Chapter Eighteen

The patrons in the Carson City Saloon paid very little attention to the dark haired stranger who had entered the establishment and made his way to the far corner of the room. Why should they when they were too busy drinking, visiting or playing cards...in some cases, all three. It's not like the man was making a lot of noise or trouble.

Kyle Jensen, who was still very furious and blaming Steve when it came to the fact that Heath Barkley had fired him, had learned where Steve had went to and followed him. Pulling out a chair, he sat down. Kyle didn't know why Jarrod and Steve had traveled to Carson City, nor did he really care. All he knew was he wanted to make Mr. Brighton pay for what he had done. He might not have looked for a scapegoat to blame, but no one in Stockton would give him a job once they'd learned that he'd been fired from the Barkley ranch. "If the Barkleys got rid of you, I sure don't want you around here' had been the exact words spoken by more than one man when Kyle had tried to get them to hire him on. C

"May I help you, cowboy?" A thin, blonde haired waitress dressed a dark green saloon dress outlined with sparkling, fake, diamonds waltzed up to Kyle; she was holding a platter with a single beer sitting on it. It was the last glass of liquor she's been trying to sell to the patrons.

He nodded towards the seat next to him. "How about sharing a beer with me?"

"Sure thing," the waitress set the beer on the table. "Needed a break anyhow," That really wasn't so, but she figured if she played up to him she'd stand a better chance of getting a larger tip.

Kyle watched the woman sat down and decided it wouldn't hurt to mix a bit of pleasure with business. He picked up the beer and slid closer to the waitress.

~oOo~

Jarrod stood on the front porch of the Davies home. He was waiting for Steve and Nick to join him; the three of them would be heading to town afterwards. Jarrod leaned against the outside wall of the home and closed his eyes. How he wished he could actually say the name Nick, not just think it. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the front door open. Thinking his brother and Steve were ready to leave for town, Jarrod opened his eyes only to see Mrs. Davies standing a few feet away.

"They're about ready." She said as if she'd read his mind and then sat down in a chair one of two chairs she'd set on the front porch just that morning. "I wanted to talk to you for a few minutes." She gestured towards the chair.

"Thanks, but I'd rather remain standing. I'll be sitting soon enough." Jarrod smiled and answered politely even though he couldn't help but wonder what was coming, and something was coming. It had to be; the look in her eyes was far too serious for it to be otherwise.

While Mrs. Davies was still not able to put her finger on 'it', she just knew there was more to Steve's and Jarrod's visit than they were letting on. She said as much too. "Don't deny it." She held up her hand when Jarrod stiffened ever so slightly. "I know my peculiarities and such, but I'm not totally blind either. I have watched you closer than you think. I see the way you look at John when you think no one is watching; I see someone who desperately wants to say something, but won't." She paused and gave Jarrod a look similar to the one that his own mother would give him when she knew he was hiding something. Mrs. Davies folded her arms. "I'm not asking you to tell me anything. I'm not sure I'd want to hear what you had to say right now I admit, wrong as that might be. I'm just warning you. I don't want John hurt. He might not be my son by blood, but I have raised him since he was brought here. I and my late husband went through a lot with John in the past seventeen years. For better or for worse, John Summers is a part of this family even if my husband and I never legally adopted him. I don't care what name he uses or where life might eventually take him; I'll still go after anyone who harms him."

Jarrod's smile spread over his face as he relaxed. He would have been highly disappointed if the woman before him had said anything else. "Believe me, Mrs. Davies. The last thing on this earth I want to do is hurt John. I want to be his friend." He then added only to himself, ' I'd put myself in harm's way before I ever stood by and watched him get hurt again. I want to be his brother again'.

Mrs. Davies looked him over, nodded and relaxed. Somehow, she knew Jarrod spoke the truth, and it helped the unease that had been her companion for days leave. "Be careful when you go to town with those two." She smiled and nodded towards the house where John and Steve were just finishing their lunch. "They have a way of getting into trouble. They mean well, but there's just too much energy between the two of them. I can't tell you the mischief those two have gotten into. You'd think two full grown men could behave themselves. Then again; maybe, in John's case, it's simply a case of a young boy being forced to grow up too fast and trying to make up for what he lost." There was love, compassion and understanding in the woman's voice as she spoke. She paused again and then added in a serious tone-even as her eyes started laughing, "If they fight in the saloon again and get thrown in jail, I hope they know a good attorney to bail them out."

Jarrod would have busted up laughing his brother and Steve opened the front door and walked out. So, instead, he followed them down the steps…but not before turning and allowing Mrs. Davies to see the laughter in his eyes.