His face was a myriad of bruises-old and new. And his cheeks were sunken and sallow. Like a cornered animal, his fear-filled eyes darted from side to side as he looked for a means of escape. She was sure he hadn't seen the sun for days and a good meal for longer than that.

"James," she whispered, the lump in her throat making speech painful."It is me."She sniffed and hot tears streamed down her cheeks, tiny wisps of fog rising from each wet trail."See?"Tenderly, she ran her thumb across his trembling cheek."I'm not a ghost." Her voice broke, but she pressed on."I'm your sister."

Something clicked behind his eyes and she could see the dawning of recognition spark there. She opened her mouth to say more when she heard Milo fast approaching.

"Who's there?" the man called out through the fog, his wooden leg and the shovel he was using as a walking stick thumping loudly against the ground as he moved closer and closer.

Ginny pushed herself to her feet, wincing when she leaned on her thigh and lifting her brother up along with her."We've got to go, James. Right now."

He stared at Ginny, still not convinced that she was real."Bu-but the orphanage said-"

Ginny let out a frustrated breath."They lied. This has all been a lie. C'mon," she began tugging hard on his sleeve."We need to go now!" The words unerringly reminded her of Lewis and the train out of Talking Rock. She was determined that this would go better and was about to simply scoop him up and carry him off when Milo exploded out of the mist, not five feet in front of her, catching James between them.

The man glared at Ginny for a moment, trying to place where he'd seen her before. There was something different about her now...the men's clothes."You're that bitch from Smokey's," he finally accused, his face twisting as the fuzzy memory came into focus.

James bristled at Milo's hateful words. Even if Ginny was a ghost, nobody should talk to his sister that way. "She is not, you bast-" His words were cut off when Ginny wrapped her arm around him and pulled him behind her as she stepped forward, putting herself between James and Milo.

"We spoke this afternoon, Mr. Porter," she said evenly, hoping to forestall the inevitable until she could get James out of there. A direct confrontation wasn't what she'd wanted, but now that she had no choice, an eerie sense of resolution flooded her, leaving her more confident than she'd felt when she first walked into the graveyard. She could do this. She had to do this."I told you I was here for my brother." Her voiced deepened and took on a menacing edge James had never heard before."I meant it."

Unaccountably, Milo laughed a grisly laugh, harsh and low."I can see that, girlie."He lifted the shovel in his hands a little, making sure she saw it."But that's not going to happen. He's mine, bought and paid for."

Unflinching, their eyes met and held "James," Ginny said after a handful of charged seconds, "go out the front gates. There's a buggy waiting there for us. Get in the buggy and if I'm not there in one minute, you drive it into town. I'll find you."

He clutched her coat as his voice rose in panic. "Ginny?"

"Don't you move, boy!" Milo rasped, pointing an angry finger at what little bit of James wasn't hiding behind Ginny."She is not the boss of you."

Ginny reached around and patted James' hand, then gently pried his cold fingers from her woolen coat."You go now. I'll be right there."It was a lie, and they both knew it. She was going to make sure Milo couldn't follow him out of the graveyard. There was only one way to do that.

The boy took a tentative step away from his sister, stopping when he saw the indescribable look on Milo's face. To James he looked like a demon, surrounded by thick fog and bathed by moonlight.

"One more step, boy, and you won't be able to move for a month when I'm through with you," Milo warned darkly, his eyes flashing with rage.

Slowly, James turned his head. He didn't know what to do and he looked at Ginny in question.

She gave him a watery smile and brief nod."It'll be okay, James. I'll make it that way." And this time I won't mess it up. "Go. "

All hell broke loose.

As James took a giant step to run away, Milo roared and lunged towards the boy. Ginny surged forward to intercept him and at the same moment, another figure burst from the shadows, startling them all.

James screamed, his feet glued to the ground as he watched in confused horror.

Milo crashed against Ginny. When she moved away, his body just kept on falling, until he dropped limply to the ground. When he fell away, Ginny could see a very drained-looking, disheveled Lindsay standing behind him, the rock that Ginny had dropped earlier clutched tightly in her hand and dripping crimson blood.

Ginny blinked a few times and her mouth dropped open."Lindsay?"Without thought, she jumped over Milo's fallen body and propelled herself into her best friend's waiting arms.

Lindsay pressed her face to Ginny's chilled cheek and closed her eyes, rocking her slowly."It's me," she whispered, greedily drinking in their closeness with a sense of relief and contentment so profound she felt it all the way to her toes."Didn't think you'd get rid of me so easily, did you?" She closed her eyes and tightened her hold on Ginny, who was rapidly progressing from crying to sobbing."And you say I get into trouble?" she teased weakly. She pressed her lips to Ginny's ear, first softly kissing it, then begging in a whisper so low Ginny barely heard it. "Please don't cry. I hate it when you cry."Though her own eyes glinted with unshed tears.

Ginny pulled back to look at Lindsay, but kept hold of her coat, not daring to let her go. "I knew you'd find me." She looked her up and down, assuring herself of Lindsay's presence."But I still can't believe you're here."She pressed her palm to Lindsay's cheek. When the darker woman leaned into the touch with a sense of longing and happiness written all over her face, Ginny's mouth erupted into a genuine, if tired, grin.

Milo began to stir and James picked up the shovel at his feet. He studied the man's face for a long second, his hands flexing against the wooden handle. With effort, he lifted the shovel high over his head, intent on crushing Milo's worthless skull. He closed his eyes and swung with all his might....

Only to have the tool stopped in mid-swing by Lindsay's iron grip."No."She licked her lips as she quickly pulled the shovel from James' hands. She purposely didn't look at Ginny."I'll do it."

He didn't know who this woman in trousers was, but one look at the determined set of her jaw and the fierceness in her eyes, and he knew she meant what she said. He shrank back, ready to let her finish off Milo, but still too faint at heart to watch it.

Ginny's eyes went round."Lindsay?"

Lindsay raised the shovel high into the night sky, heaving as she twisted the tool in her hands, turning the shovel's sharp head into an axe with her intent. The blade sang through the air as she put her back into her downward motion.

"Lindsay, no!"Ginny reached out, trying to stop her, but it was too late.

The sound of the strike rang out into the night, causing both Ginny and James to jump."Lindsay...uhhh...." Ginny nearly fainted with relief when she realized that Lindsay hadn't chopped the man's head clean off, though a big part of her wasn't sure she could have blamed her if she had.

Milo moaned just as Lindsay began prying the deeply embedded shovel blade out of his wooden leg.

Just as he woke up, Ginny threw her body across his to pin him down."Again!" she blurted, and Lindsay swung, this time severing the pegged leg at the knee.

Disoriented, Milo began to thrash and scream, and James literally dragged Ginny off him before he could figure out what they'd done.

Lindsay distracted the tall man by throwing the shovel hard against his chest.

"Uff."The wind was forced from his lungs and he wheezed raggedly.

She dropped to the ground and used her feet to give him a strong push that rolled him right into the half-dug grave, his body landing with a muffled thump."It's not nice to hit women and little boys," Lindsay hissed as she stood.

Ginny's stomach clenched and she spoke over Milo's enraged, half-coherent cursing "You're not going to-" She glanced at the grave, then back at the shovel in Lindsay's hand.

Lindsay tossed the shovel aside and shook her head."I might be a bitch, but I'm not crazy."

Her companion gave her a stern look."You are not a... you know, Lindsay Killian."

Ginny's eyes spoke volumes, and Lindsay smiled back at her, hoping hers did as well.

Ginny shook her head in amazement."How?"

Lindsay held up her hand."I'll tell you once we get out of here."

Ginny nodded. There would be time for explanations and a more private reunion later. Right now she needed to see to a very frightened little boy. She reached out for James and he flinched away from her touch. She blinked."Wh...?Honey, what's the matter? Milo is loud," she gestured vaguely to the grave containing the cursing man, "but he can't come after us now. It's just me. I-"

James' face was a mixture of anger, hurt, and fear."I'm going to the gates." And with another word he disappeared into the fog.

Lindsay grasped Ginny's hand and squeezed. They looked at each other, then turned and ran after him, neither one willing to let go of her grip on the other.

"Lindsay," Ginny panted as they jogged towards what they hoped was the dirt path that led to the gates. Lindsay nearly tripped and Ginny pulled her back upright with their linked hands.

"Thanks. What?"

"Don't even think of getting out of my sight for a good long while."

Lindsay smiled."I love you, too."

Chapter Fourteen.

The buggy ride back was a mostly quiet one, with James sitting next to Lindsay rather than Ginny and refusing to even acknowledge his sister's presence. The lantern had been forgotten at the graveyard, so the ride through the fog was slow, dragging out the painful silence.

This was not the reunion Ginny had longed for. But I found him, she told herself as she guided the wagon up the long winding drive that led to Edith and Trudy's Antebellum homeland he's alive and okay. She spared a glance sideways at her brother's pale face. She let out a heartfelt sigh. At least mostly.

Lindsay wrapped her hand around Ginny's, feeling the reins tangle with her fingers. She leaned sideways and bumped shoulders with the younger woman."It's gonna be all right," she whispered. Ginny nodded, but Lindsay could see her heart wasn't in it. A change of subject was in order."So," she began, "where are we going?"She received a gentle squeeze of her hand as thanks.

"We're going to Edith Pigg's house."

Lindsay snorted, drawing a surprised burst of laughter from Ginny.

"God, Lindsay, that's the same reaction Lewis had."Her gaze turned fond."I should have known you'd do the same thing."

James' head shot up at the mention of his brother's name. He licked his lips, trying to sound casual, but failing miserably."Lewis is here?"

Ginny bit back a smile, at least that much she'd done right."He sure is. We found him and brought him with us." She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts."We've been looking for you for weeks. For all of you."

We? James was dying to ask, but held his tongue. He wouldn't give her the satisfaction of talking to her. Not after she'd left them and allowed them be sent away and ripped apart.

Ginny waited patiently, seeing the question on his lips. He never voiced it and she felt her irritation rising along with the pain that was twisting her guts into knots. If she'd learned one thing from the fire that nearly destroyed their family it was that time was fleeting and sometimes there were no second chances. Never again would she allow things to go unsaid to the people she loved.

"Whoa."She pulled the horse to a stop so she could focus on her brother. Lindsay sat back a little so Ginny could easily look across her.

James squirmed under Ginny's serious stare, but didn't dare look away.

"I know you're mad at me, James," she began softly."And I know you don't understand what happened or where I went after the fire. I'll explain it all. But for now you have to know that I didn't leave you on purpose." She swallowed convulsively."I wouldn't do that."

Tears filled his eyes, but he stubbornly refused to let them fall.

Lindsay watched the battle of two strong wills, knowing who would win eventually but equally sure that that victory wasn't going to happen tonight. She knew what James was feeling all too well. No sweet words, no matter how heartfelt or even true, would fix that.

Ginny pressed on."I'm doing my best to put us back together again, James."A heavy weight settled on her chest. She could see that he either didn't believe her or didn't care. She couldn't tell which. "I love you and I'm so sorry that all this happened," she said quietly, turning back towards the big gelding and giving the reins a firm snap.

The wagon jerked forward, and Ginny's thoughts turned inward. Time, that's what they all needed, she decided. Time to heal. Time to forgive. And time to look forward and face the future with more anticipation than fear.

James barely held himself in check. The emotions inside him were churning wildly, and he didn't know whether to scream or run and hide. He was furious, and hurt had piled upon hurt until he didn't think he could hurt anymore. After several minutes, he finally mustered a noncommittal, "Oh."

Even in the dim light Ginny could see the dirty creases on his forehead ease and hear the creaking of the seat as he relaxed a little against it, unconsciously responding to his big sister's comforting words. It was a small victory and one she greedily grabbed hold of with both hands.

The silence between them thickened again, but it was less tense than before. Suddenly, Lindsay tapped James on the arm and stuck out her hand."I'm Ginny's friend, String Bean. Pleasure to meet you."

Ginny eyes widened. Hadn't she introduced them? rap."Sorry," she muttered sheepishly.

The boy blinked a few times, startled by Lindsay's voice; the stranger hadn't done more than whisper to Ginny once or twice since they'd left the graveyard. He reluctantly reached out and shook her much bigger hand. James studied her curiously, wondering who she was and why Ginny seemed to be stuck to her like glue, and mostly why she was here at all. Finally, he made a face, deciding that the vegetable nickname was stupid."She," he jerked a thumb at his sister, "doesn't call you that... String Bean, I mean. She calls you Lindsay. I heard her."

Lindsay shrugged lightly."I know. But that doesn't mean you have toxin fact, only two special people in the entire world call me Lindsay."

Special people?"What does Lewis call you?" he asked skeptically.

"Lindsay, of course. But we're good friends."She smiled inwardly at James' instant frown."'Course, you could be a good friend, too... if you wanted."She kept her voice light and her eyes fixed straight ahead. The fog was beginning to thin and she thought she saw the outline of a large house up ahead.

James bit his lower lip, not liking the idea that Lewis was a "special" person and he wasn't. And this woman had clobbered Milo and hacked off his leg, which was, in James' estimation, better than his birthday and Christmas all rolled into one. "I um... well, I guess I could call you Lindsay, too. I mean, if that's what Lewis does."

Lindsay glanced down and gave him a brilliant smile, charming the small boy before Ginny's eyes. She understood completely how he felt and only barely managed to clamp down on the impulse to stop the buggy and give Lindsay a big, sloppy kiss.

"Great!" Lindsay clasped James' knee."You can't have too many friends."

They were silent for a few moments while Ginny pulled the buggy around to the back of the house and into the open door of the stable. A lantern mounted to the door had been lit, awaiting her return."So Ginny is your special friend, too, right?" he asked as he jumped down from his seat.

Lindsay blinked innocently at Ginny, who looked as though she'd swallowed her tongue. She let go of the redhead's hand and patted her back as Ginny choked, shaking the entire buggy."James," Lindsay laughed, ignoring the sting it caused her sore throat. "That's exactly what she is."

Lewis had been waiting up for them in the parlor, and every bit of warmth and joy that his reunion with Ginny had lacked was made up for by the welcome he got from Lewis. The two boys hugged and laughed and punched each other relentlessly, but gently, when the hugging grew too embarrassing.

Edith and Trudy had left water heating for a bath, reasoning that any boy who'd been living with Milo Porter would need one before toddling off to bed. After a long soak, James was too tired to fight Ginny when she dried him off and carried him to bed.

Ginny finally saw a genuine smile stretch across James' face and a little bit of her heart was put at ease by the sight. She tucked both boys into bed in one of the spare bedrooms provided by their hosts and kissed them each on the cheek before saying goodnight. She was delighted when James allowed the gesture of affection and didn't miss Lewis' sleepy wink. She had a co-conspirator in that boy and she was certain he'd work on his broody brother. Ginny smiled to herself when she heard James whisper to Lewis about her new short hair and her odd clothes. She lifted the lamp from the dresser and used it to guide her down the long, dark hallway.

She could see the outline of Lindsay's lanky profile in the shadows, leaning heavily against the wall at the end of the hall. Ginny smiled unconsciously at the sight."You wouldn't believe how much I've missed you," she said when she drew even with the other woman.

"Sure I would," Lindsay whispered, her lips curling into an answering grin.

Ginny lifted her hand and traced Lindsay's face. Dark circles surrounded tired eyes and she imagined that at this point she didn't look much better herself. Her fingers trailed down the silky skin of Lindsay's cheek, stopping at her chin when they traced over something rough. Thinking it was a smudge of mud, she tried to wipe it away with her thumb.

Lindsay sucked in a breath through clenched teeth. Jon Barguest had given the wound three tiny stitches and the skin was still tender.

"Oh, God. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt-" Ginny lifted the lamp higher, finding a small, but deep cut in the shape of a tiny 'C' on Lindsay's chin. Her eyes searched Lindsay's desperately."What happened to you? Are you okay? Really?"

Lindsay's gaze softened and she threaded her hand in thick red hair and gently tugged Ginny's head forward, brushing her mouth against warm, inviting lips."I am now," she breathed, pressing her forehead to Ginny's.

"Me too. When are you going to tell me? What-?"Ginny frowned and pulled away, replacing her forehead with her hand."You have a fever," she accused in a voice laced with worry."I was afraid of this." And I love you to death and can't stand the idea of you being ill.

"I think I'm catching a cold."

Ginny let out an unhappy breath."Probably," she said, the words sounding curt when really she was worried. She grasped Lindsay's chilled hand and threaded their fingers together, guiding the other woman towards the room that had been set aside for her."Let's get you to bed then."

Lindsay smirked."Shouldn't I get cleaned up first, too?"

Ginny stopped and turned to face her. She sniffed the air, her nose wrinkling in pure reaction. "I didn't want to say anything. But now that you mention it...."