"That is a dandy of a horse, Liam," Chase said before whistling low and running his hand across the black stallion's side.

"I'd been after this beast for years," Liam noted.

Kyle chuckled. "It took a woman to get things done."

Chase sighed. "And a pretty woman at that. Where is Emma today? I was hoping I might get to see her."

Kyle snorted. "If I were a jealous man, I might be worried."

Chase winked. "You're the only man for me."

Kyle crossed his arms over his chest and raised a brow. "But Emma's a woman."

Instead of saying anything further, Chase leapt forward and wrapped Kyle in a bone-crushing hug. "No need to be jealous, Kyle. I'm yours. Besides—" He glanced at Liam who was watching the duo with mild amusement. "Liam scares me."

Liam rolled his eyes and headed out of the barn. "Emma wanted to spend some time in town today so I took her this morning. She's riding back with Anita this afternoon."

Truth was, Liam was happy that Emma had decided to go to town. It had been a week since she'd been attacked on that mountain and Liam had been worried she'd retreat back into her shell and lose what progress she'd made since escaping her father.

But Emma seemed to have shaken it off—though he'd heard her whimpering and crying in her dreams at night and done his best to comfort her.

Patrick had been good for Emma during the last week. Liam was angry over the attack and still fairly on edge. Patrick, however, was his usual carefree self and he'd kept Emma company.

Liam hadn't spoken a word to anyone else about that day. He figured it wasn't anyone's business unless Emma chose to tell them. Hell, Liam probably wouldn't have even told his father about it if Patrick hadn't caught him at such a vulnerable moment.

"So, are you gonna sell that horse?" Kyle asked.

Liam sighed. "I had planned on it. But, I think Emma's attached to him. I'll have to have a talk with her before I decide anything."

"Yep. Can't make a step without that old ball and chain," Chase noted.

Liam glared at his brain addled friend. "How about you do something useful with yourself today?"

"Good luck with that," Kyle muttered.

"I'm always useful," Chase grumbled.

Liam grinned. "My cabin needs a couple new rooms. I need logs to build them with. You two up for some lumberjacking today?"

"Emma, sweetheart, is there something bothering you?" Anita asked as the two sat in the swing on the porch and watched the townsfolk bustling about their day.

Emma forced a smile. "No, of course not. I'm just feeling a little tired."

Anita huffed and Emma saw the older woman's eyes narrow. "Now, don't you go lying to me, Emma McIntyre. I know that something is wrong. I can see it in your eyes just the same as I could see it in Liam's when he dropped you off here this morning. You might as well get to talking."

Emma crossed her arms over her chest, remembering how rough Shade's hands had felt as they held her and pinned her to the wet ground. She shivered and felt her stomach flip.

"Emma!" Anita began to fan her hand in front of Emma's face. "Sweetheart, you're white as a sheet! What on earth is going on? Has that father of yours been giving you more trouble? Or Bethany?"

Emma shook her head. She hadn't spoken about Shade since the attack.... She hadn't even spoken about the attack itself at all. Neither had Liam. She knew he felt responsible for not keeping her safe-and she felt guilty for not fighting harder.

Emma met Anita's gaze and fought the tears that wanted to fill her eyes. "Liam and I were on the mountain when that storm hit last week. We were getting that black stallion he's been after for so long...."

Anita nodded. "Yes, he mentioned that he'd finally managed to catch it—with your help of course." Her gaze was soft. "Did you run into your father up there?"

Emma shook her head. "No... I haven't seen or heard from my father since the night of the dance." Her hands were trembling so she folded them tightly in her lap and tried to focus on breathing deeply. "Liam and I got separated on the way back down—the fog and the storm made it impossible to find one another... I knew that if I just kept going down, I would find the valley and be able to go home... I just wanted to go home...."

Anita smoothed a strand of hair behind Emma's ear. "Of course you did, sweetheart. What happened?"

"Shade Marxton found me... He yanked me off Honey and he...he..."

Emma couldn't finish her thought. She squeezed her eyes shut tight as she remembered the taste of his tongue as he'd shoved it into her mouth.

Anita cursed under her breath. "Why that no good, rat-faced, son of a heifer! Emma, sweetheart, did he.....?"

Emma knew what Anita was asking and she quickly shook her head. "No, I'm not ruined if that's what ya mean. Liam came and...."

"Ruined?" Anita's voice was dangerously calm. "What on God's green earth would have you believing that you'd be ruined if Liam hadn't gotten there in time?"

Emma frowned. "Because, Shade would have...."

"That's Shade's sins—his mistakes. It would have had no bearing on you or the woman you are. You don't ever let yourself think that something someone does to you determines what kind of person you are or what worth you have. Do you hear me?"

Emma had never in her life heard anything like what Anita was saying. It went against everything her father had ever said about women—and even her own mother had spoken of a woman's need to be pure and true only to her husband—to not tempt men into being unable to help themselves.

She honestly liked Anita's outlook much better. Shade was a monster—a mean and evil man who had taken advantage of her. Emma loved Liam. She hadn't urged Shade on or tempted him in any way.... And Liam certainly didn't blame her for what happened.

She needed to let go of the blame she herself had been holding onto.

"Someone should go up there and pay Shade a visit," Anita grumbled, kicking up the rhythm of the porch swing.

"It wouldn't solve anything," Emma countered. "And then the mountain men would come down seeking their own vengeance."

Anita sighed. "I suppose you're right. I want you staying off that mountain, Emma. It's not safe. I'd like Liam to stay off it as well but that would be like asking that rock out there to sprout legs and run down the street. He's got trapping in his blood and that won't change.... But you? You keep yourself down where it's a bit safer."

Emma simply smiled and nodded... but Anita wasn't completely right. It was just as dangerous down here. Liam hadn't been on that mountain when her father had shot him. And her father had kidnapped her right here in town.

But Emma would agree with Anita simply to please the woman. She was the best friend that Emma had outside of Liam.

"Hey Ms. Anita!" Lauren came barreling up onto the porch, her dark hair a mess and sweat dripping down her brow. She swiped at a patch of dirt on her blouse as Anita glared at the girl.

"What are you doing in such a state? Covered in sweat and dirt and running around bellowing like a calf at feeding time?"

"I was playing kickball with William and the others," Lauren admitted quickly. "You're the one that told me to make friends," she added pointedly.

Emma attempted to hide her smile behind her hand while Anita simply sighed with defeat. "And what about the bellowing?"

Lauren beamed beneath the dirt and freckles. "The stage just pulled up! Didn't you say you were expecting a new girl on the stage?"

Anita's eyes lit up as she all but jumped to her feet. "Yes! I had nearly completely forgotten! I received a wire a few days ago about a young lady who'd shown up a few towns west. They were asking if I could take her in and, of course, I agreed." Anita turned to Emma. "Would you like to come with me to welcome her to Spring Falls?"

Emma wanted to say no. She still wasn't entirely comfortable with the thought of meeting strangers. But Anita seemed so excited, Emma hated to turn her down.

She forced a smile and got to her feet. "Sure."

The walk to the stage coach office didn't take long, though Emma felt herself growing increasingly uncomfortable in the crowd that seemed to grow thicker as they neared it.

There was the sudden sound of rustling fabric and a loud thud just before a female voice filled the afternoon air. "Damnation. Hell's bells. That hurt like the dickens!"

Lauren laughed while Anita sighed. "That'll be her."

Anita nudged her way to the platform and Emma gasped when she saw the new girl for the first time. She was short, and quite dainty with a headful of curls so wild and massive that they seemed to swallow her head and shoulders.

Her face was red and flushed beneath a mess of dark freckles and her big green eyes were shining with good-nature.

But what shocked Emma most—more than the curses she'd hollered and more than her swiping at her dirt streaked backside as she picked herself up off the ground—was the trousers and blouse the woman was wearing!

They hugged her tiny frame tight, showing off her legs and hips in a way that Emma had never in her life seen a woman do!

"Oh dear me...." Anita muttered.

Lauren laughed louder. "You might have found a harder case than I was!"

Lauren received a sharp smack to the back of her head before Anita stepped forward. "Hello, sweetheart. My name is Miss Anita. Are you the young lady I received word about?"

The young woman, probably about the same age as Emma, smiled in a way that lit up her whole face and nearly split her cheeks in half, deepening dimples in them. "Yep, that'll be me. Name's Cassandra Holland. I was raised up with a pa, eight brothers and no mama after I turned five. Apparently I'm lacking in what you'd call 'feminine airs'."

"Really?" Lauren snickered. "I'd have never guessed."

Lauren dodged another swat from Anita before Anita held out her hand to Cassandra. "It's wonderful to meet you, sweetheart. This here is Emma, she is married to my nephew and a wonderful woman to have as a friend. And, this urchin beside me is Lauren.... A work in progress."

"Well, it sure is a pleasure to meet y'all!" Cassandra grinned. Then she crossed her legs a bit and gave a bounce. "If y'all don't mind, could you show me to an outhouse. I've been cooped up in that stagecoach and holding it for hours!"