Nicholas Jonathan Barkley was fuming mad. He paced angrily back and forth in the foyer waiting on his brother to arrive home.
"Nicholas..." Victoria spoke but Nick interrupted her.
"Mother I don't want to hear about it. This is all Jarrod's fault and you know it."
Victoria frowned at Nick and asked, "And how did you deduce that?"
"Because he didn't tell me about the meeting this afternoon."
Before Victoria could answer Jarrod arrived home after his pleasant lunch date with Sam. Nothing could wipe the smile off the attorney's face.
"So glad you could join us Jarrod," Nick bellowed.
Jarrod looked at Nick and folded his arms on his chest and arched his eyebrows. "What's wrong Nick?"
"You neglected to tell me about the meeting today when you quit," Nick huffed.
Jarrod cut his eyes at Nick as he responded, "What meeting are you talking about Nick?"
Nick glared at Jarrod, "You know good and well what meeting I'm talking about." Nick put his hands on his hips and continued, "the meeting with the horse buyers from Colorado."
Jarrod glared at Nick and spoke coolly, "I didn't set up that meeting Nick, you did," Jarrod pointed at Nick.
Nick looked at Jarrod in shock and roared, "Why in the world would I set up a meeting for Sunday afternoon?"
Jarrod responded just as loudly, "Because Brother Nick you thought I would take care of it and as usual you didn't take into consideration what day of the week it was or if I had other plans. This is on you." Jarrod pointed at Nick.
"No..." Nick paused as he realized Jarrod was right, Nick had set up the meeting. He sighed in frustration as it was still Jarrod's fault. "Well if you hadn't walked away we wouldn't have missed the meeting."
"What you mean to say is that I wouldn't have missed the meeting, which I wouldn't have, but you did."
Victoria stood between the brothers hoping they would not come to blows as both of her son's had the Barkley temper.
"Nick can't you reschedule the meeting?" Victoria questioned.
Nick looked at his mother and sighed, "I doubt it they were pretty upset that no one showed up." Nick once again glared at Jarrod, "I've been working with them for almost a year to get an agreement and you just threw it away."
Jarrod roared, "Me? I didn't miss the meeting Nick, you did. Hell I didn't even know about the meeting. As usual you do things without telling anyone else about it and when it blows up in your face someone else picks up the pieces. Well Brother Nick I'm not picking up the pieces this time. I'm tired of groveling and apologizing for your missteps."
Nick advanced on Jarrod but Victoria blocked his path, "Please calm down both of you so we can talk about this instead of yelling about it."
Jarrod looked at his mother and responded quietly, "There's nothing else to discuss mother. Nick is the one who set up the meeting and the one who didn't show up so this is on him, not me."
Jarrod turned on his heel and went into the gun room leaving Nick and Victoria in the foyer.
"I guess you're going to tell me Jarrod's right yet again?" Nick asked sarcastically.
Victoria looked sternly at her rancher son and said, "In this instance yes he is correct. You're responsible not Jarrod."
Nick huffed, "Why am I not surprised you're taking Jarrod's side once again?"
Victoria sighed as she answered, "Nicholas you are responsible for this. I would suggest you calm down and go back into town and talk to the buyers and see if you can set up another meeting."
Nick just glared at his mother as he stomped out of the mansion and slammed the door shut behind him.
Victoria shook her head, she hated picking sides when her children fought between themselves but in this case Jarrod had been right. She just hoped Nick did not get into any trouble in town. She entered the gun room to find Jarrod at the billiard's table.
Jarrod looked up at his mother and smiled half heartily. "I heard the door slam so I would assume Nick has left?"
Victoria looked at her eldest and noticed how relaxed he was. She wondered how long it had been since Jarrod had been as relaxed as he was now even after the run-in with Nick.
"Yes he left although I am worried he may get into trouble once he gets to town."
Jarrod smirked, "For his sake I hope not because I have plans later tonight and will be unavailable to bail him out of jail."
"You have plans again tonight?" Victoria asked.
Jarrod smiled widely, "Yes I do."
"Not with Sally?"
Jarrod chuckled, "No which should make Brother Nick happy."
"May I ask who she is?"
Jarrod eyed his mother and answered, "I would rather not say right now. I just met her last night and we're still trying to figure certain things out."
Victoria frowned, "Trying to figure certain things out? That doesn't sound good."
Jarrod laughed again, "I can assure you it is nothing bad mother just a few things we need to work around." Jarrod did not want to go into details with his mother just yet.
He and Sam had talked about their potential working relationship after Jarrod had asked to take her out for dinner tonight. He was curious how her family made things work considering his situation with his family but more than anything else he wanted to see her socially.
Neither one admitted their attraction to the other but they knew it was there. Jarrod was drawn to her deep blue eyes and her mischievousness. She was attracted to his blue eyes and his charming smile. They knew there was something there and neither one wanted to sweep it under the rug due to business.
Victoria grabbed Jarrod's arm bringing him from his thoughts, "Very well dear. I hope it works out the way you want it to." Victoria kissed Jarrod's cheek as she walked out.
Jarrod beamed as he put the cue stick down and went to get ready for his date.