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Devlin enjoyed watching her for a few moments then opened the kitchen door and stepped outside onto the back porch.

Avery was on the swing toward the back of the yard, her little legs pumping hard, her curls dancing in the breeze of her own creation.

Cecily leaned against the tree trunk, all but forgotten for the moment.

The tension he’d been carrying around with him eased just a bit.

He stepped off the porch and walked the length of yard, stopping in front of her.

“Daddy!” Avery squealed with delight then jumped off the swing at its highest point. He hadn’t expected that and opened his arms, heart in his throat, to catch her in mid-flight.

“Avery!” he shouted, ready to issue the reprimand hovering on his tongue but then he looked at her—all grins and happy giggles, her eyes wide and filled with the utmost confidence that he would catch her.

The reprimand died in his throat, replaced with a wry chuckle.

She was a daredevil and so much like him he couldn’t be upset.

Still, he had to say something, for her own protection as well as his peace of mind. “You shouldn’t do that.”

“But you caught me.”

“That I did, but I might not always be there.”

She nodded with enthusiasm and conviction. “Yes, you will.”

His heart, now beating again as it should, swelled. Yes, he would. Always. He’d never let her down. Ever. He set her down, then took her little hand in his. “How would you like to go on a picnic? Miss Tresia is making sandwiches.”

“Okay, Daddy.” She pulled him toward the house, excited, apparently, to go. He was just as eager for the opportunity to find a little peace and quiet with his favorite girls.

It wasn’t long before they reached the lake in the little spot Merrill had told him about. He climbed out of the carriage, then reached up to help Tresia and his daughter. “Stay close, Avery.”

She glanced at him, her eyes questioning. “Can I put my feet in the water?”

“Yes, but don’t go too far in without me or Miss Tresia. Up to your ankles only.”

Avery gave a nod and headed toward the water, where she promptly sat near the water’s edge and pulled off her shoes and stockings. In moments, she was in the water up to her ankles.

“That’s as far as you go, Avery,” he reminded her. “Promise?”

“Promise,” she called back over her shoulder.

He took his gaze off her for a moment to grab an old quilt, then spread it out on the grass beneath the wide limbs of a cottonwood tree. He settled himself, stretching out his long legs, his focus once more on Avery.

Tresia sat beside him and started removing what she’d packed from the basket. “This is nice.”

“Yes, it is. A beautiful day. And exactly what I needed.” And it was what he needed, far away from the prying questions from reporters, not to mention every single townsperson he ran into.

So many wanted him to relive the killing of Ned Delany and he just didn’t want to.

Yes, Delany was a bad man, but he hadn’t enjoyed ending his depraved and cruel life.

He would have much rather have him pay for his crimes in prison, convicted by a jury of his peers.

“Is everything all right, Devlin?”

“It is now.” He reached for her hand and just held it, the comfort exuding from her by such a simple touch easing his troubled mind.

“But it wasn’t before.” She looked at him, her gaze steady and inquisitive, her smile tremulous but reassuring, letting him know he could tell her anything. “Why did you come home so early? Did something happen?”

He took his eyes off Avery for a moment and glanced in Tresia’s direction before focusing on his daughter again. “I’m tired, Tresia,” he finally admitted. “And if you don’t mind, I’d rather not talk about it. I just want to sit here in the peace and quiet and spend time with you and Avery.”

She squeezed his hand, confirming her understanding.

“All right. We can do that.” Her gaze settled on him and he knew that even though she agreed not to talk about it now, she would want to later.

And maybe later, he would be ready to share his concerns.

She was, after all, a good listener, offering sound advice but only when asked.

And she was going to be his wife. She deserved to know the fear that lived in his heart, but for now, he simply wanted to enjoy spending time with Avery and her.

Something definitely wasn’t right. Tresia studied Devlin’s profile, or as much as she could see in the moonlight coming into his bedroom. She was worried about him. He didn’t seem like himself.

Ever since their picnic—even during their picnic—Devlin had remained quiet, much too quiet.

Not even Avery could pull him out of the darkness that seemed to have taken control of him.

Something was weighing heavily on his mind.

He even made love differently, still gentle and thoughtful, bringing her to the heights of passion, but with an almost desperation in his actions.

And she wasn’t having it.

They were to be married. She was to be a helpmate to him, a companion, someone he could confide in. That’s what marriage was supposed to be.

“What’s wrong, Devlin?”

“Nothing.”

“It’s not nothing, Devlin.” She rose up on her elbow and looked down at his face, his features more visible. “Something is bothering you. It’s like…you’re just waiting for something to happen.”

He let out his breath in a long sigh. “I am.”

“Can’t you tell me?” She traced her fingers along his cheek and chin, feeling the rough stubble of the beard he’d shave off in the morning. “Perhaps sharing your concerns might lessen the burden.”

“You’re a good woman, Tresia,” he whispered as he entwined his fingers with hers.

It took another few moments before he seemed to come to a decision.

“It’s these reporters coming into town, wanting interviews, asking too many questions.

I met one from Albuquerque today and then I made the mistake of reading the piece Wagner put in the Serenity Times.

He mentioned my name several times, mentioned the town.

He didn’t mention Avery, thank God, but I feel like it’s only a matter of time before Frances shows up. ”

Her heart went out to him. She loved this man with every fiber of her being and what worried him, worried her. What frightened him, frightened her as well. “I see. And you’re concerned.”

She could tell he was loathe to admit it but admit it he did. “Yes.”

“Why?”

He remained silent for the longest time.

When he finally did speak, his voice was raw and conveyed exactly what concerned him.

“Because, knowing Frances as I do, she’ll come here and try to take Avery and it’s a fight I don’t want to deal with.

I don’t want her around Avery. She will cause trouble. ”

“She can’t take her. You’re her father.”

He stiffened then released her hand. “But she can try,” he sighed then admitted, “Frances has a lot of influence. And a lot of power. I’m more than certain she has several judges in her pocket, not to mention her family lawyer who may or may not have broken the law for her.

There’s even a senator or two. They’re all willing to do her bidding, either because they’re not good men or under threat of blackmail.

She seems to have a hold over these men.

I’m not sure why or how.” He paused, as if to gather his thoughts.

“When Hannah and I got married against her wishes, she did everything she could possibly do to break us apart and make our marriage go away.” He reached for her, pulling her closer, perhaps searching for the calmness he said she brought to him.

“She didn’t like me very much. Still doesn’t like me to this day.

She threatened to have our marriage annulled.

Said she knew people who could do that for her. I believed her.”

He laughed wryly, but the sound struck Tresia as odd. She didn’t say anything—just wanting him to talk, until he didn’t feel like the bottom was about to drop out of his world.

“Frances told that to Hannah, too. I think that was the first time Hannah stood up to her and told her no, threatened that if she didn’t stop her interference, Hannah would never see her again.

Frances loved her daughter—as much as Frances knows how to love—so she stopped with the intimidation.

And then Avery was born and things were better in one way but seemed to get worse in another.

The dislike she had for me turned into downright hate.

Frances wanted Hannah and Avery to move back to the ranch and stay with her, using the dangers of my job to frighten Hannah, telling Hannah she didn’t know how to raise a child, telling her that I had been with other women, which I would never do.

Frances did everything she could to get Hannah to hate me, too. ”

“But it didn’t work, did it?”

“No, the more Frances pushed, the more Hannah dug in her heels. She was stubborn that way. She still went out to the ranch to visit but left any time her mother started berating me and our marriage. As I said, she will cause trouble.” He drew in his breath.

“Avery is happy now. I don’t want to see that change. ”

“What can we do?”

“Nothing until she shows up.” There was such defeat in his voice.

“I think you should talk to Mr. Applebaum. He’s a good lawyer. He might be able to help. Maybe there’s a way to keep her away from Avery.”

“I doubt Mr. Applebaum has much influence over someone like Frances,” he scoffed, not willing to believe it.

“It’s worth a try, isn’t it?” she asked, hoping he would see her suggestion as an answer to the problem that was Frances Emerson Comstock. “Doing something is better than worrying about it. That won’t get you anywhere except a sour stomach and a racing mind.”

His body relaxed as if he considered her suggestion. “You’re so good for me, Tresia.”

“Yes, I am.” She smiled at him even though she wasn’t sure he could see it. “We’re good for each other.”