Jarrod, Nick, Heath, Audra, Lucy, and Lee waited as old Jeff looked around. Jarrod couldn't hold his tongue any longer as Jeff walked around.

"Can you find the entrance, Jeff?" Jarrod asked the old man.

"I don't know, Mr. Jarrod. It's been a long time since I've been to this area. The land has changed," Jeff said, apologetically looking at Jarrod and his family.

'Please try, Jeff. My mother and daughter's lives are at stake," Jarrod said, trying to stop himself from crying.

'Yes Sir. I understand how you feel. I started that mine with your mother and father. We were all the best of friends," Jeff said, trying to sound comforting. He knew the lawyer loved his daughter so much that the thought of her dying was something he didn't like to think about.

Jeff remembered the depression and despair Jarrod had sunk into when his wife, Hope Barkley, died. Right now Miss Audra Anne was all Jarrod had left to remind himself of Hope. If he lost Audra Anne it would be like losing Hope all over again.

'Hurry, Jeff," Audra said, breaking the old man's thoughts.

Jeff went around looking for the entrance. After about fifteen minutes Jeff gave a shout.

"Here it is!" Jeff shouted to the brothers.

The brothers started to pull away brush and rocks away from the mine entrance; Audra and the girls keeping their distance. Jarrod felt his heart lurch. He hoped Audra Anne was all right. All he knew was that when he found her she would see her father cry for the first time in her life.

After Tate's death things got relatively worse. Naomi now screamed in pain every five minutes. The baby wanted to be born now.

"Grandma, we're going to have to stop. The baby-" Audra Anne said, her lips blue with the cold and her face ashen-gray.

Victoria nodded. She looked as bad as Audra Anne did. Audra Anne and Victoria helped Naomi sit on the cold floor. Audra Anne sank down next to the Indian woman, her exhaustion showing in her dull greenish-gray eyes.

She fell asleep, not hearing what was happening. The dream she had in the cave was so nice. She dreamed she was at home. Home was so nice and wasn't cold like this cave. The sound of a baby's crying shattered the dream.

Audra Anne opened her heavy eyelids and she saw a small bundle in her grandmother's arms. Naomi was quiet and appeared to be asleep.

Audra Anne smiled faintly. "Grandma, is the baby all right?" Audra Anne asked, her voice cracking with tiredness.

"He's all right. Would you like to hold him?" Victoria asked, holding out the baby to her granddaughter.

"I never held a baby before. I won't drop him, will I?" Audra Anne asked, as Victoria put the baby on Audra Anne's shoulder.

"No. Just lay still," Victoria said, running her hand through Audra Anne's tangled black hair.

"I'm so tired. Wish I could see Father," Audra Anne mumbled, her voice getting fainter as she drifted back to sleep.

Victoria also fell asleep, Her hand on the baby's back. The hours sped by unknown to any of them.

The entrance to the mine was cleared in a matter of hours. Jarrod ran into the mine followed by his brothers and Audra. "Mother!" Audra yelled.

"Audra Anne!" Jarrod's voice followed that of his sister's. Jarrod knew well how stale and thin this air was. If Audra Anne was all right he could breathe a sigh of relief.

As the foursome walked they nearly missed the three figures asleep on the floor. Victoria woke up bleary-eyed. "Jarrod, Heath, Nick Audra!" Victoria's voice croaked.

The siblings all turned to see Victoria trying to stand. Audra ran to her mother, hugging and crying all at once. Jarrod looked down to see his daughter still asleep on the rock floor, a baby on her shoulder.

Jarrod took the baby off her shoulder and handed him to Victoria. Jarrod cupped her face and rubbed her cheeks with his hands. Her face was freezing cold and only her shallow breathing told Jarrod that she was alive.

"Wake up, Audra Anne. It's me, Father," Jarrod said, pushing her tangled hair away from her face.

Audra Anne's eyes opened to the merest slit and a ghost of a smile touched her lips briefly. "Father?" Audra Anne asked, her voice very faint.

Jarrod pulled her into his arms and gently stroked her head. "Try not to talk, Honey," Jarrod gently told his daughter as he picked her up.

"I was so scared," Audra Anne whispered in Jarrod's ear as she passed out again, her head falling into Jarrod's chest.

Jarrod looked at his daughter. He would give her necklace when she woke up. He just hoped that the mine wouldn't kill her as it did the Indian woman. Apparently Naomi had died and Victoria and Audra Anne weren't aware of it.

Audra Anne woke up to the sounds of people's voices. She remembered being trapped in the basement with Victoria and Naomi.

Am I in Heaven? Audra Anne thought sluggishly, as she tried to force her heavy eyelids open.

Her father's voice reached through the fog in her brain. "How is she, Doctor?" Jarrod asked, his voice sounding concerned. It was then that Audra Anne felt her father's fingers on her forehead. They gently pushed back her hair. Audra Anne felt tears come into her eyes. That whole time in the basement she had wanted her father and now he was here.

Audra Anne opened her eyes. The area where she was spun for a moment as her eyes tried to focus. The room stopped spinning as she looked up at her father. She moaned and put her hands on her eyes.

Jarrod looked down on her in surprise. "Audra Anne!" Jarrod said, his voice betraying all the fear and anxiety he had felt in the last few hours.

Audra Anne looked into her father's concerned blue eyes. He was still very worried; even though she and Victoria had gotten out of the basement alive.

"Father," Audra Anne moaned, her voice cracking slightly with tears.

Jarrod felt his heart wrench. At the tears in his baby girl's voice he drew her into his arms and hugged her tight. Audra Anne returned the hug, happy that her father did love her enough to come and rescue her from the mine.

Jarrod looked into her eyes. The tears spilled over onto her cheeks and onto his hands that were cupping her face.

"I was so scared," Audra Anne sobbed, looking into her father's eyes.

"Would ya believe Uncle Jarrod was too?" Lee came over asking her cousin.

Audra Anne looked up at her red-haired cousin. "I believe it, Lee. How's Grandma and Naomi?" Audra Anne asked her father, turning her eyes away from Lee.

"Your grandmother's fine. But who's Naomi?" Jarrod asked puzzled.

"The Modoc woman we were with. The baby belongs to her," Audra Anne asked, getting upset at her father's confusion.

Jarrod then remembered the woman who had died in the mine. "I'm sorry, Audra Anne. Naomi died in the mine," Jarrod said, wishing it was anyone but himself giving her this news.

Audra Anne's face turned pale. "I don't believe you," Audra Anne whispered in shock.

"Your father is telling you the truth, Audra Anne. Naomi died in the mine," Victoria said, placing her hand on Audra Anne's thin shoulder.

"What about the baby, Grandma?" Audra Anne said, tears filling her eyes again.

"If the father won't take responsibility for it, we'll raise it," Victoria said, a determined glint in her hazel eyes.

"Are you up to raising a baby, Grandma?" Lucy asked, looking up at her grandmother.

"Of course. I raised Audra Anne after her mother died. I can raise this baby too," Victoria said, ruffling Audra Anne's tangled black hair.

"MOTHER, THIS BABY IS HALF-MODOC!" Nick shouted in shock.

"Uncle Nick, we are quite aware of that. You don't have to break the sound barrier," Audra Anne said testily.

"And if memory serves me correctly, Nick, Tom Lightfoot was a friend of yours and he lived with us. He was full-blooded Modoc," Victoria said, mentioning a friend of the family who was away at Harvard to become a lawyer.

At Nick's tongue-tied expression Audra Anne, Lucy, and Lee giggled. "Mother's right, Nick. If Schneider won't take responsibility we'll raise the baby," Jarrod said, sounding like the older brother.

"All right! You win!" Nick said, throwing his hands in the air in surrender.

Keeping the baby would end up not being an option for the Barkleys though. Someone would take the baby in, but not Victoria.

The Barkley family gathered as the priest baptized Naomi's baby. Audra Anne stood next to Jarrod, wiping the smudges off her face with her father's handkerchief.

Victoria held the baby in her arms as the priest blessed it. As the family turned to leave they heard a voice come to them over where Roy and Ann Schneider were. "Mrs. Barkley, may I have the baby?" Ann asked, stretching her arms out to the baby.

"You want the responsibility of this child?" The priest asked, surprised as everyone looked.

"Yes. I can't have children and I'll be willing to take this one," Ann said, her voice full of emotion.

Victoria handed the baby over to Ann, with some reluctance. In the space of a few hours Victoria had grown to love the baby as a mother would.

"This child was born in the dark. It has been now brought into the light of a mother's love," the priest said, by way of blessing the baby.

Ann walked away, holding the baby tightly in her arms. Roy joined his wife outside. A look of sadness crossed Ann's face as Roy joined her. Roy wrapped his arm around his wife and the couple walked toward the store. As the Barkleys watched them leave Audra Anne felt happy. The baby was going to have a mother to love it. She didn't know if the baby's father and mother would ever tell him that his real mother was an Indian, but it was enough for the moment that he had a mother to love him.

"Well now, young lady, let's get your grandmother home," Jarrod said, pushing his daughter's chin up so he could look into her eyes.

"Sounds great. I still feel kind of tired," Audra Anne admitted, yawning a little.

"I think we should take baths first," Victoria reminded her granddaughter.

"Sounds great too. I plan to take a bubble bath. My feet ache from all the walking we did. And then I'd like to eat a three-inch steak," Audra Anne said, her mouth watering slightly at the mention of food.

The whole family walked to Victoria's buggy. "Why don't you let me drive?" Victoria asked as Heath took up the reins.

"Right now, you two are going to be treated as queens. I'll drive," Jarrod said gallantly. He took the reins from Heath and drove home. Halfway to the ranch Audra Anne fell asleep, not caring what could happen to Stockton or her family next. All she wanted was sleep and know she wasn't going to die this day.

Three weeks later Audra Anne, Lee, and Lucy were with Heath while he met the train. A gold shipment was expected for the Barkleys and Heath and the girls would ride home with Jarrod as soon as it was delivered.

"Hey, Mr. Barkley!" Elmer, the stationmaster said by way of greeting.

"Hello Elmer. Is our gold shipment in?" Heath asked. The gold shipment was of utmost importance to the family. This was the first time since Heath had arrived that Nick trusted him to handle some of the Barkley wealth. It was different than when Heath had to go see why mineworkers were going on strike at the Barkley-Sierra Mine. He hadn't come in direct contact with any of the wealth that time.

"I think so, Mr. Barkley. I'll go check," Elmer said, going to check a train's baggage car.

"Uncle Heath, do you really think the gold may be on that train?" Lucy asked the question that all three cousins were thinking.

"It should be, Lu. Your father and Uncle Jarrod have never steered me wrong before," Heath said, looking down at the girls. In the time of barely a year, he had grown to love his brothers’ children as much as he loved his daughter. Audra Anne believed him when no one else had and she was his strongest ally when Nick had resented him. Lucy was brave and she definitely had her father's temper.

A man's shout reached them from the direction of the alley beside the train station. Heath and the girls started at the shout.

"Stay here!" Heath sharply ordered the girls. He took off running in the direction of the shout. Audra Anne, Lucy, and Lee took one look at each other and followed him.

Heath touched the side of the man's throat. There was no pulse. From the streetlights above Heath recognized the man as Colonel Ashby. The way it looked he hadn't been dead for long. Three sets of feet came to a shocked halt besides Heath.

"It's Colonel Ashby!" Lucy yelped in surprise. Colonel Ashby was well known in Stockton. He was extremely wealthy and his wife worked with Audra at the children's home. At this moment Audra and Mrs. Ashby were trying to get a new home for the orphans as the present one was too small.

"Didn't I tell you three children to stay put?" Heath asked, exasperated.

Audra Anne ignored the question by asking another one. "Who do you think killed him, Uncle Heath?" Audra Anne asked, gesturing to Ashby.

"I don't know. But I think he's still around here somewhere," Heath said, his eyes combing the shadows. A figure took off running. Heath ran after him, the girls on his heels. Heath knocked the man to the ground and spun him around by his shoulders.

He looked into the eyes of Korbie Kyles. Korbie Kyles and his family were not good people. Over the years they had caused much mischief in Stockton. A lot of people wished the Kyleses would leave for good, but apparently that was wishful thinking. Until now.

"Korbie Kyles!" Audra Anne said in shock.

"Audra Anne, you and the girls go get the sheriff and Jarrod," Heath said, his voice all serious.

"Yes, Uncle Heath. Come on Lucy, Lee," Audra Anne said, running through the streets to the sheriff's office, her cousins on her heels.

Audra Anne yawned briefly as she ate breakfast. She looked up to see Jarrod giving her a sharp look. While he understood why his daughter was tired, he didn't approve of her yawning without covering her mouth.

Because Heath and the girls were the only witnesses to Colonel Ashby's death, the sheriff and Jarrod had questioned them thoroughly the night before. Heath, Jarrod, and the girls hadn't gotten home until well past two o'clock in the morning. Then they had to get up at five. All Audra Anne wanted to do was go back to bed. It took all her self-control not to fall asleep at the table. Jarrod would have looked angrier at her falling asleep than yawning at the table.

"Heath, are you sure that it was Korbie Kyles you and the girls saw?" Victoria asked, after taking a sip of her coffee.

"Mother, what other proof do you need? Besides the girls saw it was Korbie Kyles too. Isn't that what you said when you saw it was Korbie Kyles, Audra Anne?" Nick demanded of his niece.

"Yes Sir. I'm not blind ya know," Audra Anne said, her voice sharper than she intended.

Everyone overlooked her sharp tone. She was tired from not enough sleep and that made her cranky.

"See that, Mother. The whole Kyles clan is as guilty as sin. It was just a matter of time before one of them actually killed someone," Nick said judgmentally.

"I just feel sorry for Mrs. Ashby. I think I'll ask her if she wants to postpone the building of the new orphanage," Audra said, putting her two cents in.

"That may be a good idea, Honey. She has to have time to grieve," Jarrod said, proud of Audra's caring heart.

A loud ruckus came out of the dining room. Jacob Kyles followed by his two sons, Alan and Emment came into the dining room. Silas was at the rear looking apologetic.

"Jacob," Victoria said, rising from her place at the table.

Everyone else stood from their place. 'Hello Victoria. We're here to see Jarrod," Jacob said, after nudging his sons to remove their hats in the presence of ladies.

"What is it you want, Jacob?" Jarrod asked, his tone like that of a lawyer's. Audra Anne knew that tone well. It implied that her father was upset that these people came into his house, but he wouldn't yell or get mad.

"Well, I've been to countless lawyers and they won't take my boy's case. And I was wonderin' if you would do it," Jake said.

"Jake, think of why those other lawyers turned you down. And besides my brother, daughter, and nieces are the main witnesses against your son," Jarrod said, wrapping his arm around Audra Anne's thin shoulder.

"You always treated people fair and square. Any way who'd believe him? He's not really a Barkley anyway," Jake said, making every Barkley mad.

"Jake, I'll try to overlook that remark. Also my daughter is no liar. If I took your side I'd have to prove that my own daughter was lying," Jarrod said, his voice tight with anger.

"So you're like everyone else in town. I always heard you Barkleys were fair people. You feel that my boy should die for somethin' he didn't do," Jake said, accusing Jarrod.

"I think you should leave now," Nick said, his voice like a mantra's.

The room was as quiet as a tomb after the Kyleses left. Audra Anne looked at her father as he pushed food around on his plate with his fork.

"Father, do you think Mr. Kyles would find a lawyer for Korbie?" Audra Anne asked, grabbing one of her black braids and twirling it around in her hand.

"Probably," Jarrod answered absent-mindedly.

"Does that mean we have to testify, Uncle Jarrod?" Lee asked, her green eyes worried.

"Possibly. If there is a trial I can ask the judge if the lawyers can refrain from using you three girls as witnesses," Jarrod said, his tone sounding protective of his three nieces.

"What if you can't, Father?" Audra Anne asked, putting her hands on her father's arm.

This was one question Jarrod couldn't answer. If he couldn't keep his daughter off the witness stand, she'd have to testify. Quite frankly Jarrod was interested in this case. He felt that maybe he should investigate. Maybe Heath and the girls hadn't seen what they thought they saw. Maybe Jarrod could prove them wrong, but there was a slight inkling they could be right. If that was the case Audra Anne might be very angry with him for a long time. Right now Jarrod was confused about everything.

Jarrod walked down the streets of Stockton, determined to find out what happened the previous night with colonel Ashby and Korbie Kyles. Jarrod still wasn't entirely sure if Heath and the girls had seen what they saw. He knew that thinking that was calling Audra Anne a liar, but Jarrod still couldn't shake his doubts.

After getting a haircut at the barber's, Jarrod stepped out feeling the cool October air on his neck. It was a relief to be out of the barber's. All he had heard there was how guilty Korbie Kyles was and how he couldn't get out of it because of Audra Anne and Heath's testimony.

Jarrod was also thinking that if he could take the case that maybe he could prevent Audra Anne from testifying. The other lawyer could question her, but Audra Anne would not be cross-examined by her father. He was a lawyer, but he was a father first.

Jarrod's thoughts were interrupted by the squeals of children. Audra, Audra Anne, and two children were walking down the boardwalk. Audra Anne held the hand of a six-year-old girl while Audra held the hand of a little boy. Audra Anne had her mother's heart for orphans. The 10 months that they were married Hope had thrown herself into helping Victoria with the orphans at the orphan's home. Hope loved children dearly and the orphans loved her just as much.

"Father!" Audra Anne exclaimed, running to him to give him a hug and kiss his cheek.

"How's my favorite girl?" Jarrod asked, pulling on one of her braids gently.

"I'm fine, Father," Audra Anne took a look at her father's haircut. "It looks good, Father."

Jarrod ran a hand over the back of his neck. "Thank you, Audra Anne. Audra, who's your friends?" Jarrod said to his sister, patting the little girl on the head.

"Oh these are two of the children from the children's home. Audra Anne and I are taking them to the general store. Children, take this silver dollar and go buy yourselves some candy," Audra Anne said, putting a silver dollar in the little boy's hand.

The two children scampered off. "How's Mrs. Ashby?" Jarrod asked his sister and daughter.

"As well as can be expected since her husband was killed," Audra Anne said, her tone blunt.

"Is she still going to help you with the children's home?" Jarrod asked Audra.

"Yes. She said that she wants something to keep her mind off the Colonel's death," Audra said, tearing up slightly.

"Well, I better be going. I have to run an errand to the jail," Jarrod said, kissing his sister's cheek and Audra Anne's forehead.

"Why do you have to go to the jail, Father?" Audra Anne asked, puzzled.

"I've been investigating what happened last night. I think Korbie Kyles could tell me his side of the story," Jarrod said, knowing this comment would rile her up.

To Jarrod's surprise Audra Anne didn't look upset. "All right. I hope Korbie Kyles's story is different from what Uncle Heath and myself told you," Audra Anne said, her greenish-gray eyes expressionless.

"Come on, Audra Anne. Let's go check on the children," Audra said, touching her niece's shoulder gently.

"Yes Ma'am, Aunt Audra," Audra Anne followed her aunt into the general store. Jarrod felt his heart sink like a stone. Audra Anne hadn't appeared angry, but she didn't say goodbye or kissed him goodbye just before she entered the store. Audra Anne was angry. She was just not going to show she was angry where all of Stockton could see her.

Jarrod entered the sheriff's office. He could hear Korbie Kyles yelling from the cellblock. The sheriff was filling out paperwork as Jarrod stood in front of him.

"Hello, Fred," Jarrod said, trying to get the lawman's attention.

"Jarrod! How's Audra Anne?" Fred asked. Fred had been one of Harry Lyman's deputies. He was the only deputy that really cared about people. His question showed that he was concerned how the Kyles case would affect Jarrod's daughter.

'She's a little angry with me right now," Jarrod said, shrugging his shoulders.

"What did you do?" Fred asked instantly. He knew that Jarrod and his daughter didn't exactly get along at times. When it came to Audra Anne Barkley's temper she was just like her father.

"I said I wanted to question Korbie Kyles about what happened last night," Jarrod said, putting his hat back on his head.

Fred whistled and shook his head. "I'm just glad Audra Anne's not my daughter. She may be angry with you for a long time," Fred said, keeping his tone light.

"Tell me something I don't know," Jarrod muttered under his breath.

Jarrod went into the cellblock. Korbie lay on a cot, staring at the ceiling. "Mr. Jarrod Barkley is here to talk to you, Kyles," the sheriff said, his voice dripping with scorn and contempt.

Korbie looked at Jarrod. "Mr. Barkley, what are ya doing here? Your kid's testimony could get me hung," Korbie said, standing to his feet.

"I'm here to see if there is any reason I should doubt my brother's and daughter's testimonies," Jarrod said tightly.

"You hear those clowns out there. I'm a Kyles. I deserve to die," Korbie said, sarcastically.

"It doesn't matter if you deserve to die, Korbie. It matters only if you are guilty or innocent," Jarrod pointed out.

"Well, I didn't," Korbie said, looking straight into Jarrod's eyes.

"My daughter and brother said they saw you run out of the shadows," Jarrod said, hoping for an explanation to that.

"Yah, they saw me. But I saw who really did it and I was terrified that they might catch me," Korbie admitted.

"Who did it?" Jarrod prodded.

"Some China man. They all look the same to me. I saw the China man stab Colonel Ashby and then run off," Korbie said, his sarcasm gone.

"Why would a Chinese worker stab Colonel Ashby?" Jarrod asked, interested in Korbie's revelation.

"Well, the Colonel was doin' somethin' he oughtn't of. I was involved in an illegal opium ring and China men and myself helped distribute it," Korbie said, sounding like he was having a tooth pulled.

Jarrod was silent a few seconds as he pondered the story. "I should have known that you were incapable of telling the truth," Jarrod said finally, sounding disgruntled.

"Well thanks, Jarrod," Korbie said, sounding pleased that his lie hadn't worked.

Jarrod's eyes turned steely and his mouth hard. "Don't you ever call me Jarrod," Jarrod said, his voice low and deadly calm.

The stupid look fled from Korbie's eyes as he looked at Jarrod. "Now why would a man like Colonel Ashby involve himself in Opium?" Jarrod asked, his anger leaving as quickly as it had come.

"He wasn't all high and mighty like he appeared to be. He was involved in that opium ring up to his neck," Korbie said.

Jarrod nodded his head. "I'm going back to my office. I'll think about taking your case. No one else in town's going to do it," Jarrod said.

Jarrod felt more like a snake now for wanting to take this case. Audra Anne, forgive me, Jarrod thought, tears coming to his eyes as he walked to his office.

He knew that as soon as he got home he would tell his daughter that he would take the case. But there was one thing he would not do; question her like a witness in front of a court of law.

Audra Anne sat on the stone bench that was next to her mother's grave. She didn't come by here as often as she used to. It was only when she was sad and miserable that she came.

If she knew her father's morals he was going to defend Korbie Kyles. Why, she had no idea. She knew that that awful man needed a lawyer, but why did it have to be her father to defend him? There were plenty of lawyers in Stockton. Jarrod didn't have to keep sticking his neck out for people like Korbie Kyles.

"Hello, Beautiful," Jarrod's voice broke into her thoughts. Audra Anne looked up to see her father on Jingo. “what are you doing here?" Jarrod asked, dismounting and sitting next to her.

"I came to put flowers on Mother's grave if you must know," Audra Anne said testily.

"I don't appreciate your tone of voice, Audra Anne Barkley. Change it, please," Jarrod said, his tone and eyes stern.

'Sorry," Audra Anne said, her voice close to breaking.

Jarrod put his hand on her shoulder. "Audra Anne, I know you are angry with me for taking the case. Believe me, Sweetheart, the last thing I want to do is hurt you," Jarrod said, stroking her long black hair gently.

"Then why do you have to defend that awful man? There are plenty of lawyers in Stockton. Why does it have to be you?" Audra Anne asked, looking her father in the eye.

"Audra Anne, as a lawyer I have to believe that every man is innocent until proven guilty," Jarrod said, gently massaging her face with his hand.

"I know, but is it at the expense of Uncle Heath and me? Like let's say we were wrong and we didn't see what we thought we saw; people are going to think little of us," Audra Anne said, the hopelessness in her eyes.

Jarrod's heart felt sick at his daughter's confession. Jarrod hugged her, cradling her head against his chest. “Audra Anne, I wouldn't think little of you. I would just say you made an honest mistake," Jarrod said, brushing her ears with his fingertips.

"In that courtroom you're going to have prove I'm a liar. You'll put me on the witness stand," Audra Anne said, finally allowing the tears to fall.

Jarrod gently wiped her tears away with his hand. "Audra Anne, I'm going to see that that doesn't happen. I'll put your Uncle Heath on the stand, but I'll ask Green if we could question you in the judge's office," Jarrod said, forcing his daughter's chin up so he could look into her eyes.

"You're not going to have me testify in front of everyone?" Audra Anne asked, her voice squeaking slightly.

"No I'm not. I may be Korbie Kyle's attorney, but you are my daughter. Your feelings are more important to me than this case. I don't have to hurt you in a court of law to make a name for myself as a lawyer. Your feelings do matter to me, Honey," Jarrod said firmly.

"I'm still upset that you would consider doing this case, but I can live with it," Audra Anne said, burying her face in Jarrod's chest.

Jarrod smiled and kissed her forehead. "I love you, Audra Anne Barkley," Jarrod said, pushing her hair behind her ear.

"I love you too, Father," Audra Anne said, kissing his cheek.

"Well, young lady, let's go home for dinner," Jarrod said, tweaking her nose gently.

"Yes Sir," Audra Anne said. Both of them mounted their horses. The talk with her father had helped Audra Anne sort out her feelings, but what was Nick and everyone else in the family going to say about this?

This was the worst argument that Audra Anne had ever heard between her father and Uncle Nick. Uncle Nick's face was five different shades of red and smoke was practically coming out of his ears and nose.

Jarrod was actually not doing any of the yelling, but when it came to shouting Nick did it better than any member of the family.

Audra Anne stood there unnoticed by her father and uncle. Lucy and Lee were doing their chores. Audra Anne had finished early in her chores and had come to get an apple from the bowl in the hallway. Apparently Nick and Jarrod hadn't heard her come in.

"I'LL HAVE TO SIDE WITH AUDRA ANNE ON THIS ONE, JARROD!!! WHY DEFEND KYLES? HE'S NOT WORTH IT!!!!" Nick shouted. If it was possible for a shout to get any louder Nick's could.

"Nick, I am quite capable of hearing you without you shouting," Jarrod said, his tone frosty.

"Do you have any idea who you'll have to discredit when you get into that courtroom? Our brother and our daughters! Are you willing to do that to your own daughter?" Nick asked, furious that Jarrod would even do it.

"Nick, I talked to Audra Anne. She understands that I have to do this," Jarrod said, his voice calming.

"Well she has a better understanding of you than I do. But why would you defend Korbie Kyles? He's a no-account bum," Nick protested.

"Nick, every man is innocent until proven guilty," Jarrod said, hoping that statement would work.

"Jarrod, the Kyles family came here when we did. Jake has had the same chances to raise those boys as Mother and Father raised us and you, Heath, and myself raise our daughters. He hasn't. He has let those boys do whatever they wanted without caring how it hurt people. Korbie's behavior has just been nipped in the bud," Nick said, trying to get Jarrod to see reason.

"Nick, I just believe that Heath and the girls may have made an honest mistake," Jarrod said, his blue eyes stubborn.

"You do what you have to, but without any support on your decision from me," Nick said, storming out of the room.

By that time Heath had joined Audra Anne in the foyer and both had heard the conversation. Jarrod looked at his blond brother and Audra Anne.

"Heath, do you think I am wrong?" Jarrod asked his brother.

"Jarrod, you're a lawyer. Your job has called you to do this. You're going to tear me inside out to win this case, but I understand," Heath said, his voice sounding like he understood the turmoil Jarrod was facing.

"You're a good man, Heath Barkley," Jarrod said, clapping his brother's shoulder.

"So are you, Jarrod. I know you'll do the right thing. You not taking this case because you're afraid of hurtin' my feelin's is not the right thing," Heath said, trying to encourage Jarrod.

"He's right, Father. If you’re concerned about hurting our feelings, don't be. If you or Mr. Green put me on the stand I'll understand," Audra Anne said, choking slightly on a sob.

Jarrod at that moment felt proud of his daughter. Earlier she hadn't wanted to testify in a huge courtroom, but now she said she didn't care. It was, to Jarrod's shock, what Hope would have said if it were her. Jarrod realized more than ever that hope would have been proud of their daughter's attitude as he was.

The day of the trial was hectic as well as nerve-wracking. Audra Anne found herself snappish and irritable. Also she couldn't eat and she stayed up all night, nervous. This day she had to testify in court with her father trying to prove that she might not have seen what she saw.

Jarrod already knew his family was still angry with him for taking the case. Mrs. Ashby had gotten so mad she had withdrawn her support in building an orphanage. Audra was downcast and wouldn't even look at Jarrod. Hooded assailants had beaten

Heath up one night in the barn. The bruises on his face had healed. That meant that Heath didn't have to have people looking at the bruises and wonder how he got them.

Audra Anne came down to the breakfast table and slid into her place next to her father. Jarrod was talking to Heath when she came in.

Her pallid face and red rimmed eyes was enough to throw Jarrod into a state of concern. "Audra Anne, are you all right, Honey?" Jarrod asked, feeling his daughter's forehead.

All conversation stooped as everyone turned to stare at Audra Anne. "Will everyone stop looking at me? I'm fine," Audra Anne snapped, pushing some eggs around on her plate.

"Audra Anne, you don't look fine," Heath interjected.

"No fever, but try to eat some of your breakfast. I don't want you passing out in the courtroom," Jarrod ordered strictly.

"Father, I'm not really hungry," Audra Anne said, laying her head on her arm.

Jarrod stroked her black hair. "I know you're not, but you could feel hungry later. Also, did you sleep last night?" Jarrod asked, looking at her tired eyes closely.

"No, not really. I was too upset to sleep," Audra Anne admitted, averting her eyes from Jarrod's.

"So, you are planning to go into a courtroom half-asleep?" Nick asked in disbelief.

"I guess," Audra Anne said, taking a drink of her milk.

Jarrod was shocked. How could his daughter be able to answer any questions from either lawyer if she was too worn out to do so? Jarrod knew there was no way Audra Anne could answer any questions now. Maybe if she slept for a few hours she could, but not now.

"Audra Anne, as soon as we get to Stockton you are going to take a nap in my office. My couch makes a pretty comfortable bed," Jarrod said, leaving no room for argument.

" But Uncle Heath and me are the key witnesses!" Audra Anne protested anyway.

"After we get to Stockton I'll tell the judge that you are unable to testify now. After you sleep for a few hours then we'll see if you can do it," Jarrod said, obviously disappointed that she would argue with him.

"Your father's right, Dear. You're practically falling asleep now. A few hours sleep is what you need," Victoria said, taking Jarrod's side.

"All right! You win! May I have the key to your office, Father?" Audra Anne asked, holding out her hand to Jarrod.

Jarrod put his hand in his suit coat pocket and gave her the key. "What do I do when I wake up?" Audra Anne asked.

"Come to the courthouse. You know where it's at," Jarrod said.

Breakfast was eaten in silence. "Father, I am sorry. I didn't intend to be this much trouble," Audra Anne said, her voice catching.

Jarrod reached across the table and squeezed her hand gently. ''You are not a trouble, Honey. I love you very much," Jarrod kissed her forehead gently. Audra Anne, at that moment knew how much her father loved her. This afternoon he would ask questions that would hurt her, but that one kiss, the insisting that she take a nap, showed her how much Jarrod cared and loved her.

....Continued