Ok I know you are all probably really mad at me right now because I kind of left you hanging in that last chapter but that is why we right these stories. And I just couldn't let them fall into each others arms because, well that wouldn't be any fun, now would it? Thank you for the reviews. Keep them coming and oh if you can think of a better name for this chapter please let me know cause I think this one sucks.

Despair

When Ethan said those words he felt like the ground was going to fall from beneth his feet. He thought that he would never say those words that he didn't need Emily Munch. It wasn't the truth though. He did need her, he needed her like his crops needed rain. After his fathe left he looked at his house. He had been building this house for them. He now wished he would have gotten over his shyness and just told Emily how he felt. Looking around at the framed walls he said, "Oh Em, what have I done?"

Emily was filling her friend in all the finer qualities of her little brother Oliver, totally unaware that out in the country the heart of Ethan Stabler was breaking into a million pieces. "So do you think you already like my brother Oliver, after only just meeting him?" Emily asked her friend as she now rocked her one week old son.

"I don't know. He just seemed to notice me and that made me, feel I don't know special." Louise said. She didn't look at her friend, instead she looked down at her son. She was very grateful to the Munch's for all they had done for her and for Jesse. Then changing the subject, she said, "So where was this Ethan fellow today?"

Emily looked down and picked at her dress, "I'm not sure. Tomorrow is Sunday so I'm hoping that he'll be in church."

The next morning the Stabler family all dressed for church, except for Ethan. "I don't want to go this morning Pa." he said at the breakfast table. "I can't see him there with Emily."

So the Stabler's went to church and Ethan stayed home. He didn't work, rather he sat in his familie's sitting room reading the Bible and trying to give himself some peace of mind. He was trying to find a way to give himself some peace and find a way to give up on Emily.

At church Emily sat with her family and kept looking behind her. She also kept looking at her brother and friend. Oliver was talking to Louise like he had known her for years not a day. Emily kept looking over her shoulder and she finally saw the Stabler family come in and sit down in their normal place two pews back from the Munch's. Emily was saddened to see that Ethan was not with them. She remembered when they were little, they had spent almost all their time together when they could. When Ethan and his father came to town the first place he would run would be to the Munch household to see Emily. Now that she was home he seemed to be hiding from her.

When services ended Emily went up Mr. and Mrs. Stabler. "Hello Mr. and Mrs. Stabler, is, is Ethan ok?"

"Hello dear." Olivia said. "Yes, Ethan is find. Why?"

"I didn't see him here today and I was just wondering if he was ok." Emily said.

They chatted for a few more minutes and then Emily watched sadly as the Stabler family walked away and went about their Sunday business. Then she went home with her own family and smiled sadly at her friend and her brother. It seemed to her that Oliver had hardly left Lou's side all morning since he had arrived. It was like they had an instant attratction to each other and now they were permantly bonded. After lunch Oliver asked Louise to go out riding in his carriage with him, he had even been paying attention to Jesse!

Emily spent her afternoon upstairs unpacking a few bags that she had left when she had first come home. She kept going back to her dresser though to look at the jewelry box that Ethan had made for her. It was so beautiful. How could he make her something so wonderful, so precious and then when she come back to him turn away and act like she didn't even exsist. How! Why?

After Ethan's family returned and they ate lunch he saddled up Blue and took off riding. He really had no set destination in mind he just need to get out of the house and away from everyone for a while. He rode up to his house and looked at it. Then he rode down the creek and was suprised to find Oliver Munch and a pretty red head with a baby? Ethan shook his head and rode on, hoping that Oliver wouldn't see him. It wasn't his lucky day however. Oliver spotted him and called him over. "Ethan! Come over here!"

Ethan rode over and dismounted and he watched as the girl rose and looked at him with beautiful green eyes. "Hello, my name is Ethan Stabler." he greeted.

"Louise White, and this is my son, Jesse." the girl said, looking at the baby with a look of love on her face.

"So, what's going on Oliver?" Ethan asked. He knew he wouldn't be calling his friends over if he was out courting a girl.

"I just wanted to introduce you to Louise." Oliver said.

Ethan hoped he had never had such a goofy look on his face as the one that Oliver now wore on his. He was acting like a dumb love struck fool. Maybe he was a love struck fool but Emily had only returned home with this friend yesterday and she had a baby. Ethan was sure that there was no such thing as love at first sight.

"Oh well I have to be moving on." Ethan said, turning to mount his horse again. He had just stuck his foot in the sturrip and was about to pull himself up when Oliver stopped him by saying, "Are you going to see Emily?"

"No." was Ethan's only reply. Then he rode away.

Oliver and Louise returned to their spots under the tree where they were sitting enjoying the warm weather. Louise was even showing Oliver the proper way to hold the little boy, Jesse. Oliver was having a splendid time and he was glad that he and Louise had been corosponding secretly for the past few months. They already knew each other pretty well. He was setting rocking Jesse in his left arm and holding Louise with the other.

Louise had her head resting on Oliver's shoulder, "So that's your sister's fella huh?" she asked.

"Yes." Oliver said, watching Ethan ride away. He would have thought by now that Ethan would have been his brother-in-law and his sister would have been giving him nieces and nephews.

Ethan rode and rode until he found himself back at the house he was building. He dismounted and walked over to bone like structure. He went back to framing windows and was actually getting something done when he heard the sound of a horse. He didn't look up because he figured it was just his father or Oliver or one of the boys. He continued to work and didn't pay much attention to it at all until he felt the coolness of a gun barrel against the side of his head.

"Move out boy." the gruff voice said behind him.

"Can I ask why?" Ethan asked. He felt like he had when Keevler had kidnapped him.

"Just do it, boy. You got away from me once you won't do it again." the voice said.

In that instant Ethan knew who had him. It was Keevler, he was here to get his revenenge. He was going to kill him for escaping with Emily all those years ago and sending him to jail. Really they had all thougth that he had died or been killed while he served his time in prison.

"Get on your horse boy." the man said.

"Keevler, why are you doing this?" Ethan asked. "Why after all this time?"

"You sent me to prison you little brat and now your going to pay for what you did to me." Keevler snarled.

The gun barrel was pressed to his head and Ethan knew better than trying to do anything. He knew that Keevler would shoot him if he dared tried to do anything to escape. It seemed that Keevler's years in prison had only added to his despair and need to hurt Ethan for supposedly ruining his life. Ethan thought that Keevler would have been better off in prison, there he had a roof over his head and three meals a day. Ethan mounted his horse and obediently allowed Keevler to tie his hands behind his back. Then they went out onto the prairie. Ethan didn't know where they were going but he was sure that they were going south. How was he going to get himself out of this situation now?

Olivia was worried. It was late now, it had been dark for several hours and Ethan hadn't returned from wherever he had went earlier that day. She was wringing her hands and looking out the window when Elliot came up behind her and kissed her neck. "Liv, he's sixteen years old, a grown man and I think that he can take care of himself."

Olivia turned in her husbands arms. "I know but I still worry about him. I mean and it is late."

'It's ok darlin'" Elliot said, running his hands up and down her back trying to soothe her. Little did they know they may never see their son again.

They rode for quite sometime before they stopped and it was long after dark before they stopped. Ethan's wrist were raw from the rope that Keevler had used to tie his hands with. Keevler drug him down from his horse and then dumped a little water from a canteen into his mouth. The water was stale and warm and it made Ethan cough. Then Keevler pushed him down by a small but stout sappling tree that he had found and he tied him to it. "I'm not going to chance you gettin' away from me again brat." he snarled. Then he lit a fire and settled himself down to drink himself into a stuppor.

Ethan looked up at the sky and wished that he could send Emily or someone a silent message. Let them know that he had let someone get the jump on him and take him away. He didn't know where he was right now but he knew that tommorow he would be keeping an eye on his surroundings and keep hoping that Keevler didn't kill him before he could escape or someone found him.

I know you all thought that Keevler was done and gone but I needed some drama in this story damn it! I was getting bored with Ethan being a love sick puppy and he and Emily just hiding their feelings and oops here comes Keevler. Also tell me what you think about the Oliver/Louise relationship? Please R&R!