"Well," Victoria looked at Nick expectantly as he sat down at the dinner table the following night.

"Well what?"

"Well, what about Jerry," Victoria shook her head in annoyance. "How did he do today? You and Heath left awfully early to go finish that fence."

"Fine," Nick scooted his chair closer to the table. "But Mother, I still don't like his hanging around here. I think this was a bad idea."

"Now Nick," Heath plopped himself in his seat betraying how tired he was. "You know you're just saying that out of pure old stubbornness. You just don't want to admit that he worked harder than anyone we've ridden fence with in a month of Sundays."

"I am not," Nick roared. "What do we want that boy hangin' around here for. How are we supposed to know that we can believe a word he says?"

"Any of this sound familiar to anyone else at the table," Audra asked with a mischievous half smirk as she eyed Heath. "Although I think that last time it went a little something like, 'Don't you think that story of his is awfully convenient.'"

"That was different young lady," Nick pointed his finger at his younger sister. "That was a completely different thing."

Jarrod looked at his mother from the opposite end of the table and smiled. "Seems to me that mother had the final say with that as well Nick."

"Thank the Lord for that," Heath smiled. "Nick would have thrown me out on my head."

"Then where would we be," Audra's half grin was a full smile now.

"There only would have been two of you to take on three Jenkins brothers," Victoria added. "I'm not sure that is such a happy thought."

"Ugh," Nick sighed and rolled his eyes. "Fine," he stabbed a steak with his fork and threw it on his plate. "But I'll tell you what. If that boy is going to work this ranch, he is going to pull his weight like all the rest of the hands. If he so much as looks at me sideways, I am gonna…"

"Nick," Jerry came running into the dining room. "Sure am sorry," he pulled of his hat and nodded his head to Victoria and Audra. "Darn old coyote spooked the herd sir. Duke, sent me to get you, said we had a mess of ropin' to do." Jerry didn't wait for the response before pushing his hat back on his head as he ran out.

Nick and Heath shared a glance and then Nick was on his heels. "Well," Heath kissed his mother's cheek. "Timing's everything," he ran after Nick and Jerry.

"I'll see if I can help, ladies," Jarrod nodded and strolled off. He wasn't much for running any place.

"Well," Audra put a scoop of mashed potatoes on her plate and handed the bowl to her mother. "Do you suppose we will ever hear the end of that threat of Nick's?"

"I don't know," Victoria and Audra both laughed. "I suppose maybe; if I'm ever wrong."

"Well then," Audra raised her glass and clinked with Victoria's. "I suppose that's a no," both women sipped their wine.

THE END!

A/N: Thank you everyone for reading my first story and all your kind reviews. All of your feedback is appreciated and you have made me feel so welcome here. I hope you enjoyed "Kidnapped"!