Lou glanced innocently at the people around her in the kitchen. She'd insisted she was well enough to join them for dinner at the table tonight, and the only opposition she'd met had been symbolic at best. Studying each face she could see the blatant curiosity lurking beneath their words of concern. No one wanted her to overdo, of course, but they all wanted to know what had gone on between her and Jimmy.

Her right hand drifted to the cameo where it lay suspended on her chest from the delicate gold chain. Her work worn fingers slid yet again over the elegantly etched figure carved on the surface. The warm, orange tones of the background were the perfect accent for the pale, ivory figure representing the goddess of dawn as she stretched out her arms from the clouds. A small butterfly emerging from the haze added a touch of whimsy. Lou had never beheld something so beautiful, nor owned something so fine. Her hand raised to cover her mouth, as if to hide her smile. Whenever she thought about Jimmy's proposal and how he had kissed her hand, her lips couldn't help but break into a wide grin.

Looking around the table, she locked eyes with Rachel. When her friend pointedly dropped her gaze to the cameo and back to her face, Lou had to stifle a giggle.

"So that's how it's gonna be, Louise? You're gonna make me come out and ask ya?" Rachel's face was serious, but her tone was light and teasing.

Everyone's eyes traveled back and forth between the women.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're gettin' at, Rachel." Lou tried her best to look innocent.

"What I'm gettin' at is that cameo you can't seem to keep your hands off of." The men's eyes all snapped to the piece of jewelry hanging from Lou's neck. Rachel smiled before continuing, "So what's the story, Louise?"

Lou exchanged glances with Jimmy before responding to the spoken and unspoken questions around them. "Oh that? That's a gift from Jimmy... An engagement gift."

Rachel squealed with joy. Buck and Teaspoon quickly offered their hearty congratulations. Theresa smiled at Jimmy with adoration. And Cody sat silently for a moment, his shock evident. As the others talked excitedly with Jimmy, Lou reached out to cover Cody's hand with hers.

"Aren't ya happy for me, Cody?" She kept her voice quiet, not wanting to draw the others' attention.

"I… I knew you two were gettin' closer, but when he left…" Cody spoke as if in a fog, his mind trying to process this turn of events. Giving his head a slight shake, he studied Lou's face before continuing, "If he makes ya happy, that's all I can ask. And it sure looks like you're happy."

He pulled her in for a hug and whispered in her ear, "But I gotta confess, I was kinda hopin' you'd let me shoot 'im for runnin' off like he did. I guess you'll just have to call me if he ever needs killin'."

Lou laughed as she sat back in her chair. "Then don't go too far, he'll need it sooner than later I'd guess."

Cody laughed with her before approaching Jimmy to bury the hatchet. The two shook hands, and Cody threw an arm across his brother's shoulders. "I don't know when you're plannin' to make this official, but it better be soon. I sure don't wanna miss it, and I plan to make sure you don't miss it either, Jimmy." He gave Lou a wink.

"Oh my, a wedding to plan!" Rachel's voice couldn't contain her excitement.

"I can't wait!" Theresa was bouncing with joy, a sight that made Lou's heart swell. It was good to see her serious little sister so exuberant. It would be nice to have her sister with her at this wedding. She'd missed having her siblings with her when she married Kid. It seemed like a lifetime ago.

Teaspoon cleared his throat. "I hate to put a damper on the celebratin', but it seems to me that we got some matters that need attendin' before we think about these two gettin' themselves married."

"Teaspoon's right. Until we deal with the Garretts, it's too dangerous to try and pull off a wedding." Buck's smile faded into a grim expression. "They'd never pass up an opportunity like that to try and get revenge."

As she watched her sister's face fall with disappointment and more than a little fear, Lou felt the spark of an idea begin to catch fire within her. "But maybe that's exactly why we need to go right ahead and plan a wedding. Why sit around here waiting for the Garretts to decide they're ready to try to kill me or Jimmy, when we can draw them out when we're ready?"

Jimmy clearly disliked her idea. "I say we plan a party the likes of which Rock Creek has never seen before." Lou placed her hand over his and squeezed.

"I think this could work," began Cody. "The Garretts wouldn't be able to resist tryin' to kill ya on yer big day."

Jimmy's golden eyes turned icy. "No… I want this over more than anyone, but I ain't gonna put Lou on display and make an easy target out of 'er."

"I ain't gonna be an easy target, 'cause there won't be a real weddin'." Lou's free hand drifted back to the cameo. "What I mean to say is there will be a real weddin', just that it'll be after all this is over. But if the Garretts think we're having some big, happy shindig, we'll know we can expect them. And instead of a weddin', we'll just plan an ambush."

Teaspoon nodded his agreement. "I think Lou's right. This'll draw those boys like flies to honey. At least this way we'll be prepared."

Throwing his hands up in exasperation, Jimmy glared at his mentor. "Prepared for what? A massacre? Are ya both crazy? It's not like they'll come in here dressed in their Sunday best and wanna dance with the bride. They wanna kill us. They'll come armed to the teeth and bringin' all the help they can pay for."

"You're right, Jimmy," Buck's low tones flowed over them like a soothing balm. "But how else can we truly be prepared and know they're coming?"

"Ya can't be lookin' behind ya for the rest of your life," added Cody. "'Sides, who's gonna look out for everyone else? That would be more than a one man job, and I know you don't want anyone else feelin' hunted like you've been since Marcus invented Wild Bill."

Jimmy's head had dropped as his brothers spoke, and when he raised it again Lou was struck by the sadness and resignation she saw there. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Jimmy spoke first. "I know what you're saying is true, but you're askin' me to tempt fate with all our lives. We just barely managed to save Lou the last time. She ain't even healed up enough to give me hell, and you want me to invite the Garretts to come try to finish 'er off?"

The others were silenced by Jimmy's impassioned words. Lou felt everyone's eyes slide to her, realizing that she was the only one who could press the issue now. She cleared her throat and swallowed. "James Butler Hickok, ya know I love ya, and I'll try to do anything I can to make ya happy. But I can't run for the rest of my life. There'll never be an ideal time to play hide and seek with a killer, but I want this over with so we can start our life together. I wanna settle down and have babies with ya, and we can't do that if we're always waitin' for the Garretts to catch up with us." She held his hand and squeezed tightly. "I know I ain't as well as I could be, but if ya give me a couple weeks I'll be a lot better… And that'll give us time to circle our wagons too."

Jimmy closed his eyes and sighed. "Alright. We'll do it your way, but when the time comes that the Garretts get here I expect you to keep yourself out of harm's way. You'll still be hurtin' by then, and I don't wanna worry about you tryin' to save the world and takin' a bullet for your efforts."

Lou felt an instant urge to argue, but told herself that he was right. She was more of a liability until she healed up, and she didn't want to become a distraction to the others. "I'll do whatever ya'll think is best."

After studying her face for a moment, Jimmy must have been satisfied by what he saw. He gave her a nod, squeezed her hand, and turned to the others. "If this is what we're gonna do, then I don't wanna leave anything to chance. I plan to call in any favors I can, 'cause it's gonna take more than just us. And I worry about hirin' our own gang."

Cody nodded sagely. "If the Garretts have already been tryin' to hire men to kill ya, we don't want word gettin' back that we're plannin' anything… I got some friends in the Army that I trust. I'll send word first thing in the mornin'."

The other men began offering suggestions of who could be sent for to help. Lou was staggered by their willingness to call in favors for her and Jimmy's benefit. She knew it was time to make peace with her shame and ask for help too. "I'll write Sam and Emma."

Her voice sounded too loud and bright in her own ears. She hadn't managed to write to Emma since she'd been back in Rock Creek, which meant she hadn't been in touch since before her wedding to the Kid. The thought of what all she would need to say before feeling like she could even ask such a favor made her stomach churn. It seemed even Cody must have been aware of her situation as everyone at the table fell silent at her offer.

"That would be a big help, Tdaun." Buck's gentle smile made her feel stronger. No one offered to do it for her, so she considered that a vote of confidence. She could do this. She would do whatever it took to protect her family.

Lou listened as the others began to talk of strategy. She didn't realize how exhausted she was until she woke up in Jimmy's arms as he carried her to her bed. "I'm sorry," she yawned. "I guess I still have some recuperatin' to do."

Dropping a kiss on the top of her head, Jimmy sighed. "Ya know I don't like this one bit. It ain't too late to change your mind. You're in no condition to host anything… weddin' or ambush."

It was her turn to sigh. "Jimmy, ya know I don't like this either, but I don't see as how we have much of a choice. And I ain't scared. I know you'll protect me."

"If it's the last thing I do!" His voice was quiet yet strong.

"Let's just hope it don't come to that… For any of us."

Did you miss me? I certainly missed you all... I've had a lot of anxiety over a work situation lately, so I didn't feel like writing... or doing much of anything. Things are starting to settle though, so I wanted to get back to Jimmy and Lou. The work stress isn't over just yet, so I don't know exactly when the next chapter will come. But when it does, look for Lou's letter to Emma and maybe we'll see if their plan starts to come together.

Thanks to the Ladies of the Plus for your friendship and care. I've gone through tough times before, but never have I experienced so much fear, anxiety, and depression. It has truly meant the world to have you ladies there to support me through all of this. I hope to be back to my old self soon :)