evening had finally come to Four Corners. The day had ended, and Rosalie was free to do as she liked, for the time being. She wearily removed her apron, tidied her hair, and decided to go out and see if Chris had returned as he had promised he would. The thought of the black-clad lawman waiting just for her was a thrilling one, to say the least. He had stirred something in her that no man had since her husband. She only hoped he returned her feelings.

She stepped out through the doors and looked around. Sure enough, just as he'd promised, there was Chris, seated in one of the chairs. He was still dressed in his familiar black clothing, but even in the dim light Rosalie could see that it had been cleaned somewhat. Hmmmm, had he done that for her benefit? She took a step or two closer and gently cleared her throat. "Good evening, Chris." she said. "Been waiting long?"

"Only long enough to wonder if I should go looking for you." was his answer, rising to his feet as she approached. "Ready to talk a little?"

"With you, I'm ready to talk anytime." she answered with a smile.

"Where shall we go?"

"Just down the street a ways." he said, and held out his arm, returning her smile with one of his own. Almost shyly, Rosalie tucked her hand into his arm. Seeing it almost made her cheeks flush again but she was bound and determined not to behave like a schoolgirl. When Chris Larabee was around, however, that was going to be more than a little difficult for her.

For a short time they walked almost aimlessly down the street, not really having any particular direction to go but definitely having a purpose. Once in a while Chris would point something out to her and Rosalie would look at it as best she could and perhaps make a comment or two. Finally, they were within sight of the church.

"If I remember correctly, there's a bench of some sort to sit on around here somewhere." Chris commented. He glanced around, his eyes adjusting quickly. After a moment..."there it is." he said, indicating a short distance from where they stood. He led Rosalie to the bench, and let her seat herself before he sat down, fairly close to her. It was dark, but there was a moon out and it did offer some light to be seen by.

Rosalie looked up at the sky and the stars twinkling within the perimeter of her vision. "They're so beautiful." she murmured. "Have you ever noticed them before, Chris?"

"Not particularly," he replied quietly, "but every once in a while I do give them a look or two." He studied her profile. "You are too, you know." he added. "Beautiful, that is."

"Why, Chris, thank you!" exclaimed Rosalie in mild surprise. "I do believe that's the nicest thing you've said to me since I met you."

"You're welcome, and I meant every word." he said, in that same quiet voice. He fell silent for a moment, tightening his grip slightly on her hand, which he still held. "Rosalie....there's something I need to say to you." Rosalie felt her heart begin to beat twice its normal rhythm.

"There's something I need to say too, but it can wait until you're through." she said, looking into his face. "May I take a guess and say it has something to do with...us?"

Chris nodded his head. "It does." He looked back at her. "You know all about Sarah, and Adam." he said. "It's been several years, and I still can't forget about them. I don't think I ever could. But, I want you to know that--there is something about you that I am Drawn to--and I think maybe you are just what I may need when it comes to--filling that space in my heart." He stopped and drew a deep breath. "Now," he continued, "I'm going to tell you, that I don't know if it will ever get to the point where you might want it to, but I can promise you this....you will be the lady in my life, as long as both of us want it that way." He took her chin in his hand and looked deeply into her eyes. "Can you accept that?"

Rosalie looked back and felt her defenses crumbling. "Oh, Chris!" she whispered gently. "Then you did mean what you said that day to Mr. Benson. I am yours! That's what I wanted to ask you tonight!" She smiled happily and added, "Yes, I can accept that. And I will want it that way until you tell me otherwise."

"I was hoping you'd say that." he replied, and without warning, bent his head to hers and gave her a warm, sweet kiss.

At the touch of his lips, everything that Rosalie was going to say after that went right out of her head. It seemed as if the world were turned upside down in a single gesture. She couldn't think coherently, but she didn't want to, not now. All she wanted to think about was the way he was kissing her, and the feel of him taking her into his arms, which was what he was doing. It felt so good that she just couldn't help herself; she moaned softly and twined her arms about his neck. If only he'd keep kissing her like this for the rest of her life!

Neither of them noticed the figure watching them from the shadows a short distance away.

Shannon and Vin sat in Lissa's living room just sitting. Shannon really hadn't said much at all since they caught Jake hardly anything at all. Vin was getting worried that she was closing herself off again to everyone. He watched her tracing the line on the scar on her hand and shook his head. Vin leaned over towards her his dirty blonde hair brushing against her shoulder and spoke softly "Shannon are you alright? Are you hungry or anything?" She slowly shook her head but didn't utter a word. She just sat there staring at her hands. Vin frowned then sighed. She shivered a small ripple running through her small body so he went and put a blanket around her tucking it in. He hoped the chill from the other day didn't cause her to get sick. He sighed seeing Ms Lissa hurt like that had shattered Shannon's already fragile feeling of safety. He had seen the stricken look on her face when they had brought Ms Lissa to Nathan's. Shannon had been there just so Nate could check to make sure everything was healing. When Josiah brought her in Vin got Shannon out of the clinic fast as he could. Now they were sitting in Lissa's living room and she hadn't spoken one word to him since they got there.

Vin looked up when there was a knock on the door. He looked at Shannon and then got up to answer it. As he opened the door he saw Chris and Buck standing in the doorway. "Can I help ya Pard?" He asked quietly.

"Yeah Vin I would like to talk to Miss Shannon for a minute." Chris asked respectfully. Vin moved aside and let them into the room. He followed them into the living quarters and sat down by Shannon. "How are you doing Miss Shannon? There is something I would like to talk to you about if that's okay?" Chris started quietly hoping not to scare the young girl.

Shannon nodded barely audible she said "alright."

Chris knelt down in front of her and looked up at her. "Now that we have found Mr. Dawson there is going to be a trial. In order for us to make sure he gets what he deserves we need you to tell us what happened that night. Then your going to have to tell it again on a witness stand."

Vin jumped to his feet, "NO! Hasn't she been put through enough without having to spill out everything that, that bastard did to her? Then have to do it all over again in some damn court where everyone is staring at her." He put his hand on Shannon's shoulder breathing heavily from his outburst.

Chris stood to his feet and looked at Vin. "Its either that or Dawson goes free and can go after her again or any other women in town. You want him to pay for what he did don't you Vin?"

Vin glared at him "You know damn well I do but at the expense of Shannon I don't know. She's scared enough as it is and she's uncomfortable around people. I'm not going to put her through something that will upset her worse. It's not happening Chris."

Buck touched Vines shoulder with his hand "Pard if she don't testify and tell us what happened then Dawson will go free and then no ladies gonna be safe."

Vin got angrier his blue eyes flashing "don't you think I know this damn it. If she doesn't testify then he goes free and could hurt someone else."

Shannon yells "STOP IT STOP IT" Everyone turned to look at her doubled over her hands over her ears sobbing quietly.

Drew heard Shannon yell and hurried into the other room. She glares at the three men and wrapped her arms around her friend. "What are you doing your scaring her stop it."

Vin looked down at his feet and mumbled an apology. "Sorry Miss Drew I didn't mean to." He looked at Shannon clinging to Drew sobbing afraid and felt like worse than a heel.

Buck looked over and frowned "she's right Chris she can't do this. We got to find some other way. She ain't going to be able to get up there and do this. She's too afraid now."

Chris looks over and sits down running a hand through his short sandy blonde hair. " I am sorry Miss Shannon we didn't mean to scare you like that but this is the only way we can make sure that Dawson doesn't go free."

Drew stood up and glared at Chris "I am going to have to ask you to leave Mr. Larabee before I do something I will regret."

Chris looked at her and stood up "sorry to have upset you Miss Shannon." He puts his hat on and walks out. Buck looked over at Drew and followed Chris out the door shutting it behind him.

Drew sat with Shannon not really knowing what to say to her. She knew Shannon had to testify but also knew that the men frightened her. Maybe Lissa would be able to talk with her some? She looked to Shannon who sat back and was starring at her hands "Shannon I have to go on over to work, but I want you to know something. Miss Lissa is a very kind person and you can talk to her. I finally told her about my brothers although she was upset she did understand. She won't be upset with you none of this is your fault."

Shannon shook her head "I can't Drew I just can't. I can't talk about it anymore I just want to forget."

Drew hugged her again then helped her to stand "well you don't need to be alone so at least go in the shop and sit with Miss Lissa." She led a reluctant Shannon back to Lissa's workplace.

Lissa looked up from the wedding gown she was working on for Drew and stood in front of it looking over Drew's shoulder. "Buck's not with you is he?"

Drew smiled "no he's not." She watched as Shannon sat down on a chair in the corner then walked over to Lissa and told her what had just taken place.

Lissa nodded to Drew "you go onto to work she'll be fine."

"Thank you" she smiled to both women then walked out of the door of the shop. Drew was caught off guard by some placing their arms around her and lifting her off her feet before she could scream she saw Buck smiling to her as he held her. "Buck you scared me!"

Buck laughed and spun her around then stopped but still held her to him with her feet still off the ground "Sunshine I knew you had to be getting to work so I gave you some time with Shannon and waited outside."

Drew frowned "Buck I'm worried about her with this trail and all."

Buck gently set her down but still kept his arms wrapped around her "I take it she's not any closer to agreeing to testify?"

"No she's not."

"Sunshine she's gonna have too Chris is right."

"I know that Buck but......."

Buck took her arm and tucked it under his as he led her towards the Boarding House "It's gonna be hard but it's something she has to do. You realize that man can go free if she doesn't?"

"I know, I know. Look let her think about it some more without you men hassling her."

"We ain't hassling her, but all right I won't say anything, now I can't guarantee Chris won't try."

Drew smiled to him as he led her inside "fair enough."

Buck took a seat back by the kitchen and smiled up to Drew as she stood by his table.

"I take it you're staying?" she smiled to him.

"Of course, I got to keep an eye on my Sunshine don't I? And Drew" he took her hand and look to her sternly "after we get married you're not going to work anymore all right?"

"What?" Drew was shocked she sat down across from him and looked to him "what do you mean not work anymore?"

He shook his head defiantly "ain't no wife of Buck Wilmington's going to work. It's a mans job to take care of his woman."

Drew just nodded her head and stood up "well for now I do have to get to work" she started to walk away and was gently pulled back to Buck's lap.

He placed his hand under her chin tilting her face up to his and whispered huskily "for now." He then placed his lips to hers and kissed her passionately.

It had been a long day and Sandy laid in bed trying to get some sleep. She thought about what Drew told her about Shannon not wanting to talk about what happened to her that day in the livery. She didn't really blame her for not wanting to talk about it. But Sandy felt that she did need to talk about it to someone then maybe it would be better for her to talk to the judge. Sandy turned on her back and looked up at the ceiling, sighing she over and picked up the clock. It had only been a hour since she tired to get some sleep, throwing the covers off she got up and got dressed, maybe some warm milk will help her sleep.

Tip toeing downstairs she made her way to the dining room. Walking toward the kitchen she had this feeling that she wasn't alone. She stopped and looked around seeing no one and nothing she continued on.

"Not going to say hello."

Sandy spun around and saw a dark form sitting in the corner by the window. The shadow leaned forward to revel Chris.

Sandy sighed in relief, "Evening Chris I didn't know anyone would be down this late."

"Couldn't sleep."

Sandy nodded and walked over to him, "Neither could I. I was going to fix some warm milk, I could fix you a cup."

"No thanks, never could stand the stuff."

"Alright." She stood there watching him, "Are you ok, you seem to be a bit distracted."

"Just thinking about how I'm going to get Shannon to agree to speak at the trial."

Sandy sat down across from him, "Well for one thing don't push her. Its still fresh in her mind. I'm sure once she talks to someone it will be better for her talk at the trial."

"Maybe."

Sandy stood, "Just give her time she will come around."

Chris nodded.

"See you in the morning." Sandy turned and went to the kitchen

Lissa Albright couldn't sleep , so she had gone into the shop and now was patching the coat Mr. Dryer had let her wear . She wondered how she would ever return the coat since she had no idea where Mr. Dryer lived and none of the men in town knew any one by that name . Lissa was also thinking about Shannon, if only there were some way for Dawson to be tried without Shannon having to testify. But Lissa knew the only way was for Shannon to tell the judge what she knew and what she saw Dawson do.

Then there was Randy, Lissa hadn't wanted Randy to know she has when out to search for his brothers. He'd be so angry with her for that. Plus the whole ordeal with Cross kept replaying over and over again in her head...She had fallen asleep only to wake a few minutes later from a nightmare of Cross hurting her again only this time the stranger didn't come to her rescue. Lissa finally decided she needed some air so she sit aside the coat and went to the back door. She wrapped a long coat over her night clothes and then opened the door to slip out the back.

She didn't want Vin who was sitting on the front porch to hear her going out. But Lissa hadn't taken more then three steps away from the back door when she heard Vin speak. "Everything alright Miz Lissa"?

"Vin, you scared me,,,,yes everything is fine ..I couldn't sleep and thought I'd take a short walk". she replied.

"It's pretty late and it might not be a real good idea for you to be out alone. we don't know where that Cross fella is and iff'n he gets a hold of ya again he might hurt you real bad this time." Vin warned her.

" I know Vin , but I really need to get out for a little while. I promise I'll stay where you can see me and then I'll go right back in after a short walk". Lissa promised.

"I reckon that'd be alright then". Vin answered. So the two of them walked around to the sidewalk and Lissa headed up the street while Vin took a seat on the porch and watched her. Lissa hadn't planned it but her walk took her to the church and she stopped there for a few minutes then decided maybe she'd feel better if she sit in the quiet church for a little bit. She entered to find it dark with only the candles of the alter burning low. Lissa when to the alter and lit two candles for her late husband and son then she lit three more one for each of the young people who shared her home. then she took a seat on the front pew. She hadn't been sitting more then a few minutes when Josiah entered the main room.

He didn't speak only joined Lissa on the seat. They sit in silence for over an hour then Lissa begin to talk. She told him everything that had happened with Steven Cross, she told him how Cross had made her feel so dirty and how for a short time she thought maybe the folks in town would believe him if he told them she had when out looking for him. She'd already lives with folks thinking bad about her when she had first married John Albright. The folks from town had said she had only married him for his money. The two had been married for five years before they folks in town finally came to believe she had married John because she loved him. John and she had a good life together and she spoke of it now with Josiah. Finally she spoke of Shannon and Randy and how she felt so helpless in not being able to help either of them.

Josiah listened and didn't say a thing until Lissa finished speaking then he only said "Your a good woman Lissa and isn't no one here in this town going to think otherwise as for Shannon and Randy , you do what you can for them and let them find their own path in life. They know they can come to ya iff'n they want to or need to and that's the best thing you can offer both of them". .Then Josiah stood up and reached down to Drew Lissa to her feet. "I best walk you back home for Randy gets awake and realizes you're gone".

The two slowly walked toward Lissa's home. Vin give a nod as they passed him . Once at the back door Josiah give Lissa a hug and a soft kiss then he turned and walked back to the church. Lissa entered her home and went to her room. Morning would arrive soon and Lissa knew each new day brought with it a promise of new things and even new worries. Josiah was right, she'd be here for Shannon and Randy if they needed her. And she realized she felt much better since she had talked to someone about what had happened and none of it seemed as bad as it did before. Maybe she's share that bit of information with Shannon somehow tomorrow.

Contact the Web mistress at hynd@superior.net This page was last updated on 04/4/01 01:22:44 PM.