"You ready, Sweetness?" Steve called to his wife.

"Just a few more minutes," came the reply, muffled by the closed bathroom door.

Famous last words, Steve chuckled to himself. He would never understand why his beautiful wife thought she needed all that time to get ready to go anywhere. She rolled out of bed looking like a movie star.

"All right, baby. I'm taking the bags downstairs."

Hearing Kayla acknowledge his shout, Steve picked up their bags and walked down the stairs to the first floor of the cabin. He set the bags by the door and took one last look around to make sure he had not forgotten anything.

A small smile crossed his face as he looked at the couch and the fireplace, and thought about the night before.

After Kayla had told him what had happened with Cal, he had held her in his arms until the sun had gone down. Then, hearing Kayla's stomach rumbling, he had covered her with a blanket and gone down to the lodge in search of some food. Another Deakins family dinner was in full swing and Ellie had once again invited "Bill and Kay" to join them. Steve had begged off, explaining that Kayla was not feeling well.

That had caused a ruckus and Steve had only narrowly avoided half of the Deakins women storming the cabin to check on Kayla. He had finally convinced them that it was nothing serious, but they had not let him leave until he was loaded down with plates of food and instructions on a half-dozen home remedies.

When he had returned to the cabin, he had found Kayla sleeping. So he had quietly made a fire and, once she was awake, they had sat in front of the fireplace and ate their meal.

After the meal was finished, they had snuggled under the blanket in front of the fire. Little was said and eventually they had fallen asleep. Sometime in the middle of the night, Steve had awoken to find the fire out. He had gathered Kayla in his arms and carried her to the bedroom where they had drifted off to sleep again.

Now, after sleeping in, they were running a bit late. Steve knew they needed to get on the road soon to get back to Charleston in time to make their flight home.

A knock on the door startled Steve from his memories. He walked to the door and opened it to find Deakins standing outside.

"Hey," Steve said, opening the door to let Deakins in. "What brings you by?"

Deakins stepped into the cabin and gave a low whistle as he looked around. "Nice digs ya'll got here. I gotta remember to ask my folks for it for next year."

Steve smiled. "I highly recommend it."

"I bet," Deakins said, raising a brow. Then his expression grew more serious. "Mama said y'all were shovin' off this mornin'."

Steve nodded. "We've got to get back to Charleston and catch our flight later this afternoon."

"Is Miss Kay feelin' better then?"

"She's fine," Steve replied. He knew that was not quite true, but they would deal with the rest of the fallout when they got back to Salem.

"He's dead, right?" Deakins asked, a deadly tone in his voice. "The guy that took her and her sister? The news reports said y'all shot him."

Steve stared at Deakins for a moment, then remembered the lies spread by Rachel Knight and the ISA. "It wasn't me. Shane took him out when we found them."

Deakins nodded. "Didn't think for one minute that Spooky was workin' with that guy. Jes garbage reporters makin' stuff up. But good for Spooky. Tho' death's too good for scum like that."

Steve certainly could not disagree with that.

"Anyways," Deakins continued after a moment. "I was jes hopin' you could tell Spooky that I'm sorry. I really wish I could help him, but-"

"You don't have to be sorry, Roy," Steve interrupted. "I told you before that Shane never expected you to testify for him. He was mad as hell at me for just coming to see you. He really does understand." Steve shrugged. "And so do I. I never should have pressured you about it. It wasn't fair."

"I know you was jes tryin' ta help Spooky. If'n it was my family, I'd be doing the same thing." Deakins looked around the cabin and took a deep breath. "Look, I can't testify for 'im, but maybe I can do sumthin' else."

Steve's eye widened in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"I'm jes a grunt," Deakins replied. "I don't know what went on with the mission other than what I told y'all the other day. But my Captain might."

"You think he might be willing to help?" Steve asked hopefully.

"I don't rightly know. But he and Spooky got ta be pretty good friends, I think. An' I could tell he weren't any happier about being told to keep our mouths shut than I was. If'n I get the chance, I'll try to talk to 'im."

Steve's face broke out in a big smile. "That would be great."

Deakins held up his hand. "I'm not makin' any promises. He might tell me to shut up and put me on latrine duty for a month."

Steve nodded. "I understand."

"But, if he's willin' ta talk to y'all, I'll be in touch." Deakins held out his hand. "It's the least I can do. The man done save my life."

Steve shook Deakins hand, wincing slightly at the man's grip. "I appreciate it, Roy. I really do."

Both men turned as they heard footsteps on the stairs behind them. As Kayla reached the bottom of the stairs, she stopped.

"Hi, Roy," she said. "I'm sorry if I'm interrupting something."

"Naw," Deakins replied, shyly. "I was jes leavin." He turned back to Steve. "Y'all have a safe trip home. I'll . . . I'll be in touch if I hear sumpthin." He nodded at Kayla, "Ma'am" and turned to leave.

"Wait," Kayla called out. Steve and Deakins looked at her in surprise as she hurried over to Deakins. When she reached him, she stood up on her tippy-toes and kissed him on the cheek.

Steve suppressed a chuckle as Deakins blushed profusely. "What was that for?" Deakins asked, clearly stunned.

Kayla smiled. "For helping bring my husband home to me." She held her hand up as Deakins tried to speak. "I know that it's all a big secret, and I know that your family doesn't even know what you did. But I do. And I will always be grateful to you for it."

"I was jes doin' my job, ma'am."

Kayla nodded. "I know. But that doesn't mean you don't deserve my thanks for it. You'll never know how much it means to me."

Deakins smiled shyly and nodded. "Y'all keep that husband of yours out of trouble. That's all the thanks I need."

Steve and Kayla both laughed as Kayla said, "I'll do my best."

Deakins nodded again and headed out the door. Once he was gone, Steve turned to Kayla and embraced her. "You're amazing, Sweetness."

"I don't know about that. I just know that I love you."

"I love you too, baby." Steve kissed her softly, then released her. "Come on, Sweetness. We've got a long and bumpy trip home."

Kayla smiled and picked up her bag and walked out the door. Steve picked up the others and followed her. The trip had not gone like he had expected, but it was not a total loss. He might not have gotten Deakins' testimony, but Steve had gotten his help. And that meant Steve still had hope. And hope was all he needed.