Jarrod waited on the bank overlooking the lake. The place had been special to him for so many years, but he wondered if he'd ever feel anything other than aversion to it after all that had happened. He glanced at the trees surrounding the area and felt better for knowing his brothers weren't far away.

Then he turned at the sound of hoofbeats. Two horses approached; Beth was riding one and the other carried an unfamiliar man holding Chloe in front of him, likely Beth's paramour. Jarrod ignored the urge to rush over and pull Chloe from the horse; that course of action could result in his daughter getting hurt or worse yet, killed. Jarrod pushed that thought away and held his ground.

"Got the money, Barkley?' the man called.

Jarrod nudged the satchel at his feet. "It's all here. Chloe, honey, are you all right?"

"I'm okay, Daddy," she said in a quavering voice. Even from where he was, Jarrod could see the bruise on her face and clenched his fists to control his temper. There would be time to even the score once Chloe was safe.

"Beth, go get the bag," the man ordered.

Beth dismounted from her horse, but before she took a step, Jarrod held up his hand.

"Hold it right there, Beth. No one's getting anything until Chloe's off that horse."

Beth looked at the other man. He considered for a moment before he said, "Drop the gun first."

Expecting the request, Jarrod unbuckled his gunbelt and tossed it aside, reassured by the knowledge that Nick and Heath had his back. "Now Chloe."

The man released Chloe. She slid off the horse, ran to Jarrod as fast as she could and he gathered her tightly in his arms. "I was so scared, Daddy," she sobbed into his shoulder.

Jarrod's eyes were teary as well. "I've got you, kitten," he murmured.

"Now the money."

Jarrod stepped back from the satchel, still holding his daughter. He didn't care about the money; he had his Chloe safe and that was what mattered.

Beth came forward slowly and picked up the case. "I'm sorry, Jarrod. Chloe…"

"Take it and go, Beth," Jarrod stated coldly. "And I hope to heaven we never see you again."

Beth pursed her lips, nodded and went back to the horses. She handed up the money. "Here we are, Charles."

He took the bag and secured it in front of him. Then, without warning, he drew his gun and shot Beth in the back as she reached her own horse. She clutched the stirrup as she fell. "Charles…" she gasped.

Jarrod pushed Chloe behind him as the gun was then trained on them.

"Can't have any witnesses," Charles snarled.

Two shots rang out and Charles' face held a shocked expression as he tumbled lifelessly from the saddle. Jarrod quickly grabbed his revolver from where he'd tossed it. "Stay here, Chloe," he said and made his slow way over to the prone body of the man on the ground.

Charles lay on his back and his eyes stared blankly upwards as Jarrod made sure he was dead. He then turned to Beth. She was leaning against a tree trunk, a derringer held loosely in her hand.

"I couldn't… let him hurt Chloe," she said faintly. "Or… you. I know… too late, but… I'm sorry… Jarrod."

As much as he despised her in that moment, Jarrod couldn't just let her die. He ripped a chunk off the hem of her riding skirt and held it against her bleeding shoulder.

"Nick's got Chloe, Jarrod," he heard Heath say as his blond brother came up behind him. "Other one's dead, two shots in the chest." He glanced at the small gun by Beth. "Don't know if it was hers or mine that did it."

Jarrod nodded. "Beth needs a doctor, Heath." He looked up and saw understanding in Heath's eyes.

Heath crouched down beside them. "I'll stay here. You take Chloe home and I'll send Nick to town for the sheriff and the doc."

Jarrod took a deep breath and stood. He walked over to where Nick was standing by Jingo with Chloe.

"I'll hand her up to you," Nick told him.

Jarrod mounted and Nick set Chloe in front of him. Jarrod wrapped an arm tightly around his little girl and rested his cheek on the top of her head for a moment before he nudged Jingo's ribs.

"I knew you'd come for me, Daddy," Chloe said with only a hint of a sob as she snuggled tightly to him. "I was scared, but I tried to be brave."

"I can't imagine a braver girl," Jarrod assured her.

They were both quiet the rest of the way home. Chloe was greeted by tearful hugs and kisses from her grandma, aunt and Silas when they arrived home and was whisked off for a hot bath and clean clothes by Victoria. Silas fixed a tray for father and daughter to share alone in Jarrod's room.

Jarrod was happy to see Chloe clean her plate and then smiled as she let out a huge yawn. "I think it's time for you to get to bed," he advised.

Chloe nodded and took Jarrod's hand. But she stopped before they reached the door. "Can I sleep with you, Daddy?" The look in her eyes was tinged with fear.

"Of course, kitten." Jarrod picked her up and carried her to his bed. After being afraid he might never see her again, Jarrod was more than happy to have her with him. "I'll just grab my pyjamas and change after I've said good night to everyone for us. I'm pretty tired too."

He met Nick and Heath coming through the front door.

"Beth'll live," Heath told him as both men took off their hats and guns. "Fred has a deputy stationed at the doc's to take her to jail once she's recovered enough."

"Kidnapping and extortion," Nick added. "Fred thinks she'll get life." His eyes narrowed when he looked at Jarrod. "Unless you go do some fool thing like defending her."

Jarrod shook his head. "Everyone deserves a fair trial," he stated, "with decent representation, even Beth. But she'll never get that from me."

Nick nodded, satisfied. "How's my niece?" he demanded to know.

Jarrod smiled. "She's had a bath, dinner and I just put her to bed, which is where I'm headed too. Night, boys."

.

Chloe snuggled next to Jarrod when he crawled into bed beside her. "Daddy," she asked after a few minutes, "do you think Mama could ever love anyone?"

Jarrod looked at her curiously. "What makes you ask something like that?"

"Well," Chloe answered thoughtfully, "I have lots of friends and I know you and Grandma and Aunt Audra and Uncle Nick and Uncle Heath all love me. And they love you and you're the absolute best daddy in the whole world." She looked at him earnestly. "And if Mama doesn't love us…" Chloe shrugged and cuddled close again. "I'm sad for her, Daddy."

Jarrod hadn't really looked at it like that, but Chloe's words made him feel a bit of sympathy for Beth and the lonely life she had ahead of her. He felt a surge of pride for his daughter and the compassion she was able to show someone who never had any for her. "I love you, Chloe," he whispered into her hair.

"I love you, too," Chloe murmured sleepily as they both fell asleep.