Chapter Six

Maggie laughed, as Heath tripped over a small pebble and landed in the pond that sat roughly two miles from the home her Grandfather Adam had left her. If Heath had been hurt, she would not have laughed, he was only wet from head to foot. When Heath had finished the work Nick had given him for the day, he'd ridden over to Maggie's house and asked her to ride with him. They'd done just that, until they'd come to the creek and taken a break. Seeing Heath stand up in the pond, dripping from head to toe, had Maggie laughing hard and very glad they had taken the break from riding.

Heath was grinning and chuckling too, as he walked out of the pond and back up onto the bank. Soon he was sitting on the grass near Maggie letting the sun dry him off. Their laughter gradually stopped as they la on the backs and watched birds fly over head. "Do you really think my cousins will try something if your family wins in court?" Maggie sat up and looked over at Heath, who also sat up.

"Nick does and, he might be a lot of things, only he knows your cousins all too well." Heath answered slowly.

"You're both angels; you know that don't you?" an overly anxious look then appeared in Maggie's eyes. She hated the idea of anything happening to any of the Barkleys because of the actions of her cousins. "Maybe we should just give them the land, even the land I was given."

While Heath appreciated the compliment, he wasn't about to let Paul and Tyrell bully anyone out of their land. It wasn't right. "No, we don't give in to men like your cousins. Now," Heath said as he stood up and then helped Marissa up, "Let's finish our ride. Last one to the stables has to provide supper." He couldn't help but laugh, as Maggie bolted for her horse. She was a great cook, but hated the kitchen. He was sure her motto had to be something along the lines of *Eat out; it helps keep this kitchen clean.

None of the men who continued working for Maggie were surprised to see Maggie and Heath racing towards the stable. "Looks like the boss just might win this race." One of the older men joked, as Maggie stayed ahead of Heath. Both Nick and Heath had told the long time ranch hands not to start acting as if Maggie had stopped being their boss. In fact, while the Barkley's had taken over paying the men, it was Maggie that continued giving them their daily assignments.

"Of course she will," Thad McColl, Duke's McColl son who had gone from working with his father to working for Maggie at Nick and Heath's request, grinned. "Heath will let her win." The other men laughed and told him he'd best not repeat that around Heath or Maggie unless he wanted to find himself without a job and explaining things to his father.

In spite of what Thad said, Heat did not let Maggie win; she did that on her own. Okay, it was only by an inch or two; still, she did it on her own. "So," she laughed as she and Heath dismounted their horses. "What are you cooking?"

Heath started laughing, "I only said the loser had to provide supper; I never said they had to cook it themselves."

For a second it looked as if Maggie was going to argue; only she didn't. Instead she started laughing too and led her horse into the stable with Heath right behind her.

Heath watched as Maggie took her saddle off her horse, Misty. Due to the look that was still in his eyes, a part of him wanted to get a hold of Paul and Tyrell and wring their necks. Why couldn't those two men just simply disappear? It would save everyone so many headaches and, he feared, heartache too. Only Maggie's voice stopped his train of thought.

' "You haven't been listening have you?" Maggie stepped out of the stall and looked at Heath; she was a bit irritated only she also understood.

"Sorry, my thoughts were elsewhere." Heath admitted, not surprised when Maggie told him that must be a Barkley trait, as Nick had done the same thing when she'd went to the Barkley's house to see their mother and Audra.

"I was telling you that you and Nick need to stop acting and looking so serious. We've gathered enough statements over the past week to prove Grandfather was sound of mind and was not coerced into anything. When a court date is set, we'll win. Now, provide dinner." Maggie laughed as she walked past Heath and tapped him on his upper arm. Heath only laughed, turned and quickly caught up to her. There was a restaurant in town that had barely opened, and he'd heard the woman who cooked was an expert in the kitchen.

~oOo~

The soft breeze blowing through Jarrod's hotel room felt good and his bride lying next to him felt great. The whole morning would have been perfect for him if his mind wasn't on his brothers and legal fight they had now, all because of the greed of two men. Though, if Jarrod thought he was going to hide the fact that he was concerned about Nick and Jarrod, he was mistaken as he found Laura on her side, her left hand on the side of her face.

"Don't you dare, Jarrod Barkley!" Laura gently reprimanded him as she ran her fingers down the side of his face.

"Don't I dare what?" Jarrod tried to act innocent even though he was sure Laura could see through him; she did.

"Don't act so naïve. You know what I'm talking about. Don't you dare continue to worry about Nick and Heath while we're on our honeymoon. They're grown men; they can take care of themselves." Laura wasn't trying to be cold or harsh, as she did care about her brother in laws and what was going on. She simply didn't want her honeymoon spoiled was all or the man she loved with all her heart worried sick. After all, honeymoons didn't happen every day.

Jarrod sighed as he ran his left hand through Laura's long, thick black hair. "Sorry, I can't seem to help it. I can't stop feeling one of them is in more danger than the other one, but," he said with frustration in his voice, "I can't tell you which one. Usually, I can do that."

Laura gave him a sympathetic smile and lowered her head, "I don't know what to tell you, but I know what I can do to help get you distracted for awhile."

Jarrod's eyes widened and he let out a small groan as Laura placed her mouth on the side of his cheek and ran her fingers down his very much bare side. Although Nick and Heath would stay in his thoughts, they were pushed off the main stage as he allowed Laura, and what she was doing to him, take over. "You'd better be okay when I get home, dear brothers." Jarrod thought as his ability to think about something else besides his wife began slipping away.

~oOo~

*This is a variation of many sayings I've seen in more than one kitchen.