These characters do not belong to me; I'm just borrowing them for a little bit. It doesn't do to let them stand in the stable and eat their heads off. They need work.

*****

By unspoken agreement, Mal and Isabel shared their last embrace on the hilltop, looking down at Elysium. As they stepped away from each other, Mal used his thumbs to wipe the tears standing in Isabel’s eyes. He put his hands on her shoulders and gave her a little shake.

“All right, Miss Warrick?”

“All right, Captain. I think we have beef to ship.”

“I think we do.”

***

Mal took the horses into the barn, while Isabel went straight to the house to let Alice know they were home.

“Did you have a nice time, up on Gilead?” Alice asked.

“Wonderful.”

“Good. Both of you needed that – I suspect Malcolm Reynolds of not taking proper care of himself. And I know you drive yourself too hard.”

“Care was taken, Grandmamma. All the care in the world.”

Alice nodded at Isabel. “That’s wonderful.”

***

“Mal.” River called to Mal from the door of the barn.

“Hey there, you. You didn’t sneak up on me – how ‘bout that.”

“It is wrong to sneak up on a horse. They are prey and we are predators. It is unfair to startle them and they have every right to kick if we do,” River said.

“That’s so. Sounds like you learned a lot this week. Have a good time?”

“It was wonderful. Shall I help you groom?” River asked.

“I’d appreciate it. I need to clean myself up before dinner, too.”

As they worked Mal began to sing.

“That’s a true song,” River said.

“What’s a true song?”

“The. One. You. Were. Singing.” River said patiently.

At Mal’s blank look, as he tried to remember what he had been singing before River interrupted him, she shook her head and began to sing herself.

“*There is a balm in Gilead, to make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead, to heal the sin-sick soul.*”

“Could be, little one. I reckon it could be."

***

The last night’s dinner conversation was full of gratitude for