I am so sorry! I have been sick with a fever and cold, on top of making up all of the school I missed!

Sallie and Dimnar walked up ahead and opened up the door, worried for what they would find. Uncle Ned ran to his granddaughter, "Papoose, well! Joe boy, well!" He cried, "Praise big God!"

Sallie ran past everyone to Mandie, she was sleeping, she turned to Joe, he was sleeping as well. Dr. Woodard turned to her, "Their wounds are healing well, the fevers have left them and they are no longer unconscious, but very frail and tired."

Dimnar walked up and stood next to Sallie. He unconsciously reached for her hand. She took it and smiled. That night everyone slept better. Joe woke up around dinner the next night and was propped up on pillows. He was very concerned for his friend, but tried not to show it. Uncle Ned came over afterwards, "Worried about papoose?" he asked. Joe blushed a bit, and Uncle Ned smiled, "Color good for white face." He said teasingly.

"I am." Joe admitted.

"I pray to big God, papoose get well. You love?" the old Indian asked.

Joe looked at him, never before had he heard the Indian ask about this, "Yeah," he managed.

"Papoose love. She not know." Then he looked at the young man, "You make good husband." Joe felt embarrassed, "Rest now." Uncle Ned told him.

During the night, Dr. Woodard went out for more wood when Mandie stirred. She opened her eyes and looked around, "Joe?" she asked weakly.

Joe was awake thinking about his conversation with Uncle Ned, he turned over. He winced a bit, but finally was on his side and could look at Mandie, "Mandie," he said

Mandie's blue eyes met Joe's brown, "Joe," she said as tears of joy streamed down her face.

Joe slowly rolled off of his cot and kneeled down next to Mandie. He brushed a piece of blonde hair out of her face. Her hand shook as she reached out for his, "I love you." She said shakily.

Joe looked at her, "You do?"

"Yes. With all my heart." Mandie smiled.

"But what about Jonathan, and Tommy?"

"I love too. As-" Mandie was going to finish but Dr. Woodard came through the door. We quickly dropped the wood and came over.

"Mandie! How are you feeling?" Then he turned to Joe, "Joe. Get back in the bed. You need rest."

Joe nodded and laid back down. His mind raced, she loves me with all of her heart. But she said that she loved them too? He was confused. Dr. Woodard made sure they were both comfortable and then sat finished up with the fire. He stayed by the young people's sides until morning for breakfast. Sallie helped Mandie eat, and Mandie ate the grits thankfully. She was feeling much better. Dr. Woodard instructed much less and soon two days before they were to leave, Mandie and Joe were a allowed to be up and around. At the first chance they had Sallie and Dimnar told Mandie about the mysterious conversation they had overheard.

"Wow. Boy am I glad you two heard that, or else this mystery may never be solved." Joe remarked.

"Yeah! We should go back to the hospital!" Mandie exclaimed, without waiting for anyone else she started off. Joe quickly caught up with her and took her hand in his. Sallie and Dimnar held hands behind them. Joe was still confused about Mandie loving all of the boys he had mentioned, but still cared and helped along their walk.

Joe grabbed Mandie's hand, "Stop!" he whispered. Looking ahead they all saw the couple walk inside.

"I will go in." Mandie told them.

"But you can't, what if they see you." Joe protested.

"Why don't we let Joe go in because he was not with us when we saw the couple last time." Sallie suggested. Everyone agreed and Joe headed for the hospital. Inside a terrible sight awaited him.

"Oh I know." The big man mumbled, pulling out a gun and pointing at the nurse who was sitting at her desk. The lady who was with the man had her hands on her hips.

"We have asked you for my hospital file. And I expect to get it!" she cried.

"I can't give it to you!" the nurse protested.

Joe held back and waited for the right moment. The man cocked the gun, it was ready to fire. If he scared the man, he would shoot the nurse. Joe stared at the nurse hoping to get her attention and warn her. Thankfully she glanced at him, Joe put his finger to his mouth and then mouthed the words duck. The nurse seemed to understand.

"Now you lady." The man told her, "You give it to us, or else."

The nurse was a bit more confident now, "Or else what?"

The lady sneered, "Oh, you know what else."

"I know what is going to happen to you if you hang around." The nurse smirked.

"Oh yeah?" The big man said with a huff. Joe slowly walked up and then grabbed his rifle from off his shoulder, then he used the butt of the gun and knocked the man out. The lady screamed and put her hands in the air. The nurse grabbed the man's gun and both were pointed at the lady. Joe walked over, took her arm and sat her in a chair.

Mandie could not wait anymore back in the woods, she darted ahead and into the hospital, "Joe!" She cried. Joe stopped her and led her to a seat, the interrogation began.

"What is your name?" Joe asked.

"Martha Lewis" The lady told him.

"Are you sure?" Mandie asked rising from her chair.

"I think I would know my own name!"

"Who is he?" Joe asked, motioning to the man on the floor.

"That is my cousin, Dunkin."

"And what exactly are you two up too?"

"Tryin to get my hospital file from the hospital!"

"That was obvious, why?" Joe pushed.

"Because someone asked!"

"We know someone asked, Who?"

"A man."

"Get to the point. Spill it." Joe told her, pointing the gun.

"I! I! Don't know! He told what to do, and I did it!"

"Then why were you so eager?" Mandie asked.

"Because I wanted to be able to get my daughter out of the hospital!"'

"Your daughter?" Joe softened a bit.

"Yes! My Daughter! Dunkin got my Livy hurt and he says he pays for it! He don't! So my husband send him a letter 'or else' Hank says. But he don't listen and he kidnap me! I needed to find a paper saying I am whose I am so I can escape and git my daughter out of hospital!"

"Why do you have hospital files here?"

"My husband says this here where I gave birth to Livy, so I have file here sayin she my daughter! Now yall can git out of my business!" She snapped. Then Martha stood up and walked out the door. Mandie and Joe stood there stunned.

"Well at least they were not doing something wrong." Mandie said after a while. Sallie and Dimnar walked in.

"What happened?" Dimnar asked.

Suddenly Joe fell to the ground after a shot rang out. Mandie screamed and fell to Joe's side.

"I want yall outa my business and outa my way!" The man's voice roared. All three turned around. The man was up and off of the floor with a rifle in his hand. The nurse was knocked out on the ground.

"Oh no." Sallie murmured.