Jarrod paced nervously around while his brothers watched.
Nick laughed and said, "Heath have you ever seen our brother this nervous before?"
Heath chuckled, "Now that you mention it Nick, I haven't." Heath turned to Jarrod, "What's got you so nervous Jarrod?" Heath and Nick laughed.
Jarrod glared at his brothers and spat, "Shut up!"
Heath feigned shock at Jarrod's anger, "Boy Howdy Jarrod for someone who is marrying the prettiest girl in California you're mighty testy." Nick and Heath laughed again.
Jarrod smirked and said, "Well if my two brothers would stop teasing me I wouldn't be so testy and she is not the prettiest girl in California. She is the most beautiful woman this side of the Mississippi." Nick and Heath rolled their eyes at Jarrod who just grinned from ear to ear. "I'm going to step outside for a minute and cool off."
"Don't go too far, otherwise me or Heath here might have to take your place," Nick and Heath laughed again as Jarrod walked outside.
Jarrod leaned against the tree as he looked over the view of the Valley. He was going to miss it but he knew in time they would return. He heard a noise behind him and knew immediately who it was. He turned and smiled at his mother.
"Lovely lady what are you doing out here?"
Victoria approached her son and said, "I was going to ask you the same thing."
"I needed some fresh air."
Victoria looked at the view and said, "It's not going to be the same without you here."
Jarrod put his arm around his mother and said, "We'll be back mother."
"But New York is so far away Jarrod."
"Only a week by the train. Besides I already told you we'd be home two weeks for Christmas."
"But that's another four months from now."
Jarrod sighed as he hugged his mother, "Well you can always come visit us."
Victoria patted Jarrod's chest and said, "I just may do that. But remember you invited me."
Jarrod laughed as he kissed the top of his mother's head. "You know you are welcome to visit anytime mother."
Victoria hugged Jarrod tightly for a few minutes before she said, "I guess I better get in there before you brother starts hollering for me."
Jarrod chuckled again, "I'll see you shortly." Victoria hugged Jarrod one more time knowing the next time she did he would be a married man.
Jarrod watched as Victoria walked back into the house and sighed. Truth was Jarrod was going to miss all of this; his family and the Valley. But it was time for Jarrod to settle down and start his own family with Sam. They would return to California after everything had been completed for the first successful franchise of The Pool Emporium in New York.
The thought of Sam brought a wide smile to the attorney's face; they had been courting for six months when Jarrod finally proposed to her much to the delight of everyone, including Sam's family. The Barkley and Harris family got along exceptionally well and could not wait for the merger as Sam's father laughingly called it.
Jarrod looked in the distance and saw another guest coming riding in. He knew immediately who it was and grimaced; Phil Archer. Once Archer returned from Lonesome Camp he and Jarrod had a rather long and heated discussion with Jarrod setting the record straight on several issues. Archer told him he would quit but since his mother and Nick said he had been doing an exceptional job Jarrod advised him it was no longer his place to say but he let him know under no uncertain terms he would be watching him, even while he was in New York.
He watched as Sam's employees set up for the reception and rolled his eyes. Judging by the amount of liquor they were putting out he knew quite a few people would not be feeling good tomorrow. He smirked knowing how good he would be feeling tomorrow as he and his new bride would be on their honeymoon before going to New York.
He thought he heard Nick bellow something and shook his head as he laughed. The past few months had started out rocky for him and Nick when he decided to step away from handling all of the ranch dealings but they eventually were able to work everything out.
"Jarrod, Jarrod!" Nick bellowed, "You're gonna be late for your own wedding boy!"
Jarrod laughed as he strolled back to the house and responded, "I'm coming Nick."