Forbidden love for a Barkley

Part Twelve:

"The late Nick Barkley, part 5; I..."

Stefania confided into Jarrod about the pure hell she endured. As he went into "Pappy" mode and comforted her, he also informed her that she was to tell Fred, Nick or at least just Nick. Stefania hesitated and came up with every reason imaginable for not wanting to tell Nick only to end up doing so. Nick was absolutely furious that someone or a group of people would attack and violate the girl he cares about and under the possible instructions from one Leonard Barkley. Upon taking Stefania to Dr. Merar's to be looked over and examined, Nick would confide into Jarrod, not only of his possible plans to deal with McMahon and his gang Barkley style, but that he and Stefania were indeed in a slow growing relationship with each other and how they wanted to keep it a surprise, but given what happened, it was probably just as well that they spill the beans to a degree. Jarrod voiced how happy he was for them and that it could still be a special secret/surprise, because he'll keep his lips buttoned and play along. Afterwards, Nick would take Stefania back to her house where two of her many siblings and her parents met up with them. Now, since he along with his wife and two of his children saw the bruises all over Stefania under the moonlight, Carmine Mangano Sr turned his attention to Nick and was giving him what was believed to be a death glare. The questions that remain are: What's going through Carmine Sr's mind? How does Nick plan to deal with McMahon and his gang? Will Carmine Sr put his hatred towards white people aside in order to join forces with Nick? Stay tuned and find out!

Author's Note: I do NOT own The Big Valley or its characters. I ONLY own this fic and the characters of: Stefania Mangano, Leonard Barkley, Seth & his gang, and the Mangano family. This is the fifth and last part to this is multi parter, so to speak. I think you get the point by now on the whole multi parter thingy :D

WARNING/TRIGGER WARNING: There's going to be discussions/mentions of s***al assault, r*pe, and pregnancy as a result of r*pe. If you can't bring yourself to read/stomach it for obvious reasons, I understand and urge you to go back now! Rated 'T' for a reason.

(Flashback to part 11)

Nick and Stefania arrived to her house and right away, anxiety and the weight of what Stefania endured today came rushing to the forefront for both of them; Nick, because he knew full well that Carmine Mangano Sr would blame him for what happened once he found out and rightfully seek revenge, but on the wrong person. As rare as it was for Nick Barkley to get anxiety for any reason whatsoever, one could hardly blame him, considering the fact that Carmine came at him with his pitchfork earlier today. After finding out what happened to his daughter, Carmine may not use a pitchfork to go after Nick this time. As for Stefania, it was pretty obvious why the anxiety and the weight of everything was rushing to the forefront for her. She was dragged into an alley, beaten around, dress torn off, later taken to an abandoned barn, and r*ped by two of Seth McMahon's thugs before being choked out when Seth heard Fred and Jarrod approaching. Not only that, but since she was r*ped, she faced another possibility; carrying the child of Dodie Gunderson, since he was the first one to violate her. All of this plus the fears of her family ostracizing her all bubbling to the surface, Stefania started crying, again.

"Stefania, I know how you're feeling, especially with the nerves and all, but you need to tell them." Nick pulled her into a hug.

"I can't do it, Nick! I can't! I can't!" Stefania put her face into his chest.

"Stefania, sooner or later, you're going to have to tell them. I mean you heard Dr. Merar tell you to keep an eye on yourself for the next few months and if any symptoms of being sick start popping up, you should go see him. If you start showing signs of...of carrying a child, you'll grow and your family will notice. Once that happens, you'll have no choice, but to tell them after the rounds of questioning takes place and you don't want to go through that." Nick rubbed her back with one hand and stroked her hair with the other.

"I don't want to go through that either, but I'm also too afraid to tell them now. Especially my papa!" Stefania sniffed.

"I understand, but wouldn't you rather get it done and over with now than wait until later on?" Nick asked.

"You're right, Nick. As much as I want to avoid telling them, I guess there's no use avoiding it. I just...don't want to...relive it or ever endure it, again! Ever!" Stefania hesitated for a bit, before reluctantly agreeing with Nick.

"Stefania, I give you my word when I say that you'll never ever endure that hell ever again. I will protect you. I promise!" Nick continued to rub her back, "McMahon and his gang will never ever bother you, again. I'll make sure of it!"

Before Stefania could say anything, the front door opened and out came her brother Carmine Jr, sister Allegra, and her parents.

"Some of your family is out here, so no time like the present." Nick saw Stefania's sister, brother, and parents come out of the house and tapped her on the shoulder.

"Uh oh! Nick...Nick, I'm scared!" Stefania sat upright and got wide eyed when she saw some of her family standing there.

"It's going to be alright, Stefania. Let's get it done and go from there." Nick got out of the carriage and helped her out, before walking her over to the fence.

"Stefania, sei in ritardo ! Più tardi del solito quando sei con Barkley ! Non sai che i tuoi cugini Serafina e Italia stavano visitando da Roma oggi?! Ti ha fatto scivolare la memoria?! (Stefania, you're late! Later than usual when you're with Barkley! Don't you know that your cousins Serafina and Italia were visiting from Rome today?! Did that slip your memory?!)" Carmine was furious.

"Papà, vai piano con lei. (Dad, go easy on her.)" Allegra tugged her father's arm, clearly sensing that her sister was in no mood to argue like she usually would. Little did Allegra and the Mangano family know what happened to Stefania.

"Yeah, papa. Something tells me that Stefania endured something." Carmine Jr added, before going over to Nick and his sister, gasping when he got a good look at Stefania's bruises from the moonlight and looking over at Nick.

"Now look, Junior, before you get any ideas, are you going to believe what you see or what either your sister or I have to tell you?" Nick put his hand up, gesturing "stop"/ "hold on".

"Nick, I'm only going to ask you this once before papa decides to take over with the questioning, what happened to my sister? She is bruised and looks like she has been crying plus she is wearing your jacket." Carmine Jr asked in a firm way.

"Carmine, something awful happened to me, but Nick didn't do it." Stefania's voice was a bit shaky.

Before Carmine Jr could speak up, Allegra, Andrea, and Carmine Sr came over to see what was going on. Once they caught a glimpse of Stefania's bruises, Allegra and Andrea could be heard gasping while Carmine Sr balled up his fist and got a look of horror on his face before it would be replaced with anger when he turned his attention to Nick and locked eyes with him.

"Mr. Mangano?" Nick was trying hard not to show how much the man's intense stare was making him feel uneasy, but was starting to fail terribly.

(Now)

Carmine Sr didn't say anything and continued to stare Nick down. He started to put two and two together and come to the conclusion that Nick Barkley was the perpetrator who harmed his beloved daughter.

"Papà, so cosa stai pensando: non è vero. (Dad, I know what you're thinking and it is not true.)" Stefania shook her head.

"Stefania, tu entra in casa. Adesso! (Stefania, you go in the house. Now!)" Carmine Sr pointed the opened front door and stomped his foot.

"Papà, Stefania ha ragione. Il signor Barkley non l'ha fatto. So che non l'ha fatto. Non lo farebbe! (Dad, Stefania is right. Mr. Barkley didn't do it. I know he didn't. He wouldn't!)" Allegra insisted.

"Papa, they're right and if Nick said he didn't do it, he didn't do it." Carmine Jr added.

"Basta! (Enough!)" Carmine Sr slapped his son across the face, "Sempre a difendere i bianchi! Sempre a difendere questa spazzatura! (Always defending the white people! Always sticking up for such trash!)"

"Papa, I never stick up for the white people. You know that, everybody does, but I believe Nick. I believe he didn't do it. It's obvious he likes Stefania and is loyal to her. He's better than Pasquale by a long shot. Why would Nick have reason to hurt her?" Carmine Jr rubbed his face.

"You dare say that the white people are better than our own kind?! You dare say that to me?!" Carmine Sr reverted to English, albeit very reluctantly.

"Papa, what Junior says is the truth! Nick is way better and I don't care that he is a white man! I need change and I found it in him!" Stefania reverted to English and put her arm around Nick, "He would have no reason to hurt me."

"My daughter, you don't need to defend this evil man! You shouldn't!" Carmine Sr told her before spitting on the ground.

"If I'm so evil, why do I want to do the same thing you're going to want to do...get the ones responsible?!" Nick stood his ground.

"Get the ones responsible? Ha! Nick Barkley, you're the one responsible and I'll make you pay for what you did to my precious daughter!" Carmine Sr scoffed, before looking up at the moon then back at Nick, "But alas, it is late. My mission will wait until tomorrow and by the time tomorrow comes, you will wish you never did what you did to my little angel!"

"Alright. I'll go, but tomorrow, you'll see things in a much different way, Mr. Mangano and when you do, maybe you'll want to join me. As of now, arrivederci." Nick tipped his hat and pronounced "arrivederci" wrong by accident, before turning to Stefania, "I'll see you tomorrow or should I say...Ciao, Bella?"

"Either one is fine. Ciao, Bello. Goodnight, Nick." Stefania blew a kiss to him when her father wasn't looking.

"Goodnight, everybody else." Nick got into the carriage and rode off.

"How dare he try to talk our language?! How...dare...he?!" Carmine Sr was angrier than before and that put it lightly.

"I think he heard me say those terms, papa and learned fast." Stefania shook her head.

"Quel Nick Barkley si pentirà di non aver mai fatto quello che ti ha fatto, bambina mia! (That Nick Barkley is going to wish he never did what he did to you, my child!)" Carmine Sr reverted back to Italian.

"Carmine, non credi di dare un giudizio un po' prematuro?! (Carmine, don't you think you're casting judgment a little early?!)" Andrea spoke up.

"Donna, avevo ragione su di lui! Non è un bravo ragazzo! È fortunato ad aver picchiato nostra figlia solo un paio di volte, perché tutto quello che otterrà da me sarà la vecchia maledizione italiana. Il malocchio! (Woman, I was right about him! He's no good! He's lucky he only hit our daughter a few times, because all he'll get from me is the old Italian curse. The evil eye!)" Carmine Sr pointed at his eye.

"Questa è una maledizione stupida! Non funziona mai. (That's a stupid curse! It never works.)" Andrea rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Donna, lo fa sempre! Chiedi a tua madre-Aspetta un attimo! Aspetta un attimo dannato! Stefania, indossi la giacca dell'uomo bianco. Perché?! (Woman, it always does! Ask your mother-Wait a minute! Wait a damn minute! Stefania, you are wearing the white man's jacket. Why?!)" Carmine Sr turned his attention to Stefania and pointed at Nick's black leather jacket, his finger shaking.

Stefania didn't say anything and shook her head, before she started to cry, as everything she endured rushed to the forefront, yet again, despite her efforts of trying to forget them.

"Sorella, perché piangi? Cosa c'è che non va? (Sister, why are you crying? What's wrong?)" Allegra turned to her sister and sported a sympathetic look.

"Allegra, Junior, entrate subito in casa. Questa è una questione tra tua sorella, tuo padre e me. Per favore. (Allegra, Junior, go in the house now. This is between your sister, your father, and me. Please.)" Andrea instructed the two.

Allegra and Carmine Jr nodded and did as they were told. Once the front door was shut, Andrea and Carmine Sr turned their attention to their crying daughter.

"Stefania, tesoro, cosa è successo? (Stefania, honey, what happened?)" Andrea put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Perché le lacrime, bambina? (Why the tears, baby girl?)" Carmine Sr put his arm around her.

"Mamma, papà...(Mom, dad...)" Stefania paused and took a deep breath, before sighing and wiping away tears, "Qualcosa... Qualcosa di orribile... Mi è successa una cosa orribile oggi. (Something...Something awful...Something awful happened to me today.)"

"Sì, eri con Nick Barkley. (Yeah, you were with Nick Barkley.)" Carmine Sr nodded.

"Papà, per favore! (Dad, please!)" Stefania groaned.

"Carmine, per favore. (Carmine, please.)" Andrea gave her husband a look, before turning to Stefania and giving her a nod, "Forza, tesoro. (Go on, honey.)"

"Come ho detto, oggi mi è successa una cosa orribile. Mentre camminavo in giro alla ricerca di Nick, che non si è presentato come promesso, sono stata...sono stata...trascinata in un vicolo contro la mia volontà! (As I said, something awful happened to me today. While I was walking around looking for Nick as he did not show up as he promised, I was...I was...dragged into an alley against my will!)" Stefania started to recount today's events and was trying to choke back any emotions that were threatening to spill out.

"Quindi, Nick Barkley ti ha trascinato in un vicolo, eh?! Non voleva testimoni, eh? (So, Nick Barkley dragged you into an alley, huh?! Didn't want witnesses, eh?)" Carmine Sr folded his arms and nodded.

"No, papà! Ero fuori a cercare Nick e sono stato trascinato in un vicolo da un uomo orribile di nome Seth McMahon. Oltre a Seth, ho incontrato anche i suoi amici Orville, Dodie, Zeb e Jeff. Tutte bestie orribili! (No, dad! I was out looking for Nick and got dragged into an alley by a horrible man named Seth McMahon. Besides Seth, I also encountered his friends Orville, Dodie, Zeb, and Jeff. All such horrible beasts!)" Stefania continued.

"Probabilmente gli amici di Barkley. (Probably Barkley's friends.)" Carmine Sr shook his head.

"Papà, Nick non farebbe mai amicizia con uomini così orribili! Non lo farebbe mai! Comunque, Seth e la sua gang si sono alternati a picchiarmi e a baciarmi con forza prima che uno di loro... Zeb... mi strappasse di dosso il mio bellissimo vestito verde! Il mio bellissimo...vestito verde! Me l'hanno semplicemente strappato di dosso lasciandomi con queste! (Dad, Nick would never ever befriend such horrible men! He would never! Anyways, Seth and his gang took turns knocking me around and forcefully kissing me before one of them...Zeb..tore off my beautiful green dress! My beautiful...green dress! Just tore it off leaving me in these!)" Stefania briefly took Nick's jacket off, revealing her unmentionables before putting it back on.

"Quindi non solo ha permesso ai suoi amici di farti del male, ma ha anche lasciato che ti strappassero il vestito mentre lui stava lì a guardare?! (So, not only did he let his friends hurt you, but he also let them rip your dress off while he stood there and watched?!)" Carmine Sr threw his hands up in the air and slapped the fence, knocking a piece of it off.

"Papà, non c'era! (Dad, he wasn't there!)" Stefania told him.

"Stefania, non c'è bisogno che tu difenda l'indifendibile! Non devi farlo! (Stefania, you don't need to defend the indefensible! You don't have to!)" Carmine Sr slightly raised his voice.

"Papà, sto cercando di dirti una cosa, ma non mi ascolti! Comunque... dopo che sono stato esposto nelle mie parti intime... uno degli amici di Seth, Dodie Gunderson, mi ha guardato con uno sguardo animalesco prima di togliersi la cintura della pistola e gettarla via. Poi... si è tolto la cintura-(Dad, I'm trying to tell you something, but you are not listening! Anyways...after I was exposed in my unmentionables...one of Seth's buddies, Dodie Gunderson looked at me with an animalistic look in his eyes before taking his gun belt off and throwing it aside. Then...he removed his belt-)" Stefania paused and cringed as the moment was starting to play in her head.

"Questo Dodie Gunderson... ti ha colpito con la cintura, eh? Ti ha colpito con la cintura mentre Nick era lì fermo?! (This Dodie Gunderson...hit you with his belt, huh? He hit you with his belt while Nick stood there?!)" Carmine Sr's face started to get red as tomato as his anger was nearing the boiling point.

"No, non mi ha colpito! Avrei quasi voluto che lo facesse invece di... quello che mi è stato fatto. (No, he didn't hit me with it! I almost wished he did instead of...what was actually done to me.)" Stefania closed her eyes for a brief moment, desperately trying to get the moment to stop playing in her head.

"Invece di cosa ti è stato fatto realmente? Figlia mia, cosa intendi? (Instead of what was actually done to you? My daughter, what do you mean?)" Carmine Sr asked.

"Mamma, papà...(Mom, Dad...)" Stefania sniffed.

"Stefania, cosa è successo? Per favore...raccontacelo. (Stefania, what happened? Please...tell us.)" Andrea had a look of concern on her face and was starting to have a bad feeling.

"Potrei...potrei...aspettare un bambino. (I may be...I may be...carrying a child.)" Stefania had fresh tears running down her face.

"Cosa intendi?! (What do you mean?!)" Carmine Sr was not liking the sound of that.

"Sono stata violentata! (I was...raped!)" Stefania started sobbing and put her face in her hands, "Mi fa ancora male laggiù! Mi fa così male! (I'm still hurting down there! It hurt so badly!)"

Horrified and saddened that some brute or brutes would steal the innocence of her daughter, Andrea pulled Stefania in a tight hug and tried to comfort her as best as she could. Carmine Sr, on the other hand, was also horrified, but now, his anger finally reached its boiling point, because he ran inside the house and came back out wearing a jacket, a gray hat, and gray gloves, holding his saddle and rifle. Seeing this, Andrea knew she had to react fast.

"Carmine, cosa stai facendo?! (Carmine, what are you doing?!)" Andrea gently released Stefania from the hug and walked up to her husband.

Carmine Sr ignored her and walked over to the stable where a white mule could be seen. He went inside and put the saddle on the mule.

"Dove vai a quest'ora? Perché stai sellando Ignazio? (Where are you going at this hour? Why are you saddling Ignazio up?)" Andrea walked into the stable and stood behind her husband.

Carmine Sr ignored her and walked Ignazio out of the stable. Andrea sighed and followed him.

"Carmine Mangano, rispondimi tu! (Carmine Mangano, you answer me!)" Andrea tugged at her husband's arm.

"Papà, dove stai andando? (Dad, where are you going?)" Stefania wiped some more tears away and sported a confused look on her face, before walking over to her father and Iganzio.

"Non preoccuparti, angelo mio. Andrò a dare la caccia al colpevole. Tu resta qui. (Don't worry, my angel. I'll go hunt the perpetrator down. You stay here.)" Carmine Sr rubbed Stefania's cheek, before turning to Andrea, "Andrò a trovare quel Nick Barkley e una volta fatto, non solo desidererà non essere mai nato, ma... diventerà il defunto Nick Barkley. (I'm going to go find that Nick Barkley and once I do, he'll not only wish he was never born, but...he'll become the late Nick Barkley.)"

"Carmine, no! No! Non l'ha fatto Nick Barkley. Hai sentito Stefania! (Carmine, no! No! Nick Barkley didn't do it. You heard Stefania!)" Andrea shook her head.

"Papà, non è stato lui! Dodie Gunderson e Zeb Williamson sono quelli che mi hanno violentata! Seth McMahon e i suoi amici sono i responsabili! Non Nick! (Dad, he didn't do it! Dodie Gunderson and Zeb Williamson are the ones who raped me! Seth McMahon and his buddies are the ones responsible! Not Nick!)" Stefania persisted.

"Stefania, smettila di coprirlo! È un uomo cattivo e verrà sistemato...all'italiana! (Stefania, stop covering up for him! He's a bad man and he will be dealt with...the Italian style!)" Carmine Sr shook his fist, "Perché pensi che io abbia il mio fucile e il mio coltello? (Why do you think I have my rifle and my knife?)"

"Carmine, stai commettendo un grosso errore! (Carmine, you're making a big mistake!)" Andrea tightened her grip on her husband's arm.

"No, non lo sono! Un codardo ha aggredito e violentato brutalmente nostra figlia. Non avrò pace finché quel codardo... non sarà morto... morto stecchito... ai miei piedi! (No, I am not! A coward viciously attacked and raped our daughter. I will not rest until that coward...is dead...stone cold dead...at my feet!)" Carmine Sr replied, before tapping Ignazio with his foot, "Forza, Ignazio. (Giddyup, Ignazio.)"

"Papà...no! Non farlo! Non farlo! Non farlo! (Dad...no! Don't! Don't! Don't!)" Stefania pleaded and yelled as her father rode off into the moon lit night.

*Meanwhile, back at Barkley Ranch*

Nick had since returned, skipped dinner, and had been sitting in the living room, stewing and processing what all happened today. Unbeknownst to him, Carmine Mangano Sr was on his tail and ready to kill him. As he sat in total silence, reminiscent to what Jarrod did during the aftermath of Beth's murder, Nick held the note, the lock of Stefania's hair, and her earring in his right hand. He was staring at nothing in particular when Silas walked in.

"Mr. Nick, would you like a beverage?" Silas asked.

Nick apparently didn't hear him, because he continued to sit completely motionless.

"I would love one, Silas." Jarrod walked into the room.

"Right away, Mr. Jarrod." Silas nodded before grabbing a glass, pouring white wine into it, and handing it to Jarrod.

"Thank you, Silas." Jarrod took a sip before walking over to where Nick was sitting and sat in a chair near him.

"You're welcome, sir." Silas smiled, before walking out and shutting the door in order to give the brothers some privacy.

"Nick, you know sitting around isn't going to help." Jarrod started.

No answer.

"Nick, I understand how you're feeling. I understand the anger, the guilt, the shock, everything. I went through the same motions after Beth was murdered. In fact, I sat in that very chair and held her necklace just like you're holding the note, earring, and lock of Stefania's hair. I even had that-that same look you have on your face now." Jarrod put his hand on his brother's knee.

Still no answer from Nick.

"Nick, not that it helps a whole lot, but...I'm sorry for what happened to Stefania. Truly I am." Jarrod's voice had a gentle somber tone to it.

"I..." Nick managed to say, before going silent again.

"Nick, you were about to say something. What is it?" Jarrod set his glass aside.

"I...I...I..." Nick sighed.

Before Jarrod could possibly say anything, the door opened and in came Heath.

"Jarrod, is he alright?" Heath closed the door as quietly as he could.

"No, Heath. No, he's...he's been this way ever since he got home. Skipped dinner which is rare for him, because he never skips food. Ever." Jarrod looked up at Heath before turning back to Nick.

"I...I...I..." Nick looked straight ahead at the wall.

"Nick, whatever you need to say just say it." Heath sat in a chair that was to Nick's left.

"I...I...I...promised to protect her." Nick closed his eyes for a moment and sighed, before running a hand through his hair and going back to staring at nothing in particular.

"Nick, you could only do so much. You can't protect everybody from the world or the dangers." Heath rubbed his shoulder.

"I promised to protect her and..." Nick sighed again and shook his head, "I failed. I promised to protect her and I failed."

"Nick, it's not your fault. I understand the self blaming, but it wasn't your fault. You had no way of knowing." Heath told him.

"I promised to protect her and I failed!" Nick repeated, only in a slightly aggressive way than before.

"Nick-" Jarrod was cut off.

"I promised to protect her and I failed!" Nick slapped the chair arm, before standing up.

"Nick, you-" Heath was stopped when Jarrod shook his head.

"I promised to protect her and I failed!" Nick kicked a table and started pacing back and forth.

"Nick, how long are you going to keep saying it?" Jarrod stood up and folded his arms.

"As long as I have to, because I promised to protect her and I failed! I promised...I promised and...I failed." Nick walked over to a window and stared out of it.

Jarrod and Heath exchanged glances before turning their attention back to Nick and sporting looks of concern.

"I promised to protect her and I failed." Nick pressed his head against the window and shook it, "I promised to protect her and I failed, but soon...very very very very very soon...that all changes. That all changes for good. No more will I fail anybody. When I make a promise, I keep it and I didn't keep it today, but I...I will right that wrong and never fail again."

"What do you mean by that, Nick?" Heath spoke up.

"That's for me to know and for the rest of you...to mind your own business." Nick stepped away from the window and headed up to his room without even saying: "Goodnight".

"I just passed by Nick and he looked different. Almost as if he looked determined to do something or other. Is he alright?" Audra walked in just seconds after Nick walked out and had a quizzical look on her face.

"Audra, I don't think it is the appropriate time to talk about what happened today." Jarrod told her.

"Why?" Audra asked.

"It's just not the right moment. Not with Nick the way he is right now." Jarrod replied before heading off to bed.

*Later on that night, with Nick*

Nick was laying in his bed and staring up at the ceiling. The phrase "I promised to protect her and failed!" kept echoing in his head. The shock and horror of what happened plus the mental processing had since dissipated and were replaced with guilt and anger. More so anger than guilt. Nick knew what happened was beyond his control and he shouldn't fault himself, but he still did. He was still blaming himself as he had promised to protect Stefania and today, he couldn't. Who could blame him, though? When one made a promise, one always honored said promise, but there are times where the inevitable couldn't be stopped. Today was one of those times just like the night Tom was murdered and the day Jarrod's beloved wife, Beth was murdered. Three instances that were beyond anybody's control and that involved Jarrod and Nick. Jarrod, being that it was his wife who was murdered and Nick, both times; One, following his father into Strawberry and up to the Barkley Mine. Today, Stefania being attacked and r*ped. With all of this on his mind, Nick sat up in his bed, grabbed his pillow, and started viciously attacking it. Once he got through ripping his own pillow to shreds, he turned on a lantern and started ransacking his room, making a mess. Apparently, he must've made a lot of noise, because as if on cue, there was a knock at the door.

"Nick?" a voice called from behind the door.

Nick stopped tossing stuff around and just stared at the door.

"Nick, it's Eugene. Are you alright?" Eugene knocked, again.

Nick didn't say a word, walked over to the door, and opened it.

"Nick, what's happened?" Eugene had a look of concern on his face.

"Nothing. I'm fine!" Nick shut his door and walked off in a huff.

"Huh?" Eugene followed him down the stairs, "Nick, Nick, I know you're not fine. I-"

"Baby brother, I am fine. Never you mind and go back to bed." Nick walked into the parlor room and shut the door.

"Eugene, what's going on? I heard noise." Victoria walked up to her youngest son.

"It's Nick. Mother, I'm a little concerned about him." Eugene turned to his mother.

"Is he alright?" Victoria asked.

"I-" Eugene was cut off when Jarrod came down the stairs.

"Mother, Eugene, I don't think this is the appropriate time to discuss what's going on with Nick." Jarrod shook his head, "Especially without his saying so and well, I think he needs one of us at the time being."

"I suppose you're right, Jarrod. Plus, knowing how Nick is, it's just as well to leave him be." Victoria nodded before retiring back upstairs.

Eugene looked at Jarrod and shrugged, before following suit. Jarrod let out a long sigh before entering the parlor room and seeing Nick looking over a piece of paper.

"Nick..." Jarrod shut the door and slowly walked over to the desk his brother was sitting behind.

Nick continued to stare at the paper, clearly not acknowledging Jarrod's presence.

"Nick...what are you...what are you working on?" Jarrod took a seat in the nearest chair.

"Nothing that involves you or anybody else in this house!" Nick raised his voice and shoved the paper into the desk drawer.

"Nick, there's no reason to holler at this time of night. You'll wake the dead and shatter every window in the house. Whichever comes first." Jarrod tried to lighten the mood, but failed miserably.

"Jarrod, let me just handle what I need to handle! Please! Is that too much to ask?" Nick put his hands on his hips.

"Nick, what is it you need to handle?" Jarrod asked.

"You'll find out...eventually." Nick walked out of the parlor room.

"And what does that mean?" Jarrod followed him.

Nick ignored him, yawned, stretched, and walked up the stairs.

'I wonder what he has planned. Fred's going to talk with uncle Leonard once he gets a telegram back since McMahon and his bunch threw in his name. In fact, he's going to try to talk to McMahon and the others one by one in order to get a full proof confession. That being said, I wonder what was on that piece of paper that Nick had.' Jarrod thought as he looked around before heading into the parlor room, shutting the door, going over to the desk, opening the drawer, and grabbing the folded up piece of paper Nick had.

Jarrod looked around some more just to make sure nobody would catch him off guard. Once he saw that he was alone, he opened the folded up piece of paper and got bug eyed when he saw what was written on the paper. He quickly stuffed it into his night shirt pocket and left the parlor room.

*Two days later, at the sheriff's office*

It had been two days since the attack and after waiting & waiting, Leonard Barkley returned to Stockton, got questioned twice the first day he arrived, and was now in the sheriff's office being questioned again by Fred as he was named the mastermind of it all. It had been going on two hours since the third round of questioning started and Leonard was not having any of it.

"You've been on my tail for going on two wasted hours and for two lousy days getting the same answers over and over and over again until I am practically blue in the face! First I get a telegram telling me to come all the way from Modesto to Stockton, because of a little attack and right after I had returned to Modesto at that after being in French Camp and passing through both Ripon & Salida. The second I get home, I get that telegram summoning me back up to Stockton. Right away, I get back on my horse and do just that. Yeah, don't give me a chance to sit down, rest, and relax! Then, once I get here, I'm treated like the scum of the earth! Don't you know who I am?!" Leonard sounded very snooty and acted like he had something better to do.

"Sit down, Barkley!" Fred ordered.

"I won't sit down! You have no right to hold me like this and treat me with the utmost disrespect! I am a Barkley for God's sake and I demand better treatment!" Leonard slapped Fred's desk.

"You threatened Nick Barkley, your nephew, in regards to a young lady named Stefania Mangano, whom you started to dislike the mere second after you met her, according to Jarrod, your other nephew. In fact, don't the words: "I'm warning you, Nick! You bring dishonor and disgrace to the Barkley name, you'll live to regret it!" ring any bells?" Fred looked him dead in the eyes.

"This is ridiculous! I say one measly little thing and get interrogated by the sheriff! You're joking!" Leonard scoffed and started laughing.

"Barkley, this is no laughing matter and it is not one measly little thing. You threatened Nick one day and the next day, Miss Mangano endures pure hell. Plus, to top it off, Seth McMahon and his bunch name you as the mastermind & you and I both know that assault, battery, and rape are serious crimes. Now, I highly doubt you would want to keep laughing." Fred was in no mood for nonsense, not even from a Barkley and the look in his eye said it all.

"Of course I know those are serious crimes. I know what happened is no laughing matter and I hope the poor dear recovers. However, I don't even know who Seth McMahon is or any of his buddies, so why would I mastermind something for people I do not even know? Plus, so I said what I said to Nick, but it was just one of those things you say to your kid or sibling or niece/nephew when they act up." Leonard turned away from Fred and had his back to him, "Besides, what I said to Nick has got nothing to do with the attack on that woman."

"You could've aired out your dislike for her in the saloon and the wrong ears heard it!" Fred told him.

"Oh, I could've aired it out to a fellow patron or even the bartender while I was drunk and I could've been sitting next to McMahon or one of his buddies without knowing it. McMahon or somebody could've been sitting next or near to me and heard me airing it all out, but...but my dear sheriff, I wasn't even at the saloon. I told you where I was. Now, you check that out." Leonard walked over to the window and looked out of it, before turning his attention back to Fred and pointing at him.

"I've checked it out from others, but I needed to hear it from your mouth." Fred replied.

"Then, either you charge me for being the mastermind of the assault and rape on that girl and do it right now or I'm gonna walk out of here." Leonard stuck out his chest.

Fred didn't say anything and just sighed, before slapping his desk.

"If you sentence me to prison, you'll be sentencing the wrong man and if you hang me, you'll be hanging the wrong man. Like I said, I'm a Barkley and I will not stand for a kangaroo court all, because of a measly thing I said." Leonard took out a cigar and a match, struck the match on his boot, and lit the cigar.

"I don't care that you're a Barkley. Nobody is above the law, not even the Barkleys. As long as you're here and on the list of suspects, you'll be treated like everyone else." Fred stood up and was almost nose-to-nose with Leonard.

Leonard didn't say anything, only looked at Fred, cigar hanging out of his mouth and what appeared to be a smirk, starting to form in the corner of his opened mouth.

*Meanwhile, at Barkley Ranch*

The rest of the Barkleys had since found out what had happened to Stefania and were growing concerned about Nick as he was totally withdrawn from everyone and everything. Nick had skipped all meals and was pulling the extremely rare move of shirking his ranch duties due to having zero appetite for food, the inability to focus on anything else, and the weight of what happened to Stefania still on his shoulders. Today, he was in the parlor room, sitting exactly where he had been sitting two days prior, holding the note, the lock of Stefania's hair, and her earring in his glove covered right hand. Oddly enough, he was wearing the same color clothing Jarrod had worn when he sat there holding Beth's necklace after her murder. He was mirroring Jarrod with the exception of his signature black leather gloves. The feeling of guilt was still within him, but anger had completely taken over by now. That being said, his anger was not only directed at Leonard, Seth, or the others, but Nick was also very angry with himself. He felt that he had broken a promise to Stefania and was very much to blame for that. In fact, after thinking long and hard, he started fully understand why Carmine Mangano Sr hated him so much. What he didn't know was that Carmine found out about the rape and was on the hunt for him. As he continued to sit in total silence and stare at nothing in particular, the sound of hoof beats could be heard which was followed by knocking at the front door. Victoria descended from the stairs and opened the door.

"Fred." Victoria greeted.

"Victoria." Fred took his hat off.

"Come in." Victoria took Fred's hand and shut the door after he walked in.

"I'm sorry I didn't come here sooner, but I just got through talking to your brother-in-law Leonard." Fred had a somber tone to his voice.

"It's alright. We understand." Victoria told him.

"Is Nick here?" Fred looked around.

Before Victoria could respond, Nick came stomping into the main foyer.

"Physically, I'm here, Fred. Emotionally, I'm not." Nick put his hands on his hips.

"I understand, Nick. However, I'm glad you're here, because I uh I wanted to explain to you about your uncle." Fred walked over to Nick.

"Has he talked yet?!" Nick asked.

"Well, he didn't confess to anything, if that's what you mean." Fred replied.

"That's EXACTLY what I mean!" Nick had balls of fire in his eyes and the tone of his voice made it known.

"Nick, I had to let him go. I had no other choice." Fred swallowed hard.

"What in the damn hell do you mean by that? What the hell does that mean?!" Nick was angrily huffing, the angry breathing sounds coming from his flared nostrils.

"Your uncle said he was in French Camp and passed through Ripon and Salida on his way back to Modesto." Fred told him.

"He's a damn liar!" Nick shook his head.

"I checked out his story and there are people around those parts who saw him there." Fred replied.

"He could've stopped at the saloon and met up with McMahon & his bunch, gave them the okay to do what they did, and high tailed it within just a few minutes in order to cover his butt!" Nick said all of that very fast.

"He stopped at the bar and said he got a little drunk. He could've been running his mouth to any patron within an earshot & McMahon and his bunch probably just happened to be sitting close by and eavesdropping." Fred insisted.

"That's all bull if I ever heard such bull in my life!" Nick refused to believe what Fred was saying, "He didn't have to be drunk and get himself stupid in order to start running his damned mouth! He can do that perfectly while sober! I know that just like anybody else does! He has been longtime buddies with McMahon and the others. I should know that, because they gambled together often! Leonard wanted to catch up on old times with his pals and in the midst of talking, he informed them of Stefania, gave them a description, and sicked them on her!"

"There's no proof of that, Nick! There's absolutely no proof of that! Now, your uncle is right. If he hadn't made that threat to you and if McMahon hadn't included his name in all of this, I wouldn't have had any reason to question him after sending that telegram summoning him back here for said questioning. I had to let him go." Fred explained, "Nick, you know the law just as well as the next guy, you should understand this."

"All I understand is that my good friend Stefania was assaulted, raped, and had the hell scared out of her plus, she may be carrying the child of Dodie Gunderson and Leonard Barkley, no uncle of mine as of now, ordered it to be done in a way to intimidate and scare her away all because he is a racist!" Nick raised his voice.

"Racist is quite a strong word, Nick." Fred told him.

"Then, what the hell do you call it when he says what he says about Silas, about Audra's former fiance Chotaro, about that Daphne Gubenheimer girl Eugene took a liking to, and what he said about Stefania the day before she was put through the gates of hell ten times over?! What the hell do you or anybody else call it?!" Nick started to rant.

"Nick, Leonard may be narrow minded and bigoted, but you're accusing him of something that he may not have orchestrated. These are only accusations. Not only against Leonard, but against McMahon and his bunch. I mean who knows what exactly happened? For all we know, a group of people could've used their names and Leonard's in order to copy one of the many crimes McMahon and his bunch had done in the past before they were sent away. Who knows?" Fred put his hat under his arm.

"And because they're just accusations, it doesn't mean a damn thing? Is that what you're saying? Because if you are, you're wrong, Fred! Stefania knows who attacked her, Harry the bartender can back her up when identifying them, and McMahon & his buddies have a laundry list of crimes they've committed. Assaulting and raping women is number one on that list! However, because she's Italian, it doesn't matter, right? Because she's new to our country, we can just forget about it, correct?! If she was white and American, you wouldn't doubt it for a minute that it was McMahon and his bunch who assaulted and raped her & that Leonard was the mastermind, would you?" Nick pounded his fist on the wall.

"Nick, I didn't say that. I didn't say anything of the kind. In fact, I am surprised at you insinuating such a thing when you know better than that! I'm just trying to tell you that's possible and if I may ask, for being a good friend of Miss Mangano's, you seem to care more than a good friend would." Fred scratched the back of his head.

"That's because we are more than just good friends!" Nick barked, before turning to Victoria, "Yes, mother. I admit it! Stefania and I are more than just friends, but we're taking things slowly! We wanted to wait and inform everybody in a more positive way after everybody put two and two together as a result of guess work, but since the whole world is going to hell faster than the blink of an eye, why not just admit it now?! Huh?!"

"Nick, was that really necessary?" Jarrod walked into the main foyer.

"You stay out of it, Jarrod!" Nick growled before turning back to Fred, "You're just trying to say that it is possible, huh? All you're doing is trying to excuse yourself and cover your backside for letting the mastermind of my girlfriend's assault run free along with the cold blooded perpetrators!"

"Nick!" Victoria and Jarrod shouted at the same time.

"It's alright, Victoria and Jarrod." Fred turned to them, before looking back into Nick's eyes and sighing, "Nick...I'm sorry. I'm sorry about what happened your special little lady. Truly, I am."

"And that's the end of it, huh? That's just the grand finale, right? Just forget about it and go on as if everything is all rainbows and cookies, is that it?!" Nick shouted.

"In regards to Leonard, there's nothing more I can do. In regards to McMahon and his bunch, I still have them to question." Fred replied.

"No, you don't! Not now!" Nick walked over to the table and grabbed his gun belt.

"No, Nick. No!" Victoria pleaded.

"Where did Leonard go? I'll get to him first then I'll track McMahon and his bunch down, one by one!" Nick put his black hat on and went to the front door.

"He's probably gone by now. Probably going back to Modesto as we speak. As for McMahon and everyone else, let me find and question them first." Fred told him.

"No!" Nick put his hand on the doorknob.

"Now Nick, you listen to me and you listen real good. I'm happy for you and Stefania & that you two are taking things slowly. That being said, I don't know her too well, as we only met on your father's birthday, but I do know that like your father, Stefania won't want vigilante justice." Victoria started.

"How do you know, mother? How do you know that Stefania won't want them to be dealt justice Barkley style and how do you know father wouldn't have wanted that?! How do you even know?!" Nick took his gun out, cocked it, and put it back in his gun belt.

"I know this, because I said the same thing to Jarrod when Beth was killed and after your father was murdered, I had to be told the same thing. Knowing what I knew those times and after meeting Stefania, I know vengeance isn't what she wants. From what I saw and from the way you talk about her, she cares about you just as much as you do for her. Don't destroy the beginning of the beautiful thing you two are taking slowly by destroying yourself." Victoria put one hand on Nick's arm and rubbed it before taking the gunbelt out of his other hand.

Nick sighed before kicking a table leg, opening the door, and leaving, slamming the door shut on his way out.

"Poor Nick." Fred had a look of concern on his face, bowed his head, and shook it.

"The only other time he got this way was after Tom was murdered." Victoria had a sympathetic look on her face.

*A few minutes later*

While Victoria and everyone else were wondering where Nick went off to and whether or not he was going to ever come home, there was a knock at the door. Jarrod stood up, made his way to the door, and opened it.

"Hello, ma'am. Are you lost?" Jarrod saw a woman standing there.

"Is this Barkley Ranch?" the woman had a thick Italian accent and spoke in English as best as she could.

"May I ask who you are, ma'am?" Jarrod smiled.

To Be Continued...