Chapter 2

Jarrod slept so much later the next morning that by the time he finished his bath and other morning ablutions, it was lunchtime. "I'm sorry," he quickly apologized to his mother when he finally came downstairs and joined her in the dining room. "I guess I needed the rest even more than I thought I did," he said and gave her a very overdue morning kiss.

"Then I'm happy you got it," Victoria said. "Headache gone?"

"Yes, it is," Jarrod said and sat down to her right.

Silas poured him some coffee. "I looked in on you earlier, Mr. Jarrod – just to be sure you were still breathing."

Jarrod's blue eyes twinkled. "Was I?"

Silas laughed.

"So, the rest of the day will be given to a walk and reading a good book, as I recall your plans," Victoria said and sipped her coffee.

Jarrod took a swig of his own cup. "That's the plan. What time do we expect Audra home?"

"Oh, another hour or so," Victoria said. "Would you like some company on that walk?"

Jarrod looked pleased and surprised. "Yes, I would, Lovely Lady."

After lunch they were walking together, out past the stables and along the drive toward the Stockton Road. It was a beautiful day, bright and not too hot. Their walk was a bit more of a stroll than a walk, but neither one of them was dissatisfied about that.

"You know, I'm glad you came home when you did," Victoria said. "We weren't expecting you for at least another week."

"Yes, I know," Jarrod said. "But a couple things finished up earlier than I planned, and I've been away too long."

"Two months," Victoria said with an agreeing nod. "You haven't been away that long for quite a while."

"I'll try not to let it happen again anytime soon," Jarrod said. "What have I missed around here?"

"Not very much, really. Nick and Heath took a hunting trip while you were gone. They brought home enough venison to last for a while."

"That's good – and unusual, actually."

"They were very lucky this time, only out for two days. There's a new young banker in town Audra has been seeing."

"Really? Does it look promising?"

"It's still too early to tell. How about you, darling? Any time for a social life in San Francisco?"

"Not over the past two months," Jarrod admitted. "I'm sorry. I know I'm way past due for giving you grandchildren."

Victoria knew she was always touching a nerve when she discussed Jarrod's social life with him. Since his wife Beth's death, he'd been reluctant to even risk falling in love. Victoria could understand that, but she wished she could ease him back into wanting a wife and a family again. It had been two years now. But she didn't think this was the visit to get too deeply into that subject. "Oh, I'm not complaining. I just wish you didn't work so hard and gave yourself more time for yourself."

"Soon, Mother," Jarrod said. "I'm working on getting my workload more manageable. What about Nick and Heath? Any new women in their lives?"

"Well, you know Nick. Any pretty face that comes into town, and he's ready to get married. Heath is more like you – more careful about who he gives his love to."

Beth's face slipped back into Jarrod's mind again for a moment, but he didn't say anything about it. He changed the subject. "What about Stockton? Anything exciting going on there?"

"Not really, but I suppose it's good news when a town stays quiet. How long do you think you'll be home this time, Jarrod?"

"A couple weeks at least. I need a good long rest."

"Did anything happen lately that's alarmed you?"

Jarrod said, "No. No more than usual. Just a lot of work."

Victoria wondered if he was telling her the truth, but she didn't push that subject either. He had to keep almost all of his cases to himself, to protect his clients' confidentiality. She slowed and they turned around together. "If we don't head back now, you won't be reading much of the book you're interested in."

"I still have to decide what I want to read. Victor Hugo, maybe."

"In English or French?"

Jarrod chuckled. "My French has gotten pretty rusty. I think I'll stick to English."

By the time they got back to the stable yard, Audra was riding in behind them. She had taken a buggy to town, and Ciego took it from her as soon as she climbed out. "I was afraid you'd still be asleep, Jarrod," she said.

"I nearly was," Jarrod admitted.

Audra handed him a folded paper. "This telegram came for you."

"Thank you," he said, and unfolded and read it. He folded it back up and put it into his pocket.

"Nothing urgent, I hope," Victoria said.

Jarrod shook his head. "Nothing urgent. I'll deal with it later."

As they walked into the house together, Victoria asked Audra, "Did you finish at the church?"

"Yes, it's all cleaned up and ready for services tomorrow," Audra said. "Do you expect to sleep through them, Jarrod?"

Jarrod chuckled. "Never can tell."

As Victoria and Audra went into the house, Jarrod lagged behind. He took the telegram out of his pocket and read it again. And he frowned at it.

XXXXXXX

"Jarrod?!"

Jarrod could hear Nick's voice echo throughout the house. He was comfortable in the sofa in the study, reading, so he wasn't about to get up just because Nick was bellowing again. Sooner or later, his loud middle brother would find his way in here. Jarrod continued to read.

But Nick came in less than a minute later. Somebody had told him where his older brother was.

"Jarrod," Nick said.

"I'm right here, Nick," Jarrod replied without looking up from his book. "What do you want?"

"A straight answer," Nick said and parked himself in front of his brother, his hands at his sides, staring defiantly.

Jarrod looked up. "About what?"

Nick reduced the volume in his voice, and produced another wire for Jarrod that a runner had just delivered. He held it out, and as Jarrod took it and read it, Nick said, "The runner blabbed. He asked how you were doing, given that you just got that twelve-year-old in San Francisco indicted for murder."

Jarrod read the wire. "Nick, this involves a client of mine. I can't – "

"It's public knowledge in San Francisco, and with all these wires you're getting, everybody in Stockton's gonna know you're involved by the time the sun goes down."

"Well, what do you want from me, Nick?" Jarrod asked sharply, beginning to feel his headache coming back. "This involves my client. My client is still my client and I have to keep his situation confidential."

"It's public knowledge you got a twelve-year-old indicted for murder!"

Jarrod stood up quickly, right into Nick's face. "My client is his father, Nick! Yes, I was defending him on a murder charge, and I found out it was his twelve-year-old son who really did the killing! That's all I can say! What else do you want from me?"

"If it's public knowledge, why didn't you tell us that much at least?"

"I don't have to tell you everything I do, Nick! Now let it alone!"

Jarrod threw the book down on the sofa and stormed out for the living room, knowing full well that Nick would be after him all the way. He headed straight for the refreshment table without saying a word to his mother and sister sitting in the settee.

Nick was right behind his older brother, and Heath came in from the kitchen just as Nick hit the foyer. "What's all the yelling about?" Heath asked.

Nick kept going right by him, not stopping until he was right behind Jarrod, who was pouring himself a scotch. "You should have told us, Jarrod. There's nothing confidential – "

Jarrod wheeled and got into Nick's face again. "Maybe I just didn't want to talk about it, Nick. Did you ever think of that? And thank you for bringing my headache back. I missed it a lot!"

Jarrod headed for his thinking chair, sat down in it and stared into the fireplace. Victoria and Audra looked at him, then at each other, then at Nick and finally at Heath, who just shrugged.

Victoria said quietly, calmly, "Would someone mind explaining what the explosion of the day is all about?"

Jarrod popped up out of his chair. "Yes, I mind," he said, put his scotch on the coffee table and went out the front door.