A/N: Thanks so much for everyone who's left a review. Some bug happened to my account here on ffnet and I can no longer see how many people have been reading my stories. So, unless you guys write to me, I won't be able to tell if there's someone actually reading my work. I count on you again to leave reviews and tell me what you think of this story.


Chapter 12 – The Summers boys

I spent the following Sunday by Ororo's side certifying that she drank and ate enough so she'd recover more rapidly. Seeing that independent, strong woman laying on a bed made me reflect on how fragile the human life was, especially in the West. Every time her feverish moans filled the room, I couldn't help but think that my new family and friends would be better off without me. Yet, Logan had been right the night before: the best thing I could do for them now was to keep my cover as Laura Howlett and not get caught.

First and foremost, I couldn't risk making the sheriff suspicious; thus, on Monday morning, I punctually knocked on his door even though I hadn't slept for more than two hours on the previous night.

Nathan opened the door for me. Before I had the chance to step inside, he hugged me tightly by the waist.

"I'm so happy you came, Miss Howlett."

To say that his reaction surprised me would be an understatement. It's not that I didn't like the boy – by that point, I already adored him. But I simply hadn't expected to be treated so affectionately. I wasn't family.

"Of course, I came, sweetie. It's Monday. What did you expect?" I replied, hugging him back.

Sheriff Summers was watching us from the living room with a cup of tea in his hand. When our eyes met, I raised my eyebrows as to silently ask him what that tender greeting had been about.

"Son, would you please wait for Miss Howlett in the dining room? I need to have a word with her."

The boy acquiesced and left. Summers sat on his usual armchair and motioned for me to sit on the couch. Then he offered me some tea, which I accepted because I needed to calm down since a thousand different thoughts were crossing my mind at that moment. Had the sheriff found out that I wasn't really a teacher and decided to fire me? That would explain Nathan's reaction. Or worse, had he discovered my true identity? Was he going to arrest me and hand me to Lehnsherr and Jason, or was he going to hang me himself? I tried to not tremble as I sipped my beverage and waited for him to begin.

"I took Lorna to Saint Mary's Convent yesterday. She will be staying with Sister McTaggert until she's feeling better and acting normally again. I can't have her arriving home inebriated every Friday evening."

"Oh." I hadn't anticipated that. I almost exhaled in relief.

"Nathan's devasted – understandably. First, his mother and uncle run away; now, his auntie has to leave for a while. I guess he sees you, his tutor, as the next closest person to him."

"I'm flattered," I said because I truly was, "but I'm certain it's you who occupies the very top of his loved-ones list, Sheriff."

The man grinned proudly. "I suppose so. But Nate knows I'll never abandon him. He can't be sure about the others, though."

I realized Summers was using the boy's spontaneity to test my reliability. What a charming, clever fella! But I happened to have been married to Jason Wyngarde for five years – I had learnt how to play games from a mastermind.

"Well, I don't intend to leave either," I replied, looking down at my intertwined hands and pouting innocently before continuing, "Unless, of course, you boys don't want me anymore."

Summers seemed surprised by my response, perhaps even a little embarrassed. Moving closer, he touched my hands with his and said, "That's a thought that doesn't even occur to me, Laura."

There he was, touching me and calling me by my first name again. For some reason, the intimacy of the gesture scared me. It made me remember that I was flirting with the man whose job was to arrest me. I knew it was unwise to encourage that game, so I switched strategies.

"I'm glad to hear it," I smiled, gently removing my hands from under his. "Did Lorna go willingly?" I asked to change the subject.

The sheriff straightened his pose and nodded. "She did. Father Xavier convinced her it was for the best. And it's only temporary – a few weeks, perhaps one month. She will survive. We all will."

"I'm sure you will."

Then, just like he did every Monday, Summers retrieved an envelope from his vest and handed it to me. "I took the liberty of adjusting your payment to your new tasks. You've been cooking -superbly well, if I may add- and looking after Nathan the whole day. It's only fair to compensate you adequately."

"But I've told you that a raise wasn't necessary, Sheriff. I offered to cook and look after Nate, and not because I was hoping to earn more; I really enjoy his company. It's my pleasure to stay with him," I said truthfully.

"As much as it pleases me to hear that you appreciate your job, Miss Howlett, I insist." And back to formal treatment pronouns again. "I hope you realize how much you've aided us lately," the lawman sighed briefly before continuing, "When my wife left, I was lost… I didn't know what to do about Nathan, especially regarding his education; then you showed up in our lives and not only started tutoring him but made him finally enjoy learning. And now, this whole situation with Lorna… I was only able to send her to the convent because you've volunteered weeks ago to take over her responsibilities, even though it wasn't your obligation. You may not realize it, Miss Howlett, but your kind gesture has allowed me to go to work every day since without worrying whether my son was in good hands."

I felt deeply touched by his words. I was used to people complimenting me for my looks or my cooking skills, but never before for something I had done out of the goodness of my heart. I guess that was essentially my fault – as far as I remembered, I hadn't been a good, selfless person. For the first time in my life, I felt useful. It made me feel proud of myself.

"I…" I didn't know what to respond. I held the envelope in my hands, my mind running wild trying to get used to those new feelings. Sheriff Summers offered me his handkerchief, and only then I realized that my eyes were moist. "Thank you," I was finally able to verbalize.

"You're more than welcome," he replied smiling. "Well, I'll let you carry on with your duties now, Miss Howlett. I must go… I've got some fugitives to catch."

With that, the sheriff stood up and left. I put the envelope in my handbag and was about to stand up when my eyes caught sight of the white handkerchief with the embroidered dark red 'S.S.' resting on my lap. For the twentieth time since I had met the Summers family, I wondered how the heck could Madelyne abandon her gentle husband and adorable son.

Some women were just too blind to appreciate what was right in front of them, I decided.


It took two more days for Ororo's fever to cease. She could finally eat solid food again, even if her appetite remained far from satisfactory. Nonetheless, Dr. McCoy seemed astonished by her quick recovery; Logan, Kurt and I were relieved but still concerned with her wellbeing. The Wind Rider would shrug our worries off and tell us that the goddess had never left her side.

"Ororo fine, Fire Bringer. But you troubled," she would point to my heart and repeat every morning. I wasn't sure what she meant by that. My heart was all right.

On the following Thursday, Kurt left before dawn to check on Jimaine. He had to borrow one of James's horses since his wagon and mounts had been lost during his escape from the gallows. That made me feel even more guilty, and I insisted that he took my savings – it was the least I could do to compensate my friend for his losses. "For Maria," I pleaded. That last argument convinced Kurt, but he only accepted half of what I had. Even Ororo managed to come to the porch to wave him goodbye.

When I arrived at Summers's house that morning, the sheriff seemed distressed. He promptly explained to me that he needed to travel for work and didn't know what to do about Nathan.

"I was hoping you could take him to the ranch with you for the weekend. I hate to ask that of you, Miss Howlett, but honestly… I have nowhere else to leave him. I don't trust anyone beside you with my son, and I could never ask you to abandon your home to stay here with him. Of course, I'll pay you extra for your troubles, and I'll ride to the ranch this afternoon to ask Logan in pers-"

"No," I interrupted him a bit too quickly. I had been careful enough this last week to have the sheriff drop me at our front yard every evening so he wouldn't see who was inside the ranch house – I couldn't jeopardize everything by letting him inadvertently spot Ororo in there. Like me, she was a wanted lady now. "I-I mean, Logan's out running some errands today. Let me talk to him after dinner."

Summers raised an eyebrow at me. "Are you sure, Laura? I feel this is something I should ask him, man to man."

"I'm sure," I replied, ignoring his use of my first name this time. "My brother can be a little difficult sometimes. But I know him – he'll be more willing to accept Nate if he has a full stomach."

"If you say so," Summers voiced, sounding resigned. "Again, I'm very sorry to ask this of you. If only the Marshall weren't breathing down every Middle West's sheriff's neck regarding Mr. Shaw's redhead…"

I felt the blood boiling inside my veins and spoke up before I could stop myself, "Mr. Shaw's redhead? I thought the lady was married to a different man."

The sheriff stopped for a moment to stare at me with big brown eyes. "Y-Yes, well… I mean, Mr. Shaw's a powerful businessman. He's the one demanding that we catch the lady, hence-"

"That doesn't make her his woman," I stated decisively, earning a startled look from Summers.

"Of course, not. I-I didn't mean to imply that she's his property, Miss Howlett, only that-"

"Do you know what I find odd about this story, Sheriff?" I interrupted him again. "Where was the redhead's husband when she attacked Mr. Shaw? I mean, don't you find it strange that a married woman was left alone in a room with a married man who wasn't her husband? I find that behavior highly inappropriate."

"Apparently, Mr. Wyngarde was distractedly playing cards," he informed me as if I hadn't known what Jason had been doing. I held back a scoff at that. Clearly uncomfortable, the sheriff scratched his perfectly shaven neck and asked me, "I'm sorry, Laura, but how come you know so much about this case?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I heard about it in The White Queen, of course. You know how gossip runs around in this town."

"That I do," Summers commented, and I wondered if he was referring to the endless rumors concerning his failed marriage. But instead of becoming sorrowful, he suddenly smiled knowingly. "I guess not even Lenhsherr's men can keep their mouths shut after a few rounds of bourbon."

"Especially them, I believe," I remarked, smiling back. By now, the blood had settled back in my veins at its normal temperature.

He let out a short laugh. "True. Well, then… about Nathan…"

"I'll talk to Logan tonight and let you know his answer first thing in the morning."

"Perfect. Do you think he'll agree to it?"

"I can't say, Sheriff, but I promise I'll do my best."

"I'm sure you will. Thank you again, Laura. I don't know what I'd do without you in my life." I blushed at his comment. "See you later," he said to me.

"Have a nice day."


Nathan went by that day completely enthralled by the prospect of spending the weekend surrounded by horses and other farm animals. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I still had to ask my brother for permission, but I was almost certain I could convince Logan to accept the boy. Winning the sheriff's trust was always a smart idea, after all.

"Write me an essay of everything a boy can do in a ranch. You have forty minutes, Nate," I ordered and went to the kitchen to start lunch.

He was finished in twenty-five, his blue eyes filled with expectation as he handed me his notebook. "Do you think Mr. Howlett will take me for a ride on one of his horses?"

I smiled at him. "If he won't, I will."

His eyes widened. "You know how to ride a horse?"

"I do," I replied. "And the correct form of the phrase would be 'Do you know how to ride a horse,' I corrected him.

He ignored my English tutoring. Instead, he said, "Wow! You're so fun, Miss Howlett! Sometimes I wish you were my mother."

I felt my heart stopping for a moment and I couldn't decide whether it was from happiness or pain. "Well, Nate, I'm really glad that you like me. But why would you say that? Don't you love your momma?"

"I did. But she hated horses. Besides, she made papa sad when she left us, so I can't love her anymore," he told me, and the irony of the situation wasn't lost on me – Madelyne had ran away with her brother-in-law on a horse's back. "But you make papa happy, Miss Howlett. He's always smiling when he's near you," the boy added.

Again, I felt my heart skipping a beat at that piece of information. What was it about the sheriff and his son that made me so emotional? It hadn't been my intention to get close to either of them, and yet, they seemed to have nothing but gentleness and kind words to me.

"Your father is a nice man, Nate. I'm sure he's kind and polite to everyone," I reasoned in an attempt to dismiss any confusion the boy may have made in his young mind regarding his papa and me.

"He may be nice to all people, but he's only happy around you," he mumbled. I pretended not to hear it and told him to read his essay aloud.


Back at the ranch, I made chicken soup with garlic bread for dinner. I waited until everyone was finished to inform James of what the sheriff had asked me.

"Are ya outta your mind, Red? The brat will see Ororo in here and will tell his father, who happens to be the damn sheriff!"

"Not if I keep him away from her. I'll take Nathan to the stables and crops during the day, and he can sleep with Kitty and me at night. Ororo's in your bedroom most of the time anyway – it's not impossible to hide her for one weekend. You know that Sheriff Summers wouldn't be asking this if he had someone else to leave his son with."

"No! That's outta question! Ya wanna try your luck by workin' for a lawman 'cause you can't say no to a dandy fella, fine by me. But to bring his son here will put us all in danger, and I ain't willin' to go to jail for ya, Jean!"

I was about to counterargument when the Wind Rider gently placed her hand over James's left arm. "I can hide," she told him calmly.

Logan looked her in the eyes. "It's too dangerous, Ro."

"Lawman trust Fire Bringer. Good for all of us," she reasoned with him. I felt like jumping over the table and hugging her in gratitude.

James and Ororo stared at each other for a moment until 'my brother' cursed under his breath and turned to Kitty. "Ya understand the risks we're takin'. What d'ya think?"

"It's doable, dad, as long as Ororo stays in the bedroom. Pete, Jean, and I can watch the boy and keep him busy around the ranch."

Peter nodded in agreement. Yet, before I could breathe out in relief, Logan put a finger on my face and said, "If anythin' happens to any of us, it's on ya, Jean. I hope ya realize how much we're riskin' for ya. Don't mess this up!" Then he pushed his chair away and stormed out of the kitchen to smoke and drink his frustrations away in the porch.

"Thank you all. I promise I won't let you down," I assured Kitty, Peter and Ororo.

After that, James didn't talk to me for three days; as for the sheriff, he was very pleased to hear on the following morning that I'd be taking his son home with me by the evening. Nathan packed a small bag, and his father took us to the ranch on his horse's back before dusk.

"Now, I don't need to tell you to behave, young man," Summers reminded his son sternly. "You do as the Howletts say, always. I'll see you on Monday."

"Yes, sir," Nate responded, but his curious eyes were already glued on the stables at the far side of Logan's estate.

The man couldn't help but grin at that. He turned to me. "Again, Laura, I don't have the words to thank you and Logan for this."

"Don't worry, Sheriff, it's our pleasure. Now go make our Marshall proud," I said smiling even though I felt nauseous. That noble man was going away on a three-day journey to look for a criminal while said criminal stood right in front of him. I was so sick of deceiving Scott but telling him the truth would mean the end of my friends and me.

Thank God, the weekend went by smoothly. Despite his great excitement, Nathan's behavior was irreproachable, and I found myself more and more affected by his childish joy. We went horse-riding, assisted Sam and Peter with the crops, fed the pigs and chickens, seeded a new herbal garden, and he even helped me to prepare lunch on Sunday. It was too cold to go swimming on the lake, but we could still sit by the porch in our thick coats to watch the sunset. Like I had predicted, not once did we spot Ororo or James around.

"This was the best weekend ever," Nate told me by Sunday night as he rested his head against my chest while I read him a story, both of us sprawled on the couch.

"I'm glad you liked it, sweetie," I said, pecking the top of his head.

"Maybe we can do this again sometime."

"We'll see."

Nathan fell asleep five minutes later. I carried him to my bed and laid on the cot placed between Kitty's bed and mine.

That night, I didn't dream of fire. I dreamt of a green field with small daisies and two swings attached to an old oak tree. There was children's laughter, as well as happiness in the form of a charming wooden house whose owners I could not see.