Dear Chloe,

I hope this letter finds you well. I was so pleased to receive your letter this morning and I cannot even begin to tell you how proud I am of you for being chosen to do a recitation at the school exhibition. I will do my very best to be back in time to see it.

I had to laugh when I read about your fishing expedition with Uncle Nick and Miss Nikolas. You described your uncle coming up with riverweed behind his ear so well I could almost see it. I do hope Miss Nikolas didn't laugh at him too hard and I'm glad you were able to land such a large fish with your uncle's help.

My business is going well and it should be wrapped up in the next few days. A freak storm has hit the mountains and delayed the judge, so it may take a little longer than expected. I hope the storm does not slow down the mail too much, as I am sure you are awaiting my letter as much as I looked for yours. I will wire when I leave and again when I know exactly when I will arrive home.

I hope you are not missing me even half as much as I miss you, my sweet Chloe, and I will be with you as soon as I can.

All my love,

Daddy

.

Jarrod looked up from his letter. The wind was howling outside, but inside the snug house, a warm fire crackled on the hearth. He was glad he'd inspected the mine, gotten all the facts, and filed his own suit against Robert Miller before the storm had hit. It was lucky that the man was genuinely disliked in Silver Springs and it hadn't taken long to reassure the miners that the Barkleys cared about their well-being. He'd even acted on a few suggestions to make working the mine less arduous and had won his employees' respect. Now all that remained was for the storm to die down and the circuit judge to arrive so the legal matters could be laid to rest and he could get back home to his daughter.

He turned when he heard the rattle of china.

"I made some more coffee."

Jarrod smiled at his hostess. He was glad he'd taken the foreman's suggestion and gotten a room at a local boarding house instead of the hotel. The widow who ran the place was an excellent cook and it didn't hurt that she was charming and personable. He hadn't spent much time there other than to sleep and eat breakfast, but with the way the wind was blowing, Jarrod wasn't planning to stir anytime soon.

"Thank you, Mrs. Ashburn. I do hope you'll be joining me."

She smiled and Jarrod admired the dimples in her cheeks and the way her eyes sparkled. "Well, with only you staying here, I suppose I can. You're not a very demanding guest, Mr. Barkley."

"Jarrod, please," he told her as he got up and held a chair for her.

"You can call me Rebecca," she invited as she sat. " 'Mrs. Ashburn' always makes me think of my late husband's mother." Rebecca poured two cups of coffee as Jarrod sealed and addressed the envelope. "A letter to your daughter?"

"Yes." Jarrod pulled his watch out of his pocket, opened it and handed it to her. "Have I showed you her picture?"

Rebecca took the watch as she nodded. "At least once," she said with a smile.

Jarrod was slightly embarrassed. "My apologies."

"Not needed." She looked at the picture and handed the watch back. "You obviously adore her."

"She's the center of my world," Jarrod admitted as he looked at Chloe's picture inside the watch case.

Rebecca sighed. "My husband and I never had any children but that was probably for the best," she told him. "I honestly don't know why I ever married him. Well, I guess he was handsome and fascinating, but it was the act of a professional gambler and con man. I know it's not nice to say it's better that he died, but…" She shrugged with a rueful expression.

Jarrod knew how she felt. But if Beth had died of Hyatt's bullet, he wouldn't have Chloe and that was unthinkable. "You could have always gotten a divorce," he said softly, "like I did." Jarrod felt he should return honesty with the same, so at her quizzical expression, he continued. "Chloe's mother abandoned us. The divorce was finalized not long before I left Stockton." He didn't go into any further details.

"What woman in her right mind…?" Rebecca cut off what she was going to say and blushed. "I'm sorry, but you've always been so pleasant and charming."

Jarrod couldn't help but give her a dashing smile. "Thank you." He took a sip of his coffee. "Just what I needed." He hoped she thought he was only talking about the coffee.

They sat in companionable silence for a few moments. "Well, I'm sure you have work to do. I'll leave you alone."

Jarrod found he was enjoying Rebecca's company. "Actually, I've finished all I can," he informed her. "I'm just waiting until the judge can get through." He spied a chess set on the bookcase and went to retrieve it. "Do you play?"

"Oh, here and there," and Jarrod detected a glint in her eyes. He grinned as he set it down on the table between them. "White or black?" Maybe she would be a challenge.

A few hours later, Jarrod tipped over the black king in defeat. "My congratulations to the lady," he said and took her hand and kissed it before Rebecca could object.

She opened her mouth to respond before her eyes lit on the clock. "Oh, heavens, it's late and I haven't even started supper," she apologized.

Jarrod chuckled. "I'll let you go as long as I get another game afterwards," he bargained.

The game after supper was more relaxed as they'd already tested each other's skill earlier. They talked while they played, Jarrod talking mostly about Chloe and Rebecca telling tales of the town and boarders she'd had. They touched on current events and books they'd both read and Jarrod surprised himself when he told her about the kidnapping and Beth's incarceration. It was late when they admitted stalemate.

After getting ready for bed, Jarrod looked out the window. When he left Stockton, he promised Chloe that they could both say goodnight to the same star and that it would carry their wishes across the miles. There were no stars to be seen, but Jarrod said goodnight anyway to the wind and hoped his daughter knew how much her missed her and how much he loved her.