The last chapter is late but it's stuffed to the brim with goodies for you to enjoy :) Don't forget to REVIEW!

(Lemon alert: There's a brief lemon towards the end - skip or enjoy.)

26. New Life

Waking up in Dimitri's arms was bliss. Rose tilted her head and sighed as she felt him nuzzle into the crook of her neck, losing herself in the drugging combination of rough stubble and warm, whisper-soft kisses.

'Good morning, cowboy,' she squirmed contentedly against his chest, still sleepy after a night of indescribable pleasure.

'Mmm, it is,' he agreed, running his fingertips lightly over her skin – teasing up and down her stomach in an unhurried journey of discovery and rediscovery. 'I must be the luckiest man in the—'

'You up, Belikov?' a voice at the door interrupted their intimate moment, and Rose dove under the blankets, peeking out to watch Dimitri launch himself towards the pile of clothes in the corner, hopping on one foot in his rush to get his trousers on.

A minute later, barely respectable, he made it to the door.

'You look like you slept in a barn!' Sheriff Tanner remarked, surprised by the rumpled appearance of the giant Russian who was blocking the doorway.

'I was up half the night taking care of my charge,' Dimitri answered cagily. It wasn't a lie.

If Micky Tanner suspected anything he didn't let on. 'How is Miss Hathaway?' he enquired, lowering his voice in case the young lady was listening. 'Sonya told me what happened in the church – with the Dashley girl.'

A cloud passed over the deputy's face. 'Some scars take a long time to fade but Rose is remarkably strong. She's past the turning point now, thankfully. And Miss Karp?'

'My God, Dimitri. If you hadn't brought her here…,' Micky trailed off, running a hand through his hair.

'But she's here now,' Deputy Belikov gripped his shoulder in support. 'Is her condition stable? Is she comfortable?'

The sheriff's worried expression melted into something closer to disbelief and amazement. 'She's improving by the hour, thank God. I need to get back to her soon, but I wanted to catch you before you headed back to Saints Town - to pass on my heartfelt thanks. Is Miss Hathaway—'

'Still abed,' Dimitri glanced back to the door. 'I'll let her know you stopped by.'

Micky nodded. 'I'll always be indebted to both of you for restoring her to me. If there's anything I can do to help you in return – anything at all – don't hesitate to ask.'

Dimitri shook his head. 'A job and a home is a greater reward than I could have hoped for,' he hesitated then ploughed on, 'but perhaps in a few months you might accept another tenant in the cabin? It's only very recent news, but Miss Hathaway has agreed to be my wife and—'

'You sly dog, Belikov!' Sheriff Tanner's face lit up at the unexpected news. 'You've always seemed such a quiet type I didn't think you had it in you. Have you told Alberta yet?'

There was an awkward pause.

'Good luck with that, then,' Micky raised an eyebrow, adding a muttered 'poor bastard' under his breath.

'Is it going to be that bad?' Dimitri winced.

'This is Alberta Peterson we're talking about,' Micky fixed him with a pitying look. 'And you want to marry her only daughter. If it was me I'd be taking a gun for protection.'

Dimitri chuckled nervously, hoping to God that his friend was exaggerating.

'Well, I'd better be getting back to Sonya,' Sheriff Tanner reached out to shake hands. 'Thanks again for everything. Remember to keep me informed of when you can start work. With Deputy Moore gone to Argenta to take the place of Sheriff Alto, your help really can't come soon enough.'

'I'll return as soon as Alberta releases me,' the Russian nodded.

'If she doesn't kill you first for stealing her daughter's affections!' Micky cracked a wry smile then departed, leaving Deputy Belikov to return to his own lady love.

As soon as Dimitri entered the cabin he knew something was off. 'Is everything alright, Roza?'

In the time he'd been gone, Rose had dressed and made up the bed, and was now sitting nervously on the edge of the mattress.

'Yes and no,' she replied, shifting across so he could sit down beside her. 'Um… what we did last night.'

'Yes?' Dimitri was feeling worried now.

'I loved it and I want to do it again. Honestly. Right now,' she rubbed his leg as she peeked up at him guiltily.

He kissed her. 'But?'

'I was thinking about my mother and how she had me.'

The man wiped a hand across his face in self-reproach. 'Oh Roza. I'm sorry. I was so desperate to make you mine I didn't even consider the consequences. Do you think you might be…?' his eyes dipped to her stomach.

'I don't know. I don't think so,' she seemed uncertain. 'It's not really something Alberta discussed with me in detail. I guess we'll have to wait and see?'

Dimitri drew her into his arms, heart thumping against his chest. 'Whatever happens, I won't let anybody speak badly of you. I hope we can be married within a month or two – three at the outside – but if there are any delays and you are…,' he dropped his lips to her temple, his hand resting protectively over her stomach. 'Promise me you'll send word. I'll come and collect you myself and you can live with me here until the child is born. Micky Tanner said he owed us a favour, and I'm not too proud to ask for his discretion if it comes to that.'

Rose exhaled slowly then sat a little taller and linked her fingers through his, the usual stubborn glint creeping back into her eyes. 'If I could go back and change things, I wouldn't, you know. I don't regret a single moment of loving you.'

The deputy squeezed her hand, a soft smile gracing his lips. 'I don't regret it either… but in the interests of protecting your reputation...'

'Seriously, cowboy?'

He bit back a grin. 'Perhaps it is a good idea if we abstain from expressing our feelings in a physical way until our real wedding night?'

'This is going to be hell, isn't it?' Rose grimaced.

Deputy Belikov looked pained as he pulled her up to stand. 'Burning in hell would be far easier than the task of resisting you, Roza.'

They left Silver Springs after breakfast, each upon their own horse. Rose suggested they could travel slower to make the journey last, but Dimitri reminded her that the road was not the safest place to dally. The decision was made to follow the main route east and stay in Greenston the first night, then take the most direct path to Saints Town, which should get them home some time on Saturday morning.

The pair had been travelling half a day when Rose slowed her horse to a walk.

'I want one,' she announced when the deputy's mount fell into step with hers.

'One what?'

'A mark. For Natalie.'

Dimitri frowned. 'I don't know, Roza. Getting a tattoo can be very painful, and the mark is permanent. Do you really want to carry that memory on your skin for the rest of your life?'

'Yes,' she looked at him steadily. 'You told me once that your crosses remind you there's a purpose to what you do – a reason for taking the lives you've claimed. Well, I might still regret killing Natalie Dashley the way that I did, but maybe there's a lesson in her death that I need to remember too,' she frowned. 'I can't go through life taking people at face value. I thought Natalie and her father genuinely cared about Lisa but everything about them was fake. And for years I believed Madam Kiroy was evil incarnate, yet she died trying to protect Lis from the fate Victor had planned for her. I think I can forgive myself for what happened – in time – but I never want to forget it.'

'Very well,' the deputy nodded sternly. 'There's a man in Greenston who's done most of my tattoos. I need some extras put on anyway – for Dashley's hounds and the two outlaws from the shootout in the saloon. We can get them done together.'

It was every bit as painful as Rose was expecting. The tattooist, Lionel O'Reilly, was well respected at his trade, but the tools were rudimentary and the process slow. Rose was proud that she got through it without making a noise, but not quite as impressed with herself when Lionel fished a book off the shelf and showed her a photograph of his last female customer – the woman scantily clad and tattooed from her neck to her toes.

'Do you think I should get a few more?' Rose suggested, handing the picture to Dimitri, who promptly returned it to its owner.

'Don't even think about it, Rosemarie Hathaway,' he chastised severely, but he lowered his voice to add, 'I happen to like your body very much, just the way it is.'

Her face glowed at the compliment and she sat patiently for the next hour – flipping through Mr O'Reilly's book of curiosities – as five new crosses were inked on what little space remained on the back of Dimitri's neck.

Rose slept in the hotel that night, the double bed vast and lonely with Deputy Belikov outside in the corridor; guarding her door as he had the last time they stayed in Greenston. With no incentive to linger in bed, she was up and dressed early the next morning, joining Dimitri for breakfast in the saloon.

'Did you hear the latest news?' the barman spilt gossip as he poured their coffees. 'Sheriff Croft passed through town two days ago with the outlaw James Nathan in chains. Word is, the rest of the gang was taken out by some travelling gunslinger, but Nathan's being moved to the new military prison on Alcatraz Island. The Governor will have him tried and hung there. Just think – our sheriff's name will probably be in the newspapers! Can I get you anything else, Sir? Miss?'

They both declined, grateful when the man finally left to serve another table.

'That's the end of it, then,' the deputy murmured tightly.

It was difficult to imagine it was really over. He'd sacrificed nearly two years of his life hunting down the outlaws responsible for Ivan Zekeman's murder – years he would never get back - but with James Nathan gone, Dimitri realised he was finally free to return to his original purpose for moving to America. He was finally free to build a peaceful, respectable life for himself and his family – his mother and sisters, Yeva if she would consent to travel abroad, and now his Roza too.

'An end and a beginning,' Rose reminded him, her hand brushing his arm.

Dimitri shook his head, not quite believing how lucky he was to have found her. 'Come, Roza,' he stood, rounding the table and offering his hand to help her rise. 'We have a new life waiting for us. Let's go and get it.'

The rest of the day passed without incident, the travellers branching off from the main road to cut across the rocky desert plains, and when evening fell they made camp under the stars. While Rose and Dimitri had resolved to forgo any further pleasures of a physical nature, it was by unspoken agreement that they made up one bed – not two – by the fire, and only the moon was there to witness their muted sighs and groans as two pairs of hands wandered freely beneath the secrecy of the blankets.

When Rose awoke the following morning, Dimitri was sitting up next to her – a mug of coffee at the ready.

'Do you know what today is, Roza?'

'What?' she smiled sleepily, wriggling up beside him and bringing the tin cup to her lips.

'It's exactly one month since I met you. You tried to escape from me twice that day, remember? Your first attempt was climbing out the dressmaker's window and then you stole one of my horses and—'

Rose looked up from her drink, fixing him with an indignant pout. 'I didn't steal the horse, cowboy. I liberated it.'

The man's grin broke into a laugh, and he wrested the coffee mug from her hands, pushing her back onto the bedding and tickling her until she was begging for mercy.

'Maybe that's what I should tell Alberta?' he suggested cheekily, mid-way through delivering her punishment. 'I've come to liberate your daughter! Where do I sign?'

When Rose was capable of speech again, her stomach muscles were cramping from violent, gasping laughter. 'It's a good thing you're so big or she'd squash you like a fly!'

'I'm not afraid of your mother,' he insisted stoically.

The girl's sarcastic expression told him she disagreed.

Knowing they were on the homeward stretch, the pair pushed their horses a little harder and managed to reach the outskirts of Saints Town by mid-morning. Rose briefly considered asking if they could stop in at Cottonwood Creek Ranch on their way past to check on Lisa, but the thought of a certain feisty little sheriff - whom she secretly loved with all her heart - led them straight home.

When they pulled up outside the sheriff's office, Dimitri assisted Rose down from her horse then went ahead to check on the situation inside. To his surprise, it was Eddie Castile seated at the desk, not the sheriff.

'Welcome back, deputy,' Eddie announced gravely, standing to clasp a hand with the newcomer and casting a glance out the window to where Rose was tugging at the straps on her saddlebag.

'It's good to be back, deputy,' Dimitri replied, noticing the badge pinned on the other man's chest. 'I see Sheriff Peterson roped you in to do her dirty work while I was away.'

Eddie grinned briefly before his expression turned serious once more. 'The whole town's been on tenterhooks. First James Nathan, and then the Dashey disaster. Things have quietened down a bit in the last day or two but I stuck around to give Alberta a break. She's upstairs resting.'

'Ahh. Deputy Belikov,' another voice crackled out, and they both turned to see Victor Dashley approaching the bars of his jail cell. 'I'm so glad you made it back before I left.'

Dimitri gestured for Eddie to go outside and keep Rose well away. 'You're still here?' he narrowed his eyes, looming closer to the prisoner. 'I thought they would have hung you by now.'

'They can't hang me,' Victor gloated. 'I haven't done anything wrong. It was Natalie who killed the red-haired cowboy, not me. And you can't take any credence from whatever Sonya Karp might have told you. She's touched in the head. No court of law would accept her testimony.'

'And Madam Kiroy?'

Victor smiled roguishly. 'I don't know what you're talking about, deputy.'

Dimitri clenched his jaw. 'I was present at the woman's passing. She named you as her killer.'

'The ravings of an addict,' he waved dismissively. 'If you bother to examine the facts, you'll see that my incarceration is unlawful. Sheriff Peterson knows it too. She's deemed me a special case, and the lawyer she's appointed to defend me will be arriving later this afternoon. I imagine I'll be free by this evening!' the old man announced gleefully.

Deputy Belikov glanced away from the criminal in the cell, determined not to react in a way that might make Victor Dashley believe he still held power over him.

'Perhaps I'll pay Miss Hathaway a call before I leave?' the old man pressed, a vindictive gleam springing up in his eyes. 'My daughter's murderer ought to be brought to justice, and it's clear you won't be the one to deliver it. I, on the other hand have no qualms about—'

The deputy had heard enough. He grabbed Victor's shirt-front through the bars, squashing the prisoner's cruel, gout-reddened face against the cold metal. 'You won't get anywhere near her, Dashley. Ever again,' Dimitri's voice was hushed and lethal. 'And if I hear you threaten Miss Hathaway once more, a lifetime behind bars will be the least of your worries. Now sit down and shut your mouth, or I'll have you gagged until the lawyer arrives.'

He released the man from his grip with a look of disgust, and stalked outside to trade places with Deputy Castile.

'Are you okay?' Rose asked as soon as he reached her.

'I will be,' he took a calming breath and caught her hand. 'Come on. Let's go and see your mother.'

'This better be good,' Sheriff Peterson looked crabby as she peered out into the hallway, but the moment she saw who was at the door she threw her arms around her daughter and refused to let go. 'You're back,' she mumbled into the girl's shoulder, squeezing her even tighter.

'Yes, Mom,' Rose said in a small voice. 'Sorry I scared you.'

Alberta pulled away, eyes searching the girl's face. 'Mom? You never call me Mom. What's going on?'

It only took one look at the man standing awkwardly in the doorway for her to figure it out.

'I see... Rose. To your room. Belikov. Sit. Now,' she ordered, pointing to the small writing desk in the corner of her bedroom.

Her instructions were followed without argument, and as soon as Rose had left, Alberta turned to fix a beady eye on her first victim. 'Spill it, deputy.'

Dimitri's hands rested on his knees, palms slightly clammy. 'I'm leaving,' he began, doing his best to ignore the woman's threatening expression. 'Micky Tanner has offered me a permanent position as his deputy and I said I'll start as soon as possible.'

She took the news as a personal affront. 'Are we not good enough for you, boy?' she glared at him, arms crossed.

The Russian shifted his weight on the chair, all of the words he'd ever learnt in English seeming to disappear from his brain. 'No… I mean, no you aren't not good enough,' he stumbled, eventually giving up and trying another tack. 'I need a steady job because of Rose.'

This was not going well.

Alberta advanced like a cat hunting its prey. 'What has Rosemarie got to do with it?'

Even seated, Dimitri was taller than the sheriff, but her short stature didn't make her any less intimidating. The cowboy took a deep breath and squared his shoulders.

'I've asked Rose to marry me and she said yes. I love her and I want to give her the best life I can provide. Right now, that's as the deputy in Silver Springs. I'm not asking your permission, Alberta. I'm going to marry Roza whether you like it or not, but both of us would value your blessing and support.'

He thought there would be a lengthy wait while the sheriff deliberated over her reply, but her response was mercifully quick.

SMACK! Without warning, Dimitri's head snapped around and he found himself looking at the wall beside him, his cheek red and smarting.

'That's for looking at my daughter when you should have been concentrating on your job,' Alberta declared, grabbing onto his collar for extra purchase and giving him another mighty whack that made his teeth rattle in his head. 'And that's a taste of what you'll get if you ever let her down.'

She studied his face, checking for any signs of a quick temper, then, satisfied, she brought her other hand up to his collar and kissed him square on the lips. 'And that's for bringing her back to me safely. Twice,' her voice was tender, filled with affection for her daughter and acceptance for the man who loved her. 'You bring out the best in Rose and you make her happy. There's nothing more a mother could ask for than that. Of course you have my blessing - a hundred times over.'

Dimitri was elated, but still slightly in shock at being attacked by his mother-in-law. 'So that's where she gets it from then,' he grimaced.

'What?' Alberta challenged. 'The strong right arm or the kissing?'

'Both' he rubbed his cheek.

The old sheriff let out a hearty guffaw and procured a flask from her desk drawer to celebrate the happy occasion. 'So have you discussed a date?' she asked, offering him a belt of her whiskey.

Dimitri took a swig and handed the flask back to her. 'Not specifically, but we don't want to wait long. Sometime in the next month or two, if you agree – provided a preacher can be found to officiate. The chapel's out of the question given what happened last Sunday, so we were thinking of having a quiet ceremony at home. Perhaps in the sheriff's office, or maybe Cottonwood Creek Ranch?'

'How about the first Saturday in November?' Alberta suggested. 'Rose will be eighteen by then and able to be an equal partner to you in all matters regarding the law. As for the location of the ceremony, the ranch would be my choice. For all the sorrow that's haunted that property in recent years, it was once a happy place. A wedding would be the perfect way to breathe new life back into Lisa's home.'

Two months. Dimitri could wait that long. Just. 'I'll go and tell Rose the good news right away,' he stood hastily and headed for the door, but a sound from the sheriff made him turn his head.

'I'll be wanting grandchildren, you hear? Lots of them.'

How were you supposed to respond when your mother-in-law was essentially instructing you to ravish your wife? 'I'll do my very best,' he conceded, guiltily aware of the fact her wish might be granted a little sooner than any of them had planned.

His mouth went dry at her expression and he left in a hurry, anxious to quash the feeling that she'd seen straight into his mind and figured out the true nature of his relations with her daughter.

The moment the door-latch clicked closed, Alberta eased herself onto the chair Dimitri had just vacated and put her feet up on the desk, eyes lit with a knowing smile. 'I'm certain you will, bucko,' she raised her flask in the general direction of the door. 'I'm certain you will.'

Rose and Dimitri dined with the sheriff in the saloon for lunch, the oldest of the three so radiant with joy at the news of her daughter's engagement that she stopped torturing Adrian Ivara for his previous indiscretions and actually invited the saloon owner to join them for dessert. After they'd finished their meal, Adrian returned to his place at the bar, limping slightly to get sympathy for the gunshot wound he'd sustained to his leg in his recent battle with Victor's hounds. Moments later, Alberta shooed the young couple away so she could attend to some pressing business (they were glad to oblige), and nobody noticed the mother of the bride-to-be mysteriously exit the saloon and disappear into a fine carriage that was parked outside the hotel.

'Mr Mazur. You came,' Sheriff Peterson eyed her surroundings with suspicion.

Every inch of the carriage's interior was covered in exotic throw rugs and beaded cushions. Glass lanterns were suspended from the roof and amongst it all sat an equally exotic-looking man; his choice of clothing – a garish combination of a green knee-length jacket, floral waistcoat, striped trousers and a chequered necktie – making him blend into his opulent surroundings like a chameleon.

'I wouldn't normally travel this far off the beaten track but your message intrigued me,' the stranger replied, twirling his luxurious moustache.

Alberta didn't waste time on small talk. 'I've got a prisoner in custody who requested legal counsel and I thought of you.'

'I'm flattered.'

'Don't be,' Sheriff Peterson shot back. 'I've followed your career for a while now, Abraham, or should I call you Abe? From what I've learnt, you're a very busy man. On top of practicing law, you have a range of other business interests; property acquisition, moneylending, a charitable organisation providing jobs for convicts recently released from prison - just to name a few.'

'What can I say? I enjoy providing services to the community,' the man quipped, a faint accent lacing his words. 'Now, sheriff, as much as I like hearing you list my many skills and talents, I don't have all day. What is it you want from me?'

Alberta took her time to answer just to annoy him. 'My barman tells me a certain high-profile client of yours owes you a very large sum of money and is struggling to make the repayments - Mr Victor Dashley.'

Abe looked disinterested. 'Mr Dashley will pay in the end like he always does - at the highest rate of interest, of course. There is a reason he's my favourite customer.'

'Would you like to know how your favourite customer has been planning to procure your money?' the sheriff asked tightly.

'How my clients raise their funds is none of my business - only that they pay in full.'

Alberta scowled. 'Then you won't be interested to know that he tried to have your daughter killed.'

There was a heavy silence.

'I don't have a daughter,' the man replied, a threatening edge to his voice.

'But I think you do,' the sheriff countered fearlessly. 'Do you remember a woman named Janine Hathaway?'

It was obvious he did.

'Fourteen years ago, my friend Janine came to me. She was running from a troubled life and wanted a safe home for her daughter. I took the child in and raised her as my own. Rose is—'

'Rose?' the man hissed, a shadow of longing on his face.

'She's nearly eighteen. Engaged to be married in a few months. She's bright and brave, full of life - and that life was nearly destroyed last week by your beloved Victor Dashley. If I had my way he'd hang for what he's done, but a man of his social standing will require a proper trial before he's sentenced,' Alberta's face darkened. 'The trouble is, if I have the criminal transferred to San Francisco he'll use his connections to buy his way out of jail. As long as he is free, Rose is in danger. So this is where you come in. I need to find a way to ensure Mr Dashley never sees the light of day again, and I thought you might be just the man to make that happen. Shall we do business Mr Mazur?'

The man shifted on the cushioned seat, folding a little wooden table over his knees and opening his business ledger to a fresh page. 'Let's begin.'

An hour later, the carriage was gone and so was Victor Dashley. The prison on Alcatraz Island would soon have another inmate, but not before Abe Mazur was done with him.

'Do I have to go to church?' Rose stood in the sheriff's office in her cotton day-dress, the white muslin damaged beyond repair after last Sunday's shootout in the church.

'Of course you have to go, child,' Alberta scolded gently, giving her shoulder a squeeze. 'I know it's going to be difficult, but the whole congregation will be grieving the loss of their friends and neighbours - nobody will think any less of you if you shed a few tears.'

Rose entered the chapel at five minutes to nine, gripping tightly to Deputy Belikov's arm as they made their way inside. The women of the parish had done a thorough job of scrubbing the wooden floor, but Rose was sure she could still see traces of blood in the cracks between the floorboards where Mason and Natalie had come to their final rest.

The service proceeded as usual, but when it was time for the sermon Sheriff Peterson stood and made her way to the lectern.

'In the absence of our dearly departed reverend, the job has fallen to me to deliver this morning's message,' she looked out over the gathering with a grim expression. 'I can see everybody here feels the loss of those who have died in the past week; Reverend Thomas Karp, Miss Ellen Kiroy, Mason Ashford, Natalie Dashley and several others not intimately known to us.'

Rose looked to where Lisa was seated across the aisle and the two friends shared a moment of private sorrow among the crowd of anonymous mourners.

'It will take our town a long time to recover from this tragedy, but I am reminded of the saying in the good book - To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. Here in the west we live off the land. We know all too well about the seasons and the cycle of life and death. Grieve as long as you need to, but remember this - the time for death is past. The time for life is just beginning.'

Dimitri felt the girl beside him take a shaky breath and he closed his hand over hers, letting her draw on his strength.

'New life comes in many forms,' Alberta continued. 'I'm sure you've all heard by now that Sonya Karp has been found alive, one year after she was thought to have died. I am glad to inform you that Sonya is making a slow but steady recovery in the care of her extended family in Silver Springs.'

There was a titter of acknowledgement - both shock and joy - throughout the room.

'Our town will also be starting a fresh chapter with a new preacher. Many of you would remember Sonya Karp's cousin, Emily... Well, Emily will soon be returning home to Saints Town with her husband, Reverend John Mastrano, and their daughter Jillian. I trust you will make them all welcome.'

Rose swivelled around to cast a meaningful glance at Eddie Castile. The last time the Mastranos visited, Jill had spent their entire stay hanging over the back fence trying to steal glimpses of the handsome blonde cowboy. Eddie had always dismissed the girl's interest on the grounds that she was too young, but Jill would have to be at least sixteen by now. A pretty, adoring reverend's daughter might be just the distraction Eddie needed after the loss of his best friend.

'And finally, it gives me great pleasure to announce not one, but two upcoming marriages. Firstly, Miss Lisa Draymore and Mr Christian O'Hara have recently become engaged - a welcome ray of happiness after a period of great personal hardship.'

Everybody present knew the circumstances of the death of Lisa's parents and brother, (though only a select few were privy to the details of Victor Dashley's forced marriage and Christian's family history), and there was a wave of genuine applause in support of the match.

'And I'm over the Goddamn moon,' several ladies gasped at the blasphemy, 'that Deputy Belikov has managed to tame my own wild daughter.' Alberta shifted her attention to her son-in-law. 'I'm sure she'll be hard work at times, deputy, but what fun is life without a bit of a challenge?!'

Rose didn't even hear the whoops of congratulations and good-natured laughter around her - her attention entirely lost in Dimitri's indulgent, possessive gaze.

There was only one small incident to mar the otherwise perfect day. When everybody was forwarding out of the building after the service, a spiteful voice called out over the chatter of the crowd.

'So what colour is your gown going to be, Miss Hathaway?' the man mocked. 'I hardly think white would be appropriate for a girl like—'

THUD! People jumped back in all directions as Jesse Zekeman plummeted to the floor like a felled tree.

'My humblest apologies, Mr Zekeman,' Deputy Belikov picked up the unconscious man by his collar and laid him out between two pews, taking great satisfaction in the red, fist-sized mark that was currently flourishing on Jesse's jaw. 'I must have tripped.'

There were a few cheers and a smattering of applause, and Dimitri returned to his fiancée's side to exit the church together.

Many of the parishioners approached the deputy - now a reluctant celebrity - to offer their best wishes on his upcoming marriage. Adrian Ivara made a special point of assuring Deputy Belikov that he would take good care of Rose in his absence. Dimitri didn't find that particularly comforting, but when Adrian's conversation turned repeatedly to the beautiful and mysterious Miss Sydney Sage he began to feel a little more at ease. Eventually, the deputy was left alone and Christian O'Hara loped over for a word.

'Congratulations, Mr Belikov,' he grinned sheepishly, also uncomfortable at the unwanted attention.

'Congratulations yourself, Mr O'Hara,' Dimitri replied as they stood together, watching the women they loved walking arm in arm and trading news like they'd been separated for a year, not a week. 'So what will you do now Victor Dashley is gone?'

The younger man shrugged his shoulders. 'God knows. With all the development that's going on in the region I'm sure somebody will need my skills. I just don't want to travel too far from Lisa. After everything that's happened I don't feel comfortable leaving her for any length of time.'

Dimitri nodded, understanding completely.

'Oh. That reminds me,' Christian fished in his pocket and pressed something into the deputy's hand. 'Lisa and I have decided not to mine the ranch, but Mr Dashley's hounds left a few presents behind from their excavation near the creek-bed.'

Dimitri opened his palm to see a sizeable gold nugget staring back at him and he gaped at in shock. 'I can't take this. It must be worth a fortune!'

'A small fortune, maybe,' Christian smirked. 'And I insist you take it. You saved Lisa from that depraved lunatic - with Rose's help of course. Consider this a small token of our thanks.'

'I don't know...,' the deputy stalled. The gift was far too generous.

'Just accept it, man,' Mr O'Hara persisted. 'Lisa told me recently that you have family overseas you'd like to bring to America. I know what's it's like to miss family. Why don't you use this to get them over here?'

Dimitri battled a minute longer before he found the words to accept. 'I can't believe it. Your generosity is overwhelming.'

'Well, don't mention that to Miss Hathaway, for God's sake,' Christian warned him. 'I've got a reputation to maintain.'

Monday passed in a blur and when night fell over Saints Town, Rose couldn't sleep. Deputy Belikov was due to leave in the morning and she couldn't resign herself to the fact that they would be parted by lunch time the next day. She tossed and turned, anxiety eating at her stomach, until a plinking sound drew her to the window. He was out there, beckoning for her to join him.

Quiet as a mouse, Rose snuck downstairs to the back door and opened it slowly, being careful not to wake Alberta.

'What are you doing here?' she asked, heart in her mouth as his eyes raked over her nightdress.

'I want to be with my wife,' the deputy trailed his fingers down her naked arm and settled his hand on her waist, drawing her in to his body.

'And she wants to be with you,' Rose shivered as his other hand roved up into her hair, stroking roughly through the tangled tresses, 'but it's impossible. Alberta will hear us for sure.'

'Then come out to my fire.'

He made it sound so easy, and she dug her fingers into his back as he dropped his lips to her collarbone.

'But I thought you told me once I wasn't allowed to come out to your fire.' She was aiming for cheeky but her voice betrayed her; soft and unsteady at the sensation of warm, wet kisses marking a path up to her ear.

'Some rules are worth breaking,' Dimitri swept her off her feet and she was powerless to stop him as he carried her out into the darkness towards the distant light of his campfire.

Rose was trembling with need, but one of them had to be sensible about this. 'What if somebody sees us?' she choked out the words, even while her fingers stole into his hair and probed under the collar of his shirt.

'They won't,' he was already pulling the sleeve of her nightdress down, dropping a kiss to her shoulder and then a nip to the top of her breast - pale and plump in the moonlight.

'What if…,' they'd reached the fire and he sat down on the ground, leaning back against a fallen log and drawing her down to sit on his lap; urging her hips to rock against him as he claimed her mouth with delving, soul-consuming kisses.

'What if there is… a child?' she gasped as he shifted her weight to free himself from his trousers, hitching her skirt up and clasping her firmly by the buttocks.

He stilled then and held her there, hovered over him as he half-surfaced from the primal frenzy. 'Then we will love it,' he whispered, and she stifled a cry of shock and pleasure as he pushed up into her, guiding her hips in a steady swaying rhythm.

Their movements grew more frantic as their bodies cried out for one another – the woman's arms twined around her lover's neck – and she watched his face in wide-eyed wonder as he lost control; his low, shuddering groan robbing her of lucid thought and hurrying her to her own dazzling release.

They stayed in one-another's arms afterwards, sharing whispers of love and promises of faithfulness, until Rose's eyelids grew heavy and Dimitri carried her back to the house to sleep the night in her own bed – both feeling a little guilty for breaking the rules (again) but neither regretting the chance to express their love one last time before they were parted.

The morning of Deputy Belikov's departure was torment for Rose. Not only was her lover leaving for two months - twice as long as she'd even known him - but their chance at one last kiss had been sabotaged by Alberta. Rose had been hoping to see Dimitri off at the edge of town alone, but the sheriff had elected to join them at the last moment, meaning it was going to be a chaste peck on the cheek or nothing.

The three of them rode together to a scenic bend in the road, and they all dismounted to make their farewells.

'See you again soon, deputy,' Sheriff Peterson began.

The man went to shake her hand but she tutted, dragging his face down to kiss his cheek instead.

'I'm not your boss anymore, kid. I'm your mother-in-law.'

Dimitri wasn't sure which prospect was more concerning.

'Now, make it quick,' Alberta added quietly, nodding to where Rose was squirming the toe of her boot in the dirt, trying to keep her emotions in check. 'The longer your string it out the harder it will be.'

She moved away a short distance and Deputy Belikov walked across to stand in front of his fiancée.

'I'll miss you, Roza,' he took her hands in his, trying to memorise every detail of her face as she gazed up at him, a small crease between her eyebrows.

'Are you sure you have to go?' she wheedled.

He chuckled softly. 'I'll be back for you before you know it.'

'Two months is longer than that,' she pouted. 'Can't I just come with you now and save all the bother?'

He groaned, wishing it could only be that easy. 'Be patient, milaya. The next time we see one another I will give you my ring and you will become Mrs Roza Belikova.'

The girl frowned. 'No.'

'No?'

'I'll be Mrs Belikov thank you very much. I want everybody to know that I belong to you, and you belong to me.'

Dimitri looked amused. 'But all the women in my family are Belikovas – it's tradition.'

'Well, I'm not traditional,' she replied stubbornly.

'You're right about that!' he grinned. 'My grandmother's not going to like this one bit.'

'It's a good thing I'm not marrying her then, isn't it,' Rose countered, eliciting a cough of laughter from their chaperone in the background.

Deputy Belikov's mood sobered and he squeezed Rose's fingers.

'Farewell, Roza,' he leant in to kiss her cheek. 'Write to me. I want to know everything that's happening. How you're feeling. What your hopes are for our future together. I love you.' He wanted to tell her so much more and prove the depth of his passion with his lips but the girl's mother was standing only a few feet away watching his every move.

'I love you too, cowboy,' Rose was trying to be strong but she couldn't hide the trace of panic on her face at the realisation that this was really goodbye. 'Stay out of trouble. No more gunfights until you come back for me. Promise.'

'I promise,' Dimitri nodded then turned to leave, every sense crying out for him to remain by the side of the woman he loved.

He made it to his horse and had one foot in the stirrup before he changed his mind, striding back to her and crushing her in his arms.

'I love you, my Roza,' he choked, lifting her from the ground, his mouth seeking out hers – desperate and demanding – as their feelings spilled over in a passionate kiss that left them both gasping for breath.

Rose buckled slightly when he put her down again, and this time he pressed one last kiss to her forehead before returning to his horse.

'Sheriff,' he raised his hat to the speechless woman as he passed her, and in another minute he was gone, leaving only a cloud of dust in his wake.

Alberta watched the figure of Deputy Belikov becoming smaller as he rode off into the distance then turned to the girl beside her.

'So, what was it like, then?' she asked conversationally.

'What was what like?' Rose mumbled, still swooning from Dimitri's farewell kiss.

'You know what I mean. Enjoying the deputy's convivial society.'

The girl shook her head, confused.

'Meeting in amorous congress?' Alberta fished a little deeper.

Rose's heart clenched. Was her mother actually asking about…?

'Dancing the blanket hornpipe?'

She clapped her hands over her face, horrified. 'Oh Lord, Alberta. Stop!' Her mind jarred with the terrible truth - Alberta knew! Whatever punishment she had in mind, it was going to be swift and brutal.

'I don't see why I should stop,' the sheriff's voice was stern. 'When a man kisses a woman like that it only means one thing. If you're mature enough to do the deed, Rosemarie, you should be mature enough to talk about it. It seems you're a woman now. We have much to discuss.'

'This is one thing we will NEVER discuss,' Rose declared firmly. Talking about sexual relations with Alberta was the worst punishment she could have imagined. 'What would you know about it anyway?' she added rudely. 'You're an old spinster.'

'Hank Croft doesn't seem to think so,' the woman retorted.

'Hank?' Rose wrinkled her nose. 'But he's just—'

'My husband,' a smile spread slowly across Alberta's face.

'WHAT?! I was away for less than a week!' Rose threw her hands in the air, disgusted they didn't at least wait until she got back.

The sheriff smirked. 'You really only see what you want to see, don't you Rose. I've been married to Hank for ten years.'

The girl did a double-take, mouth opening and closing stupidly. 'But he's so old... and short... and—'

'And he loves me,' the sheriff moved across to scratch her pony's nose, grinning like a schoolgirl.

Rose looked like she was going to vomit.

'Hung like a horse too, if you get my drift,' Alberta winked, 'but you'd know all about that with your Deputy Belikov, wouldn't you?!'

The younger woman screeched, mounting her mare and urging the creature on as fast as it would carry her. Dimitri was lucky. He only had criminals and murderers to deal with. Rose had to spend the next two months alone with her mother.

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The End

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Author's Note:

So… that's just about all, folks. A short epilogue to follow, but the story proper is complete. Thanks for coming along for the ride with me and reading to the end. Hopefully you had some fun reading about Dimitri on a horse and Rose in a puffy dress, and maybe felt some of the emotions along the way.

In the past four months my son has gone from fat-faced ball of red screaminess to trying his first taste of real food (Plum. He liked it.); my daughter has developed an unnatural fascination with cupcakes; and I have fallen deeper in love with Romitri. (And Alberta – let's not forget the real star of the show!) I wonder what has happened to you? Hopefully most of it is good :)

I hope that in the next four months I will be on the other side of the country, busy writing a SEQUEL to Deputy Belikov. Huh? Did I just say that out loud? ;) Watch this space!

Seeing as we're at the end, it would be great if you could send me a review or a PM & tell me what character/scene/chapter you liked the best. Or maybe you could share your ideas of any themes/characters you'd like to see appear in the sequel. Think Blood Promise meets the Civil War. (Oh my goodness. I can't believe I'm considering doing this again!)