Amelia woke up first the next morning, nestled in the arms of the man who still slept next to her. She felt enveloped in his warmth and so didn't feel the chill in the air. They were bundled in blankets next to a fire that needed stoking. So she reluctantly found what clothing needed to be put back on and then her boots and then she got up to go fetch some more wood for the fire.

The dawn had arrived but the sun still needed to peek over the mountains to warm up the air around them. She got some branches and then after settling them on the fire, she started up some coffee for the both of them. They had a hard day's ride before they'd reach their destination and her heart sunk just to think about what lay ahead, how important last night might have proven to be but she trusted him, he knew what he was doing and somehow they'd find a way to get the charges dropped.

It'd be up to the judge and whatever state's attorney showed up to press murder charges against her but she'd not know until they arrived there and she turned herself in to the courts. It could be her own imprisonment and death to do so but she couldn't live the rest of her life running from the law and she couldn't put Ethan and the children through that.

He woke up and had been watching her before she realized it and smiled at him. She poured him a cup of coffee when it was done and handed it to him as he sat up. He'd be putting on his clothes though he looked much better without them, she thought with a hint of flush in her cheeks.

"I got some dried beef for breakfast," he said, "unless I can catch a rabbit."

"That'll be fine…I'm not that hungry."

She couldn't stop thinking about what she faced ahead, and she didn't want to be thinking about anything but him. How much she loved him and wanted to share her future…whatever that might be with Ethan. All that time she'd been away, afraid to face her feelings for what a life with him really meant…but then she'd needed that time to get where she'd be able to fully embrace a life without fear…just love towards the man she loved.

Ethan sipped his coffee before getting dressed and getting the beef out of his saddle pack. They ate it with their coffee by the fire as the sun rose over the hills painting the skies a myriad of yellows, oranges and pinks. Soon it'd be sky blue and they'd be riding down the trail towards the meeting with the judge.

"I don't know if I'm ready Ethan."

He moved closer to her and slid his arm around her pulling her closer to him.

"It's going to be all right Amelia," he said, "I'm not going to let anything happen to you, okay?"

She smiled despite her fears.

"You have a plan?"

He kissed her softly on the mouth, savoring it as much as she did.

"Yes…most of it…I just have some details."

She breathed easier then feeling confident that he knew what to do. She had to trust him and do what he asked. It'd never been easy for her to trust anyone that much especially after her husband burned her but Ethan had always looked out after her.

"What about Brant?"

Ethan sipped his coffee again.

"Haven't seen him…since we just avoided him," he said, 'but if he decides to go to the judge to plead his brother's case, I don't think it's going to help him."

She nodded.

"Being an outlaw himself you mean," She said, "and a more obvious one than Reade."

She knew Ethan believed them to be of the same ilk. Authority given by anyone didn't make a person good and just. Reade had misused the powers given to him by a corrupted man and now he was dead.

"If he does that, he might wind up helping you…"

She nodded at that. But she still didn't want to see him again after what he'd done to her. She knew if not for Ethan she'd be dead long before the authorities would send someone out looking for her.

"I just want it to be over and so we could head back," she said, "and start our new lives together."

He smiled at that.

"That's what we'll do Amelia," he said, "starting with marriage."

She remembered all their failed weddings, interrupted by his job as marshal or his past right at the moment…but she had a feeling that part of their struggle was behind them.

"Maybe we should skip the wedding."

He smiled.

"Could just elope…"

She thought about that and if they did that, then no one or nothing could interrupt them.

"Maybe…and then just have a party for our family and friends."

He thought about that. He knew he just wanted them to get married and get going with their lives, build a new house on the land that waited for it and take care of the children, maybe have their own too.

So much awaited them if they'd just reach out and grab it and he knew it'd be tough to put what had happened with Reade behind them but he'd so whatever it took.

Hannah just didn't like cooking at all but Claire had talked her into helping her prepare a meal at Bud and Sally's for some of their new friends. Elias would be there along with Dakota and Joseph, Kristin, her mother and some of the others.

"I just don't get why you have to cook the chicken this long."

Claire just sighed, trying to be patient.

"It's so it doesn't make you sick," she said, "That's what Doc Carter told me once."

"Maybe you can do that…and I'll start the vegetables."

Bud and Sally had a garden filled with different kinds and Claire had gone out to harvest some with Dakota. They had talked and laughed, happy not to have to think about the seriousness of the town's situation for a little while.

"Okay…not too long or they'll get too tough…"

Hannah put her hands on her hips.

"I can handle cooking you know," she said, "When your uncle and I get married, I intend to do some…cooking."

Claire just wanted to roll her eyes. She knew that Ethan would never marry Hannah. He'd be thinking about Amelia, trying to help her and Claire knew he'd never stopped loving her even when she'd left him.

"Yes…yes," Hannah continued, "and I'll keep the house…well you'll help me with that won't you and I'll make him very happy."

Claire thought she could just keep on dreaming. She went to go peel some potatoes and stick them in the stove.

"What about you," Hannah asked, "You sweet on Dakota or something?"

Claire bristled.

"I'm not sweet on him," she said, "We're just friends."

"You could do worse," she said, "He's great to look at, got a sharp wit and he seems to like taking care of a woman."

Claire noticed he liked taking care of a lot of women but she just kept peeling potatoes.

"Of course…you're a bit young…"

That just made her bristle as she hated being told that.

"Maybe Uncle Ethan's not interested in marrying you either."

That put a shocked expression on Hannah's face.

"What…how could you say such a hurtful thing! Of course, he'll marry me…when he gets back."

"Did he say he would marry you?"

Hannah paused.

"Well…no but I know he will Claire. He and I…we were so close back in Paradise…I moved back after leaving the revue to be with him. How could he not marry me?"

Claire didn't want to go into all the reasons why, how she knew that her uncle could only marry one woman in his life and now that she'd return…Hannah had some rough surprises ahead of her.

Now if only her uncle would find a way for him and Amelia to come back.