The Midas Touch

This is an expanded version of Ghostwriter85's "Golden Girl"...and, yes, she knows I'm doing this.

Prologue

"Both Jarrod and Audra made offers for bargains for extensions of your loans," Scott looked at the farmers who stood in the Barkley home and then looked at Audra. "Audra's was by far the more the more interesting." Scott informed the small group. "That's why she was at my hotel. Audra has offered to go away with me, anywhere, for as long as I want her. Why she thinks you men are worth it, I will never know, but your loans are extended." Scott spoke sharply, wanting to drive the point home that they, the farmers, were the force behind Audra's choice. "I'm accepting her offer." Chills ran down everyone's back, though the farmer's chills were accompanied with the shame of misjudging the young woman. "Audra?" Scott said as he looked at Audra, waiting to see what she'd do. He only had to wait a few seconds before Audra rose to her feet.

"She's not going anywhere." Heath said with ice in his voice. He was furious at the thought of what Scott would do with his sister, if Audra walked out the door with him.

"You may leave now, Mr. Breckenridge." There was no warmth in Victoria's voice or in her eyes. It sickened her that Scott would actually show up to the house to take Audra away from them when he'd only use her and cast her off later.

Scott had not expected to receive any other reactions; therefore he was unmoved. "Well, Audra?" he asked with a questioning look in his eyes, "Did you come to the motel to play games or did you mean it?"

When she did not answer at first, Victoria's head swirled around to look at her daughter, grave concern replaced the cold look that had been there. She watched as her daughter lowered her eyes for a split second and then listened in horror as Audra replied, "I meant it."

Jarrod, desperate to get through to his sister, said in earnest, "Audra, you don't know what you're doing!"

"Yes, I do." Audra replied firmly, knowing if she let Jarrod, or anybody else change her mind, the farmers would lose their land. "And not you or anybody in this family can say or do anything to stop me." Well, maybe Nick could, but he wasn't home at the moment…and by the time he got home it would be too late. There was dead silence as the truth of her words sunk deep into her family's hearts. She was right. She was of legal age and no one had the right to tell her what choice to make. "I'll get my things."

"Don't bother." Scott might be a cold hearted businessman, but he was not totally without feeling. Besides, he wanted to see just how serious she would be if she had time with her family, a family that was sure to try to talk her out of it. "My hotel room has been paid for through tonight. My train leaves at seven a.m. I will be waiting." He looked around the room, not surprised by the angry look in all of the Barkley's faces, or by the shame filled faces of the farmers. He put on his hat and said as he turned away from the group. "I can show myself out."

The moment Scott left, Audra walked out of the room and disappeared up the stairs. She didn't want to talk to the farmers, nor did she wish for her family to start 'talking some sense into her'. What choice did she have? If she didn't go through with her offer, the farmers and their families would be out of their homes and their livelihood. Though, even knowing this, tears were streaming down her face by the time she opened her bedroom door, entered her room and shut the door behind her.

~oOo~

"I think you men best leave." Jarrod did his best not to glare at the farmers. It wasn't their fault Scott had come to the ranch under false pretences and succeeded in his plans. It was hard not to though, when they'd come into his family's home believing that they, the family, would be willing to help Scott take their homes from them…and now Audra. It just made his stomach churn, as it did his mother's and brother's….and would definitely churn's Nick's and Eugene's when they finally heard about it.

"Jarrod, we're….." Ed started to speak only to have Victoria, who was not even attempting to hide her feelings, interrupt him.

"I believe my son asked you to leave." She held herself erect and glared at the men.

"Please, let us talk to Audra." Ed asked, the shame he felt was in his eyes.

The only answer he got was Heath showing their invited guests to the door. Once the farmers were gone, Victoria headed up the stairs. She might not be able to stop Audra, but she could let her know she always had a home to come back to, no matter what. Jarrod and Heath must have had the same idea as they too headed up the stairs behind their mother.