Warning for mild violence

Chapter 11

Nick sneaked into his room as he had every morning for a few days. Closing the door quietly, he turned and stopped suddenly.

Jarrod was sitting in his easy chair.

"That's a good way to get shot, brother," he muttered as he first removed his gloves and tossed them on his desk, then his gun belt that he lay across the saddle from his father. Jarrod could tell his mood was foul.

"I'm worried about you, Nick," Jarrod said, looking up from his seated position. "You've been staying out every night for some time now, and I think it's time we had a talk about where you've been spending your evenings."

"What business is it of yours?" Nick snapped. "You are crossing a line and I'm warning you to stay out of it."

Jarrod ignored the warning as he stood and walked over, putting his hand on Nick's shoulder with a concerned smile. "I'm worried because you are tired and have dark circles under your eyes. And I care about you."

The frown disappeared and a weary smile took its place. "I'm sorry, Jarrod. I have a lot on my mind."

Removing his hand, Jarrod paced the floor in a slow circle, much as he would in the courtroom, before turning to speak again. "Talk to me. Perhaps I can help."

Nick walked to the corner, ran his hand through his dark locks, and dropped into the vacated chair. "I guess I need to tell someone. I've been spending my nights in Leonor Steele's barn. The man that has been trying to break into her house hasn't been caught and I want to make sure she is safe."

His older brother's eyes softened when he heard the explanation. "I see. Have you told Heath?"

"Heath? No. I'm surprised he didn't think of it, you know, with his feelings for her being what they are..."

"So, you are protecting her, for Heath's sake," Jarrod replied.

"Yes...yes, I... something like that," he responded, his voice exasperated. "Jarrod, if you want to cross-examine someone, perhaps you should go back to lawyering," he bit, immediately regretting the words. "I'm sorry, Pappy," he instantly added, seeing the pain in Jarrod's eyes.

"It's alright Nick. But if you were on the witness stand, I believe your defense would be torn apart."

"Why do you say that?"

"You aren't protecting Nora because of Heath's feelings for her, but because of your own," Jarrod said as he walked to the door. "It might be time for you and our brother to have a talk."

As he shut the door behind him Nick put his head in his hands, rubbing his face. Then he stood and nodded. "Yes, I think it is."

###

Nora's eyes went wide as she tried to quickly close the door, but the man was faster and pushed it open hard enough for it to hit the wall. Then he closed and locked it.

"Wha...what do you want," Nora uttered, stumbling over her words in her fear as she backed away. If she could only get to Heath's gun.

"Me? I only want what's coming to me," he muttered as he stepped towards her, quickly putting his handkerchiefed hand over her mouth and wrapping his other arm around her waist from behind.

Nora struggled in his grasp but found herself growing woozy before everything went dark.

###

Looking around as he came downstairs, Nick noticed his mother sitting in the living room with a cup of coffee.

"Join me," she said as she poured a second cup.

"Where is everyone?"

"Audra is still in her room, Jarrod is out back, and Heath will be in shortly," she replied, gesturing to the opposite chair, and handing him his cup before taking a sip from her own.

"Did you have a good time yesterday?" she politely asked.

"It was alright," he replied stiffly, taking a drink from the hot liquid.

"Nick, I want to talk to you about Nora."

"Suddenly, everyone wants to talk to me about Miss Steele," he barked, standing to his feet.

"Sit down, Nick. This is important." The tone of her voice said that he should comply with her demand, so he sat back down.

Gently setting her cup on the end table, Victoria spoke again. "Nick, I know you care for her."

"Mother, she is Heath's girl. And you remember what happened with Hester."

"Nora is not Hester."

"But I refuse to try and come between them. I won't hurt my brother over a woman." Nick was once again getting exasperated.

"You need to talk to Heath!" Victoria said, her voice loud and insistent.

"Talk to me about what?" Heath said as he walked into the room.

"You and Nick need to talk about Nora," Victoria answered.

"Well, what about her?" Heath asked innocently.

"Tell him what you think of her," Victoria replied, starting to get irritated.

"I think she is kind of pretty," Heath responded, picking up an apple and studying it.

"Kind of pretty! Kind of pretty?" Nick burst in. "How can you say she is kind of pretty? She's the most beautiful woman in the world!"

Victoria stood to her feet. "Oh, for the love of...Heath, tell your brother how you feel about Nora."

"I think she's a nice girl."

"We are really getting nowhere here," Victoria exclaimed.

"What's going on?" Jarrod said as he came in. "Having a family meeting without me?"

Throwing up her arms, Victoria shook her head and put her hands on her hips. Nick, for once, remained quiet.

"It seems we are having a discussion about Nora," Heath responded. "How do you feel about her Jarrod?"

"Nora? I think she is a wonderful young lady. She should come around more often." Jarrod could tell that Heath was having fun with the conversation and making Nick sweat a little bit, so he decided to join in. He poured himself a cup of coffee and took a drink. "I wonder if she likes coffee."

"I never have gotten around to asking her," Heath said, a smile forming.

"Alright, alright," Victoria said. "You all are having a bit of sport."

"Who's having a bit of sport?" Audra said, entering the room, causing Victoria to drop into her chair and put her face in her hands. "Mother, are you feeling okay?"

"Fine. Just fine, Audra."

Nick had had enough and stood to his feet, walked over to the window, and took a deep breath before speaking. "Can we please get back to the conversation at hand? Mother?"

Victoria saw 4 sets of eyes staring at her and started chuckling, causing each one of her children to follow suit, other than Nick who remained stoic. After a few moments of laughter, she motioned for quiet. "You have had your fun, but we need to have a serious discussion. Now, Heath, we were talking about you and Nora. You have been seeing quite a bit of her lately and everyone would like to know your feelings for her. One member of the family, in particular, wants to know the answer to that question."

"Heath," Nick interjected nervously, "after what happened with Hester, I don't ever want anyone to cause problems between us. I need to know how serious things are between you and Miss Steele."

Heath thought back to Hester, Nick's fiancée who tried to make a move on him and caused a fight between the brothers and severe injury to Nick. As much as he loved teasing his brother, the solemn look in Nick's eyes sobered his thinking. It was time to be honest.

"I think Nora is a wonderful young lady, beautiful and talented. She has been mistreated and abandoned, and yet is strong and resilient. I admire that." As he paused, he noticed Nick's face sink, so he hurried on. "Do I have feelings for Nora? Yes, I have feelings for her. Of friendship. I think of her as another little sister. But, no, Nick, things are not serious and I'm not in love with her. Nor is she with me."

"You're not...I mean...you don't love her?" Nick's face had brightened considerably with the admission.

"No, Nick. And I'm pretty sure I'm not the Barkley brother she is interested in."

Nick grinned, his countenance changing from glum to ecstatic in seconds. "That's all I needed to know," he said before sauntering over and smacking Heath on the shoulder. Then he started for the front door and turned. "Why didn't you tell me before this?"

"You didn't ask me," was Heath's curt answer. "Where you heading? Want me to come with?" he teased.

"Not today, little brother. Not today," Nick said, slapping his hat down on his head and strolling out the door.

"Well, it's about time," Audra said, reaching for a cup, and bringing surprised looks from her family. As she glanced at each of them, she smiled. "Didn't we all know those two are soulmates?"

"Soulmates," Victoria said, smiling. "What do you know about soulmates, young lady?"

Pouring herself some coffee, Audra looked off into the distance as if daydreaming. "I know mine is out there...somewhere," she replied before taking a drink.

"And he will find me one day."

###

The haze that consumed her head slowly cleared as Nora realized her arms ached. Awareness gradually came that she was sitting in a chair with her hands tied behind her. Opening her eyes, she heard the scuffling of boots in the other room, and fear came as she comprehended what she was hearing.

It was the man with the gun.

The steps grew closer and soon he was standing over her, the thought coming too late that she should have pretended to still be unconscious.

"I didn't think you would ever wake up," the man snarled.

"What do you want?" Nora asked nervously, trying to keep her voice from shaking.

"You Judas Steele's girl?"

"He's my father, yes."

"He owes me money and I'm here to collect on my debt. Nobody gets away with owing Julian Wilson."

That explains why he was here and- Nora sadly realized- also why her father had left.

"Mr. Wilson, my father has been gone for over a week, and I certainly don't have any money."

Slamming his hand down on the table, the man growled. "So, I see. All I found was these two measly dollars. I been trying to get in this house for a while but kept gettin' chased off by that mangy dog. Or your bodyguard was here. But Julian Wilson is patient."

Nora was confused by his words concerning a bodyguard but decided it was the ramblings of an irrational man.

"I'm gonna get what's owed me, one way or another," he said with a fiendish smile. Nora could smell his foul breath, coming from the rotting teeth that probably hadn't been cleaned in years. Her heart skipped a beat as she grasped his meaning.

"Mr. Wilson, I can get you the money...somehow. Just give me a little time," Nora's mind was busy trying to come up with a plan, but she couldn't think straight. Probably because of the chloroform.

"Time's up, dearie. I'm done waitin'," he said as he leaned closer. Nora opened her mouth to scream before hearing a horse ride up. Quickly pointing the gun at her, he demanded her silence.

"You expectin' company?" he said, walking to the window and peering out. "It's that bodyguard of yours. Don't you try anything, or I'll shoot you both and call the debt paid. You be real quiet," Wilson said, keeping the gun on her as he stood behind the door, silently unlocking it. "When he knocks, you tell him to come in," he whispered.

Tears formed in her eyes as she sat there wondering who was out there and what might happen next. Nora wanted desperately to warn the person but instinctively knew that Wilson was unhinged and would easily shoot them both without batting an eye. She held her breath as she waited for the knock. When it came, she took a deep breath and glanced at Wilson who gave her a glare.

"Come...uh...come in," she said nervously, hoping that everyone would get out of this alive.

When the door opened, she was shocked to see Nick Barkley's smiling face that quickly frowned when he saw her predicament. "Nora, what..."

"Nick, watch out!" she screamed, right before her captor hit him over the head with the butt of his pistol, and watched him fall to the ground, the hat in his hand landing on the floor next to him.

###

"Nick didn't even have his breakfast," Audra said as she scooped up some eggs and placed them on her plate.

"I think he had more important things on his mind," Heath said between bites. "Like wooing a woman. Always comes before food." He snickered and then continued eating.

"I'm not sure that Nora realizes how Nick feels about her," Victoria said. "But I definitely saw sparks when they were dancing. I wonder how much wooing he will have to do."

"I'm just glad that everything is out in the open," Jarrod said.

"I really think she is the one," Victoria stated to no one in particular.

"Of course, she is," Audra replied. "I've always thought so."

Victoria smiled at the comment, remembering how only recently Audra thought Heath was smitten with Nora. No sense in ruining her romantic notions though. Perhaps Nick would be the first to get married and give her grandchildren.

She wished she could be a fly on the wall at Nora's house today.

###

Nora sat and stared at Nick lying there on the floor. Wilson had removed his gun from its holster and placed it on the table before tying his feet together and his hands behind his back. There had been no movement from Nick since he had fallen, and Nora hoped he was okay. Tears ran down her face as she considered he could be seriously injured.

While she sat there and worried, Wilson was pacing around, talking to himself. He would walk outside, and then back into the house. Nora didn't speak to him and hoped that he would decide to leave since she didn't have any money. As she thought, she heard Nick groan from where he lay. Their captor was outside at the time, and she dared to speak.

"Nick, are you alright?" she said in a low voice as she saw him open his eyes. Blinking a few times, he turned his face towards her voice.

"Headache, but I'm fine. Has he hurt you?" Nick asked anxiously, not knowing yet what was going on. At the shake of her head, he spoke again. "What does he want?"

"What he wants is what's owed him," Wilson said as he walked back into the house.

"Mr. Wilson, I already told you, I have nothing to pay my father's debt to you."

Nick was impressed with the strength he heard in Nora's voice despite the fact he knew she had to be terrified. He had to get them out of this.

"I'll pay the debt. How much did he owe you?"

"No, Nick. I can't let you do that," Nora insisted.

"Shut up! Now exactly how you plan on paying me? You ain't got no money on you," Wilson responded.

Thinking for a moment, Nick remembered that he left before going upstairs to get his wallet. He could kick himself for that stupid move, but he had been too eager to see Nora. "We could go to the bank, and I'll make a withdrawal." The whole time he was speaking, he was trying to loosen his hands.

"Now ain't that a wonderful idea. We'll simply walk on into town, and you make a withdrawal while I have this gun at your back. How dumb do you think I am?"

Nick really would love to answer that question, but now wasn't the time. He had to get the man out of there before Nora got hurt. "Then take me as your hostage. My family will pay to have me returned unharmed."

"Nick no!" Nora shouted. "You can't go with him!"

Wilson stood there using his gun to scratch his face as he contemplated the offer. "They will, huh? Now that is a right tempting offer."

Nora's heart was racing. She couldn't let Nick leave with the man; she might never see him again. Wilson was liable to take the money and kill him and Nora couldn't take that chance.

"Please. Don't take him, take me. My father owed you, his family doesn't." Nora went silent as the heaviness of what she had suggested settled in her chest. Meeting Nick's eyes, she saw the concern there before he spoke again.

"You'll never get your money back that way," Nick countered.

Looking back and forth, Wilson nodded his head. "Let me think a moment," he said before walking outside.

"Are you crazy?" Nora asked quietly. "You can't go with him; he will kill you."

"No crazier than you are. Nora, I don't want to imagine what he might do to you if he was to take you with him. I couldn't live with myself if he hurt you..." Nora saw the tenderness in his eyes and what looked like affection. She couldn't let this man sacrifice himself for her, no matter the cost. They heard footsteps and looked over at the door where Wilson was entering.

"I made my decision."

"Mr. Wilson, I have a better offer for you," Nora responded. "My horse, Demarco. He is in the barn. Please, take him and leave us here. You can sell him for much more than my father owed you. He is from the rare Zaharili breed."

As Nick listened, his heart tightened within him, knowing what Demarco meant to Nora. Her voice had cracked when she spoke, but she held her chin high. The breed she mentioned was from her own imagination, hoping she would sell the man on her offer.

Nora choosing Nick over her horse convinced him that she cared for him, and he didn't take that lightly. It both thrilled him and made him sad for her, knowing what a hard decision it had to have been to make.

"Zaharili... yes, it seems I've heard of that breed before," Wilson bragged, not realizing how ignorant he sounded. Nick pondered, as he knew the horse wouldn't be harmed but he couldn't say the same about himself or Nora should they find themselves his hostage. Plus, his hands were almost free. He needed to sweeten the deal by adding to the story.

"Very rare. Only one breeder in the country sells them and he's in Texas. You'd never have to work again with what you would get for him."

Glancing over at Nora, he saw the hurt in her eyes. Even though she was willing to part with her beloved horse, she hadn't expected Nick's assistance in convincing Wilson. Nick would have to explain later and hope that she would forgive him.

If not, he had just made a huge error in judgment.