Dakota ran into Ethan as they were both walking down the main street. Ethan had been riding out to the ranches to follow up on the rustling reports. Dakota had been hanging out at the saloon until he worked later that night.
Ethan was taking time to eat supper with Amelia. But first he had to set a few things straight with his deputy first.
"Did you ask Amelia out?"
Dakota looked at him, mirth in his eyes.
"You think I'd tell you if I did? I mean you two are old news aren't you?"
Ethan paused.
"We're not together but I still care about her," he said, "You go easy with her or you'll have me to answer to, got it?"
Dakota just chuckled.
"Ethan…funny coming from a man who's engaged to another woman don't you think?"
"I'm just a friend of hers," he said, "who doesn't want to see her hurt and you have your fun with women and then move to the next."
"Were you any different when you were a young buck?"
Ethan couldn't say that he was but that was neither here nor there. What mattered was that Dakota didn't hurt her.
"She can take care of herself."
"I know that…just watch yourself…"
He walked away and Dakota watched him go shaking his head.
Rose walked up to where John Taylor stood eating some food. He smiled at her.
"Hello there…Rose."
She nodded.
"Yes John Taylor…good to see you," she said, "It's a beautiful day."
He agreed.
"I was out at the lake earlier fishing for bass," he said, "Caught a few for dinner tonight."
She smiled at him.
"That's nice…I'm eating alone myself."
"Ah Amelia is going out to supper with Ethan," John Taylor said, "If you like, you can join me."
She smiled more widely.
"I'd like that if I'm not intruding on your solitude."
John Taylor shook his head.
"Oh no…I'd enjoy your company," he said, "I've heard you are quite…outspoken and I like that in a woman."
Rose chuckled.
"Not everyone does like a woman who speaks her mind," she said, "but I tend to associate with others who do which is how I met up with Amelia."
"She does certainly do that. I've enjoyed a few spirited discussions with her on a variety of topics."
"I have too, but I notice that the other women in Paradise…they seem to think that if we're not of like mind, we should remain silent."
John Taylor nodded again.
"I see…that you're not taking their advice."
She tilted her face.
"I like you…I can see what Amelia likes about you and this town."
"It's good to see that she's come back," John Taylor said, "although I'm not surprised."
"I can believe that. It doesn't seem like much gets past you."
He sighed.
"I know that Amelia's returned for a reason," He said, "and that it's got to do with some news she's gt for Ethan."
Rose narrowed her eyes.
"Damn you are good…she's supposed to tell him at dinner tonight."
John Taylor nodded.
"About the child…I see. I think he'll be very happy when he hears the news."
"I hope so…but he's engaged to another woman."
John Taylor waved a hand in dismissal.
"Oh that…the wedding will never happen," he said, "Ethan jumped into that quickly after his trip to Reno, that's all."
"Well she told him she couldn't return to Paradise with him," Rose said, "She still had a lot of thinking to do about why she'd left him."
John Taylor shook his head.
"Ah youth…so much indecision and too much thinking…"
Rose chuckled.
"Well clearly they weren't thinking the entire time they were together."
John Taylor shrugged.
"They'll work it out this time," he said, "if they get out of their own way."
Rose sighed.
"One can only hope."
Ethan held the chair for Amelia as she sat down in the restaurant. They'd met there and walked in together.
Scotty told them the special and they both wanted to try it.
"You look nice…"
She smiled at him.
"So do you," she said, "I hope your day went well."
"It was mostly riding to the ranches…there's been some report of rustlers but we haven't seen any signs so far."
"That's good…I see that Ivan and his daughter have grand plans for Paradise."
"Yes they do…they think they can turn it back into a boom town."
"I wish them luck with it," she said, "but it's a hard road as we both know with mining towns."
"Can't argue with that…but Missy's very hopeful."
Amelia paused.
"So when is the big day?"
Ethan blinked his eyes.
"Big day? Oh the wedding. We haven't decided on a date but it'll be sometime next month."
She digested that.
"I'm sure it'll be a happy occasion for both of you and I wish you the best Ethan. I mean it."
"I know you do Amelia," he said, "I know it might have been a shock."
She shrugged slightly.
"Maybe a little…but I'm happy that you moved on after…"
"Last year or Reno?"
Her mouth felt dry all of a sudden so she drank some of the tea.
"Both…either. I could have handled both a lot better than I did but I'm not good at it Ethan."
He smiled.
"You're awfully good at the in between."
Her face flushed, had he just said….?
"Ethan I don't…"
"Well I do…and that last time was really something."
She fiddled with her hair which she wore in a bun above the nape of her neck. She remembered just then how much Ethan loved loosening the pins and unraveling her carefully contoured hair so that it hung loosely in curls around her. Then…but no need to go there. She'd been left with a permanent reminder of that night.
So had he. He just didn't know that yet. She had to wait until past dessert to tell him.
"We shouldn't be talking about it," she said, "You're almost a married man."
He sipped his drink.
"Almost. Not yet."
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Ethan I'm not going to be a stand in for your fiancée…"
He leaned forward.
"Why did you come back Amelia?"
She realized he wasn't even going to leave her off the hook until at least dessert.
"I'm here because Rose wanted to see Paradise…"
Ethan arched a brow at her.
"A small town like this when she's from Reno?"
She kept her voice calm.
"Well yes…too much excitement she said."
He appeared to consider that.
"So how long are you staying?"
She paused.
"I don't know…I haven't decided yet."
She glanced away from him, trying to keep the words from spilling out of her. She didn't want to tell him here and she was losing her nerve.
But would there ever be a right time?