Martha just shuddered.

"What was that all about," she said, "This woman…she's an outlaw?"

They went back to the dinner table to finish eating. Ethan felt full enough but she'd wanted him to try the dessert. Something called crème brulee, a fancy dessert that originated somewhere in Europe. But it looked like overcooked pudding to him, tasted like it too.

"Used to be then she gave it up to try her hand at ranching."

Martha pursed her lips.

"Well all those horses," she said, "They all belonged to her."

Ethan tried the brulee again but it still tasted like burnt pudding.

"She's bringing the paperwork tomorrow," he said, "then we'll see if she's left her past behind her."

Martha sipped her wine.

"I don't want her in this town," she said, "My father will not like it either. With Paradise on the cusp of becoming an important hub in this region, we need to weigh our business opportunities carefully."

"It's just a ranch," he said, "looks like it's right next to mine."

She shook her head.

"Oh Ethan I have to talk to my father about this," she said, "an outlaw even a former one…it's just not good for business."

He sighed.

"She's got a right to live here and own property as long as she obeys the laws."

Martha dipped into her dessert, savoring it much more than he did. But then she'd come from places where they sold fancy looking desserts and meals from menus he could barely read. Fancier hotels than those in Paradise and well groomed streets that didn't break undercarriages on buggies.

"Okay well don't say I didn't warn you and I'm still going to talk to my father."

He knew he'd do just that. But it wouldn't just be her father who'd be concerned. The whole town had heard or read about the exploits of Bella Rogers. Not just by news or telegraph but some guy had even written books about her crime sprees, or adventures as he'd called it. But he knew that Bella had killed a man or two and she'd ridden with an assortment of hardened characters. She'd also run a bordello or two including one that had been the target of a takeover by another gang of men.

That had been back in deep Texas in a dusty little town and he'd been one of the men hired to fight them, to try to restore order. But the street had been littered with bodies on both sides before that had been done.

Part of doing business, Bella had said as she'd been arrested. They didn't hang her with a couple others because they didn't have anything on her.

But he wondered about her years later. She still looked the same, barely aged since he'd last seen her. He'd find out soon whether she meant what she said about going legit. Once an outlaw, always an outlaw but maybe she'd buck that tide.

In the meantime, he knew he'd have an angry tide of town's people in the morning so he'd best get prepared to deal with that.

Bella unsaddled her horse in the makeshift barn. It had been neglected for several years but she figured it was nothing some hard work and paint wouldn't fix. She knew her crew of women was determined to make the best of ranching life.

The alternative, they didn't want and she'd told them they could do something more meaningful then sell their bodies to strangers. She'd lost a couple along the way, women who couldn't wake up in the morning and face another day's tough ride under the hot sun or didn't like the gruel she cooked which didn't taste like much but fueled their bodies.

She looked over at the younger woman unsaddling her buckskin mare. She didn't say much but that didn't bother Bella. The woman worked hard and she'd been the one who had helped her pick the spot to set up the ranch.

"You were right about Paradise," Bella said, "It's beautiful country here and plenty of it."

Amelia took off her hat and hung it on a post before turning back to her horse.

"It's that…I still don't know why I left it."

Bella smiled.

"Yes you do, you wanted to see the world out there," she said, "Nothing like that. I was like that myself when I was younger than you."

Amelia shrugged.

"I saw that world and now I know better."

"It's not all like that," Bella said, "There are a lot of adventures to be had out there. Places to see and people to meet and I don't regret none of it…even the bad parts of it."

Amelia just moved to put her mare's saddle near the wall.

"So this Ethan he's changed a lot since I saw him last," Bella said, "Still handsome."

Amelia removed the bridle from the mare and patted her on the neck.

"He's embraced his marshal job and it suits him."

Bella nodded.

"The part of him you didn't like," she said, "The part that scared you…made you run away from him."

Amelia started to say something.

"Don't think I'm judging you for that," Bella said, "Did that a time or two myself. Never was able to stay married…too much out there to do."

"It's not that…I was coming back when…"

She didn't finish. She didn't have to and Bella just smiled at her.

"Look you're back here now and we've got a ranch to set up and run," she said, "We're going to get some resistance from the town folks on account of me."

Amelia smiled back.

"Some of them don't like outsiders at all," she said, "Like Axelrod who runs the mercantile and some others but not all of them are like that. Tiny the blacksmith and Mr. Lee, they'll welcome you or at least reserve judgment."

"That's more than fair," Bella said, "After all I'm quite notorious still, thanks to all those dime store novels."

"They were quite good," Amelia said, "Pierce was a fan of them but I read a couple of them."

Bella knew that Amelia had no love lost for her ex-husband and if Bella ever saw him, she'd have to think twice about the promise she'd made to herself against violence.

"He'll be fair," Amelia said, "He's not swayed by other people's feelings. But he does intend to keep the law in this town."

"That's good enough for me," Bella said, "I have no intention on breaking it. I do want to go to town with those papers so we can prove we didn't steal the land. You want to go with me?"

Amelia hesitated and nodded.

"You're going to run into him sooner or later," Bella said, "It'll be better sooner."

Amelia stroked her mare's mane.

"Everything's changed since the last time I saw him," she said, "the last time I planned to see him."

"He's probably changed too," Bella said, "in some ways. I recognize the young man I saw years ago but he's softened his edges."

Amelia smiled.

"Not all of them."

Bella sighed.

"I hoped he'd soften them out more," she said, "He was in love with some young woman once years ago and she treated him horribly. Made him cautious I see."

"I know."

"But you two were engaged…"

Amelia nodded.

"Yes but I broke it off and then I walked away from him," she said, "I doubt he's forgotten that but he's moved on. He was standing with a woman outside my…old house."

Bella shrugged.

"He's a man what can you expect?"

"I don't expect anything," Amelia said, "It's better this way, that the both of us have moved on."

Bella led her horse into a stall.

"But you returned…"

Amelia opened the stall door and her mare walked inside of it.

"This is great ranching country and it'll be a great place for you and the others to make a fresh start."

Bella paused.

"What about you?"

Amelia looked away, her mind focused on the mare that butted her nose against her for attention.

"I'll help you…then I'll decide what to do."

"You won't find him…he's long gone again."

Amelia sighed.

"He could be dead for all I care," she said, "Maybe he is dead."

Bella didn't know about that but if the men he'd betrayed ever caught up to him, he would be dead fast. His quick silvered tongue forever silenced and the world a better place.

"Come on, let's head on inside the house," she said, "See what kind of shape it's in."

"Should be livable," Amelia said, "I handled the lease before the bank was sold."

Bella chuckled.

"Maybe they left behind some liquor before they left."

The two of them headed out of the barn and into their new home.

Ethan had run into Dakota out on night watch before heading back to the ranch. He had told him to wire a couple towns in the morning to check up on Bella's status. Not that he didn't believe her, but he knew to be awful careful about who to trust and an ex-outlaw just wasn't high on his list.

"It might take a while to get anything back."

Ethan nodded at his deputy marshal and then got on his horse to ride on back. The cabin had been lit when he arrived and John Taylor had Ben and Georgie in bed telling them stories until they'd looked sleepy eyed.

Joseph had gone out to finish the barn chores and Claire cleaned up in the kitchen before drafting up a lesson plan for the next day. She'd been the best thing that had happened to Paradise when it came to adding the school. But Ethan knew that the town couldn't hold her much longer. She had such a desire to go out and explore the world which reminded him of someone else.

John Taylor brought him some coffee and Ethan sipped it.

"How were the children?"

John Taylor smiled.

"George read his lessons and Ben struggled with his," he said, "I think he's got some trouble ahead."

Ethan knew that. Claire had told him that Ben didn't know how to write his letters properly in order. Letters were needed to create words and that had hindered his ability to learn how to read except from memory based on what he heard. He seemed awfully good at doing that.

"I know he's having problems reading," Ethan said, "but I can't read enough to know how to help him."

"Claire's doing well with him," John Taylor said, "I always knew she'd be a good teacher."

Ethan smiled because he'd tried her patience when she tried to help him with his reading. He practiced when he had time by himself but it came slowly. But then he'd spent hardly any time in school growing up. His sister that mostly raised him had other concerns besides schooling him.

"I'll find someone to help him," he said, "but something tells me I'm going to have my hands full with this gang of women which just rode into town."

John Taylor nodded.

"Heard about them…and Bella Rogers heading this way. Do you believe her about the ranching?"

Ethan paused.

"I don't know…I guess I'll have to watch and see but I couldn't keep them from coming into town."

"No no you couldn't," John Taylor said, "and you shouldn't."

Ethan sipped his coffee.

"With Founder's Day coming up, I hope there's not going to be trouble."

John Taylor smiled.

"I hope not…but with people like Darren Wyatt and his daughter organizing it, it'll be an event."

Ethan supposed so but his role would be in making sure no fights broke out or no businesses were robbed by people taking advantage of the festivities.

"They're putting a lot of money into it and into this town."

John Taylor shrugged.

"Some might say that's progress. Others might say it's changing the town too much."

Ethan rubbed the back of his neck.

"I'm not thinking that far," he said, "I just want to make sure there's no trouble."

John Taylor looked straight at him.

"Oh there's plenty of trouble," he said, "Just not the kind you're expecting. People are not going to be happy when they hear Bella Rogers is in their midst."

"I know that," Ethan said, "but as long as she keeps out of trouble she can stay here. She and the others…"

John Taylor smiled.

"Good…and good luck tomorrow."

Ethan frowned.

"About what…?"

But John Taylor just looked at him once more before heading out the door. Ethan wondered what he meant but didn't dwell on it. Tomorrow would come soon enough, the meeting with the merchants and new investors that Darrin would be holding and Bella coming in with her documentation.

Claire came up to him.

"I'll be turning in," she said, "Big day at school tomorrow."

She hugged him good night and he watched her go. He relied on her so much, in some ways he couldn't run the household without her. She never complained but he wished it'd be easier for her now that she'd taken on teaching and working part-time for Axelrod. He'd have to think of a way.

Claire sighed as she stopped by Axelrod to pick up her pay before heading onto the bank where she'd deposit it and then to school. She had told Ethan she'd put it into the account to pay for the ranch but he insisted that she open her account and save up for herself. She'd thought about going to college or maybe traveling a bit. But for now she had work to do here and that kept her busy enough.

Ben and George would be at the school by now playing with the other kids in the lot in front. She walked into the mercantile and waited for Axelrod. She hoped he wouldn't try to shortchange her pay this week. But then she'd set him straight when he tried it last time and he begrudgingly gave her what he owed.

Suddenly someone walked in and she looked over and saw Dakota. He glanced over at her.

"Hi Claire…"

"Hi Dakota…"

"Heading off to teach?"

She nodded, looking at him dressed like a marshal, a far cry from how he looked when she first saw him. But then again, her uncle had been the same way. He'd been lying injured in a bed at the hotel when she saw him for the first time, after he'd been shot.

"Any plans for Founder's Day?"

"I'm going with my brothers," she said, "What about you?"

He smiled at her and she thought him quite handsome but she knew better than to think more than that. She'd had a crush on him once not long after he arrived but he was out of a different world than she knew…too much so for them to ever have more than a casual friendship. He had his choice of a host of what were called bar girls and she was just a teacher.

"I'll be out keeping an eye for trouble with your uncle."

She considered that.

"Will there be any?"

Dakota got some jerky and put it on the counter.

"Never know with an event like this that attracts all kinds of folks," he said, "that and Bella Rogers just showed up."

Claire had heard about her because she loved to read and somewhere, she'd found a novel about her when over at Amelia's house when she'd lived there. She'd read it cover to cover and been fascinated despite herself. The woman had done some very bad things it seemed but she did call things like she saw them and had a good heart underneath it.

She'd had no parents like Claire only she hadn't had an uncle to take care of her. Claire knew that she and her brothers had been fortunate to have living kin to raise them even if it was in a town so much different than anything they'd known.

Axelrod came over with Claire's pay.

"This should be all of it for this week," he said, "though I imagine you want to count it."

She smiled at him.

"Of course Mr. Axelrod," she said, "just to be sure there are no errors this time."

Dakota chuckled.

"Axelrod, you should know better than to try to swindle Claire," he said, "after all, she does your books."

Axelrod scowled but Claire glanced over at Dakota who winked back.

"Well is it all there?"

Claire had finished counting and nodded, thanking him before slipping it in her pocket and heading to he bank. Dakota paid for his jerky and followed her. She arched her brows at him.

"Just to make sure you make it to the bank safely," he said, "You got a lot of cash there."

"I'm saving it for school or traveling," she said, "Uncle Ethan won't take any of it for the ranch."

They looked up suddenly at the sound of hoof beats approaching and they saw several women riding down Main Street on horseback.

Dakota sighed.

"Looks like Bella's bringing her paperwork," he said, "I'd better go and help Ethan sort through it."

Claire nodded and finished the walk to the bank.

Ethan sat at the desk in his office looking at an empty jail and a wall filled with wanted posters. Bella walked in with a couple other women. She smiled at him and put out her hand.

"Good morning Ethan…"

He looked at her warily out of habit.

"Good morning Bella…you came with the paperwork?"

She pulled it out of a satchel.

"All of it…you'll see I own the land fair and square," she said, "an old cousin of mine that passed a while back deeded it to me."

He inspected the faded papers…twice and then handed them back to her.

"It looks legit…I did send a few wires out asking about you."

Bella nodded.

"I would be disappointed if you didn't but I put all that behind me. You'll see. All I want to do is get the ranch on its feet with my friends. These women, they're like family."

Ethan wondered looking at them if she'd picked them up like strays. They were young but the harsh life they'd lived had made them look older.

"How many are there of you?"

"About a half dozen," she said, "but they'll be more coming. We'll need all the help we can get and these women need jobs."

"Widows?"

"Some of them," Bella said, "Others had husbands that left them or fell into hard times, had to do all kinds of things they never thought they'd do to survive."

He nodded.

"Okay like I said, as long as you abide by the law."

"I will…you tell your towns people the same," she said, "We're not here to rile anyone up. Just to get a fresh start…"

Dakota walked in right then and gestured outside.

"Bella Rogers, your arrival didn't go unnoticed," he said, "Some of the businessmen are concerned."

Bella sighed.

"I expected as much but I thought they'd give me some breathing space."

"They don't want you here," Dakota said, "and they will make it hard for you."

Ethan sighed, seeing that it had started already. He knew that some of the town's businessmen had little tolerance for people they viewed as outsiders but he knew the real pressure would come from other places. People who might be viewed as outsiders if they didn't bring a ton of cash to invest in Paradise…

"I'll do what I can," he said, "I'll talk to them."

Bella remained firm.

"We have as much right to be here as they do."

Ethan doubted they'd see it that way but he was the marshal and preventing vigilante groups from forming into lynch mobs was one of his job duties. Not his favorite but he'd do what he had to do to keep the peace and the towns folk, even the Axelrods and Applegates knew it.

"I know and I said I'll do my best."

Then his eyes widened as he saw another woman walk into the room dressed like the others. He almost didn't recognize her at first.

"He'll do his best," she said, "and the town will just have to accept it."

"Amelia…is that you?"

She looked at him.

"Yes, I'm back."

He ran his hand through his hair taught totally by surprise.

"I can see that," he said, "You're traveling with Bella?"

She nodded.

"Yes and I work for her," she said, "I help with the horses and do the books."

Ethan couldn't believe it. He didn't believe she'd ever return but in his hours of wishful thinking otherwise, he'd never quite seen it this way. He didn't know how to react.

"I didn't see you last night."

"I saw you but I was trying to keep the herd from straying."

He nodded, noticing that her hair had grown longer, curlier but she had tied it back.

"You look good…"

She nodded, but didn't smile.

"So do you…"

More footsteps and he looked up and saw Martha walk into the crowded room. She looked around clearly dismayed.

"What is going on here," she said, "Bella Rogers, you really are here."

Bella smiled indulgently at her.

"Yes and you're…"

"Martha Wyatt, my father owns the bank."

"My father's dead," Bella said, "They probably hung him somewhere."

Martha frowned.

"Well, about your decision to move here…you might want to reconsider."

Bella folded her arms, clearly amused.

"I have…and this is the perfect spot for my new ranch," she said, "we'll be opening up jobs for women who need them starting with some of your bar girls."

Martha's mouth dropped open.

"Why I don't believe…"

Bella smiled again.

"No you probably don't…you've probably never had to worry about anything."

Martha snorted.

"You don't know me, or anything about me."

Bella just shook her head and looked at Ethan.

"You sure picked a live one there."

Ethan nodded absently focused on Amelia but she didn't look at him. She seemed more interested in the Wanted posters, studying each one of them.

"So who's going to tell them they need to go?"

Amelia turned around then and stepped forward.

"You've got no right to tell anyone to go," she said, "Bella owns the land and she wants to use it for ranching. You'll just have to deal with that."

Martha shook her head.

"My father will get his lawyers to see if that can be challenged."

Amelia shook her head.

"I used to think lawyers were the answer for everything," she said, "I know better now."

Martha sighed.

"We'll get this all straightened out," she said, "If I were you Bella Rogers, I wouldn't get too comfortable here."

Bella just stared at her.

"Give it your best shot but we're not going anywhere," she said, "Now that we've got all the paperwork sorted out, we'll be going."

Bella started to head on out and Ethan watched her and Amelia go.

"Amelia…"

She turned to look at him and this time she gave him a little smile.

"It's good to see you again Cord."

Then she was gone.