Ethan felt like he'd been called out on a fool's errand.
Martha had called him out of his dinner with Amelia to go fuss with a lock on the front door of the bank that wouldn't budge. Hardly the type of work for a marshal who was in charge of keeping the peace, he thought. Of course his duties in the past have included rescuing cats from trees and throwing a couple of drunks in the holding tank to sleep it off.
So he supposed he could handle a locked door that wouldn't open. Darrin looked impatient as Ethan fiddled with it.
"You are getting any closer to opening it?"
Ethan just glanced at him.
"You might want to get Tiny down here," he said, "He's got better hands for this than I do."
"I'd still need the marshal to keep an eye out for anyone looking to take advantage of this and try to rob the bank."
Ethan had scouted the street carefully as he always did looking for all signs of trouble but all he saw was quiet.
"There's no one out there," he said, "very quiet night. Been seeing a lot of those lately."
Darrin sighed.
"I think that's about to change with that troublemaker in our midst."
Ethan didn't want to rehash that issue again. He'd try to find a way to deal the door and then he'd head back home for the night.
"Father, Ethan's said he would handle the situation and I believe he'll do that."
"I'm going to hold him to that," Darrin said, "but if there's any trouble…"
Ethan looked directly at him.
"I can do my job," he said, "but I'm not going to harass innocent people either."
Darrin shook his head.
"Then who's going to make this town safe if you're not interested in dealing with outlaws?"
"I can handle outlaws just fine, done it most my life," Ethan said, "But no one here's breaking the law and as for Bella Rogers, if she wants to start a new life then I'm not standing in her way."
Darrin appeared to process that when a hint of a smile appeared.
"Ethan I know this must not be easy for you," he said, "Given that your ex fiancée is associated with this unsavory woman."
Ethan tensed but he didn't take the bait. He didn't much like Darrin at this point.
"Amelia has got nothing to do with this…this has to do with making sure that everyone's treated fairly."
Darrin didn't look pacified.
"Even if that jeopardizes everyone's safety…costs them their businesses and their livelihoods."
Martha interjected.
"Father, Ethan does have a difficult job to do and I'm sure that Amelia having thrown in her lot with Bella Rogers..We must try to be more understanding."
"I can only go so far with my understanding," Darrin said, "before common sense takes over. Once an outlaw, always an outlaw that's the way it works."
Most of the time, Ethan knew but not always. He knew people who were outlaws who gave up that lifestyle to try to live normal lives, but then there were others who'd faked turning their backs on their criminal ways…like that man who'd posed as a preacher in Paradise a while back. Everyone in the town had been fooled by him except for him. He'd faced off against the killer years earlier and he knew the man had returned to Paradise for revenge, putting those closest to him in danger. If it hadn't been for Amelia's decision to use her money to pay him off…the town might have never been the wiser.
So Ethan definitely chose to be wary and not trust an outlaw's fervent promise to reform or seek redemption for his or her past. He couldn't do that with Bella…but he could give her a chance to prove herself and was willing to do that.
Darrin of course would never understand that. All he could see was how her presence in their vicinity would impact the bottom line, meaning the money generated by the businesses on the main strip that fed the town in between its boom cycles.
"Amelia knows what she's doing,"
"I'm sure she does Ethan," Martha said, "but maybe this Bella Rogers is just pretending to have put her past behind he and she's going to take advantage of those who believe her."
"I'm not going to treat her like a criminal," he said, "and I won't tolerate any vigilante groups in Paradise."
"There aren't any vigilante groups," Darrin said, "Just a street full of businessmen who want to protect their interests."
"I meant what I said Mr. Wyatt."
Darrin just glared at him.
"So do I…"
"Father," Martha interrupted, "We can discuss this tomorrow. I think it's getting late."
Darrin sighed.
"This door's not budging," he said, "I guess I could secure it and deal with it tomorrow."
Ethan nodded.
"Might be wise….I can tell my deputy Dakota to stop by in the morning," he said, "I think he's still in town at the saloon."
Darrin just looked at him.
"You do that."
Martha turned to Ethan.
"You want to walk me home," she said, "It's getting late like you said."
Ethan hesitated then nodded again. They watched Darrin go and then Martha slid her arm in Ethan's as he walked her to the house. The same one that Amelia had lived in when she owned the bank, before she left Paradise. He'd been inside it many times and now… when he saw Martha there it felt strange.
"So you looking forward to Founder's Day coming up?"
He thought of an answer as they walked.
Amelia had been at the saloon and Scarlett walked up to her from the bar.
"Hey you still got those job openings?"
Amelia looked at her and nodded.
"You want to learn how to run a vegetable garden?"
Scarlett smiled and brushed her hair back.
"I know that already," she said, "Grew up on a ranch but we grew food too."
Amelia nodded.
"Good, then you sound just perfect for this job," she said, "The hours will be better than here and you'll make more money you get to keep."
Suddenly Scarlett looked troubled.
"I…can't…do I have to give up working here?"
Amelia tilted her face.
"Well it's going to be mostly daytime work," she said, "but you don't have to work here if you want."
Scarlett shook her head.
"Oh I do…I owe Sam everything," she said, "He helped me when I had nothing. Got me a job here, a place to stay…food…"
"But he uses you…do you enjoy that?"
"No of course not…but I'll do what I need to do to survive. I don't have any money or fancy things like you do Mrs. Lawson."
"You have yourself Scarlett and that's what matters," Amelia said, "You can walk away from here."
The other woman looked indecisive. Rosie walked on over to where they were standing.
"Hey Scarlett…you got a man waiting for you."
"I'll be there in a minute…"
Rosie just gave her a look and headed back to the bar.
"I'll…I'll think about it," Scarlett said, "That's the best I can do."
"It's a good opportunity for you. It'll be much better than here."
A man walked over there looking angry followed by Sam.
"You're supposed to be waiting for me at the bar…"
Meaning Scarlett who looked at him warily but then she smiled.
"Sure thing honey," she said, "I'll be there in a moment."
He took a step towards her.
"You'll be there now."
"I said…"
He grabbed her arm and she tried to pull away. But that made him angry and he pulled harder.
"Why you…you know what the deal was…what you agreed to…"
Amelia watched the man handle Scarlett roughly and decided she didn't like it.
"Look who do you think you are pushing her around like that?"
He turned to face her, his face molded by anger.
"Who are you to stop me?"
She just looked at him.
"Let her go."
He scoffed at her, still holding onto Scarlett tightly.
"You telling me what to do little lady…?"
Amelia set her jaw.
"I guess I am…you really need to learn some manners."
He took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair.
"You need to know your place and it's sure not standing up."
Sam tried to intervene between them but Amelia took one step closer.
"You really need someone to teach you how to behave in public."
"You need some man to keep you where you belong," he said, "Now mind your own business while I'm asking nicely."
She watched him try to pull Scarlett away.
"I'm coming sugar; you don't have to be so rough."
Amelia took a breath and then pulled out her handgun. The man heard the click of the chamber. His eyes widened as he looked at the barrel aimed at him.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Amelia kept her hand steady.
"Let her go and get out of here."
Sam stepped in.
"Mrs. Lawson, he's one of my customers."
"He's not showing Scarlett respect," Amelia said, "and I'm keeping this gun on him until he does."
The man didn't look willing to do that.
"You are going to shoot me with that? I dare you."
She gripped the gun harder.
"I wouldn't do that," she said, "I might just have to shoot you."
Dakota walked up and saw what was going on, between Amelia who held a gun and the man she aimed it at…Stewart, his name was best Dakota could recall. They played poker together sometimes and Dakota usually won. Then Stewart would console himself with some female company afterward.
"Amelia, what's going on here?"
She glanced sideways at Dakota but kept her focus on the man.
"Making sure he doesn't hurt Scarlett here."
Dakota sighed.
"You know she's just working and he's her customer."
Amelia's eyes hardened.
"I know he's going to stop bothering her."
Dakota stood there wondering what to do next, thinking the peaceful times in Paradise had just ended.
Ethan walked Martha up to the front steps of the house and she turned to face him. Her fingers caressing the lapels of his coat.
"You know you can always join me for some refreshment."
He sighed.
"I got to get back to the ranch. I promised Claire I'd finish up some of the chores."
Martha pursed her lips
"Just for a little while Ethan what could it hurt?"
That's when they both heard a gunshot rip through the night.