Chapter Twenty One

Audra and Victoria wasted no time as they climbed out of the buggy Victoria had driven into town. There was a slight wind blowing, making it a little on the cold side. The two women hurried into the dress shop where Jenny Hollister, who had moved back only a few weeks ago, was working. The previous dressmaker had had a family crisis arise back east and had turned all her orders over to Jenny. Miss Hollister was just finishing up Audra's wedding dress when Victoria and Audra entered the store.

Jenny looked up from her sewing machine and smiled. The fact that Audra was very much the typical excited bride was something that the young woman was not even coming close to hiding. "I'm about done. If you want to take a seat," she began taking pins out of the dress that were no longer needed and put them back in the pin cushion.

"It's the most beautiful dress I've ever seen!" Audra exclaimed as Jenny stood up and, taking the dress off the sewing machine table and held it up.

"You'll look beautiful." Jenny told her as Audra took the dress. "If I may ask, who will be walking you down the aisle?" Not knowing of Jarrod's promise to Audra after their father was killed, Jenny figured that the young woman would be hard pressed to choose. After all, she was close to all of her brothers.

"Jarrod will." Audra answered without hesitation. "He's coming in on the train in a couple of days. It's going to be wonderful!" She then confessed that, as excited as she was, she was also very nervous. She'd kept quiet about the fear she had that something would happen to prevent Jarrod from being at her wedding, and she desperately wanted him there.

"You wouldn't be normal if you weren't nervous." Victoria smiled from ear to ear and then suggested Audra go try on the dress, to make sure it fitted before they took it home.

Jenny watched as Audra slipped into the back room and then looked at Victoria, who would have gone with Audra, only the dress was unusual as it buttoned in the front instead of the back. "How is Jarrod doing?" Jenny asked, her eyes showing that she was genuinely concerned for the eldest Barkley son's welfare. She had felt horrible when she'd been told what had happened to Jarrod months before her return, though she'd been thrilled to learn he wasn't letting his blindness stop him from living a normal life.

Victoria thought on the many letters Jarrod had sent home since he'd been gone; they held an upbeat and happy tone to them; even the ones where he admitted the inner struggles over various matters. She'd been grateful for that. "He's doing well, thank you." She and Jenny then continued visiting until the shop front door opened and Nick stepped inside.

"Hello," he smiled as he gave Jenny a hug and then looked at his mother. "Where's Audra or should I even ask?"

Victoria and Jenny both chuckled, and then Victoria excused herself; saying she wanted to check on Audra.

Once she was out of the room, Jenny and Nick began talking about their roles in the upcoming wedding…Nick was to be the best man, while Jenny had agreed to be one of the bridesmaids, though she freely admitted she didn't know why Audra had asked her, as it's not like they were the best of friends. Okay, they got along well enough; still, it was an honor Jenny hadn't expected. Delighted Jenny had gone ahead and accepted with enthusiasm.

~oOo~

Jarrod was sure every person living in San Francisco was boarding the train bound for Stockton as he, Isabel and their chaperone, Mr. Jenkins' silver headed widowed sister, Francis J. Mills, climbed aboard the train. The first chance they got, Jarrod and Isabel sat down, as did the good widow. "Sounds like every seat is filled," Isabel said as she got as comfortable.

Widow Mills looked around and then smirked, "If the train was fuller, it would burst at its seams." She then looked at Jarrod who was rubbing his temples. "Are you all right?"

"I have a bit of a tension headache." Jarrod smiled and answered. "I'll be fine."

"If you relax like I've told you too, you will." Isabel rested her hand on top of Jarrod's. "After all, stress never did anybody any good. Maybe you should see a doctor. Maybe he'll have something to help you."

Knowing Isabel was only concerned about him, Jarrod his did best not to allow himself to become irritated. "And I told you there was no need for that sort of thing. I'm sure I've simply allowed myself to get overly anxious when it comes to getting back to Stockton. I made a promise years ago and I have no intention of breaking it."

While Francis Mills could see why Isabel felt the way she did, the good widow realized that Jarrod had a valid point. This being the case, she saw no reason to allow an argument to develop, which she could see coming if something wasn't done. "We'll just ask the conductor if they carry something for headache." She said as the train pulled out of the station and began moving. "Now, let's…" before she could finish her sentence a young girl around eight got out of her seat, which was diagonal from Jarrod's and walked over to him.

"Sir, may I ask you a question?" The young child asked a bit nervously.

"Helen!" the young child's mother started to object, only to have Jarrod assure her it was all right; the young girl was not bothering him.

"What is it?" he smiled and asked.

"My brother says blindness is contagious. That's not true is it?"

"Helen!" This time the protests came from Helen's brother, a young eleven year old boy who liked to act like he knew everything when he actually knew very little.

Jarrod had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing. He could tell the child's brother was embarrassed from the sound in his protest. Well, if the child was going to embarrass himself by making such absurd statements, he'd asked for it. "No, blindness does not go from one person to another."

"Then what causes it?" The young girl asked in all sincerity.

Jarrod sighed, as he thought on his and Isabel's situations. He then went on to say that some were blinded because a particular sickness had weakened a person's eyes and some people were blinded due unforeseen accidents or events beyond their control. "Some are simply born blind." He added, saying he didn't know what caused some children to be born without their sight.

The young girl thanked him for answering her questions and then made him smile from ear to ear as she told him he explained things as good as her teacher.

After the young girl returned to the seat, Jarrod closed his eyes. Without even meaning too, he fell asleep. Isabel and the good widow, who had been visiting, continued to do so…though they made sure they talked quietly as to not disturb Jarrod.