Chapter Two

Maggie sat in the Barkley's living room laughing and talking with Victoria and Audra. While Heath, Nick or one of the extremely trusted ranch hands had kept an eye on her for the past two weeks, this was the first real visit she'd had with the Barkley women since her great grandfather had passed on.

"I think Grandfather Adam would agree." Maggie said after Audra had commented on how overprotective the Barkley men could be at times. "Only, he'd ask; so what's so wrong about that? I never could give him a good enough answer so I stopped complaining."

"And he'd be right in asking." Victoria smiled at the two young women in front of her. Okay so technically, at twenty four years of age, Maggie was older than Audra. Still, she was young. Neither Audra nor Marissa were about to argue with the Barkley Matriarch, so they simply changed subjects and continued visiting.

While the women were chatting, Nick and Heath were having their own conversation near the corral fence. "It's been two weeks, Nick." Heath tossed the small rock that was in his hand into the center of the empty corral. "Maybe Paul and Tyrell won't contest anythin'."

Nick rested his arms on the tops of the fence and let his hands hang loose. His eyes took a look of someone that was in another time and place. Heath started wondering if his brother had even heard him and would have said something only Nick broke the silence before he could. "They'll come, sooner or later; they'll come and try to take what Adam gave to us and to Maggie away." He turned and looked at Heath, giving him a half smile. "Though, I guess we can't walk around on ice until they do make a move." He then switched subjects, embarrassing Heath as he did so. "So, when are you gonna start courtin' Maggie anyway?"

Surprise shone on Heath's face; he hadn't expected Nick to say such a thing. Then again, as Heath thought on what good friends he and Maggie had become. He couldn't say the question totally shocked him either. If he were to be honest, Heath would have to admit he'd found himself thinking about Maggie more and more, even before Adam Hamilton had passed away. Only problem was, Maggie had never indicted she thought any more of him than a cousin or uncle; she'd been an only child when her parents had been killed, so she had no siblings. On top of that, Heath was concerned Maggie might think he was only courting her because of the land; he didn't want her thinking that either. "I don't know that I will; I don't know that I won't." Heath answered as he turned away from the corral and headed back towards the house. It was almost time for supper, and he wanted to wash up after a long day's work.

"What do mean you don't know that you will?" Nick, who had quickly caught up with Heath, demanded. "You've liked her for some time now. You keep waitin' and she'll slip away from you, or something will take her away from you!"

Without thinking, Heath shot back, "Fine, grab yourself a date and we'll make it double and go to the first summer social; it's being held next week." The moment the words were out of his mouth, Heath wanted to take them back, as he saw the expression of deep pain appear in Nick's eyes. In that moment, he knew exactly what Nick had been thinking about, and why he had said what he had, while standing by the corral fence. Speaking before one spoke was supposed to be Nick's vice not his. However, before Heath could say anything else, Nick bolted towards the front door. Heath sighed; he wasn't surprised when his brother left the door open and disappeared into the house, nor was he shocked to hear his mother calling after Nick only to corner Heath, the moment he stepped inside the house.

"What is wrong with Nick?" Victoria, who had been sitting on the sofa stood up as Heath entered the room.

Heath sighed as he took off his hat. "We…" he looked at Maggie and blushed a bit, "were talking about Paul and Tyrell. Afterwards, I said I was thinking to ask Maggie here if she was interested in going to the first summer social. I…" he again paused. He didn't have to finish as a slightly pained look came into Victoria's eyes.

"You didn't." She said, her eyes begging him to tell her she was wrong.

Heath made his way to the empty fireplace and nodded. "I'm sorry."

Maggie was confused and it showed. Her perplexity was noticed by all, and Victoria went from wanting to ask Heath why he pulled Nick's stunt; that is not thinking, to asking herself the same thing. Having raised their guest's curiosity, Victoria felt it would be rude not to at least give her the basics. She sat back down and asked, "Remember two years ago, when your great grandfather paid for you to go to school? Remember then; after you came back, you told me that you noticed two things? The relationship between Nick, Heath and myself seemed rather strained, and Nick wasn't quite the same. Do you remember?"

"Sure I do." Maggie answered, as she thought back to that period of time. She hadn't understood the slight tension between Victoria and her two sons. She'd also noticed that while Nick was still stubborn, ornery and hot tempered, he wasn't chasing every pretty face that came into town. At the time, as unusual as it was for her, Maggie had asked Victoria about it. She'd been told very bluntly, though politely, not to worry about it. That Nick and she were simply mending some fences.

"He'll be up there the rest of the night." Audra said as she glanced up the stairs only to find her mother's silent glare reprimanding her for interrupting before she, Victoria, began speaking again.

"Your great grandfather hired a couple and their three children to work on the ranch. Well, the father and two sons were hired to work outside while the mother, Marie, and their daughter, Iris, worked inside." Victoria turned her attention away from Audra back to Maggie. "Nick took to Iris right away and she too him. Unfortunately, one of Iris' brothers had two faces. Long story short…the brother did a number of dishonorable things all for the sake of laying his hands on more money." Victoria paused as she relived the events of the past. When she started speaking again, her voice was a tad softer. "Unfortunately, before everything came out, Iris' integrity was also questioned; many believing she was involved with her brother's scams. Nick stood by her and, with Heath's help, even cleared her of a couple of the charges. However, thanks to Paul and Tyrell's constant interference and their distrust of Iris, her parents and the good brother, clearing her of those charges proved extremely difficult. Unfortunately, because she still appeared to be involved in all the mess, I…" Victoria sighed as some of the old guilt found its way into her eyes, "I was very vocal about how I'd come to feel about the young woman. Iris wouldn't come around after that, though Nick did continue to see her over my objections."

"What happened to her?" Maggie asked cautiously.

Heath took a huge breath and continued to relay the events when both Victoria and Audra looked away. "Nick, I and Iris were finally able to find enough evidence to clear her name of any suspicions and send her brother to prison. Because of commitments I had, I came home, but nick and Iris stayed in town. Her brother found them as they headed for the sheriff's office." Heath paused and then continued. "Paul and Tyrell had found out where we doing that night and, due to their hatred and distrust, told her brother where we were headed; they didn't know I had already left so they included me. I don't know what he planned on doing to his sister, but he tried to kill Nick yelling he'd get me as well. Iris managed to save Nick, but it cost her her life. The law couldn't do anything about your cousins; Paul and Tyrell claimed they had no idea the man was going to try to kill anyone. Mother and I fixed our relationship without too much of a problem. When it comes to Nick, it took longer, but they too have managed to repair their relationship over a period of time. However, there is still bad blood between us Barkley's, and Paul and Tyrell." Heath said in disgust.

Maggie felt herself get sick to her stomach. She'd never really gotten along with Paul and Tyrell as they did have a tendency to be greedy and would look for fights; still, she had never realized just how deep their hatred of anyone could go. She didn't know why, but all of a sudden she knew why Nick and Heath had been discussing her two cousins. "I'm not going to give my land to them and I'll fight them if they try to get the law to go against Grandpa Adam's wishes and take what you were given away."

Relief appeared in all their eyes and for the rest of the evening Victoria, Heath, Audra and Maggie did their best to enjoy the evening…even if Audra's statement proved right. Nick stayed up in his room the rest of the evening.