Hank sat in the saloon in a morose mood knowing that Amelia spent her time with that damn marshal Ethan who claimed to have known her back in a town called Paradise. Not that it mattered because he knew her first…back when they'd both been younger and she'd been working with his family. They'd fallen in with each other and when he had developed a softness for her, she'd been happy with him…until his no good brother Pierce came back.

He'd married Amelia but hadn't been good to her. Hank just knew it because no one could give her what she needed like he did. Pierce had abandoned her and gone off to seek his fortune through schemes elsewhere…just as Hank had predicted to Amelia.

Not that she'd listened to him…and with no memories of his time together she still didn't listen to him. She'd always been so damn stubborn though. Not everything he'd ever said to her got through…but now they were back together in the same town…that had to be a sign that they were meant to pick up where they left off.

Now that his brother was out of the picture. Hank drank some of his own whisky while Jake ran the till and in walked a man who dressed in a suit still managed to look out of place. The guy sat down and ordered a whisky of his own…and Hank served it up to him. The man thanked him and started sipping it.

"Who you?"

The man looked at him and smiled.

"I'm Ethan Cooper and I'm in town visiting with some folks…some old friends…"

Hank shrugged.

"So how long you staying?"

"Don't know…as long as I have to…I'm not on any set schedule."

Hank clearly approved.

"You have any money to spend while you're here you do it here," Hank said, "We also have a nightly poker match among the best players…if you're man enough to sit with us, you can play."

Ethan smiled.

"I might take you up on that. Then again haven't decided how long I'll be staying yet."

Hank served himself some more whisky, anything to forget that the prettiest lady in his past was back in town and had no memory of the sweet times they had shared together. Michaela hadn't been too pleased with him when he'd used his time helping Amelia with her amnesia to stir up the embers of their past together. But he had a right to do that didn't he? A man had a right to what he wanted and what belonged to him and Amelia had been the first real love of his life.

What was his, he'd take back as his own. He'd find a way to convince Amelia to see reason…that they were meant to be together. He just needed to figure out how.

Amelia and Ethan listened as Michaela and Sully talked about how they'd gotten together, how it'd taken many months, some years before they realized they were in love and meant to be together. Sully took over the story at one point and the way Michael glanced at him, it made Amelia's heart skip a beat.

The doctor had found her true love and they'd married and had a beautiful daughter to add to the rest of their family. Ethan had related some of the parts of his own history he shared with Amelia…and Amelia listened captivated. The way he spoke, his eyes lit up and he glanced at her and she felt the warmth of his words.

She so wanted to feel a response to that but everything remained a blank slate to her. She didn't remember their time together and she so wanted to do that. She and Michaela cleared the plates after supper while Sully and Ethan shared adventure stories.

Amelia washed the dishes while Michaela dried.

"I wish I remembered what he did," Amelia said, "but as much as I try, I can't…"

Michael smiled.

"It's just going to take some time. Ethan's a very good man and he's a very patient man. He cares a lot about you…maybe this will help you if you spend time with him."

Amelia's mouth curved into a smile.

"I enjoy spending time with him…he's very nice and I feel…safe with him. I just hope he doesn't expect things from me I can't deliver…"

"Meaning…"

Amelia paused.

"He loves me so he says…and I feel that he does but I…I just don't feel that….I'm trying so hard to be what he wants but…"

Michaela put her towel down and looked at Amelia.

"Amelia you have to be true to yourself…and just take each day, each moment at a time and trust in what comes to you…because those memories will return."

Amelia sighed.

"I know you're right but I can't feel what's not there. Hank's got his own idea of what I shared with him before I married his brother Pierce. I don't feel that either…I have two men here that want more from me than I can give and it's all overwhelming…"

Michaela rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Like I said just take it one day at a time and allow yourself to remember…and it'll come back soon enough."

Outside Colorado Springs…

Johnny Ryan didn't get P.J. at all. His fixation on Amelia for one thing…it could get away with their plans of heading to Colorado Springs on some business.

P.J. was grumbling about the conditions of camping out in the Rockies…it'd been damn chilly at night and snow threatened but nothing that couldn't be handled. The marshal acted like a damn city slicker.

"That ground's been rocky…digging into my back all night. When are we going to get there?"

Johnny sighed.

"Another day…we should find this whore Pearl soon enough and if Amelia Lawson is with her…you'll find her there too."

P.J. smiled.

"I know I can make her see reason…"

Johnny had been living with the man's delusions for several days now.

"Good luck with that. She's always going to be hung up on Ethan Cord. She might have left but she'll return to him soon enough. Don't get it myself but…"

P.J. put up his hand.

"Not another word…don't want to hear it. When are we packed up and ready to go?"

Johnny grinned.

"In less than an hour…if you can keep up."

P.J. glowered at them, a grumpy man.

"Oh I can keep up…when it comes to getting what I want."

He went to find his horse.