Danny and Dakota

Chapters 12-22

by Lindabrit

Disclaimer: The characters and situations of the TV program "Big Valley" are the creations of Four Star/Republic Pictures and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended by the author. The ideas expressed in this story are copyrighted to the author.

Chapter 12 Fever

On the morning of Jarrod's big case, Danny was almost animated at the breakfast table when Sarah asked him if he would like to accompany her to court to see Jarrod in action. Jarrod kept his own manner casual and his voice light, but secretly he was pleased and relieved. Perhaps the boy was beginning to take some interest in his new life and in discovering what kind of man his guardian was.

The whole day went well for Jarrod, he felt a little strange, rather light headed and over-exhilarated but full of energy and with a clarity of thought that surprised him, for he knew himself to be over-tired. He performed brilliantly in court, trapping the State Government spokesman into a corner in which he mercilessly pinned him down. The poor man had uttered only one slightly unwary word and Jarrod had picked it up and thinking on his feet, pursued the theme until he forced the government man to reveal the machinations and with them, the basic unfairness of the State's plans to over-tax the Valley's poorest farmers. The spokesman had blustered about the Stockton court not having the right to rule on the matter and the judge bridling at the insult had ruled in Jarrod's favour.

Throughout the proceedings, Danny had sat with Sarah, tense and excited, his blazing blue eyes never leaving Jarrod. He had held Sarah's hand so tightly during the verdict that he hurt her, leaping to his feet to cheer along with the rest of Jarrod's supporters when the victory was won.

The swelling tide of well-wishers and his exuberant, grateful clients swept Jarrod from the court and away from Sarah's outstretched hand. The whole cavalcade spilled onto the square, with the triumphant lawyer's wife watching the procession with joyful pride, her nagging fears drowned out for the moment.

Sarah had been concerned about Jarrod all day, his colour was flushed and unhealthy looking and he seemed to her loving eye to be feverish. As she left the court with the boy her heart lurched with fright as she saw Jarrod, still receiving the congratulations of his friends suddenly keel over in a dead faint. There was uproar and through it a small figure raced to Jarrod's side crying out his name "Jarrod! Jarrod! Jarrod." over and again, casting himself down beside his stricken guardian.

Sarah herself felt as though her limbs would not obey her and was only saved from fainting herself by Eugene's firm grip on her elbow. All three Barkley brothers seemed to have appeared from nowhere, Nick's stentorian roar cleared the swathe of concerned citizens away from his brother and Heath had miraculously found and brought Doc Merar in what seemed like only an instant.

Quicker than she would have thought possible, Sarah found herself home at the ranch, with Jarrod in their room, anxiously watching the Doctor's careful examination of her husband. In later days, Sarah could never quite piece together the exact sequence of events on that journey back to the ranch, she remembered it only as a series of images, frozen as she was with shock and a greater fear than she had ever known.

Standing in the chaotic square, watching Danny cradle Jarrod's head to his chest sobbing "Jarrod, don't die...please...Jarrod!"

The same thought drumming in her own brain, he will die...will die...he has that Mathews woman's fever...no! Gene had her in a firm grip and she knew he was talking reassuringly to her but his words couldn't penetrate the frozen terror in her mind.

Then Victoria was with her and Sarah came back to life and gave voice to her terrified lament, "Victoria, he will die! That woman, the fever..."

Then the tiny Barkley matriarch was stiffly shaking her and sternly ordering, "that's enough Sarah! You can't fall apart now, your husband needs you!"

Heath had somehow produced a carriage and she was suddenly in it, Jarrod's beloved head in her lap. Her hands smoothing back the tumbled dark hair from his burning face. She forced her hands to obey her, undoing and removing his tie, opening his fine shirt collar. He was dreadfully hot, but dry! No trace of sweat and her brain told her that was bad...fatal! The Doctor ministered to her stricken husband all the way to the ranch, talking soothingly to Sarah all the time, she didn't hear a single word he said.

Victoria had taken Danny, fighting like a wild cat, with her in her own carriage. Eugene held him and she did her best to soothe the hysteria that gripped the boy, with the result that by the time they reached the ranch, he was relatively calm, although pale with distress. By the time Heath and Nick drove the carriage containing the Doctor, Sarah and Jarrod up to the front door, Victoria had flung open the doors and shouted her orders to the instantly responsive Silas. Nick and Heath carried their stricken brother up to his room and soon Sarah and Doctor Merar were alone with him.

Doctor Merar pressed Sarah into a chair and she looked on stunned, terror gripping her very soul as the good Doctor treated Jarrod. Then Doctor Merar turned his attention to Sarah herself, administering a mild restorative to her, it worked wonders and she felt with considerable relief her power of thought and reason returning to her once more. Doctor Merar was mixing and administering a draught of some kind to Jarrod and by the time the kindly Doctor had finished with his patient, she was her calm composed self and was able to comprehend what was said to her.

"Well Sarah, you are quite right, not a doubt of it, he has contracted the fever that the Mathews women suffered from." He squeezed Sarah's icy cold hand, "but I want you to remember certain things. When the boy's mother caught it, the fever would have been at the height of it's virulence and that is how it killed her. If the old woman had been a little younger, she might have beaten it, since it was already losing some of it's power. Your Jarrod has contracted it at the end of it's strength, plus he is a strong and healthy man, I firmly expect this dry heat to break soon and though it may leave him weak and tired, I have NO fears for his recovery."

His certainty was convincing and Sarah shed tears of relief and thanked him for his kindness. She assisted Doctor Merar to strip Jarrod and they got him into his nightshirt, Sarah's eyes ran over Jarrod's naked body and absurdly she felt a tug of attraction despite how ill he was. Her caressing hand traced the firm line of his Barkley jaw, they all had that, the Barkley men. She stroked his cheek and her hands ran over the planes of his torso, her smoky eyes filled with love. She felt the Doctor's eyes upon her and stepped away from her husband but the Doc's face showed only understanding and he pressed her hand. "I know I'm leaving him in safe hands my dear."

The door was flung open and Nick strode in, his mouth a tightly anxious line, "sorry! I couldn't wait any longer, how is he?"

Doc Merar left Sarah to explain to Nick and went to re-assure the rest of the family. Sarah stood beside the bed weary and pale, Nick opened his arms to her and as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she walked into them His strong embrace soothed her immeasurably and she clung to him, her head resting on his solid chest. Struggling back to consciousness and sudden awareness in that instant, their entwined bodies were the first thing Jarrod saw. Fed by the fever, his small doubts were fired into rage and he fought to rise from the bed, his voice an angry roar. Then he collapsed again, lost in the smothering blackness of his malady.

Downstairs Victoria sat on the settee Danny's hand in hers, Eugene and Heath were standing by the fireplace, tense and anxious. Nick now re-joined the family group, having helped Sarah settle Jarrod and he had left her sitting beside Jarrod's bed, his hand in hers whilst she applied cool damp cloths to his feverish head. The Doctor repeated the re-assurance about Jarrod's eventual recovery and Victoria patted Danny's cheek, "there dear, didn't I say he would get well!"

Unfortunately Eugene spoke up, with a total lack of tact, "did Jarrod get this fever from Danny's grandmother Doc?"

"Yes he..." The good Doctor got no further, as with a shriek of "NO!" Danny launched himself at him, knocking Doc Merar off his feet completely. Before the boy could use his fists, Nick Barkley had seized him, setting him on his feet. He dealt the boy one hard admonitory spank and sternly commanded him to stand still or else! Heath helped the Doctor to his feet and he was allowed to complete his explanation that the fever had, by now, lost much of it's power. Nick glared at Gene, "try and do something useful! Get the Doc a drink!"

Sarah appeared at the bottom of the stairs, she stretched out a welcoming hand, "Danny?" He turned eagerly toward her, "please come and help me look after Jarrod?"

Danny looked at Nick who was still very stern, "are you gonna behave?"

"Yes Sir!"

"Go on then, git!"

Danny took Sarah's hand and the pair went back up the stairs. Heath brought his mother a sherry, she sipped it gratefully, feeling the tension ooze out of her now that her mind was easy about Jarrod. Victoria invited the Doctor to join the family for dinner but he declined, having patients in Stockton needing his attention. Anxious to avoid a lecture from Nick, Gene was only too glad to absent himself for a while and he volunteered to drive the Doctor back to town.

Late that night, Danny safely tucked into bed and deeply asleep, Victoria sitting with the restless but dozing Jarrod, Sarah had leisure to think. She was beginning to see a pattern to Danny's peculiar conduct since he had joined the family. Sarah knew that Jarrod was afraid that Danny, far from liking his old friend Dakota, actually hated him. Sarah found this impossible to accept. Danny's distress at Jarrod's sudden illness spoke to his holding his guardian in affection, therefore his persistent bad behaviour, so clearly designed to induce Jarrod to reject him, had some other explanation. The Barkleys, so secure and warm-hearted a family, couldn't begin to fathom how this orphaned child might be thinking, but Sarah, whose own youth had been bleak in some ways thought that perhaps she could. She needed to talk to Nick, tomorrow would do, but if she was right, she would need Nick's help to unlock the mystery.

Jarrod remained hot and restless until after midnight and then the fever broke, sweat pouring from his body, drenching him and his bedclothes. Victoria helped Sarah to change the bed and Jarrod's nightshirt. Their patient had fallen into a deep and natural sleep and it was evident that, as swiftly as it had struck him down, so the fever had left him. Victoria went thankfully off to bed but Sarah lingered by Jarrod's side, hardly able to believe that the crisis had passed so easily and so soon. She felt weary but enormously content, her beloved husband had been spared to her. Sarah felt confident that she could face whatever the future held as long as she and Jarrod faced it together.

Chapter 13 Misunderstandings

At about ten the next morning, Jarrod awoke from his long restorative sleep and sat up in bed, announcing that he was hungry. He was tired and weak but so obviously on the mend that the whole Barkley family heaved a collective sigh of relief. The beaming Silas hastened to the kitchen to prepare a huge plateful of scrambled eggs, just the way Jarrod liked them and Eugene helped his brother to take a refreshing bath. He shaved Jarrod too and was just helping him back into bed by the time Silas carried a loaded tray into the room. Jarrod made a hearty breakfast and announced his intention of getting dressed.

Sarah shook her head, "Not a chance Counselor!"

Sarah, the State are going to appeal, I'll be in Sacramento by the end of the week, I HAVE to prepare! Please darling, this case means a great deal to me."

"And YOU mean a great deal to me! If you promise to work quietly here at home, I'll help you."

Jarrod meekly agreed to do so and Sarah, as good as her word, sat with him, looking up precedents and generally assisting her husband in his endeavours. Jarrod thanked providence for blessing him with a clever wife, as smart as she was beautiful, other men had wives as charming, but none that he knew had one who could prepare a court case as well.

They worked steadily all afternoon. The house was quiet, Victoria was visiting a friend and Heath and Eugene were still in Heath's room locked in combat with the accounts. Jarrod remarked dryly that this was the longest continuous amount of work that Gene had done in a long while. Sarah was covertly watching her husband but he seemed well enough, although he pressed his hand to his temple occasionally, as if his head were aching. She was well aware of how much the case meant to Jarrod so she forebore to stop him working but tried to take some of the strain off him by helping all she could.

Nick was out on the range, he intended spending the day checking the fence repairs and had taken young Danny with him. Sarah had tried to talk to Jarrod about Danny, she mentioned the depth of his distress at Jarrod's collapse but her husband shook his head.

"It doesn't mean he has any affection for me Sarah."

"Of course it does, you should have seen him!"

"Guilt, Sarah! He couldn't bear the thought that his mother or grandmother passed their illness to me, I can see now that I did the boy a disservice bringing him here."

Sarah squeezed Jarrod's hand, her eyes intent on his white strained face, he smiled sadly at her and when he spoke again his voice was soft and sad, "I honestly thought that Danny could settle and be happy here but I was arrogant to think so, I have to find a solution to this situation but God help me I can't see one yet. That boy is afraid of me Sarah, I don't know why but I can sense it."

She had tried to argue but the subject was obviously distressing Jarrod so she held her piece and resolved to speak to Nick at the earliest possible opportunity.

Sarah had made coffee and she carried a tray up to Heath's room, she laughed when she saw the mass of papers before the brothers, "well! You two certainly have your hands full."

Gene grimaced at her, "it wouldn't be such a mammoth task if Heath hadn't lost half the paperwork!"

Heath was indignant, "I told you, this is everything!" He paused, "no, wait, I remember now, I gave Jarrod some figures to check, I just couldn't get them to balance right! Be right back."

He hurried out and Gene buried his face in his hands, he emerged grinning, "you know Sarah I think I've aged ten years in the last two days."

Sarah looked thoughtfully at Eugene, "Gene may I ask you something please?"

"Sure you can Sarah!"

"It's personal," she warned him.

The first time Eugene Barkley had ever met Sarah Faires, she had rescued him from an embarrassing social situation at one of Minnie Perlman's parties. He had been dazzled by her beauty and grateful for her kindness, he would probably have lost his youthful heart to her had it not been made plain to him by Nick that Sarah and Jarrod were already involved. Gene still admired his lovely sister in law and he smiled at her now, "ask away Sarah, if I can help in any way I will."

Sarah wandered over to the window, "Gene, how old were you when your father died?"

"About Danny's age I guess," he answered quietly.

"Jarrod has played father to you ever since I suppose."

Gene nodded, "yes, Nick too really, they both had to be there for Sis and me."

Sarah took a deep breath, "Gene, have you ever been afraid of Jarrod?"

He answered her without hesitation, "never!"

She nodded satisfied, "I thought that would be your answer."

Eugene thought for a moment, "I've been afraid to face Jarrod at times, but not because I feared him, more because I was afraid of letting him down, does that make any sense?"

Sarah thought it did, she could see that whilst being a Barkley scion had many advantages and privileges, it also carried with it heavy responsibilities.

"Yes, it makes sense to me Gene."

Gene smiled at her, "the great thing about Jarrod is that he understands things without having to have them spelled out to him, it makes him easy to approach or confide in, I've always counted myself lucky to have him for my eldest brother."

Sarah flashed her devastating smile at him, "thank you Gene, that helps a lot!"

"You're welcome."

Heath returned waving the missing paperwork triumphantly and Sarah left them to it.

"What was all that about?"

Gene shook his head puzzled, "I'm not sure I know Heath, I think Sarah is trying to understand what makes the Mathews kid tick."

Heath smiled wryly, "I think we'd all like to know the answer to that one!"

When they had drunk their coffee, Sarah suggested a stroll in the fresh air to try and clear Jarrod's head-ache. The weather was spring-like and mild and they had a pleasant walk through the rose-garden and the shrubbery. Jarrod was yawning massively by the time they returned to the house and didn't need much persuasion to lie down on his bed until dinner. Sarah saw him settled and went downstairs again, hoping that Nick would come home early, so that she could talk privately to him about her theory on how to reach Danny Mathews and unlock the boy's secrets.

An hour later, Sarah was realising that getting a private word with her brother in law was not going to be an easy feat to accomplish. The Barkley house was a large one, but it was also busy, Victoria was at home again, drinking tea in the living room and Heath and Eugene had gravitated from Heath's room to the library as they finished their work on the accounts. When Nick arrived home it was all Sarah could do to whisper that she needed a quiet word before they were interrupted by Silas asking to know if Nick wanted coffee.

At length, after whispering in corners and attracting the attention of Victoria more than once, Nick told Sarah he had had enough and she should meet him upstairs in five minutes. She was doubtful but did so and he proceeded to pull her into his own room. Sarah dithered on the threshold.

"Nick this is not a good idea!"

"I KNOW that!"

"Keep your voice down!"

"Look Sarah, how the devil am I supposed to get any privacy with you anywhere else?"

Sarah sighed, "I suppose you're right." She took Nick's outstretched hand and let him draw her inside and close the door.

Standing as if rooted to the spot, having just retrieved some papers from his brother Heath's room was Eugene Barkley. He watched as his beloved older brother Nick drew his adored and respected eldest brother Jarrod's wife into his bedroom. How the devil am I to get any privacy with you, that was what Nick had said. But why did he need to be private with Sarah? Gene tried hard not to think the worst, but truth to tell, he was a very worried young man as he went slowly downstairs again.

When he got downstairs, Heath and Victoria were sitting together in the living room and she was pouring coffee. Reluctantly Gene joined them, fervently hoping that his mother, whom he sometimes thought was clairvoyant, didn't ask him why he was so quiet. Now and again Gene glanced anxiously at the stairs but it was not Nick and Sarah who eventually came down but Jarrod, refreshed by his nap and smilingly declaring that his head-ache was gone. Victoria poured coffee for Jarrod and he glanced round the room and asked the question Gene had earnestly hoped he wouldn't.

"Where is Sarah?"

It wasn't necessary for Eugene to answer and he really wasn't sure why he did but he heard himself saying, "In Nick's room with him...they..."

"They?" Jarrod's smile was rather rigid.

"They wanted some privacy," finished Gene lamely.

Jarrod's voice was ominously quiet, "excuse me please mother." He went swiftly up the stairs, leaving Victoria looking anxiously after him, "oh Lord, what now?" Her voice was weary.

Heath looked hard at Eugene and shook his head in resignation, "Gene tell me something, why is it every time you open your mouth it's only to change feet?"

Eugene was apologetic, "I didn't mean to tell him, I don't know why I did, I'm sorry!"

"Don't be sorry another time, be smart instead!"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that there is nothing going on between Nick and Sarah is what I mean!"

Victoria looked intently at her fair haired son, as dear to her as the sons to whom she had given birth. "You're sure of that Heath?"

"Quite sure mother!"

His mother nodded firmly, "then that's good enough for me," she said decidedly.

Heath gestured towards the stairs, "question is will it be good enough for Jarrod?"

Nick handed Sarah to a chair and himself stood leaning an arm on the mantelpiece, he grinned at his lovely sister in law. "Well? Talk fast Sassy, before my big brother finds us and challenges me to a duel!"

"Nick, I need your help, Jarrod is worrying himself sick over Danny and he's convinced himself that HE is the problem."

Nick frowned in puzzlement, "that makes no sense, the boy obviously worships Jarrod!"

"You can see that Nick and so can I, but Jarrod can't and won't believe it."

Nick thought for a moment, "it is odd though Sarah, the kid refuses point blank to stay with Jarrod and he won't behave either, what does it all mean?"

"I believe that you and I may be the ones who can find that out Nick, I want to talk to Danny and I need your help."

"Me? What can I do?"

"I have a theory Nick, if I'm right, you can help me to unlock the pain that this poor child is carrying around with him."

Nick was doubtful, he shuffled his feet uncomfortably, "I don't know Sass, Jarrod doesn't take kindly to interference in his affairs," he grinned deprecatingly, "he's the smart one you know, I don't interfere with his doings as a rule."

Nick! I've heard you fighting up hill and down dale with Jarrod when you think he's wrong about something!"

"Ranch business! That's a different matter Sass."

Sarah rose and laid her hand on Nick's arm, her voice was breaking, "Nick this situation is tearing him apart, he may not want our help but he needs it, believe me Nick he does."

Nick was not proof against her luminous beauty, her fine eyes and pleading look, he patted her hand, "sure! I'll help, if you really think I can. Tell me your theory Sarah."

Sarah did tell him, Nick listened intently and when she had finished he nodded decidedly. "You have something there Sass, this could work, but I have to say I think there's more to it than that. When I was Danny's age I was in trouble more often than I wasn't! My mother could always get to me, she could..." he paused searching for a word, "she could....crack me open somehow, worm it all out of me." He stopped, smiling at his memories and looked rather sheepishly at Sarah.

"I understand Nick, let's hope I can do with Danny what Victoria could do with you. But I can't do it without you Nick!"

Nick carried her hand to his lips, "I'll do anything for you Sassy, you know that!"

Nick's bedroom door was flung open and Jarrod came in, he surveyed his brother and his wife sardonically.

"Oh lord!" Nick cast his eyes heavenwards, he looked absurdly guilty which irritated Sarah. She herself met Jarrod's angry blue eyes unfalteringly.

"Forgive me for not knocking!" Jarrod's tone was heavily ironic and this too annoyed Sarah,

"I'm glad you're here Jarrod," she said calmly.

Her husband's eyebrows lifted slightly, "are you?"

Sarah swallowed down the anger she felt, although her fine eyes sparkled with it. "Yes! Nick and I have been talking about Danny and we want you to let us help you."

Jarrod was weary, still weak from the fever and tired with the work he had done on his case. He was a prey to suspicions that he didn't truly believe but which tormented him in his innermost being, suspicions of the wife he adored and the brother who had been close to him from birth. He was in no mood to listen to anyone, not even Sarah.

"Danny is my responsibility!" His tone was brusque and Sarah was conscious of Nick's clenching hands and her own rising anger.

She looked Jarrod fearlessly in the eye, and spoke in a voice of cold hard anger, "Jarrod, your decision to bring that child here, to make him a part of this family affects each and every one of us! We have all given you our support and our understanding, you cannot deny that Danny's behaviour since he got here has touched all of us in some way!"

Her husband acknowledged the truth of this, "I don't deny that," his voice was low and mortified.

Sarah came to him laying her hand on his arm, "then let us help, please Jarrod."

He smiled sadly at her, visibly weakening, "what do you want to do?"

Sarah rushed her fence, "let Nick and I talk to him, I believe we can get to the bottom of this mystery."

Jarrod moved impatiently away from her, "you and Nick?"

Sarah was definite, "yes Jarrod, I need Nick's help on this," her deep smoky blue eyes held his own gaze, "I need your trust Jarrod."

He was hesitating and she thought she had won, Nick decided to try and help, "come on Pappy! What have you got to lose? Things can't go on as they are, who knows what that brat may do next?" He slipped his arm around Sarah, "let us try having a talk with Danny huh?"

Jarrod looked at his wife and brother, he felt dizzy with the strain of his illness, with the strain of everything, but he was a Barkley, Barkleys don't give up on things and all of this was his fault! His face hardened, he turned away from them, "Danny is my responsibility," he repeated.

Nick raised his voice, "Jarrod for heaven's sake!"

Jarrod turned on him and spoke with icy hauteur, "if you have work to do, I suggest you get to it!" He knew he was being arrogant and stupid, virtually dismissing Nick from his own room as though he were a hired hand and he half expected his brother to throw a punch at him. Nick didn't, obedient to Sarah's insistent grip on his sleeve. He covered her hand with his own for a moment and without a glance at Jarrod he strode out of the room.

Jarrod turned to face his wife, prepared to endure the onslaught of her anger but it didn't come. Sometimes, when Sarah was at her angriest, silence was her most potent weapon, she cast a look of withering contempt at Jarrod and swept from the room, leaving him to slump tiredly into the nearest chair, his head in his hands.

Chapter 14 Vigil

Dinner that evening was one of the most uncomfortable meals Victoria could ever remember in her home. It was rather reminiscent of the first time Heath had dined as a member of the family, no-one knew what to say or where to look. The tension between Jarrod and Nick, Jarrod and Sarah and Nick and Sarah was palpable and made them all uncomfortable. Poor Eugene, feeling guilty for causing trouble was afraid to open his mouth for fear of making another gaffe. Danny had relapsed into his sulky monosyllabic posture again. Of them all, only Heath was at all at his ease, placidly eating and relieving the strain on his mother by talking to her of Audra and Denver. She was grateful for his gentle concern, reflecting, not for the first time, that he had found a place in her heart, equally dear to her as her own three sons.

It was with a sense of relief that Victoria went up to bed that night, she didn't expect to rest there were too many shadows across her family for sleep to come easily, but nothing could be worse than sitting in such a tense and unhappy family group. She found that she was wrong, sitting alone in her room worrying was worse, she rose and went out onto the landing, if she knew her Jarrod.... Yes! The light still burned in the living room, he was seeking answers in the flames of the fire. A brief and awkward conversation with Sarah had acquainted Victoria with her daughter in law's wish to tackle Danny with Nick's help.

Victoria Barkley glided silently down the curving staircase, she could see her eldest son, glass in hand, staring into the fire. How many times, she wondered, have I come down here in the small hours to comfort one or other of my family when they were troubled? She crossed the foyer and seated herself on the edge of the table facing Jarrod.

He smiled a little sadly at her, "you should be asleep mother."

"So should you!"

"I can't," he handed his mother the glass he held.

"Another?"

"No, too much already, it doesn't help."

"Does staying up worrying help either?"

Jarrod ran a hand through his hair and shook his head, "I've made a total mess of things Mother,

God knows I've made mistakes in my life, but this!"

Victoria set down the glass and covered Jarrod's hand with her own. "Don't be so hard on yourself Darling, you did what you thought was right, nothing more than that."

Jarrod stood up restlessly and leaned an arm on the mantelpiece. "With what results? I've imposed a home and a way of life on a boy who hates me for it! I've injured the feelings of the wife I adore, if she ever forgives me , it will be better than I deserve. More likely....." Jarrod broke off abruptly and turned his head away from Victoria's shrewd eyes.

"More likely?"

Jarrod didn't answer and his mother rose and came to him, laying a gentle hand on his arm. He sighed, as if the weight of the whole world was on his shoulders.

When he spoke again, there was a world of weariness and pain in his quiet low voice, "I wouldn't blame Sarah...or Nick..."

Victoria put both her small insistent hands on his arms and made him face her. "Now you listen to me Jarrod Barkley, your wife loves you with all her heart and soul! Have you hurt her? You bet you have! Sarah felt betrayed when you showed up here with Danny, you will have to work hard to regain her trust and to convince her that she is your wife! A companion in life, to be consulted and considered in everything you do. But don't doubt her love for you Jarrod, she doesn't deserve that." Victoria paused, studying the effect of her words, Jarrod's clear blue eyes were fixed on her face, his expression was painfully intense.

Victoria spoke again, very quietly, "don't doubt your brother either Jarrod, you have had Nick's love and his loyalty since the day he was born, I know Nick, better than anyone else has ever known him, I know that it isn't in him to betray you." She paused, reaching up a hand to tenderly stroke Jarrod's cheek, "you know that too Darling."

Jarrod closed his eyes and caught her hand holding it to his face, remembering the torrents of childish tears it had brushed away, the stern lectures it had helped him face. His eyes still shut, with a heavy sigh, he released all his pent up distress and grief. He brought his mother's hand to his lips and kissed her palm. Then opening his striking blue eyes whispered "thank you."

Mother and son sat together and Jarrod spoke softly, "you're right Mother, I've sat down here so long fretting I let things get out of proportion in my mind." He raised Victoria's hand to his lips, "forgive me."

She shook her head, "forgive you? For needing my help for once? You, who spends your whole life trying to help family and stranger alike." Victoria kissed her son, "I've lectured you finely since I came downstairs, may I give you one more piece of advice?"

Jarrod nodded, "of course."

"Let your wife and your brother help you! I know they feel they can reach Danny if they try, perhaps they can unlock all the pain he is carrying. Don't shut your family out Jarrod, let us all try to find a way through this. We've always tried to do that haven't we, whenever trouble came our way?"

Jarrod nodded, "yes we have, I'll think about it Mother, I promise."

Victoria knew she could do no more and she rose, "goodnight my Darling."

Jarrod rose and kissed her tenderly, "goodnight Lovely Lady."

As Victoria climbed the stairs again, she could see Jarrod once more sitting staring into the fire. Have I done any good, she wondered, please God I have.

Jarrod sat on, long into the watches of the night. His heart was less sore since the talk with his mother. He knew in the depths of his being that she was right, about Sarah and Nick, theirs was a deep and loving friendship, nothing more than that. Jarrod knew he had the love and loyalty of both of them, what was less certain perhaps, was that he could ever make up to Sarah the wrong he had done her. As to the boy? Well perhaps Victoria was right about that too, maybe Nick and Sarah could reach him, where Jarrod has so patently failed to do. But Danny was HIS responsibility, Jarrod felt deeply that it was up to him to solve this puzzle. He lingered by the fire, seeing out the remainder of the night, no nearer a solution and becoming more exhausted with every hour that passed.

Lying in his bed Danny too was wide awake, aware that his behaviour when Jarrod was taken ill had totally betrayed him, revealing all too clearly the affection he had for his guardian. With a sense of despair he wondered how he was ever going to convince the Barkleys now that they had no choice but to send him away. He wasn't sure exactly how or when the idea came to him, it was he knew, a quite wicked idea, a crime that would ensure that every member of the Barkley family would hold him in contempt. Because what he intended to do was, quite simply, unforgiveable. He shed tears of shame and wondered if he could actually make himself do it, but he had to, Jarrod must never know the very worst of him and so he must steel himself to this wicked act.

Chapter 15 A change of heart

All four Barkley brothers breakfasted together very early next day, Jarrod hadn't been to bed at all but he was washed, shaved and dressed in fresh clothes, he looked white and strained and from time to time Eugene glanced worriedly at him. Nick and Heath had more inspections and fence mending to do, there had been more stormy weather and the damage needed swift repair to prevent the stock from straying.

Jarrod had expected a frosty greeting from Nick but all he got was a gentle, "mornin' Jarrod, you get any sleep at all?"

"No, but I'm alright, thanks Nick." Jarrod was grateful for his hot tempered brother's forebearance and was suddenly hungry, to the satisfaction of his three brothers he managed to eat a decent meal.

Gene displayed his healed hands, "I guess I have no excuse for not pitching in on the fence detail today huh?"

Nick shook his head, "Got another job for you brat!"

Gene grimaced, "not another ditch Nick! Please?"

Nick grinned at him, "no, not today, I want you to stick with him instead," he indicated Jarrod with a jerk of his head.

Eugene was surprised, "why?"

Nick's blue-grey eyes looked into Jarrod's deeper blue ones, "because if I know Counselor Barkley, he's headed for his office this morning, determined to cross swords with the suits in Sacramento! Am I right?"

Jarrod smiled affectionately at him, "quite right Nick, I haven't a minute to lose."

"Well a smart college kid ought to be able to help you, and at least he can make sure you don't kill yourself!" Nick's tone was brusque but Gene knew what was expected of him and swiftly answered, "I'll take good care of him Nick!"

Heath spoke quietly, "Jarrod? Are you sure you're up to this?"

Jarrod smiled, "quite sure Heath, thank you," he smiled around the table, "thank you all."

Nick broke the tension by changing his voice to a growl, "anyway Jarrod, it's your turn to babysit Gene, Heath and I have done our share!"

There was general laughter as Gene spluttered a protest and the brothers finished their repast amicably. As the breakfast party broke up, Gene was despatched to the stables to saddle all four horses, his protest cut short by Nick's well aimed slap to his behind, Heath headed for the library to collect a boundary map he and Nick needed and the two eldest brothers headed for the stairs together.

"Now you listen to me Pappy, no working yourself into another fever today, you hear me?"

They were mounting the stairs together, "you know me too well Nick!"

Nick shot a swift look at his brother, "Yeah I do," he said quietly, "but I'm beginning to wonder if you know me at all Jarrod."

He took the remaining stairs two at a time, leaving Jarrod staring after him, an arrested expression on his face

It had become a small ritual between the ladies of the Barkley family that on mornings when they were in no particular hurry, they had morning tea in Victoria's room. Sarah was there in her dressing gown and Victoria wasn't dressed either. Silas brought them a tray and Victoria smiled at him, "Silas what a perfect white rose!"

He beamed, "isn't he a beauty? In the middle of February too, I think he got his seasons mixed up! Soon as I saw him I knew I had to place him on your morning tray!" He left the ladies and was headed for the stairs as Nick and Jarrod emerged simultaneously from their rooms.

As Silas had entered Victoria's room, Danny's silent figure had crept to the stairs, he knelt swiftly down and ten seconds later, as his guardian, and Nick came out of their rooms, Danny was back in the nursery, peeping around the door.

Jarrod spoke quietly to his brother, "Nick, have you got a minute?"

Both men stopped and Silas passed them with a smile of greeting. Spotting Danny, skulking in the nursery doorway, Silas smiled at him too. "Morning Sonny." The old man headed toward the head of the stairs, a sweet old man from whom Danny had received nothing but kindness, and in that instant Danny knew he couldn't go through with it.

"Silas stop!" The boy's voice was a desperate cry and Silas did stop, dead in his tracks, his foot only an inch away from the deadly tripwire Danny had stretched across the stairs.

"Don't move!" Danny sobbed as he hurried to the old man's side and untied the cord. Tears were running down the boy's face as he knelt in front of Silas, "I...I'm s...sorry S...Silas," he wept. The old man gently lifted the child to his feet soothing him, "easy now, easy Danny," he looked at the shocked faces of Nick and Jarrod, both men rooted to the spot for the moment. Nick was the first to snap out of it, advancing wrathfully on Danny, seizing him and shaking him fiercely "why you little..."

"Nick!" Jarrod's voice held a warning note and Nick released the boy, glaring at the trembling Danny before turning to Silas and speaking gently, "are you alright Silas?"

Danny cast one scared look at Jarrod before hanging his head, still gulping back tears. Sarah and Victoria had appeared and Heath too came up the stairs at the run. Jarrod was looking very stern and when he spoke to Danny his voice was ominously quiet, "you will go to your room at once Daniel!"

Danny didn't move, just stood miserably before his angry guardian, "J...Jarrod..I..."

Jarrod's voice cut him short, "not a word young man! I'm far too angry to even speak to you at the moment." He turned to his brother, "Nick, lock him in!"

Nick took Danny by the scruff of his neck and propelled him along the passage, "c'mon boy, git!" He turned the key, locking Danny into the nursery.

Heath took Silas by the arm, "come with me Silas, you could use a glass of brandy," he guided the shaken black man down the stairs. Jarrod was showing his wife and mother the trip wire, both women were shocked, "why would he even contemplate doing such a thing?" Victoria's eyes were agonised and she was visibly upset. Sarah looked very levelly at her husband and spoke in a low urgent voice, "Jarrod, this cannot go on."

Her husband sighed, "I know," he sounded defeated and Sarah felt sorry for him, she put her hand on his arm, "we all want to help you know."

Victoria pulled herself together, "we all need to talk this over, as a family, come Sarah, we should dress, perhaps you boys would check that Silas is alright and make some coffee."

Half an hour later the discussion in the living room was becoming heated, "I say he needs a damn good licking!" Nick declared glaring at Jarrod, "If Silas had tripped over that cord he could have broken his neck!"

Jarrod jammed his hands into his vest pockets, "aren't you missing the important point Nick?"

"What?"

"He didn't go through with it, he couldn't bring himself to hurt Silas, that speaks to his basic decency don't you think?"

"What I think is that Danny Mathews is pretty nearly as stubborn as you are Big Brother! He's determined to make you get rid of him and who knows what other tricks he has up his sleeve!"

Heath spoke up, "I agree with Nick Jarrod, until this situation is resolved we can't leave him running around free."

Jarrod sighed, "I can't keep him locked in his room all the time either Heath."

Sarah and Nick exchanged glances and he nodded briefly. Sarah turned to her husband, "have you considered what Nick and I asked you yesterday?"

Jarrod nodded gravely, "I need time to think all of this over, I feel responsible for bringing Danny here and for everything that's happened as well, I want to ask you all to let me have a few more hours to decide what to do next." He glanced at his watch, "I have to get to Stockton, there are matters which I must deal with this morning, can we leave the issue of Danny's future until later in the day?"

Victoria spoke for them all, "very well dear, but please don't take all this on yourself, remember we are all one family."

Jarrod smiled, I will mother I promise."

Nick looked at Heath, "best if we take the boy with us, work the devilment out of him?"

Heath nodded, "I'll go get him."

Jarrod walked with Sarah to the door, there was constraint between them but she was conscious of his weariness, his tired and pale face and she knew he hadn't slept at all. She kissed him with more tenderness than he had expected, "come home as soon as you can darling?"

"I will," he promised shutting the big front door behind him.

Nick was mending a broken section of fence, assisted by the subdued and silent Danny. He was obedient to the orders Nick rapped at him, quick to do whatever he was bid. Nick had been seething in silence most of the morning but he eventually he could stand it no longer and glared at the boy. "I never would have dreamed you would even THINK of hurting Silas!"

"I didn't hurt him," protested Danny half-heartedly.

Nick ignored this, pointing the hammer he was using at the boy, "that old man has shown you nothing but kindness since the day you got here boy!"

Danny hung his head and whispered, "I know."

Nick glared at him, "how could you Danny, how could you even think of hurting him?"

Danny couldn't answer him, tears were rolling down his face.

Nick let out an exasperated sigh, "for God's sake boy! If you care enough to cry over it, why do you behave this way?"

Danny's tears were falling fast now and Nick, always soft-hearted with youngsters spoke more gently, "easy now, that'll be enough of that." He slipped an arm around Danny and led him to the wagon containing the replacement fence posts. They sat together on the backboard and Nick gave Danny a handkerchief to dry his tears. He looked appraisingly at the tear-stained boy.

"That was a pretty lethal tripwire, it would have broken that old man's neck if you had gone through with it."

Danny hung his head and whispered, "I know...I couldn't do it to him."

"Where did you learn how to set a trap that good?"

"My pa taught me and I had to hunt for my mother and grandma when he left us."

Nick was curious, "you miss your pa boy?"

"No Sir, I...didn't know him very well, he didn't ever have much time for me, only taught me to hunt so he wouldn't have to."

Nick was beginning to get a picture of the missing and clearly worthless Scott Mathews. He changed the subject back to Silas.

"Did Jarrod ever tell you that Silas saved his life?"

Danny shook his head, "no Sir."

Nick nodded "I was two years old when Silas came to live with us, Jarrod was six, he had pneumonia, he's prone to it, had it several times. Anyway, this particular time he was very sick, my father had been away and my mother was worn out, trying to keep me out of trouble and take care of Jarrod too." Nick noted that Danny was listening to him intently, no use for the boy to pretend indifference to his guardian, he loved Jarrod! That much was as plain as day.

"What did Silas do?" the boy's voice was eager.

"He made a special medicine, he knows a lot about herbs and stuff like that, he fed it to Jarrod and nursed him back to health."

"I guess that's why you all love Silas so much huh?"

Nick nodded, "that and the many other good things he's done for all of us over the years."

He looked hard at Danny, "you thought it was the worst thing you could do didn't you? Something so bad Jarrod would send you away?"

Danny hung his head whispering "yes."

Nick ruffled Danny's hair and smiled at him, "well, take it from someone who knows Jarrod Barkley better than most, he will NEVER give up on you or send you away and that is a fact! and the sooner you accept that the better it will be for all of us!"

Chapter 16 Confrontation

Jarrod spent a difficult but successful morning at his desk, he filed the necessary documents to ensure that all was in train for the new hearing of the farmers case which would be in Sacramento. Gene helped as much as he could and the two brothers were able to head for home at lunchtime. Jarrod wouldn't admit it but his head was aching and he felt near to exhaustion, he was still uncertain what to do next about Danny and wondered what he was going to say to the family.

When they got home, Victoria was nowhere to be seen, in fact she was upstairs, finding Danny fresh clothes since Nick had brought him back filthy from the fence mending work. Danny himself was in the bath. Jarrod dropped his case on the hall table and walked into the library looking for Sarah, he found her, sitting on the sofa, her head pillowed on Nick Barkley's shoulder, Nick's arm around her. A stab of jealousy twisted in Jarrod's heart, sharp as a lance, he stood still, silent and rigid.

"This isn't how it looks Jarrod," said Nick removing his arm from around Sarah and standing up. "She's been worried sick about you, she needed a little comfort is all," he broke off embarrassed by the situation and by the hurt look on his brother's face. Sarah also stood and faced her husband squarely, her lovely face held a distinct challenge, "Nick doesn't need to explain does he Jarrod?"

For a long moment Jarrod's intense blue eyes locked gazes with Sarah's smoky blue eyes, then he looked at his brother's anxious face, "no, he doesn't need to explain," said Jarrod quietly, turning and walking quickly away.

After lunch, Danny diffidently asked if he might visit with Silas in the kitchen. Jarrod surveyed him coldly, "why?"

"I...I wanted to say I was sorry."

Jarrod considered for a moment, "very well, you may visit Silas and you are on your honour to behave yourself, understood?"

"Yes Sir."

The boy left the dining room and Jarrod looked up to find his mother's eyes upon him. He sighed, "I'm sorry, I'm no nearer a solution I'm afraid, I can't seem to think straight today, I guess I'm tired out."

Victoria spoke gently, "perhaps we should leave the matter until tomorrow." She glanced at the faces of Sarah and Nick, she didn't know what had happened but there was obviously constraint between Jarrod and his wife and Jarrod and Nick too. She felt weary with it all and had a sudden longing for a gallop in the fresh air.

"I think I'll go for a ride, I feel the need of some fresh air and sunshine," Victoria glanced at the stony faces of her sons, no-one answered her and she pushed her chair back from the table with a wry smile. "Very well, I suppose I can saddle my own horse," she said dulcetly. Gene snapped out of his trance, "sorry Mother! I was miles away, I'll saddle Misty Girl right away."

"Thank you Dear."

Sarah smiled, "may I go with you Victoria, I need a little air myself!" This was said in a bitter tone and with a swift scowl at her husband.

The two women left the table and Heath rose, "how about a drink?" He walked out of the dining room to the drinks tray in the living room and his two brothers followed. They sat sipping their drinks in awkward silence until Nick could stand the tension no longer and began to prowl restlessly around the room. Heath looked appraisingly at the lawyer and the cowboy, he didn't know what had occurred this day but he knew with certainty that there was trouble coming and he thought the sooner the better.

"Either of you got anything to tell me?"

Nick shot him an angry look and said "ask him!"

Jarrod shook his head and Heath sighed, "I can wait!" He refilled the glasses and handed Gene a drink too when he rejoined them, having seen the ladies off on their ride.

The tense atmosphere was not lost on the youngest Barkley brother, "what's up?"

Heath's lop-sided smile dawned, "not sure yet," he drawled, "but when the trouble breaks you grab Jarrod and leave Nick to me, alright Little Brother?"

Gene hoped that Heath was kidding, you never could tell with Heath and it seemed at first as though it would be alright. The brothers finished their drinks and Nick announced that it was high time they got back to work. Danny had briefly re-appeared to ask humbly if he might stay with Silas that afternoon.

"Why?" Jarrod was still very stern.

"Please Sir, it's a special secret, Silas needs me to help him!"

Jarrod looked unconvinced but Silas himself appeared and smiled, "Danny and I are preparing a little surprise for Mrs. Barkley Sir."

Jarrod's brilliant blue eyes looked deep into Danny's pale blue eyes, anxiously fixed on his face, willing him to agree to his helping Silas.

"Very well Silas, I have to say I think it's more than good of you to have anything to do with this young man!" Danny blushed fiery red and hung his head. Jarrod relented, "you may spend the afternoon with Silas and I expect to hear from him that your behaviour has been perfect, am I understood?"

"Yes Sir!"

The boy and the servant departed hand in hand and Jarrod turned to his brothers. "I'll give you boys a hand."

Nick scowled but didn't speak, Gene and Heath both protested that Jarrod wasn't up to ranch work.

"Stop fussing you two! Gene, if you're that concerned about the state of my health, feel free to saddle Jingo for me!"

The four men went out to the barn together but Gene never did get around to saddling Jingo because the tension crackling between Jarrod and Nick reached a sudden flashpoint.

It was poor Eugene, the master of the unfortunate phrase that started it, trying to break the dark mood of his older brothers he grinned at Jarrod and said, "I bet I know why you're comin' with us, you want to keep an eye on us all seeing as Sarah's out on the range too."

Heath looked heavenwards, God preserve me from kid brothers, he thought.

Nick wheeled on Jarrod glaring at him fiercely, "is that it?" His voice was a growl.

Jarrod was tired, ill and sick at heart, he knew he was wrong but he heard himself saying, "You've given me cause enough, BOTH of you!"

Then Nick's fist connected neatly with his jaw and he crashed to the barn floor, he lay half dazed for a few seconds, during which time Heath leapt on Nick holding him back, his hands gripping Nick by the arms.

"Dammit Heath you let me loose!" Nick was fuming with rage and struggled to free himself. He was a strong man, but Heath was powerfully built and his grip on Nick gave him the advantage.

"I will let you go Nick, just a soon as you simmer down and right after Jarrod gives you the apology he KNOWS he owes you!"

Jarrod had struggled to his feet, and was holding his bruised jaw, Gene obedient to Heath's orders promptly gripped Jarrod's arm but was angrily shaken off. Heath's words brought Jarrod's head up, an arrested expression in his striking blue eyes, he gazed into Heath's cool pale blue eyes and then looked at the furious Nick, still pinioned by Heath's powerful hands. The mad jealous rage had left him now and he felt a tide of bitter shame, galling to a man who prided himself on his intellect and his reason. Jarrod met Nick's angry blue-grey eyes and when he spoke his voice was low and contrite, "Heath's absolutely right Nick! I do owe you an apology, I don't know what came over me, I'm sorry."

Heath immediately released Nick and stepped away from his brother, Nick's fists had clenched again but he made no move to attack Jarrod, exhaling sharply and frowning at his eldest brother in mingled exasperation and pity.

"Forget it!" His tone was terse but there was rough affection in his voice, he looked sternly at Jarrod, "the person you DO owe an apology to is your wife!"

Jarrod nodded and drew a shaky breath, he staggered slightly and would perhaps have fallen but for Eugene solicitously grabbing his arm again.

Nick shook his head and turned to Heath, "two days out of bed after a fever and he wants to play cowboy!" He glanced at the weary Jarrod and spoke to Gene, "tuck him up in bed Brat and if he argues....hit him again!"

The brothers parted then, Nick and Heath heading for the range and their work and Gene escorting Jarrod back to the house. Heath was satisfied that they had all gotten through this awkward situation as well as possible. He felt that Jarrod and Nick understood each other at last and was optimistic that that this whole unpleasant state of affairs might improve from now on.

Chapter 17 Friends and brothers, Nick and Heath

Riding Charger beside his tense brother, Heath reflected with some satisfaction on his own part in the reconciling of his older brothers differences. He owed them both a great deal, Jarrod had helped and advised him from the day of his arrival in this place, never too busy to talk to him or offer guidance. Nick? Heath smiled affectionately at the hard riding, loud voiced man alongside him. More than anyone else, Nick had had the power to accept the new brother, or to reject him. They worked closely together these two, running the ranch in tandem, from the very beginning, or at least after that memorable trail drive, Nick had voluntarily shared his power with Heath.

It might have been very different, not that Nick would have absolutely gone against the wishes of the rest of the family, but he could have fought the newcomer every inch of the way, stubbornly refusing to give up any autonomy over the ranch. He hadn’t done so and because of the generosity he had shown, he would always have Heath’s loyalty and his support. It wasn’t all one way either, thought Heath. Nick was not good at expressing his deeper feelings, but he had told the younger man of the isolation he sometimes felt prior to Heath’s arrival, he set a high value on Heath’s companionship and he had gruffly, awkwardly but sincerely let him know it.

It gave Heath a deep, quiet pleasure to know that he had handled the Nick, Jarrod and Sarah situation about as well as it could be handled. He felt too that his growing friendship with younger brother Gene was another step in his assimilation into the Barkley family. Eugene had given him a hard time when he arrived, jealous of Heath’s strengthening bonds with both his older brothers. Heath had been tempted to dismiss the feelings of the spoiled little rich kid, contrasting the very different lives he and Gene had led. His insight and his intelligence however told him to reach out to his younger sibling instead. He had treated Gene with understanding and patience and their deepening relationship was a cause for satisfaction.

Increasingly now, Heath felt as though he had been a Barkley all his life. He was and would always be grateful to his family for their acceptance of him, but with pride he knew that he had grown, changed and learned a great deal since he arrived as a bitterly angry young man, less than two years ago. He could be proud of his own efforts to become the best person he could be and truth to tell he was a happy and very contented young man, even if he and Nick did have a lot more back breaking work ahead of them that day!

Chapter 18 Danny makes amends and gets a final warning!

When Sarah and Victoria returned to the house after their ride, Gene informed them both that Jarrod was lying down upstairs and that Heath and Nick were out on the range. That was ALL he said too, he was tired of putting his foot in things and was glad he would be returning to college soon. He was finding life at home something of an emotional trial at present, not sure of all the undercurrents and desperately anxious not to be the cause of any mischief between his brothers. He certainly had NO intention of attempting to explain the bruise on Jarrod’s jaw to the ladies, they could all leave him out of it!

In the event neither Victoria or Sarah asked for any such explanation, though both noticed the bruise on Jarrod’s face and they exchanged expressive glances with one another about it. Both the mother and the wife were pretty sure that the injury had been sustained in an altercation between Jarrod and Nick, the only question in the minds of both ladies was, whether the punch was the end of the affair, or the start of further trouble.

The arrival home soon afterwards of Heath and Nick answered this point, Nick and Jarrod greeted each other calmly and cordially, though they avoided conversation. Victoria poured coffee for everyone and they were seated in a family group around the fireplace when a beaming Silas and an excited Danny walked across the foyer from the kitchen. Danny was carrying a paper wrapped parcel carefully in both hands.

Silas smiled at his mistress, “Danny has something to give you Ma’am.”

“I didn’t do it Silas,” protested Danny, “you did all the hard work!”

“He’s been helping me all the afternoon,” Silas said, he looked at Jarrod, “and he’s been as good as gold.”

“Glad to hear it,” said Jarrod dryly.

At Silas’s prompting, Danny handed the parcel to Victoria, “here you are Aunt Victoria, I sure am sorry I damaged it but just look what Silas has done, he sure is clever!”

Victoria opened her parcel to reveal her precious musical box, miraculously restored, not a mark of damage visible on it. She gasped with joy and her eyes filled with happy tears. Danny was practically dancing beside her, in his happy excitement and the old retainer watched her joy with quiet satisfaction.

“Go ahead and open it up,” Danny urged her, Victoria did so and the repaired mechanism trilled it’s pretty tune, as good as new. Victoria closed the box again and handed it to the boy.

“Danny would you please put the box back on the table over there where I keep it?”

The boy took the precious thing gingerly from her and carefully put it down on the table. He returned to Victoria and she drew him to her kissing him warmly, “thank you for helping Silas with it Danny, it’s a lovely surprise and I’ll never forget it”. The boy blushed fiery red but his pleasure was obvious. Victoria advanced on Silas and kissed him too, she shook his arm playfully, “I’ve been meaning to ask you for days what you had done with it,” she said with mock severity and her old friend laughed with her, he patted her hand, “I’m glad you’re pleased Ma’am.” He hurried back to his kitchen, glad to be out of the limelight and well pleased with his efforts.

Victoria looked at Danny, more natural and animated than he had been since his arrival at the ranch, was this a golden opportunity to break down the barriers he had set around himself? Perhaps Jarrod would not wish her to interfere, but this whole business was tearing Jarrod apart and she loved her son. She looked expressively at Sarah and then spoke to the boy still standing by her chair, “you know Danny, I think it’s time you told us all why you’ve behaved so badly since you came here.” The boy’s sunny confiding expression vanished instantly, to be replaced with his familiar stony sullen look. Victoria tried again, taking Danny’s hand and smiling encouragingly, “come on now Danny, you like it here, I know you do! Can’t you confide in us, we are all your friends you know.”

Nick joined in, reaching over to tousle the boy’s hair, “come on Danny, spill the beans!” His tone was friendly and encouraging but Danny sulkily shrugged him off and glared at the family.

The boy stood silently, sullen and resentful, apparently deaf to the entreaties of Victoria and Nick. Jarrod looked long and hard at the stubborn boy and abruptly his patience ran out.

“Oh I’ve had about enough of this!”

His angry voice brought Danny’s head up and Jarrod glared coldly at him. "Come with me,” he ordered, turning and walking towards the library.

Danny was so surprised by the peremptory tone of Jarrod’s voice that he didn’t move, just stammered “W..what?”

Jarrod wheeled around, “are you deaf as well as disobedient? I SAID come with me!”

Jarrod strode away into the library and Danny followed with fast beating heart.

Nick watched the boy reluctantly follow Jarrod and laughed shortly. Heath looked at Nick, “er...is Jarrod going to...?”

Nick grinned “you bet he is, long overdue too!”

Eugene grimaced, “Danny has my sympathy!”

Nick tousled Gene’s hair, “I always walloped you harder than Jarrod did.”

Eugene shook his head, “that isn’t the point Nick, Jarrod never needed to raise a hand to me to make me sorry, he can be pretty formidable and Danny doesn’t know him all that well yet.”

“Poppycock!” growled Nick, “that kid has been getting out of hand and Jarrod needs to crack the whip!”

Heath shook his head, “I don’t know Nick, a whole lot has happened to that boy, he needs time and understanding.”

“He needs his backside tanning!” retorted Nick.

Sarah was sitting beside her mother in law, “I don’t like this Victoria, if Jarrod is hard on Danny he’ll only make the boy afraid of him and that isn’t going to do anybody any good.”

Victoria squeezed her daughter in law’s hand reassuringly, “I don’t think Jarrod will be hard on Danny, but he obviously feels he needs to take him in hand and recent events would seem to show that it is necessary.”

Sarah cast an anxious glance towards the library, “I hope you’re right Victoria.”

In the library Jarrod moved deliberately away from the big desk and stood before the fireplace.

“Come here,” he ordered.

Danny came and stood before his mentor, nervously awaiting his fate. Jarrod’s voice was as cold as ice, ”do you see that desk there?”

Danny, nodded but didn’t speak.

“Well when Nick and I were boys, if either of us had behaved half as badly as you have done lately. My father would have made us bend over that desk and he would have whipped the daylights out of us.”

Danny flushed scarlet and hung his head.

“Look at me!”

With an effort, Danny forced himself to look Jarrod in the eye.

“Can you think of one good reason why I shouldn’t whip you?”

“N...no sir,” whispered Danny miserably.

“Neither can I,” said Jarrod dryly. “But I’m not going to, come and sit down.”

Danny was surprised and clearly relieved and he came and sat beside Jarrod on the settee.

Jarrod thought for a while before he spoke again and Danny sat dumbly, looking at the carpet, the bright fire, anywhere except at me thought Jarrod.

“Danny, I knew that things might be difficult when I brought you here, I knew you would find it hard to adjust but I believed that together we would be able to deal with whatever problems arose.”

Jarrod paused, studying the dejected figure beside him, the boy didn’t respond and Jarrod pressed on.

“After all, we were a pretty good team when I lived in your house weren’t we?”

Were those tears in the boy’s eyes?

“Yes S...Sir.”

“However, since you arrived here, I would say that you’ve gone out of your way to behave as badly as you can, and I believe I know why, because you want to give me a reason to be rid of you.”

Danny cast him a look of burning resentment, but he didn’t argue.

Is that it?” persisted Jarrod, “are you trying to make me send you away?”

The boy didn’t answer just wiped away the tears that were rolling down his face.

Jarrod spoke as gently as he could, “Danny, this campaign of yours , to convince me that you’re a bad kid, it isn’t going to work you know. I know you pretty well young man, I know that a lot of what’s gone on here is out of character. In fact I know that you are basically too decent for your campaign to succeed.”

Danny was listening intently and Jarrod pressed on, “That is why you couldn’t allow your friend Silas to hurt himself, we can none of us act against our own natures Danny. Your nature is basically good...” He got no further, Danny leapt up hysterically, “it isn’t....it isn’t...you don’t know!” Jarrod grabbed the boy and held his trembling body close, soothing him until the choking sobs died away, then he sat him down and laid a hand on the boy’s shoulder, “Danny, I know you’re not happy here, I wish you were but I know you’re not. Believe me, I will do anything I can to change that situation, but you have to meet me halfway on this. I can’t help you unless you let me.”

Danny was staring at the floor, he didn’t speak and Jarrod pressed him further.

“For heaven’s sake TELL me Danny, confide in me, let me help you!”

Danny shook off Jarrod’s hand and squirmed away from him, his face bore it’s now customary sulky expression. Jarrod could feel his temper rising again and he sighed and stood up.

“Very well,” his voice was cold and edged with annoyance. He regarded the sullen boy, slouched on the settee. “On your feet young man!”

Danny stood and faced Jarrod, casting a resentful look at him before resuming his study of the carpet.

“Now pay attention to me boy! From now on I expect there to be a complete change in your attitude. I can’t make you be happy here, but I can and will make you behave yourself. The very next time you step out of line, you will take the consequences, is that clear?”

“Yes Sir.”

“Very well, now I want you to go to your room and you are to stay there until I say you can leave, do you understand?”

“Yes Sir.”

Jarrod nodded and indicated that Danny should go, the boy walked towards the library door, Jarrod’s voice stopped him as he reached it.

“Danny?”

Danny turned a woe-begone face towards his guardian.

“You do some hard thinking while you’re upstairs.”

“Yes J...Jarrod.”

Jarrod winced at the now familiar stammer, which occurred almost every time Danny said his name. The boy left the room and Jarrod ran a hand through his hair. He leaned an arm along the mantelpiece and stared into the fire. The constant stammer on his name was deeply hurtful and not for the first time, Jarrod racked his brain for the answer to this puzzle. Back at the Matthews ranch he had enjoyed an easy, friendly companionship with Danny. It had never occurred to him, when he promised the old lady that he would raise the boy, that this situation would be any different than it had been before. For the life of him Jarrod couldn’t see why or how this relationship had soured. He remained staring into the fire and it was there that Sarah found him.

She leaned against his back, her arms encircling his waist and at once his hands covered her own.

“Did you punish him?” She enquired very gently, not wishing to imply any criticism of his handling of the boy. Better than any one else, Sarah knew how worried and upset Jarrod was over the problems Danny’s presence had caused.

“No, but I read the riot act! He’s on his last warning now and he knows it. I sent him to his room to do some thinking.”

Sarah released her husband and taking his hand led him to the settee. They sat together and she tucked her hand in Jarrod’s.

I know this is a trite thing to say, but try not to worry too much darling.”

Jarrod sighed, “I never thought that this would be easy Sarah, but God knows I didn’t expect what I've got either. He treats me like a stranger, worse than that really, like someone to be afraid of. If I hear J...Jarrod once more!” He broke off distressed. Sarah rubbed his hand against her cheek, “I know darling, I know.”

There was silence for a time and then Sarah spoke quietly, “Jarrod, when you brought Danny here, you and I said some harsh words to one another.”

She got no further, Jarrod broke in at once, “I know I hurt you Sarah, God knows I never meant to, I’m sorry!”

“Shh,” she soothed him, “never mind that now, I just need you to know that I will support you 100 per cent in whatever the future with Danny holds.”

Her husband carried her hand to his lips, “bless you for that my lady, but in all honesty Sarah, I’m beginning to wonder about my determination to keep him here. How can I make him share a home with me, when he’s made it abundantly plain that he hates me?”

Sarah shook her head positively. “I don’t believe that he does hate you Jarrod, I haven’t figured out what he’s playing at yet, but I can’t believe he hates you, he has no reason to.”

Jarrod sighed, “ I see him with Nick and Heath and he doesn’t treat them the way he treats me.”

“He’s pretty monosyllabic with them too you know.”

Jarrod shook his head, “I don’t know Sarah, I just don’t know.”

“Would you like me to talk with him?”

Jarrod thought for a moment. “Maybe Sarah, but not right now, let him think things over for a while.”

“Alright darling, whatever you want.”

Jarrod pulled her close and drew some comfort from her warm and fragrant presence.

Chapter 19 Friends and brothers, Nick and Jarrod

A little later that evening Sarah went upstairs to change for dinner, she was worried about Jarrod, who was over tired and depressed by his failure to establish his former good relationship with his protégé. She halted outside Danny’s door, feeling a sudden urge to try and reach out to him, tell him perhaps how unhappy he was making Jarrod. Almost before she realised it, she had entered the boy’s room and shut the door behind her.

Danny was sitting dejectedly in the window seat and as Sarah came in he stood uncertainly, warily eying her. She didn’t waste time, “Danny I want to talk to you, I need to know what the matter is and I think you ought to tell me.”

The boy’s stony look descended on his face and Sarah felt a spurt of anger, she gripped his shoulders and gave him a little shake. “I want you to listen to me Danny, since you got here you have done everything in your power to be difficult. With the result that my poor husband is worried sick about you. Does Jarrod deserve that from you?” Danny twisted out of her grip and wouldn’t answer her but Sarah grabbed him again. “You are going to listen to me young man and talk to me too. I won’t stand for this a day longer, do you understand me?”

Her vehemence made the boy desperate and he wriggled free so fiercely, that Sarah lost her balance and stumbled heavily against the fireplace, catching her head on the mantelshelf and almost losing her senses. The tiny struggle had sent a chair crashing to the floor as well, and as Sarah fought to stay conscious and on her feet the door was flung open and Jarrod stood there.

Sarah wiped a little trickle of blood from her forehead, she fought the urge to swoon and looked at Danny. The boy was white with shock and fear and Sarah was not surprised, for the expression on Jarrod’s face was appallingly grim, sterner than she had ever seen him. A wave of sick faintness shook her but Sarah knew she must act and at once, she stepped towards her husband saying, “it was an accident Jarrod!” Her weakness betrayed her and she would have fallen but for Jarrod’s strong hands catching her elbows.

As he held her to him, Jarrod’s face softened, “easy now Sarah, it’s alright darling.” He glanced at the boy, still rigid with shock, “pick up that chair!” ordered Jarrod sternly. Danny hastened to obey and Jarrod tenderly sat Sarah down using his handkerchief to stem the flow of blood from her head. Nick and Victoria appeared in the doorway and Jarrod spoke to them, “there’s been an accident Mother, Nick will you carry Sarah to her room please?” Nick tenderly picked Sarah up and Victoria led the way out, leaving Jarrod and Danny alone. Danny stood rooted to the spot, eyes wide with apprehension. Jarrod considered him appraisingly, then he crossed to the window and stood for a moment looking out, giving his jangled nerves time to calm down. When he had entered the room he had known an impulse to attack Danny but that had receded now. He spoke quietly over his shoulder, “was it an accident?”

“Yes Sir!” I swear.”

Jarrod turned to the tense child standing stock still in the centre of the room. “Then we’ll say no more about it.” He held out a hand towards Danny, but the boy backed swiftly away from him.

A grey tide of despair rose within Jarrod, dear god, this boy IS afraid of me, perhaps he always has been and I’ve just been too stubborn and too pompous to realise it. He made no further attempt to touch the boy, just said softly, “you get to bed, you need to rest. Goodnight Danny.”

As he reached the door, Danny at last found his voice, “g...goodnight J...Jarrod.”

Jarrod closed his eyes in anguish at the stammer on his name and went quickly out closing the door behind him. He walked rather blindly down the corridor, almost colliding with Nick. A wave of weakness and exhaustion washed over Jarrod and he held out his arms to his brother, “Nick...Nick...”

“Easy Jarrod, I’ve got you!” Nick put strong hands under Jarrod’s arms and supported him. He looked with keen anxiety at his distressed brother.

“Nick, I have to talk to you!”

“Alright Jarrod, whatever you say,” replied Nick in a concerned voice, “ come into my room and I’ll get you some brandy, I think you could use it.”

Worriedly, he lead Jarrod into his own room and pressed him into one of the two chairs before the fireplace. He crossed to the drinks tray with his swift clean stride and poured Jarrod a drink of brandy. Returning to his brother’s side he put the glass in Jarrod’s hand, “drink it,” he ordered. Jarrod obediently sipped some of the spirit, whilst Nick anxiously watched him. When Jarrod finished the brandy, Nick took the glass and refilled it. He pressed the glass back into Jarrod’s hand and sank down on one knee beside his older brother. “Better now?”

Jarrod nodded wearily, “Nick, you have to help me, I need you to do something for me.”

“I’ll do anything for you Jarrod, you know that.”

“Thanks Nick, I know you will.” Jarrod was gripping Nick’s sleeve with painful intensity and Nick gently detached his arm and pressed Jarrod’s own arm down onto the arm of the chair, covering it with his own in a comforting clasp. “Take it slow now Jarrod, I’ll do whatever it is you want but catch your breath a little bit first will you?”

Jarrod’s arm turned beneath Nick’s and clasped it warmly, his other hand reached out and squeezed the back of Nick’s neck, he smiled faintly, “you’ve always been my best friend haven’t you Nick?”

“From the day I was born!“ Nick replied promptly. His own free hand came up to clasp Jarrod’s shoulder, “from the day I was born,” he repeated, “and I will be your best friend until the day of my death, believe it Jarrod, you can count on that!”

“I do believe it Nick...” Jarrod broke off as sudden remembrance of the events of the afternoon overwhelmed him. He released Nick and pressed a hand to his aching head. “Oh God Nick! This afternoon...”

Nick gripped his brother’s shoulder hard, "now you listen to me Jarrod, Forget this afternoon! I already have, I promise you”

Jarrod shook his head, “forgive me Nick, it was a dreadful thing to say, or think.”

Nick shook Jarrod gently, “ you’re tired out worrying about your case and that brat, forget it like I told you.”

Jarrod smiled wearily, “alright Nick and thank you.” He leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment.

“Drink up and I’ll go see how Sarah is and then we’ll have a quiet drink together and you can tell me what you want me to do for you,” ordered Nick. He left the room as he spoke returning in a moment to join Jarrod. He poured more brandy for both of them and sat in the chair on the opposite side of the fireplace to his older brother.

“Is she alright Nick?”

Nick grinned at him, “She's fine. You've said it yourself, she's about as hard-headed as me. Well, you're right, she is. And it's a good thing. She's fine."

Jarrod sighed with relief. Nick looked at him anxiously, worn to the bone with his work and with worry over that kid! "What can I do for you Big Brother?"

Jarrod spoke quietly, "Nick, I want you to adopt young Danny in my place."

"Why?" Nick was characteristically blunt.

"Isn't it obvious, Nick? The boy is afraid of me. I realized just now that he probably always has been! I can't force him to share my home. I can't."

"Jarrod, let me tell you something, when that fever struck you down the day before yesterday, the boy was on his knees beside you, cradling your body, crying out your name. YOUR name, Jarrod, not Dakota. I won't pretend I know what lies behind his attitude because I don't. But I do know this, Jarrod, Danny does NOT hate you."

Jarrod was too tired to argue, "I don't know what else to do Nick."

"Well, I do, Pappy! Accept a little help from your family, why don't you?"

Jarrod smiled, "That's what Mother said last night."

Nick smiled, "Well, Mrs. Barkley is usually right, isn't she?"

"That she is Nick, that she is."

Nick thought for a moment. "I'll make a deal with you, Jarrod. You let Sass and me tackle young Danny and see if we can't get through to him and if it doesn't work, well then I will adopt him myself, is that fair?"

"More than fair, Nick. Thank you, brother."

The door opened to admit a pale but composed Sarah wearing an interesting bandage on her head. Jarrod sprang up at once, “Sarah! You should be in bed.”

“I’m hungry!”

The lady sounded so indignant that Jarrod had to laugh. ”Silas can bring you a tray,” he smiled at her lovingly.

“Oh Jarrod, I want to eat at the table with you. Please Jarrod?”

He couldn’t refuse her and caressed her face, “very well but I am carrying you down the stairs Lady!”

She touched his stained shirt, “is that my blood you’re wearing?”

He glanced down, “yes I guess it is, I’d better change. Little Brother, kindly carry this stubborn wife of mine down to dinner, I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Yes Sir!” Nick swept the protesting Sarah off her feet and carried her out and down the stairs.

Jarrod met his mother on the landing, “someone should look in on the boy Mother.”

She patted his arm, “stop fussing Jarrod! Heath has already done so and he’s quite alright. Hurry up and change that shirt, dinner is ready.”

“Yes Ma’am,” said Jarrod meekly and went to change with a lighter heart than he had possessed for weeks past.

Late that night, lying in their bed with Sarah tenderly clasped in his arms, Jarrod confessed to her the details of his encounter with Nick’s fist. She accepted his apology and didn’t reproach her husband, just set about proving her love for him beyond any possible shadow of doubt. After which, to her satisfaction, Jarrod slept deeply and dreamlessly. Sarah herself lay wakeful, she had a headache but was eager for the morning, she felt in her whole being that she possessed the means to reach Danny and solve this problem. She prayed silently that she was right, snuggled her cheek against Jarrod’s shoulder and slipped into her own sleep.

Chapter 20 Friends and brothers, Heath and Eugene.

Heath was buttoning his shirt the next morning when there was a knock on his bedroom door, he called “come in,” smiling as his younger brother entered the room. “Hey College Boy! You all packed?”

Gene smiled back, “I sure am, glad to get away too! I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t understand a damn thing that goes on in this place!”

Heath laughed, “don’t worry about it Gene, there have been things going on around here that nobody understands!” he indicated the ledgers under Eugene’s arm, “what’s all that?”

Gene laid the books down on Heath’s desk, “new stock ledgers for you.”

“I didn’t use up the old ones yet.”

Eugene smiled, “I know but I think you’ll like what I’ve done, come and look.”

The two young men pored over the books together and Gene explained, “I’ve ruled these up for the next three months, I’ll be home for the summer then and if you think of any improvements between now and then we can incorporate them. What I’ve done is ruled them up with extra transaction lines see?”

Heath nodded, “yeah I see that, why?”

Gene spoke diffidently, anxious in case he gave offence, “well I think your major problem was that you note down each transaction but leave totalling to the end and then sometimes you couldn’t get them to balance. This way you do the sums each transaction, kind of add as you go.” He paused, watching for Heath’s reaction, his brother studied the ledger lay-out for a long minute then a slow grin spread across his face. “Eugene, it’s brilliant! I won’t have any trouble keeping a running total this way and even if I do go wrong it’ll be dead easy to track the mistake!”

Gene grinned with relief, “glad you approve Big Brother.”

Heath laid a hand on his brother’s shoulder, “I don’t just approve Little Brother, I’m damn grateful, you must have spent hours preparing these.”

“My pleasure Heath.”

“I mean it Gene, thanks, you’ve taught me a lot this past week.”

Gene smiled at Heath, “I’ve learned a few things myself Heath,” he said quietly.

The two brothers went down to breakfast together, dropping the new stock books on the big library desk for Nick to inspect, he intended to occupy himself with this work whilst waiting for Sarah to tackle young Danny.

Danny Mathews sat disconsolately on the window seat in the old Barkley nursery, which despite his insistence that he wouldn’t stay at the ranch, he had already come to think of as his own room. He was deeply miserable, the deaths of his mother and grandmother lay like a bruise on his spirit and besides that there was everything that had happened in the weeks since he came to the Barkley ranch. His continued campaign of bad behaviour, which had lead into so many confrontations with Jarrod, was wearing the boy down, especially the aborted plot to hurt dear old Silas.

Danny thought back sadly to that happy time on his Ma’s ranch when Jarrod Barkley had been “Dakota”. They had been the best of friends, repairing fences together, swimming at the lake, doing all the kinds of things that Danny had frequently longed to do with his Pa. Scott Mathews had been a remote figure, too busy with his get rich quick schemes to bother with a kid. “Dakota” had been different. Danny’s mind went back to a day when they had worked hard repairing a fence and they had stopped to watch an eagle flying overhead. Dakota had turned to Danny, placing a friendly hand, a loving hand on the boy’s head. In that shared moment, Danny had loved his new friend, he loved him still, too well to hurt him, too well to confess to him.

He couldn’t face the idea of a Barkley family breakfast today, not after hurting Sarah last night, but if he stayed here Jarrod would come and get him, take him down to face everyone, Danny sighed and looked out of the window. Heath Barkley was strolling over to the barn, perhaps he was headed out early again? Danny brightened, maybe Heath would let him tag along, he slipped rapidly from his room and down the back stairs and made it out to the barn unobserved.

Heath turned as the boy sidled into the barn, “Mornin’ Danny.”

“Mornin’ Sir.”

“Sir?”

“I...I thought you might all be mad at me for hurting Sarah last night.”

Heath had visited Danny in the nursery after Jarrod’s near collapse, he had settled the distraught boy into bed and had been gravely kind to him, “no-one’s mad at you for that, it was an accident.”

“Heath?”

“Yeah?”

“May I ride out with you today...well...now?”

Heath his a smile, “not today Son.”

Danny flushed red, “I guess you’re mad at me about Silas huh?”

Heath laid a hand on the boy’s shoulder, “It isn’t that Danny, I can’t take you with me this morning, but I will another day I promise.”

“Why can’t I come NOW?” There was desperation in the boy’s voice.

Heath’s expression became stern, “Mainly because I just said so.”

Danny blinked back tears, “p...please Heath?”

Heath slipped an arm around the boy, “I’ll come in to breakfast with you, let’s go.” They walked over to the house together but when they reached the foyer, Danny ran for the stairs, “I’m not hungry!”

Heath sighed and went into the dining room, Jarrod was there along with the rest of the family, everyone except Sarah and Danny. Heath quietly told the Lawyer what had happened and Jarrod at once went up the curving stairs, encountering Silas on the way, who had a breakfast tray for Sarah. “I’ll take that Silas, thanks a lot.”

Jarrod called Danny to the door of the nursery, “Danny are you upset about Sarah?”

The boy shied away from the direct question, “I... guess so Sir.” He couldn’t look Jarrod in the face.

Jarrod’s voice was gentle “drop the Sir alright?”

“Yes J..Jarrod.”

“Why don’t you and I take Sarah her breakfast and we can see if she feels better today?”

Danny brightened a little and he nodded and went ahead of Jarrod to open the bedroom door.

Sarah sat up in bed as her husband and Danny entered the room, she smiled at the pair, “well! Two handsome men to wake me up, how nice, breakfast too, you boys are spoiling me..”

Jarrod put the tray down beside the bed and kissed his wife tenderly, “good morning Darling, how are you today?”

Danny had blushed at the kiss, it wasn’t the first time he had seen Sarah and Jarrod kissing each other, he knew how much in love they were, it made what he had done to Sarah seem more serious somehow.

“Better, much better.” Sarah’s voice was positive, she smiled at Jarrod I slept soundly and my head scarcely aches at all today.”

He returned the smile, “glad to hear it Darling.” He indicated the embarrassed Danny, “this young man is rather anxious about you Sarah.”

Sarah instantly held out her hand and Danny shuffled to her side, blushing hotly, his eyes on the makeshift bandage around her head. “I feel fine today Danny, why don’t you help me take off this silly bandage and we can see how I look huh?”

The boy helped her remove the dressing with almost ludicrous care and he scrutinised the rapidly healing cut on her head carefully. “It isn’t bad,” he sighed with relief.

Sarah’s wonderful eyes teased him gently, “how about a little kiss to make it better?”

Danny kissed her head with great gentleness and she beamed at him, “there! I’m cured.”

She smiled at the boy, “would you do something for me please Sweetie?”

“ANYTHING!”

Sarah pulled him to her. “It’s a secret so I’ll whisper,” she whispered to Danny and the boy nodded eagerly, “I will Sarah, leave it to me.”

Danny looked at her with slavish admiration, Sarah caught her husband’s eye, sending him a saucy glance to which he responded with a warning look, although there was a laugh in his eyes too. He countered her naughty look with his blandest voice, “well Danny and I are hungry too so we’ll leave you to your breakfast Sweetheart.”

The boy clammed up again the moment they closed Sarah’s door, “I...I’m not really hungry.”

The guardian gently guided his ward towards the stairs, a little subtle blackmail perhaps? “Maybe not, but you wouldn’t like to hurt Silas’s feelings now would you?”

“No! Of..of course not!”

“Well I’ll let you into a little secret, I don’t feel much like breakfast either but let’s both

go and try to eat to please the world’s best cook...” Jarrod broke off glancing around with mock apprehension, “don’t tell Mother I said that!”

Despite himself Danny smiled, Jarrod almost reached out to pat his shoulder but managed to stop himself, he must be patient, let Nick and Sarah tackle the boy, try to unlock the mystery. Until then he couldn’t worry the child with demonstrations of affection that would only provoke him to reject his guardian.

Chapter 21 Friends and Brothers/Eugene and his Big Brothers

The family were at breakfast but as they got to the foyer Danny headed for the kitchen.

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll just be a minute, Sarah gave me a message for Silas.”

Jarrod let him go and took his place at the breakfast table, kissing his mother as he did so.

Nick started on him the instant he sat down, “and if you think you’re riding into Stockton this morning Counselor you can forget it!”

Jarrod opened his mouth to argue but his mother was before him, “He isn’t riding, I’m going marketing with Silas and Eugene need dropping for the train so we are all going in the carriage.”

She looked quizzically at her eldest son, daring him to argue but he knew her too well and met her challenging stare with a look of limpid innocence.

Nick grunted and glared at his youngest brother, “as for you!” He jabbed his fork in Gene’s direction, “you’re going back to college to WORK! God help you if you don’t get to it this time!”

Gene’s own fork hit the plate with a clatter and his amiable blue eyes flashed with anger, his chair scraped the floor as he stood hastily, “how many more times?”

He strode out and Nick grinned contentedly, re-applying himself to his breakfast with relish. Heath frowned at him, “that boy has been working his socks off with me Nick!”

“Least he could do Heath,” growled Nick.

Danny found Silas in the kitchen, the old man greeted him with his sweet smile, “did Miss Sarah like her breakfast?”

“She sure did, she sent me to give you a secret message!”

“Oh yes?”

Danny put a hand on Silas’s arm and warmly kissed his cheeks, both sides.

Silas was tickled, “well ain't that just delightful, she sure is a lovely lady alright. You take these eggs in for me will you Danny?”

Danny looked crestfallen, “do I have to?”

Silas was firm, “ yes please Sonny.”

Danny brought the eggs in to the dining room and Victoria smiled at him, “good boy! Put the dish here Dear.”

The scarlet faced boy placed the eggs on the table and prepared to take his seat, Victoria’s voice stopped him, “I don’t believe I got my morning kiss Danny did I?”

He looked shyly at her “I thought you might not want me to.”

She didn’t embarrass him any more, “if I ever don’t want you to, I’ll let you know.” She presented her cheek and Danny kissed her and slipped into his place considerably more relaxed than he had been a moment ago.

Jarrod looked speculatively at his mother, “well if I’m not allowed to ride into town, I guess I can’t!”

Her smile answered the twinkle in his blue eyes, “that’s right,” she confirmed.

“I hope you intend to give me the pleasure of taking you out to lunch Mother?”

“I most certainly do not!” Victoria’s voice was firm, “we are ALL coming home for lunch, including you Jarrod!”

“Glad to hear it," interjected Nick still feeding his face, “I’ll be starving by then!”

Heath watched fascinated as Nick devoured a gigantic mouthful of fried ham and shook his head in wonder.

“What?” Nick scowled at his younger brother.

“I just can’t believe you’re already planning your next meal,” said Heath dryly.

Something perilously close to a giggle escaped Danny, Heath winked at him and passed him the fresh scrambled eggs, “here Danny, you and Jarrod better get in quick!” Nick grinned at Danny and these small friendly gestures made eating seem a possibility to the boy after all. He and Jarrod both applied themselves to their food with more appetite than either of them had thought they possessed.

Jarrod protested, “but Mother I may not be through by lunchtime.”

Nick looked sternly at him, “now you listen to me Jarrod, you’d better get your backside home for lunch or Heath and I will personally come get you! You hearing me Counselor?”

“I imagine the entire ranch can hear you,” retorted Jarrod.

Heath intervened, “we mean it Big Brother.”

Jarrod surrendered, “very well, lunchtime it is and that being so I need to get started, excuse me please.”

Danny was wondering what he was to do this morning, Nick glanced at the boy, read his mind and solved the child’s problem for him, “Jarrod wants you to stay at home and keep an eye on Sarah this morning, you can be trusted to do that can’t you Boy?”

“Yes Sir! Of course I’ll look after Sarah.”

Nick and Heath nodded in unison and spoke together too, “good boy!”

Danny looked at Victoria, “I could wash up the breakfast things for Silas so you can get started, I did that at home for..for Mama.” His voice trembled on his mother’s name, Victoria thought, sometimes we forget how recently this poor child lost his family. She spoke warmly to him, “thank you Darling that would be a great help to Silas and to me too.” The boy was pleased and headed at once for the kitchen.

Nick had at last finished his mammoth breakfast and he slapped Heath’s back in friendly fashion, “you want to run me through the ledgers before you head out?”

Heath nodded, “will do, er...Nick there’s something I should tell you...”

His noisy brother was not listening though and had turned to Victoria, “if Pappy gives you any trouble now, you send for Heath and me, you hear?”

“I will Boys, I promise.”

Nick headed for the study, bellowing “move it Heath! You’ve got work to do today.”

Heath rolled his eyes heavenwards, “I should have told him! He’s about to have a fit.”

His Mother laughed, “how will you be able to tell Heath?”

Nick’s voice erupted from the study “Heath! Get in here...NOW!”

“What on earth have you done Heath?”

Her fair-haired son opened his mouth to tell her and Nick’s roar came again “HEATH! Where are you Boy?”

Heath shrugged, “tell you later Mother,” he made a wry face, “If I’m still alive that is!”

Victoria laughed with him, but her face became serious as he left, please, she thought with a sigh, no more trouble, I need a little peace.

Jarrod had gone upstairs and kissed his wife good-bye, telling her he would be brought home for lunch, whether he wanted to be or not! Sarah grinned at him, “well fine, that will save me the bother of coming to fetch you! Honestly Jarrod, you shouldn’t be out of bed yet, leave alone working!”

He turned the subject, “never mind me, Lady, how are you today, the truth please not the Danny version?”

She stroked his face, “fine Jarrod, really, a slight headache, nothing more than that.”

He was not convinced and she pulled him close, locking her mouth to his in a kiss of enough passion to prove her healthy state to him.

When at last she permitted him to get his breath back, Jarrod laughed, “well I think maybe you are going to live after all. If you don’t feel up to tackling the boy this morning it can wait though.”

Sarah shook her head, “no Darling, this whole situation has persisted more than long enough, today we get to the bottom of the Danny Mathews mystery, I’m determined on that.”

Heath approached the desk where Nick was frowning over the replacement ledgers, “how come the new books?”

Humbly, Heath explained the changes that Gene had made to help him keep a grip on the accounts. His brother looked over the new layout and Heath waited for the roof to fall on him, it didn’t happen though. Nick looked up, “this is a great idea,” he grinned at Heath, “you know I have almost as much trouble as you keeping track of things around here.”

Heath was relieved, “I hadn’t got around to telling you, sure you don’t mind?”

“No, I love it, how come he’s only marked up the next three months?”

“Well he’s gonna be home for the summer and he said if we think of any changes we want to make, he’ll do that then.”

Nick nodded decisively, “fine, you and I can discuss it before then and see if we want any changes."

Heath nodded happily, “fine, thanks Nick.” He had noted that his brother had said any changes WE want. Nick treated him as his partner in running the ranch, trusting him with any and all aspects of the Barkley business, Heath had mixed feelings about this situation, On the one hand, he was a man of fierce pride, believing he was entitled to his birthright and heritage. On the other, he sometimes felt ill-equipped to take on some of the heavy responsibilities Nick pushed his way. There was also a third element to how he felt, Nick had his gratitude for his willingness to share his power, he had it for another reason too. He had bawled Heath out many times in the past eighteen months, always for doing something stupid, never for merely failing to do what he had attempted. Nick understood his difficulties better than most and for that Heath deeply loved his brother and was also totally loyal to him.

Jarrod knocked quietly on his youngest brother’s bedroom door and went in. Gene glared at him, he was packing, slamming clothes into his valise, clearly still furious. He spoke bitterly to Jarrod, I’m almost done and then I’ll be out of everyone’s way! Plenty of time before my train though, if you want to fit another lecture in.”

Jarrod perched himself on the corner of the table, he smiled gently, “I wasn’t aware that I actually HAD lectured you at all,” his tone of voice was mild.

Gene had the grace to blush, “well n..no you haven’t, I didn’t mean you...you know I didn’t!”

Jarrod’s smile was understanding, “I told you I knew what these escapades at school were all about, I was paying you the compliment of assuming I didn’t need to spell out that I don’t expect there to be any more.”

Eugene let out a slow breath and calmed down, he stood before his eldest brother and mentor, “there won’t be any more messing around, I promise Jarrod.”

“Glad to hear it,” the Lawyer gave his kid brother a playful slap on the back, “now move it child!” I have important business in town and Mama says I can only play out until lunchtime.”

Gene laughed, but then his face darkened again, “I’m not taking any more ribbing from Nick either, I’ve worked hard, done my best since I got home and I’m not taking any more from him!”

Jarrod shook his head, “you know as well as I do that Nick doesn’t mean all he says, don’t rise to the bait every time.”

Gene grinned, “I guess you’re right.”

The oldest and the youngest of the Barkley brothers went downstairs together and found the rest of the family, including Sarah in the foyer.

Sarah kissed Eugene on both cheeks and hugged him in sisterly fashion, not that he thought of her as a sister in any sense, Sarah’s luscious figure and porcelain beauty had haunted his youthful dreams more than once. He hoped his face wasn’t as hot to look at as it felt to him and managed to bid his lovely sister in law a creditable goodbye. He would say his farewells to his mother, Silas and Jarrod in Stockton, which just left Nick and Heath, both of whom came through from the library. Heath shook hands and bestowed a brief hug on his younger sibling, “thanks again Little Brother, if it wasn’t for you I’d still be up in my room wrestling with the accounts, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”

Gene smiled, “no problem Heath, glad I could help.” He turned a stormy face to Nick, “I suppose you think it stinks!” His voice was challenging and so was his jutting chin, Victoria hid a smile, at this precise moment he looked extremely like Nick!

Nick grinned at him, “my only criticism Brat is that you didn’t come up with the idea sooner, I spend half my life getting Heath’s sums right!”

“Er...who gets them right?” Jarrod’s humorous enquiry made Nick nod in agreement, “well...you do I guess.” Nick turned to Gene, “you take care Boy, hear me?”

Gene's essentially sunny nature re-asserted itself and he accepted Nick’s bear hug willingly, though he did complain that his ribs were broken.

Nick and Sarah saw the carriage off and Heath too prepared to ride out, he would oversee the day’s work, leaving Nick free to assist Sarah in her endeavours with Danny. Nick apologised to his brother for saddling him with a lot of work, Heath’s pale blue eyes twinkled responsively.

“Think nothing of it Big Brother,” he headed for the door and turned as he left the house, “after all, I don’t complain any other day do I?” He ran for the barn hearing the roar of Nick’s protest behind him.

Nick turned indignantly to the chuckling Sarah, “that boy has a smart mouth,” but he was laughing too.

Sarah spoke more seriously, “I’ll go help Danny in the kitchen and then get him to help me bring you some coffee in the library, alright Nick?”

He nodded, “I confess Sarah, I’m not much looking forward to this.”

She sympathised, “I know Nick, but what choice do we have, have you ever known Mr. In Control so lost and torn up by anything as he is about this?”

Nick shook his head and ran a hand through his unruly dark hair, “I was worried about him last night Sass, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so upset, not since...” his voice tailed off awkwardly.

A shadow had crossed Sarah’s face but she shrugged it away, “I know Nick,” she said quietly.

Nick grinned deprecatingly, “truth is, I’m not used to coming to Jarrod’s aid, the shoe is usually on the other foot!”

Sarah nodded, “I understand Nick, I depend on him for so much, but he needs our help, we both know it.”

The tall cowboy nodded, “you know Sassy you and your husband have a lot in common, I can’t out-argue him either!”

Sarah laughed and headed for the kitchen.

Chapter 22 The Interview

Nick busied himself with the accounts, they were easy to balance and thanks to Gene in good order now, he was glad he had made his youngest brother stop and think about the value of a good education. He hadn’t foreseen the outcome but it had been for the best, not only for Gene but for Heath too. The idea of himself, Nick Barkley, as an advocate for study was enough to bring a wry smile to his face, but he had more education than it was his custom to let people guess at. Not a good or very willing scholar, Nick had nevertheless developed a taste for reading and by virtue of this had absorbed a good deal of knowledge over the years. Indeed, he had been just as keen as Jarrod to attend the public reading of his work given by the great Charles Dickens on his second US visit in 1867.

Nick’s mind went back to the long winter evenings when he had been a boy, family reading around the great log fire had taken place most evenings. His father Tom had a fine baritone voice and could read a stirring story in the most spell-binding fashion. Jarrod was equally good and he had read aloud himself, gripped by the exciting tales, chosen with care by his parents. The reading habit had persisted into adulthood, Jarrod patronised the finer bookshops in San Francisco and Sacramento and the Barkley shipping interests ensured that good European as well as American literature came the Barkley family’s way.

Nick understood Jarrod’s determination to ensure the completion of young Danny’s education, he put down his pen and leaned back in the big leather chair that had been his father’s, he hoped he and Sarah could crack the boy open this morning, this mess was tearing them all to pieces, especially Jarrod. His ruminations were interrupted by Sarah and Danny, his sister in law carried the coffee tray and Danny a plate of fresh cookies. Sarah smiled at Nick and spoke brightly, “well! We thought you might need coffee and cookies to help you with all your hard work, but what do you say Danny? He doesn’t look awfully busy to me!”

Danny grinned, “no Ma’am he sure doesn’t!” The boy turned to Nick, “I baked these myself,” he said proudly.

“Did you now? Well I better test them for you huh?”

Nick put a friendly arm around Danny’s shoulders and the three of them moved over to the settee and chairs in front of the fireplace. Sarah sat on the settee, Danny beside her and Nick dropped into the armchair, stretching his long legs out in front of him.

Sarah felt a sharp stab of pain as she sat down and instinctively put her hand to her head, a wave of dizziness washed over her and she leaned back, fighting the faintness.

“Sarah?” Danny’s voice was almost panic-stricken and he held her free hand tightly.

Nick dropped on one knee in front of her and gently took her chin in his hand, “now then Sassy Fair, that’ll be enough of that,” he said softly. He examined her eyes carefully, there was no lack of focus and she was still alert, “just a little after-effect from yesterday is all,” he said reassuringly, “nothing to worry about.”

Sarah nodded and smiled at the worried boy beside her, “I’m fine Danny, really I am, I went dizzy for a moment and I have a little head-ache, that’s all.”

Danny’s voice was contrite and sad, “I sure am sorry I hurt you Sarah, I never meant to, I swear I didn’t.”

Sarah looked speculatively at the boy, "are you sorry Danny?”

“Yes Ma’am, truly I am!”

Her eyes caught and held his, “sorry enough to tell me the truth about this dreadful state of affairs?”

The boy dragged his gaze away from her compelling eyes and he looked around for a means to escape the question. “I..I c..can’t,” he stammered.

Sarah tried again, “when I came to see you in your room last night, I told you that Jarrod was worried sick about you and that I thought you ought to tell me the truth about the way you’ve behaved since you got here. I still believe that you should do that, for everyone’s sake including yours.”

She paused and examined his face, but he had his stony, sulky face on and didn’t respond to her. She tried a different tack, “alright then, if you won’t talk to me, I’ll talk to you instead."

"No! I...don’t want you to!” Danny sprang up from the settee and would have dashed from the library but Nick was too fast for him, grabbing him and holding him firmly, but gently, his hands on the boy’s sides. He sat down drawing the reluctant child between his knees, he spoke quietly but firmly, “now you listen to me Boy, we are going to talk this over, whether you want to or not. This state of affairs has gone on long enough.”

The desperate boy attempted to twist himself free and Nick spoke more sharply, “that’s enough! Your conduct has made every member of this family unhappy, including you!”

Danny flashed him a startled look and Nick went on, “that’s right, you are a member of this family now and frankly Young Man, your conduct is not what we expect of a Barkley!” He indicated the settee, “so, you are going to sit down there and you are going to listen to Sarah, maybe do some talking of your own too and we are going to settle all this. Do you understand me Boy?”

Danny looked into Nick’s determined face and realised that there was no way of avoiding this interview, reluctantly he resumed his seat beside Sarah and sat miserably, staring at the floor. Sarah’s eyes met Nick’s, she had at last arrived at the point where she hoped she could do something to help her husband, indeed help the boy and the whole family too. Now that the moment had come, she felt absurdly nervous, almost scared to embark on her task. Nick’s face was very serious but there was a world of understanding in his blue-grey eyes and he gave a short nod of encouragement. Sarah gathered her forces together, refusing to acknowledge the pain behind her eyes and turned her attention to her task.

Continued…