Ethan looked up at the men who rode on horseback out of the darkness. He saw a couple of the ranchers and some burly looking men. They pulled up their horses when they reached the house.
"What's going on," Ethan asked.
Burl, one of the ranchers got off his horse and stood there.
"They had another meeting in town," he said, "This Darrin Wyatt guy's bringing in more security men from San Francisco to be reinforcements in case there's any trouble."
"I thought I made it clear to them that Dakota and I would handle it."
Burl looked downward, almost uncomfortable to say it.
"Wyatt said he doesn't believe that you two can handle the likes of Daggett and his gang by yourselves."
Ethan looked over at Dakota who just shrugged.
"What about the businessmen?"
Burl just looked at him and that answered Ethan's question.
"Axelrod's been the leader of those complaining," Burl said, "But he's not the only one."
Ethan figured as much but the last thing he wanted was a team of hired guns riding into Paradise to provide security while beholden to the man who paid them. But if Hyatt had already gotten a head start by wiring his men, then they could arrive by the end of the week.
"I'm going to have a talk with Wyatt tomorrow," Ethan said, "and tell him it won't be necessary for him to hire his own men."
Burl's brows rose.
"You sure…you can't stop him if he hires them to protect the bank."
"I can stop him if he uses his hires outside his own property boundaries."
"What if Axelrod and the others want to use them too?"
Ethan considered that and he knew it was possible that would happen since Axelrod and several others had been clamoring for a militia. He knew from past experience that when given the choice, Axelrod would rather someone else handle the dirty work rather than him.
"I'll talk to them tomorrow and tell them I'll send for more marshals if we need reinforcements."
Burl looked doubtful.
"I don't think Wyatt will like that and I know Axelrod won't."
"That's the way I do business and if the town made me marshal it's my decision."
Dakota stepped forward.
"It's been peaceful in town," he said, "No one starting trouble."
Another rancher, Drake frowned.
"There's word that the Daggett gang might be paying us a visit."
Ethan and Dakota looked at each other.
"We've been wiring the major cities to find more about them," Ethan said, "and they haven't hit any small towns."
Drake folded his arms.
"I know but that could change," he said, "Last I heard they were seen riding outside of Stockton deeper into the valleys."
Ethan had heard that too but they might be heading to a bigger city further east of them. Bigger riches out there waiting to get taken but he knew that they weren't a run of the mill gang either. They had connections to something much bigger.
He'd heard about a powerful trio of families back East that were sending out outlaws they'd hired to be their muscle fresh out of the lockup. That was how the Daggett gang got involved most likely. San Francisco and Stockton had been the cities they'd focused on in their expansion out West.
But rumors that they might drop by Paradise didn't help him do his job not if they started a panic among the businessmen. If Darrin stirred it up that might serve his agenda but could cause chaos in town.
Dakota looked over at Ethan.
"This might be what Wyatt wants," he said, "He wants Paradise to turn into an armed camp. Thinking that's going to bring in people…it might do the opposite."
Ethan agreed with that but he didn't want to get into it with a crowd of people including a couple who might take what he said back to Axelrod and the others.
"We'll talk about it tomorrow."
Burl looked over at Ethan.
"We're with you but if Daggett and his boys show up then we've got to protect ourselves."
Ethan nodded.
"I know that but Wyatt will be over his head if he tries to do it on his own."
Burl nodded and went back to get on his horse, tipping his hat and then directing the rest of the men to leave with him.
Ethan and Dakota watched them depart.
"If the ranchers sign onto Wyatt's plan then Paradise's going to see a whole lot of trouble."
Ethan sighed.
"I know but he's throwing a lot of money at greenhorns most likely and he won't know it's a mistake until it's too late."
Amelia walked up to the two of them.
"Burl sounded serious," she said, "Who said Daggett is bringing his gang here?"
Ethan looked at her.
"Do you think he's coming after Clara?"
She looked taken aback by the question, but she recovered quickly.
"I don't know…it's possible," she said, "He wasn't happy when she got away."
"Any chance he'd know where Bella and all of you were heading?"
She shook her head.
"We'd have seen some sign if that's what he did," she said, "I think the subtleties of tracking are lost on Daggett."
It seemed like it to Ethan but then you couldn't ever tell with an outlaw like that.
She rubbed her arms.
"I hope he doesn't show up here. He's not someone you want to go up against twice."
Ethan's brows arched.
"Go up against?"
She nodded slightly.
"He didn't let Clara escape willingly."
He sighed and looked at her carefully. But she didn't betray anything on her face. He knew if she did he'd find it, he knew her well enough.
Not that she seemed willing to show him anything.
"You broke her out didn't you?"
She seemed surprised that he asked her that point blank. Not his directness but the speed that he'd figured out what to ask.
"I…Bella and I…we helped her," she said, "and we had some help."
He pursed his lips.
"I see…why didn't you tell me this before?"
She shot him a hard look.
"Do I have to tell you everything?"
He saw the defensiveness in her eyes and knew he'd get himself nowhere with her unless he softened his approach.
"Okay I'm just saying that if he didn't like what you did, or believe that you took from him, he'll be back for it. Daggett seems like a man who holds a grudge and one who's got a good memory. Not a good combination Amelia."
She looked as if she guessed that herself.
"I know that but what could we do," she said, "There was no way I was going to let him keep her."
He tilted his face.
"Clara…an orphan living on the streets of San Francisco was ripe for all kinds of bad," he said, "but she needed someone in her corner and I'm glad she had you…"
"And Bella too…"
He nodded.
"But it could get dangerous if he comes calling."
She folded her arms.
"I can take care of myself," she said, "We can all take care of us."
She seemed so sure about that, so determined to do that and probably not rely on anyone else. He knew he couldn't convince her otherwise.
"We'll be fine."
He heard an edge in her voice and she looked up and saw Bella approach.
"They didn't stay for supper?"
Amelia smiled.
"Guess they were in a hurry to tend to other business."
Bella shrugged.
"We did invite people to come drop by and see us," she said, "Amelia, Claire's trying to get the boys to get ready to go home. She might need some help."
Amelia nodded.
"I'll handle it."
Ethan spoke up.
"You sure you don't need me," he said, "I am their uncle."
Bella shook her head.
"Nah Ethan needs a woman's touch," she said, "Besides we barely got a chance to talk."
They both watched as Amelia headed to the barn. Bella noticed how much Ethan watched.
"You are planning on proposing again?"
Ethan's eyes widened. Bella certainly didn't beat around the bar stool.
"She broke off the engagement not me."
Bella put one hand on a hip.
"Ah she did mention that," she said, "but she changed her life to meet you and you didn't change a thing."
Ethan felt a bit defensive from her assessment.
"Wait a minute…she didn't want me to take the marshal job."
Bella shook her head.
"Ethan I've never known you to be so thickheaded," she said, "Must be maturity catching up with you."
He sighed.
"I couldn't promise her nothing bad would happen."
Bella studied him for a moment.
"I don't think she's ever had any doubt about that," she said, "so why are you using that excuse?"
"I…I…"
Truthfully Ethan didn't know what to say next. Bella thought she'd had him all figured out because she knew him as a youngster who had just picked up the gun and found it the perfect fit.
"She's a strong woman Ethan but no woman could do what you wanted or be what you wanted," she said, "You should have bended a little."
Ethan figured that out by now. John Taylor had alluded to as much. But by then it'd been too late. Amelia had been gone.
"She's back now Ethan," Bella said, "The rest is up to you but it's going to be both easier and harder this time… because she's not the same woman."
Both looked up and saw Amelia herding Ben and George followed by a harried looking Claire towards the horses and wagon.
George didn't look too happy.
"Uncle Ethan…why do we have to leave…?"
Ethan went for the buggy.
"Because you have school tomorrow and Claire needs some rest."
His niece shook her head.
"I still have to finish my lesson plan."
Ethan knew she worked so hard day in and day out.
"I'll handle the boys when we get back," he said, "So you can study."
Amelia put her hand on Claire's shoulder.
"She's a born teacher Ethan," she said, "I thought she was a born bank teller but this is better."
Claire smiled.
"I'll bring the boys after school tomorrow to help out."
Bella smiled.
"We'll look forward to it."
Ethan and the children went to get aboard the wagon. Then he turned to look at the two women.
"Mind if I drop by too," he said, "you got some nice young horses."
Bella's eyes sparkled.
"You into horses now Ethan?"
He smiled.
"I'd like to take a look at a couple."
But he'd been looking at Amelia then. Bella shook her head at the two of them as she and Amelia headed back to the house.