Rex decided to take care of Kaitlin, himself.

Cliff came to the hard realization that The Clifford Group may not be able to meet its contract with Petrol Refineries. In attempts to solve his problem, he invited Eric to come work with him at The Clifford Group. Eric agreed. His plan is to have Eric ask Marilee to sell them the oil they need.

Karen and Eric spoke for the first time since the trial. She apologized for getting him involved. He reassured her that an apology was not necessary. Eric told her that he knows she loves Chris and he hopes they can remain friends.

A very sad Lucy visited Valene, who is back in Dallas. They talked about Neil and Val is convinced they still love each other and went to go talk to Neil herself.

Bobby and Pam attended Wentworth Industries' annual board meeting and were shocked to find the company in severe financial trouble.

Miss Ellie had fallen into a ravine while investigating an odd sight on Southfork. Due to an injury to her ankle, she was stranded there all day in the hot Texas sun. Throughout the day, she passed in and out of consciousness and dreamed of people and events in her past. Out of desperation, she pulled herself to a stream, where she avoided dehydration by drinking the water.

Meanwhile…

Wade and Manny found more dead cattle on the ranch. They assumed the cattle have been poisoned and Wade was angry with himself for not following up on the problem before now. His worst fears were realized when they found Miss Ellie hurt and unconscious by the stream. Ellie regained consciousness and Wade and Manny thought she would be fine, until she doubled over in horrible pain. Was she poisoned too?

She nodded as he took her hand in his. “Bobby,” Just then the phone rang.

“Hold that thought.” Bobby grabbed the phone off of the bedside table.

Pam was a little annoyed at the interruption. She had been toying with an idea all day. She wanted to go back to work. Wentworth Industries had been her mother's legacy to her, and she just couldn't bear the idea of standing by and watching it crumble. She had talked to Don Richards, and with his help, she was sure she could turn things around, starting with the Tool and Die. She was anxious to talk to Bobby about it. When they first married, years and years ago, he hadn't liked her working. But once he got used to it, he didn't mind. But then again, she hadn't been pregnant then. Well, she was working while she was pregnant with their second baby, before she miscarried. And as she recalled he wasn't exactly thrilled about her working during that time...

“…What? … When did that happen? … What was she doing out there alone? … Are you sure? … We'll be there as soon as we can. Thanks, bye.” Bobby hung up the phone. Pam could see that something was terribly wrong.

“What is it? What's wrong?”

Bobby took a deep breath, “It's Mama, she was out on the ranch and she fell… apparently, she twisted her ankle or something. She was lying there stranded in the sun, they don't know for how long.”

“Oh, no, Bobby. Is she all right?”

“I think so, Theresa said that they took her to the Dallas Memorial. That's all she knew. I'm going to call the hospital and see what I can find out.” Bobby picked up the phone again. “Information… I need the number for…”

“This is Bobby Ewing. I was just told my mother, Ellie Farlow, was brought into the emergency room a while ago. Can you give me any information on her condition?”

“Please hold for a second…” Brenda pulled up the electronic report on Ellie and studied it a moment before picking up the phone again. “I'm afraid I can't tell you much now, when they admitted her she was complaining of stomach pains, possibly due to poisoning. Dr. Hansen is still examining her.”

“Poison? Oh no…thank you…we'll be there as soon as we can.”

Brenda hung up the phone as J.R. walked by. He quickly spotted Wade Sawyer standing in the corner of the waiting room. “Wade, what the hell is going on here?”

“Howdy J.R…”

“What is all of this about Momma? Is she alright?”

“Me and Manny found her in a ditch out on Southfork…she must've fell in and we think she's been poisoned. We found some dead cattle downstream from where we found her…”

“Oh my God…why the hell haven't you already taken care of the ranch problems? I thought that was your job! If Momma's hurt because of this, then it'll be all your damned fault!” J.R. was furious and on the verge of tears at the same time.

Wade hung his head, knowing what J.R. said was true. It was his responsibility to find out who was poisoning the water and he had put it off—now Miss Ellie's life was at stake.

“I'm sorry J.R.” Wade didn't know what else to say.

“Damned right you're sorry. And you'll be even sorrier if anything happens to Momma.”

The gray-headed doctor Hansen stepped out of the examination room and walked to the waiting room. “Is anyone here with Eleanor Farlow?” J.R. quickly walked over to him.

“Are you Ellie Farlow's doctor?”

“Yes I am. And you are?”

“J.R. Ewing, her son. How's my Momma doing? Is she going to be all right?” There was both hope and fear in JR's eyes. He knew his mother was strong, but if she'd been poisoned…

From his post in the corner, Wade couldn't make himself look at J.R. or the doctor. Ellie had depended on him to take care of Southfork's problems and he'd failed.

“It wasn't poison, like we suspected.”

J.R. sighed and Wade looked up for the first time. “What is it?” Wade asked.

“Mrs. Farlow ingested a cyst from the stream water she drank this morning and it's led to giardia.”

“What the hell is that? I'm an oilman, not a doctor. I didn't spend years in medical school learning medical mumbo-jumbo like you did!”

Dr. Hansen cocked an eyebrow and began to clarify. “Giardia is commonly found in contaminated water and is usually introduced into water which cattle usually excrete in and around. Though this is a strange case, because giardia usually won't show up in humans for at least three days. I have heard of it showing up sooner though, but only in rare circumstances.”

“You're missing the point Doc, I just want to know if she's gonna be alright.”

“Yes, your mother will be fine Mr. Ewing. She's going to be uncomfortable for a while. Her symptoms are much like those of a stomach virus, or food poisoning. Though there aren't any 100% effective treatments against giardia, we are giving her medication to speed up the recovery and help ease her pain. And of course, we'll need to keep her here under close observation to guard against things like dehydration.”

“Can I see her?”

Dr. Hansen smiled and gestured toward the door. “Sure, I don't see why not. Make it quick though.”

There was a light knock on the door before Detective Diane Dennis poked her head in. “A bunch of us are going out to get a bite to eat, wanna come?”

Detective Vega sat his coffee cup down on his desk. “Are you kidding? Not with this monster still on my desk.” He pointed at the stack of papers.

“Still no arrest in the Cooper case?”

“Nope.” He leaned back in his chair and propped his feet on the desk.

Detective Dennis opened the door wider and leaned against the doorframe. “Want some free advice?”

Rudy snorted. “Sure, I suppose it'll be worth what I'm payin' for it.”

Diane rolled her eyes, “very funny. Quit sitting on that stack of papers and go make the arrest. You know Lancaster did it.”

“And what if he didn't?”

“Rudy, I've read the report. His prints were on the statue lying in the floor where the struggle took place and he was seen entering and leaving the building at the right times. Plus, according to that Rex Wentworth, there was no love loss between he and Ms. Cooper. So, you have opportunity, motive and physical evidence… What more do you need? Arrest the guy and get it over with.”

Rudy looked at her thoughtfully. “There's something gnawing at me, though. When I interviewed Wentworth, he told me all about how he had found Ms Cooper in hysterics, ranting wildly about someone trying to kill her and how she then lost consciousness. But he said it all so matter of fact. Like he was talking about the weather that day or something.”

“So, he's a cold fish. Big deal. He had an alibi, right?”

“Yeah. Still, it seems like he would show some emotion when someone had just tried to kill the woman he's living with.”

“Maybe he's just a jerk. Think about it, he has nothing to gain by killing her… he's the one with all of the money and it's his penthouse. It's not like they're married, if he didn't care for her, he could just move her out.” Diane stood up straight and put her hands on her hips. “Do yourself a favor Rudy, go arrest Lancaster. Get this thing over with before it gives you an ulcer.” She heard someone down the hallway calling her name. “Gotta go. Bye.” And she was gone.

Suddenly, the phone rang. “Vega here.”

The voice on the other end sounded tired and a little bit shaky. “Detective, this is Afton Cooper. I have some more information for you about the man who attacked me.”

Detective Vega sat up. “Please, Ms. Cooper, any additional information would be very helpful.”

“Well, I was thinking it over. Rex tells me that Neil Lancaster was seen in the building when I was attacked. I, well, I was just thought that you should know that he has a reason to hate me. I mean, he thinks he has a reason.”

Detective Vega took out a note pad and began writing. “And what would that be, Ms. Cooper?”

“His marriage is really bad. I think they may even be on the verge of a divorce.”

“And you were having an affair with Mr. Lancaster?”

Afton's reply was indignant. “No! Of course not; but he does blame me for their problems. I, sort of, told his wife some things about him that she didn't know. And now she's divorcing him. It's not my fault though, I didn't tell her to divorce him.”

“And what kinds of 'things' would those be, Ms. Cooper.

“It doesn't matter. I told you none of it's my fault, but he hates me anyway. I just thought you should know.”

Detective Vega hung up the phone. Well, there it was, the last ingredient - motive. If he hurried, he could have Neil Lancaster arrested and in jail and still be able to catch his friends for dinner. He hurriedly called for a couple of officers to go with him, and left for Lucy and Neil's home.

  Neil suddenly sat straight up. Maybe his problem was that he was doing too much talking. Lucy needed to see how much he loved her. She'd always been one who didn't believe anything until she saw it. Why would he expect her to react differently now? Maybe if he started over. The beginning of their relationship had been a lie, so… what if he went back and fixed it. He would begin small, little gifts, flowers… maybe he'd even ask her out on a 'date'. It might take some time, but eventually, she would begin to trust his love again. He walked over to the little built-in desk in the corner of the kitchen and began searching the Rolodex. He quickly found what he was looking for and dialed the number.

  “Hello, I'd like to place an order. I need, umm, six bouquets…no, make that sixty, all large, all different kinds of flowers. I know it's unusual. Can you have them there tomorrow morning? Oh, 625 Berryhill Lane. Just tell her they're from Neil. Great, thanks.” The doorbell rang and Neil hurriedly hung up the phone and went to open the door. The sight of Valene Ewing startled him.

“Mrs. Ewing…what a surprise.”

Val smiled. “Mind if I come in? We have some things to talk about.”

Neil was reluctant to let her in, as he fully expected her to grill him about what he did to Lucy, but the look on her face was amiable enough so he stepped back and invited her in.

“I guess I know why you're here.”

Val nodded. “I'd hope so. Neil, there's no excusing what you and Afton did to my daughter, but I'm not here to chew you out for it. I'm here to find out how you really feel about Lucy.”

“Did Lucy send you?” Neil asked.

“No, she didn't want me to come.”

“I think Lucy knows how I feel, even if she won't admit it to herself. Mrs. Ewing…I love your daughter with all my heart. I didn't love her at first, but before we were even married I fell head over heels in love with her. I didn't want to because it would have made me feel worse about what I was doing, but Lucy was so special and so beautiful…outgoing…she was everything a guy could want in a woman and I fell for her. And now if I have to spend the rest of my life making it up to her, I plan to do it.”

“You really mean that don't you?” Val could tell he was being sincere.

“Of course I mean it. Your daughter is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I'm not giving her up…not without a fight.”

“Then you know what you have to do now, don't you Neil? You have to prove that to Lucy and I know my daughter well enough to know that won't be the easiest thing you've ever done, but it's possible. I think Lucy still loves you, but she doesn't trust you. That trust is what you have to get back.”

Neil was pondering Val's words when the doorbell rang again and he walked over to open it. His mouth fell open when he saw two policemen and a man in plainclothes standing on the front step.

  “Can I help you?”

  “Are you Neil Lancaster?” The plainclothes detective asked.

  “Yes.”

  “You're under arrest for the attempted murder of Afton Cooper. You have the right to remain silent…” As Detective Vega spoke, the two officers moved toward Neil with handcuffs.

  Confused, Val lingered in the background and watched, trying to make sense of what was going on.

“Wait a minute, you can't be serious. Someone tried to kill Afton?”

  They continued to cuff him and read him his rights. “Stop it! I don't like her, but I wouldn't try to kill her!” A knot formed in Neil's stomach the moment he heard himself say the words. How could he say he wouldn't kill her, when only a week or so ago, he had threatened to do exactly that. Neil suddenly stopped protesting.

  “Okay, he's cuffed, let's go.”

  The officers were leading him out of the door, when they ran right into Lucy. “What's going on here?” She turned to Neil. “What have you done now?” 

Neil wanted to tell her that he'd done nothing, that whatever it was, he was innocent; but why bother? She didn't believe him anymore. He looked at her and the sadness in his eyes was unmistakable. It was that look that shook Lucy even more than seeing him handcuffed. It was the look of a broken man.

  As for Neil, he was in despair; his earlier hope had vanished. His life with Lucy was over. He may as well be in jail as anywhere else. He held her gaze for a moment more and then hung his head. All he said was, “I'm sorry.”

  The officers led Neil away, leaving Lucy to stare after them and to her surprise; she found that she had tears in her eyes.

Lucy looked up at the clock on the wall. “Mom, it's 6 a.m. Can we even call it morning yet?”

“I suppose I could repeat one of the hundreds of sayings about how beneficial it is to wake up early, but I'll spare you that, since you're going to be forced to eat my cooking.” Val handed a plate to Lucy and they both took seats at the dining room table.

“I can't believe what happened last night. Did I really see that or was it just a dream?”

“I'm afraid it wasn't a dream. Neil was arrested for the attempted murder of Afton Cooper.”

“Neil wouldn't kill anybody…at least I don't think he would. Of course I wouldn't have thought he'd marry me just to break my heart and we all know he did that.” Lucy sighed and gulped down half of her orange juice.

“I got a chance to talk to Neil last night, before we were…interrupted. He told me he grew to love you before he ever even married you. Lucy, Neil went on and on about how he loved you and about how he'd spend the rest of his life making it up to you if he had to.”

“So what if he does love me? He still hurt me!”

“Lucy, I'm not telling you that you have to forgive him. That's not my decision to make…it's yours. I'm just telling you what he said and how I think he feels so you can make a decision.”

The sound of the doorbell echoed through the almost lonely house and Lucy walked over and opened it. For the second time since last night, she was surprised. “Oh my God…what is this? You must have the wrong house…”

The deliveryman looked at his clipboard. “625 Berryhill Lane?”

Lucy nodded. That was her address. “Who are they for?”

“A Mrs. Lucy Lancaster. Is that you?”

“Yes it is…but…who are they from?”

“All I was told was that they're from Neil.”

Val peered over Lucy's shoulder and couldn't believe what she saw. There were bouquets of flowers sitting all on the porch and out in the yard—at least fifty bouquets of roses, mums, lilies, and every other kind of flower imaginable.

Lucy was speechless. Why was Neil doing this?

“Bobby! Pam! I thought you two were in Houston. When did you get back?”

Ellie embraced Pam, who then sat in a chair beside the bed. Bobby kissed his mother on the cheek and sat on the edge of the bed next to her. “We caught the first flight back this morning. In fact, we came here straight from the airport.”

Miss Ellie made a mock scowl, “Bobby, you didn't have to do that. You and Pam hardly ever get away together.” Then smiling, “I'm fine. You should have stayed put!”

“Don't you worry about us, we can go to Houston anytime.”

She looked over at the flowers. “Yellow roses… I remember Digger used to bring me those.”

Pam took one of the flowers out of the vase and handed it to her. “I know. He used to talk about it. He called you his 'yellow rose' of Texas.”

Ellie took it and breathed in the sweet smell. She closed her eyes and smiled at the memories it brought back to her.

“What does the doctor say, Momma, when can you come home?”

Ellie opened her eyes. “I'm not sure. I have something like food poisoning; it has some awful name that I can't remember. But it doesn't matter, because if I could remember it, I couldn't pronounce it. Whenever it is, it can't be soon enough, you can't sleep in these places!”

Bobby winked at Pam, “Well, we hope you get well soon, because Pam and I have some news to tell you when you get home.”

“News? Tell me.”

Bobby grinned, “No, I think it would be better to tell the whole family at once.”

“Then you'll never get to tell me. It's impossible to get the whole family together at one time, anymore. Tell me!”

He chuckled, “Okay, okay, don't get so worked up or they'll come in here and kick us out”

“Bobby James Ewing, you aren't too big that I can't still take a stick to you.”

“It's not a big deal really, we're just having twins.”

“Twins! Oh, that's wonderful! Pam, congratulations.” Pam stood and gave Miss Ellie another hug. “I can't believe it! Twins.”

Pam smiled warmly, “I know, it is hard to believe.”

“What about me, I had something to do with this too, you know.”

Ellie reached out and hugged her son, “I'm so happy for both of you. Are you feeling okay Pam? Carrying one baby is hard enough, but twins!”

“I'm fine Miss Ellie, just a little tired, especially since I'm not allowed to have caffeine.” There was a short silence and Pamela sensed that her husband wanted to be alone with his mother. “I think I would like some juice, though. I'm going to take a walk down to the cafeteria. Do either of you want anything.”

Bobby smiled appreciatively. “No thanks, hon.” When Pam was gone, he turned back to Miss Ellie, “Momma, how did this happen? Theresa said you fell while you were out on the ranch.”

“Yes, I did. But it could have happened to anyone.” Bobby sat silently, waiting for her to continue. Ellie chose her words carefully. She was enjoying running the ranch again, and she didn't want to burden Bobby with the recent problems. He and Pam had enough to think about now with twins on the way… and she knew that if he did know, he would want to handle it himself. He would see it as protecting her, but she saw it as meddling. She knew everything about Southfork and she and Wade were more than capable of solving the problem. “I was out checking on some cattle, and I fell, that's all.”

Bobby took a deep breath and shook his head. “Momma, I know you love running the ranch, but you shouldn't be doing the foreman's job. Where was Wade, anyway?”

“Southfork is a big ranch, Bobby. Wade has plenty to do without my bothering him. Besides, Wade couldn't have stopped me, last time I checked, I didn't need anyone's permission to go for a walk at Southfork, including yours.” Ellie's words may have had a bite, but there was a hint of a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye.

Bobby smiled in spite of himself. It was true. When his Momma had it in her head to do something, there was little anyone could do to stop her. Still, if there was a problem, Wade should have found and taken care of it before his Momma was bothered with it. He didn't want to upset her any further, so he decided to drop the subject. But he did make a mental note to have a little talk with Wade Sawyer.

Wade shielded his eyes from the morning sun and scanned the ranch. “Well, I don't know exactly, but Miss Ellie said she thought she saw a truck out here somewhere. Maybe we'll start by lookin' for tire tracks.”

Manny was confused. “But it hasn't rained in over a month. The ground's so hard that an eighteen-wheeler wouldn't even leave a track.”

Wade pointed across the ranch and Manny looked in the direction he was pointing. “See that?”

“What?”

“Tracks. Grass is broken down. Miss Ellie was right, there was a truck here yesterday.”

“Ohh, I see! Cool. Looks like it leads over the top of the other hill.”

Before Manny could say anything else, Wade was already back in the truck and cranking it up. “Come on Manny, we're gonna find out where those tracks lead.”

“Thank you J.R…they're beautiful and I'm feeling much better.”

“Pain completely gone?”

Ellie shook her head and grimaced even as she did. “No, not completely, but the pains are fewer and farther between now.”

“You'll be back home at Southfork before you know it. Say, I never got to ask you last night, but what on earth were you doing out there on Southfork by yourself?”

Ellie turned to the window and the narrow beams of morning light that shone through the blinds splashed onto her wrinkled face. “I saw something out there.”

“What did you see?”

“I don't know, but I went to look for it. I think it was a truck.”

“Probably Manny or Wade.”

“I thought it might have been when I saw it, but then I remembered that they rarely ever cross the stream to the other side of the ranch. Wade confirmed that last night. It wasn't them.”

J.R. scratched his chin as he thought. “Momma, I think it's time to get the authorities involved in this. It's obvious your cowboy-for-hire isn't handling it. I'll call Sheriff Washburn right now…”

Ellie reached for the phone and slapped her hand on top of it before J.R. could pick it up. “You'll do no such of a thing J.R. Wade and I can handle this.”

“Now I know you own Southfork, but you're in no shape to solve this mystery…that's the whole reason you're in the hospital now, going off gallivanting around Southfork playing Sherlock Holmes. That Sawyer character is no better. Hell, even Krebbs could've solved this by now.”

Ellie was quickly growing angry. “Do as I say J.R. This doesn't concern you and I don't want to hear you talk bad of Wade anymore, do you hear me?” Despite her weakened state, Ellie's voice was commanding and forceful.

“If you say so Momma.” J.R.'s voice was reminiscent of a pouting ten-year old.

“That's not good enough. I want your word that you'll let Wade handle this on his own, without your interference. He needs to do this to prove himself to me, at least in his mind. In my own, he's already proven himself.”

“Yes Momma, you win. I'll back out of this.”

Miss Ellie's stern face turned back into the face of a loving mother. “Thank you J.R…and thank you again for the flowers. They're beautiful and I can't wait to get back to Southfork. Mums always signal the coming of fall and I'm anxious to get back and replant my flower beds with them.”

J.R. was satisfied. His mother was feeling better and already wanting to go back to Southfork and work in her flowerbeds. Hopefully within the week, she'd be back one hundred percent.

“Yeah, what is it?” Todd Foster sat at his desk at April Oil. In front of him sat a formidable stack of file folders, reports and business proposals. He was up to his neck in paperwork. All play and little or no work had gotten him very far behind.

“Mr. Foster, there is a man on line one who wants to speak to you. He says it's important, but he won't give his name.”

“I don't have time for games. Tell him I'm busy.” Todd went back to reading the report in front of him. His eyes were getting blurry from all of the reading and he wished for a cigarette for the fiftieth time that day. Kicking the habit wasn't easy, but he was determined to do it.

“Buuzzzz”

He wearily pushed the button on the intercom. “Yeah.”

“Mr. Foster, I'm sorry, but this man is really insistent, he says that it could be a matter of life or death.”

Yeah, right, his, if this isn't important. He picked up the phone. “Todd Foster here. This had better be an emergency.”

He recognized the voice on the other end of the phone immediately. “Hello, Mr. Foster. Do you remember me? It's been a long time.”

Todd straightened up in his chair. His mouth went dry and, “Yes” was all he could manage to utter.

“I understand that you are a busy man, so I will make this brief. Don't do any business with Cliff Barnes.”

Todd rankled at someone, anyone, trying to tell him what to do. “Sorry, I'd love to help you, but no one tells me how to run my company.”

“Mr. Foster, you disappoint me, I thought you were a smart man. But, I think you can be persuaded. Just remember this, if you value your life you won't do any business with Cliff Barnes. You don't want me as an enemy, Mr. Foster.”

The man hung up and Todd sat there with the phone still in his hand. As angry as he was, he had to admit that the man was right; he didn't want him as an enemy. He didn't want to do business with Cliff Barnes anyway; it might somehow benefit that worm, Eric. Todd tried to push the threat to the back of his mind and get back to work. He really wished he had a cigarette.

“You're what?” Garrison Southworth ran his hands through his red-hair and then took a seat on the couch, disbelieving what he'd just heard.

Emily looked over his shoulder at Ellie, who was standing behind the couch. Ellie put her hands on her brother's shoulders as Emily repeated the words, “I'm pregnant Garrison.”

Garrison shook his head. “No…no you can't be pregnant. We're not married and I'm going away to the war…you can't be pregnant!”

Emily was growing uneasy. She didn't like Ellie's idea of lying to Garrison about being pregnant, just to keep him at home, but she supposed it was the only way to keep him from going away to war. “Dr. Myers knows what he's doin' Garrison. I'm pregnant and you're the Daddy. Seven months from now and you and I will both have our hands full.”

Ellie had been quite, but she soon spoke up. “Garrison, you can't go away to war and leave Emily here pregnant. That baby's gonna need his Daddy.”

“I have to do this…” Garrison was still in a state of shock.

Ellie shook her head. “And what if Daddy finds out you went and got Emily pregnant, only to run off to war like a coward? He'd skin you alive, that's what he'd do.”

“He won't find out.”

“Yes he will Garrison!” Emily was growing angry. “I'll go and tell him myself! Don't think I won't!”

“No…he won't believe you,” Garrison argued.

“Oh yes he will Garrison,” Ellie broke in, “because I'll back her up. Don't think I won't. This baby is your responsibility and it's time you accept that.”

Finally, Garrison gave in. “I've always taken responsibility for my actions before and this time should be no different.”

From behind Garrison, Ellie winked at Emily who smiled every so slightly.

“I'm glad you came by Austin, I was hoping you would.”

Chris and Karen followed him into the room and Ellie smiled and greeted them. Christopher's mouth was turned down in a frown of worry. “Grandma, are you okay? Dad told me what happened…”

Miss Ellie nodded. “I'm fine, just a little nauseous, but still much better than I was last night.”

Karen placed a large cluster of balloons next to J.R.'s bouquet of mums.

“Thank you Karen, those definitely brighten up this room. Speaking of the room, I can't wait to get back to Southfork.”

Karen smiled. “I know you are Miss Ellie, but I wouldn't rush things. What you went through out there on the ranch was quite an ordeal and you need your rest.”

“I appreciate your concern Karen, but really, I'm fine. There's no need to fuss over me. Where's my great-grand daughter?”

“We wanted to bring her, but she has a little cold and we didn't want you to catch it. That's the last thing you need on top of this.”

Ellie shifted to one side and propped her head on her hand. “So what have you two got planned for the day?”

“I'd love to tell you Grandma, but it's a secret.”

Austin suddenly started jumping up and down. “Ooh, Mommy and Daddy are gonna take me and we're gonna go look at a…”

Austin was abruptly cut off when Karen cupped her hand over his mouth. “Austin, let's not spoil the surprise. This isn't even for sure.”

“Ok, fine then.” Austin pouted.

Ellie watched on with amusement. “Well, I have to admit you've really aroused my curiosity, but I suppose I'll have to wait. Too bad I'm not back at Southfork or I might be able to loosen Austin's tongue with a few of my snicker doodle cookies.”

Austin's face lit up. “Will you make me some when you feel better?”

“Of course I will, just as soon as I get home.”

Christopher put his arm around Karen and touched Austin on the shoulder with his other hand. “Well Grandma, we really need to get going. We've got a lot to do. If you need us for anything, you've got my cell phone number, right?”

“Yes I do, but I'll be fine.”

“Ok, I hope you feel better and can go home soon. See you later.”

After they'd gone, Ellie leaned back in bed and thought back to her memory-filled dream from before. It had been so long since she'd thought about Emily and she couldn't believe she hadn't been remembering until now, something that she thought she'd never be able to forget.

He drummed his fingers on his desk… Then he remembered that Eric was starting to work at the Clifford Group today. He quickly strode out of his office. “Jackie, is my son in yet?”

Jackie looked up from her computer screen. “Yeah, he got here about 15 minutes ago.”

“Good.” Cliff quickly walked off and then realized he didn't know where he was going. He stopped and turned around to see an amused smile on Jackie's face. “Jackie, where's…”

“Straight down the hall, fourth door on the left.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

Cliff entered Eric's office without knocking. “Hey, I was wondering when you would show up.”

Eric looked at Cliff from behind his new desk. “Sorry, I overslept, forgot I had a new job.”

“Yeah, right. Eric, we have some business to discuss.”

“Whoa dad, I haven't even gotten a cup of coffee yet.”

Cliff reached across Eric's desk and hit the intercom. “Denise, bring my son some coffee.”

“Yes sir, Mr. Barnes.”

“Now, ready to talk?”

Eric chuckled, “You're a little over enthusiastic, aren't you dad?”

Cliff didn't hear Eric's comment, he had already launched into the problem. “Okay, we have this great new contract with an international refinery. They need a huge amount of oil and they are going to pay us one-third above the market price for it.”

Eric was serious now, and listening intently. “That sound's great, what's the…”

“The problem is that we don't have the oil.”

“What? Why not? Didn't you check to see if you had it before you signed?”

“That doesn't matter right now. What we need is oil, lots of it, and fast.”

“We could get new leases.”

Cliff was shaking his head impatiently. “Nope, the first installment due date is coming up, we couldn't get it out of the ground soon enough. But you can help.”

“I don't understand. If we don't have the oil, and we can't get it, how can I help?” Just then, Denise knocked and came in with Eric's coffee. She sat it before him on the desk and left quickly.

Cliff grabbed a chair and pulled it up next to Eric's desk. “There's a way out, but you're the only one who can make it happen.”

Eric took a sip of his coffee. “Okay, I'm with you, but how am I supposed to perform this miracle?”

“Stonehurst Oil.”

Eric looked at him blankly. “I don't get it.”

“We can buy the oil from another company at the going rate and still make a third profit. I have been on the phone all morning trying to find a seller. No luck, no one wants to sell. But Stonehurst has the oil, and your mother would never turn you down.”

Eric looked down at the top of his new desk. “So this is why you asked me to come work with you? So you could use me to get oil from mom?”

Cliff waved his hands in the air. “No, no, no, of course not. I thought you would be an asset to the company.” Cliff paused and smiled triumphantly, “and see, I was right, you're an asset already!”

Eric was no fool; he knew what his father was up to. But he liked the idea of working at the Clifford Group, even if his dad had ulterior motives for asking him. It was to his advantage that the company did well; after all, he planned to run it, himself, one day. Eric looked Cliff in the eyes. “You know Dad, it might not be as easy as you think. I'm not even sure where Mom is right now. And when I find her, it's going to take a lot of talking to get her to agree.”

“I know Marilee, she'll do it for you.”

“But what's in it for me?”

The question took Cliff by surprise. He started to tell Eric that he was luck to have a job! But then he realized that Eric knew he held the high card, he was just making the most of it. That was a quality Cliff could admire. He almost beamed with pride. “What do you want?”

Eric leaned back and thought for a moment. “I want the office down the hall, the big one next to yours.”

Cliff stood up smiling, “Done. Now call your mother.” He turned to go, but Eric stopped him.

“Dad, one more thing.”

“Yeah?”

“I want Jackie for a secretary, this coffee's awful.”

Cliff started for the door, and said over his shoulder, “I like the way you think son, but don't push it.”

“A bit early for a drink ain't it?”

Lucy recognized the voice and looked up, startled. “Ray!”

Ray Krebbs leaned forward on the bar and smiled at her. “Howdy Lucy.”

“I haven't seen you around in forever! I did run into Donna a few days back though. She said you'd been busy here at the restaurant and I know her work at city hall keeps her busy. How've you been?”

Ray stood back up and wiped off the bar as he talked. “I've been great. Life's never been better. Lucas has finally settled down and accepted Donna.”

“That's great…I'm glad to hear it.” As hard as she tried, Lucy's enthusiasm for Ray couldn't hide her own despair and Ray picked up on it.

“What's eatin' you Lucy?”

“Haven't you heard? I figured it'd be all over the news by now…”

“Heard what?”

“Neil was arrested for the attempting to murder Afton.”

“What? Neil wouldn't murder anybody…or try to murder anybody. What in God's name does he have to do with Afton anyway? They don't even know each other do they?”

Lucy laughed dryly. “Ray, you and I really should talk more often. Afton paid off Neil to marry me just for the purpose of hurting me when he filed for a divorce.”

Ray couldn't believe what he was hearing. “Of all the low-down things to do to somebody…won't that woman ever put this feud with you to rest?”

“Doesn't look like it.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Thanks for asking, but I'm a big girl now. I think I can handle this, but if I can't, it'll be a relief to know I've got you to back me up.”

“You betcha. Still want that drink?”

Lucy shook her head and stood up. “I don't think so. I've got things to do today and I'd probably get more accomplished if I was sober. Thanks for listening to me and I'll see ya later.”

“Take care Lucy.”

Christopher looked around, but couldn't find whom they were supposed to be meeting. He looked at his watch and realized they were a few minutes late. She was bound to show soon.

On cue, a car pulled up behind Christopher's and a blonde woman in her late fifties stepped out with a portfolio in her hand. “You must be Mr. Ewing?” she asked, extending her hand.

Christopher nodded. “Yes I am. This is my wife Karen and our son Austin.”

“Hello to you all, and I'm Marilyn Summerdale. If you'd like to get right down to business, I'll go ahead and show you around the house.”

“Yeah!” Austin ran up the paved path to the house and eagerly stood before the front door.

Marilyn smiled. “I like his enthusiasm. Shall we?”

Christopher took Karen's hand and followed Marilyn to the front door where she unlocked the house and they all filed in. “Oh, this is beautiful…” Karen couldn't believe that they might actually have their own house—this house.

“Why don't we start upstairs?” Marilyn suggested. “I'm sure Austin is anxious to see the room that might be his.”

Being a realtor, Marilyn knew exactly how to press the right buttons to sell a house and she knew she was doing the right thing when Austin bolted up the stairs. Karen and Christopher followed her upstairs, soaking in the sites of what might soon be their very own dream house.

Pam had been expecting this reaction from him; she knew that Bobby always got upset when something that was out of his control happened to someone he loved. She laid the brush down and walked over to him, sat down in the matching chair across from his and patiently let him continue. “Momma doesn't need to be traipsing around Southfork by herself! There are lots of dangers out on a ranch.” Pam propped her elbow on the arm of the chair, and put her chin in her hand. She gazed at him as he continued, getting more and more upset as he spoke. “What if she hadn't been near a stream, she would have dehydrated for sure. And what if she'd run into a snake or…” He looked up and the bemused expression on Pamela's face stopped him. “What's wrong?”

“Nothing. Go ahead, you were telling me why Miss Ellie shouldn't be allowed out of the house.” She suddenly sat up as though she had gotten a great idea, “ I know! Maybe we can hire a bodyguard?” Bobby frowned, but as she spoke, it quickly turned into a smile. Pam continued, “No… even better, we can get some of those big German Shepards to guard all of the doors.”

He stood and walked over to her chair, placing his hands on each of the chair arms, he bent over her. “You're not funny, you know that?”

Pam smiled through pursed lips and tried to keep a straight face. “Is that right?”

“Uh huh.” He kissed her lightly on the lips, before straightening up and heading for the bed. As he turned down the covers on his side, he said, “Okay, so I'm overreacting just a little. I still want to talk to that new foreman about this.”

Pam nodded, “Oh, yes, and you should. Right away. She might actually escape the next time.” She couldn't stop herself from laughing out loud this time, and just barely ducked in time to miss the small pillow Bobby lobbed at her.

Bobby climbed into bed and Pam stood up, taking off her robe. “Bobby, seriously, there is something that we have to talk about.”

“I am serious. None of this ever should have happened.” Pam went over and sat on the edge of the bed, next to him.

“No, I wasn't talking about Miss Ellie.” Looking into her eyes, Bobby could see that the humor and playfulness had gone. He sat up and threw a pillow behind his back.

“Okay, well then, what were you talking about?”

“I've been thinking… I want to go back to work.” There, she'd said it.

Bobby's brow furrowed in a frown. This wasn't the first time they had had this conversation; Pam always loved working. In the early years of their marriage, he had been steadfastly against it. No Ewing woman had ever worked. But as time went on, he had learned to live with having a 'career woman' for a wife. Later on, he even learned to respect her desire to do something with her life other than sit around Southfork and attend charity functions. The problem that was presenting itself now was that, though they had had this conversation before, it almost always ended in a fight. With that in mind, he chose his words carefully. “So… you want to go back to The Store? Have you talked to Liz?”

“No, well, yes, I've talked to Liz, but I don't want to go back to The Store.” She paused and then, “I want to go back to Wentworth Industries.”

“You can't be serious.”

“I am.” Pam could see that he wasn't taking the news well. “Bobby, listen to me. You heard the shape that the company is in. Someone has to do something.”

Bobby shook his head in amazement and said firmly, “Fine, I'll hire you all the business consultants you want. But you aren't going to work at Wentworth!”

“Oh, so now you're telling me what I'm going to do? I'm not capable of making up my own mind?”

“No, you're obviously not capable, not if you're thinking about working there.” He swung his legs around her and got out of bed. “I can't believe you would even consider it!”

“Why not? Don't tell me that you wouldn't go running back to Ewing Oil if it was in trouble!”

“Maybe. But that's different.”

“Oh, really, why? Because I'm a woman?”

Bobby was exasperated, “No. Yes! Yes, that's part of it.”

“You don't think I'm capable of running that company? Fine!” She stood and jerked on her robe. “You just watch me!” With that, she quickly turned, opened the door and left the bedroom, her robe billowing behind her as she went.

Bobby started to go after her, but decided against it, what would he do when he caught up to her? He certainly wasn't going to apologize. He was sure he was absolutely right on this one. He pulled on his robe and walked over to the balcony. Sliding open the doors, he stepped out into the cool night air. He wondered again why she would even consider going back to Wentworth - now of all times! The last thing Pam needed in her life right now was stress, and taking over Wentworth was guaranteed to cause that. Not to mention the strain she was already under carrying twins. No, it was for her own good that he not go along with her decision. He had to make her see that nothing, not even her mother's legacy to her was worth more than her and the babies' health.

As he stood there, looking up into the night sky, he looked down and saw Pamela, standing outside on the patio, staring up into the same starry night. Bobby looked up again and thought that all of the time they had spent apart in their lives only made their disagreements that much more painful for them both.

"Hey, look!" Manny quickly darted down do the side of the almost completely dry stream. There were two rusted barrels of some sort turned on their side. Each had a tiny hole in the top and a closer inspection showed that the liquid inside was slowly leaking into the stream.

"Damn…this explains the dead cattle. Miss Ellie was upstream from this place, so that'd explain why this wasn't what made her sick."

"So who the heck is behind this? We can't stop it until we find that out."

"Miss Ellie don't buy it," Wade said, "but my money's on that McKay fellow. He's done this kinda thing before and I wouldn't be surprised to find out he's behind it this time too."

"How do we prove it?"

"I don't know, but I'm gonna start by trackin' down McKay and asking him a few questions."

“Morning.”

Bobby looked up to see Pamela standing there dressed in a business suit. “I didn't know they made those things in maternity sizes.”

There was silence while Pam got a plate, filled it with eggs and toast. When she walked over to the table, Bobby stood up and pulled out her chair for her to sit. He then sat down next to her.

“Pam, I'm sorry about last night. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that.”

She reached out and took his hand, “I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have run away like I did.”

“Apology accepted.” Bobby brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.

“Bobby, I knew when you had time to think about it that you would see I'm doing the right thing.”

He dropped her hand. “Hold on, I didn't say I agree with you going to work at Wentworth.”

“But…”

Bobby held up his hand, “Before you get angry again, at least hear me out.” Pam nodded, so he continued. “First of all, Wentworth Industries is huge. I know you had a hand in running it before, but…”

Pam interrupted, “But I'm not planning on running all of Wentworth Industries, just the Tool and Die.” Bobby looked puzzled, “I would have told you last night…”

“Well, that's a little better, at least it's not in Houston. But you're still missing the main point. What about the babies? Working, even at the Tool and Die, is bound to put you under a lot of stress.”

Pam was getting irritated again, “What I don't understand is why you were fine with me going back to work when you thought I wanted to go back to The Store. You weren't worried about stress then!”

“That's not true. I didn't say that I liked that idea any better. I'm against you working anywhere.”

“Why can't you understand? We aren't talking about some company that I just bought; we're talking about the one thing that my mother left to me. She trusted me with it. I can't just stand by and watch it crumble.”

Bobby gritted his teeth, he was getting no where. “Pamela, I know you feel indebted to your mother, but you have to put our family first!”

“Oh, you mean like you did when Jock's will was read and you and JR insisted on fighting over Ewing Oil!” The instant she said those words, she regretted them, but she wasn't about to let it show. Not right now.

But she'd struck a nerve. Bobby's determination to fight for Ewing Oil so long ago, combined with manipulation from both JR and her sister Katherine, had ended their marriage the first time. Though it happened years ago, the memory was still all too painful. Bobby stood and threw his napkin down on the table. “I don't know why I bother. You're going to do what you want to anyway.” With that, he stormed off.

“Ellie, your plan worked like a charm. My Garrison is staying in Dallas with me…and guess what else?”

“What?” Ellie asked as she took a seat.

Emily extended her hand and Ellie's eyes lit up when she saw a sparkling ring on Emily's finger. “Oh! He didn't!”

“Yes!” Emily nodded excitedly. “He proposed. Ellie, we're going to be married!”

Ellie hugged Emily and they both danced around the room. “That's wonderful! We've always wanted Garrison to settle down, but I didn't think the day would ever happen that he would!”

“I'll tame your brother if it's the last thing I do Ellie.”

“Knowing my brother, it might very well be the last thing you do!”

A knock at the door jolted Ellie out of her daydream. She turned onto her back and sat up in bed. “Come in…”

She wasn't expecting Carter McKay. “Miss Ellie, I just heard about your accident and thought I'd drop by to see you.”

Ellie found herself smiling. “Well, Mac, don't tell me you drove all the way from Tulsa just for this.”

“No, no I didn't. I happened to be in town on some business and I read about you in the paper. How are you feeling?”

“Better…just tired.”

“I won't keep you long.”

Wade Sawyer peered into the opened door, where he'd been listening to the conversation. By a strange twist of fate he and McKay had ended up at the same place at the same time and it was high time he got to the bottom of this. “I think you've kept her long enough,” Wade said after he'd walked into the room.

McKay turned around. “Who are you?”

“I'm Wade Sawyer…”

“Oh, that's right. The cowhand.” McKay's tone was arrogant and condescending.

“Mrs. Farlow needs her rest.”

McKay scowled at Wade and then turned back to Miss Ellie. “He's right. I'll let you rest and maybe I'll check on you once you get settled in back at Southfork.”

Ellie smiled and nodded. “I'd like that Mac. Thanks for stopping by.”

“It was my pleasure.” McKay turned and walked past Wade without speaking again.

“I'm sorry Mrs. Farlow, I'll be right back,” Wade said before following McKay out into the hallway. He spotted McKay's large form sauntering down the hallway to his left and Wade followed and called out to him.

McKay turned around. “What do you want now?”

“I want to know just what the hell you're up to McKay. What in the world are you tryin' to accomplish by poisoning the cattle?”

“You must've been out in the sun entirely too long because you're making no sense. I didn't know Southfork's cattle were being poison, therefore, I couldn't know who is behind it; but I can assure you that it's not me.”

Wade bit his lip. “Oh yeah? Then why the sudden interest in Mrs. Farlow? I think it's mighty strange that this crazy stuff starts happening right before you show up in town, 'specially given your history of causin' trouble for the Ewings.”

McKay turned away from Wade and began to walk off. “And I can assure you that's what it is…history. Ancient history.”

Wade crossed his arms and watched as McKay disappeared into the elevator. “You're lyin' McKay…I can see right through you like glass and I'll be damned if I'll let you hurt Miss Ellie or the ranch…”

The early afternoon sunrays splashed across the floor as John Ross Ewing opened the door. "Hello? Anybody home?"

There was no answer.

"What a crying shame," he said, smiling mischievously. He dropped a couple of bags next to the door, then picked up Melissa and kissed her. "You and I have the whole house to ourselves."

"How awful," Melissa laughed. "I am going to miss all those exotic places though. It was so romantic, Rome especially."

"And Egypt, Egypt was fun."

"But you know what I'll miss the most?"

"What?" John Ross asked.

"The ocean, especially in Australia."

He smiled. "Well, we can't have the ocean at Southfork…"

John Ross went back outside and threw Melissa into the pool. "John Ross!"

"But we do have the pool."

He jumped in.

"I could kill you!"

"Kill me later, kiss me now."

John Ross took her into his arms and they kissed and sank under water.

He heard a car pull into the driveway, but thought nothing of it until someone stood in front of him, blocking his sun. When he opened his eyes, the last person he expected to see was Melissa.

“Hi…” she said.

“Melissa, hi. What are you doing here?”

Melissa didn't speak at first, as she wasn't sure how to begin what she had to say. Finally, she decided to just spit it out. “I'm here because I have some apologizing to do.”

“Apologizing? I thought I was the one that needed to do that.”

“No, I think you've apologized enough already. I shouldn't have shut you out of T.J.'s life like that…it was an awful thing for me to do.”

John Ross could have verbally agreed with her, but he opted not to press his luck by doing so.

“And, if you'll still give me a chance, I'd like to give us a chance. I want you back in my life John Ross.”

John Ross stood up. “That's all I've ever wanted…to be in your life. I love you Melissa.”

Melissa smiled and thought about how foolish she must look to be crying, but she couldn't help it. “I love you too John Ross Ewing.”

The two kissed, but John Ross was puzzled when Melissa abruptly pulled away. “I have a surprise for you!”

“Yeah?”

“Okay, you can come over now!” Melissa yelled to someone else.

John Ross watched with curiosity in the direction that she'd yelled and his face fell when Angela McSween walked around the corner of the house with T.J. He knew that Melissa wouldn't be here with him now if he hadn't done what he did with Angela, but it still didn't help his guilty any. If Melissa ever found out…

Angela grabbed T.J.'s hand and waved it at John Ross. “Ready to see your Daddy, little guy?”

John Ross reached for his son and took him in his arms, holding him against his chest. In that instant, all of his guilt disappeared and it was replaced by feelings of extreme happiness over his son. He was holding him for the first time since he was born. John Ross was suddenly overwhelmed and he couldn't keep the tears from flowing down his face. For the moment, everything was okay.

“What's with all of the long faces? You all are starting to get me down.” JR suddenly remembered something and reaching inside his suit coat, he pulled out a postcard. “Hey, would you look at this. Justin sent it. Looks like he and Cally are havin' fun traveling all around the world. And why not? They're doin' it on my money!” JR laughed, but the rest of the table remained silent. “Here Sue Ellen.” He flipped the card toward her. “Cally wrote a little something to you on the bottom.”

Sue Ellen picked up the card. Now that she thought about it, she had to admit, the thought of Cally getting to travel around the world with JR footing the bill was very amusing.

Bobby was looking down at his plate, but he wasn't eating much. “Hey, Bob, what's wrong with you? You and Pam have a fight?”

Bobby looked across the table at JR. “That's none of your business, now, is it JR?”

JR took a bite of his steak. “Well, it is if it causes me to have indigestion because of the rotten mood around here.” JR smiled at his own wit. Bobby fixed his brother with a cold stare that dared him to go any further with that particular topic.

JR looked down the table. “Say Jack…”

“Don't even start JR. I'm in no mood for your little games. I'd just as soon punch you as talk to you.”

“Well before you do that, would you mind passing the pepper?”

Jack turned slightly pink and mumbled, “Sorry,” as he passed the pepper down the table.

Just then, Pamela came into the room. “Hi, sorry I'm late.” She went to her chair and gave Bobby a perfunctory kiss on the cheek.

“Well, well, Pam I can't tell you all the fun you've been missing!”

She gave a sideways glance towards JR, not sure how to take that statement, since no one else looked like they were having any fun.

Sue Ellen was relieved to have someone else at the table to talk to; it lessened the pressure on her to talk to Jack. “Pamela, that's a lovely suit.”

“Thank you, Sue Ellen” Pam didn't look at Bobby as she spoke. “I thought it was a good choice since it was my first day back at Wentworth.”

All heads turned in her direction. JR broke the silence, “What are you doing at Wentworth Industries? I didn't think they had tea parties there.”

Sue Ellen bantered back for the first time that night, “Ignore him, Pam, he's insufferably happy tonight. He must have run over a small animal on his way home.”

JR smiled, happy he had finally gotten a rise out of her.

Sue Ellen continued, “So you're back at Wentworth. Good for you. We need more women in the industry. Maybe then some of these chauvinists will realize that a woman can run a company as well, if not better, than any man.”

“Well, I'm not exactly running the whole thing. I'm helping at the 'Tool and Die'. And I have a lot of reading to do before I'm ready to run anything.”

JR noticed that Bobby was being unusually silent. “Hey Bob, what do you think about that, your wife off working and you sitting here at the ranch, isn't that a kick!”

When Bobby spoke, there was a coldness to his voice that always scared JR just a little. “No, JR, I don't think it's funny at all. And if you don't want the rest of that steak shoved down your throat, I'd shut up, if I were you.”

“Sure, Bobby.” Bobby's threat had dampened JR's cheerful attitude and they all ate in silence for a few minutes.

Isabel had been standing just behind the door to the kitchen, listening. These people were fascinating to her. They had all of the money in the world, yet they never seemed to be happy.

Theresa came up behind her and handed her a pitcher of iced tea. “If you are going to stand there, you may as well go in and make yourself useful.”

Isabel took the pitcher and entered the dining room. It wasn't nearly as interesting now. The fighting appeared to be over and no one was talking. She went around the table refilling glasses. As she got to JR, the doorbell rang, shattering the silence. Isabel jumped, and when she did, she dropped the pitcher of tea… right in JR's lap. “What the - YOU! Look what you did you incompetent little runt! You pack up your bags; you're going to be on the first bus to Mexico. Momma isn't here to save you this time!”

It had truly been an accident, but Isabel didn't bother trying to tell JR that, she knew he wouldn't believe her. Instead, she ran out of the room.

Bobby knew his mother liked the girl and he felt sorry for her. “JR, don't you think you were a little hard on her?”

“Why does everyone take her side? Do you see my suit? I'm soaked.”

“Hello everyone.” Raoul had answered the door during the commotion. They were all surprised to see Jamie Ewing Barnes standing there.

Jack stood up and hugged his sister. “Jamie. I'm glad you stopped by.”

“I only have a minute, though.”

Pam gestured toward an empty seat. “Won't you join us?”

Jamie looked around the table. “No thanks, actually, I just came to say good-bye. I've already talked to Jack about it, but things just didn't work out for me here.”

Pam knew she was talking about Cliff. “Where are you going?”

“I have a friend out in Arizona. I'm going there for a while. I just wanted to tell you all good-bye. I'm leaving in the morning.” Jack hugged her again and she was gone from their lives as quickly as she had arrived.

A quick visual sweep of the room showed that it was Isabel. Her face was buried in the pillow on her bed. Jillian knocked on the door, more as a means to get Isabel's attention than anything else. Isabel sat up and wiped the tears away from her reddened eyes.

“What do you want?”

“Isabel? What's wrong?”

At first Isabel was reluctant to give an answer, but she eventually gave in. “I'm afraid…afraid of being sent back to Mexico. I caused a lot of trouble down there and made some people mad at me…some really bad people.”

“I guess you're afraid of my Dad sending you back, right?”

Isabel nodded. “He hates me, I know he does. He's always on my case! Everything that I've done to him has been an accident, not to mention the fact that he still thinks I pushed Miss Ellie into the pool on purpose! I would never do that!”

“I know you wouldn't. So those people…they're dangerous?”

Isabel nodded. “Yes. I know they wouldn't hesitate to kill me if they found me…they're terrible people with no respect for life.”

“But you're only seventeen!”

“I could be seven and it would not matter to them! They're heartless, cold, people.”

Jillian turned and looked out the window at the clear night sky. “And I thought I had problems, with my Dad getting closer to Sue Ellen.”

Isabel welcomed the opportunity to shift the focus away from her own problems and to someone else's. “Have you told your father how you feel about Sue Ellen?”

Jillian shook her head and licked her lip. “No. I doubt it would do any good. He just wants her back.”

Isabel smiled. “Talk to him. He may seem cold and hard to me, but I know inside he has a weak spot for his daughter. Most fathers do.”

The sliding of the glass door caused her to look up. At first she thought it might be Bobby, but then the form moved off next to the pool. In the light of the moon, she could see who it was.

“Sue Ellen?”

Sue Ellen turned; glad to find Pamela sitting there and not Jack. “Hi Pam. What are you doing out here?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“From the looks of things between you and Bobby at dinner, I'd say I'm doing the same thing you are, avoiding someone.” Sue Ellen smiled and went to sit with Pam.

“I'm sure you can guess what's wrong with me and Bobby.”

“He doesn't want you to work. That's easy to see. What surprises me is that you want to. I mean, since you're pregnant, I thought you would be staying close to home.”

Pam laughed, “Sue Ellen! I'm surprised at you. You were all for my working at dinner.”

Sue Ellen smiled back at her friend. “We have to show the men a united front. I'm afraid that until Megan and Grace grow up, we're out numbered here.”

A look of concern passed over Pam's face. “Sue Ellen, I've been meaning to talk to you about Megan.”

“What about her?”

“Are you okay? I mean, you thought she was your grand daughter for a long time, now you find out she isn't.”

Sue Ellen thought about that for a moment. “I can't say that it wasn't painful, but I loved Megan. I still love Megan. And the wonderful thing about our twisted family tree is that she's still a part of the family. Now she's my nephew's daughter.” It wasn't that funny, but they laughed together and it felt good. Both of them needed a good laugh.

Sue Ellen suddenly changed the subject. “Pam, if Bobby ever cheated on you, do you think you could forgive him and just go on like nothing ever happened?”

The question took Pam by surprise, “Before I answer that, please tell me you're not thinking of going back to JR.”

“Just answer the question. Could you forgive him?”

Pam breathed in the night air. Just the thought of Bobby sleeping with another woman made her shudder. “Well, Bobby and I have had to deal with the fact that there were other people in our lives when we weren't together.”

Sue Ellen shook her head. “No, that's not the same thing. I mean, what if he slept with someone else while you were a couple?”

“I've always thought that that was the one thing I could never forgive. But, if there's one thing that I've learned in my life, it's never say never.”

“So you would forgive him?”

Pam took a sip of her water. “I'm not saying that. What I'm saying is that I can't imagine how I could ever forgive him for something like that. But I also know that I've thought a lot of things that have happened to me in my life could never happen. But either way, I know that I couldn't go on as if nothing had happened. Things would never be the same. I can't imagine how we would ever be able to rebuild the trust.”

“So your answer is, you don't know, but probably not?” There was frustration in Sue Ellen's voice.

Pam smiled ruefully, “No help, huh?”

Sue Ellen put her elbows on the table and buried her face in her hands. “Oh, Pam, I don't know what to do.”

Pam reached out and put a hand on Sue Ellen's shoulder. “You don't know what to do about what?”

Her answer was muffled, but Pam could still make it out. “Jack”

“Jack cheated on you?”

She thought about going into all of the details about how he had been drugged, but decided it would be to complicated to explain. “Yeah, he did. I love Jack and I thought I could get over it. I mean, I should be able to get over it. I did in the past. JR slept with half of Texas and I still remarried him. Why can't I do the same for Jack?”

“Do you really want things to work out for you and Jack?”

Sue Ellen looked up, there were tears streaming down her face. “I don't know. I thought I did. I really did. But then someone made me realize that I was blaming myself for what Jack did.”

Pam looked confused. “Why would you blame yourself?”

“Pam, every man that I have ever loved has either left me for another woman, or cheated on me. After a while, you begin to think it's your fault.”

“But Sue Ellen, that's not true. It's not your fault.”

She sniffled, “I think I finally believe that now. But I still don't know what to do. Why can't I just get beyond this?”

Pam was trying to be careful with how she answered this question, she wanted to help Sue Ellen, but the truth of the matter was, she had never been in this situation. “Maybe… maybe it's because you have more self respect than you did when you remarried JR. You're so much stronger now.”

Sue Ellen nodded her head slowly. It was true, she was stronger now, but there was something more, something she couldn't quite define.

“Or… maybe you don't love Jack like you thought you did and this crisis is just bringing that to the surface.”

Sue Ellen felt like she had just been splashed in the face with cold water. She had been afraid to admit to herself what Pam had just said; maybe she didn't really love Jack.

“Sue Ellen? Are you all right?”

Sue Ellen suddenly turned and gave Pam a hug. “Thank you, Pamela. Yes, I think I'm going to be fine.” And she would be fine, as soon as she figured out how to tell Jack.

“Eric, there you are, I was looking all over for you at the office. Where were you?”

“If you were looking for me after five o'clock, I was here.”

“Okay, fine, but what did Marilee say?”

Eric switched off the TV and looked at his Dad. “She didn't say anything, I didn't talk to her.”

“You promised!”

“Cool it Dad, I tried to reach her. I left messages all over Europe. She hasn't called. I told you it might not be easy to get a hold of her.”

Cliff ran his hand through his hair and plopped down on the couch. “Oh boy, what are we going to do? We need that oil now!”

“Dad, I was thinking, Mom isn't the only family member who has connections to the oil business.”

Cliff stared at him blankly. “Wha? Who?”

“What about aunt Pam?”

Cliff's face fell. “She doesn't have an oil company.”

“No, but Bobby has a lot of influence over some people who do.”

“Oh no… I'm not buying oil from JR Ewing, no way.”

“Okay, then, what about Todd Foster, or Sue Ellen.”

“Not Sue Ellen. She's Ewing Oil. But maybe Todd… Hmmm that may be an idea. Wait, no. Won't work. Pam isn't speaking to me since that fight we had at the barbeque.”

“Well make up with her. The time for being picky about who you deal with is coming to an end. Oil is oil, no matter where you get it.”

“Ellie, you look beautiful under the moonlight like that…”

Ellie smiled as the gentle breeze blew her long hair. “Thank you Willard…isn't it a wonderful night? The stars…and the breeze…I'd almost like to stay in this moment forever.”

Digger leaned over and kissed her. “Wouldn't mind it myself.”

Ellie stared off into the distance and thought about Emily again. What would Emily do once she found out the real reason why Ellie wanted her to fake her pregnancy? And would she go along with Ellie's plan or would everything be blown out of the water? She tried not to think too much about it—what happened would happen.

“What's wrong?” Digger asked.

Ellie shook her head. “Nothing.” She hated lying, but there was no reason to involve Digger in this—he didn't have to know…she didn't want him to know. The less people who knew, the better.

“You sure? You're lookin' worried…”

Ellie smiled to reassure him. “No, I'm fine. It's nothing I can't handle…”

“Sure there's nothing I can do?”

“I'm sure!” She couldn't help but think that he'd done enough already. Heck, it was his fault she was in this mess in the first place. His fault that she had hatched this plan with Emily and his fault that she'd have to give a part of herself away. But it wasn't just his fault—she knew that part of the blame could be pinned on herself.

She looked up at the twinkling stars and still she wondered how she would ever manage to pull this off, while still salvaging her reputation and life at Southfork.

But she couldn't stay here much longer—there was entirely too much work that she had to do and she knew deep inside that she didn't have much time left to do it. Ellie had a mission—it was time to confront the ghosts of her past and finally put them all to rest…