Figure out what we're gonna do next." His fingers were still holding the rag at her cheek, his other hand still holding her chin steady. "Por favor mi Querida."

Somehow her eyes ended up locked with his baby blues. No matter how hard Kristal tried, she couldn't pull away. It made her a little flustered, "I-I dunno, Billy."

His name echoing off her lips sent a thrill through him again. "Jus' one game, Querida. It will be fun. I promise." Billy refused to let go of her attention. He was transfixed. Breathing became shallow as he drew closer to her. He wanted to kiss her so terribly bad. Just one kiss. Surely that wouldn't be so bad. Would it?

The blond held her there, their gaze unbreakable. He was so close now. Just inches away from pressing his lips against hers. He had dreamed of her kiss since their accidental lip lock months ago. Before, he just wanted to kiss her again to bring back that fiery demeanor he loved to spark, but now, it was different. Now something stirred inside him. He was pretty damn sure he had grown feelings for this hellfire woman. He didn't know how or when, but he was sure his heart was drawn to her. And now, he wanted nothing more than to feel her lips against his.

Something shifted, he could feel her move before she suddenly stood, her brows furrowed as she looked down at him. "I uh... think I'm good. I'm gonna head ta bed. I'm exhausted."

Everything shattered inside him as he stared up at her. His mind screamed at him that he had pushed his luck too far. Nodding, he mentally chastised himself. He was worried now, and for good reason. However, he wasn't about to let her get away without answering him. "Wait, ya didn't answer me."

The outlaw paused, about to walk away. "I dunno Bonney..." she shook her head, but refused to look at him again. "Which game?"

"We'll do an easy but fun one. It's one of my favorites. Hide'n go seek?!" Even though she had pulled away, he wasnt going to let this moment go just yet. "One hides and the other seeks."

Kristal appeared thoughtful, "yeah?" The game somewhat appealed to her. "I dunno. Like I said... maybe... might be fun..."

The smile lighting Billy's face quickly dimmed. His lips curled into a disappointed pout. "I don't like I dunnos and maybes. They're too unlikely to happen."

To Billy's surprise Kristal gave a soft chuckle. "Fine," she drawled slowly. "We'll play yer game. An' we can even bet on who's gonna win." A playful tone had edged her words and it excited him.

The boy liked the sound of that. Two games in one. Hell, he liked this woman even more. He knew she was a lot more fun than she made herself out to be. "Deal. I do love a good gamble." He gave a quiet chuckle, "don't be too disappointed when I win."

A brow rose as Kristal watched him. Those words were very similar to the ones he spoke when they had first met. "So ya've tol' me before. When I threatened ta beat yer ass."

"I remember that," Billy said grinning. "Instead of wrestlin', we can do this instead. 'Specially since you an' I both know I could never purposely hurt ya."

Rolling her eyes, Billy was surprised to see her also smiling, "so be it. We can play this kids game when we get ta Fort Sumner."

"Sounds good to me. I'll hold ya to it ya know?" Billy whispered out to her.

"Ya do that." She again chuckled and started to turn to leave.

"Wait, we didn't get to your leg." He could see the bloody gash in the fire light and frowned.

"It's fine. I cleaned it some before, when I was gathering the water in the bowl. Ain't nothin' ta worry 'bout." Waving a hand of dismissal, she gave him a small but grateful smile, "thanks for... all these." She motioned to her cleaned and bandaged wounds, fidgeting with the bandana at her neck a little. "Night, Bonney," Kristal tried again, turning to head over to her bedroll on the other side of the fire.

Billy still didn't want her to leave just yet. He was enjoying their quiet chat, even if it was around six in the morning. "Ya know, Kris..." he quietly called out to stop her again, "I didn't think ya could impress me anymore'n ya already have. But ya did t'night. I can't believe ya were willin' ta give up everything fer Doc an' I." He rubbed the back of his neck a little, being open and honest with her. "I'm glad ta have ya on our side, watchin' our backs."

Pausing mid stride, Kristal's brows furrowed a little, touched by his words. Her smile grew just a little more before she nodded, "who else is gonna keep yer asses safe?" She teased a sly smirk working over her face before it softened, "I'm glad ta be here too, Bonney." She paused a moment longer, and her head tilted to look back at him, "an'... I'm glad ta know that y'all have m' back too." She gave him a wink and a smirk adding, "even if it did take longer'n it should have." Kristal lingered a moment longer before nodding her head to him and walking over to her side of the fire.

Billy watched her walk away, unable to take his eyes off her retreating figure. He didn't even turn when she lowered herself onto her bedroll and laid down. Why the hell did she intigue him so? And why did he find himself wanting to make her his? That was what really shocked him – that he was strangely but completely attracted to her. And it wasn't just because she was quite striking. It was her wit, her tenacity, her fire that made him want her. He had women before. Whores, like all the boys in their group had. But they were no strings attached kind of gals. A good time, nothing more. But now, staring at Kristal's relaxed shadowed form, he was struck by this new problem at hand. How could he get her to like him as more than just a friend? Hell, he supposed he needed to get her to like him as a friend first.

This was going to be a challenge. The corner of his lips went up in an excited smirk. He loved a challenge. This was going to be fun.