Chapter One

A/N I had a reader say I had left part of the last story out and wanted to me write it. That is, they asked if I'd do Nick and Elizabeth's story. I told her I'd see if I could get something to come or not. So...this story starts shortly before their "deaths" to the time they settle in Wyoming. Might wind up showing a bit of their life in Wyoming as well, I'm not sure about that yet.

Excerpt from Shelter From the Storms Chapter Thirty Two

"It will be our problem then." Nick laid his hand on Elizabeth's. "I mean, if he sent someone after anyone, it would be me."

Cliff shook his head. "Not necessarily, he flat out hates your family- especially Jarrod-even if he's not justified in doing so. However, there might be a way to keep Cass…." he paused-wondering how right the thought he'd just had was….

… "Start talking."

Nick's jaw fell to the ground when he heard Cliff say "Get married and then fake your deaths and relocate. Faking the deaths would get rid of the threat of Cass doing anything. Getting married, whether or not you like it, gets rid of the need for a chaperone. If things don't work between you, Elizabeth is always welcome to come and live with me." Was the man serious? He glanced at Elizabeth – who looked as stunned as he felt.

"You don't have to take me up on the idea." Cliff leaned back in his chair. "Only if everyone is convinced you've passed away, there'd be no reason for Cass to actually find a way to hire someone to come after you or Elizabeth." He looked at the couple, not surprised when shock leapt into their eyes; they had probably never considered Elizabeth would be in danger. "Look, while I don't think Cass would really hire someone to kill our sister, whoever he hired could do the same thing that he did. That is, they could miss-thus repeating history."

Nick silently groaned. Cliff Hyatt had a point, and he knew it. He wanted to court Elizabeth only to get married and fake their deaths? That would put his family through…his thoughts stopped abruptly as an idea came to him with such force he couldn't push it aside. "What do you think?" He looked at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth didn't answer at first; her mind was on Tabitha and the deaf school. The young girl would be totally devasted unless…. "As long as we keep things platonic. If things don't work out, I'd rather get an annulment over a divorce. I also have a necklace to send Tabitha before we 'die'."

Nick bristled at the though of having a platonic marriage only his desire to protect his family and, apparently Elizabeth, from Cass was stronger. That being the case, he didn't see where he had much of a choice. Besides, he happened to agree to the annulment over a divorce. "Okay,"

"Fine," Cliff stood up. "The two of you can leave now. Marry when you will, where you will and find someone to be your witness. If I don't know any of those details, I can't slip up. For that matter, discuss the issue more as you go back to town. See if any other ideas will come to you. That way I can honestly say-if anyone asks-I can't swear by anything other than the two of you wanted to know if I'd cause you any trouble or if I'd say anything to Cass."

While Nick knew it was only for Elizabeth's sake Cliff was being so helpful, he still stood up and held out his hand. "Thank you for backing us up-or at least supporting your sister."

Cliff took the offered hand and held it tight. "You just do right by her while you court, and when the two of you marry-if you do. If I ever find out different, I'll make Cass look like an angel."

Nick couldn't help but chuckle…as he thought on how he felt about Audra and how protective he, along with his brothers, could be towards her. "I'll remember that." Nick let go of Cliff's hand, thanked him for the food and then told Elizabeth they best go. "If we're going to do this, the sooner the better."

Elizabeth looked at Cliff for a second. For all his faults, he did care, and for that she'd be forever grateful. "Thanks," She hugged Cliff and then followed Nick out the door. Not a minute later, Nick and she were riding away from the Hyatt home.

The trees, rocks, dirt and grass all seemed to blend together and Elizabeth and Nick rode in silence-each lost in their thoughts. Only when the café came into view did Elizabeth look at Nick and ask, "Do you have any other ideas?"

Had Nick known how drastically Jarrod and Victoria had changed their tune, he would have insisted on going back to Stockton, saying that surely his family could come up with something else. As it was, he flicked his wrist while shaking his head. "Not really; well, not one that would guarantee Cass would be in the dark." He drove the buggy to the livery stable. Ten minutes later they were standing in the café shocking the Widow Tinsdale and the café employees. However, the good widow was also very much elated. "I knew it! The moment I looked on the two of you, I knew you'd be married some day! And to think, I'll be able to witness the ceremony! But," she touched her chin with her fingers, "won't your family be upset with me?"

"No," Nick forced a smile onto his face. "If they get mad at anyone, it will be me." 'Though, I can't imagine them being any madder than they are already' was a thought he kept to himself.

"Well, then, come on! We need to get to the preacher's before the good man goes to bed!" The widow practically ran out the front door, causing Nick and Elizabeth to laugh. They couldn't help it; the older woman looked so funny running.

By the time Nick and Elizabeth had passed the few buildings in Blythe Junction and made their way to the preacher's home-which was on the edge of town-Widow Tinsdale already had the man out on the porch. "You'd think she was the one getting married." Elizabeth whispered, even as she did her best not to laugh-even as she felt her nerves start to dance around inside. A part of her said she needed to back out of 'this crazy idea'; the rest wanted to court Nick without the fear of Cass hanging over their heads.

"Tell me about it," Nick-who was also fighting his nerves-whispered back. He, like Elizabeth, would have backed out only, without any other ideas, he felt compelled to do as Cliff had suggested. "Sorry to bother you at this time of the evening." Nick glanced up at the sky. The sun starting to set, and there was a nip in the air.

"No problem, but let's do this inside." The reverend, a thin, wiry fellow who stood five feet eight inches and was practically bald, gestured towards his home. "It's not like it's summer time."

Nick and Elizabeth didn't fight that gentleman. Not fifteen minutes later, the newlyweds were making sure Widow Tinsdale had a ticket for the stagecoach that would be rolling into town the next day. 'I have to get back to Hayden now, since the two of you are man and wife' had been the good woman's exact words. They then walked the widow to her room. Once they were in the room Nick had rented, Elizabeth watched as Nick removed one of the blankets from the bed and moved it to the couch.

"I can take the couch; you don't have too." Elizabeth might not have spoke up only the couch was on the shorter side. It hurt just to think of Nick trying to sleep on it.

Nick hesitated. He'd had the same thought only, in spite of what his cowboy friends would say in jest, he was very much a gentleman. Only when Elizabeth stressed the fact that she'd physically fit the couch better did he relent. "All right, but next place we stay, we either get a room with a longer couch, two beds or figure something else out."

"Agreed," Elizabeth smiled before kneeling to say her prayers and sliding under the cover Nick had laid on the couch.

For his part, Nick stood by the window looking out on the darkening street. After a few minutes, he walked over to the desk that sat in the room, pulled the chair away and -after removing the paper the café had put in the desk-he picked up the small pencil that lay towards the back of the desk and began to write to Jarrod. After all, if he and Elizabeth were going to 'cross over', he had to make sure Tabitha could continue living at the school for the deaf for as long as she needed too.