The good night's sleep proved to be just what Eric needed. He was in a much
brighter state of mind when he got out of bed late Tuesday morning. The town's reaction to
him the night before definitely made him want to stay for at least a few days. Maybe it was
time to try and bury at least some of the past. When he asked Kelly about it, she said she'd
love the company. So, Eric and Cassie each called their offices to let them know that they'd
be staying until the end of the week. After breakfast, Cassie cornered Eric in the hallway.
She wrapped her arms around him and drew him against her.

"I've been thinking," she began, "I know hardly anything about where you grew up.
Would I be asking too much of you to show me around?"

"Not at all," Eric agreed as he ran his fingers through her hair. "I think it's time I faced
this town again and what better way to do that then with a beautiful woman on my arm." They
were in the middle of a passionate kiss when Kelly rounded the corner and nearly ran into
them.

"I am so sorry," Kelly stammered, embarrassed.

"No we are for blocking the hallway," Cassie apologized as she moved a little away
from Eric, then added, "Eric's taking me on a tour of Hazard today."

"That's great!" Kelly chirped back excitedly. "Let's go see if we can throw together a
picnic lunch for you."

They went back into the kitchen and began rummaging through the refrigerator and
pantry. By the time they were finished, they had filled the picnic basket.

"Kelly, why don't you come along," Eric invited and Cassie quickly nodded her head
in agreement.

"I wish I could," Kelly answered disappointedly. "I've still got too much to do at the
grammar school before classes start. And, besides," her eyes sparkled as she looked at Eric,
"I think you'll have fun showing Cassie around."

Kelly couldn't believe the difference in Eric from the night before. She'd expected him
and Cassie to go to Town Hall first thing that morning to sign over the property, then head
straight back to Denver. She saw none of the anxiety that had been in Eric's eyes the night
before and was glad he finally seemed to want to face his memories.

"Your loss," Eric kidded, interrupting her thoughts. They all laughed, then Eric and
Cassie set out on their tour of Hazard.

They walked arm in arm down Main Street where most of the town's small shops
were already open. Patrons in both the barbershop and beauty parlor called out to them and
waved as they walked by. They even called Cassie by name. The owners of the town's café
stopped getting things set up for lunch to also greet them. Even the volunteer firemen
currently on duty stopped washing their trucks to chat with them for a few minutes.

Eric couldn't believe this reception. He had figured that, out of respect for Kelly the
night before, the town wouldn't treat him as the outcast that he'd always been. Eric really
couldn't believe the warm reception he and Cassie were receiving that morning. Maybe the
town also felt that it was time to forgive the past.

They continued along 'central walk', which was the town's name for the blocks that
encircled Town Square. At the bakery, Mr. Cummings, its owner since as far back as Eric
could remember, insisted that they pick out one of the small pies he'd just taken out of the
oven to go with their lunch. When Eric asked the cost, Mr. Cummings said that receiving
payment would insult such a lovely lady. He then winked at Cassie. They continued their tour
now satisfied that their basked was now complete with a dessert.

Eric pointed out the town library, the police station and Dusty's bar, which was
probably the only business not as yet opened. Then Cassie began lightly pulling Eric toward
an open door. She'd always wanted to go through a small town antique shop and now she
would get her chance.

Her eyes sparkled like a child in a toy store as they slowly walked up and down the
isles. The owner, Charles Montgomery, tentatively approached and asked if Cassie was
looking for anything in particular. She said no and that she just wanted to look around. Mr.
Montgomery offered to explain anything in which she might be interested then respectfully
retreated back behind his counter. Cassie did ask about several items and was astonished at
the rich history that Hazard seemed to have.

She finally decided on two Victorian style knickknacks for their end tables back home.
Mr. Montgomery explained that he'd acquired them from an estate auction the previous year.
They had belonged to a woman that lived just outside of Hazard sometime before the Great
Depression. She'd always attributed not losing her estate during that time to those two
Victorian "Luck Knots". Cassie clutched at the bag like it was a prized possession as Eric
paid for them. They weren't nearly as expensive as he'd expected. They then crossed the
street to Town Square for their picnic.

Eric and Cassie spread their blanket under some of the smaller trees toward the
West side of the park. The filtered sunlight made their picnic more romantic and the shade
was just enough to keep the late August heat at bay. When they were almost finished eating,
Eric took out his sketchpad and pencils.

He began drawing Cassie with the park and Town Hall as the background. When she
asked if he needed her to keep still, Eric told her to not majorly change position. As he
worked, Eric noticed Cassie was blushing.

"What's wrong? You don't want me to draw you?" he asked.

"It's not that," Cassie replied, her face getting a little redder. "You never have before."

"The background's never been right before," Eric told her and was met with a
surprised stare. "Seriously," Eric added. "I've never had the right setting for you before." To
Eric, Cassie's smile just then was brighter than the sun itself.

The Town's Deputy Mayor, Ray Blanchard, also noticed his work as he cut through
the park on his way back to his office. Even in Eric's rough sketch, the details of Town Hall
were very distinguishable. Eric turned around suddenly when he saw Cassie looking behind
him.

"Forgive me for startling you Eric," Ray apologized, "but I couldn't help stopping to
admire you drawing."

"Thank you," Eric answered, a little embarrassed.

"Not that you don't look lovely, Cassie, isn't it?" He continued and Cassie nodded.
"The details of Town Hall are quite remarkable. I take it you've become a designer?"

"For a major architectural design agency in Denver," Eric confirmed, then went back
to his drawing. He finished up the details of the park, then concentrated on his primary
subject, Cassie.

"Remarkable," Ray whispered as he watched Eric work.

"If I may," he began tentatively, knowing that he was intruding on them. Eric turned
back around. He wasn't angry, just distracted. "Would you consider doing a formal print of
Town Hall for this year's Town Registry? That is, of course, if you'd have time to complete it
by the barbecue on Friday."

"I'd have time if the Town Council approved it," Eric answered.

"Of course. It wouldn't have to be anything fancy," Ray explained. "The sketch you
have right there is perfect, minus your lovely lady that is." Ray tipped his hat at Cassie to
indicate that no offense was intended. Cassie couldn't contain a giggle.

"As a matter of fact," Ray continued, "there's a town meeting tomorrow night to
finalize the Labor Day plans for this weekend. You could present that sketch as your rough
draft, if you'd like?"

"Sure, no problem," Eric agreed. Ray patted Eric on the shoulder, then continued on
his way while humming happily to himself.

"Can you believe that?" Eric asked Cassie after the Deputy Mayor was out of hearing
range.

"Not from what you've told me about growing up here," Cassie answered.

"Do you mind hanging out here for a little while so I can make a rough draft for
tomorrow night?" Eric asked, then added through an impish grin, "minus my lovely lady."

Cassie laughed loud enough to cause several people eating at the café to look in
their direction. "Of course not," she told him. "It'll give me a chance to lay in the sun for a
while." She began to stretch out on the blanket, then sat back up quickly. "Were you done
drawing me?"

"Yes, I'm finished," Eric said then handed her his picture.

"It's beautiful." She whispered as her eyes filled with tears.

"It would look better in color," Eric said.

Cassie lightly caressed his cheek. "No, it wouldn't. Color would ruin the shading." She
carefully placed the drawing onto the top of the picnic basket, then stretched out on the
blanket to allow Eric to work on his new sketch.

Around late afternoon, Eric and Cassie headed over to Town Hall to take care of
signing over the estate to the County, then continued their tour of Hazard. Eric purposely did
not point out where his old trailer used to be. As they walked back to Kelly's, Eric felt like he
was on top of the world.

When they got back, Kelly had Eric show off his cooking skills with her barbecue
while Cassie helped her with the extras back in the kitchen. Cassie showed Kelly the
Victorian "Luck Knots" they'd purchased and recapped how their day had gone. Kelly also
couldn't believe the warm reception Eric was getting. As they sat around the outdoor picnic
table to eat dinner Eric told Kelly about Ray Blanchard's offer. After they'd finished eating,
Eric showed them his rough sketch and began bouncing ideas off of them for his final print.
By the time he and Cassie headed off to bed, Eric had a pretty good idea of how he wanted
his picture to look.

As Cassie was changing to get ready for bed, Eric moved behind her and held her
against him. He began caressing her breasts and lightly kissing down the back of her neck.

"What's this all about?" Cassie whispered, her body eagerly responding to him.

"Do I need a reason?" Eric whispered back as his hands worked their way down her
stomach.

"Of course not, "Cassie answered, then guided his hands along her thighs. She
turned toward him, then led him over to the bed. She slowly undressed him and drew him
down on top of her.

"Remember Kelly's in the next room," she reminded him as they began one of the
most passionate nights they'd every shared together. It was well past two in the morning
before Eric finally rolled over and went to sleep.

A little while later, Cassie felt him tossing and turning. His memories had a cruel
sense of timing. He couldn't even enjoy a passionate evening with her and not have them
haunting him. Eric woke the next morning with a dark veil again just behind his eyes.

Kelly saw it at breakfast and suggested that they head over to the outlet stores in
nearby Lincoln to go shopping. She figured it would get Eric out of Hazard for a while. Eric
said that he'd rather get a head start on his final print but didn't mind if Cassie wanted to go.
Cassie, however, didn't believe him for a minute when he said he was all right, but didn't
press him.