The Midas Touch
Chapter Ten
"He's not like that in all aspects of his life," Audra said quietly, with a slight hurt in her eyes. She was sitting at a table in Stockton's restaurant with her mother and future sister-in-law, and had heard a woman sitting nearby say Scott was a man with no heart, along with making comments that they wondered how Audra had gotten such a man to commit to marriage when "obviously it wasn't a baby as we thought". She looked at her mother and Polly to see if she could tell by the looks in their eyes if they felt the same way, thinking they'd have just cause to think so if they did.
As Audra had never looked happier, Victoria had to assume that her new son-in-law was at least doing all he could not only to provide for Audra, but was showing her a side of him no one else had ever seen. Although, having seen the high infidelity rate among men like Scott, and having had to face her own husband's affair, one that had taken place once they started accumulating some wealth, Victoria didn't know if Scott could actually remain faithful. Still, that fact was beside the point. Her main concern was her daughter and making sure Audra knew that marriage did not change the fact that the door to the Barkley home would always remain open to her no matter what. "I'm sure he's not." Victoria smiled lovingly at her daughter.
"Don't let those women get to you." Polly said as she nodded in the direction of the gossipers nearby. "People like that must lack the part of their brain that tells them when it's time to shut up and keep any musings they have to themselves." As Polly spoke the words she was grateful that her parents had taught her the consequences of letting one's curiosity get the best of them. As curious as she was, Polly realized it wasn't just 'proper etiquette' that kept her from satisfying her curiosity. No, it was more of the fact that she would never want anyone to be hurt by anything she might say, not like Audra was being hurt now.
Audra realized just how defensive she was. So, she tried to allow herself to relax and, still thinking about what the women nearby had said, told her mother and Polly, "I didn't do anything, but be myself." She said in reference to what they'd just overheard. She went on to tell her mother and Polly all about the various orphanages she'd helped out, the parties she'd gone to with Scott and then named the places they'd been back east and all about England. "You now, for all the buildings we went to," Audra smiled, "I'd rather spend the day in New York's *Central Park. That is, as long as the company is right." She said remembering the one party she'd played hostess at and how glad she'd been to get away from it. "As far as Scott goes," Audra smiled at Polly thankful that she wasn't, unlike the women they'd just overheard, asking one question after another about Audra's recent marriage. "They'd have to ask him what made him decide he actually loved me and wanted me for his wife. I won't be throwing facts concerning him around without him here." She wasn't either. Scott was human and had his faults as did everyone. She wasn't going to bad mouth him. Besides, he had not forced her to marry him. She had more than willingly did that for two reasons. She'd honestly grown to love him and, by his willingness to marry her, Audra knew her husband now loved her enough to care about what was being said about her.
Polly shook her head. "Women like that don't have the backbone to go to the source and ask their questions."
"Let's not worry about those busy bodies and what they have to say," Victoria looked at her daughter, and smiled at her future daughter-in-law, grateful Jarrod had asked such a good woman to be his wife. "We have plenty of other things to talk about."
As the women visited Victoria saw Carl Wheeler, Zeke Mortenson, Samuel Mead, and some of their friends (which included Jack Anders) walk in. Knowing how both Carl and Zeke felt towards Scott, due to their friendship with Ed Mead's son, Victoria decided to cut the outing short; she was sure the men would only spoil the luncheon for everyone. "I think we best head home now. We have a number of things to get done." Victoria said as she stood up.
Polly might have argued only Audra, who had seen the men also, agreed. "I'm eaten enough anyway."
As the three women walked towards the front door, Jack Anders spoke up, much to Victoria and Audra's dismay, "So, have you come to your senses and left Mr. Breckenridge?" Chuckles rippled around his table until all three women turned their heads and gave the men a disgusted look.
Actually, Victoria and Polly's were ones of disgust; Audra's eyes threw scorching fire towards the men. In Jack's case, it did not good. He would have continued his mocking except he felt a boot kick him in the shins, and it came from his temporary boss. The man was also glaring at him as if to say 'have you forgotten who's with us?"
"Sorry," Jack forced himself to smile politely. He had to admit his boss' friend looked rather embarrassed and was also giving him dirty looks. He couldn't help but wonder what the man would do if he knew what was being planned behind his back. "I hope the two of you enjoy your visit to Stockton." None of the men were surprised when the women simply turned and walked away.
"There was no cause for that remark." Carl glared as Jack, Zeke and Samuel, all whom seemed to be a bit too occupied with the steak in front of them. "From now on when you're with me, you'll behave yourself when it comes to Audra, her husband or her family. Do you understand?" He looked around the table until everyone there had nodded their head or given a verbal answer. The talk then turned to their cattle and other plans they all had.
~oOo~
Jarrod sat behind his desk in his law office, while Heath and Nick sat on the couch. Scott was sitting in a chair that sat off to the right of Jarrod's desk. Scott and Heath each held a drink in their hands, drinks provided to them by Jarrod. Jarrod had done his best to keep the conversation light, and he'd succeeded until Nick, who had done amazingly well at practicing patience for a change, finally let his suspicions get the best of him.
"So, what do you have up your sleeve now?" Nick asked rather bluntly as he folded his arms across his chest and glared at Scott.
"Nick!" Jarrod's head turned sharply as he reprimanded his brother. While it was true he shared Nick's suspicions, he had made Audra a promise and he meant to keep it. However, he needn't have worried. Scott took no offense.
"No, it's all right, Jarrod." Scott raised his hand ever so slightly, indicating Jarrod didn't have to lay into Nick any further. "Nick has the right to be suspicious, as do you all." He then put his hand down and looked Nick straight in the eye. "I have no hidden agenda, though I'll not fight you to try and convince you of that." Scott took a breath and continued, "Now, I realize Jarrod sent Audra the invitation before I married her, but I didn't think the marriage made the invitation null and void. Did it?" He looked at Jarrod, who looked horrified that such a thing would be suggested.
"Of course, it didn't." Jarrod replied, throwing a soft glare his Nick's way.
"I didn't think so." Scott said as he looked back at Nick. "Now, I know I've never been married before only, last time I checked, any man worth their weight in gold wouldn't send their woman, or their wife, from one end of the country to the other by herself. So, even if I didn't wish to attend the wedding, do you really think I was going to sit by and watch Audra board the train by herself and simply wait for her to return?" The fact that he'd married her after they'd already been on their way was, in his mind's eye, beside the point. Even if she had not married him, Audra was still his responsibility.
Nick started to open his mouth and then shut it. He didn't like being wrong, especially when it meant Scott was right. Still the man had spoken nothing but the truth. "No," Nick replied. Still, as far as he was concerned, Scott still needed to be kept at arms length and tolerated only for Audra's sake. He then said, "I'll take you at your word for now; though, I'll be watching you."
Nick wasn't surprised when Scott simply gave him a nod and Jarrod quickly changed the subject.
A/N My research said Central Park had just been established when this story takes place.
