Jarrod had been very busy since arriving from San Francisco earlier this morning. He had met with Archer to discuss his holdings in Barkley Sierra, rode to the Ranch and invited his family to the VIP room at the Emporium so they could meet Sam and came back to his office to do some more work before his date with Sam later.
Nick and Jarrod had ridden back to town together with Nick talking non-stop about his plans tonight. Nick did mention his meeting with Phil Archer but all Jarrod did was roll his eyes. Nick had tried to upset Jarrod by talking about Phil Archer non-stop but Jarrod's wasn't having any of it. He just smiled politely and thought about Sam.
Now he was back in his office going over some last minute details on his upcoming trial. He glanced out the window and saw Nick leave Archer's office but instead of going to Harry's he went to the Emporium which bothered Jarrod. He knew something was up by the scowl on Nick's face and decided he better go check it out.
Jarrod walked into the Emporium and asked loudly, "Nick what are you up to?"
Sam jumped when Jarrod bellowed at Nick since she had not seen her beau walk in. Nick turned around and smirked as Jarrod approached him. "Just getting to know your gal. Is there something wrong with that?"
Jarrod glared at Nick and knew he was up to something, "If that were the case no. But you forget I know you better than you know yourself."
Sam swallowed nervously hoping the brothers would not get into a physical fight.
"Is that so Brother Jarrod?" Nick stood up in front of Jarrod.
Jarrod smirked at Nick and said, "Being how this is Friday night you usually go to Harry's then to Big Annie's so I know something is up." Jarrod decided not to reveal he had seen his brother leaving Archer's office yet. Jarrod looked at Sam and smiled at her while he folded his arms on his chest.
Nick smirked as he answered, "Speaking of Big Annie's I haven't seen you there in quite a while, have the girls finally gotten all of their fines and attorney fees paid?"
Jarrod glared at Nick and caught Sam snickering at his brother's statement. Jarrod did indeed have an arrangement with Big Annie and her girls but since he had been courting Sam he had not been there. "As a matter of fact they have so now you'll have to pay for anything you want in there, no more freebies."
Nick huffed at Jarrod, "What? Now you know..."
Jarrod interrupted his brother, "You started this Nick, not me."
Nick glared at his brother as he knew he was right; he had been enjoying Big Annie's thanks to his brother's agreement. He decided to change the subject quickly. "I was just at Phil's office and he told me something rather interesting."
Jarrod knew this but asked anyhow, "Phil who?" He stole a glance at Sam and noticed her covering up her mouth to cover the smile she had. He winked at her as he watched Nick expression change from smugness to aggravation.
Nick blew out a breath and said, "You know good and well who I'm talking about Jarrod. And for your information he hates it when you call him Archer."
Jarrod smirked as he knew he was getting his brother riled up, "Correct me if I'm wrong Brother Nick but isn't his last name Archer?"
Nick glared at Jarrod as he answered, "Yes but you know he doesn't like it when you call him that."
Jarrod shrugged his shoulders and turned to Sam, "Can you fix me a scotch please," he gave her his most dazzling smile.
Sam blushed at Jarrod as she fixed his drink. She poured his scotch and slide the glass to him briefly touching his fingers. Jarrod sipped his scotch completely ignoring his brother.
"Jarrod!" Nick bellowed.
Jarrod turned to face his brother and smiled slyly, "Yes Brother Nick?"
Nick glared at Jarrod and spat, "Phil told me something rather interesting involving you and this lovely lady's family."
Jarrod hoped his facial expression did not show his anger as he turned back to face Nick, "What is Archer doing in my business?" Sam noticed Jarrod tense up when he responded to his brother.
Nick shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know you'd have to ask Phil that. But what he told me is rather interesting."
"Oh? What would that be?" Jarrod was fuming inside and it was taking everything he had not to go track down Phil and give him a piece of his mind.
"That you are now The Harris Company's attorney."
Sam gasped as Jarrod spat at Nick, "Where did he hear that from?"
Nick smiled as he winked at Sam, "I dunno guess he has contacts that hears things."
Jarrod took a deep breath realizing the only thing Archer had told his brother was what he heard so he didn't really know anything; although he knew too much. Jarrod knew denying it would blow up in his face later so he made a quick decision.
"Let me clarify something for you and Archer. It is none of your business or his who my clients are or who I have been meeting with." Jarrod pointed his finger at Nick and spat, "Do I make myself clear?"
Nick backed up a little shocked at his brother's anger, "Perfectly. But you still didn't answer my question." Nick put his hands on his hips.
Jarrod swallowed slowly as he responded with an icy tone, "That dear brother is none of your business." Jarrod turned back around and looked at Sam who was looking at him nervously.
"Hmph. So you walk away from the ranch so you can free yourself up to handle your gal's business?" Nick put his hands on his hips and spat, "Course I can't blame you as pretty as she is. Do you have the same arrangement with her as you do with Big Annie?"
Nick knew as soon as he said it he shouldn't have as Jarrod knocked him half way across the bar. Before Nick could get up Jarrod had grabbed him by the shirt collar and yanked Nick to his feet yelling at him, "Get the hell out of here NOW!" Jarrod shoved Nick to the door.
Nick was trying to push Jarrod off him but to no avail as he knew he had went too far with his remark about Sam. Why did he always stick his foot in his mouth? "Jarrod, please..."
Jarrod continued shoving Nick to the door and bellowed, "Get out of here and don't come back."
Sam joined Jarrod and threw Nick's hat at him while he was leaving. She could see by the look in Nick's eyes he was sorry for his remark but there was no call for him to say that. Nick finally walked away hanging his head.
Jarrod turned to Sam and blew out a deep breath as he took her in his arms. "Are you okay honey?"
Sam smiled as she fell into Jarrod's arms, "Yes."
Jarrod continued to hold Sam not believing what Nick had said. He knew his brother often said things without thinking but for him to say that, well it was unacceptable. "I'm sorry for what Nick said about you."
Sam raised her head to look at Jarrod, "He didn't mean it Jarrod."
Jarrod frowned at Sam and said, "What? How do you know that?"
"I know today was the first day I met your brother but based on what you have told me he has a huge heart and loves his family dearly. But he also speaks before thinking." Sam paused a moment and said, "The expression on his face said it all Jarrod."
Jarrod spat, "But he still said it." He walked away from Sam towards the bar.
Sam sighed as she followed Jarrod, "Yes he did but I don't think he meant it."
Jarrod looked at Sam and shook his head. "He may not have meant it but he still said it."
Sam sat beside Jarrod at the bar and sighed. Heck of a way to meet your beau's brother she thought.
Jarrod got up and started pacing around the bar. "How did Archer find out?"
Sam shrugged her shoulders, "Maybe he was just guessing since we have spent so much time together recently?"
"I doubt that, he's not that bright. What other attorney's have you talked too?"
"Jarrod does it really matter? I thought you were going to tell your family before we left for Nevada."
Jarrod stopped pacing and looked at Sam. "I am or was going to but now..." Jarrod threw his arms up in the air aggravated.
Sam went to Jarrod and wrapped her arms around him as she cooed, "Jarrod does it really matter who told them or how they found out?"
Jarrod sighed as brought Sam closer to him. "I guess you're right."
Sam laughed as she responded, "I'm always right counselor," both laughed at her statement.
Nick had to make things right with Jarrod and Sam. He never should have said that and knew it as soon as he opened his mouth. His mother and Jarrod both had always told him to think before he spoke but as usual Nick jumped before looking.
Nick had been upset that Jarrod had accepted the job working for Sam's family but in the end it was Jarrod's decision and truth was Nick hadn't seen his brother this happy in a very long time. If anyone deserved to be happy it was Jarrod.
Nick went to the livery stable to get Coco and head back to the ranch. He wanted to talk to his mother and see if she could help him make things right with his brother. He knew his mother would chew him out and he deserved it but more than anything he needed her help. He would do whatever it takes to make things right with his big brother.