Danny Wells smirked as he knew the attorney would pull something but he did not expect him to do this. How dare Jarrod Barkley take his daughter from him. Just because he was a Barkley it did not give him the right to do this. The law had sided with Danny and now the righteous attorney was on the wrong side of the law. Danny would make sure Barkley paid dearly for this act.

He knew Sister Catherine was lying to him but she remained steadfast in her story. He had spoken to Father Franklin and realized the man had no clue what had been going on in his church. As he walked out of the church he spat an order to one of his men.

"Burn it," Danny said as he pointed to the church.

Sam looked at his boss in shock not sure he heard him correctly. He spoke timidly, "Sir?"

Danny whirled to glare at his employee and spat, "I said burn it!"

Sam stuttered, "But, but it's a church."

Danny walked to Sam and grabbed him by the collar as he spoke slowly, "I don't give a damn." He pushed Sam back as he walked away.

Sam watched his employer walk away and knew he was a dead man regardless if he did what his boss told him to do. He didn't refuse the order but he knew Danny did not like to be questioned in front of anyone. His parents raised him to be a God fearing man and if he burned this church he would burn in hell for eternity. Once Danny had gotten into his private carriage Sam made the decision to leave town without burning the church. If Danny found him so be it.

Danny lit his cigar and looked at his attorney. "I told you he would pull something."

James Sherlock sighed as he looked at his employer. Danny Wells was a short man with graying hair and cold dark green eyes. He was in his mid forties but he looked much older thanks to his hard living of whiskey, women and smoking. He was a shrewd businessman who had made quite a bit of money with some well timed investments. James didn't know of anyone who liked the man although there were plenty of people who hated him.

James wished he could sever ties with Danny but he paid him handsomely and James had a vice; gambling. Danny did not have a good bone in his body and if he helped someone it was only because he would benefit from it. James knew of several times Danny had done things outside the law but the lawyer remained quiet. He knew he was being a coward but he had a wife and three children to take care of and he couldn't do that from the cemetery.

Danny spat, "Did you hear me?"

"Yes, I was just thinking."

"About?"

"Why he took Abby and where are they going? It will be hard for him to blend in since it's only the two of them."

"My men are checking around his townhouse as we speak. And you are going to get a search warrant for his townhouse here and his families Ranch in Stockton as well as both of his law offices. Then you are going to get the police here to issue a warrant for his arrest for kidnapping my daughter."

James sighed, "I don't think he would go to his family for help."

Danny barked, "And why not? They are a very powerful family and would help him."

"Yes, I believe they would but I don't think he went to Stockton."

Danny pointed his finger at James and said, "Well we won't know until we check will we?"

"Very well. Anything else?"

Danny glared at his attorney and said, "Nothing right now, just find my daughter at any cost."

James knew exactly what Danny meant but he hoped it would not come to that as one person had already died. "I'm fairly certain Barkley will not harm Abby."

"Oh he won't but when I get my hands on that brat she'll rue the day she..."

James interrupted Danny, "Danny please don't say anything else. She's only five years old. Besides don't you think she's already been through enough?"

Danny cut his eyes at his attorney and said, "That is not my fault. If her worthless mother would have done as she had been told none of this would be happening."

James simply looked out the window not wishing to argue with Danny any further. He knew his employer twisted the truth to make himself look good all the time but no matter what he said James knew the ugly truth about Martha and Abby and it disgusted him to no means. Deep down James had hoped Jarrod Barkley would be able to get the Judge to side with him but Danny had deep pockets and bribed the Judge.

And now Jarrod Barkley was on the run with Abby and James hoped and prayed Danny would not be able to find either one of them.

Jarrod could not help but smile as Abby nibbled at the crackers and cheese they were having for breakfast. He knew the little girl preferred eggs and biscuits but since he had been traveling all night that was not an option right now. They had made good time and he hoped tonight they would be able to sleep in a bed in Warm Springs. But first he had to make sure Abby understood how this 'venture' as she called it was going to work.

"I thought you liked cheese and crackers little lady," Jarrod chuckled.

Abby frowned and said, "Not for bakefeast." Jarrod had to hold in the laugh as she tried to pronounce breakfast but for some reason her r's gave her trouble.

"Hopefully tomorrow we can have biscuits and eggs."

Abby smiled widely and said, "Weally?"

Jarrod laughed and said, "Yes." He took a sip of the water from the canteen wishing it was coffee. "You remember what I told you about this adventure of ours, right?" Abby shook her head yes. "Good. There will be times we have to camp out at night but it won't be every night."

"Okay."

Jarrod looked at Abby and knew something was wrong with her. "What's wrong honey?"

Abby looked up with tears in her eyes and said, "I miss mommy."

Jarrod sighed as he patted his lap for Abby to sit in which the little girl did gladly. "I know you miss your mother but remember what I told you?"

Abby looked at Jarrod and shook her head yes. "Why doesn't my daddy love me Mistah Jay?"

Jarrod was worried Abby would eventually ask this question and he wasn't sure how to answer it. He had talked to Sister Catherine about this but it still didn't help him. How could a man treat his wife and daughter the way Danny Wells had was beyond the attorney. He would have given anything to have a loving wife and children.

Jarrod brought Abby close to him and spoke low and softly, "I think he does love you honey but he just doesn't know how to show it."

"Why did he hit us? That's not love Mistah Jay, is it?"

Jarrod looked at Abby and sighed. She was only five years old but she had already experienced such pain and seen more than any child should have ever seen. "Some people don't know how to show love honey."

Abby shook her head no, "He not love me."

Jarrod decided to try to change the subject since he wasn't sure how to talk about this with her. "Well I love you and your grandparents love you very much."

Abby smiled as he hugged Jarrod's neck and said, "Love you too Jay."

Meanwhile in Stockton Victoria had been having a bad feeling regarding her eldest son for the past few days. He hadn't been home in almost two months although he did write once a week. He had asked Nick to send Jingo to him a few weeks ago stating he missed his steed but Victoria wondered if something else was up.

It was not uncommon for Jarrod to be gone several weeks and on different occasions he had been gone for a few months but he had never asked for Jingo. Nick didn't see anything unusual in Jarrod's request but Victoria did. Why would he send for Jingo if he was planning on coming home in a few weeks? It was not adding up.

She knew his newest case was difficult and it involved a child and father but that was all she knew as Jarrod was being very tight lipped about his client. Jarrod did not deal in family law too often and she hoped her eldest would be careful as sometimes family law could be just as dangerous as criminal law.