Episode 4: Early July, 1875

Scene 1: A trail in the woods, morning. Tess is walking to town. The forest is thick, and sun is filtering through the canopy. She remembers the previous night...

Nick: Marry me.

Tess: Shocked. What?

Nick: Marry me. I love you, Tess. Say you'll marry me.

Tess, still in shock, leans down and kisses Nick. He begins to kiss her back, then pulls away.

Nick: Does this mean you'll marry me?

Tess nods and begins to kiss Nick again. Without thinking, she soon begins to unbutton his shirt.

Young Boy: Mornin', Miss Hartley!

Tess, jolted back to reality, looks about her and realizes the path has given way into town. A boy from her class is waving and running over to her.

Tess: Good morning, Marvin! Did you have a nice holiday? I didn't see you yesterday.

Marvin: I was sick. Ma wouldn't let me come.

Tess: Oh, that's too bad. But you're better now. Did you see the fireworks?

Marvin: Oh, yes. Ma told me not to go outside, but she wasn't there and I really wanted to see 'em.

Tess: You're lucky you didn't get sicker.

Marvin: But I didn't! I have to go now, Miss Hartley. It was nice seein' you.

Tess: You, too, Marvin.

Marvin runs off, and Tess continues down the town's only street to a building with a sign reading, "Post Office - Telegraph". She opens the door and walks directly to the counter.

Tess: Good morning, Mr. Haas.

Mr. Haas: Miss Hartley, good morning to you. Sorry, no mail today.

Tess: I'm here to send a telegram. I trust it will be absolutely private.

Mr. Haas: Of course! Just write your message on this paper and I'll get it off right away.

Tess: Thank you.

She takes the paper and begins to write. "Nick asked me to marry him last night stop said yes stop set date for August 25 stop want you for maid of honor stop wire confirmation soon as possible stop love always Tess Hartley." She addresses the telegram and hands it to the portly, balding man behind the counter.

Mr. Haas: Congratulations, Miss Hartley. I always knew you two would get hitched. Your secret's safe with me.

Tess: The secret won't matter for long. I just want to make sure the Marshalls don't here it through anyone but me or Nick.

Mr. Haas: I understand. He leans over the counter and whispers. There's your fiancé now.

Tess pays Mr. Haas just as Nick is tying Sherman to the hitching post. She smiles, says goodbye, then goes outside to meet Nick.

Nick: Good morning.

Tess: Good morning.

Nick and Tess: About last night...

Nick: I hope you understand.

Tess: I do. It's all right.

Nick: You just wired your friend?

Tess: Yes. But I really should tell you something about Georgie. It shouldn't make a difference, but you should know anyway. It's about me, too.

Nick: What is it?

Tess: I can't tell you here. It's too public.

Nick: You're not fugitives, are you?

Tess: Maybe. But let's go somewhere else.

Nick: Sure. I was going to take you back to Belleterre anyway.

Nick helps Tess onto Sherman, then unties the horse and swings up behind her. With half the town watching, they ride towards Belleterre.

Scene 2: San Francisco, California. A uniformed delivery boy is just leaving Georgie's office. Georgie finishes reading Tess' telegram and puts it down on the work table in front of her

Georgie: Nessie! She waits for the girl to enter the office. Nick has finally asked Tess to marry him.

Nessie: Well, it's about time. You've talked about them so much, I began hoping for the engagement. When did it happen?

Georgie: Last night, apparently. I just received the telegram. And they've already set a date. August 25, so we'll need to finish that dress I started for her. I want you to bring in the back end several inches and lengthen the train. She's asked me to be her maid of honor, so I'll need a gown for myself, as well. And Tess's trousseau! My word, with Miss Dearborn's wedding so soon, I'll have to hire more help. So little time!

Georgie rises from her chair and begins pacing the room, mumbling plans to herself as Nessie leaves.

Scene 3: Belleterre Ranch, Liberty Creek, Idaho. Nick and Tess have just arrived on Sherman. Marietta is standing on an outside balcony waving.

Marietta: Tess! Come up here!

Nick: Go on up. We can talk later.

Tess: Don't disappear. I still want to talk to you.

Nick and Tess gaze into each others eyes for a few seconds before sliding from the horse and running into the house.

Cut to: Tess and Marietta meeting in Marietta's sitting room.

Marietta: Rushes forward. Let me see! She grabs Tess's hand. Oh! He did ask you. I was sure he would become scared again.

Tess: He mentioned that you had a talk.

Marietta: It was very interesting, actually. Did you know that he sleeps in the nude?

Tess: Mari! How would I know that? How do you know that?

Marietta: He was already outside when I came out with Anne. He was wearing a sheet. It fell off when he went back to his room to dress before he went to you. He has avoided me all morning. So, what happened after he asked you?

Tess: Blushes. Well...

Marietta: Tess, did you and Nick... ?

Tess: Did we what?

Marietta: You know...

Tess: No, I don't know.

Marietta: Did you make love?

Tess: No! But, well...

Marietta: Tell me the story.

Tess: Takes a breath After he asked me, I kissed him. I don't know what came over me. I started... I started... I took off his shirt. Marietta is surprised, but motions for Tess to continue. I wasn't even thinking about what I was doing. I don't know how things progressed, but I didn't want it to stop. We were kissing, hugging... touching. Before I knew it, my robe was gone and the top of my night gown was opened. But then...

Marietta: You can tell me. It does not matter what it is.

Tess: Nick groaned and closed my gown, then made me put my robe on again. He started walking outside, putting his shirt on as he went. I... asked him to stay. Maybe I even begged. He just... apologized, told me he was wrong to do it. He kept apologizing, then he got on Sherman and left. Mari, what did I do wrong?

Marietta: Nothing. You did nothing wrong. Nick was being a gentleman. You are still unmarried.

Tess: I suppose. But, Mari, was it wrong for me to encourage him? I didn't want him to leave.

Marietta: Tess, you love Nick very much. It was your first introduction to passion. Trust me. You will be glad that you waited until you were properly married.

Tess: Fifty-one days.

Marietta: You have already set a date?

Tess: Nick thought of it while he was riding to my cabin. The 25th of August.

Marietta: That does not leave much time to plan. We must start soon.

Tess: Not now, though. I've just gotten the nerve to tell him about Georgie and me and how we got here.

Marietta: Now is a good time. You go. Congratulations.

Tess: Gives Marietta a hug. Thank you, Mari. She gets up and heads for the door. I'll see you.

Scene 4: The street outside Georgie's shop, San Francisco, California. A tall, lanky, unkempt man watches as Georgie and her two assistants leave the shop, locking it behind them. The two assistants walk away together, and Georgie gets in a hired carriage. When all are out of sight, the man crosses the street towards Georgie's shop.

Cut to: Georgie entering a room in Gabe's house. Gabe is waiting.

Gabe: Something tells me that smile you're wearing isn't entirely to do with our upcoming nuptials.

Georgie: Smiles like a child with a secret I got a telegram today.

Gabe: Good news?

Georgie: Mm-hmm. She smiles some more, then can no longer contain her excitement. Tess is getting married!

Gabe: That's wonderful. To the young man I hear so much about? Nick, is it?

Georgie: Yes. And she's asked me to be her maid of honor. Gabe, I would love to surprise her with my new family. Would you mind if we all took a trip to her wedding?

Gabe: We could use a family vacation.

Georgie: It might have to be the beginning of our honeymoon. They set the date for August 25. I figured it all out on the ride over here. We get married on the day our train leaves, then travel to Liberty Creek. Tess said the Marshalls would be happy to house me for the wedding, and I plan on wiring Mr. Marshall with my plans. We may be able to leave Steven and Louisa there for several weeks, and then we could go on a real honeymoon.

Gabe: Sounds like a plan.

Georgie: You mean you'll come? You don't mind?

Gabe: It's obviously very important to you.

Georgie: Rushes to Gabe and hugs him. Ohh, thank you. I have to go back to the shop and leave instructions for Nessie. Tomorrow morning I'll see about the travel plans myself. I'll probably see you again tomorrow. Gabe stands up and Georgie kisses him. We need to make our own wedding plans, too. I'll see you soon.

Georgie rushes from the room.

Scene 5: A small grassy clearing near the creek. Nick and Tess are sitting on a blanket with some food spread out between them. Sherman is grazing nearby.

Tess: How did you put this lunch together so fast?

Nick: The credit goes to Mrs. Anders. She likes you, you know.

Tess: She's a nice woman. And a good cook.

Nick: What is it you wanted to tell me?

Tess: You're not going to let me dawdle, are you?

Nick: Not at all. Please, whatever it is, it won't make a difference.

Tess: Even if I were a murderess?

Nick: We'd move to England.

Tess: All right. It all started when my parents passed away. I was going to stay with a friend of my father. I passed an alley, one I'd always walked by. The next thing I knew, I woke up in a dingy room. A woman in a low cut dress was stuffing clothes into a bag. She told me I was in a... whore house. Her boss, Leroy, had taken me there because he needed a new girl. She said she was known as Belle Lovelorn, but that her real name was Georgie Randall. We became friends, and she got me out of there. She took two thousand dollars from Leroy, and we left through a window while he was out looking for more girls. Then we got on a train and headed west.

Nick: Concerned. Tess, why didn't you tell me any of this before. We have to find this monster and have him arrested.

Tess: No, we can't! I might be all right, but Georgie stole a lot of money. He didn't kidnap her. She went with him willingly to New York and signed her name to a contract. He took advantage of her and lied to her. No judge would ever believe a prostitute's word. You have to promise to keep it a secret. It's over now. Georgie has her own life now, I have mine.

Nick: Whatever you want, Tess.

Tess: John Henry and Marietta know, but no one else does. And Georgie is coming to our wedding.

Nick: That's all right.

Tess: She'll be my maid of honor.

Nick: That's all right, too. I can't wait to meet her.

Tess: There is just one more thing.

Nick: What's that?

Tess: Georgie gave half of the two thousand dollars to me. I could be a fugitive.

Nick: Life on the run could be grand.

Scene 6: Night, an alley behind Georgie's shop, San Francisco, California. The unkempt man is sliding open a window.

He climbs through and finds himself in an office. The desk is relatively neat, but a few pieces of paper are strewn across it. He goes to the desk and begins looking through the things. One paper is a telegram from a girl named Tess announcing an upcoming marriage. Another is a message reading, "Nessie, I'll be in late today. I need you to do a few things for me. First of all, get out that wedding gown for Tess and start making the adjustments we discussed. Also, wire the following message to Mr. John Henry Marshall in Liberty Creek, Idaho Territory: My name is Georgie Randall and I am a friend of Tess Hartley. She invited me to her wedding and I want to surprise her. Will be marrying shortly before coming. Would you mind if my husband and his two grown children stayed in your home as well? Thank you in advance."

Man: Mumbles. Bitch must've come back when I got some food.

The man rifles through some more papers and finds another letter. It reads: "Dear Tess, I'm writing this on the day I heard of your engagement, but you should be reading it on your wedding day. I am so very happy for you, Tess. You are my dearest friend. We formed a special bond riding west on that train six months ago. I think it was fate that brought two people together who had found themselves all alone in the world. I am honored to be your friend, and am without words knowing that you would accept me as your maid of honor. I'm no maid, and until I met you I certainly didn't think I had any honor. Congratulations, my dear friend. May your future be filled with lots of love, joy, and children. All my love, Georgie." The man chuckles and puts the paper back where he found it.

Man: I found you. I found the both of you. Maid of honor? He chuckles again. Liberty Creek, Idaho? I'll meet you there, Miss Lovelorn.

Continue to Episode 5

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