Secrets
Chapter One
Audra Barkley Leech stood upon her balcony watching her two daughters, their husbands, their children and her three sons gathering in the yard below the balcony, along with her oldest son's fiancée. Her eyes fell upon Candace, her oldest daughter, and she sighed. They say secrets exist within every family or individual. Many try to deny that and say others are being too pessimistic. As she stood there upon the balcony of the home she had shared with her husband of thirty years, she did not deny such a thing. She could not. She and her family; that is, her late mother, her two living brothers, Heath and Gene, and her husband were the only ones who knew her and Alexander's secret.
Again, she gazed upon her oldest. The fact that Candace was the spitting image of her was a blessing she would be forever grateful for. It meant as far as the "good" people living in Stockton, now or in years past, knew Candace was definitely her mother's daughter. When her husband, the dark haired, broad shouldered, Alexander Leech slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her into a warm, firm brace, Audra sighed.
"You really shouldn't look back." He whispered as he kissed her on the side of the head. His wife seldom acted like this; only, when she did, it was always over "that" matter. He hated to see her torment herself like this. "What good does it do? It wasn't your fault, and the man is dead, hung by his own hand."
Audra turned her head and smiled at him. "I can't help it today; after what almost happened to Candace the other day…" she shuddered as she thought on what her husband and oldest son had stopped. If it weren't for those two, who knows what would have happened.
Knowing their daughter was still shaken up by the events of the previous day, Alexander told Audra, "She's coming up to talk to you later; I asked her to and, no, I haven't told her. She needs to hear it though. She needs to know you can do more than feel sympathy for her." He felt his wife stiffen and then relax. She knew he was right. When he left go of her and left the room, Audra prepared for her daughter to appear. When the young woman did, she looked rather confused.
"Father said you wanted to talk to me?" Her voice was soft and she looked scared. Did her mother blame her for what Jeremy Wilson tried to do? Was she going to give her a lecture or what?
Audra sat down, smiled sadly and pointed to the chair next to hers. "I have a story that I think you need to know, only please, do not repeat it to your siblings or anyone else." That rose Candace's curiosity and she sat down, waiting for her mother to begin.
"It was the winter of Eighteen Seventy-Nine…."
0000
Audra sat next to Jarrod and across from her mother as the train sped toward Stockton; she sat in the seat by the window. Jarrod was finally remarrying and had been visiting his in-laws to be while she and her mother had spent some time shopping. She'd actually had a choice, stay home and visit her cousin, Rebecca, or go shopping. Since visiting Rebecca meant spending the majority of time in the kitchen, it hadn't been hard to choose. After all, everyone knew how much she, Audra, hated baking of any kind. After a thousand burnt dinner or deserts, the young woman had swore whoever she married better be at least wealthy enough to afford a part time cook! As it was, she'd not only got to look at beautiful dresses; she'd also met a couple of nice looking gentlemen.
"Audra?" Victoria tapped her daughter on the shoulder as the young woman had heard nothing of the conversation that Jarrod and she, Victoria, had been having. If she had, Victoria knew Audra would have had a temper tantrum. "It would be nice if you would join the conversation."
Audra was embarrassed at being caught not listening and blushed. "Sorry, mother. I guess I let my mind wander."
Jarrod and his mother exchanged knowing glances. They swore Audra went through more boyfriends that she did dresses. No wonder her brothers were kept on their toys all the time. If they didn't, who knows who she'd choose to date? As it was, she'd already had the stupid luck of coming up with some pretty good losers.
"We were talking about Margaret." Margaret was Jarrod's fiancée. "That is how she has asked if her cousins Teresa and Alexander Leech, along with his business partner, Miles Garrett, can come to the ranch for a visit. Well, Teresa is coming strictly for a visit. Alexander and Miles both have some business to take care of. Teresa will need someone to show her around Stockton." Jarrod gave Audra his Pappy look.
Audra wanted to groan. Teresa and her brother, Alexander, had been out to the ranch the year before. Alexander was okay; all the Barkleys liked him. Teresa was another story; just the thought of "that woman" coming again was enough to Audra nausea. The woman talked through her noise and always had a book in her hand. If Audra even mentioned dresses, shopping or boys, the girl looked as if she' have heart failure. If her mother and Jarrod were talking about having visitors and the ranch and that included Teresa, then it meant she and Jarrod expected Audra to play the part of gracious hostess. How could you be a hostess to anyone who refused can't their nose out of their book long enough to even have a chance to look at you? "I have to help out at the orphanage for a solid week, maybe two, when we get home. How am I supposed to show her around Stockton?"
Her mother gave her a reprimanding stare while Jarrod shot her one of his Pappy looks. "You aren't helping out there all day." Victoria reminded her gently, but firmly. "It will be good for both of you."
Audra wanted to say something along the lines of 'yeah, whatever', but she didn't; she knew better. She turned back towards the window, but not before consenting to help the young woman. Though, her consent to do so did not make her feelings just disappear.