Kristina swatted at her dress as it once again got stuck in one of the mesquite bushes in the back of Bobbie Spencer's house. Up until this morning she had been enjoying her job, doing laundry for Lucky Spencer's Aunt. She was getting paid more than she knew she should and she enjoyed the company of someone who wasn't always pressuring her. It gave her a feeling of independence and she didn't mind getting up at the crack of dawn. That was, until Bobbie asked her to go fetch some eggs.

She didn't mind because she knew that the chicken was in a small pen out back. What she didn't know was that somehow the bird had escaped and while she had the eggs she certainly couldn't let Bobbie lose her prized chicken. So she had been chasing the animal around the yard for the past half hour, hoping the thing would wear itself out, and knowing that wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

When she had finally pulled her dress free, Kristina dusted some dirt off of her and looked up to see the bird slowing make its way around the side of Bobbie's house. Practically tip toeing, Kristina started after the bird, quietly coming up on the animal until it spotted her and picked up its legs, running fully up the alley. Kristina rounded the bend, determined to get the animal, and ran smack into a body, causing her to fall on her backside.

"Kristina?"

Kristina brushed some red hair out of her face, wishing she had left it there when she confirmed who was standing over her; Lucky Spencer, holding his Aunt's chicken. She struggled to her feet as she felt her body flame while Lucky laughed and told her to wait for him. He deposited the chicken in its pen and then came back to her, helping her to her feet.

"Are you alright?" he asked as he looked her over, "You look tuckered out."

"Yes, well, the chicken wanted to play a game of tag this morning," she said as dusted as much dirt off of her skirt as she could, "What are you doing here?" she looked up at Lucky startled and felt her face warm again when she found him looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

"I didn't mean that way," she quickly explained. "After all, this is your Aunt's place. I just know how much you hate leaving the ranch. And with Lorenzo being in town I thought…" she stopped and looked at the ground, "That was rude of me."

"No, it wasn't," Lucky said with a small laugh as he placed his finger under her chin and pushed it up so that their eyes met, "Some of the boys ran out of tobacco and I didn't think that it would take me that long to run into town. I came in last night and stayed here. I was heading over to the Mercantile after breakfast to pick it up. I'm kind of surprised to see you here, instead of there."

"I wanted something more to do with my day," Kristina said with a forced smile, "I mean I can't go riding with anyone anymore. Lu won't get on a horse unless it's on a ranch with a side saddle and there's really no one..." she cleared her throat, "Your aunt said it was alright if I helped her out around here."

Lucky looked at her curiously, "You were bored so you took a job doing someone else' work?"

"Right," Kristina agreed even though they both knew it made no sense.

"Alright," Lucky said, "I came into town because I wanted to see you. Now you tell me why you're really working at my aunt's boarding house."

Kristina felt a smile slowly appear on her face, "You wanted to see me?"

"Don't avoid the question."

She took a step towards him and decided to give him part of the real reason, "I wanted to earn some money. I don't earn any wages in the store and I wanted to keep some extra coins aside in case I saw anything that I needed or if I wanted to go and buy lunch one day."

Lucky looked down at her as he crossed his arms across his chest, "Meaning if I take you out for a steak dinner, you want to pay this time?"

"I would never do that," she smiled innocently, "Your aunt and I both agree that even if I tried you'd never allow it," she laughed softly when he rolled his eyes, "Lucky, this just…" she looked around the yard, "This is something that I want to do, as weird as it sounds. I spent a whole night thinking about doing something on my own, for me, earning my way, and when your Aunt Bobbie allowed me to I couldn't turn back. I have to work in the Mercantile, I don't have to do this, and knowing that…" she shrugged, "It gives me a freedom I've never really experienced before."

"Had I known that you were here I would have been up with the sun," Lucky said as he turned back towards the house and started towards the kitchen door, "Now that that's all done with, come in and make me breakfast. I am a boarder."

Kristina gasped and was tempted to take off her boot and throw it at him. Instead, she stalked after him, "I am not going to make you breakfast, Lucky Spencer, I do laundry and I wouldn't do that either because you are not a paying boarder."

Lucky looked over his shoulder with a grin, "Was it written into your contact that the boarder had to be paying?"

Kristina glared at him with those emerald eyes and Lucky once again was taken aback at how this beautiful woman had been around all the whole time and he never noticed it. He stopped so abruptly that Kristina banged right into him, for the second time this morning, her mouth still open from the retort she was about to say.

"I'm not here for the food," he said quietly as he caught her, with his hands around her waist, and helped steady her. He found himself unable to release his hold. "It's more the company. It's not everyday a boy gets to have breakfast with not one, but two beautiful red heads."

"I'm sure your aunt will be thrilled to hear that compliment," she smiled.

"I wasn't trying to compliment my aunt," he said as he reached up and brushed a strand of hair from her face, rubbing the deep red locks between his fingers, "I shouldn't admit this. A man usually doesn't when a woman's got him all tangled up like this but I can't stop thinking about you."

Kristina reached up with her hands and placed them on his forearms, her fingers curling around shirt, "I think about you too," she smiled shyly and laughed nervously, "A lot."

"It's getting ridiculous," he said, "I look at the cows and see your face."

Kristina laughed, "That is not a compliment."

"It is, it was, you know how I love my cows," he said as his hands moved around her waist, to bring her up against him, "I needed to see you, to tell you how much I enjoyed last Saturday night, and that when Lorenzo comes back I want to do it again. I want to take you out. I want to see how beautiful you are in the moonlight," he slid his hands up her back, bringing her closer; "I want to kiss you again."

"We don't really have to wait until Lorenzo's back," she said quietly as she stared straight ahead, directly at the buttons on Lucky's shirt, "I shouldn't admit this," she smiled softly as she looked up at him, "A woman usually doesn't when she wants a boy to kiss her."

Lucky smiled as he moved his hand from her back towards her face, his rough hand sliding along her smooth cheek, "You have no idea what you're doing to me."

"Slight," she whispered as he leaned closer to her, "Slight idea."

Her eyelashes fluttered closed as Lucky's lips pressed against hers. She wrapped her arms around his waist, bringing him as close to her as possible, as her mouth tried to memorize every inch of his. She could feel him deepening the kiss, his lips pressing harder against her own, and parting slightly, as if wanting more.

Kristina sighed and opened her mouth, and Lucky caught her lower lip with his own, kissing her again, pulling her body tight up against his. She never wanted this moment to end; she wanted to stand here, in his aunt's yard and continue to kiss him for all eternity. Unfortunately, she heard Bobbie Spencer ring the small bell in her kitchen that declared breakfast. Lucky jumped nearly a foot away from her.

"I'm sorry about that," he said as he adjusted his hat and ran his hand over his face, turning away from her, "We're in public and we should have never…"

"I thought we agreed that a little compromising was okay," she said as she walked towards him and placed her hand on his shoulder, causing him to turn to look at her, "I thought you liked when I didn't obey the rules," her green eyes lost their light, "Please don't make me feel horrible for kissing you. My parents make me feel horrible for everything else."

"No, no," Lucky said pulling her into his embrace, "I enjoy kissing you, a little too much, and I don't want you to think that that's all that I'm about, that this is about," he said pulling back and looking down at her, "I want to be with you, in public, in view of everyone else. Not hidden away in my relative's backyard. But between your parents and my job, it's getting to be pretty difficult."

"We'll work on it," Kristina said, "We'll find ways and we'll deal with it. I'll make sure that Lorenzo has supplies delivered once a week and you try and come into town once a week for a few hours. We can go from there."

He looked at her with a half of a smile, "How long have you had this planned out?"

"Since I was fourteen."

Lucky laughed as he pressed another kiss to her forehead, "We will work on it."

"Good morning you two," Bobbie smiled from the kitchen door, "I have a separate setting set up on the kitchen table. I figured you might want to catch up since you've been on the ranch for a while Lucky. The food's ready whenever you are."

"We're coming in right now," Lucky said as he turned to Kristina and took her hand, "I see you've got an ally for us."

"I've been busy while you've been gone," Kristina smiled up at him.

"I'm beginning to see that," Lucky laughed and began to wonder when Kristina Lansing became a permanent fixture in his life.

Lesley Lu Spencer slowed her steps as she walked further and further into her mother's western garden. There weren't many flowers that were springing up but the ones that were held a beautiful shade of purple and yellows with a touch of orange. She knew that soon the winter was coming and the desert would turn cold, causing the beautiful plants to wither and die. She also knew that she wouldn't be here to see any of it. And the man standing a few yards in front of her might be.

Sighing Lu halted and placed her hands over her stomach. There were butterflies there, they started flapping around the moment her maid handed her a note stating that Michael Corinthos wanted to see her and was waiting in the garden. She had fretted with her dress and hair for nearly fifteen minutes before she worked up the courage to step out her back door. She didn't know why she was trying her best to look pretty, she was still furious at him for what he did to her and she wanted him to suffer for the pain that he caused her. But there was another part of her, a tiny voice that told her she had to look her best because her competition was beautiful and willing to lay down with Michael any time he requested. That thought made the tears appear in her eyes and caused her heart to break all over again.

She really did care for Michael, more than she though that she ever would, and she hated to see what they had ended simply because they couldn't agree on something. It was normal for men to take up with a fallen woman while they were courting someone else. It happened all over, including back in Philadelphia. It was something that she was aware of but it wasn't something that she expected to happen to her. When it did, she did not take it well and the person's whose arms she fell into were just as devilish as Courtney Matthews.

Shaking her head, Lu took a deep breath and resumed her steps. She had to get this over with, whatever this was, that was happening in her mother's garden that she tried to replicate from her eastern home. She had to face Michael, tell him that they can never see each other again, and purchase the first ticket back east. She knew she should have never come back here, so many horrible things had happened, and it was time to go home to the place she truly loved.

The closer she moved, the further away she realized Michael was. He hadn't turned towards her, he was lost deep in thought and she was afraid that she was going to have to reach out to him in order to get his attention. But suddenly her shadow appeared and his side was revealed, the glare of the morning sun blocking him. It wasn't until he was fully facing her that Lu saw his face and gasped, pressing her gloved hands over her mouth.

"Michael, what happened?"

"It's nothing," Michael said as he moved around a stone bench and walked towards her, "I didn't want to come up to the house to see you like this. I didn't want to have to explain to your parents about how much of a fool I've been. Lu, I can't tell you how sorry I am."

"Who did this to you?" Lu said meeting him and pressing her hands to his face. She pulled back when he winced, "Michael, it looks like you ran into a wall."

He gave her a small laugh, "Not quiet and I'm pretty sure the wall would have hurt a lot less," he shook his head, "This isn't about me being injured, I deserve what I got. I hurt you and I shouldn't have done that. Lucky specifically told me…"

Lu's blue eyes flashed, "Lucky did this to you."

"No," Michael said shaking his head, "No, Lucky and I talked and he told me that I need to make you aware of the situation because you had ideas about what was going on. I told him that I cared about you. My God Lu I do, I love you. I love you more than I ever thought I could love someone and I went and messed it all up because I couldn't…"

"Michael, please," she said softly as she ran her fingers over his bruised mouth, "We both had these silly ideas about relationships and we've been tip toeing around each other instead of talking about it," she adjusted her skirts and moved towards the stone bench, "Sit with me."

Lu watched him as he took a few steps while wincing. He then wrapped his arm around his waist as he gently sat down next to her. He adjusted himself as best as he could but she could see that he was still in a great deal of pain.

"You need to see a doctor," she said quietly, "Are your ribs broken?"

He shook his head again, "I'm sure they're just bruised and it would be worse for me to try and climb onto a horse and ride into town to see someone. You know the doctor still hasn't been replaced," he shrugged, "I won't be getting on a horse anytime soon. I'll be mulling around town the next few weeks, trying to find ways to get you to forgive me."

Lu gave him a sad smile and looked down at her hands, "I think it's a lot more complicated than that, Michael. I think that maybe this happened for a reason."

"No," Michael said, "You coming home was a reason. You coming back into my life was a reason. This, this was just my stupidity and showing how naïve I was at throwing something so wonderful right back into your beautiful face. I want to be with you Lu, I want to…I want to spend the rest of my life with you and if I have to do that down on my knees begging you forgiveness than I will." He groaned but somehow managed to slid down onto his knees in front of her, "Please Lesley Lu Spencer, give me another chance, let me take you back east and make all your dreams come true."

Lu smiled as she reached out and touched his face gently, "You have to get up. You're in pain."

"No more than I put you in," he said as he struggled to his feet and accepted help from her, "Will you ever be able to let me back into your life?"

Lu helped him settle down onto the stone bench again before she took his hand and placed it into her lap, "I will, on a few conditions," she smiled, "Please, no visiting anymore women and if you have to, come to me first. I don't want to have to find out any other way than through you. And secondly, no more bar fights after our fights. You look absolutely horrid Michael."

He laughed as he took her hand and brought it to his lips, placing a soft kiss on it, "My dear, I wish it was a bar fight but I'm afraid it was one on one and I admit that I deserved every thing that I got. I was mouthing off to O'Brien and he didn't…"

Lu yanked her hand away from Michael and flew up from her seat, "Johnny did this to you?"

"Lu, listen, it was just something…"

"He did this to you," Lu seethed, "That man took it into his head to defend my honor when I neither wanted nor requested it. He thought that by beating up my boyfriend it would somehow win me over to his side. I can't believe…" she felt her eyes tear as she reached out and touched Michael's face again, "I can't believe that he's capable of doing this. That he would do this after he knows how much you mean to me."

"Jealousy is a vicious thing, Lu," Michael said softly, "And I'm okay. I'm better now that you've accepted me back into your life," he slid his hand up her wrist to her forearm and pulled her closer to him, "We're going to get out of here. We're going to put this place behind us and move on with our lives. I'm going to spend the rest of my life loving you as you've never been loved before," he gave her a smile, "If that's alright with you."

Lu smiled back as she rested her hands on his shoulders, "That's perfectly acceptable to me."

"I love you, Lesley Lu Spencer," he whispered as he leaned up towards her.

"I love you too, Michael," she said as she leaned down and met him in a sweet kiss.

The thought was still there however, dancing in the back of her mind, that there was no spark of anger, there was no flash of desire, and that this man was not Johnny O'Brien.

"He had a few things that he needed to do this morning," Laura smiled at her niece as she entered the family room that gave a beautiful view of Charlesville, "He told me that he would be back later to see you and that I was to make sure you did not go over to his house and clean this morning. He's afraid that you're going to take the wood right off of his furniture," Laura laughed at her niece's expression, "Well I added the last part. You have been cleaning a lot lately, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth nodded in agreement and moved towards the large couch that Laura Spencer had in her family room. She also knew that her aunt's tone meant she was spending a lot of time with Jason Morgan. Elizabeth knew that it wasn't a good sign when people walked into the room and knew what, or who, was on your mind. She knew that if she ever planned to step foot into society she would have to keep her distance from Jason or else declare a relationship with him. Fortunately for her, she was planning on avoiding the town matrons and any type of significant relationship.

"Shall I have them put on tea?" Elizabeth asked quietly, "I'm sure that there are some leftover breakfast treats that we can munch on until lunch is prepared."

"Actually, I had a different idea," Laura said as she folded her hands in front of her, "They just received some new things in at the Mercantile and I was planning on taking a stroll through town and stopping by to see what they have. I was hoping that you'd come with me."

"Its looks chilly out today," Elizabeth said as she ran her hands up and down her arms, "I'm afraid that I can't afford to be sick. Jason might be a clean man, but he's still a man, and I don't know what he'd do if I wasn't there to pick up after him."

"I'm sure Jason Morgan would manage," Laura said, "I have more than enough wraps for you to wear if there's a breeze. We can ever purchase you your own once we get into town. I'm sure they have lovely ones in a shade of blue that would go wonderfully with your eyes."

"The sun's still bright," Elizabeth said quietly as she moved towards the window, "I don't have a bonnet and I don't think that anything of yours would fit me when I try to stuff all of these curls in it. It's not proper to go out with hair like this."

"Your hair is beautiful," Laura said walking towards her niece, "And if anyone says otherwise, we'll declare them green with envy and turn our noses up at them," she smiled sympathetically, "Are there any other excuses I have rebuttal's for?"

"I'm not ready," Elizabeth said softly.

"You never will be," Laura said, "Elizabeth, you have been through a horrible experience that I would not wish upon my worst enemy. You are never going to be ready to face society again, it's just something that you're going to have to do, and I know that you can do it because I knew my brother very well. He was a fighter. I have no doubt he fought until the end."

Elizabeth bit her quivering lip and nodded, "He did."

"Elizabeth," Laura whispered as she reached out for her daughter.

"You have no idea how hard it is," Elizabeth said, "You have no idea what it's like to face people who view you as some kind of vile disease. You cannot imagine people looking at you like your worse than some soiled dove. I didn't ask for this, Aunt Laura," she said as she pointed to herself, "They get paid for what they do. They want to do it. I didn't want this. I didn't want any of it."

"No, you didn't, and you didn't deserve it," Laura said as she placed her hand on her niece's shoulder, "But this was the horrible lot that life has dealt you and you have to deal with it. You cannot spend the rest of your life locked up in our home or spending your days cleaning Jason's house. Elizabeth, that's no way to live."

"Sometimes I don't want to live," Elizabeth said turning away from her aunt, "And the only times I do…I…" she sighed as she closed her eyes and thought about the only times she didn't mind living. All those times were spent with the gunslinger, Jason Morgan.

"And if you wait around for Jason to show you the world, I'm afraid that you're going to be waiting for a very long time, Elizabeth," Laura said sadly, "Jason is a very kind man but he's not one to stay in a place for very long. I'm afraid that you are going to get hurt by this."

Elizabeth felt herself cringe as she listened to her aunt, "I'm already hurting, Aunt Laura. And I don't understand what is so wrong with wanting Jason there with me when I first make my appearance into this town."

"Jason isn't here but I can give you the next best thing," Emily smiled as she stepped into the Spencer home, "Well, I can give you me."

"Emily," Laura smiled as she walked over towards the youngest Quartermaine and hugged her tightly, "How are you? How is Lorenzo?"

"We're both fine and we're staying in town for a while," Emily said, "As long as Elizabeth doesn't mind that I keep her company, although I fear that she likes my brother better," Emily approached Elizabeth and reached out, taking her hands, "I know that he's much stronger than I am and can shield you better but I've been known to hold my own against the old biddy's. What do you say, Elizabeth? I think it's time we step out together and show the world what we're made of."

"I…" Elizabeth shook her head as she looked down at the floor, "I don't know."

Emily turned towards Laura, "Would you get some coats for you and Elizabeth? There is a little bit of a chill out there this morning and I wouldn't want any of us freezing before we can head into town and have some fresh coffee."

"Sure," Laura smiled as she quietly left the family room.

Emily waited until Laura was away from the room before she turned back to Elizabeth with a sad smile, "I didn't want to do this but I'm afraid that I'm going to have to resort to blackmail. I know that you don't want to face the world. I know that you barely want to face yourself, Elizabeth, but you have to. And I'm not asking you to do this for me or Laura or even you, I'm asking you to do this for Jason."

"Jason?" Elizabeth asked, "Why would Jason even care about whether or not I go into town?"

"Jason wants to you walk down that boardwalk with your head held high," Emily said with a small smile, "He wants everyone in this town to see that you are the strongest person they will ever meet. He wants you to show them that you are better than they are."

"He said those things," Elizabeth said, "He said them to me before."

"He said them to me quite a few times," Emily said with a small laugh, "And I know that my brother has meant every word that he has ever said. So what do you say Elizabeth? Will you go into town with Laura and I?"

Elizabeth looked at Emily before turning towards the window again, "I will."

"Morning Rachel, my father up yet?" Michael asked as he strolled into the bar and saw the skinny blond sipping from a bottle of gin, "I hope that's not your breakfast."

"Recovering from last night darling," Rachel said with a half smile and then her mouth turned into an 'o' shape, "Looks like you could use this more than I can. I'd take some of it for your father too. He's in his office." She reached for a bottle of bourbon and slapped it on the bar, "When you're done there's some steak in the cooler for that eye."

"I appreciate all that advice," Michael said as he walked past her. He stopped short when he saw a man at the end of the bar, nursing a mug of beer, "It's a little early for you to be here," he smiled when Jason turned towards him, "Who are you checking up on?"

"I wanted to make sure everything was alright," Jason said, "And I wanted to make sure that your father didn't do anything stupid when he found out what happened to you," he took another sip from his mug, "Since he hasn't showed his face yet, I'm going to take a gander and say he's not aware of the situation."

"I haven't seen him," Michael said, "And I wanted to thank you for stopping what happened last night. He would have killed me if you didn't come by. I saw the look in his eyes. I saw that he wanted to murder me."

"You should know better than to knock on the devil's door," Jason said, "You should've learned that from your father and this place," he shrugged, "O'Brien would have regretted it and I'm not a man for regrets. I figured he shouldn't be one either."

"Just the same, I appreciate what you did," Michael moved away from Jason and grabbed the bourbon from the bar, "Have another beer, this shouldn't take long, and I'm pretty sure you're going to have to stop him because he won't believe that it's my fault."

"Sonny will see the truth eventually," Jason said, "He always does."

"Johnny O'Brien already has one strike against him where my father's concerned," Michael said, "This doesn't bode well for the man who goes back a long way with the Corinthos family. Enjoy your beer."

Michael didn't look back as Jason resumed his place at the lonely bar. Instead he continued down the long hallway towards his father's office and knocked once before he was allowed entrance. He saw Sam sitting by his father's side, going over the books with him, and her reaction was the same as Lu's, shocked and concerned. Sonny's was shock and fury.

"What the hell happened to you?" Sonny asked as he jumped out of his chair.

"It happened last night," Michael winced as Sam touched his face, "And I'm alright. It doesn't hurt as badly now as it did then. My ribs are still sore but I think they're bruised so I'm going to be that way for a while."

"Are you okay? Do you want me to get you something for your eye?" Sam asked as she ushered Michael to a chair, "It looks so painful."

"Like I said, not that bad," Michael said, giving her a smile he learned from his father, "I'm really okay, Dad. Have a drink," he said placing the bourbon on his father's desk.

"There were no fights here last night," Sonny said as he came to hover over his son, "Where did this happen and how the fuck did I miss it?"

"Look Dad…"

"You tell me or I ask around and doing that will only succeed in pissing me off more," Sonny growled, "Tell me who did this to you and tell me where in the hell I can find them."

"I don't know where you can find him," Michael said quietly, "But I know that whatever Johnny did to me I deserved. I went against your rules, I ran my mouth off and the kicks and the punches…" Michael winced when his father slammed his fist on his.

"Johnny did this?"

"Johnny couldn't have done this," Sam said looking down at Michael and then back at Sonny, "Johnny would never…"

"Just because you spent the night with him doesn't mean that you know him," Sonny snapped, "The man is capable than a hell of a lot more than this and from the looks of Michael he's lucky to be alive. He put those bruises around your neck as well?"

Michael touched his neck gently and remembered the feel of Johnny's hand wrapped around it, "I really don't know how they got there."

"Michael, what happened?" Sam asked.

"Stay out of this, Samantha," Sonny said as he hurried towards his door and yanked it open, causing it to slam against the wall, "Rachel! Throw on a robe and grab a gold coin. I need you to find an urchin looking for money."

"What am I telling said urchin boss?" Rachel asked as she took another sip from her bottle.

"Sonny, please." Sam said as she and Michael followed after him, "You have to listen to Michael. I'm sure there's some explanation as to why he would do this."

"Nothing could justify what he did to my son!" Sonny screamed in Sam's direction and ignored the look he was receiving from the gunslinger at the bar, "Rachel you tell that urchin to find Johnny O'Brien and you tell him to tell O'Brien that I'm out for blood."

"And you have successfully made it to the Mercantile," Emily smiled as she led the way into the store, "This is the best place in town with the best prices. Lorenzo and I have agreed to have our goods delivered once a week out to the ranch. It's worth every penny that we pay for it. Excuse me; miss, would you mind providing us with some service?"

Kristina looked up from where she was tallying receipts and smiled, "I'm sorry, but you're going to have to wait just like all the other customers," her eyes moved from Emily to Laura and then to the young women they had with them; the woman who had eyes like those of Lesley Lu and Laura Spencer, "Hello."

"This is my niece, Elizabeth," Laura smiled as she slipped her arm around Elizabeth's shoulder, "Elizabeth, this is Kristina Lansing. She is good friends with Lulu. They grew up together causing a lot of trouble."

"Not that much trouble," Kristina smiled as she walked towards Elizabeth with some peppermints in her hand, "I had a tendency to disappear with the horses and there are days when I prefer pants to skirts. My parents think it's positively sinful and I'm sure Mrs. Spencer does too."

"Oh Kristina," Laura laughed, "Don't be putting ideas into Elizabeth's head."

"I don't…I don't think I could ever wear pants," Elizabeth said quietly.

"Just the same, we have plenty here, and I'd be willing to sell you some," Kristina smiled as she held out the small bag of peppermints for Elizabeth, "You have to taste one before Emily eats them all. Lorenzo is forever in here buying them for her and if it's not him, it's Johnny O'Brien."

"He is a darling man isn't he?" Emily grinned, "And speaking of darling men, where is your father? I feel like I haven't seen your parents in ages."

"They're in the back counting stock," Kristina said, "Actually, my mother was asking about you Laura. I think the two of you should go on back and speak with her. She'd be happy to see you. Maybe you can plan lunch soon."

"That's a wonderful idea," Laura said, "Elizabeth, would you like to come with us?"

"You can stay with me if you'd like," Kristina smiled, "There's not many people in here and I can show you around the store. We just got some fancy soap that Lu likes I can show you. I'll also take you down the pant aisle."

"I'll stay with Kristina," Elizabeth said giving her aunt a forced smile, "Then maybe we should head on home. It is a bit of a walk back to the house and I'm feeling very tired."

"That's fine with me," Laura said patting Elizabeth's hand, "Emily and I will be back shortly."

Kristina looked over her shoulder and watched as Emily and Laura headed into the back room to see her parents. She then turned back towards Elizabeth and smiled sadly at her as she gave her a handful of peppermints.

"You look so overwhelmed," Kristina said as she walked back towards the counter and placed the peppermints there, "You look like your ready to run straight back to the Spencer home."

Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief, "I'm glad that someone else sees it. I'm afraid that if I say anything that I'll upset Aunt Laura and Emily. I know they're worried about me and they want to help but right now, more than anything, all I want is to be back in someone's living room cleaning."

"Jason," Kristina smiled knowingly, "He likes that you clean for him. In fact," she took Elizabeth's hand and pulled her down an aisle, "You should give him this," she held up a bar of brown soap, "It's suppose to be just for men and while I don't see the appeal to it whatever encourages them to bathe more, I'm for."

Elizabeth felt her skin flame, "I can't…I can't buy Jason soap. That wouldn't…it's not appropriate."

"Oh I'm sorry," Kristina said, "Sometimes I just let my mouth get ahead of me. I didn't think. All I know is that I tried to convince Lucky into buying it and he told me it was a waste of money. I slipped it into his saddlebags and now he's asking me for more."

"Lucky?" Elizabeth asked softly, "You're friends with my cousin Lucky as well."

"Yes," Kristina said ducking her head as she put the soap back, "I'm good friends with Lucky. While Mrs. Spencer said Lu and I caused a lot of trouble, the truth was that I got into most of it with Lucky. I chased him around with my horse."

"I'm glad," Elizabeth said as she let her eyes wander over the store.

"You're glad I chased your cousin around with a horse?" Kristina asked.

Elizabeth turned to Kristina with a small smile, "I'm glad that Lucky has someone like you. Aunt Laura always wrote that Lucky seemed to wander endlessly and he needed someone to settle him down. I'm glad that he has someone to balance him out but will still let him be himself. I hardly know you but I know enough to say that you're good for him. He needs someone that will slip things into his saddlebags and chase him down."

"Thank you," Kristina said softly, "You have no idea what you saying that means to me."

"Will you help me then?" Elizabeth asked, "Will you convince him to come by and see me? I know that he's the one who found my parents. I want to thank him for everything that he did where they were concerned."

Kristina nodded, "It was hard on him. I was there with him but I know that he did it for Mrs. Spencer and for you. He wanted to make sure that your family was taken care of," Kristina let out a small gasp when Elizabeth hugged her quickly and then let her go.

"Thank you," Elizabeth whispered as she felt tears mist in her eyes, "Thank you for being there for Lucky and for finding them. Knowing that my parents had a proper burial means more to me than anyone else will ever realize."

Kristina smiled as she squeezed Elizabeth's hand, "You're very welcome," she looked back when she heard the bell over the door, "Excuse me for a moment. Browse around, I'm sure that Mrs. Spencer and Emily won't be that much longer."

Elizabeth watched Kristina walk towards a tall stranger that she seemed to be on friendly terms with. He had headed straight for the peppermints and Kristina yanked them away from him and pointed towards the back room. The man raised an eyebrow and then he looked in Elizabeth's direction. He seemed familiar with her but she had no recollection of him. She turned away from his stare and looked back at the soap that Kristina was talking about. She would like to get Jason something but soap seemed so intimate, like a gift that she wasn't yet ready to give him and she didn't want Jason to get any ideas about her. Yet she was still fingering the soap, and wondering.

"Probably has her eyes set on him," someone muttered from behind her, "Probably thinks she's going to be the first woman to tame the beast. Humph, probably heard all about that Quartermaine money the instant she stepped into town."

"She's a squaw," another whispered, "Squaw's will do anything and I bet you Jason Quartermaine is just using her until he's had his fill. My Howard said he hasn't been spotted in a saloon since he's returned home. Probably getting everything from her."

"Probably faked the whole thing just to land her claws into him," the first one said.

"Probably."

"Mrs. Withers, Mrs. Hemmer, it's so nice to see you again," Lu beamed, "You two are looking younger and younger every time that I see you. You must tell me you're secret. I fear that the boys are going to be fawning all over you the next time I come back for a visit."

"Lesley Lu Spencer, it is such a pleasure," Mrs. Hemmer smiled, "Why, I was just telling my Howard last night how you have turned this town around since you stepped foot into it. Everyone can't seem to stop talking about you."

"Mrs. Hemmer, please!" Lu gushed and laughed softly, "That is wonderful of you to say and I just saw Mr. Hemmer, last night, as I was on my way home from dinner just down the way. He was headed towards the south end of town. Why, he was heading straight into the saloons and I have it on good authority that he sees a certain brunette there by the name of Buck Tooth Mary. I dare not repeat that though. I'd hate to have people thinking horrible things about dear Howard. Oh and Mrs. Withers," she smiled sweetly, "I'm not going to say where I saw dear James and what he was doing with whom. It would nearly cause my ears to burn. The whole town would toss him out on his backside and not want another thing to do with him. And since you're fully aware of his activities I'm afraid they'd toss you out too."

"Miss Spencer, I assure you…" Mrs. Wither's started.

"And I assure you, ladies, that this conversation will stay between us," Lu smiled, "As long as you keep your comments about my cousin to yourselves. If I so much as hear another bad thing out of your mouth about Elizabeth Webber I will spread the most vicious truths about your husband's is that understood?" She held up her hand, "Don't think to question that they won't believe me. I am after all, Laura Spencer's daughter, and everyone knows that dear Mrs. Spencer is a saint. I think its time you go," she said stepping aside, "The Lansing's will do well without your business."

Elizabeth watched shocked as the two older woman hurried out of the store with as much dignity as they could muster. It was well known, however, that the other patrons in the store, Kristina and the unknown man, had heard the conversation and while they tried to be dignified they were beat red. She turned to her cousin as she saw Kristina and the stranger move to her side.

"You didn't have to do that," Elizabeth said, "You don't have to put yourself out there for me. I'm use to it. I heard worse in the last town I was in. But for what it's worth, thank you for doing that. I'm…" she looked down at the ground, "I'm not use to people doing that for me."

"Get use to it," Lu said as she glared at the window, "I'll be damn if I let someone try to bring a member of my family down," she gasped and turned back to Elizabeth, "Don't tell Mama I said that."

"I just might," Johnny grinned at Lu before he turned towards Elizabeth, "That was mighty strong of you to stand there and take that Miss Webber. I assure you that woman have snapped for lesser things. You are a strong one," he held out his hand, "I'm Johnny O'Brien. We've never met before but I've heard some wonderful things about you from Mr. Morgan."

"Jason," Elizabeth smiled softly as she shook Johnny's hand, "You're a friend of Jason's. Have you happened to see him today?"

Johnny shook his head, "Not yet miss, I'm sorry. I can take a stroll around town, tell him you're looking for him. He has this sense about things. He's never too hard to find when he knows that someone is looking for him."

"No," Elizabeth said disappointed as she shook her head, "No, I'm not going to bother him."

"Elizabeth," Kristina said taking her head, "Come up with me to the candy counter. We can give you a bag full of things to take home with you. Jason might like some of those."

Elizabeth revealed a small smile, "Alright. That sounds like a good idea."

"I'm have to get going," Lu said glaring at Johnny before she looked at her cousin and gave her a smile, "There are a few errands that I have to run but I'm hoping to see you tonight at dinner Elizabeth. It was so nice to see you out and about."

"Thank you again, Lu," Elizabeth said softly, "And I promise to be there tonight at dinner."

Johnny received one more glare before Lu turned on her heal and left the store nearly as angry as the old biddy's who left a few minutes earlier. He had no idea what could be going on since he was on good terms with her when Lorenzo interrupted them last night.

"I have to go too," Johnny said, "Miss Webber, if I see Jason I will let him know that you were asking for him. It was a pleasure meeting you. Kristina, remember what I said about those peppermints."

"Emily gets a whole bag," Kristina said, allowing Elizabeth behind the counter. She laughed when she saw Elizabeth's questioning look, "Yes, but those two just won't admit it."

"Jesus!" Johnny cried out as he found himself being yanked into an ally and then pressed against a wall, "I'm all for this," he grinned. "And I especially like this side of you. The rumors are true. There is a heart buried somewhere underneath all that ice. I'm looking forward to melting it."

Lu pulled back and slammed her fist into his stomach, causing Johnny to double over, "I never asked you to come chasing after me and I never asked for your help in the situation that I was in. I never once stated that I needed someone to defend my honor and if I did you dusty cowpoke it sure as hell wouldn't have been you! How dare you go after Michael the way that you did. I should go straight to the sheriff and have you arrested."

"I see he went crying straight for you," Johnny said rubbing his stomach, "And we're back right where we started."

"We didn't start anything," Lu said, "You got this notion into your head that I want you and I want nothing to do with you. I fell into your lap, I tripped into your arms, these were accidents, Mr. O'Brien, no one is conspiring to put us together. I'm in love with Michael Corinthos and I intend to spend the rest of my life with him."

Johnny smirked as he pushed himself away from the wall, "You've got it right when you defended Elizabeth back there but your head's all fucked up when it comes to that kid."

"Do not use that kind of language in my presence," she said, "I am a lady."

"You are a lady when it suits you and a damn tease any other time," he snarled, "Don't you dare try and chalk up our incidents to a bump in the road or a crack in the boardwalk. Things happen for a reason and I'm a huge believer in fate."

"Fate did not bring me to you Johnny O'Brien," Lu said, "Fate brought me home to Michael."

"Fate brought you into my arms, sweetheart," he smiled, "And it will damn sure bring you straight into my bed. Unlike that boy you're dating, I'm a man, and I'm willing to wait."

"I hate you," she whispered as she felt her eyes water, "I despise you and I wish that I would have never met you. There isn't a kind bone in your body and you are worse than Michael. He admits his faults, you pretend that you have none. You are one big walking fault, Johnny. You are not worthy of your job, of this town and you are certainly not worthy of me."

Johnny grabbed her wrist when she tried to walk away from him, "You can throw your insults my way and you can be the first one to walk away because your pride will let you do nothing else but you are going to hear this Lu. He is not worthy of you. He will not be able to love you like you need to be loved. He will not be able to provide for you and my dear he will do nothing for you in the bedroom," he laughed at her gasp, "You need to be tamed Lu and Michael Corinthos is not the boy to do it. You come see me when you're ready to be fucked good and hard. I'll be at your service."

Lu pulled herself away from as the tears slid down her face, "I can't believe that I ever gave you a moment of my time. I wish I never met you Johnny O'Brien. And I hope I'm there the day you die, alone, and in misery, at the hand of some bastard's gun."

Johnny watched her duck out of the alley into a sea of people, heading back to the Mercantile as she dabbed at her eyes, hoping to dry the tears. He had no idea what had gotten into him. He never did when he was with her. She released something inside of him, some monster that deserved to stay buried, but it always came out with its claws when Lu Spencer was around. She was the one who brought it to life and he was afraid that she was the only one who could tame it.

"Mister O'Brien sir."

Johnny looked down at the small, dirty child that was tugging on his pant leg, "Mister O'Brien sir I got a note from Mister Corinthos that says you gots to meet him at the saloon. He says he can't wait. He says bring blood."

Blood. Johnny laughed as he fished into his pocket and pulled out a gold coin, handing it to the child and telling him to be on his way. He straightened his shirt and stepped onto the busy boardwalk, disappearing as did Lu, down towards the district where women were soiled and many quickly disappeared.

He thought it was a shame that Lu left when she did. Johnny felt that her predication was about to come true. He had this nagging feeling that he was about to die at the hand of a bastard's gun.

"Can someone tell me where my beautiful wife is?" Lorenzo smiled as he stepped into the Mercantile, "I've been searching all over town for her and I'm afraid I've lost her amongst all the new lovely things that have been transported from back east."

"You didn't look past the horses, Lorenzo Alcazar," Emily smiled as she greeted her husband with a kiss, "I was just catching up with Laura and Alexis and…" she smiled up at her husband, "Elizabeth."

Lorenzo removed his hat, "It's good to see you out, Miss Webber. I hope that you are fairing well."

"I'm fine, Mr. Alcazar thank you for asking," Elizabeth said quietly, "Although we're not that familiar I feel it only normal if we use our first names. I have a feeling Emily and I will be spending a lot more time together."

"We will," Emily said, "I was just telling Elizabeth, Lu, and Kristina that we need to spend sometime on the ranch. I was trying to convince Alexis to let her daughter go for a day or two. I assured her than any extra work can be handled by her husband and I volunteered mine as well."

"That's so kind of you," Lorenzo smiled.

"I know," Emily grinned, "What do you say? Can we bring the girls up to the ranch for a few days?"

Lorenzo looked down at his smiling wife and he realized that he couldn't refuse her anything, "The earliest I can leave is tonight. Lucky and I still have to deal with a few things before we head back and I don't expect Johnny back on the ranch until at least tomorrow. I think it's a good idea if you girls head out now with your own horses."

"Can I Mama?" Kristina asked, "I promise not to be in anybody's way and if you send word that you need help, I'll head right home."

"Yes," Alexis smiled, "I'll feel much safer with you riding a horse on a ranch instead of in and out of these back ways around here. A few days away will do everyone some good. Your father and I will be able to manage the store. Promise me that you'll stay out of trouble."

Kristina fought the urge to roll her eyes because she knew her mother's definition of staying out of trouble meant staying far away from Lucky Spencer, "I will Mama."

"I'll get my side saddle ready," Lu laughed.

"I think that Jason might want to come as well," Elizabeth said as she licked her dry lips, "I think I'm going to wait around and see what he says. The two of us could go together or I can come back with Lucky and Lorenzo."

Lorenzo knew that his presence still brought a small amount of fear to Elizabeth, "I'll rent a covered wagon. You can travel in that while we boys ride along side of you. How does that sound, Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth nearly sighed with relief, "That sounds wonderful."

"Well then, let's get ready to go," Lu smiled.

Johnny was waiting for some dry brush to roll across the floor in Sonny's saloon. It was deathly quiet and the only person visible was Jason Morgan, who sat at the end of the bar, nursing a nearly empty mug. He took a few steps into the saloon and no one else appeared. He held back the urge to continue to look over his shoulder as he approached the gunslinger.

"You here to take me out or to enjoy the show?" Johnny asked.

"I'm here to make sure that no one does anything stupid," Jason said as he finished his beer, "I know there's no use in talking sense to him so I'm staying out of it…for now."

Johnny watched as Jason's eyes moved from him towards the kitchen. He turned slightly and saw Sam appear, a cover draped around her bare arms as she was dressed for the upcoming evening performance. She was no longer a whore, she was now the woman on Sonny's arm, and she looked every bit the part.

"Michael wanted to explain," Sam said quietly, "I was trying to get Sonny to listen but you know that when he gets angry like this…it's like Jason said. I'm really sorry Johnny. I'm afraid that I started all of this."

"We both went upstairs that night," Johnny said, "And Michael Corinthos deserved a hell of a lot more than the beating that I gave him."

"Why don't you tell me what it was all about?" Sonny asked as he came out of the back room in the saloon, a gun visible at his side, "Why don't you explain to me why you felt the need to nearly kill my son? Was there something that I did to you back east? Are you coming out here to get revenge on me?"

"I'd rather what happened between Michael and I stay between Michael and I," Johnny said, "Michael should freely admit that he deserved it."

"You're not getting away with it!" Sonny screamed, "I shouldn't have let you get away with fucking Sam but I did. You aren't getting away with this," he picked up one of his chairs and busted it against the table, "I'm going to let my son get even."

"If you would open your eyes for one moment," Johnny said quietly, "You would realize all the mistakes that you are making. There are a lot of things that you're missing here, Corinthos. You just have to go back to your gust instincts and believe that things happen for a reason."

"You're talking in circles and you're trying to get away with it."

"I'm not trying to get away with anything."

"You fucked up my son."

"Which he rightly deserved."

"And you fucked my girlfriend."

"I didn't lay a hand on Sam!" Johnny screamed, "How blind are you that you are not seeing this? Michael has been acting like a bastard and Sam McCall is crazy about you. The entire evening that you thought we spent together in bed was actually spent talking and sharing a bottle of whiskey."

"Johnny, no, you don't have to," Sam said softly as she came around the side of the bar.

"She spent hours talking about nothing but you, Corinthos," Johnny said, "And I spent hours going on and on about…"

Johnny looked down when he heard Jason's chair scrap against the wood floor. The man came to stand beside Sonny, waiting to see if anything was going to happen between the two men. Jason watched Sam as she looked torn, not sure to go to her boyfriend or the one person in this town she considered a friend.

"Lulu Spencer," Sonny said in a voice that the four people in the room barely heard, "This is all about Luke Spencer's daughter," Sonny looked at Johnny confused, "Rachel told me that Lulu saw something she shouldn't have and you got involved but I didn't…and you…what are you in love with her?"

Johnny looked into the eyes of the man he risked his life for, the eyes of the woman he befriended and the eyes of a man who seemed more like him than he ever cared to admit. He opened his mouth to form a response but they all froze when they heard the words that a western town dreaded.

"Bank robbery!"

"Lu?" Kristina asked as she stopped her horse, "Is something wrong?"

Lu looked behind her, back towards the distance where the town of Charlesville lay. She felt her heart skip a beat, something inside of her was starting to race, and there was a pounding inside of her ears that she couldn't explain. She turned back towards her friends and forced a smile.

"No, I think…I'm okay."

"You look pale," Emily said as she brought her horse next to Lu's, "Are you sure you're alright?"

The pounding grew louder as did the queasy feeling in Lu's stomach. Something was terribly wrong, something that had to do with her town and the people that she loved. Lu slid off of her horse and crouched down, undoing the buckles on her saddle.

"Lu, what are you doing?" Kristina asked.

"There's something wrong. We have to go back," Lu said, "And I can't get there quick enough with this stupid thing on."

Lu pushed the saddle off of the horse and grabbed a hold of her mare's mane. She vaulted onto the back of her horse with the ease of a woman who had grown up in a western town. She adjusted her skirts as best as possible before she turned her horse around.

"It's time to test these horses' out ladies," Lu said as she bent over her mare's neck and slapped its side, "Yah!"

The animal vaulted forth at a rate of speed that caused Lu's hat to fly off of her head. She didn't care, she ignored the wind that was causing her hair to turn into a mass of unruly curls, she didn't even look back to see if her friends were behind her. Something was wrong and she feared that she had no time to loose.

Elizabeth had no idea how any of this happened. One minute her and her aunt were ready to head back home for the evening and wait for Jason and the next she was standing by the window, watching as a shoot out occurred between some would-be robbers and the sheriff of the town. She knew that she should be nowhere near the glass windows as bullets were flying all over but her eyes were pealed to the action and her heart was in her throat. It nearly stopped beating when she saw Johnny O'Brien come racing down the street and Jason Morgan right behind him.

Johnny was firing left and right, trying to dodge as many bullets as he could. He had heard a few people scream and he knew that the doves were running for cover. If he didn't know so much about the west he would find it hard to believe that he was arguing with Sonny one minute and then fighting beside him the next. This town however had grown to become his town and he'd be damn if he'd let some thieves have these people's hard earned money.

Turning towards the north end of town he saw people scatter, running for cover, and he saw a few members of the gang fall before he turned back towards his friends, Sonny and Jason, making sure they were okay. He was more afraid of Sam and Elizabeth's response if anything happened to these two men.

Seeing another robber peak out from the ally, Johnny aimed and took another shot.

Lu heard the gun's roaring as soon as she reached the outskirts of town. There was some type of shoot out and with the way the bullets were flying it didn't seem like it was ending anytime soon. She ignored the heeds of her friends behind her and headed straight down the main street of town, directly towards the fight. She was almost there when she found herself caught in the middle of stranded horses and carriages.

She jumped down from the horse and made her way towards the boardwalk, running as soon as her feet connected with the wood. She had to find her family, she had to find Michael, she had to make sure that everyone was okay.

The closer she got to the Mercantile and saloon, the more her heart pounded, the greater the ache became inside of her. She could see Elizabeth pressed up against the window, her eyes straining to see Jason who was in the midst of it all. It wasn't until Lu's eyes fell on Jason then did she notice Sonny Corinthos and not far from Sonny was Johnny O'Brien.

Lu watched in horror as a man slid out from between two saloons and headed directly towards Johnny. The thieves' gun was aimed directly at Johnny's back and his finger was caressing the trigger. Lu's own words echoed in her head.

"And I hope I'm there the day you die, alone, and in misery, at the hand of some bastard's gun."

"Johnny behind you!" she screamed as she jumped off of the boardwalk and prayed that he heard her over the gunfire.

She saw him turn in time. She saw his gun discharge and hit the man in front of her. She saw the man collapse to the ground. And then she saw Johnny's face, pale, confused and pain etched in every feature. It wasn't until the pounding in her ears ceased that she felt the pain and Lu looked down towards her chest area. She had been shot.

The robbers were making a getaway, less a few men and the money they had come into town to steal. Jason felt secure that he helped ward of the attack and turned to see Sonny hurrying into his saloon to make sure that everyone was okay. There were a few bodies in the street, along with scattered money and Jason couldn't find Johnny because of the people that were starting to mill about. He did however find Elizabeth.

He saw her emerge from the Mercantile, relief on her face, that he was alive and okay and making his way towards her. He holstered his weapon and took a step forward before he saw the look of fear appear in her blue eyes, the one he was so achingly familiar with. He turned and drew his gun, pulling the trigger but the bullet went wild when another slammed into him. Jason fell back into the ground, the blackness pulling him in, as the blood flowed from his chest.

Elizabeth felt as if she were living another nightmare. One minute Jason was fine, looking at her, smiling at her, making his way towards her and then the next he was falling to the ground, a blood stain visible even from where she stood.

She ignored the shouts of her aunt and Alexis as she ran down the boardwalk and pushed at the people that were in her way. She had to get to Jason. She had to make sure that he was alive and well. She had to assure herself that this man wasn't hurt. She couldn't understand why he didn't get up.

She pushed away the people that gawked, pushed away the men that she feared five minutes ago, pushed away the woman who looked at her with disdained, she pushed everything away to get to the man who had taken care of her.

Falling to her knees in front of his pale body, Elizabeth saw the bright red stain that was covering the upper left side of his shirt. His eyes were closed, his breathing was shallow and his body was completely limp. She looked up and saw the people disappearing, moving away, as if this man had already died and it was no use trying to save him.

"Help me!" she screamed at them, "Somebody help me!"

Elizabeth reached down and picked up his head in her hands, "Jason you listen to me, listen to me!" she screamed at him, "You didn't give up on me. You found me when no one else was looking. You saved me," she cried as she bent over his body, "You saved me. I'm not going to let you give up, Jason Morgan do you hear me? You never let me give up and I'm not going to let you," she pressed her warm hands against his cold face, "I'm not going to let you."

She cried as she looked up and screamed again, "Somebody help me! Please, oh God please, somebody help me!"