Colorado Springs
After dinner, Pearl walked outside to join Matthew where he sat on a fence watching the sun go down behind the mountains casting off a brilliant cascade of softening shades of red, orange and hints of purple.
He smiled when she joined him by the fence. She liked spending time with him and she sensed he enjoyed her company as well. Claire and Colleen were washing dishes and the adults were in the living room talking about assorted topics, trying to forget the most pressing ones.
Like Amelia's amnesia and the fact that a posse of men likely was searching for her and Pearl right now. She knew the town's men led by Matthew would protect them both from danger but at what cost?
Matthew's face grew soft and she knew he thought of the past memories the fonder ones that were tucked away to be enjoyed in evening's quietness.
"That dinner was marvelous. Dr. Quinn is a great cook."
He glanced at her.
"So are you. She told me you're a great help…"
She shrugged.
"I only did the dessert and just barely that. She's been so kind to me, kinder than most anyone. She and Amelia. But other people in town too…"
Matthew paused.
"It's a close knit town. Not all the time…we have our disagreements but when it counts, we all come together and work together…even fight together. Anyone coming here to start trouble will find that out soon enough."
She smiled at the resolve in her voice.
"That's nice of you. I know you're the sheriff and all but still it's very nice…"
He sighed.
"It's my job…my job's been good to me. It helps me to…"
She rested her arms against the top rail of the fence.
"You mean to forget don't you? I know…you miss her. Your fiancée…"
He sighed.
"Every day…there have been others but she was the one I wanted to marry and settle down with and raise a family."
"Until the hydrophobia took her away from you…that must have been so hard."
He nodded slightly.
"Life's tough. Many people have lost people they've loved. Life's unforgiving in that way…that's why you have to savor every moment."
"I haven't had many moments to savor…but I'll take your word for it."
He softened again.
"You will Pearl. You deserve to have those moments and those men deserve to pay…"
She shrugged again.
"I'm sure they will… but I don't want anyone to get hurt trying to stop them."
He rested his hand on her arm.
"No one will get hurt…It's going to be all right.
Pearl heard the reassurance in his voice and started to believe him.
Near Denver
"Damn," he cursed.
Dakota looked up at Darryl. They'd been setting up camp for the night after a hard day's riding trying to head off the gang which included Johnny Ryan. They were making good time but it was never good enough. The gang probably was close to Colorado Springs and the town had been wired but Dakota wouldn't know what response they'd get back until they reached Denver.
"What's going on Darryl, you get another splinter?"
The other man laughed.
"No…My horse picked up a stone and is a bit gimpy. Should be alright by tomorrow if I can make a poultice with anything useful growing here."
Dakota sighed.
"Not much growing but I'm sure you'll find something that'll work. Stream not too far away from here. Sent someone to fetch some water for coffee."
"That'll hit the spot and then we can get a good night's sleep. Got to ride hard again tomorrow to reach Denver."
Dakota nodded.
"I'm hoping Ethan will wire back if he's in Springs. He's looking for Amelia."
Darryl shrugged.
"He might have found her already. We have to focus our attention on Johnny…and anyone he's got in his gang."
Dakota couldn't argue with him. Anyone who crossed paths with the notorious bank and train robber could be in serious trouble.
Colorado Springs
The four of them sat in the living room drinking coffee, and watching the flames flicker in the fireplace. It had gotten chilly once the sun started setting. Ethan sat next to Amelia who didn't seem to mind and Michaela watched as Sully joined them.
"You concerned about Ethan Cooper?"
He shook his head.
"I just don't trust the man's intentions but he's their father…I just hope he doesn't ask for money again."
Michaela closed her eyes, remembering the pain the vagabond had brought to his children and while she hoped for better this time, she knew better.
"I hope he's changed but I'm going to have to see it to believe it…"
Amelia frowned.
"So he just drops by when he needs help paying off his gambling debts or when someone comes collecting?"
Michaela nodded. Amelia rolled her eyes.
"Somehow that feels familiar…but then if Pierce was anything like Hank…"
Ethan knew that one of the reasons he didn't take to Ethan Cooper was that he reminded him of his sister's ex, cut from the same cloth. The last time he'd come to town to mooch off his children, it had been painful. Not to mention Amelia had left him, after nearly losing him to a gunshot wound. But there were secrets kept, to protect the children.
"He reminds me of someone else too…but all I did was try to make sure his children didn't read about him in the obits months after someone shot him over some money owed."
Michaela smiled.
"Thank you…As long as he's alive there's always a chance for reconciliation and perhaps redemption…I just don't have high hopes."
Sully rubbed her shoulder.
"Yeah so far he's been disappointing…"
Ethan sighed.
"He tried my patience. A couple times I wanted to kill him myself."
Amelia narrowed her eyes. Sometimes Ethan seemed so familiar to her like she should know him but very little in the way of memories or recollections. Her memories of Hank from years ago seemed more vivid.
They certainly were memorable to him the way he pursued her. Sully sipped his coffee.
"I'll check in with Horace tomorrow to see if there are any wires. Posse left Carson City and should be close to Denver by now."
Ethan nodded.
"I wonder who they sent…Darryl Houston is one of the best. But I'm hoping it's more than just a few men…especially with someone like Johnny Ryan involved."
Sully glanced at Michaela.
"Matthew knows to be ready for him…and anyone else…"
Ethan respected the younger man who had already seemed to have enough life experience of someone much older.
"Johnny's formidable but he's also cocky and that's something to exploit…."
Amelia listened to Ethan elaborate on his run ins with Johnny Ryan and realized that the man could be deadly as a rattler underneath someone's foot. Attacking without warning, and she knew that Johnny's path would cross Ethan's because of her. She couldn't remember anything about this man who had been sent after her and Pearl, she couldn't even remember the attack which had brought them here.
She couldn't remember her feelings for Ethan and that frustrated her too. Still what worried her more was the danger that she had brought to him and the others who were trying to help her.
In her own mind, a plan began forming.
Collen and Claire had been outside doing evening chores before the temperature dropped further. Both had been talking about living with brothers who were a pain almost as often as not.
"I love Joseph, Ben and Georgie but they do make taking care of them difficult at times…"
Colleen watched the emotions play out on Claire's face. Like the girl who was becoming a friend, she had tried to take care of her own siblings even her older brother Matthew. She hadn't been accepting of Michaela at first, encroaching on her turf, and Claire admitted she felt that way about Ethan…and then later Amelia.
"It's strange that I've got memories of her and she has few of me," Claire said, "I hope they're not lost forever."
Colleen shrugged.
"Head injuries are unpredictable. The memories she's missing might return…or not. It's too soon to tell…"
Claire frowned.
"Some might come back surely even if others are lost."
"Maybe…Ma…and I have treated other cases. All turned out different…but there's hope."
Claire digested that as they left the barn and ran smack into Ethan Cooper.
