Victoria caressed the dark hair of the young girl smiling at her as she showed her the recent drawing she'd done of the mountains. For all the girl's problems, she was a wonderful artist.

"Mama?"

"Yes, Darling?"

"Why're you sad?"

"I'm not really sad, Darling."

Olivia studied her mother. "But something is wrong."

"Yes, something is wrong, but it's nothing for you to worry about." Victoria kissed the girl's head. "I have someone with me that wants to meet you."

Olivia's eyes widened. "Who?"

Victoria winked at the girl and chuckled at her excitement. Going to the door, she opened it and motioned for Jarrod. Stepping back so she could watch her children as they saw each other for the first time, her eyes watered at the looks on their faces.

"It's Jarrod!" Olivia nearly squealed.

"You know who I am?" Jarrod asked.

Olivia nodded and looked toward the picture sitting on her night table. "Oh yes. Oh I've wanted to me you for so long, but Mother said…"

"Mother said it wasn't possible. Well, some things have changed, Little Bit."

Olivia's face blossomed with her smile. "He gave me a nickname, Mama, just like you said he would if he ever met me!"

"So he did, Darling…so he did." Victoria wiped at her tears.

Jarrod moved further into the room and knelt down in front of his sister's chair. "You look just like Mother," he whispered as he smiled up at her.

"That's what Aunt Ruth always says."

"Because it's true." Jarrod looked at the drawing on the table. "Did you do this?"

"I did."

And then Jarrod knew that his mother had kept a bit of her missing child in the house right under their father's nose. "The painting…it's hers."

Victoria nodded. "I had to have something of my baby with me. I had Ruth go to one of her friends that's a painter and ask him for a canvas. She brought the canvas to Olivia who did the drawing then Ruth's friend colored it with his brush…"

Jarrod interrupted, "So that when you brought it home and told Father it was a painting by a friend of Aunt Ruth's…"

Victoria finished, "I wasn't lying."

"Jarrod?"

"Yes?" Jarrod turned his attention back to his sister.

"Will you go for a walk with Mama and me?"

"Of course I will!" Smiling at the girl, Jarrod reached out and pulled her into a gentle hug.

Sighing, a huge smile on her face, Olivia looked at her mother over Jarrod's shoulder. "I'm not just your secret anymore, Mama."

"Oh Darling."

Jarrod pulled from the hug and cupped his sister's face. "You were never just a secret to Mother, Little Bit. She doesn't know I know this, but she cried for you when she didn't think anyone was awake to hear. I'd forgotten until she made me think back."

"You've heard far too much over the years." Victoria whispered as she watched her son.

Turning to look at his mother, Jarrod smiled at her. "I always thought I had to be your protector."

"Because your father told you to be when he was away."

"Not just because of that." Jarrod winked at her. "You were my first sweetheart."

Victoria laughed and Olivia's giggle joined in. "Your brother is silly," she told the girl.

"I like him very much, Mama." Olivia smiled. "Can we go for our walk now? I want to show Jarrod the new kittens."

"Yes we can."

"Jarrod can help me into my wheelchair. I don't really want to walk today."

"Alright, Darling. You show him what to do while I go inform the nurse at the desk that we're taking you out."

Olivia nodded and watched her mother leave then grabbed her brother's hand. "Why is Mama sad?"

Jarrod studied his sister. He hadn't expected her to be…well…to be as normal as she was. He felt ashamed of himself for thinking it, but the fact that his father had insisted she be kept hidden away…he shook his head, unwilling to go back to those angry thoughts. Turning his thoughts back to his sister, he resumed his study of her. She was normal aside from the fact that she was a bit drawn on one side to the point of sitting at a slightly odd angle, the thumb on her left hand drawn into the palm, and her left eye crossing at odd moments when she tried to focus on something too long. He'd expected a mental deficiency of some sort, but his baby sister was nothing if not brilliant and very articulate for someone who hadn't started talking when she should.

"Jarrod." Olivia tugged on his hand.

"Sorry, Little Bit." Jarrod smiled at her. "Let's get you into your wheelchair before Mother comes back and wonders what we've been up to."

Olivia huffed, "You aren't going to tell me…just like Mama."

Gently lifting the girl and moving her to the wheelchair sitting against the wall, Jarrod settled the blanket over her lap then knelt in front of her. "She's sad because something Father did in the past, that she didn't tell any of us about, has now come out in the open."

"What did he do?"

"Well, he fell in love with another woman and it hurt Mother."

"But if Mama didn't tell, then who did?"

Jarrod sighed. This sister was as inquisitive as the other one. "His son."

Olivia frowned. "You said Nick and Eugene didn't know."

"Not one of us, Little Bit. Father has another son that was a secret until just recently."

"You mean a secret like me?"

Caressing her cheek, Jarrod sighed, "No. You see, Father didn't know about this son."

"Oh. So that's why Mama is sad."

"Yes." Jarrod wiped a tear. "Why the tears?"

"Because…he isn't hidden away now."

"I promise, Little Bit…I will make sure you're not just another secret anymore."

"You mean, take me to the ranch?"

Jarrod watched Olivia's eyes light up. "If that's what you want, and your doctor says you can make the trip, then yes."

Victoria opened the door just as Olivia hugged her brother. "What's going on in here? Why are you crying, Olivia?"

Jarrod handed Olivia his handkerchief and winked at her then stood and turned to his mother. "Just brother and sister talk. You know my soft heart. I might have promised her a few things."

"Being Pappy again, Son?"

"Pappy?" Olivia asked, frowning at her mother then her brother.

"That's what the others sometimes call him because he stepped into your father's shoes after he died."

"Oh. Well, I like him as just Jarrod. I want a brother."

Victoria saw the spark in Olivia's eyes and knew what she was going to say next. It was something the girl had said before.

"I don't need a father."

Jarrod heard the anger and couldn't say that he blamed his sister. "Little Bit, why don't you call him Father?"

"Why should I? I don't remember him."

"Mother, did he never come to see her?"

Victoria shook her head. "No. Once he sent me away with her…" she shook her head.

"Knowing Father, he was ashamed that he hadn't created something perfect."

"No excuse." Victoria mumbled then shrugged. "But probably the best explanation."

"I don't want to talk about him anymore. I want to go outside. Jarrod, will you tell me about Jingo? Mama says that's your horse's name."

Watching as his mother helped Olivia with her cloak and knitted cap, Jarrod reached for his own hat. "I'll tell you anything you want to know."

Olivia smiled as Jarrod pushed her out of her room. Seeing one of her friends, she pointed at Jarrod. "It's my brother, Nancy! My brother!"

Jarrod saw the other girl smile and struggle to say just one word, "Won'erful," and his heart broke for these children all hidden away from the world…secrets their parents put away to try and forget.

"Her parents didn't just leave her and forget her, Son." Victoria whispered as she touched his arm. She smiled when Jarrod gave her a startled look. "Darling, I'm your mother."

"And I'm a lucky man for it."

Olivia chimed in, "She's the best!"

"Here! Here!" Jarrod added as he rushed her out the doors, smiling at the sound of her giggles, his heart swelling with love for this sister he had just met.