Chapter Fourteen

"The more I thought on it, I believed that had to be the case," said Heath, as he sat on the sofa and looked at Nick standing by the fireplace. Nick had just finished telling everyone the truth about Mary's parentage. Jarrod said the same thing, as did their wives. Somehow, that did not shock Nick.

"I told her," Nick said as he stepped away from the fireplace and placed his hands on his hips, "the family would not acknowledge the true facts publicly." He wasn't surprised by the shocked looks on everyone's faces, but Victoria's. She wore an understanding smile. However, before any of them could object, which they looked like they were going to do, Nick began explaining the issues surrounding Paul's in-laws. When he did that, the looks of objections were replaced by ones of understanding.

Victoria, who could see how hurt Nick was that he would not be able to publicly claim the child as his gave him a sympathetic smile as she walked over to him and put her hand on his arm. "While I wish the child would take on our last name, it's like I said before, the choice should be Elizabeth's. She is right when it comes to Paul; for what he did, Mary should keep his name. And, I'm proud if you for supporting her in that." Victoria looked around at her family and then back to Nick. "I, for one, will stand by that decision and say nothing." She then gave his arm a slightly squeeze and added quietly, "We're all here for you, and them, we always will be. If you need anything; if they need anything, just say so."

Nick looked at his brothers and sister-in-laws; each of them said, basically, the same thing. Nick took a deep breath and excused himself. "I'll be back later. He'd heard the sound of someone approaching the house and looked out the living room window. He'd seen Elizabeth and Mary driving up in the surrey Elizabeth had borrowed to go into town. Once he was gone, the others began talking among themselves.

~oOo~

Elizabeth leaned on the corral fence; her arms and hand hung loosely over the top, more than grateful days were much cooler than they had been in the past. Since the corral was empty, Mary was running around inside acting as if she was on a horse. When Nick walked up and leaned against the fence also, Elizabeth turned her head long enough to see if someone besides Nick was wearing spurs. When she saw him, she turned her eyes back towards Mary. While a part of Nick wanted nothing more than to press Elizabeth to talk, he said nothing.

Elizabeth, who had gotten an earful in town, when it came to each and every one of the Barkleys, had been more than relieved to hear that Nick had indeed matured immensely over the years. Also, it was good to know that even though he still drank, gambled and was known as a womanizer, he never let any of it interfere with his responsibilities. Though, she still wasn't impressed by the latter three things. "This is for your sake, Mary" Elizabeth thought after a few minutes of silence. Taking her eyes off her daughter, Elizabeth looked at Nick. "I won't go back to Ottersville. However, the moment I get a job and save enough money, I'm getting Mary and myself a place in town."

Nick knew Elizabeth would be miserable living right in Stockton. For her to choose to do so, meant only one thing in his eyes…she was only thinking to move there to put some distance between the two of them. For the hundredth time since he realized what boat, per se, he'd help put her in, Nick swore to do the best he could by her. Then, due to the assumption she was uncomfortable around him, he said, "You don't have to move to Stockton to guarantee we won't see each other that much. I see Heath every day. I can cut my visits to his home out. It's not like he can't bring Teresa and Isabella over here."

Elizabeth's eyes widened as she realized what her request had him thinking. She had never meant to send the message that she wanted as little to do with Nick as possible. "It's nothing against you, Nick. It's just that I can't live on any part of the ranch, not for very long anyway."

The confusion as to why Elizabeth felt like she couldn't stay on the ranch long term, along with the fact that Mary would not be known as his daughter, hit Nick full force. He exploded as he brought his hand down upon the top of the fence. "If it's not me you wish to avoid then why move? You're simply our guest. Living here on the ranch doesn't give Paul's parents anything to use against you or Mary."

"Doesn't it?" Elizabeth bowed her head ever so slightly and rubbed her forehead, a habit she had when she was overly stresses. "They know I dated other men besides Paul, including you." She sighed as she lifted her head and gave him a small smile. "When Paul and I announced we were getting married, and he admitted I was with child, my mother in law came right out and said she thought someone else was the father. If it wasn't for the fact that Paul stood his ground and made comments that implied that wasn't the case, I dare say my mother-in-law would have started trying to get 'their' name from Mary a lot sooner than they did. As it was, she didn't because, at first, my father-in-law actually gave her a piece of his mind and told her to just accept the fact that Paul and I had slipped up. He told her that he, for one, might be disappointed in what Paul had done, but he was pleased he wasn't shirking 'what was now his duty'. Elizabeth let out another tired, worn out sigh, "Only after months of listening to Agatha's griping did he change his mind. If Mary and I are living here on the ranch and others have put two and two together the way your family has, and my in-laws show up in Stockton, you can bet your bottom dollar Agatha will start squawking. For that matter, just living in Stockton will be bad enough."

"When it comes to the folks in Stockton, my family and I have already spread the word about your in-laws, what they tried to do and what Paul said. So, if Agatha McArthur shows up, let her squawk! No one worth anything will listen!" Nick growled softly as he turned his head and watched Mary, who was still playing inside the empty corral. He then lowered his voice, though he was going to make one thing crystal clear. "I haven't fought you when it comes to leaving things be when it comes to Mary's name and allowing people to continue to believe Paul was her father because you have a valid point. Paul did earn the right to give his name to Mary. However," his voice again grew hard, but not harsh, as he took a deep breath and continued, "I have been thinking long and hard about it, and I will fight to convince you to live on the ranch. I want to be able to see our daughter on a regular basis, even if she doesn't know what our true relationship is. I don't get into town as much as it might as might seem. I can't, not with all the work I've got to do. I'll think of some believable reason for the two of you living on the ranch that people will buy." If that was a sin, Nick figured he could simply add it to the list the preacher was always claiming Nick had.

Elizabeth chastised herself for allowing such a tangled web to be woven in the first place. If she hadn't, she wouldn't have to worry about George and Agatha McArthur. It almost felt as if she was wearing a chain of sorts when it came to her former in-laws. If only she knew how to how to break that chain. "All right," her shoulders slumped forward ever so slightly, "You win on this one Nick, but if Paul's parents do ever show up…you can deal with them. I'm hiding." She allowed quite the childish look to appear on her face as she finished.

Nick couldn't help but break out in a fit of laughter, as he saw the look. Elizabeth tried not to join in only she did.

"Momma and Mr. Barkley's done gone and lost it," Mary, who had started to approach her mother, muttered as she turned around and headed back to play. That statement did not help Nick or Elizabeth stop their laughter; if anything, it only got worse.