Trina was glad that Karol had moved in. She had missed Drew so much since her friend had gotten married. She still could hardly believe they had done that. It had been such a beautiful, romantic ceremony. There was certainly something to be said for spontaneity.

But she had been feeling so lonely since Drew had moved out. Plus with the recent attacks upon Kenin and Laura, she was beginning to question the safety of this small town. Of any small town.

"Karol?" Trina asked as the door opened.

"Yeah, Trin. It's me."

Fili came running up to Karol and pawed her legs, demanding to be picked up.

Trina walked up to her friend and picked the cat up off the floor. "Give her a moment to get settled, precious."

Karol smiled her thanks as she set down her bags. Then Trina handed the cat to her for a quick cuddle.

"I made chicken and dumplings. Are you hungry?"

Karol smiled weakly. "Sounds great, Trina. But-"

"You made plans with Josiah already. I should have called first."

"Oh Trina, I'm sorry, I didn't think to tell you about it. It's just that he's so, well-" Karol broke off and sheepishly smiled.

Trina nodded. "I can take some to the station. I'm sure Ezra wouldn't mind."

"Tell ya what, we'll do something just the two of us this weeend. All right?"

Trina smiled. "Can we go to Tucson? Shopping?"

Karol laughed. "You bet." She disappeared down the hallway to change her clothes.

Trina shrugged and went to the kitchen. She carefully packaged up some chicken and dumplings, salad, and chocolate pecan cake and prepared to take it to the station. Karol walked into the kitchen.

"This does smell good. I'm sorry I'm going to miss it." Karol smiled.

"You're going to have a great time with Josiah." Trina paused. "Karol, please be careful."

"Relax Trina. I'll be fine." Karol grabbed her purse as the doorbell rang. Trina nodded.

"Hello Mr. Sanchez," Trina said as Josiah entered the apartment.

"Trina, when are you going to start calling me Josiah?"

Trina laughed. "All right Josiah." She smiled at him seriously. "But you have her home by a decent time."

Josiah grinned, pulling Karol to him. "Yes ma'am." He led Karol out of the apartment and into the night.

Trina picked up the basket and walked out of the apartment. She locked the door behind her. Trina frowned. Something was off, but she couldn't place it. She looked over to Drew and Buck's apartment as she walked to her car.

There was a large box on the doorstep.

Trina walked back to her apartment and went inside quickly. Buck and Drew had gone to Ajo for the day, and she knew Buck wouldn't have left a box that size on their doorstep. And if they'd been expecting a delivery, Drew would have mentioned it to her and asked her to get it.

Trina picked up the phone and dialed the station.

"Sheriff's Office, Standish speaking."

"Ezra?"

"Trina, what's wrong?"

"There's a big red box at Drew's door."

Ezra started to laugh, but then obviously remembered the events from earlier. "I'll be right over. Stay there, okay?"

"All right." She hung up and busied herself in the kitchen.

Ezra dialed Buck's cell phone and left a message on it. He would have been surprised if Buck had answered. It was his night off and he was spending it with his wife. Meanwhile, he would head over and check things out.

Ezra pulled up and saw the box sitting on the doorstep. It looked like a present. He frowned. If it was from Buck, he'd apologize later. But for now, he was not about to let Drew see whatever it was until Buck had.

He picked up the box and opened the attached card. "Why have you betrayed our love? I just want to be your teddy bear. Your only teddy bear."

Ezra frowned. It had just stepped up. He lifted the lid and found two stuffed bears, one dressed like a sheriff and one dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. The eyes from the one in the sheriff's outfit had been removed. Ezra carried the box to the squad car and stuck it in the back seat.

He knocked on Trina's door, and she opened it.

"Hello, my Lass."

She just hugged him. Ezra held her for a moment, then he looked to her. "Did you see anyone?"

Trina shook her head. "No. I was cooking. Are you hungry?"

Ezra wasn't, not after seeing the bears. But he could also tell that it would break Trina's heart if he said no. He nodded, and she brightened a little bit. Trina bustled off to the kitchen, and moments later emerged with silverware for the table, which she began to set. Then she brought out a meal that he had not been expecting.

"Trina, I need to make a call," he said as she sat down.

Trina nodded, and Ezra walked into the kitchen. He dialed Buck's number again, and left Trina's number with the numbers 911 added after it. Sure enough, Buck dialed back immediately.

Ezra spoke softly, not wanting Trina to hear.

"Mr. Wilmington, I believe it would be best if you and Drew do not return to town this evening."

"And why is that, Ezra? Now that Trina has a roommate, you want to use the love shack?" Buck said with a grin.

"I have my own residence, Mr. Wilmington, and need not resort to using yours. This is serious."

Buck sobered. "What happened?"

"Your wife has received another offering from her admirer."

There was silence for a moment, and Ezra heard Buck tell Drew that she should go pick something out for them. "All right. Tell me."

Ezra described the contents of the box, and added, "I have reason to suspect that you are now in danger."

"Yeah, well, ain't nothin' gonna keep me away from Sunshine. And we ain't gonna hide."

"I'd like a little time to snoop around. Tomorrow. Return the day after tomorrow, whether I've found something or not. The second bear may afford some clues."

Drew had obviously returned because Ezra could hear him saying in the background, "Hey Sunshine, how about you and me take a nice romantic trip to Phoenix, just the two of us?"

Ezra heard Drew laugh, and then say, "What about Ding and Bat? I didn't leave anything down for them."

Ezra quickly told Buck that he and Trina would care for the felines.

"All right then, we'll see you in two days."

"Thank you, Mr. Wilmington." Ezra hung up the phone, only to find Trina standing there watching him.

"What was-?" she started.

"I felt they needed some time away," Ezra responded.

Trina's eyes narrowed a bit. "This is about the box. What was in it?" she demanded.

"Nothing that you need to concern yourself about." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them.

Trina turned on her heels and walked out of the kitchen and out of the apartment. The last thing he wanted was for her to be alone right now. He rushed out after her and found her on her way to Drew and Buck's.

"Where are you going?"

"In case you forgot, you volunteered me to take care of their cats," Trina said coldly as she opened the door. She bent down and picked up Ding, carrying him to the kitchen. Trina set out the food and refilled their water. Bat came running as soon as he heard the sound of food hitting the bowl. Soon, both cats were purring and eating.

"Trina, I-"

"You obviously don't trust me."

"I didn't want to upset you." As soon as he said it, Ezra realized that his silence had upset her more. Ezra walked over and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry. I asked them to stay away because of the box."

Trina relaxed. "Can I help?"

"I doubt it." He took her arm. "You prepared a lovely dinner. It would be a shame for it to go to waste."

Trina smiled. "Guess what!"

Ezra kissed her cheek as they walked out and locked the apartment. "What?"

"I start at the school on Monday! I get to help with the kindergartners."

Ezra looked to her. "That position is not a particularly well paying one, is it dear?"

"Oh, I'm a volunteer," Trina said without missing a step. Ezra stopped.

"Trina?"

She turned to him. "Aye?"

"How - how are you going to afford this domicile on that salary?"

Trina was obviously confused. "I don't need it. But they needed the help. That school is underfunded, Ezra. The children, they don't have enough books, and the library is-"

Ezra covered her mouth with a kiss, quieting her. Obviously, she felt passionate about it. He felt passionate about her.

Trina blushed and gazed at him as he led her into her apartment and to the table. Both sat down. "I'm certain you did not realize this, but I adore chicken and dumplings."

Trina smiled and took a bite of her food. Ezra did the same. He smiled up to her. "This is wonderful, my dear."

He found her staring at him thoughtfully. "What?"

"You could change that. Ezra, I've heard you talking about things that need changing around here, and the school's just one of them."

"Me?"

"Aye, doesn't this country allow that anyone may run for office? The mayoral election is coming up."

"Trina.I-"

"But you'd be good. Ezra, you've got ideas. And the determination to make them happen."

He looked into her eyes and saw that she completely believed in him. And he did have ideas. He wanted funding for a town library, and the school was underfunded. But those were just the tip. The town needed to get some state funds for highway development; they were a thoroughfare for travel between Tucson and the reservation.

The park was beginning to need more rangers, and they had just lost Alley to transfer. Yet no one had been hired to replace her, causing the county officers to have to do that. The city didn't have their own police department, so the county sheriff's were doing the job of the city, the county, and the park. And the present mayor saw no reason to change that. It meant that there was more money to spend on his trips.

Ezra had seen the account records of the city council. It was his right as a citizen, and he did actually check them out monthly. They wasted money on catering for council meetings, but they didn't hire grant writers to secure state and federal funds to improve the town. The council members were paid more than they should be for what amounted to part time positions, given the size of the town. $40,000 a year for a council member and $80,000 for the mayor. Maybe for a large city, a state capital, or New York City.but certainly not Four Corners.

Ezra set down his fork and looked at her. Trina was smiling; it was like she'd read his thoughts. "All right, my love. But I may not win."

"You will." Trina smiled brightly to him.

Ezra poked at the food on his plate a moment, then looked up to her. "You realize, of course, that I'd have a better chance of winning, if I were not a bachelor?"

Trina looked down, and Ezra realized that that was not the most romantic of proposals. He reached into his pocket, then got down on one knee beside her. "I've been carrying this around for a couple weeks, Trina, trying to find the right moment. I love you. I think I've known that from the moment you stepped out of that car and into my life. You're everything I have ever needed. Wanted." He looked down, and opened up the box, taking the ring out and then taking Trina's hand. Ezra looked up to her. "Catriona Danielle MacKinnon, will you marry me?"

Trina's eyes teared up and she smiled at him. "Aye."

Ezra slipped the ring onto her finger and then stood up and pulled her into a tight embrace. He kissed her. "I love you, Trina."

"I love you too, Ezra."

He smiled to her. "I must return to the station. Check things out. But I get off at 10. May I, may I pick you up?" he looked to her, knowing what he was asking, and unsure how she'd respond.

Trina looked worriedly at him. "Nothing will happen. I just want to be near you and hold you. Trina, I love you."

Ezra nodded. "Yes I will. But tomorrow, I am off. And you are off." The box in his car was forgotten about as he made plans to spend the next day with his fiancée.

Ezra kissed her passionately once more before heading back to the station.

Trina smiled and stared at the ring. It was a one karat marquis-cut diamond set in rose gold. She took it off and discovered the inscription. It was in Scottish, and read "to my beloved". Trina could hardly wait to show Drew and Karol.

.