Chapter 3

Although everyone seemed cheerful at the dinner table, there was an underlying tension radiating around the room. Audra spoke to Jarrod, Heath, Abby and her mother, but rarely said anything to Nick. It rankled him to be treated so coolly by her, but she never did anything overtly enough to be considered rude. Nick shrugged, figuring she'd eventually get over it. He felt Abby squeeze his leg, and he gave her a wink, watching in delight as her cheeks blushed a soft pink. Then he turned his attention to the conversation between Heath and Audra.

"And have you decided who you are taking to the Spring Dance?" Audra asked, her blue eyes twinkling.

Heath smiled slightly. "Maybe. I do have someone in mind, but haven't had the chance to ask yet."

"Oh? Who?"

"Now Audra, Heath doesn't have to tell us if he doesn't want to," Victoria gently reminded her daughter.

"Who are you going with?" Jarrod asked his sister. Everyone noticed Audra's blush.

"I'm not sure yet," she replied.

"What? You mean no one's asked you? Usually you have a string of beaus all lined up!" Nick said, hoping that his joke would ease the tension between them. His hopes were about to be dashed.

"I didn't say I hadn't been asked. I said I wasn't sure yet," Audra said icily. Victoria watched the exchange and knew she would need to speak to her daughter soon about her attitude toward Nick.

"If you'll all excuse me, I have some things to do," and with that Audra left the room.

Nick shifted uncomfortably, wanting to go after Audra and confront her, but one look at his mother and he knew that was not the thing to do. The meal was finished and everyone else adjourned into the billiard room. By the time Victoria made it up to see Audra, she found her daughter sound asleep.

The afternoon was a warm one and Heath and Nick had just finished eating lunch with Jarrod and were loading supplies from the Feed and Seed store.

"You know, it wouldn't have killed him to pay," Nick said, griping about the fact Jarrod had left Nick to pay the bill.

"Why should he always pay?" Heath asked, smiling.

"He's a lawyer! He's got plenty of money!"

"You're a rancher. You got plenty of money, too," Heath replied. Nick rolled his eyes.

"Well, I know one thing," Nick said, climbing into the wagon. Heath sat beside him and settled in for the ride to the ranch.

"Only one? Poor Abby, bet she thought she was marrying a smart man."

"Ha!" Nick said loudly. "She knows I'm smart. I talked her into marrying me, didn't I?"

Heath couldn't help but laugh. The town was busy, the shops along main street crowded with people.

"So what's the one thing you know, Nick?" Heath asked as they were passing by Bandy's.

"Next time, you're paying!"

Nick expected to get a protest, or at least a laugh from his younger brother, but all he got was silence. He looked over and saw Heath's attention was on Bandy's Store. Nick couldn't see anything out of the ordinary and was about to question Heath when he saw her. He watched Heath's face light up when the brown haired young woman walked out of the store.

"You needin' anything from Bandy's?" Nick asked, a ready smile on his face.

Heath's face reddened at being caught staring at Ella.

"No," he muttered.

"What's her name?" Nick asked, chancing a glance at his brother.

"Who?"

"Don't give me that. Your face was brighter than the sun when she walked out of that store."

Heath sighed.

"Her name's Ella Sommers."

Nick thought for a moment. That name sounded familiar.

"Any relation to our new neighbors?"

"Daughter."

"Ah."

"Ah, what?"

"Nothing, just ah."

They were on the outskirts of town now, and Heath had begun to relax. He'd wanted nothing more than to go and talk to Ella, but having Nick as an audience wasn't appealing to him.

"She the one you were telling Audra about?"

Heath sighed but didn't say anything.

"You asked her yet?" One of Nick Barkley's traits was persistence. It could be a good thing, but right now Heath wished he let things go.

"Not yet."

Nick sensed Heath wasn't in the mood to talk about it so he dropped it. He couldn't help but smile though. He wanted to see Heath happy, as happy as he and Abby were. Jarrod was seeing someone in San Francisco and it looked like there could be a wedding in the near future. And Audra...well, if she'd quit being so flighty she might settle down too. Nick shifted in his seat. He was a bit put out with his sister right now for her attitude toward him. Abby had encouraged him to let it go for now, but it was a struggle for Nick. He wanted to confront a situation and find a solution. Maybe he'd try to talk to Audra again. Surely, she still wasn't upset about him interrupting her and that Connelly fella. Whenever Nick thought about it, it made him angry all over again.

"Got something you wanna talk about?" Heath asked, noticing Nick's agitation.

"Nope," Nick answered.

Although Heath did not join Ella any more on her morning rides, he still watched from afar. It was a morning ritual for both, but neither seemed to mind. Heath was late one morning the next week and saw Ella walking Carrington instead of riding. He was concerned something was wrong and decided to make sure she was alright. As he approached she looked up, giving him a small smile and a wave. He noticed the horse was limping slightly.

"Good morning!" she called to him.

"Morning. Something wrong?" Heath asked, dismounting from Charger.

"Carrington threw a shoe. I was walking her to town."

"Why go all the way into town? Can't your blacksmith care for it?" Most of the larger ranches in the area had their own blacksmith, and the Sommers' ranch, though not as large as the Barkley spread, was certainly big enough to employ a blacksmith.

"We haven't had any luck in hiring anyone," Ella explained.

Heath thought for a few moments.

"Let's tie Carrington up here...I'll take you home on Charger, and then I'll come back and have our blacksmith replace the shoe."

"Oh, I hate to bother you..."

"It's no bother," Heath replied, hoping Ella would accept his offer. He hoped it would give them time to get to know one another.

"Well, if you're sure..."

Heath smiled, mounted and held out his hand to help Ella up on Charger. She settled in behind him, her hold on his waist light. The touch sent shockwaves all through him, and it took every ounce of control he had not to turn around. Ella sensed him tensing up.

"Am I holding on too tight?" she asked.

Heath closed his eyes briefly and cleared his throat.

"Um...no...no. You're fine," he said, telling himself to breathe.

They rode in silence most of the way, and Heath was finally getting up his nerve to ask Ella to the dance when they arrived at the Sommers' ranch. Jonathon Sommers was coming out of the house just as Heath was helping Ella down from Charger.

"Ella! Are you hurt?" he asked, quickly coming toward them.

"No. Carrington threw a shoe, and Heath was kind enough to give me a ride home. He offered to take Carrington to the Barkley Ranch and have their blacksmith replace the shoe instead of us taking her into town. Isn't that great?"

"Thank you, Heath," Jonathon extended his hand, and Heath shook it.

"Not a problem, Jonathon."

"Wilma has breakfast ready for us. Would you care to join us?" Jonathon asked.

"No, but maybe another time," Heath replied, remembering his cool reception from the Sommer's housekeeper.

"I'll see you inside," Jonathon said to Ella, and she nodded.

"When should we come by to get Carrington?" Ella asked.

"I can bring her by."

"No. You've already wasted enough time today bringing me home. I was planning on dropping by anyway to visit with Audra."

"I'm sure Mick can have her ready by early afternoon."

"Great! Thanks again, Heath," Ella said, turning away.

"It's now or never," Heath said to himself.

"Ella!" he called out. She turned around and came back toward him, an expectant look on her face.

"I was wondering if you would go with me to the dance on Saturday night."

Ella's eyes widened.

"The dance?"

"It's the annual Spring Dance. It's really a lot of fun. Audra will be there. Surely she's mentioned it to you."

"Yes...but...I..."

"Should I ask your father?"

"My father?"

"About the dance? I can talk to Jonathon."

Ella's hand went to her mouth. "Oh Heath," was all she said.

"What is it?" Heath asked, concerned.

"Jonathon isn't my father."

"Oh," Heath said, still not understanding. "Your uncle then? Or your guardian?"

"Heath, Jonathon is my husband."