The next morning Heath was packed and ready to leave. He hugged both women and kissed them goodbye. “Heath? Are you going to Stockton?”

“Yeah Aunt Rachel, I’m goin’ to Stockton. I don’t know what I’ll find and I don’t know if I’ll tell ‘em, but I’ll go and see ‘em. Like you said, what could it hurt?” Heath flashed his lop-sided grin, “I mean they won’t be any of the wiser so I have the choice to decide what to do. I’ll wire ya when I get there and let ya know of my decision, so don’t worry.”

After mounting his horse, Heath rode out of Strawberry and headed towards Stockton California. He wasn’t sure what he would find but he knew he had to check it out. He had two brothers and a sister! He had to admit it…he was curious about them.

Heath Thomson arrived at the Barkley Ranch by mid-afternoon on an unexpectedly hot March afternoon. He found himself unknowingly coming into contact with each of his siblings. When Heath decided to race the train on his horse, his oldest brother Jarrod was one of the train passengers taking a bet on the outcome. He met his sister Audra when she came after him with a whip at Tom Barkley’s grave. Only with Heath’s luck would he be crossing a bridge at the same time as his brother Nick. The two shared a not-so-friendly sparring match before the bridge gave away giving both men an unexpected bath. Of course Heath didn’t realize the man was his brother until he rode up to the Barkley Ranch and found out the man he sparred with was Nick, the one who did the hiring. He was certain he wouldn’t get the job because of that little stunt, but little did he know that his other brother would be on his side.

Because of Jarrod winning the bet in the race he encouraged Nick to hire Heath on at the Ranch. Heath went to the bunkhouse and met the Foreman, Duke McCall. The expression the older man gave Heath didn’t go unnoticed. Heath wondered if the man saw a resemblance to Tom Barkley. But he figured he was only paranoid, maybe all newcomers are treated with mistrust he amused.

After getting settled in the bunkhouse, Heath was sent immediately with McCall to head out and begin picking peaches. Heath’s work ethic quickly impressed Nick, McCall and the other ranch hands. While working with the men, Heath wondered if he should approach the issue of the Barkley’s.

“Howdy. I’m Heath Thomson.” Heath held out his hand to the man standing beside him.

“Hello, I’m Mike! Where ya from?” The two men shook hands before returning to their work at hand.

“Strawberry. You?”

“Right here in Stockton.”

“Is Stockton a nice town?”

“Sure is. One of the best, it’s not too big but not too small.”

“Not one that craved the city life then, huh?”

“Oh no. My sister did but not me. I couldn’t live in the city. Ya been to the city?”

“Yeah in Denver Colorado.”

“Never been there. What was it like?”

“Busy. Everyone’s always rushin’ around doing stuff. I like a small town myself. The people are nicer and they ain’t rushin’ ‘round so much.”

“You’ll love Stockton. Everyone here is really nice. Maybe I can show ya around?”

“I’d like that. Ya been working for the Barkley’s long?”

“Ever since I graduated from school. My Pa worked for them too. I love ranching. My dream is to have my own spread some day.”

“Good people then?”

“The best you’ll ever find. I hear stories from the other men ‘bout places they worked and they swear that nobody treats ya better than the Barkley’s.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Just be careful ‘bout Nick.”

“Why’s that?”

“He has a quick temper on ‘em.” Heath stared at Nick who was working the opposite end of the grove. Nick looked up and made eye contact with him and he quickly looked away. A brother! He couldn’t get used to the idea he had brothers.

Mike and Heath found themselves talking all afternoon while they worked. Heath learned a lot about the Barkley Family and about Stockton. With Mike’s help Heath was able to meet some of the other ranch hands. It was late afternoon when the men arrived back at the Ranch to call it a day. Victoria and Audra Barkley had gone out for an afternoon ride and were coming back when they saw the men returning. They had taken their horses into the barn to bed them down for the night and were busy talking, or actually Audra was busy talking about the latest charity dance she was planning. Heath and Mike came in to take care of the horses that were used for the work that day when they spotted the ladies.

“Hello Mrs. Barkley, Miss Audra” Mike commented as he and Heath tipped their hats to the ladies and smiled. Victoria felt like she was hit in the gut when she saw the young blond man standing in front of her. He was the vision of her husband when they were first married. Seeing him standing in front of her tipping his hat with that half grin was the image of Tom Barkley 30 plus years earlier. After giving a quick nod and a smile she quickly turned and began to finish automatically caring for her horse. Audra was already finished and Victoria told her to go on into the house. She wanted a minute to compose herself.

“Mike, Heath, why don’t you go get cleaned up and get some grub before it’s gone. I’ll take care of the horses.” Duke McCall saw Victoria’s reaction and he wanted to get Heath out of the barn. He saw the same resemblance Victoria had seen with the young blond, but a part of him was hoping he had only imagined what was standing in front of him. He knew now that was only wishful thinking. He had kept his eye on the newcomer throughout the afternoon and periodically he thought he would see a reaction or a trait that made him see his old friend standing there alive as can be. With his own realization and with the reaction seen on Victoria’s face, there was no doubt to Duke McCall. Heath Thomson was indeed the son of Tom Barkley!

“Sure thing, Duke.” Mike smiled as he slapped Heath on the back, “Come on Heath, we better take Duke here up on his offer before he changes his mind.” Mike and Heath both walked out of the barn offering their thanks and headed towards the water trough to clean up and then to the bunkhouse. Heath also saw Victoria’s reaction. He was now beginning to wonder if coming to the Barkley Ranch was a good idea after all. He could feel that she knew who he was. He saw the heartache in her eyes. She was an innocent victim in this, and now he had hurt her. Why hadn’t he thought about what this would do to her by him coming here?

“Victoria, if you like I can finish caring for Misty Girl. Why don’t you go on into the house?” Duke finished with the horses first and made certain his conversation started after the men had left the barn.

“That’s all right Duke. I got her.” Victoria looked at the Foreman who had been with them for nearly 20 years. Duke and Tom were the best of friends and when her husband died, Duke and his wife Hattie were there to help the family through their grief. Duke gave Nick the support and assistance he needed in accepting his father’s death and with running the ranch, while Hattie became Victoria’s confidant and support system after losing her husband. “You saw what I did didn’t you Duke?”

“Yes, Victoria, I saw it.”

“Did he say anything at all? Does he know?”

“Not sure. He came here today to ask for a job and Nick told him to come and get settled in.” Duke paused knowing what his next statement would mean, “His name is Heath Thomson.”

“Thomson.” Victoria rested her hands over Misty Girl’s back, “As in Leah Thomson.”

Duke had become aware of Tom’s affair with Leah Thomson. Upon his return home from Strawberry, Tom confided in McCall and asked his friend how he should handle the situation. Duke quickly informed Tom he should tell Victoria about the affair. Tom did inform Victoria of the affair but never did he inform her of the amnesia and that he had forgotten his family. Feeling that the idea he had forgotten her would only have made it worse for his wife, not to mention appear as an excuse to his actions, he kept that part to himself. Despite the rough road traveled between them, Tom and Victoria’s marriage survived the affair and they had been able to carry on with their lives. But neither ever imagined a child would have been involved. How could they have been so careless? Were they only hoping that a child wouldn’t have been born so they made it so in their minds?

“Duke please don’t tell anybody what you know about Heath. I’ll talk with the family tonight. We need to figure out how to handle this.”

“Yes Victoria.”

Victoria headed for the house, while Duke headed to his house. The Foreman’s home was located near the bunkhouse and was the house Tom had built for him and Victoria when they first arrived at the Ranch over 30 years ago. Duke and Hattie have lived in the Foreman house since their arrival at the Ranch along with their three children. Their oldest son remained in the Army after the War, their daughter currently lives in New York and their youngest son died of diphtheria when he was only a child.

After returning to the house Victoria quickly went to her bedroom and rummaged through her trunk. With mementos from her marriage and her childhood safely tucked away, Victoria searched and found the photo she was looking for…a family photo of Tom, Victoria and Tom’s brother John with the woman who would later become his wife Mary Ellen. The very young Tom Barkley who was only 25 years old in the photo was the mirror image of the young man Victoria had just seen moments earlier.

Victoria was sitting in her wing back chair by the fireplace in her bedroom. The photo was resting on her lap as tears streamed down her face. The crackling of the fireplace was drowned out by her thoughts. She had dealt with her anger and betrayal over Tom’s affair almost 22 years ago. She was not going to relive those feelings again.

Instead Victoria mourned the loss of her son, Charles, who died when he was 6 months old from the fever. The death of baby Charles is what caused Tom to take an extended leave to Strawberry, a business trip that would lead to his affair. Victoria mourned the loss that Tom never knew he had a son and that he wasn’t able to watch him grow into a young man. Victoria mourned for her children who never were able to grow up with this brother. Victoria mourned for this boy, this young man, whose life was certain to have suffered major heartbreak and tragedies.

Why didn’t Leah tell Tom? Why didn’t Tom and Victoria go to Strawberry and make sure a child wasn’t involved? Why? Why? Why? Numerous questions ran through Victoria’s mind, but no answers followed. Victoria needed answers but she wondered if she would ever find them.

A knock came at the door and for a moment it took Victoria awhile to register the intrusion of her thoughts. “Yes?”

“Mrs. Barkley, dinner is ready.”

“Thank you, Silas. I’ll be down in a minute.” Victoria stood up and went over to her vanity. After splashing some water from the washbasin on her face to dry the tearstains she fussed with her hair. Making sure she was presentable Victoria was in actuality only procrastinating her next move. Tonight she would tell her children they had a brother. Tonight she would tell her children of their father’s affair. Tonight she would tell her children news that would break their hearts. Tonight she would tell her children news that would change their lives forever. She was not prepared for what tonight would bring. She was certainly not prepared for what tomorrow would bring.

As Victoria descended the stairs she saw her three children in the parlor. Nick and Jarrod were enjoying a brandy while Audra was reading a book. She could hear they were talking but what they were talking about made her gasp. They were talking about the man who was, unknown to all of them, their brother.

“I tell you Jarrod that boy doesn’t know the word lazy. He and Mike worked harder then anybody else out there. Duke and I were quite pleased.”

“Well I guess an ‘I told you so’ is in order?” Jarrod smirked at a growling Nick while he poured Victoria a brandy and served it to her.

“You don’t have to brag about it. I admitted I was wrong about not wanting to hire the boy. Just because he has a mouth on him doesn’t take away the fact he’s a hard worker. I believe the ranch will benefit from…uh…”

“Heath.” Just as Audra helped her brother, Nick simultaneously said the name at the time his sister had. Audra blushed at the looks her brothers gave her.

“Dinner is served, Mrs. Barkley.”

“Thank you Silas.” Victoria responded as Jarrod took her arm and escorted her to the dining room.

As Nick escorted Audra he looked down at her and growled, “And how do you know his name little missy?”

“I met him earlier…at Father’s grave…and then again in the barn when Mother and I came back from our afternoon ride.”

“He was at Father’s grave?” Jarrod was perplexed and exchanged a look with Nick.

“Oh don’t be so suspicious Jarrod. Father was a well-known man I’m sure he was just curious about him like everyone else is. I was the one who directed him to the ranch to talk to Nick. He asked who did the hiring and I told him it was Nick.”

“I have a feeling there’s more to this story little sister,” Jarrod’s voice took on a fatherly tone and he raised his eyebrows at Audra’s exasperated sigh and the role of her eyes. “What does that mean?”

“Nothing Jarrod. Just forget it.”

“I think our little sister yet again has the eyes for one of our ranch hands.” Nick sighed as he passed the potatoes to Jarrod. Everyone froze with what they were doing when they heard a gasp come at the other end of the table. The look on Victoria’s face was pale white and she looked as though she would faint.

“Mother, are you all right?”

“Fine Jarrod, I’m fine. Just a bit tired is all. Can we please have the rest of our meal in silence? There is no need to be harassing your sister right now.”

“Yes Mother,” Nick and Jarrod responded as they looked at each other and shrugged.

“Thank you Mother.” Audra responded with a smile to Victoria and then turned to glare at her brothers. They always over exaggerated with her and she hated it. Couldn’t they see she was growing up? If they had their way she would remain five years old for the rest of her life. But she was 18 years old and she was no longer a child. They would just have to accept it.

The rest of the meal was eaten in silence and just as everyone started to exit the room Victoria spoke, “I need to speak to all of you. Please let’s go into the library where we can talk. I need to get something upstairs and then I’ll meet you there.”

After entering the library each of Victoria’s children took a seat as they wondered what was going on. Victoria had gone upstairs to retrieve the photo she was looking at before dinner and then returned to the library. Jarrod was sitting behind the desk leaning back in the leather chair smoking a cigar. Nick was sitting in the wing back chair near the fireplace with his legs stretched out in front of him. Victoria came into the room and went over and sat on the sofa near Audra. After a half-hour of silence each of the children became restless.

“Mother?” Jarrod started to speak when Victoria looked at him. The look in her eyes shook him to his very core. The hurt in her eyes was too much for him to bear, but he couldn’t figure out why.

“There is no easy way to say this. So I would like each of you to not say a word until I’m finished. This won’t be easy and I don’t need any interruptions.” After looking around the room at the faces of each of her children, Victoria stared down at the photo in her hands. She couldn’t look into their faces when she told them.

“Before Audra was born and Nick you were only three at the time so I don’t know how much of this you will remember, but Jarrod I’m sure you’ll remember this quite well. I am talking about the year baby Charles died from the fever.”

Jarrod nodded his head and frowned as he remembered those dark days that turned into years after his baby brother died. Nick and Audra heard the story of baby Charles dying but neither were aware of the heartache that filled their home.

“After baby Charles died your father and I had a hard time dealing with his death. We each dealt with the pain in our own way. A time came that your father decided to take a business trip to get away. He went to Strawberry to check up on the mine that he had owned. He was gone for nearly 3 months before coming home. After he returned home he had changed. He was trying to be very pleasing towards me. He was obviously very guilty about something.”

“After some time I finally got him to open up to me about what was bothering him. Duke was aware of what was wrong and had encouraged your father to speak to me.” Victoria paused, “your father had met a woman in Strawberry.”

Victoria sighed and tried to keep her emotions in check. Audra began to rub her Mother’s back in hopes of comforting her. With a shaky hand, Victoria padded Audra’s leg, “Thank you dear.” Audra and Victoria made eye contact as they both smiled at each other. Audra’s smile was filled with compassion and love, which helped give Victoria the strength she needed to continue.

“The woman’s name was Leah Thomson. I don’t know everything that happened between them, your father never told me. The only thing I know is that they did indeed have an affair. After his return home your father sold his shares in the mine and he never returned to Strawberry. Our marriage almost didn’t survive but with love, patience, time and most importantly having each of you around us is what saved our marriage. However your father and I made one very horrible mistake. We never made certain a child wasn’t involved. I found out today there was indeed a child, a child that is your father’s son and your brother.” Victoria paused, “His name is Heath Thomson.”

“WHAT?” The word echoed by three people filled the library long after it was spoken.

Nick bounced out of his seat and was standing up in a fight stance. His face was filled with every emotion possible. His first reaction was to deny this was possible. Whatever his mother was saying was not true, this had to be a trick.

Jarrod also bounced out of his seat and quickly came around the desk and knelt in front of his mother. He too had the first reaction to deny this was possible. He never in his wildest dreams thought he would hear the words that his father had an affair and that he had this brother.

Audra sat frozen in her place on the sofa near her mother. Tears streaming freely down her face with her left hand covering her mouth. Her father meant the world to her. She was his little girl, his princess. How could he ever betray her mother in such a horrible way?

Victoria knew the reactions of her children would be denial. She knew she would hurt them with these words. She cursed herself for having to break their hearts. But she had no choice. So much had been wronged with this entire situation, that it was now time to make it right.

“Mother, what makes you think that this…Heath…is my…” Jarrod tried to reason with her. He had to find some way to show his mother that she was wrong.

“Brother?” Victoria said the word that Jarrod wasn’t ready to say.

“Yes, Mother. What proof do you have? Do you have any proof?”

“IF THAT BOY CAME UP TO YOU WITH THIS CLAIM I WILL TEAR HIM FROM LIMB TO LIMB!” Nick was infuriated. The first thought that came to him was that this boy made a verbal attack on his mother.

“Nicholas,” Victoria stared at her beloved middle son and her voice was just above a whisper. “Heath never said a word to me. He never had to. I only saw him once and that was in the barn when Audra and I came back from riding.” Everyone could see the far away look in Victoria’s eyes, “The way he walked into the barn tipping his hat and flashing that silly lopsided grin.” Victoria smiled as she saw the vision of her husband but a frown quickly came upon her when she remembered it wasn’t her husband, but his son. His son by another woman!

“I remember when your father and I first married. Oh sure you remember the gray hair and long beard, the bulging belly and the callused hands that was the result of years of hard work. But I remember the man I married. The handsome man with blond hair, blue eyes and that silly lopsided grin of his.”

“Mother, that’s all good and well but just because this boy has blond hair and blue eyes doesn’t make him Father’s….”

“Son?” Victoria yet again said the word that Jarrod couldn’t say.

“Jarrod, for a moment I thought I was 21 years old and we were just starting out here on this ranch. I thought I was imagining everything, that maybe I was just missing your father more than most days. But that is not what’s wrong with me! I am not crazy!”

“I wasn’t trying to say you were, Mother! I’m just trying to understand.”

“Then understand this. Duke also saw what I saw. He too saw your father standing in front of him. After we talked, I went to my room and I found this photo. See you and Nick took after me with the dark hair and the dark complexion. Audra took after her father with the blond hair and the light complexion. This photo will tell you the same thing that it told me. This was taken around the time your father and I were married. We are with your Uncle John and Aunt Mary Ellen. Of course that was before your Uncle married Mary Ellen.”

Victoria took the photo and turned it over showing it to her children. The only response was the gasps echoed by her children.

“Mother! That looks like Heath!” Audra cried out as her tear filled eyes became transfixed on the photo of her parents.

“Oh…My…God…” Jarrod stammered as he stood up and began to pace the room.

Nick’s jaw dropped open and he ran his hands over his eyes and then stared back at the photo hoping what he saw was only imagined. It wasn’t! Like Jarrod, Nick began pacing the library.

“I’m truly sorry to have done this to all of you. I never intended for you to know what happened. But your father and I were careless in never realizing a child was involved. Right now that is what’s important. Heath Thomson is your brother. Your father should have known about him. You should have known about him.”

Victoria stopped and wiped the tears from her eyes. How could all this be happening?

While the family was learning about the addition of the new Barkley family member Heath Thomson was also trying to figure out what to do. His intention was to come to the ranch and meet his siblings. Get to know them while working as a ranch hand. He needed time to realize how to handle all of this. Would he tell them? Would he not tell them? He had no idea what he would decide.

Getting to know them first was as far as he had decided. Maybe after getting to know them he would not want to hurt them with the knowledge he existed. But seeing the house, the ranch and how they lived Heath couldn’t help but be a little jealous. He was envious that they had so much while he had so little. He went to bed hungry when they went to bed with full stomachs. They had an education and he did not. Their childhood was spent playing games and going to school while his childhood was spent working in the mine of Strawberry all day long. He even had to get a second job to help support him and his Mama. But most importantly he was envious that they had a father and he did not.

But with all the thoughts Heath had of his two brothers and sister, he was ashamed to realize he never thought of Victoria Barkley. How could he be so heartless? He read the newspaper article and knew that Tom Barkley was married. How would she feel knowing her husband betrayed her? How would she feel knowing her husband sired a son from someone other than her? He now understood why his Mama never told Tom Barkley about his existence. Sure Heath was upset that Tom Barkley didn’t know the truth but he understood why. That shame and guilt his Mama must have felt was now stirring in his gut.

His Aunt Rachel said he shared a resemblance to Tom Barkley when the man was much younger. Victoria Barkley must have seen that resemblance in the barn. Maybe she was only startled into thinking she saw a younger version of her husband. Maybe it wasn’t too late to fix this disastrous plan after all! If he left the ranch tonight then she would forget. She would forget what she saw in the barn and carry on with her life. His siblings would never learn the truth and Tom Barkley’s widow would be spared the heartache of knowing of his existence.

No matter what he had planned when he arrived at the ranch those plans were now changed. He had to think of Victoria Barkley. He also had to think of his siblings. They would be crushed to learn about him. They probably adored their father and to learn that he had a bastard son. No he wouldn’t do that to them. He would leave and they would never know. Their lives would carry on like nothing happened because Heath Thomson would leave the Barkley Ranch…tonight!

Getting up from his bed, Heath was grateful he had the bottom bunk so he wouldn’t wake the men. After putting on his pants, he put on his shirt over his long underwear. He didn’t bother to button his shirt because he would do that later. Time was of the essence! Heath grabbed his saddlebags that were stored in the trunk at the foot of his bed and held his breath as the creaking of the lid was opened and then closed. Carrying his saddlebags in one hand and his boots in the other Heath slowly padded his way out of the bunkhouse. Once outside Heath heaved a heavy sigh that he didn’t wake any of the men. Putting on his boots, Heath ran to the barn to saddle his horse.

“Come on Gal, plans have changed.” Heath whispered to his horse as he quickly saddled her.

Duke and Hattie McCall were also having a long night. Duke shared with his wife the news about Heath, knowing Victoria would need the support his wife would offer. Duke and Hattie were sitting at the kitchen table drinking their coffee as they talked. The table sat in front of the window in their small kitchen and so when Heath walked his horse out of the barn and towards the road, it was Hattie that saw him first.

“Duke, someone’s leaving.” Hattie tapped Duke’s arm to get his attention. Duke looked out the window and quickly recognized the man as Heath.

“That’s Heath. He’s leaving.”

“He knew! He knew that Tom was his father! His coming here wasn’t an accident. But why is he leaving?”

“I think he saw the same look I did from Victoria’s eyes. I don’t think the boy fully realized what his coming here would do. He probably found out Tom was his father and came here to check it out. But I don’t think he ever expected anyone would know.”

“How sad.” Hattie kept her eyes glued to the lone figure that walked far enough away from the house for the hooves not to wake anyone. Once far enough away he jumped on his horse with one fluid motion and the horse flew out of site.

“Duke, what are we going to do? Should we tell Victoria?”

“I think I better,” Duke stood up from the chair and walked out the door. Walking up to the door of the white house Duke quietly knocked.

“Hello Mr. McCall,” Silas greeted as he opened the door.

“Hello Silas. I’m sorry to be here so late, but I need to speak with Victoria.”

“Sure Mr. McCall,” Silas walked out of the foyer and to the library knocking on the door.

Jarrod opened the door of the library and saw Silas standing there. “Mr. Jarrod, Mr. McCall is here to see Mrs. Barkley.”

“Thank you Silas,” Jarrod turned to look at his mother, a reaction that was repeated by her other children.

“I better go see what he wants. Wait here.” Victoria walked out of the library closing the door behind her.

“What could that be about?” Nick asked the question everyone had wanted to know.

“Hello Duke,” Victoria greeted her old friend. “Is something wrong?”

“Victoria, I thought you would want to know that Heath just left the ranch.”

“What?” Victoria’s hands went to her mouth, “But why?”

“I don’t know. I saw him leave the barn. He was walking his horse till he got far enough from the ranch so he wouldn’t wake anyone.”

“He’s leaving! Dear God, no, he’s leaving!”

“Victoria?” Duke wasn’t sure what to do.

“Duke please do me a favor and saddle Misty Girl for me. I feel like taking a late ride.”

“Are you sure?”

“Very sure.”

“All right,” Duke knew when Victoria had her mind made up he couldn’t argue with her.

While Duke went to saddle Misty Girl, Victoria returned to the library and to her anxious children.

“He’s left the ranch.” Victoria stood at the doorway. “Heath left. I’m going after him.”

“MOTHER!” All three of her children ran to her side and all of them were talking at once.

“SILENCE!” Victoria raised her hands to stop her children from talking. “I don’t want to hear another word. I must talk to him. Whether he comes back or not, I must try.”

“Mother, with all due respect, we don’t know this boy. And you are going to go riding God knows where to bring him back!”

“Nicholas I am not Audra! I am 52 years old and am a grown woman! I have been in worse situations then this. Not to mention this boy is your brother and your father’s son! His destiny has been robbed from him for far too many years. I don’t think I have to tell you what life he must have led. A life that should have been lived here! I will go talk to him and see if I can reason with him. He probably realized I recognized him and it frightened him off.” With that Victoria turned on her heels and headed for the foyer with her children following close behind.

“I’ll be back when I can the rest of you go to sleep and think about what I have told you. Tomorrow when you’ve had time to think…and if Heath comes back…we’ll discuss how to handle this.”

“Mother, maybe Nick and I should go with you,” Jarrod tried to reason with his mother.

“Jarrod, did you hear anything I just told your brother? I will not have you and Nicholas coming with me and possibly intimidating that poor boy anymore than he already is.” Victoria opened the door and turned once more to look at her children.

“I love you and I’ll be careful. Goodnight.” Victoria mounted Misty Girl and rode off with her children standing in the doorway watching her.

“Come on Jarrod. We’ll follow her,” Nick slapped Jarrod on the back. When Jarrod looked at him hesitantly Nick sighed, “She won’t know we’re there, but we’ll be there if she needs us. Now are you coming or do I go alone?” Nick didn’t wait for Jarrod’s answer he just started walking towards the barn. It didn’t take Jarrod long to decide he would follow. Nick was right, they would be there if she needed them but they would be out of the way as Victoria requested.

...Continued