The Question

Ben, Liana and Dan Evans had just finished breakfast and Liana was cleaning up their dishes. Humming to herself, she was thinking about the gardening she planned to do today, as soon as she was finished in the house. Then, she felt a hand on her back.

Smiling, she turned to face Ben. He was always doing that. Coming up on her without a sound. When they had first come here, it had startled her. Now, she was used to it. Always knew it was him.

"So, you're gettin' into the wonderful world of gardenin' today, darlin'?" He was grinning at her. "That oughta be a sight. Maybe I should plan on hangin' around? Takin' a few pictures." His face had that teasing but somewhat haughty look that she had come to love.

"If you hang around," Liana threatened him jokingly, "I'm going to have you out there helping me. Down in the dirt digging around."

"Much fun as that sounds like, sweetheart, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to decline. Me and Charlie got lots of work to do. Our first horse show's in a coupla months." There was pride in his voice. Liana knew he could hardly wait to put his horses and his work with them to the test.

"But maybe Dan here'd go for helpin' you," Ben said, as Dan came into the kitchen with his coffee cup. "He's a little more domesticated than I am."

His look at Dan Evans was a mixture of respect and- Something else, but Liana hadn't quite figured out what just yet. Ben and Dan seemed to have an odd relationship. They were friends and yet Dan always seemed to defer to Ben when it came down to it. He was an intelligent, educated man, but Ben was the one who had the leadership qualities.

"Don't know how much help I can be, Miz Wade, but I'll be happy to do what I can," Dan said in his slow, easy voice.

"Nonsense, Dan." Liana told him. "You're a guest. You don't need to be out working in our yard."

Ben's arm tightened about her, as he eyed Dan. "Honey, Dan's no guest. He's family. Remember that." He bent his head to give her a long, slow, passionate kiss that left her breathless.

"I'll see you two at lunch," he said, as he went out the back door.

Liana was blushing at Dan's eyes on her. Why in the world would Ben kiss her like that in front of him? To cover her embarrassment, she asked, "Can I get you some more coffee, Dan?"

"That'd be nice." Handing her his cup, he leaned against the counter, watching her. After a long moment, he spoke again.

"You know what Ben is, Miz Wade? What he's done?"

As she passed the filled cup back to him, Liana managed to meet the tall, lanky man's eyes. "I know," she told him steadily. "And you don't have to call me Miz Wade. Liana'll do fine. After all, if you're a friend of Ben's, you're a friend of mine too."

Taking a sip of the hot coffee, Dan mused. "You know, Liana, I can't figure this out. You're obviously a real nice girl. Now, I know Ben's got a way with women. Always has. But, how could someone like you stay with him? Knowing what he's done? That he's killed people? How can you stand to let him touch you?"

He hadn't meant to say so much, but Dan had been bewildered by this relationship since Ben had first told him about it. He couldn't stand not to ask her.

Sitting down on a stool, Liana folded her hands in front of her. She'd wondered what she would say if this question ever came up. Had been asking herself that question since she'd met Ben. And had put aside trying to answer it.

Now, it seemed she couldn't ignore it any longer. Pouring herself a cup of coffee too, she sat down at the bar and motioned for Dan to sit next to her. Now, she'd have to explain things. Or, at least try.