Chapter Fifteen

A/N Smoot, Wyoming DOES exist. Kingsville, Wyoming-to the best of my knowledge, does NOT.

Jarrod was sitting behind his desk in his Stockton office when his mother and Heath walked into the room. He would have been surprised only he had sent for them. "Please, lock the door behind you." He looked up from what appeared to be quite a number of pages of paper he was holding in his hands.

The surprise they felt upon hearing the request was something neither Barkley tried to hide, though Heath (who had followed Victoria into the room) shut the door and made sure to do as his older brother had asked.

"What is it?" Victoria kept her eyes on Jarrod as she sat in a chair in front of her son's desk while Heath chose to sit on the small sofa the famous Stockton attorney had recently purchased. "Why secure the door like that?" She nodded towards the locked door.

"This." Jarrod held up the papers in one hand while handing his mother the large envelope it came in. Her eyes fell to the very legible handwriting on the front. She read out loud-in order to avoid having to stand up, walk over to Heath and hand it to him afterwards.

Johnathon B and Liza H Gyver

P.O. Box 59

Kingsville, Wyoming

"Should we know a Johnathon and Liza Gyver?" Victoria asked, confused, as she handed the empty envelope to Jarrod.

"No," he paused and then sighed while a wave of pain rolled through his eyes, "And yes." That made both Victoria and Heath sit straight up, though they simply waited as Jarrod looked at the letter and began reading. The words made them feel as if the rug had been pulled out from under them-again.

Dear Jarrod,

Please, forgive me only it is my wife who addressed the envelope and is dictating this letter. Why? Because no one in Stockton knows her by the nickname she's picked up since I married her, nor do they know her handwriting. We can not; no, we will not take a chance of this letter falling into the wrong hands. You should also know that while Jonathon may be my middle name, folks around here have shortened it to John. Well, some of them have.

Jarrod looked at his mother and then Heath, as if to ask if they had any idea of what was coming. At first neither one gave any sort of reaction-except for confused looks. Only, a split second later, Victoria was leaning forward while Heath had stepped closer to the desk. "Jonathon is Nick's middle name. Liza," Victoria's eyes filled with 'I need to know' look, "That's a nickname for Elizabeth! Are you saying that Nick is the one dictating the letter?" While she felt the question was a legitimate one, the last name of Gyver was still confusing her, and it showed. The same question, and look, was in Heath's eyes as well.

Jarrod's only answer was to nod and continue reading.

Second, I want to say how sorry I am. Why we didn't think about doing this-having Liz write letters to you-before is something we have no good reason for. We wish we did.

Third, while I HAD thought things through more than I ever have in my life when we last saw each other, I realized too late just how much I had not thought about…mostly how my choice could actually take me away from California, and how afraid you all might be of what 'that man' would be capable of, and-perhaps even more-terrified of the dark side appearing in your lives once more. Both are, and were, more than justifiable concerns. I hope someday you and the family can forgive me for that as well.

Jarrod continued reading Nick's detailed account of finding the Gyvers, taking care of them, working on the Billings ranch, and then traveling with Paul and Bea on a rather uneventful trip to Kingsville. That is, Nick wrote of broken wagon wheels and getting supplies here and there when they needed them, but nothing overly exciting. Jarrod wasn't surprised by the ray of emotions that showed in both his mother's and Heath's eyes. While he figured it was rather an unnecessary question, Jarrod asked them if they wanted him to continue.

"Of course," Victoria nodded-both elated to hear from her 'dead' son and sorrowful that past events had made such a letter necessary. Heath said nothing only the slight nod of his head spoke volumes.

We have helped 'Uncle Paul' and 'Aunt Bea' settle in with their son here in Kingsville. However, as welcome as we might be here, I have looked into a number of medium sized ranches- outside Kingsville all the way to the outskirts of Smoot, Wyoming. I just can't get myself to continue to work as another man's employee.

Paul's son has – as thanks for the help we gave his parents- promised to help us secure the money needed to buy one. I was hoping that; perhaps, you and Heath could come up on a 'business trip' after I telegram you our exact location –and, if possible, bring Mother. Feel free to bring any member of the family you wish too as well. We'll have the room; I'll make sure of it. Liz and I would like to iron out any issues that exist between all of us. Neither one of us have enjoyed not being able to communicate with you.

Once again, we are sorry for the pain and heartache our choices caused you and others I care about. Unfortunately, as you already know, our friends in Stockton have to be left in the dark or our 'deaths' are unnecessary. In hindsight, yes, we can think of a few choices that could have been made differently. Only, hindsight doesn't change anything. Please, if you can forgive us, write to us soon. We will be here for another three weeks at least, maybe a month. We'll know by then which ranch we're buying and can arrange for that business trip…and we might even have more to tell you.

All our love, Sincerely,

Jonathon and Liza

Jarrod finished the letter and laid down the papers. His eyes betrayed his emotions. "I've thought about it many times since Nick and Elizabeth 'died', and he's right. I was terrified of what I'd turn into if Cass succeeded in hurting any member of this family. That fear was only confirmed last week when I went to visit a client of mine in San Quentin." Due to the questioning looks in his mother and brother's eyes, Jarrod explained that Cass had learned of the marriage between Nick and Elizabeth, along with their 'deaths' due to an unthinking guard. "I had to meet my client elsewhere. The warden is convinced Cass is only a step away from insanity. Cass Hyatt can not learn Nick and Elizabeth are alive."

"When did you get that letter?" Victoria was half afraid she'd hear that Jarrod had had it for awhile only to find out differently.

"This morning. That's why I sent for the two of you." He picked up some blank paper. "I want to write back only I'll need to know if I'm going to Wyoming alone or if I'll have company."

"I can have McColl take care of the ranch for a couple of weeks. I'm going." Heath then excused himself saying he needed to get back to the ranch.

Once Heath had left the room, Jarrod looked at his mother. "Maybe they didn't make the best choices back then, but we didn't either. Are you coming along too?"

Victoria didn't hesitate. "After we learn where they're living for sure, I'll check with your Aunt Clara. I'm sure she'll be happy to have Audra visit for a month, and Audra will be glad to go." Even as she talked about her sister and daughter, Victoria did not look very happy.

Jarrod didn't like seeing his mother upset. So, even though he thought it unwise, he told her, "I'll tell Audra everything. If that is what you want, I will do it."

As much as she hated it, Audra could not be trusted with a secret this big. Maybe, in the future-if she matured… Victoria shrugged her shoulders. "No, we best leave things as they are." She then excused herself while Jarrod started writing.

Epilogue to Follow