Victoria looked around their private rail car and smiled. They had just returned from Eugene's graduation from Berkley and things could not be better for the Barkley's.

Eugene had graduated with honors from Berkley and would be starting his residency in the fall. There was a time Eugene wasn't sure what he wanted to do but he finally decided on medicine and Victoria could not be prouder of Eugene that is Dr. Eugene Barkley.

Audra was volunteering at the orphanage and a member of the committee for both the School Board and the Orphanage. She was responsible for raising enough money to add an addition to the orphanage as well as getting new clothes for the children.

Heath was currently courting Sara Evans and Victoria wondered if she would be her future daughter-in-law. When Heath first arrived to them he had to fight and claw his way to being accepted not only from the family but from the people of the Valley. Now Victoria could not imagine her family without her blonde headed son.

Nick was still Nick, loud. Victoria chuckled quietly to herself thinking of her dark headed rancher son. He loved working the ranch but loved his family even more. Although he was rough and tough on the outside he was a gentle giant on the inside. Victoria thought if he ever settled down he would calm down but thought that would not be her Nick. He needed to stay the way he was with or without a woman.

She looked at her eldest as he puffed his cigar and sipped his scotch. He was listening to Gene's animated story with a wry grin on his face. Jarrod had came a long way himself. He had two thriving law offices with one in Stockton and the other in San Francisco which kept him busy. He was engaged to Melanie Thomas but they had not set a date yet which bothered Victoria. She knew Melanie had just opened her own restaurant and was busy with that, but she could not for the life of her figure out what was so difficult about setting a date. It bothered both her and Audra to no means, but Jarrod didn't seem to worry about it. She was going to try to force the issue the next time Jarrod and Melanie were together.

Gene's statement brought Victoria from her thoughts, "Mother?"

Victoria smiled, "Yes dear."

Gene rose to join Victoria on the settee. He cleared his throat and fidgeted with his hands, "Ah, some of my buddy's said their families were going to give them a graduation party and I, ah, was wondering if I could have one – you know a graduation party."

Jarrod who had been relaxing in a chair with his boots on the ottoman suddenly choked on his scotch and turned pale white.

Eugene looked at Jarrod, "You okay Pappy?"

Jarrod vigorously shook his head yes. Eugene frowned at him and turned back to Victoria who now had a frown on her face and Eugene could have sworn he heard Nick chuckle. He shook his head and turned back to Victoria who was still frowning.

"Mother, are you okay? You don't look so good."

Victoria nodded her head not trusting her voice. Eugene frowned at her. He looked at Jarrod who refused to meet his eyes while he was fixing another drink. He could have sworn he seen Nick laughing but he had covered his mouth.

"What is going on? All I asked for was a graduation party and Jarrod nearly choked on his drink, Nick is laughing and mother has steam coming out of her ears," Eugene asked.

Nick chuckled or maybe he choked but finally answered Eugene as he put his hand on Jarrod's shoulder, "Ask Pappy about his graduation party."

Eugene's eyes got wide as he looked at his mother than to Jarrod. He asked Victoria, "You gave Jarrod a graduation party?"

But once again it was Nick who answered, "No she didn't kid. Big brother here gave himself his own graduation party." Nick patted both of Jarrod's shoulders, as the lawyer was desperately trying to figure out how to get off the train right now. He could jump from it as the train was not going that fast and he could land ever so gently without getting hurt too badly. But then he thought evilly about pushing Nick off the train first and using him as a landing board.

Eugene hollered, "What? Jarrod threw his own graduation party? How come we've never heard about it?" Audra and Heath nodded in agreement as they all knew there was something more to this and Eugene was going to get to the bottom of it. Of course if he would have been paying attention to his mother he would have dropped the subject.

Heath added, "I'm kinda interested in hearing about this so called graduation party too Jarrod." Heath recognized Jarrod had killed three scotch shots in a matter of minutes and Victoria's face was now crimson in color. He knew he shouldn't have said anything but they had another two hours before they got to Stockton and this would be a very good way to pass time.

Nick once again spoke up for his very quiet older brother, "Let me tell you Heath it was one helluva a party…"

Victoria interrupted him, "Nicholas, I DO NOT wish to relive that EVER again." Victoria's tone gave no room for argument. But Heath and Eugene noticed Jarrod sink lower into his chair as he had the decanter in one hand and his glass in the other.

Heath, Eugene and Audra grinned at Jarrod's most obvious distress and Victoria's anger towards her eldest. They made a silent pact right then and there to find out about Jarrod's graduation party one way or another.