SB4SB

Thursday

Jarrod climbed out of Nick's Suburban and held the door for his mother. Nick had waited till Jarrod got out of court so they could drive up from Stockton together, and then they'd picked up their mother at the Murphys Hotel before coming out to the ranch where Heath was staying.

Jarrod turned to get a good look at the two story house that was home for the family McFadden. Very different from the white mansion the Barkleys occupied, but nice and homey just the same. The surrounding country was beautiful, and Jarrod took a deep breath of the fresh, clean air. If the McFaddens were anything like their ranch, Jarrod could see it might be difficult to persuade Heath to return to Stockton.

A brunet was walking down from the front of the house, carrying a guitar case. "Can I help you?"

Nick was closest to the young man, "We're looking for Heath?"

"He's around here somewhere. Oh, Miz B, I didn't see you over there. Welcome back."

"Hello, Daniel. I'd like to introduce my sons, Nick and Jarrod. Boys, this is Daniel McFadden."

The young man had a firm grip when he shook hands. "Nice to meet you."

Nick cleared his throat, "I was expecting you to be older."

Daniel had a high pitched giggle. "Oh, there's plenty of them too. I'm number four." The young man put his guitar in the back of a Jeep, "Let's go find Heath."

Jarrod had reread the report on Heath the previous evening, looking for more information on the McFaddens. But as they had little to do with Heath's birth and raising, the investigators hadn't spent much time on the family, just mentioning that they were friends who took him in for a year after his mother died. Jarrod certainly didn't recall anything about numbers.

Daniel continued as they walked around the side of the house. "Just remember we're alphabetical." That statement brought Jarrod a measure of alarm. How many McFaddens were there? He shared a baffled glance with Nick.

The screen door banged open, and Jarrod looked up to see a slender blond with a beard, definitely older than Daniel.

"Mrs. Barkley."

"Come meet my sons."

Jarrod considered the man as he descended the porch steps.

Victoria continued the introductions. "This is my oldest son, Jarrod, and this is Nick. Boys, this is Crane."

The discerning eyes studied Jarrod and Nick briefly before the hand was offered. "Welcome. Any family of Heath's…"

Jarrod did a quick calculation, "So you're the third…?"

Crane glanced wryly at Daniel. "Yeah."

"Crane, they're looking for Heath, and I gotta go..."

Crane lifted his chin in assent.

"I'll see y'all at supper." Daniel nodded to the Barkleys, evidently expecting them to be at the meal. He jogged back toward the front of the house.

Crane looked around the yard absently, "You know, I think Heath went with Adam and Evan to bring in a heifer that's about to calve out." He glanced apologetically at Victoria. "Sorry, that's not really an appropriate topic with guests."

Nick shook his head, "We know the drill. Do they need help?"

Crane offered a small grin and shook his head, "Yeah, I guess you do understand. She's not that close. But it's her first, and we just want to make sure she does okay. Just bringing her into the near pasture."

Jarrod noted the approval emanating from Nick.

Crane continued, "I'd show you around, but there's not much more to see. Barns, a shed or two. A couple of corrals and a few fenced pastures around the house here. Then it's pretty much just open country unless there's a road or our fence line. Would you like to come in? Hannah's inside."

Jarrod brought up the rear as they entered a comfortable, lived in kitchen. With two refrigerators. Again, Jarrod wondered how many McFaddens there were. Seemed like a high number would have warranted a mention in the report. There was information that the Circle Bar Seven didn't have much operating margin—if any at all. If that was the case, how did they manage to take in Heath when they were already so numerous to begin with? Jarrod had to admit he was curious.

"Come on into the living room and have a seat. Hey, Hannah? We have company!"

From upstairs, "Be right there."

In the living room, Nick leaned over a ten gallon terrarium sitting on the coffee table. Jarrod tried to see what was inside; it appeared to contain…a couple of large frogs. He eyed their host in silent question.

Crane had a small smile and shoved his hands in his pockets. "You just never know what you're gonna find around here. Adam said Guthrie had 'em in bed with him the other night."

Victoria startled, "In the terrarium?"

"No, ma'am. And that was before he had it narrowed down to just these two."

Jarrod's mother rolled her eyes, "Oh, for heaven's sake…"

Crane just shrugged innocently.

Victoria glared at Jarrod and Nick… probably just for being male. Jarrod sat back defensively. Okay, he brought home a baby fox once, but he'd never tried to sleep with frogs. Nick, on the other hand…

A pretty brunette bounced down the stairs. "Sorry! It's a lot of work to keep this place livable. Victoria, welcome back! And you've brought guests!"

Jarrod and Nick stood as she came to stand in front of them.

Victoria made the introductions. "Hannah McFadden, these are my sons, Jarrod and Nick."

Jarrod took her hand and tipped his head in salute, then Nick did the same. "A pleasure, Mrs. McFadden."

"Please, it's Hannah."

SB4SB

Adam trailed Evan and Heath into the corral. The heifer looked ready, a few days—maybe more.

Ford came out of the feed shed. He and Brian had spent the afternoon picking up supplies. "Hey. Any trouble?"

"Nope. You?"

Ford shook his head. "Heath, Mrs. Barkley and your brothers are in the house."

Adam glanced up with everybody else…but it was still just the house.

Evan spoke up, "I'll take care of the horses if you guys want to go on."

Adam smiled warmly at his brother. "Thanks. You guys finish up." He and Heath walked across the yard. Adam was pretty impressed by Heath's improvement on the job. He'd always been a good cowboy—like he was born to it. Which made sense after they found out who his father was. But after almost a year on the Barkley spread, he was a top hand. Adam admitted only to himself that he'd always been a bit jealous of big outfits like the Barkley Ranch. Heath's development was proof that they were good at the business. And now, Adam was about to meet the men holding the reins.

"Oh, Heath, there you are!" Mrs. Barkley left the counter where she was peeling potatoes to hug Heath. Adam shook his head that their guest was helping with dinner. Hannah was just getting too wrapped up in this school thing.

Mrs. Barkley continued, "Adam, this is my son, Jarrod."

A tall, neat brunet in a button down stood from his seat at Adam's end of the table. It was covered in paperwork. "Jarrod Barkley."

Adam returned the friendly handshake. "Adam McFadden. Welcome." In the living room, he heard Brian and Daniel and…

Heath cocked his head, "Is that Nick?"

Victoria bobbed her head once with a sly grin.

Heath pushed his hat back and sighed. "Am I in trouble?"

Jarrod frowned wryly. "You could say that."

Heath tried a broken smile. "The note?"

"Ah, yes, Brother Heath. The note."

"Sorry about that, Jarrod."

"Mmm-hm." Jarrod tilted his head toward the living room.

Adam wondered what note they were talking about, but whatever it was seemed to be leading to a pretty good show. He followed Heath around the corner.

Brian, Crane, and Daniel were seated on the sofa across from a tough looking, dark headed man who stood menacingly as Heath walked up.

"Now, Nick—"

"I know you weren't raised in a barn, but you sure coulda fooled me! Going off, no warning, not even a by-your-leave! There we were, covered up with work, and Mac just casually mentions you passed off that fencing job to Wylie! And me standing there like a jack-ass with my mouth open!"

"But Nick—"

"And that piddling excuse for a note! What was that? No explanation other than 'family business in Murphys'?" By now, Nick had backed Heath all the way around the sofa.

The wall by the piano brought Heath to an abrupt stop. And apparently gave him enough back bone to interrupt. "Nick, just hang on a second. Your mother already fussed at me about the note. I'm sorry. I ain't used to—" He paused a second, "It's been a while since I needed to notify anybody where I was gonna be. I'm outta practice." The two of them stared at each other for a second, and Adam wondered at their relationship. Finally, with a couple of bare nods between them, Adam noted an ease in tension.

Heath continued as Nick backed off a bit. "I see you met some of the family. This is Adam."

Adam extended his hand, guessing Heath's brother was probably close to his own age. He was about Brian's size, and Adam would bet money that the man was tough as nails. Sure didn't fit the image Adam had always had of a rich ranch owner who paid his hands to take care of the spread. Here was a man who pulled his own weight—probably more than his own. Adam hadn't really believed Heath when he'd described Nick, but the truth was standing in front of him.

Nick turned his back on Heath and shook Adam's hand. "I was just telling your brothers that you turned the runt here into a halfway passable ranch hand. Sorry you didn't have more to work with."

Adam glanced at his brothers, still not sure how to take this guy. Brian and Crane were fighting grins, and Daniel's face was red with held back laughter. Heath just looked bored. Adam shrugged, "We did the best we could."

Nick's lips twitched as Heath rolled his eyes. "Can we just move on to something else?"

Nick turned back. "I don't know, Heath. You're about the only thing we got in common …except cows and horses and feed prices and beef futures and the weather. And I'm thinking these guys could probably give me all kinds of good dirt on you."

Heath pulled a face, "Who asked you to come anyway? Ain't you got a ranch to run? I don't know how we're gonna fit everybody around the table."

It did turn into a tight fit, but Daniel and Evan pulled the coffee table up to the kitchen sofa. Daniel and Guthrie sat on the couch, while Evan and Ford used cushions from the easy chairs and sat on the floor.

Despite—or maybe because of—the tight quarters, dinner was enjoyable. Victoria was almost one of the family after three days of meals with them. And Jarrod and Nick were surprisingly down to earth. Adam felt his prejudices dissolve in the easy conversation. Even though the Barkleys grew up with money in the bank, wanting for nothing, Heath's blood brothers were realistic and well grounded in the practicalities of ranching. Adam glanced at Brian and Crane who were shaking their heads in wonder. The big outfits had most of the same problems the McFaddens faced on a daily basis—just on a much bigger scale. And above all, the Barkleys were just regular guys, not stuck up snobs. Adam had wondered how Heath fit in at the Barkley Ranch, but now Adam could see that it would've been easy. His new family cared about him. Just as much as the McFaddens did.

When supper was over, Adam consigned Daniel and Guthrie to cleanup, and the rest of them saw their guests to the door. Adam was quietly surprised that even though most of Heath's new family was now at the Murphys Hotel, he clearly intended to continue sleeping on the couch. Victoria smiled, not the least bit concerned. Jarrod tried to hide his surprise, but he seemed quietly resigned. Nick clearly fought his displeasure at the situation. He almost said something, but Heath steered him to the door. "C'mon, I'll walk you to the truck." The McFaddens said their good-byes, and the Barkleys left.

Adam massaged his temples and forehead with a sigh. Never a dull moment. With everything going on with the Old School, Heath's sudden visit…and now the rest of his new family in town. Adam wished he had a clue what was going on, but like most of the time, he felt late to the party.

Heath came back inside. "Well, that was…my family."

Adam studied the satisfied air of his adopted little brother, glad he was happy. "They're nice."

Heath dropped into one of the easy chairs. "Yeah."

Brian's lips twitched, "They come up here to make sure we don't persuade you to stay?"

Heath shook his head slightly, his eyes focused somewhere else. "Maybe a little."

Crane grinned and gently shoved Heath's shoulder. "They love ya."

Heath's brows bounced in surprise, "Go figure."