Chapter Fourteen

Silas, who had just walked out of the dining room, grew instantly concerned when he saw Victoria entering the house looking very much unsettled. "Mrs. Barkley? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Victoria assured her longtime employee as she started up the stairs. "If you really need me, I'll be up in the attic." She would have informed Silas of her suspicions when it came to Jeremiah Shaw, but she didn't want to get his hopes up. After all, she knew her good friend still blamed himself for what had happened all those years ago…even if she didn't.

Silas, who was sure there was something his employer wasn't saying, shook his head and continued on with his duties. If Victoria Barkley didn't want to tell him what was going on, he wasn't going to press the issue.

By the time Victoria opened the attic door, stepped inside the room and lit a lamp, she had grown more certain that the old journals would confirm what she now suspected. Walking over to a brown trunk covered with various engravings, she knelt down and lifted up the lid. Reaching in, she began removing one book after another. Finally she was looking at two large journals. Taking both books out, Victoria stood up, shut the lid, sat down on the top of the trunk, set the smaller of the two books down and then opened the largest journal.

Entry after entry spoke of the last bit of their journey, of Jarrod's birth and the building of their home. By the time the journal was finished, Jarrod had had his first birthday…but there was no mention of anyone named Shaw.

Victoria set the book down and picked up the second journal, glancing at the clock on the wall. Forty five minutes…almost an hour had passed. She started reading the second book only to have Silas open the door and tell her the reverend and his wife were in the living room-that they'd come to pick up the donations she'd told the couple she had for them. He was surprised when she pointed towards a couple boxes and asked him to take them to the good man and his wife. "Give them my apologies, I cannot go downstairs at the moment."

Now Silas knew something was wrong. Victoria Barkley was always a gracious host, and never simply brushed anyone aside. Still, he simply retrieved the boxes and left. 'If it's my business,' Silas thought as walked out of the room 'She'll tell me.' Even as he told himself that, Silas was trying to think of a way to get Victoria to talk.

Nothing but an occasional bird singing outside could be heard as Victoria again started reading. She was almost ready to admit she'd never heard the name Matthew Shaw when her eyes fell upon words she, herself, had penned over thirty year ago.

We had a couple stop by the ranch today. Actually, I should say they were forced to stop-their wagon wheel came off. The gentleman, Matthew Shaw, is a dark haired, tall and very broad shouldered jack of all trades…his words, not mine. His wife is thin, almost to the point of too thin. Tom helped Mr. Shaw fix the wheel while Mrs. Shaw and I fixed their lunches. She and her husband were more than polite, but I can't help but feel sorry for them. There seems to such an air of sadness about them.

Victoria's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't been wrong; she had heard the name Matthew Shaw before! She continued reading. Towards the end of the journal two other entries jumped out at her.

Our home is gone and our son missing. Tom and the other men have searched and searched, they have talked to more people than they care to count-including Matthew Shaw, who Tom was shocked to bump into while the man was checking some traps. None of the people were of any help, though they all gave Tom and the other searchers their condolences.

Victoria fought to control herself as she finished the first entry and stared the second one that had caught her attention.

Fred stopped by today. He wanted to know if Tom still wanted to buy the land south of our home. "I thought I had it sold, but my cousin handling the sale said the gentleman who was talking to him about it -one Matthew Shaw-has up and left California.

Victoria stared at the words on the pages in front of her eyes. Shock, disbelief and a various other emotions ran through her as the truth penetrated every corner of her mind. Jeremiah Shaw's blue eyes and Barkley walk didn't exist because of a distant cousin relation. No, the man who was working undercover on their ranch was none other than her lost son-Jarrod Thomas Barkley. Tears fought to escape, a few did. When a knock came again on the attic door, Victoria quickly stood up, dried her eyes, composed herself and hurried over to the door. She wasn't surprised to see Silas on the other side.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you, Mrs. Barkley, but it's time for lunch." Silas told her, the concern he had for her could be seen in his dark black eyes.

"Thank you," Victoria did her best to smile as she shut the door.

"We have known each other a long time, haven't we, Mrs. Barkley?" Silas asked the question more like a statement.

Victoria couldn't help but smile. "Yes, yes we have, and you want to know what's wrong."

Silas, who had quit arguing with himself, nodded. "Yes, Mrs. Barkley, I do. If you can't trust me, it's time for me to leave." Silas began turning away-not because he was thinking to leave, but because he wanted to get Victoria to talk to him...and acting if he was going was a ruse he hoped would work. He was delighted when it did.

"You're not going anywhere but the kitchen." Victoria looked around to make sure their new maid wasn't around. The over friendly woman from Denmark was a hard worker, but Victoria wasn't about to have her overhear the conversation she was going to have with Silas.

"Yes, ma'am." Silas made a beeline down the stairs and into the kitchen, as did Victoria. Once they were seated near the kitchen counter, Victoria explained everything. By the time she was through Silas felt as if he needed to pick his jaw up off the floor and restart his heart. He'd known from the beginning there was more to Jeremiah Shaw than what everyone thought. However, since he'd had no proof, he'd said nothing. He could also see fear appear in Victoria's eyes, and he quickly guessed why.

"He'll come back with Nick and Heath; they'll all come back alive." Then, not knowing Jeremiah Shaw already knew the whole story, Silas added, "You'll be able to tell him the truth."

"I hope so." Victoria sighed and looked toward the window-she could actually see a bit of the house Jeremiah and La'akea were using. "I hope he does, and I hope they'll stay."

Silas-who saw a faraway look appear in Victoria's eyes, said nothing as he stood up and went about his business. He figured his friend needed time alone, though he was praying and hoping he'd see Victoria's desire granted.