Chapter 7
Jarrod came into his office in a concerned mood, trying to figure out the way of talking to Edwina about his plans. It had been a month since the dinner and theater outing, and things were going well between them. They had been out quite a few times, including a lavish garden party at the Botanical Gardens. She had also accompanied Jarrod to several formal dinners that were political in nature.
Edwina handled politicians like an old pro, he noticed, being very good at talking to members of both parties. She was always tastefully dressed, never elaborately, but with her beauty it didn't matter. Jarrod was more in love than before, and he knew that she was coming to feel that way about him. He had kissed her several times, which had been wonderful experiences.
She was always very correct at the office, and still insisted on being called Mrs. Tradd, while she called him Mr. Barkley, if anyone else was present. Jarrod would have agreed to anything, because in addition to being in love with her, Edwina was the best law clerk he'd ever had. He had won every case he'd taken on, and made it very clear that a great deal of it was because of her.
Their romance was quite the topic of conversation, both in social circles, as well as the government, and law ones. Jarrod had done an overnight trip to Sacramento, to testify before the state house on some legislation that was being debated. Other than when he was actually testifying about the regulation, his friends only wanted to talk about Edwina's beauty, and her legal knowledge. He fell back on his standard explanation, that they were just friends, but no one was buying it.
He felt the need to state that, mostly because he knew that Edwina felt like he did, wanting to keep the relationship private. They were still getting to know each other, and Jarrod was also concerned that she would get upset with the scrutiny. He became even more worried when Uncle Samuel showed up unannounced in his office.
The dandified old man, with his hawk like features and high collar shirt swept into the office, barely greeted Jarrod, and announced that he was taking Edwina out to lunch, to get to know her better. Edwina though demurred at first, which had caused Uncle Samuel to announce that it was perfectly fine, because he was old enough to be her grandfather.
That remark had caused her to laugh, before she remarked that her grandfather lived to be eighty, and in the last year of his life was keeping company with a twenty year old actress. Uncle Samuel had smiled wickedly and said that it was good for a man to enjoy the theater. He had then escorted Edwina out, leaving Jarrod with more work than he wanted.
Edwina came back two hours later very happy, saying he'd taken her lunch at the Palace Hotel. Jarrod didn't know what was said, but was glad that she'd had a good meal at the old man's expense. Later that afternoon Uncle Samuel had corned him at the Mining Exchange and told Brother Barkley that he was a damn fool who was playing with fire. He went on observe that if the relationship didn't work out, not only would Jarrod have a broken heart, but would also lose the best legal clerk in the state.
Uncle Samuel's remarks didn't cheer him any, either the broken heart one, or the legal clerk one. Jarrod knew that the old man was right on both counts. It was that worry that was feeding into his concern, on how to tell Edwina what he needed to. He wanted her to be comfortable with the idea, but wasn't sure how to present it correctly. When he heard her enter the outer office, he took a deep breath and hoped for the best.
Edwina came into the office, and saw that Jarrod had already arrived, by the coffee that was made. He was very good about that kind of thing, never taking the attitude that it was her responsibility. She admitted that he was very good in general, being a kind man. They had been going out for a month now, and Edwina could say that she was smitten with her boss.
She had, the next morning after the dinner and theater night with Jarrod and his family, found the issue of Harper's that Heath had mentioned. Edwina read the article quickly, and then again, but more slowly. Yes, St. James Goose Creek was mentioned, but the source couldn't give any specific information about it.
The description sounded like any other part of the low country, and the man even admitted that while that name had been mentioned, he really wasn't sure if that is where they ended up or not. Edwina also noticed that the man said only that he'd seen the trunks with the naval insignia, not what was inside them. She was further reassured when she found out that the man had only gone as far as the boathouse, by the dock.
His story was that several Negros were waiting at the dock, and unloaded the barge under the direction of the two naval officers. Edwina wanted to snicker at the source's description of the two men. She felt better after reading the article, and realized that she had overreacted to Heath's story. In fact, the idea of gold wasn't even mentioned until the very end, and only in a speculative way, along with guns as a possible item too.
Her father's business associates in Carson City would have let her know, she was sure, if there was any danger from the article. Edwina looked back through the magazine, and noticed that it was last month's issue. The main features were an article about the First Lady Lucy Hayes stating that young ladies should pursue higher education, several editorials about recent congressional activity, and a virulent cartoon by Thomas Nast.
After finishing the magazine she chided herself for being such a worrywart. Heath was just making conversation, trying to include her with the mention of Charleston. Edwina had in fact been relieved that by the end of the evening Heath was being very friendly with her. He told her about Melissa and the work they were doing on the house. Saying silent prayer of thanks now, she put the magazine away and settled down to enjoy being with Jarrod.
Jarrod was a perfect gentleman, and treated her like a queen. He had taken her to a number of lavish, important parties, as well as some private dinners at fine restaurants. Jarrod was attentive and courteous at all times, and a very good kisser too. Edwina didn't have a lot of experience in that area, but she liked the flutters that the kisses produced in her body. He had also told her about his late wife, one night over brandies after dinner.
The story of their relationship was very romantic, while her death was beyond tragic. Edwina was glad that Jarrod felt comfortable enough with her to tell her about the aftermath, and what he'd done. It was also clear to her that he was more than ready to move on, and had come to terms with everything. Beth sounded like she had been a sweet, gentle person, but Edwina did wonder about her remark about wanting a house with no roof.
Of course she was then expected to talk about her own marriage, which had been a sad farce. Yes, her marriage had lasted longer than Jarrod's by four months, but it had never been a real relationship. However, she did not want to go into that whole story, not feeling comfortable about telling the details.
Instead, Edwina told Jarrod that her husband had been a family friend, about to go off to war, and the marriage had been semi-arranged. They had not spent any time together, because of the war, and then her husband died in the final days of the conflict. Jarrod had nodded his head in understanding, and taken her hand and kissed it, feeling bad for her.
Eliza for her part was overjoyed at the courtship, glad that her mistress was being treated like the lady she was. She had convinced Edwina to purchase a couple of new outfits, because of her increased social life. Edwina had been resistant at first, but Eliza brought up Edwina's mother, which did the trick. Privately she was getting tired of Eliza using that gambit, but she had to admit that it always worked. Edwina was sure that her mother was up in heaven, beaming with approval of the relationship.
"Good Morning Edwina, are you ready to go over the day's schedule?" Jarrod asked, as she came into his office now. He brought out his calendar, and remarked about several things, while she took notes. There was a court case that should be wrapping up today, and the San Jose property had finally been sold, with the proceeds being paid out to the unpleasant heirs.
"It is June now Edwina and I usually spend summers in Stockton, overseeing business interests in the valley." Jarrod went on to explain about the area, and what a busy time it was for ranching and agriculture. "I make overnight visits back here, as needed, but the bulk of the work takes place at my office in Stockton." He here paused, rehearsing the words in his mind before he went on.
"How would you feel about coming to Stockton with me, Edwina? I could really use your help in running the office, as well as on legal issues." Jarrod took a deep breath, hoping he'd not misread her. "I would also like to have the chance to show you my family's ranch." He smiled as he thought about taking her riding, and showing her his special spots.
"You want me to accompany you to Stockton?" Edwina inquired, trying to buy some time. She had no problems reading between the lines of what he was saying.
"Yes, I would like that. You could stay with us, at the big house. We have plenty of room." Jarrod offered excitedly, being pleased that she had not said no out right.
"Jarrod, there has already been enough talk about our relationship; my staying under your roof." Edwina held up her hand as he started to reply. "Even with your mother present, would really ignite the gossip." She sat up very straight, and gave him a direct stare with her sapphire blue eyes. There was something fierce about her that made Jarrod worry he'd said the wrong thing, and the lioness reference came to mind.
"I can certainly see why you would want my assistance at the office in Stockton. I assume that it is a decent sized town?" She asked, and Jarrod nodded his head. "Are there not hotels or boarding houses that Eliza and I could stay at? Or maybe a situation similar to what I have here, with Mrs. Harrison?" Edwina hoped he would accept the compromise she was offering, and understand why she was suggesting it.
She had been shocked at the amount of talk there had been about them, and was worried that someone would start digging around her personal life. It was at the back of her mind that she was getting to the point of no return with Jarrod. Edwina knew that she would have to tell him about who and what her father was, before the relationship became any more serious. Her accompanying him to Stockton would be seen, by society, as a declaration of their status. She wished she had told him right upfront about her family, because now it was only going to be harder.
"Well, I guess that would work too." Jarrod replied, and then smiled. "I'm glad you are going to bring Eliza – I like her a lot!" He knew that if it wasn't for the Negro woman he would have been thrown out of the house in Carson City.
"Eliza likes you too!" Edwina retorted with a slight sniff, thinking of the way the woman sang the man's praises. She had already predicted that her mistress would be married by Christmas, and this trip would only solidify that idea in her mind. The marriage comment didn't cause Edwina the uneasiness that it had at the beginning. Jarrod would make her a good husband, and only a fool would turn down what he could offer.
"Jarrod, I hope that we will have the chance to go riding together? I miss living in the country." Edwina confessed in an unguarded moment, thinking about the chance to be on a horse again. She'd grown up riding, among the tall oaks with their heavy Spanish moss.
"You really didn't grow up in Charleston did you, Edwina? That picture I saw, at your house in Carson City; it showed your family and the plantation right?" Jarrod figured that now was a good time to find out what he'd suspected.
"Yes Jarrod it did. I wasn't lying though, about Charleston, because we had a townhome there." Edwina was glad to be able to tell the truth about something. "My father would go into town to conduct business, and we lived there in the fall. Most of our time was spent on the plantation though, outside of the city." She decided to tell him a little more, just so he understood what was in her background.
"It was lovely Jarrod, and in some ways I miss it so much." Edwina winced with pain, as she thought about the beautiful house that had been in her family for generations. "My grandfather ran the plantation, and he ran it with an iron hand. He was, I'm sure, the type of slave owner that is demonized in the press. There were hundreds of slaves, and they were his property, in his mind the same as a horse. It was degrading and nasty, to know that that was in your backyard." She wanted him to understand her feelings on slavery, even as she mourned the loss of the family land.
"I'm sorry Edwina, I really am." Jarrod once again felt bad for the young woman, and everything she had lost in the war. He was glad though to hear her thoughts on slavery, and how evil it had been. "Let's think of happier times, shall we? I promise to take you riding." He gave her a winning smile, and she smiled back happily.
One week later – Stockton, California
Nick led the saddled Coco out into the stable yard, and adjusted the bedroll to make sure it was on tight. He also checked the saddlebags that held the provisions he would need out on the trail. His plan was to head out to the far eastern range, and oversee operations out there. There was a line shack he could stay at, but it was several days riding to get out there and then at least two weeks worth of work to complete.
"I don't know Nick, you might want to rethink going. Duke said he would go, and you could stay and meet Jarrod's lady friend. Let me tell you, she is really something." Heath came into the yard, and walked to Nick to say good bye.
"That's right; I forgot that Jarrod was arriving today from San Francisco. It will be good to have him home." Nick replied. "Yes, his lady friend is supposed to be something, based on what mother says. Well I'm sure they will be engaged by the time I get back! Hey, mother already has them married and living in the governor's mansion." He chuckled, putting on a good face.
In truth, Jarrod's relationship was a big factor in why Nick had volunteered to go to the outlying range. He had been happy for Heath with Melissa, and wished the same happiness for Jarrod too. It sounded like his older brother had found it, with the pretty widow. No, he didn't begrudge them what they had really, but it was hard to see them with someone when he was so alone. After the mess with Stephanie Melton Nick had given up on women, other than the occasional saloon girl, because a man had needs after all.
He was sure that he had missed the boat on ever finding love, and was tired of being hurt and made a fool of. Nick had his land, and his family, to get satisfaction from. A woman who understood that would be nice, but they would have to come to him; he was done chasing illusions.
"Actually, I was hoping to get your impression of her, Nick. There is something about her that bothers me, but can't quite figure it out." Heath answered, wishing his brother would stay around.
"Heath, are you still having problems with her being from the south?" Nick's voice took on an exasperated tone, having heard from their mother all about Heath's initial meeting with the woman, and Jarrod's reaction.
"No, not at all! I think she suffered almost as much as I did." Heath declared, trying to gather his thoughts. "It just seems that little things about her don't add up; like how long she has been a widow, and having to work for a living. I was watching them together, and she didn't act like a woman who'd been married before. Also, the last time I saw them together, it seemed that Jarrod was much more attracted to her than she was to him."
"I would imagine she is a formally raised southern girl, taught not to show her feelings in public. And didn't mother say that she married at the end of the war, and then her husband was killed? She probably didn't spend a lot of time with him." Nick answered Heath, as the image of a southern girl he'd known came to mind. Not wanting to think about her, or what her marriage had turned out like, Nick ended the conversation.
"Look, I need to get going Heath. Stop over thinking the whole thing, with Jarrod. He is a smart man, and if something is fishy he will figure it out." Nick announced forcefully, and then gave his younger brother a sardonic grin. "If he is engaged by the time I get back, we can have a grand evening out on the town, before you two marry." He mounted Coco, waved his hand, and headed down the road.
Heath watched him go; not having been fooled by any of Nick's bravo, knowing exactly what was going on. It made him sigh, as he nudged a pebble on the ground with his boot toe. He had been hoping to have Nick around, because for all of his bluster, his middle brother was very sharp. Once he saw past Edwina's beauty, Nick would scrutinize her like a horse. He was very protective of his family, and if anyone meant harm to them, the man was ruthless.
Thinking about Edwina reminded him of her reaction to the Harper's story, the night they went to dinner and the theater. Heath had spent the next several days in San Francisco, when he wasn't busy with family or business, trying to find a map of South Carolina. He couldn't consult the books in Jarrod's office, because he didn't want his brother to know what he was doing.
There was a dealer in San Francisco, who specialized in antique maps, but once again Heath was faced with the word getting around on what he was looking for. He'd heard some talk about his brother's relationship with the woman, and didn't want to add to it. One day he'd gone over to Ft. Ord, to visit Melissa's parents, and have dinner with them.
Chaplain Clarkson did have a book of maps that Heath was able to look at, under the pretext of admiring the drawings. Unfortunately, the South Carolina one only showed the major rivers, and while some tributaries were drawn, none were named. Heath realized that what he needed was a seaman's chart of the area, so he spent one afternoon looking in shops along the waterfront.
Finally, in a rather run down shop he found a book of sea charts of the Carolina's, that dated from 1848. The binding was falling apart, and some of the pages were watermarked, as if the book had been damaged. The shop owner queried Heath as to why he wanted it, before he told him the price. Heath gave a story of his father growing up in North Carolina, and the book was a present for him; which the clerk accepted. The man wanted more than what the book was worth, but Heath paid the price without bartering.
Heath took the book back to his hotel room, and buried it in his suitcase, not wanting his mother to come upon him reading it. It wasn't until he was back at the ranch, late one night that he pulled it out to look at; making sure his door was locked first. He found the chart he needed with no problem, and saw that St. James Goose Creek was a branch of the Ashley River.
A closer look at the map showed some markings for docks along the creek, and various numbers in the area of the water. Going to the front of the book, he found the index and guide, and found out that the numbers indicated the depth of the water. Heath traced the creek down to the river, then followed that to where it met up with the Cooper, and flowed into Charleston.
He didn't know a great deal of seamanship, but by comparing the numbers in the harbor of Charleston, to the rivers and creeks that flowed around it, Heath was able to figure out which channels could probably handle a cargo ship. St. James Goose Creek wasn't one of them, but then he remembered that the article had stated the ship had unloaded somewhere else. The trunks had then been moved by barge to the named creek.
The book really gave him no answers, other than confirming what Edwina had said, about the location being in the low country, as the area was called. Heath helped himself to some whiskey from the bottle he kept in his nightstand, and pondered his next step. All he had was suspicions, based on his observations, but no way to act on them.
When he'd heard that Edwina was coming to Stockton he knew that things must be serious between her and Jarrod. Heath really wanted to like the woman, and wanted his brother to be happy. It just concerned him though that she was holding something back about her background. He'd been enough of a lawman to know when things weren't what they seemed. As he watched Nick ride away he sighed again, wishing his mother had just left well enough alone.
