A/N: Wow, two updates in two days, I'm on a roll. Seriously, I hadn't even seen this episode until this morning and then it seemed to write itself. Like the Annie/Candy argument in the last episode, some of this did not turn out exactly as I planned going in. Apparently, Annie has a lot more angst brimming under the surface about certain issues than I'd thought and it took the right circumstances to dig it out.

This is another one with a lot of filler I had to make up. I hope it reads right and does the original episode justice. Leave me a review please, I really want to know if you all think it works.

And of course, I don't own Bonanza.

Tonight: Star Crossed

Edited 2-19-21 to add line breaks.

Their horses were tied up at the hitch rail, so if they weren't here, they were somewhere close by. Annie pushed through the swinging doors at the Bucket of Blood and searched the room. Bruno smiled from his place behind the bar and held up a glass, one eyebrow quirked. She shook her head and ambled over to the table in the back.

"Second time this week, boys." She pulled out a chair, nodding to Martha as she did. The saloon girl nodded back and resumed watching Joe and Candy arm wrestle. Bruno came over with two beers and waited.

Joe slammed Candy's hand against the table with a grin. "Two out of three, satisfied?"

"That's two out of three, but I'm not satisfied," Candy shot back.

"You can pay for the drinks anyway." Candy shook his head and paid Bruno.

"Ain't you two ever gonna give up?"

"I wouldn't count on it,"Annie replied. "They're both as stubborn as a couple of Georgia mules." It had been two weeks after the nomination convention before Candy would give Joe more than a one word answer to anything. Joe swallowed a mouthful of beer and laughed.

"Anytime Candy admits I'm a whole lot better than he is, I'll quit."

"That'll be the day." Candy grinned and dug in his vest pocket.

"I got five dollars left from last payday. Once more for the whole thing." Martha shook her head.

"Which one of you big spenders is gonna buy me a beer?"

"Well, Martha, we'll let you know in about a minute." Annie rolled her eyes as they squared off again.

"Left handed, huh?"

"Um, hm." At least they weren't fighting anymore. Well, physically, that is. Candy's eyes flickered, focusing on something over Joe's shoulder and his grip slackened. Joe drove his hand to the table, half-stunned. "Well, that's the easiest five dollars I've ever won." Neither one of them answered him. Candy was still staring over his shoulder.

Annie followed his gaze, locating a dark-haired slip of a girl standing at the swinging doors, a carpetbag near her feet. Joe turned to see what had caught their attention, then looked back to Candy. His lips twitched and a grin threatened to split his face. She kicked his leg under the table.

Bruno went up to the girl. She offered him a smile. "Are you the proprietor?"

"I guess you could say that. What can I do for you?"

"I want a job." Bruno smiled kindly and patted her shoulder.

"Miss, I think you wandered into the wrong place." He headed back behind the bar. She followed him, an almost desperate light glowing in her eyes.

"I sing, I dance, I wait tables."

"I'm sorry, we're all full up. Look, miss, this ain't no place for you, now run along." He turned away and she grabbed his hand.

"Look, mister, I need a job, bad." Bruno's face hardened.

"I've got nothing for you." He untangled her fingers. "Not a thing." He turned away and she stood there, wringing her hands. Out of the corner of her eye, Annie noticed Candy swallow hard. The girl sighed and reached for the swinging doors. The next thing Annie knew, the girl was sliding towards the floor.

Joe and Candy leaped out of their chairs and rushed over. Annie chased after them, snatching the glass of water Bruno held out as she passed by. Candy took the girl in his arms. "Go find the doctor, I'll bring her over." Joe nodded and ran outside. Annie crouched behind Candy and held out the water. He took it with a tight smile of thanks and held it to the girl's lips. Her eyes fluttered open, locking on Candy's face.

Annie straightened and leaned back against the bar. Oh, no. She knew that look, it was the same one Joe got every time he ran across a woman in distress.

Only this time, it was shining in two sets of eyes.

Half an hour later, the four of them sat at a table in the hotel's dining room. Laura Pollard – as she'd introduced herself – couldn't seem to get the food from her plate to her mouth fast enough. Candy and Joe exchanged concerned looks while Annie picked at her own meal.

Laura laid her fork down and Candy looked over at her plate. "Eat."

"I think I've had enough." She offered him a shy smile.

"You can eat more than that."

"I'm so embarrassed about this." Annie looked up from her coffee.

"What – being hungry? There's nothing wrong with that." Laura's face went pink and she picked her fork back up.

"I guess I just didn't realize how much it cost to travel."

"Where were you coming from?" Laura's chewing slowed and Annie's sixth sense went off with a flash. She didn't want to tell them.

"A small town. I don't think you would have heard of it." Maybe, maybe not. Annie forced herself to lighten her grip on the coffee cup before she cracked it. There were any number of reasons she might not want to say where she came from.

"Where were you heading?"

"Joe. Let her eat." Joe shrugged and went back to his coffee, saving Annie from kicking him under the table. "We don't need to ask her all these questions." Laura swallowed and looked around at the three of them.

"Thank you for taking me in this way."

"Forget it. Now we have to find you a place to stay." Annie's lips thinned. He was at it again. She flicked a glance at Candy, who was watching Laura with a tender look in his eyes. Her chest tightened and she took a sip of coffee to hide her face.

This time, there just might be more at stake than Joe realized.

"What about Mrs. O'Brien's, she's got a nice place."

"I can't let you do that," Laura burst out before Candy could reply. "I don't have any money."

"How are you going to stop us?" She looked between them, seeming to realize she couldn't, and shrugged, then resumed eating until her plate was empty.

Joe paid the bill, then they all walked down the street to Mrs. O'Brien's, candy carrying Laura's bag. "Well, there it is," Joe gestured at the double doors. "Home sweet home." Laura frowned at the sign near the doors.

"Selected clientele?"

"That's right, you've been selected." Candy grinned. "Let's go." He helped her up the porch steps and Joe knocked on the door. The kind-hearted Irish widow opened the door and ushered them inside, where she set to fussing over Laura as Joe explained the situation.

"Oh, you poor little thing, you. You just leave everything up to Mother O'Brien, now. And bless you for bringing her here." She left Laura sitting in a parlor chair and made her way back to the three of them. Her voice lowered. "May I ask who's paying for this? I'm a poor widow woman you know, I can't afford to be giving charity."

"I'll give you a deposit." Candy dug in his vest pocket; his face froze, and Annie knew he was remembering that last arm wrestle. Joe quirked a grin and pulled out the five dollars he'd lost.

"Here's the deposit and I'll stand good for the rest."

"Oh." Mrs. O'Brien accepted the money with a tiny smile; Candy looked away, his face glum. Annie shook her head. Joe better not start playing games this time. His face brightened and he headed over to Laura.

"Just don't worry about anything. It'll work out fine."

"Thank you, Candy." They smiled at each other. Joe cleared his throat, breaking the moment, and Annie vowed to knock him off Cochise at a dead run. He was playing games.

"Candy, I hate to rush you, but I think we should get back to the ranch."

"Bye."

"Good bye." Candy turned and followed them out the door.

"It's the best of care she'll be having here, boys. Annie."

"I'm sure of that, Mrs. O'Brien." The door closed behind them. Annie waited until they were out of sight of the boarding house before she drove her elbow into Joe's rib cage. He yelped and rubbed his side.

"What was that for?" She raised her eyebrows and said nothing. He looked from her to Candy. "Well, what? I didn't do anything." She still didn't say a word. "Look, whatever you think I did today, I apologize, alright?"

"No, you haven't done anything," she said finally. "Yet." He blinked a few times, then shrugged and kept walking. Either he was so distracted by a pretty girl, or he didn't want to admit he knew what she was driving at in front of Candy.

If it was the former, she was going to knock him off Cochise. It might knock some sense into him. They were still working through the last remnants of him almost leaving over what he'd thought was lies. If he fancied himself in love with this girl, and Joe butted in …

Heaven help them.

"Well, I've got to admit one thing, you two can sure get involved." Ben sat in his favorite chair near the fireplace, Joe perched on the coffee table, Candy paced the room, and Annie had claimed her mother's sofa.

At that, Joe and Candy exchanged worried looks. "What would you have done?" Ben spread his hands.

"Exactly what you did." They relaxed.

"I'm glad you feel that way, Mr. Cartwright. She's not looking for handouts, what she really wants is a job."

"Yeah," Joe broke in. "That's where we figured you could help." Annie fiddled with her braid. He didn't see it, how could he not see it?

"Don't you think I ought to at least meet this Ms. Pollard before I recommend her to anybody?"

"You won't be disappointed, I promise you that."

"I'm sure I won't be. Alright." Ben looked up with a smile. "Alright, I'll do what I can." Candy's face lit up and Annie's chest tightened again. She looked away, staring at the dancing flames in the fireplace. "Right now, I'm going to go to bed, five o'clock comes early." He stood, went over and kissed Annie's cheek, then headed up the stairs.

"Night, Pa."

"Thank you, Mr. Cartwright." Joe turned his head to look at Candy, who rubbed his hands on his pants.

"Five o'clock does come early." He stood and headed for the front door. Joe grinned at his back. Maybe he did see it after all.

The next morning, Ben rode into town, returning that afternoon with the news he'd found Laura a job as a clerk for Mrs. Burton. Within days, Candy became almost a permanent fixture in town. Gone as soon as his chores were finished, not coming back until dark.

Annie almost ran into them one time, out driving in the countryside, the both of them looking like they hadn't a care in the world. She quickly backed Reno into the trees before he could call out to the buggy horse.

Candy would likely never believe her if she told him she wasn't following them. She hadn't even realized he brought Laura out this way. She swallowed hard, feeling like a spy, and turned Reno to slowly walk away.

The next day, Candy was whistling as he saddled his horse. Annie paused on her way into the barn, Reno taking the opportunity to sniff noses with Candy's chestnut. "You're leaving late."

"I'm taking Laura to supper at the hotel." He gave her a sideways look. "It's her birthday." Annie raised an eyebrow.

"I hope you didn't ask her how old she is." He laughed.

"I'm not that dumb."

"Why don't you bring her out here sometime? You know Pa wouldn't mind, and Hop Sing would love to have someone new to cook for."

"You sure?"

"Of course." His resulting grin threatened to split his face.

"Thanks. I'll do that." He checked the cinch and swung into the saddle, riding off with a wave and a smile. Reno slung his head over her shoulder and she absently stroked his nose.

"Come on, boy." It was the right thing to do, so why did she feel so … off?

Joe's cackle was giving her a headache. Why wouldn't he just shut up? It was plain enough to everyone else that Laura only had eyes for Candy. She sipped at her coffee while everyone else laughed.

"Joe, I'm not saying that's a lie, but you sure do know how to stretch the truth."

"I'm telling you, Laura, you'll find out at the dance, wait and see, he's got two left feet." Hoss pushed back his chair.

"Now don't listen to either one of them, they's both big liars. Fact is, come Saturday night at that dance, you're gonna find out who the graceful one of the family is." Joe cackled again

"You gotta be kidding, you, graceful?" They all abandoned the remnants of supper and headed for the living room, Laura's hand tucked in Candy's as they walked side by side. Ben laughed.

"Come Saturday night at the dance, Laura, you and I are going to be doing the dancing."

"Hey, Laura, how about a game of checkers."

"What about cards?"

"How about a nice, long game of chess?" Candy slipped into the circle of Cartwrights that had separated them and reclaimed her hand.

"Laura and I are going for a walk." Laughing, they darted out the door. Joe folded his arms and laughed again.

"Would you say our world-wise cowhand has been smitten?" Annie rolled her eyes. Only a blind man wouldn't know that. Ben shook his head.

"If he hasn't, he's doing the best job of pretending I've ever seen." He headed upstairs, leaving the three of them alone.

"You ain't said much all evening, what do you think, Annie?" She shrugged.

"They seem happy. Go play some checkers, I'm going to check on Reno." She slipped out to the barn and ran a brush over the grulla's coat until he gleamed in the lantern light. Why did it hurt to watch them falling in love? She wasn't in love with Candy, so what was her problem? Why couldn't she stand to be around them?

Reno nickered softly and she rubbed his long, dark face. "I'm jealous, aren't I, boy? When I've got no right to be." The look on Candy's face when Laura first walked into the Bucket of Blood said more than words ever could. She threw her arms around the gelding's neck and buried her face in his mane. "I've got more than she'll ever have, and that's all any man ever sees. They'll never look at me and see anything but the keys to an empire." She bit her lip, hard, to stem the stinging behind her eyes and drew in a shaky breath. A single tear slid down her cheek and plopped onto Reno's neck. "It's not fair."

She trailed Ben and the boys as church let out the next morning, working hard to keep from noticing Candy and Laura strolling along hand in hand behind Ben and her newly arrived cousin.

"Yes, I thought it was excellent."

"Mr. Cartwright, I can't tell you what a pleasure it's been to meet all you fine people this morning."

"It's been a pleasure for us too, Mr. Passmore." She stopped right behind Ben, a headache pounding behind her eyes. She might not have cried more than that one tear, but the effort to keep from crying more was plenty enough to bring it on.

"Mr. Passmore. I did ask Laura if she'd go for a ride with me." Annie looked up, focusing on Passmore instead of Candy. The man frowned slightly.

"Of course. I can't just drop in here out of nowhere and expect to monopolize every minute of her time." Annie studied him a little closer. So why was there a tiny note to his voice that said he did mind? Was he just surprised that she would already have plans, and that brought on the hesitation? "You young people run along." Her fingers worried the edge of her shawl.

"Thank you, Mr. Passmore." Candy moved away, guiding Laura along with him. Strange, she seemed almost nervous around her cousin. There was something she was missing. Annie stared after them, abandoning her attempts to ignore the situation.

What was going on they didn't know about?

"If you're at all worried about Candy, he's one of the best, I can vouch for him, Mr. Passmore." The man hummed agreement. "You intending to stay a while in Virginia City?"

"That depends, Mr. Cartwright. As I told you this morning, when I heard back home that Laura was missing, I …"

"I can understand your concern. Let me assure you, she's doing very well here."

"I hope she'll be happy, poor child. All alone, me a bachelor, traveling the way I do." He sighed. "I'm afraid I haven't been much of a parent to her."

"And just what exactly do you do, Mr. Passmore?" That time she was sure of the irritation in his eyes. Clearly, he hadn't expected to be questioned again, especially by her. His face smoothed out.

"I'm a traveling salesman, Ms. Cartwright."

"Hardware?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, I do sell hardware."

"You might want to watch your step, the last hardware salesman who came around ended up dead in a steamer trunk." She had the satisfaction of seeing his face flush crimson before it blanked like a politician's. He gave them a tight smile.

"I'll be sure to keep that in mind. I'd best be going, now." He hurried off.

"What was that about?"

"There's something about him, but I can't put my finger on it." Ben worked his gloves and watched Passmore stroll down the street.

"Should we be concerned?"

"I don't know. If I knew more …" She exhaled and dropped the hem of her shawl. "Maybe a ride will help me think, I'll be back before supper."

"Stay safe." She hurried over to Reno and climbed into the saddle, tucking her skirt in place with practiced ease. She heeled the gelding into a lope and took off southwest out of town. When she finally pulled him back to a walk, they were miles from Virginia City, out in the rugged, wild land she loved with all her heart.

Black-tipped ears pricked and she looked up. Down below, cuddled next to each other on the ridge near the lake, Candy and Laura carried on their conversation, oblivious to her presence.

With all the land her family owned, and the miles of land they didn't, how in the name of all that was holy did she manage to run into them again?

Before she could back Reno, they leaned closer, Laura's arms snaking around Candy's back. Annie's face burned as their lips met in a kiss. She yanked Reno around so hard he snorted in surprise, holding him to a trot until they could gain some ground.

Finally clear, she drove him to a full gallop. The grulla thundered over the land, snorted breaths matching the cadence of her heart. The wind tugged at her hair, pins falling and loose strands whipping across her face. A bitten-off cry escaped her throat as she drove the gelding across country, racing straight as an arrow back to the Ponderosa.

Joe whistled softly when she arrived at the house. "What happened to you?"

"I went for a ride." Her brothers exchanged knowing looks.

"Something wrong, Annie?"

"Why would anything be wrong?" She dismounted and led Reno into the barn, the boys trailing her. She put Reno in his stall and traded his bridle for a halter. Her brothers leaned on the stall wall.

"The last time you went riding in your Sunday clothes, Joe –"

"I remember."

"The point is, this only happens when you're upset."

"Can't I go for a blasted ride without you two questioning everything I do?" They drew back like she'd struck them. Joe opened his mouth; Hoss grabbed his arm.

"Ain't no need to get riled, little sister. We're just trying to help."

"I don't need help because there's nothing wrong." She attempted to straighten her hair. "If you want to make yourselves useful, figure out what's off about Passmore."

"Laura's cousin?" She tossed Joe a dirty look that questioned his intelligence. "Okay, okay."

"Any idea what it relates to?"

"No. He just … maybe it's nothing. It just doesn't seem like he's really that happy about Laura and Candy."

"If that's what it is, it'll all come out in the wash, you'll see." Hoss rubbed his hands together. "Hop Sing made fried chicken for supper and he wouldn't let us touch it until you got back."

"Well, go on up, I'll be there in five minutes." Hoss left, but Joe lingered. She paused, brush hovering over Reno's flank. "What now?"

"You can hide it from him, but not me."

"Hide what?"

"You know what I'm talking about."

"I'm afraid you're going to have to enlighten me." She leaned back against the grulla's hip. Joe snorted.

"You can't pull that with me, we shared living quarters for nine months, remember? I know you better than anyone."

"Really?" she said archly.

"You're sore about Candy and Laura."

"I am?" He shook his head and swore under his breath.

"Cut the act, Anne, I know you are or I wouldn't say it. I don't know where it's coming from, but it's there. You're jealous."

"You're deluded." She turned away, raking the brush over Reno's coat in almost violent strokes.

"Because he loves her and not you." She whipped back around, the brush falling from fingers gone numb. Joe's eyes locked on her face. "Yes, I see it. You've tried to hide it, but you can't, not from me." She took several deep breaths before she dared to speak, lest her voice shake.

"If I'm jealous, it's because no one will ever look at me that way. All they see is an empire," she hissed. "Now, get out."

"Annie –"

"Get out." He stared at her a moment longer, then walked away in silence. She picked up the brush and kept brushing until the tears had stopped and she could face them all looking semi-decent. She didn't know how much – if anything – Joe would tell them, and right then she didn't care.

Tension hung thick enough to cut. At least between her and her brothers. Candy seemed blissfully unaware of the undercurrent humming like a message over telegraph lines.

"You know, I feel sorry for you all, you just don't live right." Joe was trying to lighten the atmosphere, but he was failing. "Sweating over them horseshoes, dealing with those mean old horses, mending tack." He grinned. "And me, all I got to do is take a little grain into town, then I've got the rest of the day off." She threw him a dirty look and his smile slipped.

"I want you back by noon." Ben came out of the barn with a sack of grain slung over his shoulder.

"What do you mean by noon? I thought you told me I had the whole day."

"Noon." Joe shrugged and climbed onto the wagon seat. Ben laid his sack on the pile and looked over at them. "Hoss, how's the new hand working out?" They all looked up in confusion. New hand? Annie looked at Hoss.

"What new hand, Pa?"

"You mean Candy?"

"Is that who it is? Been such a long time since I've seen him, I didn't recognize him." Hoss wiped sweat from his face.

"It looks like him, I think that's who it is." Ben chuckled.

"I'd like to keep him around, he's a pretty good worker. And I think I've figured out a way how." he rounded the wagon, coming even with Joe on the seat. "Joseph."

"Hm? Oh, did you change your mind about me staying in town?" Too bad a bridle wasn't heavy enough to knock him off the seat.

"Never mind that. There's a distracting influence in town that's taking up a whole lot of Candy's time. Now, I've given it a lot of thought, and I think I've figured out a way to keep Candy out here where the work is. We're going to have a picnic lunch, some of the neighbors will drop by a little later, and Mrs. Burton gave Laura the afternoon off. I want you to drop by and pick her up."

"I sure will, Pa." Joe turned back to them with a grin as Ben walked back into the barn. Candy was grinning, too, his whole face lit up. Her chest tightened; she forced her attention back to the bridle. "That's kind of a break for me. I haven't had a chance to be alone with Laura since she got here." Annie dropped the bridle.

He wouldn't dare, would he?

"Joe." Candy beat her to it. He ambled over to the wagon. "This time it's different. We're not playing games, not this time." Joe smiled broadly and clapped him on the back.

"Don't you think I know that, old buddy?" He released the brake. "I'll bring your girl." He drove the wagon out of the yard and Annie retrieved the fallen bridle. He better not be playing games; Candy sure wouldn't.

Wheels rattled outside and Annie peered out the window. Why weren't they getting down? Joe and Laura kept sitting in the wagon, her brother's face growing darker as the time passed. He looked like he'd been slapped upside the head with a – with a – a raw fish, for lack of a better idea.

What could Laura be saying?

The next instant, Laura collapsed against Joe, her shoulders shaking with what appeared to be sobs. A prickle of unease shot down her spine. What was going on? Annie bit her lip and turned away from the window, debating calling for her pa. If Candy saw them like this … she turned back.

Too late. Joe flew off the wagon seat and rolled over. Candy tackled him, slinging punches, and pinned him to the ground. Laura jumped off the wagon, rushing at Candy, grabbing at his back.

"PA! We've got trouble!" Annie rushed out the door.

"Candy, stop it!" He flung Laura off and Joe drove a punch at his face, knocking him back. They squared off again, circling each other like boxers on the Barbary Coast.

"Candy! Joe, stop it!" Annie flung flung herself at Joe's back, Laura still shrieking in the background. The three of them rolled across the yard; footsteps rushed up and Hoss yanked Candy away. Ben helped her secure Joe. "What's the matter with you?"

"Let go of me!" Candy struggled against Hoss' hold.

"Joseph, that's enough now, stop it!" Ben had his youngest son almost in a choke hold. "Stop it, I said."

"Let go!"

"What's all this about?" Joe heaved for breath.

"Ask him." He jerked his chin at Candy.

"Alright, what's it about?" Candy stared at Ben in silence. He shook his head.

"Let me go." Hoss released him and he stared at Laura with accusing eyes. He shook his head again and stormed over to his horse. Laura shook, tears spilling down her face. She scrambled into the wagon and slapped the reins over the horses' backs.

"Laura!" Joe struggled in their pa's arms.

"Just stay here. Get into the house and get cleaned up, I'll talk to you later. Go on." Joe stalked away. Ben turned. "Candy!" But he ignored him, riding off past the barn and out of sight. A growl slipped past his teeth. "Will somebody tell me what this is all about?"

"I can guess," Annie said.

"Yeah," Hoss agreed. "We need to go talk to little brother." They all went inside and waited for Joe to come back downstairs. When he finally did, Annie launched the first blow.

"Didn't Candy tell you this morning not to play games?"

"I wasn't."

"Then enlighten us," she said through her teeth.

"I don't know what's wrong, she didn't say a word the whole way back from town and then we pull in the yard and she starts in about how she doesn't really love Candy, and he misunderstood, and she tried to tell him, but he wouldn't listen." Joe threw his hands in the air and parked himself on the coffee table.

"Well, that don't make no sense." Hoss frowned. "Anyone with eyes can see they're crazy for each other."

"I told her I didn't believe a word of what she was spinning. Annie, I think you were right, there is something going on with her cousin. I pushed her to tell me and she burst out crying." He stared down at his hands. "That's about when Candy showed up."

"I gathered that," Ben said. "Surely you must have realized how that would look to him."

"I know. I better go find him and explain."

"I will." Annie stood. "He's not going to listen to you right now."

"We'll be right behind you." She nodded and ran for the barn. Playing a hunch, she rode straight to Virginia City and found his chestnut tied up at the hitch rail outside the Bucket of Blood. She tied Reno and walked inside.

"Howdy, Annie." She nodded at Bruno and made her way to the back table where Candy sat alone, his back to the door. She pulled out a chair and sat down facing him.

"No one invited you."

"I invited myself." Candy kept his gaze on the scarred tabletop. She tapped her fingers on the table. "You're going to listen whether you want to or –"

"To what? What a big ladies' man your brother is?" She met his livid eyes without flinching.

"I'm far more aware of that than you and I'm not defending him. I do believe him, though I did wonder at first, but he doesn't have any interest in Laura except as a friend, or maybe as the woman you're going to someday be married to." Her chest tightened. His gaze dropped back to the table.

"You're wasting your time."

"No, I don't think I am."

"I said you're wasting –" He half stood and she kicked his leg hard enough to drop him back to the chair, then grabbed his arm, squeezing as tight as she could until he looked her in the eye.

"If I loved someone as much as you said you love her, I'd give them the chance to explain themselves."

"I never want to see her again."

"If that was true, you've been lying about being in love all along." He said nothing, avoiding her eyes. She squeezed tighter, making her fingers ache. He shook his head.

"She wouldn't see me anyway."

"I would."

"She's not you."

"She will." He looked up, unable to disguise the hope flaring to life in his eyes. "If she loves you. And I know she does."

"How would you know?"

"I've got eyes, Candy." Annie swallowed hard. "I think her cousin's up to something and right now, I'd say there's nothing she wants more than to see you."

"Are you sure?"

"Go to her." She let go of his arm and sat back. He pushed his chair back and stood without a word, tossing Bruno a dollar on his way through the swinging doors. Annie shook out her hand with a wince. If Joe had tried that, Candy would have tossed him over the table. She sighed and rested her chin on her hand, staring blankly at the wall.

"You need something, Ms. Anne?"

"No, Bruno, thank you."

"Just holler if you change your mind." She sat there for several minutes before shaking her head and pushing back her chair. She went outside and found Ben and the boys tying up at the hitch rail.

"You find him?"

"Yes, Pa."

"Well, did he listen?"

"I think so, Hoss, he left anyway. I didn't see where he went so I can't say he did go to her, but –"

"Mr. Cartwright!" Candy dodged a farm wagon and kept running towards them. He skidded to a stop. "Passmore isn't her cousin, he's a crooked marshal, she killed a cattleman in self-defense and he used her fear, told her to come here and now he's blackmailing her. He threatened to kill me so she'd marry Joe and he could get more money. We have to help her!"

"I believe you. Get back to Laura, don't let her out of your sight. We'll go talk to Roy and join you in a few minutes." Candy sagged in relief. Annie moved to his side and touched his arm.

"I'll go with you." The rest of them headed for the sheriff's office. Candy reached out and caught Joe's arm.

"Joe." Her brother grinned.

"Forget it." They nodded and Joe left.

"Come on." She and Candy hurried down the street. They rounded the corner, the boarding house in sight. The front door opened and Passmore stepped out, freezing when he caught sight of them. He turned and ran back inside. "I'll take care of him." Annie shoved Candy at the door. "Find her." He ran; she pulled her Colt and followed.

They burst through the door seconds apart. Candy looked into the parlor and froze. "No." He shot inside and Annie smothered a gasp at the sight of Laura sprawled on the floor. She looked away, focusing on the stairs curving away out of sight.

He had to be up there. He'd seen them, knew he would be pursued. A smart man would flee, but a greedy man, or one bent on revenge, would come back. She figured she knew just what Passmore was. Annie ducked into the parlor, bringing Candy's head up briefly before he refocused on Laura.

"Laura? Laura!" The stark agony in his voice was enough to gut her. She spared one quick look at the blood running over the woman's dress and backed against the wall, gun up and cocked. Candy threw her a helpless, pleading look and she had to shake her head.

"Candy, go away," Laura's voice was almost too low to hear. He sucked in a sharp breath. "Go away."

"No."

"He's gonna kill you."

"You're gonna be alright." A faint click sounded out in the hall and Annie tensed. She drew in a determined breath. Candy may not have heard the gun cock, but he did hear that. He looked over; she waved him back to Laura and brought her gun into firing position. "You'll be alright, don't worry."

A shadow slid across the leaded glass inset in the parlor doors. From the corner of her eye, she noticed they had seen it, too. She motioned for Candy to keep talking.

"Laura –" Annie fired three quick shots, blowing the leaded glass to smithereens. Passmore tumbled into the room, body quivering in his death throes. A shot blasted from his gun and he fell on his face. She went over and kicked him, but he didn't budge.

"Candy … please don't leave me." He choked on a breath.

"I won't leave you."

"The … the knoll … where we were gonna build the cabin …"

"Yes."

"I wanted to see the canyon." Annie closed her eyes. She should leave, this was their moment … but how could she leave Candy to face this alone? She slipped her gun into its holster and made her way slowly towards them, giving him plenty of time to tell her if he wanted her to get out. She knelt beside him, laying a hand on his shoulder. He didn't even look up. "Where the ferns were … and the dogwood blooms."

"You're going to see it." Candy's voice broke. "You're going to see every bit of it." Laura stared into his eyes, then her body stiffened, her hands on Candy's vest trembling. Her head tipped back and her eyes closed. The loving smile fell off Candy's face. "Laura!" He touched her face, but there was no response. "Laura, no! No!" His voice broke, a small sob escaping that she would take all knowledge of to her grave. He buried his face in Laura's neck. "No!" His shoulders heaved. "No." His throat worked. "Laura."

Annie sat back on her heels, swiping the moisture from her eyes. Candy stayed hunched over Laura, openly crying. Her throat closed and she laid her hand on his back.

She didn't know how long they stayed that way, but it was long enough the parlor door flying open made her jump. They stood in the doorway, staring down at the terrible scene without a word spoken between them. Joe caught her eye and nodded at the door. She shook her head and turned back to Candy. They weren't leaving until he was ready.

She found him where she'd almost run into them that Sunday, leaning against a tree and facing the water. She stopped Reno a few feet away. "Candy." He didn't even acknowledge he'd heard her. She dismounted and walked over slowly. "Candy?"His shoulders fell in a sigh.

"I knew it would be you." His voice was thick. "The rest of them go home?"

"Yes."

"How'd he do it?" Candy finally turned away from the sparkling water. "How did he bury three wives and not drown in grief? We weren't even married and I can't …" He put his back to her again. "I should have taken her with me to find you."

"You had no way of knowing."

"I was supposed to protect her."

"You were there when she needed you the most." He swung back around, his eyes haunted. "She had you, so she wasn't afraid. She really did love you, Candy." He swallowed hard and slid down the tree until he sat on the ground.

"It's not fair," he choked out.

"No, it's not." She sat beside him, careful to leave a few inches between them, and swallowed the lump in her throat. "When you're ready, you should talk to Pa. He'd know what to say better than me."

"I don't need words right now, Annie, just a friend."

"Okay." They sat there, staring out over the water until the sun sank below the horizon.