Jeremy was excited. It had been a few weeks since he had been able to spend time with Candy, and today he'd carved out a little time to spend with her. He was exhausted from the non-stop work they'd been doing on the mountain, but they were on-track for completing the contract maybe even a day or two early. More money for the wedding he knew Candy wanted.

He picked up his pace in anticipation and was practically running by the time he reached the clearing where Candy was waiting. She was already sitting on "their" rock, the special place they always met to be alone. She was laying a red-checkered cloth on the large, flat part of the rock, like she was setting a table. A picnic basket loaded with food sat at her side.

Jeremy pulled up short, his breath caught in his throat. She was so beautiful, he thought. Just then, a rain of golden yellow leaves from nearby aspen trees were caught by a breeze and scattered and danced in the wind around Candy. Jeremy watched, mesmerized, as she turned her head skyward and reached her hands up to catch some of the leaves as they fell. Her face was beaming, and Jeremy thought he was the luckiest man in the world to be loved by such a woman.

Candy finally caught a glimpse of Jeremy out of the corner of her eye. She quickly leaped off the rock and ran into his now outstretched arms. Jeremy held Candy like his life depended on it, because, in a way, it did. She completed him. She knew all his weaknesses and gave him strength. She knew all his secrets and held them in her heart. Her touch could make his body feel like it was both burning and blissful at the same time. He'd had to wait so long to make her his wife, but in this moment, Jeremy knew without a doubt that it was worth every second.

They settled on the rock, sitting close together, while they ate the fried chicken lunch Candy had brought. Jeremy told Candy about how hard they were working on the mountain, and Candy updated Jeremy on what was going on in town.

"I heard people were not accepting Harry very well. Aaron shouldn't be spreading rumors, even if he thinks he's trying to protect the town", Jeremy commented.

"Jeremy, they weren't rumors. Harry acknowledged that what Aaron was saying about him was true. He said that's why his old "Wanted" posters said "Dead or Alive". How are people supposed to trust a man like that?"

"Candy, people can change. I told you how he helped Lottie and me... And the Reverend's family... And all the people he helped save during the cholera epidemic! Why can't people accept that someone can change... Can turn their life around? Candy, honey, I would bet my life on Harry!"

Candy could see how upset Jeremy was getting, so she quickly changed the subject and put her hand gently on Jeremy's leg to try to calm him a little.

"I was wondering when we'll be able to start planning our wedding, Jeremy. I know you've been very busy, but we need to start making some decisions."

Jeremy drew a deep breath in and let it out in almost a groan. "Candy, I know. I TOLD you we'll have time to make all the plans you want after we finish with this contract."

Candy didn't like his tone of voice. "That's what you said the LAST time! I'm beginning to think you don't really want to marry me!"

"Candy, don't be ridiculous! Why do you think I've been working myself to death for so long? I want to give you EVERYTHING! I want our special day to be PERFECT!"

"Jeremy, I don't need PERFECT! I just need YOU!"

This was NOT the way Jeremy had expected their special lunch to go. Candy was near tears, and Jeremy was so exhausted that his emotions were raw.

"I can't do this," Jeremy said in frustration. He began to turn around to head back to the mountain, when gunshots rang out from the direction of the town square.

Adrenaline was flowing through them both from their heated discussion, as both set out at a dead run towards town. When they made it to the town square, they were met with a chaotic scene. There were two men they'd never seen before, brandishing pistols. One was leaving Ben's mercantile and one was leaving Lottie's saloon. Lottie appeared at the door of the saloon, looking frightened. Candy called out to her and started to run toward Lottie to help.

It all happened in a split second. The man who had left Lottie's fired at the same time the other man drew his own pistol and fired several rounds. Jeremy lunged forward to grab Candy as both men aimed in Candy's direction. More gunfire sounded from behind Jeremy, as Jason, Joshua, and Aaron appeared in the square and fired their rifles at the gunmen.

As the smoke from the weapons dissipated, Jeremy saw Candy lying on the ground, blood beginning to ooze down her left temple. Jeremy ran to her side, panic rising in his throat. As he reached her side, Candy moaned softly and blinked her eyes to clear her head. Then she saw the fear in his eyes.

"Jeremy? I'm alright... I'm alright. It's just a scratch." Jason and Joshua had rushed to Candy's side as well and helped her to her feet. She swayed slightly, but took a deep breath and instantly felt better. She paused for a moment and looked at Jeremy. Her eyes grew large with fear as she saw a bright red blood stain on his plaid shirt, slowly growing larger as she stared.

"Jeremy?"

Jeremy saw Candy staring at him, shock registering on her face. He then saw the same look of horror on the faces of his brothers. His side began to have a burning feeling, and he felt a sticky liquid seeping down his side. As he looked down at his waist, he saw what they'd been staring at. He looked up at Candy and his brothers and tried to say something, but no words came out of his mouth. His vision seemed to mist over. The burning in his side turned into a searing pain, but his legs seemed to turn into jelly. As he slowly crumpled to the ground, the last thing he was aware of was Candy screaming his name in an otherworldly way.