Chapter 14

Nick handed Jarrod a glass of scotch, watching his brother with concern. Jarrod raised the glass to his mouth, his hand still shaking. Nick then handed a glass to Heath and the men all stood around the billiard table, no one sure of what to say.

"I'm sorry, Jarrod," Nick finally spoke. Jarrod knew Nick felt guilty but he in no way blamed his brother. No one could have foreseen the events that had happened.

Jarrod swirled the liquid in his glass before drinking the rest and then held his glass out for another round.

"You're not to blame, Nick," Jarrod replied.

Heath watched his brothers. Jarrod had the haunted look in his eyes he'd had after Beth was shot. Nick was trying to control his emotions, something the tough cowboy had a difficult time doing.

Nick refilled Jarrod's glass and watched as he took another drink. Jarrod set the glass down and leaned against the billiard table.

"I don't know if I can go through this again," Jarrod said as he brought his hand up to cover his eyes. He felt tears starting to form and squeezed his eyes shut to keep them at bay.

"It'll be alright, Jarrod," Heath replied as he put his hand on Jarrod's shoulder.

"You don't know that," Jarrod said in frustration and pulled away. He then turned back to Heath and his shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry, Heath."

Heath gave his oldest brother a small smile – he fully understood Jarrod's frustration and wasn't angry at all for his outburst. If anything, Heath felt it was a good thing that Jarrod was expressing himself instead of holding it all in.

Elsa appeared in the doorway with Simon. Jarrod noticed them first, walked to his sister-in-law and took his son.

"Thank you for helping with Simon," Jarrod said softly. Jaq was in no condition to feed their son and Elsa volunteered, assuring that baby Jon would not suffer if she nursed her nephew as well.

"Doc Merar asked me to let you know you can go up," she said.

Jarrod held his son close before handing him back to Elsa.

"Thank you. Would you mind holding him just a bit longer?"

"Of course, Jarrod. Take your time."

Jarrod looked back at his brothers before leaving the room and heading upstairs.


Hours earlier…

Nick's stomach growled as he walked in through the front door. He'd seen Silas headed to the garden and knew his mother and Audra were gone as well. He thought he'd check on Jaq and get a peek at his nephew before going to kitchen for something quick to eat.

He set his hat down on the table in the foyer and looked in the parlor to see if Jaq had made it downstairs. Not seeing her there, he headed toward the stairs and noticed something on the bottom step. His eyes widened as he saw two yellow flowers. He bent over to pick them up and was hit from behind. He looked up briefly to see Amanda standing over him. His last thought before losing consciousness was needing to get to Jaq.


"Please, Amanda. Don't harm my son," Jaq pleaded.

Amanda looked down at the baby in her arms. He was asleep and Amanda couldn't help but briefly wonder what it would have been like if her sister had not been shot. Maybe she'd be here now enjoying her own nephew instead of holding the child of the woman who was now married to her former brother in law.

"I'm not going to hurt your child. But you will come with me," Amanda said, still staring at the baby she held.

Jaq thought quickly about what to do. No one else was in the house. If she could get Amanda away from Simon, she might have a fighting chance. Or if she could stall long enough Jarrod or Nick would come home.

"I'll go with you. He's due to eat soon, though. Could I feed him before-"

Amanda's eyes narrowed.

"You're stalling. We either go now, or I kill you both."

Amanda's cold eyes let Jaq know she was serious with her threat.

"I'll go with you now. Please…put my son down," Jaq pleaded again.

Amanda, never taking her eyes off Jaq, lowered Simon and placed him in the small cradle.

"We are going to walk slowly down the back stairs through the kitchen. If you try anything, I'll not hesitate to shoot."

It was then Jaq noticed the gun Amanda was holding. It had been hidden underneath the blankets Simon had been wrapped in and Jaq thought she would faint. She put her hand on the chair in front of her to steady herself.

"Move," Amanda said, and Jaq turned to walk through the door into the hallway.

Jaq briefly thought of trying to fight Amanda, but she couldn't risk being shot and then Amanda making good on her threat to kill her son. She'd comply until she could work out a better plan in her mind, and prayed Jarrod would make it home soon.

It terrified Jaq to leave Simon alone. She wasn't lying in the fact that he would be waking to eat soon. She blinked back tears thinking of him crying and no one would be there to soothe him.

Then the thought that Elsa and the children would be arriving soon and being caught up in Amanda's plan chilled Jaq to the bone. She couldn't bear the thought if something happened to any of them.


Ashlyn and Elsa arrived at the Barkley mansion at the same time. After helping Elsa with getting Jon and Leah down from the carriage, the four made their way inside. Ashlyn spotted Nick first and ran to him.

"Nick!" she cried out, shaking him gently. Nick groaned and sat up.

It was then that everyone heard a baby crying and Nick half ran, half crawled up the stairs to Jarrod and Jaq's room. Ashlyn followed. Elsa ran out the front door to find one of the hands to help.

It was clear Simon had been crying for several minutes. His face was red, and tears were coursing down his cheeks. Nick bent to pick him up but swayed slightly.

"Sit down," Ashlyn said and helped her fiancé sit on the bed. Then she picked up the distressed Simon and cooed soft words to him, hoping to calm him down. The fact he was being held, helped Simon briefly but he was hungry and would not be coddled for long.

"I was hit from behind. It was Amanda. I have to get to Jarrod," Nick said standing up.

"You aren't in any condition to go to town. We'll send one of the hands. Stay here and let me get Simon to Elsa. Then I'll find someone to go get help," Ashlyn said, her voice making it clear she would not tolerate any argument from him. She took charge and Nick couldn't help but be proud of the woman he was going to be marrying and the way she remained calm despite the circumstances. Most women he knew would have fallen apart right then and there.

Elsa met Ashlyn at the bottom of the stairs and Duke was there with her. Ashlyn relayed what Nick had told her and gave Duke instructions on what to do next. Send a hand to town to find Jarrod, send another to find Heath, divide the rest of the hands into a search party for Jaq – looking for any tracks to show where they would have headed and have some hands remain around the house to post as guards.

Elsa watched in amazement as Ashlyn gave her instructions. She was glad the other woman was taking charge. Elsa glanced at Leah whose lip was puckering, looking as though she was about to cry. Baby Jon was still in his mother's arms, not phased by any of the commotion.

Simon's cries had started up again and were heartbreaking. Elsa recognized them as cries of hunger. She made a swift decision to feed her nephew, knowing Jaq would want her son's needs taken care of.

"Give me Simon and you take Jon. I'll go to mine and Heath's old room to feed him."

Ashlyn nodded and the women traded babies. Elsa took Leah with her, knowing Jon was safe in his Aunt's arms.


Jarrod entered the hotel café and saw Calvin sitting at a table in the corner, sipping coffee. The older man stood as Jarrod approached.

"More flowers were left at my home," Jarrod stated through gritted teeth. He had tried to quell the anger burning inside him but was unsuccessful.

"We need to find Amanda now, Calvin. This is going to stop."

Calvin sat down and placed his head in his hands.

"I don't know where she is," Calvin said. Jarrod wanted to have sympathy for him, but he wasn't sure he could muster any.

"Let's go to my office and come up with a plan," Jarrod suggested.

The two men made their way down the sidewalk. The streets were busy, but Jarrod spied a rider headed their way in a rush. He recognized the man as a hand from the ranch and his heart dropped.

"You're needed back at the ranch, Mr. Barkley," the man said as he stopped his horse in front of his boss. "You need to hurry. I don't know details just that Duke said to come and get ya and not waste time."

Jarrod didn't even look in Calvin's direction and ran to Jingo. He and the hand rode back to the ranch at full gallop.