Chapter 2—

Victoria hid a smile as she watched her daughter frown.

"I don't know what happened, Mother. This dress fit when I had it made. And the party is in a week," Audra said as she turned in front of the mirror and studied her reflection, seeing the gap where the buttons should meet.

The Barkleys were having their annual celebration for Audra's 22nd birthday. Although they normally had a smaller get-together for the rest of the birthdays, Tom Barkley's daughter loved a big dress-up event, and, being the only girl, Victoria was happy to oblige her.

"I think I do. You had far too many of Silas' fabulous desserts," Victoria replied, a slight smile escaping her lips. "I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just take it to the dressmaker's shop and have Mrs. Moss alter it for you. She always leaves a nice seam allowance so it shouldn't be a problem. Nick is going to town today to look for some new ranch hands, so you could ride with him."

"I'm sure Nick doesn't want me tagging along on his first trip to town in a while. He's been grumpy as an old bear coming out of hibernation. And I think I saw him leave already. No, I'll take the buggy. I have a little shopping to do while I'm there. I saw this darling little hat and gloves..."

Victoria raised her hand and laughed. "If you start describing it, we could be here all day. Go get your things together and I'll have the buggy made ready for you."

Watching as the young woman left the room, Victoria once again realized how blessed she was. Yes, she had lost a husband, but her children were healthy and still with her. Even though she hadn't given birth to Heath, he was as much a part of her as the others.

And she loved him the same.

She frowned for a moment as she thought of Jarrod and all that had happened recently but knew eventually things would return to normal. Victoria hoped Nick would be able to find some industrious men to ease his workload. Maybe this trip to town would improve his mood. Her temperamental son needed a wife to bring out his zest for life and the sensitive side that she knew was there. Right now, his focus was on the ranch and although that was commendable, he needed more. His mother knew it would take a strong woman to tame him, and she prayed for one sooner rather than later.

"Enough daydreaming," Victoria said as she shook herself out of her reverie and exited the house.

###

Nora was up early cleaning. There wasn't much to do as she always kept things immaculate, an easy enough job with the little that she had. Nora always felt her organizational and management skills were wasted in the hand she had been dealt, but perhaps one day things would be different. Wanting to get outside and examine the dilapidated buggy, she hurried through her chores.

As she swept the floor, she looked over at the door to her father's bedroom. She hadn't been in there since he left and decided today was the day. Opening it slowly as if he was still present, Nora walked in deliberately. Looking around at the sparse room, she noticed some of his clothes lying on the floor. Walking over, she picked them up, automatically checking the pockets as she did before laundering- and was astonished when she withdrew two dollars from the trousers.

How Judas Steele had accidentally forgotten money puzzled her before she determined that perhaps he had left it purposefully. Whatever the truth, she needed to choose what to do with it. Two dollars wasn't much, but she could buy a little flour and sugar. Or maybe pay part of the rent. Her mind reeled as she tried to decide before she looked again at the clothes in her hand and smiled.

Nora knew exactly what to do with the money.

###

Dismounting and tying his horse to the hitching post, Nick saw the sheriff across the street and walked over.

"Hi Fred, have you heard of anyone looking for a job?"

"Hey, Nick. Haven't seen you in some time. I guess you're short-handed," the long-time sheriff and friend replied.

"Do you think I'd be hiring if we weren't short-handed?" Nick responded testily, bringing a smile from the lawman.

"No, I guess you wouldn't. A little touchy today, aren't you?"

Nodding, Nick calmed. "Sorry, Fred. It's been a while since I had a break. So, was that a yes, or no?"

"Actually, I've seen two cowboys ride into town the last couple of days looking for work. One yesterday, one today. I think they are over at the saloon."

That bit of news brought a smile to Nick's face. "Thanks, Fred," he replied, as he headed in that direction, hoping to find the men before someone else did.

Going towards the saloon, Nick noticed he was almost running. Shaking his head at his foolishness, he slowed to a normal pace and was soon swinging the familiar doors open. Walking to the bar, he spoke to the barkeep. "Norm, I heard there were a couple of men here looking for work."

Gesturing to the end of the bar, Norm answered. "That one in the white hat down there nursing a beer, and the one at the far table with the black Stetson."

Nick wasted no time walking to the closest man. "I heard you need a job. Follow me," he said as he walked to the table where the second man sat. "I'm Nick Barkley and I heard you are both looking for employment."

"Noah Jameson. Pleased to meet you, Mr. Barkley," the first man said as he reached out his hand, grasping Nick's with a hearty shake and a smile.

"Knox Addams," the other man offered with a slight handshake but said no more.

"I take it you have experience working on a ranch..." Nick said, receiving head nods from both men.

"Yes sir," Noah replied. "I can do anything you throw at me." His cheerfulness was engaging, and Nick liked the man immediately.

"What about you, Addams?"

"I'm capable."

The short reply wasn't rude but was short of pleasant. Perhaps the man was shy. Nick couldn't fault him for being reticent; he needed help, not conversation.

After giving the men directions to the ranch, Nick added, "See my brother Heath and he'll tell you what to do. I'll be back there in a little while."

"Thank you, Mr. Barkley. I'm much obliged," Noah said as both men turned to leave the saloon.

Nick walked back to the bar with a sigh and plopped down on a stool. "Norm, I need a glass and a bottle. Time for a little celebration."

###

Leaving her buggy outside, Audra stopped at the dressmakers prior to doing her shopping. She was pleased to see that the shop was empty now, so she didn't have to wait.

"Why, Miss Audra, I didn't expect to see you again so soon. What can I do for you today? Isn't the dress to your liking?" Mrs. Moss was a widow that had been in Stockton for a few years now and had started up a second dress shop after arriving.

"Good morning, Mrs. Moss," Audra said pulling the dress from its box. "I'm embarrassed to say that my dress needs altering. I seem to have put on a few pounds. As she spoke the door opened and two more women entered the building.

"Oh Audra, I'm so sorry. You need it soon, don't you?"

"In a week. For my party."

Shaking her head, the older woman replied, "I'm afraid I simply don't have the time right now. I don't suppose you have heard that the other dress shop closed down. Miss Johnson had to go back east. Family emergency. That has left me simply flooded with business. Not too much for me to handle, but the wait is a little longer than a week. I'm sorry, Miss Audra."

"Oh, dear. I'm not sure what to do. I could wear another dress, I suppose, but I was so looking forward to this one." The forlorn look on Audra's face made the woman sad and then she remembered something.

"Miss Audra, have you met Leonor Steele?"

Her brow furrowed as she thought for a bit. "No, the name doesn't ring a bell."

"She moved here with her father a couple of months back. Sweet girl, don't care much for him. Seems a bit lazy. Anyway, Leonor came looking for a job, but I didn't have the work. Her stitching is exquisite and I'm sure she could have that dress altered in no time. Lives about a mile out of town in the old Henderson place. Seth Henderson, that is."

Seth. He had bought a small acreage near town and hoped to marry and settle down. His father lived nearby and was thrilled that Seth wasn't planning to move away. But things had changed a while back when Seth died.

Jarrod still hadn't recovered from his death.

A slight smile once again lit Audra's face. "Thank you, Mrs. Moss. I'll stop out and see her after I finish my shopping. Good day to you."

"Good day, Miss Audra."

As she exited, Audra looked around. She saw Nick's horse at the saloon and smiled, glad that he was finally getting some much-needed downtime. Maybe he wouldn't be quite so irritable when he got home.

Placing the dress back in her buggy, Audra began strolling through town. Perhaps she would even have lunch at the hotel today.

###

"Lady luck is surely on your side today, Nick," Tim Booth said as he threw his cards down on the table.

"Another game," Nick offered as he picked up the winnings and straightened the bills.

"Nah. I have to get home. The missus is gonna kill me for losing that stack..." he said as he was walking out the door.

Nick laughed as he downed another shot. Yes, this was exactly what he needed.

"Anyone else?" he asked, looking around the saloon, head shakes all around as they had just watched him take down three men in 5 card draw. "Ah, come on. No takers at all?"

"I'll take you on."

Nick turned his head in the voice's direction, and he couldn't have been more shocked if he tried. There stood the smallest man he had ever seen. Stood about 5 feet 5 and was so thin his clothes were hanging off him. His face was dirty, and his hat was drawn low across his brow, obviously too large for his head. He must have come across hard times. Nick hated taking the man's money, he couldn't have too much judging by his appearance.

"Now look, mister..."

"Lenny."

"Nick Barkley. Lenny, I wiped out three men. You don't look like you have money to lose, so maybe you should go get some lunch or something. Are you even old enough to be in here?"

"You afraid your luck has run out? You yella? And I'm 20," Lenny replied, his hands on his hips.

They now had the attention of every man in the place as they wanted to see what Nick would do. His honor was at stake.

"Have a seat, Lenny," Nick said, nodding toward the empty chair across from him. "Norm, another glass." As they made eye contact, Nick was struck by the color of the young man's eyes. He had never seen emerald eyes before and had to shake himself to focus on the game at hand as he dealt the cards. Nick poured a glass for each of them, and Lenny shot his quickly, surprising Nick for a minute before he also drank his.

Lenny looked at his cards and asked for two as he discarded a couple from his hand. Nick traded out three and waited to see what the young man would do.

"I'm all-in with 2 dollars," Lenny said, throwing the wadded-up bills into the center of the table.

"I call," Nick said as he turned over his cards, a pair of jacks, and not much else.

"Three of a kind," Lenny said, laying down his 5's and collecting his money.

"Beginner's luck," Nick said, a little irritated.

"Might be so if I were a beginner," was the quick response.

The two played several hands, and Lenny was cautious- folding as many as he played. His stack of bills had increased to $10 at this point, and Nick was starting to wonder if he was a card sharp.

"One last hand?" Lenny asked with a slight smile.

"Alright," Nick responded, dealing out the cards. After each one discarded two, Nick looked down at a straight. Looking over at Lenny, the young man's face was unreadable. He might be the only person Nick had ever met that didn't have a tell.

"Bet?" Nick asked.

"I'm all in," Lenny said, pushing his $10 into the pot.

Knowing he probably had the winning hand, Nick called, but before he turned his cards, he noticed something on the young man's face.

Desperation.

Lenny needed this money much more than Nick did.

"What do you have?" Nick asked and watched as Lenny turned over a pair of aces. With a nod, Nick threw his cards face-down on the table. "Beats my hand. Good job, Lenny."

The bright smile that came over the young man's face startled Nick. He turned to walk back to the bar and asked for a beer, receiving slaps on the back from the men nearby. "He sure played a good game of poker, Nick. Wonder who he is? I've never seen him before," said Norm as he drew up the drink and placed it in front of Nick.

"And one for Lenny," Nick said before he picked it up.

Looking past him, Norm looked puzzled. "Well, I would, but it seems he disappeared."

Nick and the other men turned toward the empty table. Glancing around, the young man was nowhere in sight.

"Well, what do you know about that," Nick said as he picked up his beer and pondered.

###

Lenny hurried around the building at the edge of town and made sure no one was following. "Well, it seems Papa taught me well," Lenny said as she tucked her hair back up into her father's hat.

Nora had always been the tomboy of the bunch, enough so that her father would call her his son at times. When the girls would put on their skits for Mama, if there was a male character, it was Nora's job to portray him. Because of that, Gabby would call her Lenny in private.

The decision to leave Demarco at home today was a good one; he was a very recognizable horse and would have given her identity away to the few in town that knew her. Besides, she was only a mile from the house and could run that in no time flat if she desired. She now had enough to pay Mr. Henderson some of what she owed him and buy some necessities- all thanks to Mr. Barkley. She had been certain that she was beaten on that last hand but had obviously read him wrong.

That shot of whiskey had left her feeling all warm inside. It burned her mouth and throat, but she tried not to show it was her first taste of the fiery liquid.

Nora had to avoid making eye contact with Nick Barkley as they played. Although he was handsome, Nora didn't trust him.

Also, she didn't want him to guess that she was a woman.

Smiling as she looked at her winnings, Nora decided to run home.

###

After shopping and lunch, Audra decided it was time to head out to the Henderson place. She had not only bought the hat and gloves she had mentioned to her mother but a pair of new shoes as well. It had been a productive shopping trip and she hoped that Miss Steele would be able to fix her dress for the party.

As she pulled up, expecting the place to look quite run-down, she was pleasantly surprised to see things were well maintained. This Mr. Steele must be a hard worker, despite what Mrs. Moss had said about him.

Knocking on the door, Audra waited for a reply. When none came, she knocked once again with no answer. Hearing some hammering coming from the barn area, Audra walked over there and tapped on the open door. "Hello. Anyone here? I tried the house." As she entered, she smiled when a young woman moved towards her.

"Hello. Leonor Steele. And you are?"

Audra took the proffered hand. "Audra Barkley. It's nice to meet you, Miss Steele."

"Oh, please. Call me Nora, everyone does. Barkley. Seems I heard that name in town recently. What can I do for you, Miss Audra?"

"Just Audra will do fine," Audra replied with a smile. As they walked outside, she led Nora to her buggy and removed the dress box. "I was in town hoping to get a dress altered and Mrs. Moss didn't have the time. She suggested I come to see you and told me you are a wonderful seamstress. Would you be able to fix it for me? It seems I gained a few pounds. I need the dress in a week. It's my birthday party."

Nora looked the gown over, Audra noticing the stark contrast between the blue silk and the threadbare dress that the other girl wore. "Oh, it's stunning, Audra," Nora replied sweetly. "And suits your skin tone perfectly. Also brings out your eyes. Come inside and let me see it on you."

As they walked into the house, Audra couldn't help but notice the meager furnishings. But everything was spotless and in its place.

"You can change in there, I'll get my sewing kit," Nora said motioning to one of the bedrooms. It was equally as sparse as the living area.

After changing, Audra cautiously walked back into the main room. "Is your father home? I'm not exactly decent..."

"No. He left town. He won't be back. Now, let's see what we have..."