Chapter Twenty Seven

Nick, who was standing near the fireplace, watched as Ruth ran out the front door; she was going after Timothy. The boy had bolted outside after Nick had announced that he and Ruth had decided to get married. After the door shut behind her, he looked at his mother and the rest of the family. Everyone but Heath looked rather shocked at what Victoria had called 'a sudden announcement' with a look in her eyes that questioned the timing of the announcement; it made Nick bristle just a little. "We haven't done anything." Nick said, looking straight at his mother.

"You've only known her two months." Victoria sat as tall as she could. "If nothing has happened, why on earth get married this soon? Besides, Jarrod is still working on getting things straightened out when it comes to Timothy's identity and his inheritance. Don't t you think it would be better to hold off when it comes to the wedding?"

"His identity?" Nick looked at Jarrod in disbelief. "Are you now saying Ruth is lying concerning Timothy?"

"No," Jarrod assured him. "The wire her friend, Elizabeth, sent me confirms that. She has even agreed to come to California if I absolutely need her to. All mother meant is, I'm still working on getting the courts to acknowledge it."

Nick took a deep breath and then, letting out a slow breath, admitted everything Ruth had said when he, Nick, asked her to marry him. "You can say what you want, you can object if you want," Nick said as he looked upon three very shocked expressions, Heath looked surprised, but not shocked, "only she's been nothing but honest with me or any of you. Yes, she struggles with what I've heard some have called people skills." He looked at Audra, who fidgeted in her chair. "But she's doing her best; that's all any of us can do. If I love her enough to take the chance, I would hope you would support us. Though," he hesitated and then said in an uncharacteristic quiet tone of voice, "if you don't all it will prevent is a wedding ceremony. She wants a good friend and companion she can learn to love with all her heart. I might not be a saint, but I don't believe I'm going to hell either…and, as much as you or anyone else might doubt it, I do love her. So, it's up to you if there's a wedding ceremony at the church or not. However, it's up to us if there'll be a marriage…and there will be one even if it means going elsewhere to be married." He then turned and walked out of the room and out of the house; he wanted to send a telegram to a friend in Carson City and see if Kyle Randall had made an appearance yet. That left his family to discuss what had just taken place in the living room.

~oOo~

Kyle was sure someone had a hole in their well somewhere up in the sky as the rain fell from the blackened sky and pounded itself down upon the boardwalk that lined the businesses on Main Street. After allowing himself to relax and enjoy a more than enjoyable visit on Jim Barkley's ranch longer than he'd meant to, Kyle was in an extreme hurry to get to the bank. The sooner he gave them the papers he'd been saving for months, the sooner he could get the money and hop a train back for Tennessee. However, thanks to the heavy downpour-and having been to the bank only once before-Mr. Randall missed the bank and had to turn around. It wouldn't have been so bad only he stepped into a huge mud puddle as he did so. Kyle Randall swore and then scurried to get inside the bank.

Once inside he walked briskly towards the manager's office. The sooner he got 'this business' out of his hair, the sooner he could get back to Tennessee and expand his ranch…as there was some land connected to it for sale. However, after sitting down and handing the manager the papers he, Kyle, had brought with him, Mr. Randall got the shock of his life.

"The inheritance has been frozen. That is, no one can take any money out of it for now." Mr. Hansen, the forty year old, red headed, manager told Kyle as he handed the papers back to him without even looking at them.

"FROZEN! WHY?" Kyle jumped to his feet and yelled loud enough to make everyone in the bank turn their heads.

"You will please sit down and lower your voice." Mr. Hansen spoke low and in a warning tone as he stood up and, walking over to the office door, shut it. He then walked back to his office desk and sat down, pulling his chair closer to the desk as he did so.

"What are you talking about?" Mr. Randall growled low. "I have everything in order, and my brother had no outstanding debts."

"All I know is the funds are frozen. If you want the details, you'll have to go to the courthouse and talk to Judge Bennett." Mr. Hansen snapped back; he didn't care for the likes of Mr. Randall and could care less that he might be chasing away a potential customer.

Kyle Randall stood up and, whirling around, stormed out of the office and then exited through the bank doors. He could see the courthouse which stood roughly four hundred yards from where he stood. Who would have had cause to go to the courthouse and successfully request the inheritance left by his brother be frozen? A split second later, he was muttering his niece's name as he headed towards the courthouse, but he was confused too. His brother's will stated that Ruth's brothers were to inherit the money; not his daughters, and all his brother's sons were dead.

"It has to be Ruth. I just don't…" Kyle stopped dead in his tracks as he drew close to the courthouse. For the first time in ten years he realized that; maybe, just maybe the young girl and her friends had lied about his youngest nephew. "No way; she couldn't have, she'd better not of," Kyle began cursing as he practically ran to, and up, the courthouse steps.