Prying Mary's fingers from his arm, Chris began to back the woman toward her chair. "Sit down," he urged, guiding her into the seat. When she was seated, he pulled the chair that Orrin had been sitting in a little closer and put himself into it. Taking his hat off, he ran his hand through his short blonde hair, trying to find the way to explain his relationship with Ella.

"A long time ago, there was a working girl that I would," Chris paused, uncomfortable with the topic and struggling to find the right words. "Visit occasionally," he settled for.

"Ella," Mary clarified, having guessed this much of the story. Despite the fact that Ella had been introduced as a ranch owner when she had been in Four Corners a month ago, Mary had guessed her prior profession long before now.

Nodding Chris confirmed her identity. "I didn't think much of it. We would have a good time, she'd get her money and I'd be on my way. Then I met Sarah and I stopped my carousing. I didn't want anyone but her. We married and had Adam and I never thought twice about Ella or any of the other working girls I'd been with in my life."

Seeing the stoic, disapproving look on Mary's face, Chris stood up and moved back to the window. He couldn't expect her to be happy about the situation, but it was the truth.

"I hadn't seen or heard of Ella until she showed up last month. She hadn't changed a bit. Still wild and crazy as ever," Chris said, an ironic twist to his voice. Sighing, he turned to look at Mary. "The day I got drunk, tore down the hitching posts and took off to Purgatory, it had been three years since Sarah and Adam's deaths. I was hurting and wanted to lash out - to forget it had ever happened and to find some way to make sure I never felt that kind of pain again. So, when Ella showed up, it was easy to take off with her."

"And marry her," Mary stated matter of factly, daring him to deny the charge.

"What?" Chris started, the shock on his face quickly replaced by comprehension. "The picture." He looked her directly in the eye, hoping she would read the truth of his words. "I never married her. She had me get all gussied up for dinner one night and had a photographer waiting at the bottom of the stairs."

Staring deep into Chris' soul, Mary weighed the validity of his claim. No matter how much she wished to accept the explanation at its face value, she refused to walk blindly into it. She had been hurt too much for that.

After a few minutes, Chris saw a subtle change in Mary's posture and countenance. Relieved, he realized that she had accepted the simple truth that had been laid before her.

Mary pulled her eyes from his, allowing him to once again slip the shield to his soul back in place. After a few minutes of silence, she glanced back at him. "That still doesn't explain why she took Billy."

Nodding, Chris drew a shaky breath. Now came the tough part. "When I was at Ella's, I found out that she was the one who had hired Fowler to kill Sarah and Adam. Said she couldn't live without me and would kill anyone who came between us." Chris sighed, sitting back down by Mary. "She even went so far as to try to have Buck and the others killed. That's how I got shot, trying to help them."

Mary's already pale features seemed to whiten further as the implications of what Chris was saying sank in. "Billy?" she managed, not able to form the words she was afraid to say.

"I don't know. She may be using him as bait to draw me or the others into something," Chris said honestly. Reaching out to pick up Mary's cold, clenched fingers, he wished there was some way to avoid the rest of the painful truth, but he had come too far now to back down. "Or she may have already killed him."

Shaking her head in denial, it was Mary's turn to get up and move away. Stopping halfway across the room, she took in several deep breaths and made a vain attempt to swallow the lump in her throat. It couldn't be. She couldn't lose her son. It was too much to ask of her. Feeling Chris' hands on her shoulders, she allowed herself to be turned around.

"I'll find him, Mary," Chris vowed softly, cupping her face and brushing his thumb across her cheek. "I'll bring him back to you and I'll make her pay," he pledged fervently. Looking in her eyes and seeing the turbulent emotions in them, he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. "It'll be okay," he whispered in her ear.

Pressing her face into Chris' neck, Mary wrapped her fingers into his shirt and coat. Captured next to him, she listened to the words of comfort he murmured in her hair and prayed that he was right.

Because if he wasn't, she wasn't sure she could ever forgive him.

A murmur of voices roused the sleeping child. "Mama?" Billy Travis called out, his voice weak and confused. Struggling to fight through the haze that demanded for him to go back to sleep, he made it far enough awake to realize he was in a small closet. Pushing futilely at the wooden door beside him, he leaned against the rough grain and whimpered for his mother again before going back into the darkness.

Stepping onto the boardwalk, Chris and the Judge greeted the two men waiting for him. "Anything?" Chris asked, coming to a halt in front of them.

Shaking his head in regret, Nathan sighed. "Nobody seems to know anything. How's Mary?"

Not saying anything, Chris looked evenly at the healer to tell him she was hanging on - barely.

"What do we do now?" JD asked pensively, scanning the street for any sign of the others returning.

"Anyone seen Ezra?"

"Right here," the southerner called out, coming up to the group. "I just had a very interesting conversation with several gentlemen," Ezra said, coming to a halt beside the black clad man. "Seems said gentlemen perchanced upon a house where several lovely women were residing. One of these lovely debutantes proclaimed to be a school teacher, but," Ezra paused and ran his thumb across his lower lip, chuckling. Peering back up, he allowed a grin to appear on his face as he finished. "She was not imparting the essentials of a grade school education."

"Where?" Chris snapped, afraid that Ella would learn of his arrival in town and flee the area.

"About a mile east of the Miller Creek road. House sits in a stand of trees," Ezra replied.

Turning to the older man beside him, Chris was stopped from speaking by the nod of Orrin's head. "Go. I'll tell the others when they get back."

"Mary?" Ida called softly, not wishing to startle the woman staring intently out the parlor window. When Mary looked blankly back at the older woman, she nodded down at the tray in her hands. "I brought you something to eat."

Turning to look back out the window, Mary did not respond to the invitation. She wasn't hungry. In fact, she knew that if she tried to eat anything, she would choke for the food would not get the past the lump of fear in her throat.

It wasn't that she didn't believe Chris when he promised her that he would bring Billy back to her - alive and well. If there was a way, Chris Larabee would do it. Of that, she was sure. It was just....

Sometimes, no matter how much a person tried, promises couldn't be kept.

And it was possible that this would be one of those times. If Ella Gaines really wanted Billy dead, she had had several days in which to do it.

"You're not going to do that young man of yours any good if you're down sick when he comes back," Mrs. Jenkins tried again, touching Mary's elbow. Turning her around, she gently pushed the younger woman toward the divan and the tray of tea and sandwiches sitting in front of it.

"Please, I don't want anything," Mary murmured, allowing herself to be directed to the seating area. "I don't think I could keep it down," she added halting the progress of the sandwiches towards her.

Looking appraisingly at Mary, Mrs. Jenkins pursed her lips. Finally conceding that the ashen woman was probably speaking the truth, she set the plate of sandwiches down and poured the hot tea. Putting two cubes of sugar in it, she handed the cup and saucer to Mary. "Then at least have some of this," she said. "It'll help settle your stomach."

Taking the offered beverage rather than continuing to argue with her hostess, Mary pretended to take several sips. Seeing the pleased look on Mrs. Jenkins face, Mary felt guilty at deceiving her. Setting the cup down, Mary thanked the older woman for her kindness.

"Think nothing of it, my dear," Mrs. Jenkins said, squeezing Mary's arm. "It's no more than I'd want if I was in your position."

Both set of eyes were drawn to the door opening. Stepping into the small setting area, Orrin smiled affectionately at his daughter-in-law. "They may have found him," he pronounced, coming further into the room. Staving off the questions that erupted from the women, Orrin lead both back to their seats. "In a farm house several miles south of here," he told them in response to the repeated question of "where".

Barely able to stay seated at the news, Mary only vaguely heard Orrin tell her that he was waiting for Vin, Buck and Josiah to return and then he would be heading out there with them. The pronouncement was quickly followed by the sound of horses in the street.

Moving quickly to the window, Orrin glanced out before heading for the door. "They're here," he said. Pausing only long enough to look encouragingly back at Mary one more time, he left.

Rushing to the window, Mary watched the excited exchange that occurred between the returning riders and the Judge. In a moment, all of the men were mounted and tearing out of town. Wringing her hands nervously, Mary's mind was racing. She couldn't sit here any longer.

"Mrs. Jenkins?" Mary said, moving back to the sitting area. "I wonder if I may impose on you to do me a favor?"

Surprised, but willing to help the young widow however she could, she said, "Anything, my dear."

"Rose has been so very concerned about Billy. I was wondering if you could tell her what has happened this morning," Mary said, sinking to the settee.

"Why, certainly," Mrs. Jenkins said. "In fact, it won't be a imposition at all seeing as I need to pick up a few things."

"Thank you so much," Mary said, a strained smile on her face. "I would do it myself, but I...."

Mary trailed off at Mrs. Jenkins waving her hand at the statement. "You just sit here and try to eat something. I'll look in on you when I get back," the innkeeper said, taking her leave.

Nervously pacing the room, Mary checked the street on each pass, waiting for the sight of the boarding house owner's departure. Finally spotting the older woman moving down the small path leading to the street, Mary dashed upstairs and grabbed her coat. Picking up the small gun on the bureau, she slid it into her pocket before darting back out of the room. Flying back downstairs, she slipped out the side door and ran through the alleys towards the livery.

Reaching it, she hastily paid the hostler to saddle a horse for her. Prancing in anticipation until he was finished, she yanked the reins from his hands and threw herself on the horse. Kicking the bay in the sides, Mary set the mare into a gallop and headed south.