Chapter 5

Victoria was nervous and when Victoria was nervous she fussed. She had already spent the day getting things ready for the celebration that night. Now she checked and rechecked everything. Silas, the Barkley's faithful servant, was about worn out dealing with his mistresses fussing. "Mrs. Barkley you've checked and rechecked everything. Why don't you relax before dinner?"

Victoria looked over fondly at Silas and smiled. "I have been difficult this afternoon, haven't I? I just want everything to be perfect for Nick's homecoming."

"I know, Mrs. Barkley, and everything will be perfect."

As Victoria walked towards the stairs she thought about the arrangements for tonight's dinner. The table looked perfect: fine china and silver, flowers, linens, and of course, Nick's favorite, Chicken Creole. Jarrod was planning to be home early and so was Heath as long as the work went as scheduled. Their guests would arrive soon: Jack and Kathleen Ryan, their girls and, hopefully, Rhianna O'Brien. As Victoria stood and thought about all that had happened in the past week her thoughts were interrupted.

SLAM

"MOTHER!" A hearty voice rang out.

"Nick!" Victoria turned and was caught up in a big hug that swept her off her feet. "Must you always shout?!"

"How else would you know I was home?" Nick demanded with a wide grin.

Victoria laughed. This was her second son, the one who acted all gruff and serious; he had the quickest temper but he also had the biggest heart of all her children. He had had a difficult few years with his father's murder and Heath coming to them.

"We are having a celebration tonight. You should take a bath and wash the trail dust off." Victoria eyed her son from head to toe.

"All right. Mother, you won't believe…Wait…a celebration?! Oh please, not a party, I just got home and I don't want a lot of people here and I was hoping for a nice quiet evening here with my family…"

"NICK!" Victoria cried out in exasperation.

"Yes, Mother?" Nick became calm.

"I said a celebration, not a party. It will only be the family and just a few others. You may wear what you wish as long as it's clean, but you WILL be there. We are celebrating your return and..." Victoria threw up her hands. "Nick, so much has happened since you left. Right now, I am going to rest for a while and change for dinner, your brothers can tell you all about the last week."

"All right. Who is coming tonight?" Nick was curious.

"Jack, Kathleen and the girls. Oh, and Kathleen's sister." Victoria replied.

As Victoria went upstairs she could hear Nick say, "Sister?! I didn't know she had a sister." Victoria knew putting Nick and Rhianna in the same room was hazardous and she knew she would need to rest before that happened!

~Big Valley~

As Nick went to the drink cart and poured himself a drink, Jarrod came into the house and looked at his younger brother. He was covered with dirt and dust, dressed in black and those spurs jingled as he walked, but he was Nick. "Glad to see you made it home, Brother Nick, and drinking my best Scotch, I see."

"Jarrod! It's good to be home and isn't that what Scotch is for – drinking? What's going on?" Nick grinned at his older brother.

"So much has happened since you left, it seems you've been gone a year, at least." Jarrod remarked mysteriously.

"What's happened? Mother said something." Nick asked.

"Let's wait for Heath. He knows more than I do about the events of last week. I really don't want to do this twice. Have patience, Brother Nick. He just rode in. After he takes care of Charger, he'll be in for a drink." Jarrod said as he chose a place to sit and relax.

The two older Barkley men sat and shared a drink. They exchanged stories. Nick told about his trip and the new stock he bought. Jarrod told about his latest case and the difficulties he was having with his latest client. They enjoyed renewing their brotherly bonds, but both kept sneaking glances at the door looking for the newest brother. He finally came in the house.

"Heath!" Nick said with great affection.

"Nick, it's good to see you! I saw the stock out in the corral. Looks like some good breeding stock." Heath spoke with the same affection, though he was, by nature, a much quieter man.

"I thought so; have you been taking care of everything here? What about those fences that needed mending and did you move the herd to the upper pasture? It's getting dry, they need water, you know the army general is coming this spring to look at them for purchase and they need to be in good shape. What about the cattle? Well? Aren't you going to answer me, boy?" Nick asked all his questions in one breath.

Heath just waited for Nick to run out of steam then gave him a lopsided grin, "I will when you let me get a word in edgewise! Yes, the fences are mended, the horses are in the upper pasture, there is plenty of water, and the cattle are fine."

The three sat down, "Well? Is someone going to tell me what has been going on here? What is going on?" Nick demanded.

Jarrod and Heath looked at each other. This was not going to be easy. Simultaneously Jarrod and Heath took a deep breath. Then Jarrod began, "Well brother Nick, you know Mary, Jack's daughter..."

~Big Valley~

Victoria stood at the top of the stairs, listening. She loved hearing the rumble of male voices as her sons talked and teased each other. She knew exactly where Jarrod and Heath were in their story by Nick's outbursts. "SIX WEEKS?!" "What do you mean she took over for Fred?!" "Who does she think she is?!" Victoria smiled as she went to dress; it was good to have Nick home.

After Jarrod and Heath finished filling Nick in, the brothers went their separate ways. Jarrod went to work on a brief, Heath went to finish chores in the barn, and Nick went to clean up. Nick thought he might have time to sneak out to the corral to check on the new stock. He was proud of his acquisitions and wanted to make sure they were taken care of properly.

Several hours later a knock came at the door. Jarrod answered it, the consummate host. "Hello, Jack, Kathleen. And who are these lovely young ladies? I don't believe we've met?"

"It's us, Mister Jarrod. Bridget and Mary!" The girls chorused; they liked Mr. Jarrod.

"Well, so it is! I didn't recognize you in your pretty dresses. Hello, Rhianna."

Jarrod marveled at the sight before him. The last time he had seen her she was dressed in some sort of uniform, but tonight she was, well, a vision of loveliness. Rhianna was dressed in a long brown skirt and a creamy white blouse made of lace with a cameo pin at her throat. Her red hair was up, as usual. He was truly surprised at the woman standing before him. He invited the group in to the parlor. Victoria came over and hugged Kathleen and Rhianna in turn. "It is wonderful to see all of you."

After the guests had a chance to greet Victoria and Heath, Jarrod offered Jack a drink and then asked the ladies if they would like a sherry, all but Rhianna accepted.

At that moment Nick came crashing through the door. He had been out in the corral looking over the new stock. He had forgotten about having company, and had burst through the door with his usual exuberance. Heath was watching Rhianna closely. He was curious about how these two tinder boxes would meet. Nothing could have prepared him for what happened next. Rhianna didn't move a muscle. Everyone else was startled and jumped a little, but not Rhianna. She simply turned to meet the newcomer.

Nick walked into the room. He meant to apologize for his entrance, but then he saw her standing there. Hazel eyes met green eyes and locked. They just looked at each other for long moments without moving.

Victoria quickly took charge; I don't believe you have met my second son?"

Nick quickly extended his hand, "I'm Nick Barkley."

Rhianna stood there, not daring to move. Slowly she put out her hand, "Rhianna O'Brien, Mr. Barkley."

Neither one wanted to look away. Jack and Kathleen looked at each other and Kathleen smiled. Kathleen loved Rhianna deeply and hoped this was a good omen of better times for her. Jarrod and Heath looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Not again! They knew Nick could fall in love in an instant and it often led to heartache for him.

For Jack, it was a revelation. He thought he had seen everything where Rhianna was concerned. He had been with her for over twenty years. He had seen her in victory and defeat. He had seen her in the midst of great battles and coping with serious injuries and illnesses. He was even there with her on that terrible, devastating day and he had never seen her composure fail until now. She looked truly shaken. He could see the immediate connection the two of them had, but worried she would be hurt badly; he knew she would never recover from the loss and this time, they might not see her ever again.

At that moment, Mary came running into the room, "Auntie Ree! I have something for you!"

Rhianna didn't want to break eye contact with Nick but Mary was persistently pulling on her skirt. She looked at her niece and smiled at her. "Now, what is it, Mistress Mary? What have you got for me?"

"Mama told me to give this to you. She says it's yours." Mary announced cheerfully.

Mary then placed a rosary in Rhianna's hand. Rhianna closed her hand tightly around her most precious possession. As unshed tears filled her eyes she looked at Nick.

Then, something happened that had never happened before. Rhianna let someone else into her pain-filled heart for just a moment. She quickly recovered and knelt to tell her niece, "Why, Thank you, Mary. Let's go and put this somewhere safe, shall we?" She took Mary's hand and they walked out to Rhianna's horse to secure the treasure in her saddle bags.

Nick couldn't believe what he had just seen. He had never seen a look that held so much raw pain before. He was concerned, but he also felt as if he had been given a precious gift. A gift meant only for him. He knew in his heart he had met his soul mate and started thinking of ways to convince her of that. Rhianna O'Brien, what a beautiful woman.

Jarrod and Heath took a moment to take Nick aside, while their mother was distracted with Kathleen and Bridget.

Jarrod started, "Nick, don't even think about it! The woman who walked in here tonight is so different from the one we met earlier in the week. I know she seems nice, but trust me, she is direct and commanding. It won't work. Please, for once in your life, listen to me."

"Jarrod is right, Nick. You haven't seen the real Rhianna." Heath stated simply.

"I know you mean well, Jarrod, but there is just something about her, I can't explain it. So, keep out of it." Nick stormed ahead in typical Nick fashion.

Jarrod looked at Heath and shrugged. "Nick always has to learn things the hard way."

A few minutes later Rhianna and Mary came back in and the assembled group talked lightly about the events of Mary's disappearance. Rhianna sat down and pulled Mary into her lap, rocking her and talking to the small child; but she was also observing everyone closely.

Jarrod asked the question that had been bothering him for over a week. "What I can't understand, Miss O'Brien is this: how did you know where Mary was?"

Rhianna looked up, startled at the question. She replied carefully, "I don't know. I had a feeling and followed my instincts." Rhianna looked warningly at Kathleen so she wouldn't try to explain further. To Rhianna's great relief, Silas came in to tell everyone dinner was ready.

Before anyone had a chance to move towards the dining room, Audra came rushing into the house. "Mother, I'm sorry I'm late. There was a crisis at the orphanage! Oh, welcome home, Nick! I missed you."

As Nick gave his sister a big hug, Victoria asked, "A crisis, dear? What happened?"

"Father Anthony is very ill. He's gone to San Francisco to see a doctor and then once he's recovered he'll go to another post. They don't have anyone to replace him, so the children will have to leave."

At that, both Jack and Rhianna looked at each other and communicated silently. This could be the answer to their prayers.

Rhianna shook her head so slightly most would not notice. She didn't want to discuss this in front of strangers. She looked up to see Nick watching her from across the room very intently.

Nick spoke up, "Well let's go in and eat! I'm so hungry I could eat a bear!"