Author's note : I am nothing associated with there will be blood. This is all for my enjoyment only. I make no money off of this. I hope you all enjoy and be sure to review.

Daniel's POV

Well I had really done at this time. Of course I had to open my mouth. I had to say some very hurtful things. It wouldn't surprise me if she decided that she didn't want to talk to me again. Although the thought sends a pain my chest. I have to fix this.

I will admit that I was caught off guard when she slapped me. I didn't think that she was that mas, but obviously I was wrong.

I followed her to the door but I stopped before she can reach it. This wouldn't look good at all if I followed her in. I waited till she was inside and then I made my way around to the front of the store.

I knew that I had made her cry on the way back to town. But I didn't say anything. I didn't know what to say.

I walked up the front steps onto the porch and open the front door. There was nobody in the front of the general store. But I could hear everybody in the back of the store.

I tried to let the door slam but it didn't work my next option was to try and let my boots make as much noise on the floor as I walk to the counter. I got about halfway across the front room when I decided that I needed to holler.

"Hello Jones family. Is there anyone here?" I asked. i could hear that someone was going up the stairs. It was probably Maggie.

A moment later Mr. Jones walked out from the back room with his grandson Michael. They stopped for a second and looked at me before they continued on out to the front counter.

I gave him a best smile that I could muster up before asking "Did Margaret make it home OK? She left the barn before I could make sure she got home OK. It seems on the ride back to town I opened my mouth a little too much and I seemed to have offended
her. I do apologize deeply for any offense and trouble that it may have caused"

The two men just looked back at me before Michael spoke up."No harm was caused Daniel." "There is not a lot that could offend my sister." He smiled back at me. Mrs. Jones walked up beside her son and stood.

"I'm sure there's not my but it seems that my harsh words made her cry. That was never my intention and now I feel just awful for doing so." I reiterated.

She waved her hands and tried to dismiss the whole thing. "Me. Plainview I am sure that even if you did offend her she won't stay mad at you for very long." She smiled at me. "Trust me I know my daughter. She'll go to bed mad and then she will be fine
tomorrow morning."

"Well I do hope that you are right, ma'am." I smiled at her. Suddenly an idea jumped into my mind.

"Mr. Jones I was wondering if you would allow me to talk with you for a few minutes alone about some business." I asked.

The old man shook his head and crossed his arms. "Daniel you know that any business you need to discuss can be said in front of my family. My business is their business."

Crap I had hoped he wouldn't do that. "Very well then. I'll get right to the point. I had hoped to receive your blessing and your permission to try my hand at courting Margaret." Well now it was out.

The entire room went quiet. I studied each of their old woman seemed to be thrilled while Kathryn, Margaret's mother, was a little harder to read. she wasn't mad but she didn't seem happy. Scott face was void of all emotion, but her brother was the funniest
one of them all. He was struggling to keep a smile from creeping on his face.

Margaret's mother was the first to speak. "If you think you have a chance at winning her hand be our guest. Of course then again you are the only person I have ever met that is more hard headed then she is. Just remember that she is my baby and I have
a lot of pull in this town. If you hurt her thenI promiseyou willget hurt." She smiled as she spoke.

I dared not try to smile. I knew that she probably wasn't bluffing. It seemed like this family had a lot of pull in this town." Of course not ma'am. I can assure you that I have no intention of hurting her and the very thought makes me ill. She intrigues
me and I find her fascinating to be around and the way that HW has taken to her is a remarkable feat in itself. He used to be very shy and only spoke when directly spoken to by strangers. Since we arrived in Little Boston he seems to know no strangers."
I gave a very large smile at that.

The elder Mrs. Jones, Margaret's grandmother spoke next. "We have taken a liking to the boy, especially, but she deserves children of her own." she spoke directly.

"I intend to give her anything that she wants, including children." I spoke honesty. Michael scoffed at my words. I turned to speak towards him."You have to understand something. I never planned on ever courting another woman after my wife died and Margaret
will be the first that I have courted since then if you give me your permission. The reason isn't because of love for my late wife but it is because there has been no woman that has held my attention long enough for me to take the time away from my
work to chase after them." I stared straight at Michael as I spoke.

"And Margaret has held your attention long enough to take away from your work? He asked.

"I'd sell it all to be able to chase her." I answered honestly. I turned back to their mother and grandparents. "Take some time and think this over. I am in no rush."

Scott spoke next "I speak for my wife and I when I say that you have our blessing and our permission but it is not our permission that you need. Nor is it Kathryn's or Michaels." He motioned he talked. "If you are going to court Margaret then you are
going to need to convince her that you are worthy enough to be her husband and more importantly worthy to be the father of her children someday. Ultimately it will be her choice if she wants you or not and there is nothing that we can do to change
it if she doesn't."

"That is a risk that I am willing to take." I replied.

Michael sighed. "You have my blessing Daniel. But I don't think you realize what you are getting yourself into. My sister is not exactly an easy person to handle. She can be a handful at times." A smile crossed his face then. "Then again that might mean
that she can handle being the wife of an oilman and that would mean you two are perfect for each other. He clapped me on the shoulder and headed back into the kitchen.

I turned my attention to Kathryn. She smiled. "You already know my answer."

I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face. "I don't want to but I might have to wait until the Derrick is built before I do anything. I was hoping to ask her to accompany me to the blessing ceremony for the well."

Her mother smiled again. "That sounds like a great idea. When is the derrick expected to be finished?" She asked.

"It should be finished in about a month. And that is estimating us becoming a week behind schedule. It depends on the lumber shipments mostly. After the derrick is built we are going to hold a big party for the town and the men and their families to see
what we have built. there will be dancing and food and games. They have gone over very well in past communities we have been in." I answered.

Mrs. Jones nudged Kathryn "Her dress will be done by then." She grinned as she walked away with Scott.

Kathryn's face lit up a little. "We are having a new dress made for Margaret as a late birthday present. It is beautiful. The party will be a wonderful excuse for her to wear it. Although I cannot guarantee that she will dance with you." Her mother explained.

"Well I am not one for dancing myself but I will have to insist that she have the first dance with me. I will leave the clothing and attire up to you. I should be headed back to the site now. The second crew should be here tomorrow and the rest will arrive
by the end of the week with the first load of lumber and the rest of the equipment. You might not see much of me and HW over the next few days so please don't be offended. We have much to do. Thank you for your time tonight." I nodded to her as I
turned and left the store.

I walked over to the barn and swung up on my horse. My mind was swimming with thoughts of Maggie now and since I have her family's permission now it seems much less inappropriate to think about her.

I kicked him into a gallop and quickly left town. The whole ride back to the shack was filled with thought of her. I tried to think of other things like the well but no matter how hard i tried my mind kept slipping back to her.

When I arrived back at the shack Fletcher was sprawled out on the ground in front of the porch. "He's asleep Daniel." he spoke without opening his eyes.

"Thank you." I replied as I walked past him.

"Don't do anything stupid and let her slip away Daniel." he said quietly.

I stopped and glanced over my shoulder at him. H was propped up and watching me. "I'm not going to Fletcher. It is being taken care of." I told him. He has always encouraged me to try to find someone.

He didn't say anything. He just laid back down.

I went into the shack threw my hat on the table. I flopped on the empty bed and pulled my boots off. I wasn't that tired but I knew that I needed the sleep. I laid back and tried not to think about her but my mind kept going back to her. As I laid there
I could only imagine how she would look lying beside me in bed.

I sighed and rolled over. One thing was for sure, I was one step closer to making that woman mine.