Mikayla began making frequent visits to the girls at the saloon, helping them understand basic self care and hygiene, helping those with children learn better ways to care for them. Lucas had not been happy when she'd suggested the idea, but she had insisted she needed something to focus her energy on. He had finally agreed, but only if she went during the day, and only if he or Micah were in town too. Doc Burrage had been grateful for her willingness to help the girls, it was significantly reducing his visits to the saloon.

One sweltering day, Mikayla was tending to a girl who had fainted. It seemed like obvious heat stroke, she instructed the woman to lay down and drink plenty of fluids. As she was leaving, she passed another room and saw a couple girls huddled at the window, whispering not so quietly about the sight below.

"Oh, what I wouldn't give to be in those arms," one girl groaned.

"Has he ever been here?" One of the newer girls asked.

A more seasoned woman answered with a disappointed look, "No, and I dare say he won't show up now." She glanced over to the door, seeing Mikayla she blushed, nudging the girl beside her. The women quickly dispersed from the window, hurrying out of the room. Mikayla's curiosity got the best of her, and she walked to the window, peering out.

It was Lucas, stripped to the waist, he was washing off his bare torso in a water trough in the alley. Mikayla's eyes were glued to him, slowly going over every curve of his biceps, running across his broad, tan shoulders, down his chest to his abs, then slowly to below his belly button where a trail of soft blonde hair disappeared into his waistband. She wasn't quite sure how long she had been staring when a voice made her jump.

"You're a lucky woman, Miss Mikayla."

She turned to see Samantha, watching her with a sober face. Mikayla nodded, walking towards the door. She turned, her curiosity getting the best of her.

"How old are you, Samantha?"

The girl stood up straighter. "Twenty."

Mikayla waited, raising her eyebrows at the girl, until she sighed and responded, "Seventeen."

"How did you ever wind up here?"

Samantha's eyes fell to the floor. "I ain't got nobody, ma'am. These girls the only family I got."

Mikayla got chills, thinking about her own situation. She knew she was damn lucky she ended up where she did, and not worse. She was appreciative of the girl's honesty, so she hoped it would be extended when she asked, "Does Lucas ever..." she motioned around her to the rooms above the saloon.

Samantha laughed, "No ma'am, I ain't never seen your husband up here if that's what you're asking, and that's the truth." She paused for a moment then continued, "Miss Mikayla, your husband is one of the best men in this town. I ain't been here long, but I know most men around here... in ways I wish I didn't. But no one here knows your husband like that. Trust me, they talk about him like they wish they did, but they don't." She was vague, but Mikayla sensed what she meant. Saying goodbye and promising to be back again, she left the saloon, walking past the men at the bar with her head high, ignoring their whistles as she headed out to the street, where Lucas sat waiting in the wagon. She could see his hair was damp, a picture of him standing at the trough flashed through her mind, and she blushed.

"How where the ladies today?" Lucas asked politely, turning the team to head back to the ranch.

"Good, Anna fainted from heat stroke. I keep telling them again and again they need to drink more water."

"I dare say they have easier access to whiskey."

"It's not that far to the trough in the alley. Trust me, they know it's there..." she blurted out, looking towards the side of the road.

He was quiet, she knew the gears in his head were turning, wondering what he should say. Instead, she asked him, "why did you want to get married after all this time? Margaret died five years ago, and for five years you haven't..." her face reddened, "you obviously aren't interested in the physical aspects of marriage, and you have Mark for a companion, so why?"

He chuckled at her outburst. "What makes you think I'm not interested in the physical aspects of marriage?"

The color rose in her cheeks. "Well, the saloon girls... I mean you had every opportunity..." she hated the fact that she was getting so tongue tied around him.

"Not being interested in the physical aspects of marriage, and not wanting to contract syphilis are two different things,"he laughed.

"Well, why did you want to get married again now?" She said, trying to change the subject.

He thought for a moment, then responded, "I knew when Mark came home and told me he thought Marci Talbot was right pretty even though the other boys pull her pig tails."

Mikayla raised her eyebrows, confused. "Marci Talbot?"

Lucas smiled, a gleam in his eye. "She's ten. A grade behind Mark. But I knew then, Mark's going to grow up some day and want a family of his own. He's not going to be around forever. And I got to thinking I'd be mighty lonely out here by myself, maybe I could find a friend. And you stressed so much in your ad you were looking for a companion, I figured it was worth a shot. And here we are."

"I see. Well, I hope you got what you were hoping for."

He glanced over at her, staring for a bit before he said quietly, "better than I imagined."

Mikayla's heart swelled. After all it took to get here, could she find love? She wanted so much for Lucas to think highly of her. She hoped he did. His opinion was beginning to be the only one that mattered.

When they got back to the ranch, Lucas helped her down from the wagon, his hands lingering at her waist longer than usual. He held her for a second, gazing into her eyes before he said hoarsely, "um, I'll just put the horses away then I'll be in." He let go of her reluctantly, leading the team to the barn as she headed for the house.

Mikayla entered the house and started pulling out lunch. She should tell him how she was feeling. It was time to be honest. She started pacing back and forth in the kitchen, getting excited. Hopefully he reacted in the way she thought he would. He seemed happy to have her around. But was she just a good friend or did he feel romantic feelings? Doubt started to creep into her mind, and she glanced at the clock, wishing he'd hurry before she lost her nerve. He'd had plenty of time to put the horses away. Looking out the window, she saw the team still hitched to the wagon, and suddenly felt alarmed. She hurried to the trunk she'd brought from Virginia, sliding the secret panel in the bottom, she grabbed what was there, and the picnic basket from the table, and headed out to the barn.