30 minutes later Maria and Jarrod entered an expensive hotel room with Abigail. Since Abigail had found out who her parents were she sat in a state of shock as Jarrod and Maria talked to her.

In the carriage her parents sat next to her and tried to tell her what she was to expect in Stockton. Jarrod told her she'd be given lots of clothes and the school she was going to would be so close that she could come home two weeks out of the month.

Even though Abigail heard all this she sat as quiet as a stone and didn't say anything. In all of her life she'd been told children were best when they were not talking.

The hotel was the finest in Pennsylvania. Abigail and Edna had eaten there countless Sundays after church. But this day Abigail didn't even notice it.

"Take Katie upstairs, Maria. I have to get the luggage down," Jarrod said to his wife.

"All right, Jarrod. Victoria would want to see Katalina also," Maria said.

It was then as they walked up the steps to their rooms that Abigail came out of her stupor. "How come you call me Katalina and Mr. Barkley calls me Katie?' Abigail asked.

The sound of Abigail's childish voice filled Maria with joy. "Well Katalina was my mother-your grandmother's name- and your father said when you were born that if we named you Katalina, it would be a perfect chance to call you Katie," Maria said.

Abigail nodded her head and fell back into silence. Maria felt tears well up inside her. Her daughter was scared of what had happened to her, but she wouldn't tell her how she was feeling.

They entered the rooms and Abigail went instantly to a window seat and curled up on it. Victoria looked wordlessly at her granddaughter.

"I know, Victoria. She barely even looks at Jarrod and me. Jarrod tried to tell her about the school in San Francisco and she didn't even say anything to him," Maria said.

And Jarrod and Katie used to be so close when she was a baby," Victoria said.

"I know. It's like she wants nothing to do with either of us," Maria said.

"All we can do is keep loving and praying for her, Maria. Maybe that love and prayers can bring the little girl she was back," Victoria said.

Jarrod entered the room with Abigail's luggage and set them on the floor. Jarrod looked over at his daughter sitting listlessly at the window seat.

Jarrod walked over to her and sat down. He laid a soft hand on her dark head and stroked her soft long hair. "I brought your luggage up, Katie. You may want to freshen up before dinner," Jarrod said.

"I'm not hungry, Mr. Barkley," Abigail said, flatly.

"Katie, you need to eat. Your clothes are over there and your room is over in that direction. I expect to see you in here in 30 minutes dressed for dinner," Jarrod said, sternly.

Abigail jumped of the window seat, her blue eyes flashing. "You can't tell me what to do! You're not my father!" Abigail said, angrily.

Jarrod's face turned stony. "30 minutes, Katalina," Jarrod said.

Abigail walked over to her luggage and struggled to try to pick it up. The bag was too heavy. Jarrod walked over to the suitcases and lifted them for her. He laid them on her bed.

Jarrod walked out and left her alone. Victoria walked up to her son.

"Jarrod, is that fair to do that to Katie? She just got here. She's scared of everything," Victoria said.

"I won't have her saying things like that to me, Mother. She's going to learn that when I tell her to do something, she'll do it or be punished for disobedience. What kind of father would I be if I let her get away with everything?" Jarrod said.

"Jarrod, she's scared! Maybe we could try to be more understanding," Maria said.

"No. She is not going to be pitied for what has happened today. Katie is a Barkley and our daughter. Starting today she's going to behave like one. And that little temper tantrum over by the window seat is not going to be tolerated," Jarrod said.

Inside her room Abigail cried, the tears falling down her face like rain. She changed out of her dress into a plain brown dress with a snow-white collar. She tied her heavy locks back with a ribbon and sat down in an overstuffed chair. Abigail, tired from the trip from Connecticut fell into a dreamless sleep.

40 minutes later Abigail had still not come out of her room. Jarrod flipped open his pocket watch and looked at the time.

"I thought I told her to come out in 30 minutes," Jarrod said, irritably.

"Jarrod, please, she's scared. She doesn't remember us. I think we are pushing her to hard to be our daughter," Maria begged her husband.

"Maria, could you go in there and see what's keeping her?" Jarrod asked, his voice softening.

"Of course," Maria opened the door to Abigail's bedroom. Maria smiled as her daughter lay sleeping in the chair.

"Jarrod, get in here," Maria said.

Jarrod entered the room and smiled at the scene. His daughter looked so peaceful and happy while she slept. Her dark hair was tumbled around her head like a halo.

Jarrod knelt next to the chair and gently touched Abigail's cheek. "Katie, wake up," Jarrod whispered into her ear.

Abigail blinked her blue eyes sleepily and looked at her father. He looked kinder than he did a few moments ago.

"Katie, it's time for dinner," Jarrod said.

"I'm so tired, Mr. Barkley," Abigail said.

Jarrod felt a brief flash of pain as his baby girl called him "Mr. Barkley."

"Katie, I'm Papa. When you left you were just starting to talk. Please could you try to call me "Papa?" Jarrod asked.

Abigail nodded her head slowly. Jarrod smiled and kissed her head gently. Jarrod hauled her to her feet, gently rubbing her cheeks with his soft hands.

In a matter of moments Abigail was wide awake and trying to straighten the lacy cuffs of her simple, but expensive brown dress.

Jarrod held out his hand to her. She stared at it for a brief moment. She remembered that this man wanted her to call him Papa, but to hold his hand as if he was her father was another thing entirely.

Jarrod made the decision for her. He took her hand in his and walked downstairs to the dining room with Maria, Victoria, and herself.

Jarrod pulled out a chair and Abigail sat in it, quickly. When the waiter came, much to her annoyance, Jarrod ordered the food for her.

Maria leaned over to her daughter. "Don't worry, Little One, your father he thinks that you are his princess. That's why he orders your food for you," Maria said.

Abigail gave a faint grin. Her real mother seemed to understand why Jarrod was treating her like a 2-year old.

Jarrod looked over at his daughter and brought her small hand to his lips. "I've missed you, Katie," Jarrod said, his voice close to breaking.

"I don't remember anything. If I had, maybe I would have remembered you," Abigail said.

"Katie, you were my whole life when you were a baby. I made more fuss over you than your mother ever did. When you were born you wouldn't let anyone hold you. I was the only one who could calm you down. Then you got sick with awful stomachaches and it lasted several months. I was the only one who could stop those horrible cries. I lost a lot of sleep, but you were my top priority," Jarrod said.

"How was Edna Stallingforth as a mother?" Victoria asked.

"She was kind to me. I didn't feel like I lacked anything in the mother department. Until my father died three years ago. Now she's changed. I think she misses him a lot, she did take me to Spain last summer," Abigail said.

"Now I'm your father and Maria is your mother. From now on when Maria or myself tell you anything we expect you to listen," Jarrod said.

Jarrod was upset that Abigail would consider another man as her father, but that was not her fault. It was like her kidnapping, beyond her control or anyone else's.

Abigail nodded her head slowly. "We're not saying that to be unkind, Katie. We just want you to start blending in with our family and you have a 3-year old brother at home. If you disobey, he might think he could do it too. Right now you have a lot of responsibility waiting for you at home. When we get home, your mother and myself will explain the rules a little bit better. Right now here's our food," Jarrod said.

Abigail ate her chicken without complaining and without a word as Jarrod talked to Maria and Victoria about some clothes Abigail would need. At this moment Abigail felt so miserable she forgot that she hated the taste of chicken. Right now she would rather of eaten a huge baked potato and some roast beef, with a glass of milk.

The train ride back to Stockton was long, tiring, and sooty. Abigail tried to pass her time without talking to either Jarrod or Maria. She sat in her seat looking at the snowy landscape or reading a book. From her private library at home she brought the books "Heidi" and "Little Women."

Jarrod gave her his coat when she got cold and Abigail took it without complaint. Jarrod often looked up at her while she was reading and wondered what his daughter thought of this whole situation. It was hard not to feel hurt when his daughter wouldn't even talk to him.

The train pulled into Denver, Colorado a week later. Jarrod, Maria, Victoria, and Abigail got off the train. Abigail's long black hair was tangled and in her eyes, as she tried to sleep on the train.

At the hotel Abigail went into the room her father ordered for her to sleep in and fell asleep on the soft bed. She slept for the next few hours, until Jarrod knocked on her door.

Abigail opened her eyes slowly and went to open the door.

"Katie, time for dinner," Jarrod said.

"Mr. Barkley, please can I just go to bed?" Abigail asked.

"Papa, May I please just go to bed?" Jarrod corrected her grammar.

"Very well then. Papa, may I please go to bed?" Abigail whispered.

"No you may not. It's time for dinner. It's hard for a person to sleep on an empty stomach, Jarrod said, massaging her cheek with his soft palm.

It was hard for Abigail not to cry. She was so tired that all she wanted to do was go to sleep. But it was a disgrace for a girl of 10 to cry. Abigail bit her lip in frustration and forbade the tears to roll down her cheeks.

Jarrod caught the look in her eyes instantly. "Katie, after dinner you may go to bed. I know you’re tired, but you'll get ill if you miss meals. Now I've brought your suitcase you can get dressed for dinner and I'll escort you down in 30 minutes," Jarrod said.

Abigail shut the door and broke down into tears. She was far from home and she was scared, tired and hungry. The sobs came out of her throat in hiccups. For the whole 30 minutes, she sat on the floor, tears rolling down her face and hiccupping.

Jarrod came back to her door and knocked. The only sound he heard was a strangled sobbing. "Katie?" Jarrod asked, rapping louder on her door.

Abigail stood up and swiped at her eyes. The hot tears still coursed down her cheeks in rivulets. Abigail opened the door. Jarrod's shock registered on his face. Abigail still wore the dress he saw 30 minutes ago, but she was crying.

Jarrod pulled out a linen handkerchief and handed it to her. Abigail wiped her eyes and blew her nose.

"What's the matter, Katie?" Jarrod asked.

"You wouldn't understand," Katie sobbed.

"Maybe I would. You want to tell me about it?" Jarrod said, leading her to a window seat in the room.

"I want to go home!" Abigail sobbed.

"Katie, you are going home," Jarrod said.

"No. I want to go home to my mother in Philadelphia," Abigail said.

Jarrod felt as if she had stabbed him. "Katie, that's not possible. I know you're scared. I also know this is not easy for you. But your mother and myself love you a lot. Right now though you need to be at our house in Stockton. I guarantee it, you'll love it, Honey," Jarrod said.

He wiped the tears on her cheek away with his thumb. "Just send me home, Mr. Barkley," Abigail said.

"I can't morally do that, Katie. Now go wash your face. It's a mess," Jarrod said.

Abigail tried to give him the handkerchief back, but he gave it back to her. "If you still feel like crying you can use it later," Jarrod said.

Jarrod left her so she could wash her face. The water stung her eyes a little bit, but it was refreshing to her reddened cheeks. She brushed the snarls out of her black hair and opened the door. Jarrod smiled at her and escorted her down to the dining room.

The breakdown in front of Jarrod made Abigail feel a little better, but she still wanted to go back to Philadelphia. Jarrod was a nice enough man, but she just wanted to go home.

Later that night Abigail was reading "Heidi" in bed when Jarrod and Maria entered the room. Abigail laid aside the book and looked at her parents.

"We just wanted to say good night to you, Katie," Jarrod said.

"I am a little bit tired, Mr. Barkley," Abigail said.

Jarrod took the book out of her hands and set it on the night table next to her bed. Jarrod kissed her forehead gently.

"What time do we leave tomorrow, Mr. Barkley?" Abigail said.

"Early. Our train leaves at 5 o'clock in the morning," Jarrod told his daughter.

Jarrod kissed her head again and let his wife say her good nights. "Buenos Noches, Katalina," Maria said, in Spanish.

"I don't understand Spanish, Mrs. Barkley," Abigail said.

"That's one of the good things of living with us, Katalina. You will learn Spanish. You have to," Maria said.

"Why do I have to?" Abigail asked.

"Because you are Spanish. Well half-Spanish. As soon as we get home you will go to Mass with me," Maria said.

"I'm not Catholic, I'm Methodist," Abigail said.

Maria's evident surprise was obvious. "Katalina, you were baptized in the Catholic Church! Your denomination did not change. Padre Enrique also says that you will take lessons every day with Sister Rosita in learning the saints and Latin," Maria said, obviously surprised and angry.

Abigail flinched slightly at Maria's angry tone. She didn't know that her confession would make Maria mad. It was just the truth.

"All right. I'll go to Mass with you. I'm a Christian and I was told that Christians were to honor their parents. If you want me to see the priest and go to Mass I'll do it. Also I'm sorry. I didn't know that you'd get upset," Abigail said.

"That's all we ask of you, Katie," Jarrod said.

"Katalina, I'm so sorry I got surprised. It wasn't your fault. You didn't know that what you would say would make me surprised," Maria said, kissing her daughter's cheek.

"It's okay. I didn't know. Mother was always getting on to me for not thinking before I spoke," Abigail said.

"Katie, it's time to go to sleep. We'll wake you up in the morning," Jarrod said.

Abigail nodded her head and fell asleep, her black hair falling over her face.

The rest of the trip was taken in a Maria's talking to her daughter. Before they reached Stockton, Maria would teach Abigail certain things about the saints and the Spanish language. By the time Abigail got to Stockton, she could conjugate 10 different Spanish verbs in Spanish. She learned quickly.

Don Alfredo Montero was in town that day when the Barkley's got off the train.

The girl's Spanish features were obvious, even in the crowd blocking his vision. Don Alfredo found himself staring at her face. She had Jarrod Barkley's blue eyes and black hair, but her skin color was her mother's.

The child wore a simple, but expensive brown coat, and her lips were moving in the Spanish language.

"Pappy!" Nick Barkley's loud voice resounded above the noise of the depot.

"Hello Nick," Jarrod said, shaking Nick's hand.

Nick kissed his sister-in-law's forehead. "Hello Maria!" Nick shouted.

"Hola, Nick!" Maria said, her voice humorous. Nick's loudness was a source of humor in the family. Even the children in the family loved him. When they left for Philadelphia, Tommy asked if he could stay with Uncle Nick.

"Now, where's my beautiful niece?" Nick asked after saying hello to Victoria.

Abigail cowered behind Victoria shyly. She didn't know what to make of this loud man that was Jarrod's brother. He told her that he had three brothers and a sister. She had kind of wished they were all like Jarrod. This man seemed very different from Jarrod.

And yet his voice seemed familiar. Someone had told her that a baby couldn't have memories, but she remembered a loud voice that yelled a lot. John and Edna were not shouter's, but this man-Nick Barkley- could be the man from her memory.

Abigail found that thought ridiculous if not entirely impossible. "What are you doing, Girl?" Nick Barkley asked.

“I was trying to remember how to conjugate Jugar in the present tense,” the girl said.

Jarrod took her hand and helped her into the Barkley's buggy. "You can practice that later, Katie. Right now you can go home, take a nap, and go to the lessons tomorrow," Jarrod said.

Abigail nodded her head and looked at the scenery all the way home.

The ride home wasn't unnoticed by Abigail. The air in Stockton was little warmer than in Philadelphia. Abigail yawned briefly. Her head fell against the leather seat and she fell asleep in a matter of minutes.

When the buggy stopped at the Barkley mansion, Jarrod gently touched his daughter's face. "Katie, time to wake up," Jarrod said, softly.

Abigail blinked her blue eyes, sleepily. "Mr. Barkley, I'm so tired," Abigail said, her voice a little groggy.

I know you are, Katie. But you need to wake up. You can go back to sleep after we eat," Jarrod said.

Abigail nodded her head. and let her father carry her out of the carriage.

After a light snack Jarrod took his daughter up to her room. "This is your room, Katie. I hope you like it," Jarrod said.

"I'm sure it's very comfortable, Mr. Barkley," Abigail said.

Jarrod closed his eyes in frustration. As often as he had told Katie to call him "Papa," she kept forgetting and calling him "Mr. Barkley."

"I'll come wake you when it's time for dinner," Jarrod said.

"All right. I'll be ready by then," Abigail said.

Jarrod walked down to his study and poured himself a shot of whiskey. His baby girl still wouldn't acknowledge him as her father or Maria as her mother.

"Jarrod, she is trying," Maria said behind his head.

Jarrod turned to his wife. "Maria, do you know that it seems that you can read my thoughts?" Jarrod asked.

"Of course I do. I'm your wife, remember?" Maria teased back.

"Maria, I don't know anymore. It was so easy to raise a daughter when she was a tiny baby. Now she doesn't even look at you or myself and she calls us by our last names," Jarrod said, all the pain of the past ten days coming out of his voice.

"Jarrod, we have to give her time. The poor girl is terrified. It may take her a couple of months before she's comfortable with us. And you forcing her to call you "Papa" is not going to endear her to either of us," Maria said.

"It just hurts so much, Maria. I remembered when she was my little girl. She would smile at me with that sweet smile of hers. Maria, will we ever hear our daughter laugh or see a smile out of her?" Jarrod asked.

"Jarrod, she will smile or laugh in her own time. If we force her to love us now, we could lose her forever," Maria said.

"You're right, Maria. How did I get so lucky in marrying a smart wife?" Jarrod asked his wife.

Maria kissed her husband lightly on the lips and smiled. "I'm going to the dressmaker's, Jarrod. Katalina needs some new clothes if she starts school in a month," Maria said.

Maria left her husband's office. Jarrod sat down to some paperwork feeling lighthearted. If his wife was right Katie would call him "Papa" in her own time. All he had to do was be patient and wait for her to call him that.

After a long nap Abigail went downstairs after dressing in a clean dress. 3-year old Thomas Barkley was playing with some stones in Victoria's garden when his big sister sat in the gazebo.

Thomas, often called Tommy by Jarrod, toddled over to her and smiled a sunny grin.

"Hello, I'm Tommy," Tommy said.

Abigail looked over at her new little brother. He was an adorable little boy with a thick thatch of reddish brown hair. He had Jarrod's bright blue eyes and the shape of his mouth. Tommy came over to where she sat and sat next to her.

"Hello Tommy. I'm Abigail," Abigail said.

"But Papa said your name was Katie!" Tommy protested.

"Maybe to your papa I'm Katie. But I was called Abigail since I was a baby," Abigail said.

"Can I call you, Abby?" Tommy asked.

"Of course. The maids used to call me Abby," Abigail said.

"I like you. Your pretty," Tommy said.

"I like you too. You're a sweet little boy," Abigail said.

Tommy put his hand in Abigail's. "Tommy, time for dinner!" Audra Barkley yelled out. Audra was a blonde haired beauty with blue eyes. Abigail had met her briefly in the foyer when she and Jarrod had entered the house.

"You come too, Abby?" Tommy asked, breaking her train of thoughts.

"Of course I live here too," Abigail said.

Her little brother clung to her hand as they walked into the Barkley dining room. Jarrod smiled at his two children as they entered.

"Papa!" Tommy shrieked and made a beeline for Jarrod. Jarrod took his son in his arms and hugged him.

Jarrod still felt the same way about his son that he did a few weeks ago, but Nick was right. Just because he loved Katie didn't mean that he could pretend his son didn't exist.

"I missed you, Papa," Tommy said.

"I missed you too, Tommy," Jarrod said, ruffling his son's thick reddish brown hair.

"I met Abby outside, Papa. She's nice," Tommy said, indicating his sister.

"Is she now?" Jarrod said, looking at Abigail.

"Yeah. I think she's pretty, Papa," Tommy said.

"Yes she is, Son. Katie, sit down. Dinner will be ready to be served when you sit down," Jarrod said.

Abigail sat down next to Heath and started to eat. She almost expected Jarrod to start telling her the rules for living as a Barkley. But being a discreet person Jarrod waited until after supper.

At least Jarrod didn't tell his son not to call her Abby. Abigail was secretly relieved that he didn't say anything.

As soon as dinner ended Abigail made her way to her father's study. The house was huge, but not as big as her mother's house. Abigail was happy in this house. It was almost as if she was used to it. As if she had been here her whole life.

Abigail knocked on the ornate oak door. Jarrod opened it and smiled at her tenderly. The love for her in his blue eyes was a genuine fatherly love.

"Katie, I'm glad you could make it," Jarrod said.

Jarrod wrapped his arm around her slim shoulders and walked with her to the leather couch in the study. Maria was seated already on the couch.

Jarrod stood next to his desk as Abigail sat next to her mother.

"First things first. Katie, I'm sorry I pushed you to love your mother and myself,"Jarrod said.

"Pardon?" Abigail asked, surprised.

"I can't make you accept or love your mother and myself. I was wrong to assume that I could. You'll call me "Papa" in your own time," Jarrod said.

"Does that mean I can go home to Philadelphia?" Abigail asked, her blue eyes and voice hopeful.

"No. Legally you belong to us. You have to stay here until your 21," Jarrod said.

Abigail bit her lip to keep herself from crying. Jarrod noticed the gesture.

"Katie, I'm sorry that you can't leave. But you are my daughter and a Barkley and you have to live here," Jarrod said.

"What's so important about being a Barkley?" Abigail asked, bitterly.

Jarrod's shock was evident in his bright blue eyes. "Everything is important in being a Barkley. It's part of who you are. Now I'm going to go over the rules to you living here," Jarrod said.

"All right," Abigail said faintly.

All right he HAD changed a little about not making her be a Barkley, but not much.

"First, you are to help with the chores around this place. Two, you are not to leave the ranch unless an adult is with you. Third, you are not to go near the Montero place. Don Alfredo doesn't exactly get along with us and we don't need to aggravate the situation,"Jarrod said.

"Why doesn't he get along with you?" Abigail asked.

"Katalina, he's your grandfather and he never approved of your father and opposed the marriage," Maria said.

"So he doesn't like Tommy or myself either," Abigail said.

"Sí. He said when I married your father that he'd never accept any children your father and myself had," Maria said.

"The last time I talked to him, he was basically accusing me of not taking care of you when you had colic," Jarrod said.

"What was your reaction to that?" Abigail asked.

"I was furious. You are my daughter and to have someone accuse me of not taking proper care of my children makes me mad," Jarrod said.

"Why don't we stop talking about Father now? Katalina, tomorrow I'm going to take you shopping for school clothes. And then we'll meet your father for lunch. That's all right with you, isn't it Jarrod?" Maria asked.

"Of course. I'd love having lunch with my two best girls," Jarrod said, ruffling Abigail's dark hair.

"I'm going upstairs to read for awhile. Good night, Mr. Barkley. Good night, Mrs. Barkley," Abigail said. She opened the door to the study and went upstairs to her room.

April came rather quickly after that. The weather got warmer than Philadelphia. Abigail still hadn't called Jarrod "Papa" or Maria "Mama," but she grew to respect them.

Jarrod was kind and devoted father who truly loved both Tommy and Abigail. And Maria talked with Abigail every night about any problem she was facing here in Stockton or when she was in Philadelphia.

Since January Abigail was wearing boy's clothing. Mother would have a fit if she knew I was wearing boy's clothes instead of a dress, Abigail often thought.

Brown was still her favorite color and Maria had nearly all her school and church dresses in that color. Abigail often begged Maria not to spend so much on her wardrobe, but Maria just laughed and asked her what she thought of a certain material.

After the dresses were finished, Abigail would try them on and show them to her father and the family.

....Continued