Through the Long Nights

Chapter 1

Late Autumn, 1879

She came dancing off the train as if she hadn't even come several days from Washington on that rolling prison cell. Her mother and her brothers Nick and Heath were there to greet her, huge smiles on their faces. In moments she was in Nick's arms and he was whirling her around in circles.

"Oh, it's so good to be home!" Audra said when Nick put her down.

"Girl, you're more beautiful than ever," Heath said as he got his welcome hug and kiss.

Then Victoria gathered her only daughter into her arms. "Audra, Audra, it's so good to have you home at last! I thought you were going to be like Eugene and never come back!"

"I saw Eugene in Washington," Audra said. "He sends all his love and promises he'll be back for a visit by spring. He is so busy with his practice, he says he can hardly get away to catch a nap, but he looks wonderful – AND he's seeing someone new! She's a Congressman's daughter, from Illinois, and she is so beautiful!"

Nick and Heath rounded up Audra's bags and the four of them headed for the surrey parked not far down the street.

Audra kept chattering and holding her mother's arm as they walked. "I loved Washington. It is so beautiful. And Baltimore was so elegant – so many very educated people there that Eugene knew, so much to talk about. And England! And Rome, oh, Mother, Rome was the most glorious place I've ever seen!"

They made it to the buggy, and Victoria and Audra climbed into the back seat while Nick and Heath loaded her bags and climbed into the front seat. Nick drove, turning the surrey carefully and heading down the street.

Audra suddenly quit chattering when she saw her brother Jarrod's office – except it wasn't his anymore. His sign and name had been removed. She didn't understand. "Mother – what's happened to Jarrod's office? Has something happened to him?"

"No, no," Victoria said. "He's fine. He's just decided to move to San Francisco permanently and his practice is there now."

Victoria had said it so plainly that Audra couldn't believe it. It was like it didn't matter to anyone that Jarrod was gone. "When did this happen?!"

"A few weeks ago," Victoria said. "Don't worry, darling, it's not like he's forgotten us. He simply – well, he simply needed to live and work in San Francisco now. It's all right. Don't worry about it."

"Well, I'm disappointed. It's been so long since I've seen him."

"You'll see him again soon. He knew you were coming and he'll be here in a few days for a visit."

Heath leaned over the back of his seat. "So, how many hearts did you break in Europe, Sis?"

Audra laughed. "As many as I could. But I have to admit, I never met any man as handsome as my own brothers."

Nick and Heath laughed. Nick said, "The girl's come home needing glasses!"

XXXXXXXX

"Silas!" Audra cried on seeing their houseman as soon as she came into the door, and in a moment she was in his arms.

"Oh, Miss Audra, welcome home!" Silas cried. "Let me look at you!"

Audra stepped back, smiling.

Silas smiled and shook his head. "You are even more beautiful than ever, Miss Audra."

"I'm so happy to be home, Silas. I've missed everyone so much, especially you and your scrambled eggs. I never found any food anywhere are good as yours."

"Oh, now you're telling fibs," Silas said, wagging a finger.

Audra hugged him again. "No, I'm not, Silas. You are the best."

Nick and Heath came in with Audra's bags. "We're gonna take these right up to your room," Nick said.

"Thank you," Audra said, and she went into the parlor and fell into the settee. She looked all around the parlor and the foyer and teared up. "I loved traveling, but I'm so glad to be home again."

"Would you like some tea, Miss Audra?" Silas asked.

Victoria said, "Oh, yes, some tea would be perfect, Silas."

Silas left to prepare it.

Victoria sat down beside her daughter and took her hands. "I've missed you so much," she said. "I was half afraid you'd be like Eugene and find you didn't want to come home at all."

"Oh, no, Mother," Audra said. "Being home is wonderful. I don't think I'll want to go traveling again for a long time, if ever."

"I wanted you to see the world before you settled down. You know, if you ever do want to go to live somewhere else, I would be broken-hearted, but I would understand completely."

"No," Audra said. "I want to stay here. Mother – how is Carl Wheeler?"

Victoria's eyebrows went up.

"I found myself starting to think about him as soon as the train got through the plains and to the mountains," Audra said. "Has Carl ever married?"

"No, he hasn't," Victoria said.

"I wonder how he'd feel if I visited him."

"I don't know. Audra – have you had romantic thoughts about Carl again?"

Audra blushed. "Yes, I have. I thought about who I ought to settle down with, whether there was anyone here in Stockton I wanted to be with, and Carl came right into my mind. Am I being foolish?"

"No, I don't think so, but you might talk to Nick about it before you talk to Carl. Nick would know more about him that I do."

Audra grew thoughtful then. "Mother, why did Jarrod move to San Francisco?"

Victoria patted her hand. "We've had a few problems around here since you've been gone."

"Not someone trying to kill the boys again."

"No, actually, we've solved that problem. Jarrod moved to San Francisco and found the answer within days. He wouldn't say who put him onto the woman behind it, but it's over now. Over and done."

"Is that why he moved?"

Victoria sighed. "He's been involved in some – secret goings on. He was afraid the family would be hurt by what he was doing. We WERE hurt by one thing that fortunately cleared up but he didn't want that to happen again, so he moved."

"Oh, Mother, first Eugene and now Jarrod – "

"Ah, Audra, one thing a mother has to learn to accept from the moment her children are born. They will grow up and they will leave. It's the way of things. One day, you will marry and you will leave."

Audra laughed. "I can't imagine that happening, but if it does, I won't go very far away."

"You'll go where your heart calls you, and I will let you go without a lot of moaning and crying about it."

Nick and Heath came back downstairs, Heath saying, "Sis, you have a bunch of unpacking to do. I think you came home with twice what you left with."

"We're going to have some tea," Victoria said. "Why don't you both stay long enough to join us?"

"Sounds good to me," Nick said. "We thought we'd get a couple chores around here done this afternoon anyway."

Silas brought the tea in, with the pot and four cups. As he sat it down on the coffee table, Audra said, "Oh, Silas, please bring a cup for yourself."

"Oh, Miss Audra – " Silas was about to protest that it would not be proper.

"By all means," Victoria said. "This is a small celebration for the entire household."

Silas smiled and went to fetch a cup for himself.