Chapter Forty

Friday night found everyone in the living room, cuddled up and watching a movie. Madeline had long since went to bed and the movie they were watching was based on a war called Vietnam. The McEllis brothers had never seen anything like this. Fighter jets, helicopters, huge bombs dropped from miles in the air and blowing apart their targets.

"I've never seen war like that," Andrew gasped, shoving a huge hand full of popcorn into his mouth and staring at the television with wide eyes.

The movie was a bit too bloody for Cavanaugh's taste. Blood brought back memories he'd rather not remember but Nicole seemed to like the movie and so did his brothers so he didn't vocalize his complaints. Instead he just held Nicole close, buried his face in her hair and dozed off and on.

"What about the Civil War?" Leslie asked.

Bethany shook her head, "They would have been too young."

Cavanaugh saw that Ian and Andrew were too engrossed in the battle on the talking picture box to pay attention to the conversation, so he spoke up, "Andrew was only about five when it started and Ian was seven so they were too young. Neither one of them was much taller than a rifle," he grinned at the memories of the past. "I was fourteen and could have gone but mama and pa insisted I was too young and I wasn't real keen on going and getting blown up so I stayed. By the time it ended, I had already met Leah and was settling down. Jamison was sixteen when it started and I think what kept him from going was the fact that pa was sick and he was the man of the house."

Leslie snuggled deeper into Ian's arms and thanked God that he hadn't been old enough to fight in that war. Survival rates hadn't been very good from what she could remember from history class.

Suddenly Ian threw his hands up and snorted, "What an idiot!" he exclaimed, which earned him a swat from Leslie.

"Madeline's asleep." she reminded him.

He gave her an apologetic grin, "Sorry, it's just this movie pissed me off."

"Why?" Cavanaugh asked, looking at the screen to see some guys looking emotional as they walked out of a bad situation, minus one or two men.

"That idiot just died for his friends. He could have got out!"

"Yes but then they would have probably died," Nicole countered.

"So? He'd be alive," Ian insisted.

"They say it's an honor to die for someone else," Cavanaugh informed his brother.

Ian snorted. He had a strong self preservation instinct and staying alive meant more to him than anything else. There had been plenty of times he could have jumped in front of bullets to save other men, but why? They'd be alive to be stupid and get killed another day and he'd be dead.

"Bull shit. It's stupid is what it is. I wouldn't die for anybody." Silence followed Ian's statement as everyone turned to look at Ian and Leslie. Leslie was staring at Ian as if he had just slapped her but Ian seemed oblivious that anything was wrong as he wrestled Andrew for more popcorn.

"Well I think it's time for bed," Cavanaugh said quickly as the end credits began to roll.

Nicole nodded, "Yes, we have to go to the parade tomorrow morning. We'll have to leave here around eight-thirty."

After a quick goodnight everyone went to their separate bedrooms.

Madeline was sound asleep on her soft bed of blankets in the corner of the room and Ian smiled at her before sliding under the covers and snuggling up against Leslie's back. He had hoped they could make love quietly while Madeline slept just as they had the last couple nights but Leslie was as still as stone beside him.

"Is something wrong?" he whispered as he nuzzled her neck.

"I'm just tired and my head hurts a little."

"Leah used to tell Cav she had a headache on nights that he'd done something to make her angry. Have I done something to make you angry?"

"No, of course not," Leslie replied honestly. She wasn't angry, she was just a bit hurt and disappointed. She knew that she would certainly die for him and for her daughter. To hear him say with such certainty that he wouldn't lay down his life for anyone, even the little girl he claimed to love like a daughter, broke her heart just a little bit.

"I love you," Ian offered, unsure of what else to say.

"Love you too," Leslie mumbled, pretending that sleep was claiming her.

Ian just sighed and decided to go to sleep as well. He had no idea what had crawled up her backside but hopefully it would be gone come morning.

***

"Daddy, when is the parade going to start?" Madeline asked from atop Ian's shoulders the next morning around nine.

"In about an hour," he replied as he carried her and followed Leslie through the crowd of people. It wasn't just a parade that was offered this morning. There were hundred of booths set up beneath tents full of things to buy and arts and crafts to make and purchase. There were shops set up and those running them were teaching people how to use a corn mill to grind grain and how to make homemade soap.

Ian grinned, "Pay attention, women, cuz if you follow us back to 1875 you'll have to make our soap," he teased.

This brought a laugh from everyone except Nicole who was suddenly looking a little green, "Can we get away from the soap please, the smell of that boiling is going to make me puke." Cavanaugh gave her a concerned look and then led her away quickly.

Ian was a little worried about Nicole but knew that Cavanaugh would see to her. He was just happy that whatever had been wrong with Leslie last night seemed to be better today.

"Daddy, I want to get my face painted!" Madeline exclaimed and Ian saw the booth where a pretty young woman with glasses was struggling to paint a butterfly on the face of a squirming child that Ian would guess to be about three or so.

"Let's go then," Ian replied. He wrapped his arm tight around Leslie's waist and led them both away.

"So that's what I'll have to do, huh?" Bethany asked as she curled her nose and watched the heavy set man stirring the boiling liquid that would soon become soap.

Andrew laughed and wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her body into his, "Naw, I reckon I'll have enough money to buy you soap. Heck now and then I'll even try to get you the rose scented kind." Bethany smiled and turned her head to kiss his jaw.

Andrew had talked to her about coming back to 1875 with him. Bethany had been surprised that the conversation had sounded like a perfectly normal once since mere weeks ago someone talking like that would have sent her running for a telephone to call the psychiatric hospital. Bethany was surprised that she wasn't bothered much by the thought of leaving her time and going back with Andrew and his brothers. Andrew was her husband after all and his brothers were her family.

She would miss her papaw though. Bethany felt a moment of pain in her heart that she quickly tried to push down. There wasn't any guarantees that she'd be going back. Andrew and his brothers had been here a while now. They had all settled down. Cavanaugh had come to terms with his past. Andrew had given up drinking and was focused on her, and Ian had Leslie and Madeline. If that witch woman was going to take them back surely she would have done so by now.

"Hey what's that?" Andrew asked.

Bethany followed his gaze and saw the games set up. He was busy watching a man throw a baseball at some metal bottles, "Games. They're usually rigged though so you can't win."

Andrew let go of her and smiled, "I wanna play! Can we go play?" he asked excitedly as he bounced up and down.

Bethany couldn't help but laugh. She was married to a five year old, "Sure let's go play."

Andrew was bouncing with anticipation as they waited in the ticket booth line and once they had the tickets in their hands, Andrew was taking her by the hand and dragging her toward the booth with the baseball and bottles.

"Well hello there, Cowboy. You gonna have yourself a go? It's easy as can be. Nothing to it," The overly animated booth runner exclaimed. Andrew nodded and handed over the tickets and the booth runner sat a basket with three baseballs in it next to Andrew. Andrew picked one up and tested the weight of it in his hand. He pulled off his hat and handed it to Bethany. Andrew threw the ball and missed. He picked up the second ball and threw this one. It hit the side of one of the bottom bottles but the bottles didn't fall.

Odd.

He grabbed the third ball and Bethany laid her hand on his arm.

"Remember, I told you these are rigged, Andrew. Don't feel bad."

The booth runner shook his head angrily, "My game isn't rigged, pretty lady! Your man here just isn't throwing the ball good enough. Maybe he should go back to roping cattle."

A raspy chuckle came from behind them and Andrew and Bethany turned to see Silas standing there. Andrew realized that the man wore his shotgun on his side even when he came to town, "He ain't any good at that either," Silas said good naturedly.

Andrew laughed, "No, I really ain't," he agreed. He turned back around and eyed the bottles once again. He drew back and threw the ball with all his might, striking the bottles dead center in a shot that should have sent them toppling to the ground but instead had the ball bouncing off. Andrew felt his temper flare to life. That son of a bitch had rigged this game, lied to him, insulted him and called Bethany a liar. That kind of thing wouldn't have flown back in 1875 and it wasn't going to fly now.

"Guess you just don't have the arm for it." the booth runner said with a laugh.

Andrew shocked everyone when he leapt over the counter and grabbed the skinny, balding man by the collar, "Let me tell you something, you cheating little bastard, that game is rigged and you're going to apologize to my wife right now for calling her a liar."

'It is not rigged and I'd encourage you to get your hands off of me." the man stated sternly and Andrew saw him pull a chunk of metal from his pocket. The man pressed a button and a blade suddenly appeared.

"Andrew!" Bethany exclaimed. 'He has a knife."

Andrew grinned and pulled his ten inch bowie knife from the sheath on the back of his gun belt, "So do I."

Suddenly the man lost a bit of his cockiness. Andrew released his hold on him and reached out to touch the bottles, unsurprised to find they were welded together and attached to the stand on which they sat.

He crossed his arms over his chest, careful with the blade of his knife and raised his brow at the booth runner who was suddenly shifting his feet and stuttering, "You will apologize to my wife now."

"Sorry, ma'am," the man muttered.

"You can apologize to me too." Andrew added.

The man was looking down at the ground so he missed the grin and wink that Andrew shot in Bethany and Silas's direction, "Sorry, sir."

"My wife wants one of those prizes," Andrew stated as he looked at all the stuffed animals hanging on the wall.

"She can have a small one," The man agreed as he looked at them as well.

Andrew shook his head and walked over to the wall. He put his knife away and then pulled down the biggest stuffed puppy on the wall, which was easy four feel long and bigger around than Andrew, "She wants this one." he said and the man nodded.

Andrew handed the puppy to Bethany before launching himself back over the counter and wrapping his arm around her shoulders. He took his hat from her, plopped it on his head and then grinned and tipped it at the disbelieving booth runner.

"Boy, you are out of your mind," Silas said with admiration, though the look in his eyes made it clear that he thought Andrew was a little nuts.

Andrew shrugged, "If it was 1875, that man would probably be shot dead for cheating people out of money and calling a lady a liar. Hell back in my day you didn't even call a man a liar unless you were willing to defend that statement with your life."

"Would you really have hurt him?" Bethany asked as she cuddled closer to her puppy.

Andrew laughed and gave her cheek a loud kiss, "Naw, I'm a lover not a fighter, you know that."

Bethany blushed and laid her head on his shoulder, "My hero. Defending my honor and everything."

***

"Are you feeling better?" Cavanaugh asked as he touched his wrist to Nicole's forehead, checking for any sign of fever.

She smiled and moved his hand away, taking it in hers and lacing their fingers, "I'm fine. Just something about whatever they were boiling made me nauseous."

Cavanaugh swallowed hard. Leah had gotten sick every time she'd cooked when she'd been with child. The smell of the food had made her sick until several months into her pregnancy. But he and Nicole had only been together for a couple of weeks. They'd been making love at least once, normally two or three times a day since then however and she hadn't yet had her womanly bleeding.

He pulled her to the side, away from a booth selling charcoal drawings and swallowed hard as he looked down at her. She frowned, "What's wrong?"

"Could you be... I mean I haven't been.. Are you...?" Cavanaugh shifted his feet as his heart raced.

"What is it, cowboy?" Nicole asked. She had never seen him this flustered and nervous.

"I haven't been doing anything to prevent you from getting with child. Honestly that was the last thing on my mind and I tend to lose my mind when I'm with you..."

"Is it strange that I find it incredibly flattering to hear that you lose your mind around me, Mr. cool, calm and collected Cavanaugh McEllis?"

"Nicole, please don't tease me," Cavanaugh grumbled. "Are you with child?"

Nicole shook her head, "No. I take a pill everyday that stops me from getting pregnant, Cavanaugh. They have those now."

"Oh," Cav replied.

Nicole blinked several times. Was that disappointment she saw in his eyes? Nicole looked around at the crowd. Some were bustling past them, some were standing around carrying on conversations and others were lounging at picnic tables eating greasy festival food, that Cavanaugh had refused to touch.

"What about your bleeding? You haven't done that." Cavanaugh stated.

Nicole shook her head, "I spotted a little a couple of days ago, sometimes that's all I do. This really isn't something I'm comfortable talking to you about, at least not out here in public."

"Fine, we'll go to private," Cavanaugh replied and before she could respond he was leading her away from the people and toward an old overpass. Once they were alone, with the occasional roar of a car above their heads, Cavanaugh looked back into her eyes and Nicole saw that disappointment again, "Are you sure you're not? Why else would you get sick at smells?"

Nicole shrugged, happy to be away from the food booths because the smell of them hadn't been much better than the small of the soap, "I have a weak stomach. I always have." she replied.

Cavanaugh let out a resigned sigh and nodded, "Okay."

Nicole shook her head, "Cavanaugh, are you disappointed? Did you want me to be pregnant?"

"It wouldn't have upset me none," Cavanaugh admitted.

Nicole's eyes widened with shock, "But we've only known each other a few weeks."

Cavanaugh shrugged and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his chest and laying his cheek on her hair, "It feels like you've been right here forever."

Nicole sighed and let herself be held, "Cavanaugh, the future is so uncertain right now. What if you 'poof' in front of me just like Jamison did and I never see you again?" Nicole knew he'd hear the sadness and fear in her voice when she said this but she didn't try to hide it. Cavanaugh knew her more than any other person had ever known her and she knew she wouldn't be able to hide it even if she did try.

"I won't go anywhere without you. Ian isn't the only one of us that shoots things. She either lets me stay with you or she brings you back with me but if she tries to separate us...? Then she's going to be eating lead and realizing fast not to mess around with a McEllis brother."

"I love it when you talk like a tough guy." Nicole teased and she heard the rumble in Cavanaugh's chest as he chuckled.

"I am a tough guy."

"Well come on then, tough guy, you can buy me something pretty," Nicole teased as she pulled away from him.

Cavanaugh smiled and took her by the hand as he nodded, "Yes, ma'am."

They walked back to the craft booths to browse but Nicole's mind wasn't on that. It was on the fact that Cavanaugh had gotten her thinking about a baby. Could she be pregnant? She was on the pill but she hadn't been taking it as regularly since the brothers had arrived. They had kind of messed with her schedule. And she had lied to Cavanaugh, light spotting wasn't normal for her and she did not normally have a weak stomach. Was it really possible???? She felt an extremely strange mixture of fear, nerves and hope.

She smiled as she squeezed Cavanaugh's hand a little tighter. Before they went home she would stop at the store and then she'd be able to figure out the answers they both needed.

****

"How do I look?" Madeline asked happily as she hopped down from the stool and ran to Ian and Leslie. Ian grinned and then mustered the most serious look he could and studied her carefully. She giggled behind her hand as rotated between raising his right brow and then his left.

"Well...." Madeline urged as she propped her fists on her hips.

Ian fought back a laugh, "You look like you have a giant flower on your face." he finally said.

Leslie smacked his arm playfully as she laughed, "You look beautiful!" she assured her daughter.

Ian was laughing as he scooped Madeline up into his arms and propped her on his hip. He kissed her unpainted cheek and nodded, "Of course she does. She always looks beautiful." Then he wrapped his free arm around Leslie's waist, "I only surround myself with the best."

"You're so full of it." Leslie countered with a snort but Ian noticed that she leaned into him when she said it.

"Daddy, can I go get a balloon and a coloring book?!" Madeline exclaimed excitedly. Ian saw the booth set up. It was some sort of church group and they were giving out free balloons, coloring books, popcorn and candy. Ian nodded as he sat her on her feet.

"Go ahead, daddy's cheap and that stuff is free."

Madeline ran to the booth, which was only about seven feet away and Leslie looked up at Ian, "Thank you," she said.

Ian pulled his eyes away from Madeline and looked down at her, "For what?"

"For loving her. For loving me. For being so amazing."

"You don't have to thank me," Ian countered. "I was born that way."

"What way?" Leslie asked with a roll of her gray eyes.

"Amazing." Ian replied. He bent down and kissed her gently and she was laughing lightly as he turned back to check on Madeline. He searched for her braided dark hair among the other children but didn't see her. Without a word he stepped toward the booth, glancing all around for any sign of the girl.

"Maddy!" he called out.

"Madeline!" Leslie's voice joined his own. "Ian, oh my god! Where is she?!"

Ian heard the panic in Leslie's voice and he tried to comfort her by laying his hand on her shoulder but he was close to panic himself, "I don't know." he replied honestly. "Maddy! Maddy, this isn't funny! You better come to daddy!" Other parents and adults began to look around, searching for any sign of a lost child.

"Daddy!!!!" Madeline's ear piercing scream filled the air and Ian's head instantly turned toward the main street.

"Frank has her!" Leslie cried out as she clutched Ian's arm.

Ian felt his blood beginning to boil when he saw Frank running down the street. His hand was now clamped firmly over Madeline's mouth and the girl was kicking and fighting as he carried her further and further away.

"Help!" Leslie cried out.

Ian saw an officer standing about twenty feet away beside a horse, "Officer! That man just stole our child!" Ian called out as he ran toward the man.

"He did?" The officer asked with surprise.

Ian growled. Why wasn't the man jumping on his horse and riding after the girl? Instead he was asking stupid questions and looking like a deer in headlights. Lawmen were just as useless in this time as they had been in his.

Ian fought the urge to punch the man and then jumped on the horse, while the officer stuttered out a warning to get off, "I'm saving my daughter," Ian growled. Leslie saw the look in his eyes and heard the tone in his voice and wasn't surprised at all when the officer backed down. This wasn't Ian the jokester, Ian the flirt or Ian the lover. This was Ian McEllis, the outlaw. The man who knew how to kill to get what he wanted.

Ian squeezed the horses sides and set off after Frank and Madeline. The man had a good head start but he was fat and on foot. Ian barreled down the road and soon was passing Frank and Madeline. He quickly drew up on the reins and jumped from the horse while it was still moving fairly quickly. He ran several steps to catch himself and then whirled around as the fat man came to a stop.

Frank was breathing hard, he was covered in sweat and he looked desperate and more than a little crazy. Ian was calm and collected on the outside. Standing there with a wide legged stance and arms crossed loosely. But inside he was fuming, screaming, crazy with desperation as Madeline looked at him with fear shining in her wide eyes.

"Let her go," Ian warned.

Frank shook his head, "I heard her call you daddy! You ain't her daddy, I am." Frank shot back with a little bit of a wheeze in his voice.

"You're nothing," Ian reminded the man. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way, it's up to you." Ian hadn't worn his gun belt but he had a small .38 pistol in his boot. He pulled it and saw Frank's face pale considerably.

"I'm asking you again one last time to let the girl go." Ian warned.

He knew that he would kill Frank if he had to but he didn't want to do it with Madeline watching. That poor girl had seen enough in her life. Her mother beaten, herself beaten, the constant fear of what that bastard would do to her. Leslie had even admitted to Ian that she thought Frank may have 'touched' Madeline once but Leslie hadn't been able to prove that so the cops had done nothing. He didn't want Madeline to see any more trauma, she had seen enough in her four years of life.

"You stole my family from me, you bastard!" Frank bellowed.

Ian shook his head, "You lost them all on your own, Frank. Don't blame me."

"How does my wife feel when you stick your dick in her at night? What's it feel like knowing your touching another mans' leftovers?" Frank sneered.

Ian felt his finger twitch on the trigger but he used sheer willpower to hold steady and not pull it, "We can talk about all of this man to man just as soon as you quit hiding behind the child."

Ian didn't know what was going through Frank's mind, he was just relieved when the man sat Madeline down on her feet and the girl ran for him. Ian gave her a pat on the back as she clung to his leg and then he moved her behind him. He was aware of several cops and Leslie coming down the street toward them.

Ian put his gun away and shook his head, "This is over, Frank." Frank simply glared at him.

Ian was nearly knocked over when Leslie flung herself into his arms, then just as quickly she pulled away and scooped Madeline up into her arms.

"Frank, you know you're not allowed around them two," an officer said with a shake of his head. "You're under arrest. Looks like you'll get another good long stay after your latest stunt.

Ian saw the officer who's horse he'd borrowed leading the beast by the reins, "Good horse." Ian said.

The officer nodded, "I know."

"We'd encourage you not to steal police property anymore," the older officer who was holding Frank by the arm stated.

Ian grinned charmingly, "I didn't steal it. I borrowed it." he insisted. The officer nodded and then began to lead Frank away while two more came to take statements from Ian, Leslie and Madeline. Ian kept his eyes trained on Frank and then suddenly the world stopped turning.

Frank wasn't cuffed, and he shoved the older officer, yanking the mans pistol as he did so. Ian felt his heart stop beating as Frank whirled around, pointing his gun toward Leslie and Madeline. Ian knew he had no time to draw his gun. No time to shoot Frank before he shot his woman and daughter. The cops were distracted.

Ian didn't even think of the sacrifice he was making as he turned his back to Frank and wrapped his arms tight around Leslie and Madeline just as the sound of a gunshot filled the air.

Ian felt himself shoved forward as the bullet slammed a fiery path into his back and lodged itself in his heart. Strange that Ian was aware of that. He had always thought that death was instant but now he knew you had a few seconds to think about things. He heard more gunshots and he assumed they were Frank being gunned down. He heard Madeline crying and Leslie screaming as he fell to his knees.

Blood poured from him and onto the black asphalt. He tried to speak but he simply coughed as blood trickled from his mouth. He looked up into Leslie's terrified gray eyes wanting to take the memory of them with him and then the world went black.