A big hello to all my lovely readers! I am so sorry for the delay in posting this first chapter, but my computer broke down before I went on holiday, and then I couldn't get it fixed until I got back. Well, anyway, I got back (after a wonderful week of camping in typical British summer rain) and now my computer is all better again! I hope you enjoy this new story. I've been planning this one for ages, so I'm so thrilled that I've finally written it to share with all of you! Enjoy! :-)

It's a Long Way to Frisco

Chapter 1 – The Art of Persuading

Nick was standing at the bottom of the stairs, and he didn't look too happy. For some reason, he was dripping wet, and his hands were on his hips, with a look of determination on his face. "Rachel Barkley!" he bellowed. "You have until the count of three to get down here! One! Two!"

"What's the matter, Nick?" Rachel asked innocently at she appeared at the top of the stairs.

"What's the matter?" Nick repeated loudly. "What's the matter? Well, you tell me!"

Rachel began to descend the staircase very slowly, "Well, how can I possibly tell you, Nick? What are you talking about?"

"Well, perhaps you might be able to explain…"

"Nick!" Rachel interrupted. "Why are you all wet?"

This was too much for Nick. "Why am I wet?" he exploded. "You filled a bucket with water! You put the bucket on top of the barn door so that it would fall on me when I entered! You can do all that and then ask quite calmly 'What happened?'!"

Rachel bit back a laugh as she looked at how wet Nick had got. She had doubted whether her prank would actually work, and was delighted that it had. However, she knew the last thing that she should do at that moment in time was to let Nick see her amusement. She descended the last few steps, making sure that she faced Nick in case he had a sudden urge to 'playfully' swat her. Somehow, the look in his eyes told her that if he did, it would not be light!

"Nick, don't shout," Rachel said softly. "You know Mother's resting."

"Don't you tell me not to shout!" Nick barked.

"Nicholas," Victoria's voice sounded from the top of the stairs where she appeared a moment later. "You know I always rest at this hour. Will you please stop shouting?"

Rachel tried to stifle her laughter, but she wasn't very successful. Nick looked at her with a look of dogged resolution. Rachel gasped when she saw that look in his eyes – it didn't look promising! She squealed and ran out of the house, and Nick followed in hot pursuit. Victoria looked on with a smile and shake of her head, and then returned to her room.

Rachel ran out into the yard, looking desperately for the best way to go. She turned at once towards the corral, and darted towards the fence. Just as she was climbing over, Nick grabbed hold of her and pulled her down.

"So!" he said. "You'd pull a prank like that, would you?"

Rachel looked at Nick wide-eyed as he held her firmly in his grasp. She couldn't decide whether he was just feigning anger, or if he really was mad. If he was, then she knew she was for it!

At that moment, Jarrod rode into the yard on Jingo. Nick looked up, and at that one instant Rachel saw her means of escape, and took it. She tugged herself out of Nick's hold, and dashed over to her eldest brother. She scurried behind him, and held onto him tightly with cries of, "Save me, Jarrod! Save me!"

Jarrod looked at Rachel and then at Nick with an amused twinkle in his eye.

"Save you? From what?"

"From Nick! He's after me! Protect me, Jarrod!"

Jarrod raised his eyebrows as he saw how wet Nick was, and made a pretty accurate guess as to why Rachel was trying to escape.

"Now, Nick, stop teasing Rachel," he said calmly.

Nick stopped dead in his tracks. "Stop teasing?" he asked. "She's the one who put a bucket of water on top of the barn door!" he added, pointing at her, making Rachel duck behind Jarrod.

Jarrod now raised an eyebrow at Rachel, looking down at her as she peered up at him with that nervous, sheepish smile that seemed to say 'I'm ever so good; surely I'm not in trouble'.

"Well, little sister," Jarrod said. "What's this about a bucket of water?"

"Oh, come on, Jarrod. Surely you don't think…"

"I can quite easily believe that you would do such a thing. The question is, did you?"

Rachel looked first at Jarrod, and then at Nick. "Well, I thought it would be funny…"

"Funny!" Nick exploded.

Rachel ducked behind Jarrod again as soon as Nick began to shout.

"Now, come on, Sweetie," Jarrod said. "Nick's not going to get you. I won't let him."

Rachel smiled contentedly and emerged from behind her eldest brother. "I was only trying to have some fun, Nick," she said, looking up at him manipulatively.

Nick looked away. He knew he would melt if he saw her look at him with those wide eyes of hers beneath her dark, thick eyelashes. She'd bat her lashes pleadingly, and peer at him with those beseeching wide eyes of her, like a begging puppy.

"Nick," Rachel said softly. "You're not mad anymore, are you?"

Nick looked at her, he couldn't help it. As soon as he saw her pleading look, he forgot how wet and angry he was. His heart completely gave way, and he smiled at her with a defeated shake of the head, "Well, little sister," he said. "You certainly know how to get around me!"

Rachel smiled with relief, and walked up to Nick. Despite how wet he was, Rachel put her arm in his and snuggled into him. "I was only playing, Nick," she said quietly.

Nick laughed, "Well, I'd better go and change into a dry shirt. I'll see you in a minute."

He walked off to the house.

"Thanks, Jarrod," Rachel said gratefully. "I have no idea what he was gonna do to me – but I didn't want to find out!"

Jarrod laughed, "Well, it seems I came home at the right time."

Rachel nodded her head in agreement, and then walked off towards the barn to see to her horse.

That evening, when the family were gathered around the meal table, Jarrod suddenly announced, "I'm going to San Francisco in a few days."

Rachel looked up from her plate in excitement. She wondered if Jarrod would take her. After all, she didn't have any studies now that she had broken up for her summer vacation. She'd have to work on Jarrod. She was sure she could persuade him.

"How long will you be gone for?" Victoria asked.

"Oh, no more than a week," Jarrod said.

"I'll miss you," Rachel said with a plaintive sigh.

Jarrod smiled, "I won't be gone long, Honey."

"A week can seem an awfully long time when you're left behind," Rachel said sadly, playing with the food on her plate.

Victoria checked a smile as she and Jarrod shared knowing looks. They knew what Rachel was up to.

"Now, it won't be so bad," Heath said. "I'm sure I can think of some fun things you could do to keep occupied. Why, maybe I might even be able to excuse myself from the ranch one day to go riding with you."

Usually, Rachel's face would light up if Heath suggested such a thing, but this time, she continued to just look sadly down at her plate as she toyed with her food, "What's Frisco like, Jarrod?" she asked.

"Oh, big," Jarrod said. "That's why little girls your age don't go."

Rachel looked up indignantly whilst her expressive eyes flashed angrily, "I am not a little girl!"

Jarrod smiled, "Oh, aren't you?"

Rachel suddenly remembered that she was meant to be sweet talking Jarrod. "I mean –I'm perfectly capable. Besides, it's not as if, if I went, I would be on my own. I'd be with you!" she said sweetly.

"Well, that's not going to happen little sister, so I'd get the idea out of my head if I were you, just before you get your heart set on it!" Jarrod said, pointing his fork at her decidedly before he continued eating.

A pout began to form on Rachel's lips, but she soon began to smile sweetly again. There was no way Jarrod would take her if she was going to pout!

After the meal, the family gathered in the sitting room. Jarrod sat down on the chaise, and Rachel quickly sat down next to him, snuggling into her older brother. He put his arm around her, and she leaned her head against his shoulder, whilst wondering if she should wait a little longer to ask Jarrod if he would take her with him.

"Is there anything I can get you, Jarrod?" Rachel asked pleasantly, sitting up straight.

Jarrod rolled his eyes, "Alright, out with it! What do you want?"

Rachel feigned surprise, "Want something?" she asked. "Just because I hug you and offer to get you anything you might want, you think I want something?"

"Well, let's just say, I have a feeling you're trying to get round me," Jarrod said.

Rachel looked down. What was it with Jarrod? Could he read her mind or something? He could always seem to tell when she was up to something!

"Well, Jarrod, it's like this," Rachel said, running up finger up and down the top of the chaise, and following it with her eyes. "I'm on my summer vacation now, and I've always wanted to see Frisco!" She slowly turned to look at him, "I kinda thought you might like to take me along with you." She saw he was about to say something, so added really quickly, "I'd be very, very good Jarrod! I'd do everything you say, and I wouldn't get in the way of your work! Please take me! Please, Jarrod! Be the bestest brother ever and say yes!"

Jarrod laughed and chucked her nose. "You do realize 'bestest' isn't a word?"

"Oh, well, you can be just the best if you'll take me! Please?"

The rest of the family looked on with amusement at the exchange between the eldest and youngest Barkley siblings.

"Well," Jarrod said, "I hate to dash your dreams, Honey, but I really don't think…"

"Jarrod," Audra said. "Don't you think Rachel deserves a break?"

Rachel looked gratefully at her sister, and then hopefully back at Jarrod, who was glaring at Audra.

"Audra's right, Jarrod! I need a break – to get away! What could be better than to be with my wonderful big brother?"

Jarrod smiled, "If you went – not that you are going – but if you went, you would have to do exactly as your told. Also, you would have to stay in the hotel whilst I worked, and then I'd show you around when I'm finished. It would be very dull for you to have to wait around in the hotel. What would you do?"

"I wouldn't mind! I could read, or draw, or write. You know I'm always writing poetry, and I could draw the sights from the hotel window!"

Jarrod smiled at her. She had it all planned out in her mind. He hated to disappoint her.

"Well, I think Mother and I had better discuss it, and we'll let you know in the morning."

"Alright, Jarrod," Rachel said, encouraged that he hadn't said 'No' outright! She gave him a big kiss on the cheek.

"Rachel," Victoria said. "I think it's time you went to bed."

"But it's only…"

"What was that about doing what you were told if you wanted to go to Frisco?" Jarrod asked.

Rachel bit her lip. "Alright, goodnight!" she said with added exuberance, smiling widely. She kissed her three brothers, sister and Mother each goodnight, and then bounded up the staircase.

Once in her room, she quickly undressed, and then plaited her long hair. She was certain that Jarrod and Mother would let her go. Maybe Heath and Audra might put in a word for her. She wasn't sure about Nick, not after the prank she had pulled on him that day! "Frisco!" she said to herself in the mirror. "I can hardly wait! San Francisco! It's a long way to Frisco – a very long way!"

Well, there's the first chapter. Please let me know your thoughts! I love to read your reviews! They always brighten up my day! Rachel :-)