*Sabrina refers to the Sabrina from the episode The Velvet Trap.

Chapter One

The sound of the train Nick traveled on rang out loud and clear; vibrating through the stillness of the morning air. Nick sat in a seat next to the window and stretched his legs the best he could. It wasn't actually easy, seeing how his six foot frame wanted to push the seat in front of him when he stretched. He glanced at the pitch black haired young woman that was seated next to him and the small child-a dark brown haired boy just under two years old sleeping on her lap. He shook his head slightly and inwardly sighed. What with his dark brown hair and the fact that, when he smiled, the boy had dimples similar to his, Nick knew people could justifiably think he'd fathered the boy. It was a fact that had already been pointed out to him.

"I'm crazy or stupid; maybe both." Nick told himself as he thought on what would take place once he returned home to the ranch with a wife and a son. He sighed as he thought about telling the family everything, but he couldn't. They'd have something to say about his new situation, probably tell him to grow up and accept responsibility for his actions. He might have thought differently, but it hadn't been all that long since *Sabrina had appeared in their lives, and they hadn't believed him when he'd told them how the two of them had met. Well, maybe they had, but they sure didn't act like it.

"It's not too late. As long as we're on this train, plans can change. Chad and I can always stay on the train once we get to Stockton." Hannah wasn't blind; she could see the conflict in Nick's eyes and, from everything he'd told her about his family, she was sure they'd see it too. There would be questions, questions neither she nor Nick would be free to answer.

"No," Nick reached out and ran his finger down the side of Chad's face. "No one forced me into anything; I made that decision myself. Though, we best prepare to be interrogated by my family, especially my mother. She's not going to be happy when she learns I hopped a train in pursuit of a female cattle buyer only to return with a totally different woman as my wife and a son to boot. We'll have to be careful and not contradict ourselves. It would only serve to put a spur under her and everyone else's saddle and, after the telegram I sent, there will be questions. I don't know about you, but I don't feel like answering any more questions than necessary."

Hannah let out a slow breath. Nick was right; they didn't need tons of questions asked. She might have continued thinking, and worrying, about the first meeting with his family, but Chad began stirring and diverted her attention.

~oOo~

"What do you think of this?" Audra turned away from the decorations she'd been hanging up in the front room and looked at Jarrod and Heath who had just entered the living room; they'd just returned from town.

"Looks good to me," Jarrod said as he headed towards the small table they kept their alcohol and glasses. He wasn't about to say anything different. If he did, she'd hand him the job, and Jarrod was too tired to deal with decorations for any reason. That might not have been the case, but Jingo had thrown a shoe after they'd left town. Jarrod would have turned around and walked back into Stockton, but they were just over halfway home. That being the case he saw no reason to turn around, which was better for Jingo's feet but not his own.

Heath said the same thing, for the same reason. That is, with Jarrod having to walk; Heath had dismounted Charger and walked with his brother. Besides, decorating the room for Nick's birthday had been Audra's idea not theirs, and his feet were yelling at him something fierce. He sat down on the chair closest to the foyer and began taking off his boots. Then, thinking how Nick had been around anything decorative since Sabrina and her chimes, he said, "You know sis, Nick might not want all these decorations. Have you thought about that?"

Audra smiled as she went back to putting up the last of the streamers she had bought in town the day before. "If he can go chasing after a female cattle buyer, he's past arguing about what I do or do not put up for his birthday."

"Wonder how he did with the cattle buyer. I mean, his telegram said he wasn't coming home alone. Do you think he actually talked her into coming back to Stockton with him?" Heath couldn't help but chuckle as he looked at Jarrod, who had just set his empty glass down.

"I doubt it. Probably had the same luck he's had with every other female he's chased. Maybe, one of these days, he'll get it through his head in order to catch something good you have to stop chasing it so hard. No, he probably just picked up someone needing a place to stay for awhile." Jarrod rolled his eyes, hoping if that was the case they wouldn't have another Sabrina on their hands.

"Are you talking about you and Eva?" Audra stepped off the ladder she'd been using and teased her older brother. Eva was a thirty-year-old widow who had been working as Jarrod's secretary for the past year. With her reddish brown hair done up in a bun on the back of her head, her sparkling hazel eyes and wearing some of the most beautiful dresses Audra had ever seen, the five foot five-inch woman was breathtakingly beautiful. Within months of starting to work for Jarrod, everyone in the Barkley family knew Jarrod was interested in her…and not just for her looks. The woman was a college graduate and very intelligent.

"Don't worry about Eva or me." Jarrod answered, though he failed to hide the twinkle in his eyes as he answered just as Victoria-who had heard part of the conversation, entered the living room. However, before she could say anything the front door opened and Nick walked in. Each and every one of the Barkleys' eyes widened and a thousand questions ran through their mind as they saw the child in his arms and the young black haired woman by his side.