Mac and Stella walked out onto the pier, which was attached to the back porch of the cabin. Mac had brought two folding chairs. He set them up. "Have a seat," he said.

Stella folded her arms and sat down. She looked out across the lake and at the mountains. "Wow, this is beautiful, Mac," she said.

Mac looked and took a deep breath. "And peaceful." He sat down in the other chair and gave Stella a fishing pole. He smiled at her. "You sure you don't want to bait your own hook?"

Stella gave him a tolerant look. "You would just love that, wouldn't you?" she asked.

"Yeah."

Stella looked at the worms in the box with a disgusted look on her face. She looked at Mac. "Do we really have to use worms?"

"Well, if you don't use something they want to eat, you're not going to get a fish," Mac said. "You can always use a cricket, but I thought we'd try and get a catfish this time." He picked up the can of crickets, which was more like a little cage. He took the top off and stuck his hand in.

Stella cringed as he brought his hand out with crickets on it. "How can you do that?" she asked.

Mac smiled. "They don't bite," he said. He got one of the crickets and made the others get back into the cage. He smiled at Stella. "Okay, give me your hook." He put the cricket on it. "You can let it float on top and some trout might see it."

Stella stood up and cast her line out. Mac was surprised. "Hey, that was pretty good for a city girl," he said.

Stella sat down. "Funny. I've been fishing before."

"I'm sure." Mac put a worm on his hook and cast it to the other side of the pier. "I'm going for a catfish."

Mac took another deep breath. "Nothing like nature," he said.

"I'll agree with that," Stella said.

Mac slumped down in his chair. "I'm going to get lazy."

"You deserve to be lazy for a few days."

Mac stared at the water. "How do you get past something like that?" he asked. "How do you feel normal again?"

Stella looked at him. "You just take it one day at a time," she said. "You talk, do things you enjoy."

"Can you ever love anyone again?"

Stella held back tears. "I don't know. I haven't figured that out yet. How do you trust someone again?"

"Someone you already trust? Someone you know would never betray you or hurt you?"

They looked at each other. "Maybe that's you, Stella," Mac said.

Stella thought her heart would jump out of her chest. "Me?"

"Yeah. You've been here all along. We've always had a special relationship. You were there when Claire died. You didn't give up on me. You wouldn't let me stay in that depression."

"I couldn't. I knew what a good man you are and a strong man. I knew you could get out of it."

"This is different. How do you explain something like this?"

"I don't know. I've never figured that out yet."

"You're the only one who knows everything for sure."

Stella swallowed. In a way, she wished she didn't know. She wished they could have found Mac at that house before all that happened to him. Mac reached and touched Stella's hand. "Hey, lets don't talk about this right now," he said. "We were having fun."

Stella smiled. "We still are. I love fishing."

Mac looked out at the water. "It's more fun when you catch something."

Stella saw a fish move in the water just below her hook. "Hey, did you see that?" she whispered.

Mac looked in time to see a silver flash as the trout grabbed Stella's bait. Stella gasped as she felt the tug on her line. She reeled the fish in. "Wow, he's so beautiful," she said.

Mac squatted beside the water. "Now, how do you know it's a 'he'?"

Stella looked at him. "It's just a figure of speech."

Mac grinned as he put the net in the water and dipped the fish out. "That's a nice one," he said. He put the fish on the stringer. "He swallowed your bait."

"Oh, that means you have to go into the cricket cage again?" Stella asked.

"Yes."

They went back to their chairs, and Mac put his hand in the cricket cage. He smiled at Stella. "You should try it," he said. "You'll be closer to nature."

"No thanks," Stella said. "I'm as close to nature as I want to be."

"I love your femininity."

Stella folded her arms. "I love your masculinity too."

Mac stopped a moment and looked at Stella. "I think we belong together, Stella," he said. "I just need a little time."

"I'll be here."

Mac pulled his hand out of the cricket cage. One of the crickets jumped on Stella. She screamed and almost turned over in her chair. "You did that on purpose!" she said.

Mac laughed. "How could I know it would jump? I'm no mind reader."

"Get it off me."

Mac got the crickets off his hand and then reached for the one on Stella's jacket sleeve. It jumped. Stella screamed again, as the cricket crawled into her hair. Mac laughed. "It won't hurt you," he said.

"If you don't get that off me, I'm going to hurt 'you'!"

Mac got the cricket out of her hair. "Okay, there he is," he said. He put the cricket on the hook. "Now, he's under control."

"Thanks," Stella said.

When they had three more fish, they went back to the cabin. Mac cleaned the fish and they fried them on a grill. "That smells so good," Stella said.

"Fresh," Mac said.

They ate the fish and then sat on the porch of the cabin. "This is so relaxing," Stella said, as she basked in the warm sun. "No horns honking, no people yelling, no sirens, just silence."

"Something we hardly ever hear," Mac said, lazily.

Stella looked at him. She smiled when she saw his eyes closed. He looked like he was totally relaxed. She had not seen him that relaxed in weeks. He had said he thought they belonged together. She wanted that to be true. She always had since that time he took her to the dog show. She had so much fun that night.

Stella stared out across the lake. It was definitely beautiful here. She thought she might just retire to a quiet place like this when she got old. She smiled as she thought maybe she and Mac would do it together. She could see herself spending the rest of her life with him.

While Mac slept, Stella went inside to get a bottle of water. She was very thirsty. She went back outside and sat down again. She felt almost awkward just sitting here doing nothing. She was always running and investigating cases. She looked at Mac. It didn't seem to be bothering him. "Hey, Mac," she said. "Mac."

Mac didn't even move. Stella shook her head. How could he be that deep asleep? "Mac," she said again, and touched his hand.

Mac jumped and opened his eyes. "Huh?"

"Mac, wake up."

He looked at her. "I guess I dozed off," he said.

"I guess you did. Why don't we go for a hike or something?"

Mac sat up straight, but he could barely keep his eyes open. "We could," he said, groggily.

"Hey, Mac!"

Mac looked at her. "Wake up," Stella said.

"I'm awake," Mac said.

"You don't look like it."

Mac took a deep breath. He grimaced as his ribs hurt slightly. "Okay," he said. He stood up and stretched. "I think I'm lazy."

"So, where do we hike to?"

Mac looked up the hill behind the cabin. "Up there. There are some beautiful views on that trail."

"Great." Stella got two bottles of water, and they started out. She gave one bottle to Mac.

Mac showed Stella all the beautiful views on the trail, from looking down into valleys to looking across layers of mountains. It was breathtaking. "You never think of all this being in New York," Stella said.

"I know," Mac said. "It's amazing what we have right here in our back yards."

They walked and talked a while longer and then went back to the cabin. By that time, it was starting to get dark. "Well, what shall we eat tonight?" Mac asked.

"How about a sandwich?" Stella asked. "Since you cleaned and cooked the fish, I'll fix the sandwiches."

Mac smiled. "Fine with me, but I have to make a trip to the…bottomless pit, first."

Stella gave him a tolerant look. "You're just enjoying this too much, aren't you?"

"Sure."

Stella went on into the cabin while Mac went to the outhouse. She looked to see what all Mac had brought. There were fresh tomatoes and turkey and ham. Stella smiled. Mac always thought of everything. He even brought lettuce. Stella got the bread out and began fixing the sandwiches. She looked out the window at the beautiful view of the lake and mountains. She wondered what Mac wanted to do when he retired. Maybe she would ask him.

Mac soon came to the cabin. He looked at the sandwiches. "Mmm, looks good," he said, as he washed his hands. "We better eat fast. There are no lights in this cabin. I'm going to build a fire after we eat."

"I love fireplaces," Stella said.

They ate and then Mac built a fire. He sat down on the sofa. Stella sat beside him. "I love this," she said. She looked at Mac. "Thanks for bringing me."

"You're welcome," Mac said. "Why don't we lie here a while and watch the fire?"

"Fine with me."

Mac lay down on the sofa, and Stella lay down beside him with her back to him. Mac tightened his arms around her and snuggled his head against hers. Stella hoped he could not feel her heart pounding. She was not thinking about the fire now. She didn't think she had ever been this close to Mac. He maneuvered a little so she would be even closer, as though he were wrapping himself around her. "How's this?" Mac asked, in her ear.

Stella had to let the tingles stop before she answered. "Cozy," she said. She could feel Mac's breath on her neck. He sighed. Stella thought she would die. She realized Mac was relaxed though. "You ever think of what you want to do when you retire?" she asked.

"Sometimes," Mac answered.

Stella thought he sounded sleepy. "I think I might want to retire to a peaceful place like this," she said.

"Sounds good."

Stella almost shivered with his breath on her neck. Did he know he was doing this to her? He had been teasing her all day. "What about you?"

"I've thought about retiring to Florida where it doesn't get so cold in the winter."

"It does sometimes."

"Are you comfortable like this?" Mac asked.

Stella thought about that a moment. She wasn't really, but she didn't want to move either. "This is fine," she said.

Mac shifted his arms around her again and then kissed her jaw. "I think I love you, Stella."

Stella was shocked. She stared at the fire. "Really?"

"Yes, really."

Mac felt relaxed. He closed his eyes. Stella knew when he fell asleep. She didn't think she could sleep like this with his arms around her and so close to her. She could feel him breathing. Finally, his smooth breathing lulled her to sleep.

They were awakened during the night when someone knocked on the door of the cabin. Mac raised up and stared at the door. "There shouldn't be anyone up here," he said, sleepily.

"Maybe someone's lost," Stella said.

Mac rubbed his face and got up. He yawned as he walked to the door. "Who's there?" he asked.

"I'm a hiker. I got lost and I was lucky to find your cabin," someone said.

Mac looked at Stella. He didn't know if he should fall for that or not. "What's your name?"

"Walter."

Stella almost gasped. Alarm bells went off in her mind. That was the name of that guy that was with Quinn. "What's his last name?" she asked.

Mac looked at the door. "What's your last name?" he asked.

There was no answer. Mac looked at Stella. "What do you know that I don't?" he asked.

"They never caught Walter Quincy," Stella said.

Mac stared at her a moment. "And you didn't tell me?"

"We didn't think he would do anything without Quinn."

"Just because she's in prison doesn't mean that she is out of the picture."

Mac walked over to the window, but he didn't see anyone. He went over to Stella. "Come on," he whispered.

They went into the bedroom. "Stay in here," Mac whispered.

"What are you going to do?" Stella asked.

"I'm going to find out where that guy is."

"You're not leaving me in here. What if something happens to you? He can come in and do what he wants. We're stronger together."

Mac looked at her. "You're right." He touched Stella's face. "I don't want anything to happen to you."

"We're in this together."

They went back into the living area. Mac went over to the fireplace and got two pieces of wood that would do for clubs. He gave Stella one. "Just for insurance," he whispered.

"Good insurance."

Stella followed Mac over to the door, but just then, they heard something at the back door of the cabin. Before they could react, the door was flung open. Walter Quincy stood in the doorway along with two others. Mac swallowed. Stella almost gasped. "What do you want?" Mac asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" Quincy asked. "There's no one here but you two."

Mac slowly gripped the knob on the front door of the cabin. "You must be Quinn's puppet. You do everything she wants?"

Quincy glared at him. "You better be glad she wants you left alive."

Mac's ribs ached with the tension. He waited for the right moment. Just as Quincy took a step forward, Mac jerked the door open and shoved Stella out. "Run!" he yelled. "Run!"

Stella ran, and Mac was right behind her. They headed up the trail they had hiked on during the day. Mac looked behind them and saw Quincy and the other two just coming out the door of the cabin. "Faster!" Mac whispered.

Stella tried to run faster. She was glad she was still wearing her hiking shoes because they were running uphill part of the time. Mac sounded like he could barely get his breath. She thought he might be struggling. After all, he had not gained all his strength back. He was keeping her in front of him though. Stella knew what he would do. If those guys got too close, Mac would stop to fight them while she got further away. She felt despair. She knew Mac could not fight off all of them alone. They were not exactly small guys. They looked like they lifted plenty of weights to her.

Mac looked behind them. He could see the three coming after them. He wanted to get Stella to safety. Quincy had said she wanted him 'left alive'. That meant, they were after Stella. Quinn must have found out that he was taking Stella up here with him. He supposed Quincy had been following him. Mac didn't know how much longer he could keep up this running uphill. He felt like his breath was barely reaching his lungs. He was out of shape after his ordeal and being in that hospital for three weeks.

"They're gaining on us," Mac whispered.

Stella could hear the alarm in his voice. Finally, they came to a more level area, and they could run faster. Mac was looking for a place to hide, but he didn't think they would have time for that. They had no weapons and those guys were not going to be intimidated. Mac knew there was a ranger station out this way somewhere. He hoped they could reach it and there would be someone there.

Finally, they came to a 'Y' in the trail. Mac pushed Stella toward the right. Stella could hear the exhaustion in Mac's breathing. Quincy and the other two were so close behind them, they could hear their footsteps. Mac was expecting them to grab him any moment. He desperately wanted to get Stella out of here. He knew they would show no mercy to her if they captured her. "Stella," Mac whispered. "There's a ranger station down this trail. You keep running until you get there! You hear me?"

Stella started to cry. "Mac, just keep running," she begged.

"I won't let them get to you. You keep running!"

Stella felt Mac's hand slip out of hers. She was crying as she ran, but she kept running…