Minnie Perlman, a diminutive plump jolly woman, was the acknowledged Queen of the Stockton social whirl. No family had more social standing than the Barkleys but it was fun loving, good natured Minnie that was the leader of fashion and when she gave a party, the cream of Stockton flocked to her house. Minnie was rich, the widow of a prosperous merchant and her parties were invariably extravagantly lavish affairs, at which people could be assured that they would wine and dine well. Additionally, Minnie could be relied upon to feed her guests all the latest news and gossip, so it was really no wonder that she was such a popular hostess.

This particular party had come about at the instigation of Minnie's good friend Victoria Barkley. Not only had Victoria persuaded Minnie to present Sarah Faires, the dashing lady reporter of the Evening Mail, at the party, she had induced Minnie to let Sarah interview her first. Minnie had been pleasantly surprised by Sarah, she had imagined a more formidable and much less feminine young woman than the stunningly pretty blue eyed strawberry blonde girl that called on her that afternoon. The interview had gone well and just as Victoria had warmed to Sarah's frank engaging manner, so too did Minnie. She promised to help Sarah find her feet in Stockton and when Sarah left the Perlman house that day she was looking forward to the evening with more pleasure than she had expected to.

The Barkley party arrived as Minnie's big drawing room was filling up and Minnie embraced her friend "Victoria my dear, Audra honey what a delightful dress, good evening Jarrod." Her eyes travelled past Jarrod and widened as she perceived Nick. "Nicholas, Do my eyes deceive me? I suppose you are here to flirt with the lovely Sarah?"

"Good evening Minnie," Nick bowed over her hand and then outrageously raised it to his lips planting several kisses up her gloved arm. "Can you doubt that I'm here to see you?" He flashed her his most captivating grin. The highly delighted Minnie rapped his knuckles with her fan, really these Barkley Boys were too charming for words. She spoke severely to Nick, "that's as may be Nicholas, but just you behave yourself this evening!"

"Me?" Nick asked innocently.

"Yes you! There will be no fighting or I shall take a stick to you, is that clear?"

"Promises, promises," said Nick beating a hasty retreat to the drinks table with Jarrod, before his Mother could reprove him.

Sarah created quite a stir when she arrived, she was exquisitely gowned in a low cut silk dress of a subtle shade of green and she was pleasantly aware that she was looking her best. The next hour passed in a whirl as her hostess presented her to Stockton's more prominent citizens and then the musicians struck up for the first dance. Nick Barkley materialised by her side and Sarah blinked slightly at his immaculate evening dress. She had thought him handsome as a cowboy, but dressed as a gentleman, his tall lean figure looked equally well. Somewhat to her surprise, he seemed quite at home in this elegant setting and led her onto the floor.

"I'll try not to stand on your feet Sally!"

She smiled, "I'm perfectly sure you won't tread on my feet. In fact Nick, I'm beginning to think there is more to you than you like to let on!"

Nick laughed and shot a mischievous look in his elder brother's direction as he and Sarah circled gracefully round the room. Jarrod met his look with a bland smile and turned to lead his hostess onto the floor. Nick and Sarah danced the first two dances together and then he fetched her a much needed glass of punch.

It was as Sarah handed Nick her empty glass that Peter Doolin came up, bowing and smirking at her as he asked her to dance. Sarah hesitated, she was reluctant to dance with the man but didn't want to draw attention to herself by refusing either. Rescue came from an unexpected source.

"Oh no you don't Doolin, if you wanted to dance with Miss Faires you should have got here earlier! Her card is all filled up and I believe the next two are mine," said Jarrod Barkley's smooth voice and Sarah turned to see him at her side smiling pleasantly. He offered her his arm and with a half smile of apology to Doolin, she laid her hand on Jarrod's arm and they took the floor. "Thank you Mr Barkley, I'm grateful for your timely intervention."

"My pleasure, I only hope it goes some way towards making up for my conduct yesterday, please allow me to apologise, what I said to you was way out of line, I hope you can forget it."

The frank apology astounded her and she fairly gaped at him. Jarrod smiled, "don't look so stunned Miss Faires, you were gracious enough to say sorry to me once and I badly need to return the compliment, I hope you can forgive me for the way I behaved yesterday."

"With all my heart," said Sarah warmly and smiled up at him ruefully. "I didn't exactly behave like a lady myself you know."

"Ah but you had the excuse of being provoked," countered Jarrod as they circled elegantly round the room. Sarah laughed and Jarrod caught his breath, she really was a lovely girl. He laughed back at her, "you know we really can't go on calling each other by our last names."

"Very well.....Jarrod," she answered demurely.

"Thank you.....Sarah," smiled Jarrod.

Sarah caught her breath, he really was the most attractive man.

Victoria, stood sipping her champagne and watching Jarrod and Sarah's progress in what she hoped was an unobtrusive manner. Minnie bustled up and tucked a confiding hand in her arm. She too was watching the couple, a lot more openly than Victoria was. "Victoria dear, I thought you told me Jarrod and Sarah hadn't hit it off at all well."

"Yes Minnie," smiled Victoria, "I did say that didn't I."

Jarrod was bending his head a little to catch something Sarah said to him and then the two burst out laughing. The dancing went on around them but they were helpless with mirth. Then under the sharp eyes of both Victoria and Minnie Jarrod took Sarah's hand in his and raised it to his lips. Their eyes, his a clear ice blue, hers a smoky blue grey, were locked and they seemed oblivious to all around them. Nick approached the couple and said something in an undertone to Jarrod. Jarrod seemed to snap out of his trance and spoke softly to Sarah. She blushed, giggled and let Jarrod lead her to a nearby table where Nick was pouring them both champagne. Minnie looked at her friend, "well dear, if you ask me I think there may have been a truce declared!"

Victoria nodded, "I believe you may be right Minnie, isn't it interesting?"

Sarah sipped her champagne and whispered to Jarrod, "people are looking at us!"

"Let them look, I am enjoying the charming company of the best looking lady in the room and I don't care who knows it!"

Sarah blushed adorably, "Jarrod!" she protested half-heartedly.

Jarrod smiled at her, "tell you what young lady, I know you're a busy working journalist, but could you find time to lunch with me tomorrow, I have a busy schedule too but we do have to eat don't we?"

"Actually, tomorrow is my day off, began Sarah.

"Well fine then," Jarrod was enthusiastic.

"Only I'm having lunch at your house tomorrow, I have a riding lesson with Nick in the morning and Audra and Victoria asked me to lunch afterwards. I'm so sorry Jarrod," her voice was apologetic.

Jarrod shot a quick look at Nick whose twinkling hazel eyes mocked him affectionately.

"Then I shall not only have the pleasure of lunching with you, but of showing you the ranch after lunch as well."

Sarah raised an eyebrow, "what about your busy schedule?"