Thanks for all the reviews - it's so great to read them all and thank you for taking the time to write them and become so invested in the story! So...Preston's reaction....

"Preston!" Rebecca exclaimed. "I didn't see…"

"I was concerned," he said, "I wanted to make sure that you were all right." He looked past her to Matthew. "But I see you have company."

"Matthew and I were just…"

"Please go back to the table, Rebecca," Preston interrupted without looking at her. "Our guest is waiting."

Rebecca paused momentarily, feeling rooted to the spot, and then forced herself to move past him back inside the hotel. Preston remained where he was, staring at Matthew, feeling as though he would like to kill him.

"That's right, we kissed," Matthew said spiritedly. "Damn nice it was too." He grinned drunkenly at Preston. "Go ahead then. Hit me, Preston, you know you want to."

He wanted to. There was nothing Preston would have liked more than to demonstrate his boxing skills on Matthew's face. Knowing that the other man's hands had been on his wife, his mouth exploring hers…but something inside him made him restrain himself. Instead, he simply straightened his cravat, shot Matthew a contemptuous look and went back inside. When he approached the door of the dining room he saw Rebecca and Mason at the table, the latter talking, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Rebecca clearly wasn't listening to him. As though sensing him, she turned and met his gaze, her eyes wide with fear.

He made his way back towards the table, Rebecca's gaze still on him. When he reached them he could see she was trembling slightly. "I'm sorry about that," he said, sitting back down.

"Everything all right?" Mason asked.

"Fine," Preston replied tightly, draining his wine glass, "absolutely fine."

The atmosphere was somewhat strained for the rest of the evening until they rose from the table. Preston suggested coffee but Mason declined. "No thank you," he replied. "I'm going to turn in early. I've a lot of thinking to do." He turned to Rebecca. "Mrs Lodge, it's been a pleasure." He kissed her hand again then shook Preston's. "Good night Mr Lodge."

"Good night," Preston said. There was a tense silence as Mason walked away from the table, leaving them alone together.

"Preston…" Rebecca said.

"Not here," he replied curtly, striding away from her, causing her to scurry to keep up with him. He strode outside to where the surrey was waiting and climbed in, barely waiting for her to be helped in by one of the staff, before moving the horse forward.

Rebecca wasn't sure how to start the conversation. She opened her mouth to say something on more than one occasion but found the words wouldn't come out. She knew she hadn't done anything wrong when it came to what had happened with Matthew, but a part of her felt guilty for not telling him before.

"When did this happen?" Preston suddenly asked, his voice tightly controlled.

She looked over at him, but he kept his gaze on the road ahead. "Last month."

"When exactly?"

"The night I told you that I had made no attempt to prevent my pregnancy."

"I see," he clenched his jaw. "Where did it happen?"

"At home."

"In our home?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"Preston…"

"In the yard? In the kitchen? In our bedroom?"

"Does it really…?"

"Yes!"

"In the kitchen," she said with a sigh. "It was in the kitchen. After you left, Matthew came by with my digitalis and I was upset because of our fight and…"

"So you decided to divulge sensitive, personal information about our marriage to the local sheriff." His voice dripped with sarcasm.

"It wasn't like that," she replied. "He was trying to comfort me and then he said…things."

"What things?"

"It doesn't matter."

"It does!" Preston exclaimed. "I want to know exactly what he said to you."

"Why?"

He looked at her angrily, "Tell me!"

"He told me that if it were his child he would never ask me to do what you were suggesting. He told me he would want to protect me and the baby and then…then he suggested that we run away together. Then he kissed me." She looked at him. "That's what happened, Preston, he kissed me. I didn't kiss him. I didn't want to kiss him."

"Then he assaulted you."

Rebecca paused, "No…"

"Then you were willing?"

"No!"

"Then tell me, Rebecca, because I'm finding it difficult to understand," he said, pulling Thunder to a halt as they reached the house. "Not only the fact you and Matthew kissed, but also the fact that you found it to be so unimportant as to not see any need to tell me about it!" He climbed out of the surrey and around to her side. "And that I had to find out about it from Matthew who was clearly intoxicated and relishing the prospect of telling me!" He lifted her out of the surrey, mid-rant, and placed her on the ground.

Rebecca looked at the ground, "I'm sorry. I should have told you, but…"

"Yes you should have!" Preston replied, storming away from her up the steps and into the house.

Rebecca followed at a slower pace and when she entered the living room, saw that he was pacing in front of the fire. "Preston, it meant nothing. The moment that he kissed me I knew what I've known all along; that there could never be anything between Matthew and I because I don't feel for him what I feel for you."

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"Because it was so…so meaningless and…and I didn't want to hurt you." Her words sounded hollow as she realised that by not telling him, she had done exactly that. She stepped towards him. "Preston, I am so, so sorry…"

"Spare me your apologies!" he spat, pushing past her and storming out of the room. She followed him as he made his way into the kitchen and started roaming around the room like an animal caged up and itching to be set free, banging various objects, whatever he could find. "How dare he put his hands on you!" he raged. "How dare he put his filthy…"

"Preston, please," she begged him, "please calm down." Her words were drowned out as he lifted a cup and threw it at the far wall, causing it to smash into pieces. "Preston!" He placed his hands on the kitchen table and pressed hard against them, lowering his head between his stretched arms, as though trying to push away the images, the hurt and the pain that she knew her actions had, in some way, caused him. She stepped gingerly towards him until she was standing beside him. Reaching out, she placed a hand on his arm, causing him to start and look at her. "You have to believe me," she said, "it was just the silly action of a boy with a crush. It meant absolutely nothing to me. You have to know that." She reached up and put her hand against his cheek. "I love you so much, Preston…Do you really think I could have given myself to you this morning the way I did if I didn't?"

He closed his eyes and pressed his cheek into her palm for a long moment, allowing her to run her thumb gently over his cheekbone. Then he opened his eyes again and met her gaze. "Tell me one thing," he said in a low voice.

"Anything."

"Is it my child?"

Rebecca froze, unsure if she had heard right. "What?

"Tell me the truth," he said, his tone almost begging. "Is it my child?"

"What exactly are you suggesting?" she spluttered, snatching her hand back.

"I need to know," he said, his voice quivering slightly. "I need to know if it's my child or his that you're carrying."

Rebecca felt physically sick. She stepped back from him, her expression one of shock, unable to believe what he had just said. "How dare you," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "How dare you suggestthat I've been with any other man except you. I have been honest and faithful to you from the moment you declared your intentions to me. I have never even considered anyone else. You are the only man I have ever lain with…" She broke off, her hand moving to her stomach. "How could you even think that I would do such a thing and then wilfully deceive you?" She quickly turned away from him to leave the room, but all of a sudden felt the familiar blackness start to descend on her and she clutched hold of the doorframe for support.

"I don't know what to think!" Preston replied, clearly unaware of her predicament. "I never imagined for one moment that you would keep something like this from me!"

"And that automatically means that I…I must have lain with another man?" she queried, fighting to keep her balance. She could almost hear her heartbeat slowing in her ears, her breathing becoming more rapid, her chest tightening…

"Of course not," he replied, "but you not telling me this makes me wonder what else you haven't told me!" Rebecca turned back towards the kitchen table, knowing that she would feel better if she could just sit down and take some digitalis. "A relationship has to be built on trust, Rebecca, and right now…"

"Preston…" she said, reaching out to catch the edge of the table. "Preston, I need…"

"Are you all right?" he peered at her curiously.

"No," she replied, grabbing the table. She made to take hold of the nearest chair, but missed, and crumpled to her knees.

"Rebecca!" he was instantly at her side, his arm wrapped around her waist, helping her up. "Can you stand?"

"I don't…" she trailed off, trying to stop the ringing in her ears. "If I sit…" She didn't finish the sentence as her eyes rolled back in her head and she fainted.

Preston caught her in his arms, "Rebecca! Darling, look at me!" There was no response and he hitched her up and carried her through to the living room where he placed her gently down in the chair. "Rebecca?" Her eyes remained closed so he rushed back into the kitchen, trying to remember where she kept the digitalis. He started pulling drawers open, his eyes scanning to find the all important vial. Eventually, he found it and he ran back to the living room. When he reached his wife, he saw that her eyelids were fluttering. "Rebecca?" he crouched in front of her. "Rebecca, open your eyes!"

With seemingly great effort, she forced her eyes open. "Preston…?"

"It's all right," he reassured her. "It's all right, I've got your digitalis. Do you want to take some?" Letting out a long breath, she pushed herself up in her seat and reached out a shaking hand for the vial. She couldn't get the top off and he took it from her. As he did so, she curled her fingers around his. He met her gaze and saw how frightened she looked. "Here," he opened it for her and passed it back. She took a couple of drops and then passed it back to him. He recapped it and laid it down on the coffee table. When he turned back to her, she burst into tears. "Rebecca…" he pulled her into her arms and held her against him while she sobbed. "I'm sorry," he said, "I'm so sorry." When her sobs quietened, he pulled back and pushed her hair away from her face. "That's the first attack you've had since becoming pregnant," he put into words her own thoughts. She nodded. "I should ride for Michaela."

"No," she replied faintly. "No, I'm fine. I just…" she let out a shaky breath. "I'll feel better in a moment or two."

"You should lie down."

"I thought you might ask me to leave."

"Of course not," he paused, clearly struggling for words. "I should never have suggested…well…it was unforgivable."

Rebecca wiped her eyes. "Yes it was," she replied.

"You are the only woman I have ever truly loved and…and the day that we married and I made you mine…" he paused again. "The thought…of any other man…with his hands on you…"

Rebecca put her head in her hands and started crying again. "It wasn't like that…I promise you that it wasn't like that."

"I know, my darling of course I know." He reached out and pulled her hands away from her face. "I accept what you've said about what took place. I accept that it was Matthew's doing and not yours."

"Then why suggest that our child might not be yours?" she asked, tears pouring down her cheeks again.

"I'm sorry. I should never have suggested…it was wrong of me, so very wrong. Please, my darling, please forgive me." He took her face in his hands. "Please…I couldn't bear it if you said you couldn't." She nodded mutely and he pulled her into his arms again, kissing her forehead, her eyelids, nose and finally her mouth.

Rebecca responded briefly and then rested her head against his shoulder, "I'm so tired," she murmured.

"You should get to bed," he said. "If you're not any better in the morning, I'm going to get Michaela." She didn't resist as he lifted her up in his arms again and carried her up the stairs to their bedroom where he laid her gently down on the bed. Her fingers started to try and unhook her buttons but she fumbled so much that he stepped in to help her. Pulling her dress down he reached for her nightshirt which was under her pillow and made to put it over her head when he paused and saw that her hands were over her stomach, gently stroking it. "Rebecca?"

She looked up and met his gaze, "I'm going to die, Preston."

Shocked by her words, he couldn't speak for a moment, "No you're not," he said firmly, "it was just one little attack. It doesn't mean anything." He could tell that she didn't believe him. "I am not going to let anything happen to you." Her lip trembled and her eyes filled up. "Darling, you just need to rest. Come on now," he helped her into her nightshirt and then pulled back the covers to help her into the bed. Moments later, she was asleep. He sat by the side of the bed watching her sleep, before eventually climbing in beside her and pulling her back against him, placing one of his hands over her stomach. He could hardly believe that the child he had been so determined to get rid of, he was now so determined to keep safe.

XXXX

Rebecca slept late the following morning, waking only when Preston came into the room with breakfast. She felt so utterly exhausted that it was all she could do to open her eyes and look at him. "What time is it?" she mumbled.

"Early," he told her, placing the tray next to the bed and perching on the edge. He pushed her hair back from her eyes, "How do you feel?"

"Tired," she replied honestly. "Very tired." Pushing herself up in the bed, she let out a long breath. "I'm sorry but I don't think I can eat anything."

"You have to keep your strength up," he told her.

"Preston…"

"Rebecca, I won't hear any more defeatist talk," he warned her. "You're going to be fine. I'm going to go and see Michaela and tell her what happened and have her come out and take a look at you. I want you to stay in bed until I get back."

"But she won't be there yet," Rebecca said.

"I have a couple of other things to do," he replied, "but I'll be back as soon as I can, all right?" She nodded and he bent to kiss her. "I love you."

"I love you too," she replied.

He left the house and rode into town, knowing full well that Michaela wouldn't be at the clinic but also knowing that someone else would already be in town. He stopped outside the Sheriff's office, tied Thunder up and then knocked smartly at the door. It only took seconds for Matthew to open it. "Ah, good morning Sheriff," Preston greeted him.

"Preston."

"Not that I think you'll hold that position for much longer."

Matthew looked at him suspiciously, "Why's that?"

"Well, I'm not too sure that the people of this town would feel comfortable knowing that the man entrusted to uphold the law took liberties when it came to its female citizens," Preston looked at him. "What do you think?"

"I think that I don't know what you're talking about."

"I'm talking about the fact that you thought it entirely acceptable to put your hands on my wife. My pregnant wife."

Matthew looked uncomfortable, "Look, Preston…I don't really remember much about what happened at the hotel last night…"

"Well, thankfully I do," Preston replied, "as does Rebecca. Quite frankly we were both shocked and horrified by your actions, especially Rebecca, given that she considered you to be a friend."

"I am her friend."

"I don't believe the definition of 'friend' includes one person grabbing the other and forcing themselves on them."

Matthew stared at him, "I didn't force myself…"

"So you say, so you say," Preston interrupted dismissively, "but I say otherwise and so does Rebecca and we feel that others in the community should know exactly what kind of a man their Sheriff is."

"Rebecca would never say anything like that," Matthew replied.

"Forgive me, but I don't think you really know her as well as you think you do. I believe I'm the best person to judge what Rebecca would and would not say. She's been left quite distressed by the whole incident and what with the pregnancy and her condition…which has been exacerbated by your actions to the point where she had an attack last night."

Matthew looked shocked, "Is she all right?"

"She's fine, no thanks to you."

"What do you want?"

Preston stepped closer to him, his tone now serious. "I want you to stay away from my wife. I don't want you to look at her, talk to her and I especially don't want you to touch her. If I see you so much as glance in her direction, I will make sure that you are run out of this town, and I'll also see to it personally that your…youthful good looks…are never the same again. Doctor Quinn or no Doctor Quinn. Do I make myself clear?"

Matthew swallowed hard, "You can't tell Rebecca who she can and can't be friends with."

"I think you'll find I can," Preston replied. "You see Matthew, Rebecca is in love with me. It's me she comes to for help. It's me who has the honour of touching her and holding her and making love to her. It's my bed she sleeps in at night and it's my child nestled warmly inside her. You never so much as had a chance with her and, even if you had, the time has long since passed. I suggest you direct your attentions elsewhere." He stepped back and smiled superiorly at him. "I'm sure there are still some immigrants and whores you haven't worked your way through yet." With that, he closed the door firmly behind him.