Chapter Eight

The laughter and endless chatter of Stockton's residents filled the social hall as the Barkleys and Michelle joined the festivities. It was the second social Michelle had attended with them, the first one being a small church gathering in which she had thoroughly enjoyed dancing with Nick, his brothers and a few other gentlemen who had asked her. Though, she had been careful to be very vague in any answers she gave to any questions asked her. However this social was rather large as it was the social they held just before Christmas.

"May I interrupt?" Jarrod walked up to Nick and Michelle, smiling as he did so. He wouldn't have asked to do such a thing only Nick, who had taken a bit of a fall the day before, looked as if he was starting to favor his right leg. Knowing that there was no way Nick would admit that he needed a break, Jarrod figured asking for a dance was a sure fire way to give the man an excuse to rest.

Nick, who was indeed feeling the effects of his spill the day before, stepped aside smiling. "Sure, I'll just go get something to drink." Soon Michelle and Jarrod were waltzing over the social hall's floor.

Michelle, who had begun to notice Nick's leg too, smiled as she knew full well what Jarrod's intention had been. "You know, he's too stubborn for his own good." She nodded towards Nick who had his drink in his hand and was sitting down next to Victoria and Heath, who was also taking a break from dancing.

"It's a family trait." Jarrod chuckled as he thought on all the Barkley men. Then, due to how well Michelle had been handling the books and other minor jobs he'd handed her and how well she handled the people who came in and out of the office, he changed subjects. "I was wondering if there was any chance you'd consider taking on some more work. It would increase your work days from two to four days a week."

Michelle's eyes started dancing while her face started beaming. She had worked hard to get the feel of the part time job Jarrod had given her. To hear she'd been doing a good enough job for him to want her to increase the amount of hours she worked made her very happy. "I'd love it! Would the hours each day be the same?" She was concerned about that one she had to admit. Victoria had been driving her into town as none of the Barkleys wanted her traveling alone. And then, after work, Nick had made sure he, Heath or McColl had picked her up. She hated the idea of causing anyone anymore inconveniences.

Jarrod didn't have to ask why the look of concern appeared in her eyes. He hurried to ease her mind on the matter. "Mrs. Merar says she'd be more than happy to board you two days a week. Personally, I think she's missing her daughter and grandchildren. They kept her company when Dr. Merar was seeing patients. Though, for your own safety, I had to confess things to Fred." He wasn't surprised by the look of shock that appeared on Michelle's face and he hurried to assure her it would be fine. "Fred's a good man. Once I assured him that you had come to the ranch of your own free will he promised to keep his mouth shut, especially once I told him about the abuse." The fact that Sheriff Madden had told him that Fred wished she'd press charges was something Jarrod saw no reason to repeat. It's not like Michelle would change her mind when it came to anything she could do law wise.

Michelle still wasn't happy about the revelation that Jarrod had given information concerning her to Sheriff Madden, but she had to admit she could see why Jarrod had confided in the sheriff. When it came to the doctor's wife, Michelle had met Mrs. Merar on more than one occasion and quite enjoyed the woman's company. Though, she was concerned Mrs. Merar would want more information if Michelle was living under her roof. "She hasn't been made aware of my true identity, has she?" Michelle asked, wondering if there was some reason to tell the woman anything.

"No," Jarrod shook his head as he again turned Michelle in a circle. "All she has been told is that I need 'Shelly' to work more hours in the office, but that traveling back and forth from the ranch is a slight problem."

Michelle promised to think about it, as she had actually had another job offer in one of the stores just that morning. She and Jarrod then turned to more relaxing topics until Nick, whose leg had begun to feel better, insisted on making his way back to Michelle, freeing Jarrod to go find another dance partner.

~oOo~

Michelle, who was looking for a quiet place to think, wandered into the barn. She was relieved to find no one else in the building. Making her way to the horse the Barkleys had been kind enough to lend her, once Nick and Heath had taught her how to ride the animal, Michelle patted horse's neck. She couldn't help but chuckle as she imagined just what her reaction would have been if someone had told her she'd learn to love such a magnificent animal. She then found herself drawn to the other horses. One by one she patted them and talked to them until she came to Charger.

"Why does life have to be so complicated?" She asked as she patted the animal on his neck also. Not that she expected an answer, she didn't. She chuckled when the horse let out a 'neigh' as if to say 'Boy howdy, girl! Don't ask me that one!' "Why does Nick have to be so charming and polite?" she sighed as she dropped her hand. However, before she could say or do anything else she heard someone enter the barn. She whirled around halfway expecting to see Nick standing behind her. Instead, she saw Heath looking at her with a slight frown on his face. Thinking she wasn't supposed to be near his horse, Michelle quickly stepped aside.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean any harm." She apologized as she headed towards her own horse.

Heath, realizing what she was thinking, shook his head and told her not to worry. "Charger likes attention."

"Then why the frown?" Michelle asked, more than puzzled.

Heath, who had intentionally kept busy once he returned to the ranch and found Michelle there, had come to realize why he was so uncomfortable with her being there. Now, with what he'd heard, he just had to speak up. "I don't want to see Nick hurt the way I was. The sooner you make your mind up about him the better."

Michelle might have had to ask what Heath was talking about only both Nick and Jarrod had told her about *Marie and her father. She had felt badly for Heath and wished things had turned out differently for him. "I have been trying to do just that." Michelle sighed as she turned back to Charger and began rubbing the horse's neck. "To be honest, I have found I enjoy keeping books and the other things I'm doing in the office more than I even thought I would. I'd just simply move in with the Merars. Mrs. Merar has asked me to a couple of times, and continue working for Jarrod; however," she shrugged her shoulders and said, "there is something I don't understand keeping me here. And," she turned her head and looked at Heath, "Don't ask me if it's the fear of my father. Jarrod's already asked me that." She remembered how she'd once again sought Jarrod out to talk to him. He always seemed to know what she needed to hear or what questions to ask. "It's not. If father is going to find me, he will do it wherever I am."

To say Heath was surprised would have been an understatement. He never would have thought that someone like Michelle would feel anything towards the ranch. Sure she did not walk around with her nose up in the air or talk as if she was better than others. Still, the way she would like to dress if her father wasn't looking for her and the things she enjoyed, like the play that Nick, she and the family had went to see, clearly sent the message 'here is a woman who belongs somewhere other than a ranch'. Heath stood back up and, grabbing the tool he'd entered for the barn for, looked at Michelle, who was still rubbing her horse's neck. He once again shook his head and walked out the door, hoping for both Nick and Michelle's sake that the young woman would be able to figure out soon if it was Nick keeping her on the ranch or something else.

~oOo~

*Refers to the episode "Winner Loses All"