Chapter 4

Nick came down to breakfast the next morning expecting to find Heath there, but no one was there, except Silas. He was clearing away two plates. Nick grew suspicious.

"Silas," he said, "who's been here and gone?"

"Mr. Heath and Miss Melanie," Silas said. "They ate very early and they've gone out riding." Silas then went off to the kitchen.

"Hmm," Nick grumbled. His chances for time with Melanie were disappearing. Ah, well, he thought and turned to his breakfast.

Jarrod came in just as Nick dug into the steak. "Mother will have a fit if we start before everyone is assembled," he said.

"Too late," Nick said. "Heath and Melanie have already been here and gone out riding."

Jarrod took his seat at the end of the table and was putting his napkin on his lap when Victoria and Audra came in. "Good morning," Victoria said. "Nicholas, you are beginning too early."

"Heath and Melanie have already been here and gone," Nick said.

"Oh, Melanie said they were going to go riding this morning," Audra said as she sat down. "I didn't think they'd be leaving this early, though."

"Heath likes the sunrise," Victoria said as she sat and put her napkin on her lap. "Nick, would you give the blessing?"

Nick gave a quiet and quick blessing and then resumed filling his plate.

Victoria saw Jarrod was in a suit again. "You're going back to the office? Are you sure you're up to it?"

"Yes, I'm fine," Jarrod said. "I just need to work a little harder to catch up, so don't plan on me for dinner."

"Don't overdo, Jarrod," Victoria said. "You're not even two weeks away from a serious head injury."

"Stop fretting, dear lady," Jarrod said. "Things are pretty much intact."

"Pretty much?"

Jarrod looked up at her suspicious eyes and smiled. "As intact as they ever were, and I will not overdo, just for you."

Nick said, "Well, I need to get going on that fence break by the old foothills road. I was planning on Heath helping me, but I guess I'm on my own and it'll take two days rather than one."

"Can't you get one of the hands to help you?" Audra asked.

"We're shorthanded," Nick said. "I don't want to take anybody off the other work we have. Jarrod, maybe you feel up to lending a hand?"

Jarrod shook his head. "Sorry, Little Brother, I've got too much to do at my office."

"Ah, you just don't want to get those hands dirty."

"My hands dig into a different kind of dirt," Jarrod said.

Once in town, Jarrod went straight to the telegraph office and sent a wire to his Pinkerton contact in San Francisco. He wasn't going to wait for his memory to fill in the hole that held Melanie Palmer. A quick check on her by Pinkerton might give him what he needed to scratch that itch he had in the back of his mind.

XXXXXXX

Heath took Melanie riding to a spot where he liked to spend the early morning hours, when he had the free time. It was a small meadow, not far from the Monarch Oaks meadow. When it was early, the fog would lift from the grasses, making the air tingle as the sun lifted the soft curtain that tended to settle in at night.

Heath helped Melanie off her horse and led her to a fallen log where he liked to just sit and think while watching the sun. "I think each one of us Barkley boys has a particular place we like to be by ourselves and fix all the problems of the world."

Melanie laughed. "It hasn't been working too well for you."

"Yeah, but we're stubborn. We keep trying."

Melanie looked around, taking a deep breath. "I can understand why this one is yours. The air is so fresh and new in the morning."

"Tends to get hot and prickly in the afternoon, though. Every rose has its thorn."

Melanie looked at him. "How about me? Do I have thorns?"

"I don't know you well enough to tell, but I'd be surprised if you had very many."

Heath took the opportunity to kiss her again, and Melanie let him. Then she turned back to looking across the meadow, toward trees in the distance and mountains even farther.

"You know," she said, "if my life were different, I could stay here longer, maybe forever."

Heath felt a little uneasy. He hadn't meant for her to take his kiss or his actions toward her too seriously.

"But," she continued. "I really am an eastern girl. I miss the cities, the art and the culture, just all the people and the energy. I really am looking forward to going home."

Heath believed she meant it. This was just a fleeting romance, and she was as happy with that as he was.

They sat and talked and kissed now and then for a long time before mounting up again and riding on to another spot Heath wanted her to see.

XXXXXXXX

The end of the day came far earlier than Jarrod wanted, because he hadn't heard anything from his Pinkerton contact. He was tired and his eyes were as dry as he could take for one day, so he headed on home at about eight o'clock.

When he entered the house it was after nine He found the family and Melanie in the living room, enjoying coffee. "Sorry I'm so late," he said, left his briefcase in the foyer and came in to kiss his mother.

"We saved some dinner for you in the kitchen," she said.

"Good, I'm starving."

"Get anywhere with the work you were fretting over?" Nick asked.

Jarrod knew the question had more to it than the work on his desk. "Yes and no," he said. "Still got a lot to do tomorrow but I've brought plenty here to work on in the morning."

"Don't over – " Victoria started.

"I know, don't overdo," Jarrod said. "Pardon me while I get a bite to eat."

Victoria sighed when he left the room.

"You worried about something, Mother?" Heath asked.

"Just his tendency to bury himself in his work sometimes," Victoria said. She looked at Melanie. "One thing about Barkley men – they get their teeth into something and they won't let go."

"I've been learning quite a few things about Barkley men," Melanie said. "Except for you, Nick. We haven't spent much time together at all."

"Well, now," Nick said, "my little brother has been dominating your time and forcing me to do all the hard work in the meantime. Maybe you might consider a return trip sometime soon and allow me to be your escort."

Melanie smiled. "I'm afraid I don't know when I'll be back out west. When I get home, my parents have definite plans for me."

"We'll make sure to stop by tomorrow so Melanie can watch how hard you work," Heath said.

Nick pictured her seeing him with his shirt off. "That might not be a bad idea."

"I'd like that, too," Melanie said, and she threw a flirting glance Nick's way.

Nick smiled and said, "Then I'd better get myself together for a good night's sleep. I'd hate for you to come find me lying down on the job."

He bid them all good night, giving his mother and sister kisses on the forehead and lifting Melanie's hand for another kiss. Then, with a wink to Heath, he went upstairs to bed.

"I think I'm ready to retire myself," Melanie said.

"I'll walk up with you," Audra said, and got up as Melanie did.

And the girl talk resumed as they went up the stairs.

Heath shook his head. "How can they find so much to talk about?"

Victoria said, "If you were a girl, Heath, you wouldn't have to ask."