Author's Note: This chapter has something for you Heathens!

Chapter 9

Melissa had been prepared to like Edwina even before she met her, in spite of Heath's concerns. The fact that the woman worked for a living, as Melissa did, spoke volumes to her. When Heath had first indicated his interest in her, Melissa had put him off, having heard all about the Barkley's.

Her father was an army chaplain, by way of West Point. Elias Clarkson came from an old New Hampshire family that had long served their country. He was the second son and destined for the army, but he had always felt God's calling. It had come as a surprise to his parents when, after putting up with discipline of the military academy, Elias had announced, after receiving his degree and commission, that he was deferring it for three years to study at Yale Divinity School.

His parents suffered further apoplexy when he married the daughter of the battalion commander in his first posting. Her family had no social standing, and her father had come up through the ranks. Elias though had no interest in New Hampshire, preferring the army. In his mind, he was marrying a girl who understood the life he wanted.

Having been raised in a loving household, without great wealth, Melissa had distrusted Heath. Even after she heard his story, she was still cautious about becoming involved with a rich man. She was a down to earth simple girl, who had no problems making her own way in the world. Heath though had shown that he respected that, as did his family too.

She had also been pleased that Heath was willing to go as slow as she wanted, understanding her need to feel comfortable with his life. When it had become apparent that he was courting her, she had heard several comments, from wealthy girls or their mother's, about how sad it was that Heath was seeing someone like her.

Victoria and Audra had gone a long way to make her see that they approved of her, and were more than ready to welcome her into their family. Nick, for all of his loudness and impatience, had never been anything other than welcoming, while Jarrod was the kindest man she'd ever met. Heath, after a long courtship that involved time spent with both families, had proposed under a full moon in a nighttime picnic. Since she was totally in love, along with being physically attracted to him Melissa had said yes with no hesitation.

When she had heard about the widow that Jarrod was seeing, who was working as a secretary, she had silently cheered. Melissa knew that Heath's brother was destined for political greatness, and she had assumed he would eventually marry the daughter of an established politician. She, and her mother, thought it very funny that the man was in love with the daughter of a southern lawyer, who had ended up in Carson City.

Melissa and Edwina had taken to each other right away, the first night they'd met at dinner at the big house. In the two weeks that Edwina had been in Stockton, Melissa had gotten to know her rather well. She was impressed with the level of Edwina's knowledge of not just history, but law and politics too. After having spent some time with the woman, Melissa was pretty sure that Edwina's family had been, before the war, as wealthy as the Barkley's were.

It was nothing that Edwina ever said or implied, rather the way she reacted to certain things. Melissa liked the fact that she didn't flaunt her background. The woman never presented herself as anything other than a widow who had spent her time helping her father in his law practice. It was that whole dislike of social trappings that had endeared Melissa to Edwina.

She had sensed her friend's discomfort tonight right away, when she'd been introduced to Nick Barkley. Edwina had been standing right next to Melissa, before she turned around to greet Nick. The stiffening of her spine spoke volumes to Melissa, and it pushed her alertness into high gear. By the time dinner was over with, and Edwina announced her intention of leaving the house, Melissa was more than ready to help her. She didn't know what was going on, but there was something that was upsetting Edwina.

It became even more apparent when Edwina didn't want Jarrod to escort her out to the buggy. The normal drill was that Jarrod would escort Edwina out, while Melissa and Heath took their time saying goodbye to Victoria. This would give the courting couple some time alone, to say good night. Tonight though, Edwina said goodnight to Jarrod in the hall, pleading how bad her head hurt.

Melissa noticed Victoria being very concerned, and hugging Edwina tightly, as they said good night. She wasn't sure what to think when Edwina wished Nick good night across the hall; she noticed that he inclined his head in reply, but made no further gesture. That only made Melissa wonder about Nick and Edwina even more.

The drive into town was made in almost silence, as Edwina rested against the cushion, while occasionally rubbing her temples. As they pulled up to the townhome Melissa noticed that the woman seemed relieved at where they were. They all exchanged pleasantries, before the butler came out to help Edwina into the house. Melissa gave Edwina's hand a squeeze, wanting her to know that she was there if she wanted to talk.

Heath felt that he had been more than patient during the drive, considering that he'd been deprived of Silas' chocolate pie, along with a cigar and brandy with his brothers. He mostly smoked cigarettes, but his brothers had introduced him to the finer taste of a good cigar. This was Nick's first evening back, and Heath had been looking forward to spending time with his brother.

"Exactly what papers do you have to grade?" Heath asked with annoyance, as he watched Edwina enter the townhouse. He settled his arm around Melissa, to bring her closer to him. If he had to forgo brandy and a cigar, he was hoping it was for something important.

"Heath, I'm sorry! I know you wanted time with Nick, but Edwina was miserable!" Melissa declared, finally able to give vent to her feelings. "The woman took one look at the man, and went into shock! Well, as far as someone like her would go into shock! I really thought she was going to be sick right there at the table." It was so nice to be able to express her feelings, after the tense dinner. Heath pulled her closer, hearing her distress, even as his own worries increased.

"Exactly what do you think is going on?" Heath asked, wanting to hear Melissa's reasons for being so upset. He had his own, but knew that they were colored by his past experiences. He was thrilled with how Melissa cuddled against him, as he asked the question. Melissa nuzzled into his neck, before snuffling slightly, and Heath realized she was very upset.

He kissed her on the forehead, as he drove the horse and buggy to a turn off along the river road. Heath jumped out of the carriage, and tethered the horse to the hitching post, before he helped Melissa out. The moon was in the late quarter, a gold crescent in the sky, as it reflected off the placid river. Heath kept his arm tightly around her as they walked slowly, enjoying the cooler night air. They arrived at an overlook that jutted out with a river view.

"Heath, she knows him!" Melissa stated, wishing she didn't have to say what she did. However, there was no other explanation for Edwina's behavior that evening.

"Mmm, do you mean in the biblical sense?" Heath teased, whispering in her ear, before his lips and tongue started to kiss, lick, and nip at Melissa's neck and ear lobe. He was distracted by how she was snuggling against him, even as her bosom was very visible when her raspberry silk gown slipped slightly. Heath was treated to a full view of the perfect globes, with just a hint of the rosy tipped nipples. At the back of his mind, he made a note that once they were married, he would have to make sure that her dresses fit better – at least the ones she wore out in public.

"Honestly, Heath Barkley!" Melissa declared, standing up very straight at his suggestion of Edwina and Nick. She then became aware of how he was looking at her and couldn't help but laugh before she replied. "If they did know each other in the biblical sense, trust me Jarrod wouldn't be in the picture at all!" Melissa thought about how the tall, dark cowboy had looked at Edwina, and while Melissa could not see Edwina's face, her back side had said it all.

"Melissa Clarkson, such talk from you, a preacher's daughter!" Heath replied with a deep throaty laugh, before he continued his exploration of her neck. His lips soon moved to her lips, as he kissed her deep and hard. As wonderful as it was to be next to him, she decided to move back slightly, to cool things off. That led into the next comment she made, as she regarded her blonde cowboy.

"I'm confused by you, Heath! You have been suspicious of Edwina ever since you met her, but now that I'm agreeing with you, you don't care." Melissa announced, and knew if she was a different type of person she would be stomping her foot in frustration.

"Mellie, I do care and I think you are right!" Heath stated, using the private nickname he had for her. He sighed, and hoped that she would understand what he said next. "I think you are right, they know each other, but not in the biblical sense, as you stated. Edwina is hiding something, but I have no idea what it is! That story in Harper's had her very stirred up, but why? The location? The gold? If there even was gold? Maybe the whole period is sad for her, because of her husband and family." He huffed with annoyance, wishing he didn't have to deal with this. Melissa had heard about the story from him already, and sighed.

"Back when my mother set up the evening of dinner at a public place followed by the theater I wondered why Jarrod was going along with it. He was normally a private person, but he was willing to open his personal life up to speculation." Heath took a deep breath, before he went on. "Jarrod was obsessed with her, and didn't care what it took to get her. I tried to point out that if a relationship had not happened on its own, by then, mother should not be pushing one. Of course it fell on deaf ears."

Melissa watched as Heath removed his arms from her, and walked out to the river's edge. She could tell that he was very upset, and she remembered the concerns she'd voice to him. Her thought, about what kind of family Edwina had come from, before the war came back to her now. She also thought about how Jarrod looked at Edwina, even as she saw Nick at the dinner table, slowly eating his favorite steak.

"Heath, I think your brothers are going to need you – badly!" Melissa came up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, as she molded her body against his back side. "Jarrod loves her very much, but I don't know if he loves the real Edwina, or his illusion of Edwina." She made the observation sadly, thinking about the man who had seen so much sadness in his life.

"What do you mean, Mellie?" Heath turned to face her, trying to understand what she was saying. His thought processes were not helped by how good she felt against him. He really wished they were married, and they could go home to their house, and their bedroom.

"Edwina had a whole life – a different life – before the war; maybe during the war too. Jarrod met her in Carson City, and only sees that part of her. He either doesn't know, or doesn't care to ask what happened before." Melissa saw how Jarrod would not want to rock the boat, with the beautiful woman who was running his law practice.

"Nick knows what that life was, or was maybe involved in it! Do you know what he did during the war?" She buried her head in his shoulder, enjoying his warmth and scent. "Heath, you have to be there for them, and you must support them, and Edwina, no matter how it turns out! Can you do that?" There was urgency in her voice, and Heath understood what she was saying.

"One of them will end up very happy, and the other one with a broken heart. My role is to stand by both of them, and welcome the woman who will be the cause of it, right? The woman who comes from a background that the country fought a war to get rid of!" Heath answered, seeing what she was saying. One thought though wouldn't leave his brain, and he felt he needed to voice it.

"Mellie, what if the gold story is true? Or what if her family is involved?" He felt the need to ask, still being bothered by Edwina's reaction to the story in the magazine. Melissa laughed, as her soft blue eyes sparkled in the moon light.

"The war was a long time ago, and if there was any gold, do you really think it is still around?" She inquired, and as she laughed again she added. "Come on, it is not like her father was president of the Confederacy, right?" Heath by that point was too distracted by the feel of her body against his. He reached for her lips, as he plunged his tongue deeply into her mouth.

"On the subject of knowing people in the biblical sense, how soon can I know you?" Heath panted, after a prolonged kiss that had involved a great deal of exploring. "The house should be done by mid-August, so how soon can your father marry us?" The plan was for Melissa's father to marry them at the chapel at Ft. Ord, overlooking the bay.

"Papa will be happy to marry us anytime, and just so you know, I don't want a big fancy wedding! What about October?" Melissa answered. "Quite frankly I only care if the bedroom is done and furnished – we can take our time with the rest of the house!" She only wanted to be with him, and she told him that now, before she started kissing him and moving her hands over his body.