STUNNED, ELLA WATCHED as Colton’s horse sauntered away, orange, pink, and purple streaking across the sky behind him. At that moment, she knew that she couldn’t stand the thought of never seeing him again. As quickly as she could, she mounted the painted horse “Yah!” she yelled, urging the horse into a dead run. A second later, she pulled up in front of Colton, forcing him to stop. “Did you mean what you said back there?”

Colton let out a deep breath. “About you being respectable?”

Ella shook her head. “No, about loving me.”

Colton crossed his arms over his saddle horn. “Yes. Of course I did. I’ll always love you, Ella.”

She reached over and placed a hand on his cheek. “I love you, too, Colton. And I always will.”

Without saying another word, he pulled her across his saddle and crushed his lips to hers, filling her heart with joy. Finally, she knew she was home.

A moment later, she pulled back as her eyebrows drew together in concern. “I need to tell Dallas.”

Colton smiled. “I’ll go with you. I don’t want you to have to face him alone,” he whispered, stroking her hair as he looked into her eyes.

She shrugged. “I can handle him.”

He laughed. “I know you can, but I’m still going with you.”

She nodded. “But I want to do the talking.”

He slid down off his horse, taking her with him, and helped her onto the American painted horse. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.” Then, he patted the horse’s rump behind the saddle. “You know, you stole this horse.” He looked up at her and smiled. “I could arrest you as a horse thief.”

She laughed. “Oh, come on, Colton. You know I just ‘borrowed’ it.”

He laughed as he mounted his black stallion. “I know, but you’ll need to give it back to Cole Stanford. He was pretty steamed up.” He made a clicking sound with his mouth, and his horse launched into a trot.

Ella did the same, staying at Colton’s side. “He was upset, was he?”

Colton nodded. “Very. But I have a feeling that he’ll get over it quickly... when he has his horse back, that is.”

Ella laughed. “I guess I have a lot to explain when I get back.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be with you.”

Ella smiled. “For how long?”

He looked directly into her eyes. “Always.”

A few minutes later, they rode into town as orange, red, and yellow streaks continued to paint the sky.

“Well, this is it,” Ella stated as she slid off the horse, screwed up her courage, and walked it up to Cole Stanford. “Here’s your horse. Thanks for letting me borrow it.”

He took the reins and began running his hand along the painted coat of the horse. Then he turned to face her. “Borrow, huh?” He looked over at Colton, who nodded. “Well, I can see that the horse wasn’t hurt, so no harm done.” He took a step toward her. “Just promise me that it won’t happen again.”

A smile spread across her face. “Done.”

“Ma’am,” he smirked as he tipped his hat and started walking away, but Ella stopped him.

“Mr. Stanford, could you tell me where I can find Dallas King?” she asked.

He nodded. “Yes. He’s in the saloon, playing cards. Seems upset over something, but it’s none of my business.”

She nodded as she bit her lower lip. “Thank you.”

Cole smiled. “Anytime.” He shook his head as he walked away, chuckling to himself.

Ella ran a hand over her hair to smooth it the best she could, and marched straight over to the saloon.

Ellis Smith was sitting in one of the rocking chairs outside the saloon. “Now, wait a minute, miss. No respectable lady should go into a saloon.”

Ella stared into his eyes, unwavering. “Get out of my way.”

One corner of his lips curled into a smile. “Yes, ma’am,” he cackled, tipping his hat as he stepped aside.

She pushed open the double doors and marched in. When she looked around, Dallas King was sitting at a round table in the center of the room with six other men. She squared her shoulders and marched straight over to him, stopped before his table, and placed her hands on her hips, planting her feet firmly on the planks of the wooden floor.

Dallas’s eyes flared as he stood and placed his hands on the table. “How dare you come in here looking like that!” He looked her up and down and leaned forward. “It’s all around town that you were once a saloon girl! How dare you—”

Ella lifted her chin. “I wasn’t a ‘saloon girl.’ I was a dance hall girl. There’s a difference!”

Dallas laughed without humor. “So, you thought that you’d marry me to be respectable. How dare you use me like that?”

“Me use you?” Ella asked, laughing without humor. “That’s a laugh! You were using me as a showpiece! And if I didn’t do as you asked, you pulled my hair and bullied me! How dare you?”

Everyone in the saloon looked at him, their mouths open in shock. “You used me! I paid for your train fare and clothes, and what have I to show for it now?”

Ella stepped closer to the table. “I was perfectly happy with my own clothes! It was you who insisted that I dress as you saw fit! Hell! Even my clothes from the best shops in New York weren’t good enough for you! And as for the money....” She dug into her corset, pulled out a wad of money, and threw it onto the table. “There! That should be more than enough to cover any ‘expenses’ that you incurred because of me! And furthermore, do not ever come near me again!” It wasn’t all the money she had, but enough to pay him back. The rest was back at the boardinghouse under her mattress. The way Dallas was acting toward her, she hadn’t wanted Dallas to know she had it, just in case. She was good at saving and had earned a lot of money as a dance hall girl and from her father’s inheritance.

She turned to walk out, but he grabbed her arm, stopping her. “Don’t you dare make a fool of me like that!”

Ella laughed. “Oh. You already did that yourself long before I met you!”

“Why you little—”

Without thinking about it, Ella reared back her fist and let it fly into Dallas’s nose.

Blood poured down his face and onto his clean white shirt. “How dare you? This was a brand-new shirt! Now it’s ruined!”

Ella shook her head, unable to believe that he was more worried about his shirt than her. “I feel sorry for you. It didn’t have to be this way. Someday, I hope you find someone who will love you. But I can tell you that it won’t be me.” She turned on her heels and walked out, leaving Dallas King behind.