Chapter Nine

Previously:

Heath didn't know what the family was going to hear, but he could see how stressed his brother was. Standing up, he put his hand on Nick's shoulder and said, "I told you once I'd be here for you. I still mean it; no matter what the story is. I'll go talk to the men; you go home."

Nick didn't have to be told a second time.

~oOo~

Jarrod, Victoria and Audra were all sitting at the breakfast table when Nick walked into the house. Hannah and Chad would have been with them, but the young boy was running a slight fever; Hannah was up in his room tending to him. Knowing the men usually went to town before coming home-and that they weren't due back in town for a couple of hours, all three Barkleys felt a great deal of concern when Nick appeared. They might not have only Nick wore such a serious look upon his face.

"What's wrong?" Victoria asked the question just as Audra went to ask it; her echo fading before Nick could answer.

"Where's Hannah?" Nick asked looked around the table.

Victoria gave a brief explanation, one which naturally had Nick instantly worried about the boy. However, he knew he had to deal with one thing at a time. "When are you going into the office?" Nick looked at Jarrod and asked in the most serious tone Jarrod had ever heard Nick use. Well, the most serious in a long time.

"I have a visitor coming in a couple of hours, but I can send word ahead if I'm needed here." Jarrod answered.

Jarrod and the rest of the family felt lightning strike when Nick said, "Macklin can wait. Hannah and I need to talk to you. That is, after I talk to her. Heath should be in the house by then." He went on to send more shock waves through the family as he told them that McColl had, upon being told by Heath that there was a situation at the house that Nick needed to go take care of, talked to the men, and that all the men had agreed to wait for any gathering at the Stockton saloon. "The men told Heath to catch up with me and go home; he wasn't about to tell the men no. Though," Nick looked apologetically at Audra, "If Chad is sick, would you stay with him while Hannah and I talk with Mother and Jarrod? I promise; I'll have Hannah inform you of everything. Afterwards, I'll sit with him for awhile."

"I…I suppose so." Audra, who was shocked to hear Macklin's name mentioned, managed to answer.

"You knew Macklin was coming?" Victoria asked, a fire appearing in her eyes.

"No, I didn't. I only found out last night." Nick replied in a disgusted tone of voice, which helped the fire in his mother's eyes lower just a little. "I have a pretty good idea what he wants though." He then looked at Jarrod. "If, after everything is explained, you want to hit me across the jaw for keeping silent, even if I was doing it to keep a promise to a dying man, I'll more than understand. Only know this," Nick took a deep breath, "it's like I told Heath…Macklin and my paths have never crossed since that day he and his friends made their appearance here at the house. Though tell me this, did you get the paper work filed, the ones that legally declare me to be Chad's father, and that changes his name to Barkley?"

Jarrod was confused. If Nick had never seen Macklin since the day of the feigned court martial, why would Nick know Mr. Macklin was coming to Stockton, and why the urgency he heard in his brother's voice when it came to Chad's situation? Jarrod stood up and pushed back his chair, "Yes, I did. As of four o'clock yesterday, the Barkley name is his. Silas mentioned he was going into town soon; I'll ask him to stop by my office and tell Ella I've been delayed; I'll tell them to simply say I've had family matters come up that require my attention. Macklin can wait whether he likes it or not."

"Thanks," Nick said as he turned, walked out of the room and headed up the stairs. When he reached the nursery, he could see Chad lying in the bed sleeping; Hannah as sitting in the chair next to it. However, when Nick stepped into the room she, without half thinking, flew to her feet and was in his arms faster than water running down the side of a waterfall.

"Nick!" Hannah exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "I hoped you would hurry back once Ciego delivered my message to you."

"You bet I did. I don't trust Macklin…even if his goals have merit to them. Though," he pulled back and gave Hannah a sympathetic look even as he remained serious. "We have to go talk to the family. Macklin's appearance nullifies our promise to your cousin." It was a statement he knew would stir mixed emotions in her, as it did him. He then told her the same thing he'd told his family…that Heath would be in on the family discussion by the time Nick and Hannah joined them in the living room. "Audra will come up when I go back down stairs."

"Chad…" Hannah, who knew Nick was right, automatically looked at the sick child and back at Nick. The fear she felt was something she couldn't have hidden if she'd tried to.

Nick didn't have to be told what she was afraid of and hurried to give her the reassurance she needed. "The child was only known by 'Johnny, as it's all he's ever been called and-as your cousin pointed out-it's the only name that's ever been written down on any record. Macklin's never seen him, and only one of Crown's men has seen him…and that man is dead. Jarrod assures me the boy is now Chad Jonathon Barkley, which means I'm listed as his father. The fact that I claimed him as my own in order to protect him is something Chad can be told when he's older. He's safe; you don't have to worry about him. Now," he pulled her closer and held onto her tightly. "We need to go talk to the family. They have to know what's going on before Jarrod leaves the house."