1"You are sure you want nothing more?" Stanley asked Margaret while noticing that she didn't eat all her supper.

The woman was tired from her week - she knew how it was with a newborn baby and especially for the short nights, but she just didn't expect that Victoria would drain all her energy. Coming to Grace Café wasn't in her plan and she really wanted to go back and get some sleep.

"No, thank you, that was enough." she replied while glancing at the kids finishing their apples pie.

"Continue your story with the outlaws that you stopped Uncle Stanley!" exclaimed James.

"I think I will tell you the end tomorrow, your mother seems to have an headache and I don't want to bother her with all this."

James sighed sadly, he really liked the stories that his uncle told since his arrival and wanted to know more about him. Stanley noticed the dejection on his nephew face and pick up few pennies from his pocket.

"Here, take this and take your sister to the general store and get your favorite candies."

Isabelle and James eyes shined - candies!

"Come Isabelle, we will go see Mr. Bray at the store! Thank you Uncle Stanley!" he said while taking his sister by her hand and walking toward the general store.

Margaret watched her kids walking in the street, not sure about how to think of all this.

"I don't know why you are back here Stanley, but please, leave the kids out of it."

"A man can't come see my family? Maggie..."

"You didn't come for your brother's funeral, nor for Frank's funeral and you come back after all this time, with gifts for the kids. How are we supposed to understand this? I despise the fact that George always defended you, but you've always been unreliable.

"I didn't get notice until months later about George's death, I was on and expedition with miners. Not my fault if the mail service in Alaska isn't better than here."

Margaret thoughts rested on Stanley who always seemed to have a good excuse, but maybe he could have the benefit of the doubt, this time.

"And where is all this money is from?" she asked.

"What do you think I did for the last year? I worked hard to collect enough to be able to start my own family. I got older and realized that I missed so many occasions in my life..." while saying this, he took Margaret's hand in his own.

A part of Margaret wanted to believe his words, but inside of her it was the opposite. She removed her hand quickly, troubled by his presence. She avoided his glance – he was too much of a look a like to the man she fell in love with 10 years ago

James and Isabelle walked back to the table with a few candies in a bag. "Look at this; we will have candles for few days! Uncle Stanley, how will you stay in Colorado Springs?"

Stanley looked back to Margaret before he answered. "Well, it would depend, don't know if I could stay-"

He was interrupted by James. "I can loan you my bed if you want! Stay as long as you want!" he exclaimed happily.

"And what will your mother say about that?" Stanley said while smiling to the young boy.

"Ma! Can he? Please!"

Margaret wished she had some time to think about the question but James was so impatient and excited to know more about his uncle, she finally nodded to them.

Margaret kissed her children in the bed.

"Have nice dreams." she whispered to them before closing the curtain and returning to the table. She sat down and under the candle light, she started to write on a paper.

Stanley approached behind her and looked at the paper. "Music sheet?"

Margaret nodded. "When the roof broke last winter I lost a lot of the music sheet collection given to me by my grandma and I try to write some of them, mostly partially, for Isabelle so she can be able to learn it too."

"It would not be easier to purchase them again?" he asked while he sat down beside Margaret.

"Maybe, but it would be expensive. And before I can do that, I will have to complete some repairs on the house, especially with the cold growing each day this time of the year." she looked at the roof and grinned.

"Well, I could maybe take a look during the week?" he smiled with his most charming smile.

"You? But I can't pay for it now Stanley."

"Oh I don't ask to be paid, I just want to help my family. That is something I can do. I wouldn't be the son of a carpenter if I couldn't be able to make some repairs on this house!"

Stanley smiled while glancing around a few seconds. "You know, if I knew before what the situation was..." he searched for the right words but Margaret interrupted him.

"You don't have to apologize Stanley; you don't have any obligation towards us."

"And you don't have to take everything on your shoulders... Maggie." Stanley caressed Margaret's cheek with his hand.

Confused, Margaret moved back. "Well, it is time for me to go to the bed, a long day tomorrow." she said while putting her sheets into a drawer. "Don't forget the candle when you go to the bed too." she said while walked towards her children.

The next afternoon, Stanley was already working on some repairs on the roof of the house.

"I didn't see you at the Café for the lunch." Margaret said while walking toward her house, with Isabelle in her right arm and a basket in her left hand. "I brought you this, just in case."

"Oh, thank you Maggie." Stanley climbed down the ladder. "You didn't have to do this. Sometimes when I start to work, I just forget the time around me. He smiled to the woman and pointed toward the basket. "And what it is?"

"Nothing too fancy, just some sandwiches and lemonade. To tell the true, I didn't know what you would like to have."

"That would be good. Perfect after these hours of work."

They entered the house and Margaret prepared the table for Stanley and she also filled a glass of lemonade for Isabelle.

While took a sandwich, Stanley glanced toward Margaret. "I will have to go into town to purchase a few items to be able to complete the work on the house."

"You know, a day or more wouldn't change a lot." the woman said, with worry in her voice.

"The weather gets worse each day and snow will show its face soon, we shouldn't miss a chance."

Margaret sighed - she wasn't able to settle her account at the general store for a few weeks now. "Yes, but-"

"If you are worried about the money, that isn't a problem. I will purchase with my own money."

"That isn't the question Stanley, but I'm not in the habit of accepting charity."

Stanley drank his glass and stood-up. "Take it as a Christmas gift if you don't want to accept my money."

"I like Christmas gifts." exclaimed Isabelle while she left the table and brought her glass to the counter.

Amused, Stanley looked at the little girl who finally went and sat down to play with her doll before turned again toward Margaret.

"Georges had a lot of chance, but you already know it."

Stanley entered the general store and selected the items needed for his work before bringing them to the counter. Loren grinned when he noticed the new customer - he was sure to have seen this person before, but wasn't able to remember where. The old man finally smiled when he saw the big order that Stanley made. "You must have lot of work to do... Mister?"

"Bartlett, Stanley Bartlett. And yes, I'm working on some repairs on Maggie's house."

While paying for his purchase, he asked a last question to Loren. "I noticed the school was ended, but I do not see James walking to home. Do you know where he could be?"

"You should look at the bank, he works there after school sometimes."

Stanley followed his advice and left the store and walked at the bank. He examined quickly the building which was distinguishable from the other buildings. After entering the bank, he removed his hat and the clerk behind his counter greeted him.

"Good afternoon Sir. What can we do for you?" Malvin asked.

"I'm searching for my nephew, James." Stanley answered.

Malvin didn't have time to reply that James was in the backroom.

"Uncle Stanley!" James exclaimed, while walking quickly toward him. "I finished my work for today. I was getting ready to go back home."

"So, perfect, you can ride with me."

The young boy smiled and turned back the clerk.

"Malvin, I present to you my uncle Stanley. He traveled a lot and he has come to visit us for the holidays!"

James was really enthusiastic and Malvin didn't remember when the last time was that the young boy was so happy, been a long time now.

"Mr. Lodge is in Denver, I wish present you to him next time!" James said to his uncle while taken his coat.

Three days passed and Stanley continued to work on the house, while Margaret worked at the Café to help Grace, who was near the end of her pregnancy.

"And this?" asked Isabelle to Robert E, while pointing at a tool.

The little girl was sitting, watching Robert E working since lunch time and, like always, was asking thousands of question about everything she noticed on the place or in the street. Since Mrs. Bartlett helped a lot for Grace at the Café, Robert E didn't mind keeping an eye on the child for a while - after all, it was for the good health of Grace that Margaret could work with his wife.

"A little curious?" the voice of Sully asked to Robert E.

The blacksmith turned and greeted his friend, surprised to see him sooner back in town. Robert E glanced to the little girl for a few seconds.

"Well, it is a good practice for later. And you?" Robert said while pointing at the red rose brought by Sully.

"When I've been notified about the good new, I got back as soon as possible."

"Congratulations, Katie should be exited too about having a little brother or sister?"

"But when the baby come in the belly?" asked Isabelle the men. "Grace's baby will left her belly, but how the baby will arrive in Dr. Mike belly? Why not simply come into our arms?" she continued to say, more serious than anything else.

"There are some questions that Uncle Robert E is not very good at answering sweetheart, but your mother could probably help you on this."

Sully couldn't hide a laugh and Robert E picked up the little one in his arms to put them on the ground.

"It would be time to get you back to your mother Miss." and Robert E walked toward the Café with Isabelle and Sully.

Margaret walked to her home, with Isabelle running on each side of the sand road to collect small flowers. Arriving near the house, she noticed that James and Stanley were outside, playing together.

Arriving at the side of the house, she noticed that they weren't playing, but fighting.

"Hold up your arm like that to avoid the punch." said Stanley, while teaching some fighting lesson to James.

Margaret wasn't sure that was a good idea, there were other ways to solve things and she did not like the violence.

"I'm back with supper!" she said, interrupting them. "I brought some meatloaf from the Café with some oat cookies.

James runs toward his mother. "Look what I can do now!" he said while showing a boxing move.

"Beware of your sister James." she said while looking at Stanley. "Go inside with Isabelle and prepare the table please." she said while give him the basket.

She waited until the kids were inside to talk to Stanley.

"Why do you teach him that?"

"There is nothing bad Maggie. Only few things so he can defend himself, just in case. You never know when you could need it." Stanley answered, trying to calm his sister-in-law.

"Maybe, but I would prefer you talk to me about this before, there is no reason that he has to fight and I don't want to encourage this attitude."

Stanley sighed - he really enjoyed the last hour passed with James - feeling like he can do something important for the little boy.

"I'm maybe not the best uncle that someone can have, but James seems to have enjoyed this time we passed together and I think that is the more important. If he wants to stop, I would not teach him more of course Maggie."

"Let's go inside, the kids are waiting for us."

Due of the soft weather of the last days, it was raining for five days now. Stanley decided to travel to Denver for few days, some shopping and things to do, hoping the weather would be better upon his return to Colorado Springs.

Margaret went to the mercantile with Isabelle for make some shopping.

"So, the repair advances?" asked Loren, remembered how much stuff that Stanley purchased since his arrival in town.

"Yes, it should be alright before Christmas."

"How wonderful you have a chance to have this Stanley to help you Mrs. Bartlett." the old man replied.

"How much do I owe you?" Margaret said while put her items on the counter.

"It would be 1 dollars and fifteen cents."

"OH? Really? Well, I think we could wait for the next time for this and-"

Loren interrupted Margaret. "Why not put the difference on your account?"

"My account? But I haven't paid you back for a while Mr. Bray."

"That is not what it shows. Your account was cleared Tuesday Mrs. Bartlett."

"It must be an error, I didn't."

"Mr. Bartlett cleared it the last time he came to purchase tools."

Margaret tried to smile back at Loren, but didn't like what Stanley did.

Two days later, Margaret left the Café later after end the day alone.

"It's beginning to snow Mrs. Bartlett. Maybe I can take you back to home?" Malvin asked while stopping his carriage beside her and Isabelle.

"Well, thank you. It is late and Isabelle is tired."

After driving to the house, Margaret thanked Malvin and noticed Stanley's horse at the side of her house. She didn't remember seeing him in town today, but it seems that he was already back from Denver.

While entering the home, she was totally surprised.

"But what happened here?" she said, while looking at the Christmas tree, decorated near the window.

"Ma!" exclaimed James. "Since there is not many trees around here, Stanley brought me with him to cut one, so we can decorate it for Christmas!"

Isabelle walked toward the tree and noticed some wrapped boxes under the tree. She picked up one in her hand, a huge smile on her face.

"That is not before Christmas beauty." Stanley said while replacing the gift under the tree.

"A Christmas tree?" finally said Margaret, again under the surprise shock.

"I hope that is alright with you Maggie? While walking in the Denver streets, I thought it could be nice to bring some magic of Christmas home for the children!"

"Which one is for me?" asked Isabelle to her brother.

"This one is wrote James, there is Isabelle, for you! This one for ma, this one you again... Hey, there is something missing there!" exclaimed James.

"What?" asked Stanley while knelt down to the height of the children.

While they were talking, Margaret examined the scene - her heart was torn in front of them. For few second, she could saw Georges in his children, ready to enjoy and to celebrate Christmas again. But it wasn't George, it would never been again.

"I will pick up some wood for the night." she said while walking outside, but in truth, she just wanted to avoid the moment with her broken hearted feelings.

Three days later, Stanley had finished the repairs on the house and worked on collecting more wood for the winter. In town, Margaret thanked Dr. Mike before leaving the clinic - her hand got infected with a cut during her work at the Café and Michaela healed her as well.

At the same time she closed the door behind her, she heard some noise coming from the saloon. She recognized Stanley's voice, which seemed in dispute with a customer. She didn't understand everything, but it seems that the other guys accused Stanley of treachery at the poker table and both men were now fighting in front the saloon.

Soon, the sheriff came to stop the fight and brought the men at his office.

Stanley arrived at the Bartlett house just before supper time - by chance, with the help of a witness, he was released for self-defense against the other man.

Margaret choked when she noticed him entered - she didn't expect to see him after that.

"Stanley?"

"Yes?"

She wasn't sure what to say - to see him fight with some rage in his expression just scared her.

"You can help me with the table?" she finally said.

"Sure." he said and he took the plates on the counter. "Only three?" he asked.

"Three? Oh yes, I'm not hungry this evening, so I didn't expect to eat supper."

She smiled nervously while pouring the glasses with some fresh water.

"You still keep it?" Stanley said while noticed two engagement rings droop from her chain necklace.

"The rings?" she answered while put her hand around it. "Yes, I wasn't able to let them go at this time. Too many memories."

"Memories are a good thing, but you could certainly have a good amount for them, which would have kept you out of all the trouble you had these last years."

"The kids never want for anything as I know. If the situation required it, I would think about it, certainly, but at this time we successfully got on without needing this money." Margaret said, trying to avoid being upset.

"Sure, for the kids, but you neglect yourself. A woman needs to take care of her too. You deserve it Maggie."

"And I'm a mother too, and being a mother is the most important thing for me than anything else."

"Yes of course, but think of the income it could give you? If you place this money as an investment, you could gain more that you can imagine."

"And what kind of placement you are talking? Gambling?" She shouted, irritated by his insistence. She stopped yet, realizing what she said - it was not too late to try to avoid the subject. "Gambling, drinking and fighting? If that is the kind of investment that you are searching you should go elsewhere."

"Calm down Maggie. You didn't mind where the money came from before today and now you are upset? That is a way to thank me?" he said, angry at her change of mood.

"That is not what I want to teach to my children Stanley. It wasn't what Georges wanted for the kids either. It would be better if you left my house." she replied, her hands tremulous.

"Left? You ask me to leave after all I did these last days for you and the kids?" He shouted while walking around the table and knocking the wall with his punch. "George was the good boy, no default of course and you see where he is now? Six feet under, so stop talking about him."

"Please Stanley, I ask you to leave the house. Please." Her body shaking in front of this man, who was now a stranger to her.

Stanley took his coat and before he open the door, picked up the wooden luge hanging up on the wall and threw it at the wall near Margaret. "That is what I think of him. No worry, you will not see me here again." than he went outside.

The kids arrived from playing with snowballs and James greeted his uncle. But Stanley was up on his horse and didn't pay attention to the kids.

James entered the house, following by his sister. "Ma?" he asked, while he saw she was terrified beside of the broken luge. Isabelle started to cry and run into her mother arms for search some comfort.

End of Chapter 4.