(That eye candy up top is supposed to be Isaac. It's Francisco Lachowski in case you were wondering. I don't usually go for the whole Brazilian thing, but he's an exception. Sorry for my fangirling. :D On with the story!)

        Narrator

        Please help her to be okay, Isaac prayed with his head buried in his hands. 

        After Debbie lost consciousness Pa had quickly taken her back to the ranch while Zeb went to fetch a doctor. 

        Ma had slowed the bleeding and tried to clean the wound, but the bullet was still lodged firmly in her shoulder.

        Only Julia, Annie, and Alex were allowed to see Debbie, while Isaac and Henry sat in chairs right outside the door.

        Well, Isaac was sitting. Henry was nervously pacing the floor.

        "What if she doesn't make it?" Henry wrung his hands, "What if I go back to England empty handed?"

        "Stop talking like that!" Isaac stood up and ran a hand through his curls, "She's not even yours! You talk like she's a piece of property, well she isnt'!"

        Henry stopped pacing and looked at Isaac incredulously, "What did you say?"

        "I said stop talking like that," Isaac met Henry's gaze.

        "Did you just talk to me like that?" Henry raised en eyebrow.

        "Yes. It's about time someone talked back to you," Isaac muttered and sat back down, while Henry stood there, with his mouth gaping, looking at Isaac.

        "In here ya say?" A voice came from the entry-way.

        "Yep, just right through here," Zeb appeared with a doctor and showed him into the room.

        "How is she?" Zeb closed the door behind the doctor.

        "She hasn't woken up yet," Isaac shook his head.

        "She'll be okay," Zeb patted Isaac's back.

        "You don't know that," Henry pointed out.

        "Stuff it kid," Zeb shot a glare at Henry that shut him up, "She'll be fine. She's one tough girl," He smiled sadly, "It'll take more than a bullet wound to knock her off."

        Isaac forced a smile on his face, "Yeah."

        Just then a scream came from the room.

        Isaac stood up to go in the room but Zeb held him back, "She'll be fine, just sit down."

        Alex came out of the room, "Isaac, she wants you," His face was grim.

        Isaac was more than ready to enter.

        "Why don't I get to see her?" Henry whined.

        "Because maybe she doesn't wanna see ya," Zeb sneered, "Maybe she likes Isaac better."

        Henry glared at Zeb.

        Another scream came from the room and Isaac hurried to Debbie's side, "Are you okay?"

        Debbie's face glistened with sweat, "Don't leave me."

        The doctor pulled out some tools.

        "Brace yourself Debbie," The doctor fed her something that looked like grass, "Brace your hand, boy."

        Isaac looked down at his hand and realized he was holding Debbie's.

        The doctor started to work on her shoulder and Debbie whimpered and squeezed Isaac's hand.

        Isaac shifted in his seat, he hated to see her in so much pain.

        "Don't leave me, Isaac," Debbie begged; her grip got tighter.

        "I'll never leave your side," Isaac stared into her chocolate eyes.

        She looked somewhat relieved and finally slipped into an unconscious state.

        "What did you give her?" Isaac interrogated the doctor.

        "It was something to help her sleep," The doctor squinted as he micromangeged his tools, "If she makes it through the wound, she should be okay. She has a slight fever that will be unpredictable."

        Isaac let out a deep breath, "So she'll live?"

        "Depends if she makes it through this operation and the fever," The doctor's forehead had beads of sweat.

        "What are the chances?" Isaac looked at Debbie's angelic face. If anyone had to take a bullet why her? He hated himself for not protecting her. 

        "It really depends on if I can get this bullet out or not," The doctor's hand slipped and Debbie cried out in pain.

        Alex

        There was a knock at the front door, "Yes?" Alex called and started walking towards the front door.

        "Is this the J.L. Ranch?" A woman's voice asked.

        A specific voice. A very familiar one.

        "Mother?" Alex ran to the door and flung it open, "Father?"

        "Alex!" The both enveloped him in a hug, "You've grown!" They smiled warmly at him.

        "Mother, Father, there's something you need to know," Alex took a deep breath "Debbie got shot."

        Mother gasped and Father looked alarmed, "Is she alright? Can I see her?" 

        "Follow me," Alex answered and led them to the master bedroom.

        Another cry came from the room and Mother winced before hurrying in.

<><><><><>

        Mother entered the room and scurried over to Debbie "How is she?" She turned to Isaac.

        "I don't know," Isaac looked Mother.

        "My little girl," Her eyes brimmed with tears, "You must be Isaac?" She tried to force a smile on her face.

        "Yes ma'am," Isaac nodded, That must be Alex's mother. She has the same eyes and nose.

        "I got it!" The doctor held a bullet in the air for everyone to see.

        Thank you, God, Isaac breathed a sigh of relief.

        "It looks like her fever has gotten worse though," The doctor shook his head grimly, "If she makes it through tonight she should be fine. But there is that big if."

        "Is there anything we can do?" Isaac looked hopefully at the doctor.

        "You can change her bandage, keep her wound clean, make sure she drinks, and pray. Hard," He smiled.

        "I'll do it," Isaac had a determined face on, "Hear that Deb?" Isaac murmured to Debbie, "You're going to be okay."

        "I'll go put my things away," Mother removed her hat and gloves, "and leave you two alone."

~~~

        "Isaac!" Debbie moaned in her sleep and Isaac held a cold rag to her forehead.

        "Shh," He turned it over after a minute and wrung it out, "I'm right here."

        "Henry don't!" Her fever raged and her breathing was labored.

        "Here's some water," Mother came into the room and held the glass to Debbie's lips.

        Ma came in shortly after carrying an herb mixture, "Here, this will help her breath," She started applying it to Debbie's lower neck and throat.

        "Mother, don't leave me!" Debbie whimpered.

        "I'm here, dear," Mother held Debbie's hand.

        "Isaac, you should get some sleep," Ma told him softly, "You'll function better if you get sleep."

        "I'm fine," Isaac squeezed the bridge between his eyes.

        "Isaac, you need to get some sleep, I'll wake you up if anything happens, okay?" Ma gently rubbed his back.

        "Promise?" He looked at her with vulnerable eyes.

        "I'm promise," She nodded.

        "Okay," Isaac reluctantly gave up his seat, sat down in a chair and before long he fell into a fitful sleep.

        Isaac

         "Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord," Pa closed his Bible, "Debbie was such an encouragement to everyone she met; she was like a beam of sunshine and would brighten everone's day. May she rest in peace."

        Isaac felt like he had already shed ever single tear in his body, apparently not. Silent tears streamed down his face. 

        It seemed unreal. Just a week ago she was racing him. Now she was cold and lifeless in a coffin.

        "She's in a better place," Alex came up behind Isaac and placed a hand on his shoulder.

        "It's all my fault," Isaac's eyes were red and puffy, "I should have protected her."

        "Isaac, you've got to stop," Alex sighed, "It's not your fault, Murdock was the one who shot her, not you. You did all you could."

        The wind rustled the leaves and the sky was turning dark.

        It seemed as if the sky was mourning for Debbie passing as well.

        Isaac dropped onto his knees and stared blankly at her wooden cross, "I'll never forget you, Debbie," Rain drops started falling, masking Isaac's own tears.

        "Isaac," Someone shook his shoulder, "Come inside. Come on, Isaac," They shook his shoulder harder.

        Isaac woke up suddenly in a cold sweat and Ma was shaking his shoulder, "It was just a dream, just a dream," He told himself he was panting heavily and his shirt was drenched in sweat.

        "She wants you," Ma led Isaac into the room.

        Isaac rubbed his eyes, by the looks of it, the sun would be up in less than an hour, How long did I sleep? 

        "I'll go get some more water," Ma left him in the room and closed the door behind herself.

        "Debbie?" He walked over to her and took her cold hand.

        No response.

        "Debbie? Talk to me!" He looked at her motionless body, No, no, no. She has to be alive. She's not dead! 

        "Ma!" Isaac let go of Debbie's hand and opened the door, "Ma come quick!"

        Isaac's heart raced, She can't die!         

        "Do you have to be so loud?" 

        Isaac stopped where he was for a moment. 

        "Debbie?" He whirled around and saw her smiling weakly at him, "Debbie!"

        He ran to her side and scooped her into a bear hug, "Thank you, God."

        Tears of happiness fell, "I thought you were dead."

        "Isaac, kind of tight, can't breath," Debbie coughed.

        "Sorry," Isaac smiled sheepishly and loosened his grip.

        "Isaac? What's wrong?" Ma came rushing into the room along with Mother, "Debbie?" They both rushed to her side and Isaac let her go.

        "I was afraid something bad happened," Ma breathed.

        "I was too," Isaac kept Debbie's hand in his.

        "Mother?" Debbie looked increduously at Mother, "Is that you?" Her eyes widened.

        "Yes dear," Mother smiled, "Father and I got here yesterday."

        "Oh I missed you so much!" Debbie reached out to give Mother a hug. "But why are you here?"

        "Well, it's a long story," Mother had a sad look in her eyes, "I'll tell you and Alex when you're feeling better."

        "But I am better," Debbie batted her eyelashes.        

        "You know what I mean, Debbie," Mother smiled.

        "I'll go fix breakfast," The sun was just beginning coming up and Ma exited the room.

        "I should go help her," Mother winked and left Isaac alone with Debbie.

        "Well," Debbie plopped back down on her pillows, "Yeah-"

        "Don't ever worry me like that again," Isaac interrupted, "You don't know how worried I was," He drew circles on the back of her hand.

        "I'm sorry," Debbie grinned, "It wasn't my fault though."

        "I don't know what I'd do without you," Isaac met Debbie's gaze.

        Debbie's checks turned red and she looked down, "I'm sorry if I scared you."

        "No," He ran a hand through his messy hair, "I'm sorry for not protecting you, if I had kept you closer Murdock might have hit me instead."

        "I'd hate myself if he hit you," Debbie made Isaac look at her, "I'm glad he hit me, he already hurt you once and I'm not about to let that happen again."

        "It won't," Isaac pursed his lips.

        "What?" Debbie furrowed her eyebrows.

        "He's dead," Isaac looked down again, "Zeb shot him."

        "He did?" Debbie's eyes were full of surprise.

        "Yeah," Isaac scratched the back of his neck and avoided her eyes.

        Debbie breathed a sigh of relief, "I'm so glad! I thought for sure he might come after me again," She paused, "What happened to Joe and Lester?"

        "The sheriff took one to the doctor, and the other to prison."

        "I want to talk to the sheriff, Joe and Lester aren't really that bad. But Murdock deserved what was coming to him," Debbie sat up suddenly, then held her head, "Dizzy dizzy dizzy."

        "Are you okay?" Isaac stood up and steadied her, "What's wrong?"

        "I just sat up too fast," She waved him off and smiled, "I'm fine really."

        "You're still not well enough to go prancing down to the sheriff's office," Isaac made her lie back down.

        "Fine," She let out a weak breath, "But I have to go make sure the sheriff doesn't do anything to Joe."

        Debbie sat up slowly.

        "Where are you going?" Isaac frowned.

        Debbie rolled her eyes, "I'm going to the outhouse," She smirked, "You are so overprotective, Isaac."

        Isaac turned red, "Debbie," His tone was serious and Debbie gave him all of her attention, "When you got shot, I knew I couldn't live without you, and maybe it's too soon for you, but I'd be honored if you'd even consider courting me," Isaac's voice held no humor in it and Debbie knew he was being completely serious.

        "Isaac," Debbie's eyes were wide.

        "If it's time you need I'll wait forever," Isaac waited for an answer.

        "Of course I would, Isaac!" Debbie threw her arms around him, "Oww, oww, oww," She pulled backed and held her bandaged shoulder, "Sorry for ruining the romantic moment," She giggled.

        "You've just made me the happiest person on earth," He wrapped his arms around Debbie.

        "And I couldn't be happier," Debbie smiled against his chest, "Sorry again for ruining this moment as well, but I kind of have to go to the outhouse."

        Isaac laughed deeply and let her go, "You're too weak to walk there," He picked her up bridal style.

        "Isaac," She scolded but couldn't keep the smile off her face.

        "Can you open the door for me?" Isaac nodded towards the door handle.

        "Sure," Debbie turned the door handle, opened the door and heard it hit something, "Alex! I'm so sorry," She bit her lip, then paused, "Alex," Debbie scolded, "What were you doing there?"

        Alex rubbed his head, "Nothing," He grinned, "But may I be the first to congratulate you both?"

        Debbie laughed shyly, "Alex, we aren't enga-"

        "Yes you may," Isaac looked at Debbie fondly.

        Alex laughed, "Then congratulations. I shall let you pass," Alex bowed and waved his hand dramaticly.

        Isaac laughed, "Thanks Alex," He continued onto the kitchen.

        "Why Isaac!" Ma exclaimed when she saw them, -although her face was not displeased-. If anything it seemed happy.

        "I can explain," Isaac started.

        "No need," Ma waved her hand, "We'll talk later," Debbie thought she could almost see a grin forming on her face.

        Once Isaac and Debbie were outside they heard Mother exclaim, "Really? That's wonderful! My little Debbie, all grown up!" 

        Debbie laughed, "Please excuse Mother. My family seems to have their mind set on marrying me off," She burried her head in Isaac's chest and turned pink.

        Isaac laughed, "I don't mind that."

        "I'm sure you don't," Debbie hit him weakly but smiled reluctantly.

        Author's Note: Did I scare you? I hope so. :D :D :D I'm fully aware that a shoulder wound probably wouldn't kill someone, but I had to make it more dramatic. It's my job to do that since I'm an author.

        Anyway, they haven't exactly "tied the knot" but they're well on their way to doing so. :) Oh happy days.

        Anyway, tell me what you think, because I want to know. ^-^

        Also, don't forget to comment, vote and share with your friends! :) Thanks for sticking with me ya'll. :)

        Liza~

(P.S. A special thank you to all of you ghost readers! :) )