Chapter Twenty Eight

John, who was already amazed at the size of the Barkley's ranch, felt more shock waves go through him as the home Jarrod had told him about came into view. The place was more than huge; it was enormous! "We grew up in that?" John, who was purposely staying a few feet behind the wagon Victoria was driving, looked at Jarrod with amazement showing in his eyes.

"Oh, no," Jarrod, who was kicking himself for getting so caught up in telling John about individual family members that he forgot to say anything about the home they once lived in, "Father moved mother and me six months or so after you disappeared." He went on to tell John that, thanks to Steve, the old home was no longer in danger of being torn down.

As John listened to Jarrod talk about the old home, along with the memories Steve had had come back to him, he couldn't help but wonder if he would have anything come back to him if he too walked through the home he used to live in. Though, he said nothing at that moment. He was too busy processing the fact that the Barkleys owned the largest spread in California, along with a number of other investments.

"First thing I'll do when I get back in my office is draw up papers adding youas a part-owner in the ranch, and we'll set you up an account at the bank." Jarrod said as he finished talking.

That next to last part…that chance of being a co-owner…was the hardest to wrap his mind around. He'd never owned anything but the house he'd built, and the small bit of land that it sat on. "I won't argue with an account being set up as I'll be earning the money that's put into it." John said as he turned his head and looked at Jarrod. "However, when it comes to adding me to the ranch, let's wait and see what happens in the next few months."

As tempting as it was, John wasn't about to join the family just for the land…and he didn't want to risk sending any wrong messages. Besides, he wasn't a hundred percent sure he was going to change his name or that he would be staying past the six months he'd already promised.

Jarrod might have argued only he happened to look past John and at Heath, who riding on the other side of their long lost brother. The blonde hair cowboy shot the oldest Barkley brother a warning with his eyes, one that said 'if you push too hard, we'll lose him'. As tempting as it was to ignore the warning Jarrod listened, as he remembered how close they'd come to losing Heath a time or two when he first joined the family. He didn't want that to happen with Nick. "If that is what you want." Jarrod said after turning his face forward.

"It is." John told him and then fell silent as he watched Victoria drive the wagon through the gate. He, Heath and Jarrod were not far behind. The moment they were clear of the gate, one of the newer ranch hands shut and locked it. Ciego, who had been standing near the corral, quickly closed the gap between the Barkleys and himself, offering to put up the wagon while McColl offered to do the same with the horses.

"I thank you for the offer." John said as he dismounted his horse, "However, I'd just as soon as be the one to take care of Coco."

"Yes, Mr. Barkley," McColl, who could also see the family resemblance, smiled.

"John Summers, though you can call me John if you wish." The look in John's eyes, while not harsh, still spoke volumes and McColl heard the message loud and clear.

"John it is," McColl then asked if Jarrod and Heath wished for him to take care of their horses. He wasn't surprised when both thanked him but declined.

"We'll be in shortly Mother." Jarrod threw Victoria a smile as he led Jingo to the barn; his brothers were right behind him.

"It's going to feel strange to refer to him as John Summers. He looks a lot like you, always has." McColl looked at Victoria once the three men had disappeared into the barn.

Victoria held her head high and nodded. She wasn't surprised to hear McColl make such a statement. He'd worked alongside her late husband from the moment Tom had acquired enough land to call warrant hiring a foreman, which meant McColl had been around since before Jarrod was born. "Yes, he does." Victoria replied, deciding against saying anything to McColl's comment about the different name. What could she say? What her son preferred others to call him was up to him, not them. "Come on Audra. We need get inside."

"Yes, Mother." Audra answered as she followed her mother into the house. Once inside, she looked at Victoria and asked, "Do you think he'll ever take his real name back and stay for good?"

Victoria felt a sharp pain shoot through her heart. What would Nick do? How she wished she knew the answer to that question. Only she didn't. She shrugged her shoulders and turned her hands outwards. "I don't know; we can only hope." She then excused herself, saying she had to go see if Silas needed any help in the kitchen.

~oOo~

When it came to John, he stood inside the barn brushing Coco. Jarrod and Heath were doing the same; both men were laughing and talking, trying to pull their brother into the conversation. It did little good as John seemed to be a thousand miles away. Finally, Jarrod finished first and headed for the barn door, praying it wouldn't take John too long to adjust being with the family and on the ranch If he could do that, maybe he would see fit to use the name Nick Barkley once more. "See you inside," he said as he reached out and opened the door. Moments later, Heath also started to leave only to find Nick stopping him.

"I was hoping to talk with you privately." John, who continued to brush Coco even if the horse no longer needed it, spoke up as Heath started to walk away from Charger.

Heath stopped and sat down on a bale of hay. He had time on his hands. If John wanted to talk, Heath figured he'd listen…even if he did wonder what was coming. He only wondered more as time began ticking away and John remained silent. Heath might have been tempted to leave only he could tell by the way John was brushing Coco that whatever the man wanted to talk about had to be serious. This being the case, Heath patiently waited.