The Present conspires
With West shot by one of the South African Agents, and in the hospital, and the search for Howard intensifying, Charlie realized she had to be stronger than she had ever needed to be. She had to think of West and the ranch and those that lived there first, and trust the authorities would find Howard before he could do more harm.
Her fear was that Howard had always been extremely resourceful, deviously treacherous and darkly fiendish beyond any normal expectations. And now he was still lose and again hunting for her.