Chapter 26--Here's another installment, I hope you enjoy it and thanks for the feedback! BTW, anyone else out there who does FF for MH? If so, I'd love to read it. I love writing it but I'd love to read some too. So anyone out there pleeese including the author of those other wonderful fan fics here... :)

C.J. woke up the next morning, as the sunlight streamed into her window. She felt Matt lying next to her, sound asleep. She didn't want to wake him as he looked so peaceful but she needed to get out of bed before he woke up. She settled first for sitting up, careful of course while extricating herself from beneath his arm which lay across her waist.

Her bare waist.

She yawned and stretched, feeling much more rested than she had yesterday. Her sudden movement rousted Matt from his slumber and he opened his eyes, looking at her before she could manage a clean getaway.

"Good morning," he said, leaning up on his elbow, "Going anywhere?"

His Texan drawl melted her again. She placed a casual smile on her face.

"It is a lovely morning and it's time to get up," she said, "I'm ready for some breakfast."

She jumped out of bed, leaving him in her wake before he could react. She knew if he did, she'd be lost and she needed to get her bearings again after having thrown herself at him last night. Her cheeks flushed at the lingering memories of her actions but she hid it well.

He watched her, shaking his head as she left the bedroom to head to the kitchen.

She cracked some eggs in the frying pan, in the kitchen and turned on the stove. She heard footsteps enter into the kitchen and his arms wrap around her waist from behind. He lifted her hair gently with one hand and kissed the back of her neck and it tingled down her spine. Damn, she hadn't gotten away soon enough after all.

"What are you cooking," he asked, looking over her shoulder.

"Scrambled eggs and bacon," she said, throwing some chives and onions on top of the bubbling mass of eggs.

"I'll whip up some toast," he said, reaching for the cupboard.

She tried to make casual conversation.

"I slept so well, better than I have in ages," she said, "How'd you sleep?"

He remained silent so she turned around to face him. His brow furrowed as if he were in deep thought and she hoped he wasn't thinking about last night.

"You did sleep, didn't you," she said, raising her brow.

"Yes…I did, quite well thanks," he said, placing some bread in the toaster.

She brightened.

"Good," she said, "After breakfast, I'm going to a festival in town to check it out if you want to join me. I think it's like a farmer's market."

He nodded, watching her move around the kitchen. As she reached up into a cupboard to get some plates, her nightshirt rose up her legs a few inches. He sucked in his breath and looked away. He knew what she was doing, trying to put some buffer between them and he played along...for now.

"That sounds…like a plan."

"I think so," she said, "We should be ready to leave about an hour after breakfast."

His eyes followed her as she moved from the stove to the counter, after she finished the eggs and bacon. She wrapped the meat in paper towels to absorb the grease and spooned the eggs onto two plates.

"There's some juice in the frig," she said, as she looked for the butter and jam for the toast.

He handed both to her, their fingers brushing. She took a deep breath, thanked him and then began buttering the bread.

"You're sure energetic this morning," he said, "just like that Energizer Bunny."

"You're right; I just needed a good night's sleep to feel like myself again," she said handing him a plate piled with food, "Here's some breakfast."

They ate together outside on the porch enjoying the crisp mountain air. She flipped her hair back and enjoyed her breakfast, savoring each bite. He enjoyed watching her enjoy her food, licking her fingers. She caught him looking at her and smiled back. She knew what she was doing.

"I love being out here in the clean air," she said, "It makes everything seem so fresh, wouldn't you agree?"

"Yeah, it sure puts both L.A. and Houston to shame, doesn't it?"

"Well, it's certainly a nice change," she said, "and it's so pretty here. Maybe I'll just pack up my things and move out to Colorado."

He raised his brows.

"You're kidding, right?"

She studied him.

"No, I'm serious. I can set up a legal practice here and do more land use cases, maybe even some environmental law" she said, "You know I did get an offer from the firm in Denver."

His fork stopped before it reached his mouth.

"Are you thinking about taking it?"

She shrugged.

"I thought about it some," she said, "I really do love my work in Houston. But I love the wide open spaces that are still left in this country and I need to be surrounded by beauty like this place here to feel like I'm home."

"Well, there's no reason why you can't have both," he said, "There's plenty of land outside of Houston that's undeveloped."

She nodded, sipping her juice.

"Yeah, I might go take a look at some of it when I get back. I need to think about the future and for me, it's falling asleep to the sounds of coyotes howling and crickets chirping, not cars driving down the street and people shouting. A place where it's safe for kids to run around and play like we did when we were young."

"Kids?"

She smiled, looking down at her plate.

"Well yeah, some day of course, not right now."

He hesitated.

"Would you like some company when you go out looking for your piece of paradise?"

She looked up at him, a faint smile crossing her lips.

"Sure," she said, "I'd love some. But I thought you loved L.A. and the whole scene out there. You've got friends and family out there now."

He thought he detected a hint of wistfulness in her voice beneath her cheerfulness.

"I've got family out in Houston too."

She found herself warming inside at his words.

When they finished eating, they both showered and changed. She decided to stray from the traditional jeans she had lived in since arriving at the ranch, opting for a casual summer dress and some comfortable shoes. She clipped her hair back off of her face and brushed out her soft bangs.

She ran into him in the hallway. His eyes widened.

"You're…"

"I'm what?"

"You're wearing a dress," he said.

She put her hands on her hips.

"Why is that so surprising," she said, "I'm a woman and woman have been known to wear dresses. So have guys but that's a whole separate conversation."

"It's just that…"

She pointed a finger at him.

"Not another word or I'm taking it off," she said, "and wearing some jeans instead."

"I'm not saying anything," he said, "I think you look really pretty this morning whatever you're wearing…"

"Or not?"

His face reddened a bit, and he tried to clear his throat.

"Would you like some water?"

"No…I was just saying that you look beautiful."

She smiled kissing him on the cheek.

"Thank you, you're so sweet," she said, "Now let's get going. I don't want to miss anything."

As he watched her walk way, he thought the day hadn't come yet where anything got past her. He didn't know what the day would bring but he knew it would prove interesting to find out.

They went to the festival which was very similar to a Farmer's Market, with tables stacked with everything from freshly picked crops to knickknacks. Some musicians played folks songs on separate stages. As the sun traveled across the sky and the air warmed, more people including parents chasing after small children appeared at the festival.

"This must be a popular hangout for families," C.J. said, as she and Matt strolled past the booths.

"it certainly seems that way," he agreed.

She purchased some peaches and strawberries and looked at the garden ornaments.

"You're into gardening now?"

She rolled her eyes.

"Yes, I started one back in Houston," she said, "It's pretty nice actually after some setbacks and very relaxing. Rhonda gave me some tips on which plants work best together."

He folded his arms.

"You're just full of surprises, aren't you?"

She shrugged.

"Not really, Houston," she said, "I'm pretty much one of those 'what you see is what you get' women. I leave the mystique to others to figure out."

They reached a woman dressed up in like a fortune teller sitting at a table in front of a crystal ball.

"Oh I want to check this out," C.J. said, "What about you?"

Matt cocked his head.

"Don't tell me you believe in that hocus pocus."

She reached for his hand.

"There are more things in this life than we can possibly understand," she said, "Besides, she works on a sliding scale and it looks like business is slow today. Let's do it for the economy."

He chuckled, his eyes sparkling and he squeezed her hand.

"Well if you put it that way…"

They went and sat down in front of Madame Zenobia, who looked at them sternly.

"We're…"

She put her hands up to stop them.

"No, don't tell me…you want your fortune told."

"Now there's a real psychic premonition," Matt said.

C.J. threw him a look.

"Shhhh," the woman said to him, then turned to C.J., "Give me your hands."

C.J. put them up and the woman examined them.

"You've got some interesting lines," Madame Zenobia said, "You've seen much pain lately."

"Yeah, they're called scars," Matt said, quietly.

"Shhhh…" she chastised him again.

"You've seen much pain in recent times," Madame Zenobia, "but Mr. Doubting Thomas here remained by your side throughout."

C.J. looked at Matt who shrugged.

"You will see more happiness in the months ahead, a couple bumps that will challenge the both of you because the past isn't quite dead but a few months later, a pleasant surprise awaits you, when you come through the gauntlet to the other side." Madame Zenobia said.

"That sounds eventful," C.J. said.

"That sounds vague," Matt said.

"Come back here in a year and tell me that everything I revealed to you today isn't truth by then," Madame Zenobia said, shaking her head at the skeptics of the world, "Now shoo, I have more paying customers waiting."

They paid her and walked away.

"She didn't even tell me whether or not I was going to get lucky tonight," Matt said.

C.J. playfully slapped him.

"Always in motion, the future," she said, grabbing his arm, "You'll have to wait and see."

They walked around some more as it grew hotter, then bought some cold drinks and sat in the shade beneath a tree, listening to the music.

"It's sure nice out there today," she said, looking at the people milling by.

"Come here," he said, and she did, as he wrapped his arm around her and she leaned her head against him.

"It's so nice being here with you," he said, "away from everything that's been going on in both our lives."

"Yeah," she said, "It gets so crazy, sometimes I just want to run away and just breathe for a while and then I remember I'm exactly where I want to be."

"In the Rockies, standing up to unscrupulous land dealers and gunslinging at evil henchmen, even getting arrested." he said.

She frowned.

"I'm sorry about all that."

He narrowed his eyes.

"What have you got to be sorry about?"

"I know, you came here out to relax and get away from it all," she said, "Look at all the excitement I've dragged you into. You must be exhausted and more stressed out than ever."

He suppressed a smile.

"I'm exactly where I want to be too so don't be worrying about me. In fact, I haven't felt this good in a long time. Must be the mountains working their magic."

Her face grew serious.

"Houston, about..."

He interrupted her after seeing the discomfort emerge on her face.

"I hope you didn't think because I turned you down last night, it was because I didn't want to be with you."

"No, you were right," she said, with a smile, "I did come on a little strong, didn't I?"

He raised a brow.

"A little, but you were happy from your court victory that you worked so hard to get and tired from working so hard and I'm certainly not complaining…"

She frowned.

"Do you really believe that was what last night was all about?"

He stroked her face.

"No I don't," he said, "But you were very tired from everything you've been through lately and you had some wine."

"I meant it Houston," she said, "I meant all of it. Yeah, I might have been punch drunk but I really wanted to make love with you, more than anything."

"I know you did," he said, "And I know what it means for you to say that."

She looked at him sideways.

"But I was a little scared too of what that really meant," she said, "So maybe I used being so happy about the ruling and my battle fatigue as an excuse to hide from that and I'm sorry."

He put his fingers beneath her chin and tilted her face up.

"There's nothing wrong with the way you feel," he said, looking at her, "You'll know when you're really ready and I'll be right here."

She looked indignant.

"But I am ready…I'm even on the pill so it's okay…"

Matt cleared his throat and tried to hide his smile.

"That's good to know…"

Suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted them.

"Why hello there,"

They both looked up as Sydney walked up to them.

"Oh my god," C.J. said, shaking her head, "Small world we live in."

"What are you two doing here?"

Both Matt and C.J. sat up.

"We flew up here for that court hearing we told you about a few days ago."

Sydney nodded.

"I know I was there," she said, "sitting in the back."

Matt and C.J. looked at each other.

"You kicked some serious ass woman," Sydney said, "Kilroy's attorneys were crawling back to their offices."

"I had a lot of help and we just presented the facts to the judge," C.J. said, "Yesterday, it worked in our favor."

"I thought you would have flown back down to Silver Lode by now and celebrated with your clients," Sydney said.

"We thought we'd stick around a day or so and check out the sites," Matt said, "Besides the plane busted a part on the way down and is being repaired."

Sydney put her hands to her face.

"Oh what a shame," she said, "But you're in a good spot, I could take you around and show you the highlights if you'd like."

Both Matt and C.J. shook their heads.

"No, no that's fine," he said.

"Your feature article is coming along real nicely," Sydney said, "It's ready for the Sunday paper. Everyone in Silver Lode will read it and love it. Don't be surprised if some of our eligible ladies give you a call."

C.J. suppressed a chuckle.

"I'm sure he'll be up for that."

"I'll have to get an unlisted number," he joked.

Sydney laughed and then stopped.

"Oh I just remembered," she said, "It's really lucky that we ran into each other."

"Why's that," C.J. asked.

"Because there's a gentleman here at the festival who might be able to help you on your case."

"But we won in court yesterday," C.J. said.

"I mean, he might know more about Kilroy Developers," he said, "He used to work for them but he still keeps in touch."

C.J. looked at Matt.

"Maybe we should talk with this guy," she said.

He nodded and helped her up on her feet. Sydney led them to the edge of the festival where an older man sat at a picnic table.

"Hey Lucas," Sydney said, "Here's those people I was telling you about earlier."

Lucas looked around, cautiously.

"We can't speak here," he said, "Come, we'll go to the diner."

Matt looked at C.J. who nodded.

"We might as well listen to what he has to say."

They headed into a diner and sat in a corner booth. A waitress came to take their order. Matt and Lucas ordered beers and the women ordered ice teas with lemon.

"Okay, what do you have to tell us," C.J. said.

Lucas looked at Sydney who nodded.

"I worked for Kilroy and his men for over 10 years," he said, "I did many a project for them and helped secure many a land sale. Usually, we offered low and if the property owner didn't bite, we went to the municipalities for assistance."

C.J. leaned forward.

"You mean you lobbied elected officials?"

Lucas nodded.

"We were usually successful," he said, taking a sip of his beer, "All we had to do was dangle the carrot in front of them that our projects were going to bring in piles of dough to fill up their coffers."

"Only those projects were never actually built."

Lucas nodded.

"You catch on fast," he said.

"I've been doing my research," C.J. said.

"Have you looked into the original geological surveys? I'm not talking about the recent ones but the original studies done years ago?"

Matt and C.J. looked at each other.

"Not yet," she said, carefully.

"You should," Lucas said, "That's where your answers are waiting."

"You mean that these surveys, these newer ones were doctored?"

Lucas looked away and then he nodded.

"If you look at some of the original studies for those parcels near Silver Lode, I'm sure you'll find that despite what the newer surveys claim, they actually found considerable natural resources."

"You mean mining ores?"

He nodded.

"But how could they pull this off," C.J. asked, "Aren't there protections against running this type of scam?"

"Normally yes," he said, "but you see by the time they get to this point, everyone's already bought off. The local politicians, the assessors, the land use commissions, even the local law enforcement."

"Yes, we noticed," Matt said.

C.J. put her chin on her hand.

"And what about the people who try to stop them?"

Lucas laughed mirthlessly.

"If this lady's right about you, then you already know the answer to that."

C.J. nodded slowly.

"I guess I do."

"That fight going on in Silver Lode's rattled a lot of cages in Kilroy's organization," Lucas said, "You best be careful of how you deal with them this point out."

"But the injunction…"

He shook his head.

"It's a piece of paper until you can find someone to enforce it," he said, "and that makes everyone fighting this most of all people like you who pose a real threat vulnerable to any ruthless tactics these goons will use to get what they want."

C.J. put her head in her hands.

"This just keeps going, doesn't it?"

"Well, you step on a rattler, you're going to get bit," Lucas said.

"Now there's a metaphor," Sydney said, reaching for her notepad.

Lucas shrugged.

"Let's just say that if I were you, I wouldn't take the main road back from the airport on Monday and I'd be real careful traveling at night by yourself," Lucas said, "Of course, you were supposed to go down with the plane but obviously that didn't work out for Kilroy."

Matt looked back at him.

"So that wasn't just a bad piece of equipment."

C.J. shook her head.

"You've got to be kidding," she said.

"You mean that problem with the plane wasn't a coincidence," Sydney said, scribbling in her notepad.

Lucas raised his hand.

"That was off the record, Lois Lane," he said, then looked at C.J., "That and the fact that if you'd spent that night in jail when you were arrested, you wouldn't have walked out of it."

Sydney's jaw dropped.

"Even me," she said.

Lucas just looked at her.

"Do you think they want reporters nosing around into what they were doing?"

Sydney shook her head.

"I was just writing a feature on the sexiest bachelor in Silver Lode," she protested, "not anything having to do with this whole ski resort scandal."

"Doesn't matter to them," Lucas said, finishing his beer, "I've got to go now. It's been nice talking with you folks."

"Hey, I need a quote," Sydney said.

"Here's one," Lucas said, "Thanks for the beer."

Sydney shook her head as he left the diner.

"These guys really are serious," C.J. said, softly, "if we didn't figure that out already."

"They're not going to win," Matt said.

"I'm sure as hell not going to let them," C.J. said.

"So what do we do next," Sydney asked.

C.J. looked at her.

"You can do whatever you want," she said, looking at Matt, "I'm going back to the cabin and…take a nap."

Sydney looked at her incredulously.

"After I brought you the mother lode of information, you want to go to sleep?"

"Look, I'm thrilled, really," C.J. said, "But I'm really tired from court yesterday and I need some...rest."

"It's still early," Sydney said, "We should check his lead out and maybe we'll get lucky."

"Maybe we should save our luck for another day," Matt said, "We don't want to use it all at once."

C.J. looked at Matt and smiled. Sydney looked nonplussed.

"But…"

"You're the reporter, so go knock yourself out," C.J. said, "I'm officially on vacation and I'm not thinking about this case anymore until I get back to Silver Lode."

Sydney looked at Matt.

"What about you," she said, "The day's still young."

"I better go to make sure she gets back all right," Matt said, "She gets a little bit tipsy when she drinks."

"She had the same thing I did, ice tea."

"It hits her a little bit harder than most folks," Matt said, quietly.

C.J. nodded.

"Sure does," she said, "Nothing some time in bed won't cure."

Matt bit back a chuckle.

Sydney looked at them and shrugged.

"Sure whatever," she said, "I've got to find my photographer. I think I lost him at the fishing gear booth."

She picked up her notepad and left them sitting alone.

"Are you really tired," Matt asked.

C.J. shook her head.

"No, and I don't really get drunk on ice tea," she said, laughing, "but maybe from other things."

He wrapped his arms around her and she rested her hands on his chest and they kissed. She savored the taste of his mouth on hers and ran her hands through his hair, loving how it felt between her fingers.

"This is nice," he said, coming up for air, "Very nice."

"Why did you stop," she said, breathlessly.

He outlined her lips with his finger.

"Because I think we'd better take this elsewhere," he said, "before we draw a crowd."

She nodded.

"Oh yeah...Works for me," she said.

They walked outside and noticed that the sky had darkened with clouds and it had started to rain.

"Wow, the daily monsoon, right on schedule," C.J. said, as the drops splashed her face.

He looked at her.

"What storm?"

She smiled and they hurried to find their car.

They stopped by the cabin door, soaked to the skin by the summer rain. He fumbled for the key to unlock the door. She removed it from him.

"Here let me," she said, unlocking the door.

Before she could open it, he pressed her against the side wall and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, inhaling in his scent. He devoured her mouth as the rain fell on them.

"Are you sure this is what you want," he said, his voice husky.

She looked up at him, her lips swollen and she nodded.

"Yeah I am. I want you," she said.

She then raised a brow.

"Are you sure you're up for this because if you're not…"

He picked her up off the ground and she wrapped her arms around him. He opened the door and they stumbled into the darkened cabin.

"Where's the light," he said.

"Who needs it," she said, "I've got everything I need right here."

So did he.

He started to lead her to the bedroom. She stopped him.

"No, right here," she said, pulling him down onto the rug by the fireplace. They knelt on the floor and wrapped their arms around each other, kissing. He moved his lips slowly down her neck and she felt her skin tingle in the wake of his mouth which trailed down to her collarbone. She unbuttoned his shirt, pushing it slowly over his broad shoulders and then caressed the taut skin on his chest.

He raised a brow.

"I guess you managed to get my shirt off," he said.

"I guess I did," she grinned.

He unzipped the back of her dress slowly then slipped his hands inside. He found her breasts beneath the lace of her bra and trailed his fingers over them, reverently. She closed her eyes as he slipped the top of her dress over her shoulders and it fell off. Then his hands moved over her chest and he unsnapped her bra, freeing her breasts. He took a quick breath as he moved the bra straps over her shoulders and the expression in his eyes made her blush.

"You're a very lovely woman," he said, stroking them with his fingers as he kissed her. The rest of their clothes soon wound up in a pile nearby.

She swallowed audibly, pulling him closer to her body until his hardness met her softness.

"You're a pretty hot item yourself," she said.

He began pressing her against the rug which felt soft against her back and she pulled him down with her. He brushed her damp bangs out of her face with his finger tips as only inches separated them. She bit her lip looking at him memorizing every feature.

"Are you okay with this," he said, in between kisses.

She nodded, touching his face.

"I'm here."

He settled between her thighs and she took him inside her body and inside her heart. And together they found their way home.

They lay afterward in each others' arms, wrapped up in each other by the fireplace. Matt had pulled a comforter from the couch and covered them with it. She snuggled beneath it next to him, enjoying the warmth of his body.

"How you feeling," he asked.

She reached for his palm and kissed it.

"Wonderful."

"I'm glad," he said, wrapping his arms around her.

"What are you thinking," she asked.

"That I'm the luckiest man in the world right now," he said.

She smiled.

"I'm thinking that I never thought it would feel this good again," she said, "to be close to someone."

"Yeah, amazing isn't it," he said, kissing her shoulder.

"So what do we do now," she said, biting her lip, "We've kind of moved past the friendship stage."

"I guess we have," he said, "But you're still my best friend."

She turned her head to look at him.

"Don't they call it "friends with benefits" these days?"

"Some might if it works for them," he said, "But that's not what I'd call it."

"I never realized how much I wanted this moment," she said, "but I don't want to lose what we have."

He remained silent for a moment.

"You're here with me and I'm not letting you go."

Those words stuck with her as she drifted off to sleep in the arms of the man she loved.

The sun rose up over the mountains and the cabin had lightened when C.J woke up next to him. She watched him sleep and then got up, reaching for his shirt, slipping it over her shoulders until it covered her figure. She walked into the kitchen to make herself some tea to take back to the sofa where she sat with her feet tucked under her. Her muscles ached but in a good way, as they would through pleasurable exercise as she wrapped a comforter around her. They had spent the night in each other's arms, giving and taking as they discovered new things about each other. The way he made her feel both elated and frightened her because it felt so different to her. As he held onto her the last time they made love before dawn, she knew she could never walk away from him. Did he feel the same way, she wondered and what would she do if he didn't? But more importantly, what would she do if he did?

She sipped her tea.

"Hey you," she heard him say.

She looked up and saw him wearing sweat pants and no shirt. She loved looking at his muscled chest with a sprinkle of dark hair. She loved touching it even more. She smiled as he sat down next to her.

"Can I share that comforter with you?"

She placed a part of it over him, without answering him.

"Good morning," he said, "How you feeling?"

She looked at him.

"Really good," she said, "How about you?"

He put his arm around her and pulled her closer.

"A little sore," he said, "We never did make it to the bedroom."

"Yeah," she said, "What can I say? I got caught up in the heat of the moment."

He stroked her arm.

"Yeah, you really are something," he said, "Last night was incredible."

"I thought so."

"No, I mean that I don't think I ever felt this way."

"Houston, you don't have to…"

"Say that I don't want this to be a onetime thing?"

She shifted in his arms.

"You don't have to say anything."

"What if I mean it, C.J.," he said, "What if I want more than that?"

She looked at him.

"You really do," she said, "even after we go back to the ranch?"

He nodded.

"Yeah I do," he said, "I've wanted this for a long time."

She paused, different emotions hitting her at once.

"So have I," she said, "I've just been so scared to let anyone get close to me."

He stroked her hair.

"I know," he said, "And it means a lot to me that you took this step with me. More than I can say."

She snuggled against his chest.

"I don't want to walk away from this either," she said, "I just don't know what to do."

"Spend the rest of the weekend with me," he said, "and we'll figure it out together, okay?"

She nodded and so they did.