Chapter Three
A/N This chapter is a bit longer than I'd have like only there wasn't a good place to break it up either.
Previously:
When it came to the celebration, it had been held for Antonio's sister, Bonita, and her new husband. Antonio's and Bonita's parents would have hosted the celebration, only they had passed away the year before. Nick had to admit, he'd had his share of drinks, but not to the point of getting so drunk he couldn't remember what he'd done or who he'd met. He didn't know a Mariah, and he sure hadn't requested any kind of papers be filed that would state she was his wife. They couldn't be married….could they?
McColl and a few of the men were gathered around the corral as Jack (a newly hired wrangler) worked on breaking in a horse when Nick and Heath rode up to the wooden gate near the corral. Before either brother could dismount, McColl was opening the gate for them. Soon Heath had joined the men while Nick headed for the house.
"Thought he'd join us," McColl leaned on the corral, watching Jack but speaking to Heath who stood next to him.
"He has to talk with Jarrod." Heath thought about the telegram his brother had received and the talk the two of them had had just before reaching the ranch. He was saying nothing concerning any marriage until Nick or Jarrod said something first.
McColl might have been curious, only he wasn't stupid enough to press Heath to tell him anything more.
Heath watched the new wrangler with a watchful eye. The young man was doing rather well, showing an immense amount of patience and skill as he worked with the newly captured horse. It wasn't long until Jack had the animal walking around the corral without a problem. McColl turned his eyes towards Heath. "I think we best do what we can to keep Jack around."
Heath nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I think so, too."
While Heath was talking with McColl and the other Barkley employees, Nick had made it into the house. Only, instead of being able to go straight to Jarrod-who Silas had said was in the study-Nick found himself having to stand in the foyer listening to Audra, who had stepped out of the living room, rattle on about some fundraiser, along with the fact that Will Marvin was going to help her with it. "Can you believe it? He has so much to do on his father's ranch, but he's going to take time to…"
"Audra," Nick cut in as politely as he could-well, maybe not-still he did try. "As happy as I am for you, I have to go talk to Jarrod. You can tell me all about it the minute I'm through talking to big brother."
Audra might have argued only, she could see the stress level in Nick's eyes-and it worried her. "Is everything alright?"
"I'll explain later," Nick replied as he hurried down the hallway, his boots echoing off the hardwood floor their temporary housekeeper had finished mopping the hour before. Moments later, he stepped into the newly remodeled study. The room was a blend of elegance and classic charm, with mahogany bookshelves lining two of the walls. His older brother had also replaced the old desk with a slightly larger oak desk. Soft light filtered through the opened curtains, casting a warm glow on the brown leather armchairs in the room. With all the work that had been done in the study, Nick thought the family should have added new rugs as well. Though, at the moment, that was the last thing he wanted to worry about.
Jarrod, who was engrossed in the papers on his desk and making notes, looked up at the sound of the door opening. Like Audra, he could see the stress in his brother's eyes. Not knowing of anything serious happening, Jarrod grinned and joked, "What? Did some father or boyfriend run you out of Merced early?" Nick arriving home an hour earlier than expected wasn't that unusual, but Jarrod saw no reason not to joke around with his brother. However, his smile quickly faded when Nick's eyes darkened as he retrieved the telegram from his vest pocket and practically threw it onto Jarrod's desk.
Jarrod's eyebrows furrowed as he picked up the paper, unfolded it, and read the message. By the time he finished, he felt as if his eyes were going to jump out of their sockets. He looked at Nick, who was now seated in the leather chair that set closest to the desk. "For someone who just got married, you don't seem very happy about it."
"I didn't get married!" Nick bellowed as he sat straight up. "I don't know any Mariah! That's what I wanted to talk to you about! You know people down at the Merced courthouse. Can't you send a few wires and find out what's going on? Tuesday is five days away. Surely you can find something out in that time.'
"I'm sure I could only," Jarrod leaned back in his chair. "Why don't you tell me everything that happened while you were in Merced first."
"I didn't chase any woman name Mariah!" Nick barked as he stood up and began pacing the floor.
"I believe you, Nick. Only, before I start investigating, I need to know exactly what took place while you were in Merced."
'With him talking like that, I feel like l I'm behind bars' Nick growled only to himself-as he knew Jarrod was right. "I went down, checked into my hotel room. I went to the bar and played some cards. Yes, I had a couple of beers; no, I did not get drunk." Nick continued pacing. "Before you ask, of course, I flirted with a couple of waitresses. No, none of them were named Mariah -and, no, I did nothing but flirt with any of them. Afterwards, I went back to the hotel and slept. The next day I did my business and then went to the celebration Antonio was holding for his sister, Bonita, and her new husband. Again, yes, I had more than one drink, but I never got drunk, and I didn't flirt with anyone. I couldn't. The women there either had husbands, boyfriends, brothers or some other relative watching them like hawks." Nick forced himself to sit down. "Mostly I was visiting Adam Mitchell or one of his brothers. Adam did laugh and tell me I needed to stop being so wild, said I needed to get a wife and settle down. I joked back and told him if he wanted the blame to get me a wife. That made him, his brothers and I all roar with laughter. But," Nick leaned forward. "Don't try to suggest he or his brothers actually went and found me a wife. That telegram said according to MY request paperwork was filed...not theirs. Besides, I'd have to have signed at least one of those papers, and I didn't!"
Jarrod had to bite his tongue to keep from say anything about the Mitchells. Oh, they were not troublemakers by a long shot, only they sure pulled some of the stupidest stunts at times. "Nothing else?"
Nick shook his head. "The only other thing I discussed was cattle and that was with Samuel Snooks and his brother Edwin. They have a bull I'm interested in. We were trying to decide when and where I'd get it. I don't really have time to go down and get it myself. The three of us were about at our wits end trying to figure out schedules-something that, I freely admit, was something that would have been much easier to discuss had we not had a few drinks. And don't ask why we were talking about it if we'd been drinking-as I just said, I was never drunk! They weren't either. "
"When are you going to get it-the bull that is." Jarrod was puzzled; he knew how busy Nick and Heath would be the next few weeks.
"Adam Mitchell has a friend who's going to help him bring it." Nick did his best to relax.
"Adam? HE'S going to help bring the bull?" Jarrod's jaw might as well have dropped to the floor.
"Surprised me too only, while Samuel, Edwin and I were discussing it, Adam and his friend of walked up. He-meaning Adam-said if I meant what I'd said, his friend was willing help him, but they needed written permission to handle the business. He said his friend didn't want to do anything without proof they had a legal right to." Nick shrugged his shoulders. "So, I took the paper and quickly signed it. The Snooks and I wanted to do something besides talk business. Anyway, Adam and his friend will deal with the bull-but that's it." Nick leaned forward. "So, as I said NOTHING happened between any Mariah and myself, and I sure didn't sign anything connected to any marriage."
Jarrod said nothing as he read the telegram once more, along with thinking about everything his brother had just told him.
"Well?" Nick snapped a bit sharper than he meant to-and then quickly apologized.
"I have to go into town tomorrow morning anyway. I'll send a few telegrams off." Jarrod told Nick. "Don't worry about it for now. Okay?"
Nick frowned; he wanted Jarrod to do something that minute. However, he told himself to relax. At least Jarrod was going to help. "I won't do anything, but it's going to be in my mind until you find out what's going on." Nick turned and left the room, leaving Jarrod tow wonder what was going on as well.
