"So what'd you think of the meeting?"

Amelia looked at Bella as she put the mare away in her stall. They'd just returned from town after the meeting and were about to have some late supper cooked by a couple of the other women.

"It seemed awfully familiar," Amelia said, "Same people leading the same fight over the same complaints."

"They were very unhappy about our decision to stay whether we were wanted or not."

Amelia shrugged.

"They'll have to get over it and accept it," she said, "Ethan's good at keeping them in line when it's necessary."

Bella shook her head.

"I imagined a lot of different ways his life could have turned out but somehow I didn't see him as a town marshal."

"I didn't either but it suits him," Amelia said, "I just wasn't happy about it when it happened. But it's part of who he is now."

"He's very careful with himself Amelia," Bella said, "He doesn't take unnecessary risks."

"You can be very careful and bad things can still happen."

Bella shut the stall door and they walked to the entrance.

"That's why you have to enjoy life while you live it," she said, "You never know what's around the bend."

Amelia knew that and she knew Ethan did too. They'd both had brushes with death; it was just a fact of life. Once she realized that miles away from him, she knew it had been time to return to Paradise and try to pick up her life there.

Only it had turned out to be more complicated than she thought and now, he'd gotten involved with Martha and her father who were coming after them.

"Ethan's not against us," Bella said, "He's just trying to make sure the peace is kept."

They left the barn and headed to the house. Darkness had fallen around them, on the moonless night. Amelia looked into the shadows and imagined that she saw shapes moving within them but she didn't hear any footsteps.

"I know," Amelia said, "but I also know that men like Axelrod are going to want the vision that the Wyatts have created and they'll aim to get it."

Other women waited inside having cooked dinner and Amelia and Bella went to serve themselves.

"Look Amelia, I know we can win this fight," Bella said, "If it comes to that but is it going to cause you ill will these people?"

Amelia took her plate into the living room.

"It might…I don't know how long I plan on staying here."

They both sat down facing each other and began eating.

"You will help us," Bella said, "navigate through all the fine print of ranching. I'm not used to that part of it. This is the first time I've really gone legit and it's new to me."

Amelia smiled at her.

"You'll be great at ranching," she said, "You're great with horses and the rest of it, you can learn."

"I'm getting old…learning doesn't come easily."

Amelia took a bite of her stew. It hit the spot after such an arduous meeting in town. She knew they were just at the beginning of their fight. But Ethan had been able to keep the peace like always.

"What did he say to you?"

She furrowed her brow.

"Who…?"

Bella gave her that look.

"Ethan who else, what did he say to you?"

Amelia shrugged.

"He asked me to go to dinner afterward with the children."

Bella paused.

"And of course you said no."

Amelia sighed.

"It's not like that," she said, "He and I we were engaged but it didn't work out and he's moved on."

Bella's face wrinkled.

"With what's her face," she said, "I don't think so. I think she's using him."

Amelia hadn't considered that because Martha had seen enamored enough with Ethan to not need him for anything doing with business but she supposed if Martha could sway him to what she and her father had planned for the town then maybe he wouldn't be as interested in serving in the neutral corner.

"She arrived her after I left so I don't know anything about her," she said, "but she seems ambitious with her plans for Paradise. She'll learn soon enough that changing it isn't that easy."

Bella suppressed a smile.

"You tried that didn't you," she said, "Me personally I like small towns like this and wouldn't change a thing about them. Except make sure they have a friendly welcoming wagon and not a lynch mob."

Amelia shrugged.

"Hopefully that won't happen," she said, "I brought you here for a reason."

Bella nodded as she took a bite.

"I know…and I think you made a good choice," she said, "I already like it here and I can see why you loved it."

Amelia paused.

"I didn't really love it here," she said, "not the place anyway."

Bella chuckled.

"I know what that means," she said, "Listen if you want him back…"

"I don't want to think about that," Amelia said, "I just want to make this ranch work…the rest is just too complicated."

Bella shook her head and got up, taking her dishes.

"You young women, you don't know what's important in life," she said, "I mean you got the land part of it right, the horses but family matters too."

Amelia frowned.

"I never was good at getting that part right," she said, "I ran away from it."

Bella smiled.

"So you did, doesn't mean it's over and done with him," she said, "even if you think he's gone after this other woman."

Amelia got up out of her chair to go into the kitchen.

"I don't want to talk about it," she said, "It's going to be keeping us busy enough not to get run out of town the minute Ethan's back is turned or he's off doing something else."

They both went into where a couple of the women were washing and drying dishes in a basin. Plumbing was rudimentary but it worked pretty well since the well had been kept in good shape.

"I know but I know Ethan," Bella said, "at least I think I do and he knows what's valuable in this whole equation."

Amelia didn't know how to answer that and besides, she felt tired from the hard day's work.

"I'll be heading to bed," she said, "after I clean up."

Bella nodded.

"Okay then, we got to get up bright and early," she said, "but you know we might need some extra help and maybe Ethan's good with some tools."

Amelia remembered back when he had struggled to build their home before the wedding that never took place. Too much had happened since then and she didn't know if Ethan would stand still long enough to handle repairing outbuildings and some fencing.

She didn't know if she wanted him around so close to her either. She'd have to think about that.

Ethan put the boys to bed and they didn't fuss. The day's events with schooling and running around for hours outside while the grownups met in the church had tired them out. Claire had stayed up to work on some lesson plans by the candlelight after washing up.

He thought about heading to bed because he had to rise early to do some surveying with Dakota, about some complaints they'd gotten about rustling in the valley. That would probably take him most of the morning to make the rounds.

"So you okay with me going to visit Amelia and Bella Rogers?"

Claire looked at him intently and he hesitated. He hadn't given it much thought but he knew she was fascinated by the life she thought Bella had lived. The life depicted in dime store novels which didn't match the reality he remembered at least. But Bella had told him she'd been ready to settle down to an honest life for some time now and besides, Amelia was staying with her, helping her out with the ranch.

It'd been a lot different seeing her again than he'd expected. He had all these things he'd say to her but none of them came out. She just seemed the same in some ways, beautiful as he remembered yet different as well.

He had changed too since she'd left. Maybe they were both two different people now.

"You can visit her," he said, "but Bella's not the woman in those books you read or not mostly anyway."

Claire smiled.

"I know that….I know that writers exaggerate but she's still a legend who's come to Paradise."

A town that's seen its share of them from Wyatt Earp to some fellow named Mark Twain who had dropped by on a tour organized by Martha whose daddy had done some business with him.

"You knew her didn't you?"

Ethan nodded.

"Yes I did…back in Texas."

Claire remembered when all the trouble he'd been in there had boiled to a head. Most of it misunderstanding but he hadn't been a saint in his gun slinging days. But he hadn't crossed some of the same lines as Bella. Still all he could do right now was take her word that she'd changed with a grain of salt but keep an eye on her.

Keep an eye on the town's businessmen to keep them from forming a mob to push her out. He sighed, knowing he was going to be quite busy for a spell.

George walked up to him wiping his eyes and yawning.

"What are you doing up," Claire turned to him, "You've got school tomorrow."

George looked at Ethan.

"You are going to take us to Bella Roger's ranch?"

Ethan sighed. George too?

"I don't know…"

His youngest nephew frowned.

"Aw Uncle Ethan…I'll be good. I can go with Claire."

His sister just looked at him.

"George if Uncle Ethan doesn't want you to go…"

Her brother looked back at Ethan.

"Come on…please Uncle Ethan…"

Claire spoke up.

"Mrs. Lawson will be there."

That she would be, he knew that and when George nodded, he relented.

"You want to see her?"

George looked at Claire.

"It's okay if you do."

Then George nodded and Ethan decided to let him go…as long as he did what Claire told him to do. George smiled and hugged him before heading back to bed. Both watched him go then Claire looked at her uncle.

"I'll take him tomorrow," she said, "I want to take something to them…maybe a dozen eggs."

Ethan nodded.

"That's a good idea," he said, "I know they have got horses…not sure what they're raising for food."

Claire smiled.

"Bella promised to show me the spread," she said, "She also said that she'll be looking for hired help."

Ethan had heard that and he thought it not a bad idea.

"Dakota was thinking about it."

His brows arched up.

"Dakota…he's working for me."

"I know but he thought it might not be a bad idea to have someone out there who'll work hard and keep an eye out for trouble."

Might not be a bad idea, he thought. Maybe…

"Uncle Ethan why don't you volunteer…?"

He clenched his jaw, shifting in his chair.

"I'm pretty busy Claire…"

She folded her arms.

"I think Dakota's right," she said, "I think they do need someone out there to make sure that Axelrod and the others don't do something reckless."

"I can do that in town."

She considered that and shrugged.

"Okay but I just think you're better at herding horses and splitting rail than Dakota," she said, "It's not like he's had much experience."

And how Claire would know that, Ethan wondered.

"He told me that he grew up in a big city."

"Claire…"

"Good night Uncle Ethan…"

Then she went to bed and he wondered if he'd have to worry about her and Dakota. His deputy was foot loose and fancy free spending time with the bar girls but his niece seemed to like him anyway. He might have to have a talk with his deputy but first…it was time to turn in, it had been a long day.

And he knew they were about to get longer.

Martha paced in the bank where her father ordered an employee to go put something in the safe. She looked up at him as he walked back towards her.

"What is it?"

She sighed.

"I received a wire from San Francisco that one of our investors is already getting nervous."

Darrin didn't have to ask why.

"They heard about Bella Rogers?"

She nodded.

"They said that the newspaper there might send a reporter out to Paradise to talk to her."

Her father groaned.

"I guess we're going to have to do something," he said, "Certainly before any reporters arrive."

She nodded.

"The town's people aren't going to like it when they find out."

"Then that's good for us," Darrin said, "because we're going to need them."

The door opened and in walked Amelia. They both looked at her.

"How may I help you," Martha asked.

Amelia smiled, her eyes looking in what used to be her ex-husband's bank.

"You've redecorated it."

Martha smiled.

"Of course," she said, "We're big city folks and we thought a more sophisticated décor was more fitting with our vision."

Amelia bit back a smile.

"Okay then it's your bank or your fathers now," she said, "I suppose you can do as you like."

Martha folded her arms.

"Of course…now how can we help you?"

Amelia pulled out a satchel filled with papers.

"This is for our new bank account," she said, "We'd like it set up today."

Martha looked at Darrin who didn't look too pleased.

"Mrs. Lawson…surely you understand…we have to evaluate your fitness as a customer."

"I have money to deposit for Ms Rogers," Amelia said, "that should be good enough."

Martha cleared her throat.

"Mrs. Lawson may I call you that…we have new rules in place here to protect our investors."

Amelia narrowed her eyes.

"You're seriously going to tell me we can't open an account here?"

Martha sighed heavily.

"I reviewed some of your rather…crude records and you took some serious risks where you could have lost everything."

Amelia nodded.

"Sometimes the town hit bad times," she said, "and required desperate measures."

Martha paced.

"That might be or might not," she said, "But at any rate, I'll review your records and get back to you this time tomorrow with our decision."

Amelia put one hand on her hip.

"You have a problem with the money?"

Martha smiled even more widely.

"No but I don't know how much of it is from some legitimate enterprise," she said, "and how much of it is what they call ill gotten gain."

Amelia gave her a piercing look.

"None of it was stolen if that's what you're implying."

"I'm not implying," Martha said, "I'm merely telling you that this bank's under new ownership and there's new rules…and standards in place."

Amelia nodded slowly.

"I see…I'll take our business elsewhere then."

"We're the only bank in town."

Amelia shrugged.

"For now maybe…but that can change."

Martha's smile wavered.

"You wouldn't really start your own bank…"

"Maybe it's not a bad idea," she said, "I can get some pretty good business…from these new standards."

Martha put up her hands.

"Okay then…but surely you must understand…"

The door opened and Ethan walked in, taking in what was happening.

"Ladies…good morning."

Martha smiled at him.

"Ethan…are we still on for tonight?"

He nodded.

"At the restaurant…the children are looking forward to it."

Martha's smile dimmed.

"Oh…well okay then I look forward to seeing them."

Ethan turned to Amelia.

"You have a peaceful night?"

She nodded.

"I forgot what it's like to have that kind of quiet around me. I missed it."

"Dakota's thinking of taking that position to work part-time on the ranch."

Amelia smiled.

"We can use the help," she said, "It'll be good to have someone like him around. Plenty of work to do."

"You need anyone else?"

She thought about it.

"Maybe…at least temporarily…"

"I'll put the word out then."

She smiled.

"Thanks…I'd better be heading on back…we're expecting a shipment of lumber later today."

Martha interjected.

"Like I told you, I'll give you my decision this time tomorrow."

Amelia just looked at her.

"I'll be in town later tonight," she said, "Bella and I'll be trying out that new menu."

Martha frowned.

"It's pretty…sophisticated…not for all tastes."

Amelia nodded.

"That's okay…but if it's too much so it's not going to make much money."

"It'll do just fine."

Amelia turned to Ethan.

"Tell Dakota that we appreciate his offer if I don't see him."

He nodded.

"Will do…see you later and if you need anything…"

"I know who to ask…"

She left the bank and he watched her go while Martha looked over at her father.

"We should have just told her and had it done."

Darrin shook his head.

"We have to give all prospective customers equal consideration."

Ethan sharpened his gaze on them.

"What do you mean, what's this about?"

Martha cleared her throat.

"Oh nothing…just business…I'll see you later tonight."

Ethan turned and left the bank and she turned to her father.

"We'd better come up with a plan quick."

He nodded and they walked into his office.