Martha just looked at Ethan. She'd tried to sidle up to him to get him to see her point of view. That she and her father were only looking out for Paradise by making it prosperous.

"Can't you see that," she said, "We were on the same page once."

Ethan looked at her from across the table at the restaurant which had gotten quiet after the mid-day rush cleared out. She'd asked him to join her and he'd agreed. He had his own questions and if her father wouldn't make himself available for answers, he'd go through the daughter. He had his own suspicions growing about Burke and his time in San Francisco.

"That's before I knew he was hiring outlaws for muscle that were going around hurting people."

She narrowed her eyes.

"That man in jail…he was no saint Ethan. Maybe he'd come here to cause trouble."

Ethan sighed.

"I'm not just talking about him. I'm talking about Amelia."

Martha looked displeased.

"Oh her again…Ethan the woman hangs around with known career outlaws. Bella Rogers, she's as bad as they came…killed people I heard."

"That's not true," he said, "She took some lives in self-defense when she was younger."

Ethan knew what that had been like as he'd done the same just to stop himself from being abused in ways only one person still alive knew about because he'd trusted her enough for the words to come pouring out of him. Haltingly at first and then like a dam bursting inside of him.

And she'd caressed his cheek afterward looking at him with those damn pretty eyes that looked past his rough edges he'd developed to survive a horrific childhood. But what she'd been through some months ago, he knew it was her own nightmare.

"Well anyway, you can't reform an outlaw and it's all for show," Martha said, "My father doesn't trust her and neither do I."

"I knew her before either of you did and she's moving on from her past. She deserves that chance. But this isn't about her, this is about Amelia and whether or not she'd crossed paths with your father's hired men."

Ethan hadn't pushed Amelia on that and didn't have plans to do so. She'd put up her own walls and he respected that. But that didn't mean the Wyatts were off the hook if his suspicions proved to be correct.

"So what if she did? She saw a man get murdered or so she says," Martha said, "It had to do with Dylan Daggett. He'll be hung one of these days when the law catches up."

"It's not him. He's got an alibi and it's not his style without owing up to it or leaving a trail. An outlaw like him thrives on his rep…no whoever killed Warrick left nothing behind."

She shook her head.

"Ethan…why do we have to focus on such ugliness with Founder's Day coming up? Amelia herself is on a committee working on it."

He didn't want to get into how the beautiful spirited woman he loves had closed off a huge part of herself from anyone…even him. What they've shared was too special to even articulate since spinning words wasn't his strong suit.

"I'm going to be on Burke and Trevor like a fly on…bull manure. Your father knows that since he's avoiding me so you best go back and deliver that message."

She put on a hurt look.

"Oh Ethan I thought this might mean there's still hope for us."

He shook his head.

"No…I'm already spoken for…"

She harrumphed.

"Amelia…does she even act remotely interested in you? She's living with a bunch of women…all of them unseemly."

"They're all looking for fresh starts, that's all. Been there myself so I understand that and Amelia's always going to have that part of me no matter what."

How could he explain that though he'd caroused with women during his time, mostly because it was expected from a gunfighter and to relieve stress…but once that woman had grabbed his heart then that was just it. John Taylor had told him that afternoon at her abandoned house that she'd be back and he didn't believe him as he should have done. His close friend had never been wrong about anything, period from where the next gunfight would take place to how to search deep inside a person's own soul.

"Well if that's what you want…but when you see reason…when she can't give you what you want…I might still be there."

Ethan shook his head slowly.

"Thanks but I won't be looking…"

Then he got up and walked away from her.

Clara loved taking care of the pups but when it came time to give them away, she grew sad, picking them up and holding them close to her while they wiggled in her embrace. Amelia watched her knowing that Ethan would be coming with the boys to pick up their pick of the litter. The pup had grown up to be the biggest, the leader of his siblings. He'd make a good watch dog back at the ranch over the cattle.

She knew Ethan would appreciate any help he could get even canine to do the ranching which didn't suit him much.

"You've done very well with them Clara," she said, "I know it's hard saying goodbye but they'll be fine."

Clara bit her lip.

"I know…but they're like…like my own," she said, "I don't know how to explain it better than that."

Amelia smiled.

"That's good enough."

She knew Clara hadn't had much of a family in her life…until now.

"I really like it here living on the ranch."

"Me too…reminds me of when I was growing up back home."

Clara nodded slowly.

"Back in…Australia right? That's why you sound funny."

Amelia had to smile at that.

"Yes…I came here when I was younger…not long after my parents sent my older brother…Royal."

"Where is he? Do you visit him?"

Amelia paused.

"No…I don't even know if he's still alive," she said, "Maybe someday…I can find him. He's the only family I really have left."

"Was it hard…hard to leave your family?"

Amelia nodded remembering those early weeks on the boat that traveled across an endless ocean, her first months at her new home living with her sponsors who'd wanted her as free labor. That's why at the age of 15 she's fallen so hard for Pierce. He'd been handsome, dashing and so different from anyone she knew…but to be honest she'd been looking for an escape from her life. He'd been that and more…but he'd brought heartache too.

If it hadn't been for Ethan….but when it came to heartache…no she shouldn't think about him. What it was like to love someone so fiercely and yet be unable to express it.

"I met some very nice people in my travels and here…and meeting Bella changed my life."

Clara knew how…she'd been the first one to find her after what had happened.

"Do you worry about those men…you know…"

Oh Amelia did and she didn't know how to answer that question. Even to Ethan because of what he might do if he found out.

"I can't let them scare me Clara or I couldn't live."

Clara digested that and Amelia knew the girl had her own fears to try to conquer every day she lived. They shared that burden together. That's what had brought all the women together. She wanted to bridge that gap with Ethan, really she did but she didn't know how.