The next few days were not as quiet as anyone would have liked. Jarrod was still trying to find a way for the town to have the dam without taking Jubal's land from him. Nick was often seen brooding around the house. Even Lucy knew better than to talk to Nick when he was like this.

Because they approved of Jubal having the land, Nick wouldn't talk much to Victoria or Audra Anne. Audra Anne knew her uncle was mad that she had interfered with his plans, but she wasn't sorry.

Two days after Audra Anne's ride Audra Anne was in Jarrod's office in town. Since she had started to get along with her father she often went to join him for lunch. Jarrod was still trying to find a place for the am when Audra Anne entered the room.

Jarrod was hunched over papers. Apparently he had not heard her enter the room. "Hello Father," Audra Anne said, kissing her father's cheek quickly.

"Well, Miss Barkley, what are you doing here?" Jarrod asked, looking up at his daughter.

"I just wondered if you wanted to eat at the Cattleman's with me?" Audra Anne asked, pushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"Sounds nice, but I'm too busy with this paperwork to stop now," Jarrod said, rubbing his eyes with his hand.

"All right. I think Uncle Heath and Uncle Nick are in town. Would it be all right if I asked them to lunch?" Audra Anne asked.

"I'm sure they would agree. Your Uncle Nick likes the steak at Cattlemen's," Jarrod said, his eyes going back to his paperwork.

"Bye Father. I love you," Audra Anne said, without thinking of the words.

Jarrod stopped. He often said that he loved Audra Anne, but this was one of those times that she said that she loved him. What am I doing? I'm ignoring her again, Jarrod thought, laying the pen aside.

"Audra Anne, wait," Jarrod said, coming from behind his desk.

Audra Anne turned, a puzzled expression in her greenish-gray eyes. "Yes, Father?" Audra Anne asked, her voice matching her eyes.

"I'm sorry," Jarrod said simply.

"What for? You're busy," Audra Anne said, still confused.

"I did say that I'd never ignore you again," Jarrod reminded his daughter.

"Father, I don't feel ignored. You're a lawyer. You have to do your job," Audra Anne said.

"My job doesn't require me to ignore my only daughter. I have done that way too much in your life. I'm not going to miss any more of your life, Audra Anne," Jarrod said, his voice serious.

"Does this mean you're joining me for lunch?" Audra Anne asked.

"Absolutely. I think Cattlemen's has a new dish there that you might like," Jarrod said, putting his arm around his daughter's shoulder.

"Which is?" Audra Anne asked.

"Fried Potatoes," Jarrod said, looking down at his daughter. Audra Anne loved potatoes. If there was a new recipe for them she'd be the first to try it.

"That sounds good. Are Uncle Nick and Uncle Heath going to join us?" Audra Anne asked, as they went out of the office.

"Why don't we ask them?" Jarrod said, pointing in the direction of the general store with his chin. Nick and Heath were loading a wagon with supplies.

"UNCLE HEATH! UNCLE NICK!" Audra Anne yelled at the top of her voice, running toward the wagon.

"Hey there, Audra Anne. Hi Jarrod," Heath greeted his brother and niece.

"Me and Father want to know if you and Uncle Nick can join us for lunch," Audra Anne rattled off without taking a breath.

Jarrod fought the urge to correct her grammar. Honestly, she's worse than Nick, Jarrod thought, biting his tongue. If anyone taught her bad grammar it would have been Nick.

"Well, how about it Nick, Heath? Do you want to join Audra Anne and I for supper?" Jarrod asked, putting extra emphasis on the word "I." He hoped his daughter would take the mild correction on her grammar. She apparently didn't.

"Please, Uncle Heath? Please, Uncle Nick?" Audra Anne asked.

"All right," Nick said simply.

"I'd be glad to," Heath said, ruffling Audra Anne's hair.

Audra Anne walked down the street with her father and uncles. Audra Anne felt herself looking forward to Fried potatoes. She had never had it before. At this moment she could afford to forget about the dam.

The next two days were filled with tension as the valley waited to see what would happen with the dam. Len Colter still caused a lot of problems. The day before Heath and Nick had gotten into a barroom brawl trying to help Jubal Tanner.

Audra Anne, Lucy, and Lee were ordered to stay at the ranch until Jarrod and the brothers said otherwise. Audra Anne knew that her father wanted to keep her safe, but why couldn't she ride her horse?

Audra Anne was mopping around when she went into the gunroom and saw Nick, Heath, and Jarrod putting on their guns. Seeing her father and uncles wearing a gun wasn't all that unusual. Living on a cattle ranch knowing how to shoot was highly common.

Audra Anne had really no desire to learn how to shoot. She would just let her father protect her. "Father, where are you going?" Audra Anne asked, stepping to Jarrod's side.

Jarrod looked down at his daughter. Jarrod stooped to her level and laid his hands on her shoulders. "Jubal came and said that Len Colter tried to oust Jubal and Chad off their land," Jarrod said, trying his best not to frighten her.

"So, you're going to fight Len Colter like you did with the railroad?" Audra Anne asked, her greenish gray eyes filming with tears.

"Audra Anne, we do what we hafta do," Heath said, joining on the conversation.

"Uncle Heath, what if any of you don't come back? I lost my mother. Do I have to lose my father too?" Audra Anne asked, her voice trembling.

Jarrod flinched inwardly. His daughter was frightened of losing him. That was why she followed him to the Semple Farm six months before. "Audra Anne, listen to me. You are not going to lose me," Jarrod said, his voice firm.

"I wish I could be that sure, Father," Audra Anne said, one lone tear going down her face.

"You'll just have to believe me, Audra Anne," Jarrod said, wiping the tear away with his thumb.

"Pappy, it's time to go. Remember Audra Anne, Barkleys don't cry," Nick said, ruffling his niece's black hair.

Jarrod planted a kiss on her forehead and followed his brothers out of the gunroom. Barkleys don't cry! Sure is easy for Uncle Nick to say, Audra Anne thought irritably.

On more than one occasion had Audra Anne seen Nick cry. When Aunt Audra fell in love with someone terrorizing the whole valley, Uncle Nick cried when he told her the truth. Of course her father and Uncle Heath were there too, but it was Nick's tears that upset Audra Anne.

Audra Anne sat down on the settee in the gunroom. She wished she could make sure that Jarrod could come home safely. Lucy, Lee, and Chad all came into the gunroom.

"Hey, what's the matter, Cousin?" Lucy asked, sitting next to Audra Anne.

"Don't you even feel upset that your father might die tonight?" Audra Anne asked, her hands tightly clenched in front of her face.

"Not really. It takes more than a bullet to kill Papa," Lucy said, putting her hand comfortingly on Audra Anne's shoulder.

"I wish I could be sure," Audra Anne said, wiping her eyes.

"If wishes were horses then beggars would ride," Lee said, sitting on the other side of Audra Anne.

"Who told you that?" Audra Anne asked, looking at her red-haired cousin.

"Grammy. She used to say that when I wanted some pie-in-the-sky dream," Lee said.

"Why don't we go out there? My grandpa's out there," Chad said, his voice as sad as Audra Anne's.

"One problem with that, Chad. We would definitely be going to the woodshed if we did that," Lucy said worriedly.

"I'm scared," Chad said, his eyes reflecting his fear.

"I am too," Audra Anne admitted.

"Then let's go check on them," Lee said, pushing a lock of hair out of her eyes.

"All right. Let's do it," Audra Anne, Lucy, Lee, and Chad left the room and snuck down to Oak Meadows, hoping everything would be all right.

Audra Anne felt the cold night air through her green jacket and shoes. Her arms and toes felt as if they were frozen. Audra Anne sat in the wagon next to Lucy, Lee and Chad trying not to let her teeth chatter. It wouldn't do to let their fathers know that they had disobeyed them.

Audra Anne blew on her hands with her breath as Uncle Heath raised the canvas of the wagon.

"What are you four doin' here?" Heath asked, sounding upset.

"Uncle Heath, don't tell Father and Uncle Nick we are here," Audra Anne whispered, putting her finger to her lips.

"Please Papa?" Lee asked her father.

Heath looked hard at all the children. "Okay. Stay out of sight all of ya," Heath ordered in a voice that was meant to be obeyed.

"Thanks, Uncle Heath," Lucy and Audra Anne both said as the canvas dropped down, concealing the children from view.

The wait was only a few minutes more, but to Audra Anne it felt like years. She heard the voice of the sheriff and Len Colter.

"This is not your fight, Jarrod," the sheriff said, trying to get the Barkleys to leave.

"This is our fight. This is our land. We gave it to Jubal. We will help him defend it," Jarrod's voice was hard and serious as it reached the wagon.

"Your father sounds as if he means it," Chad whispered to Audra Anne.

"He usually does," Audra Anne said, straining her ears to hear more of the conversation.

The sound of gunshots echoed throughout the air. "Grandpa!" Chad yelled, jumping out of the wagon.

"Chad! Wait!" Audra Anne yelled, following the little boy. Right now if her father saw her, it didn't matter. A stray bullet could hurt Chad right now. The little boy stopped in front of the fallen body of Jubal.

As soon as Audra Anne reached the boy, the shooting stopped. "Jarrod, I'm sorry," the sheriff said.

Jarrod looked over at where Chad was crying, Audra Anne's small hand resting on the boy's shoulder. "I think you are a little too late for that," Jarrod said, his eyes and voice sad.

Chad was still crying as Uncle Heath lifted the boy in to his arms. Lucy and Lee joined their cousin as they watched heath carry the boy away.

Jarrod and Nick went to their daughters and niece. "Father, is Chad going to be all right?" Audra Anne asked, looking up at her father.

"I don't know, Audra Anne. I'm concerned though with why you and your cousins are here," Jarrod said, a slight warning in his voice.

"The same reason that happened last time. We were worried and we thought that nothing would happen," Lucy said.

"Lucy, you and your cousin always think that. That's why the two of you get into such trouble," Nick said< his voice as growly as a bear's.

"I'm sorry Papa, Uncle Jarrod," Lucy said, lowering her eyes.

""Me too," Lee said.

"I'm sorry too Father, Uncle Nick," Audra Anne said, lowering her eyes from her father's. Jarrod's eyes were so intense when he was angry that Audra Anne couldn't look at them. They were scary.

"We'll talk about this tomorrow," Jarrod said finally, lifting Audra Anne into his arms. Nick picked up both Lee and Lucy and the Barkleys went home. They didn't know what would happen with the dam now, but all were too tired and disgruntled to think about it.

Chad stood glumly in front of the parlor. His grandfather had been buried the day before and Chad was being forced to go live with his aunt and uncle.

Chad was wearing a new shirt, pants, and jacket. His biggest problem was keeping his shirt buttoned up. "There keep it like that. And try not to tug on it," Audra Said, buttoning his top collar button again.

Audra Anne looked over at her two cousins. Both looked as tired as she felt. Since their little escapade at Oak Meadows their fathers had punished them well. Audra Anne still had blisters on her palms. Their punishment had involved picking grapes out of the vineyards. The vines were sharp and cut into their hands, but it was a sufficient punishment.

Audra Anne looked up as Jarrod entered the house. Jarrod knelt in front of Chad, as he would have done with Audra Anne. "Chad, I just came from a meeting," Jarrod started.

"Do you think your dam will go in now?" Chad asked.

"Yes I think so. The sheriff and, especially, Len Colter, would like to express how sorry they are," Jarrod said, trying to console the boy.

"Those are just words," Chad said, bitterly.

"No, no. They also asked with your permission if they could name the dam, The Jubal Tanner Dam," Jarrod said.

"I don't know," Chad said, glumly.

"Chad, you can continue to feel bitter about what happened, but that wouldn't be what your grandfather would have wanted," Victoria gently said to him.

"She's right, Chad. The thing I've learned about bitterness is that it can eat you up. There were times that I was so angry with my father for the times he ignored me that I let it become part of me. I was wrong. You have to forgive them for what they've done," Audra Anne said, putting her arm around Chad's shoulder.

"The Jubal Tanner Dam? It would have to be as great as he was!" Chad said, a smile lighting up his eyes.

"Let's get Chad to the train station so he won't miss his train," Victoria said, happy that his good spirits had come back.

All the Barkleys were getting ready to walk out, when Chad yelped. "Wait my Bag!"

Chad ran back to get it, causing all of them to laugh. "He sure doesn't talk like any kid I've ever seen!" Nick shouted as they left the house.

The spirits were high as they left for town, not any of them caring what problem Stockton could face next.

A few months later on a nice fall day Audra Anne and Victoria went to the church in Stockton. The weather couldn't have been more beautiful in Audra Anne's opinion. Victoria had decided to go to deliver supplies to the priest in charge of the church. The priest gave the supplies to the Modoc people living on the reservation.

Audra Anne really liked the Spanish style church with its old hymnals and ancient organ. She would spend a few minutes to pray about any problem she was facing.

Audra Anne and Victoria entered the light, cool exterior. It would have been more pleasant if Mr. Tate wasn't there. Mr. Tate was a man that Uncle Nick had fired from the ranch. It was discovered that he had been drinking on the job and Uncle Nick and Uncle Heath preferred sober men on a cattle ranch.

"Well now, if it ain't the queen and her granddaughter?" Tate sneered looking at the two.

"Mr. Tate," Victoria said, her voice edged with steel.

"What are you doing here, Mr. Tate?" Audra Anne asked, politely.

"Doin' some odd jobs for the priest. Jobs I would have had if your son hadn't of fired me," Tate said accused Victoria.

"My son fired you for drinking on the job," Victoria said matter-of-factly.

Before Tate could come up with a smart reply the priest came out of the confessional. "Mrs. Barkley, Audra Anne! What a pleasure to see you!" The priest said, his face wreathed in smiles.

"Hello Father. Audra Anne and I have brought you some food to take to the Modoc reservation," Victoria said, her voice cordial.

"Thank you, Mrs. Barkley. If only my parishioners could be as generous as you and your family," the priest sad, patting Audra Anne's head.

Tate snorted his displeasure at that comment. "Mrs. Barkley, I'm going to go get your supplies," the priest said, walking toward the door.

"Grandma, I'm going to go say hello to that Modoc lady over there," Audra Anne said, indicating an Indian woman who was praying.

The next few moments were like the quiet before the storm. Then it happened. Audra Anne felt the ground shake beneath her feet and then all went black as Audra Anne hit her head on the cool floor.

Audra Anne awoke to a sharp pain in her head. The pain was so terrible that she felt like crying. She touched her head briefly. Audra Anne started as she felt something sticky on her head. It felt like blood. Audra Anne's fingers gently probed her head. There was a huge cut on her forehead.

Victoria stirred slightly beside her. "Grandma?" Audra Anne asked, worried.

"I'm all right. How are you?" Victoria asked, wrapping her arm around Audra Anne's shoulders, trying to help her up.

"Where's Naomi and Tate?" Audra Anne asked, inquiring about the people who had been in the church.

"Over here," Naomi said, her head against the wall.

"I'm alive if anyone cares," Tate said rudely.

Audra Anne and Victoria didn't care much for Tate. They personally thought he was a low life, but they wouldn't have said anything about it.

"Any way out of here?" Tate asked, dropping the rudeness briefly.

'I think so. My husband used to own a mine thats passages intersected with the church,” Victoria said, pushing some silver hair out of her eyes.

"I hope we can find it," Audra Anne said, looking around at the dark room.

"It's here somewhere," Victoria said, her voice echoing in the cavern.

All three started to look around. Naomi laid her hand on her stomach, looking at the three find an entrance. It took all of three minutes to find it.

Audra Anne looked over at the Modoc lady and hauled her up by the arm. "Come on, Naomi. The sooner we get out of here, the better," Audra Anne said, dragging Naomi through the wine cabinet opening.

Victoria grabbed Naomi's other arm and both Victoria and Audra Anne helped the woman along both hoping they could find the way out.

The town of Stockton was absolute chaos as Jarrod, Nick, Heath, Audra, Lucy, and Lee rode in. Smoke from the fires reached their noses, making a few sneeze. Jarrod's heart lurched slightly. All of them were worried about Victoria, but Jarrod had double to worry about.

Audra Anne was with Victoria and if they weren't safe Jarrod would have to bury his daughter with her mother. Jarrod had to mentally shake himself for thinking that. His daughter was as tough as any Barkley. She wouldn't let something like an earthquake kill her if she could help it.

Jarrod was often surprised at his baby girl's toughness. It was like looking at Nick sometimes. Nick was very tough as a ten-year-old. The one consolation Jarrod had was that at least Audra Anne didn’t shout like Nick was prone to do.

Since the earthquake had started the crime had escalated. The looters were breaking into homes and stealing whatever they could get their hands on. To the anger of some people the church was also a target for looters. Because of the heavy gold candlesticks, bowls, and tapestries thieves would have had a field day at the church.

The Barkleys stopped at a tent in the middle of the street. It had been converted to a hospital with the priest acting as supervisor.

"Father, have you seen our mother and Audra Anne?" Nick asked in his forthright manner.

"Yes, but I'm sure they got out of the church. I had to go get the supplies out of your mother's wagon," the priest said, putting a cool cloth on someone's head.

"Was there an Indian girl in the church as well?" Roy Schneider, a merchant in Stockton, asked.

"Naomi? I'm not sure if she got out. She probably did if Audra Anne and Victoria were there to help get her out," the priest said, looking at Schneider over Jarrod's shoulder.

The sheriff's loud voice was heard as he pushed a thief along. The thief wore a big hat and looked as if he hadn't eaten in weeks. "I found this man in the church. He had these on him," the sheriff said, holding out a purse and a small gold locket.

Nick took the purse while Jarrod took the locket. Jarrod felt tears come to his eyes. This was the necklace he had given to Audra Anne when she turned ten. Audra Anne didn't like to take it off because it had her mother's picture in it. Jarrod opened it to see that his picture and Hope's picture hadn't been damaged.

"Where did you find these?" Jarrod asked, looking up from the locket to the thief.

"In the church. They was jes' layin' there on the floor, the man said, his voice squeaking.

"Did you see the people they belonged to? A woman and a ten-year-old girl?" Heath asked.

"No. I didn't see anyone," the thief insisted.

"Look, I gave this to my daughter on her birthday. You are sure you didn't see her. She has long black hair and shining greenish-gray eyes," Jarrod said, holding out the locket.

"I didn't see her. The church was completely empty. And if that's your kid's necklace she should know bettter'n to wear it where it can get stolen," the thief said, his tone sounding as if he were mocking.

Jarrod's mouth got hard and angry. This man had no right to slam his daughter like that. Audra Anne wore this necklace without regard for losing it. Jarrod put the necklace in his coat pocket. If he found his daughter she would want her necklace back.

"Jarrod, why don't we go to the church?" Heath asked, breaking Jarrod's train of thoughts.

"That's a good idea, Heath. If Mother and Audra Anne are still in there, they may be wounded," Jarrod said, taking a few deep breaths.

"The girls and I are coming with you," Audra said, making a decision for herself, Lucy, and Lee.

"No you're not. The inside of that church may be unstable. You and the girls are not going inside," Nick ordered in a stern voice.

"THEY'RE MY MOTHER AND NIECE TOO! WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING! SOMEONE DO SOMETHING!" Audra screamed, bursting into tears.

Heath took his sister in his arms and hugged her tight. "It's all right, Sis," Heath said in a comforting, gentle tone. It was the same tone he would have used if Lee, Lucy, or Audra Anne were upset.

"We'll go in the church. We'll let you know if we find something," Jarrod promised his sister and nieces.

"I'm coming with you!" Roy Schneider said, running to catch up to the brothers. All four men entered the church, worried for the people that may be trapped inside.

The basement was cold as Audra Anne walked beside her grandmother and Naomi. Mr. Tate was scowling the whole time. Apparently being trapped in a basement due to an earthquake hadn't done a whole lot to improve his disposition.

Audra Anne pushed her hair out of her eyes as she tried not to let on how chilly the air was. Naomi had no such qualms. "It feels cold in here," the Modoc lady said as she tried to keep up with Victoria and Audra Anne's steps.

"The sooner we get there, the sooner you and your baby can get out of this cold air," Victoria said, patting Naomi's arm.

"What kind of baby do you want, Naomi? A boy or a girl?" Audra Anne asked, trying in an attempt to get everyone's mind off the cold air.

"I don't care," Naomi said flatly.

"You don't care what kind of baby you have?" Victoria asked shocked at the Indian woman's response.

"I never wanted this baby. The baby's father is a white man who said he loved me!" Naomi said, her voice close to breaking.

Audra Anne felt sorry for Naomi. The Indian woman's attitude toward her baby was an awful lot like Jarrod's attitude toward her when she was born. Jarrod payed a whole lot more of attention to her lately, but Audra Anne seriously doubted how long her father would be this way.

"Naomi, Don’t talk like that. When I was born my father didn't like me," Audra Anne said, taking the woman's hand in hers.

"Why?" Naomi asked, puzzled. Audra Anne seemed like a nice girl to her.

"Because my mother's death was because of me," Audra Anne said bluntly.

"What Audra Anne is saying Naomi is that you should want to have this baby," Victoria said.

'What about my baby's father? He's married and would he take responsibility for it?" Naomi said fretfully.

No one had any response to that. Victoria and the others continue to walk as Naomi's problem was on their minds.

Jarrod, Nick, Heath, and Roy Schneider entered the church, worried about what they would find. Inside the church was totally messed up with beams all over the place. Beams and other pieces of wood blocked the door to the basement.

Jarrod removed his jacket and looked at the door to the basement. If Audra Anne and Victoria were anywhere in the church they would be in the basement. Jarrod would have banked on it.

Jarrod placed his hands on the beams and tried to move them. They were impossible to move. Nick put his hand on Jarrod's shoulder. "Pappy, we're going to have to have help in moving these," Nick said gruffly.

"Nick, I have to get them moved. My daughter may be in there," Jarrod said, his eyes misting over.

"Jarrod, I know how much Audra Anne means to ya. We'll do everything to get her and Mother out, but right now it won't do to let your emotions go," Nick said, in a way of trying to make his brother feel better.

"Nick, that is my daughter. If it were Lucy in there you'd understand why I feel the way I do! So stay out of it!" Jarrod said sharply.

Nick flinched inwardly. Jarrod was really upset. One more word and Jarrod might hit him. Heath put his hand on Jarrod's shoulder.

"Jarrod, Nick is just tryin' to help," Heath said, trying to be a peacemaker.

"Unless any of you lose your daughter, don't tell me anything about how I feel," Jarrod snapped, turning back to the beams in front of the basement.

The four men tried to help Jarrod move the heavy beams without any success. "There has to be a way in there," Heath said, wiping his brow with his bandana.

"I think there was another way into the church. It was a mine our father opened years ago. Some of the passages intersected with the church basement," Jarrod said, running his hands through his black hair.

Nick, Heath, and Roy looked at Jarrod. "Do you remember the way in?" Nick asked his brother.

"No, but the assay office would probably know," Jarrod said, putting on his coat and hat.

"I'm going there," Heath said, walking out the door.

"I'm going with you," Roy volunteered. No one knew then that Roy didn't want Victoria, Audra Anne or Naomi, the Modoc Woman, to be found.

Audra Anne's feet were starting to get chilled through her thick leather shoes. It felt as if she wasn't wearing any shoes at all. If Audra Anne felt this bad, how did Naomi and Victoria feel?

Audra Anne was starting to feel sleepy too. She felt like lying down and possibly never getting up again. The only thing that kept her going was that her father would want her to keep going. Or would he? She had given him nothing but pain from the day she was born.

Audra Anne stumbled over a loose rock, falling flat on her face. 'Audra Anne!" Victoria exclaimed, trying to help her granddaughter up. Audra Anne grasped her grandmother's hand and took a few deep breaths of air. The air was starting to smell old and stale.

"Come on, Audra Anne. You have to get up," Victoria said, plucking a strand of Audra Anne's hair away from her bright red cheeks.

"I can't!" Audra Anne exclaimed, her voice revealing the despair in her voice.

"Please try, Audra Anne. Do it for your father," Victoria said, her voice turning firm.

"Why? I ruined my father's life," Audra Anne said, the tears rolling down her face.

"So you're just going to lay there and feel sorry for yourself? No you don't, Audra Anne Barkley. If I have to carry you out I will. Prove you're your father's daughter and a Barkley. Barkleys don't give up and neither do they wallow in self-pity," Victoria said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Audra Anne looked at her grandmother. Her grandmother's words were harsh, but true. Audra Anne loved her father and he loved her. She HAD to get up. Jarrod Barkley wouldn't expect less from her than that.

Jarrod and Nick continued to try to move the beams when Heath, Schneider, and the sheriff came into the church. By the looks on Heath and the sheriff's faces they were upset.

"What happened?" Jarrod asked his younger brother.

"Schneider here burned the plans that lead into the mine!" Heath exploded, his face bright red with anger.

"You WHAT?" Jarrod roared, looking at Schneider, his eyes burning with rage.

"Why would you do that? That's our mother and Jarrod's daughter down there?" Nick asked, barely controlling the urge to pop Schneider in the mouth.

Before Schneider could answer Jarrod grabbed Schneider by the front of his shirt. "My daughter could die on account of you. Is whatever secret you had worth the life of a ten-year-old girl?" Jarrod asked, his voice low and deadly calm.

"Jarrod, he's not worth your anger," Heath said, putting a hand on Jarrod's back.

"He's right, Jarrod. Right now, finding Audra Anne and Mother is more important. The law will punish him," Nick said, for once being the logical one.

Jarrod walked back over to his brothers. "Is there some other way to get them out?" Heath asked his two brothers.

"Father and Mother knew about the mine. Is there anyone else who could have known?" Nick asked Jarrod.

"The only other one who could have known would be old Jeff out at the ranch," Jarrod said.

"I'll go get 'em," Heath said, running to the door.

"Jarrod, I'll send some men to help you move those beams," the sheriff said.

"Thanks, Fred," Jarrod said, turning back to the beams.

The men continued to work on the beams, with the hope that old Jeff might help them find the entrance to the mine.

Audra Anne sat next to Naomi as they took a brief break. It was getting harder to breathe in this place as the air became nearly intolerable.

The air had to be thinning as they got closer to the entrance to the mine. Naomi was having a harder time, Audra Anne was sure.

A scream of pain from Naomi jarred everyone from there thoughts.

Audra Anne took the Indian woman's hand and tried not to wince as Naomi nearly succeeded in breaking it. "Naomi, are you all right?" Audra Anne asked, pushing back a lock of black hair out of Naomi's eyes.

"I can't go on!" Naomi screamed.

"You have to Naomi!" Victoria said, her voice harsh with worry.

"Just leave me here to die!" Naomi said, her voice sounding as if she had lost all hope of getting out.

"Maybe we should all do as the squaw says," Tate said, sounding cruel.

"You can stay here if you want to, Mr. Tate. But we are not leaving Naomi and her baby to die," Victoria said, her eyes hard.

"Grandma, how are we going to get her out? We'll never be able to carry her and the baby," Audra Anne fretted as she put one of Naomi's arms over her shoulder.

"This is all your son's fault your highness. If he hadn't fired me, I wouldn't be down here!" Tate said, his tone turning to blame.

"How do you figure, Mr. Tate? Uncle Nick fired you for being drunk on the job. He had every right to fire you," Audra Anne said, fed up with Tate's complaining.

In a flash of anger Tate reached out and slapped Audra Anne hard across the mouth. Audra Anne felt the tears come to her eyes as she turned to help Victoria with Naomi.

"Mr. Tate, don't you ever strike my granddaughter again," Victoria said, her voice deadly and even.

The foursome continued on their way, a new burden being added to them. If they didn't get Naomi to a doctor now, then Naomi and the baby would die.

Everyone stared in shock at what Roy Schneider had just said. The Modoc woman in the basement was carrying his baby and he was willing to kill an elderly lady and a girl to hide his guilt.

Roy's wife Ann stood there with tears in her eyes. Her husband's affair had truly broken her heart.

"I am sorry," Roy repeated, not looking at any of the Barkleys in the eyes.

Jarrod looked at the man. Years of being a lawyer had taught him when a person was lying. Roy wasn't sorry that he might have killed his mother and daughter, he was sorry that he had been caught.

"As soon as old Jeff shows up, I hope he can lead us into another entrance in the mine," Jarrod said, his tone revealing the urgency that they needed to hurry.

"Don't worry, Jarrod. We'll get Audra Anne out. You are not going to lose her," Nick said, clapping his older brother's shoulder.

Jarrod hoped Nick was right. With the air in the mine getting lower his daughter's chance for survival was slim. Jarrod looked up to Heaven asking God for help. If anyone could help now, it was God.

....Continued