Colorado Springs

Amelia woke up from her dream pulling her blankets close to her. Her face beaded in sweat, her breath coming quickly.

She'd been dreaming about the ambush just outside the town where she hid now. Pearl had first seen signs that they'd been followed since they'd left Reno. But not the attack itself. That had happened so swiftly, so surely that they'd been caught totally off-guard.

Darkness surrounded her in her bed at Michaela's house. Quietness reigned interrupted only by her breathing as she tried to calm down. She got up out of bed to go make herself some chamomile tea to help her return to sleep. That'd do the trick, she decided.

Colleen had beat her to it. She'd prepared some hot water on the stove and now steeped herbal tea in it to pour into cups. She smiled when she saw Amelia.

"You couldn't sleep either?"

Amelia nodded. Colleen poured them both cups of steaming tea and handed one to Amelia.

"This should help…drink it slowly after a few minutes…so it'll be strong enough to do the trick."

Amelia did just that as they both walked back into the living room. They sat In the chair sipping their tea. Colleen looked at her over her mug.

"So what woke you up?"

Amelia sighed.

"Dreams, the same old ones…what happened to Pearl and me outside town."

Colleen nodded.

"Ah…when you got ambushed…before Hank and Jake found you."

Amelia sipped her tea and felt her muscles relax.

"Yes. They saved us…just in time," she said, "The men from Reno had followed us"

"The ones who were after Pearl…"

Amelia nodded.

"That's all I remember, all I know…I was trying to protect her but I don't know why."

Colleen smiled.

"You'll find out…with time. You did good thing getting her away from there. Reno's a city of ill repute after all."

"I guess so…I don't remember very much. Just riding for days and then getting attacked all of a sudden. People expect me to remember so much more…like Hank but I don't."

Colleen pursed her lips.

"You knew Hank didn't you?"

Amelia frowned.

"I don't remember but he acted like we were…close and I left him abruptly to marry his brother Pierce."

"You do remember your husband?"

Amelia struggled to do so.

"Yes…bits and pieces about him and how he left me stranded somewhere."

Colleen leaned forward.

"What about Ethan Cord?"

"What about him? I know he's trying to help me and says I know him…but all I remember is getting shot by him."

"He seems to care about you."

Amelia furrowed her brow.

"I noticed but it doesn't change anything. I still feel lost and have no ideas about my own life."

Colleen put her mug down.

"Must be difficult…but if he's willing to help you…"

Amelia sighed.

"I have to do it myself…that's all I trust right now…and your mother."

Colleen nodded

"Okay then…I know she can help you…."

Ethan said goodnight to Claire and went to the bar. Ethan Cooper had won big there earlier but had headed on out. Hank remained to tend the bar and when he saw Ethan arrive, he didn't look too happy. Ethan ordered a whisky and Hank poured it.

"You seen Ameila?"

Ethan looked up at Hank.

"Earlier…she's staying at Dr. Mike's right now. She's been taking good care of her."

Hank smiled.

"Dr. Mike has her uses but Amelia…she was mine back before my brother stole her away. She told me sh wanted to be with me forever."

Ethan didn't know about that or Amelia's past. But he knew the woman now and she'd loved him. They'd been engaged but had split up with her leaving town but only because she couldn't cope with losing him. He'd been wanting to convince her that it didn't have to be that way…but he'd failed. Then he'd moved on with his life and family but couldn't stop thinking about her…until she wired him from Reno to see him.

It'd been a call for help…with what must have happened with Pearl at the brothel. She'd been gone by the time he'd gotten there, fleeing on horseback.

Now he knew why. He had to help her find her way back to remembering who she was and the life she led.

He'd help her fill in the rest.

Matthew read the latest wire about Johnny Ryan coming to town and didn't believe it. The guy was legendary but mostly for being a screw up. Still he knew he had to be careful. Claire had told him a little bit about this outlaw and his forays into Paradise.

Nothing out in these parts he determined. Still Ethan Cord had warned him and he intended to listen. He'd call in Jake and even Hank to help him prepare and get Horace to wire cities nearby for more information.

So far they hadn't gotten much and it worried him.