Chapter 9

Ashlyn stopped by the house to see how Jaq was just as Nick was mounting Coco. He was happy to see her and told her Jaq had been awake for a while, but Jarrod said she was resting.

"I wish I could help," Ashlyn said.

"Would you like to come with me to Jaq and Jarrod's? Jarrod needs me to pick up a file for him. He doesn't want to leave Jaq."

Ashlyn smiled. "I'd love to," she said and then mounted the horse she'd ridden from her Uncle's farm.


Nick walked into Jaq and Jarrod's house and Ashlyn followed as he made his way to the study. He started searching through the desk while Ashlyn looked around the room. There were paintings of landscapes that were hung on the walls and everything was tastefully decorated. There were also pictures taken of various family members, most Ashlyn recognized but one picture caught Ashlyn's eye and she couldn't resist picking it up.

"Got it," Nick said as he found the file. He saw Ashlyn holding the picture of Beth.

"Who is this?" she asked.

"That's Beth. She was Jarrod's first wife. She passed away a few years ago."

"Did she have a twin?" Ashlyn asked and Nick looked at her questioningly.

"Why do you ask?"

Ashlyn set down the picture and turned to Nick. He loved her dark brown eyes and her full pink lips. He couldn't resist leaning in for a kiss and Ashlyn happily obliged him. When she could come up for air, she smiled. She looked again at the picture.

"I've seen this woman before," she said softly.

"How?" Nick asked. He knew that Ashlyn hadn't ever visited the Valley before Jaq and Jarrod's wedding so there wouldn't have been any way she'd know Beth.

"I saw her last night. I saw this woman walking away just after Jaq collapsed. She put a cloak above her head but not before I got a good look at her."

Nick thought for a moment. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Ashlyn responded. "I didn't think much of it at the time because we were all so concerned with Jaq. But I know for a fact I saw this woman. Could Beth not be dead?"

Nick considered what Ashlyn had said. He didn't doubt Beth was dead, but he did remember how much Beth and her sister looked alike. What if…

Nick leaned in and gave Ashlyn another kiss and then grabbed her hand.

"My dear, I think you might have just given us a big piece to the puzzle that will help up solve what's going on. We need to get back to the ranch and talk to Jarrod."


"Jarrod! Jarrod!" Nick yelled as he entered the house. Jarrod came from the billiard room where he'd been deep in thought. He was still trying to figure out what to do about Jaq. He'd gone up to check on her and she seemed to be sleeping, but he wasn't sure if she really was or not. He knew she was hurt because he hadn't believed her. It was all Jarrod could do not to lash out. He hated seeing his wife this way.

"Nick, must you shout?" Jarrod heard their mother say from the top of the stairs.

"We need Jarrod," Nick insisted. Jarrod walked around the corner and saw Nick and Ashlyn.

"What is it, Nick? Could you not find it?" Jarrod asked.

"Tell Jarrod what you told me," Nick said to Ashlyn. Ashlyn relayed to Jarrod what she'd seen in town the night before and the picture of Beth that she'd just seen at Jarrod's house.

"Ashlyn asked me if Beth had a twin," Nick said, giving Jarrod a knowing look.

It dawned on Jarrod was Nick was suggesting. "No, but she has a sister that looks a lot like her. Do you think Amanda is doing this?"

Nick shrugged. "Makes about as much sense as anything else. But how do we find out?"

Jarrod thought for a moment. "I'll include in the wire I'm going to send to Pinkerton's to find out where Amanda is."

Victoria had come to stand by her sons, listening to the conversation.

"This could explain everything that Jaq has been seeing," Victoria said.

Jarrod agreed. He went to pen what he wanted to send to Pinkerton's and Nick agreed to take care of getting the wire sent.

Before he walked out the door, Jarrod said, "Nick, be as discreet as possible. If it is Amanda, we don't want to tip her off that we know."

Nick nodded and left. Jarrod looked at Ashlyn.

"Thank you, Ashlyn. You may have just saved Jaq's life," he said.

"I just hope you can catch whoever is doing this to her."

Jarrod hoped so as well. He also hoped that it wasn't too late to help Jaq.


Jaq's mind felt cluttered, like she couldn't put together a coherent thought. She didn't understand where she was or why she felt as she did. Her last memory was of her begging Jarrod to believe her. Jaq opened her eyes and felt the crushing blow of the realization that her husband didn't believe what she'd seen. She put her hands on her face and tried to stifle the sobs that were coming. She rolled over so her back was to the door just as the door opened.

Jarrod saw his wife's shaking form and went to her. As soon as he touched her, Jaq sat up and wiped her tears. She pushed him away.

"I'm fine," she insisted, but Jarrod knew she wasn't.

"We've found out some information, Jaq."

Jaq looked at Jarrod and waited for him to tell her what he knew.

"I sent Nick over to get a file from the study. He took Ashlyn with him and she saw the picture I have of Beth. She recognized her. Said she'd seen her last night."

Jaq's eyes grew wide. "Ashlyn saw Beth too?"

"We don't think it's Beth. We think it might be Amanda."

Jaq's mouth dropped open. It was all starting to make sense. Amanda was behind all of this.

"Why is she targeting me?" Jaq asked.

Jarrod sighed. "To get to me? I don't know. Nick is in town sending a wire to Pinkerton's to find out where Amanda is. I'm betting the answer will be she's not back East with her father."

Jaq slumped, feeling tired and weary. To finally have answers was exactly what she needed. She still felt a bit jumbled in her mind but for the first time since this had all begun, she felt as though there was hope. She looked over at Jarrod.

"I'm trying to process all of this," she said softly. She allowed Jarrod to take her hand and she held on to it.

"I'm sorry I haven't believed you," Jarrod said.

"I can understand why. I'm insisting your dead wife is haunting me and I'm acting like an insane person. Jarrod, I know we've had no control over any of this, but I'm struggling with how hurt I feel."

Jarrod wasn't sure what to say. He stared at their hands which were intertwined.

"I want us to work through this. No matter how long it takes," he said. He looked up at her and noticed Jaq's eyes were filled with tears.

"I want that too…but…"

"But?"

Jaq sighed and withdrew her hand.

"This is all so much right now."

Jaq couldn't bear to look Jarrod in the eye, knowing she'd see despair.

"Where do we go from here?" he asked, his voice filled with emotion.

"Could you hold me?" Jaq asked. "Just hold me and help me to forget about this for right now."

Jarrod wanted to make sure he was understanding what Jaq was asking.

"Go lock the door, Jarrod," she asked, and he did so. He then took his wife in his arms and made her forget – for just a little while – all they had endured the last few weeks.