Amelia had no idea why she'd agreed to go to the ladies' auxiliary meeting as she'd not attended one since quite a while before she left Paradise. But she wanted to do something that felt normal after what had happened with Ethan by the lake. Opening up to him or well anyone had been very difficult…something she had thought would be impossible to do. She just didn't share that much with anyone.

She'd known more about Ethan than he'd known about her. One time they'd been out camping while looking for the children who'd taken off and he'd seemed surprised when she told him she had come from Australia. He thought it'd been England but others had made the same mistake associating her accent with that other country. Then of course after that he'd not been content with wrapping his arms around her for body warmth. She smiled as she remembered that conversation even the part where she'd said no to him It had been awkward but had felt right to her and he'd respected that and snuggled up against her when it got chilly.

After dinner, he'd gone to meet up with Dakota to do more and she'd gone to the back of the saloon where Mary waited with Scarlet who had joined up and Matilda. Mary greeted her warmly and said they were planning the Founder's Day picnic. Amelia had been involved in the organization of that celebration before during years when it had been a huge undertaking and others when it had been barely noticed. It all depended on whether or not the town was booming or busting.

"I'm going to do the menu," Mary started," and Scarlett and Rosie are going to help with cooking as well as decorations. Matilda can handle the entertainment…"

"That just leaves the role of coordinator…," Matilda said, looking at Amelia.

She had been about to protest saying that she wanted to help in a supportive role not run the whole thing. But the women just looked at her expectantly.

Then suddenly in walked Martha who smiled at all the women.

"Am I late?"

Mary got up and shook her head.

"Oh no, no you're just on time," she said, "We're just talking about the who'll be leading the Founder's Day planning."

Martha smiled wider.

"I will of course. I have a wealth of experience at this and my father and I are investing most of the money in it…and we'll have extra security of course."

Mary's smile wavered slightly.

"Of course…will that be okay with you Amelia?"

Amelia actually felt relieved that someone had taken over that job.

"Yes…I'm busy with the ranch so I'll just have time to help out in an area or two."

Martha nodded.

"Oh we'll find some things for you to do," she said, "In fact you can be my assistant."

Amelia didn't feel too thrilled about that. After all, Martha had been trying to make life difficult for Bella and the other women on the ranch.

"I don't have a lot of time like I said…"

"It won't take all that much," Martha said, "Most of the arrangements have already been made and I'm sure you'll be able to handle some small jobs."

Amelia looked over at Mary and nodded. Martha looked enthusiastic.

"All right…I'll make a note of that and we can start with a planning session in the morning."

"It'll have to be closer to afternoon," Amelia said, "We round up the horses in the morning."

Martha sniffed.

"Of course…early afternoon will be fine," she said, "Speaking of the ranch, I heard that Bella kicked that reporter Ernie Buckley off her property."

Amelia felt unease through her. She figured that Bella's actions would have spread through the town's grapevine eventually but not this fast.

"You were there weren't you," Martha continued, "He went out there to interview you didn't he?"

Amelia nodded.

"Just about Bella," she said, "But I haven't known her as long as the others."

Martha sighed.

"I heard about the young man that was murdered in San Francisco," she said, "Warrick, a shame really. Wrong place at the wrong time…that's how Ernie described it."

Amelia knew that Martha was going someplace with her questions but she didn't want to go there. She just wanted to forget about it. She still felt raw from what she'd shared with Ethan earlier.

"Amelia you were in the city during that time weren't you?"

She just looked at Martha knowing she was up to something. But she wasn't biting.

"Look we should probably stop talking about idle gossip and focus on the Founder's Day picnic…"

She looked at Mary who nodded. Martha stopped with the questions but Amelia knew this wouldn't be the end of it.

Ethan and Dakota were riding back on the north road back into town. They'd been riding out guided by the moonlight looking for any signs that the thieves or vandals might be heading into town to commit more mischief.

"I'm telling you Ethan…there's got to be some planning if it's Darrin's people doing it."

Ethan reined in his horse a bit.

"We can't prove it," he said, "I just know it's true. I think they're going to strike again…at least once before the celebration."

"Founder's Day," Dakota said, "Didn't the town forget to celebrate that the past two years?"

Ethan frowned.

"Town didn't forget…it just hit hard times and no one felt like celebrating, that's all."

"The town's still struggling since the copper mine shut down," Dakota said, "even with all this money being dropped by the Wyatts."

"They're going to make a lot of money. Axelrod and Amos have to pay more money to the security men every time something turns up missing…or gets damaged during the night."'

"You see the latest two that rode into town?"

Ethan shook his head.

"One of them was at Axelrod's earlier…don't know where he is now and the other was at the saloon. I haven't met either one of them…though I did see Burke at the meeting with Darrin."

Dakota sighed as they saw the street ahead of them, the lights shimmering in the darkness. It seemed quiet with most of the businesses closed.

"So you and Amelia had a nice dinner together?"

Ethan didn't respond to that because it'd been nice to eat out with her as they used to including before they got together. He wanted so much to go back to what they shared before…she left town but he knew that he couldn't push her on this…or she'd pull away from him.

"Yes we did…she's with Mary and the others planning Founder's Day and that's one meeting I'm happy to miss."

"Like I said, it seems to be an on and off again deal with Paradise…but it sounds like they'll be pulling out all the stops this year."

Ethan knew that the Wyatts would do their best but then Ethan figured there was more to that than they let on.

"That reporter kept coming by the office," Dakota said, "Ernie…something…I think he wants to talk to you."

Ethan frowned.

"I talked to him already as much as I'm going to," he said, "the man's trying to make trouble to make a name for himself."

"He had a couple of the merchants like Axelrod and Perry the shoemaker riled up with his questions about Bella," Dakota said, "We're not careful he might get them riled up again to form some sort of militia."

Ethan knew that was the least of it. He'd been close to coming to blows with the obnoxious man himself after he'd gone after Amelia like that.

They saw a man up ahead looking into the window of the mail and telegraph office. Ethan rode over there and got off his horse. The man was looking inside intently. When Ethan approached him, he turned around and stared at him.

"What are you doing here," Ethan asked.

The man shrugged.

"Thought I heard something, just checking it out…I work security down the street."

Burke, Ethan realized and he didn't look very friendly.

"We've been having a rash of crimes against businesses here."

Burke nodded.

"I know and my clients are worried about that," he said, "They have concerns that the local marshal's not enough."

"The local marshal can handle it just fine," Ethan said, "I have a deputy and can draft others to help if necessary."

Burke just shook his head.

"Come on, you know that you need us," he said, "Especially with a big event coming up."

Ethan sighed.

"If it were up to me, you wouldn't be here," he said, "I don't know anything about you or your backgrounds."

Burke smiled.

"I came in from San Francisco," he said, "but I've worked all over the state once I rode out from Colorado. I'm very good at my job and when Mr. Wyatt hired me I was more than willing to do whatever he wanted."

"I'm sure you will…but I and my deputy here Dakota are going to keep an eye on you and the rest of them. In case Mr. Wyatt hired himself a bunch of outlaws."

Burke didn't look offended and chuckled.

"You don't trust anyone who's new or is that just me?"

Ethan looked at the cocky man and realized that no, he didn't trust this man any more than he did the rest of them. He knew that they were up to something, they and Wyatt and he'd find out what.

Burke tipped his hat.

"I'd best be going," he said, "about ready to turn in for another big day tomorrow. I have to say that most of the people in Paradise have been accommodating and friendly."

Ethan remained unmoved.

"Just keep in mind what I said."

"Will do…goodnight."

Ethan and Dakota watched the man leave towards a boarding house that Wyatt had opened up not long after arriving, saying that one hotel wasn't enough for a booming town.

Amelia left the meeting to get her horse and she looked up and saw Ethan approach on horseback.

"You done with your meeting…?"

She nodded.

"How'd it go? They put you in charge of it?"

She smiled.

"Mary tried but then Martha came in and well, she's got all the experience."

"So do you."

She untied the reins of her mare and climbed aboard.

"I don't have a lot of time," she said, "with the ranch and everything. I just wanted to help out. But Martha, she's got a lot of ideas for a big celebration, the biggest Paradise has ever seen."

They rode together down the street heading back to Bella's ranch.

"She and her father have a lot of ideas."

Amelia grimaced.

"I don't think it's what's right for our town," she said, "Paradise isn't a city and it's never going to be one."

"Some people think otherwise but you're right."

They rode down the dark road with quietness all around them. She remembered how she used to ride through this area at night.

The ranch was quiet when she arrived though she saw that someone was up in the main house probably Bella. Ethan and she rode up to the barn next to it. She got off of her horse and so did he.

"Thanks for the dinner and the ride back…though I could have handled that by myself."

"It's on my way and with the crime wave in town…"

She smiled knowing he was just concerned about her. But after she'd told him something that she'd kept secret she just didn't know how to feel about that. She didn't customarily do that with anyone even him.

"How about tomorrow…?"

She just looked at him.

"I've got a full day on the ranch and Rosie and Scarlet are cooking up a big meal…too much for just us…so if you want to bring the children and come for supper that'd be nice."

He walked towards her and she stood there waiting for him. He slid his arms around her as she knew he would and pulled her closer. When the kiss came, it was gentle and yet it made her feel warm all over. When he broke, he brushed some strands of hair back looking at her.

"We'll be there…"

She nodded and he got back on his horse and rode off. She headed towards the main house, her feelings all over the place because she knew she wanted what he did…but she felt herself resist it too. It was hard even with him to not remember…and those feelings were hard to push back. She'd just have to sort it all out somehow because she wanted her life back…all of it. The man who'd just ridden away from her most of all.