You?ve simply been injured, almost broken, and it takes some wounds longer to heal than others."Orchid turned her attention to the small, but comforta...le room the pair were in. Carpeted in an easy on the eyes, soothing green, with muted beige walls covered with ethnic African masks and artwork, along with several framed degrees. That took her by surprise, and she looked again to make sure she had seen what she thought she had. "Are these yours?" Moving closer, she noted that they were all. Jeryl grabbed my arm and pulled me away as Richard stepped around them to close the door to the private room. It took a few minutes for the ladies to regain their composure, but finally Cynthia was able to accept a hug from her new grandchildren. By the time Trisha was introduced, Cynthia’s reserved nature was almost restored.We moved to sit down and soon were having almost normal dinner conversation. Jeryl joined Jim, Mom, Kelly and me near one end of the long table while Cynthia, Helen, Janet. “Morning, Davik,” she said with a warm smile. “How are you holding up? You know, with Violet missing?”“As well as can be expected. Once I have my tasks at the bank completed, I am going to grab a pack and go out searching for her. She cannot have gone far in twenty-four hours. I am confident that I should be able to pick up her trail.”“That may prove more difficult than you would think. It seems she got into our stable the night she left and took one of the horses. So, she could very well be. Dan Talbot had just started putting on his guns when there was atapping at the door. He yelled over his shoulder, "It's not locked."A woman stepped in and he recognized the widow Irene Fanning, ThornCaldwell's aunt. This couldn't be a coincidence."Mrs. Fanning. Did you hear about your nephew?"She blinked, amazed at how swiftly terrible news could travel. "Thathe's hurt?" That he's robbed a stage!" He robbed..?"Talbot frowned. "You didn't know?" I know he's been shot!"The peace officer.