Chapter Seven

Previously:

With his mind on Abigail, John quit speaking as well. He just hoped the sheriff and his wife would go along with the idea that he and Jarrod had put together. As John thought on the sheriff he was shocked to have the thought flash through his mind, 'They might, especially since most of the details are coming from my father'. For the first time since he'd heard the name Jarrod Barkley, John didn't care if he knew for sure whether the lawyer was his biological father or not. If Jarrod was claiming him, John was going to claim Jarrod as well.

Abigail, who had been taken-under the cover of darkness- to Sheriff and Mrs. Lawson's cabin, stood in the living room looking at John. She thought on exactly what she'd been told when Jarrod and John took her out of the jail. "Where did he go? I thought Mr. Bark….I mean, your father was supposed to be back by now." 'Boy, did that sound strange.' Abigail thought to herself as she made herself make the change-when it came to how she addressed Jarrod Barkley. However, if Jarrod and John had agreed to acknowledge each other as father and son without any definite proof that was the case, the least she could do was back them up on it. Making sure she referred to Jarrod as her boyfriend's father seemed a good way to start doing just that.

John could tell how nervous she was, and he didn't blame her. Though, he did his best to assure her everything would be all right. "He can be trusted. Don't' ask me how I know, I just do." He might have said Jarrod's reputation was solid only problem was…Eric had a sound reputation too, only, sadly – as John knew- it was all a façade. That being the case, he didn't know how to explain how he knew Jarrod's reputation fit him to the tee. He just did. "He'll be here and he'll bring the help we need. Trust me; Abby, he will."

"I trust you." Abigail wrapped her arms around John's waist as he pulled her to him. "I… I'm trying to trust him. I just….I just don't know him. I mean, I've never even met him once." She hoped he knew what she was trying to say.

John smiled wide and would have assure he knew exactly what she meant only the sound of more than one set of footsteps could be heard approaching the cabin. Without half thinking, John took one hand off Abigail and rested it on top of his gun…out of habit. However, as one set of footsteps drew closer, John smile and relaxed. "It's Ja…I mean, it's my father."

"We're coming in!" Jarrod's words were spoken seconds before the door opened.

John and his girlfriend watched as four men followed Jarrod into the room. Though he'd never met them, John had- unbeknownst to Jarrod or his brothers-seen Nick and Heath in Stockton before he'd left. That being the case, he only had to wonder about the other two man. Though, he didn't have to wonder long as Jarrod began introducing everyone – including his brothers as John had never mentioned seeing them.

After introducing Nick and Heath, Jarrod gestured towards the man who stood next to Heath. "This is McColl, our foreman and his brother, Curtis."

John thought McColl looked a lot like the sheriff in Stockton. 'Has to be related somehow' was a thought he spoke only to himself. "Are you sure Eric and the Millers will fall for this? He looked away from McColl and faced Jarrod.

"I've already allowed a few Brighton citizens to 'accidentally' overhear me saying that Mrs. Lawson decided to drop the charges against Abby. By now, the news is all over town. By now those men know she's out of jail. Nick and Heath will go to the area we agreed upon. You and I will leave afterwards, so we can hide ourselves in the same area. Then Abigail will ride though town and head for the same area. Since no one has ever seen McColl and Curtis, when they go through town a few minutes later, no one is going to think a thing of it. If we're lucky, Eric will follow Abby out of town, but before McColl and Curtis do."

"You're hoping he does what you suspect he did in the past, follow me to see where I'm going…and if I talk to anyone. If he does that, and turns around and goes to the Millers….there's a very high chance they'll try to rob Nick and Heath." Abby spoke slowly. When Jarrod, John and the others nodded, she let out a frustrated sigh. "What if it doesn't work? What if you're wrong? How long will it take to prove I'm innocent….how long will it take to find the guilty party or parties. This could go on forever, and I could still wind up in prison for something I didn't do."

"Then we're wrong." Jarrod replied only to add, "Only we're not. I can't explain how I know that only I do."

"So, do I. Samuel's pride is the only motivation he needs to frame you, and Eric…" John looked as if he might lose his breakfast. "I'm not even going to talk about him." How could he when he didn't know if Abigail had seen the way that man looked at her. It was enough to make John's blood boil.

"As far as how long it will take," Heath gave her a crooked smile. "None of us can explain it only we all feel strongly this won't be one of the long drawn out ordeals we usually deal with." It was the truth, and they all hoped they were right. It would be a welcome change of pace from what they were used to life throwing at them.

"Well, we best get going." Nick and Heath turned to leave, but not before Heath surprised John and Abigail by welcoming John to the family. A few minutes later, Abigail watched Jarrod and John leave as well. She could only pray they were right. She'd been ready for this ordeal to be over with from the moment it had begun.