With a smirk and a tip of his hat, Jed turned and walked into the darkness as Hope unconsciously rubbed her elbow where he had grabbed her. Levi turned around and took his trembling wife in his arms then placed a tender kiss on the top of her head. "Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" He asked, still shaking with a white hot rage.

He knew that every time he saw Jed, he would feel betrayal for what his former friend had done, but he was not expecting to feel rage. When he looked over and saw Jed's hands on his wife, it was all he could do not to pull his gun and shoot him. Levi furrowed his brow at the thought and tightened his arms around Hope before backing up a step, then lifted her chin with his index finger. "You didn't answer me." He said softly. God he could drown in the violet depths of her eyes.

"No, he didn't hurt me. I was just a bit frightened is all." She said shaking her head.

"I'll go find Ellie so we can go home." He turned around to walk off then turned back. "Andy will you stay with Hope until I get back with Ellie?" Levi didn't even wait for the sheriff to answer as he turned to go find his daughter.

A short time later, Hope had said her goodbyes to her new friends, and the three of them were bouncing along in the wagon. Ellie fell asleep on a makeshift bed that Levi had the forethought to prepare earlier. He had known that she would be exhausted on the way home. The light of the full moon cast an almost magical silvery glow over beautiful landscape. "It's so peaceful out here." Hope finally said breaking the silence. They were almost half way home and she just couldn't take the quiet anymore.

"Yes it is. Of all the places I've ever lived in, I think this is my favorite. . It just feels like – home."

"Well the people do seem to be genuinely nice." Hope could still feel the tension in his body every time they touched as the wagon jostled them on the rough road. "I- I'm sorry about what happened back there. I promise I did not encourage him."

"I know you didn't. I saw the entire thing." He said still looking straight ahead.

"Then, why are you angry with me?"

He turned to look at her, then sighed. "I'm not angry with you. Look, I know this is changing the subject but I got a telegram from my ex-father-in-law. They're coming for a visit."

"Oh, that's wonderful! I'm sure that Ellie will be delighted to see her grandparents."

"It's not Harold I'm worried about it's the witch he's married to." Levi pulled the wagon to a stop and turned to face her. For a moment he just sat and stared at her then took a deep breath. "Hope, you know what this means don't you?"

"It means that Ellie will get to see her grandparents and they will be staying with us."

"No, it means that we are going to have to share a room. They can't find out about our arrangement. I won't lose Ellie to that crazy woman and if she finds out about our 'marriage,' she will use it to try and take her."

"Oh." Just the thought of sleeping next to the handsome man sitting beside her now sent tingles of.... of what? Anticipation? Excitement? Instantly she remembered the way he looked with his shirt off. Just the memory caused her body to overheat. Oh Good Lord! Where were these thoughts coming from? Thank goodness it was too dark for him to see her cheeks glow crimson.

Blessedly, Levi mistook her silence for shock at having to share a room with him. 'I- I could sleep on the floor." He added quickly. Lord, the last thing he needed was for her to change her mind and leave, or worse, for her to think that he planned this with his in-laws coming. He could feel himself getting more and more worked up at the thought of her leaving. It would positively kill Ellie. At least that's what he told himself. He, of course would be fine; it was only Ellie he was thinking of.

Hope reached out and laid her cool fingers on his forearm then smiled to herself as she felt the firm muscles tense at her touch. "It's ok Levi. I know you didn't plan this and we're both adults, married adults. I think we can find a way to share a room." She could NOT believe her brazen words! What in the world had possessed her to say such things? Oh good Lord, surely she would burst into flames at any moment.

It was all he could do to hold back the groan in his throat as he listened to his wife's words. It was her innocence talking because if she were able to read his mind right now she would put a padlock on her door. He was staring at her full lush lips as she unconsciously licked them. It was the last straw for him, right then. Slowly he leaned in and gently kissed her lips.

This time she knew what to expect so when his lips met hers, she opened her mouth allowing him entrance. Hope heard a soft moan but didn't know who it came from. Slowly she mimicked his movements; she must have done it right because Levi deepened the kiss, sliding his right arm around her waist. The reins slid from his left hand as he moved it to her right side slowly raising it to her breast.

Levi broke off the kiss causing a moan of protest; however, it was short lived as his lips and tongue licked and nibbled the sensitive skin behind her ear and down her neck. Her head fell back and her eyes slid closed as all rational thoughts ceased. His hands moved to cup her breasts while his thumbs traced over her pebbled nipples. Things stopped abruptly as the wagon lurched forward almost sending both of them toppling into the back where Ellie slept.

"Whoa!" Levi said as he reached down and grabbed the fallen reins. "Are you alright?"

"I – um – er – yes, I'm fine. Thank you." Hope whispered as she nervously patted down her hair then ran her trembling fingers down her skirt.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Saunders!" Philip bellowed as he snatched the study door open.

William Saunders cringed as he pasted a smile on his face and looked up from his desk. "Philip."

"Saunders have you heard anything?" Philip Huntington asked as he paced the room like a caged lion. Without waiting for an answer he continued on. "It's been two months! A woman as beautiful as Hope does not just disappear without a trace. Someone had to have seen something!" He ceased his pacing and turned his soulless eyes to his would be father-in-law.

Cowering back in his chair and shaking his head, he sputtered the answer he knew the other man would not want to hear. "No, I – I've heard nothing and I can't find anyone who has seen anything."

"You will continue to search for her. I will have her and if I don't, well then, you know what that will mean. I own you and everything you have and I will not think twice about tossing you out on your sorry back side. Do I make myself clear?" Without waiting for an answer Philip Huntington turned and walked out of the study slamming the door behind him causing the remaining occupant to jump at the sound.

God what was he going to do? He had to find her! Hope marrying Philip was the only way for him to keep his home and standing in society. When he found her, and he would, he was going to beat her within an inch of her life! The nerve of her running away and leaving him with this mess! He would never forgive her for this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Mmmm. Oh good Lord Hope, this is the best bread pudding I've ever had." Levi said as he savored another bite of the delicious dish.

"I'm glad you like it." Hope replied, blushing slightly at the compliment.

"Um, I, you – did you move all of your clothes to my room?" He asked as he shoved another delicious bite into his mouth.

A becoming blush crept up her neck. "Yes, I did. Do you have any idea when they will be here?"

"They should be here on the noon train tomorrow. I'll send Skip to town with the wagon for them. Hope, are you sure you don't mind?"

"I'm sure Levi. I don't mind, really."

Slowly he exhaled and tried desperately to rein in his wayward thoughts. It had been three weeks since the dance when he'd told her his in-laws were coming and what that would mean. Try as he might he could not keep the image of her wearing her thin gown out of his mind. Every time he closed his eyes he could see her perfect curves outlined by the fire behind her. And oh God, his hands could still feel the heat and heaviness of her breasts as his thumbs brushed her peaked nipples.

Oh good Lord above, she was going to kill him a slow and painful death. There was no way he could sleep next to her and not touch her. He'd been too long without a woman and he was too attracted to not just her body but to HER.

She was beautiful but she also had a beautiful spirit. The way she interacted with Ellie never ceased to amaze him. It was like she WAS Ellie's mother, not someone who had come in their lives just weeks ago. He couldn't touch her though. After all it had been his idea to have a marriage in name only. For some reason the thought of never having a real marriage with Hope left him feeling...... empty and alone. Levi shook his head and tried to focus on what his very beautiful wife was saying.

Hope stood with her hands on her hips, a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eyes. "Where were you?"

"I'm sorry; I must have been wool gathering."

"It's ok. I was just saying that Ellie asked me to make her more dresses. She told me that she wanted to be a lady, like me. Those were her words not mine."

Levi stood up from the chair he'd been sitting in and walked over to where his wife was leaning against the kitchen counter. Facing her, he lifted his hand to run his thumb down her cheek then traced her jaw. He watched as she transformed from a laughing carefree young woman to a woman full of a desire that even she was unaware of. A faint flush crept up her cheeks, her nostrils flared slightly and her pupils began to dilate.

He had not planned to do anything other than thank her for everything she'd done for Ellie and for him. But when he got near her all rational thought ceased and his body took over. It took every ounce of self-control he had to not crush her sweet body to his and just lose himself in her. "Thank you, for everything with Ellie and for not leaving when you found out you would have to share a room with me for an unknown amount of time." His words were soft and husky.

Hope struggled to catch her breath. The closeness of his body seemed to addle her as she tried to form a coherent reply. "I – I" She raised her hand and placed her palms flat on his chest meaning to push him away slightly to give her room to breathe. But when her fingers came in contact with his broad firm chest instead of pushing him away they curled in taking his shirt with them. Her heart pounded as her chest rose and fell and still words refused to form.

"Papa! Mama!" The two of them jumped apart and both were racing up the stairs to get to Ellie.