Stella wanted to scream and it was only the first day. She and Edwina had packed up a few things and had moved into Ethan's house to care for the children left behind when he went off marshaling.

She'd agreed to it because she wanted to win this competition and be his wife. Okay, she knew she had a huge lead over Edwina but why not stamp herself the winner by accomplishing this latest test?

A piece of cake surely after all the things she'd faced in her life or so she thought. Edwina had warned her that looking after children only looked easy but Stella had just dismissed all that. She knew what she had to do to win and she'd do it.

After she married Ethan, she'd find a way to persuade him to send them all away to school. Finishing school for Claire and military academy for the boys. From the looks of it, Ben and George who acted like young ruffians half the time could definitely use a firmer hand.

Claire walked into the kitchen where Stella had decided to tackle scrambled eggs made from eggs that Ben and George had collected from the coop that morning.

"What is it now?"

"Ben spilled the milk in the dining area," Claire said, "I'll clean it up and you finish the bread okay?"

Stella narrowed her eyes at Claire once again dictating orders to her but Edwina aided and abetted in that by fetching the bread to heat up over the stove. She'd have a word with her about who was in charge after breakfast.

After their chores, Ben and George had been running ragged with some puppy that Stella hadn't known existed until now.

"Dog goes outside of the house…now."

They paid her no mind until Claire put her hands on her hips and ordered them to take pup and their wildness outside until it was time to eat. Of course they obeyed her. Something was definitely wrong in this household and Ethan would just have to change it when he returned.

Before the wedding.

Edwina smiled.

"Isn't this fun Stella? Reminds me of when I was growing up."

Stella forced a smile.

"Oh yes…I just love it," she said, "I can't wait to be living here full-time."

Edwina's smile dimmed.

"You haven't won yet. He's not made up his mind has he?"

"Oh not officially," Stella said, "but it's just a formality Edwina…you know that."

"We'll see who he picks. It's not over until it's over and who knows? He might pick me."

Stella doubted that but knew Edwina just said that to keep her own hopes alive. Stella knew she'd taken the lead and it was only widening.

Then both women heard something crash to the floor.


Amelia struggled to get comfortable in her side of the bunk. She had a pillow and a thin blanket to put over herself. They both wore their clothes and he'd promised to behave himself.

"Hands to myself…got it."

She bit back a smile. After all, most likely he was thinking of the two women vying to be his bride back home.

"I wonder how Edwina and Stella are faring."

Ethan yawned stretching his own body out.

"I'll wire them in a day or two," he said, "to find out. But I'm sure everything's fine and it'll give them some practice."

"You sure they'll be ready to look after the children…when you're gone."

He paused.

"I hope so…that's one of the requirements. My children need a female role model…I was told."

"Well that makes sense Ethan…but who told you that?"

He paused even longer.

"The circuit judge…someone…a distant cousin challenged the arrangement and I had to go to court."

She sat up.

"You didn't tell me that Ethan…how awful. You're the best parent they could ever have since Lucy died. How can any judge think of placing them elsewhere?"

He sighed.

"Well one did and I'm not about to let that happen…not ever."

She knew he meant it. Nothing stood between Ethan and the children…they'd more than grown on him, they'd become his life whether he fully realized it or not.

"So is that why you put in the advertisement for a wife?"

"Yes…well mostly…"

"Mostly?"

"I think it's about time I settled down and got married…the children to have a mother and maybe some other children down the line. I'm not getting any younger."

She smiled.

"Ethan…you'll do fine if that's what you want."

"What about you?"

She sighed.

"I tried marriage and it didn't work for me," she said, "I'm too independent to be the property of any man who never grew up like Pierce."

"He didn't deserve you Amelia."

She shrugged.

"I used him and he used me, that's all. I needed so much to get away from that house. Before…well at least I got away and I'm grateful to him for that…I can almost forgive the rest."

Ethan appeared to digest that and she wondered if she told him too much.

"We'd better get to sleep," she said, "We'll get off the train tomorrow and have to find the hotel."

They'd picked out one to be their home base while in the city looking for Miranda.

"Ethan are you okay with it?"

"Okay with what?"

She almost didn't want to say it.

"Pretending that we're engaged," she said, "It'll attract less attention."

"I came up with the idea didn't I? I can do it if you can and it's the best plan like you said."

"It's just for show…"

"I know."

"We won't do anything that will put your search for a wife in danger back in Paradise."

He yawned again.

"I'm not worried about that Amelia," he said, "Just in making sure we find Miranda and her baby before Carlton and his men do."

"You think they're here already?"

"I don't know. I'm thinking we'll find out soon enough."

She closed her eyes not wanting to think of what might happen if they hadn't gotten here in time. But she trusted the man lying next to her.

Close but not too close.

She closed her eyes and felt weariness begin to permeate through her.

"I just want to help her…like she helped me…"

Ethan watched her in the darkness sensing that someone else besides Miranda and her child needed to be helped her.