California was growing on James. Every day that passed, he fell more in love with the state and its gorgeousness. Kate loved the state just as much as he did. She spent her days lying out at the pool at their hotel or down at the beach (which was conveniently located just a few steps away from their hotel). He spent the days polishing his guns and spending time with her.

With each day that passed though, his savings account got smaller. He knew that their extravagant lifestyle was killing his hopes of having a house in Tennessee. But he loved her; she was his wife. He would do anything to make her happy, even if that meant spending all of his money from the carnival.

And Kate didn't know that James was almost broke. James didn't know what she would do once she found out either. Maybe it was better to tell her now than to wait when they went on another road trip and he had to buy gas. So, one afternoon after spending the morning at the beach, he decided to tell her of their financial situation.

"So, Freckles," he said slowly, nervously.

Kate was playing with her hair in the bathroom. "What's up, James?" she asked, leaning out the bathroom door, looking at him.

"We might have a little problem in a couple of days," James replied, glancing at her and then looking at the floor.

"What do you mean?" she asked, walking out of the bathroom. Kate walked over to James and stood in front of him, taking his hands in hers. "What do you mean we might have a problem in a couple of days?" she repeated, looking into his gray eyes.

James glanced down into her green eyes and just melted. They glittered from the light in the hotel room and she was just glowing, still glowing, after being married for a month. "Well we might have a financial situation," he said.

Kate raised her eyebrows and then gasped. "Don't tell me Jack knows where we are and is coming to come get his money even though we…I mean you, worked your ass off to get that money!" she explained, the glowing in her eyes turning into fire.

James laughed at her anger for a moment and then shook his head. "Oh, no. Jackie boy is not gonna find us. Ever. I can promise you that. He will never find us. He will never lay a finger on you ever again. You won't have any more bruises to cover up with make up. I won't let anyone lay a hand on you, Freckles," James reassured, hugging her tightly. He rubbed Kate's back and then kissed her forehead gently. "Nobody's gonna hurt you."

James felt Kate relax in the embrace and he kept rubbing her back while he broke the news to her. "We don't have that much money left from the carnival. I don't have that much money left. I dug into my house savings and now I'm almost out. I dunno what we are gonna do, Freckles," he whispered into her ear.

Kate pulled away from James and stared at him, shocked. "You're broke? We're broke?" she exclaimed, resting her head in her hands.

"Yes, Freckles. I'm sorry. I thought I had more money but I don't and I just can't afford all of this anymore. And just one job is not going to support the way we live right now," James explained quietly, reaching for her hands.

Kate backed away from him, shaking his head. "No, you don't understand. I have to live this lifestyle. I can't just change everything now."

"Now, sweetheart, we're gonna have to change something. We can't just live this life on the money that I am going to make," he said. "We need to sell things," James added, slowly looking down at the ring that was on Kate's ring finger.

Kate saw his gaze and then grabbed her left hand. "No! James, not the ring. Anything but the ring. I love it too much, I love you too much, to get rid of this ring," she said.

"Freckles, we have to. Just for a little bit. Once we get the money I'll get you an even better ring. How does that sound?" James compromised, pulling Kate into a hug. "Just the ring for now and then we can figure out what we are going to do, okay?"

Kate sighed and buried her head in James' chest, sobbing quietly. He sighed, wrapping his arms around her once more. "Kate," he said.

It was the first time he had called her Kate since he started calling her Freckles nine months ago.

Kate looked up when he said her name and she hiccupped. "Yeah?" she asked.

"The ring for now and that will be it. I'll get a job and we can save up and then either buy it back or I will buy you a brand new ring. A better ring. How does that sound?" he asked, hoping, praying, that she would agree.

Kate stared into his eyes and she slowly nodded. "That sounds okay," she whispered, cracking a small smile.

"Good. I love you," he said.

"I love you."

They went to the pawnshop down the street and Kate slowly took her ring off her finger when the man asked for it. James stood there and watched her sadly. He didn't want to sell the ring but they had to until he could get a job and start making money. He even sold his ring per her request. And after all, it was only fair.

Leaving the pawnshop, James watched as Kate rubbed her ring finger, frowning. "Freckles, I promise things will get better. A ring is just a symbol. It's just a symbol showing people that we married. We don't need a ring to show that we are married," he said.

She looked at him and nodded slowly. "I know. I know. That ring just meant everything to me. I never thought I would be here. Twenty-two and married to the most amazing guy I could ever find that has the same passions as me," she gushed, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I love you, James. More than you could ever imagine."

James smiled and kissed her lips gently. "I love you too, Mrs. Ford," he said.

Then James pulled away and took Kate's hand. "C'mon. Let's go find me a job," he said, starting down the sidewalk. The entire time James smiled to himself. Even though they were having money troubles, things would be okay. He just knew it.