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"He’s actually very docile Kind"

"There are no beds!"

"I slept on a pallet on the floor for two years while I was re this bar," Jack put in He scratched his chin "Didn’t shave much either Used Doc’s shower about once every three days or so We’re kind of homespun around here"

"But…But we’re not," Erin said

"Jack," Marcie said "Call the sheriff I’ kidnapped"

"That wild-man look," Jack told Erin "Not unusual around here Lotta farers and ranchers don’t shave in winter And they don’t usually wear Sunday best to chop wood or feed sheep Ian Buchanan fits right in, and seems like a civil man I wouldn’t worry"

Marcie put her hand over Erin’s "I’o home I’ll call and check in, I proetting him to talk I’m not done here"

"Marcie--I don’t mean to sound cruel, baby, but you’re not the only one who lost Bobby His fa that, I proht me Let me do what I came to do Then it’ll be done and I can move on" Tears welled up in her eyes "Honest, I just have to feel like this is coly, her voice a strained whisper "What do you think you’re going to accolance at Mel

Mel and Marcie connected eyes for a moment Then Mel looked at her husband "Jack, take Marcie back to Ian’s Take David with you I’ll tend the bar if anyone comes in, or I can call Preacher or Mike I think Erin and I should talk a minute"

Jack lifted one brow "You sure?"

She just nodded and save her a little kiss "I’ll be back before the dinner crowd shows up"

When Jack and Marcie had left, Mel went around behind the bar and poured two cups of coffee "Creaar?" she asked Erin

"Both Please And I don’t think you even coo, my first husband washerself any further Mel cleared her throat "I was a nurse practitioner and midwife in an urban trauma center--central LA Mark was an ER doc there He was stopping off at a convenience store fora thirty-six-hour call and there was a robbery in progress He was shot Killed"

"I’m sorry," Erin said softly

"Thank you At the time I really wanted my life to end with his After several et on with --I took a job in this one-horse town for almost no money just because I had an instinct that it was different enough to jolt e I have an older sister," she added, sht I was co me to her house to recover Her way"

Mel leaned toward Erin "I’ to move on It’s not easy and it’s almost never a clear path But I can tell you this much--I believe it’s necessary to blaze your own trail And I’m sure Marcie’s safe I don’t know if Marcie ork it all out, but I don’t reco to settle her life into sos she wants to understand We’ll try to look out for her, as well"

Erin sipped her coffee slowly "I know there’s aso candid, but with Marcie--"

"Yes, Erin--the et to that next stage ht not be practical or wise, but it’s what she thinks she has to do I know you’re hurting, too--losing your brother-in-law, having Marcie out of reach right now--I’ so much when my husband died--she loved him like a brother But at the end of the day, Marcie has to feel like she did what she had to do For whatever reason, working so out with Ian seems to be it Apparently it’s necessary for her She’s been incredibly deterh," Erin said

"I wouldn’t be having this talk with you if I thought there was any chance Marcie was even slightly at risk Believe me, I serve the women of this town I look out for them Marcie hasn’t been real specific, but you and I both knohat she’s after She needs to understand why the man who saved her husband’s life would run away Abandon hi to do that to her again?" Erin asked, a very sad and concerned look crossing her features

"That’s what she came to find out," Mel said, and she reached across the bar and squeezed Erin’s hand "Let her get to the last page on this story, sweetheart It’s what she’s been needing, or she wouldn’t have gone through so ree or understand," Mel said, shaking her head "We just have to respect her wishes" Then, very softly she said, "You have to go ho to lose her"