What'd he just say? Was he implying what my pounding heart thought he was? My mouth turned to desert sand at the notion. What was I supposed to do now? I'd dug this hole with my own hands.

While I was attempting to think it through, he stepped forward, an arm sliding around my waist to pull me close, his gloved left hand cupped my chin. I could feel the heat of his body through the thick wool coat he wore and I put my hands on his chest. Even if I meant to push away, I dared not. Todd smiled warmly down at me he as leaned closer.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Miss Lilli Stone, quite the opposite,"

I looked up to make a reply, but our lips met in a sudden kiss. Shock went through my body, followed by warmth that I'd never felt before. Todd shifted to hold me closer, his arms tightening around my waist. In that moment I forgot about the Indians, forgot about my foolish and hurried lie. Softening against his lean frame, I dug my fingers into his coat, clutching him to me.

My first kiss was something that I will never forget, not as long as I live and breathe. Cooper Todd knew a thing or two about the venture. I felt alive and beautiful, pulsing vibrant energy, so when he at last backed away I was left yearning for more. Scared of this new hunger, afraid he'd see it in my eyes, I looked away. His chuckle was soft as we walked toward the cabin together, though he stopped at the corral.

"Go on to the house, Lilli, I'll be a minute."

He didn't have to tell me twice, and as Todd stripped the gear from his horses I had to force myself not to run into the cabin. In the shelter of the stone walls, I sank against the teak door and put a hand to my throat, my heart hammering painfully. What was going to happen now? I had no doubts about Cooper Todd, he was a decent respectable man, but what about me? What was this rush of feeling and desire? I hoped it would go away, for it seemed at the time stronger than I was, and that scared me.

Taking a deep breath I shoved away from the door. Setting the rifle on the table, I went to the kitchen setting up a fresh pot of coffee and getting a meal ready. The snakeskin bracelet rattled, catching my attention. Blinking, I studied it for a brief moment before tucking it inside my sleeve, out of sight. I wasn't ashamed of it but somehow, I no longer wanted to have to explain it.

Focusing my mind on trivial tasks, forcing it to pay keen attention to every move, every detail, put distance between me and the memory. If my thoughts drifted even for a second- I could taste that kiss still fresh on my lips...

"Coffee ready?"

I nearly jumped out of my skin at Todd's voice, giving a startled cry. He grinned at me, chuckling drily.

"I don't wanna know what you were thinking about."

"Coffee will be another minute, I just put a fresh pot on," I was impressed that my voice was so calm and steady, as I did not feel that way at all.

"Much obliged, Miss Stone," he took off his hat and coat, hanging them over the back of a chair, then pulled it over to the fireplace.

I watched him carefully build a cigarette and light it from the fireplace. The shadows flickered off his face, giving his countenance a lean fierceness that it lacked in normal light. He had a few days stubble on his jaw, though it was a light brown, and blended well with his tanned skin. His thick blonde hair was longer than I'd seen it last and guessed that he'd not been anywhere he could get it cut.

"Thank you, Mister Todd, for not taking advantage out there,"

My words surprised me, as I had not thought to speak them when I opened my mouth. He merely flicked his eyes at me, smiling widely.

"Don't thank me too soon, you made a mighty tempting offer."

"Had I made you an offer?" Again I was surprised at myself, for I had a slightly teasing tone.

"Fortunate is the man that gets to win your heart, and this place." He replied delicately, turning to look right at me. "You told them I was your husband."

"I didn't know it was you at the time," I defended myself. "I had one option, and I took it!"

He looked hurt.

"You sure know how to knock the pride out of a man, Miss Stone,"

I smiled at him, putting hands on my hips.

"You open your mouth without thinking and all sorts of interesting things just come flying out, Mister Todd."

"My friends call me Coop," he glanced at me from the corner of his gray eyes, smiling.

"Lilli, you can call me Lilli."

"May I ask you a personal question, Miss Lilli?"

Despite myself I like the sound of my name on his lips.

"Does a husband need to ask?"

"I don't want to offend you," he was suddenly serious and I came around the table to look at him.

"You can ask anything." I told him softly, "though I reserve the right to not answer if I don't want to."

"You been kissed before?"

"Why I..." my voice caught, the words dying in my throat. That was personal.

He watched me in silence, the firelight flickering in his eyes. I swallowed and took a breath, willing myself to look back at him.

"Why, no, Coop, I had not been kissed before,"

Rising smoothly to his feet in front on me, tossing his stub into the flames. He was only a little taller than I was, but his presence was overwhelming.

"May I?"

It took me a moment to process what he was asking, and when I did my heart leaped. I should say no. My reputation was fragile enough, but his eyes, the memory of his lips... Trying to maintain my composure I shivered, instantly looking away as Coop approached me, somehow afraid. His hands were gentle on my face as he turned it toward him, looking tenderly right into my eyes.

"Miss Lilli, I'd like your permission to call on you, as soon as may be," Coop chuckled at the expression on my face, caressing my cheek. "I'd hate for it to be said that Lilli Stone would let a man kiss her who was not properly courting her."

"You can kiss me, Coop," I answered and he smiled at my mistake.

"You mean court you,"

"Yes," he was too close for me to quibble about words. "Would you kiss me, Cooper?"

It was whispered against his lips, and he did.

Dinner was a silent affair, and I dared not even look at Cooper Todd, for I knew my resistance was weak at the moment. He allowed me my space and other than the occasional glance made no move at all toward me. After the dishes had been cleared away I went to the mantle as my custom and pulled down one of the well-worn books, intending to read for a while.

"You wouldn't happen to be related to Joss Stone, would you Lilli?"

My head snapped up as fear laced through me.

"He's my brother," turning to face him, I clutched the book to my breast. "Is he okay?"

Coop was rolling another cigarette and moistened the edge of the paper before he responded.

"He and a man-hunter named Mead were trailing Shifty Wicks through Injun Territory; they were jumped by a party of Kiowa."

He paused for a moment, gauging my reaction.

"Mead was off with nary a scratch, but word is Stone got most of his wounds protecting the horses and their pack animals, whilst Mead had himself dug into a nice little gulley and didn't move."

"Mead would've let him die." At my words Coop looked at me, his brows up, so I explained.

"When I first met him, Mead was running from Indians intent on taking his scalp, if not more. He made it to my door, badly hurt but conscious, yet he lay at my feet and acted as though he was unconscious while I dealt with the Indians, alone! He's a brute, and a coward!"

"Burton Mead is a dangerous man with a gun, and plenty tough, but not too loyal and not too smart. He hires out to the highest payer and has no morals. Stone was a fool to throw in with him." Coop spoke flatly.

I felt my ire go up and tightened my jaw.

"Watch your tongue, Cooper Todd! Joss Stone is a good man, and my brother! I'll have no negative talk against him regardless of who his friends are."

Coop regarded me with affection.

"Seems like I'm always getting you to defend another man when I make conversation," he commented and I smiled a little. "He was at Fort Arbuckle, on the mend and impatient with being bedridden a month ago."

I turned away quickly, wiping away fast tears of relief when Coop come up behind me. His hands touched my shoulders.

"Any chance you'd cry for me should I get myself shot?"

"Oh Coop, that's not funny!" I cried, turning to face him, letting his fingertips wipe away my tears.

"I'm not tryin' to be...I had a chance at all that when I was younger, but it wasn't meant to be, Lilli," he frowned a little, looking intently at me. "Marriage wasn't for me when I was a young man, but I guess a man reaches an age where he wants to matter to someone, belong somewhere, have more to show for life than a worn out rifle and a saddle. I'm at that age now. Have I got a real chance at that, Lilli, with you?"

I realized then I was at a crossroads, a point where my life would change forever, and I was unafraid. I still thought of Ranse, deep in my heart of hearts, but accepted he left me with nothing, no promises, and no indications. Here in front of me was a good, decent, handsome man who wanted to build a life together in this wild and untamed land. I made up my mind then and there. Smiling, I locked the door of my heart on Eli Ransom.

Judd had often told me that in this ever changing and growing country, time was a luxury. Good, hardworking men wanted to build while they could, and they needed hardworking women to help them. Courting and marriage was often a matter of weeks, the time taken to get to know someone done amidst surviving Indian battles and summer droughts. I fully recognized and accepted the way things were in this time I lived in, and was not bothered by Copper Todd's sudden proposition.

"You have every chance in the world Cooper Todd, all you need do is ask me." I told him.

So he did.

~~~

"I've got to make a trip to Fort Benton, Lilli, we'll need some supplies and I'd like to see about getting some livestock in here."

"Livestock?" I was surprised.

"Sure," he frowned at me. "Some horses, a few head of cattle, chickens, animals to live on."

"Coop, we have all we need to live on, besides, what about the wildlife here? Won't livestock disturb them?"

He set down the axe he'd been chopping firewood with and came to my side, taking the cup of coffee I offered him.

"Lilli, a couple has to make their own way, we can't rely on others to provide for us. Blue Water is going to change. We're not going to be a pit stop for travelers and drifters anymore. This is our home."

I didn't like it. Blue Water was mine, the first thing that truly belonged to just me, and the idea of anyone, even Coop, coming along and changing things without my say so...well? Turning away, my gaze drifted across the valley, the lush grass covered with a light dusting of snow, trees draped in a silvery mantle. The air was clear and fresh, and other than our breathing, it was utterly quiet.

I could not imagine this place any different than it was, and I did not want to. What would it be like filled with cattle and horses, the hired men to help run it? What about the lynx and fox, the bear and cougar? Domestic animals would be easy pickings, too easy to resist, then what? I did not like where my thoughts were taking me.

"No, Coop," I turned back to him, my jaw set. "No cattle. A few goats if you want, chickens if you must, but no cattle, no big herds of horses."

"Lilli, I don't think you understand-"

I lifted a hand to cut him off, shaking my head.

"No Cooper, you don't understand. This is my home, my first real home since I was ten years old, and it's exactly the way I want it. I don't want it to change, not the way you're thinking. It would ruin Blue Water, don't you see?"

He stared at me for a long moment, and I stared right back, refusing to back down. Irritation flashed in his eyes but when he spoke it didn't show.

"What do you propose we do then, Lilli? How are we going to make a living?"

Thinking that over a moment, my gaze swept over the thick stands of trees and frosted grass. In the distance I could see the sunlight winking off the still flowing waters of the river. It was peaceful here. Untouched.

"We could open an Inn," I answered finally.

"A what?"

"An Inn, like a hotel, or bed and breakfast. We've got the room, all we need is the supplies and we can charge a small nightly fee. It's only slightly different than how things are now, and we'll make money."

I could tell he didn't like the idea. He was going to think of ways to talk me out of it, but right then Coop didn't make an answer. He only half shrugged and nodded as if he would think about it. That was alright with me, because there was no way I was letting go of this place. It would stay the way it was, no matter what.

"We still need supplies, ranching or not. I'll leave first thing in the morning."

"All right," we regarded each other coolly, then he winked at me and I grinned back. Pulling me into his arms Coop kissed me fiercely before letting me go.

"You're going to be a handful, Lorelei Stone, aren't you?"

"Something tells me I shouldn't answer that," Tilting my chin up, I let him kiss me again, lingering against my mouth.

"Doesn't matter, I'm going to marry you anyway,"

I liked the easy way those words came off his lips. It seemed most men hedged around the very idea of marriage, let alone the word itself. I recalled the way Judd, or Smitty, or the rest of them used to talk about their girls. How they'd always implied for a permanent knot, and the men used to shudder, delaying it as long as possible. Once the girl was committed to the idea, however, they either had to high tail it out and never come back, or take the plunge. Thinking back, I never recalled any of Judd's men getting married.

Their loss.