CHAPTER EIGHT

Hester

Jarrod pushed his law books aside as he stood, stretched and walked to the window to watch the street below. He mind was far away trying to wrangle the consequences of a legal opinion when he suddenly put his knuckles on the ledge and peered closely at the people walking below. There she was...the dark haired lady he noticed earlier in the day ...swishing her skirts as she sashayed along the boardwalk doing some window shopping..her face partially obscured by the parasol she was carrying. What was it that was so familiar? As if on cue, she turned her head slightly but just enough that Jarrod recognized her – "Hester Converse" Jarrod muttered to himself, "what the heck is she doing here?"

She strolled on a bit further - nodding and smiling at the menfolk who were tipping their hats to her before turning completely around so as to see and be seen by all of them – and then waltzed into the dressmaker's shop.

Ettie Johnson was finishing a fitting when she noticed the well dressed woman who just entered. "Be right with you" she called out.

"Take your time" the woman returned, as she fingered a beautiful creation on the nearest mannequin.

Finally, after bidding her customer a good day, Ettie turned to Hester, "How may I help you?" she asked, adding, "You're new here aren't you?"

Something in the woman's demeanor didn't seem quite right to Ettie as she looked past the smile into cold eyes. "I'm looking for a dress that must make me look absolutely beautiful" Hester said pointing to the stunning blue gown she was admiring. "May I try this one on?"

Ettie removed the gown and ushered her into the dressing room, "call me when you need help with the fastenings" she said closing the curtain behind her.

Hester emerged and Ettie started lacing the gown. "Are you familiar with the Barkley family?" Hester inquired innocently.

Looking at Hester in the mirror, Ettie replied as noncommittal as possible, "everyone in Stockton knows the Barkleys".

"Well" Hester said, "I'm an old friend of Nick Barkley...I'm here to surprise him." Ettie finished the lacings and Hester turned to admire herself in the mirror. "Do you think he'll like this?" she asked.

"I'm sure he will" Ettie replied, "especially since his wife created this design".

Hester kept staring at her reflection as if she hadn't heard Ettie's reply, "yes" she murmured, "this will do perfectly". Turning to Ettie, she smirked, "I didn't realize his wife was a common worker".

Ettie looked at this strange woman and remarked, "Jennie and Nick are very happily married".

"Really?" she answered. Then after a moment's hesitation, Hester said "'ll take it...please have it delivered to the Stockton Hotel within the hour." She went back to the changing room, and upon emerging, paid for the gown and swept out of the shop leaving Ettie to stare after her.

Ettie was so upset...she didn't know what to do with the strange woman and her questions about the Nick and Jennie. Jennie was her best friend and business partner, but she didn't want to upset Jennie talking about the strange visit. Packaging up the gown, she left the shop to deliver it as promised. As she was walking back to the shop, she spied Jarrod coming out of his office.

"Mr. Barkely", she called, "can I speak with you?"

"Miss Johnson" Jarrod replied tipping his hat, "I was on my way to lunch...would you care to join me?"

He could tell that she was upset about something as she stammered, "Please...I really need to speak with you in private".

Taking her arm, he escorted her back to his office, "then we'll speak in here" as he opened the door for her. Motioning for her to sit in the client's chair, he sat behind his desk and waited for her to speak.

"Mr. Barkley", she started, "please don't think I'm foolish, but I've had a very strange customer in the store today."

Jarrod leaned forward and commented, "a very pretty dark haired lady who obviously wasn't from Stockton."

"How did you know?" Ettie cried, "she came in and was asking questions about your family...Nick and Jennie in particular. Said they were old friends and then bought my most expensive gown saying she was going to surprise him".

Jarrod nodded as she spoke, "I saw her enter your shop" he commented. "I'm really not sure why she would come back to Stockton". Then he added, "please keep this between us for now; I'll speak with Nick later". Ettie nodded and thanking him for his time, she left the office.

Jarrod grabbed his hat and after locking the office, mounted his horse and headed home. Something was definitely not quite right as it made no sense for Hester to be in Stockton. As he entered the house, he greeted Silas ... tossing his hat to him – then he went to plant a kiss on his mother's head as she was relaxing by the fireplace.

Ever perceptive about her eldest son's moods, she looked up at him, "what's on your mind Jarrod?" He looked toward the stairs and asked where Jennie was. When Victoria replied that Jennie and Audra were at site of the new house with the architect, he repeated the day's events concerning Hester.

When he was finished, Victoria just sat and stared at him, "whatever is she doing in Stockton? Audra told me that they ran into her in San Francisco...so she is well aware that Nick is now married".

"Well", Jarrod commented, "I wanted to give Nick warning that she's here."

Victoria frowned in dismay, "Nick and Heath went into town for dinner and then they were going to the Cattleman's Association meeting".

Jarrod shook his head, "I may be too late for the warning...but I've got to get back to town." Grabbing his hat off the foyer table, he kissed Victoria and went out the door.

Nick and Heath rode into town under the watchful but hidden gaze of Hester. She was hidden behind the draperies in her room and smiled as she watched them tie up their horses in front of the Stockton Hotel. She waited until they entered, then turned to look in the mirror. The beautiful dark blue gown fit like a glove and showed off all her curves to perfection. Turning, she blew out the lantern and locked the door to her room.

Nick and Heath were already seated at a table when Hester came strutting into the dining room. She spoke directly to the head waiter and was seated at a table directly across from them. She smiled sweetly and waved as they noticed her...then pretended they were not there as she began to read the menu.

Nick whispered to Heath, "should we just leave?" to which Heath answered, "your call". As uncomfortable as they were, they decided to order and ignore the blatant stares that Hester was sending their way. They were halfway through their meal when Jarrod entered the restaurant. He totally ignored Hester's wave as he sat down with his brothers.

Ordering a soup, he leaned and whispered, "any idea what she is doing here?" They both nodded in the negative and Jarrod commented, "lets just ignore her for now until she plays her hand."

As they finished, Nick paid the bill and they began to walk out of the restaurant. Hester watched them putting down her napkin as she stood up to follow. She nodded to the waiter, "put this on my bill" and swept out of the dining room.

The Barkley brothers were just exiting the hotel, when Hester let out a moan and crumpled to the floor in a dead faint. Jarrod reached her first and turning to his brothers commanded, " you two get out of here now".

Jarrod and the desk clerk helped Hester to a comfortable chair – while the head waiter brought a glass of sherry for her. She took the glass and looked at Jarrod over the rim as she sipped.

"Something on your mind, Mr. Barkely" she said.

"I'm just curious as to why you are in Stockton" he answered.

"Oh...is there a law against visiting this town?" she replied.

Jarrod shook his head, "No, Miss Converse, there's no law against visiting Stockton. I'm just a bit puzzled about your comments to the dressmaker that you were here to surprise Nick, especially since you are aware that he is married."

Hester stood up and shot an angry look at Jarrod, "don't put the mighty Barkley family on such a high pedestal, counselor" she remarked, "I have absolutely no interest in surprising a dusty gritty cowboy". And turning on her heel, she headed upstairs to her room without a backwards glance.