About two weeks go by before Elizabeth tries to pick up the tattered shards of her life. Kaitlin's been busy training every day for her first competition, an open invitational in Cheyenne. She's kept her mother from attending training sessions.

"Katie girl, you've made a hell of an improvement," Lindsey tells her looking at the timer.

"Really?"

"Absolutely! You might have improved enough to place in the top ten probably."

That's all it takes to send Kaitlin squealing for joy. She's sitting on Gunner, clapping in excitement.

"Yay, I'm doing this, and mom's meeting with Dr. Fisher today. God, things really are better out in the country." Kaitlin teases, patting Gunner.

"I've been country breed, and I can't argue against that. Now, don't get me wrong, I do love a good big city pizza and an actual IMAX theater, but the country is home." Lindsey says with a smile on her face.

Shortly after, they finish talking and take a break to cool down from the sultry humidity. Kaitlin is treated to lunch with the other riders. She fits into their club like she's grown up with all of them.

Out in the middle of town, Elizabeth is dressed up for her meeting with Dr. Fisher. She's sitting out in the SUV listening to her favorite song with her eyes closed, breathing deep and heavy.

"I can do this; I can do this..." She begins.

"You've run your own practice, and this is just learning from an older physician. You have money to buy into this only practice in town. You got this. You got to land this for your kids. I will find a way to get my son home with me." She rambles on, feeling her nerves stand on end.

"I need to get an apartment and soon!" She thinks before reaching for the door handle.

Slowly she firmly plants her bright blue high heel shoes on the pavement and gradually struts for the doctor's office. She's caught off guard with a whistle coming her way.

"Fuck off, pervert!" Elizabeth calls out, refusing to turn around.

Within a matter of seconds, a body flies in front of her. Hands stretched out, Elizabeth reacts immediately with a knee strike to the groin region. She strikes with full force without holding anything back but then realizes it's Matthew trying to get her attention.

"Oh my God! Matt, I am so sorry!" She cries out, bending down to help him back to his feet.

"Well, at least you never have to worry about fighting someone off in heels. Good lord, I think I felt a nut soar into my throat." Matthew teases, feeling wobbly on his feet.

Elizabeth helps Matthew regain his balance and allows him to lean up against her SUV. There she gradually wraps her arms around him, needing a quick feel of security with someone she still trusts.

"I'm sorry if I'm intruding, but I needed a hug. You're about the only man I can trust outside of my own family."

Matthew stands there softly, wrapping his arms over his high school sweetheart. He inhales the scent of her Victoria's Secret perfume.

"I won't ever complain about a hug, especially one from you." He whispers, dipping his head, shutting his eyes, giving way to the moment as the pain eases in his groin.

After an extended sigh, he pulls back to get her moving, but he has some words of wisdom to help her focus on the task at hand.

"You know you got this. I've never known you to fail. You didn't fail your marriage, 'he' failed you. Now get in there and prove to Quinton that you are this town's next great doctor."

The only indication Elizabeth shows is a smile. Matthew boosted her confidence and shortly after releasing him from her grip. She takes a hand, gliding down Matthew's arm taking his hand for just a split second. Matthew feels that instantaneous spark return as his hand is slightly lifted in the air when Elizabeth lets go and walks toward the doctor's office.

He's left standing there as a whirlwind of emotions flood back into his wounded heart. It's the first time he's opened himself to any woman since his wife ran out on him and the children.

The bell over the front door to the office rings, and the receptionist walks out to welcome Elizabeth.

"Hello, how can I..." she pauses "bless my soul, is that you Ellie?" The tall redhead lady close to Elizabeth's age asks.

"Felicia, is that you?"

"Yes, I'm Dr. Fisher's nurse, but wow, I heard that you had come back to town but look at you. California glow and all, you look beautiful!" Felicia mentions running out to give her old schoolmate a quick hug.

The greeting is overheard back in the office, and soon after, Dr. Fisher makes his way out to the waiting area. He welcomes his guest back with a wave of his arm into his office.

"Take a seat; let's chat for a bit, shall we, young lady?" The elderly gentleman suggests pulling out the seat for Elizabeth.

Before she can begin to thank him for taking the time to interview her as a potential partner, Dr. Fisher begins.

"I don't need to interview or ask you about events and what things you've done since becoming a doctor. I already know since I made some calls to a few people out in Anaheim."

Elizabeth is stunned and left speechless.

"The hospital administrator was kind enough to take my call personally and also vouched for all the hard work and improvement to the overall quality of care. I even managed to speak to your former receptionist, Gia, and she had not a single bad thing to say about you. I don't need anything else to know our patients will be in the best hands."

Silence falls between them, and the stare locked in place speaks volumes.

"You can start next Monday. I've heard about the wave of bad luck, darlin', and all I can say is welcome home. I want you to get settled in and breathe before you get started here. Oh, the high school needs a part-time nurse as well. I know you're an M.D., but I'm getting too old to run out there. It'll give you a chance to give back since it's a volunteer position." Dr. Fisher explains, testing her character.

"My pleasure Dr. Fisher! I've been given a lot with hard work; maybe I can influence someone out there to become a doctor or strive for something more." Elizabeth replies with hope in her words.

"Good deal, I'll go ahead and admit this much. I plan to retire within the year and enjoy some time back East with the grandkids. Prove yourself, and I'll keep the legacy alive. I was handed this place from Dr. Farmer as he was handed it from Dr. Ashe before his time in this building. It's a legacy I want to keep going, and hopefully, you will pass on as well." Dr. Fisher clarifies his general intentions.

Nothing Elizabeth can muster to say is good enough to describe the gratitude swelling within her spirit.

"Thank you..." she finally manages to mumble with tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

The good doctor nods and stands after Elizabeth gets to her feet.

"Always the chivalrous gentleman, I've always remembered that about you, Dr. Fisher." She mentions in a soft tone.

"Call me Quinton. I'll see you next week. Enjoy the time to find yourself and come back a new woman."

Closing the door, Elizabeth makes her way back to the waiting area. She lightly touches Felicia on her shoulder and struts out of the office.

Once she's back inside of her SUV, it dawns on her that she's yet to watch Kaitlin out at the ranch training for the upcoming competition. Without wasting time, the SUV fires up, and Elizabeth races out to the horse ranch, where she sees a cloud of dust coming from the field.

Shortly after parking, she makes her way out, where the dust cloud is thickening with each passing barrel.

"That's a way, Katie girl! Lean into the turn just like that, and you've got it!" Lindsey yells from the starting line.

"Push it!" She continues to scream, impressed with the time she's clocked with Gunner.

Elizabeth begins to clap, which startles Lindsey almost to throw a punch.

"My bad, hi, I'm Elizabeth Reed, Katie's mother."

That's when Lindsey turns around and shocks Elizabeth.

"Pleasure ma'am, I'm Lindsey, her trainer, and Gunner there is her training partner." She introduces herself with a sinister grin.

"Matt didn't tell me that you're her trainer! Oh-my-goodness, it's great to see you again. I just bumped into your brother a little while ago, and well..."

Lindsey scoffs when she chimes in. "I know, you nailed him in the nuts pretty good. It's great to see you too, Ellie. Your daughter is a natural. You will be proud!"

The two exchange a handshake and watch Kaitlin trot over on Gunner with a request.

"Lindsey, I know you're going to say no, but can I please ride Gunner when we go to Cheyenne? PLEASE! It's an open invitation, right? That means he can go with me. I wanna ride him on my first race." Kaitlin pleads, refusing to give up her favorite horse on the ranch.

The thought of the open invitation does make Lindsey consider it, but she stands there quietly, thinking it over. It's been over eighteen months since Gunner competed.

"Yeah, you can take him just this once and only this once. He's too old to be pushed back into full-time riding. After Cheyenne, you can ride Whiplash since he's a lot like Gunner and needs a rider."

"THANK YOU!" Kaitlin squeals climbing down to hug her trainer.

Elizabeth stands there and remembers back when she rode for a couple of years. It's refreshing to see her daughter excited about something other than social media and the latest cell phone release.

Kaitlin packs it up for the day and gets into the SUV, still sweaty and excited from her hard work and the vast improvement in her riding skills.

"Mom! Thank you; I've enjoyed doing this, and I can't wait for Saturday, and you get to watch me ride!" Kaitlin expresses, and she pats her face with a dry towel.

"I can't wait to see how you'll do out there. I've not been this nervous or excited for a long time." Elizabeth informs her daughter.

By the time they return to the house, Lucinda and Logan are already home and sitting on the front porch. When the mother-daughter duo comes to a halt on the porch, a statement breaks into the late afternoon warm air.

"Heard ya bumped into someone special today," Lucinda mentions with a surprising expression written in her eyes.

"I may have bumped into Matt before meeting with Dr. Fisher."

Logan can't help but jump into the conversation.

"Hey, how did that go, by the way?" He says with his drawn-out southern accent.

"Perfect! I will work with him for a year and volunteer as the school's nurse, but he's handing me the practice after a year or so. That means I can buy Katie and me a home. I mean, an apartment still isn't out of the question. So more good news, Katie's going to compete this weekend. I've not been this happy or felt this good in years." Elizabeth shares with a heart-filled smile on her face.

Kaitlin doesn't waste time ignoring everyone else to get a shower finally. Logan heads into the kitchen to get a quick dinner whipped up so Lucinda and Elizabeth can catch up.

"Don't say nothing but um, Matt is still a dreamboat and a half!" Lucinda whispers.

"Oh, my lord, yes! He still has those gorgeous eyes that sparkle, and he's tan and buff and just all types of yummy goodness, I bet."

Elizabeth pauses and extends her hands out.

"Wait! I just got divorced. I don't need to be jumping into something else so soon!"

It doesn't take more than a second for Lucinda to chime in on her older sister's opinion.

"Hey, he's hot. I say fuck his brains out and then decide from there. I mean, sissy, I'm going to venture to guess it's been a while since you've been satisfied. I'm not saying it has to be a full-blown relationship because Matt is fresh to the market too but just have some time for fun."

All Elizabeth does is nod her head a few times, thinking it over.

"Last time a man touched me that made me quiver and shiver was probably the night I got pregnant with Katie bug. I mean, it wasn't all bad but not long after I told Michael that things changed. He honestly didn't want another baby, but I can't regret having my kids. They're what pushed me to become not just a better doctor but a better person too. My kids know I love them, and I've sacrificed for their happiness. Michael nearly ruined it, and now I just need my son here to make my world complete again."

Her sister's words bring a tear to her eye. Lucinda can't keep her mouth shut any longer.

"I'm pregnant!" She bursts out after wiping away the tears in her eyes.

"Do what..."

"Yeah, I found out today, I got my blood tests back, and it's confirmed, Aunt Ellie."

The two of them squeal and giggle. Even after Kaitlin comes back outside when she hears them giggling.

"What's up?" She asks.

"I'm having a baby! You're going to have a little cousin!"

Kaitlin sucks in a deep breath and hugs her aunt.

"OH MY GOD! Congrats, Aunt Lucy! You'll be a terrific mommy!"

"I guess that's one way to welcome me home," Elizabeth mentions looking up at the sky turning from its fading blue to crimson shade with a hint of glowing cherry overhead.

"Hi momma, I knew you wouldn't be gone forever." She whispers as quietly as possible, staring into the sky.

After dinner, Elizabeth returns to the front porch, where she enjoys a couple of shots of bourbon and tries to exorcise her recent demons by staring at the sky, thinking about her mother. In her heart, she can't wait to see what life has planned for her next.