"Jarrod, I need to talk to you." Audra rushed down the stairs to confront her eldest brother as he and Nick arrived home late that afternoon.

"Hello to you too, Audra, my day was fine, thank you for asking," Jarrod greeted, blue eyes laughing.

Audra smiled at Jarrod's gentle chastisement for her less-than-polite greeting and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'm glad you're home, big brother," she told him, then dimpled at Nick as well. "How was your day, Nick?"

"Brightening considerably," he said gallantly, taking her hand, "especially knowing I have the prettiest little sister in the valley."

Audra snatched her hand away as he attempted to kiss it. "Oh, you!" she admonished him with a laugh before turning back to Jarrod. "Jarrod, I really do need to ask your help with something."

"Ask away, honey," Jarrod invited as he divested himself of gunbelt and hat.

"I was just over at Olga's when her father was going through the mail. Jarrod, Mr. Doolin wants to double their rent!"

Even though she'd kept a stiff upper lip, Audra was the one most hurt by the virtual shunning of the Barkleys over the past several months. She was left off the guest lists of many of the parties and socials she so enjoyed, but steadfastly maintained she didn't care, that she was content with her family and the true friends she had.

When invitations started to come her way again with the town's turnaround in their attitude toward the Barkleys, Audra surprised her brothers by turning most of them down, preferring to spend her time with the friends who remained friends the whole time.

Olga Diedrich was one of those friends. Her family had emigrated from Germany a little over a year before and Audra helped Olga adjust to her new life in America. The Diedrichs remained friendly to the Barkleys even when more long-term friends turned their backs and Audra and Olga spent many afternoons together, riding, sewing and helping out at the orphanage.

"I'll go talk to Jens in the morning," Jarrod promised, "and see what I can do."

Nick shook his head as he made his way into the parlour to pour himself a drink. "I'm telling you, Jarrod, that man has to be stopped," he demanded, slamming the decanter back onto the table.

"And you figure we're the ones to stop him," Jarrod concluded, knowing his brother well enough to finish his thought for him.

"Damn straight, Pappy. 'The truth no matter who it hurts'. Hell, I'll show him hurt…" Nick realized his sister was still in the room as he spoke and had the grace to look embarrassed. "Sorry, Audra."

"Don't let Mother catch you talking like that," Heath teased as he came in from the library. "She's liable to wash your mouth out with soap. Not something I'd recommend, let me tell you."

Nick cocked an eyebrow at his blond brother. "And just how would you know? You hardly ever cuss."

"Nope," Heath agreed, pouring his own shot of whiskey, "not since I did it in front of Mary Sue Parker in the second grade and Mama used Aunt Hannah's lye soap to 'clean the filth out of my mouth', as she put it. Cured me but good."

The siblings shared a chuckle at the face Heath made before taking a drink, as if to wash out the remembered taste of the soap.

"So, Nick," Jarrod said, perching on the corner of the side table, "just how do you propose we stop Doolin?"

"I dunno, Pappy," Nick told him, pacing over to the fireplace, "you're the smart one, you should be able to think of something. Can't we start by suing him for slander or something?"

Jarrod just shook his head. "Nick, I go over every editorial and every Eagle story with a fine toothed comb. Doolin always stops just about six inches short of a libel suit. You'll have to come up with something else."

"What about the gold?" Audra piped up. "If we find it, maybe we can prove Father's innocence at the same time."

"Audra, we tried that six months ago," Jarrod reminded her. "The gold's well and truly buried, there isn't a hope of getting it out of that mine."

Audra frowned. "Well, there must be something," she insisted.

Heath finished his drink. "I'm up for looking around the mine again," he said, setting down his glass. "Something still doesn't set right with me about that collapse. Anyone feel like taking a ride? Got over an hour until dinner."

The other Barkleys looked at each other and moved as one towards the door.