Joshua was busy chopping firewood; she came out and told him that the stove needed fixing and that he should get to it as soon as possible. She went to him with the promise of a kiss and a little extra for later in the afternoon. Then she went to visit some friends near town. Joshua was so used to staying where he was, he did not even think of leaving. He was afraid to leave, because he felt guilty and because she had already shown him what happens when he makes a decision on his own. He remembered that horrid night. He had gone over to see the neighbors not realizing that he wasn't allowed to leave the premises. She did not say anything but let him think he could leave. Her way of disciplining him would be that someone would loose their life. When he sat at the neighbors, he felt more like himself and relaxed. But she came in and right away all hell broke loose! She had a gun and shot the man in the leg. Then told the woman that if Joshua ever came back to visit without her permission, she would kill the baby that was in the cradle. Joshua was shocked and could not move. He wanted to do something right then and there but for some reason, he was unable to say or do anything. She held the gun, and he knew that he would not be able to get to her before she shot the child. So, he just stood up and walked out the door. But he was surprised. There outside were two men, her father, and her brother. They had guns as well. He would have been shot if he had tried to run. So, he resigned himself to staying with her and not causing anymore harm to anyone. In fact, when they got home that night, she made it clear that her father and brother would always be nearby if he decided to leave. He also found out that she had been married before but the man she had been married to had been shot, by her because he wanted to leave her. Joshua was between a rock and a hard place and did not know what to do. They had not really had any intimacy in the past 6 months, she had never gotten pregnant but still Joshua was physically and emotionally not able to leave her. He thought about leaving, but realized that if he did, if he did make it, he would never be able to go back to Seattle, for fear that his brothers and other family members would be killed.

She arrived back at the cabin; he had fixed the stove and was just finishing setting up the logs when she arrived. She smiled at him and patted him like a little dog and thanked him. She then let him kiss her and hold her. The feeling was so good. She could be warm and delightful when she wanted to be. She then went to the bedroom and took her hat and coat off and changed her clothes. Joshua stood there for a moment and wondered why he smelled some kind of 'perfume' on her? What was going on? Jealousy could happen on both sides in a relationship!

"So, did it go well with your friends?" Joshua asked, wondering if he was out of place when he asked her.

"Oh, everything is fine. You know dear Joshua, I do believe we will be rich by the end of the week, and then we can leave this little town and go on a trip to Europe!" she said as she went over and kissed him again.

"It will be like the honeymoon we did not have!" Said Joshua innocently. She just smiled at him and went to pour herself a drink of whiskey. She kept whiskey in a cabinet but would not let him drink it. She did allow him a beer or two but that was all. She sat on the settee and then placed her hand on the seat next to her. She was going to give him his reward for staying home and doing his chores.

The little town in Montana was not very big, but it did have a train station. Candy, Jeremy, Jason, and the children got off the train. They wanted to find a hotel. The only hotel was two houses down. They went and got a couple of rooms. The clerk said there were no baths, but there was a bathhouse down the road, mostly for the men who came off of the cattle drives. Candy declined and cleaned the children as best as she could along with herself. Jason and Jeremy decided to go and clean up a little better. When they returned, Candy had spoken to the clerk about Joshua and asked where they might find his place. The clerk had given her a funny look and said no one wanted to be with them, they had a claim about two miles out of town and the last family who had been seen with them had disappeared a day or two later never to be seen again!
"Well, I think we need to find out more about her and what happened. This sounds like Joshua may be in more trouble than we thought?" Jason said.
"I am not sure if it is safe for you and the children Candy. I was asking a few questions myself and one man told me that the lady we are talking about has killed a couple of men, one was her previous husband. He said the one she has now, may not be alive much longer. He called her the 'Black Widow' She marries these men and then they suddenly die!" Jeremy said. Jason looked at Jeremy and then he said:

"Candy, I think that you and the children need to stay here. Jeremy and I will go and check on Joshua! But first I am going to talk to the sheriff about this!" Jason said as he walked out the door.

"Jason, Jason!" said Candy and Jeremy together. Jason stopped and looked at them questioningly.

"This place does not have a sheriff let alone a law man!" Jason heaved a sigh. He had to think. He was very worried about Joshua.

Candy said to them: "Jason, why don't you go to the next town to speak to the sheriff and Jeremy, and I will go pay a visit. It will be less threatening with me and the children and Jeremy. You can get the sheriff here faster then either of us could!" Jason looked at her, looked at Jeremy who said:
"You know that might be a good idea, I can protect Candy and the kids all we need to do is visit for a little while…," said Jeremy.

Jason thought about it and then said:

"Okay, but the first sign of trouble gets, Candy and the kids out. I have heard some pretty bad things that I don't want to say in front of Candy!"

So, Candy and Jeremy rented a wagon and took the children out to visit their uncle Joshua.