It was a little bit later in the morning before Harry and Lottie finally started out on their walk. Dishes and glasses from the previous night had to be washed and ready for today's business day. Harry had helped Lottie with that chore and found the mundane chore rather pleasant when performed with a companion. Little did he know, Lottie was thinking the same thing.

They left through the back door after the chores were finished. There was still a bit of a chill in the air, so Lottie grabbed her shawl from its peg and wrapped it around her shoulders. Harry unconsciously reached out to adjust the shawl on her shoulder to get it to lay right. The natural gesture made Lottie realize how long it had been since she experienced anything like this.

They began their walk in quiet, not touching each other, except for the occasional light brush of Lottie's gown against Harry. Neither felt the need for conversation at that moment. Both seemed lost in the ease of quiet companionship.

After walking for a while, they came upon a clearing that had a large rock, a few stumps, and a couple of fallen logs that made a perfect area to rest. Lottie sat down on one of the stumps, and Harry followed suit and sat on one of the others.

Harry closed his eyes and inhaled slowly and deeply. "Pacific. Just as I remembered it." He opened his eyes and smiled at Lottie. "I can't tell you how many times I imagined this while I was in prison."

"I'm sorry, Harry."

"Don't be sorry, Carlotta. I deserved it. I've done some things in my life that I'm not proud of. I deserved to go to prison. What I don't deserve is all THIS." Harry motioned with his hands at their surroundings.

"Harry, sometimes we're given a second chance in life. This is yours. You're free now because you made a change in your life, and that change in YOUR life led to the saving of many OTHER lives. And now you can do anything you want."

"And therein lies the problem, my dear woman. I have no idea what to do now."

Lottie paused a moment before speaking. "Harry, why did you come to Seattle? Of all the places you could have gone, why here?"

"This." Harry stretched his arms out again, looking at all the beauty surrounding them. He slowly lowered his arms and gazed at his hands, now clasped in his lap. "But if I'm being honest, I came here because of you, Carlotta. I've never had a place that I could ever call home. No family left. And although our time together was brief and needless to say problematic, it was also sweet and made me realize how much I was missing in life. For the first time in my life, I felt like I'd met a kindred spirit."

Lottie smiled warmly at Harry, but her smile soon faded.

"Harry, I'm glad you're here. I truly am. But I don't have a very good track record where men are concerned. First Jack, then Matthew. Even Clancey. And there were others. I don't want to get my heart broken again, Harry. Not again." Lottie's voice dropped to a whisper at the end.

"I'm beginning to think it was a mistake to come here". Harry was fully sensing Lottie's insecurities and fears.

"No. No, Harry. I just need some time."

"My dearest Carlotta, I will give you all the time in the world. But just remember, as you once told me, the days grow longer, but the years grow shorter." He rose from his tree stump seat and extended his hand to Lottie to help her up. Lottie gratefully took his hand. Her bones hurt, and it felt good to have someone help her up.

Harry saw that Lottie was in some pain and tucked her arm in his to give her some extra support on the walk back to the saloon. They took the shorter route back and reached the town square in short order. But the mood of the town seemed different. As they made their way to Lottie's, people were staring at Harry, but turned away when he looked their way. What had changed since they left earlier? As they passed Aaron Stempel's office, they saw him grin at Harry. It was then that they realized Aaron had probably spread rumors about Harry. He didn't want Harry there, and he was making sure no one else would welcome Harry to Seattle.

Harry nodded to himself. He had half-expected this, but he was disappointed. He looked down at Lottie with sorrow in his eyes. "My dear, we only get the second chances that people give us, and I'm not sure the good people of Seattle are ready to give me a second chance." Lottie gripped his arm a little tighter as they made the rest of their way to the saloon with downcast eyes.