Nice scene between Claire and Gray.

It was easy for Claire to see that after one night, Mary had become quite infatuated with Jack. It was amazing to see the girl light up as Jack talked to her. To give Jack credit, he was actually quite an intelligent man. There were many topics of conversation that he and Mary would discuss that were above Claire's head. Then, of course, there was the handsome blacksmith beside her. Gray was an enigma of sorts. His smoky blue eyes revealed very little of what he thought.

"How was your work today?" Claire asked. Gray's eyes regarded her carefully.

"Just like everyday. Gramps yelling at me for not meeting his standards," Gray mumbled. He took another sip of his beer.

"Do you like your job?" Claire asked.

"I like it," Gray sighed. "I just never seem to do anything good enough for the old man."

"Maybe it's a good thing that he has such high expectations of you," Claire offered. Gray scoffed. Gray knew one thing, his grandfather thought he was a lazy, unmotivated, slacker. Perhaps the unmotivated part was true, but Gray worked hard. He wanted more than anything to please him, but always failed.

"Not with my gramps," Gray mumbled.

"I don't have any grandparents that are still alive," Claire replied. "My father is a bit absent from my life, and my mother passed away last year."

"My father was not absent, but he was a mean SOB," Gray replied. "I moved here to get away from him."

"I'm sorry," Claire replied.

"Ya know, you were right. About Gramps. He does think I have a lot of potential, I just wish he wouldn't always yell so," Gray admitted.

"Family is always complicated," Claire replied. She reached out and placed a hand on his arm. Gray felt a jolt of static electricity at her touch, they both jumped, then smiled. Gray was finding that he rather enjoyed Claire's company. She was easy to talk to, and understanding. There was something else about Claire that he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was, but there was something unique about her.

OOOOO

Karen left Duke's cellar feeling used, as she always did with Duke. He'd called her Sasha a few times tonight. She was used to Duke calling out her mother's name, but tonight, it irritated her. Perhaps it was due to Jack's blatant rejection of her. Perhaps it was the wine, or perhaps it was the hurt she felt, but instead of going home, she turned down the road to the new farmer's house. Her blouse was partially unbuttoned, and she no longer wore a bra. It was shoved into her back pocket. Very few men could resist her body when they saw it. Karen knocked on the handsome farmer's door. She wasn't worried that Mary would be there, Mary was a good little girl, who wasn't willing to do the things that Karen was.

Jack came to the door looking bleary eyed. It was clear that she had woken him up.

"What do you need?" Jack asked. Karen leaned against his doorway in a way that showed her ample breast of to him even more.

"You," Karen purred. Jack inwardly groaned. He did not need this right now. It was no secret that Karen was promiscuous. And while Karen was definitely hot, she was not the type of woman Jack wanted. A year or two ago, he'd have taken Karen up on her offer. But now, Jack was looking for a woman to settle down with. Someone who was beautiful and smart. Women like Karen, were not women you settled down with.

"You're drunk," Jack stated.

"Not to drunk to please you," Karen insisted. She leaned forward and planted a sloppy kiss on his lips. Jack pulled away from her gently, so she wouldn't fall over.

"Karen you should go home," Jack insisted. Karen pouted. This was a move that drove many men crazy. Karen was used to getting her way by pointing. Jack just crossed his arms. "Go home Karen, till you do something you regret."

"Nothing I'd do to you would be a regret," Karen sighed. She moved forward again, but Jack moved away. She stumbled forward, Jack reached out to catch her, but it was too late. She hit her head against the door frame, and promptly passed out.

OOOOO

Jill caught a glimpse of the silver haired thief as she made her way home from the bar. She shook her head. He liked to think what he was doing was romantic, but in the end it was still a crime. Even so, there was something alluring about him. He caught her eyes and winked in typical fashion. With quick movements, he closed the distance between them.

"We meet again beautiful," Skye replied. Jill tried to force herself to not respond to him. She hated that made her so flustered.

"Yes. We always do. It seems as though you're always up to some trouble," Jill answered. He placed his hand over his heart, and dramatically started clutching it.

"Oh you wound me fair maiden," Skye groaned. Jill rolled her eyes. This man was certainly a good actor.

"I'm sure there are very few things that actually affect you," Jill remarked. Jill knew that Skye thought of himself as handsome. While he was definitely good looking, she certainly didn't think he was as handsome as Marlin. But she couldn't deny the allure that Skye exuded.

"Sure there are," Skye replied. He moved closer to Jill. "Those beautiful amethyst eyes of yours certainly affect me." Jill tried unsuccessfully to hide a smile. "You look more beautiful when you smile."

"You should probably get going," Jill advised. She moved her face as he attempted to kiss her. She didn't want him to take such liberties all the time.

"Ah yes, you are right," Skye sighed, looking slightly surprised at her refusal to allow him to kiss her. "Until we meet again beautiful." He waved, and then quickly disappeared into the night.

OOOOO

Chase sat watching a video tape of his beautiful daughter. It had been dropped off at his house the night before. Maya had not been staying at home. After she found out that Chase had told Detective Cranston about the letter, she had gone to stay with her parents at the Inn.

"Mom," Dakota said. Her voice was trembling. "I love you and Dad both. The person who is holding me captive wants you to find out about a woman by the name of Molly Barnes. She was born on the island then moved somewhere else. Please go to Town Hall archives and get as much information as you can find." The tape cut off. Chase trembled. Dakota had looked scared and she'd been hurt. There were bruises on her face. The man who had captured her had better hope that Chase didn't get to him before the police did. He made his way to the Inn to show Maya and the detective the new development.

OOOOO

Dakota struggled against the bonds to no avail. The knots Hamilton had tied were too difficult to try to loosen. She hated having to involve her parents in any of this. Especially her mother. She knew her mother was rather impulsive and would do things without thinking. She only hoped her father would be able to talk some sense into her. Hamilton came into the room.

"Good little performance," Hamilton sneered. "Now let's just hope your parents are willing to meet my demands." Dakota said nothing. She wasn't willing to allow him the satisfaction of a response.

"Hamilton!" Dakota heard another voice behind him shout. She groaned to see the man who had helped abduct her. This man she didn't like, he was the one who had groped her. She shivered in disgust.

"Elliott!" Hamilton shouted. "I told you not to come back here after delivering the tape! In case someone followed you!"

"I had to! The mother, it seems, is no longer living in the house. It's only the father." Hamilton grumbled something and dragged his associate out of the room. Dakota strained to hear what they were saying, but the closed door muffled their words. What had the man meant by his words? Why was her mother not living with her father? It made no sense. Dakota fought against her tears. This had to be her mother's impulsive nature kicking in. Dakota needed to find a way to escape now, more than ever.