Chapter 5

The sheriff came by the next morning with a wire from Nick and Heath, saying they were now at Rock Point, near where Hyatt's brother lived, but they missed Jarrod there. Victoria turned away from him angrily. He knew it wasn't him she was angry with, but he also knew she needed to let loose on someone and it could not be a member of her household.

"Victoria, tomorrow – "

"Oh, hang tomorrow!" Victoria blurted out and immediately regretted her outburst. She sighed, closed her eyes, and reached for the sheriff's hand. "I'm sorry," she said. "You didn't deserve that, Fred. It's not your fault, you've been wonderful through this, but how could they not have caught up to him by now?"

The sheriff said, "If Jarrod's been riding later into the night than they've been, he'll be tough to catch up with."

"Fred, I know that, but saying it out loud or even just thinking it doesn't make me feel better," Victoria said.

"I didn't mean it to sound like they were always losing ground on him, just that he had a good head start and making up that time is gonna be tough."

"That's not any better, Fred," Victoria said.

Sheriff Madden sighed. "I'm not very good at giving you any more hope, am I?"

"No, but it's not your fault." Victoria touched his arm. "And I've been unfair to you. Please forgive me. Have you heard anything from the sheriffs you've wired ahead to?"

"No, not a thing. Jarrod's bound to be steering clear of the law, though."

Victoria thought hard for a moment and then asked, "How long do you think I should give it before I ask Nick and Heath to come home?"

"Victoria, even if you asked them to come home now or a week from now, they wouldn't come," the sheriff said. "You know they're not gonna give up on their brother until they find him."

"No matter what they find," Victoria finished the thought.

Audra came in on the end of the conversation. "They'll find him and he'll be safe," she said flatly.

Victoria and Sheriff Madden looked up at her as she came down the stairs. They didn't know what to say to her. Audra sounded absolutely certain this would all work out, but they weren't so sure.

Victoria smiled and said, "Maybe later today, or tomorrow, there will be better news."

Sheriff Madden nodded. "I'll let you know as soon as I know." Then he gave a slight smile and left the house.

Victoria turned toward Audra and put her arm around her daughter's waist. "I think I'd like to take another ride today," she said. "There's someplace I'd like to show you."

XXXXXXXX

It was a beautiful spot. Victoria had been here before, but until Beth was killed here, she had no idea that it meant so much to Jarrod. Gasping and sobbing, after he carried his dead wife into the house, he told Victoria where they had been, how they had been planning their future, how wonderful it was going to be to build their house here. That was right before he shut down, and he stayed shut down until after the funeral. Then, when Sheriff Madden came to tell them he'd had to let Cass Hyatt go, Jarrod exploded and took off.

Victoria almost had to close her eyes to the beauty here. It brought up the memory of that horrible day. It was mocking her now.

But she said, "This is where Beth was killed, right there by the water. Jarrod loves this place. He brought her here to plan their home, their future – " Victoria's voice closed off.

"Why did you want to come here, Mother?" Audra asked.

"I don't know," Victoria said. "To feel close to Jarrod, maybe. Or maybe so you could see how much he loved Beth. Or both. How could something so horrible have happened in this beautiful place?"

Audra didn't know what to say.

Victoria kept talking and before she knew it, she was letting out a secret. "Jarrod said Beth was shot when she moved in front of him to pick a flower. If she hadn't moved in front of him – " Her voice caught again. "Oh, Audra. If she hadn't moved in front of him, Jarrod would have been the one we buried, not Beth. God forgive me, but part of me is grateful she moved – "

"Mother, that's a natural way to feel," Audra said. "Don't feel guilty about it."

"It's hard not to feel guilty," Victoria said. "I feel horrible that I'm grateful it was Beth and not Jarrod. Of course I feel more protective of my son than of his new wife. I'm just so grateful he's still alive. If he had been killed – "

Audra reached for her mother's hand. "You're feeling what any mother would feel. You have no reason to feel guilty for it."

Victoria looked off into the mountains in the distance, wiping her eyes. "You know, in a way, Jarrod's been hurt more than if he had been the one killed. He's suffering so much, and I haven't been able to do a thing to help him."

"You've done everything you can do for him. You've told me before, there are some loads we can't carry for others, even for people we love."

Victoria finally looked at her daughter. "No matter how many times I say that to you and your brothers, it never seems to sink in for me. I always want to do more when you hurt."

"And that's natural, too," Audra said again. "Would you like to take a walk? Maybe it will help you."

Victoria looked around again. "No, I don't think so. Let's just ride on, back down into the valley."

Victoria turned and headed back toward home. Audra wasn't sure it was a wise decision, but she followed along.

XXXXX

They saw the sheriff riding away from the ranch as they neared the house, and Victoria kicked her horse into a gallop, not wanting to let him get away. Audra took off after her. As she neared him, Victoria began shouting, "Fred! Fred!"

Sheriff Madden heard her and pulled up.

Victoria was beside him in a moment. "Do you have some news?"

The sheriff nodded. "Another wire from Nick and Heath. They're in a town called Pinto now. Jarrod was there yesterday. They're pushing on and hoping to catch up to him tomorrow or the next day."

Victoria sighed, shaking her head. "If they're a day behind, something is going to have to happen to make Jarrod stop or they'll never catch him."

"They'll catch him," Audra said. "I know they will."

"At least we know they're on the right trail," Sheriff Madden said.

"Heath is a good tracker," Audra said.

Victoria nodded, but they could tell that the news was not easing her heart any. Sheriff Madden said, "I have to get back to town, but as soon as I know anything, I'll bring it to you."

"It'll probably be tomorrow before you hear anything else, won't it?" Victoria asked.

"Yes," he said.

Victoria was on the verge of falling apart. Both the sheriff and Audra saw it. The sheriff took her hand, but looked at Audra.

"Audra, I think you'd better get your mother into the house," Sheriff Madden said. "Victoria, do you need some help?"

"No," Victoria said. "No, I'll make it all right. Thanks for coming out, Fred."

"I'll see you tomorrow no matter what," the sheriff said, and then he looked at Audra with pleading eyes.

Audra said, "Come on, Mother, let's get back to the house."

Audra let her mother lead the way, and in only a minute or so, they were letting Ciego take their horses. Victoria was able to get herself into the house but she was dragging now. Every step seemed to be harder to take. Audra got her inside and into the living room, where she sat her down on the settee and then poured her a brandy. "Drink this," she said as she handed it to her mother.

Victoria took the brandy and sipped it. "What time is it, Audra?"

Audra checked the clock. "Just after four," she said and sat down beside her mother.

Victoria sighed. "I'm sorry I'm turning into such a problem for you, Audra."

Audra smiled. "You're no problem, Mother. Everything will be all right, tomorrow or the next day. You'll see."

Victoria gave her daughter a little smile and a kiss on the cheek. "I hope so."