Jarrod looked at the papers on his desk and pushed his chair away; his mind was not on the work at hand. When he had arrived at his office Edith had informed him Nick had made an appointment with him for this afternoon. Jarrod could not be mad at Edith as she did not know what had transpired the night before between Nick, Sam and himself. He had a feeling what Nick wanted to talk but Jarrod was not ready to talk about it.
He looked at the clock on his wall and noticed the time. Nick should be here any minute. Jarrod sighed heavily as he got up and fixed himself a large glass of scotch. He opened the door so Edith would not have to deal with his brother. Edith turned to Jarrod and smiled weakly as she knew Nick would be there any minute.
Before Jarrod could sit back down at his desk he heard the outer door open and Nick's voice. He sat down heavily at his desk as he grabbed the scotch decanter and prepared himself for the argument he knew would be coming.
Edith stuck her head in Jarrod's office, "Your brother is here Jarrod."
Jarrod simply waved his hand as he lit a cigar. Might as well be comfortable he thought as he propped his feet on the desk.
Nick came in holding his hat and looking down. Jarrod sighed as Edith closed the door behind Nick. Nick just stood not wanting to look at his older brother. Jarrod rolled his eyes and finally broke the silence.
"Are you just going to stand there?" He asked irritated.
Nick looked up and smiled sheepishly as he sat down in one of Jarrod's overstuffed chairs. Nick continued to play with his hat not sure how to start...
Jarrod interrupted Nick's thoughts, "What do you want Nick?"
Nick sighed as he heard the anger in Jarrod's voice but he knew he deserved it. "I just want to apologize for what I said yesterday."
"It's not me you need to apologize to Nick, it's Sam."
Nick smiled sheepishly, "I already have." Jarrod glared at his brother as Nick continued, "I just left there." Nick finally looked at his brother, "She's a special lady Pappy and I am sure sorry if I caused any problems between you two because of my big mouth."
Jarrod dismissed his brother as he puffed his cigar, "You had no right to say what you did."
"I know that Jarrod. As usual I spoke before I thought."
Jarrod glared at him, "Yes you did Nicholas. And if my memory serves me correctly you took more advantage of the arrangement I have with Big Annie than I ever did."
Nick stood up and said, "I know and trust me when I say I told Sam that too."
Jarrod arched his eyebrows at Nick, "Is that a fact?"
"Yes, although I think she took great pleasure in teasing me about that." Jarrod smirked knowing Sam probably had. "I'm also going to straighten out Archer when he gets back to town."
Jarrod snapped, "No! I will do that."
Nick sighed, "He was egging me on and I fell for it hook, line and sinker. Who your clients are is none of my business Jarrod." Nick sighed as he stood up pacing nervously. "I just want you to be happy Jarrod and I haven't seen you this happy since...well I'm not sure if I've ever seen you this happy and I know it's because of Miss Harris."
Jarrod smiled as he thought of Sam; Nick was right he hadn't been this happy or relaxed in a very long time. Even while he was courting Beth; he was so busy rushing around courting her he never had a chance to truly enjoy himself and then it was gone. Jarrod shook his head to clear it. He sipped his scotch as he looked at Nick.
"Nick, sit down you are making me dizzy watching you walk in circles." Nick chuckled as he sat down. Jarrod took his boots off the desk as he poured another scotch. "I planned on telling the family about working for Sam's family after everyone had met her but Archer ruined that." Jarrod got up and looked out his office window as he spoke, "I walked away from the ranch so I could concentrate on my law practices and then what happens? I agree to work for Sam's family." Jarrod shook his head as chuckled, "I know it looked suspicious as hell but it wasn't. Hell we are still not sure if her family will want to hire me as their attorney."
"They'd be fools if they didn't."
Jarrod turned to face Nick once again and sat back down, "Sam feels they will but it is a family decision. Regardless of their decision I will continue to court Sam which means I will be commuting between here and Sacramento."
Nick smiled and said, "Can't say as I blame you Brother Jarrod, she is a keeper for sure."
Jarrod grinned broadly, "Yes she is Brother Nick." Jarrod took a drink of scotch and said somberly, "I can't imagine my life without her in it and..." Jarrod's voice trailed off.
Nick knew his brother was still feeling guilt over Beth's death and Nick had been the only one who could get through to Jarrod during those dark days after they had returned from Rimfire.
Nick spoke softly, "Jarrod..."
Jarrod interrupted Nick, "Don't say it Nick. It was my fault and we both know it." Jarrod got up again and looked out the window trying to control his emotions, "I will not allow that to happen to Sam," he choked out.
"Cass Hyatt is dead Jarrod."
Jarrod whirled around angrily facing Nick and spat, "I know that. I'm talking of all the other people I have faced over the years who feel I wronged them for one thing or another. So from here on out I'm not going to take on any more criminal cases. I am only going to do business or family law."
Nick got up and spoke, "Jarrod you're not making any sense right now. You love practicing law, that's who you are."
"I can still practice law but I refuse to get involved in the dangerous criminal cases. It's harder to make enemies if I'm doing business or family law and I'll still be able to help people and not put Sam in any danger."
Nick looked at Jarrod and knew trying to talk to his brother right now would not do any good; once Jarrod had made his mind up it was like talking to a wall.
"So what will you be doing for Miss Harris' family?"
Jarrod sighed as he turned around, "Sam wants to go into franchising with the Pool Emporium however her father is not on board yet. In addition Sam wants me to take on some of the work her father has been doing in the past."
"I've heard of franchising before. It's fairly new isn't it?"
"Yes but from the research I have done it could be very successful if you have the right person. But it also requires a lot of time and in this case travel because Sam wants to expand to New York."
Nick whistled as he said, "New York?"
Jarrod sat back down at his desk, "Yes that is originally where her family is from."
"I guess I can understand that. But sure is a long ways off."
Jarrod agreed, "Yes it is and in order to make this work properly the best thing would be to stay in New York until both parties are satisfied that all the bugs have been worked out which could be months."
"Would Sam be the one to go to New York?"
Jarrod frowned, "Yes since this is her idea." Jarrod gulped down the last of his scotch before putting the glass down.
"And if you're the family's attorney you would need to be there as well?"
Jarrod nodded his head, "Yes."
Nick sighed as he spoke, "If it was me the decision would be easy because I would follow my gal half way around the countryside just to be with her. I know how important the family is to you Jarrod but it's time you start doing things for yourself."
Nick got up and said, "You have done more work for the ranch than me, Mother, Audra and Heath combined. You handled all of the legal work, contracts bookkeeping and when needed you helped mend fences and with round ups. I guess I never realized how much you did till you left and I am sorry for that."
Jarrod smiled at Nick as he sat back down, "I was only doing what I thought I needed to do."
"You were the hardest working person on the ranch and I should have seen that before now."
Jarrod looked at Nick and knew he was being genuine. "Thank you Nick."
Nick frowned, "For what?"
Jarrod shook his head as he chuckled, "For apologizing."
Nick grinned and asked, "So we're okay?"
Jarrod leaned forward in his chair and said, "We are but I'm not done with Archer."
"I told ya' I would handle him."
Jarrod held up his hand, "Oh no Brother Nick, he's mine when he gets back from Lonesome Camp."
Nick chuckled and said, "Just please don't hurt him too badly."
Jarrod questioned, "Is he really doing that good of a job?"
"He's putting up with me which is saying a lot. Other than him getting me riled up about you he really is doing a good job."
Jarrod sighed and said, "Just keep your eye on him Nick. I still don't trust him."
Nick laughed again, "Don't worry Pappy I will do just that."
"Well since you smoothed things over with Sam what do you say we go over to the Pool Emporium for a drink and a quick game of pool?"
Nick frowned when he answered, "Well if it's all the same to Jarrod can we go to Harry's instead?"
"Why?"
"Sam is putting him out of business."
"Oh, well in that case I don't see why we can't stop by Harry's for a drink or two."
