Since the train was well ahead of schedule the original plan Jarrod had was no longer valid. They would now be arriving shortly before sunset so Jarrod made a strategic decision. The new plan was for the attorney to disembark from the train first with Mary and Abby waiting till the last minute before they left the train. The train depot was large enough that Jarrod hoped Mary and Abby would be able to blend in with the other folks as they milled about town.

With Mary being familiar with Lincoln she was able to help Jarrod with the layout of the town. He knew if Wells was still in town he would get a hotel in the center of town so he could watch the crowd without being noticed and The Royal Hotel fit that bill perfectly. Jarrod would make sure if Wells was still in town he would see him.

Mary did not like Jarrod's plan and argued with him vehemently but he told her this was the only way to end this nightmare Abby had been living in. Mary was now worried that Jarrod was going to do something to put his life in danger. Jarrod just told her not to worry as he knew his brothers would have his back. But Mary was not only worried she was scared.

They had about twenty minutes before they arrived in Lincoln and Jarrod wanted to spend that time with Abby.

"You'll leave the train with Mary okay?"

"I wanna leave with you," Abby pouted.

Jarrod sighed, "We've already talked about this honey."

Abby continued to pout, "Okay."

Jarrod hugged Abby who had been sitting on his lap and said, "We'll be back together before you know it." Abby didn't say anything as she looked at him. "After I finish we'll go shopping okay?"

Abby shrugged her shoulders and mumbled, "Okay."

Mary decided to say something, "Tell you what Abby. After this is over we'll all go shopping okay?" Abby just looked at Mary; she knew something was going on. "Abby what's wrong?"

Abby looked at Mary and then to Jarrod and said quietly, "I don't want Mistah Jay to leave me," she looked at Jarrod and said, "you said you wouldn't leave me."

Jarrod closed his eyes and said, "I'm not leaving you honey. We're just getting off the train at different times that's all. And we'll be back together before you know it."

"All of us?"

"We'll talk about that later, okay?"

Abby looked at Jarrod and Mary and said, "Okay."

Jarrod hugged Abby tightly and said, "That's my girl." He heard Abby giggle as he hugged her and winked at Mary.

Jarrod and Abby were playing checkers when the train came to a stop. Jarrod got up and grabbed his hat and gun belt. He looked at Abby and said, "Do as Mary tells you okay? I'll see you later." He picked her up and gave her a big hug and kiss on the forehead.

Mary couldn't watch the exchange between Jarrod and Abby because she was scared for him. When he put Abby down he walked to Mary.

He smiled wryly at her and said, "I'm depending on you to take care of Abby until I can take care of this."

"Don't worry Jarrod." She wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, "Please come back to us."

Jarrod returned her embrace and said quietly, "I'll do my best." He pulled away from her embrace and looked deeply into her eyes and bent to kiss Mary lightly on her lips.

Hearing Abby giggle brought Jarrod back to the present as he pulled away from Mary and turned to Abby. "You listen to Mary and I'll see you two later." Jarrod hurriedly left before he changed his mind.

Abby ran to Mary and hugged her tightly. Both of them were worried and scared for Jarrod.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

As Jarrod appeared on the platform he looked for The Royal Hotel. It was right where Mary said it would be and Jarrod knew if Wells was here that is where he would find him. He slowly disembarked and looked around to see if anyone was watching him. Jarrod had a gut feeling his family was still in Lincoln but he didn't need them to show up right now. He had to goad Wells first into making his appearance known to Jarrod.

He slowly walked to the hotel and watched his surroundings. He didn't see anyone that seemed to recognize him which was a small relief to the attorney. He wanted to look back at the train but knew he couldn't. Jarrod knew Mary would stick to their plan; she had too.

Wells could not believe what he saw. Jarrod Barkley was disembarking from the train. He didn't wait for his men to come back to the room as he left to greet the smug attorney. The beard he had grown had not fooled him one bit; he would recognize the pompous man anywhere.

As Jarrod walked to the hotel he saw Wells come out of the hotel with a smirk on his face. Jarrod knew the man was too stupid to realize he was falling right into his trap. Jarrod thanked the heavens for Wells vanity and stupidity.

The two men met on the sidewalk as Jarrod walked straight to Wells and stood to face his advisory with his hand on his gun. He immediately saw that Wells did not have a gun belt on,damn it, he thought.

Wells spat, "Barkley."

"Wells."

"Fancy meeting you here."

"Hmph."

The men stood toe to toe neither one refusing to back down. "I knew you would do something stupid like this."

Jarrod spat, "What are you talking about?" Jarrod kept his hand on his gun.

"Taking my daughter."

Jarrod laughed, "If I took your daughter where is she?" Jarrod motioned around.

Wells frowned as he suddenly realized Abby wasn't with him. "What's the matter, did the brat get on your nerves?"

Jarrod's tone was icy as he said, "Don't ever call her that again."

Wells bristled somewhat at Jarrod's tone but didn't back down, "Hmph. She's a brat and worthless like her mother." Now Wells was pushing Jarrod's buttons on purpose hoping to get Jarrod to react.

Jarrod barked, "The only worthless one is you." Jarrod knew Wells was purposely trying to antagonize him and it was taking everything Jarrod had not to fall into his trap.

"Her mother was nothing but a !#$*#."

Jarrod's nostrils flared as he spat, "If so, why did you marry her?"

Wells laughed evilly, "Why else? She was experienced and I got tired of paying for it."

"You've had to pay for it?" Jarrod laughed at Wells which infuriated the man.

"I want my daughter Barkley."

Jarrod motioned around again and said, "I don't have her."

Wells cut his eyes at Jarrod and said, "You're hiding her from me."

Jarrod shrugged his shoulders and said, "Maybe, maybe not. Regardless you will NEVER hurt her again."

"Is that a threat?"

Jarrod's tone was chilling, "No, it's a promise. You're a sick and twisted man and your days of abusing her are OVER."

Wells laughed, "Not according to the courts, she's my daughter and if the brat misbehaves she will be disciplined accordingly."

"NEVER," Jarrod thundered.

"Who's going to stop me Barkley? The law is on my side." Wells smirked.

"I will, one way or another."

"Another promise?" Wells asked.

Jarrod leaned towards Wells and poked his finger on Wells chest as he said, "Damn right. And when you're ready to settle this like men, I'll be waiting." Jarrod turned around and walked away leaving Wells fuming.

Jarrod knew Wells was furious as he walked away. He had hoped he had given Mary enough time to get Abby in the hotel without anyone seeing them. As he stormed off he knew Wells would be coming after him sooner rather than later and he prayed to God he would be ready.

Wells watched Barkley walk off and fumed. Who did the pompous attorney think he was? He would show him once and for all you don't mess with Danny Wells and live to tell about it. He would worry about finding Abby after he killed Jarrod Barkley.