Ethan walked into Darrin's office the next day at the bank. He walked past Martha who busy with a customer looked at him. But he wasn't about to stop until he found out what Darrin was up to now bringing in those security forces.
Darrin acted like he was glad to see him.
"Hello Ethan…I heard you might be dropping by today. Why don't you sit down?"
Ethan stayed standing by the door.
"You ran into Buster and Simon last night didn't you?"
"What were they doing coming to Bella's ranch?"'
Darrin hedged as he shuffled some papers on his desk. Ethan knew he didn't want to really answer his question. But Ethan also knew he wasn't leaving until he got some answer.
"They were just dropping by to ask some questions and get some information."
"I told you that those women have as much right to settle here and run a business as those in town."
Darrin leaned back in his chair.
"It was just to advise them of the additional security in Paradise."
Ethan leaned against the door.
"You didn't tell me that you'd hired those guys."
Darrin clasped his hands in front of him.
"I didn't think I needed your permission."
"I'm the law in this town."
Darrin looked up at him.
"You and deputy Dakota aren't enough," he said, 'If some gang attacked like Daggett…."
Ethan sighed.
"I've been in Paradise a long time and seen a lot of gangs come to town and try but they all get caught."
Darrin shook his head.
"I can't trust what happened in the past when it comes to my business," he said, "I always hire my own guns to help out the local lawmen."
Martha came up to them.
"Father…one of your investors wired and said he'll be here on Founder's Day…"
Darren smiled.
"That's certainly good news," he said, "That makes three of them. It'll truly be a banner day for Paradise."
Ethan just listened to them.
"Bad news is that the reporter from San Francisco will be here too."
Darrin's smile dimmed.
"Well maybe we can shift the focus away from that outlaw woman to the good work we're doing here."
Martha nodded.
"Yes that might work. I'm sure it won't be that difficult."
Ethan interrupted.
"How many men did you hire?"
Darrin paused.
"Three that are already here, three more arriving just before the celebration….all the best security force that can be bought."
Ethan didn't like it at all but he knew he couldn't challenge him if the men stayed on private property.
"They'll be watching the bank and all the other businesses if their owners choose to pay their share."
So this was what was going on, Ethan thought as he watched Darrin flip through some papers and then hand him one.
A signed contract from Axelrod to use the private security firm…
"That's only the first one," Darrin said, "They'll be others."
Ethan hadn't been surprised that Axelrod would jump aboard. He'd never liked Ethan since they knew each other.
Martha smiled at Ethan.
"It'll make your job much easier and we'll have more time to spend together."
Ethan just wanted to walk on out of there and go do his job even if that meant having to put up with private security men as long as they stayed out of his path. So he just shot Darrin one more look and walked away. Martha walked after him.
"Ethan…"
But he kept on going.
Amelia stopped by where Claire did the books for Axelrod in his store walking past an armed guard who didn't look familiar. It must be one of them which had been hired by Darrin. He barely noticed her passing as she'd gone into the store.
"How's it going?"
Claire looked up from the counter.
"I'm almost done…Axelrod's books are a mess. He doesn't need to be robbed to lose money."
"When did the guard get here?"
Claire paused.
"This morning I think…first time I saw him on the way to school."
"I imagine that they'll be more businessmen using them," Amelia said, "It'll make it harder on Ethan."
Claire closed the ledger.
"It will and he's the best marshal Paradise has ever had."
Amelia couldn't have argued with that even when she hadn't liked it. But these security men bothered her.
"They use them more in the larger cities but Paradise isn't like that."
"He makes me nervous," Claire said, "but Axelrod insists it makes him feel safer."
Amelia sighed.
"Some of them aren't honest," she said, "Back in San Francisco, they worked for some bad characters. If businessmen didn't pay them, some outlaw would show up and rob them."
Claire shook her head.
"My uncle would never let that happen here."
Amelia didn't say anything just looked outside the store where the man stood.
"I don't imagine he would Claire but sometimes it can be tough to fight."
Claire closed the last of the ledgers.
"I'm ready to go…Ben and George are probably driving Dakota crazy if I don't hurry up and get them home."
Amelia smiled knowing that Claire had harbored a crush on Dakota before she left Paradise that still seemed to exist. But Claire had kept her feelings close to her chest…most of the time.
They left the store together.
"Ethan be reasonable…"
He turned his head while walking out of the bank as Martha followed him.
"I am being reasonable," he said, "Your father just hired a bunch of men I don't even know to do my job for me."
"He's just trying to help the local businessmen."
"I know that's what he thinks he's doing but that's not what's going to happen."
"How do you know? Ethan you can use the help especially on Founder's Day if any trouble shows up."
Meaning someone like Daggett's gang but there hadn't been any signs of them yet.
"Then I'd hire the men to help me. Men I know and I trust not strangers."
They reached the marshal's office.
"It's going to be just fine and that'll leave us more time to spend together. Ethan you've been working so hard, don't you want some relief?"
He looked at her.
"I don't need any help or relief," he said, "I just need to do my job and now I've got businessmen in this town paying to get Darrin's hired lawmen."
She just shook her head at him.
"I thought this would make you happy, that it'd make your life easier."
He sighed.
"If you think this is what I need then you don't know me at all."
Martha didn't like the sound of that and her lip curled.
"You don't have to say that. Okay I see your point."
Ethan looked up and saw Amelia with Claire. They were talking on their way to probably go find Ben and George. Tiny had them enthralled as always at his blacksmith shop.
"Amelia…Claire…"
They both looked at him and Martha. Amelia arched a brow.
"Hi Ethan…I can see you're quite busy."
He pursed his lips.
"You got some time later today?"
She knit her brow.
"Why?"
"I need to talk to you about Clara."
As far as excuses went, it wasn't the strongest but he wanted to spend time with her.
"About what…?"
He glanced at Martha and Claire then back at Amelia.
"I need to talk to you alone about her…situation."
Amelia paused and then nodded.
"Okay…we can talk before I head back to the ranch. Is it anything wrong?"
He hedged.
"We'll talk about it okay?"
She nodded again.
"Maybe we can catch some dinner?"
He smiled at her.
"Okay…"
Martha glowered at him.
"Ethan…I thought…"
He looked over at her.
"It's business Martha…just like your father and I talked about…"
That didn't appease her much but she said nothing. Claire spoke up.
"I'll get the boys and then take them back to the house," she said, "Guess I won't expect you for dinner."
"I'll be back afterward," he said, "as soon as Amelia and I had our discussion."
Amelia bit her lip not sure she liked the way this was going. She'd kept herself at a distance for reasons that had nothing to do with how she felt about him. Now he was trying to complicate things…but then again if he had news on Clara…she had to hear it. Because if Daggett was planning to come after her, then they had to stop him and his gang…because whatever security force Darrin hired, it wouldn't stop them.
"It won't be too long Claire," she said, "I've got some chores to do when I get back to the ranch."
Claire nodded.
"That's fine…he's had quite a few late nights because of marshaling."
Ethan had felt some guilt about that but it was part of doing the job that he'd been drafted to do. Martha sighed.
"I'll see you tomorrow then Ethan…we have a meeting with the merchants and the security forces and we hope to see you there."
He knew he had to show up if only to protect the interests of the town. He'd hoped to get the names of the men that still hadn't shown up to work on Darrin's payroll but he'd been guarded about revealing that information. Ethan knew that Darrin didn't want to check them out by wiring the places they worked before coming to Paradise.
Then when Martha walked away he looked at Amelia.
"I'll see you later then."
She nodded and then walked with Claire to find her younger brothers while Ethan walked inside his office.