"Nova?"

She glanced up from the breakfast table, finding her husband standing in the doorway. The expression on his face made her heart flip. "Uh-huh?"

"How are you feeling?"

She shrugged in reply.

"Are you free today? I wanted to show you something on the ranch."

Nova's dreams had been tormented all night. A particular nightmare still chilled her body; she'd dreamed she was hanging from the gallows, as her body had swung on the rope her head had tilted back and she'd seen Jese above her, trying desperately to cut the rope.

Was it a sign? Perhaps foiling a jewellery heist was a dangerous idea, and her body was warning her against going. Or at least trying to convince her to give Jese another chance to redeem himself. He had saved her life twice in a matter of weeks... maybe he was completely innocent of everything she accused him of. Didn't she owe him the chance to explain himself?

Her sense of outrage, at being made dependent on a man, could have been blinding her to his true character. Obviously, he wasn't free of guilt. While he made the occasional sweet-talk he had not bothered to tell her anything further. Another man might have - at least - told her about their upbringing. But Nova had no idea about what kind of childhood he'd had... let alone where he came from. How could she trust someone who was so intent on privacy and secrecy?

She was stubborn, single minded, and cynical. But Jese was doing nothing to encourage her to trust him. Was she just as bad? She hadn't told him anything about herself; believing that not opening herself up meant that she was protecting herself from becoming vulnerable. Nova had thought that she was a strong, independent woman, but wouldn't a strong woman take the bull by its horns and initiate the conversation herself? After all he'd done, she was obligated to give him the chance.

But how did a woman talk freely with a silent cowboy? Especially, when she had learned from a young age to keep everything bottled inside; in case her drunk father became offended.

Her father's ghost couldn't continue to haunt her life. She couldn't go on allowing him to lurk in the corner, controlling her life from his grave. She had to take the reins. "Please sit," Nova said.

Surprise crossed Jese's face. He sat. "Is everything alright?"

"Last night you told me you wanted to work on this marriage." She paused. Considering her words. "I've thought about how I can make that easier for you-"

"Oh!" His surprise was palpable.

"I think to do that I have to be honest with you. I know that I haven't helped the situation by struggling to trust you. But I feel like you have the same feeling of mistrust toward me."

"It isn't that I don't trust you," Jese said.

"But?"

"I'm guarded by nature."

"That is why it is difficult for me to trust you. Why would anyone be guarded without just cause?"

His silence spoke volumes. She could see that he believed he'd already said too much.

"What if your marriage depended on it?"

"You're overreacting."

"I mean it, Jese. You need to start talking - and start now - otherwise..."

"Otherwise?" There was a challenge in his black eyes.

Silence stretched out between the two.

He sighed, rubbing his face with one large masculine hand. "Maybe in time, Nova."

"OK," she compromised. "But tell me something small. I don't know anything about you - you are a complete stranger living in my house. Where do you come from?"

Jese stood up suddenly and paced the room like a caged animal. A hesitant look on his brow, like he was thinking of allowing her in. But that moment passed. With a shake of his head, he replied, "I don't see how that is important. I've saved your ranch, I've saved your life... any normal woman would trust me."

She didn't want to reveal her entire hand of cards, but she knew that she had to be fair. He should at least be allowed to defend his actions. "Last night I overheard your conversation with Brandon - it sounded like you were trying to find a suitable buyer for the ranch."

There was a pause. His face was doubtful. "I had my reasons."

"Which were?"

"Really, Nova. You will have to trust me."

"Trust you?" An angry growl escaped her chest. "When you - so obviously - don't trust me? How do I know that you aren't disposing of wives left, right, and centre? Do you think I'm such a gullible fool?"

"Yes, actually. I do."

Nova felt assaulted by his words. She usually didn't listen to half of what a person said in anger, knowing from first hand experience that the surge of self righteous rage could amplify things excessively. But the way he said it: eyes blazing, but words so curt. She knew that he'd not added any theatrics.

"You," he snarled. "Who drags every dying and decrepit animal in the county onto the property - despite the financial burden it puts on the ranch. You... with your appalling intuition about people. I struggle to think that there could be anyone else so naive in the entire world. If I were you, Nova Radcliffe, I'd listen to my gut and do exactly the opposite."

She watched her husband in stunned silence. "Oh."

"God," his face crumpled. "I'm sorry, Nova."

"No," she said calmly. "You are quite right." His words were a sign. She'd been bugged by a gut feeling - that perhaps she'd been wrong about him - solely because of her nightmares. She'd given him ample opportunity to explain himself... Hell, she'd even given him the chance to come up with a colorful lie, yet he'd said nothing. Instead, he'd ripped apart her character and made her feel like a complete idiot. He was right. She ought to listen to her intuition and do exactly the opposite.

"Jese, could you look after Fuego for me?" She scooped the pup up to pass to him.  "I'm going to visit an old friend."

***

The Little River train station bustled with activity. Well dressed ladies walked past, arm and arm with dapper looking gents. Grimy miners and cowboys slouched against the station's brick walls, while children darted through the crowd screaming with excitement, as their harassed Mama's scolded them for getting too close to the tracks. And in front of the platform was a shiny black engine pulling a multitude of carriages.

"Ticket, Miss?"

Shaken from her reverie, Nova stepped forward. "Yes, please." She fumbled foolishly with her tiny coin purse.

"Name?"

"India Sommers."

"Destination?"

As she struggled to find a suitable answer, a shadowy figure appeared behind her and whispered in her ear.

Nova flashed Brandon a smile, and offered the clerk this new information.

The man scribbled her name and destination onto the ticket, while she doled out coins onto the counter between them.

"Are you not hot?" Nova asked Brandon, as they moved away. His black trench coat and bowler hat made him appear to be a well turned out business man, but he must have been slick with sweat, Nova decided.

"Not at all," he replied. "These are my work clothes."

"As a highwayman?" Nova chuckled aloud.

"No." An unsettled look passed over his face. "I like to keep in disguise in case I'm seen."

"Are you so well known?" Nova asked, impressed.

"Somewhat."

What was with men and their vague replies? "What is the message that you would like me to pass on?"

"Here." He passed her a band box. "You will need to take this to the train driver."

She took it and promptly flicked the lid open. "And what is in here?" A silk white scarf spewed forth from the box, nearly landing on the ground.

Brandon cursed under his breath. Grabbing the box he stuffed the scarf back in. "Be careful! You'll get it covered in dust."

"What is it for?"

"It is a token of peace. So that the train driver can back out of the robbery without blood shed."

"A token of peace? He is hardly going to be scared of one lone female."

"Of course not. He shall think that you have law-men in your shadows."

Nova chewed that over. "And why wouldn't the law-men just approach him themselves?"

Rolling his eyes in amusement, Brandon laughed. "You are so ignorant at times, Nova. If we were to send men, there would be bloodshed and perhaps no jewels reclaimed. But if you approach him... well - no one would shoot such a beautiful young woman. Chivalry is alive and well in the West!" He made to doff his hat in amusement.

"And I step off at the next Station, and catch a train back again?"

"No. When you get off you must walk quickly to the Hotel three miles north where I have my colleagues waiting to bring you to me in their wagon. Try to get away from the train as quickly as possible in case someone follows you."

A small child ran at Nova's legs, clinging desperately before he glanced up and noticed that Nova's scarlet red dress wasn't the same as his Mama's. With a horrified expression, his lip wobbled and his tears threatened to flow.

"George? George? Come back here." The boy's mother appeared in an almost identical dress. Nova watched the boy race off, sharing a smile with his mother.

Turning back to Brandon she found herself alone. Nova glanced about her but couldn't see him anywhere. Her brow puckered in consternation. What was this need to remain obscured? With a small shrug, Nova turned back to admire the train.

It really was the simplest task in the world. All she needed to do was charm her way through the carts till she reached the front. And then - if she didn't find a blood thirsty train driver on her hands - she would collect a handsome reward and return home to annul her marriage.

Everything was looking up.