Chapter Twenty Three

Michelle was sure almost every citizen of Stockton had turned out for the first winter social that was being held at the hall in Stockton. She watched as Heath led his girl, one brunette haired woman by the name of Cassie White, to the middle of the dance floor. Michelle wasn't surprised when Audra wasted no time in joining her friends while Nick left them to go talk with some of the other ranchers. The only one missing was Victoria, and she'd promised she join them as soon as possible.

Michelle didn't know whether to feed someone her fist or to crack up laughing as she heard one of the gossipy women who were standing near one of the tables laden with food say, "I hear her family has royal connections and has tons of money." However, it was all she could do to keep from walking over and giving one of the women, an older woman with ugly, gray hair, a piece of her mind when she heard her add, "One would need real class to be able to successfully court someone like that, explains why Nick Barkley got nowhere with her."

Jarrod must have sensed Michelle's outrage because he quickly took a hold of her arm and said quietly, "Don't let that woman get to you. People like that are extremely unhappy. They have to be or they wouldn't put down other people like that."

Michelle knew that; still, she had found herself feeling nothing but distain for anyone who would bad mouth any of the Barkleys. All of them had been nothing but honorable. "I know that." She answered as Jarrod led her onto the dance floor. It wasn't long until they were lost in the music and each other.

While Michelle's mind turned to the dance and to Jarrod, Jarrod's attention was actually divided. A part of him had an eye on Michelle, while the other half kept an eye on those attending the social. He had not been able to shake the feeling of impending trouble, a feeling he'd had all day. He'd even mentioned it to Nick and Heath.

"If there's trouble coming from anywhere, the Marquee will be behind it, mark my words." Nick, who stood inside the stable talking to Jarrod and Heath, said after Jarrod's confession.

"I don't doubt that for a moment." Jarrod seethed, as he sat on a bale of hay leaning against one of the stalls. "I just wish the man would pull whatever he has in mind soon; this waiting is getting on everyone's nerves."

"I could get McColl and a few of our men to keep and keep an eye out for the Marquee. I mean, we could spread out throughout the party without anyone thinking twice about it." Heath spoke up as he looked at Jarrod.

From where he and Michelle were dancing, Jarrod could see Heath and McColl both standing around "visiting". He couldn't help but chuckle; he wondered what the people the two men they were talking to would think if they knew they were simply being used as a cover for their protection detail. Guess it really didn't matter…just so long as they stopped whatever trouble might come their way.

~oOo~

The Marquee, who had rented one of the finest rooms the Stockton Hotel had, stood in front of the large oval shaped mirror that stood in the corner of that room. If he was to go to the social and have to mingle with commoners, he was going to make sure he was dressed in the best. As he turned away from the mirror, his mind turned to his daughter and the fact that he'd learned that it was Jarrod Barkley, not Nick, who was courting her.

Jarrod Barkley, the Marquee snorted. The man was well enough known in the "right" circles the Marquee had to admit, only he was still a Barkley, a member of the family that had taken Michelle in and helped hide her from him. That fact alone put him on the Marquee's "bad" list. As he finished getting ready, the Marquee was struggled with the issue of how to go about killing the man everyone was saying had actually turned Michelle's head and, from what they could see, taken her heart as well.

He had turned one after another plan over in his mind only to come up with the same conclusion each and every time…he would have to lure Jarrod away for one reason or another, and then he'd kill him. Only real problem he had was figuring out how to get Jarrod away from the social, or if it was even possible. He would be extremely unhappy if he found himself having to wait to get rid of Mr. Barkley. The Marquee's mind then turned to Michelle.

Michelle, just the thought of 'that young woman' as he'd begun referring to her as made his blood boil. How dare she changed her appearance, her name, get a job and actually take a job! That part really burned him. His daughter working for 'one of them', it was just too much.

The Marquee began smiling wickedly. If his daughter thought he was just going to step aside and let her continue to shame him, she was greatly mistaken. He had not worked all his life to make it so she could enjoy the finer things of life just to have her get involved with someone who was below them…even Jarrod Barkly was, in his mind's eyes, beneath them. The Marquee looked around the spacious room with its chandelier and fine upholstered furniture and scowled again as he thought of Michelle 'settling for second best' and shaming him and scowled again as he opened the door leading to his room and stepped out into the hallway.

He could see a cleaning room dusting the foyer that stood not far from his room. The Marque gave a 'harrumph' and, turning the other direction, headed for a set of stair that led from the second floor down to the main one. A part of him wished he'd made his move a lot sooner than he was doing only he couldn't say he really regretted waiting either. No, at least now he'd have the satisfaction of being able to destroy the life Michelle had built for herself.