People can Change

Ch. 6

The sun was beating down on Stockton when Juliet and her children arrived in town. She looked around and spotted the sheriff's office. They rode to the building and once there Juliet dismounted holding her son. Looking at her daughter eyes asking if it was okay to get down, Juliet nodded her head. Catalan dismounted and followed her mom into the building.

Sheriff Fred Madden was drinking his coffee when the door opened. He about spilled his cup when he saw a woman with two children standing in front of him, but what got his coffee almost spilled was the fact she had a pistol around her waist.

"Can I help you ma'm?"

"How do I get to the Barkley ranch?" Juliet asked.

"Mr. Jarrod Barkley and his family are going to be headed out there shortly. Why don't I show you to his house and he can escort you out there?"

"That will do." Juliet answered. She and her children were tired, but they needed to finish the last leg of their journey.

Sheriff Madden led her and her children down the boardwalk and then downtown to where Jarrod lived. He noticed the little girl held tight on to her horse's reigns, while the lady he assumed was the children's mom led the other horse. He was still trying to figure out who the lady was and why she wanted the Barkleys when they arrived to Jarrod's house.

Jarrod had just helped his wife and children into the buggy when he saw the sheriff leading a woman and two children towards him. He came around the buggy and waited until they stopped in front of him.

"Can I help you, Sheriff?" Jarrod asked.

"This lady wanted to know how to your family's ranch. I figured she could follow you out there." Sheriff Madden answered.

Jarrod looked at the woman before and asked, "I'm Jarrod Barkley ma'am. What is it you want with my family?"

"I would rather tell your family all at once than repeat the same story, Mr. Barkley." Juliet spoke.

"Mommy?" Catalan asked.

Juliet looked down giving a tired smiling, "What is it?"

"When can we eat and when do we see daddy?" Catalan asked.

"Soon, I hope." Juliet asked.

Jarrod watched the whole time with a certain thought going through his mind but he kept it to himself.

"I'm sorry for being so abrupt Mr. Barkley; my young children are tired, and we have travelled a long distance. Please, I will explain once we are there. We are of no threat; I assure you."

Jarrod did not for one minute believed they were. He nodded, and then said, "Follow us."

Juliet helped her daughter mount, and Catalan took her baby brother from her mom so her mom could mount her horse. Once Juliet was in the saddle, she took her son back and the three of them followed the buggy Jarrod Barkley drove out of town.

Sheriff Madden watched them for a few minutes before heading back to his office. For once he was glad today was slow. He hoped that the Barkleys weren't inviting trouble with whoever this lady was. As it was, he couldn't help but wonder who she was and what she wanted from the Barkleys.

/

Hank Ball leaned back in his chair as he listened to his right hand man, Tim, tell him about that lady that his nephew loved to be around. They had finally found her in the town of Stockton and she had the two children with her. He could care less about those brats, but he was going to get his hands on that girl.

Tim didn't agree with his boss on what he was planning on doing to Juliet once Hank got his hands on her,but he rode for the 'brand' for better or for worse. Maybe he better change his way of thinking before he got killed for something stupid as taking a woman away from the man she loved. Tim wasn't about to tell his boss that the reason Hank hadn't lost his ranch during that five month drought was because Scott paid a lot of his bills. No thanks, Tim wasn't stupid enough to tell him for one reason only and that would be Mr. Hank would hate beholding to his nephew and would vow that it was a lie.

Hank stared out the window then spoke, "Go get Slick, Rick, and Mo and tell them we are riding out for Stockton. I am going to deal with that lady my nephew thinks he loves."

Tim said, "Okay, will do sir." As Tim left he thought 'Bag this, I ain't waiting around here. I tell the men he wants to ride with him, but then I am leaving here not ever looking back. Next job I am going to be picky on who I work for. His nephew does love Juliet and she feels the same about him. Even a blind person could see that.'

It never crossed Hank's mind that the man who had been with him for a long time would walk away from the friendship praying the whole time that Juliet and Scott would survive whatever Hank had planned. No, Hank didn't use his brain to see that the plan could very well be his downfall.