Just a quick teaser... I've been stuck forever and finally found the transition that I was looking for!

They left the ranch, regretfully, late Monday afternoon with strict invitations - instructions really - to return as frequently as possible. They hadn't spoken about Spanky as Marshall had hoped but they did discuss some of Mary's childhood he hadn't known details about. He'd seen a more mellow side of Mary, one he was hoping to become more familiar with over time.

She'd achieved a level of relaxation he didn't believe she was capable of; especially as they took Doofus on a walk around sunset one night. Romantic walks were definitely not something he imagined taking with Mary but it had suited his definition quite well. They held hands, the pace was calm and she only threatened to shoot him twice.

Mary hadn't let him go home when they'd gotten back and in the back of his mind he knew his houseplants were probably gasping. Given the choice of sleeping in Mary's bed or talking to his plants it was a no-brainer. Brandy was all giggles when she realized he was sleeping over. Jinx was strangely quiet on the matter.

Tuesday morning started way too early. About four hours too early when Stan called them in to deal with a witness who was stupid enough to be driving drunk. And the wildcat was back in full force when Bobby D tried to keep the man in the drunk tank. He only got served a heavy side of sarcasm. The witness on the other hand got the full brunt of an angry, sleep-deprived valkyrie. Not for the first time Marshall wondered if he should seek professional help since the sight sent his blood coursing south; especially now that he knew what else she could do with that tongue.

Until he caught several of Albuquerque's finest drooling over her as well. He was relieved and annoyed not to be the only man to find her anger incredibly sexy. And, of course, Mary called

him on it once they were back in his SUV. "If Cole makes one more comment about my ass I might let you teach him some respect cowboy."

Mary mentally cheered when she saw some of the tension leave Marshall's shoulders at her comment. She'd been wondering how he was going to handle a situation where other men felt the need to spew their testosterone. If she'd had to, she would have laid money on him lecturing them about decorum and professionalism. The clenching of jaw and fists had been a surprise, but a welcome one.

"I think he'd need to know how to spell it first lady love. That and harassment," Marshall responded and she felt herself go gooey inside when he brushed a kiss against her knuckles and sent her a look that was pure heat. "Did you know that harass is one of the one-hundred most misspelled words in the English language?"

"You start reciting the rest of them and I'll show you harassment," she warned with a smile.

"You can harass me anytime you want," he responded with a chuckle that Mary felt through her entire body. Oh, the dumb witness was going to wish he'd never heard of Jim Bean before this day way over.

I can't promise when I'll have the next chapter, but I'm hoping in the near future.

~K