Chapter Two

The streets of Stockton were full of people coming and going, laughing and talking. The noises of the city drowned out many of the birds that happened to be perched on a few of the roofs chirping. Jarrod couldn't help but sigh, as he drove the family's surrey through the streets of Stockton. While his work demanded that he walk, or ride, the streets of Stockton, Sacramento or San Francisco, a part of him would always look forward to the nights when he could simply stand on the verandah of his family's home. As he drew closer to the railroad station, he ran the conversation he'd had with his mother the week before through his mind. The fact that she was shocked by the revelation he'd given her would have been the understatement of the year. However, once Victoria had gotten over the shock she'd made it clear that, while she wished Jarrod late friend had found someone else to extract the promise from, she would back Jarrod up on keeping the promise to Zach. The rest of the family, when they'd been told what was going on, were just as stunned; still they, like their mother, had promised to say nothing.

By the time Jarrod rode up to the train station, the early morning's hustle and bustle had slowed down to a minor trickle. As he parked the surrey off to the side of the building, Jarrod couldn't help but wonder how long before the activity around the station would rise again.

"Hello, Jarrod," the train master smiled as Jarrod opened the door of the station and stepped inside. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine." Jarrod replied as his eyes swept the waiting room. He frowned slightly seeing the room empty.

Before he could say anything, the station master spoke up. "If you're looking for someone who was supposed to arrive on the last train, it's been delayed. It might be up to another thirty minutes before it gets here or it could pull up any minute."

"Thanks," Jarrod turned and walked out of the building and sat down on the bench just outside the door and to the left. It wasn't very often he was grateful for a late train only, after the morning he'd had, it was a blessing. His mind wandered back to the last battle he'd been involved in, or the aftermath of it anyway, back to when the first time the promise was extracted from him. It was during the last battle that Zach had been severely wounded and no one, including Jarrod, had expected the man to live.

"You don't have to say anything." Zach lay on a cot in a makeshift 'hospital' looking up at Jarrod. "I know how bad it is."

Jarrod had simply nodded, not sure what he was supposed to say. If only he'd seen the sniper that shot Zach before he did. He could have got to Zach's aid sooner. Oh well, he chastised himself, there was no use in dwelling over 'what if'. He hadn't, and Zach had been wounded. That was just the plain facts, and nothing could change them.

"As you know, my wife is from Mexico and from a rather wealthy family. I made her a promise at the time of our marriage, one that maybe I shouldn't have, only it meant so much to her that I couldn't say no." Zach looked with earnest up Jarrod and pulled the rug out from under him when he, Zach, repeated the promise and asked him to keep it for him 'when the time came'. "I wrote everything down and signed it along with having a couple of witnesses sign it."

Jarrod couldn't believe what he was hearing. It was simply mind boggling. This was America. Things like this weren't done, were they? Zach, who seemed to read Jarrod's mind, laid his hand on Jarrod's wrist and said, "My mother was not from here and neither is my wife. And," the man gave him a small smile, "it's not like such things do not work."

Jarrod came out of his thoughts as he heard a train whistle. He looked towards the far side of the train station. Sure enough he saw the train pulling in. He sighed. It had not been necessary for him to do anything back then as Zach as surprised everyone and survived. He had forgotten about the promise until his friend had showed up at the ranch and once again asked him to reaffirm the promise."This is insane." Jarrod whispered as the train came to stop and the passengers began to file out of the train one by one

Marguerite Maria Stapleton looked out of the window she was sitting by. Anyone who looked at the petite black haired beauty, who stood a mere five feet two inches, close enough would have seen a young woman who was calm and collected on the outside….but nervous as all get out. If it had not been for the fact that she greatly loved and respected her late father and mother, the young woman probably would have bolted when the man lay on his deathbed and reminded her of just what her mother had wanted, and what he'd gotten Jarrod Barkley to promise to do.

"Do not worry my daughter. The Barkleys are good people, and Jarrod Barkley will provide for you until the time comes for you to marry." Zach smiled up at his daughter. He felt sure it wasn't the thought of Jarrod being placed as her guardian that upset her, but what he, Zach, had asked Jarrod to do as her guardian. He was proven right when his daughter looked at him in disbelief.

"How could you ask of him such a thing?" Marguerite swallowed and stared at her father. Even with all the years of her mother preparing her to hear the things her father was saying it still boggled Marguerite's mind.

"And, as you know, your mother came from one of the finest families in that country." Zach took a hold of his daughter's hand. He sighed and told her what her mother had asked of him on her own deathbed. "While I know you would say that it wasn't necessary for your mother to act as she did and to ask this, only…" he gave her a small smile, "please, understand. You were her only daughter. She wanted to have the peace of mind that you would be well provided for."

As the train came to a stop, Marguerite saw Jarrod standing on the platform outside the train station. While she had never met him, she recognized him from the photo her late father had showed her. Inwardly she sighed as she prayed he was indeed as honorable of a man as her father had said.