People can Change
Ch. 10
Rick rode up to the house the whole time watching the small group of people who were gathered outside. He immediately saw Mrs. Breckenridge standing off to the side holding her son. He remembered the first day he met her. Scott had come around hoping to talk some sense into Mr. Hank Breckenridge, but that didn't work out. Then when Mr. Hank saw Juliet he about blew his lid. Sighing, Rick stopped in front of the big house.
Juliet was laughing with Victoria, Abby and Audra while her daughter was playing with Heath and Jarrod's children. Nick had to run into town for something and Jarrod was watching over Scott. Juliet spotted Rick, felt herself stiffen up, wondering why he was here. And if Rick was here it meant Hank was most likely not far behind.
Juliet's reaction wasn't missed by the ladies or Rick. He sighed as he watched her straighten up. The children and the man stop playing and walked onto the porch while he rode towards them. He never gave her a reason to trust him before, but he was going to give her a reason now.
"What do you want, Rick?" Juliet voice was cold as she asked as he stopped his horse not far from the porch.
"Hank, Slick, and Mo are heading here. Hank plans on the three of them kidnapping you. They are not far behind me; I am sure, but I am leaving California and heading to where Tim went." Rick replied.
"How do I know your telling the truth?" Juliet asked.
"You don't and I don't blame you. Guess, I have never given you or Scott a reason to believe me." Rick answered.
"Do you know why Hank hates me being with Scott? We never could figure out why." Juliet asked.
"As far as Tim and I could figure out it is because you are half Indian." Rick replied honestly. While he wasn't too sure on their marriage, he knew one couldn't stop love.
"Hank hates my Indian blood? This whole time he hated me because of my Indian background." Juliet shook her head.
Rick shrugged his shoulders as he said, "That's my guess. Well, I am taking off now. I just wanted to warn you. Tell Scott I said hi and that maybe someday Tim and I will come through town and visit ya'll." Rick reined his horse around and rode off.
Heath looked up at Juliet and asked, "Your Mom or Dad?"
"My mother. She was the chief's daughter. He wasn't too sure what to think about my mom with my dad, but nonetheless my dad married my mom. They never left the village. They passed on shortly after I turned sixteen."
Jarrod, who normally doesn't run, came barreling out of the house with a grin on his face. Before anyone could ask what was going on he said, "Scott's awake and he is asking for his family."
Juliet and her children went up to see Scott; leaving Heath and everyone else to explain to Jarrod what had just gone on. Jarrod was not surprised to hear that Juliet was half Indian. He then found himself wondering exactly how far behind was Scott's Uncle and his men.
Upstairs Juliet, Catalan, and Scott Jr. sat talking to Scott. The sight of her husband awake and talking did Juliet good while it also made her smile a mile wide.
"How long have you been here?" Scott asked as he reached for her.
"Around five days." Juliet answered. "Audra wrote to me." Juliet put their son in his daddy's arm.
Scott looked down at his son. Sometimes it was hard to believe that he had a family, but he counted his blessing that he'd changed and had the love of Juliet.
Juliet watched as Catalan started talking a mile a minute to her daddy. Scott was smiling the whole time. It was about half an hour later and Scott began to feel sleepy again.
"We will let you rest, honey. We will be back later." Juliet said as she took Scott Jr. back from his dad. "Come on Catalan, we need to let daddy rest." Juliet decided she would tell Scott about his uncle later.
Catalan nodded as she got off the bed. She was satisfied that her daddy would be okay.
Scott watched his family leave the room then once they left he closed his eyes. His family was safe with him and the Barkleys watching over them.
/
Hank, Mo, and Slick rode into Stockton as the sun began to set. They would get a room above the saloon and then in the morning come up with a plan to get Juliet with no regard for the children.
"What happens to those brats of hers are no concern of mine," said Hank.
Jarrod was sitting in the saloon drinking a beer. His mind was thinking about the last few months. Scott being in that coma like state, Juliet showing up with two children, Scott waking up, and now his uncle was after Juliet because of her being half Indian. Shaking his head he stood up and as he was about to leave he spotted three men walk in. One of them looked a lot like Scott. Jarrod guessed he must have been Hank. The two others Jarrod, assumed were Slick and Mo.
Jarrod left the saloon and after telling his wife what was going on. He rode hell bent for leather to get back to the ranch. He needed to let his family and the Breckenridge family know who was in town.