Prologue

It is dark for a time. The air is heavy and hard to breathe in. She feels his hand on her neck; his arm covering the expanse of her back. Protecting her from the blast that he said would happen. For a split second panic sets in; where is Mary? Her ears listen intently and seconds later confirm that Mary is next to her on the ground. Charles is covering her body with his. Mary is alive and whimpering and it is the sweetest sound Laura Brown has ever heard.

Chapter 1

Charles keeps his head down until he hears people talking around him. Content that the worst of the damage is over, he raises his head to peer around his immediate vicinity. From the looks of it, there are a few people with injuries; it could have been so much worse that what it is.

"Charles? Is everything alright?" Laura's voice reaches his ears. Part of him does not want to let go of her, but a bigger part wants to look in her eyes and make sure she is okay.

He lifts his hand to brush tendrils of her hair away from the side of her face, and his touch prompts Laura to raise her eyes toward his. The eyes that appear before him are no longer calm; turmoil lurks within them. She is fearful and probably still resentful that he came back, even if it was to save her.

"May I get up now?" Laura asks quietly. Charles heart breaks as he nods his head. He releases her to help Mary to her feet, wiping at the dust on her dress. He peers over Mary's shoulder at Mrs. Clarke. She is making her way closer to them and Charles thinks fast before he loses a chance to talk with Laura alone.

"Hey kiddo your grandma is right over there. Why don't you go to her and make sure she is okay?" Charles suggests to Mary. She looks to Laura for confirmation first before running off to meet her grandmother.

Laura follows her daughter's tracks and sighs lightly. She can only hope Charles will not speak before her mother arrives.

"Will you look at me Laura?" Charles implores.

She reluctantly turns toward him, but refuses to meet his eyes. It is enough for Charles though. He steps closer; not yet touching, but sharing the same breath. He looks her over in seconds and nods; confirmation that she is unharmed.

"We need to talk Laura. Not later. Now. Where can we go where we will have privacy?" She chews her lip as he waits for her response.

She does not want to meet with him. She does not want to hear his excuses. The pain is still fresh in her heart; so fresh she might say something she does not mean to say. One look in his eyes tells her he will not relent. They will talk this out now or never speak about it again. She sighs once more.

"I do not wish to speak about these things…in town. My home would not be proper either. I suppose the stream would be adequate. It is private and quiet. It is a good place to talk."

Charles nods as Mrs. Clarke and Mary reach them.

"Mr. Lattimer. Mary tells me you saved everyone from the blast? Is that right?" Mrs. Clarke's withering glare settles on Charles face.

He looks around at what is left of the town square and smiles faintly.

"No Mrs. Clarke, not everyone." His gaze settles on a man cradling his wife in his arms. Her child silently cries by his side. A flash in Charles' mind shows him how easily that could have been him cradling Laura in his arms. He shuts his eyes against the torment and turns to Laura. She understands what he sees.

"Mother, Charles and I need to speak for a while. Will you take Mary home? I will be along later." Laura says as she hugs Mary. "Is that okay my sweet girl? Will you go home with your grandmother?"

"Yes Mama."

"I promise I will not be home late."

"Come on child. Let's get you home and give you a bath." Mrs. Clarke leads Mary away toward the family's wagon.

Laura watches them, wishing she was going with them. She shields her eyes with her hand until they are safely in the wagon.

"It looks like we need a horse for the afternoon. Why don't you stay here and I will be right back" Charles says over his shoulder.

Ten minutes later, Charles rides out of the Enterprise Livery atop Jimbo. Laura notices he looks more comfortable on the horse today. She smiles faintly as she reminisces on the first time she saw him on a horse, but the smile fades when she remembers what happened later that day.

It is as Charles approaches her that he remembers he should have rented two horses. He silently admonishes himself.

Laura can sense that he seems unsure how to get her on the horse with him. Why he did not get two horses she will never know. Deciding to ease his mind, she takes his foot out of the stirrup, lifts her skirt, puts her foot in the stirrup, and reaches her hands up for his. He grabs her hands and pulls her up, but misunderstands where he is to deposit her. He assumes she wants to ride sidesaddle. Thinking this, he lets go of one hand to grab her around the waist; effectively turning her to sit in his lap with her legs hanging over the side. She gasps as she lands against him; the air leaving her body at the realization that she is close enough to feel every part of him. His hand is still on her waist. A deep fire begins to slowly burn within her. She reluctantly turns, putting her back against his chest. The townspeople begin to look their way, but Laura Brown pulls her head up just a little bit more. Let them talk she thinks as she hands the reins to Charles.

Charles sees people looking, and for a moment he wonders if he has made another mistake, but when Laura hands him the reins, he takes them and urges the horse forward.

Once they near the end of town Charles breathes a sigh of relief. He relaxes which brings him closer to Laura. She stiffens, but he stays close anyways. She can feel his breath on her neck, and the sensation is so startling to her senses she must close her eyes. She searches for that earlier turmoil, but a small kiss to her upper neck beneath her earlobe is her undoing. Against her wishes her body sags; her head leans back to nestle in Charles shoulder. She turns her face against the sun to inhale his scent; his cologne and soap foreign to her, but intoxicating all the same. For a little while, Laura Brown forgets the world around her. Later, she will need to be strong. For now, she just wants to remember the feeling of being in a man's arms – even if said man is married.