A/N: Not much to say this time, other than I'm sorry this update took so long; they're still in Charleston and Legare doesn't seem to realize it yet. How much trouble are they going to cause before someone finds out the truth? Because we all know secrets have a way of coming undone …

As always, I own nothing but my OC and original plots.


May 17, 1871, Charleston, South Carolina

"The plantation is too far from Charleston, Mother. You'll be just as comfortable at Andrew's and it will be much more convenient." Candy's smile was like that of a wolf. The widow Legare's face was bright red, the feathers on her hat quivering.

"How dare you?"

"How dare you insult my wife in her own home?"

"This is my home!"

"No, Mother, it's mine." He rose with the grace of a mountain lion. "And it will always be mine, and then my sons' after me." The faked Southern drawl only seemed to accent the velvet-wrapped cruelty spilling from his lips. "It's a man's world, Mother, and you're a widow." He crossed to the window and stared out at the Ashley River, hands folded behind his back. "Samantha is the chatelaine of this house now." Fury colored the older woman's face; Annie thought she would have clawed his face if her pride wasn't holding her back.

She kept her hands folded neatly in her lap, a bored look on her face, and one eye on the knitting needles sticking up out of a basket on the side table.

"Your father and I built this place out of nothing." Her voice shook. "You will not banish me from it now."

"The carriage is outside." He didn't even look over his shoulder.

"You're not the son I remember … she has changed you from the man you were."

"She saved my life, Mother, and I am my own man now, not what you wanted of me." He turned then, the morning sun tangling in his hair. "Go before you have cause to find out how much different I am." The widow Legare swallowed hard, her icy blue eyes raking over his face.

"I pray you will come to your senses." Heels struck the floor and her skirts swished violently as she stalked from the room. Annie was out of her chair in an instant, rushing to Candy.

"Did you hear me?" His gaze was distant as she touched his cheek. "I've never …"

"What are words compared to blood?" Their eyes met, and a lonely mountain in Arizona loomed out of the past. Her voice lowered. "Or a noose? You told me we'd have to make our own luck, remember?"

"I never wanted you to have to see it."

"I saw it the night we met. And in countless towns across the west." Her voice hardened. "I've seen it since I was born, and so have you. There's no such thing as easy west of St. Louis. Pa carved an empire and it's been a near constant fight to keep it. Why would this be any different?" A tear slid down her cheek. "I don't know why I had this image in my head of us finding him immediately and coming home in triumph."

"You wanted to piss off that kid sheriff." She gave him a look and he cracked a grin before he relaxed and pulled her into his arms. "Let's go for a ride. I need to clear my head."


When she came down wearing pants, the servants all stared at her wide-eyed. She offered them a smile as she took Candy's hand and they headed for the stables where she received more astonished looks.

They didn't argue with her when she asked for a spirited horse instead of one of the gentle mares the ladies of the family apparently used. The look in the eyes of the weathered stableman told her he'd heard – probably even seen – the forced departure of the woman who had run this place with her husband for decades, and he wasn't sure what it meant.

Wasn't sure what to make of the man in front of him now.

He gave them the animals they asked for, and made himself scarce as soon as they were in the saddle. Annie's gelding tossed his head, nostrils flaring, and stomped a hoof on the ground. She patted his neck, a thrill racing through her veins. It had been too long since she'd ridden.

They kept to an easy lope as they wandered across the extensive fields rippling with early corn and rice. "There used to be a lot more," Candy said offhandedly as they rode. "The phosphates bring in more money now than the crops."

"Can't avoid the blasted mines even three thousand miles away." Candy threw back his head and laughed, really laughed like he used to before everything went to hell, and it warmed her heart. They could still find their way back, she was sure of it. All wasn't lost, it couldn't be.

They slowed to a walk, giving the horses a breather, and he shook his head. "That's one of the things I love about you," he said. "You always know what to say to lighten the mood."

"I learned it from you." He turned his horse with a crooked grin.

"I seem to recall a few witty comebacks in the desert surrounded by Paiutes." They fell silent watching the corn blowing in the wind. "Those were some crazy days, weren't they? If someone had told me what was fixing to happen that night I rode out of Olympus, I don't think I'd have believed them."

"Do you regret it," Annie asked softly, and he turned, already shaking his head.

"I'd have never found you."

"We could still die."

"For some reason, I don't think so." He grinned again. "Maybe the padre's rubbing off on me but he could have a point. What's the use of us making it this far just to lose? Of course, I have to admit, I wasn't sure we'd make it out of Reno." He shook his head and scoffed. "I should have known you had a plan."

"Part of one, anyway."

"You have any ideas for when he finally shows up?" Even out here, in the middle of corn fields, they had to be careful.

"I don't know. If we let him confront us, obviously the whole city sees there's two of you, but who do they believe? And who does the law believe? Here they believe him," she said, answering her own question. "We need him mad enough to make a mistake."

"Kicking his mother out of her own house should make us social pariahs."

"Pity it won't get us out of the theater in two weeks."

"We have to go if we want to figure out who Mary likes."

"My money's on someone other than Will," she said after a moment. Candy raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment. "Pay attention when you mention him, she gets real quiet, and those eyes speak volumes. I don't know what she really feels, she never says anything around me, and I haven't wanted to force the issue." Annie sighed. "But maybe it's time. He's supposed to be attending the theater, isn't he?"

"As far as I know, he is. She's old enough to be married, so why didn't they use her as another pawn to secure this place?"

"I don't know." A fallen tree loomed ahead and she pushed her gelding to take the jump, thrilling in the rush as the animal launched himself neatly into the air, landing perfectly in stride. Candy laughed as his own mount soared over the log and landed easily. "Legare would have, just because he could, whether she liked the man or not, so maybe their father still held the final say."

"Could be." They slowed to a walk, giving the animals a breather, as they ambled along in the afternoon sunlight. "I'll mention him at supper and see how she reacts. And if she wanted someone her pa or brother didn't approve of, we've got a limited window to set it right. If she's married before he shows up, there ain't much he can do about it."

"He can't throw out a marriage made before God." Even if she suspected he would probably like to, just to see if he could do it. "How are Griff and Teddy doing?" It irritated her that the woman of the house generally stayed in the house, at least if she was part of Charleston's blue blooded high society set. She'd so far managed to avoid picking up a needle and thread, though the one womanly pursuit she actually could do well – cook – she was basically forbidden from. Ladies didn't cook. They did if they wanted to eat.

"Having the time of their lives, unless I'm mistaken," Candy said with a smile. "I left 'em with the blacksmith shoeing horses."

"Hudson can't complain about Teddy losing out on an education."

"We're going out to inspect the rice tomorrow and they seemed excited about it when I told them."

"How else would they ever see anything like that? Rice certainly doesn't grow up north."

"They want to see Fort Sumter, but I haven't had the time yet. Maybe later this week we'll ride in." He have her a sideways smirk. "You could always come with us and do some shopping." Annie snorted.

"Considering I'm supposed to 'run the house' I do an awful lot of reading and drinking tea in the garden. The servants do all the real work. I don't think I've been this bored in years." He laughed again.

"What we need is a bank robbery."

"Don't give anyone the idea! There's still soldiers crawling all over Charleston and the last thing we need is the wrong person seeing us. We haven't come this far to die now." She had to believe Padre Javier was right about that.

"McPhail's got a good plan."

"I hope it works."

"I think it will. Maybe not as fast as we'd like, but it will." He reached across and squeezed her hand. "So we go to the theater, find out who his sister is in love with and match her up, then see what other trouble we can cause before we have to run for our lives again."

"That letter will bring him back for sure. As soon as he finds out he's the master of his world, he'll high tail it home so fast Maybelle's head will spin." But how fast was the question. Had the letter been sent before or after the old man's passing? Depending on how and when it was sent, Maybelle could have it in hand by the end of the month, maybe a little later.

And then how long would it take to get word to Legare? Presuming she did have a way and didn't have to sit in San Francisco and wait for him to come back.

Which would he get first: that letter or McPhail's?

"We should head back, we can't afford to waste any time. He'll be heading our way before we know it." One afternoon wouldn't change things, but the feeling in the pit of her stomach told her a reckoning was coming. They needed to get to work.


"Missus?!" The embroidery hoop bounced off the far wall and Annie counted to ten before offering Hattie a smile, completely ignoring the question. And her bugged out eyes; the woman's face resembled a banked trout. On the settee opposite, Mary snickered behind her fan, her own embroidery hoop laying abandoned on her lap.

Alright, so what was supposed to be a cushion cover for a chair resembled the inside of a muskrat den – and not just on the back. She eyed the most likely ruined fabric laying in the floor and shrugged. "Needlework had no place on a working ranch unless it was stitching up an injured animal." Mary smothered a snort as Hattie reached down and picked up the pitiful mess by an overly long thread.

"Missus … you's lucky you're already married." She turned, eyes wide. "Lord, this is shameful. It'd be a right fine bird's nest, though." Mary abandoned all pretense of politeness and exploded with laughter. Annie folded her hands in her lap and smiled sweetly.

"Well, as you said, I'm already married and Beau didn't marry me for my skill with a needle." Mary stopped laughing.

"No, he 'married' you to spite us all." Her tone was sharp. "Caroline is one of my dearest friends and the two of you have ruined her life!"

"Miss Mary! I know I taught you better than that."

"It's alright, Hattie. Mary is allowed her opinion." Annie leaned back against the settee. "I won't go tattling to Beau if she hurts my feelings." Mary scoffed and she arched a brow. "Go ahead. Say it." The blond's face darkened and she flung her embroidery hoop to the floor, earning an equally dark look from Hattie that she ignored.

"You're no better than any of those low women who walk the streets at night! Whether it bothers you or not, you're not married to my brother and you never will be! I don't believe he got a divorce in California, I know my brother, Samantha King. He never loved Caroline, never thought of her as his wife, so why get a divorce he wouldn't have believed he needed? He does whatever he wants and the rest of us have to live with the consequences!"

"You do know your brother," Annie said with a knowing smile. "But you don't know me." She rose gracefully and left the room without a backward glance.

Oh yes, there was anger there. A bellyful of it, and built up over the years to boot. This, she could work with. Yes … tomorrow would be the perfect time for a trip into the city.


"Come along, Mary, the carriage is out front." Annie pulled on her gloves and smiled at Nat as he opened the front door for her. "Thank you."

"Why should I? I have no wish to sully my reputation by being seen with a harlot." Annie turned, her smile becoming cat-like even as Nat drew in a sharp breath behind her.

"You should come, sister, because you want answers." Her smile sharpened. "And only I have them." She turned away and started down the front stairs to the carriage waiting in the turn around. Annie made it all the way onto the buggy seat before heels clicked on the porch.

"Fine!" Mary clambered into the buggy and settled her skirts. "But only because I want to see my friends cut you." Annie laughed and took up the reins. "What's so funny?" She didn't answer until they were out of the yard and trotting down the long, oak-lined lane.

"Because they all wish they were me." She gave the younger woman a sideways look. "Even you."

"You're insane."

"Who's mistress of the house and who's stuck under her brother's control?"

"That's not yours by right."

"Maybe, maybe not. But I have it now, and possession is nine-tenths of the law."

"You're nothing but a money-hungry … Yankee!"

"Only half. Perhaps I misspoke: you don't want to be me so much as you want what I have."

"And what's that?" Mary's face was smug. "I'm already engaged to be married, to Will Morgan. We just have to wait until mourning for Pa is over and then I'll be mistress of his house."

"That's not what you want."

"Excuse me? The Morgans are just as high as we are in society, it's a perfect match."

"But you want the freedom to write your own story, and you'll never get it in Charleston." There was a deafening silence for the space of a dozen heart beats.

"Just who do you think you are?"

"I saved his life and he listens to me." Annie stopped the horse and turned, staring the blond full in the face. "If there's something – or someone – you want, I can get it." For a long moment, she wasn't sure it had worked. Mary's eyes swam with churning emotions.

"Why would you help me?"

"Because I want to."

"No, you don't. You'll tell my brother and he'll move the wedding up."

"Hardly."

"Just what would you get out of this?"

"I love my husband, and I want him to be happy. You know he wasn't ... before. Deep down, I know he won't want that for you, no matter how much money the Morgans have. He thinks he does now, but that's only because he was thwarted before. I won't let him make himself miserable once he realizes he did to you what was done to him."

"You do know him," Mary said softly, fingers playing with a loose curl on her shoulder. "But it doesn't matter, no one can stop it," she said too quickly.

"You want to stay here, governed by a way of life that's never coming back?"

"You think I don't know that?" Spots of red flared in Mary's cheeks. "All they do is live in the past and it's dead and gone! I don't care what happened at Manassas or Vicksburg, I want a life that isn't buried on a crumbling plantation! I want to go places … do things …."

"When we get to Charleston, point him out."

"Beau would never agree."

"Leave that to me." She slapped the reins over the mare's back and the animal picked up a trot again.

"It's hopeless." Annie shrugged.

"Then sit there like a bump on a log and pretend to love a golden cage." Mary didn't say another word the rest of the way to town. They were trotting down main street near the dock out the old fort when a nudge to her side had Annie glancing sideways, but Mary wasn't looking at her. Those blue eyes were staring past her. She turned and did a double take. "The one with the dark hair and beard?" To her dismay, Mary nodded slowly. "You don't do anything in half measures, do you?"

A Yankee lieutenant. The widow Legare would have a conniption fit.

"His name is Cade St. John. He's been reassigned out West." Mary's voice was as dull as dishwater. "He has to be in Louisville in three weeks to catch the train west." And she wanted to be on that train with him; the yearning was as clear as day.

"Do you want him out of spite?" Annie said with a sharp edge to her tone.

"No." Good, not too fast. And no hesitation. She'd thought about the situation.

"Are you out to cause a scandal?"

"You're one to talk." Annie shrugged.

"Does he love you?"

"Yes."

"Why hasn't he approached your brother?"

"What part of engaged to Will Morgan didn't you hear," Mary hissed. "The – they'd run him out of Charleston." Her voice lowered even further. "Beau's lucky Caroline's brother left the state."

"I believe the people you almost named have more important things to worry about. You didn't like me because I'd flouted convention and you were too afraid to do the same. If you do this, you can't care what anyone thinks of you and you'll have to stand firm."

"I know."

Annie glanced back and saw the man watching them; he averted his gaze when he noticed he'd been caught staring. She committed his features to memory and turned back to watch where she was going. "One more thing: is he worth never coming home again? You'll be dead to her." The other brother may or may not care all that much.

"I know." Her voice was so low Annie could barely hear her. "But …."

"But?"

"A life with Cade is worth it." Mary glanced behind them at the lieutenant. "He doesn't live in a past that's never coming back and he doesn't look down on me because I'm not a Yankee. He wanted me to meet his mother in Pennsylvania …."

"Are you sure you won't regret this in four or five years? Life out west is hard, violent, and often short. Army wives spend a lot of time alone, waiting and hoping he comes home alive. Could you handle being a widow before you're too much older?"

"I'd have to, wouldn't I?" There was a touch of steel to her voice and Annie's lips twitched. No she probably hadn't thought it through completely, but what woman in love did?

"I can get him for you, but you have to be absolutely sure this is what you want."

"More than anything."

"I'll talk to Beau when we get home." She stopped the buggy at the milliner's shop and jumped down. Annie saw a woman inspecting a bolt of fabric through the window and a smirk touched her mouth as she recalled another dressmaker's shop and another bolt of fabric years in the past. "Lesson one, Mary: if they're going to gossip anyway, give them something good to talk about."


"How was Charleston?" Candy offered his hand to help her out of the buggy.

"The same as always, Husband. We were able to find what we needed, so the day wasn't a complete waste." Their eyes met and she nodded slightly.

"I can't want to hear all about it at supper. If you'll excuse us, Mary, I have need of my wife's opinion on a small matter." The blond froze for a second, glancing between them, and Annie nodded once.

"Of course." She hurried inside and Candy held out his arm. Annie tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and they wandered around to the side yard and the gardens.

"Cade St. John. He's a Yankee lieutenant," she said in a low voice after a quick glance around to be sure they were alone. He gave her a look that said are you serious? and she nodded. "She says she loves him enough to handle being an Army widow if need be."

"She says that now."

"She doesn't want to live in the past." Candy hummed agreement. "Send the boys to town, we need to get him out here –"

"Without it being obvious we want to meet him." Candy grinned. "They're going to have fun with this."

"As long as they don't actually end up in jail, I don't much care how they do it. Tell them to get creative." Candy laughed.

"Hudson is going to hate us."

"Only if he finds out."


May 21, 1871

"Mr. Legare." The lieutenant they'd wanted to see stood at attention in the library, gaze locked on the picture over the mantel behind Candy's head. Griff and Teddy hovered in the far corner, staring down at the carpet underfoot. "I understand these two are your wife's younger brothers." Annie had to give him credit; whatever he thought of the situation personally didn't show on his face, nor did he stumble over the title he'd given her.

"I fail to see how that constitutes a visit from an army lieutenant," Candy said with a slow drawl, confusion bubbling over as he glanced from Cade to the boys.

"Well, sir, I was the one who witnessed the incident, so my commanding officer decided it was best I report the situation personally." His throat worked and she wondered how badly he wanted to look at Mary.

"Situation?" Candy's tone sharpened and he straightened in his chair. "What situation?" The soldier stiffened and drew in a breath as his eyes flicked to her face.

"It might be best if the ladies left the room, sir."

It galled her not to be able to refute him directly, but a woman didn't rule the roost in this town. Annie bit her tongue and glanced at Candy.

"They're her brothers, I see no reason for her to leave. And my sister is her own person, if she wants to stay, she may."

"But, sir –"

"Get on with it, lieutenant, I'm a busy man."

"But –"

"I said get on with it," Candy roared and Cade St. John jumped, noticeably jumped. Teddy flinched and Griff elbowed him in the ribs. Mary flinched and Annie made a note to remind her about concealing reactions. It wouldn't do to put in all this work only for the woman herself to give it away at the eleventh hour.

"If you say so, sir." He cleared his throat. "Mr. Theodore King and Mr. Griffin King were apprehended this morning during a brawl at … well, at a …" His face reddened. "At a … brothel … sir." Annie blinked once and ran over what he'd just said again.

Yes, that's what she'd thought she heard. She looked at the boys in shock and Griff shrugged, redfaced. Teddy kicked at the carpet, his shoulders up around his ears, and she fought the urge to fall over laughing.

Candy looked as stunned as Hoss the time he swore he'd found leprechauns. "A what?"

"Yes, sir."

"Teddy and Griff."

"Yes, sir."

"What the devil were they doing in there?!" The lieutenant looked like he wanted to shrug and laugh at the same time.

"I'd imagine what a man usually does –"

"No, I don't – just stop right there." Candy held up a hand and abandoned his chair behind the polished desk. "They're just boys." He fixed them with a glare. "Get upstairs, you'll eat supper in your room, and don't come down until I call for you."

"Yes, Uncle Beau."

"We won't." They scurried from the library like their tails were on fire. Footsteps retreated up the stairs and a door slammed overhead.

"Ten years ago, they'd have been on the front lines. Sir." Candy looked up sharply.

"Yes, they would've been," he said after a moment. "Thankfully, that's no longer necessary." He held the lieutenant's gaze a moment, then glanced at the clock on the mantel. "Since you're here, you might as well stay to supper." Behind his back, Mary's eyes lit up, only to fade as the Yankee shook his head.

"I'm expected back, Mr. Legare."

"Nonsense. I'm sure your commanding officer will understand." Candy clapped him on the back. "How often has he called over some petty offense at mealtime?"

"Well, quite often, actually," he replied after a short pause, and Candy laughed.

"Smart fellow." He held out his arm and Annie took it. There was a short pause, then Candy spoke again with the air of someone bestowing a great privilege. "You may escort my sister to supper, Lieutenant. I trust there'll be no cause for concern."

"Of course not, Mr. Legare." Mary took his arm without betraying her delight, but only just. Her smile was a touch too wide for the occasion, but Annie figured she could let it slip this once. She knew how it felt to have to keep your distance from the man you loved.


"Pennsylvania?" Candy took a sip of his coffee. "I can't say I've ever had the privilege of visiting, I was elsewhere during the Gettysburg campaign, though I have heard how rich the farmland is."

"It's home, but I can't say I miss doing chores in several feet of snow."

"Who would?" He set his cup down. "Do you intend to stay in the Army then?"

"For now. I'll return eventually, but I want to see more of the country first. As a matter of fact, I have to report to Fort Riley in a matter of weeks, I'm being transferred to the 7th Cavalry."

"So there's no Mrs. St. John waiting for you?"

"No." He reached for his coffee. "If there was, I wouldn't have asked for the transfer."

"What if you found someone in Kansas?" Annie offered a polite smile. "Surely you wouldn't want to leave her alone all the time." His smile was tight.

"I'm sure most women at Fort Riley have either a father or brother in the cavalry. They'd know what they were getting into."

"There's no one in Charleston caught your eye?" The coffee cup froze halfway to his mouth and he eyed her like she was crazy.

"I'm a Yankee, ma'am." Annie scoffed.

"More than one Charleston girl's married a Yankee."

"They were rich, ma'am." Annie raised her coffee and took a slow sip, then offered him a small smile.

"Hm, I suppose they were at that." She glanced at Candy. Normally, they wouldn't have to rush, but with that letter floating around somewhere, who knew when Legare would show up. They needed to get Mary married before he arrived and ruined everything. "Let's just say a woman did accept your suit, what then?" He shook his head.

"You obviously haven't spent much time in town since your arrival. The devil himself would be more welcome in Charleston than a Yankee soldier."

"One could say the same thing about me," she quipped and he seemed taken aback. "Don't pretend, Lieutenant, I know the people in Charleston hate me." His throat worked.

"Ma'am –" She dismissed him with a wave of her hand. "Don't insult my intelligence." She pushed back her chair and stood. "I believe we'll let you adjourn to the library for brandy and cigars now. Come along, Mary. Good night, Husband." For a second, she thought she'd have to snag the other woman's skirt and tug her out of the room, but the younger woman followed without a whisper of protest.

"Good night," Candy called after her, and she smiled at him over her shoulder. One supper wasn't enough for what needed to be done, but it was a start.

Two weeks, no longer. And preferably sooner than that. Even Virginia City was no stranger to sudden elopements. She caught her reflection in the pier glass over the hall sideboard.

Case in point.

Mary touched her sleeve, a plaintive look on her face. "Rome wasn't built in a day," Annie said softly.

"But –"

"Lesson number two: convincing a man that your idea is really his idea takes time." Though in this case, it was the making it look that way that would take time.

Time she doubted they had to spare.