In late April Abigail walked down to the dining room and slid into her place next to Jarrod.

Maria leaned over and kissed her daughter's cheek. "What's that for, Mrs. Barkley?" Abigail asked.

"It's to wish you a very happy birthday," Maria said.

"Birthday?" Abigail asked, faintly.

"That's right, Katie, my girl. Today's your 11th birthday," Jarrod said.

"My birthday is July 31st," Abigail said.

"Katie, you have lived with us long enough to know that we are not going to change your name or your birthday," Jarrod said, his face and countenance becoming serious.

"Then if that's the case then I'm going upstairs, locking the door, and not coming out until this mad whirlwind of an existence comes to an end," Abigail said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Katalina Maria Isabel Barkley, you are behaving like a small child! I expect you to behave like a young lady and not a spoiled brat!" Jarrod said.

Abigail's blue eyes filled with tears and she ran blindly from the room. The tears were openly falling as she went to the stable, were her horse, Guinevere was stabled. One of the aspects of living here was that Heath Barkley had taught her how to ride a horse.

She saddled her horse and rode out, not paying any attention to where she was going.

Abigail rode off the ranch, her long black hair trailing behind her in the soft spring wind. Since she had come back she either braided her hair or left it hanging loose down her back.

The tears rolled down her face as she galloped in the empty meadow on the Barkley property. Through the tears, streaming down her face, she didn't see the fence line or the rattlesnake.

Don Alfredo Montero was examining the downed fence where his property and the Barkley's intersected. Since the argument 16 years ago about the young man had started he didn't come over to see the Barkley's. That was firmly reinstated when Maria married that lawyer and had the boy and girl.

Since Katalina came back he had often seen her in Stockton. She was either buying clothes or going to mass or confession at the church. The old gossips said that she was raised Methodist, but she was learning to be Catholic.

Don Alfredo smiled as he thought of his granddaughter. Her hair and eyes belonged to the gringo, but she looked like her mother did at that age.

As Don Alfredo looked up from the fence, he saw his granddaughter come up at a fast gallop. "Muchacha, don't come any closer!" The old man yelled in warning.

Abigail looked up at the old Spanish man; the tears still on her bronze-colored cheeks.

Before she could say anything the horse started to whinny loudly. And it threw her off its back, knocking her senseless.

One of Don Alfredo's vaquero's pulled out a gun and fired at the ground. Don Alfredo saw the remains of a timber rattler dead on the ground. He rushed over to his granddaughter and examined her head. It was bleeding, but not bad.

He scooped her up into his arms and put her into the buggy that was on his property.

A few hours later Abigail woke up with a splitting headache. A Spanish maid was sponging her head with cool water. She was in a comfortable queen-sized bed in what appeared to be a child's bedroom.

Abigail stood up, the room spinning before her. "Señorita, you should not be up. You hit your head when you fell off the horse," the Spanish girl said.

"I'll be fine," Abigail whispered hoarsely. She looked down at her wrinkled clothes. The bottoms of her pants were covered in mud. I can fortunately change when I get back to the Barkley ranch, Abigail thought.

Abigail opened the door and walked out of the room into the cool hallway. Don Alfredo was in the sala enjoying some Madeira wine form Spain, when Abigail walked past the door.

"I see you have fully recovered from your nasty spill back there, Katalina," Don Alfredo said.

"Yes. I need to get back to the ranch. It's getting dark and Counselor Barkley and his wife will be terribly worried if I don't come back," Abigail said.

"What were you doing out there by yourself anyway?" Don Alfredo asked.

"Well, Mrs. Barkley told me that today is my birthday. But the birthday I've always celebrated is on July 31st. I don't know how to be Katie Barkley for them. All I am is a disappointment to Counselor Barkley. All he wants is for me to be someone I'm not or someone I forgot," Abigail said.

"My daughter and her husband are rather set in there ways. Would you like me to talk with them?" Don Alfredo asked.

"Don Alfredo, would you?" Abigail asked, her blue eyes hopeful.

"Of course I will. You're a frightened child. My daughter should show some understanding," Don Alfredo said.

"Gracias, Don Alfredo," Abigail said, in Spanish.

"De nada, Katalina," The Don said back, in the same tongue.

This old man made Abigail feel happy to be a part of the Montero family. He didn't push her to be Katie. He accepted the part of her that was Abigail Stallingforth. Abigail followed the old man to his buggy and both went to the Barkley ranch, where two worried parents sat in the parlor waiting for Abigail.

When Don Alfredo's buggy pulled into the Barkley's front yard, Jarrod and Maria both ran out. Worry and anger etched all over their faces.

"Don Alfredo, what are you doing here?" Jarrod asked in his best prosecuting attorney's voice.

"I'm returning Katalina to you. She was on the border of my property and a snake frightened her horse. She's hit her head," Don Alfredo said, his dark eyes coldly looking into his son-in-law's blue eyes coldly.

Abigail slept blissfully in the seat next to Don Alfredo. Her head ached a little and she was very sleepy, since she was an early riser.

Don Alfredo woke up the girl up next to him. Abigail got off the buggy dizzily.

Jarrod felt all the worry and anxiety come back that he had felt in the last hour or two. He was between taking his daughter in his arms and hugging her or spanking her. And Jarrod knew he never liked that idea.

Jarrod grabbed her by the elbow and shook her slightly. "You scared your mother and myself half to death! What have you got to say for yourself, young lady?" Jarrod snapped.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to happen," Abigail said, sluggishly. Her head was throbbing to hard to present herself with an argument.

Her head fell into Jarrod's chest. If it weren’t that Abigail was too proud to cry, she would have.

Jarrod's eyes watered up. Her tired haggard appearance worried him. She looked awful. Her black hair was a mess and her tan pants had a slight rip at the right knee.

Jarrod looked over at his father-in-law. "Don Alfredo, thank you for bringing her home," Jarrod said.

"She's my granddaughter. I had to bring her home. My daughter would worry," Don Alfredo said.

Jarrod bit back his anger at this remark as he carried his tired daughter upstairs to her room. After all these years married to Maria, Don Alfredo still just saw Maria as their mother, but not Jarrod as their father. These children were half-Jarrod, as they were half-Maria.

Jarrod entered Abigail's room and set her on her feet. Abigail looked up into his kind, blue eyes. "I'm sorry," Abigail said, in a lost, small voice.

"It's all right. I was wrong to force you to celebrate your birthday today. If you want we'll save it for July 31st," Jarrod said.

Abigail's tired face transformed into a look of pure joy. "Oh, thank you, Papa!" Abigail exclaimed without thinking.

Her face turned red. Jarrod's mouth turned up into a brilliant grin. "I'm sorry," Abigail said.

"Don't apologize for calling me that. That's who I am. Remember I told you that you’d call me that in your own time?" Jarrod asked.

"Yes you did. I just felt it was all right if I call you that. Can I call you that from now on?" Abigail asked.

"Only if you are ready to be my Katie again," Jarrod said, resting his left palm on her right cheek.

Abigail nodded and threw her arms around her father's neck. Jarrod stroked her tangled black hair and looked up to Heaven, thanking God for bringing his baby back to him at last. Jarrod kissed her cheek.

"Go to bed, Katie. I'll see you in the morning," Jarrod said.

"Yes Papa," Katie said, kissing his cheek. Jarrod ran his hand briefly through her hair and closed the door behind him.

Katie stood there thinking of what she'd just done. She just called Jarrod Barkley "Papa." A few months ago to admit that Jarrod was her father was a frightening idea. It was to say that John and Edna had kidnapped her.

Tonight when she saw the fear and anger reflected in her father's face it became a fact. This man was her father and he truly did mind her coldness toward him. Calling him "Papa" was the right thing to do, but she wondered if she could love him as a daughter would. Katie changed into her nightgown and crawled into bed. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Jarrod came downstairs, a smile touching the corners of his mouth, and a slight bounce to his steps.

Maria was talking to her father. She looked up at her husband. He hadn't looked this happy since the day Katalina disappeared.

"Jarrod, are you all right?" Maria asked.

"Yes, my dear. I'm just fine. But I do have some wonderful news. Katie has just come back to us," Jarrod said.

"What do you mean, Jarrod? She's upstairs," Maria said, confused.

"When I took her upstairs, she called me "Papa" I didn't have to ask her to. She did it of her own free will," Jarrod said.

"Jarrod, that's wonderful!" Maria exclaimed, throwing her arms around her husband's neck.

"I feel as if I got my baby back. It's really ironic though," Jarrod said.

"What do you mean, Señor Barkley?" Don Alfredo asked.

"I lost my daughter on her 1st birthday and she came back to me on her 10th birthday. She even said that she was ready to be Katie again," Jarrod said.

"Pappy, that's terrific!" Nick exclaimed with joy, slapping his older brother on the back.

"I also wanted to say something to you, Maria. What are you doing in regards to that girl's education?" Don Alfredo asked.

"Maria and myself are sending Katie to the best school in San Francisco and she takes lessons on being Spanish and Roman Catholic from Sister Rosita at the church," Jarrod said, trying to say to Don Alfredo that Maria didn't have all the say-so in their daughter's education.

"Maria, have you taught her anything about your familia though?" Don Alfredo asked.

"No Father. The only thing Spanish that I have taught her is a few words of the Spanish language. Sister Rosita is a capable woman and she has told me that Katalina is making tremendous progress in her lessons. She is speaking Spanish better than the old nun herself," Maria said.

"Do you want me to make a chart so she can go over all the facts about her Spanish heritage?" Don Alfredo asked.

"Father, would you? She doesn't know anything about my side of the family. And she doesn't know anything about Jarrod's side either," Maria said.

"I'll send one of my vaquero's over with the chart tomorrow. Tell Katalina that she should look at the chart every single day until she knows every bit of her lineage," Don Alfredo said.

"Don Alfredo, would you like to come over here on the 31st of July?" Jarrod asked, with an effort.

"Why do you ask, Barkley?" Don Alfredo asked.

"Katie's birthday is on that day and she'll probably like it if you celebrated it with us," Jarrod said.

"I suppose I could come. I have a necklace that belonged to her grandmother. I suppose that my wife would love for Katalina to have it," Don Alfredo said.

"The Katalina necklace?" Maria asked.

"Sí. Your mother made me promise that it would go down to the next Katalina in the family. And as much as I don't like it, your daughter is my granddaughter and the next Katalina to receive it," Don Alfredo said.

Heath entered the room holding his two-year old daughter Sara in his arms. Don Alfredo's gaze turned stony as his eyes fell on Heath.

Don Alfredo stormed out of the parlor and the next thing they heard was the sound of the buggy driving away. Maria sighed a sigh of relief and hugged her husband, happy for the first time since she had married Jarrod.

"What was that all about?" Heath asked, handing Sara to Dora.

"Father has decided to stop hating the children," Maria said.

"He may not hate the children anymore, but he still doesn't like you, Heath," Nick said.

"I know," Heath said.

"Pappy, is it really wise to let him come here on Katie's birthday? You know how he feels about you and our family," Nick said.

"I know, Nick. But apparently he's willing to forget that Katie and Tommy are my children and no matter how bad he feels about it that's not going to change," Jarrod said.

"And anyway how do you know that Katie's not going to change her mind and start being rude to you again?" Nick asked.

At that moment Katie came into the room. She had a robe on over her nightclothes and she looked at her father with bleary eyes.

"Papa, can I have something to eat?" Katie asked.

Jarrod walked over to his daughter and picked her up.

"Nick, I would think I would know my own daughter if she was lying to me," Jarrod said.

Jarrod took her into the kitchen and put her down. "Sit there while I get you some food," Jarrod said.

"Yes Papa," Katie said.

Jarrod got out some ham and bread and poured a glass of milk. Katie ate as if she was starved. After she ate she went back up to her room and fell asleep again, and slept without a dream all through the rest of the night.

The next day was like the day before, nice and sunny. Katie woke up to the sun shining in her window. The bluebird that sang every morning was there.

Katie's head ached still from her fall the day before, but she remembered what had happened when she came back the day before. She had called Jarrod "Papa."

She had heard Nick Barkley ask Jarrod if she might change her mind and her father had said that he would know if she were lying.

Well, thought Katie, I'd show them all that I am not a liar.

Katie dressed quickly in a pair of boy's clothes and went downstairs to the dining room.

The whole family was eating breakfast around the table. Maria sat on one side of Jarrod and Tommy sat in Nick's lap, munching on a piece of toast.

Jarrod looked up at his daughter. Jarrod was surprised at her looks. She wore a pair of pants, shirt and vest and her hair was tied back with a blue string ribbon and hung like a mat down her back.

"Good morning, Katie," Jarrod said, pushing out the empty chair next to him with his foot.

"Good morning, Papa. Good morning, Mama," Katie said, shyly.

"Katie, sit down please. I have to go to town today and I told your mother that I'd take you to the mission," Jarrod said.

"Yes Papa," Katie sat down in the chair next to her father and put some bacon and eggs on her plate.

"Katalina, your grandfather is also sending you something soon," Maria said.

"What is it, Mama?" Katie asked, her interest perked up.

"It's a chart of the Montero family. Your grandfather thinks that you should now all your relatives," Maria said.

"It could be interesting to find out who's all in my family, but where do they come from? Are they Latino Spanish or Spain Spanish?" Katie asked.

"Well, my family came from Spain. Your Grandfather was given a land grant to his hacienda," Maria said.

"Yes. I went inside there yesterday. Grandfather has a nice house. I like ancient buildings," Katie said, twirling a piece of black hair around her finger.

"Yes. Father likes to follow the old ways of building a house. His house here is lovely and he owned much of Stockton at one time. The people who live here don't like it that much," Maria said.

"Well, I wouldn't either, I think," Katie said.

"He one time tried to kick Bert Hadley and his family out of their house six years before you were born," Jarrod said.

"What made him change his mind?" Katie asked.

"He changed his mind when he realized that he was hurting everyone," Heath said.

"Papa, where does your family come from?" Katie asked, trying to change the subject.

"Scotland," Jarrod said.

"Really? You come from Scotland?" Katie asked.

"Yes. The name Barkley is a Scottish name and now, young lady you are doing more talking than eating. I would suggest you get back to your breakfast and be ready to leave in five minutes," Jarrod said, pointing at her full plate.

"Yes Sir. I'm sorry, Papa," Katie said.

Katie picked up her fork and started to eat hurriedly.

Jarrod and Katie were in the rig to town when they saw Bert Hadley and his family. Bert's wife was crying.

Jarrod stopped the wagon. "Whoah!"

Katie looked up at her father. "Papa, what's wrong?" Katie asked, alarm in her blue eyes.

"Nothing, I don't think. Stay here in the rig," Jarrod ordered patting her knee.

Jarrod walked over to Bert. "Bert, what's wrong?" Jarrod asked.

Bert looked up at Jarrod, anger in his eyes. "Don't talk to me, Barkley. If you hadn't married Montera's daughter none of this would have happened," Bert said, angrily.

"What are you talking about?" Jarrod asked perplexed.

"Old man Montera came by this mornin' and told us to leave and he burned our house to the ground," Bert said.

"What?" Katie asked, standing right behind her father.

"Katalina Barkley, didn't I tell you to stay in the rig?" Jarrod asked sternly.

"Yes Sir. Mr. Hadley, why would my grandfather do that?" Katie asked.

"Don't you know?" Bert asked.

"No. No one bothered to tell me anything about Grandfather. All I know is that no one in my family gets along really well with him," Katie said.

"I think he burned my house because of you, Barkley," Bert said to Jarrod.

Katie looked at her father. He was already upset that she had disobeyed him, but someone needed to go tell her grandfather that burning someone's house is not going to make anyone like him.

Katie ran off in the direction of her grandfather's property, ready to give him a piece of her mind. Jarrod hadn't noticed that she slipped off.

Don Alfredo was in his parlor when a sharp knock rattled the door nearly off its hinges.

“Buenos Días, Señorita,” the Spanish maid said.

"Good morning. Is my grandfather in?" Katie's voice asked.

"Sí," the maid said.

Katie came into the parlor. Her hair was a mess and her blue eyes flashed angrily at her grandfather.

"Buenos Dias, Katalina," Don Alfredo said.

"How could you do what you did to the Hadleys, Grandfather? What did they ever do to you?" Katie asked.

"Nothing," Don Alfredo said.

"Nothing! So you just came in and kicked an innocent family out of their house and burned it for nothing?" Katie asked.

"You know, Heath Barkley once stood up to me like this once," Don Alfredo said.

"Grandfather, don't change the subject! Did you do it because Papa married Mama?" Katie asked.

"No," Don Alfredo said.

Katie looked at her grandfather. He was obviously not a good liar.

"You know, you are a selfish, old man! You don't think of anything besides yourself! Don't come to my house on my birthday and I don't want to know anything about your family. Besides Mama, all of them are just like you probably. And what you did was not a nice thing to do!" Katie stormed angrily out and ran out.

Jarrod stopped the wagon in front of the Montero hacienda. Katie ran out, the tears dripping down her face. She had thought her grandfather liked her, but now he was willing to hurt the Barkleys neighbors because of Jarrod and Maria.

Katie sat on the window seat in her room, looking out at the birds flying in the sky. Since she had told off her grandfather she didn't feel like going to her lessons this afternoon.

Jarrod had understood completely about her feelings on the matter. He didn't object when Katie had gone up to her room and wouldn't come out.

Maria felt anger toward her father for the first time ever. She didn't understand why her father would do what he did to the Hadleys.

Around seven o'clock Maria tapped lightly on her daughter's bedroom door.

"Come in," Katie's voice was filled with both tears and pain.

"Katalina, are you all right?" Maria said, concern in her voice.

"I'm fine, Mama," Katie said, burying her face in her hands.

Maria sat next to her daughter on the window seat. She pushed up her daughter's face. Tears were streaming down her thin cheeks in rivulets.

"Katalina, are you upset about what your grandfather did to the Hadleys?" Maria asked.

"Why did he do it, Mama? He hurt those people for no good reason," Katie said.

"Your grandfather has problems accepting the people in this valley. He still hasn't accepted your father as my husband or your father," Maria said.

"Why Mama?" Katie asked.

"Your grandfather is part of the old Spanish aristocracy. He feels all Americans, especially your father's family is below the Spanish nobility," Maria said.

"But Mama, the aristocracy is dead out here in California," Katie protested.

"It does not matter to your grandfather. He still won't admit that you are part white too," Maria said.

"I still don't understand it," Katie said.

"My little one you will. Are you hungry, Katalina?" Maria asked.

"No Mama. Can I just go to bed?" Katie asked.

"Of course, Katalina. I'll just tell your papa that you didn't feel like eating," Maria said.

Katie crawled into the bed, the tears rolling down her face. Maria kissed her daughter's forehead and watched Katie fall asleep with the tears drying on her face.

Jarrod was sitting at the table with the family when Maria entered the room.

"Where's Katie, Maria?" Victoria asked.

"She's upset, Mother. Katalina is asleep, the tears still on her face," Maria said, looking at her husband.

"Were you able to get her to understand about what happened, Maria?" Jarrod asked.

"No Jarrod. She's scared and I think she feels it's her fault that the Hadleys lost their home," Maria said.

"What kind of person is your father, Maria? Does he like to make ten-year-old girls cry?" Nick asked.

"I do not understand my father, Nick. It's like he's angry that my children are Barkleys," Maria said.

"Katie wouldn't even talk to me on the ride home, Maria. She was just biting her lip. It was like she was forcing herself not to cry in front of me," Jarrod said.

"What can we do, Jarrod? Our daughter has been hurt and we can't tell her it won't happen again," Maria said, desperately.

"I know. I wish she didn't have to cry either," Jarrod said.

"Jarrod, what he did to the Hadleys goes beyond just hating you and our family. I think his motive was to make the whole valley hate us as well," Victoria said.

"What could he gain from that? Our friends won't believe that we are to be hated," Dora said.

"I don't know," Victoria said.

Jarrod looked into his coffee cup. Maybe Victoria's hunch was right. Don Alfredo had hated the Barkleys since Heath had come to the valley. He had hated the marriage between Jarrod and Maria and hadn't said much about the births of both Tommy and Katie. That is until now.

The night before Jarrod had thought how kind it was for Don Alfredo to bring Katie home. Now he wondered if Nick was right when he said it might not be a good idea to have Don Alfredo over for Katie's birthday.

The violent barging in of someone broke Don Alfredo’s train of thought. Don Alfredo looked up. Jarrod was standing there, his blue eyes angry.

"Señor Barkley," Don Alfredo said coldly.

"How dare you hurt my daughter and call yourself a human being!" Jarrod raged.

"I suppose that Katalina told you of our conversation yesterday," Don Alfredo said.

"No, she didn't have to. I could see it in her eyes yesterday. She also cried herself to sleep last night. You don't have any idea what it's like, do you, to watch your baby girl cry because someone broke her young heart?" Jarrod asked.

"I am sorry if I hurt her feelings, but the night she fell off her horse I remembered what I said when you married my daughter," Don Alfredo said.

"That you'd never accept any of my children as your grandchildren," Jarrod said.

"That is right. So tell that to Katalina," Don Alfredo said.

"I feel sorry for you. All Katie wanted was to be your friend. That's what she called you that morning before we found out what you did to the Hadleys house. And you took her gift of friendship and you threw it back in her face. Katie was right. You are a selfish old man who thinks of no one but himself," Jarrod said.

"I think you should leave now," Don Alfredo said.

"I am. Don Alfredo, Maria and myself feel that you shouldn't come to Katie's birthday unless you are willing to accept our children as your grandchildren," Jarrod said.

Jarrod opened the door and walked out. He rode back to the Barkley house.

Katie was picking at her potato cake with her fork when her father entered the room.

"Jarrod, what did he say?" Maria asked.

"He hasn't changed, Maria. He actually brought up what he said the day he found out that we got married," Jarrod said.

"Oh Jarrod!" Maria said.

"What did he say?" Katie asked, looking up with dull, swollen blue eyes.

"What we told you in the study the night we came home, Katie," Jarrod said.

"About not accepting me and Tommy," Katie said.

"That's right. Your grandfather is willing to ruin the Hadleys because you are a Barkley," Jarrod said.

Katie bit the inside of her mouth. "Katie, this isn't your fault," Victoria said.

"No? Then why do I feel so awful? I wish Father and Mother were here to take me home," Katie said, standing up and walking to the window.

"Katie, what are you saying?" Jarrod asked.

"I tried, Papa. I really did, but I guess I'm feeling a little homesick for Philadelphia I guess," Katie said.

Jarrod stroked her long black hair with his uncallused hands. "Katie, I've been thinking about what I said to Edna," Jarrod said.

"You have?" Katie asked.

"I'm not going to send you back to Philadelphia. You are going to stay here with your family," Jarrod said.

Katie turned to face her father. "What? You promised to send me back if I was unhappy, Papa!" Katie said.

"I know I did. But I don't think you are as unhappy as you are hurt," Jarrod said.

"But you promised!" Katie said, her voice getting shrill.

"Katalina Maria Isabel Barkley, don't raise your voice to me! I am still your father and I make the decisions if you go back or not," Jarrod said.

"My name is Abigail, Mr. Barkley and don't tell me what to do. You aren't my father," Katie said, her blue eyes flashing with anger.

Katie bolted out of the room before Jarrod or anyone else could say anything. Katie ran all the way to her favorite spot on the ranch. Uncle Nick said it was her father's favorite spot on the ranch. It was called Islas del Cielo- Island of the Sky.

Since she had come back she had found solace in the peaceful beauty of the place. She often thought God had made the place just for her.

Katie sat at her favorite spot, poking at the blades of grass with her fingertips. She regretted her harsh words to her father, but she didn't know how to apologize for it.

Jarrod was by nature a forgiving person, but he might not forgive her for the words she said.

Katie looked at the calm water of the lake and felt her eyes burning with tears.

Katie was so depressed that she didn't even hear Isaac Barkley riding up on his horse. Isaac and Patsy, his twin sister, were 15-years-old. Isaac was said that he looked like his father. He had dark brown hair and green eyes.

He never acted as the bossy type who pretended his younger cousins and baby sister were pests.

Isaac rode up on his Appaloosa. "What's the matter, little cousin?" Isaac asked.

"Isaac, have you ever been mad when Uncle Heath tried to act like your father?" Katie asked.

"Nope. Heath is the closest thing I have to a father. My father died when I was really young, so I don't remember him," Isaac said.

"Do you ever wish you had known him?" Katie asked.

"Sometimes. When I was your age I often wondered if my father would be proud of whom I was," Isaac said.

"But did you ever say anything like Uncle Heath not telling you what to do? That he's not your father?" Katie asked.

"I did once. When I was ten-years-old once, like you, Heath got mad at me for shirking my chores. He told me if I did it again he'd punish me for it. I said to him the same thing you just said. Heath was really hurt though and I said I would never say that again. Did you and Uncle Jarrod have a falling out?" Isaac asked.

"Yeah. He said he's not sending me back to Philadelphia and I said what you just said to Uncle Heath and I called him "Mr. Barkley," Katie said.

"Why do you want to go back? Uncle Jarrod went through a lot of pain when he lost you before. I don't think he wants to go through that again," Isaac said.

"I just can't handle what my grandfather did to the Hadleys, Isaac. Does Grandfather really hate us enough to do what he did?" Katie asked.

"I don't think he hates you or Uncle Jarrod as much as he hates Heath," Isaac said.

"Why would he hate Uncle Heath?" Katie asked.

"Your father didn't tell you, did he?" Isaac asked.

"Tell me what?" Katie asked.

"Heath and your mother were in love five years before she married Uncle Jarrod. Your grandfather thinks that no Barkley is any good because of Heath," Isaac said.

"So I might have been Uncle Heath's daughter?" Katie asked.

"Yeah. That's why your grandfather treats you the way he does. He thinks you are trash because of your blood," Isaac said.

"You know, I think I understand now," Katie said.

"Good. Are you ready to go home, little cousin? Uncle Jarrod is worried half to death over you," Isaac said.

Katie mounted her horse and followed her cousin home.

....Continued