Edwina just shook her head at Stella's reasoning on Ethan's departure.

"He's got a job to do," Stella had said, "I understand that and if I'm going to marry him…"

Edwina tilted her face.

"That's not set in stone yet. He hasn't made his choice."

Stella just shrugged and picked up her tea cup. They were both seated at the restaurant enjoying some scones that Scotty had just pulled out of the oven, a brand new recipe from England.

"Yeah whatever…but his duties will always come first and so if you can't handle that…"

Edwina rolled her eyes.

"Who said I can't? You're the one who paced for 20 minutes before I suggested going to tea to settle down."

Stella arched her brows.

"Oh really…I'm doing just fine…he and I, there's this connection between us already that defies all reason! I'm not a romantic but I can see the appeal of such for some women like you…almost. But this is strictly business."

"So you don't love him?"

Stella leaned across the table.

"Do you?"

Edwina seemed unprepared for that question and grabbed her napkin to dab at her mouth.

"I…we…there hasn't been enough time yet," she said, "but he's very nice and genteel for a town marshal…I didn't expect such in a rustic place but I think we'll grow towards a place of deep affection for one another."

Stella didn't look thrilled. She hadn't really viewed the other woman as serious competition for Ethan. She might have to change that thought. She sipped her tea again thoughtfully, planning all the while because she intended to win this contest and have her future set in a much better place than what she left. She didn't begrudge Edwina's interest in doing the same but she'd have to settle for a train ticket back to where she came from.

Claire shook her head as she nibbled one of Scotty's prized scones. Mary had been standing with her after checking on some orders. The traffic was light right now at the restaurant so she'd been rinsing some glasses at the bar.

"I don't know what they are saying but I don't see Uncle Ethan marrying either one of them."

Mary shrugged.

"A man will do what he has to do to get what he wants and Ethan must have his reasons."

Claire sighed.

"It's because of us he has to marry. Some judge told him he'd lose us to another family unless he provided a mother figure for us."

Mary furrowed her brow.

"Makes some sense though not a lot of it. Ethan's the best parent to his own kin even though his job keeps him busy."

"I know…but we all pitch in where we can. It's what families do after all."

Mary nodded.

"True…families can change…why I remember when Huckleberry came to us…but it can get complicated."

Claire knew all about that but she knew that her uncle had provided everything they needed no matter what. He might not always be at home when he was out tracking fugitive or so busy with his marshaling that he had to stay in town for days but…she would run the household when he wasn't there just fine.

"I just wish that if he got married it could have been to Ms Lawson but she left us all."

Claire hadn't been happy about that but over time, her feelings had softened a bit. She knew that her uncle tried the will of most people in one way or another. She knew that Amelia had cared for them…even risked her life for the children more than once including when Ethan had accidently shot her instead of George.

Mary picked up a scone and bit into it.

"We'll just have to wait and see what he does decide but it'll be out of love or all of you."

Claire knew that and that's what scared her.

Amelia arrived at the barn still not seeing anyone tailing her but she knew Ethan was better at that than anyone else. Saved her life a time or two like when she'd been kidnapped by the band of out laid off miners who'd ambushed them at their campsite. He'd barely been able to stay on his horse or stand from being beaten up but it hadn't stopped him from finding her.

Now she just needed him not to find her. She might have thought about asking for his help earlier but this…now that she was a fugitive. It wasn't going to work out very well.

She didn't see any horses tied up but knew they were probably out of sight. Her contact didn't want to be seen either. So she walked slowly into the barn, the doors creaking and the light from outside clearing away some of the darkness causing it to retreat into the shadows. She still didn't see anyone so she walked along the side where there were deserted stalls.

Where was he anyway? The man who was supposed to direct her where to send Miranda and her baby far enough away so her husband wouldn't find her.

Then she got to the last stall and what she saw nearly made her scream. The body of the man laid curled up in the confined space, the faded straw drenched with blood.

Ethan and Charlie rode up and Ethan saw what looked like Amelia's horse tied up. She must have gone into the barn he thought, and he gestured Charlie to halt and both slid off of their horses. They kept their hands on their holstered guns in case there was trouble waiting. Amelia wasn't a threat to anyone but something had brought her here and that something made the hairs on the back of Ethan's neck stand up.

Something just wasn't right about this place.

"We better go in nice and slow."

Charlie nodded so they went to do that until they reached the barn door which was ajar. Ethan slid inside falling into shadow and Charlie behind him as suddenly they started hearing a man's voice.

Amelia looked up at the sound of creaking wood and got away from the dead body. She had knelt to check it for signs of life and found none…yet it looked like a fresh kill so that meant…

Her heart squeezed in her chest at the thought that the killer might be still around…even in the barn hiding.

"There you are…"

She turned around and saw the figure emerge with the gun.

"I thought I'd find you here meeting this traitor," the man said, "no accounting for who gets hired these days…the boss definitely won't be happy about that."

Amelia just stared at him.

"You…you killed him…"

"Necessary considering he's a kidnapper just like you," the man said, "the man you're aiding and abetting so now the question is what to do about you."

He tightened his hold on the gun which aimed at her. She knew he'd pull the trigger without hesitation and she'd be lying dead next to the man just killed.

Too soon for her life to end before…images flashed in front of her of…regrets intermingled with the happiest moments. Damn, it couldn't just end like this in an abandoned barn with no witnesses. No she had to stop her own death.

Then both of them heard a noise behind them.