Jack leaned back in a chair on the porch with his feet on the railing as he watched as people were beginning their day. The early morning was cool, but comfortable. Jack was already not looking forward to another day of dealing with Perrin and his obnoxious family.

Irene found him. "Hey, Jack," she smiled. "How are you this morning?"

"Angry," Jack admitted. He put his feet down and sat up. "Do you know what Angela told me last night?" He looked at Irene. "Angela told me that Perrin thinks we're unfit parents. He pretty much said that we're bad for her and that somebody else should be raising Angela."

"He's a moronic idiot," Irene said. "We're great parents, Jack, and we both know that. Angela loves us and we love her."

"He scares me, Irene," Jack admitted. "I am afraid that he may try to have the authorities come and take her from us."

"We won't let that happen," Irene said. "She's ours."

Jack took Irene by her arm and pulled her onto his lap. She leaned on him and hugged him.

"My pa told me the six weeks that he was away from us seemed like six years," Jack said. "I now know how he felt all that time. I know how much he loved us. He was so desperate to get us back home that he did things he never thought he would do." Jack sighed. "At first, I was so angry at him because I honestly thought that he could have come to that government island and taken us back by force."

"Jack, had he done that, he would have been a wanted man," Irene replied. "You all would have spent the rest of your lives on the run. He did what he did to give you a better life. And I believe he would be so proud of you now."

Jack squeezed Irene closer to him. "I know that now," he said.

Irene held Jack against herself and stroked his hair. "We won't let anyone take our Angela away from us," she said. "We're good to her and we both know that. And so does she."

Jack took a deep breath. "When we get home, let's try for another," he suggested. "I want more little Marstons running around."

Irene laughed. "That's a great idea," she said.

The afternoon brought heavy rains to the ranch. Angela and Jessica played in the living room with Jessica's toys. Perrin's children, who were not eager to socialize with the others, sat around and read books or daydreamed.

Jack watched Perrin's children carefully, not trusting them around his baby girl. He was honestly afraid that something bad would happen sooner or later. He could see that this family were full of themselves and thought that they were the center of the world.

Jack couldn't help but hate this family.

Irene was not happy either. Bonnie was such a great person. How could her brother be so different?

The rain let up late in the afternoon. All the children rushed outside to play. Jack, Irene, and Bonnie sat on the porch and talked while they watched the kids play. Jessica played with Angela. Perrin's kids played with one another.

Perrin and Susan stayed inside. They did not like it out here in the west, although the "Wild West" was almost completely gone. They wondered why Jack and Irene actually were sad to see those times fade away. They were glad that people were seldom carrying guns all over the place anymore. They were glad that cars were replacing horses in most areas. The newer cars were somewhat better, but they could surely be improved.

Irene could see Perrin's children as they played and laughed. She could also see that they glanced at Jessica and Angela sometimes and laughed. She knew they were mocking the two young girls. Irene loved children, but these children were almost impossible to love. They were so spoiled and undisciplined. They felt they were the center of the world and that the rules did not apply to them.

"I want to be here for Bonnie, Irene," Jack said. "She and her father saved Pa's life years ago and I don't want to abandon her. I really appreciate what they did. They gave me the chance to spend several more days with my father before he died."

Irene hugged Jack. "I know what they mean to you and what they meant to your family," she said.

"It's just that I want to get Angela away from these kids," Jack said impatiently. "I am worried." He looked at Irene. "Don't let her be alone with any of them."

"Oh, I hear you," Irene agreed.

That night, after everyone went to bed, Perrin's children got up. They made sure all the adults were asleep and started to sneak through the large house.

"Shh, don't wake them up," Fiona whispered to her siblings as they stopped by a bedroom door. "I heard Bonnie say that Jack is a light sleeper and wakes up really easily. So, don't make noise, if you can help it." She carefully opened the door.

The children started to look through the family's luggage. On the dresser, Fiona found Irene's necklace. The necklace was special to Irene and its sentimental value could not be replaced. Her father had given it to her when she was a young child. Fiona placed it into her pocket.

The kids continued to search the room as quietly as they could. As they did, they were startled when Jack moved on the bed. They stayed still, hoping he would not wake up. He did not and was soon still again.

The kids were relieved as they continued to look for things to steal.

All three kids found more items and took them. Then, all three kids put the bags back where they had found them and left the room.

Downstairs, the kids started to look through Bonnie's things. As they started to choose things that they wanted to keep, Bonnie came walking down the stairs; thirsty. Now that the house had indoor plumbing, she walked towards the kitchen. She stopped in the main room when she saw the kids.

"What are you doing?," Bonnie asked. As she came closer, she saw the necklace that Fiona had with her. "That belongs to Irene," Bonnie said as she recognized it. "Her father gave her that. It's very special to her."

"She gave it to me," Fiona lied.

"Fiona, Irene would never do that," Bonnie said. "She plans to give it to Angela one day and make it a family heirloom." She took the necklace and held onto it. "Irene wouldn't give this away. She would rather be shot in the head."

Bonnie didn't know what to do now. She didn't trust these kids now, seeing that they were thieves. She took the necklace to her bedroom and locked herself in with it to wait for morning. She knew that this would really cause trouble tomorrow.

After the sun rose the next morning and Bonnie's cook was preparing breakfast for everyone, Bonnie walked out to the front porch. Jack was there and smoking a cigarette, something Irene wanted him to quit. He was careful not to let her see him smoke. But, he was sure she knew since smoking leaves an odor on the person's breath. Bonnie warned him about that.

"Jack, I hate to start this morning off on the wrong foot," Bonnie said as she leaned on the porch railing. "Last night, Perrin's kids stole this from the room where you and your family are staying in." She handed the necklace to Jack. He immediately knew what it was.

"Those kids," Jack complained as Bonnie handed him the necklace. "Irene was just looking for this. Thanks, Bonnie."

"I'm really sorry, Jack," Bonnie said.

"It ain't your fault, Bonnie," Jack replied. He stood up. "But, I am taking my family home. I can't keep us here with people we don't trust and we don't trust Perrin and his family."

"Don't do that, Jack," Bonnie said. "We'll think of something."

"Look, these kids have stolen from us and have threatened my daughter," Jack said. "I'm not waiting around to see what they d next. I'm sorry, Bonnie. I really am sorry about your father. You and your family saved my father's life and gave me the chance to be with him for awhile longer, you kept your promise to my father after he returned home, and you've both been great friends to my parents and my family now. You're a great friend, Bonnie. So was your father. But, I don't trust your brother's family."

Bonnie sighed. "OK, Jack," she said. "I'll have Shawn get your horses ready. I'm not gonna stop you from doing what you want." She paused and added. "It's a good thing the kids are playing in the hills." North of the ranch was a hilly area. The kids had been playing there a lot during the visit. Jack and Irene, however, did not allow Angela to go play with the three siblings.

Once the horses were ready, Jack picked up Angela and placed her into the carriage. As he was placing his things into the back, Irene walked out with Bonnie.

"I really am sorry, Bonnie," Irene was saying. "But, I agree that we need to go now. We'll come back and visit after Perrin and his family have gone home."

"I'll let you know when that happens," Bonnie replied.

As Jack was making sure the harness and bridles were properly fastened, Perrin and Susan stepped out onto the porch and watched.

Perrin scoffed. "Little wimp can't take the heat," he said. "Kids will be kids and that's that."

"My daughter knows better than to take things that don't belong to her," Bonnie retorted. "You need to teach your kids right from wrong. And that the whole world is not here to cater to what they want. Other people have feelings, needs, wants, and dreams also. But your kids think they are the only people here that matter."

Perrin rolled his eyes.

Before anything else could be said, Brandon and Andrew came running to the house. They hopped the fence and rushed to their father.

"They took Fiona!," Andrew screeched. "Daddy, some men took Fiona and took her away!"

"They just grabbed her and rode away," Brandon said. "Dad, we gotta get her back!"

Perrin calmed his kids down. By then, Jack and Irene were in the yard and listening.

"They said somebody would pay good money for her because she was young and pretty," Andrew said. "What could that mean?"

Jack and Irene looked at one another, knowing exactly what that meant.

"You know, don't you?," Perrin asked, noticing the expressions on the couple's faces. "You know where she is, don't you? You had her taken?"

"No, we would never do that," Jack replied. "No matter how angry I get at anyone, this is not what I would ever do."

"I don't believe you," Susan said.

Jack kicked a rock. It flew and hit a tree and landed with a loud thud.

"When I was sixteen, I was kidnapped by the federal government," Jack said, wanting the couple to understand. "They told my father that I would die if he didn't do what they wanted. I know what it's like to be held against your will in a strange place. I would never put anyone else through that." He paused. "But I think I know about who did take her and where they are going," he said. "There have been young women kidnapped and sold to whorehouses in Mexico. Now that our country is banning prostitution, people are trying to make that money by selling young American girls to Mexico, like slaves."

"And you won't help her, will you?," Perrin asked. "Do you think this is proper revenge for a theft?"

"No," Jack replied. He looked at Bonnie. "Bonnie, would you loan Irene and me a couple of horses and take care of Angela for a few days for us?" He looked at Irene. "We're going to go try to get Fiona back safely."

Irene smiled. "Absolutely, Jack," she replied.

Jack and Irene, who seldom left Beecher's Hope without their weapons, retrieved their weapons from the carriage. They had been stashed all the way in the back. By the time the couple was ready to go, Bonnie's stable-hands were coming with two saddled horses. Jack and Irene each mounted a horse.

As Perrin watched the couple ride off towards Thieves Landing, he sighed. He looked at Bonnie. "Will they really help her?," he asked.

"Jack and Irene loathe it when people are victimized," Bonnie replied. "They have helped many people, mostly strangers. They really are good people."

"But, I know who Jack's father was," Perrin replied. "And Irene's father."

"John got away from that life, Perrin," Bonnie said. "He got Jack away from the gang and tried to re-start a new life with the family. He bought a small farm and was making an honest living. Then, he was betrayed by the federal government and they killed John in cold blood." She thought for a moment. "I don't know as much about Landon Ricketts," she admitted. "I know that he and John did know each other for awhile and rode together briefly. They saved a young woman's life and freed two political prisoners. Landon was protecting a small town that had no law enforcement at all. I guess you can say he was a vigilante. He was turning his life around too. He came back to the States to take back his daughter and they were very close. Landon lived a quiet life after that and was no longer in the public eye. He died in his sleep from a serious illness."

"I don't get it," Perrin said. "The son of one outlaw and the daughter of another outlaw hunting bounties together? You're telling me that they have never done anything?"

"Jack has a few assaults to his name," Bonnie admitted. "He was so angry after they killed his father that he would get drunk and take it out on other drunks. Irene put a stop to that." Bonnie looked at Perrin and added, "Irene brought Jack back to life, emotionally," she said. "I bet she also saved his life. He was on the road to self-destructing. I think he would be dead by now if he had never met Irene. He cut back on his drinking. He started to laugh and smile again, real smiles. They used to be fake and we all could see that. I saw a big change in his attitude and demeanor after Irene was in his life. If anything were to happen to her, it would literally destroy Jack from the inside out."

"Are you sure they can be trusted, Bonnie?," Susan asked.

"No doubt at all," Bonnie said. "One could trust those two with their very life."

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