Nancy

Chapter 1

Early June 1880

Victoria, Audra, Maggie and Nancy. As Nick and Heath looked into the living room and saw the sewing bee going on, they couldn't believe how many women there suddenly were in this house.

"My gosh," Heath said, suddenly realizing something. "We're outnumbered!"

The women laughed, and Victoria pointed her sewing needle at her two cowboy sons who had just come in from the range. "Time you got put in your place, boys," she said, and the women laughed.

Nick and Heath came in. Nick stood behind Nancy, who was sitting in one of the armchairs. Maggie was in the other while Victoria and Audra were on the settee.

"What are you ladies up to?" Nick asked.

"Finishing the tablecloths for Audra's reception," Victoria said.

"The work's gone a lot faster with Maggie and Nancy here," Audra said, "and we've had plenty of time to talk about you men behind your backs."

"I thought I felt my ears burning," Heath said.

Nancy smiled at the easy banter in this family. She had been here for two days now and was amazed how comfortable she was feeling. She hoped the others were feeling as comfortable with her.

When Nick reached down and squeezed her shoulder, she felt a wonderful chill. She smiled.

Victoria noticed.

"Where's Jarrod?" Nick asked.

"Hiding," came his older brother's deep voice from behind him as he came in from the library. "You think you feel outnumbered now? Think of how I've felt all day."

"You got those shipping contracts all straightened out?" Nick asked.

"I do," Jarrod said. "I'll take them into town in the morning to get the final okay from the shipper."

"Meantime, we'd better get cleaned up," Heath said.

He and Nick began to head for the stairway. "You're not allowed to talk about us anymore until we get back!" Nick claimed.

"Right," Audra said sarcastically.

Jarrod stood behind his wife, leaned down and kissed her on top of her head. "Do you feel like a few minutes on a porch swing with your husband?" he asked.

Maggie slowly got up and laid her needlework down onto the chair. "It's a date, Counselor – if it's all right with you?" she asked Victoria and Audra.

"Go right ahead," Victoria said. "We'll share drinks in about half an hour."

Jarrod offered his wife his arm, and they walked on toward the back of the house.

Nancy smiled. "They are a lovely couple. How long have they been married?"

"Only a couple months," Victoria said. "They met while Jarrod was living in San Francisco at the end of last year."

"San Francisco? Oh, I've always wanted to go there."

"It's a wonderful city, but we're pretty happy to have Jarrod and Maggie back here."

"Their house is being built about half an hour toward town," Audra said. "We expect it to be ready by the time the baby comes."

"Will this be your first grandchild, Mrs. Barkley?" Nancy asked.

Victoria smiled. "Yes, it will."

At least that I know of, Victoria thought to herself, and remembered a young man named John Michaud who had been here a year ago. Jarrod suspected John was his son from a liaison of his early years during the war, but Victoria had never met John. She wanted to, but John was a man himself and the life he wanted to live did not include the Barkley family. That bothered Victoria even now, maybe more so given Jarrod's illness and even the new baby coming.

But Victoria just sighed. They had not discussed many things with Nancy – she was a visitor, after all. She didn't need to know about the tough times facing this family. For now, Victoria wanted to concentrate on the happy times coming up.

Nancy noticed a slight change in Victoria's expression, but she didn't say anything about it. "I have to admit," she said instead, "I'm surprised that Nick and Heath haven't married."

"They're still looking for the right one, I guess," Audra said. "It just gets a little tough when you work as hard as they do."

"How about you, Nancy?" Victoria asked. "Has there been a young man waiting for you?"

"No," Nancy laughed. "I was busy caring for my father, and when he died a couple weeks ago – well, I've been at loose ends. I'm glad Nick invited me here to try to get myself back together. I was pretty lost on our ranch by myself."

"Do you feel like you're finding your way?" Victoria asked.

"Yes," Nancy said. "It's not something that happens overnight, but you've all been so wonderful to me. Some of my apprehension seems to be easing off."

"Well, you've only been here for two days," Victoria said, "and we're all still getting acquainted. I hope you won't be rushing back home before you're ready."

"Yes, we have plenty of room," Audra said, "and we can use all kinds of help with getting ready for the wedding."

Victoria said, "Audra, I keep telling you, the world does not revolve around your wedding."

Nancy smiled, too. "But I can understand why Audra thinks it does. I would, too."

"A lovely young woman like you won't be without a husband for long, Nancy, if that's what you want," Victoria said.

"I guess that's something I've come here to think about," Nancy said. "What do I want?"

XXXXXXX

For a long time, Victoria thought about what Nancy said, that she was trying to think about what she wanted. She understood that from the moment Nick brought Nancy here, but she understood something else – her middle son was quite smitten with this young woman, and Victoria was beginning to be smitten with her, too. She was a thoughtful, easy-going woman. Maybe the type of woman Nick needed.

As they all enjoyed dinner, Victoria watched Nick and Nancy talking to one another. She enjoyed watching Nick's eyes light up when he looked at Nancy. Sure, he'd had that look before with other women he'd fallen for, but this was different, maybe because Victoria felt more comfortable about the thought of him being with Nancy than she did when he'd brought other women home.

But was Nancy beginning to feel the same for Nick, or was this another one who wasn't quite right? Nancy was not hiding the fact that it was difficult for her to deal with the decisions about her life, given that she had always been busy caring for her father. Nancy had never had the time or opportunity to think about what she wanted, at least not until now. Was Nick up to seeing another one get away if Nancy decided she wasn't ready for him?

After dinner, Jarrod and Maggie went for a walk around the yard. Nick and Heath settled in for a cutthroat game of cribbage. Carl had not come tonight, so Audra was on her own, and before long she and Nancy had settled into the library together to talk.

Audra had been itching to have some alone time with Nancy, to talk to her more confidentially, girl to girl. After just a few minutes of idle chatter, Audra grew bold. "Do you realize that Nick is pretty taken with you?

Nancy smiled. "Yes, I know. I knew before I came here, and if you're asking if I feel the same way – I think I might."

"Just 'might'?"

"Oh, Audra, my life has turned completely around in the past three weeks. I think everything I feel about everything is just 'might'. You're lucky – you've had your mother and your brothers around your entire life. I know you lost your father, too, but with me, when I lost my father, I lost my entire family. I lost everything I was anchored to. It's been – well, it's knocked me for a loop in a way." Nancy hesitated but soon went on. "Nick is a wonderful man, but so far, we've only been friends."

"I think he might like it to be more," Audra said.

"But he's afraid because I'm at such a vulnerable point in my life," Nancy said, nodding. "Maybe he did ask me to come here hoping I'd see more in him, but I didn't come to take advantage of that big soft heart of his in any way. I came to evaluate my life, to take time to think without being surrounded by all my loss."

Audra nodded. "I understand."

"Does Nick?"

"I really don't know. Maybe you should be ready for him to look for more in your relationship. I think he might want that, and you'll have to answer him somehow."

"Do you talk to him like this?"

"Oh, heavens, no. Nick is not one to open his heart to his little sister. And it's possible I'm reading him completely wrong, but I've had a lot of practice trying to read him."

Nancy nodded. "I haven't had much practice reading anyone, but even though he doesn't talk about how he feels very often, I'm trying to understand him. I have no desire to break his heart, Audra. He's too fine a man for that, so please, if it looks to you like I'm leading him on inappropriately, tell me. I adore him, but I'm not sure yet if it's in the way he'd like."

Audra felt a little sad about that. She really liked Nancy and hoped maybe she and Nick might somehow work out together. But she understood. "If I think Nick really is falling in love with you, I'll tell you. But if you become more certain about how you feel for him – you have to tell him, however it is you feel."

Nancy smiled. "I can do that. Between us, maybe we can make sure that the best things happen for Nick – because whether I fall in love with him or not, that's what I want for him."