A/N: Hello all. Not much to say here. We're redoing our living room floor, and as usual the project is taking longer than anticipated. Probably because I'm reading & writing fan fic instead of painting and drilling etc. We did get a new air-nailer, which is fun, though Handyward (of Tapas at Twilight) might appreciate that more than Westward.

Merci Beaucoup to Sweetthunder for the beta skillz, nunchuck skillz, and smackdown skillz. And now please enjoy Westward.

The Marksman

Chapter 10 –Smoldering

Jake kicked his pinto into a panicked gallop as he headed down the hill towards the still smoldering embers that was once his village. Ward and Bella were close behind. Jake drew up the reins slightly and jumped from his pony before it came to a full stop, continuing at a full run toward the nearest of the blackened dwellings.

He paused briefly to search the interior as best he could through the smoke and burning timbers before running to the next dwelling. His voice began to call random names as he ran, frantically searching for survivors. Ward and Bella followed at a slower pace, Ward taking extra time to scan each hut with a practiced eye.

He saw no bodies. Thank God!

"Jake!" he called, running now to catch up with the younger man, moving an hand to catch his arm and halt his aimless wandering. "Jake, I don't see any bodies. I think most of your people escaped."

Jake turned terrified eyes to look at Ward, seeking reassurance that what he heard was true.

"You didn't see any … bodies?" Jake asked brokenly.

Ward gave a quick shake of his head. "No, they must have escaped. Do you have any idea where they would go?"

Jake stared at the ground for a moment to gather his thoughts. He had been frightened nearly out of his mind at the sight of the burning village. After a moment, he lifted his eyes to meet Ward's and gave a brief nod.

"Yes, I know where they are. There is a place in the forest, that way," he inclined his head to the wooded area across the creek, beyond the settlement. "There is a clearing in the center where we gather when the hunting party returns. I think they will be there."

He was trying to sound optimistic, but Ward and Bella could still see the worry in his eyes. They watched as he dropped his head into his hands, lacing his finger through the hair on his scalp.

"Who would do this? What could possibly be gained by this…" he searched for the right word, "destruction?" He allowed his gaze to wander over the charred and still burning remains before he closed his eyes and shook his head slowly. "We have no more enemies among the tribes or the white man. We have worked so hard to make peace with both worlds." Jake looked at Edward with glassy eyes, on the verge of angry tears. "Why won't the white man just leave us alone!" Though the words cut Bella to the quick, she understood they were coming from his fresh anger and not directed to her.

Ward cut his eyes toward Bella, asking her silently to keep quiet for now, knowing the young man before them was near the breaking point already. There would be plenty of time to tell him of the vengeance plotted by the Valentine brothers after he had had a chance to calm down. The most important thing now was to find the rest of the tribe.

Ward's voice was low as he spoke. "Let's see if we can find your people, okay? You lead the way and we'll follow."

Jake opened his eyes and trained them once again on the gunslinger. "How did they know to attack now? How?" The question was rhetorical, as he continued, "All the men are on a hunting party, only my father and the other Elders were here. What kind of a coward attacks old men, women, and children?"

Ward's eyes narrowed at this new information, and his hope for finding survivors just dipped a little.

"So there was no one other than the Elders to fight the attackers?"

Jake shook his head and answered, "Only myself and Sam stayed behind. I stayed because I found Isabella missing and went to search for her, and Sam stayed because his wife, Emily, is heavy with child." His eyes looked imploring from Ward to Bella. "There was no reason to fear an attack. No reason!"

His voice raised as panic threatened to once again overpower him. Bella spoke up, "it's okay, Jake, no one could have seen this comin'. It's not your fault you weren't here. You were bein' a good friend to me." She moved before him and wrapped her arms around his torso. "Jake, I thank you for comin' for me. You're my best friend and I love you for it."

Ward watched as Bella wrapped Jake in her arms and cradled this man that was almost twice her size with a tenderness only someone who loves unconditionally can offer. Jake wept softly into her neck as she stroked his hair. Ward felt no jealously toward the young man, knowing that he needed the comfort that only a friend could give. Ward turned away and walked to the horses, taking his time to gather the reins before leading them across the compound. He moved slowly in order to give the friends some privacy. When he heard Jake sniff and saw him pull away from Bella as she gently wiped the tears from his checks, he moved over to them.

Jake was grateful for the older man's consideration as he turned his head away to pull himself together. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath before facing him.

Jake was relieved when Ward acted as if the last few minutes hadn't happened. "Jake, can you lead the way?" he asked as he inclined his head toward the forest behind the village.

"Sure, sure. It's this way." Jake grabbed the reins of his pinto from Ward's outstretched hand and leaped onto the horse's back in one smooth motion. Ward mounted too and reached down to help Bella up and then turned the horse in the direction Jake was heading. Ward turned his head back just in time to see a burning timber collapse into a hissing pile of sparks and ash. Anger towards the Valentines and their cutthroat methods churned low in his gut. He fumed silently as they followed after Jacob.

Darkness continued to fall as they crossed the shallow creek and continued along a well-worn path that disappeared into the stand of trees. They rode only a few hundred feet when Jake drew up and scanned the area around them in the dim light of the early rising moon. He turned and threw over his shoulder, "They came this way not too long ago."

The optimism in his voice was hard to disguise and Ward heard a soft "Thank God," issue from Bella's mouth as they continued down the path.

Within five minutes, they approached a thinning in the trees. Jake stopped and whistled into the night. An answering whistle rang through the stillness, and Jake urged his pony through the last of the trees and into a clearing. Ward could see several makeshift shelters that housed the inhabitants of the village, they had no cooking fires set up as they were trying to remain hidden from their previous attackers. Jake leapt from his horse and was met in the middle of the grassy clearing by an equally big, but somewhat older, man dressed in traditional Hualapai clothing. The moon continued to climb in the sky, lighting the area with its pale glow.

"Sam, what happened? Who attacked us?" Jake spoke in his native language, but Ward and Bella were able to translate based on his body language.

Sam glanced beyond Jake, giving Bella a kind look, before turning his eyes warily on the stranger. Jake, following his gaze, made quick introductions in English.

"Sam, this is Ward Masen. He's a friend of Bella's. I found them just this side of Ghost Tree where they had been strung up and left for dead by the Valentines."

Sam's eyes flashed at the name Valentines and he didn't try to disguise his disgust as he approached Ward, stretching out his hand in greeting and speaking in broken English. "You are welcome here. The Valentines are bad men. They attacked and burned our village."

At those words, Jake began speaking rapidly in his native tongue, much too fast for Bella, who had learned a smattering of the language from Jake, to follow. But again, she and Ward were able to understand the gist of the conversation just from mix of emotions that were practically rolling off the two men.

As their exchange began to wind down, they saw Sam gesturing toward Bella and back to a make-shift enclosure to the far left of the clearing. Several women were standing outside.

Jake nodded his head and turned back to Ward and Bella, explaining quickly. "Our village was attacked by the Valentine brothers and their men. They came by and asked my father and the Elders once again to sell the land. When my father refused, they held them at gunpoint and proceeded to burn the village. Luckily, most of the women and children were already here, preparing for the return of the hunting party. When Sam overheard the Valentine brothers arguing with my father, he was able to get the few remaining women, his wife included, across the creek and to safety before the destruction began. Unfortunately, he got back too late to save the Elders. He returned to see the village in flames and the Valentines ride off, taking my father and the other three Elders as prisoners. He couldn't leave the women and children unprotected to go search for them. Besides, his wife will soon give birth." He turned to Bella, reaching out to clasp her hands. "She's having a hard time of it, Bells. I know you have a special way with animals at times like this. Would you be willing to see if you can help Emily?"

Bella swallowed convulsively. She knew nothing about women giving birth. Her mother had died when she was so young, and she had learned only the bare minimum about the workings of a woman's body from her friend Alice and Alice's mother. She raised her scared eyes to Jake and started to protest, but he stopped her. "Please, Bells, she may die."

The solemn tone of his voice brought her up short. She steeled herself and nodded her head. She figured it couldn't be that much different than when the livestock gave birth. She would do what she could.

At her nod, Sam smiled gratefully and led her in the direction of the canvas covered shelter where the women stood. He spoke quickly and quietly to one of the women, gesturing toward Bella, while the woman eyed her speculatively, before she nodded and pulled Bella toward the entrance and inside. Sam turned and rejoined Ward and Jake, the worried look on his face keeping them silent for the moment.

Bella spoke quietly to the two women who were seated on either side of the obviously laboring woman lying on a bed of leather skins on the ground. She knew they didn't understand her words, but they recognized the inquiring tone of her voice. In the glow of the small fire, Emily raised her tired eyes, so full of pain and fear, and looked straight at Bella. Without further thought, Bella knelt by her side and reached her hands toward the woman's distended abdomen. Raising her eyebrows in silent question, Bella waited for Emily to give her permission to touch her. At her barely perceptible nod, Bella's hands lowered to lightly touch her belly. The other women reached for her hands and shook their heads as though they already knew something horrible and inevitable was happening. Bella pulled away and reached back for Emily. If she could do something good in the middle of all this tragedy, she would.

Bella closed her eyes, concentrating with all her might, drawing upon her ability to become attuned to her natural surroundings. She prayed silently that her gift wouldn't desert her again as it had by the stream in the desert. As she kept her eyes tightly closed, she began to feel the familiar tingling move through her body, channeling the energy into her hands and then into the body of pregnant woman. Almost at once, Emily's breathing became easier and the tension left her limbs. Bella could sense that the delivery wasn't progressing as quickly as it should and it was fast wearing out the young woman.

Bella continued to channel relaxing energy into Emily, slowly brushing her fingertips across the woman's forehead and down her face. Over and over she did this, slowly running her hands down Emily's arms. After several minutes of her ministrations, Bella could feel a change take place. Suddenly her body was cooperating with the labor pains instead of working against nature. Bella felt her abdomen and could feel what she thought was a foot in the wrong place. While Emily continued to breath slow and deep Bella began massaging and pushing on her belly. The more calm Emily was, the more Bella could feel the baby relax and she was able to help it twist in the right direction. Within minutes, Emily's body was completely ready for delivery and the pain was manageable. Emily said something to the eldest of the women seated in complete silence at her side, and they quickly raised her up into a semi-sitting position to allow her to push. The older woman moved over, allowing Bella to take her place, as she quickly took the midwife's stance for the delivery. Two minutes later, the robust cries of Emily and Sam's newborn son rang out through the clearing.

The sound of the baby's cries seemed to snap the men out of their worried silence, as Sam raced off toward the birthing tent leaving Jake alone with Ward. The younger man turned, arms akimbo, and faced the gunfighter, speaking in a low tone, "Now, why don't you explain to me how you know Bella."

Ward studied Jake with a practiced eye and wondered just how much to tell him. Then he remembered how much Bella trusted this man and that they now had a mutual enemy. He realized that they would have a much better chance of defeating the Valentines by working together, but only if they trusted each other. Ward was smart enough to understand that the best way to garner trust was to give it, so taking a deep breath, he began his story.

Thirty minutes later Bella was back outside, standing at Ward's side, while Sam was enjoying his first meeting with his son. Jake related Sam and Emily's gratitude, along with thanks from the midwife; she had never seen someone able to move the baby that way before. Bella couldn't hold back the tears as she realized what she had been able to do for Emily. It was the first time her gift had been used to alleviate someone's pain. She felt overwhelmed for a moment.

Ward placed his hand discreetly at the small of her back, rubbing softly and letting her know he was there without embarrassing her in front of the people around them. Bella was grateful for his understanding and gave him a watery smile as she looked up at him through her spiky lashes. He smiled back before turning once more to talk to Jake. She noticed that they seemed much more at ease with each other and could see that Jake was listening intently to what Ward was saying.

"Now that we've established that we have a mutual enemy in the Valentines, we need to devise a plan to get your Elders back. When will the hunting party return?"

"They should be back in a couple of days," Jake answered. "You both should stay here for the night. The Valentines may still be close by and it wouldn't be safe for you to travel at night."

Ward had barely noticed the creeping darkness and he knew that Isabella had to be nearing exhaustion from the adventures of the day. To be honest, he could feel the tiredness beginning to settle in his own limbs. With a glance into Bella's weary face, Ward accepted the offer for them both.

Bella was quickly set up in a lean-to with the women, while Ward was pointed to an area on the right side of the clearing. Jake called to a couple of the young boys that were gathered on the fringes of the campsite and soon the boys had built a small campfire and left Ward enough firewood for the night. The night air wasn't cold, but the fire would be welcome to keep out the late night chill. Ward was thankful and amazed at their resourcefulness when Jake also brought him a blanket.

Ward insisted that he be allowed to take a turn at watch and settled down to sleep only after Jake assured him that he would awaken him. True to his word, Jake roused Ward for his watch four hours later, and Sam relieved Ward a few hours before dawn. Thankfully, it proved to be a quiet night.

After a breakfast of roasted corn cakes, Ward and Bella took their leave of Sam and Jake.

"Let me get Isabella back to town safely and then I'll come back tonight and help you keep watch. I just need to make sure Bella's not left alone." Bella started to protest, but Ward shook his head at her and said, "Bella, the Valentines are ruthless. You saw what they did to the village. I'll feel much better if you stay with your friend in town. It's not safe for you to be alone."

Before she could say anything, Jake spoke up. "He's right, Bells. I don't want you staying by yourself either. It's not safe. Stay with Alice and Jasper; you'll be safe in town."

Bella could see she was outnumbered, and frankly, she didn't look forward to having to fight off the Valentines all by herself, again.

"Okay, just take me by my house so I can get a few things and see to my animals. Then I'll go to Alice's."

Ward heaved a sigh of relief that she wasn't putting up an argument. At least he wouldn't have to worry about her safety. With a smile of gratitude in her direction, Ward turned once more to Jake.

"Before I come back here, I'll do some advance scouting for you tonight at the Valle Verde. Besides, I have a mighty fine horse I need to rescue, along with my gear." Ward gave him a wry smile before he shook his head and continued, "Anyways, I don't think the Valentines have harmed your people, at least not yet. If they wanted them dead, they wouldn't have taken them away. I think they plan to use them to get title to this property."

"You're probably right," Jake nodded his agreement. "I'll meet you in town and come with you."

"No, Jake, you need to stay here. If the Valentines decide to come back, Sam will need help. I'll check out the situation and report back to you later tonight."

Jake could see the logic of Ward's plan and agreed.

"Okay," he said as he watched them mount their horse and head out of the makeshift camp.

They rode silently for nearly ten minutes, Bella pressed close to Ward, her arms wrapped around his middle and her head resting softly on his back. Ward was the first to break the silence.

"Did you sleep okay last night?" She felt the rumbling of his words vibrate gently on her cheek as it rested against him.

"Um-hum. How about you? Did you get any rest at all?" she asked without raising her head from its resting position.

"Some, not as good as the cave, but okay," he replied, turning slightly to give her a crooked smile over his shoulder.

She blushed to the roots of her hair as she remembered not only sleeping, but also waking up in his arms. "Yeah, that was nice," she said softly.

Nice? Was that all she could say about it? Nice? Ward glanced at her again and noticed the blush and smiled to himself. Yes, it had been quite 'nice', waking up with her body curled next to him, her softness filling his hand. Very nice, indeed.

Deciding to save her from further embarrassment, he changed the subject. "I'll see if I can't rescue Captain from the Valle Verde tonight when I get my horse, though I'm not sure if I can get the wagon; might make too much noise."

"Don't take any chances, Eddie; it's not worth you gettin' shot."

"Don't you worry about me, Darlin', I'm used to dangerous situations, getting shot at ain't nothin' but an afternoon stroll for me."

His crooked grin did nothing to alleviate Bella's fears. "Please, Eddie, promise me you won't get shot."

Ward laughed outright at her crazy request as he answered, "I have no intention of getting shot."

She bristled at his laughter, realizing he wasn't taking her fears to heart. "I'm serious, Eddie. The Valentines are ruthless, you said so yourself." She felt tears welling up in her eyes and blinked furiously to clear her vision. "I couldn't bear it if something… happened to you."

He heard the catch in her voice and the soft sob that escaped her throat and his amusement at the situation died instantly. He pulled the horse to a stop and twisted around to look at her. With one look at her fearful, tear-filled eyes, he jumped to the ground, pulled her off the horse and into his arms. He pressed her close to his chest, winding one arm around her waist while running the other hand over her tangled hair as she pressed her face into the crook of his neck. He held her while she sobbed softly, realizing that the trauma of the past day had finally caught up with her.

"There, there, Bella," he hummed tenderly. "I promise, I won't take any chances, just, please, don't cry." Ward had never been one to be swayed by a crying woman, apart from Bella. Her tears touched a spot so deep inside him that he had forgotten it existed – until now.

She sniffed and looked up at Ward with tear-drowned eyes. "Eddie, the Valentines have no scruples and they will do anything to get this land. They killed my father and now they've burned down the Hualapai village." She had to pause as she was overcome by a fresh bout of tears. "Eddie, I don't think… I could bear it… if they took… took… you away, too." She fisted her hands in the soft buckskin on his chest and wept. Her strength failed her and she began to collapse. Ward held her tight and led them both down softly to their knees.

Ward felt a pain stab his heart as he realized what she had lost because of those filthy Valentines, and he vowed silently that he would do everything in his power to make sure they didn't take anything else from her. As of this moment, he was appointing himself her protector. Nothing or no one would ever hurt her again, as long as he had breath in his body.

Ward leaned his head down and began to softly kiss away her tears. He didn't know what else to do to comfort her; he just wanted to make her pain and fear go away. He brushed his lips across her cheeks, tasting the saltiness of her tears; he kissed across her nose, her chin and her jaw line. He let his lips ghost across her mouth as he moved back up her face to kiss her closed eyes, feeling the moist lashes flutter against his lips. He pulled back far enough to meet her eyes as she slowly opened them. Then he felt her tremble as he closed his eyes and once again covered her lips with his.

Bella's hands loosened their hold on his shirt and slowly slid up his chest until they were buried in the thick hair at his nape. She strained to get closer to him, wanting the comfort of his lips as they sent waves of pleasure through her body. Ward didn't think he had ever felt anything more perfect that the soft, warm woman pressed tightly against his body. When he held her, a tingling feeling swept across his skin and he could feel his hear knit with hers, again he dreamed of settling down in one place, on a spread of his own, with a woman waiting in the home they built together, keeping a watchful eye over their brood of children. This woman; their children.

Slowly he removed his lips from hers, moving them to press softly to her forehead. He heard the soft sigh that escaped her parted mouth and had to battle with his inner self not to continue kissing her. Her kisses were fast becoming as necessary to his well-being as water or food or the air he breathed. He was amazed at how important this woman had become to him in such a short time. Then he realized that she always had been; he'd just lost touch with her for a while. Just as he had lost touch with himself for a time, and the man he used to be, the man he now wanted to be for her.

Bella felt as if her heart would surely fail, as it was beating so fast. She had never felt anything like the security she felt when she was in Eddie's arms. But not just security; when he held her she felt like she had finally found her place in the world. All the struggles she had been through in this year since her father was killed had been leading to this moment. Eddie was the end of her journey, or perhaps, just the beginning. This was all so new to her, but she knew she wanted him in her life, he had become her whole future.

As their lips parted, she was amazed at the feeling of completeness that settled over her mind and body. As he pulled back from her, she swayed a little at the loss of support and his hands quickly curved around her upper arms.

"We better get you home and then over to your friend's place." He bent his head and peered caringly into her eyes as he asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine now." She smiled gently in return and whispered, "You promised me you wouldn't take any chances. I'm gonna hold you to that, Eddie."

"You do that, Darlin'," his voice soft and low. "You give me a reason to be careful."

"Do you mean that?" her eyes lifted to his in wonder.

He gave her a small, crooked smile. "You make ranch life look better and better all the time."

Her eyes grew wide as the words registered. Then she remembered she had something to tell him.

"It's funny you should say that, because I've got something really important to tell you about my ranch."

He couldn't help lifting his hand to run the backs of his fingers along her soft cheek. "Oh, really, and what might that be?"

Bella took a deep breath, and began, "You know how your father was good friends with my father back in Philadelphia?" Ward nodded, but remained silent as Bella continued. "And you know that it was always our fathers' plan to meet up here sometime." Ward still didn't say anything, but his curiosity was piqued, and he hung on her words. "Well, before my family left Philadelphia, our fathers had an agreement. My father would come out west and find a suitable spread, and then you and your family would follow. Your father invested money with my father to purchase the land – our ranch."

She paused to let her words sink in. Ward's mind was trying to process what she had just told him and finally said, "So, you're telling me that your ranch was purchased with money my father invested with your father?"

"Yes, that's what I'm saying. Half the money was your father's. My father always intended that he share in the ranch." Bella's chocolate-brown eyes never wavered from Ward's clear green ones. "Eddie, half my ranch belongs to you."

A look of incredulity spread over his face. "No, Bella, I… your ranch… no, I couldn't…"

"Eddie, don't argue with me, not now. Just accept it, our fate started to roll out a long time ago. Right now I feel it like a freight train comin' full steam ahead. My father was always adamant that half the ranch belonged to your father, and as he's dead, it now belongs to you. No more arguments." A sudden wave of sadness entered her eyes as she suddenly thought of something. "But you probably don't want to own half of anything with me, right?" Her lips turned up slightly in a sad little half smile. "I mean, I am 'Crazy Izzy' after all."

"Oh, Bella, no, that's not what I meant!" Ward spoke quickly, intending to nip that notion in the bud immediately. "It just doesn't seem fair for you to hand over half your ranch to me. After all, it was your father's hard work that went into making it what it is."

"Yes, it is fair," Bella insisted. "My father often told me that he would never have been able to buy our place if he hadn't had your father's help. So, like it or not Eddie, half the ranch is yours."

Ward had never been one to believe in fate, but he couldn't help believing that maybe Bella was right and some higher power had led him to Devil's Fork. He had found Bella again, his childhood friend, and discovered that she was everything he'd ever dreamed of in a woman. And he couldn't have come into her life at a time when she needed him more. She had her hands full trying to stave off a hostile takeover of her ranch by the cutthroat Valentines. After what she had just told him, it seemed they were trying to get his ranch as well.

"Okay, we'll talk about this more later," Ward decided that it was best to save their conversation for a place less out in the open. He just realized that they had stopped in the middle of nowhere and would be sitting ducks for any sharpshooter that might have replaced him on the Valentines' payroll. "Let's get you over to your house and then into town, alright?"

Bella just nodded and waited until Ward had mounted and then let him pull her back up on the horse. They traveled in silence, Bella taking up her original posture behind him for the rest of the trip to her place. As they topped over the same ridge Ward had climbed with the Valentines' just a few days ago, the sight below caused Ward to abruptly halt and turn to embrace the small woman behind him.

No! Damn those Valentines to hell! They had not done this to his Bella!

Bel: Hey, Melly, how did you like that little turn of events?

Mel: Well, I'd have to say it's just the beginning of the free-fall portion of this little rollercoaster.

Bel: And we're so lucky to have a seat in the front car!

Mel: *Melly raises her hands up* Yes we are lucky. I think I'm liking this whole riding the horse behind Ward action...

Bel: I know. I just love a manly man, and Ward is the manliest of the manly.

Mel:That he is.

Bel&Mel: * Sigh *