Chapter Two

Previously:

As if she could read his mind, she told him to relax. "We're not alone." She slid the small plate that held a sandwich until it sat in front of a chair. She then retrieved a glass from the cupboard and filled it with some goat's milk. Nick knew it had to be goat's milk…as he'd seen a goat inside the barn, but no sign of a cow. "You might as well eat something while I go check on Adam and Tabitha."

Since she'd just called herself a widow, he was going to assume she was talking about her children. However, he simply thanked her for the food, sat down and began eating while she disappeared behind the door next to the bookshelf in the living room.

"I am sorry." Elizabeth stepped into the living room carrying two very thick quilts and, after managing to shut the bedroom door, walked over to the couch and spread the blankets out. "This couch is the only thing I can offer you to sleep on." She pointed back towards the bedroom she'd just left. "While this cabin used to have two rooms, one was burned shortly after my husband died. I was blessed to have some unexpected help when it came to getting the blaze out. Now, we only have one bedroom. I am not, with all due respect, permitting you to sleep there. It's not that large of a room. I fear the only 'pillows' I can offer you are these." She picked up two small 'pillows' that appeared to be more for looks than anything.

Nick, who wasn't surprised to hear her telling him such a thing, assured her he would be fine on the couch and the 'pillows' that were on the couch. "I thank you for the shelter and food." He then asked if he could pay her something for helping him out. "I have very little money on me at the moment, but I'm more than happy to pay for the food and lodging."

Elizabeth smiled, but shook her head. "I have no need of money up here. Though, if you don't mind cutting some wood in the morning, I'd appreciate that." As she seriously detested that chore, she was more than happy when Nick told her he would be more than happy to do it for her.

"I've cut enough wood in my life; will do a lot more in the coming days, I can do it for you." Nick smiled wide.

Elizabeth was shocked to have the thought 'Boy, those dimples sure do look good on you' flash through her mind. Her husband had been in the ground less than a year; she knew society would say she had no business looking at another man in 'that way'. Though, on one hand, who was to say what amount of time was proper? Inwardly, she sighed. Guess, none of that mattered; she couldn't take another look at him. He had said his last name was Barkley…which meant there was a high chance that he was from Stockton. No, the sooner she got him on his way the better. "Breakfast will be at seven in the morning. You can cut the wood after that." She threw a few logs into the potbelly stove. Afterwards, she turned and started for the bedroom door. Due to how tired she was, Elizabeth said-without thinking to explain- "Just don't be surprised if Adam keeps an eye on you. That is, if he's around. He's leery of strangers at first, though he won't hurt you-as long as you don't make any sudden moves that make him think you intend to hurt him, me or Tabitha." She disappeared into the bedroom the moment she finished speaking.

He sat down on the couch, took off his boots and then pulled off his socks. Once he'd set the two items aside, he pulled his watch out from his pocket. He was shocked to see it was a little before eight. It made him wonder just how early the daughter she'd mentioned went to bed. 'Any child put to bed this early is going to be up before dawn. I'll be surprised if they don't pester her for breakfast before seven.' Nick thought as he lifted the covers up and lay down on the couch, adjusting the two 'pillows' the best he could. The whole time he wondered just how old this Elizabeth was. If she had a child, was she older than he originally thought? And who was this Adam she had just mentioned? Due to the fact that his day had started extra early, it didn't take Nick long to fall asleep in spite of the musings he had when it came to the widow who had taken him in and given him the shelter needed to save him from being frozen to death.

While Nick was relaxing on the couch, Elizabeth was standing at the foot of her stepdaughter's bed. The soon to be twelve year old was as smart, inquisitive and as active an any child could be. Inwardly Elizabeth sighed as she thought on the day she learned what her oldest brother had done…and the marriage that was waiting for her. That is, if she wouldn't fight it.

"Why? What's going on, Cliff?" Elizabeth, who was curled up on a brown couch that sat in her oldest brother's home, sat straight up once he entered the room and told her to he needed to talk to her. She might have remained curled up on the couch only she knew something was up-as the man looked as if he was as nervous as a treed raccoon. That-the look in his eyes-made sitting up mandatory. At least, in her book it did.

"I…" her brother took a deep breath and hurried on. "I talked to Jason Kegan. He's quitting the circus and going back to live up at his cabin-the one that sits a few miles up in the Sierras. He says he never should have left that area to begin with, said he's more mountain man than anything." Her oldest brother sighed as he thought about the gentleman and the circus that would pass through town more often than some people thought they should. Mr. Kegan was a good man only, Cliff had to admit, the man was out of place when it came to the circus. He continued, "Jason's mentioned more than once Tabitha needed a mother, but he didn't know of any woman who would consent to marry him, go up into the hills with him and care for the young girl."

"Don't tell me," Elizabeth shut the book in her hands, tossed it onto the couch and stood up. Complete disbelief was in her eyes. "You told him I'd do it. I mean, you told him I'd marry him and do both those things!" She rubbed her forehead and shook her head when he confirmed what she'd just said.

"Do you know how old he is! Have you forgotten how young I am!" The disbelief in her eyes grew. Had her brother lost his mind?

"Look," He sat down on the couch and hurried to explain. "You may be young, but you have turned into quite a young lady. There's not many women around here and many of the men…" he paused, more than uncomfortable about the observations he'd noticed. "Well, let's say I fear some of them are getting some ideas…a few may even…well…." He couldn't bring himself to say what he feared. "Let's just say that; as much as I hate it, it would be safer for you to marry Mr. Kegan, go with him and help raise Tabitha. I can't keep an eye out for you all the time, not with running this farm I can't. You know Tabitha's language, and she trusts you."

A sick feeling grew inside Elizabeth. Her oldest brother didn't have to voice his exact fears-nor the fact that their own brother's name was among those 'few'. That man-as she referred to him- was sick, perverted, had crossed lines with the law, and marred their family's name. She had stopped calling that particular brother by any name a few months before.

"What about Adam? Is Jason Kegan going to insist that something be done about him?" Elizabeth eyed her brother.

The fact that her oldest brother thought something needed to be done about 'that problem' was a matter he kept to himself. How could he do otherwise when he knew she would fight getting married if he insisted that she wash her hands of Adam.

Her mind came back to the present, to her responsibilities and the fact that she had a Barkley in her home. 'Guess this wouldn't have happened if I'd just taken you back to town, any town' she spoke quietly, so as not to wake the sleeping child. That was something that might have happened except she felt sure her late husband had stocked the root cellar full of food that would last through the winter, and she'd grown accustomed to the mountains. That being the case, she hadn't thought it necessary to think about leaving until spring rolled around. Adam was doing fine in the mountains; he would be fine on his own. He'd have to- as he did not belong in the valley. "You know how to throw some curve balls, don't you?" She glanced upwards only to hear the thunder clap not a second later. "I'm not even going to ask if that was a reply" she thought as she climbed into her bed, hoping she could relax enough to get a decent amount of sleep.