Severl Hours Later

Giving another quick hug to Hunter Katie waits for him to get out of the way before getting in her car. Rolling her window down a little bit Katie gives a wave before pulling down the driveway. Getting to the end she gives the horn a few quick honks it was her goodbye to everyone at the ranch. She really was going to miss it. Wiping a silent tear away she had to focus. It would sever hours before she was home and she needed to stay alert...

Listing to Justin Beth gives a nod listing about his day. It sounded like he had a rough one and she felt bad. She'd suggested a nice relaxing mean in tonight instead of going out. She hadn't been out to dinner since the night of the hold up. She felt bad and upset with herself but she couldn't help the small twinge of fear that ran though she when she thought about it too.

   "From what you've told me I feel really bad for that girl. Not knowing your parents is hard, but knowing one is still alive and not being able to see them has to be even harder."

About to say more and being cut off by Justin's phone Beth gives a nod. She understood he was always on call for his job and wouldn't be upset he had to take the call. Taking a bit of her salad she just waits.

Doing her best to not listin into the conversation it was hard seeing as Justin's voice was raised. As he comes back into the she cocks her head a little bit watching him. Seeing the stress on his face she felt bad and his words that followed made her feel worse for him. Justin was always so confidante it was hard to see him like this.

   "Justin, your doing all you can to help. Don't give up on her yet, it sound like you have built a good friendship with her and right now...she doesn't need to lose anyone else. You keep doing your best and the rest will come."

....Several house later...

Hey Hun, made it home ok. It's odd being here, and noisy but quiet at the same time. Gonna see about getting some dinner. How are you doing?

 Katie was unpacked, her text message to Hunter sent and now looking through the fridge. There wasn't much food in there but it made sense. Ryder and Thirteen were the only one that had been at the house so why would it be loaded with good? And with Ryder's working time she was sure Thirteen met him at the zoo lots. The house was empty now and she guess thats where they both were. Katie was hungry and tired so cooking what was there just didn't seem to exciting. Maybe some late night pizza would do the trick. Anyways she wanted to let Carson know she was back and doing well.

Pulling up to the outside a few moments later Katie gets out of her car and heads to the door stepping inside. Stopping and looking around she was a bit surprised. Carson and Misty sure were busy changing things around but it really looked nice on the inside. Sometimes change was good. 

Heading to the counter Katie sits down on one of the doors giving a smile at Carson before giving a little bang on the counter to get his attachen.

   "Hey, whats it take to get some service around here?"

Man for the job

Hunter's smile widens. "Okay. I'll be back as soon as Angel says I can straddle my bike." 

His thumb runs along her cheek and down her jawline before gliding across her lips. "You're even beautiful in the dark," he whispers. 

As she leans up for a kiss, his arms slide around her again and he lets the kiss deepen with passion until eventually she pulls herself  away. Even though he could stay here forever, he knew she had to get going or she'd never make it home. He wasn't sure why this goodbye felt like more than it really was. He'd be home in a couple weeks. But perhaps, way deep down, Hunter knew she'd be seeing Jason again and... maybe even further deep down, despite all that had happened, there was just a slight bit of apprehension. He trusted Katie, no doubt. But he also knew that they'd grown very close - here at the ranch. Not back in Nevada where both of them had obstacles to face. And truth he told, he really didn't know what the future held for them.

 "Alright..." He gives her one last smile. "Bye, Katie. Be safe." Retrieving his crutches again, he backs out of the way so she can get in her car.  

"...so yeah, it's been kind of a tough day." Justin nibbles on his salad, seated across from Beth at her kitchen table while they ate supper. He couldn't tell her details about the day's events, but he had loosely given her the short version, owing her an explanation for starting their date night late. Supper and movie at her apartment was all it was, but Justin enjoyed the simpler things the best, and he thought Beth did too. He would have had her over to his own place, but he never did like it when she had to drive an hour back home late at night.

They hadn't yet been out to a restaurant since the robbery, which concerned Justin a little bit, but he was keeping a close eye on Beth and giving her the time she needed. She'd been a little withdrawn since the whole incident, but he'd opted for silent patience rather than trying to intentionally work on it with her - he'd failed miserably at that once before and wasn't going to risk it again, especially now that they were in a relationship.

"But now..." He slides his hand across the table to meet hers and he smiles. "It's just you and me, and-"

He's promptly cut off by his cell phone ringing in his pocket. Withdrawing to sit up straight, he smirks and rolls his eyes. "Ya know..." He shakes his head and pulls out his phone, ready to ignore the call. But when he sees it's Ken, he looks to Beth apologetically. "I'm so sorry, but I'm gonna have to take this. Just give me a minute."

Standing up, he heads into the living room before answering. "Yeah, Ken?"

"Hi, Justin. I'm sorry to bother you again today, but... well, Jeanette and I have been talking and... I needed to let you know that we've decided to try a different route with Mackenzie."

Justin tenses. He didn't like the sound of that and he starts to pace. "What kind of route?"

"Clover Girl's School." 

"What?!" Justin couldn't help his shock. It sounded simply like a fancy private school but in reality, it was a year-around school for troubled girls. "Mackenzie doesn't belong in a place like that!"

"I'm sorry, Justin, but we agreed if things with you didn't work out, my wife and I would find something else. Today was just proof that nothing has changed. We can't handle Mackenzie anymore and she obviously needs more help than any of us can give her. I will-"

"Do you know the kinds of girls they have there?" Justin interrupts. He could feel his desperation rising. Not for the sake of his job, but for the sake of Mackenzie's well being. "They take in girls who steal, vandalize, already have juvenile records... A number of them are pregnant and most of them are physically violent! Do you really want to throw Mackenzie into that?!"

"Look, we just got off the phone with the administrator and she assured us that it's quite safe. When we described Mackenzie's problems, she was very encouraging that the school could help her."

"So can her family!" By now, Justin had forgotten that Beth was in the next room. "Please don't do this, Ken."

"I'm sorry, but you really don't have a say in this." 

"No, I don't. But sending your daughter to a place like that will only result in two things. One, she will worsen to the point of them taking much firmer action that you would like. And two, they will break her, and when she comes out she'll be well-behaved alright, but her life will be gone."

Ken sighs deeply. "I knew you probably wouldn't agree, but-"

"I can only strongly advise against it as her counselor. I think it would be a very big mistake."

"But you saw what she did today! There has been no improvement since she started seeing you." 

Justin cringes as he continues to pace. He'd been doing the best he could. Was he just not good enough? Maybe not. But he knew in the depths of his heart that sending the girl away to that school would be the worst mistake. "Things like this take time, Ken, we've talked about this. And there has been a change in Mackenzie. It may be slow, but you know that she has improved in small areas."

"I just don't know how much more our family can take. All of us are suffering and it's come to the point that something needs to change." 

"I'll keep working with her for free." Justin never offered something like that, but he felt so strongly about this, that he was willing to do just about anything. "Please... just give me a chance." His tone had softened. "Mackenzie is a very special girl. Please don't put her through this. She needs her family and she desperately needs your love. Don't take that away from her."

There's a very long pause until Ken finally responds again. "Okay... you win. I just hope you're right." 

"I'm going to keep doing the very best I can, and I even have some ideas that I want to talk over with you sometime soon."

It was only a couple minutes before the call was finally over and Justin trudges back into the kitchen. Sitting down once more, he knows that Beth surely heard his end of the conversation. He stares at his plate for several seconds before sighing deeply. "If I can't help this girl, Beth..." He closes his eyes, the tension in his veins still high. Setting his elbows on the table, he rests his forehead on his hands. He knew he took some cases too personally but he couldn't help it. "I've got to... I just don't know anymore if I'm really the man for the job."

Extra

Leaning against Hunter just a little bit but not enough to hurt his knee Katie keeps her head nuzzled into him for a long moment. It was early but if she wanted to get home and settled before Monday early was the price she would have to pay even if she wanted to stick around for longer. 

She went to the dinning hall where she'd said goodbye with her dad happy that this morning he was able to get up earlier than normal. Even if it was a little selfish she wouldn't have been able to leave without that. A few other people she'd said goodbye to as well along with her friends from Nevada last night. Now it was Hunter's turn and it was hard. Two weeks felt like years.

   "I promise not to drive like you. You're the speed demon not me."

Finally pulling away a little bit so she could look up into his eyes she study's them for a long moment. Letting the noises around them just continue and listing to the quiet song. She'd been here for a while now and she new getting back to Nevada she was going to have to get use to the noise all over again and on top of that not being able to see Hunter when she wanted as well.

   "You take care of yourself too ok? Rest, don't do to much and let that knee heal. I don't want to get any calls from you saying you have to stay and extra week ok?"

Moving a little bit to reach Hunter's lips Katie presses her against his. Just letting it linger for quite some time Katie new not many more people were are and if they were it was ok. She was going to be without Hunter for a little bit so she had to get her fill in while she could. Finally breaking away she gives a small smile taking his hand in her own and holding it for a second.

   "I guess I better get going...I'll see you again soon, ok?"

   "Eh, work will come with time. Just get the shed cleaned out, get settled and than look for work. I'm in no hurry for you to start paying me. I know in time you will."

Taking another spoon full of ice cream Misty lets out a small sigh too. She really didn't mind Alec wasn't working and was helping around the house. With how much she was working, and the baby taking most of her energy it was just nice to have someone around who was helping with the small things that just seemed to be to much. 

    "I have to admit I've liked having you around more than normal to get to the odd jobs that I guess don't get too. If it wasn't for you they would probley never get done."

Misty gives a laugh before taking another scoop of ice cream. She had to text Jason soon and let him know where she disapeared too. If he'd went looking for her and Rick delivered the message to him he might be worried. She finish a few more scoops of ice cream and than text him. 

A week or two

There had almost been a moment. Almost. Rosalyn sighs. This afternoon really had been their last time to be close. But - at least she had Chad for a little while to herself now, even if it was just while they washed dishes. 

Smiling, she shakes her head and rejoins him at the sink. "Me take advantage? Nobody would believe that." She gives him a hip bump to scoot him back over to the drying side of the sink. 

It would take just a little while to finish up cleaning the dishes... twice... along with wiping down the counters, sweeping the floor and anything else Rosalyn could think of to extend their time in the kitchen. Eventually though, there just wasn't anything more to do, and she was being summoned, quite loudly, by her brother to join the card game out in the dining room. She had a feeling that he just wanted to make sure she wasn't spending too much time alone with Chad in here, but she supposed that was her brother's right to look out for her, as long as he wasn't too much of a pain. 

So a card game it was, and when it was over, goodnights were said. Rosalyn is able to give Chad a glance and a small smile, but that was it. She knew he'd be leaving tomorrow after church. There was little chance of getting him alone before then, but this would simply have to do. So with a little wave, she leaves the dining hall and heads home. 

It wasn't anywhere near sunrise when the first people stir though. The stars were still out, the sky a dark shade of gray, accompanied by a cool early-morning breeze. The crickets still sang their songs and horses in the nearby pasture drifted between grazing and sleeping. 

Hunter leans back on Katie's car so he doesn't need his crutches, allowing him to wrap both his arms around her in a strong hug. "You drive safely - and don't drive like me." 

He pulls back a little and grins, finding her eyes reflecting the moon like miniature sparkling pools. "And let me know when you're home safe, okay?" His hand moves up so his palm can rest on her cheek. "I'll be right behind you in a week or two." 

Alec listens quietly, feeling badly for Misty. She felt sad for Mackenzie, but for Carson too. Even if it was the own jerk's fault. She still cared. And Alec couldn't blame her for that. He nods a little, but really hasn't much to say. He wished he had some magic words to make her feel better but he knew it was impossible. 

He isn't sure if that's why she changes the subject or not, but he smiles a little. "It's coming. I got most of the stuff cleared out - got a little bit left. Then it'll take a lot of cleaning and the plumbing needs work. I haven't touched the loft yet but I think it's mostly dust and spiderwebs." 

He nods. "I'm.... actually having a bit of fun with it. I know I need to get out next week and start looking for a job though. I was just trying to get this done first so when I didn't have time anymore, it'd be finished."