Her genuine smile had always been Gemma's most powerful weapon. It inspired reciprocation and vulnerability. A smile which disarmed, even just for an instant, was a coveted tool in a life-threatening situation. The smile was used for more mundane purposes of late, but there was a time when the Four Corners law men relied on it.

Gemma put on one such smile as she entered the jail. She needed to speak to her husband in private and hoped the smile would aid her in that. She entered to find Chris giving the town healer last of the instructions. Both sets of eyes fell on her suspiciously. She put up her smiling shield and feigned innocence.

"Good morning, gentlemen," her voice was sweet as honey.

"Freshly baked muffins and coffee just brewed," she announced as if she were on stage.

"Will you join us?" she directed her question to her brother-in-law for the very purpose of dissuading him from doing so.

The blonde man didn't speak. He looked at Nathan in form of goodbye then put on his hat, turned on his heel and left the jail.

Maybe I'll try to be nicer to him tomorrow, Gemma reasoned with herself.

"Nathan, you'll have some," she turned her charms on the man who wasn't accustomed to light fraud.

"Oh, well," he tried to find words to refuse.

At that very moment, Gemma pulled off the cloth and the smell of the food and coffee intensified. She was a right magician's assistant when she wanted to be.

"I guess one won't hurt," the healer said, disarmed.

"Get us a few cups, will you?"

Gemma knew she had him now. She poured three cups of coffee. She placed a muffin on the sheriff's desk and moved towards the cell.

"Your favourites," she greeted her husband as she passed him the cup.

Then, as if she'd only thought of it there and then, she turned to Nathan.

"Oh, will you let us have breakfast together, Nathan? That would be so kind!" she rested a soft hand on her heart. The former slave – high on sugar and warm coffee – nearly fell over himself to unlock the cell door. He got the signature smile in gratitude and that's when he realised he was being played. It was too late to back down now, so he frowned slightly and closed the door behind his former colleague.

"I'll have to lock you in for appearances. But you two enjoy your breakfast."

Gemma passed him another muffin as an honest apology. He accepted with a sigh, but still walked away happy as can be. Gemma's muffins leave no room for bitterness, he mused.

Montgomery eyed his wife with smug admiration.

"My favourites," he mouthed at their private joke.

Montgomery knew his wife believed that a freshly baked cake and a pot of strong coffee, unveiled at just the right moment, rounded with a heartfelt smile like she'd just performed could get her anything in the whole world. The young woman even tried that trick on his less than emotive father which ended in half-baked results. Considering his father, Montgomery thought, that was as good as it got.

"Sit. Eat," Gemma ordered as she joined him on the cot. Monty wasn't in the mood for food, but drank his coffee and observed his wife adoringly. She was pulling bits of the muffin apart and tasted it with pleasure. It was she who was partial to the cake and her enthusiasm for it is what sold it so well.

"I've been thinking," Monty broached the difficult subject.

Gemma stiffened by his side and he didn't dare to look her in the eye. His voice went conspiratorily low.

"You never asked me where I was."

Gemma looked up at him confused.

"You never asked me if I'd done it."

"You never gave me a reason to doubt you," Gemma was wondering where this was going.

Montgomery brushed his wife's soft cheekbone. He loved her so.

"I wish I could be a real husband to you," his voice broke.

"What on earth for?" Gemma was confused. "You're better than any husband I could ever imagine."

"You must know where I was last week," he stared at his hands desperately.

"I can assume," Gemma admitted and lowered her head.

"And you still love me?" Montgomery wondered.

"Indefinitely," Gemma was firm.

"Even if..."

"Your business is your own. Just like you know mine is."

They gazed into each other's eyes and smiled. Gemma moved the hand and pressed Montgomery's to assure him of her support.

"I want to do something..." he continued as he held her hand.

"I want all of the Seven to witness my statement."

He had predicted Gemma's reaction correctly and didn't let her pull her hand away. Her breath quickened and it was a matter of seconds before she found the words to contradict him.

"Listen to me."

"Monty, no," Gemma's eyes were wide with fear. "You can't... You can't do this to me."

"Please, listen," he repeated as he pulled at her hands.

"Please, Gemma."

She sat back, but her breathing was still heavy. Montgomery Monterrey knew she was nowhere near beaten.

In an actual fact, Gemma was a wounded, threatened animal who was trying to find a reason not to pounce. She didn't dare speak for fear of what might come out.

"Monty, you..." she spoke between angered breaths.

She rose and faced the wall in case the tears started leaving her eyes. Faces of her unlikely family of seven men paraded in front of her jeering and accusing. She could clearly see Nathan's wordless reproach, Buck's jeer, JD's confused questioning, Vin's silent condemnation, Ezra's I-suspected-all-along snort, Josiah's angered lecture. And Chris. Chris was the worst. Chris proven right. Chris Larabee eyeing her with pity and disproval. Gemma lifted her head and exhaled deeply.

"Honey," her husband called softly to avoid Nathan's suspicion.

Gemma's head slumped. Her arms still prompted her back up.

"You ask for too much. Why all seven? Why any of them at all?"

"If one is a witness, they're all in the know before long. I'm sure that's how it works."

Gemma massaged her frowning face with her hands.

"Whoever we choose, I'm sure Mr Larabee won't relent until he finds out the details of my alibi. So he's an obvious choice. Mr Tanner, his obvious partner, is another."

Gemma sighed again struggling to keep her body under control.

"And I want you to have Mr Standish."

She almost released a yelp at his words, stopped only by her erratic breathing.

"What?" Gemma felt battered and tired.

"Sit with me," Montgomery stretched out his arm.

Gemma slumped into the cot staring vacantly into the floor.

"My darling," he started. "I am so grateful you agreed to stay with me and support me in my business here. You knew how much I wanted to get away from my father and thanks to this hotel I might even earn my complete independence someday," he paused to see if she were listening.

"But I know I'm not the only reason that's keeping you here."

Gemma found some strength to look up. Her husband smiled at her kindly.

"If he knows... Perhaps..."

Gemma shook her head into her shoulder. Monty pulled her closer into a hug.

"You may never have what you had before you came to San Francisco, but perhaps after this... Perhaps you can move forward."

"Monty, I'm scared!" she finally surrendered into his embrace. He held her strong like a life ring.

"Me too," he whispered desperately. "Me too."

When he felt her muscles firm up, Montgomery Monterrey kissed his wife on the head and they pulled apart.

"I guess there's no other way," Gemma agreed.

"Just say the word," her husband was honest.

"I'll get the judge. We'll do it your way."

Gemma clanked her cup on the cell door. Montgomery touched her hand once more. She turned back to look at him.

"Our way," she rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. Her husband could relax.