It had taken Jarrod a week to overcome the horrible cold he received from walking home in the rain. During this time his brothers had waited on him hand and foot doing everything for him. Jarrod knew this was their way of apologizing to him but it was too late for that. Jarrod had already made up his mind.

While Jarrod was recovering from his cold he started working on a plan. He knew most of the paperwork for the ranch was downstairs in his desk but there were quite a few contracts at his office. But there was more than that to running the business end of the ranch and his brothers would find that out very soon.

Jarrod was licensed to practice law in five states but that was for ranch business mostly. Almost all of his cases were in California. There would no longer be the out of state travels to meet with customers, business partners or clients. Jarrod would only travel for pleasure or for his law practice.

Nick had joked on several occasions that having his brother as a lawyer saved the ranch quite a bit of money since Jarrod never charged them anything. It also came in handy for when Nick would get into bar fights which tended to happen about once a month and waking Jarrod up more than one time in the middle of the night to bail out his brother or the ranch hands. Now that Jarrod thought about it he had never been reimbursed for the bail money, fines or damages he paid. Never again he thought wryly.

Jarrod knew he had no one to blame but himself for the position he was in. He wasn't angry at his family, he was angry at himself for allowing them to use him in this way. Jarrod also knew he should have spoken up sooner but he hadn't. He felt this was his responsibility to his family.

Jarrod sighed as he continued to gather up the contracts and placed them in a valise. He felt a relief but sadness as well. It was time for him to start doing things for himself and stop sticking his nose in his dusty old law books.

He smiled as he thought about the upcoming dance and running into Sally Field when he arrived in town earlier today. Jarrod always thought Sally was pretty and he would harmlessly flirt with her when she would wait on him at the Cattleman's. She had gladly accepted his invitation to the dance Saturday night.

Jarrod looked around his office once more to make sure he had gotten all the paperwork and contracts for the ranch before he headed out.

Jarrod rode by the Cattleman's and tipped his Stetson to Sally before he galloped off to the ranch smiling.

When Jarrod arrived to the ranch Ciego greeted him and offered to bed Jingo for the night.

"Ah, that's okay Ciego, I'll be heading back out later," Jarrod smiled and winked at Ciego mischievously.

Ciego laughed at Senor Barkley as he led Jingo into the barn to give him some hay.

Jarrod entered the house and knew his family was scattered so he would have it to himself while he prepared for his next move. He had already been moving all of his personal belongings from the desk in the gun room and taking it to his room. He had a small desk in his bedroom so that would do if he needed to do some work at home.

He sat at the desk and looked through all the drawers making sure he had left none of his personal contracts or paperwork. Jarrod was an astute businessman and when the opportunities had presented themselves Jarrod was able to make money and a lot of it. If his family knew how much money he made they would be shocked. Truth was Jarrod was a very rich man and his wealth had not come from the Barkley holdings but from Jarrod's own hard work.

As he finished going through the desk he heard the door open and close and wondered who had come home.

Audra entered the room and smiled at her oldest brother, "Jarrod, I thought you were in town."

Jarrod smiled as he continued going through desk drawers, "I was but I finished earlier than I expected so I decided to come home and go through some paperwork here."

Audra sat down on the edge of the desk and said, "I heard you asked Sally Field to the dance this weekend."

Jarrod looked at Audra and winked, "You heard correctly."

"Oh Jarrod that is so wonderful!" Audra exclaimed.

Jarrod laughed at his sister, "You act as though I never get out."

"Oh I didn't mean that, it's just that I'm glad you are feeling good enough to go to the dance."

Jarrod eyed her suspiciously, "Hmph." Jarrod finished going through the last drawer satisfied he had gotten all of his personal papers out. He picked up the valise and emptied the contents on top of the desk while placing his papers in the valise.

Audra watched Jarrod curiously and asked, "What are you doing Jarrod?"

Jarrod looked at Audra and simply said, "Tying up some loose ends." Jarrod stood up and placed his finger on the tip of her nose and said, "See you at dinner." Jarrod walked out of the gun room leaving Audra wondering what was going on.

Victoria smiled as she watched her children discuss the upcoming dance and whom they would be taking. She was slightly surprised to find out Jarrod had asked someone to go but was pleased.

Nick cleared his throat nervously and looked at Jarrod. He had not brought up any ranch business since Jarrod had been sick but he really needed to talk to him about a few contracts.

"Jarrod, do you think we could talk after dinner?" Nick asked.

Jarrod looked at Nick, "What about Brother Nick?"

Nick played with the food on his plate and continued to look at his plate as he answered him, "There are a few contracts that are coming up that need to be reviewed."

Jarrod noticed Nick could not even look him in the eye and knew his response would cause Nick to jerk his head up immediately. "I thought I made myself perfectly clear that I would not be handling anymore ranch business."

Nick jerked his head up and bellowed, "What? Are you serious?"

Jarrod smirked, "I have never been more serious in my entire life."

"That's your job Jarrod," Nick reasoned.

Jarrod glared at Nick, "My job Nick? Well if it was my job shouldn't I have been paid for doing my job?"

Nick glared at Jarrod and spat, "You do the accounting so if you didn't pay yourself it's your own fault."

Jarrod agreed, "You're correct Brother Nick however that doesn't change the fact that I will no longer be handling any of the ranch business." Jarrod stood up and said, "All of the paperwork, contracts and accounting books are on the desk in the gun room."

Jarrod walked over to his mother and kissed her on top of her head, "Lovely lady, if you'll excuse me I'm going out."

Audra asked, "This late?"

Jarrod smiled, "Yes and I'm not sure what time I'll be back." Jarrod left his family in a stunned silence.

"Boy howdy I sure was hoping Jarrod was joking about not doing the ranch paperwork anymore," Heath shook his head.

"I think he is very serious Heath," Victoria said.

"I'll talk to him and straighten him out," Nick said angrily.

"You'll just make it worse Nick. Let him be for a little while," Victoria stated.

"What about the contracts?" Nick asked.

Victoria looked at her son's and said, "Looks like you and Heath have some work to do tonight."

Audra chuckled while Nick and Heath glared at her.