Claire didn't know who'd sent her the Valentine.

She'd been teaching classes at the schoolhouse mostly the younger students and she'd taught them about the history of the holiday. They even planned a small party on the day itself where they'd eat small cakes that were donated by Scotty's bakery and pass around handmade cards to each other.

But when she'd returned to her desk, she saw a carefully crafted card lying inside a plain envelope that revealed itself when she opened it. Delicately ornamented with hearts and outlines of flowers and someone she knew to be Cupid.

When she looked inside to see who'd delivered it, there was no signature, just something in writing that said Be My Valentine.

It mystified her because she didn't know who it might be. She knew who it wasn't and that was Dakota. But then her crush on him had ended when she realized that he viewed her as no more than a kid sister even though she'd turned 16, an age when some girls still married in smaller towns. But she had no plans to get married at all…at least not until she'd done some traveling and gone to college.

Ben walked over to where she sat holding onto his primer.

"Claire…what's th…that in your hand?"

She smiled at him and handed it to him to look at and his eyes widened as he opened it.

"Who sent it?"

She just shrugged having no idea. Ben had a few of his own.

"It's Axe…Axelrod's nephew…"

That surprised Claire because she barely knew Charles who was just a year older than her but he'd moved in with his uncle after his parents died of some plague. He'd lived on his own for a while until he found his uncle. Axelrod actually had softened up a bit since Charles arrived. He was a nice enough boy but Claire didn't think it was him.

"Why are you so sure Ben?"

"John Taylor said he liked a girl but couldn't talk about it."

Claire frowned.

"How do you know he meant me Ben?"

Her brother just stared at her. George joined them, picking up her card and looking at it.

"It's from that…Lukas…"

Claire remembered him. He lived at a ranch working as a hand and she'd tutored him in reading just like she had with Uncle Ethan. But although he seemed grateful did that mean he'd send her this card?

"How do you know George?"

He just shrugged and went back to his seat. They were all waiting to be dismissed for recess and Claire couldn't wait to go run into Charles. She'd done Axelrod's books in the past for his store and she had heard him mention Charles in passing before he knew he'd be living there.

Clara came up to her and as the oldest student in her class, Claire made sure she felt comfortable with her learning. She did it so quickly but then Amelia had said she was bright. It was a pleasure to tutor her before and after classes to help her make up lost time.

She looked up and saw Dakota walking towards her. She knew that he'd treat her like she was even younger than she was and she'd smile and be good natured about it.

Even though inwardly, sometimes she wished that one day he'd look at her and see something different.

Clara and Rosie were in the kitchen watching while Scotty taught them how to bake delicious desserts for the Valentine's Day party in a couple of days. Now today's batches were rough drafts and they enjoyed eating them just off the stove. He'd been a wonderful teacher, very patient as he had taught his own wife Mary how to cook though she stuck to running the books for the hotel and saloon.

Amelia walked in and sampled some of the desserts. It was just after noon so it was safe for her to eat. The mornings, still very difficult to even let at food let alone eat it not that she minded. She'd found herself getting more excited about the child that would enter into the world in just under five months. No one really could tell yet but she'd told people a week or so ago and people reacted with excitement already planning a baby shower for her.

Babies were still a rarity because families were just starting to return to Paradise and times had been tough which meant fewer families wanting to add another mouth to feed and shelter. Of course, the wise thing might have been to wait until times were better…or she was married first! But when Ethan found out about it on Christmas Eve, after he whooped about it a bit he set on getting her to the altar. It only took a week and the two of them were married in front of their friends on New Year's Eve not long before the clock struck midnight.

She'd been a bit nervous mostly because of all the times that some crisis or another had interrupted their prior weddings but this time, they finally made it through the "I Dos" as John Taylor had told her would happen and they were man and wife.

They still had the house to build, one that hopefully wouldn't get burned to the ground this time and he spent most of his days including this one building it. Other men including Tiny and Charlie put in some time too and it was nearly finished.

It was on the same spread of land that Ethan finally owned free and clear and the old house would make a good home for the ranch hands they planned to hire to help run the spread.

"Amelia how are you feeling…?"

She smiled at Rosie.

"Better now that it's not morning," she said, "These cakes are delicious."

Rosie beamed.

"Scotty's really been helping us teaching us new things."

He chimed up.

"They're quick learners," he said, "You going out to check on Ethan."

She nodded.

"I'm bringing him some lunch," she said, "I thought I might add some dessert. He loves the spice cookies."

Rosie went to find a dozen of them fresh off the stove and Amelia put them in the basket gratefully.

"Tell him hi for all of us," she said, "and we want to throw you both a house warming party."

Amelia thanked her and headed out to get on the buggy to go out and see her husband.

When she arrived there, she saw him taking a break under a shade tree and after tying the buggy up, she went to see him. He got up and he met her more than halfway, wrapping his arms around her tightly.

"I brought you some lunch."

He kissed her thoroughly and when they came up for air he stroked the tendrils of hair off her face.

"I can see that…come and join me…"

They sat down while she put out a spread including the spicy cookies which he was happy that she'd included in the basket. He always made sure she had plenty to eat when she could eat and he'd helped her through some of those tough mornings, when she didn't feel well. He doted on her so much it took a while to get used to it. She'd always been someone who relied heavily on herself, and had been slow to trust anyone's assistance. It'd been that with Ethan when he'd shown up to help back her up when some father of a bank robber she'd killed had sworn he'd come after her. He'd asked her why he hadn't sent word to her as if it was a given that she should have done that.

He'd saved her life.

"The house looks nice…"

Ethan sipped some water and picked up some bass.

"Tiny was out here earlier working on it," he said, "He built the framework for the nursery."

She smiled.

"We can always add more rooms later."

She chuckled.

"Okay that'll work…it just looks so perfect…I'm not the best with a needle but I have been working on some curtains for the windows."

He reached over and kissed her just because he wanted to do it. He liked this being married a lot more than he thought he would when younger.

"So you got plans for Valentine's?"

She still felt his kiss on her lips.

"No…I was kind of waiting for this man to ask me to the dance."

He wagged his eyebrows.

"Got anybody in mind?"

She paused and then nodded, her eyes sparkling.

"Maybe…"

He smiled.

"If I play my cards right will you go with me?"

She paused even longer and then nodded.

"I like the way you play your cards."

He drew her in his arms and she loved being wrapped up in his warmth as they both sat looking at the new house.

Claire put her hands on her hips.

"Dakota…what do you want now?"

He looked taken aback.

"Hey I just came here to say hi," he said, "on my way to the saloon to try out Scotty's baking."

She knew he meant Rosie's baking because she figured he'd been sweet on her for a while now. After all, they hung out together at the saloon for ages or so she heard.

"You haven't seen Charles have you?"

Dakota shook his head.

"No I've been scouting all day," he said, "heard some talk that some outlaw gang might drop by and cause trouble."

She sighed.

"What else is new? So are you going to the party?"

Dakota drew a blank.

"The party…?"

She nodded.

"Yes the Valentine's Day party and dance…at the Saloon."

He shrugged.

"I might drop by," he said, "I'm on duty most of that night but if it's slow…"

"Rosie will be there."

Another blank.

"Rosie?"

"You know Rosie…"

"Yes I know her," he said, "Used to be a saloon girl but now works as a cook for Bella Rogers."

Claire smiled.

"You should invite her to the dance. She wants to go."

He shrugged again.

"Maybe I will….she's a lot of fun."

Claire frowned at that because she'd heard a lot about his type of fun. But she thought that underneath it all he might have a good heart. After all, he was a very good deputy even her uncle said so.

"She's in the saloon. It's a good time to ask her," Claire said, "You can walk over with me."

Dakota fell into step with her as they went to the saloon to join the others.