Jarrod set down the newspaper. After several weeks of recovery, Beth had been finally well enough to stand trial. She'd pleaded not guilty, whining that it had been her lover Charles, who was the real perpetrator in Chloe's kidnapping. The prosecutor managed to keep Jarrod's daughter off the stand by convincing the judge to let her tell her story to him privately, but Jarrod had faced Beth in court when he testified. He didn't feel the need to be there when the verdict came down though, so he found out about his ex-wife's life sentence in the morning paper.

Chloe suffered a few nightmares and had slept with him every night the first few weeks after her ordeal, but as the bad dreams gradually subsided, she decided to go back to her room on her own. Jarrod was grateful that his daughter seemed to suffer no long-term damage; Beth's actions had certainly made the divorce go through easily and Jarrod felt nothing but relief that it was finally over.

There was a tap on his office door and his secretary poked her head in.

"Mr. Barkley, your brothers are here and were wondering if they could talk to you."

Jarrod glanced at the clock. He could spare a few minutes before his next appointment. "Tell them to come in." He regretted it as soon as he saw the grim looks on their faces. "What is it?" he asked, praying nothing had happened to his Chloe or anyone else in the family.

Nick collapsed into a chair as Heath took off his hat and set it on the desk.

"We got a telegram from Nevada." Heath handed the yellow paper to Jarrod. "Remember that mine we bought last year in Silver Springs?"

Jarrod breathed an inward sigh of relief and turned his mind to the business at hand.

"Seems as though there's a fellow causing trouble," Nick said as Jarrod read the surprisingly lengthy telegram. "He's saying the mine is unsafe, but our foreman thinks it's because he tried to get an injunction claiming the diggings went under his land that was denied."

Shaking his head as he finished reading, Jarrod summed it up. "And he's got some of the people believing him and now he's suing us." He sighed. "I suppose I should go up there and handle it in person."

Nick and Heath looked at each other.

"Y'know," Heath started, "Nick can handle that stock auction on his own, I could…"

Jarrod held up a hand. "Thanks, Heath, but this seems to be primarily a legal matter."

Nick spoke up. "Maybe we could hire a lawyer from the area?"

Jarrod smiled. "I know what you're trying to do, boys, and I appreciate it. I know it's almost two weeks there and back, but with Mother, Audra and Silas, not to mention you two, looking after her, I know Chloe'll be fine." He looked down at his desk. "I'll need to clear my calendar, so if I'm late, tell Mother that Chloe can stay up until I get home. I want to explain things to her myself."

.

His expectations were correct about how late he would be and as Jarrod rode through the gates well after dark, he hoped Chloe would take the news all right. He wasn't looking forward to being away from her for so long, but as he told Nick and Heath, the matter was something he should take care of personally.

Letting Ciego take care of Jingo, Jarrod headed into the house and had to smile at the scene in the parlour. Victoria looked up from her knitting and smiled back.

"I told her she could go to bed and you'd be sure to come up when you got home," Victoria said quietly, "but since you said she could, Chloe insisted on waiting up for you."

Jarrod put down his hat and case in the foyer. He went over, sat beside his sleeping daughter and lightly brushed a curl off her cheek. His touch woke her and she blinked at him sleepily.

"Hi, Daddy," Chloe said and put her arms around his neck.

"Hello, kitten," Jarrod replied as he gathered her into his arms. "Sorry I was so late."

"S'ok." She cuddled close. "Uncle Heath told me you said I could stay up."

"Well, why don't I take you upstairs?" he suggested as he stood, still holding her. "Say goodnight to Grandma."

" 'Night, Grandma."

Victoria stood as well and gave Chloe a kiss on the cheek. "Goodnight, Chloe, sweet dreams."

Jarrod took her upstairs to her room and sat her on the bed. As she snuggled under the covers, he sat beside her. "Chloe," he asked, "did Uncle Nick or Uncle Heath tell you why I might be late?"

Chloe shook her head. "No, Daddy."

He looked at his folded hands. "I have to go away for a little bit," he said before looking back at her. "There's a problem with a mine in Nevada and it's going to take a lawyer to sort it out." The fallen look on her face almost broke his heart, but Chloe quickly replaced that look with a brave one. "I wish I didn't have to go, but I promise I'll be home as soon as I can."

Chloe reached up and hugged him tight. "I know, Daddy. I know you'll come back to me."

Jarrod hugged her as well. "Always, Chloe. I'll write you every day and I'll send a wire when I get there." He pulled back and looked her in the eyes. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"

Nodding, Chloe managed a smile. "I'll miss you a bunch, but you wouldn't go if you didn't need to. I promise I'll be good for Grandma and Aunt Audra."

"What about Uncle Nick and Uncle Heath?" Jarrod teased.

Chloe giggled. "I'll be good for them, too. Otherwise, Uncle Nick might tell Miss Nikolas. He's awfully sweet on her," she added conspiratorially.

"I'm counting on you to keep an eye on them for me," Jarrod told her.

"I will," she promised with another giggle. Then she nestled up against him and Jarrod held her, stroking her hair. "I love you, Daddy."

"I love you too, Chloe."

Then she giggled again when she heard his stomach rumble. "Silas kept your dinner warm," she told him as she pulled away. "You should go eat."

Jarrod settled her into her bed and kissed her forehead. "Good night, Chloe."

" 'Night, Daddy."

He turned to leave when his daughter's small voice made him turn back. "After you eat, would you come back and snuggle with me?" she asked.

Jarrod smiled at her indulgently. "Of course, Chloe. But try to go to sleep, all right?"

"All right."

Jarrod closed the door softly behind him. He wasn't sure who the upcoming trip would be harder on, Chloe or himself.