SI-Chapter 3

"It's such a beautiful ranch; I can't wait to see more of it."

After Gabby had come downstairs dressed for dinner, Nora decided to guide her around behind the house, since they had a little time. "Maybe tomorrow I can show you where the wedding took place."

"I would love to see it. I'm only sorry I wasn't here with you."

Smiling as she side-hugged her sister, Nora replied. "Well, you are here now. And I can be there for your wedding someday." She instantly felt Gabby stiffen as she spoke, and it puzzled her.

"Nora, I'm so glad that you found what you did with Nick, but I love my independence. I don't have any intention of marrying; I like traveling and performing." Seeing her sister's expression brought a question. "Have I surprised you?"

"Somewhat," Nora responded. "I mean, I know you like to perform and it can be fun to see new places, but Gabby, you always wanted to be a wife and mother when we were younger."

Gabby's eyes softened momentarily. "I was a child then."

Waiting to hear if she would say more, Nora remained silent. When no further words were forthcoming, she smiled and took Gabby's hand. "I think it must be time for dinner. Silas is a wonderful cook- I adore him- and I can't wait for you to meet Nick's brothers." Nora thought she felt Gabby's arm go rigid, but perhaps it was her imagination.

Gabby just had to make it through dinner with the blonde cowboy. She wouldn't think any further than that.

###

As they walked through the house toward the living room, Gabby heard voices and grew nervous. Coming around the corner behind Nora, she now stood in a large room where everyone was now silent.

"Gabby, you already know Nick and met Victoria and Audra earlier today. I want to introduce you to Jarrod, the oldest brother. This is my sister, Gabrielle." The one Nora indicated as Jarrod stepped forward with a friendly smile. Dark-headed like Nick, Jarrod had piercing blue eyes and was quite handsome. Gabby thought he looked familiar. He took her hand and lifted it for a kiss.

"Always a pleasure to meet such a beautiful woman, but we have actually met before. In San Francisco about a year ago. Welcome to our home, Gabrielle."

"Thank you, and yes, I remember meeting you. Your... friend... was an admirer, as I recall."

"Yes. You have a great memory. His heart is still broken at your rejection," Jarrod replied, bringing a few laughs from the family.

"Please, Jarrod, call me Gabby."

"And this is Heath," Nora continued after their pleasantries.

So, Heath was the name of the cowboy in the bath. Gabby had noticed him standing there when she came in but had avoided making eye contact until that moment. As her vision rose to his face, Gabby gave a tight smile. "Nice to meet you... Heath," she said hesitantly, unsure of his response.

With a crooked smile, he gave a slight nod. "Nice to meet you, Gabby. Welcome to the Barkley ranch."

She already knew he was good-looking, but standing there in his gray suit, he was devastatingly so. His voice was gentle, smooth as butter, as she had known it would be.

It fit him.

As she gazed into his blue eyes, Gabby felt as if he knew her innermost secrets and fears. It was a good feeling for a moment, but soon she became uncomfortable and finally responded. "Thank you, Heath," she quietly said, with a dip of her chin.

Victoria walked up and took Gabby's arm. "Well, now that you know everyone except Eugene, who will be here tomorrow, let's go into dinner."

###

Entering the dining room, Gabby was uneasy when she noticed her chair at the table was placed next to Heath's, but at least they had put Nora across from her. After the prayer, everyone began to chit-chat as Gabby focused mostly on her food. The conversation was all about a neighboring family whose wagon had overturned, crippling the father.

"We will have to help them out as much as we can," Victoria insisted. "But for the grace of God, that could have been you, Heath."

Nora's puzzled glance brought a response from Heath. "A few years ago, Mother and I overturned a wagon, and I was trapped underneath for a time while she had to go find help. Thankfully, I wasn't permanently injured, but it was a scary time for both of us."

"I can imagine it was! I'm glad you were rescued and not harmed by the incident," Nora replied.

"Mother got help from a stranger passing through the area," Heath added, then went back to eating.

"We were all thankful it wasn't much worse," Victoria added.

"Nora, you should tell your sister about you cooking for me," Nick said, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Oh, Nick. You are never going to let me forget that, are you? But it was really the funniest thing..."

Nora began her tale, told in such a way that Gabby thought of their playacting when they were younger. She wasn't the only performer in the family, Nora could have been an actress but opted to stay home and now, settle into family life. The story did cheer her heart and make her sad all at the same time as she noticed how comfortable Nora was seated with the Barkley family, Gabby still feeling like an outsider and out of place.

Noticing Heath was mostly silent other than a snicker or two, Gabby wondered if it was on her behalf. The conversation went on throughout the meal.

"Oh Gabby, I'm sorry. I have prattled on and on and I can see you are still tired," Nora said sweetly. "Perhaps a nice hot bath after dinner will make you feel better."

The words were said innocently enough, but Gabby had been reaching for her water glass as her sister spoke. As soon as she heard the word 'bath' her mind went to the afternoon and her hand had a mind of its own, completely knocking her full water glass over, spilling it on the table and on Heath as well.

"Oh my. Mrs. Barkley, I am so sorry!" Gabby cried as she jumped to her feet and tried to mop up the water with her napkin, bringing the men to their feet as well. She was so embarrassed she thought she might crawl in a hole and die.

"Nonsense," Victoria replied. "It's only a little water, no harm done. We were almost finished anyway." Gabby noticed that Heath was dabbing at his wet pants, and she began blushing as she recalled seeing him- all of him- drenched earlier in the day.

"I... guess I am still a bit weary..." Gabby fibbed as she bit her lip, not wanting to reveal what really caused the accident and the blush.

Taking charge of the situation, Nora came and clasped Gabby's arm. "Let's go get you taken care of," she said, leading her sister out of the room and upstairs. Just before their exit, Gabby turned around.

"Thank you all for a wonderful evening and for inviting me into your home. I'll say goodnight now."

"Goodnight Gabby." Victoria's words were sweet and caring, but once again Gabby bit her lower lip.

With smiles and goodnights from the rest, Gabby once again spun to leave the room, but not before making eye contact with Heath smiling that endearing crooked smile who said so much without saying a word.

###

After Gabby had bathed and put on her night clothes, Nora knocked on her door.

"Come in."

"How are you feeling? More settled?"

"Well, at least 'more clean,'" Gabby joked as they sat on the edge of the bed. Nothing else was forthcoming.

"What's going on, sis?"

As Gabby refused to share her discomfort from earlier in the day, she decided to focus on another matter.

"I think perhaps I shouldn't have come."

"Whyever would you say that?" Nora questioned.

Standing to her feet, Gabby paced a little bringing a smile to Nora's face. It was a nervous habit they both had. Halting, she turned toward her sister. "Well, look at you. As usual, you fit right in. I bet you did from the first day."

Nora didn't respond, but Gabby was correct. She was comfortable with the Barkleys shortly after she arrived- other than Nick of course. That took some time.

"You don't have to answer; fitting in has always come easy for you. I wasn't blessed with that personality trait and always feel like the odd duck when I walk into a room."

"Come and sit," Nora encouraged, Gabby returning to her place on the bed. "Just because I'm a little more social than you are, doesn't mean you are an odd duck. You are simply more reserved than I am. Trust me, Victoria will make sure you feel right at home here if you give her a chance."

"I'm sure you are right, but I get nervous when meeting new people. Perhaps you can tell me a bit about the brothers." Gabby hoped it didn't sound as if she was fishing for information about Heath, although she was. "You have already told me much about Audra," she added.

"Let's see. Of course, I haven't been in the family long enough to know any juicy secrets, but I'll do my best. Jarrod is the oldest. He is an attorney, which you probably already know since you met before, but not practicing right now. There was a case that ended badly, and he is still struggling with it, so he works on the ranch. He is kind and level-headed, very intelligent and caring. And a great listener."

"And handsome. Seems that is a Barkley characteristic. Every one of them is nice-looking."

"And beautiful on the inside too. Let's see, I've already shared enough about Nick, although I could talk about him all night..." Gabby saw the dreamlike gaze in Nora's eyes as she mentioned her husband. She obviously loved him very much. "He does have a nasty temper when riled, but I've been able to tame it a bit. Not completely, but I like some feistiness in a man."

That didn't surprise Gabby in the least. The two of them seemed well suited.

"I guess that leaves Heath and Eugene. Gene will be here tomorrow, and I have only been around him for a short time at the wedding, so I will let you learn about him on your own. He recently graduated medical school and is now going to intern for a doctor in town. That's all I know about the youngest Barkley. As for Heath, we became close rather quickly. He is the quiet one of the three brothers I know, perhaps you would call him brooding. I can tell you he is one to fight for the underdog and is very loyal. Also, a great dancer. I feel like he has been through some hard times in life, although I am not sure how that could be. He is honest to a fault and fair-minded- will protect those he loves but doesn't jump in with both feet like Nick does. He is a deep thinker, I believe, and a gentleman."

Gabby took it all in, especially the description of Heath. "Thank you, Nora."

"You're welcome. I was planning on telling everyone at dinner, but that didn't work out... I have a bit of a surprise..."

Gabby met her sister's eyes and instantly knew what she was going to say. "You aren't..."

Nodding with tears in her eyes, Nora confirmed her suspicion. "Yes. I'm pregnant."

Quickly grabbing her sister, Gabby held on for dear life. "Oh Nora, I'm so happy for you and Nick."

"We are thrilled. But don't say anything until we have a chance to share."

Gabby wondered who Nora thought she might tell but understood her concern. It was their secret to reveal. "I won't say a word."

"Alright," Nora said as she stood. "You get some sleep, and we will see you at breakfast. I'm so glad you are here, Gabby."

Nodding as her sister closed the door behind her, Gabby let out a heavy sigh. So, Nora was pregnant. At one time in her life, that was all that Gabby wanted, but no longer. Now, she relished her freedom and enjoyed her life exactly as it was, although her eyes grew wet as she thought about being an aunt. Looks like Nora would have all the things that she once dreamed about.

Removing her robe, Gabby crawled under the covers and settled in for the night, thinking she would fall fast asleep. But her thoughts kept going to a blue-eyed cowboy that she had literally seen too much of.

###

Throwing the covers back, Heath stumbled out of bed the next morning.

Normally one to sleep well, he had tossed and turned all night and for no obvious reason. His body was tired when he went to bed- working on a ranch would do that- and yet, sleep didn't come. At all.

It would be a long day until he would find another opportunity to do so.

Bleary-eyed, he sat down on the edge of the bed trying to clear the cobwebs that normally only came after a night of imbibing a bit too much. That certainly wasn't the case today. His thoughts had been all over the place in the dark hours but kept coming back to one thing in particular- Gabrielle Steele.

Heath had met many pretty girls in his life. He had even been in a few serious relationships over the years. Gabby had barely spoken to Heath and yet he sensed a connection between them. She wasn't the fireball that Nora was, more reserved and reticent perhaps.

Maybe her walking in on him in his birthday suit had muddled his thinking somewhat but he felt she needed a friend. An ally of sorts that wasn't Nora.

Whatever it was, his thoughts had kept him awake all night hoping she wasn't too embarrassed about spilling water on him at dinner. That could happen to anyone, and he knew that if it had been Nora that she would have laughed it off. But Gabby seemed to be one to feel things deeply and would probably still be anxious about it today. He would do his best to be gracious and welcoming, so she didn't feel so much the outsider.

Heath could relate to that feeling and wouldn't wish it on anyone.

###

"And he just stopped?"

Gabby had been engrossed in Nora's story and automatically asked the question, forgetting that she was in a room full of basically strangers.

"You remember that old saddle I used? We were about to pass Nick and Duke up when my cinch broke. Marco felt it and came to a complete stop so I wouldn't get hurt. If that cinch had held up, we would have easily won the race." Nora's chin went up a little higher as the words were spoken and she glanced over at her husband who had been shoveling food in his mouth as she told her tale.

"That's not quite the way I remember it, my love," he said around a mouthful of food. "Duke had a horse length on Demarco."

The rest of the family smiled as they glanced at each other, having heard this story told several times over the last couple of months, always ending in the same argument over who would have won.

"You are mistaken, Nick," Nora stated in finality.

As soon as Audra saw Nick open his mouth in rebuttal, she interrupted. "You two keep having this same conversation with the same result every time. Maybe it's time you had another race to see who would win."

Nora opened her mouth to speak and then promptly closed it as she looked at Nick who smiled brightly causing her cheeks to pinken. "That would be the best solution, of course," she replied and then took a bite of food.

"Maybe we will do that... in a few months," Nick responded, suddenly interested in the eggs on his plate as well.

The quick silence perplexed everyone else at the table- other than Gabby who knowingly smiled. No one spoke for a time until Victoria looked from one to the other and cheerfully grinned.

"You're pregnant."

The words were spoken in a straightforward manner and not as a question. Audra gasped as she looked at the couple and then at Gabby's joyful face. "Nora! Are you?"

Another glance between husband and wife brought a chuckle from Nick as he took Nora's hand. "Yes. She is expecting."

Nora stared at her sister whose eyes welled up as the family celebrated loudly.

"I get to teach him how to ride," Heath said proudly.

"Or I can teach her to sew," Audra countered.

"Hopefully he isn't a hothead like his father," Jarrod responded.

And so, it went on and on as Victoria watched and listened to the family rejoice at the good news. When everyone had finished their merrymaking, all grew silent as they looked to the head of the table waiting for her reaction.

"Mother? Are you pleased?" Nick's words were softly spoken as he anticipated her answer.

"Do you have to ask? Of course, I'm pleased! I finally get to be a grandmother!" she declared happily, looking at Nora. "Thank you. Thank you both." She chuckled quietly as tears of joy filled her eyes.

Heath glanced over at Gabby who seems to have already been told the good news if he went by her silence.

"Well, now that that's over, Gabby and I have plans for the day," Nora said, placing her napkin on the table.

"Breakfast was wonderful," Gabby stammered out as she stood to her feet and suddenly lost her balance. Before she knew what was happening, she was sitting in Heath's lap, her mouth dropped open in disbelief.

"Are you alright?" he softly asked, not seeming to be inconvenienced by the woman on top of him. In fact, he looked quite comfortable as he placed his hand on her back.

"I'm so sorry... H... Heath," Gabby stuttered as she pushed herself up to her feet. "If you will excuse me," she added as all the men stood and watched her hurry from the room, Nora following close behind.

Victoria still sat as she observed the ruckus and Heath's stunned expression as he stood holding his napkin, thinking perhaps she was wrong about her talk with him the day before.

Because a woman did indeed fall into his lap here at the ranch.