<in my bag. No doubt #John was checking in for the thousandth time to see if I'd booked my return flight. I hadn't. I had reservations>

<about staying OR going... but standing here alone with James Hood•fake, seeing the pain etched on his features, no matter how hard he>

<tried to hide it, I knew I couldn't leave. Not until I helped James Hood•fake heal in any way I could.}

{I took a long breathe and let it out in a slow thoughtful sigh as I stared out at the openness of Sherwood, drinking in the colors of the sun starting to set behind the mountains. If I was really being honest with myself... I didn't want to go back. I shrugged a shoulder.}>

<I think Los Angeles is getting a little too big and a little too bright for me. I miss the space... the quiet... the stars. The only stars in LA are on the walk of fame. {I paused a minute, imagining James Hood•fake there in the hustle and bustle. The right corner of my>

<mouth turned up in a smirk and I let out a soft chuckle.} God, you'd hate it there, James Hood•fake. Don't get me wrong. It has it's perks. Unless your famous, no body cares about your business or who you slept with. {Bad example? My cheeks pinked the slightest bit at my slip.>

<I powered through before James Hood•fake could say anything.} I might stay a spell. Daddy would probably lose his mind with me and Mama in the house... and I don't even know if I can still ride a damn horse... but it might be nice...

{It was hard not to reach out for James Hood•fake just then. I was almost surprised at how quickly I found myself falling back into the rhythm that was Rob and I, but I always had, hadn't I? It occurred to me briefly that maybe Sherwood wasn't what felt like home. Maybe home>

<was this right here. But that was a dangerous thought. One I couldn't afford to have unless I wanted to repeat the mistakes I made the last time I was here. #Marian didn't deserve that a second time. And I didn't deserve anything from James Hood•fake. It was a fine line...>

<being here for James Hood•fake and not for myself. I had to ask myself, did I want things repaired between us for my own benefit or his? I didn't look up at him when I replied.} Me too, Hood.

{Daddy knocked on the glass of the door behind us and silently pointed to the invisible watch on his wrist. Time to go. I nodded, turning to James Hood•fake.} I better go.... listen, I was thinking I'd go for a ride tomorrow morning, maybe help Daddy out and check the fences.>

<I dunno if you'll be feeling up to it, or really if you even care to see me again. But if you do, you know where to find me. {I closed the distance between James Hood•fake and I and pushed up on my toes slightly, not that I needed to to reach his cheek especially not in these>

<heels. I paused there for just a moment, steadying myself with both hands on James Hood•fake's chest. I leaned in to kiss his cheek, unable to resist centering my lips near the corner of his mouth as if he was drawing me in with some invisible magnetic force. He smelled like>

<aftershave and whiskey and it made every hair on my body stand straight up. I lingered there longer than was appropriate given our history, but honestly, I called it a win being able to resist the temptation to ACTUALLY kiss him. Guess my self control had improved in my>

<absence. I finally pulled my face away from his, dropping back on my heels before I turned for the door.}

{It would have been a lie if I'd said I hadn't thought about James Hood•fake the rest of the night. Even as I slept, he'd made an appearance in my dreams. I was normally such a restless sleeper, but not this time. I woke at dawn, more refreshed than I had felt in a very long.>

<time. I wasn't sure if it was just the familiar surroundings or the subject of my dreams that had let me sink into such a deep sleep, but I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Daddy was surprised to see me when I walked out of my room in my jeans, boots and plaid>

<shirt. He gawked slightly as I went to pour myself a cup of coffee.} What? {I asked catching his look. He shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.} Nothin'. Just saw my 15 year old baby girl for a second, not my grown up one. {I poured my coffee and came back to sit at the>

<table, leaning over to kiss his cheek.} How would you feel about some help around here for a couple of weeks? {He didn't look phased, but I knew it was only because he didn't want to make a big deal of it in case it would somehow change my mind. "Sure. Your momma will enjoy>

<having someone else to fuss over and feed. You remember how things work around here?" I shrugged my shoulders, finishing up my coffee so I could stand when he did.} Guess we'll find out. {He chuckled. "It's like riding a bike... if the bike had a mind of it's own."}