Ethan Cord lay back on his blanket, up at the endless stars above him. The other Ethan had passed out as soon as he lay out his own blanket on the ground. They had ridden hard all day save for a couple brief stops including to eat their lunch. Cooper had complained about the schedule but Ethan wanted to make good time, to get to Colorado Springs as soon as possible.
If Amelia and Pearl were already there, all the better. If not, then he'd drop off deadbeat father here and head on in the same direction. He hadn't picked up any trail, as you could ride horses through this pass and not leave behind a trace. He'd ran it through his head, why she'd wire for him to meet her in Reno and then pull a disappearing act. Something had gone wrong, he just knew it. It had something to do with her apparent decision to involve herself with Pearl's working at the Cactus Flower.
He knew that a posse would come after them to collect Pearl because she'd be taken back to whoever held her contract. Similar to indentured servants, Pearl had to work off a debt she must have owed, or that which was owed by someone else who forced her to work it off. That wouldn't surprise Ethan because he knew there were men out there who treated the women in their lives terribly. He hadn't been a saint in his life but he never abused a woman, though he'd caroused with more than a few. It hadn't meant much to him but a way to relax, feel good and forget his dangerous profession for a while.
He'd been in love once and that had changed everything but then the woman had gone off and left him, not even telling him where she'd be heading. Maybe she didn't know herself but she'd gotten on the next stagecoach and disappeared from his life.
The moon was but a sliver of light and he heard the howls of coyotes in the distance. They'd lit a fire to cook their dinner and ward them off. Cooper had been worried about them but Ethan said they'd keep their distance while they slept.
They might hit Colorado Springs the day after tomorrow if they made good time. He'd have to push the city slicker even harder. But he knew he had to catch up to the women before someone else did.
Cooper stirred next to him and lifted his head.
"It's not morning yet is it?"
"No…not for hours yet. You best get back to sleep. We have a hard day's ride."
Cooper groaned clearly not looking forward to that.
"Should have taken a train…or at least a stage…"
"Didn't have the money remember? I'm not about to give it to you either. You have enough for lodging in Colorado Springs or are you staying with family?"
Cooper paused.
"I don't know…I haven't thought that far yet. What about you?"
"I don't know how long I'll be staying. I might just be dropping you off unless Amelia's there."
Cooper lay back on his blanket.
"You really think she's there and wanting to see you again?"
"She wired me for some reason."
Cooper shook his head.
"You can't trust women, none of them," he said, "they'll turn on you like a snake. If not, they'll always want more from you than you can give them."
"Your wife was killed by a rattler wasn't she?"
Cooper fell silent.
"She raised your children by herself until she died didn't she and then she handed them off to Dr. Quinn to raise…like my sister did with me because her no good husband took off on her. He's like you, gambler and a cheat."
"Hey, that's a bit harsh isn't it?"
"I don't think so.
Ethan settled back to sleep not wanting to listen to Cooper any longer.
Colorado Springs
Claire and Millie sat in the restaurant eating the delicious food that Grace had prepared for them. She had seemed like a very nice woman if somewhat sad. Matthew had told them that she'd lost her adopted son from a terrible illness that had weakened him before taking his life.
Matthew had gone to the wire office to pick up the daily alerts and notifications on any outlaws in their area. He seemed very committed to his job and to his studies to someday become a lawyer. There was a law school in Denver that he'd wanted to attend though Michaela had told him he could go stay with family in Boston and get his education there, maybe even at Harvard.
"This town…it's so different than Paradise in some ways but not in others."
Claire nodded.
"It seems cleaner, and people seem more progressive than back home," she said, "I think there's even a library here…not to mention a real doctor."
"Less gunfights in the street and brawling in the saloon," Millie said, "I don't think I've seen a quieter saloon."
Claire agreed.
"More women owning businesses too… I mean besides Amelia with the bank, there weren't even that many young women that stayed."
"Dou think you could ever live here?"
Claire thought about it.
"I don't know. Paradise might be much rougher and rustic but I like it. Now that we have a church and a schoolhouse…more children living there."
Millie hedged.
"I don't know. I'm liking Colorado Springs."
Claire shot her a knowing look.
"I think you're liking the sheriff. You keep looking at him a lot."
Millie blushed.
"He's really nice…very kind and very good looking. I just think he seems sad. He lost his fiancée to hydrophobia."
Claire shook her head, remembering her own scare. It could have just as easily been her if she'd not lucked out.
"Still he did ask me to the party…"
"What party?""
Millie smiled.
"The one that is right before Founder's Day in the center of town…in several days."
Claire thought she might check it out even if she didn't have a date.
Michaela and Amelia walked to the mercantile to pick up some items. She thought getting out in the fresh air was what her patient needed. Amelia had been doing so much better though she still didn't remember much about herself…well anything really except bits and pieces here and there.
"Loren got a new shipment of glass bottles," Michaela said, "I think I'll get some for the clinic. I use them for medicine."
Amelia smiled.
"This is a nice town…lots of businesses and people, families…"
Michaela narrowed her eyes.
"Yes…does that seem strange to you?"
Amelia looked at her.
"I don't know…for some reason it does feel different."
"Maybe you're from a much smaller town," Michaela said, "but there's so many of them especially mining towns."
"I imagine…"
Suddenly Amelia looked up and saw a man with long brown hair and thought it might be Sully. But then he turned around and she saw it wasn't him.
But what she saw looked suddenly familiar. She just stared at him and Michaela noticed.
"Oh that's Hank Lawson, he owns the saloon and well, he rough around the edges to say the least."
"Hank Lawson…"
"What is it? You don't know him do you?"
Amelia didn't respond still looking at the man who suddenly glanced in their direction. His eyes widened and he walked over to them. Michaela wondered what was going on in front of her. Then something happened that stunned her. Hank walked up to them, showing a look in his eyes she didn't see often.
Astonishment, covering a myriad of other emotions.
"Amelia, is that you?"
Michaela looked at him and at her.
"You two know each other?"
Amelia just looked at him.
"Do I know you? Have we met?"
Hank snorted.
"Met…sweetheart it was a lot more personal than that?"
Michaela's eyes widened. Sweetheart?
Amelia looked like she was trying to sort out the man in front of her. But Hank looked agitated to say the least.
"Amelia…you don't remember me? I'd have thought that you'd remember me after you ran off with my brother."
"Your brother?"
Hank spat.
"Yeah, Pierce…Pierce Lawson…"
Amelia thought hard…now something was sounding more familiar.
"I'm married?"
Hank folded his arms.
"Damn straight…you ran off and married him right after…you don't remember anything?"
She shook her head.
Michaela spoke up.
"Amelia was ambushed by some outlaws. She and a woman named Pearl. She hit her head and is suffering from amnesia."
"Hot damn, well maybe this will trigger your memory. You told me that you loved me after we…and then the next thing you disappear and I read that you got married to that no good con artist brother of mine."
Michaela stepped in between them.
"Hank I know you're upset but I can't have you badgering my patient."
He glowered, clearly not happy. Then Michaela saw the silver lining.
"Hank…so this man Pierce Lawson married Amelia…and if she's still married then she'll share that name too."
"Yeah so?"
Michaela brightened.
"That means we'll have more information to wire out. Maybe we can even locate this Pierce Lawson and have him travel here to help her."
Hank vetoed that quickly.
"You send a wire you better add I'll knock him dead if I see him."
"Hank…"
"I mean it. He stole my woman from me."
Amelia put her hands on her hips glaring at him.
"I'm not any man's woman," she said, "I might not remember much but I do know that."
Michaela smiled.
"I hear you…I'm married to the most wonderful man in the world but I'm certainly not his woman either."
Hank stared at Amelia.
"This isn't over yet. You stay in town you'll find that out…"
Michaela interjected.
"Hank…maybe you could help her jog some memories that will help her remember more about her. I mean gently jog them, much more so than you're doing now…"
She saw something in Hank's eyes that meant he considered her proposal. Somehow this woman had really meant something to him at some time in his life.
"Well…okay I'll try…can't guarantee anything if you promise not to bring Pierce here because I will kill him."
Michaela nodded.
"Very well…drop by tomorrow morning and we can get started."
Amelia looked at Hank not so sure about it but she didn't want to walk around without her memories forever so finally she nodded.
"Okay I'll do it."
