Chapter Seventeen
Excerpt from Ch 16
"She's wrong. I…" Roger took a step towards the bars only to have Jarrod turn away.
"You are talking to the wrong man." Jarrod quickly left the cell area, having no desire or reason to stay. Soon, the three Barkley brothers and Chelsie were heading towards the ranch-hoping to be able to enjoy a few quiet days before Thomas Lane, or whoever else he had pulled into the mess-tried anything else.
The sun was just beginning to set, and a soft breeze blew through the air as Nick walked up to Chelsie; she was leaning against the corral that had been repainted the day before watching the few horses that seemed to be playing in the fenced area. Most of them were brown only the pure black Stallion was the one that had caught the majority of her attention.
"Your mother is a wonderful cook; though, I admit, I was kind of surprised you didn't have a hired cook. This place is huge." Chelsie turned her head in order to be able to see Nick.
"Mother and Silas are great cooks." Nick smiled as he corrected Chelsie. He wasn't surprised by the astonished look that appeared on his friend's face. "Yes, Silas isn't just a butler. I think one of his favorite past times is exchanging recipes with Mother."
Chelsie's mind ran back to supper, along with the conversation that had taken place.
"I'm sorry for bringing trouble to your family." Chelsie, who sat between Victoria and Nick, said after eating a few bites of the food she'd been so graciously offered.
"You did not bring it." Victoria smiled graciously at their guest. "I'm just grateful, for a change, the train had so many problems before making it back to Stockton." She was speaking to Chelsie but looking at Nick.
"Me too," Chelsie glanced at Nick.
"I want to know how you two met." Audra- who had made a surprise visit to the family just that morning- piped up and then started shooting one question out after another including ones neither Nick nor Chelsie wished to answer. Thankfully, Victoria, who could both see and feel how uncomfortable her middle son and Chelsie became, cut her daughter off.
"No need to treat this dinner like an inquisition." The Barkley Matriarch reprimanded her daughter.
"While I appreciate your mother shutting down your sister's questioning, they'll start asking questions again." Chelsie turned her gaze back on the horses. "Especially, Audra; after all-she hasn't been told we're not really married." She then asked why.
"When it comes to Audra...let's just say she's still has some maturing to do. When it comes to questions-I talked to Jarrod and Heath before I came out, told them what we agreed to on the train. They are in there now talking to Mother and Audra." Nick put his hand on hers. "There won't be any more questions, I promise. Both Jarrod and Heath were appalled that a young girl had been pulled into any sort of battle, and they understood that there were some things that every person who has ever walked the face of this earth never speaks about or writes down. I know Mother and Audra will feel the same way." He figured the fact that he halfway hoped his sister would cut her visit short didn't need to be voiced out loud-at least, not at the moment it didn't.
"Could we go for a walk? The scenery around your home is wonderful." She stepped away from the fence as she spoke and looked around once more. "The scenery I saw when we rode out here was equally awesome as well. I'd love to see a bit more, along with the beautiful colors that are starting to appear." She pointed towards the picture that was beginning to appear in the sky.
Nick couldn't help but beam as he smiled wide-allowing his dimples to show clearly. "I think that can be easily arranged, my lady." He then had her laughing as he asked her not to tell Jarrod he was borrowing 'his phrase'. "No, he doesn't act as if he owns the phrase only he likes to give me a 'hard time' when he learns I've said it. Blame it on our childhood and stupid remarks I said at about ten or eleven years of age."
"Sounds like my siblings, especially David and Adam." She sighed as they took a hold of each other's hands and started walking away from the fence. "I miss them so much. I hate war."
"We all do." Nick gave her hand a slight squeeze, unaware that Audra was looking out a window and watching them.
Audra turned away from the window, left the room she'd been in and walked down the hall. Soon she sat on the settee, next to her Mother. "Chelsie seems really nice. I'd like to get to know her better."
Victoria could hear the curiosity in her daughter's voice and knew, from experience, what Audra really wanted to do. "You heard what your brothers told us. Leave it alone. We'll learn more about Chelsie in time."
"I never said…" Audra stopped the moment she turned her head and saw the warning look in her mother's eyes. It was one that dared Audra to deny she wanted to resume her questioning of Miss Hamilton. "I am shocked by what they told us. I…" Audra paused and then, her shoulders slightly slumping, admitted her mother was right. "I guess I was thinking to ask more questions."
'You are a married woman. For goodness sake, grow up.' Victoria thought before asking Audra how long she meant to stay for. "Not that we mind seeing you, we don't. It's always good to see you; I just thought Paul and you were talking about taking a trip to New York-to see one of his brothers."
"We were, only Jacob wired Paul and asked us to hold off until next month. Seems like they have a cousin getting married in New Jersey and won't be home if we go now. As far as how long I will be visiting-not as long as I'd like. I have other obligations that makes it necessary to keep my visit short." Audra then changed subjects and the two continued visiting.
