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Winning the War	By : cowgirl65 Category: 1 through F > The Big Valley Views: 1708 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Janie wrote down the final figure and set the pencil on the desk. Mineral Springs Freight and Stage Lines was finally turning a respectable profit and as Janie tucked a copy of the month’s statements into an envelope, she wished she could be there in person to see the pleased expression she hoped was going to be on Jarrod’s face.
Tucking a curl that had escaped its comb behind her ear, the young woman sighed. She hadn’t been able to see as much of the handsome lawyer as she’d have liked to in the past few weeks. The business was busy with harvest season, which meant the Barkleys were busy too, plus Jarrod wrote to her that he had been seeking a nomination for Attorney General and that was going to occupy his time for a while. At least he was a prolific letter writer and rarely did a week go by without two or possibly three letters in the mail for her, starting with ‘My darling’ or ‘dearest’ and a ‘devotedly yours’ or ‘with greatest affection’ at the end.
Janie closed her eyes as she remembered Jarrod’s last visit. She’d surprised him by cooking dinner all on her own, with the help of the cookbook he’d sent to her as a light-hearted joke, and could still see his dashing smile after he took the first bite. They’d taken a long walk in the moonlight afterward and Janie recalled the strength of his arms as he held her close and the warmth of his lips on hers. No intentions had been declared other than Jarrod asking her father’s permission to court her after they’d dealt with Ed Crawford, but Janie was head over heels in love with Jarrod Barkley and she knew he cared for her even though no words of love had been spoken aloud.
“You still here, honey?”
Her father’s voice broke Janie out of her reverie. “Oh, hi, Papa,” she said with a smile.
Ben Moore tucked his fingers in the lapels of his coat. “Thinking about that young fellow of yours?” he asked with a teasing look.
Janie blushed. “Maybe a little,” she admitted. Having her father’s approval of Jarrod as her beau made Janie that much happier.
“Y’know, things are a bit slower right now, with the past week’s rain and all,” he observed. “You’ve got Lou knowing all the rates and timetables. Why don’t you take a few days and head off to Stockton?”
“Oh, Papa, I couldn’t leave you here alone,” she protested.
Ben’s eyes twinkled. “Shouldn’t that be a father’s line, not wanting his little girl head off by herself?” he questioned. “But you know how to take care of yourself, honey. I think I can do the same and I trust your Jarrod to act proper with my daughter.” Janie blushed.
Janie thought about the idea while she was preparing dinner that night. With all the new business, they had hired someone to run the hotel café so she didn’t have that responsibility any more. Her papa was right; the hectic pace of the past few weeks was slowing and she really did want to see Jarrod. But what would he think of her showing up unannounced? By the time she got ready for bed, her mind was made up. It wasn’t as if it was a dangerous trip to Stockton, even though there wasn’t a stage or wagon heading out for a couple days, and Jarrod’s reaction to her unannounced arrival would tell her if there really was anything between them. Course of action decided, Janie drifted off to sleep and her dreams were filled with a certain handsome, blue-eyed attorney.

*
Jarrod rubbed his eyes before leaning back in his chair for a long stretch. It had been a long couple of weeks. A brutal case combined with being tempted by a nomination to run for Attorney General hadn’t allowed him much time to relax. But it was over now and turning down the nomination had let him breathe easier when he finally realized he wasn’t the type of man who would enjoy the hard practicalities of politics or the compromises he’d have to make.
Jarrod reached over, picked up the letter he received the previous day and smiled as he read Janie’s neat handwriting. The letter mostly consisted of anecdotes of what had been happening in and around Mineral Springs and Jarrod’s eyes drifted to the last line.

“I know you’ve been busy but that doesn’t keep me from hoping to see you again soon.
Your loving Janie.”

She had never been far from his thoughts since that conversation back in Mineral Springs when she talked about saving her town. He admired her feistiness and determination even more than her beauty and her smile. And when he kissed her after she’d chewed him out about the way he was planning to go after Crawford, he knew he had to see her again. He’d made the trip to Mineral Springs as many times as he could over the rest of the summer, but it had been a few weeks since he’d been able to get away and Jarrod was missing his lovely Janie. Now that everything was settled, he promised himself he’d visit as soon as the cleanup was done back home. He didn’t normally work the ranch, but this was one of those situations in which all hands were needed. An unexpected storm had created havoc with the fences and levies and even though it was hard work, Jarrod was looking forward to a change in pace.
Jarrod looked at his watch. It was still early enough in the afternoon to lend a hand with the repairs. He grabbed his gunbelt and hat and headed to get Jingo from the livery before riding off in the direction of the ranch.

*
Janie pursed her lips. She really shouldn’t have taken a shortcut on an unfamiliar road, but she knew from the map that the road looped around and cutting across would save her at least an hour. But now she had no idea where she was, her horse had thrown a shoe and with the way her luck was going, it would start raining and she’d be stuck outside in the wilderness overnight.
Janie heard a rustling from the bushes ahead and stopped, her heart hammering as she tried to decide if it was a wild animal or not. But her horse didn’t seem concerned and his ears even swivelled towards the noise. Janie cautiously led the animal forward and, through a break in the brush, she saw the shimmer of water. Another step and she could see a sorrel horse tethered nearby, plus another sight that made Janie stop in her tracks.
The dark-haired man had stripped off his shirt and was tossing it casually to the side. Janie watched the play of light across the broad shoulders and when he turned slightly, Janie gulped. She knew that profile and knew the contours of those shoulders as well as the strength of those arms from the times Jarrod had gathered her into his embrace and kissed her. There had been nothing really inappropriate in those kisses, but she couldn’t say the same thing about her thoughts. She thought about how the smooth skin of his chest would feel under her fingertips and imagined his hands sliding over her skin as well. Stop that, she scolded silently.
Then Janie’s breath caught as Jarrod started to unbutton his pants. She really should say something, make some sort of noise to let him know she was there, but she was mesmerized as he peeled his pants off his hips and she was treated to a tantalizing view of a well-muscled backside.
I’m just horrible, Janie told herself, no decent girl should be watching… He straightened up after removing his boots and socks and shed his pants and drawers the rest of the way. She’d always admired Jarrod’s large, strong hands and realized the giggled whispers she’d heard were true; the size of a man’s hands was definitely related to the size of his…
Janie stopped herself and knew she should look away, but mercy, that man was well-equipped. Not that she’d ever stared at a naked man before, but she’d seen pictures in an art history book. Classical Greek sculpture had nothing on Jarrod Barkley.

*
Jarrod waded hip deep into the water and then smoothly dove under the surface. It was a scorchingly hot day and the cool water felt refreshing on his skin. He was hot and dirty after spending the last couple hours digging post holes and had decided he’d earned himself a break and a swim before heading to the house. He slicked his wet hair off his forehead and then paused. Something was moving in the shadows by the shore of the pond.
“Hello?” he called out.
Jingo nickered and another horse answered. A figure came out from the shadows and Jarrod raised an eyebrow in surprise when he recognized her. “Janie?” he asked. “What are you doing here?” From the fierce blush creeping over her face and the way she wouldn’t quite look him in the eyes, Jarrod wondered exactly how long she’d been standing there and exactly how much she’d seen.
“I got lost,” she admitted hesitantly, “and I heard your horse and came over and…”
Jarrod didn’t think her blush could have gotten any deeper, but it did and he couldn’t help a chuckle at her discomfiture. “Well, I suppose I should cut my swim a little short and put you back on the right track,” he offered gallantly and started to move out of the water.
“No!” Janie called out and Jarrod stopped. “You shouldn’t… I mean, I’m… and you’re…”
“I’m what?” Jarrod asked with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
“You’re… well, you’re not dressed,” she protested indignantly.
“Oh?’ he wondered. “And how do you know I’m not swimming in my underclothes?”
“Because I saw…” Janie cut herself off abruptly, appalled at what she was about to admit.
Jarrod had to laugh. “You could just turn around, Janie,” he told her with a wink.
Janie huffed in embarrassed exasperation and turned her back on Jarrod. He was still chuckling as he came out of the water. “No peeking,” he teased as he pulled on his clothes. “You can turn around now.”
Jarrod was tucking in his shirt. The white fabric clung to his still damp torso, not leaving much more to the imagination than when he’d been bare-chested. “C’mon.” He walked over to where Jingo was tethered. “I’ll make sure you get to Stockton.” His blue eyes caught hers. “You were heading to Stockton?”
Janie gave him a dazzling smile. “Yes… well, I was really coming to see you. I’ve missed you the past few weeks.”
“I’m sure you saw enough of me today,” he responded with a devilish grin.
“Jarrod!” Janie protested as the blush returned.
He reached out his hand, chuckling. “I’ll give you a hand up to your horse.”
Janie shook her head and said, “He threw a shoe, that’s why I’ve been walking.”
“Well, then…” Jarrod smoothly pulled himself into Jingo’s saddle and nudged him over to Janie. He held out his hand and kicked his foot out of the stirrup. Janie took the offered hand and Jarrod swung the lovely young woman up behind him. He took her mount’s reins and tied them to the saddlehorn, placed Janie’s hand around his waist and clucked to Jingo.
“So,” he said as Jingo settled into a fast walk with Janie’s horse following behind, “town or our ranch?” Jarrod was enjoying the feel of her arms around him and the warmth of her pressed up against his back, even though it was a hot day. “Mother would be happy to have you and it would certainly be more convenient if you’ve come to see me.” He twisted in the saddle to look at her. “I promise, Mother and Audra will see to it we’re well chaperoned.”
“Just so long as you keep the door to the bathing room shut, Mr. Barkley,” she teased as she overcame her embarrassment.
“Just so long as you avert your eyes, Miss Moore,” he teased back. “But I don’t think you’ll see anything you haven’t already.”
Janie smiled and rested her cheek against his strong shoulder, glad she’d made the spontaneous trip. Jarrod’s reaction to her unexpected arrival was all she could have hoped for and more.
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Winning the War