Ella gathered up the washing into the basket and stood up, placing it upon her hip. She began to walk back to Maria's adobe and then made her way to the side of the house where the clothes line was strung. She gave a low sigh, shielding her eyes from the sun for a moment and pressing her hands into the small of her back, producing a small but satisfying crack of her bones. Ella set about hanging up the sheets and shirts, pinning them into place with wooden pegs, she popped a few into her mouth for ease of access and hummed random tunes as she worked.

"Hey Ella." Af voice came from the other side of the large bed sheet she had just hung up, the sound startled her, making her drop a few pegs. She moved the sheet aside and came face to face with Doc, he looked tired as if he hadn't slept, his hair was messy and he held his hat in his hands, fidgeting distractedly with the brim. "I heard you were over here, thought I'd come say Mornin' seein' as you didn't come back home last night."

"You startled me!" Ella said in surprised amusement. "You look tired Doc," she commented, gathering up the fallen pegs, "you up late drinkin'?"

Doc frowned, looking a little affronted by her remark. "No, I was worried about you, what happened? You seemed to disappear."

Ella cast her eyes down, becoming engrossed with the shirt she had just picked up. "Dave and I, we just had a little fight" she lied. "I decided I'd come on over to my friend Maria's, get a bit of peace."

Doc narrowed his eyes, easily sensing the waver within her voice. "That bruise on your mouth tells more of a story Ella" he said darkly. "Did he hurt you?"

Ella's hand flew to her lip, she'd forgotten about it… She tried to avoid his gaze, looking for anything else to focus upon. "I don't think we should talk about this Doc… between me an' Dave." She sniffed. "Besides I'm okay, I won't break from a slap."

"I think it's my business if he's hurting you" Doc said resting a hand upon her shoulder.

Ella felt a sudden jolt at his touch and glanced up at him unable to stop the flash of a blush that appeared upon her cheeks. She let the shirt fall from her hands, her fingers suddenly feeling numb. Quickly she turned from him making her way to where, she didn't know, just knowing that she had to get away from him within this moment.

Doc didn't have any intention of letting the conversation rest and came after her, gently grabbing her arm and preventing her flight.

"Ella." He said her name in a breathless whisper, his tone voicing his need and desire for her to listen; he made her turn to face him.

Ella tried to avoid his gaze but his leather gloved hand came to her chin, guiding her face up so he could look upon her fully.

"You aren't happy, any damn fool can see this life is killing you, I can't stand to watch you fading!" His words were full of passion and meaning. "You stay with a man that beats on you, hurts you, you don't even love him, you love the dream he projected he was!"

Ella wanted to fight, to pull away, to scream and yell, pummel her fists against his chest and shout that his words were lies, how dare he claim to know her so well… how dare he tell the truth… Instead she felt like all the strength had drained from her as if Doc had just ripped off the mask that was keeping her sane, keeping her upon her feet. She felt her body sway, her legs becoming heavy and Doc's hands were upon her shoulders steadying her, his light blue eyes concerned.

She gave a strange gasp as if she had been holding her breath and then the tears came hot and wet, unstoppable and painful. She took another deep breath as her body began to shake with sobs. Doc pulled her quickly to him, his lips pressing against her hair, hushing her and telling her everything was going to be alright.

"I don't know what I'm doin' anymore" she wailed between sobs. Doc stroked her back, consoling her and easing her tears a little.

"It's not the end yet." He pulled back, his thumbs wiping away the tears upon her cheeks. "You can still have a life, a good life, you just got lost is all." He tried to smile but his eyes were pained at seeing her distress.

Ella sniffed, her tears abating. "I've done some bad things Doc, I've been so damn unhappy and I felt trapped." She looked up at him feeling her insides squirming with the confessions she wanted to tell and unburden herself from. "I've been goin' out to the old Indian woman that lives up in the cave past devil's rock… she's been givin' me medicine to stop…" She closed her eyes briefly as she suppressed a sob. "To stop me havin' a child…" She paused again watching Doc's expression, his eyes widened. "I know you must think me a bad woman for doin' it Doc, but I just couldn't have his child, I just couldn't!" She covered her mouth with her hand to try and control the fresh wave of tears that threatened to engulf her.

"I don't think you're a bad woman Ella, I don't think you did the wrong thing, havin' to deal with Dave and a baby would have been hard on you, I understand." He rested his hand upon her shoulder. "But you shouldn't go to witch doctors, you might be takin' poison." He paused, "Will you least let me take a look at it if you get anymore?"

Ella nodded. "Yes" she said through a sob and Doc again brought her into his arms, hugging her tightly to him.

"I'm here now" he soothed and then fell silent as Ella again reclaimed herself.

"I don't mean to put on you Doc, you've always been good t' me an' I'm thankful for it." She pulled away from him a little and gave him a weak smile.

"Ella," Doc sighed, "I've been keeping something from you, for a long time, since you worked at Jane's." He paused as Ella smoothed away the remaining tears upon her cheeks. "I can't stand Dave, you know that, Christ even he knows it…" He glanced at her, his eyes suddenly nervous.

Ella looked up at him waiting for him to continue.

"I come because of you, cause I worry for you, want to see you." He fumbled again with the brim of his hat. "Truth of the matter is that… well… I have feelings for you" he blurted a little clumsily.

Ella stared at him a moment shocked into silence, she'd always known Doc was fond of her, but now right before her he was confessing his love… Love was so much more confusing than fondness.

"I…I" Ella stuttered, not quite knowing how to react. "I don't know what to say…" she finished, deflated, finding no words came easily but feeling her heart beat a little faster as he reached out, taking her hand in his own.

"You don't have to say anything" he whispered, moving closer. His hand holding his hat came to rest at the small of her back, pulling her gently to him in a warm embrace. He hesitated, their faces mere inches apart, his eyes trying to read her gaze. Slowly he bent and his lips softly pressed against her own taking full possession of her mouth in a heated yet tender kiss. He let the hand that had been holding her own come to her cheek, caressing her skin, following the line of her jaw. The smell of his leather gloves, of him invaded her senses and she could think of nothing she wanted more than to be with this man, to have him as her husband instead of Dave, have him as the father to her future children. The thoughts sent a small thrill shooting up her spine. His kiss became more passionate, his tongue slipping easily past her lips and finding her own, massaging it sweetly, his lips were soft and he took his time letting the feelings the kiss caused cover them both. His fingers stroked through her hair before the kiss began to subside, to small feathered brushes and finally he pulled back completely, his hand again finding her cheek and cupping it gently within his palm.

He rested his forehead against hers a moment and closed his eyes, Ella suddenly felt like grinning, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him once again. It was in this bliss filled moment that she again felt the disquieting feeling that someone was watching her. She glanced up in time to see the large sheet blowing in the wind, revealing a figure stood a little away from them, watching Doc and herself intently. She could not gain any real details other than it was a man in a wide brimmed hat before the wind retreated and the cover fell back down hiding him from view.

Ella's eyes widened, what was she doing?! She was a married woman, it didn't matter whether her husband was right for her or not, she'd taken an oath before God not to betray him and she was on her way already to becoming a sinner, standing here happily within another man's arms. Until she was parted officially from Dave she could be with no other man, it was God's way. She pulled roughly away from Doc's embrace, her eyes cast down.

"We can't… we shouldn't… this isn't right" she mumbled.

"Ella…" Doc began, but she cut off any sweet words that may have been upon his tongue.

"I think you should go, leave the village…" She turned from him, her arms coming to hug herself.

"What's wrong?"

"This is wrong, I'm married," she whispered, "and I ain't a whore no more."

"I know that Ella, talk to me… don't shut me out!" He turned her forcibly to face him. "You feel something for me too; I felt it when we kissed." His words bore a note of pleading.

"It don't matter what I feel." She paused, "I ain't sayin' no Doc, I'm sayin' not now, not till Dave and I are through, I can't just run off with you still married to another!"

"But you would run off with me?" Doc asked giving a weak grin.

Ella tried to smile but only managed a twitch. "I don't know." She raised her hand to her brow, "I don't know… I need t' think, I need time t' think."

"I don't mind what you decide, if you don't choose me I'll understand, but for God's sake Ella, leave him, please." He placed a hand upon her arm and Ella finally managed a small smile.

"I'll think hard on it" Ella said, wishing to no longer have this conversation; her head was beginning to hurt.

"I'll be back in a few months; if you want to leave I'll take you, to wherever you want to go." He said returning his hand to his hat.

"Okay, I'll try and have an answer…"

"I'm going straight now, I don't know if that means much after all I've done but I'm goin' to try and be a better man, a man I hope'll be someone you'll be proud of."

Ella reached out, a warm grin spreading across her lips, "I've always been proud of you Doc." Doc held her hand to his cheek a moment before letting her go and putting his hat upon his head.

"I'll see you soon, be careful Ella, stay with your friends... I'll write." Doc tugged the brim of his hat as he spoke.

"I will, you be careful too, stay out of trouble."

Doc grinned and, turning, he began to walk away.

"I will" he shouted back over his shoulder.

Ella watched him a moment, her thoughts thrown into a confused mess by the recent events, she finally turned back to the left over clothing and with a long sigh she set about finishing her task of pegging it up.

---

"Ella, what is the matter - you look like you've seen a ghost" Maria said as Ella returned from her chore, she rushed forward, wiping her hands quickly upon her apron before guiding Ella into a seat.

Ella stared unseeing a moment, her thoughts too lost in what had just happened to hear her friend clearly. She shook herself, "I'm sorry Maria, what did you ask me?" she asked, finally meeting the older woman's concerned gaze.

"I asked what was wrong" Maria said fetching a stiff drink to bring Ella around a little, she forced the mug into Ella's hand. "Drink this, it will help."

Ella obeyed, grimacing as the sharp taste hit the back of her throat, she gave a small cough. "Doc came to see me."

"Doc Scurlock?"

"Yeah, he pretty much told me he loves me." Ella gave a dry sounding laugh. "He wants to take me away." She drained the last of her drink in one go.

"Iah!" Maria exclaimed. "What did you tell him?"

"I, well, I told him I was married and I couldn't just go runnin' off with anyone."

"You are a fool" Maria said, her words were harsh but her face was kindly and understanding. "You have a chance of a good life with him." She bent upon her haunches before Ella, catching the younger girl's eyes. "What are your feelings for Doc?"

"My feelin's?" Ella hesitated. "I feel good when he's around, kinda happy with flutterin' in my stomach." She laughed lowly, "I like Doc, I don't know if I love him… would it be right to go with a man I'm unsure I love?"

"Hmm, it is a hard question. Do you think you could be happy with Doc, happier than you are now?"

"I think anythin' would be better than how I am now."

"Then you have your answer, go with Doc, at least see if you have any true feelings for him and get away from your husband." Maria gave a small nod and rose, going back to kneading bread dough.

"I don't really want to leave here Maria, I mean I don't want to leave you an' Tessie an' Rafael, you're close to me as kin could be."

"Ah don't worry about us Ella, if I could leave here I would." She winked comfortingly. "Why don't you just think upon it for a few days, get some things from home and bring them back here?"

"I'd be real grateful for that Maria; I think it will be best for now. I think I've known that I got to leave Dave, we're bad for each other, like rubbing a dog's fur the wrong way, we always seem to get the other riled." She gave a small sigh and glanced out the window. "Guess there's no time like the present, I'll go get it over and done with, it's still early maybe he'll still be passed out."

"Si, I hope so for your sake chica, just come back as quickly as you can."

Ella nodded, "I will".

---

Ella entered the small house as quickly and quietly as possible. The rooms were silent save for a distant snoring sound coming from the bed behind the curtain.

She crept as softly as she could across the dirt floor, acutely aware of any noise she made, her hearing straining for any sound that would tell her Dave had awoken. She opened the drawers as quietly as she could and bundled up a large pile of clothing. Dresses, bloomers, stockings and corsets were all hurriedly gathered, along with a small tintype of her mother and a few other personal artifacts. But before she had finished Dave's snoring stopped, she heard him yawn, the bed creaked as he shifted his weight to a sitting position.

"Stella?" Dave's groggy voice came from behind the curtain.

Ella rolled her eyes up to the ceiling cursing her bad luck. "Yeah Dave?" she called back, edging slowly towards the door.

"Is Doc gone?"

"Yeah Dave." She'd nearly made it across the room.

"Make me some coffee will ya', my head's achin'."

Ella felt her anger breaking through. "Make it ya self!" she spat, scolding herself even before the last word had passed her lips. "I'm goin' to stay at Maria's, don't you be comin' around, you know she keeps a rifle and Billy don't like you much neither."

There was no reply and Ella took her chance of escape, slipping out of the door. She knew it would take Dave a moment to process what had just happened, given how much drink he must have consumed the night before, he'd be in no fit state to come after her today.

She gave a small smile and set off once more for Maria's.