"I don't like it," Nick growled while he swigged his whiskey and looked out the library window. "She should have been home by now."
"Now Nick," Victoria sighed. "You know your sister. She probably got to dancing with some young, good looking man and lost track of time. She will be home when she gets home."
"I still don't like it," he turned back toward his mother.
"Like it or not, it's your turn," Jarrod motioned to the pool table.
"I agree with Nick," Heath was leaning against the desk. "It is awfully late."
"There now," Nick smiled and nodded toward Heath. "At least someone around here is on my side for a change. Maybe I ought to ride into town and make sure she is ok."
"Oh really," Jarrod scoffed. "You are going to ride into town and rain on your little sister's parade? You know what will happen if you go riding in there and embarrass her, she won't speak to you for a month."
"No one said anything about raining on her parade," Heath spoke before Nick could. "We could be quiet. In fact, no one even needs to know we rode in. We can ride in, look the situation over, and ride right back out."
"Assuming of course that they are right and there is nothing wrong," Nick added quickly.
"Nothing is wrong except the two of you," Victoria smiled playfully.
"Very funny mother," Nick shot her a look. "Come on Heath, let's get going."
"Typical," Jarrod put down his cue stick and poured himself a scotch.
"What's that," Victoria asked when he came and sat next to her.
"They get a notion and head out in the middle of our game when I'm winning," he chuckled.
"Well now," Victoria sat up straight. "I would be happy to stand in for them and finish the game with you."
"Since when do you shoot pool," Jarrod was surprised by the offer. "That's not exactly a lady like thing to do."
"Well," Victoria stood up and picked up a cue stick. "I make it my business to understand what goes on in my own house," she lined up on one of Nick's balls and sunk it effortlessly.
"Same stakes as the boys and I agreed on," Jarrod asked as she lined up a more difficult shot. "Five dollars a game?"
"Oh," Victoria took her shot and sunk it again. "I thought you and the boys played for fifty dollars a game," she eyed him coolly.
"Right," Jarrod stared at the table in disbelief. "Well then fifty it is."
"Good," Victoria shot again.
"Tell me," Jarrod said as she looked for her next shot. "Am I going to get the opportunity to shoot again?"
"Perhaps," Victoria lined up another seemingly difficult shot. "Perhaps not," she said after the ball fell in the pocket.
"Here you are lovely lady," Jarrod pulled a bill from his pocket and handed it to her when she sank her last ball. "It appears you are as good a pool shark as you are at poker," he laughed.
"Shall we play again," Victoria smiled and took the bill from him.
"No, no," Jarrod raised his hand. "I believe I have learned my lesson already."
"No stakes," Victoria offered. "After all, gambling is not very lady like."
"Well," Jarrod began to rack the balls. "In that case, I suppose maybe I'll give it another go."