The silence between Mart and Hallie as they stared at their hands intertwined on the table felt oddly peaceful, despite the fact that they were simultaneously recalling bitter-sweet memories of the past.

Hallie pursed her lips together and tilted her head quizzically at her cousin while he gently squeezed her hands in his.

"Um…did you hear me, Mart?" She asked quietly.

"What? Oh…of course," Mart quickly started. "Yes, I remember that day at the cemetery."

"I…I said…I'd lied to you…"

Mart leaned forward to lock his blue eyes onto her dark ones and let her know that he was very serious about what he wanted to say.

"Look, Princess, I knew even then that you weren't over everything that was brewing in your heart, so relax, okay? No matter how illogical or irrational, I must admit that you are entitled to your guilty feelings. And, it's really no big deal that you lied to me, because you can bet I lied many times back then when people asked me if I was okay. Come on, Hal. Forgive yourself and move on. You've been through a lot, but, I also happen to know that Dan wouldn't want you beating yourself up about the past."

Hallie's eyes flew back to her son Daniel, causing Mart to smile and lean over to kiss her gently on the forehead.

"His accident had nothing to do with your broken promise to Dan, Hallie."

She pulled back in shock and stared at him as if seeing him for the first time in her life; he knew he was finally getting to the heart of her internal struggle.

"Nor did you have that miscarriage all those years ago because of it, either."

"But, I did something even worse than that, Mart. You…you just don't know."

Mart thought back to everything she had said that cold spring day so that he could form the right question.

"Okay, so, what did you do, then? You said you'd lied to God. Isn't that what you said that day? You obviously think God is punishing you. Am I right? So, tell me. What did you say that was so horrible that not even God could forgive you?"

But, Hallie surprised him by seemingly taking the conversation in a completely different direction.

"Did you know that they recently tore down that abandoned house on Old Telegraph Road?"

"Uh…that's hardly relevant to what we're discussing, isn't it? I mean…"

"It had an old well on the property that wasn't covered over with a well house or anything," Hallie continued. "I think it just had a wooden box of sorts covering it, so people would know where it was and not fall in."

"Okay…"

"That was where they were going to put him." Her voice quivered.

"Where, what, who…huh?"

Mart tried to make light of the situation, but Hallie wouldn't be tempted.

"That was where…Luke…and his gang…had planned to put Dan."

Mart felt his blood grow cold at the mention of Dan's old gang, The Cowhands.

"They were going to kill him, Mart. I heard them planning it, and they…they weren't just saying it to scare us. Dan was out cold from a beating, and I… pretended I couldn't hear them."

"Hallie, what are you talking about?"

"When Dan and I were kidnapped! Look, I'm not proud of what I did. But, it saved his life. And, I…I tried to keep my promise to God. I really did, but Dan wouldn't take no for an answer."

Mart could see the pleading look in his cousin's eyes, and he wondered if her own husband knew anything about what she was confessing to him now.

"Please, slow down. I don't understand what you're saying. What did you do to save Dan?"

"No, that's not important. I don't want to talk about what I did. I…I think I've made my peace about that. It's my broken promise to God that killed Dan…"

"What? Hallie, don't be ridiculous. God did not kill Dan to get back at you for some promise you didn't keep."

"You make it sound so stupid, but…but it's true…"

"It sounds stupid because it is stupid," Mart frowned. "Please, for heaven's sake, explain this illogical claptrap that you have sold yourself."

"When we were there, tied up at the Glen Road Inn, I begged God to save Dan, and I promised Him I wouldn't go out with Dan if He did it. But, I…I couldn't help myself. You know I turned him down several times before we actually started going out, but it didn't work. I tried to stop it, but…we…fell in love, and…"

"Oh, good grief! You're kidding me, right? Hallie, are you hearing yourself?"

"I was desperate to save him…you have no idea…"

"But, I do know this is unnecessary torture you have put yourself through all these years!" Mart was angry, now. "Listen to me, when you met him, Dan was most likely already sick with the cancer that killed him. Do you understand? You had nothing to do with it."

"But…there's more."

"No! I don't want to hear it. It's ludicrous!"

"But I…I…let…Luke…"

"Hallie, stop it!" Mart had been whisper-yelling each outburst to avoid attracting attention from other members of their family, but his increasing volume was now causing others to turn and stare at the couple seated at the back of the Ten Acres dining hall.

He gave them all a look that said, "Do not disturb" and went back to setting Hallie straight.

"You're crazy, you know that? Absolutely nuts. I can't believe you've let yourself obsess over this nonsense for so long. Does Regan know how you feel?"

Hallie gave a soft laugh.

"We're too much alike for any secrets. As crazy as it is, we both feel guilty. I guess…maybe for different reasons, but…it seems normal for us. You know, it's how we've dealt with it, somehow."

"To blame yourselves for something you had no control over? That's not normal, Hallie."

"I know," she whispered sadly.

She glanced at Daniel again, and this time her son smiled back at her with a sympathetic nod. Hallie sniffed and looked up at Mart.

"I guess, Daniel is really too much like me, also," she said with a hint of regret.

Mart knew the thing that Hallie was most upset about was about to be revealed, so he leaned in closer to hear it better.

"In what way?"

"I think he's made…his own desperate bargain...with God." Hallie choked out.

And, suddenly, everything made sense to Mart.

He dropped her hands and grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Oh, no you don't. You're not going to cause Daniel to live his life with crippling guilt the way you have."

He shook his head at her.

"This is about him wanting to go into the ministry, isn't it? Is that what's got you so freaked out?

You think it was some sort of desperate deal he made when he was stuck in that trap, don't you? Well, you're wrong! I know, because I was there to pull him out of it. I saw the look on his face, and it's not what you think. The terror was over by that time, and there was nothing but peace. Listen to me, he didn't make that decision lightly, either. Your bargain may have been a split second decision made out of fear, but I can promise you his wasn't. Giving himself to God wasn't the easy way out of his situation. All he had to do was go to sleep. But he didn't. He fought hard to live, and you can believe that he'll keep his promise. I know he will. Because, that's who he is."

Mart could tell he had her attention, because Hallie was sitting stock still and slowly nodding in affirmation whenever he took pause.

"He's like Dan in his faith, Hallie. He'll be just fine. You'll see."

Mart let his voice drop down to nearly a whisper.

"You should take a lesson from him once and a while."

"I…I think you must… be right," Hallie stammered quietly.

"Well, I won't let it go to my head," Mart slightly teased.

Yet, just at that moment when it seemed that Hallie had finally settled her guilt, Mart could tell that her eyes still harbored doubt.

"But…but he's too young to really understand what he's saying. I mean, could someone his age even really know for sure if he's been called by God to…"

"Like I said before, you weren't there," Mart interrupted firmly.

"Yeah, but…"

"And you weren't there when Dan made his decision to give his life to God, either."

Mart could tell by Hallie's sudden reaction that Dan had never told her about that day. She looked up at him questioningly, and he knew he had to explain. Perhaps, if she knew Dan's faults, she could find a way to forgive herself for her own.

"He almost killed himself once…out by the bluffs. Did he ever tell you about that?" Mart asked gently.

Hallie just stared at him.

"I thought not. It wasn't very long after he first came to Sleepyside. I happened upon him just after he'd stopped himself from jumping, and I found him on his knees in prayer. It was how we first came to be friends. It was when he first realized that he was worth saving."

"Because you cared enough to listen?"

"No, because God loved him enough to save him. I was just lucky enough to show up in time to learn something from his revelation. I learned that we all get an opportunity for a second chance…if we'll only take it."

Hallie let her tears escape and roll down her cheeks silently as she closed her eyes and nodded.

"So, I shouldn't worry about how Daniel chooses to use his second chance, then, is that it?" She whispered.

"Something like that."

Hallie gave a small laugh through her tears.

"Thank you, Mart."

He pulled her to him and hugged her again, resting his chin on top of her head.

"No sweat, Indian Princess. Silly Martin heap glad to help. You cry no more."

The choppy nature of his war chief impression caused Hallie's head to bob underneath his own, and the two suddenly burst into laughter.

It felt good.

And then Mart thought about what Hallie had said to him that day at the cemetery after she had prayed.

"So, do you still feel lost?" He asked her.

"No. Love has a funny way of finding you and bringing you home."

"Mmm. I agree." He pulled away and noticed that everyone else had forgotten about them. They were all rushing about preparing for the Thanksgiving feast and no longer paying them any attention.

Feeling confident that no one was listening, he decided to ask another question that had been bothering him for many years.

"Hal, not to change the subject, but…why exactly did you and Regan ask my opinion when you were thinking about having Daniel?"

"Because we knew you were the first person Dan would have gone to if he had been the one thinking about it."

Mart shook his head and reached up to finger the cross he wore around his neck; Dan's cross, which he had given to Mart the day he died.

"Not the first," he whispered with a smile and a wink.

And, he could tell by the genuine sense of peace that flashed across her face as she sighed that Hallie not only agreed with him but was glad of that truth. Dan had trusted God above all else.

It was her turn to do the same.

"Seriously, Hallie, if you trusted me enough back then to give you an answer that Dan would have agreed with, then you must trust my judgment now and listen to me. I know, despite your guilt, you don't regret having Daniel, and all this nonsense about God being angry with you is just a delayed manifestation of your grief. It's time you get past that stage of the process and let it go. Dan wouldn't want you to feel this way, and God certainly doesn't want you to feel this way, either. Do you believe me?"

The smile that broke out across Hallie's face was genuine.

"Yes," she said, giving his hand a squeeze. "I do."

"Good." He laughed sarcastically. "You are, of course, the only person in the world who does, but hey, who's counting?"

Out of the corner of his eye, Mart could see his sister Trixie now coming slowly toward them with a knowing smile on her face.

Perfect timing, Trix, he thought with relief. I'll tag out and you can finish carrying her home.

"What brings you hither, my dear sibling?" He asked as he whirled around to face her.

"I'd like to borrow my cousin for a moment, if I may. You seem to have monopolized quite enough of her time, brother dear." Trixie gave her blonde curls a quick shake as she nodded toward the door of the dining hall.

"There's something I'd like to show you, Hallie, if you don't mind going with me to my office."

"Oooh! You're going to the Assistant Principal's office! What did you do, now, you bad girl?"

Mart gave Hallie's arm a playful shove as she stood up and smirked back at him.

"Shut up," she teased, "I already confessed my dark sins, remember? And you just told me they were all stupid."

"Well, because they are," he laughed. "But, we love you anyway."

"And I love you, too," she sighed. She bent down to squeeze his shoulder and kiss the top of his head as she walked by.

"Thanks, Mart," she repeated.

"You're welcome, Mrs. Regan."

Hallie and Trixie had barely stepped away before Mart called out to tease Hallie one last time.

"Oh, and Trix?" He said, holding up the unfolded napkins Hallie had tossed at him. "Go easy on her. This is her first napkin violation."

Want to know what Trixie has to show Hallie? I'll give you a hint: it belonged to Dan. Stay tuned…

Plus, I'll get back to that scene between Hallie and Regan at Maypenny's cabin, and someone gets confused about some seemingly scandalous news.