Hank tossed a little in his sleep, unaware of what had happened.

Joe soon arrived back at the farm, shaking a fraction as he put Dixie's horse away and ran back into the house, going to his and Hank's room and shaking him awake.

"Hank...Hank wake up..."

Hank rolled over and hid his head under his pillow. "Jus' a dream Joe...go to sleep," he mumbled.

Joe swallowed and pulled the pillow away.

"No it ain't Get up!"

Hank blinked his eye open. "What's the matter?"

Joe stood up properly.

"Would you wake up properly and talk to me..."

Hank sat up stretching a little and yawning. "What the heck is so important ya gotta wake me up in the middle of the night?"

"Because I near got kidnapped by your new girlfriend and the James brothers that's why!"

Joe near yelled, swallowing a little.

Hank gave him an amused look. "Just what did you drink tonight?!"

"I haven't been drinkin' an' you can wipe that look of yer face! I was sittin' with Splinter when you an' Lorraine were in the barn an' I heard her mutter thing's that you couldn't hear...that she didn't want you to hear...she snuck out with Trigger and I followed her to the hotel where she met up with Frank and Jessie James....they're planning to rob that bank Hank!"

Hank scowled. "That ain't true."

Joe sighed in exasperation, running a hand down his face.

"It is true! I borrowed Dixie's horse and went after them...she's using you Hank!"

"Look...I dunno if this is yer idea of a joke Joe...but it ain't funny." Hank grabbed his blanket and pillow. "I'm sleepin in the barn."

Joe groaned and grabbed his shoulder.

"Hank! When have I ever lied to you! Look go out there and see! Dixie's horse is still tacked up!"

Hank scowled. Joe never had lied to him. He pulled away from his arm and looked out the window at the horse not saying anything.

The horse was still tacked up where Joe had forgotten to take it off in his rush to get to the saftey of the house.

"No...there's gotta be an explanation....she wouldn't...she wouldn't..." muttered Hank.

Joe sighed, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Hank...she did...I...I'm sorry..."

Hank didn't move. He just stared fixidly out the window, hurt and angry. He had thought she was different...

Joe couldn't help but thank the gods that Hank believed him. He couldn't face her and the James brothers on his own and he couldn't count on the local law to help him out. If Hank didn't stick by him then he would be at a great disadvantage.

Eventually Hank tore himself from the window. He returned to his room without another word.

Joe watching him go, biting his bottom lip and stroking his moustache gently. He hadn't meant to make Hank mad...shaking his head he resigned himself to a night on the couch.

In truth Hank wasn't mad at Joe. He was mad at Lorraine...but more so he was mad at himself. Mad for allowing himself to be hurt again.

Loraine rode up to the edge of the farm and saw Dixie's horse tacked up. Loraine had tears in her eyes as she turned Trigger around heading towards The Sleepy City Hotel.

When she arrived there she saw Frank relaxed on the bed she barged in and blurted out,"Didnt work, Hank believed him, Hank's severly hurt now no doubt and Joes mad and hurt as well, on account of Hank being hurt, why Frank?why did you have to choose this one bank fer?"

Loraine looked to Jesse who had been awake and listening to her. She saw the fire in Frank's eyes and was ready to run a sshe knew what was coming up.

Hank Duke had never been known to carry his heart on his sleeve. In fact, he had kept it so safely hidden away that some people wondered if he had a heart at all. Since his fiancee Rebeccah had been killed, he found it easier to not care about people. That changed somewhat when he came to the farm, but still the only one who knew Hank intimately was Fly.

He had thought that maybe Loraine might have been the one to help his still mourning heart,and like a fool he had let his defences down.

He should have known...