Anna opened her eyes, smiling as she felt John shift at her side. She turned, molding herself against him, and laid a hand over his heart. He quickly covered it with his own and blinked awake to smile at her.

"Good morning."

"I think so." She grinned and kissed him quickly as he shifted onto his side next to her, "I think we might have a bit before she wakes up."

"What'd you have in mind Ms. Smith?" John whispered against her skin, marking her neck with kisses. "Something salacious I hope."

"We'd have to be quiet."

"I'm sure I can keep quiet." His breath blew hot against her ear and Anna shivered as his hand dragged the material of her nightgown ever-so-slowly over her skin. "Can you?"

"I guess we'll see." Her breath hitched as his fingers caressed over the bare skin of her thighs.

Anna buried her head at his neck, exhaling harshly when he slotted one of his legs between hers to leave her open to him. The difference in the determination of his fingers was rather pronounced when he harbored no inhibitions about teasing and stroking her folds. She bit into his shoulder, trying to muffle the moans she was sure would wake the little girl sleeping in the bed mere feet from theirs, and arched her body toward him to soothe the rising tide within her.

John took a finger to open her, curling it inside Anna so she shivered against him, and added another when her panting breaths warmed the skin of his neck. But he did not anticipate her own hands seeking him. The contraction of his own lungs when her quivering hand wrapped around his growing erection gave them both pause.

She looked into his eyes and nodded as she slotted her leg up over his thigh to rest over his hip and bring his right to the welcoming heat of her entrance. A moment later John thrust forward and both parties sought to silence themselves in the lips of the other. Their bodies hummed with the energy and a moment later it was all Anna could do just to tilt her hips toward him instead of driving herself to oblivion at breakneck speed.

His hand held the back of her neck, manipulating their kiss to heighten the tension between them as they met as frantically and quietly as possible. Anna clung for dear life and sanity to his shoulders before her hand slipped for a better hold at his hip and then his ass. Her other hand found purchase in his hair, returning the fervor of his kisses, before skating her own line of them down his neck to stifle her whimpers and cries in the comfort of his shoulder.

With all the practice and finesse he could offer, John's other hand worked back between them to press and pinch at her nerves. Anna broke in his arms, sobbing into his skin, and John adjusted to thrust harder. Faster and faster until he finished and Anna shuddered at the rush deep within her as she sagged back onto the small mattress.

Both laid in silence a moment, Anna pricking her ears to listen for the regular breathing patterns from the bed next to her, and soon steadied their breathing to matching rhythms. John's hand swept Anna's hair back and she smiled at him. "I guess we were quiet enough."

"Let's both hope so." John kissed her forehead and settled back. "Though when do you want to tell her that we're all planning on running away together?"

"I didn't think you'd actually decided." Anna tugged her nightgown back in place and ensured the covers were high enough to keep John' covered from more innocent eyes than her own. "Do you want to run away with us?"

"I'd want nothing more than that." John sighed, resting back on the pillow. "We still need to take those horses to town. Settle that debt as it stands."

"They'll want you marched from the paddock right to the cell."

John frowned, "It'll be a bit cramped with Mr. Barrow holed up in there."

"I'm sure he won't present you any difficulties." Anna brushed a bit of John's hair back. "But I hope you don't mind a suggestion I'd like to make."

"What?"

"I think we should get married." John laughed and Anna swatted him, "I do hope you'll take this seriously Mr. Bates."

"You'd marry an outlaw?"

"You're more than that."

"Anna, think about it." John sat up a bit, taking the covers with him and sneaking a look over Anna's shoulder to where Lizzie had her head tucked under her blankets. "We can't."

"Don't you think I'm brave enough to stand against what people'd say?"

"I think you're the bravest person I've ever met but you shouldn't have to wear this."

"I'm already wearing it, given what Ms. Braithwaite accused us of yesterday, and what we've endured together thus far." Anna took a breath, sitting cross-legged next to him. "I've stood by you through thick and thin Mr. Bates."

"Thin and thin more like."

"Be that as it may," Anna cut in, "I won't have my daughter or myself be pushed to the sidelines while you endure whatever lies ahead without even the right to be kept informed. If you are to go to prison or to the hangman's noose I want to stand by you the way you've stood by me."

"Not like you've stood by me."

"Mr. Bates," Anna held his hands, "I will be your next of kin and I will be there for whatever you decide. I want it to be with me but I also understand that you've got a debt you need to pay and I'll respect that decision but I insist you respect this one."

John did not answer immediately. He put his hands on her face and made sure she stared into his eyes. "I'll respect whatever you decide."

"Thank you." She took her turn kissing his forehead before shrugging, "I guess it must all seem a bit unreal to you that I'd want this."

"It's about protection in a dangerous world." John lowered his voice, lips twitching up to smirk, "And if we're as successful as I think we might be, you'll need a father for the child."

"You've got an awful lot of confidence in yourself Mr. Bates."

"Or a lot of confidence in you."

They went to kiss again but stopped when the back of Anna's nightgown tugged downward. Both shifted to see Lizzie standing there, eyes blurry as she rubbed sleep from them. "Do I get to be the flower girl?"

"I'm sure we can arrange that." Anna lifted her onto the bed, worrying a moment before John adjusted the sheets about him. "It'd be lovely to have you as the flower girl."

"And Mr. Bates as Papa."

Anna hugged Lizzie closer, looking over at John, "And Mr. Bates as Papa."

Anna cracked her whip and the horses strayed from her through the open gate of the paddock. They crowded and the separated into their groups as Anna ensured none of them strayed into town. Lizzie, holding tight to the saddle horn of John's saddle, giggled and cried out as John herded the back end of the horses with a whip of his own.

A small crowd gathered as Anna pushed the gate closed and latched it to leave the horses milling about inside. She dusted her gloves on her saddle blanket before removing them and holding out her hands for Lizzie. The little girl dropped into her hold and both waited for John to dismount as well.

"I believe we've got a bit of business to complete." John took Lizzie's hand and they led their horses, with Lizzie swinging between them, toward the church.

Talbot, bent over and digging in the flower bed, stood up as they approached and wiped his hands on a small towel. "I hope you're no here for confession because I don't work that way."

"We're here to get married, Reverend." Anna left John to tie their horses to the hitching post and pointed to the flowers now removed from the beds. "Might Lizzie borrow those?"

"They're half dead but I guess the poetry and symbolism of that won't be lost on those gathered for this affair." Talbot straightened his collar ad reached for his black coat as it hung from a post by the building. "I think I could find a few choice words for the small gathering."

"Thank you." They all turned to enter the church as another horse rode up. Anna's eyes widened when Mary dismounted, her own expression freezing in shock at the sight of Anna, John, Lizzie, and Talbot. Talbot shook off the ice and extended a hand.

"Good morning Mrs. Crawley. How can I be of service?"

"I…" She found her voice after swallowing, "I came here to pray… and maybe find a bit of comfort if I could."

"There's always comfort here." Talbot led the group inside and offered Mary the front bench before pulling John to the side a moment.

Lizzie joined Mary on the bench and soon perched on Mary's lap while she arranged the slightly wilted flowers in her small hand. "Mummy's getting married to John today."

Mary raised an eyebrow of her own at Anna, "Moving things along rather quickly are we?"

"Not very."

"Then I think we've got different ideas about ideal courtship."

"I won't have convention deny me happiness." Anna tucked one of Lizzie's curls behind her ear. "Besides, you're the one who told me to seize the chance since it was right here in front of me. So that's what I'm doing, seizing this chance."

"I meant to take him and Lizzie here and ride for Mexico or Canada or even the Dakota territories or someplace where people aren't going to bother hunting down homesteaders."

"We're making the decisions that seem best to us." Anna stood as Talbot and John returned. "I do hope that wasn't your attempt to talk Mr. Bates out of this decision, Preacher."

"On the contrary." Talbot smiled and offered a hand to Lizzie, "If I could have the flower girl stand here a moment."

Lizzie hopped from Mary's lap and followed him. She chose three flowers at his urging and then clutched the rest tightly, taking her duty very seriously. Talbot broke the stem from one to tuck it into john's button hole before tucking the other into Anna's hair.

"And this one," He twisted it quickly and handed it to John, "Will serve as the ring."

"I'd give you a nicer one if I had it." John whispered but Anna quieted him.

"This one is far ore appropriate for us." Anna turned to Talbot, "We're ready Mr. Talbot."

"Then, dearly beloved, we gather together to bring John Bates and Anna Smith into a union that until last until death do them part."

The remainder of Talbot's words, lost in the buzz of the rising heat outside the little chapel, only soothed Anna. Almost the same way John sliding the flower ring over her finger did. Or the way he kissed her as sweetly and as innocently as a couple who courted under the watchful eye of a protective community might of the room had been full of flowers and guests.

When they finished Anna, and then John, shook Talbot's hand. He nodded to them, bending to shake Lizzie's hand as well before taking the dying flowers back, and stepped to the side as Anna hugged Mary. They pulled away and Mary wiped at a tear in her eye.

"I'm not overly emotional but this… this was lovely."

"Thank you Mary." Anna turned to John, "Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

They walked hand-in-hand from the chapel to the Sheriff's office. Lizzie, clutching at her mother's hand, sniffed but said nothing. Before they ascended the steps, John lifted Lizzie into his arms and held her close. It was as a family, newly minted, that they walked into the Sheriff's office.

Alfred, in all his lanky gangliness, stood up so fast he knocked his knee against the desk and disturbed both Barrow in his cell and Gwen as she stood guard over the other man and his consumption of whatever porridge she gave him. Anna took Lizzie from John as he walked over to Alfred and held his arms toward him with upturned wrists. "I'm here to turn myself in, as promised."

Anna noted the way Gwen and Alfred exchanged looks before Alfred scratched at the back of his head. "You see, Mr. Bates, we've had a bit of a situation develop since you delivered Mr. Barrow here to our custody last night. One that I don't think is so easily rectified."

John frowned, "I'm not sure I understand."

"You see Mr. Bates," Gwen stepped forward, "The people of the town noted your actions and they've realized the precarious state of our generally male-less nature. They find themselves comparing the weight of two possible evils and you're on the lower end."

"Not something I've ever been accused of being before."

Anna snorted a laugh with Gwen as the other woman regained her composure. "It's the feeling of this town that, until Sheriff Carson returns, we're in need of a man with your capabilities."

"Are you?" John looked at Alfred, "What about Deputy Nugent here?"

"I find I'm in need of a bit of assistance." Alfred pointed toward the cell, "With what Mr. Barrow's been saying I'll have to take him out on a short leash to try and round up the rest of his crew. But if they scatter then I'll need help tracking them down. There's only one of me and someone's got to protect this town."

"The women of this town seem uniquely qualified for it." John nodded toward Gwen, "They've got a very she-bear instinct about what's best for the people here."

"And that instinct's telling us that we need to trust you, Mr. Bates." Gwen offered her hand, "I hope you'll forgive the words we've said in fear."

"They were valid and completely justified." John shook her hand and then stepped back. "What would I be doing, in service to Downton?"

"Ms. Smith here'll act as a deputy in keeping an eye on you when you're not out riding off cattle stealers or bringing them here." Alfred turned to Anna, "If you'll accept the temporary position Ms. Smith."

"It's Mrs. Bates, actually."

"My apologies," Alfred stuttered a moment before shrugging, "Will you take the position, Mrs. Bates?"

"I'd be honored." Anna turned to Barrow. "And what about him?"

"He's agreed to help us as much as he's able so Ms. Dawson and I'll be taking him out on trips to round up the stragglers."

"Is anyone else going with you?"

"We're taking volunteers but most here want to protect what's theirs and I don't blame them." Gwen squared her shoulders. "We've got to carry on as best we can in the interim."

"Which is why your work'll be so crucial Mr. Bates." Alfred cleared his throat. "We need you keeping these people safe. I figure since you were something close to what you're hunting you might have a clue how they think and operate."

"I've got a few clues." John let out his breath, "Is that it then?"

"I think we've resolved the issues before us on that count." Gwen faced Anna, "Now about those horses."

"Ms. Lizzie I'll ask you to please finish feeding those horses before it's too dark to see." Anna called into the barn, "I don't want to have to do it when Mr. Bates gets back."

"But he's been gone so long."

"It's been a week, Ms. Lizzie, not that long." Anna pointed toward the horses, "Finish your chores please."

"I'm doing it." The little girl lugged a bucket in her shaking arms.

"Good." Anna smiled, "Be careful with it and I'll get supper started."

"Yes Mummy."

Anna went toward the house removing her boots at the door and padding into the kitchen with her basket to lay it on the table. Something shifted in the corner and Anna stopped, pricking her ears toward the sound. She frowned and barely turned back to her work when a backhand knocked her to the floor.

She fell hard on her side, the wind knocked from her lungs as a weight settled on her stomach and a hand gripped about her neck to stop her making noise. Her eyes focused and the icy terror that washed over her body left her trembling in the hard grip. His face dipped toward hers, his calloused thumb scratching over her jaw as he spoke.

"Hello Anna."

"What are you doing here?"

"I remembered this is my home." He removed his hand, running it over her body in a way that made her sick to even endure. "This is my wife."

"I'm not yours." She hissed back, trying to kick herself free but his leg interlocked with hers to keep it straight and useless. "You died."

"No, I survived." He laughed, sliding back to her throat to hold her still while he moved chapped lips over her skin. "I endured what you did to me. When you clubbed me to the ground and thought I was dead."

"I thought that flood was an act of God to free me from you."

"You think He would free you after you tried to kill me?"

"What about what you did to me?" Anna wrenched her neck from his grip and practically spit at him as she beat his sides with her hands until he grabbed one and adjusted his knee to press her other elbow painfully to the floor.

"Just marital right."

"You had no right to abuse me as you did. To take from me like I was your horse to be broken."

"I guess I didn't do a very good job then, did I?"

Anna summoned the rage she could manage and twisted her body to shove him off her. His weight toppled and Anna finally noticed why his grip seemed so uneven. The arm she shot on his last visit hung as a stump from his shoulder. He noted her gaze and lifted it, the tied shirttail flapping.

"Admiring your handiwork."

"I wish I didn't have to admire it if I'd done a good enough job the first time beating you to death with that rifle." Anna moved away from him, eyeing for her rifle in the corner. "I wouldn't have to take you apart a piece at a time."

"You had such fire when you fought back then. Denying the inevitable." Green sneered at her, "You were just property to be bought and sold."

"It's only a sale if the other side gets something in return and, as I recall, you reneged on your deal with my father." Anna flicked her eyes to the side, measuring the distance.

"He was weak."

"And you're a bastard." Anna rested on the tips of her toes. "But it's all in the past now."

"I'm your future Anna." He reached out toward her, "I'm here to stay."

"No you're not." Anna dived for the rifle but Green caught her around the middle and drove her to the floor.

She struggled and fought but his elbow caught her about the head and Anna fell back, dazed. Her body grappled with his as his one hand fought to control her. Another strike knocked the air from Anna's lungs and she screamed without sound as darkness closed about her.