Chapter One

"Tom, I hope you can see us all," as Victoria gazed at the night sky. The wedding party was still in full swing. Jarrod and Tessa were dancing closely near the shadows of the sawdust floor. Their news of a winter baby had delighted her.

"My Tessa is happiest on the ranch and they have resolved to work through her anxiety living in Jarrod's world outside the ranch. The damage Peter Doolin had done had gone beyond gossip and damaged her confidence in being Barkley. The assertions about Rosemary's parentage had come too close to her greatest secret. Only Jarrod and I know she came to her marriage bed as a virgin—and a mother. That despicable Doolin lost seven teeth to Jarrod's rage and he served a month of house arrest. Why does Peter Doolin hate my family so much? It started with Tom as I remember."

Jack and Zella Darby were involved in a lively conversation with Carl Wheeler and Audra. She smiled at her bonus son, the doppelgänger who now called her Mother. Zella was due at the same time as their twin, Tessa.

Heath was dancing with the new schoolteacher from Laramie. They looked very happy and Victoria thought they made a lovely couple.

"Maybe this time?"

Her sister Jane and her husband, Duke McColl—-Ah Douglas as she called him were visiting with her Carrington children.

With the two new babies on the way, Rosemary, James, and Mary—-she had five grandchildren within six months. Rosemary was the spitting image of Tessa and Zella. James and Mary, the twins were of different heights and weights—-but their blonde curls and large blue eyes were Nellie's—and in her mind's eye a young Tom Barkley or Audra and Heath.

"And to think I was complaining to Myrtle this time last year. Life changes quickly in this family,"

She smiled watching Nick dance with his new wife. They were oblivious to the guests.

"I don't think I have ever seen him so content," she spoke aloud.

Nellie had stolen the family's heart in the month since she arrived with her children from San Diego. Vic had been skeptical of Nick's quick engagement. She had actually tried to dislike her or at least scrutinize her character and motives. She found no flaws, just wounds from a loveless, abusive marriage that she had bound up in kindness to others—and raising her children.

"Jarrod brought home two wives and I never worried a bit. But my Nicholas?"

Nick had not spoken another word about their past and the children since the first evening. Jarrod seemed to know more and was quite content with the marriage—-but he had not shared details with her.

"I think they will be very happy." was all Jarrod told her after the first outing to Stockton.

Nick and Nellie had signed adoption papers along with their marriage license after the wedding. Nellie's stepsons had signed an affidavit of their approval as well as the executor of the estate in San Diego.

She had overheard a conversation that chilled her to the bone a week before the wedding. She knew eavesdropping was wrong but she was drawn to knowing more about her new daughter-in-law.

"She seemed so perfect for my son—-was she missing anything?"

"Nellie, we gotta talk."

"Yes Nick," as they walked by the open verandah window.

Victoria could hear the silver spurs jingle and stop as her son reached for his intended. She almost turned away from the curtain she was drawing for the night when she heard the obvious sounds of kisses.

"Nellie Jane, you aren't a bother. Please for heaven's sake believe me. You have my heart. Best I can reckon for ten years. I kept thinking to give it away but the good Lord knew I needed you—-that I would find you again."

"Oh Nick, I am sorry. I just am afraid this is all a dream and I will mess this up."

"Can you mess this up?"

And Nick pulled her into a strong embrace and kiss. Victoria pulled back a few inches but was still rooted in place.

Nick kissed Nellie's shoulder and down her neck. She took a deep breath of appreciation for his tender touch.

She sighed, "Do you remember our first kiss? You pulled my nightgown away? And gently touched the welts from Walter's strap for saying No to him? You kissed me, Nick?"

"I do. I wanted to kill him. That's when I started figuring—-out how to get you away. Just took ten years."

"Your kiss stopped me from hurting. It was like magic. Those days kept me safe for those ten years. I would just think back about you and hide there—when the twins came, I raised them for you—-for your father. Not him." and she shivered.

"I am here now. They are my children and you are my wife. This is your house now. My money is yours. Don't ask me, just spend it. I just want you, happy."

"I am so happy. I am just used to asking permission for everything. Even for what I put on the table for supper."

"Honey, I will eat whatever you put in front of me—-'Cept turnips. But hell, I would eat them for you."

They both laughed.

Victoria walked quietly away from the open window, "Thank you, Lord."

—&—-

The wedding had been quickly planned and in true Nick style—it was loud, bounteous and fun. An outdoor barbecue with meat on a spit, a lively dance by the corrals, tables of food, Silas's wedding cake, Barkley vineyards—

But the real memory of the evening was Nick himself—

He could not contain his excitement. His grin was wide and his voice seemed a tad louder than usual. His hand was always in proximity to his new bride.

His hazel eyes were always locking eyes with Nellie's big blue eyes. They looked at each other like no one else was in the room—-like they shared a big secret—-

Nellie's petite five-foot frame was sheltered in his six-foot-plus frame—all evening.

"They are going to be just fine, Mother." Jarrod came up behind her and gave her a kiss.

"I believe you, son."

—&—

Heath walked the new schoolteacher, Sally, to her uncle's rig. Her parents had passed away last year in an epidemic. She arrived in June from her home in Laramie to a teaching job in Stockton. Heath had met her at church and at her Uncle's ranch once or twice.

"Good night, Heath. Thank you for a lovely evening. Nelle was a beautiful bride."

"Good night—-uh, Miss Rhymes. I enjoyed myself too. Hope to see you in town or church." he stumbled on his words.

She looked disappointed. It was obvious she was hoping for a Goodnight kiss or at least, an invitation.

He found himself enjoying her company; she was very pretty with brown curls and matching eyes. They shared several dances at the wedding and he found himself attracted to the young woman—except when he had to call her first name. The familiar pit in his stomach began.

Every month, around the middle of the month—-he received a letter from Arizona and he faithfully wrote back. His Sally had a part time job bookkeeping in town; every letter ended with an invitation for him to visit if he got to Arizona.

He always said he would—even on the two trips to Mexico, he thought about it but stopped himself.

Something about Sally unnerved him. He looked for the letter each month, filled with details about her father's small farm, her job in town—the butterflies that would show up on the ridge. The last letter spoke of her father's upcoming wedding to a kind widow.

He wrote her back of the ranch, of his brothers and Audra—of horses and vineyards and camping—-of Jack and the Knight sisters, of Rosemary having them wrapped around her finger. Things he didn't share easily in the valley, he shared openly with her.

The next letter would include Nick's wedding and Nellie' wrote her of Strawberry and stories that came to mind. She wrote of her mother and siblings, years in the grave. They could put a journal together of their lives by combining the letters. The three days they knew each other bonded them for the past year and a half.

But could he go back?

Jarrod, Tessa, and Rosemary were headed to Arizona Territory next week with their young maid, Eugenie. Jarrod kept her on from their time in Modesto to help.

"Adoption was easier in the territory with no newspaper notices or filing times." Jarrod had explained.

"And no Phillip Doolin—-" was at the forefront of Jarrod's mind.

Just a district judge to sign off on it and Jarrod had a good friend there from law school.

There was a horse sale around that time; the same one he met Sally on the stage en route. The best breeders in Mexico brought up their stock. Better prices were gotten north of the border amongst the coup-riddled Mexican government.

There was a yearly horse sale near Tucson—-the same one he, Audra and mother had traveled to on the stage almost two years ago.

Would he?

Could he?