Sorry, this is a bit long. It was either have a long chapter or an extremely short one.

Chapter Thirteen

Nick, Heath and Jarrod, who had returned the day before from his honeymoon, sat on the right side of the courtroom. Maggie, their mother and their sister, along with Mr. Lawson sat with them. Paul, Tryell and their attorney, one Newel Anders, sat on the opposite side. All the witnesses that had been called to testify were sitting in the seats provided for them. The hearing had started at nine am and it was close to noon now. The Barkleys, their attorney and their witnesses were all shocked at what the witness for the Hamilton brothers were trying to claim. If it weren't for the fact that the room was packed with people who knew Adam Hamilton well and ninety percent of them were there to testify the old man was very competent. At least, they had come so they could testify if Mr. Lawson called upon them. Now, with all the testimonies shared and any questions the judge wanted answered, everyone found themselves holding their breathes to find out just who the judge would decide in favor of.

Judge Thomas Herrain had the strongest urge to reach across his desk and slap the Hamilton brothers and their attorney for wasting his time. All four of their witnesses were know to be non reliable and untrustworthy, while all of the Barkley's witnesses were good, honest people who the judge would have trusted with his life. As it was, he forced himself to act professionally and restrained himself from such an action. Leaning forward, he looked at both parties. "There is more than ample evidence here, Mr. Anders, to show me your witnesses did not know the late Adam Hamilton as well as they thought they did." 'If they knew him at all,' was a thought the judge added only to himself. "The last will and testament of Adam Hamilton stands as it is. The land that was given to the Barkleys and to Mrs. Heath Barkley will remain in their hands." He then stood and left the room. Everyone else stood up filling the room with shouts of joy or scowls of disappointment. However, when it came to Paul and Tyrell, the Hamilton brothers were in too much shock to move. Finally Tyrell broke through his stunned silence and turned to his brother.

"Did the judge say Mrs. Heath Barkley?"

Paul nodded slowly. It was all he could do. He had not even been aware that Heath was courting Maggie. When Tyrell went to say something, Paul glared and turned on him. "Not now, this is not the time or place for it." He whispered as he growled low. He didn't dare listen at that moment as both the three Barkley brothers were too close for comfort. One of them might over hear the conversation even if he and Tyrell talked softly.

"Those two are not happy with the outcome." Nick said as he moved his eyes in the direction of Maggie's cousin. "Ten to one they appeal the decision or plan something else." It was a statement Nick was sure he was right in making, one that Heath assured him he agreed with. For the thousandth time he and Heath vowed to protect Maggie from her cousins.

Maggie glanced towards her two cousins and felt sick to her stomach. They were indeed glaring at the group. The only problem was…she couldn't tell whether or not they were looking at her brother in laws or at her and Heath, maybe it was all four. It made her fear for her new husband and brother-in-laws as she didn't believe her cousins had the patience to appeal anything. If nothing else, they would want revenge for "losing what was rightfully theirs", so what if her great grandfather had had no respect for them. Her new husband must have sensed her fear because, immediately after Nick had made his observation, Heath firmly wrapped his arm around her again.

"Let's not worry 'bout that for now. Let's worry about the fact that I need to start moving my things out to our house." Heath said as the family and their friends began filing out of the courtroom. As they walked down the long hallway in the courthouse, Nick listened to Heath and Maggie talk about Adam's old house and the remodeling she wanted to do to it now the hearing was over. He also kept his eyes wide open. Unlike Heath, Nick refused not to worry about it. The look he'd seen in Paul and Tyrell's eyes was one he'd seen on more than one occasion; it was a look that told him that if he dropped his guard he'd may end up watching someone he loved die…and he wasn't going to let that happen.

~oOo~

Jarrod leaned back in the chair behind his desk in the study. He watched as Nick walked from one side of the room to the other, leaning on the window seal as he came to a stop. The wear and tear of putting in long work hours or hours spent either watching Heath and Maggie from a distance, or having getting someone to watch them, was catching up with Nick; it showed in the way he walked, in his eyes and the way he clinched his teeth and baled his fist when he spoke of them. A part of Jarrod wanted to stand, embrace his brother and make all the hurt and worry inside of him go away; the other part wanted to slap him upside the head. Instead, he spoke in the tone he always used when he being "Pappy" and did his best to get through to his brother. "Nick, you can't keep going on like this. We won at the hearing. The land is ours. If Paul and Tyrell try and appeal, we will fight it."

"What about Heath and Maggie?" Nick turned his head as to look on Jarrod, his eyes ablaze. "Am I just supposed to start acting like any danger from those two has stopped?" He paused as he clenched his fists and pounded one upon the window seal. He wanted nothing more than to teach "those men" a lesson using his fists, but Heath and Maggie had begged him to stay away from Paul and Tyrell if at all possible.

"Of course not!" Jarrod, tiring of Nick's attitude, stood up and snapped. "You and both know that, if nothing else, sooner later those two will at least want some sort of revenge." He then leaned forward as he stiffened his arms and rested his own fists on the desk. "However," he said as he kept his eyes on Nick wanting, no needing him to stop and think for a change, "You won't be of any use to anyone if you've driven yourself into the ground from overwork and worrying too much!"

Nick slammed his other fist down upon the window seal before turning away from the window entirely. He hated it when Jarrod was right. Only what else was he supposed to do? Paul and Tyrell were still around which mean there was still trouble coming their way; he just knew it. "When do you have to leave again?"

Jarrod sighed and sat back down in his chair. Upon arriving home from his honeymoon he'd received word of a Political conference and well known attorneys being held in Washington D.C. He had thought about sending word that he would not be able to attend due to family matters, but Laura and his mother had nixed that one. Both had reminded him of how important his work with the growing rail networks and the land rights deal was as well as his promise to take Laura to the capital of the United States someday, going to the conference would kill two birds with one stone. "Day after tomorrow, but Nick," Jarrod's voice took on urgent tone as he pled with his brother as he said, "promise me you and Heath won't do anything rash while I'm gone. Don't even go near Paul or Tyrell Hamilton."

Nick looked into his brother's eyes full of concern and love and let out a slow breath. He knew Jarrod was afraid for them. That much made him feel good, and he said as much adding, "But, Jarrod, while I can promise to do my best to control myself, I can't speak for Heath, I will admit," he said as he chuckled at the his brother's raised eye brow, "He'll have an easier time than me when it comes controlling himself. When it comes to Paul and Tyrell, whether or not I'm near them is up to them. If they stay away, we won't have a problem."

Jarrod rubbed his forehead and then let out a low chuckle, one that revealed just how frustrated he really felt. "I, basically, got the same reply from Heath this morning when it comes to those two men." He looked up at his impatient brother, not surprised to see the man smiling from ear to ear. "In all reality, I guess I didn't expect you to say anything else." He made the statement more to lighten the mood than anything.

Nick, who had been standing quite rigid, relaxed and sat down on the chair that sat next to Jarrod's desk. For awhile neither brother said anything, as each lost in their own private thoughts. Only when Nick sighed and began talking was the silence broken, and then Jarrod was shocked by the words his brother spoke. It was as if he'd been reading Jarrod's mind.

"I heard mother and Laura talking to you Jarrod." Nick's voice was uncharacteristically quiet. "I see the look in your eyes now. Don't go changin' your plans out of fear for Heath or myself." Nick was surprised to see the struggle inside Jarrod's eyes. It was a struggle he understood all too well for a part of him wanted Jarrod with them, just in case.

Jarrod stood up and, for a change…he was the one pacing around in the room. It almost drove Nick crazy, but he said nothing as he figured he had no room to talk. "If Paul or Tyrell try something, if one of you is killed…" Jarrod stopped pacing and faced Nick only to find his brother stopping him.

"No, Jarrod." Nick waved his hand through the air as fidgeted slightly in his chair. "IF" might or might not happen. It doesn't really matter." He then repeated Adam's dying words. "Jarrod, Heath and I have talked about it a number of time since the old man died. He was right. While the two of us sincerely hope to live to be as old as Adam did, neither one of wish to do so if it means giving up our integrity. Adam wanted Maggie to have that land. It is now her and Heath's home. Whether I like it or not, Adam wanted us to have the land we got. Paul and Tyrell can appeal the decision, they could kill one of us out of a warped desire for revenge; however," Nick paused, took a step towards Jarrod and stressed his last few words, "Heath and I are not going to have you stay away from that conference not when you are so close to arriving at a solution to the rail monopoly; it's too important to cattlemen and farmers alike. And there is no way I want to be the cause of robbing Laura out of a trip to Washington D.C., even if it means you miss the best fight you ever saw." He added the last part trying to make light of the situation.

Jarrod couldn't help but smile, even if he did have a sudden urge to hide both his brothers. His brothers were right. He had to take Laura and go to Washington. But first he laid his hand on Nick's right shoulder and said with the slightest quiver in his voice, "You and Heath are the best brothers a man could ask for and, yes, I'll tell him that too before I leave."

Nick almost asked "How about Eugene?" only he knew Jarrod would only tell him to be quiet as Nick knew full well Jarrod loved his baby brother too, but he wasn't the one Jarrod was concerned about. "You're not too bad yourself." Nick said as he grinned and walked out of the room leaving Jarrod to his own private thoughts.