Seated on the terrace of his garden, enjoying a fine if chilly Autumn evening, Lowell Longman sat smoking a cigar before going indoors for dinner. He had no fears of the escaped Roscoe whatever, he knew himself to be a valuable Federal witness and as such was confident that he would be well protected. In any event, it seemed to him unlikely that Roscoe would stop to exact revenge from anyone, he would be intent on leaving the country if he had a grain of intelligence! There were many foreign ships leaving San Francisco every day, Roscoe was a plain fool if he wasn't heading there as fast as he could.

So certain of this was the ex-Senator that when Roscoe emerged from the gloom of the garden to stand directly in front of Longman, his quarry could scarcely take in the fact of the assassin's presence. For long seconds the two men stared silently at each other, then shaking off the shock of Roscoe's sudden appearance, Longman smiled at him.

"My compliments Mark, I would have imagined that no-one could get near me, you really are an accomplished man in your field." He sounded calm and confident and with each moment that passed he was indeed growing in confidence, he might no longer be a Senator wielding power and influence but he still had a great deal of wealth and was sure that he could offer the fugitive

enough largesse to buy his life. He didn't even panic when he saw the garotte which had appeared in Roscoe's hand as if by magic.

"Now Mark, what good is killing me going to do you? You need help and money to make good your escape, I can help you!"

The smug confident look on his face didn't waver as Roscoe came to stand behind him. This was a ploy, Roscoe was determined to frighten him, that was all there was to it. All his adult life, Lowell Longman had been able to talk or buy his way out of trouble and he believed he could do so now.

Roscoe spoke at last in the soft icy voice he habitually used, "you're absolutely right Senator, I am an accomplished man in my field, mainly because I never ever deviate from the rules I set for myself a long time ago. One of those rules says you never trust a man who has betrayed you, no second chances, not ever!"

The first flicker of fear cast a shadow over Longman's face and he started to move, opening his mouth to try and convince Roscoe to spare him. Too late! The garotte was already snaking over his head and his bubbling scream of terror died in his throat. Two minutes later he was dead.

Roscoe glided back into the darkness of the garden and made his way through it and into the woods, he had entered Longman's estate in invisible silence and intended to leave the same way. He would have made it but for the unhappy chance of stepping into a trap, left by a nocturnal poacher who intended to snare some of Lowell Longman's plentiful game. With a cry of pain Roscoe fell heavily to the ground, his leg securely caught by the savage metal teeth of the trap. His fall had made a considerable noise besides the yelp of pain and at once the woods around him were alive with men and guard-dogs crashing through the undergrowth toward him. With desperate strength he prised the trap apart and freed himself, jerking himself upright, shutting his mind off from the throbbing pain in his damaged ankle. He appraised his situation in a flash, no hope! He was surrounded on all sides and incapacitated as he now was, he couldn't even try to flee. His decision was easily made, no hope of escape, so...no hope at all! He would NOT go to prison, better to end it here. Drawing the guns he had stolen from the two murdered guards, he stood at bay, the hunted, ready to confront the hunters. He betrayed no fear, indeed he felt none, It was over in seconds, he used his guns with deadly skill, bringing down at least three men, before perishing himself in a hail of answering gun-fire

hapter 18      

Jarrod was in his office working, his two human watchdogs in attendance, when Sarah came to find him to tell him that the news of Longman's murder and Roscoe's subsequent death would be in the next edition of the paper. The lawyer showed not the slightest sign of surprise, he had been convinced that Longman was the intended target not himself. He watched with a hint of amusement as Nick and Heath both shuffled uncomfortably and looked a little sheepish and he smiled when Nick said gruffly, "well? Aren't you going to say I told you so?"

Jarrod's voice was warmly affectionate, "not to you and Heath Nick, not for the world! Now for the love of Heaven would the pair of you please go and run your precious ranch and leave me to get on with my work...please!"

The two ranchers departed leaving husband and wife to share a pot of coffee and talk over the news of murder and violent death that had shattered their peace. Sarah raged inwardly at this latest turn of events which had once again brought to the forefront of her husband's mind, the whole Lonsdale affair.

Sarah looked appraisingly at Jarrod, "you said you wouldn't say I told you so to Nick and Heath, would you say it to Governor Anderson?"

His eyes snapped angry blue fire, "damned right I would!" He rarely swore and that he did so now only demonstrated the intensity of his feelings of anger and frustration. He got up and prowled around the office, hands dug into his vest pockets, and went on, "I knew that this, or something like this would happen! The Administration should have refused to cut a deal with Longman, brought him to trial. They could have had Peter's evidence, they would have had Roscoe's too! Always supposing they had held onto him of course!" He couldn't keep the savage irony out of his voice.

"Now, the whole investigation will falter and run slowly out of steam, the most guilty, those in high office in Washington will barely notice the commotion!"

The enraged lawyer picked up the silver letter opener from his desk and dropped it again with unnecessary force to crash onto the polished surface.

Sarah felt enormous sympathy for her husband, he had foretold these events and she shared his disappointment and frustration in some measure. She sought now for words that would comfort him, "I know how angry you are Jarrod and I don't blame you, not a bit, but it seems to me we have to look at this whole situation dispassionately and focus on what positive aspects there are in this."

He turned to face her, "are there any positive aspects?"

Sarah stood and came to him, laying her hands on his arms, her smoky blue eyes looking directly into his more vivid blue ones.

"You know that there are," she said flatly. "Marsh Lonsdale is dead and it isn't going to be easy for anyone else to step into his shoes. The powerful connections that allowed him to operate with impunity are destroyed. Now, Lowell Longman is dead as well and if his death allows some bigger fish to wriggle free of this particular net, so be it. Their identities are known and they will be watched, they WILL be brought down in the end Jarrod. Try to hold onto that. Roscoe's death has rid the world of a heartless killer, that's another positive aspect."

Sarah's earnest gaze had not left her husband's face whilst she talked and he was watching her just as keenly, listening intently to what she said.

She smiled a little, "there is one other thing Darling, to me the best thing of all, by your personal example you showed the folks of this town the true nature of courage not so long ago."

Jarrod shook his head impatiently, "I wasn't speaking of myself when I said that in my speech, I was talking about them, the ordinary people who somehow found the guts to testify."

Sarah's hand came up to cup his cheek tenderly, " I know you weren't speaking of yourself, but there isn't a person in this town who doesn't think it applies to you and who hasn't been inspired by what you did. Your family is proud of you and I love and admire you more than words can say."

Jarrod held her close, tilting up her face to kiss her then releasing her he said lightly, "well, if that little speech was intended to make me feel better, I have to tell you that it worked like a charm!"

His face grew more serious again, "I know that there's much in what you say Sarah and I promise I'll try to put all this behind me, I don't intend to let my loathing of political expediency ruin my peace of mind."

Sarah was satisfied, he would always feel that things should have been handled differently but he recognized the dangers of brooding over events he had no power to change, and she was content with that.

Again, the Barkley family resumed normal life, thinking that now at last, the ramifications of the Lonsdale case could no longer reach them. For a time it seemed over indeed, Sarah seeing her husband fully restored to his urbane and smiling self, hoped earnestly that there would be no further ripples from the case to disturb his serenity. She was doomed to disappointment, the next twist in this tangled skein of events would bring a dark shadow to Jarrod Barkley's eyes and the veil of sorrow and doubt that took possession of his mind would be hard to lift.

hapter 19      

It was a frosty January Sunday, there was a raw wind blowing and the threat of a storm to come later. The Barkley family were gathered for Sunday lunch at the Barkley mansion, at Victoria's invitation. Heath and his wife and family still lived in this house with Victoria. Nick and his wife and Jarrod and Sarah were all present. As were Eugene and Audra, newly arrived home from their trip back East. All the next generation of Barkley children, and there were beginning to be quite a few of them, had been fed and were being amused elsewhere. This left the adults free to enjoy their meal in comparative peace. Audra and Eugene, talked a little about their trip but both badly wanted to talk of the Lonsdale affair. It was only natural that they should be concerned for their eldest brother's sufferings reflected Sarah, for Jarrod had largely taken the place of their father and both the youngest Barkleys adored him. Nevertheless she wished that both of them would leave their brother in peace, although Jarrod was fending off their exclamations and questions calmly and with commendable patience.

Eugene became quite heated on the subject of Peter Barton, roundly condemning the jailed lawyer's duplicitous conduct and failing to notice that Jarrod fell profoundly silent as soon as Peter's name was mentioned. The family were gathered in the living room enjoying a pre-lunch Sherry and as soon as there was an opportunity to do so unobserved, Nick Barkley seized his youngest brother by the scruff of the neck and hauled him away, out of earshot of the rest of the family.

"Nick! What the devil..."

"Shut up and listen" commanded Nick. "Drop the subject of Barton, Jarrod has done everything he can to help him and he doesn't want to hear a word against him alright?"

"No, it's not alright, it's no thanks to him Jarrod didn't lose his life! Why the deuce should Jarrod want to help him?"

Nick looked sternly into Gene's pale blue eyes, "maybe because Barton first got into bad company through desperation to pay off the gambling debts he ran up at college!"

Gene flushed scarlet, "oh!"

Nick eyed him grimly, "I reckon Jarrod felt sorry for Peter, after all there was no rich family and no kind big brother to save HIS neck."

Gene grimaced, "alright Nick, don't rub it in, I won't mention his name again, I swear."

Lunch was pleasant, smiling around the table Victoria revelled in having all her children around her and reflected, not for the first time, that the marriages of her three eldest sons were all turning out extremely well. She felt happier and more relaxed than she had for many months past, it seemed that the dark shadows over her family were lifted, life tasted sweet indeed. She looked up as one of her servants brought in a telegram, handing it to Jarrod with a deferential bow, "This was delivered at your house an hour ago Sir, the servants sent it over in case it was unduly urgent."

The Lawyer ripped the wire open at once and read it through, his face seemed to set in a hard mask of controlled grief and Sarah, seated opposite him, broke the tense silence, "is it bad news Darling?"

He looked at her and her heart went out to him as she saw the distress in his eyes, when he answered her his voice was rigidly calm, "I'm afraid so. Peter Barton died yesterday in prison of typhoid fever. I knew he was ill, but there was no indication that his life was in danger..." He broke off, staring into space for a few seconds, then he stood, and with a murmured "excuse me Mother," he left the dining room.

Sarah too rose and quietly followed her husband out of the room. She had no idea what she could possibly say to console Jarrod and help him to face this fresh blow but she would try. He had gone outside into his mother's rose-garden and was standing rather rigidly, leaning against the back of the wooden bench seat. He didn't turn as he heard the hush of Sarah's skirts behind him, but spoke in a low sad voice, "in three days it would have been Peter's twenty fifth birthday."

"I'm sorry Darling, I don't know what to say to comfort you, it's...just a tragic waste I suppose."

Jarrod turned, stretching out his hand and she came to him, wrapping her arms around him, laying her head on his breast.

"There's nothing anyone can say Sarah, and you're right, it is a tragic waste," Jarrod's arms enfolded her and she could tell he was drawing some measure of consolation from her closeness. They stayed in their tender embrace for a long time and then sat together on the bench.

At length Jarrod broke the silence, "I'm going to have to visit Peter's mother, she'll need my support through the funeral and beyond it come to that. Will you come with me"

"If you wish, but I think it might be better if you took Victoria, she can probably be of more help to Mrs. Barton than me"

Jarrod smiled at her, "I think that's a good idea, I'll ask her to go with me."

Victoria readily agreed to go with Jarrod and she was of enormous help to her son on his painful mission. Peter's bereft mother also found the Barkley matriarch a great comfort and talked freely to her about many things. Rachel Barton had been widowed when still a young woman and she had been left nearly destitute. She had two children, ten year old Peter and his two year old baby sister Sally. Rachel had worked like a beast of burden to support her little family and had, with almost superhuman effort, succeeded in putting her clever son through college. Sally was equally clever and eager to continue her own studies, an idea Rachel considered rather modern, for girls didn't need such a level of learning! She worried about Sally and what the future held for herself and her daughter in the wake of Peter's death. Also, she found it hard not to brood over her dead son and the whole sad chain of events that had brought Peter to his doom. All of these things, she found it comforting to discuss with her sympathetic visitor, unburdening herself of a great weight of doubt and distress.

Yet somehow in the midst of this wealth of information, Victoria could not shake the feeling that Rachel was keeping something back, something that concerned the Barkleys. She said as much to Jarrod and wasn't surprised when her perceptive son agreed with her.

"I know Mother, I have the same impression, there's something on Rachel's mind, a matter she finds too painful to confide perhaps? I don't know for sure but I get the feeling it concerns me in some way." He paused, and added quietly, "I find myself wondering if Peter said something to his mother about me...or maybe left a message for me...I don't know, but whatever it is, Rachel shows no signs of disclosing it."

Victoria put a hand on her son's arm, "I'll talk to her again, she may be able to bring herself to say it, whatever it is. We must give her time Jarrod."

They did give Rachel Barton time but as they spent the next few days helping the widow arrange her son's funeral and taking care of various legal details, she continued to hold her peace and no further revelation was forthcoming from her.

The funeral was a small and private affair and after Peter Barton's coffin had been finally laid to rest Jarrod and his mother escorted Rachel and Sally Barton back to their tidy, compact little home, a pleasant house in a quiet part of Sacramento. Victoria persuaded the exhausted Rachel to lie down on her bed to rest and stayed with her, giving her tea as well as a sympathetic ear. It was the chance young Sally had been waiting and hoping for and as soon as she was alone with Jarrod Barkley she told him she needed to talk to him very urgently and definitely in private! Jarrod had a younger sister of his own and besides that he was guardian to more than one other young lady, he had a way with girls and an easy comfortable manner with them. He smiled at the tense young woman now, glancing out at the bright afternoon, "how about some fresh air Sally? I don't think your mother would mind if I took you for a walk in the park and we can find some tea whilst we're out."

Sally assented to a walk with enthusiasm and ran upstairs to put on her hat. She was seventeen, slender and closely resembled her dead brother, with her dark hair and clear blue eyes. Like Peter, she was considered to be gifted academically, but Jarrod knew her mother disapproved of higher education for women. He could see why Rachel didn't think Sally needed to go to college, she was a pretty child and doubless her mother foresaw a marriage and children for the girl before too many more years had passed. Jarrod was soon to learn that Miss Sally herself had very different ideas!

hapter 20      

They strolled in the Winter sunshine until they were thoroughly chilled and then Jarrod guided his young charge into a conveniently situated coffee house. He treated himself and Sally to a delicious cake and some piping hot chocolate and took pleasure in the girl's obvious enjoyment of the repast. Sally had been close to her brother, the two had exchanged regular letters whilst he had been in Stockton and Jarrod had the impression that she was very much her brother's confidante, despite her tender age. First Peter's disgrace and now his death had hit this young girl hard, she was pale and drawn in her black mourning clothes and had barely smiled in the days leading up to the funeral. It was nice to see her regain a little of her youthful sparkle and Jarrod encouraged her to join him in a second cup of chocolate. She did so, peeping guiltily up at him, "M...Mr. Barkley?"

"Call me Jarrod, please Sally."

She smiled gratefully at him, "thank you...Jarrod, m...may I ask you something?"

"He smiled paternally at her, "of course you may."

"Do...do you think it's alright for me to...well to sit here enjoying myself on...on the day we buried Peter?" Her eyes sparkled with tears as she mentioned her dead brother.

Jarrod's voice was warmly re-assuring, "I think it would please Peter very much to know that you were being brave enough to get on with your life Sally."

She smiled tremulously at him, "do you think so...Jarrod?" She was still a little bashful about calling the lawyer by his first name.

Jarrod nodded, "I'm sure of it Sally," he patted her hand and continued, "I'm sure of something else too, your brother Peter was my friend." He smiled at the girl's surprised expression, "despite everything that has happened in the past Peter was still my friend, and I know he would want you to confide in me and let me help you. Will you do that Sally, for his sake?"

"Oh I will Jarrod I will! I have to, because...because you are the only person who can help me and...and I want you to!"

Encouraged by her kindly listener,Sally told Jarrod all about Peter Barton's last few months in prison. "He had a very hard time, some of the other prisoners treated him very roughly, because...because he wasn't like them I suppose. He made a friend though, Doctor Sangster, the prison doctor, he liked Peter and he got him a job working in the prison hospital. They talked a lot, he was a good friend to Peter I think."

Jarrod made a mental note to thank Doctor Philip Sangster at a convenient time in the future. He had often wondered how great Peter Barton's sufferings in prison had been. As an ex-lawyer, Jarrod knew Peter could expect a rough ride, apparently he had got it. If the doctor had lightened that dark time for his young friend in any way, he could be sure of Jarrod Barkley's friendship from now on.

Sally continued in a low sad voice, "when we were notified of Peter's death, Mother was terribly shocked, we had been told of the illness but not that his life was in danger."

"It was a shock to me too, believe me Sally if I had realized how bad he was I would have forced the prison authorities to move him to a proper hospital."

Sally's clear blue eyes met Jarrod's gaze frankly, "he wasn't that ill Jarrod, Doctor Sangster told Mama so when she spoke with him, he said a man has to want to live and...and Peter didn't. Before he died, Peter told the doctor a lot of things and Doctor Sangster told it all to Mama and me."

The girl broke off, tears sparkling on the ends of her eyelashes and Jarrod took her hand in a consoling clasp."Tell me the rest Sally, tell me everything."

She looked at him doubtfully, "my mother is going to be very angry with me, she didn't want you to know any of this, but I think you have a right to know! Because it concerns you Jarrod...and...and it concerns me too in a way. I guess I have selfish motives for telling you and Mama's reasons for not telling you are very unselfish, but I still think she's wrong and...and I'm right!"

Jarrod had to smile at the determination in her young voice, he squeezed the hand he still held, "Sally, When Peter was alive, I worried about him day and night, now he's dead and I'm still torturing myself wondering what was in his mind in his last hours, if you can help me with that, you'll be doing me a great service."

She needed no further encouragement and it all came tumbling out so fast that Jarrod had to struggle to take it all in. He managed it though, he had been Audra Barkley's big brother long enough to be an expert at picking the bones out of a tangled female explanation!

It seemed Peter had told Doctor Sangster all about his feelings for Jarrod Barkley. He had explained to the kindly Doctor how much he admired and respected his legal mentor, how he had earnestly tried to emulate his role-model and how abjectly he had failed to do so. Peter had been unable to accept his own failings, all he had ever wanted to be was a lawyer, a lawyer like Jarrod Barkley. Now, such an ambition was hopeless and life held nothing for him any more. The doctor had tried to encourage his patient to accept the consequences of his actions, to come to terms with the events of his life and to move past them, to begin anew. It sounded as though no-one could have tried harder to help the despairing Peter, but Doctor Sangster's efforts had been in vain. Peter Barton had allowed his illness to over-whelm him and ultimately to kill him.

"You see he didn't just want to be like you Jarrod, he wanted to BE you and nothing short of that ideal would do." Sally looked anxiously at her new friend's stricken expression, " I don't tell you this to hurt you, even though I know it must. I tell you because I believe you have been blaming yourself. Wondering if you could have done anything differently or better, maybe even kept him out of jail. You couldn't Jarrod, Peter was responsible not you."

The lawyer's rueful expression told her she had read his feelings aright, he had indeed been thinking precisely those thoughts.

She dashed a hand across her eyes to wipe away tears, "I loved my brother, but he wasn't strong enough to face his failures and...and that is his fault alone, no-one else's. Doctor Sangster told Mother and me all this but she forebade me to tell you."

"Why Sally?"

"She says you have been injured enough after all you went through, she didn't think it was fair on you and...and she didn't want to tell you what else Peter said."

"Which was?"

Sally looked him in the eye, "he wanted you to take care of Mother and me and he knew what I wanted most in the whole world was the chance to go to college. Mother says we have no right to be beholden to you any further, she says we can manage but she's older now Jarrod and so tired, I don't want her to have to work hard any more."

Jarrod nodded understandingly, "she won't have to Sally, I promise you that. I take it your mother disapproves of your educational ambitions?"

"Yes! She thinks too much education is bad for women, but I want it Jarrod! I want to go to college more than anything in the world. I want it so much, I'm prepared to beg you to help me event hough I have no claim on you at all."

The lawyer smiled at the intense young girl opposite him, "well as to that Sally, we're friends now you and I and friends should help each other."

She looked at him appraisingly, "Mother said you would disapprove too, but I knew you wouldn't, Peter told me your wife was clever and your brother's wife, isn't she clever too?"

"My brother Nick's wife? Yes, she has a university degree and my wife has a career also, she's a journalist, a very good one."

Sally nodded eagerly, "so you don't disapprove do you?"

"No, no not at all."

Sally was emboldened to confide further, "Mother thinks college is bad for women, she said your brother's wife..." She broke off in confusion, blushing scarlet.

Jarrod rescued her from her embarrassment, "Nick's wife led a life unconventional enough to shock society before her marriage, no doubt your mother has made a link between that and her level of education."

Sally was grateful for his smooth intervention, "yes Sir," she said cautiously, not sure if she had given offence or not.

Jarrod rose, "I think we had better be getting back now Dear," he smiled down at the tense young girl and held out a hand to help her up, "I promise to help your mother Sally and if I can persuade her, I promise you shall go to college too."

His reward was a strangling hug, "I hope you can persuade her Jarrod!"

He grinned at her, "well if I'm half as good an advocate as Peter thought I was, I should be able to shouldn't I?"

At the first available opportunity, Jarrod turned his legendary charm on the Widow Barton full-bore. He spoke eloquently and with persuasive logic but he was honest enough to admit later that it was the intervention of his mother that had carried the day! Rachel had been more sorrowful than angry about her daughter's indiscretion but she was a principled woman and she was more than uncomfortable about accepting help from the Barkleys. Her views on higher education for rebellious young girls were equally forthright and unequivocal. She had heard Jarrod out but was unconvinced about the future until Victoria laid a gentle hand on her knee and said, "Rachel, be honest, your health has suffered a great deal in recent times, you need rest and peace now, otherwise your life is likely to end prematurely and then where would little Sally be?"

Rachel reluctantly admitted that she wasn't as robust as she could wish but repeated that she didn't see that it was in any way the responsibility of the Barkleys to provide for her and Sally. With gentle tact Victoria assured Rachel that she would be doing Jarrod a favour by letting him assist the Bartons. Explaining that the lawyer was uncomfortably aware that Peter had hero-worshipped him and tried to live up to an idealized view of Jarrod.

Rachel had responded vehemently, "but Victoria, none of that is Jarrod's fault! He has no need to reproach himself in any way."

The Barkley matriarch smiled, "I know my son Rachel, telling him he need not reproach himself doesn't mean he won't! Let him help you and I guarantee he'll feel better."

Rachel wrestled with herself briefly before smiling and nodding, "alright Victoria, if you think I should then I will, thankyou. But as to Sally's going to college, well I just don't know."

Victoria nodded her understanding, "I know you have serious reservations about Sally's ambitions Rachel, but consider this, you've already lost your poor son, you don't want your only daughter to resent or hate you do you?"

That it seemed was that, Rachel reluctantly consented to allow Sally to pursue her studies and Jarrod could only watch and admire his mother's strategy.

Sally was ecstatic and Jarrod found himself being hugged again, "what are you going to study Sally? Is it to be the law like Peter?"

She shook her head vehemently, "no, I want to study medicine Jarrod. I hope to be a doctor one day."

The lawyer smiled at her, "when you and your mother come to visit us you can meet my youngest brother Eugene, he's a doctor, newly-qualified, you two should have lots to talk about."

"Oh yes please, I'd love to meet him, that will be wonderful. Thank you Jarrod, thank you for everything!"

hapter 21      

As the rest of the Barkley clan welcomed Jarrod and Victoria home after Peter Barton's funeral, they were not to know that Fate had still not finished with them or with the Lonsdale case! To the family it seemed as though, at last, they could finally put the case and all it's ensuing events behind them. Life resumed a more or less normal pattern, but Sarah Barkley was nevertheless concerned about her husband. Wisely, she kept her anxiety to herself, covertly watching Jarrod and doing all in her power to help him heal his bruised and battered psyche.

On the surface he appeared fine, but the wife who adored him knew him well enough to see the lawyer's inner turmoil. He had endured a great deal, firstly, the physical and mental torture of his kidnap and imprisonment in a near tomb, then the disappointment of the investigation's failure and latterly, Peter Barton's sad and unnecessary death. Such blows took a toll on even the strongest personality and Sarah's loving heart ached for her husband as he struggled inwardly to accept that things were as they were.

Sarah knew that Jarrod had faced up to his captivity with exemplary courage and thanks to his brother Heath, he appeared to have shaken off the after-effects of his incarceration pretty well. The failure of the investigation into government corruption was less easy for Jarrod to accept, he felt frustrated and thwarted, he could not take a pragmatic view of what had been accomplished, for he had hoped to do so much more. Peter Barton's death had hit Jarrod harder than anything else. The lawyer knew how deeply Peter had respected and admired him and despite the fact that Peter's hero-worship had been excessive, responsibility for being it's cause weighed heavily on Jarrod Barkley's mind. Over the next few days, Jarrod fought his solitary inward battle and at length, achieved a measure of inner peace. It would take time for him to completely shake off the negative feelings he had, but he was optimistic that he would do so and felt able to resume his legal work again. He said as much to Sarah, after dinner one evening, declaring his intention to go into Stockton to his office the next day to begin clearing what had become a formidable backlog of work.

Jarrod was hard at this task next day in the early afternoon, when he heard voices in the outer office and looked up in annoyance as his office door opened, for he had instructed his secretary to deny him to visitors. To his surprise his brothers Nick and Heath walked in accompanied by a young man whom Jarrod had never seen before.

"I thought you two were going to the horse sales at Sonora, what brings you here?"

Even as he asked the question, Jarrod could see that his two younger siblings had something important to say. There was an aura of excitement about both the ranchers and their faces wore broad grins, evidently the news they brought was not bad!

Nick turned to the young man beside him and smiled, "Tyler, I want to introduce you to the man you came all the way from Sacramento to see! This is my brother Counselor Jarrod Barkley. Jarrod, I want you to meet Tyler Moss."

Jarrod was mystified but rose and came around his desk to shake hands with the rather bashful young stranger. He was a young fellow, not more than twenty two or three. He had brown hair and a fresh pleasant face.

Nick's manner was cheerful and hearty, "why don't we all sit down over here," he suggested, leading the way to the leather chesterfield and chairs set before the bright fire.

Heath headed for the drinks tray, "I'll get us all a glass of something."

Jarrod's eyes twinkled at the high-handed way his brothers were acting, clearly this was not a social call, they would not have disturbed him for nothing. So he cordially joined the others and they sat down, Tyler Moss sitting nervously on the edge of a chair, facing Jarrod. Heath brought four glasses of Jarrod's best scotch and the two ranchers sat beside each other on the chesterfield. The men all sipped at their drinks and then Jarrod said pleasantly, "well nice as it is to see you boys, I'm afraid I'm rather busy this morning..."

"You're not too busy to hear this," interrupted Nick grinning.

Heath took up the tale, "Nick and I ran into Tyler out on the range this morning, he was on his way to see you. Well, things being as they have been lately, we inquired what his business might be and when he told us, well! We just had to come along and see your face when he told you!"

Jarrod realized that his two pesky brothers were enjoying their teasing and he turned from them to his uncomfortable young visitor. "Mr. Moss, since it seems unlikely that we're going to get any sense out of this pair, why don't you tell me how I can help you?"

The younger man smiled nervously and cleared his throat, "er...well, you see Sir, I was one of the Federal officers that was detailed to guard Mark Roscoe."

The friendly smile died on Jarrod's face and his eyes were as icy as his voice, "oh?"

The youngster nodded ruefully, "I understand that you don't have too high an opinion of us guards Mr. Barkley and I don't blame you I guess."

It was impossible not to like this straightforward and clearly honest young man, there was an air of candour about him, his eyes were hazel and looked frankly at the lawyer.

Jarrod smiled, "I apologize Mr. Moss, Roscoe's escape was quite a disappointment to me, but I realize that not all the guards were to blame."

The honesty shone out of Tyler Moss, "oh yes we were! We were all warned about Roscoe, told he was ruthless and on no account under-estimate him, but we did!"

Jarrod was liking this boy more each second, "thank you for your honesty. I gather you have a story to tell me?"

"Yes Sir, I sure do! After Roscoe murdered my two buddies and escaped, I was detailed to pack up his stuff and go through it. I found some papers, I took a look at them, it seems Roscoe kept records."

Tyler Moss had Jarrod Barkley's full attention now and he wasn't surprised that Jarrod sat bolt upright repeating, "records?"

Tyler grinned, he was about to make Counselor Barkley's day, "yes Sir records, I'd say Mark Roscoe kept a detailed account of every dirty thing he ever did and who he did them for."

Nick and Heath Barkley sat together on the couch, drinking their scotch and both were enormously content. Jarrod's reaction was all they had hoped for, he was like a coiled spring, taut with excitement and anticipation, his vivid eyes blazing with the force of his enthusiasm.

He looked at his brothers, "you know what this could mean?"

The ranchers nodded, grinning.

Jarrod's instincts surfaced and he began his cross-examination, "what did you do with the records Tyler?"

"I gave them to my supervisor and he handed them to the investigators of course."

Jarrod frowned, "I've not been apprised of this as yet, what happened to them?"

Tyler's fearless eyes met his with the frankness Jarrod was rapidly learning to trust, "they gave em back Sir!"

"What!"

"You heard me right Counselor, I was told to burn all Roscoe's possessions, including the papers."

The full beam of Jarrod's intense eyes bored into Tyler, "and did you?"

"No Sir, I kept them," said the young man simply.

Jarrod sighed with relief, then asked, "where are they now?"

It was Nick who answered him, "relax Counselor, the whole dossier is in the safe over at the bank."

Jarrod nodded satisfied, of course he could rely on his brothers to put the dossier in a place of safety! He looked shrewdly at Tyler, "what made you decide to bring the dossier to me young man?"

Again an unequivocally honest answer, "Oh I didn't Sir, I took them to the Governor."

Jarrod was startled, "to Governor Anderson?"

"Yes Sir."

"How the devil did you get access to him?"

Tyler blushed scarlet, "my girl Phoebe, she makes the Governor's coffee and she told him, he let me see him then and tell him all about it."

"Did you give the dossier to the Governor?"

"Yes Sir, only he gave it back to me too!"

Jarrod was beginning to see the light, "what did he say to you Tyler?"

Well Sir, he said there were circumstances which would make it hard for him to act on the dossier and that it would be better if he didn't officially know of it's existence. He suggested you were the man to deal with it."

A grim smile tugged at Jarrod's mouth, "I bet he did!"

Heath frowned, "Jarrod, is Anderson dirty too?"

"No Heath, I'm sure he's not! He is however a wily political animal and he thinks he's better off out of this! To be fair, he's probably right. There are too many eyes on him to let him act freely."

The lawyer thought rapidly, in some ways this was undoubtedly a poisoned chalice, but God what an opportunity! He turned to Tyler Moss, "does anyone know you didn't carry out your orders Tyler?"

The younger man was emboldened to grin at him, "no Sir, I burned up the rest of Roscoe's gear and as far as anyone knows, the records went the same way."

Jarrod was too euphoric to sit still, he paced around his office thinking hard, stopping now and then to address further questions to his young visitor. It seemed that Tyler had lost his job, a scapegoat along with the other surviving guards for allowing Roscoe to get away. He had been able to slip out of Sacramento quietly, ostensibly searching for new employment and no-one that mattered had the least idea he was in Stockton. For all the powerful men who had ordered the burning of the dossier knew, their orders had been obeyed and thus they were safe. Jarrod Barkley swore to Peter Barton's memory that they would learn their mistake!

hapter 22      

Jarrod had been languid and unenthusiastic about life ever since Peter Barton's death but now he was a frenzy of galvanised activity, he warmly thanked Tyler Moss for having the courage to do the right thing and sent the grateful boy off with Heath to get a meal and some much needed rest. Keeping Nick with him for extra protection, Jarrod retrieved Roscoe's bulky file of iniquity from the bank and with a vigilant Nick walking protectively beside him, Jarrod took the file to the office of someone he could trust, Judge Aaron Schiffer.

The elderly judge glanced up as Jarrod and Nick entered his office, smiling a welcome at both men. "What have you there Jarrod," he said gesturing to the bulky documents in Jarrod's hands.

For answer Jarrod dropped the heavy pile of papers on his old friends desk and grinned at him, "what you and I have here Aaron is the collected works of one Mark Roscoe! This dossier is a detailed record of his life and nefarious times. It's a disavowed gift from Walter Anderson, I rather think he hopes we might make use of it!"

Schiffer's wise old eyes twinkled, "did you say we Counselor?"

Jarrod looked earnestly at him, "I did. Are you with me?"

"Pull up a chair Jarrod, we'd better unwrap our gift from the Governor don't you think?"

For the next hour, the two men leafed cursorily through the amazing wealth of material which had come so miraculously into their possession.

At length Judge Schiffer sat back, and exhaled a long slow breath, "Jarrod, this is pure dynamite," he said simply.

"I agree with you Aaron, the question is what do we do with it?"

Schiffer considered, "at this point no-one who matters knows that we have this, is that right?"

Jarrod nodded, "right Judge."

"Then I say we exploit that advantage and move with stealth. I do the digging and you do the prosecuting. We don't go for headlines or huge victories, we cut down a connection here, a corrupt official there, we lop off single branches until the tree is half bare. Then if we have to break cover, we at least have a chance of defeating a badly weakened enemy."

Jarrod grinned, "as usual Judge, your logic is faultless, as of now, we are an investigative team of two!"

Tyler Moss had joined the party in the Judge's office with Heath, he looked longingly at Schiffer and the judge smiled slightly. "Mr. Moss, do I take it you are in need of a job?"

The young man's eagerness was almost ludicrous, "yes Sir Judge I surely am!"

The judge turned to Jarrod, "then I think we are a team of three Counselor."

Heath and Nick Barkley exchanged glances, "make that five Judge," said Nick Barkley's deep voice.

"Good Nick! Glad to have you and Heath aboard, but listen to me Gentlemen, this must stay a secret between us," he paused looking sternly round at them all, then he grinned, "otherwise you'll spoil mine and Jarrod's fun!"

Nick and Heath seemed both to have taken a great liking to young Tyler and Heath took him off home with him, promising him a comfortable bed for the boy was weary to the bone. Before they left Stockton, Jarrod took Tyler aside and spoke to him, quietly thanking him for his integrity and his courageous behaviour. "It would have been the easiest thing in the world for you to carry out your orders Tyler, I can't tell you how grateful I am that you didn't."

The young man's ready blush suffused his face, "it's like you said in the paper Sir! There are times when the ordinary decent people have to make a stand and that's the true nature of courage!"

Jarrod was a trifle staggered, "you read my speech in the Stockton newspaper?"

"Yes Sir, I sure did! At least it was the Sacramento paper, I thought it was wonderful, I thought what you did was...fantastic!"

Jarrod was realistic enough to know that his kidnap and dramatic re-appearance were newsworthy, but he was still surprised that his impromptu speech had made the papers in the State Capital!

"When I made that speech Tyler, I was talking about the sort of thing you've just done, I honour you for your actions Young Man."

Just then Heath called out, "c'mon Tyler, let's head home, I'm good and hungry!"

The intervention was timely as Jarrod's praise had left Tyler hot with embarrassment and totally lost for words.

At a glittering reception in San Francisco two weeks later, Sarah Barkley found herself dancing with Governor Anderson.

"Sarah Dear, I wouldn't have thought it possible but I declare you look lovelier than ever!"

"Thank you kind Sir," chuckled Sarah.

Walter Anderson glanced swiftly round to check for eavesdroppers, "tell me oh respected lady-journalist, are you in your husband's confidence?"

"Totally Sir."

"Yes, I rather thought you might be," remarked the politician drily, "tell me, did Jarrod like his gift?"

Sarah flashed a glinting smile, "oh yes indeed," she agreed smoothly. If they were overheard, the "gift" would be assumed to be something innocuous not the hot potato that the Governor had so skillfully unloaded onto Counselor Barkley.

Later Anderson snatched a few private words with Jarrod and the two men came to a quiet understanding. Jarrod's investigative team had the Governor's tacit blessing and would have all the assistance he could render them, albeit covertly. Jarrod was cynical enough to know that if he and Schiffer failed, Anderson would distance himself from them fast! By the same token, if they notched up any notable successes, he would be right beside them, taking a share of the credit. Jarrod didn't care, the road ahead might be tortuous but there was every prospect of bringing to justice a multitude of wrong-doers, some of them very important people. That prospect was more than enough to satisfy the lawyer, after all it was infinitely more than he had had before the appearance on the scene of young Tyler Moss.

"Governor Anderson spoke to Jarrod once more that evening, as they stood together drinking champagne, "incidentally Jarrod, don't you have a brother who's a medical man? I don't mean the two ranchers, the noisy one and the quiet one, isn't there another one?"

"Yes Sir, my youngest brother Eugene is a doctor," answered Jarrod in some surprise.

"Well see here Jarrod I'm putting together a task force to look at hospital conditions in our prisons, might young Eugene be a good candidate for a place on that team?"

"It's very kind of you to think of him Governor, but I'm afraid Gene is only just qualified and he's most anxious to expand his experience in other areas. I think you probably need a more seasoned medical man than him, thanks all the same."

A sudden thought occurred to Jarrod and he seized the moment, continuing smoothly "however Sir, it so happens I know a first class young doctor who would be well-qualified for the role you have in mind."

"Really? Do tell."

"He's a doctor up at San Quentin, name of Philip Sangster, I haven't yet met him, although I intend doing so very soon. His reputation is excellent, he's done some ground breaking work at the prison I understand."

"That sounds most promising Jarrod, much obliged, I'll consider Doctor Sangster. How did he come to your attention?"

Jarrod told the truth, "he showed great kindness to young Peter Barton during his fatal illness," he said quietly.

"I see, yes I heard of Peter's death, a sad business, very sad. I believe he left a widowed mother and a young sister."

"That's right, they've been taken care of."

Anderson smiled warmly, "you don't say by whom, but I can guess! Well, I must circulate but I shall consider Doctor Sangster, never fear and thank you for the recommendation Counselor!"

hapter 23      

Jarrod let Sarah return to Stockton without him, he wanted to clear his San Francisco desk as far as he could do so, in order to have more time to help his old friend Judge Schiffer wade through the Roscoe dossier. He spent several days seeing various of his clients and then two more days clearing a formidable pile of paperwork. On the second of these days he worked very late and to his satisfaction completely finished his task, which meant he could head home first thing in the morning. Yawning massively, Jarrod took himself home to his San Francisco pied a terre and got a good night's sleep.

Next morning he had intended to go straight to the train, but realized with annoyance that he had left an important document on his desk, necessitating a detour to his office to collect it. He collected the offending paperwork from his otherwise deserted office and was standing locking his office door when he became aware of a young man standing behind him. Jarrod turned sharply, after his recent experiences, his reactions were still tuned to any hint of danger. His visitor apologized for startling him, smiling pleasantly and holding out his hand, "allow me to introduce myself, my name is Philip Sangster, I came in the hope of having a word with you, but if you're in a hurry..."

Jarrod willingly shook hands, "I was on my way to catch the train for home but I can delay my journey. It's a pleasure to meet you Doctor, I've heard a lot about you."

"Likewise Counselor, I hope you don't mind my calling unannounced?"

"Not at all, as a matter of fact I was going to call on you, so you've saved me a trip to San Quentin!"

Jarrod unlocked the door to his office again and then changed his mind, "tell you what, why don't we go and find some hot coffee and talk in comfort?"

Doctor Sangster readily agreed and the two men went to a nearby restaurant where Jarrod was well-known. It was still early and there were hardly any other customers so they could talk in peace.

Philip Sangster was a solidly built fair-haired man aged thirty. He had a serious face and a quiet manner, Jarrod liked him immediately.

The Doctor sipped his coffee and cleared his throat, "I guess you know why I'm here Counselor, I saw Governor Anderson in Sacramento, the day before yesterday, He gave me the advisor's job on the new task force. I gather you brought my name to his attention, I can't thank you enough, it's a great opportunity."

"It was my pleasure Doctor, I'm glad you're pleased."

Sangster looked searchingly at Jarrod, "may I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Did you recommend me because you know I tried to show kindness to Peter Barton in prison?"

"No Doctor I didn't," answered Jarrod gently, "I'm grateful of course for all you did for Peter and when young Sally Barton told me your name I made it my business to find out a little about you and about your work. When I recommended you, it was because I thought you were the right man for the job."

The Doctor's face cleared and he smiled with relief, "well thank you Sir, I'm thrilled to have been given the chance, I know I can do good work."

"I'm sure of that Doctor."

Both men took a liking to each other and very soon the formal Doctor and Counselor had given way to Philip and Jarrod. They talked for some time and inevitably the conversation came around to Peter Barton.

Philip looked at his new friend and said shrewdly, "I think perhaps Peter's death has haunted you somewhat Jarrod."

The lawyer considered for a while before he answered quietly, "If I'm honest, yes I suppose it has. Peter evidentally had me on a mighty big pedestal, I can't help asking myself if his desire to emulate me and then not being able to do so because he couldn't practice law any more was...the reason he lost the will to live."

Philip nodded, "in some ways I suppose it was, but you can believe me when I tell you that Peter was a very bitter and rather inadequate young man. I got to know him very well, especially in his last illness, I learned that he was completely unable to accept the consequences of his own actions. He couldn't cope with his own failings, they all had to be attributable elsewhere. He was a moral coward really and repining over his lost law career and his excessive admiration of you, were his excuses for lacking the courage to fight on."

Jarrod was listening attentively and the doctor reached into his inside jacket pocket and laid a folded sheet of newsprint on the desk in front of the lawyer. "He used to read and re-read this, I think it summed things up for him."

Jarrod picked up the paper and unfolded it, he sighed as he looked at Sarah's bold headline,

THE TRUE NATURE OF COURAGE

The lawyer looked at Philip, "you know I'm beginning to hate this thing! Where the devil did he get it?"

"I asked him that, he said the Stockton sheriff gave it to him when he was jailed there."

Jarrod smiled slightly, "yes I can imagine Fred Madden throwing that in at him."

Philip leaned forward speaking earnestly, "I showed it to you deliberately Jarrod, to explain to you that Peter gave up on life because he believed that he didn't possess the true nature of courage. I have to say I think he was right, he didn't, if he had, he would have faced up to his own mistakes and started over, many people have done just that."

Jarrod was unconvinced, "perhaps, but I still feel responsible somehow."

"Please believe me Jarrod, like I said I got to know Peter very well, he was a decent young man, with a good heart, but he was a flawed human being too. He didn't have the moral strength to start over, that's what killed him, not you."

Jarrod's eyes looked into Philip's and read the truth there, "thank you Philip, I think maybe you're right."

Over a leisurely lunch the two men got to know one another better and Jarrod learned that Sangster was very much alone in the world. He had few relatives and his dedication to his work precluded him from making many friends. Jarrod invited the doctor to visit Stockton and spend the next Christmas with the Barkley family.

Sangster was delighted, "thank you very much Jarrod, I can't tell you how many years it is since I spent Christmas in a family home! I'll look forward to it very much."

Jarrod grinned, "I should warn you that my youngest brother Eugene has just qualified as a doctor, he's likely to talk your ears off!"

hapter 24      

Jarrod arrived home next day just as the sun was sinking into the dusk of evening. As he walked to his front door something compelled him to look up and he saw six year old Jack looking gravely down at him from his bedroom window. Jarrod smiled and waved, wondering what his little son had done this time! Sarah was in the hall to greet him and Jarrod kissed her at length, happy to be home again. They shared a pot of coffee in the living room and Jarrod told his wife all about his conversation with Philip Sangster. She listened to him attentively and silently rejoiced when he said, "I thought about what Philip said all the way home and I think he was right, it's more than time I stopped beating myself up over Peter Barton's death."

Sarah cupped a hand to his cheek for a moment, saying simply, "I'm glad you feel that way Jarrod," but inwardly she blessed the absent doctor for helping her husband come to terms with a matter that had tormented him for a long time now. She resolved to make the forthcoming Christmas visitor very welcome indeed.

Sarah told Jarrod that during his absence Aaron Schiffer had not been idle. He had officially taken early retirement from his duties presiding over the Stockton courts and as far as anyone knew was now away from the area on an extended vacation back East. In fact he was comfortably installed in a small ranch house adjoining the main Barkley lands and owned by Heath Barkley, to whom it had been left by an old friend. With Tyler Moss on guard and ready to undertake any investigative duties, the judge was now engaged in a careful perusal of the Roscoe papers. He intended to continue living in his self-imposed isolation, safe from threats or interference as he began to weave the net that would in time, ensnare some very inportant miscreants indeed.

Jarrod smiled, "Good old Aaron, we're going to make a good team! There's Nick and Heath and young Tyler too," the lawyer looked speculatively at hs wife, "I'm also going to need the assistance of a darn good journalist you know."

Sarah chuckled, "try leaving me out...if you dare!"

Husband and wife talked for a while about the forthcoming investigation, and both acknowledged that they were undoubtedly in for a long gruelling uphill struggle. Jarrod told Sarah that he was mentally prepared for the possibility of a degree of failure, for it was impossible to predict how far up the corrupt tree they would be able to reach.

"I intend to do all I can and when I've done that I do NOT intend to repine about any villains we may have missed!"

Sarah was pleased and said so, "I think that's wise Jarrod."

The lawyer smiled at her, "enough of legal matters, I spotted Jarrod Junior at his bedroom window, is he by any chance in disgrace?"

Sarah nodded, "he most certainly is in disgrace! He sneaked away from this house at the crack of dawn this morning, rode his pony over to Uncle Nick's house and managed to put his saddle on the biggest, meanest and least broken of the horses Nick had in the corral! He then mounted this brute and jumped it over a fence that's twice as tall as he is!"

Jarrod burst out laughing but Sarah shook her head at him, "Jarrod this isn't funny, even Nick was horrified, Jack is lucky to be alive!"

The lawyer knew she was right, but it was so pleasant to be at home, dealing with purely domestic matters that he couldn't help but laugh a little.

Sarah put her foot down, "I want you to have a talk with him and I want you in the guise of stern father!"

Jarrod stood up, "I'll attend to the matter right now Dear, there's time before dinner?"

"Yes, half an hour or so."

Jarrod went upstairs to Jack's room and opened the door. As soon as he saw his father Jack gave a joyous shout of "Papa!" Running straight to Jarrod to be lifted. Jarrod scooped him up and was rapturously hugged, "Oh Papa I'm so glad you're home, I've missed you!"

Jarrod sat down on the chair beside Jack's bed, with his little son curled up contentedly in his lap.

Anything less like a stern father would have been difficult to imagine. Jarrod spoke in the gentlest of voices, "well now what have you been up to young man?"

"I rode Uncle Nick's half-broke horse," said Jack proudly, " the BIG one and I made him jump too! You should have seen me Papa!"

"You gave Uncle Nick a fright you know."

Jack chuckled with glee, the idea of Uncle Nick being scared of anything was absurd.

"Now Jack, I'm very angry with you, you know the rules about horses, you shouldn't have done it."

Jack wriggled round in Jarrod's lap to face him, "I KNOW, but you went away again and you only just got hime from the LAST time!"

Jarrod cuddled the indignant little figure, "I know, I'm sorry, but I promise I'll be home for a long time now."

"Really?"

Jack nestled contentedly into Jarrod's warm embrace.

"I knew you weren't really mad at me," said the smug little voice.

"Don't push your luck Junior!"

"No Sir," said Jack, burrowing closer still, "I am glad you're home."

"Me too Jack, me too."

When Sarah glanced in five minutes later, she was unsurprised to see Jack in Jarrod's lap, father and son were both sleeping peacefully. She decided to let them doze for a while, dinner could wait for a bit. She lingered in the doorway, enjoying the sight of her husband and son's togetherness. The coming months, perhaps years would be a great challenge as they tried to attack the insidious mixture of crime and corruption that was rife in California. Sarah contemplated the future without fear, it was as Jarrod had said, they would do their best, do all they could.Then? Why then they would move on, turn away toward their own destiny, grateful for what they had accomplished and refusing to repine over what they had been unable to do. Sarah believed that her husband meant what he said, he would give this enterprise of his best but he would not let any failure affect him. As she glided silently away from the sleeping pair, Sarah reflected that Jarrod's philosophical attitude was very much a measure of the man, of his intellect and wisdom and perhaps of his courage too. It took a very special kind of man to undertake a hugely difficult task, knowing that his efforts might perhaps yield very little reward or satisfaction. Sarah thought that might very well be the true nature of courage.

hapter 25      Confession and Forgiveness.

Jarrod had spent a largely unprofitable morning at his desk. He attempted to concentrate, but found his thoughts continually returning to Danny and his encounter with Sarah and Nick this morning. Jarrod hoped fervently that things would reach some kind of conclusion today,. He knew that things couldn't go on any longer as they were, and be it for good or ill, he wanted a resolution to the matter. He glanced at his watch and thought that very likely some kind of results had been reached by now, he found himself wondering if they were destined to make his life easier or harder. He wished he knew how Danny was, at which point his office door opened and Nick and Danny entered, Jarrod smiled wryly. So! He was about to find out was he?

He looked first at Danny, the boy held Nick's hand tightly and he was so white and exhausted that Jarrod's heart went out to him. Danny cast one deeply apprehensive glance at the Lawyer and hung his head. Dear God thought Jarrod in alarm, he looks as if he's going to the gallows! His brother on the other hand was smiling re-assuringly at him, "sorry to disturb you Jarrod, I know you're busy this morning."

"That's alright Nick, I was thinking about you two anyway, I'm glad to see you."

Nick released the dejected boy's hand, "Danny has something to tell you, seems he did something he's ashamed of back when you were staying at his house, he's had it on his conscience ever since and Sarah and I think the sooner he talks it over with you the better."

Jarrod felt a surge of excitement, they had got somewhere then!

He was aware that he might appear a little intimidating behind his big lawyer's desk and he immediately got up and came round to stand in front of the tall cowboy and his young companion.

Nick punched Jarrod's arm in friendly fashion, "I'll leave you to it then," he jerked his head slightly in the boy's direction and spoke quietly to his brother, "it took Danny a lot of courage to come here with me, I know I don't need to ask you to be kind to him." He headed for the door, "I'll go find Mother."

"I just saw her Nick, they went into the dress shop across the street here."

"Oh Good! I LOVE that place, see you both later." He went quickly away, leaving Danny looking after him as if his last hope of survival had just vanished.

"Oh Lord, I shouldn't have told him!" Jarrod smiled at Danny, "the last time he invaded that shop he managed to knock over ALL the dress displays, Mother said a bull in a china shop was nothing to it. She had to buy a dozen dresses to smooth the manager down, he was all for calling the Sheriff."

The boy managed a wan smile but it was clearly an effort, Jarrod led him to the big leather chesterfield, "why don't we sit down and you can tell me all about it Son?"

They sat side by side and Jarrod realised that the boy was trembling pitifully, he knew an impulse to snatch him up and hug his troubled look away, tell him that whatever it was, it didn't matter. His intelligence and his instincts told him not to do this, the child needed to confess if he was to regain his peace of mind.

Jarrod had been thinking over his time at the Mathews ranch in the troubled days since he had brought Danny home with him. He had enjoyed a pleasing and deepening relationship with the boy back then, but thinking back to those days now he was aware for the first time that there had been moments of constraint between him and Danny. He wondered why he hadn't been more conscious of it at the time, too caught up in his own nightmare as the man from nowhere, he thought wryly.

He looked at the distressed child and tried to help him get started, "you had a talk with Nick and Sarah Huh?"

Danny pulled himself together and answered with all the composure he could muster, "yes Sir, I told them...what I did and Nick said your father told him that what matters...when you do something wrong..." he broke off fighting back tears.

Jarrod finished it for him, "what matters is what you do about it."

"Yes Sir."

"My father was right about that Danny."

"Yes Sir, I...I know. Nick said about you being his best friend and how you made him own up to your father, the time he got sent to sea and...and he said I should t...tell y...you w..what I d...did."

Jarrod smiled reflectively, "ah, Nick's time before the mast, yes I remember that very well!" He tried to lighten the atmosphere slightly, "you should get him to tell you about his adventures sometime." Danny nodded, "he promised he would," he paused and found the courage to meet his guardian's eyes. "Nick said a young man, a Barkley would tell you the truth...so I'm going to." He took a deep breath and sat resolutely upright, ready to confess. Jarrod felt a rush of love for his ward, just as he had back in Maybury, he felt a flash of pride in the boy too, Danny Mathews was no coward that was certain.

Slowly, haltingly, the tale of the burned letter was recounted again, Danny didn't stop until he had told Jarrod everything, including most of what had passed at the ranch between himself, Nick and Sarah. When at last he came to the end of his story he looked gravely at Jarrod his expression both humble and vulnerable, clearly he was expecting an explosion of wrath and condemnation.

There was a heavy silence in the office during which Jarrod stood and went over to the window, he stood looking out for a short while, his face calm but his mind racing as he rapidly thought over the boy's revelation and formulated his response to it. The Lawyer was experiencing several different emotions, the first of which was a wave of tremendous relief, at last he knew what all of this meant! Danny's entire pattern of behaviour from his initial reaction to Jarrod's adoption of him, to his campaign of terror here, now made perfect sense. To the Lawyer, accustomed to being able to deduce facts, elicit the truth, the last few weeks had been a nightmare of doubt and misery, now all that was swept away. He also felt a surge of gratitude to his wife and brother, he could never sufficiently thank them for bringing this confession about.

Towards the unfortunate child he felt no anger whatsoever, poor little boy! He had carried around his guilty secret with it's burden of shame and misery for months! Again Jarrod felt the urge to draw his boy close and tell him everything was alright, that it didn't matter a jot. He once more refrained from doing so, it mattered terribly to Danny, he must be allowed the expiation he so clearly needed.

Jarrod turned from the window to find the boy's eyes fixed on him, in painful anxiety. He smiled re-assuringly and kept his voice gentle, "well now Young Man..." At once the boy came smartly to his feet, squaring his shoulders. Dear God, thought Jarrod, is he expecting some sort of retribution, does he actually imagine I mean to punish him? He came forward and laid a gentle hand on the child's shoulder, "do you mind if we sit down again? I'm still pretty shaky on my legs I'm afraid."

They sat together once more and Jarrod half turned to face his ward. The boy was watching him intently, his face solemn and apprehensive. Jarrod spoke very gently to him, "Son, I won't pretend that what you did wasn't wrong, you're an intelligent young man and you know better. What I will say is this, I think what you did was very understandable and in the circumstances it was probably the only thing you felt you could do."

Danny was incredulous, "but...but I lied to you, we all lied to you," he looked at Jarrod uncertainly, not sure his guardian had grasped the full extent of the Mathews Family's treachery.

The Lawyer nodded, "I know, but you were in a terribly difficult position, if it had been my mother who needed my help, I might have done the same thing you did."

Danny shook his head, "you wouldn't Jarrod, I know you wouldn't!"

"Wouldn't I? Maybe not now, but when I was your age, well, I'm not so sure."

Danny shook his head, he was evidently still deeply troubled by what he obviously saw as his betrayal of his friend Dakota and tears were spilling from his eyes. Jarrod reached for him, yielding at last to his desire to comfort the boy. He held him close and spoke firmly but kindly to him. "Now you listen to me Little Man, in your short life you've had to face things that no child should have to face.You had to step into your father's shoes and try to look after your mother and grandmother as best you could. Since then you've had to deal with losing them both," he felt the tremor of grief that ran through Danny and cradled him closer still. "I know how miserably unhappy you've been since I brought you here too, I want you to promise me that you'll try to put all this behind you now, will you do that Son?"

The child pulled away from him, not in an act of rejection this time, but to look searchingly into his guardian's face. "I thought you would hate me," he admitted, "I didn't think you could forgive me for what I did." Jarrod took the boy's face in his hands and gently kissed his forehead "I know Nick told you a couple of my father's sayings, I have another one for you, my father always said that once you had owned up to something and done your best to put matters right, it was time to move on, I forgive you Little Man, what I want you to do is forgive yourself, will you do that for me?"

Danny's answer was to fling his arms around Jarrod's neck almost throttling him with a fervent hug. Jarrod could feel the child's tears on his neck and he cradled him again, before tenderly wiping the tears from Danny's face with his handerkerchief. "You've cried many times in recent weeks Danny, for Mama, for Grandma and all the misery since then, I hope you don't have a reason for tears for a long time now."

Danny looked at him almost shyly, "J...Jarrod?"

"Yes?"

"When you lived at my house, when you were Dakota, I loved you, I mean I loved Dakota." The boy was anxiously watching his guardian to see how this was received.

Jarrod smiled, "Dakota loved you too Little Man."

The boy was pleased with this response, he returned the smile, Jarrod had forgotten what a sweet and sunny smile the boy had.

Danny said hesitantly, "I thought Jarrod and Dakota were different people but Sarah said it wasn't so. I think she's right, Jarrod is Dakota, but a whole lot more besides, I guess what I'm trying to say is, I love Jarrod too."

Jarrod hugged him again, "I think a part of me will always be Dakota and if you can love Jarrod that's fine." He smiled wryly, "could you try and do something else for me too?"

"Anything!"

"Could you try and say just Jarrod instead of J...Jarrod? It makes me think you're afraid of me. Can you do that do you think? Just Jarrod?"

Danny's eyes danced with mischief, "I guess so, but isn't JustJarrod kind of a funny name?"

Jarrod swooped on the laughing child and wrestled him to the floor, they tussled happily, the lawyer letting the boy get the best of it, indeed Danny was sitting on Jarrod's chest when the office door opened to admit Victoria.

She had been briefed by the exultant Nick and she too was brimming with happy relief, she truly felt that the last few weeks had been a nightmare, now at last it seemed the evil dream was past. The sight of the man and boy on the floor, wrestling in gleeful enjoyment was both pleasant and painful at the same time, just so had Tom wrestled with his boys , their boys. She thrust her remembrances to the back of her mind, later perhaps, when she wrote her nightly entry in her journal, she would think of these things again, but not now.

Victoria put her hands on her hips and in mock outrage said, "well!" The struggling bodies stilled at once and the Lawyer and his ward turned towards her, though Danny still straddled Jarrod, who was lying on his back on the carpet. Victoria spoke dulcetly to her son, I'm afraid it's time for lunch Jarrod, I'm so sorry to drag you away from your work Dear," she looked innocently at him and added dryly, "I can see how busy you are!"

Jarrod pummelled his ward and pushed him off, he got to his feet and smoothed his jacket, adjusting his shirt cuffs. Danny too scrambled to his feet and Jarrod bent a mock-ferocious glare on him, "now look what you've done, we're in trouble!"

Danny's grin was care-free, "you're in trouble, you mean, you're bigger than me!"

Jarrod tickled him until he begged for mercy, "begone impudent child! Tell the livery stable we're ready for the carriage and get Silas to dig Nick out of whatever saloon he's in!"

"Yessir!" The exuberant boy ran from the office leaving Jarrod looking smilingly after him.

Victoria burst out laughing, "well! What a transformation, he's a different child Jarrod."

Her son stretched out a hand and drew her into his arms, "he most certainly is Lovely Lady and if I'm honest, I feel like a new man myself."

She put her small hands on his chest, "have you straightened it all out with him Darling?"

The Lawyer nodded, "I believe so, poor little kid, I honestly think he was convinced I'd throw him into the street and tell him never to darken my door again!"

She nodded, "so Nick tells me, they've done a wonderful job with him Jarrod." Her shrewd eyes were searching her son's face, seeking, as he was swift to realise, for re-assurance. Re-assurance that all his doubts and suspicions about his wife and his brother were at an end. He drew her closer and kissed her forehead, "I can never thank Nick or Sarah enough, for understanding Danny, or for understanding me either."

His mother was satisfied and took his arm, "come along Young Man! Time for lunch and then you need to take a nap!"

"Yes Ma'am," agreed her son meekly and he allowed himself to be escorted to the carriage.

The drive home was somewhat more hazardous than it should have been, Nick had tied the reins of both Coco and JB onto the back of the carriage and was letting Danny drive home, under his supervision. It was the first time the boy had handled the reins of such a sizable vehicle and there were moments when Victoria, holding onto her hat, was sure they were destined to finish in the ditch beside the road. However, home was reached safely and the smiling Ciego took the carriage away.

When they came into the foyer, Danny was about to go in search of Sarah, anxious to tell her all about his reconciliation with Jarrod. Victoria restrained his eagerness, "I think we should let Jarrod tell Sarah Dear, shall we give them a little privacy?"

He nodded his understanding, "oh! Alright, I understand, they have more kissing and stuff to do I guess."

"Something like that," laughed Victoria, "let's go and help Nick and Silas shall we?"

When they got to the kitchen Nick was there and Heath too walked in through the back door.

"What in blue blazes are you doing here?" Nick's demand didn't ruffle his younger brother's feathers, "well, I've worked hard all morning, in fact I've done everything I wanted to get done and I'm hungry!" He winked at Silas and the old man laughed, "I'll have lunch ready soon...IF everyone gets out of my way!"

His mistress smiled, "we can take a hint Silas, come children," she swept into the living room, followed by Heath and Nick, who swept Danny up onto his shoulder and bore the delighted child away in his mother's wake.

In the living room, the family sat down to await the call to lunch, Danny was asking Victoria eager questions, about many aspects of the house, it's routines, the ranch, many little matters which had evidently all been bottled up during his sullen silences in the preceding days. She was the mother of a string of boys and answered him calmly and smilingly. Their absorption gave Heath an opportunity to quietly question Nick. "Everything obviously went fine this morning?"

"Sassy was wonderful," agreed his brother.

Not just Sassy, thought Heath, if I know anything about it you played your part too Big Brother.

Danny had finished his interrogation of Victoria and turned his attentions to Nick and Heath. Were there any good fishing holes on the ranch? If he promised to be EXTRA careful, could he have his own hunting rifle? Was there anywhere to swim here? The brothers indulgently coped with the barrage of eager enquiries, both reflecting that although the stony, silent Danny had been a trial, the new boy promised to be something of a handful.

Eventually Nick held up a commanding hand, "enough, whoa there Boy!" Danny stopped dead and looked at the tall dark cowboy, Nick grinned down at him, "I have a question for you young Daniel!"

"Yes Sir?"

"What in the world does JB stand for?"

Danny blushed and didn't answer immediately, Heath smiled encouragingly at the child. "Isn't JB your horse's name Sonny?"

"Uh huh."

"Well?" Nick was forthright, "what does JB stand for?"

Victoria intervened, "Danny may want to keep that a secret Nick," she said reprovingly. The boy smiled that sunny, wonderful smile of his, "It's alright Aunt Victoria, it isn't a secret any more, I...I don't mind telling." He faced Nick squarely, "JB stands for Jarrod's Boy...and that's me!" He stood proudly as he made this declaration and Heath and Nick burst out laughing, Heath tousled the boy's wavy light brown hair, "I guess you are at that Danny."

The boy smiled at Victoria, he was a handsome boy she reflected, with a smile that would certainly break hearts one day. A sudden thought struck her, in fact, he was very like Jarrod at the same age. Less educated of course, but with a charm of manner that would take him far. She felt hungry suddenly, thinking it was the first time in weeks that she had actually looked forward to a meal.

hapter 26      Husband and Wife.

Jarrod had started upstairs to look for Sarah and then changed his mind and went to the library. She was curled up on the sofa, her shawl clasped in her small hands even though she was sleeping. He felt a rush of concern. It was not like her to sleep in the middle of the morning, or to sleep in such a tense way ... holding onto her shawl like that. His first thought was that she was coming down with that horrible fever and the terror of that propelled him across the room to shake her awake. "Sarah! Sarah, darling! Wake up. Sarah, wake up!" She recoiled from him ever so slightly, pushing his hands away as he continued shaking her with one, while trying to feel her brow with the other. "Jarrod, what's going on? Is everything all right?" she asked, blinking her eyes to focus on him.

"Are you all right?" "I'm fine," she said, sitting up and pushing her hair into place. "You were asleep, but so tense. I was afraid ... I thought you may have come down with the fever," he said, reaching out to stroke her forehead. It was cool, save for the warmth around the area of the cut, which now rested on a fair sized bump and was beginning to bruise. She smiled gently and caught his hand and kissed his palm, "I'm fine. I'm a little tired and my head hurts still, but I'm fine. Really, darling. How are you?" "Oh, Sarah! It is so wonderful! Danny told me everything! I cannot tell you how relieved I am. How happy! I almost feel reborn! Thank you, darling! Thank you for all you did to help us get through to him! I can finally help him start to heal now, to get over all his horrible losses and all that anger. We can start to become a real family!" Sarah continued to smile as her husband's joyfulness, his great relief and high hopes tumbled happily out and made him practically radiant. And all the while, she prayed her eyes were not giving away the darkness in her heart.

All prayers are answered. And the answer to Sarah's prayer was not the one she desired. Suddenly Jarrod stopped and studied her closely. Behind her lovely, warm smile there was something in her eyes he had hoped he would never, ever see again. In those beloved, smoky eyes was a haunting sadness. It tore his heart then as it had the first time he had seen it, when their baby girl had quietly died in their arms. He took hold of her hands, "Sarah? What's wrong? I thought you wanted this as much as I did!" Jarrod expected tears to punctuate her answer, instead the cold fury in her tone was like a slap. "Is it something you WANTED, Jarrod? I thought it was what you felt you had to do. The right thing. I could support that. I will support that. But if it is something you wanted ... Something ... someone to take the place of our baby..." She did not finish. Danny burst in the room then, unable to contain his excitement about making amends to his adored Dakota and not willing to lose any more time with him.

The palpable tension between the adults was entirely lost on the child who ran straight to them, he was plainly over-excited and words spilled from him without a pause for breath. "Aunt Victoria says to come, lunch is almost on the table and oh Sarah! I'm so HAPPY, you were RIGHT about...about EVERYTHING," this was accompanied by a warm hug. Jarrod wondered for a heart-stopping moment if she would reject the hug, she did not. Her eyes held that look of bitter hurt still, but it seemed to her that to repudiate the boy would be like kicking a puppy, it wasn't in her to do so. "Told you so Sweetie!" She managed to force a smile to her lips and her voice held only affection. The child was still jabbering, turning now from Sarah to Jarrod, still blissfully unaware of the rigidity and pain in the adults attitudes. "Jarrod I have to tell you about my horse's name! Nick made me tell him but YOU should know first, you...might not like it, you have to decide...PLEASE Jarrod?"

His guardian couldn't drag his gaze from the stricken face of his wife, he pulled himself together with an almost superhuman effort and tried to speak lightly, "not...not just now Danny, Sarah's got a nasty head-ache," he was barely in control of himself. The boy whirled around to Sarah again, "oh Sarah! I'm so sorry, it's my fault!" Again she found the inner strength to carress him, "now, now, I'm going to be fine, I'm going to have a little wash and then some lunch and after that a nice sleep." She stroked his anxious little face with genuine tenderness, "what did you want to ask Jarrod about JB?"

Re-assured the boy turned to the Lawyer again, "I called him JB to stand for Jarrod's Boy! It...it is alright isn't it Jarrod? I mean you won't mind b...because I AM your boy now aren't I?"

Jarrod closed his eyes in anguish as the unwitting child turned the knife in Sarah's wound again. His own heart and brain were in turmoil, what had he done, what in God's name had he done?

Then he heard the surprisingly calm voice of his wife replying for him, "well of course Jarrod doesn't mind Dear, in fact it's a sweet idea, it was what you were wishing and hoping for right?"

He turned to her eagerly, "yes Ma'am!"

Jarrod drew a shaky breath, his striking blue eyes glittered with unshed tears, "Sarah?" The question was almost a sob, she half-smiled tremulously at him, "not now Darling," her voice was quiet and sorrowful and he felt her pain as keenly as if he had stabbed her with a knife. He squared his shoulders and addressed the boy. "JB is fine Danny, please ask Silas to make his special medicine for Sarah's bad head right away will you?"

"Yessir!" The child thundered out of the room and Sarah rose to her feet ignoring Jarrod's hand out-stretched to help her. "I'll go and freshen up, see you at the table" she whispered, leaving the library without a backward glance at her husband. He stood stock still staring after the love of his life, wondering what on earth to do now.

His decision was swiftly reached, he could not lose a second in making his peace with his wife, he had hurt her too deeply already and she HAD to be his first concern. He crossed the foyer with his clean swift stride and almost ran up the stairs after her. The intelligent eyes of his mother had already noted Sarah's hasty dash up to her room and she gently dissuaded Danny from following Jarrod. Victoria's appetite seemed to have deserted her once more, so? It wasn't over yet then, the season of troubles that seemed to be casting such long shadows over the happiness of her family. She was not the sort of woman to sit brooding though and there were both big and little boys to feed so she concentrated on doing that. Lunch was eaten without Jarrod and Sarah, Heath took the exuberant Danny out onto the range with him, under orders from his mother to tire the child out before bedtime. Nick however remained at home, frowning at his mother from under his black brows and demanding to know what the devil Jarrod had done to Sassy now?

hapter 27      Mother and Son.

They were back in the living room and she had looked very seriously at Nick, sighing that she didn't know, they must be patient and allow the married couple to resolve their differences themselves. This Nick was far to impatient to do, giving it as his opinion that Jarrod was pushing his luck and if he had upset Sarah again, well! He for one would NOT stand for it. It was then that the long weeks of tension and anxiety caught up on Victoria and she lost her temper with her second son.

"Nicholas I forbid you! I absolutely forbid you to interfere, it is an unforgiveable thing to do, coming between husband and wife! Haven't you complicated things enough for Jarrod and Sarah!" Hasn't there been enough distress and misery and illness without you blundering into the situation and making everything twice as awful?" She broke off, tears streaming down her face, appalled at herself for the sudden loss of control and the turning of the blame onto Nick. He hadn't argued with her or blustered or anything, just looked at her like a wounded animal, his voice quiet and almost pleading, "not you! Mother, not you," he had seized her hands in an almost frenzied grip, "tell me you don't think there is anything beyond friendship between Sass and me?" His hurt eyes begged her for re-assurance, "I can take it from Eugene, he's only a kid and Jarrod was ill or he never would have suspected me, but you Mother! " His voice, always so deep and masculine was almost breaking, "tell me you know me better than that...please?"

She broke down at that, reaching for him blinded by her tears, all the anxiety of recent weeks sapping her strength of will and her nervous energy, "Nick, darling dear Nick, forgive me? I don't know what came over me," she sobbed, feeling the comforting warmth of his strong arms around her, his voice soothing her, telling her it was alright, sshhh now, not to worry. But it wasn't alright, she could feel the emotion in him, still making him tremble and they clung together, both giving and receiving comfort.

Jarrod came quietly into his room, Sarah sat on the window seat. It was one of the few improvements suggested by the family that they had agreed to when they had taken possession of it as a newly married couple. There was a bowl of water on the little table beside her and she held a cold compress to her bruised head. There might be a yawning gulf of misunderstanding and bitterness between them but Jarrod couldn't bear a physical separation from his wife for another instant, he went swiftly to her side and took the damp cloth out of her hand.

"Let me do that,." he said sitting on the edge of the seat, facing her.

"Jarrod...I..." Sarah started to protest, but he put the fingers of his free hand to her lips.

"Sshh, not now, " his voice was gentle. "Silas will bring your tea soon, you can drink that and start to feel a little better. Then we can talk and we certainly have things to talk over you and I...about our baby, about ourselves...and about the boy. But not just now, " Jarrod leaned back against the wall and drew Sarah's unresisting body to him, she leaned in gratefully resting her aching head against him. He cradled her gently, tenderly kissing her red-gold hair and applying the compress with loving care. "The only thing that needs to be said right now is that I'm sorry Sarah, sorry for every wound I've inflicted on you through this whole affair, sorry for every injury I've done you. Believe me Darling there was never any intention to hurt you. I could never, ever INTENTIONALLY hurt you! And no-one will ever take the place of our baby in my heart. I swear it."

She turned to look up at him, still that horrible haunting sadness was in her eyes, "Jarrod..."

He hushed her again, "be still my Darling, you'll be better soon, time enough to talk then, be still, I'm taking care of you now."

She nestled in his arms, her spirit might still be bleeding, but he was here and at last she thought he understood her feelings, she was content for the present to rest in the arms of her beloved husband. She believed him, but there were things she had to know though. Still resting against him she quietly asked , "do you think of her very often Jarrod? Wonder what she would be like if she were here now? She would be ten months old, maybe crawling and trying to talk."

"Always Sarah. I think of her all the time," he said. He shifted and pulled his watch from his vest pocket and handed it to his wife, showing her the small, glass encased locket he had attached to it. Inside, behind the glass cover, was a lock of fine, jet black hair.

"Oh Jarrod!" Sarah whispered, her voice cracking with sorrow.

"Shh, now just rest," he soothed pulling her back to him and blinking away his own tears.

Silas, ever attuned to the atmospheres and under-currents of this house had silently brought coffee for mother and son, depositing the tray on the table and departing again, before either his mistress or her son had even noticed him, he went back to the kitchen to put the finishing touches to the tisane he was preparing for Miss Sarah. An old Frenchwoman in New Orleans had taught him how to make many herbal remedies and his skills in this field had served him well over the years. He had first come to this family when Jarrod was a gravely ill six year old, stricken with pneumonia, the first of Jarrod's several encounters with an illness to which he was highly susceptible.

Practically the first act of Silas on entering the Barkley home, not this magnificent house but the small cottage beside the corral, had been to make a remedy of his own to administer to the rapidly weakening child.The result had been a dramatic over-night improvement in Jarrod's condition, so marked that it appeared little short of miraculous. It had given Silas deep personal satisfaction to have helped the stricken child, it had also endeared him for all time to little Jarrod and it had been the beginning of the measureless bond of affection and trust between Silas and the mistress he was proud to serve.

He sighed as he poured Sarah's tisane into a glass and put the glass into an elegant silver filigree holder. So much misery and uncertainty, no wonder his poor mistress had been overwhelmed by it all. He smiled slightly as he carried the glass up the back stairs, temporarily overwhelmed! He knew Victoria Barkley better than most people, she was the most resourceful and resilient of ladies, she would recover herself and do all in her power to guide her family through it's difficulties. Silas knocked on Jarrod's bedroom door and entered the room, as to these two, they had their own personal reconciliation to achieve, but the old man didn't doubt that they would do so. If ever a couple truly loved each other it was Jarrod and Sarah Barkley. He smiled briefly at his sombre young master and handed Sarah the steaming glass, before gliding silently away, leaving them to their privacy.

As he returned to his peaceful kitchen, Silas reflected that it was no wonder the sparks flew sometimes between Jarrod and Sarah, so much intelligence and spirit on both sides, the odd clash was an inevitability really. In this the son was like the father, Tom and Victoria's relationship had been similar, nothing had been more cetain to provoke trouble than for Tom to under-estimate the woman he had married. But theirs had been a great marriage, a special marriage, Silas was convinced that the troubled young people upstairs could have a union just as wondrous, with his customary serenity, the old man set about the duties he loved.

Mother and son drank their coffee together, seated side by side on the settee in the living room. Nick talked to Victoria, she had always possessed his confidence and knew herself to be one of the very few people to whom he would ever unburden himself. Her second son was a man of intense and vivid personality, as his father had been, he inspired a strong reaction in others. People either loved Nick Barkley or couldn't stand the man, none were indifferent to him, he wasn't that kind of man. Ostensibly gregarious and sociable, he had a deeply private side to his nature, especially where his deepest feelings were concerned. He had a small group of good and close friends but Victoria couldn't think of one in whom he was likely to confide.

Beside herself, Nick's principal confidant had been his adored father and the older brother to whom he had been devoted almost from the hour of his birth. A devotion unchanged by the passage of time, their divergent natures and the very different lives they led.To his mother's satisfaction there was also now a third confidant, Heath, the new younger brother with whom Nick worked in such close proximity. Victoria had been touched by Heath's absolute faith in Nick. His gentle certainty that Nick and Sarah were no more than friends had allayed any fears in her own mind that the lovely Sarah might come between her cherished sons. The situation regarding his sister in law was not a subject on which Nick had so far confided in any one, but seated here with his mother and still shaken by her attack upon him, he did so now.

Victoria had already apologised for that attack, assuring Nick that she didn't, in any sense, believe him guilty of any wrongdoing whatsoever. "I know everything you have done has been to help your brother, why I turned all my anxiety and sadness on you like that I simply don't know, forgive me Nick!"

"I'll tell you why," he had answered at once, "because you're worn out with all the upset and upheaval around here! When the dust settles you and I are going on a little camping trip together, just us, you need some fresh air and some peace!"

"I'd like that Dear."

He shot her a glance, half defensive half rueful, "did I fall for Sarah Faires the first time I saw her? What red-blooded man wouldn't! I thought she was a beauty, but almost from the first, I never thought of her as the woman for me. Too..." he laughed, "too sassy for me, and if I'm honest too clever as well, no woman as clever as her would ever consider me as a husband."

Nick tried to explain his feelings, "Sarah's friendship is very special to me Mother, I never had that kind of a friendship with a woman before, I consider Sassy my sister and my friend and truth to tell there isn't much I wouldn't do for her, just about the only thing I wouldn't do is to ever hurt Jarrod."

"I understand Darling," replied Victoria leaning toward him to kiss his lean cheek, "I truly do understand, the only thing you and I can do now is to hope that Jarrod and Sarah can find a solution to their problems together."

Nick smiled lovingly at her, "and you're right Mrs. Barkley, they'll do a better job without me sticking my nose in!"