Victoria sighed in frustration as she left Phil Archer's office; his law clerk told her Mr. Archer was out until next week. She wondered if he had purposely stirred up the trouble between Jarrod and Nick knowing he would be out of town. Based on what she knew about the man she doubted he thought that far in advance; although she had no complaints so far regarding his work for the Barkley's business.

Instead of going home she decided to make the trip to town count. She had went by Jarrod's office and Edith told her she hadn't seen Jarrod but judging by the notes he left her she imagined he must have worked pretty late last night. She knew her eldest had mentioned he had gotten a room at the Cattleman's but she didn't want to disturb him right now. She would go see Jarrod on her way out of town.

Victoria Barkley prided herself on her manners and etiquette but her curiosity was getting the best of her when it came to Samantha Harris. She knew she should wait until Monday night to meet Miss Harris but she was in town and what would it hurt to stop by the Pool Emporium and meet the young woman beforehand? Besides she did want to apologize for Nick's behavior yesterday and she was sure Jarrod had not told her what they had talked about regarding Archer and Nick.

Victoria paused briefly as she looked in the windows of the Pool Emporium; it was very nice, not your average saloon. She noticed a young lady behind the bar and wondered if that was Miss Harris. She was average height with medium length blonde hair and from what Victoria could see she was dressed nicely. Victoria jumped when Jarrod stuck his head in the window surprising his mother. She jumped back and put her hand on her chest as her son laughed at her.

Jarrod came out laughing at his mother. "Did I startle you mother?"

Victoria swatted at the attorney and said, "Jarrod Thomas Barkley how dare you scare me like that."

Jarrod grinned sheepishly at his mother and said, "Well you had Sam a little concerned the way you were staring at her."

Victoria arched her eyebrow at Jarrod as she spoke, "Well are you going to take me in and introduce me to your lady friend?"

Jarrod grinned broadly as he bowed to his mother and motioned her towards the door, "Lovely lady."

Victoria smiled as she walked past Jarrod and into the Emporium. It was even nicer inside than she originally thought. Jarrod lightly touched his mother's elbow as he guided her to the bar where Sam was at.

Sam had her hair pulled back in a bun with a pencil sticking from behind her ear. Victoria noticed Sam's eyes were as brilliant blue as Jarrod's and hoped her future grandchildren would have their parents eyes. Victoria mentally scolded herself for thinking that far in advance but her eldest very rarely brought home any women for the family to meet unless they were indeed special and she had a feeling this young lady was very special to her son.

"Mother, I would like you to meet Miss Samantha Harris." Victoria smiled politely at Sam. "Sam this is my mother, Victoria Barkley."

Sam offered her hand to Victoria, "It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Barkley."

Victoria smiled as she shook Sam's hand and replied, "It is a pleasure to meet you as well Miss Harris. Jarrod has told a me a great deal about you."

Sam blushed as she looked from Victoria to Jarrod. "I am not sure if I should be flattered or not."

Jarrod chuckled and answered, "Flattered."

Sam smiled sheepishly and said, "Jarrod has said nothing but kind things about his mother Mrs. Barkley I can assure you."

Victoria looked at Jarrod who was looking around the Emporium and smirked as she thought what her son had actually said about her.

Sam motioned for Victoria to sit at the bar. She placed a coffee cup in front of Victoria and poured her a cup of coffee. "Would you like sugar or cream?"

Victoria smiled at Sam and said, "No thank you."

Jarrod sat next to his mother while Sam poured him a cup of coffee as well. Victoria watched the two very closely and noticed Sam blush slightly when Jarrod winked at her.

As Jarrod sipped his coffee he asked, "What brings you into town today mother?"

"I came to see Mr. Archer but his law clerk informed me he will be out of town for the rest of the week..."

"He had to go to Lonesome Camp..."

Victoria interrupted her eldest, "Oh? How did you come about that information?"

Jarrod smirked as he sipped his coffee, "I went by his office this morning and the law clerk told me."

Victoria breathed a sigh of relief that Jarrod had not confronted Phil yet. "I'll talk to him when he gets back to town." Victoria sipped her coffee which was amazingly good.

"I will too," Jarrod said sternly.

Sam was watching Jarrod and his mother interact and noticed the closeness between mother and son.

"Jarrod please let me handle this."

Jarrod frowned at his mother and said, "I'm sorry but that's not possible. Whom I have as a client is none of Archer's business and the only reason he told Nick was to stir up trouble between the two of us. I want to know why he's keeping tabs on me."

"So you agree with me that Archer purposely stirred up trouble between you and Nick?"

Jarrod sighed as he looked at Sam who smiled at him. "Yes although Archer did not put those words in Nick's mouth."

Victoria agreed, "No he didn't but I can tell you this your brother feels horrible for what he said yesterday. We were both up quite late last night talking."

Jarrod rubbed his temple refusing to look at Sam. "But he still said it."

Sam sighed as they had talked about Nick's outburst last night and again this morning and Jarrod was showing his so-called Barkley stubbornness in refusing to give his brother the benefit of the doubt. Jarrod got up and walked away from the bar but Sam ignored him. "What Nick said was uncalled for because he had never met me nor did he know the situation involving Jarrod and myself." Sam bowed her head and said quietly, "I have been accused of a lot of things but what Nick said was hurtful. However that being said I know that often times people say things they later regret in the heat of the moment and I feel that is what happened with Nick."

"Nick speaks before thinking," Victoria said.

"That is the same thing Jarrod said." Sam looked at Jarrod who had his back to them while he looked out the window. She had hoped they could go back upstairs to her apartment this morning but it appeared that would not be happening. Sam looked at Victoria and said quietly, "I care very much for Jarrod and while he will not admit it I know how much his brother's outburst hurt him. We have talked about it quite a bit and when he told me about the famous Barkley stubbornness well I believe Jarrod is the ringleader because he is not budging on this."

Victoria smirked at Sam. It was apparent this young lady had gotten quite close to her eldest son and it was also apparent the young couple had strong feelings for each other. She had worried that Nick's outburst would cause them problems but it appeared Victoria's worries were for not.

"Yes I believe Jarrod is probably the most stubborn of all the Barkley's," both ladies laughed.

Jarrod had been looking out the window when he heard his mother and Sam laugh. He refused to acknowledge them because he knew both Sam and his mother felt Nick did not mean to hurt Sam like he had. Jarrod sipped his coffee and although he knew they were right he still felt Nick had no right to say what he had said to Sam. Jarrod also knew it was up to Sam if she would forgive Nick or not but Jarrod was not ready to do so.

Jarrod heard a noise behind him and turned around to face Sam. He looked past her and noticed his mother was no longer in the bar. Sam wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

She spoke softly, "I like your mother very much Jarrod."

Jarrod wrapped his arms around Sam and buried his head in her hair as he spoke, "Hmm." Jarrod reached behind her and put his coffee cup down so he could gather Sam up in his arms. "What did you two talk about?"

Sam continued to nuzzle against Jarrod's chest, "If you hadn't walked away you would know." She played with the buttons on his shirt.

"Is that so?"

"Uh huh," Sam raised her head up and removed his tie as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You need to behave young lady," Jarrod said not very convincingly as he kissed her neck.

Sam played with the hair on the back of his neck and whispered, "I don't have to open up for another three hours."

Jarrod stopped kissing her neck as he looked at Sam, "Honey..."

Sam quieted Jarrod's protests with a deep kiss that he returned. She broke away and swayed to the doors and locked them as she slowly walked towards Jarrod extending her hand to him. Jarrod took her hand and allowed her to lead him upstairs to her apartment.