Chapter Twenty One

The sun was shining and the wind was blowing gently as more than one head whipped to the side when the citizens saw Loretta riding into town. They hadn't seen a woman dress as Loretta was. 'I'll not make a secret of the fact that Tom has another daughter, though I won't go handing out your description or anything unless you come to Stockton of your own free will. After all, while I want you to join our family, I won't be pushing you' Victoria's words-spoken just before the Barkley matriarch and her family left Rockville rang in Loretta's ears. Since she had no reason to doubt Mrs. Barkley, Loretta knew it was her choice of attire that was earning her the shocked looks. Oh well, she had never let another person's opinion of her choice of clothing to determine what she wore. Only when the livery stable came into view did Loretta shake herself out of her thoughts. Moments later, she was standing inside the stable, very much speechless. Nick Barkley had just stepped away from his own horse, which was now standing inside one of the stalls.

To say that Nick Barkley was stunned would be an understand statement. Even with the letters that Victoria and Audra had exchanged with Loretta, after four months he'd figured Dr. Snyder was turning down his mother's offer of visiting the ranch. Then again, as his mother had pointed out just the day before, 'your sister's a doctor, and a good one. It might be awhile before she comes for a visit'. While he felt more than awkward, Nick actually managed to think before he spoke. Of course, the fact that he'd had four months to ponder the revelation the family had been given while in Rockville probably had a hand in Nick controlling his tongue. "Hello, Dr. Snyder or," he paused and shifted his weight as he held out his hand, "is it all right if I just call you Loretta or Lori?" His slight unease shown in his eyes as he spoke.

"Loretta," his half-sister was quick to answer as she slid her hand into his. "Never cared for nicknames." She saw reason to state the reason for her dislike of nicknames had a lot to do with the many, cruel, names others had called her over the years. "Wasn't sure I'd bump into any of the family as I rode through town." Her own discomfort could be heard loud and clear.

Nick rose his eyebrows. "You're not coming out to the ranch?"

"I…." Loretta shrugged her shoulders. "I hadn't made up my mind. I had some friends-Sarah Clark and her husband Paul, write and say they were in Stockton. They said Paul was now teaching school here. They wanted to see me, and I had some spare time." She paused again before continuing on. "Like I just said, wasn't sure it would be a good idea to drop in on the family as well. It's not like I sent a telegram or anything." She couldn't help but wonder as Nick started grinning wide and laughing.

"What's so funny?" Loretta stiffened just a little, unsure whether or not she should be annoyed at Nick.

"You're coming out to the ranch, but first; if you would, Audra's been talking up a storm to the reverend and his wife about you. They're eager to meet you and, no," he hurried to add due to the fact concern was now in Loretta's eyes, "they're not the hypocritical kind. Reverend Stacy and his wife are very good, and I mean good, people." He headed for the door only to have his half-sister stop him.

"What makes you think I'm going out to the ranch?" She feared she knew the answer even before the question was out of her mouth.

"Like you just said, Paul's our schoolteacher. Sarah and he have made friends with Mother and Audra. They're out at the house." Nick answered as he walked out of the livery stable.

"Audra?" Loretta hurried to catch up with Nick. It's not that she was surprised that Paul and Saul had befriended the young woman; she wasn't. Sarah had always had a place in her heart for all Paul's students, especially the slower ones. It was just Audra wasn't in school.

Nick didn't answer at first. He, like Jarrod and Heath, still had moments where he wished he could change past events. Finally, he turned his head and gave Loretta a smile. "Remember, just before we left, what you said to mother when it came to Audra?"

Loretta had to think for a second and then nodded. "I said Audra could still find something to do in life, I said 'even it was just…" Loretta, who was walking next to Nick as he and she passed one or another person on the board walk leading to the Stacy one, stopped and turned abruptly. This made is so she was looking straight at Nick, who had also stopped. "She's cleaning erasers for Paul?"

Nick grinned as he nodded slightly. "Three afternoons a week. She also dumps the garbage and sweeps some of the classroom floors after school is over. Of course, Mr. Tolman is still maintaining the building and doing the majority of the janitorial work, but he hasn't minded Audra going in and helping either." Nick saw no reason to state that it was Paul and Sarah who paid Audra for the work she did. He might not have only he was sure Audra would. After all, his baby sister had been walking on cloud nine ever since Paul Clark had given her the job. Nick then started for the reverend's home again.

He and Loretta would have made it to their destination without incident only Mary Jean, a blonde haired twenty three year old who had been seeing Nick, came around the corner of the last building that Nick and Loretta had to pass before reading the Stacy home. Upon seeing Loretta and Nick together, Mary Jean got the wrong idea and turned on Nick.

"I thought we had decided to see each other exclusively?" The young woman stiffened asked Nick even as she stiffened and glared slightly at Loretta.

Nick was both embarrassed by his girlfriend's behavior and angered by it. He'd never given her any doubt to his intentions and, since they'd started seeing each other more, he had amazed many people by not looking around. Now, with the tone of distrust in her voice before he even had a chance to explain, Nick wasn't exactly impressed. "This is my sister, Loretta." He bit his words off just as sharply as Mary Jean had bit hers off, and glared at her just as hard. "Like Audra has been saying, we've been expecting her."

Mary Jean's mouth fell open for split second. Sure she'd heard the comments Audra had made in town, heard Victoria and the others back the young woman up. Still, Mary Jean had also convinced herself the family was simply going along with Audra to appease the only now 'addled brained' girl. Of course, this was a term Mary Jean had never used around Nick-as she knew how he felt about such terms. "I…I…" she stammered and then made one of the most unbelievable remarks a person could make. "You're real!"

Loretta wasn't about to make any reply to such a stupid observation. Nick on the other hand was more than appalled by Mary Jean's remark. "Of course, she is! Now, if you don't mind, my sister and I are going to visit the Stacy's." His eyes added 'You just lost my interest'. He then started walking towards the reverend's home once more, leaving Mary Jane staring at him in disbelief.

"Maybe I made a mistake in coming." Loretta remarked after quickly caught up with Nick. "I didn't mean to upset your girl."

"She's not my girl." Nick snapped and then apologized. "At least not anymore she isn't, and that is not your fault." By the time he finished making the statement they were standing in front of Reverend Stacy's home. "Now come on. Like I said, Audra's been talking up a storm. I might as well introduce before heading out to the ranch."

Loretta would have stood her ground and declined only the thought that her half-sister was excited enough to be talking to everyone about her had Loretta stunned…and flattered. Soon she was standing in the Stacy home with Nick and meeting the more than hospitable couple.