Aura Anne sat on the bottom of the grand staircase, her hands twirling a lock of her black hair pensively.

Since Heath had said that Tom Barkley was his father and left, his words were on her mind. Audra Anne didn't doubt that his words were the truth, but who in the family would believe her when she said that?

Not her father! Jarrod would ask where her proof was and be totally right when he asked.

For once Audra Anne wished her father didn't always come up with perfect responses. It got her goat more than anything in this world. It was worse if he gave a perfect response with a smug look on his face. Then she would feel like slapping him.

So Audra Anne continued to sit on the step, thinking through the family's predicament, when Jarrod came into the foyer. Jarrod stopped as he saw his daughter on the step.

"Audra Anne, what are you doing up at 3 o'clock in the morning?" Jarrod asked, sitting on the step next to her.

'Thinking," Audra Anne said absentmindedly.

"Would you care to tell your father what you are thinking?" Jarrod asked, adopting the smug tone and grin Audra Anne hated.

"No," Audra Anne said simply.

Jarrod was taken aback by her answer. He knew his daughter was deep in thought a lot of the times. It was one of the ways she was like himself. She had inherited his quietness and usually kept whatever she was thinking to herself.

"Audra Anne, I would really like to know what you are thinking," Jarrod said, dropping the smugness.

"You're not going to get mad at me are you?" Audra Anne asked uneasily.

"I promise," Jarrod said.

"It's about Heath Thomson. Father, don't you think you, Uncle Nick, and Uncle Eugene may have made a mistake?" Audra Anne asked, looking into Jarrod's eyes.

"Audra Anne, you saw and heard the whole conversation. He didn't have much proof," Jarrod said, his face and eyes serious.

"I don't know. When he was walking past me tonight and our eyes met, I felt like I was looking into Grandfather's. It gave me quite a turn," Audra Anne said.

"Audra Anne, I know how much you loved your grandfather, but Heath Thomson and his daughter are not Barkleys," Jarrod said, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

''Again I don't know. He did refuse your money, didn't he? It impressed me," Audra Anne said, burying her face in Jarrod's chest.

"Don't tell your Uncle Nick that I said this, but it impressed me too," Jarrod said, looking into his daughter's eyes.

"Don't worry. You're secret's safe with me," Audra Anne said, her green-gray eyes looking almost golden. Jarrod kissed her forehead gently as a man covered with soot came in.

'Hal! What are you doing here?" Jarrod asked, the Swenson's hired hand. Both Jarrod and his daughter rose from the steps.

"Mr. Barkley, the railroad has started to burn tactics. Mr. and Mrs. Swenson tol' me to get ya and your brothers. They burned the Swenson place to the ground," Hal said, a note of urgency in his voice.

"Is Swenson and the family all right?" Jarrod asked, concern in his deep voice.

"Mr. Swenson was shot, but I don' know if he's still 'kay," Hal said, running out the door.

"Where are you going?" Audra Anne called after the hand.

"Back to the Swensons, Miss Barkley. They need me to try to put out the fire," Hal called back.

Audra Anne looked up at her father. He looked as if he were thinking as hard as she was a minute ago. Jarrod looked down at his daughter.

"Audra Anne, I want you to listen to me really good. I want you to go into the study what's happened. They should still be awake and then go tell your grandmother and Aunt Audra. They need to be there for Mrs. Swenson," Jarrod said in the tone of voice Audra Anne knew not to argue with.

"Yes Father." Audra Anne started to walk to the study and turned back to look at her father. "Father, does this mean you, Uncle Nick, and Uncle Eugene are going to do what Grandfather did 5 years ago?" Audra Anne asked.

"I don't know, Honey. Just go do what I told you to," Jarrod said, his voice serious.

30 minutes later every member of the Barkley family-they couldn't find Audra-was heading for the Swenson farm. Lucy felt her cousin's fear and was quiet through the whole trip

The scene of the fire was devastating. Mrs. Swenson was crying, Mr. Swenson lay on the ground, and their children were crowded around their mother.

Audra Anne's greenish-gray eyes filled with tears as she looked at the heartbroken mother and the children. Life was going to be hard for those children. She knew firsthand what it was like to be without a mother. She shuddered to think what life could be without a father too.

Audra Anne jumped from the wagon and went to Mrs. Swenson's side. She put a sympathetic arm around the lady's shoulder and held her as her uncles, aunt, and grandmother did when she was hurt.

Some of the farmers in the valley were talking to Nick and Jarrod. From the way it sounded, it was a pretty big disagreement.

Audra Anne looked toward the road. She wondered where Harry Lyman was. Usually when arson was committed Harry and his deputies were the first to arrive.

Jarrod came over to where his daughter was. "How is Mrs. Swenson, Audra Anne?" Jarrod asked in a low voice.

"Upset. I feel sorry for her and the children. They're going to be all alone," Audra Anne said, stroking Mrs. Swenson's graying hair.

Jarrod was taken aback again by his daughter's outspokenness. It was something her mother might have said. It never ceased to amaze Jarrod how much like Hope Audra Anne was. It was more amazing since Audra Anne never even knew her mother.

Harry came riding through, followed by two riders. Jarrod and Audra Anne looked closely at Harry's companions. It was Audra and Heath Thomson! Lee was not with them and Audra Anne silently wondered where her youngest cousin could have been.

"Harry, you can't ignore this now!" Nick exploded, indicating with his arm the smoldering ashes and Mrs. Swenson.

"Nick, the Swenson's were told to get out!" Harry protested, looking at the grieving woman.

"They were told to get out, but did the railroad have to burn them out?" Audra Anne could be heard over the murmuring. Every voice in the crowd was quiet as they stared at the ten-year-old girl.

"Audra Anne..." Harry started.

"Don't 'Audra Anne' me. I may be ten years old, but I'm not dumb. I know bully tactics when I see it. It's the same thing that they did to my grandfather when he tried to change things," Audra Anne said, her eyes and voice mournful.

"She argues like her father and uncle," Semple said in wonderment.

"But she looks like her mother standing there," Victoria said, overhearing the conversation. Audra Anne looked back at hearing that comment and smiled faintly. She liked hearing about her mother and often tried to hear more about her.

"Audra Anne's right. If we want to keep our homes, we have to fight for them," Semple said, in his heavy German accent.

All the farmers gathered around Semple and looked at Nick and Jarrod. "Jarrod, don't do something crazy! It's suicide!" Harry said to his friend.

Nick and Eugene went to stand by the farmers. Audra Anne looked at her grandmother. Tears were in Victoria's blue-gray eyes. Nick and Eugene were Tom Barkley's sons and they couldn't be talked out of doing something right. Audra Anne and Victoria knew that as well as anyone.

"Harry, sometimes the law can be wrong. A smart young lady told me this evening what should a person do when the law goes against morals and beliefs. Audra Anne, you're about to get your answer," Jarrod said, walking over to the farmers and his brothers.

"You're going to kill yourselves! Your land's not worth it!" Harry said, trying to talk his friends out of it.

"Harry, I'd hold my breath," Lucy said, wiping her hand across her face.

"Yeah. If you and your railroad try to come on the Semple's farm tomorrow, you'd better come armed. We're not givin' up without a fight," Nick said, his voice calm.

Harry walked away, feeling defeated. The Barkleys were going to help the farmers and not listen to his advice it was like it was five years ago when Tom died. This time it was Nick, Jarrod, and Eugene who were putting their necks out. Heath looked at Harry and then his briothers. Heath wanted to help them, but he felt torn. These people hadn't wanted him here. He had made the decision to take Lee to Mexico. Now he wondered if he should follow through on this plan.

Heath looked up to see Audra Anne, Jarrod, and Victoria. All three seemed to understand the turmoil in his mind and felt sorry for him. Heath turned his horse and rode away, his heart feeling heavy with each mile put between him and the Swenson farm.

Audra Anne and Lucy Barkley sat around the kitchen table feeling dejected. Since their fathers had decided to stay at the Semple's to fight the railroad, a gnawing dread filled the two youngest members of the Barkley family.

"Audra Anne, do you think Papa, Uncle Eugene, and Uncle Jarrod are gonna come back?" Lucy asked, fear reflected in her hazel eyes.

"I hope so. Maybe nothing will happen," Audra Anne said, trying to convince herself more than her cousin.

"You were very brave tonight. I thought you was tired of the war with the railroad," Lucy said, trying to pass time with conversation.

"I am. I just felt it was the right thing to do at the time," Audra Anne said, taking an apple out of the bowl on the kitchen table.

"I think you impressed Uncle Jarrod though," Lucy pointed out to her cousin.

"It's funny. Half the time we can't get along and it's like at times like these we do," Audra Anne said, taking a bite of her apple.

"Uncle Jarrod does love you, though," Lucy said, trying to encourage her cousin.

"I know he does, but after ignoring me for the first five years of my life I'm not sure at times on how to be a daughter," Audra Anne said, trying not to cry.

"Hey, I understand. Uncle Jarrod can be annoying at times. My own father can be annoying at times-" Lucy said, putting her hand on Audra Anne's shoulder.

"At times! Your father likes to shout and shatter eardrums. By the time I get married I'll be deaf!" Audra Anne said, with a huge smile on her face.

Lucy looked at her cousin. A giggle escaped Lucy's mouth and Audra Anne snorted. Both cousins convulsed into laughter as they thought of Nick's booming voice.

Audra Anne took a deep breath as she tried to regain her composure. Tears of laughter streamed down her face. "All we have to remember is that Mother and Aunt Tracie loved our fathers very much," Audra Anne said, her voice turning subdued.

Lucy lowered her eyes as she thought of her mother. Tracie had died of cholera, but Lucy remembered how much her mother loved her. Even though she was four when it happened. And she was more fortunate than Audra Anne who never knew her mother and the only thing she had to know what her mother looked like was a picture that was taken on her mother's birthday.

The cousins sat in silence for a few minutes. "Do you want to go to the Semple farm?" Lucy asked, breaking the silence.

"Please. This worry is driving me nuts. I have to make sure Father's all right," Audra Anne said, relieved that the topic had changed.

Lucy and Audra Anne stood up and made their way to the barn to saddle their ponies. Audra Anne hoped that the shooting hadn't started yet. She also hoped that Jarrod wouldn't be mad at her for coming either.

The sun was just barely over the horizon as the Barkley girls were arriving at the Semple farm. Audra Anne's quick eyes took in all the men sitting on the porch, their rifles at ready.

Audra Anne picked out her father from among the men. She felt a flooding of relief fill her heart. The railroad hadn't shown up yet so Jarrod, Nick, and Eugene were still alive.

All the men looked up at the two girls. Nick and Jarrod's expressions turned from surprise to rage in a matter of seconds.

Jarrod stalked over to his daughter and held the horse by the reins. "Get off that horse, Audra Anne," Jarrod said in a deadly calm voice.

Audra Anne knew better than to argue when her father was this furious. The safest thing for her to do was nod a lot. Maybe she'd just be confined to her room for a very long time.

Jarrod placed his hands on her shoulders and shook her. "What were you thinking? What if you had met the railroad's hired guns? You could have been killed!" Jarrod said, his voice rising in anger.

"I know," Audra Anne said softly, the tears in her eyes spilling over onto her cheeks.

"You know? Then what made you behave like this?" Jarrod asked, surprised by Audra Anne's answer.

Audra Anne couldn't answer. The tears rolled down her cheeks in scalding hot torrents. As much as she disliked her father's smugness at times, she hated it when he was mad at her. His anger was terrible and she didn't like to look into his eyes because they scared her.

Jarrod knew that as well as Audra Anne. Before he could say anything, Lucy spoke up standing next to her father. "It was my fault, Uncle Jarrod. I asked her if she wanted to come," Lucy said, understanding Audra Anne's feelings.

"No, it was my fault because I'm the oldest. I should know better than to listen to harebrained, crazy ideas by Lucy Barkley," Audra Anne said, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands.

"We do know that we are going to have to punish the both of you," Nick said, remaining for the first time tactfully quiet in front of the neighbors.

Audra Anne looked at her uncle, feigning shock. “Incredible,” Audra Anne said, a teasing smile lighting up her eyes.

"What?" Nick asked.

"This is the first time you haven't shouted at us, Papa," Lucy said, a cherubic look on her face.

'Yeah. I was just telling Lu that I'd probably be deaf by the time I get married," Audra Anne said, a wry grin covering her face.

Every man in the yard laughed-except Nick-laughed at the comment.

"I'd reckon we'd best go home, Lu," Audra Anne said, cat5ching her breath.

"How'd you two like to stay in the root cellar with Mrs. Semple and her kids?" Nick asked.

"Can we, Papa?" Lucy asked, looking up into her father's hazel eyes.

"Of course you can if Uncle Jarrod's all right with it," Nick said, looking at his brother.

Jarrod looked down at Audra Anne. She was looking up at him. "All right. If any trouble starts, I want you to stay down in the basement. Don't come up at anytime unless Nick or myself get you out," Jarrod said, his voice stern.

"Yes Father," Audra Anne said quietly.

"Would you children like to help me serve lemonade to the men?" Mrs. Semple asked Audra Anne and Lucy.

"Of course we will," Audra Anne said before her cousin could say anything. Thus the waiting for the railroad continued. It would prove to be not a long wait.

The next few minutes were calm and quiet. Too quiet. Nick was telling everyone a story about a cat he had killed in the mountains, to Audra Anne's annoyance. Audra Anne disliked her uncle's bragging, but she wouldn't say anything about it.

Jarrod obviously didn't care much for Nick's story either. Audra Anne and Jarrod's eyes met briefly. Audra Anne smiled faintly and nodded in Nick's direction. Jarrod understood what his girl was trying to say. If Jarrod could please tell Nick to shut up.

His teeth were in my back and his claws were rippin' into my neck. Now I'd been up against some cats before," Nick said to his awestruck audience.

"How'd you get out?" Fry, one of the farmers asked.

"Her husband came home," Jarrod said, stopping the story by walking past. Audra Anne snorted, trying to hold back a giggle. Jarrod looked at her and winked.

"What time is it?" Nick asked, slightly perturbed at Jarrod's interruption.

Jarrod opened his pocket watch. "10 minutes to eight," Jarrod said, looking at the hands on his watch.

At that moment 30 hired guns and Harry came riding onto the Semple farm. "Audra Anne, Lucy, get down into the cellar now," Jarrod ordered sharply, not even looking back at the girls.

Audra Anne grabbed Lucy's hand and dragged her to where the cellar was. "I'll be right there in a few minutes," Audra Anne said quietly as she shoved her cousin inside and ran back to the partially closed kitchen door. Audra Anne peeked outside. Harry was taking a piece of paper out of his coat pocket.

"At eight A.M. by order of the governor of the state of California-" Harry started to read off the piece of paper.

"We know what it says, Harry," Jarrod said, cutting the lawman's speech short.

That was the first time Audra Anne had heard her father interrupt anyone. Jarrod didn't approve if she interrupted, but he could do it.

"By the power vested in me by sheriff of this county-" Harry continued, as if Jarrod hadn't said anything.

"We know what it says," Nick interrupted, his voice deadly as a cobra's.

"Frank, you have to leave," Harry said, looking at Semple, wielding his rifle.

"I am not leaving," Semple said, tightening his hands on the rifle.

"Frank, you can't win! Jarrod! Nick! Tell him!" Harrry said desperately.

"Are you willing to wait until Monday morning at the courthouse to settle this?" Jarrod asked his friend.

Harry's silence was enough to convince anyone that the answer was no. A lone rider came galloping up in the silence. As his face got closer Audra Anne recognized him as Heath! He dismounted and took his rifle off his Modoc. He stood next to Nick and cocked his rifle.

The shooting started immediately after that. Audra Anne went back into the house and went to the cellar. She opened the door and crawled inside. The shooting lasted only a few minutes, but it seemed like hours to the people in the cellar.

As soon as all was quiet Audra Anne opened the door to the cellar. The railroad men were gone, Mrs. Semple was crying over Mr. Semple who had been shot, and Heath was sitting on a barrel, trying to roll a cigarette.

Audra Anne went over to her new uncle. "You all right?" Audra Anne asked softly. Heath's hands were shaking. Heath nodded his head, the tears forming in his eyes.

Audra Anne put a hand on Heath's shoulder, sorry for him. Heath tried to fix his cigarette again, but spilled the paper and tobacco.

Jarrod had by this time come over to where his daughter and Heath sat. Audra Anne took a good look at her father's right arm. "Father, there's blood on your arm!" Audra Anne exclaimed in shock, standing up and touching the wound with his fingers.

Jarrod nodded and handed Heath a cigar. He then saw what Audra Anne did. Heath was his brother! "Where's Lee, Heath?" Jarrod asked, sitting down next to him.

"Hotel. I didn't want her in the crossfire," Heath said.

"Why don't you go get her and come back to the ranch? We have a lot to talk about," Jarrod said.

"Ya said it all last night," Heath said, not meeting his older brother's eyes.

"Heath we were wrong. Would you please come back?" Jarrod asked of his brother.

"Please, Uncle Heath?" Audra Anne begged, her eyes pleading him.

Heath looked into Audra Anne's eyes. She wanted him to stay as much as Jarrod did. "All right. I'll stay. Just let me go get Lee," Heath said, standing up.

Audra Anne watched her uncle depart. He was going to go get her cousin and life from now on was going to be very exciting for the three Barkley cousins

The whole family waited with bated breaths for Lee and Heath. Victoria was checking the gunshot wound to Jarrod's arm while she scolded her granddaughters.

'What were you two thinking? You could have been killed!" Victoria scolded, while she applied a bandage to Jarrod's arm.

"How'd you take it if I told you that we weren't thinking, Grandma?" Audra Anne asked, her thin arm wrapped around Jarrod's neck.

"Then I'd say that neither of you showed the sense you were born with!" Nick exploded. Nick was furious that Jarrod had told Heath to come back to the ranch with Lee. Audra Anne knew that Nick wouldn't give her new uncle and cousin any respect at first. To him Heath and Lee were still not Barkleys.

A knock on the door caused them all to look up. "Welcome Mr. Heath, Miss Lee," Silas said, greeting the blond cowboy and his daughter at the door.

"Hi Silas," Lee's little voice piped up.

"Are they all here?" Heath asked quietly.

"In the parlor," Silas said, leading both of them to the parlor entrance.

Jarrod stood up as they entered the room. "Hello Heath, Lee," Jarrod said politely. Heath looked uncomfortable in the expensive parlor, but Lee was excited to see Lucy and Audra Anne.

"Hi, Audra Anne! Hi Lucy!" Lee said, her red hair flying as she jumped up and down.

"Hi Lee," Audra Anne stepped over to her cousin and gave her a kind smile.

"Jarrod said that we needed to discuss a few things, young man. Now your name is Heath, right?" Victoria asked as she took over the conversation.

Audra Anne took Lee over to a small settee and sat down. "Yes Ma'am," Heath said softly.

"Now, Heath, Jarrod has told me what you did at the Semple farm. That was very commendable of you. Why did you put your life at risk like that?" Victoria wanted to know.

Heath stood there quietly for a few minutes, not sure on how to answer. "I...I'm not sure why I did it, Ma'am. All those words you said to me made sense I reckon. That if I was your son that I should fight for my inheritance. Also I felt that if I didn't do somethin' I won't be able to look at Lee again because of my bein' a coward," Heath said, his face flushing with embarrassment.

"Those are two very good reasons, Uncle Heath," Audra Anne said.

"Now wait a second, Audra Anne! His claim doesn't make him your uncle!" Nick shouted, enraged at what she had just said.

"Uncle Nick, you'd know he's a Barkley by just looking at him. Grandpa used to have that lopsided grin on his face sometimes and his hair was the same shade too,” Audra Anne said, sticking up to Heath’s defense.

"Audra Anne's right. Your father was not perfect at times and I am not willing to throw Heath out because of it," Victoria said, a chilled note in her voice.

"Mother's right. Heath, we would like for you to stay," Jarrod said, laying a hand on Heath's shoulder.

Heath looked at the lawyer. He seemed to genuinely want Heath and Lee to stay. And Lee seemed to like it here and Heath did so want to give her a stable life. A stable life that didn't include going from town to town!

"Do all of y'all feel the same way?" Heath asked, looking at the rest of his brothers, nieces, and sister.

Everyone nodded their heads, except Nick. "I don't know about this," Nick rumbled darkly.

"Uncle Nick, you are outvoted," Audra Anne said, a steely look entering her greenish gray eyes.

"I guess I am. All right, all right. Just don't cause him any problems, Boy," Nick said, as he stalked past.

"Don't call me "Boy" in front of my kid!" Heath threw over his shoulder.

Nick turned back to face Heath. If looks could kill Heath would be dead and buried, Audra Anne thought as she looked at both her uncles.

Audra Anne didn't know if Heath living here with Nick disliking him was a good idea, but maybe things would turn out for the good. Audra Anne yawned, followed by Lucy.

"I'm going to bed. See you at breakfast," Audra Anne said, climbing up the stairs to her room. Audra Anne sank into her soft bed and instantly fell asleep, having no dreams at all.

Audra Anne woke up to a bird chirping outside her window. Since she had stayed up all night she still felt kind of tired. She looked over at the mantle clock. It read eight o'clock.

She combed through her tangled black hair and changed her clothes. After yawning widely she shuffled downstairs to the smell of ham, eggs, and biscuits.

The whole family except Heath was sitting at the table. Apparently Victoria had situated two more chairs at the table. Lee sat there among the family, staring at all the food.

Audra Anne slid into her place next to her father and poured a glass of milk from the pitcher. "How did you sleep?" Jarrod asked, looking at his daughter.

"Very well, Father. How's your arm?" Audra Anne asked, taking a small drink of her milk.

"It hurts, but it will mend," Jarrod said. Neither Jarrod nor Audra Anne was much for talking when things finally turned out right.

"Why don't we eat?" Nick asked impatiently, gettting ready to spear a large piece of ham with his fork.

"We discussed everything last night, Nicholas. And we do not begin a meal without saying grace," Victoria said, reprimanding Nick.

"We thank thee, O Lord-" Nick started gruffly.

"We also don't say grace until every member of the family is present," Victoria interrupted the prayer.

Audra Anne looked down at her plate, waiting for the explosion Nick would give to that remark.

"Member of the family?" Nick said, still opposed to Heath and Lee's new status.

"Uncle Nick, Grandma did say that we talked about it last night. You were outvoted when it came to Uncle Heath and Lee staying here," Audra Anne said, looking at the crystal silverware by her plate.

"Yes, but just let him be lazy! THIS IS A WORKING RANCH! AND THAT MEANS HE HAS TO BE DOWN HERE EVERY MORNING AT FIVE A.M. JUST LET HIM COME TO ME WITH A PROBLEM AND SHIRK HIS WORK!” Nick shouted, standing up and going to the dining room door.

Heath came into the room, his shirt and face all sweaty. "Now where were you, Boy?" Nick demanded, looking at Heath's clothes and face.

"Fixin' the fence or cuttin' the patch of mesquite. Take yer pick," Heath said, pulling out the empty chair next to Lee. Taking advantage of Nick's flabbergasted expression he spoke again. "Also the bridge need to be fixed before my Modoc breaks a leg."

Nick sat down, momentarily speechless. Heath speared his fork into the piece of ham at the top, just as Nick did the same. Both brothers scowled at each other as their forks stuck out of the ham.

Everyone at the table started to grin at the brother's dilemma. Jarrod picked up his knife and split the ham right down the middle. Audra Anne, Lee, and Lucy looked at each other and grinned. Audra and Eugene started to snicker.

Heath and Nick's faces were priceless. The scowls turned to grins as what had just happened struck them. Heath tucked his napkin into his collar as Nick started to say grace.

After the grace was said, Audra Anne took a slice of ham. "Audra Anne, I didn't say this earlier, but thank you," Heath said, taking a bite of his ham.

"You're welcome. You just look too much like my grandfather not to be a Barkley," Audra Anne said, eating a bite of biscuit.

"Those are quite interestin' eyes you got there. No one else in the family's got 'em," Heath said, looking at her eyes.

"They are my mother's," Audra Anne said in a subdued voice.

"Where is your mother, Audra Anne?" Heath asked, not knowing that Hope wasn't usually talked about in front of Jarrod.

"She died when I was born," Audra Anne said bluntly.

"I'm sorry. My wife Ingrid died giving birth to Lee,” Heath said, kissing Lee’s head.

"At least you don't pretend she doesn't exist like my father does," Audra Anne muttered bitterly under her breath.

Jarrod looked at his daughter. After the incidents that happened the night before she still was very angry that Jarrod had stayed away for two months without even writing her. The tears were evident in Audra Anne's eyes.

The rest of breakfast was eaten in painful silence. When it was over Audra Anne bolted from the table. The slam of the front door made it clear that she was going out to ride her horse.

Audra Anne sat by her mother's grave, the tears rolling convulsively down her thin cheeks. After slamming her father with that comment at breakfast, Audra Anne felt guilty. He had truly tried to be a father after two months of neglecting her.

Audra Anne loved Jarrod, but it felt like in the last two months that he didn't love her. He often said that he didn't blame her for her mother's death, but sometimes Audra Anne blamed herself.

Audra Anne was feeling more guilty that day for her mother's death than ever. Again she wondered what it might have been if her mother had lived. At least Lee and Lucy remembered their mothers.

As she sniffled she didn't know that she was being watched. Jarrod had decided to visit Tom's grave and saw Audra Anne there as well. Jarrod gently laid a hand on Audra Anne's shoulder.

Audra Anne turned. She jumped up and wiped her eyes furiously, kicking herself for crying in front of her father.

"Audra Anne, it's okay to cry," Jarrod said, gently wiping a stray tear on her face with his thumb.

"It's all right for you to say that. You never cry!" Audra Anne lashed out bitterly.

Jarrod sat on the bench next to Tom's grave. "Audra Anne, I want to talk to you. Would you be so kind as to listen?" Jarrod said, his voice gentle, but firm.

Audra Anne sat next to him, tears still rolling down her cheeks. "Audra Anne, I cry all the time. Most of the time people don't see me, because I refuse to let the tears out," Jarrod said, looking into her greenish-gray eyes.

"I thought you were so perfect that you wouldn't cry," Audra Anne said, wiping her nose with the sleeve of her shirt.

Jarrod took out his handkerchief. He handed it to her. She blew her nose a few times. "Honey, I'm not perfect. I have cried lots of times. I cried the day you were born," Jarrod said, his voice trembling slightly.

"Why?" Audra Anne asked.

"Well, I had just gotten this new daughter and then I lost your mother. I cried because I loved your mother so much," Jarrod said, running his fingertips through her black hair.

"I wish Mother had lived," Audra Anne said, fresh tears falling down her face.

"I do too, but from now on I am going to be here for you. I'm not going to neglect you again," Jarrod said firmly. Audra Anne threw her arms around Jarrod's neck and hugged him.

"Never?" Audra Anne whispered in her father's ear.

"I promise, Honey. One day you're going to realize how much I love you," Jarrod said, kissing her forehead gently.

Jarrod and Audra Anne stood up and went over to their horses. The ride home was spent talking. By the time they reached home Audra Anne was excited about the newest change in the Barkley family. Heath and Lee would make for interesting times.

....Continued