Thank you all for reading and for your kindness! I wrote this story almost 20 years ago and enjoyed visiting Jarrod and Adeline again. While Jarrod is my first love, I've got a Heath story in the works and hope to begin posting it some time within the next month.

Chapter 19

For several minutes, no one spoke. All were overcome with the thought that Adeline might not ever come back to them. That she might never hear the words from her daughter that she had so longed to hear. Jarrod and Meredith held one another and cried.

It was Nick that heard Adeline's soft groan. Before he could say anything, she groaned again, this time getting Jarrod's and Meredith's attention. Victoria's eyes widened and she immediately went for the doctor.

Dr. Patterson came into the room and did another examination. He looked up at Jarrod and smiled.

"I dare say she's coming out of it. She isn't out of the woods yet, but the fact that she's waking up is a good sign, Mr. Barkley."

Jarrod sighed with relief, tears filling his eyes and falling down his cheeks. Meredith continued to hold on tightly to his neck.


Adeline did not fully regain consciousness until the next morning. Jarrod refused to leave her side, instead staying close to her, holding her hand and speaking to her in soft tones.

He was drifting off to sleep, his head resting on his arm on the bed when he felt someone touch his hand. He looked up into his wife's blue eyes.

"Addy," he whispered. She smiled tiredly at him. He got her some water and she drank most of it before falling back on her pillow, exhausted by the effort.

"Meredith is eager to see you," Jarrod said.

Adeline shook her head. "Too tired to stay awake. Tell her I love her."

"I will," Jarrod promised.

Before she drifted off she asked, "Did I really hear her call me 'Mama'?"

Jarrod nodded, a smile on his face.

Adeline fell back asleep with a contented sigh and Jarrod went to find the doctor. Doc Patterson checked her over again and patted Jarrod on the shoulder.


Heath and Nick headed back to the ranch, leaving Audra and Victoria. Victoria insisted Jarrod lie down for a while. She promised she would sit with Adeline and if she woke at all, would come and get him. He reluctantly left, and Mrs. Patterson showed him to a room with a comfortable bed.

Audra and Meredith had done some shopping since she and her parents had left their belongings behind at the lodge. Meredith loved her Aunt's taste of style and the dresses she picked out for her were beautiful. Meredith was waiting for her Aunt to pay for their purchases when she spotted what would be the perfect frame for the picture she had drawn for her father. Meredith went to her Aunt and explained about the picture she had drawn. Audra looked at the frame and added it to their purchases. She promised to hide it away with her things and then would keep it in her room until Meredith was ready to use it.


Adeline was finally able to stay awake for longer periods of time. The doctor felt she would make a full recovery, but she needed complete rest for a while. Meredith came in to spend some time with her mother. Adeline couldn't keep the smile from her face whenever she heard her daughter call her "Mama". It had been her dream.

Jarrod had them all moved to the hotel across the way. Victoria, Audra and Meredith would be going back to Stockton and then Jarrod and Adeline would follow the next week. Mabel was due to arrive in five days and both Jarrod and Adeline thought it was important that Meredith meet her at the train.

The few days alone allowed the couple to talk. Adeline needed reassurance from Jarrod that Cedric was truly dead this time. He gave her every detail, assuring her that Cedric was no longer alive. Duke McColl had found the body where Jarrod had left it and taken it back to Stockton where it was buried in a potter's field. It occurred to Jarrod that since Cedric was not really dead when he and Adeline wed eight months before, their marriage was not legal. In trying to decide what to do about that fact, Jarrod remembered the conversation he'd had with Nick and Heath after he and Adeline had arrived home. It seemed Nick would get his wish to attend his brother's wedding after all. They decided they would marry quietly when they returned to Stockton. They had been through so much the last few months, neither wanted to do anything but lead a normal and uneventful life for a while.


After a very tiring trip, Jarrod and Adeline arrived home and were greeting by family. Mabel had arrived the week before and was enjoying her time with Meredith, thankful to see the bond that had developed between father, mother and daughter. Victoria had told her all that had happened and Mabel was happy Adeline was going to fully recover.

They celebrated Meredith's birthday with style. Adeline, still too weak to do much, watched with pleasure as her daughter opened gifts from the family. She thanked each one for their gift and excitedly proclaimed that each one was her favorite. She then surprised everyone by presenting Jarrod with a drawing she had been working on. He tore the wrapping paper and smiled with delight. She had perfectly drawn a picture of himself with Jingo. Jarrod would forever cherish this gift from his daughter. Adeline looked at it and gave her daughter a huge smile. Meredith hugged her and said,

"I'm working on one for you too, Mama. I hope to have it finished soon."

Adeline smiled. "Thank you, Meredith. I look forward to seeing it."

Meredith returned her mother's smile and said, "I love you, Mama."

Tears filled Adeline's eyes as she whispered, "I love you too."

Adeline then looked up and saw her husband watching them. She smiled and said softly, "Miracle." He nodded, agreeing with her.


After Meredith's birthday, things returned to normal around the Barkley Ranch. Mabel stayed for a month, enjoying the time with Meredith and her family. Jarrod talked to her about moving out to Stockton, and though she didn't give him an answer, he could tell she was considering it. She had nothing left for her in New York now.

Adeline's pregnancy progressed well. There didn't seem to be any adverse effects because of what happened at the lodge. She would occasionally awaken with a nightmare, but Jarrod would always be there to hold her and reassure her of his love.

After months of searching, a school teacher was found that would be acceptable to the board members. Miss Joyce Farrell was hired and the board - which included Victoria as a member - felt that she would be perfect for the job. Meredith showed much trepidation when it came time to start school again. She promised her parents that if anyone ever treated her the way Miss Peters had, that she would tell them. Meredith reluctantly went to her first day of school, but came home with nothing but good things to say about Miss Farrell. She was strict, but fair and also a lot of fun. Meredith was pleased when her Uncle Nick began taking her to school each morning and picking her up every afternoon. It was soon clear to all that Nick was quite taken with the pretty blond school teacher and it was equally clear she felt the same way.

Adeline was due any time and it was late one morning when she felt the first contraction. She stayed up and about until Jarrod, who had come home for lunch, finally convinced her to lie down. The doctor was sent for and at ten o'clock that evening, the newest Barkley was born. Adeline Grace looked just like her big sister had on the day of her birth. Meredith adored her baby sister and Jarrod and Adeline were careful to watch for any signs of jealousy. But there were none and Grace settle in to her family with no problems.


Ten Years Later...

The cry of a newborn awakened the couple, but neither seemed to mind. Jarrod padded over in bare feet to where his daughter, Sarah Rose lay in her bassinet, crying for her meal. He picked her up, and spoke softly to her. Adeline sat up in bed and opened her nightgown to allow her newest daughter to eat.

Jarrod was always fascinated as he watched his wife feed their children. She had missed being able to nurse Meredith and determined to feed their other children for as long as she could.

As the sun began to peak its head above the horizon, both Jarrod's and Adeline's thoughts were on their girls. Meredith was now twenty and today was her wedding day. It was just too hard to believe. She would be marrying the son of the town's new doctor, Dr. Merar having retired five years before. She and Mark had met in school and there was in instant connection between them. When Mark asked for permission at Christmas to marry Meredith, Jarrod had no reservations in saying yes.

Grace was now ten and was very excited about her sister's wedding. She would be allowed to wear a pretty dress as would her younger sister, Clair. Clair was five and quite the little fireball. She knew what she wanted and how to go about getting it. Her antics often got her into trouble.

Sarah finished her meal and rewarded her parents with a loud burp. She then snuggled into her father's arms for more sleep.

"Are you sad that she wasn't a boy?" Adeline asked.

"Not at all. I love all my girls. Seems to me that Nick and Heath are doing well at keeping the family name going with their broods," Jarrod said, chuckling.

Heath had married Sharon a year after Nick and Joyce married. Heath and Sharon had three boys and Nick and Joyce had three boys and one girl. Nick and Joyce still lived in the big house, while Heath and Sharon, Jarrod and Adeline all had their own houses spread out over the Barkley lands.

A small house had been built on Barkley land for Mabel when she moved out to Stockton. She insisted it wasn't necessary, but Jarrod and Adeline both wanted her to be well taken care of for all she had done in raising Meredith. It was their way of saying thank you.

Adeline knew she should take the opportunity to get some more sleep herself since the day would be so busy, but she couldn't resist watching her husband and daughter. She wished he had that chance with Meredith, but they were all so very close now even though they had missed the first ten years of Meredith's life. Adeline watched as Jarrod drifted off to sleep. She silently got up and placed Sarah in her bassinet, then sat beside the window. She pulled out a piece of paper that was yellowed with age. It had been read many times over the years, and Adeline couldn't help but look at it again.

It read:

There can be miracles

When you believe.

Though hope is frail

Its hard to kill.

Who knows what miracles

You can achieve?

When you believe,

Somehow you will.

You will when you believe.

THE END

Note: "When You Believe" is from the Motion Picture "The Prince of Egypt".