The week that passed was slow and Ella could not shake the feeling of being watched even when Joey wasn't home. She knew he'd only said those things to her to make her afraid, to make her not question him again, so perhaps next time she would not be so willing to stand up for his younger sister. But as the week came to a close she could happily say that she had no more confrontations with the young man, she kept out of his way and for his part Joey seemed uninterested in her presence in Maria's house.

Sunday rolled round and the day was filled with relaxing and being at ease. The two children were happily playing in the bright sunlight as Maria made a new batch of bread. Joey was lurking in his usual retreat somewhere at the back of the house, most likely sleeping. Ella sat at the table, a quill and piece of paper in her hand. She dipped the nib into a bottle of ink and hovered over the page a moment too long until a drop of black ink dripped onto the paper creating a large smudge.

"Ah dammit!" Ella scolded herself putting the pen down.

"You have still not written anything?" Maria asked with a small amused smile.

"No," Ella said a little too grumpily, "I don't know what to write!"

"Tell her you are in good health and happy, mothers like to hear such things" Maria said, her voice as always hiding wisdom far beyond her years.

"I don't know if she'll want to hear from me at all, after all I did leave home without sayin' goodbye, taking her best silver spoon set…"

"Ah it was a long time ago Ella, she will just be happy you are well, you have nothing to lose in letting her know you are still alive."

"No, I suppose not" Ella mumbled, picking up the pen once again. "My handwriting's barely readable but I'll do it." She began to scratch hurriedly upon the parchment, a short while later she gave out a satisfied sigh and silently re-read what she had just written. "I think that'll do for now, I can write again at another time if I feel like it." She blew upon the ink until it was dry enough to be put into a small envelope and quickly scribbled out an address. "I'll ask Billy next time I see him if he'll take it on to the nearest town when he goes that way again."

"You can ask him now; he's coming up the path" Maria said with a nod to the open door, she wiped her dough covered hands upon a wet rag.

"Afternoon ladies" Billy greeted as he passed over the threshold removing his hat. He gave a warm smile towards Maria.

Before they had time to begin a conversation all three turned at the sound of Joey getting up, it was only a moment before he was pushing the curtain aside, buttoning his shirt as he made his way over to a bowl of leftover food were he began to pick out what he wished to eat. Ella had become aware enough of him to know that even when it appeared he was uninterested and not even paying attention to what was happening around him, he actually was listening to every word. He slowly looked up at Billy as if only just seeing him, his eyes bore a clear dislike before he turned back once more to his task. Billy looked at Joey a moment, Joey had not tried to hide his displeasure at the old man's presence but Billy's returned expression carried no lost love for the boy either.

Maria ignored their looks. "What brings you here on a Sunday Billy? You are normally drinking at this time."

"Well, Mary… though you know I enjoy vistin' ya, I've come to see Miss. Ella."

"Me?" Ella questioned, a little surprised, she studied the old man's face a moment and it finally dawned on her why Billy was searching her out. "Oh Christ!" Ella rose from the table biting back her urge to become angry. "What's he done now?" She instantly knew it was Dave.

"Well he's acting a little crazy, sayin' he wants to see you an' givin' his reputation back New Mexico way, some of the locals feel a little on the nervous side and want you to come an' make him calm down."

Ella swore under her breath. "I knew he'd do somethin' like this, it's so like Dave!" She pushed the chair under the table. "Let me just get my shawl Billy an' I'll come."

She quickly located her shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders, her eyes skimmed past Joey, seeing that he was now fully watching the drama unfold.

"Who is Dave?" he asked lazily, his eyes lowering back to the food he held, not addressing the question to anyone in particular.

"He is Ella's husband, Dave Rudabaugh" Maria said glancing at her son. "Ella," she stepped forward, "I don't want you to go, I don't like that man, he is a bad man, he has done many bad things to others and you."

Ella tried to give her friend a reassuring smile. "I'll be okay Maria, I lived with him for near on three years, I can last a few more minutes to get him to sleep off his drink, besides he's likely to end himself in trouble if he's causing a fuss" Before Maria could protest Ella turned to Billy. "Come on then let's get this over with."

Billy accompanied her down into the little village where a small crowd had gathered. Dave was stood in the midst holding his gun drunkenly within his hand. Ella sighed as his voice reached her hearing.

"You bring my wife out here an' then I'll quiet down!" He gave a crazy laugh and attempted to do a little jig, the effect at any other moment would have been amusing, something that would have made her chuckle but right now Ella could only feel annoyed.

"I'm here Dave!" she shouted over the racket. "It's okay, I'll take him t' bed an' then head on back to Maria's" she said, turning to Billy.

"I'd rather not leave ya Ella" Billy said scratching his beard.

"Look at him Billy, he can hardly stand up" Ella said with a gesture of her hand, she wanted to get Dave inside before he brought the whole village out, she already felt hot with embarrassment over her husband's antics, the less she fussed the less anyone else would, or so she hoped.

"Stella!" Dave cried with a large grin appearing on his lips. "See, I told them you'd come." He waved his gun at some of the people causing them to recoil in fright. "Didn't I tell you!"

Ella waded through the crowd. "Come on Dave, let's get you home, you look tired" Ella said, making him lower his gun and then taking it off him completely. She draped one of his arms around her neck and began to guide him back towards her old home as he started to sing far too loudly and off key.

Ella guided him through the door and with effort laid him down upon the bed, he flopped easily back, his singing becoming murmured and under his breath. Ella placed his gun on the small table before attempting to pull his boots off. He struggled against her.

"Leave my boots on woman; I might have to ride out soon, need my boots to ride if the gang comes on by."

Ella knew that no gang would come by, Dave was not the great leader he would liked to be, nor would he ever be he was too arrogant and too selfish.

Ella huffed a sigh and raised her hands in defeat. "If that's what you want." She paused, pulling her shawl about her shoulders once again. "I'm headin' back to Maria's now, try and sleep off your drink."

Before she had taken a step Dave reached out his hand and loosely enclosed her wrist. "Stay with me Ella," he whined, "I don't want to sleep alone."

Ella relented her anger a little, he looked so sad and lost that she would have felt cruel to leave without a word, she sat on the edge of the bed. "You feel sick again huh?" she asked, brushing the hair from his brow, knowing from his expression that his stomach was troubling him once more.

Dave nodded sleepily, his eyes closing.

"I told you to cut back on your drinkin', it wouldn't surprise me if you had a stomach ulcer." Her words were harsh but her tone was soft and comforting. She paused, studying his face, remembering for a small moment the happy moments they had shared. "I'll bring you something later on tonight t' help if I can spare the time." She bent down and planted a small kiss upon his brow, "Just sleep now, huh."

Dave opened his eyes again; his look almost pained, he slowly reached up and touched her cheek with his fingertips. "You're leavin' me ain't ya?"

Ella fought back the sudden urge to cry that surged through her. "Yeah I am Dave, things haven't been good for us for a while… you know that."

Dave sucked in a breath through his teeth. "Well, I'm sad t' hear it." His eyes studied her face before closing again, his hand slowly coming to rest back upon the bed. "But I'm tired, I gotta sleep." He paused, "I'll think about it later."

Ella rose slowly from the bed. "Yeah, sleep" she said softly and quietly left him alone.

She tidied the house as best she could and set up a good pile of wood in the fire place so that when Dave awoke with a throbbing head he wouldn't have to gather any to make a good fire. She gathered his dirty clothing into a pile, considered taking it with her to Maria's to wash but decided against it, it was best they didn't rely on each other for anything from now on, now that it was over between them. She checked his food stock and seeing it was low thought that she would perhaps send Billy over later with some good food and something to help his stomach, goat's milk usually seemed to help his pain a little.

Ella left the small house aware she had been there for some time saying her last goodbyes to her old life. She leant back for a moment against the closed door trying to fight the same wave of emotion she had felt back in the room with Dave. She supposed that most people felt this way when things came to an end, even if they hadn't always been good things, it seemed to still hurt. Finally she pushed a hand across her eyes trying to quell the feeling before glancing up at the beautiful red and orange sunset that was slowly spreading across the sky. She set her jaw telling herself sternly that she knew she was doing the right thing; they'd both have a chance at happiness now.

She pushed herself away from the door and began to make her way back to Maria's; her steps were unhurried, the long stroll giving her time to think, she sat by the river for a time watching the light dance upon the water before she set off once more. She glanced up as the house came into sight; the children were still playing happily outside, seeing them gave her some kind of comfort, a feeling of returning home.

"ELLA!"

The shout was angry and threatening, she spun around on her heel to face the man that now advanced upon her. It was Dave, looking more sober than he had not long passed; his brows were furrowed in rage.

"Dave, go on home" Ella said in exasperation, seeing that his outburst had brought a few faces to windows and doors. Teresa and Raphael were getting to their feet and after a moment Maria appeared at the doorway. She quickly began to make her way down the path towards them.

"You can't just say it's done with!" Dave spat. "Don't I get a say in it?!"

"No Dave" Ella said feeling suddenly tired and regretting her feelings of remorse.

"I DO get a say because I'm your goddamn husband!" he said, his actions telling her he was losing his temper more and more by the minute.

Ella became aware that he was again carrying his gun at his hip, she had to somehow calm him down before he started shooting into the air like a half-wit and injured someone, she wouldn't have put such an act past him.

"Dave, just go on back home, we'll talk tomorrow but you need t' rest a while."

"You sayin' I'm drunk?!" he roared, "I'm not as drunk as you think!"

Ella looked back at Maria who stood wringing her hands in worry, she gave the older woman a gesture that told her to stay back, Ella had been beaten by Dave many times she did not want any of her husband's anger directed at Maria.

"I'll see you tomorrow" Ella said, giving Dave a last look. She turned once again, her intention to get inside and bolt the door until he became bored and took her advice.

She heard Maria give out a cry of surprise but before Ella could register what her friend was so unnerved by, she felt hands upon her waist and she was being lifted, up onto a shoulder, Dave was trying to forcibly carry her to only God knew where...

"Someone get Billy!" she heard Maria shriek.

Ella regained herself from the initial shock and quickly began to kick her legs, landing sharp blows to his stomach. With a breathless sound as he had had the wind knocked out of him Dave faltered, his grip loosening and Ella was able to wriggle free.

"What the hell are you doin'?!" she cried once she was standing upon her own feet, she frowned before turning once more making for Maria.

Within a moment Dave had caught her once again spinning her around to face him.

"No, not this time!" He gave a cruel laugh and with one swift, hard movement his hand connected harshly with her cheek, the jolt and pain sending her sprawling onto the dusty ground. Ella shook her head trying to grasp her senses, they seemed dazed. She reached up, feeling that her lip was once again bloody, she hissed through her teeth and looked up in time to see Maria was hurrying down to help her. "Maria, stay where you are, I'm okay, I'm okay!" Ella tried to reassure, slightly afraid for her friend's safety, her heart hammered hard against her chest as her body gave a tremor of shock. She heard the scrape of Dave's boots as he began to walk to where she had fallen.

"Ah dammit" Ella said softly into the earth beneath her. She began to try and make her body move but the task was hard and her limbs didn't seem to want to obey her commands. She glanced up again, her gaze falling upon another figure making their way in quick fluid steps from Maria's adobe, their manner almost uncaring. Ella groaned, just what she needed - getting beaten by her husband in public and having Joey Garza watch with that smug smirk lurking on his lips. She again tried to heave herself up but Dave's foot connected with her back making her fall back with a loud huff.

"Goddamit Dave, get yer boot off me you snake!" she screamed, feeling more indignant than afraid.

"Calm down Darlin'" he drawled, his weight pinning her down. "We got company." He gestured over to where Joey was still making his way down the slope towards them. "What you be wantin' boy!" Dave said seeing that the young man obviously wanted 'something' perhaps he was going to try and interfere, 'save' his wife, he'd liked to see that, Dave liked a good fight he knew he could win and this pup was too wet behind the ears to be much of a threat to him. "You got a gun on your hip but children shouldn't play with guns!" Dave let out a laugh, looking around the small crowd that had gathered expecting others to join him in the jest but no one did, they all knew Joey.

Joey stopped a few feet from them, his eyes taking Dave in, studying him as if he were a disgusting dusty old object lying by the side of the road. Dave laughed again, obviously thinking he'd gotten the upper hand, he pushed his boot harder into Ella's back and she hissed in pain her senses too focused upon it to really see what was happening around her.

"Senor, are you Dave Rudabaugh?" Joey said quietly, his voice no more than a dreadful whisper.

"What, boy? Speak up can hardly hear you!" Dave said mistaking Joey's tone for meekness, but no one else had been mistaken….everyone knew the Garza boy and were well aware he was many things but meek was not one of them, they watched on with bated breath… "I am Dave Rudabaugh!" Dave continued pride shining in his voice. "So you've heard of me have ya?"

"Si." Without flinching, without expression, Joey pulled out his gun and aimed. Dave's face fell, his colour draining. Dave tried to reach for his own gun but Joey didn't wait, had no intention of waiting or having a fair draw. The gunshot ripped through the quiet town, echoing around the buildings in a sickening death knell. Ella continued to stare at Joey watching as he slowly lowered his gun, his eyes not betraying a single emotion, cool and cold. His gun smoked for a moment, curling into the evening air in grey and white wisps before he shoved the weapon back into his holster and without looking at anyone he turned and made his way back to the adobe while the crowd looked on in open mouthed shock.

It took Ella a moment to realize that Dave was no longer holding her down, she struggled for a moment pulling herself up and into a sitting position, Maria was soon by her side wrapping her arms around her shoulders. Ella's eyes scanned the ground, Dave was lying a few feet away on his stomach, his head thankfully was turned the other way, but within that second of seeing him Ella knew he was dead.

"Dave?" she said tentatively, "Oh Lord… Dave?!"

"He is gone Ella, he is gone" Maria said as comfortingly as she could.

Ella gave a spluttered breath as sobs broke through the shock, she pushed her friend from her and crawled over to where he lay, she turned him over onto his back, his eyes stared unseeing, glassy and empty.

Ella looked over him as if trying to think of what she could do, she took one of his limp hands in her own and looked over at Maria, her eyes pleading for the older woman to do something, anything. She turned back to Dave, her fingers shakily touching his cheeks before the unbearable weight of grief felt as if it were crushing her and she let her head rest upon Dave's chest.

The crowd remained silent around the two women as Ella wept bitterly over the body of her husband.