Heron Lake Plateau Lost some pieces I can't replace

His apology was simple, but she couldn't- and wouldn't have- expected him to say much more. The Colt she knew was either quick on the draw of a sarcastic remark, or he said little, but meant a lot with what he said. Niamh could handle that, and at least he seemed to take her side, whatever her side was. She still wasn't sure how to feel about the way Quixote had spoken to her when she'd gone to him about Ceara...He hadn't exactly been quick to rally to her side but had stayed somewhat distant, which made her wonder if she hadn't fallen for his face, not his personality. Either way, whatever attraction she'd had for him was more or less gone. She'd learned, then, that she couldn't simply form a silly crush on someone, because they would eventually just let you down, unless you got to know them first.

Niamh was touched that his next concern was her- and whether she would stay or not. The idea of leaving with Screech had occurred to her, but she sighed. Considering everything she'd done for him, and the way she'd always been treated in return, it shouldn't have been hard for her to abandon him...But some stubborn part of her still hated giving up on others. "Yes." She said. "He's...I don't know what's going to happen to him...But if I stick with him, I'm just...He's just going to hurt me more. I'll end up dead if I go with him."