Ethan went to the telegraph office to send out some more wires on the gangs that controlled San Francisco and hoped to get some useful information back. He'd run into Martha and she'd insisted on coming with him because if there were dangerous gangs waiting to prey on what they had built in Paradise, they needed to know about them.

He hadn't been thrilled about that but he had too much else on his mind. Claire had told him that Ben would need to spend more time on his lessons after school. Ben didn't like it and Ethan had to sit him down and explain to him how much he wished he'd been able to do some schooling at his age. Ethan hated not being able to read better. He hadn't missed it most of his life but when the children came to town, he realized what was lacking. One of them the ability to read contracts without Claire's help, and he wanted to be able to read stories to the boys before they fell asleep as she did…not that he didn't practice. But he'd waited too long to learn how to read and it had cost him.

Claire said he'd done much better and he'd gotten to the point where he'd started enjoying it.

"So what will the wires say?"

Ethan didn't tell her much. He preferred to keep most of what he learned and everything that Amelia and Clara had told him close to his chest. Because he didn't want the vigilante talk to start again…not that it had ever completely calmed down.

"Just general information on what's going on in the big cities," he said, "So we know what to look for her."

Martha sighed.

"We've already got trouble here just like my father said and if more bad characters show up, it'll be because of her."

"Martha, one's got nothing to do with the other."

That wasn't the complete truth, not if the gang who had bought Clara had really missed her. Then they might be out looking for her and if Bella had let anyone know she were here. It might not even take that much since Bella's moving to Paradise had attracted attention from the newspapers and if they wrote about it…the gang might read about it and wonder if Clara had gone to Paradise as well.

Ethan knew that he'd be ready to face whoever showed up to cause trouble. But it'd help to have more than one deputy to help him so he had to be ready to wire for more marshals if trouble broke out.

"It will if some gang with a grudge against Bella and there must be many of them out there comes to settle a score."

He sighed.

"I face that same risk every time I leave my home," he said, "Being an ex-gunfighter."

She sniffed.

"Oh Ethan that's different…you were never a criminal."

Not exactly the truth either but more recently he'd been a fugitive. He knew that Bella realized what could happen to her if her past came looking but she wanted to put as much of that behind her and he respected her for that.

Amelia seemed dead set on helping her and making sure that nothing happened to Clara. She'd be bringing the girl later on to try to remember what the men had looked like. Maybe he'd have her look at some of the "wanted" posters too.

"I lived through some hard times," Ethan said, "Did things I'm not proud of to stay alive. There's that side of it."

"I do understand that Ethan," Martha said, "but your past coming back isn't the same as hers."

Ethan didn't feel so sure about that but Martha would never understand that, coming from wealth earned by the family that raised her.

Then Amelia walked in followed by Clara. Martha just looked at them critically.

"What are you doing here?"

Amelia shot her a noncommittal look.

"We're here to wire the bank before we go to meet Ethan at his office to discuss a matter."

Martha's brows arched.

"What matter?"

"That's really not your business Miss Wyatt," Amelia said, "Ethan, this won't take long."

"It's okay…sending a few of those wires we discussed myself," he said, "See what kind of response we get."

Martha looked intrigued.

"Oh and what would that be about?"

Ethan looked at her.

"It's just business and there's nothing to discuss," he said, "Nothing to concern yourself about."

She shook her head.

"Ethan, now that's when I know to worry," she said, "What has Bella done now?"

Amelia narrowed her eyes.

"Bella hasn't done anything," she said, "If you're going to settle and do business in Paradise, you've got to remember that sometimes things get a little rough."

Martha snorted.

"Oh I know that…but all that's going to change when we get more businesses…more upscale businesses in this town."

Amelia had heard that before and she looked over at Ethan.

"Good luck with her," she said, "Clara and I will meet you in your office."

"I'm finished here," Ethan said, "Let's head on over."

So the four of them left and headed to the office after Martha insisted she wanted to talk to him about what he planned to do to protect the businesses. Ethan didn't plan to do much differently except have Dakota and himself keep an eye out.

"What about Founder's Day? I was hoping to attract a larger crowd to spend their money here."

"Martha, that hasn't happened in years," Ethan said, "It's a celebration for those who live here."

Amelia didn't want to add the year that it almost had been marked by a shootout at what had been her bank after the father of a bank robber swore revenge on the person who killed him which had been Amelia. She'd hoped that the town would help her but all they wanted was to pull their money out of the bank, fearing that it'd go out of business if she got killed.

If it hadn't been for Ethan and the marshal serving back then…she probably wouldn't be here right now.

"I know but I think that we can turn it into something much grander…"

Amelia chuckled.

"We tried that more than once," she said, "but learned not to try to change it…it's no more easier than changing this town."

Martha just frowned at her.

"We'll talk about it at dinner tonight."

Amelia half heard that as she watched Clara walk up and look at different store fronts on the way to the Marshal's office.

"Martha…I'm going to be busy," Ethan said, "Dakota and I will be riding to check on the ranches…there's been some signs of rustling activity."

Martha waved her hand.

"Oh that…that always happens," she said, "Surely you can take a little time off to discuss the next stage of our business plan."

Amelia arched her brows at this news. Who did this lady think she was kidding? But she had to pay attention because she knew that part of that plan might be putting more pressure on Bella and the rest of them to leave Paradise.

"Look I can't Martha," he said, "I got work to do and then I'm heading back home to the children. I've been late coming home to them all week leaving Claire to do most of the work."

Amelia bit back a smile.

"What is it between the two of you," she said, "I didn't know you were that serious. Not that I'm not happy for the both of you."

Ethan and Martha just looked at each other.

"We're seeing each other for the past two months," she said, "but he's busy with his marshaling."

"Better get used to that," Amelia said, "because he won't give it up."

"Amelia…"

She looked at him smiling.

"I don't think you should, I was wrong about that…but maybe this time you can make time for the woman who's going to have to share you with that lifestyle."

He furrowed his brows slightly and she knew it hit home. She hadn't meant to make him feel uncomfortable but she'd learned a few things since she'd been away.

"I'll keep that in mind Amelia," Martha said, "but I'm pretty busy myself working with my father and all the business owners."

Amelia digested that and remembered when she'd been caught up in all that too while protesting that she hated the town and couldn't leave it.

"What about you Amelia," Martha asked, "surely you can't be content to work on a ranch day in and day out doing such drudgery."

"Why not…when I was younger I practically lived on the outback…"

"Outback…?"

"Yes back in Australia…before I came here and if I can handle the Outback, I can handle Paradise."

Martha nodded.

"But you didn't handle Ethan well did you," she said, "But then of course he needs a stronger woman."

Amelia blinked not believing what she heard and Ethan blinked too. He coughed.

"Martha…what are you talking about here? What Amelia and I shared is none of your business."

Amelia smiled.

"No Ethan…let me answer this one," she said, "I care about him an awful lot…that hasn't changed and all I want for him is to be happy and if that's with someone like you…then I'm happy for him."

Ethan looked over at her.

"So you don't want him back?"

Amelia paused.

"What we shared is in the past. I understand that and like I told you, I want him to be happy."

"Just so we have an understanding…"

"You have your understanding," Amelia said, "I guess we're here and we can get started."

She went to fetch Clara who stood in front of the mercantile talking to Claire who had dropped by to tell Axelrod she'd be cutting her hours back from his store. She'd be starting her part-time job with Bella helping her with the financial ledgers later that day.

Amelia and Clara walked up to Ethan as he stood in front of the office.

"I guess we're ready to get started…."

But when they walked into the office, Clara walked over to the "wanted" posters and recognized one of them right away. Amelia felt the chill go through her and she looked up at Ethan.

"Is that Dylan Daggatt…?"