Chapter 2

"I'm going to kill my mother," Katelyn Mahoney said as she sat down across from her friend in a small café down the street from Jarrod Barkley's law office. She was on her lunch break and had asked her friend to meet her there.

Jenny Culver smiled and patted Katelyn's shoulder. "No you won't."

"When she finds out that I'm not really married, she'll collapse and die right there," Katelyn assured her friend. Carol Mahoney had been released from the hospital in Denver a few weeks before but the doctors there still had no idea why she lapsed into a coma. The doctor did recommend that she take it easy or the next time could be worse.

Next time! Katelyn wouldn't let a "next time" happen if she could help it. She could only think of one thing that was worse than dying and Katelyn was not about to let that happen. Her mother was all she had left in this world.

"You're really making this far more difficult than it needs to be," Jenny said.

"What do you mean?"

Jenny tilted her head to one side and said, "The best thing for you to do is to not tell her you're not married!"

"I came to you for help and you're not helping!" Katelyn said exasperated.

"Listen, your mother's health is bad, right?" Katelyn nodded and Jenny continued. "And by her thinking you are married has helped her, right?" Katelyn's eyes narrowed. She nodded again.

"So, keep up this charade for now. What's it going to hurt? And what's more important? Your conscience or her getting better?"

Jenny made it sound so simple. Then another thought came to Katelyn's mind.

"What about when she's here for a visit?"

"He's on an extended business trip and won't make it back until after your mom leaves."

Katelyn smiled at her friend's enthusiasm. Her plan sounded as though it might work. True enough, Mr. Barkley was out of town right now. He was back in Stockton for a trial going on there and wasn't supposed to be back until the end of next week.

"I just don't know," Katelyn said, doubting her friend.

"Trust me. What can go wrong?"

Carol Mahoney's train was late. Katelyn stood on the platform as the train pulled in. She waited for her mother to disembark and waved to her when she saw her. Katelyn ran to her mother and gave her a hug, noticing that her mother was still underweight.

"I'm so happy you're here!," Katelyn said.

"I'm glad to be here. I'm especially glad that long train ride is over."

Katelyn looked into her mother's tired eyes. "Maybe you should have waited a while before coming out for a visit."

"Nonsense. I'm fine. Besides, I wanted to meet this husband of yours."

At the mention of husband, Katelyn's ears pinked up. She was glad she had worn her hair down or her mother would have known something was up.

"Well, you see, Jarrod is not here. He had a trial in another town and will be gone for quite a while. He's sorry he missed you. Maybe you'll get to meet him next time!" Katelyn made her short speech while they waited for her mother's trunk to be unloaded.

"Oh, I was so looking forward to meeting him!," Carol said sounding very disappointed.

"Maybe next time," Katelyn repeated.

"Can't he sneak away for just a few days. It is for a good reason you know. To meet his mother-in-law!"

Katelyn sighed. "He's a very busy man, Mother. He's at a trial that could last for several weeks."

Carol shook her head. "Well, that's too bad. At this rate, I thinking I'll never meet him."

That is the plan, Katelyn thought to herself.

"At least tell me about him, then."

Katelyn smiled. She thought of the time he had bandaged her arm after being scratched by a cat. "He's wonderful. Very kind and gentle. Intelligent. He has dark hair and beautiful blue eyes."

"You sound so in love with him! I'm happy for you!" Katelyn's mother gave her a hug, one that she returned.

"I have a carriage waiting for us, Mother. We should go."

"I'm going to go ask the porter to bring my trunk to the carriage, I'll be right back."

Before Katelyn could offer to do that for her mother, she had walked off. Katelyn smiled. Her mother may have been at death's door just a while back, but she certainly looked well now. Katelyn lost sight of her mother in the crowd. She looked around, trying to see her.

"Katelyn?"

Katelyn's face drained of all color. She knew that voice. She turned around and stared into the face of Jarrod Barkley.

"Mr...Mr. Barkley," Katelyn stammered.

"What are you doing here? Have you been out of town as well?"

Katelyn shook her head. Her eyes darted around quickly, searching for her mother's whereabouts.

"My mother is in town. I was just here picking her up."

"Oh, may I meet her?" Jarrod asked innocently.

"NO!" Katelyn almost screamed. Jarrod was slightly taken aback.

"I mean, she's still not feeling well and I just want to get her home."

Jarrod nodded. Katelyn seemed upset by something and Jarrod found himself feeling concerned.

"Katelyn, are you alright?"

"Jarrod?"

Jarrod turned around and saw an older version of Katelyn standing in front of him. That this was Katelyn's mother was evident. He smiled and held out his hand.

"Yes, I'm Jarrod Barkley."

"I knew it was you. Katelyn has described you to me but her letters just didn't do you justice. I think I could have picked you out in this crowd even if you and Katelyn weren't standing next to each other!"

Katelyn found herself wanting to die right then and there. She even looked up to see if a train were coming down the tracks because she wouldn't have any second thoughts about throwing herself in front of it.

Jarrod turned to Katelyn, an amused expression on his face. Katelyn couldn't meet his eyes, she was too embarrassed.

"Mother..."Katelyn started.

"It's wonderful to meet you, Mrs. Mahoney," Jarrod said.

"You must call me Mom."

"Mother!" Katelyn said rather sharply.

Carol looked over at her daughter. "Okay, then at least call me Carol. After all we are family now."

Jarrod wasn't sure if he had heard right. Family?

"I was so disappointed when Katelyn said you wouldn't be in town for my visit. But I guess your trial ended sooner than expected? I hope you won. Oh I'm sure you did. Katelyn said you are a wonderful lawyer. How about a hug for your mother-in-law!"

"Mother!"

So that was it. Jarrod now thought he understood what was going on. He looked over at Katelyn who was as white as a sheet. He felt sorry for her. He knew he should feel angry with her but he wasn't. Not even a little. He knew the pressures placed on children by parents for them to be married. Not that his family had ever done that...much, but he had gotten a sense from Katelyn that her mother was eager for her to marry.

And Jarrod admitted he felt pleased that Katelyn would choose him. He chanced a look at Katelyn and bit the inside of his cheek so as not to smile.

"It would be an honor to give my mother-in-law a hug!"

Katelyn stifled a groan.