To say dinner was strained that evening would be an understatement. Though Jarrod tried to keep the conversation going and Heath couldn't help fail but to be polite to his wife, Nick remained stubbornly aloof from his own wife and the rest of the group.

Jarrod watched the two couples closely. A genuine respect seemed to be developing between Heath and Mercy. Not unexpected he thought. Heath was always civil to women, even under difficult circumstances. As they talked, Jarrod noticed how similar they appeared in character, they seemed to complement each other in the way they both talked and behaved. Even their tolerance for a louder sibling was shared.

He began to understand why Heath delayed seeking an annulment, for an annulment he could easily have. It was the oldest story of them all, Mercy interested him and if he wasn't mistaken Heath was interesting her. Jarrod could see that this marriage had real potential if allowed to go it's own way, on the other hand as he looked at Nick and Emmie, he could see only trouble ahead.

Jarrod could see that Nick was unusually tense. He had been unable to emit more than two words to his wife all evening. Attentive through the first part of the meal she now sat forlorn despite both Jarrod and Heath's attempts to include her in their conversation.

Jarrod considered the woman Nick had married. In all respects she was Nick's type. Slightly taller than Mercy, she was extremely pretty with strawberry blonde, slightly unruly hair, which he suspected with a bit of proper coaxing could be brought under control.

Her eyes were the deepest green and her lips ruby red. Jarrod cast an appreciative eye over her figure. It was not hard to imagine how Nick had fallen for her charms. Voluptuous, ripe and ready for the picking, how could Nick have resisted? Yes Jarrod liked Emmie and secretly he thought Nick did too, he just didn't realize it yet.

Jarrod thought ahead to his own wedding, it was to have been the first in the family but typically his brothers had upset his plans. Nevertheless, he would be seeing his fiancée in two days and he couldn't wait to hold her in his arms and tell her how much he loved her.

That night Mercy and Emmie went to their husband's room alone, their husbands chose to sleep in two of the spare rooms. Neither of them slept and nor did their wives.

bvbvbvbvbvbvbbvbvThe train from San Francisco was approaching Stockton and Victoria and Audra Barkley were making ready to leave. "I can't see Jarrod, mother, perhaps he doesn't know the train is late."

"I'm sure he will have been told Audra. If he's not at the station, we'll find him at his office. I'm sure he will have brought the surrey with him to take us home."

Turning to her future daughter-in-law, Victoria said. "Millicent, can I help you with that?"

"Oh no, Mrs Barkley. I just thought I had left something back in San Francisco but I can see now that I had it all the time. There has been so much to do before the wedding, I find myself getting forgetful all the time."

"It's a bride's privilege my dear. Don't worry things have been organized wonderfully..... Millicent, my dear?"

"Yes Mrs Barkley."

"In a little over a week, you are going to be my daughter-in-law, I'd like it just fine if you would start calling me Mother."

"Oh Mrs Barkley... I mean Mother, I would just love to do that. Since my own parents died, you have made me so welcome."

"Then that's settled, I will enjoy having a daughter-in-law. With luck you and Jarrod will be able to show Nick and Heath that marriage isn't so bad. Lord knows at the moment, I'll never see those two sons of mine down the aisle."

All three ladies broke out into a knowing laugh and made ready to alight from the train.

Seeing that Jarrod nor the surrey were at the station they made their way into town. Victoria asked Audra to get some provisions. Audra was about to protest when she saw that her mother was simply trying to arrange for Millicent to have some time alone with Jarrod.

"Millicent will you go ahead and see if Jarrod can be ready in half an hour? That will give Audra time to get the provisions and for me to see if my dress has been altered for the social on Saturday."

Millicent was grateful for Victoria's sensitivity. Jarrod had been gone a week and she had missed him dearly. Smiling at both women she set out for Jarrod's office, hoping that he would not have any appointments this day.

Victoria entered Mrs Johansen's.

"Hello Ingrid, I've come to see if my dress is ready."

"Oh, hello Victoria," Ingrid Johansen and Victoria Barkley had known each other over 30 years. "Yes, I finished it yesterday, do you have time for a final fitting?"

"Yes, of course, then I can take the dress with me. Shall I go into the back room?"

"Yes do, I'll be right with you."

Victoria made her way into the back of the store. Just as she did so, the bell on the door rang to signify that more customers had entered. 'Not to worry.' she thought, 'I've got plenty of time.' She looked absentmindedly around the room. Ingrid Johansen was wonderful seamstress but she lived amongst clutter. Rolls of fabric, cottons and braid surrounded the place. Victoria smiled to herself. She was a good seamstress and a good friend and that's all that mattered.

She heard the voices coming from the shop. Good, she thought, these ladies sounded like they were interested in buying. The Johansen's had been losing trade to the general store recently and Victoria had been worried that they might have to close. In truth, Victoria was more than capable of altering her own dresses but she made sure that Ingrid always got her business and recommended her wherever she went.

She listened to the conversation going on in the store.

"Well ladies, so you are interested in buying a dress for the town social? I think I have something that would really interest you." She fetched a couple of dresses. "See the colors and styles suit you both perfectly, would you like to try them on? I have someone in the back room at the moment but there is another room in which you can change."

"Oh Mercy, let's try them on," said Emmie eagerly. "Jarrod said we could help ourselves to anything we want."

"Emmie, let's try for something a little less expensive. We don't want to take advantage."

Victoria listened intently as she heard her son's name mentioned in conversation.

"Oh ladies do you know Jarrod Barkley?" Said Ingrid Johansen inquisitively.

"Why yes we do," said Emmie "do you know him too?"

"Oh yes, everyone knows the Barkleys. Sorry we haven't been introduced. My name is Ingrid Johansen."

"Emmie Barkley and this is my sister Mercy, Mercy Barkley, we're married to Nick and Heath."

Ingrid heard the thud on the floor and immediately knew what had happened.

"Oh my," she said. "Oh my, excuse me ladies I have to see to...."

She rushed to the back room, quickly followed by Emmie and Mercy and saw Victoria laid out on the floor.

"Please ladies, fetch those smelling salts. We've have to bring her round. Oh my, well this isn't perfect but ladies let me introduce you to your mother-in-law!"

bvbvbvbvbvbvbvbvbvbvbvMillicent Fairhurst crept into the lawyer's office. Jarrod was sat with his back to the door and appeared to be studying his papers. He didn't stir and she carefully tip toed toward him. As she did so she saw he had fallen asleep. She bent down beside his chair and studied him for a moment. All she could think was how lucky she was that he had come into her life. She loved him more deeply every day and couldn't wait to be his wife.

She leaned up to kiss him and gently brushed his lips with her own. One eye opened, followed by the other and his responding smile melted her heart yet again.

"I fell asleep, how long have you been here?"

"Just a few minutes, your mother and sister are shopping in town, we have half an hour."

"Half an hour, have we?" he smiled mischievously. He took her in his arms and kissed her passionately.

"Mr Barkley," she said with mocked indignation as the kiss reluctantly ended.

"We're not married yet sir, please remember my reputation."

"No, we're not but just wait till I get that ring on your finger."

Absentmindedly, he asked where his mother had gone shopping as he leaned forward to kiss her again. Between responding kisses she replied:

"Mrs Johansen's, she's gone to see if her dress is ready."

Suddenly Jarrod got up from his chair, almost overturning Millicent in the process. He remembered where he had sent Emmie and Mercy that morning and panicked.

"Millicent, I'm sorry. I've got to go. Oh, how am I going to explain this?"

As Jarrod reached the dressmakers unaware that Millicent was following on his heels, he opened the door and searched for his mother and two new sister-in-laws. This hadn't been how he had planned their meeting. He had thought to see his mother separately, to explain what had happened and introduce her slowly to the news of his brother's nuptials before finally introducing her to Emmie and Mercy.

A desire to make his sisters-in-laws feel welcome had led to his taking them into town that day to buy some dresses and oh yes, he had to admit it, perhaps a little mischief making too. He knew his brothers wouldn't have thought ahead to taking their wives to the dance, he was sure they hadn't even seen their girlfriends, Suzy and Becky to explain their sudden marital status yet.

More than likely, they had thought to run away from the problem, much as they had done today and the day before by riding out to the south range to fix fences that didn't need fixing and check on men who were already there. Men who were more than capable of working without their bosses for a day or two but to whom Nick and Heath suddenly felt indispensable.

Jarrod knew what his brothers were doing. They were distancing themselves from the emotions that they differently felt for their wives. But problems didn't go away just because you put a few miles between them and their source. Life was never that easy. He wouldn't have four months of court cases lined up if that was the case.

Problems simply accompanied you around until they forced you to stand up and face them. Jarrod knew the day would eventually come when Nick and Heath would have to do that and just for a moment he felt a touch of guilt that he had sought to exploit his brothers' dilemma. And yet, try as he might, he couldn't help feeling that his brothers' unconventional weddings, no matter how absurd they were in the making, would eventually turn out to be just what they needed. At the moment though he had to deal with his mother. Suddenly a hostile judge and jury seemed a much friendlier option.

"Mother, where are you?" Jarrod shouted, trying to close the door behind him and seeing Millicent right behind him. "Millicent dear, I didn't know you were there. Oh, this is going to be awkward. Please don't ask any questions, I'll explain when we get home. Right now I've got to find Mother."

Ingrid Johansen appeared from behind the curtain which separated the backroom from the store.

"Oh Jarrod, I'm so happy to see you. Your mother well.. she took a fainting spell...you see... well, we were in the shop.... and these young ladies... oh yes... well, of course you know them.. well yes where was I? Your mother was in the backroom ... oh my, isn't this complicated. Well let's just put it this way you mother and sister-in-laws have now finally met."

"How is she taking it Mrs Johansen?"

"Well she's just come round. Emmie and Mercy are with her now. I think you'd better go in. I think it's the shock. Well yes... it will be the shock. I daresay you and your brothers have some explaining to do."

"Thank you Mrs Johansen, do you mind if I go through?"

"Of course, I think tea all round will be helpful.. yes.. tea... that's good for shocks."

Both Jarrod and Millicent made there way to the back. Victoria was now sitting in a chair at the table on which dressmaker patterns were scattered. Mercy and Emmie were sitting on chairs to her left and to her right. Mercy was gently fanning the Barkley matriarch with an improvised fan, a genuine look of concern on her face, realizing the shock their outburst must have caused.

"Thank you my dear, I'm alright now. It was just the shock. Oh, not at you two my dears, it's just that I never thought to see those two boys of mine ever married."

"Mother dear, I'm sorry you had to hear it this way. I had meant to warn you."

"Oh Jarrod, Millicent.. well yes I think there is some explaining to do but I think I would like to hear it from Mercy and Emmie."

Jarrod wasn't too sure that was a good idea but his protests were waved off by Victoria who told him that she and her new daughters-in-law would retire to the hotel to talk whilst Jarrod and Millicent returned home.

"I want to get to know my new daughter-in-laws but Jarrod, make sure Nick and Heath pick us up just turned 5, I want a word with those two."

"Yes Mother, but are you sure you don't want me to drive you home straight away? There's no need to get rooms at the hotel."

"Don't worry about us Jarrod. Pick Audra up from the general store and take her home with you. We'll all return later this evening with Nick and Heath."

"Okay mother, just as long as you know what you are doing." He wasn't sure she did but he knew better than to argue.

bvbvbvbvbvbvbvbvOver at the hotel Victoria sat down and faced Emmie and Mercy across from the table on which afternoon tea had just been served.

"Well my dears, would you like to tell me how this all came about? I could have sworn when Nick and Heath left Stockton they had no intention of marriage."

Emmie started to tell the story, when Mercy interrupted her softly and said. "No Emmie, I'll tell Mrs Barkley, let me do it this time."

Sometime after Mercy had finished, Victoria got up from her chair and walked to a nearby window. It was a while before she came back and both sisters grew nervous.

Presently Victoria returned and put her hands on the table, addressing them directly. "Well I can't say it's a perfect basis for a marriage and your father was wrong to force both my sons to marry you at gunpoint but I can see you too were innocent parties in this."

Mercy hoped Emmie wasn't blushing at the "innocent" remark, for innocent she no longer was.

"Tell me," Victoria continued. "What do you think of my sons?"

Both girls were taken aback, that hadn't been the question they had expected. If truth were told they thought they would have been put on the next stage out of town and told never to come back.

"Excuse me," Mercy finally replied.

Victoria sat down and spoke more warmly. "Do you like my sons? Do you think you can come to love them?"

Now it was Mercy's turn to blush and Victoria read the signs immediately, her blond son had conquered another heart, she could see it in the young woman's eyes.

"I see you do, you don't have to say anything. How does he feel about you?"

Victoria saw a sudden sadness in Mercy's eyes. For the first time she noticed they were violet. "He hasn't said anything?"

"No," replied Mercy shyly. "Oh Mrs Barkley there is no reason why you son should. He and his brother were forced to marry us at gunpoint. My father held a gun to their backs all the way through the ceremony. Love and affection doesn't grow from that. No your son is a decent and honest man. That will be enough for me."

"Really?" Victoria inwardly smiled. She knew her son well and she knew that when she looked at Mercy, she saw a woman who would immediately appeal to her son. She suspected he may have already begun to fall in love with this violet eyed beauty. "How does my son treat you Mercy?"

"Oh Mr Barkley......Mr Barkley.... I mean Heath has treated me only with kindness Mrs Barkley, he has been extremely considerate of my feelings and only treated me with the highest respect. He has been the perfect gentleman."

Mercy's last remark was very telling, Victoria thought. Yes Heath was the perfect gentleman but he had a certain way of acting around a young lady he was interested in and she was curious to see if he had demonstrated this with Mercy.

"Is he quiet with you Mercy? Does he grow a little nervous when he's around you?"

Mercy grew embarrassed with Victoria's direct questions but something about the gracious and steely woman made her open up to her.

"Oh, I don't know Mrs Barkley, I can assure you I have no expectations."

Mercy's rushed words betrayed how she was feeling. All the time she was saying them, she knew she was meaning something different. Yes, Heath did grow quiet and nervous around her and he had a certain look which he seemed only to use with her. She didn't know him well enough to know the subtleties about which Mrs Barkley was referring to but her heart warmed at the thought that Heath might be interested in her.

Victoria felt sure there was something starting between Heath and Mercy and grew determined to help and encourage it. She now turned to Emmie.

"And what about you Emmie? How do you feel about Nick?"

Emmie's usual ebullience evaded her answer and she said seriously and without embarrassment:

"I love him Mrs Barkley. I love him with all my heart."

Victoria looked into the green eyes which were now moistening and saw the truth spoken there. She could see that Emmie was a more lively character than Mercy but her words were spoken from the heart. She was warming to these two sisters, her new daughters-in-law, and instinctively she wanted to help them and her sons.

"And how does Nick feel about you?"

Emmie too grew embarrassed. Both sisters had known the silver-haired lady for less than an hour and yet here they were opening up to her about they both felt for her sons.

"He wants a divorce Mrs Barkley, he is seeing Jarrod to arrange it as quickly as possible." And then as the tears flowed freely, she added. "I can't say I blame him. I think he has interests elsewhere."

"Who Suzy Kincaid?" said Victoria. She felt sorry for the girl, both her sons had stolen these girls hearts, they might not have intended to but that's what had happened all the same. "Nick doesn't love Suzy Kincaid, Emmie. He's been seeing her for less than a month and it is nothing more than a dalliance. No Emmie, Nick's heart has not been claimed yet. It's there for the taking if you want fight for it. It just depends how much you want it."

Emmie looked up in amazement. Why was this woman helping her and her sister? She tried to see an underlying reason in the gray lady's eyes but try as she might she could find anything but genuine concern.

"You are shocked by what I am saying?" said Victoria eventually.

"Why yes, I think we are Mrs Barkley," said Mercy. "we thought you would be supporting your sons to end both of the marriages."

Victoria sat back in her chair and eyed her two young daughters-in-law.

"I consider myself a good judge of people Mercy. I could be wrong but I don't think so. I see in you and Emmie partners who will not only love my sons but help and support them throughout their lives. The question for both of you is, are you willing to fight for their love?"

Emmie and Mercy looked at each other and then back at Victoria. "Yes," they both said tentatively and then more emphatically. "Yes we are Mrs Barkley. We're not going anywhere, we're staying put."

"Good, well the first thing to do is to stop calling me Mrs Barkley. I want you to call me Mother from now. Now let's have some more tea and discuss what you need to do."

Jarrod had been wrong about Nick and Heath. Neither had run away from their obligations to Suzy and Becky. Each had resolved to tell them that their relationships were over and of their new wives. Neither relationship had been serious but as Nick approached Suzy's house to tell her the news he feared for her temper and what she would say.

Suzy opened the door.

"Why Nick," she said, throwing herself at him so that she could plant a deep kiss on his lips. The kiss showed no signs of breaking and Nick tried desperately not to respond. Just for a moment he felt his arms move to embrace her but he kept his resolve and held back, his arms hanging in mid-air for want of something to do and someone to hold.

Trying to break the kiss, Nick tried to mouth between his pursed lips. "Suzy, I need to speak to you."

Suzy continued to plant kisses on him. "Oh but Nick I haven't seen you for such for a long time, I've missed you honey, haven't you missed me?"

She was being deliberately flirtatious, knowing that Nick liked his women that way.

"Suzy, there's something I need to tell you, about the dance tomorrow." The kisses continued and Nick felt himself pinned against the door.

"What about the dance tomorrow?" She stopped kissing him for a moment and stepped back with her hands on her hips.

Nick took a brief look at the locked door to make sure he could make a quick exit should he need it.

"Now Nick," Suzy continued. "Don't tell me you're not going to the dance. After all, I've bought me a new dress and I've been looking forward to it."

"Well yes and no Suzy."

Suzy looked at him suspiciously. "What do ya mean? Yes and no."

"Well Suzy, it's difficult to explain... and it was really none of my making.. but....oh dammit woman.. there's no easy way to explain this. I'm married."

"You're what?"

"I'm married Suzy. Look it wasn't my fault really. I had a gun to my back."

"Who is she? How long have you been seeing her? Wait till I get my hands on her? Where is she Nick? Back at the ranch?"

"Now Suzy, hold on there. I mean after all you and me... we weren't really serious, where we?"

"Nick Barkley do ya mean what I think ya mean? Are you dumping me for her?"

"Well, it isn't as straightforward as that Suzy. I mean I'm married. Lord knows I'm trying to get out of it, but it's complicated."

"Complicated? How so? Ya had a gun at your back. No court will uphold the marriage."

"Well it's got more complicated than that, Suzy."

"Ya mean, you and her... you and her...I don't believe it. Why you two-timing, low down.... Nick Barkley you just get outta here, get outta here right now. I never want to see you again."

Nick fumbled for the door, he wasn't going to be told twice and then he made the fatal error as he exited the door. He turned back. "Suzy, I'm sorry. I hope we can remain friends."

The next thing he knew he'd been punched in the eye and was falling backward. As he landed in a heap on the ground one hand went to comfort his bruised eye.

"I'll take that as no then, shall I?"

bvbbvbvbvbvbbvbnvbbvAs Nick Barkley got up that morning, he was still trying to figure out his mother's unexpected reaction to both his and Heath's marriages. Of all people, he'd expected his mother to stand by him and support his decision for a divorce. As he bathed his face in cold water, hoping to splash some sense into the madness he now found himself in, he tried to recall the exact words she had used. They had stunned even the more acquiescent Heath into silence.

"If you think I'm going to tolerate even a single divorce in my family, let alone two, you've both got another thing coming. There have been no divorces in the Barkley family and they're not going to start now. Now I suggest both of you find a way to make these marriages work."

Nick had gone to protest but the 30 year old man in him was quelled into a raw youth again by her fierce, matriarchal look. It was a look that said, "Don't question me Nick Barkley, I'm your mother and my word goes." He picked up the message loud and clear.

The journey home had been in silence, Nick stubbornly riding Coco behind the surrey in which Heath now drove not one but three Mrs Barkleys home. Reaching home did not improve his temper. At the dinner table he again found it difficult to face let alone talk to Emmie, his feelings of indignation alternating with new feelings of guilt at the childish way he was treating her. He recognized his own bad behavior and at the same time felt powerless to prevent it. He felt cornered, trapped, let down by his own family and increasingly confused by the situation. Like Heath he was beginning to recognize that Emmie was a victim too, a willing, not to say sexually charged victim, but a victim nonetheless. As the strain of the evening continued and he retired to bed his thoughts continued to remain muddied.

He made ready for bed and turned down the covers, disliking it's emptiness and wishing it was filled with the soft, lush curves of a woman he could still call his wife. A woman who if he hadn't been so stupid he could be making love to right now. Undressing he took off his shirt revealing the bronzed, muscular chest underneath. He rubbed his chest and shoulder absentmindedly, his hands a poor substitute for the emboldened and daring kisses his virgin bride had used to discover him on their first night of love. Only it hadn't been love at that point, it was lust that had driven her into his arms and made him respond to her. Damn, he thought as he remembered how he had fought off her advances, his struggle not lasting long, his body betraying him and urgently responding to the increasing demands of a young wife eager to experience love for the first time.

He moved over to the set of drawers to retrieve a pair of sleeping pants. As he did so he caught his naked reflection in the mirror. His thoughts drifted to Emmie sleeping directly across the hall. The wife he had ignored all evening. The wife who was now invading his thoughts. Casting an eye southward, he thought again of the empty bed and the woman who could be filling it. He turned his gaze quickly back to the mirror. "Nick, you're a dammed fool."

Now in the cool but sunny morning as he toweled himself dry, put his clothes on and combed back his hair, he resolved that he was going to apologize to her, to admit that he had been an insufferable bore and to beg her forgiveness. He wasn't sure how things would develop between them or even if he could make a success of the marriage but he knew he at least had to give it a try. His dreams the night before had been filled with thoughts of Emmie in his arms and at one point he had found himself waking clutching a pillow to his chest. Nick, he thought you've got it bad.

He walked across the landing and knocked on her door. It was still early and he was sure Emmie wouldn't yet be awake. There was no answer, he knocked again, hoping that nobody would catch him on the landing and witness his foolishness. Still no answer.

"Emmie... Emmie it's Nick. Open the door, will ya? I think we should talk."

He recoiled from the stupidity of his words. Talk, hadn't that been what she had been trying to do with him and hadn't he continually rebuffed her? Six foot three, he suddenly felt very small at that moment.

"Emmie, look I know I don't deserve it but let me in, will ya? I want to talk to you. We need to talk."

When his plea still went unanswered he grew concerned. He opened the door, his eyes taking a moment to adjust to the semi-darkness of the room. The bed was empty, the room was empty. He opened the curtains to confirm his findings and the sun emphasized the unoccupied room. He ran to the closet, her clothes were gone. A note on the bed looked ominously like a farewell letter. If it wasn't it should be, he'd been a danged fool. He picked it up, running his finger though his ruffled hair, resigned to the words it would say. He'd left it too late. His own stupidity and coldness had driven her away. Opening the letter he read it out loud.

My dearest Nick,

I've finally realized that I have been wrong to try and keep you in a marriage you clearly don't want. My father was wrong to force you to marry me. I'm only sorry that I did nothing to prevent it, the last thing I ever want is to hurt you. You won't have to worry, I will sign the divorce papers and give you your freedom back. Please don't follow me. I will contact you when I am settled and you can have the papers forwarded on to me. Don't hate me Nick, please don't hate me. I only meant to love you and be a good wife.

Emmie

Nick crumpled the note, his feeling of self-disgust at his behavior pushed to the side in his concern for Emmie, he rushed out onto the landing and made his way into Heath's room.

"Heath, Heath, Emmie's gone."

As Heath stirred from his sleep, Nick quickly opened the curtains and returned to the bed handing his brother the note. Heath rubbed the sleep out of his eye and tried to focus on its contents. Eventually, he handed it back to Nick and turned down the covers to get up. Nick was busy getting his brother's clothes, anxious to get going in his search for Emmie.

"Hold on Nick," said Heath as Nick flung him his shirt and told him to hurry, Heath caught it mid-air and the pants that quickly followed. "We've got to tell Mercy, she'll have to know."

Nick stopped in mid-tracks. "Heath?"

"Yea, his brother said, as he attempted to put on his pants.

"What if Mercy's gone too? You ain't exactly been husband of the year to that girl, either."

Both brothers rushed out on to the landing, Heath's progress hindered by the pants now trailing around his ankles. Nick was about to knock on the door and go in.

"Hold on Nick," said Heath who had discarded his pants rather than keep struggling with them. "Mercy's my wife, I'm the only Barkley going through that door. Hang back I'll see if she's there."

"Dressed like that?" Nick responded, noticing his brother's semi-undressed state.

"I ain't exactly got romantic intentions in mind Nick, I'll do."

Heath knocked and then entered. There was just enough light in the room to reveal that she was lying in bed sleeping. He walked over to the bed and gently woke her, dreading having to tell her the news. She took a few moments to wake and he thought for a moment how beautiful she looked, her hair flowing loose and her lips parted slightly waiting to be kissed. He wanted only his lips to be the ones to kiss her and he had to fight a strong temptation to do so.

"Mercy, it's Heath, wake up now, it's Emmie, she's gone."

Mercy sat bolt upright and the bed covers shot down, revealing the nightgown she was wearing and a rich expanse of flesh underneath. The thinness of her nightgown was in sharp contrast to the high buttoned affair she had worn on their wedding night and left him in no doubt as to the woman underneath. He found himself mesmerized by her beauty and the soft milk white breasts which teased partially free and heaved gently under the fabric. He remembered how he had watched her undress in the covered wagon and fought hard to concentrate his mind on the task of telling her about Emmie.

"Oh, no she can't have," replied Mercy. "Where will she go? She doesn't know this area, she'll get lost." She clutched on to Heath's hand that was resting on the bed. "Heath, we've got to find her, help me Heath, help me to find her. She won't go back to Pa, it'll be too much of a disgrace."

Heath took her hand in his and held it tenderly whilst he spoke.

"Mercy, did she say anything last night, anything that may have given a clue as to what she was thinking or where she might go?"

"No, I know she was unhappy about things between Nick and her but I never thought she would run off. She's impetuous Heath but she's never done anything like this before. Heath I'm worried."

She made to get up from the bed but quickly pulled the covers back, suddenly embarrassed. It was only then that she realized that Heath was only in his sleeping pants and she in her thin nightgown and that the bed covers had initially dropped revealing more of herself. He saw her embarrassment and moved quickly to cover it.

"Get dressed Mercy, you can join me and Nick in the search. Don't worry, we'll find Emmie and bring her back." He leaned forward to give her a reassuring kiss on the cheek, as his lips made contact with her skin, they rested not wanting to break away from the feel of her, when he eventually did so, he looked into her eyes. "We'll find her Mercy, you have my word."

As they got downstairs, they found Nick had saddled their horses.

"Emmie's taken the mare, she must have saddled it this morning and ridden out at sun up. She's got a few good hours start but we should be able to follow her tracks. Mercy did you know anything about this?" His tone was accusatory. It was Heath who answered for his wife.

"Nick, that's uncalled for. Mercy didn't know anything. Now let's stop wasting time and go and find Emmie."

Nick apologized, cursing his unruly temper again.

As the riders rode out, Victoria Barkley looked out from her window. She heard all the commotion, witnessed Nick's pleading at his wife's door and a half-undressed Heath entering his own wife's room. She allowed herself and inward smile, everything was going according to plan at the moment. She just hoped it would continue to do so.

The three riders rode out and Victoria Barkley returned to her room to get dressed for breakfast. By her reckoning the trusted ranch hand she had sent out with Emmie at sun up would have created a trail convincing enough for Nick to follow and lead him to Emmie and the cabin up in the hills. Beyond that she could do no more, she just hoped that the fear of losing Emmie would bring Nick to his senses and allow him the opportunity to realize that the marriage might work.

With Heath she hadn't sought to interfere, sure that something was already starting between him and Mercy. She wasn't even sure she could influence Heath in that way. He was a man who made up his own mind in matters. Nick did too, but just occasionally he needed a little friendly push.

As she finished dressing Victoria Barkley patted her skirt down and sighed. Rightly or wrongly she had interfered with her sons lives. She just hoped it would result in the right outcome.

...Continued