Chapter Thirty-Seven
Once Jarrod had agreed to Priscilla's plan, Nick couldn't get out of the office fast enough. Heath had started to mention something about lunch, but Nick had no interest in sharing a meal with Jarrod. In his mind he had bent further than he should have, and had no intention of giving another inch until Priscilla had her apology.
He had been glad to see Heath there, knowing that his presence was a buffer for him. Nick recalled how he had told Heath the outline of the situation about Priscilla. Hopefully, Heath could explain the situation to Jarrod. Because of his days as a lawman, Heath had a connection with Jarrod that Nick didn't.
Now that the meeting with Jarrod was over with, Nick headed over to the Sunnyside Café with a much lighter step. He had ordered earlier that morning, when he'd first come into town; Nick had promised to bring Priscilla lunch, after his meeting with Jarrod. In other circumstances he would have had Silas pack a picnic basket, but with how things stood Nick decided he didn't want to deal with the family retainer.
The Sunnyside Café was a newly opened eatery that specialized in breakfast, lunch, and tea. It catered to working people who wanted a decent day meal, and women who didn't feel comfortable going to the Cattleman's Hotel. Several hotels had lunch venues, but they were on the pricier side, and didn't attract the working women and male office clerks.
Once he had the nicely packed basket, having promised to bring it back later he headed over to the school house. Nick knew the schedule very well, and was aware that between noon and one o'clock, the children were at lunch. The students who lived in town might go home, but most stayed around the school yard, eating a meal their mothers had packed for them.
Lenore Peterson, the church organist would oversee the children during lunch, so Priscilla could have a break. Nick knew that Priscilla usually worked through lunch, eating food that she'd brought at her desk. It still bothered him at how hard she worked, and how little she was paid for it. He had done some research though, and had been surprised to see that Stockton paid better than most towns. Priscilla taught because she loved it, but Nick felt that what she was paid didn't reflect her good work.
The children were just leaving the school house as he arrived, and most of them greeted him happily. Nick had spent some time in the classroom himself, talking about how he used math in his work on the ranch. Priscilla had started a program to have assorted working people come into the school, to explain how they used book learning in their jobs. She had organized the project after hearing several of the boys complain about having to learn stuff they would never use once they left school. Nick had heard, from several parents, that the program had been very successful with the children.
Nick let them file out before he went inside, and when he did his eyes went straight to Priscilla, who was erasing the board. She turned when she heard his boots and spurs, and gave him a bright smile, which melted his heart. Without a second thought he rushed over to her and started to sweep her into his arms. Her wide eyed look of consternation stopped him, as he realized the school house was too public for that kind of display. Priscilla was very sensitive to her standing in the community, and Nick wasn't going to do anything that would cause talk. It was part of the reason why he was so angry with Jarrod, for having setup a situation that had resulted in Priscilla having to defend her actions.
"You know if my school teacher had been as pretty as you are I would have enjoyed my school days a great deal more." Nick removed his hat, and bowed politely. He was aware of a couple of heads at the window, peering in to see what was going on. Tilting his head slightly, to indicate the audience at the window, he gave her an infectious grin, while admiring her.
Oh how he wanted to run his hands through that honey blonde hair so prettily put up, the waves and braids being held in place by a delicately carved comb. Her skirt was a mossy green color, the blouse cream colored with embroidery around the collar of pink flowers and green leaves. Priscilla also wore an open weave sweater, of a dark emerald green. She looked spring like, and reminded Nick of a meadow coming into flower.
"I can just imagine you as a little boy, and I'm pretty sure you gave your poor teacher the dickens of a time." Priscilla giggled in reply, moving closer to him, as she tilted her head up to him. Nick wished that they were alone so he could kiss her. Instead, he thrust the picnic basket out to her, hoping the food would be distracting enough.
"Well now I do recall being told I was trouble on more than one occasion!" He retorted, which had her giggling even more.
"Trouble indeed! I think that teacher had your measure." She looked up at him flirtatiously. "I know all about the trouble you could get me into." Priscilla was referencing their time in the study he was sure, and Nick was glad that she was able to understand what had gone on between them. That thought though led to others, and he decided that a new subject of conversation was needed.
"Why don't we unpack our lunch, so we can eat?" Nick walked over to the table at the back of the room, and he was glad to see her following with the basket. Priscilla carefully unpacked the basket, after laying out a blue and white checked cloth that had been included.
"Mmm, chicken salad on sourdough, fruit, and some pretty little petit fours. Oh, lemonade too. I do like the new café." She enthused, as she sat down at the table. Nick took the other chair and beamed with pleasure, glad that Priscilla liked the meal.
"Now I will confess that I thought a little wine would be nice with this; the chardonnay I put up three years ago is really coming into its own." He slipped a silver flask discretely out of his shirt pocket, and poured a portion for each of them into the ruby red glasses that had been rolled in cloth napkins.
"Nick, I can't be drinking in the school house." Priscilla was taken aback, as she went on. "Trouble is what you certainly are." He though gave her a wicked grin, as he passed her glass, while putting the flask away.
"Nonsense, anyone looking in would think we were drinking lemonade – see the jug is right there." Nick replied. "In my opinion I'm surprised that more teachers don't drink at lunch, considering what you all have to deal with." He knew some of the children, and that her patience was tried on more than one occasion.
"It is very nice." Priscilla sighed with pleasure, as she took a small sip. "You were very smart to think of this." She added, as she took another taste. Nick was glad that she was enjoying it, because if anyone deserved something nice, it was Priscilla. As they ate she asked him about the winery, and he told her about some new grapes he was interested in, along with some details about the orchards.
"So you haven't asked me about my meeting with Jarrod?" Nick brought up the subject as they were finishing the too small, in his opinion, frosted cakes. If Silas had packed the basket there would have been brownies or cookies as big as his fist. It was his brother's fault that this was all going on, and that Silas wasn't baking his usual goodies.
"My thought was that you would want to wait until after we ate, to talk about what happened." Priscilla looked at him with concern, and Nick understood why she was worried. He knew that it had taken a lot for her to ask him to do what he had done. It touched him that she understood and respected his feelings.
"Actually the whole thing went better than I expected; of course Heath was there, which helped." Nick paused to drink some lemonade, the wine being gone. "Jarrod and I only had a few words until Heath intervened. The upshot is that everything will be set up for day after tomorrow." As he recalled the meeting he remembered something that he had noticed. Priscilla saw that he was suddenly distracted and asked him about it.
"Sissi, Jarrod didn't look very good. I mean he looked like he hasn't been sleeping well and I think he was slightly hung over. Our argument must really be bothering him." As he turned it over in his mind, Nick noticed that Priscilla was fiddling with her napkin, not looking at him.
"Nick, I don't think the situation with you is the total cause." She looked off to the side of the room, and Nick wondered why she would not look him in the eye.
"Rosemary left town yesterday." The statement hung in the air, and Nick's eyes widened, as the meaning became clear.
"How do you know that? That woman didn't bother you did she?" He was aghast that maybe Rosemary had met with Priscilla. Nick worried that Priscilla was too kind hearted, and might not see the implications. She though quickly reassured him that nothing like that had happened.
"Rosemary sent me a letter, telling me of her plans. She wanted to thank me for giving her the courage to go back home." Priscilla stated. "There is some family from her mother's side in Charleston, and she is moving there. Her plan is to study medicine, and become a doctor, like her father." Nick was astounded at the news, but when he thought about Rosemary, he realized this move she made seemed fitting. She was more of a lady than the rest of Maisy's girls, as he considered what Priscilla had told him.
"Did she mention Jarrod in the letter?" Nick couldn't help himself from asking, even as he knew it wasn't really his business.
"No, she didn't write anything about him – but then she never discussed him with me when I was with her." Priscilla wrinkled her nose, which Nick thought was too cute, but meant that she was thinking hard. "However, I would think she would tell him of her plans? Maybe he received a letter too?" She shook her head, causing the simple pearl drop earrings to move slightly against her porcelain like skin.
"I know this sounds funny coming from me, but Sissi I feel sorry for Jarrod." Nick put the thought of how soft her skin really was out of his mind, and contemplated his brother's life. "He just seems like a man who has lost his purpose and drive. Beth's death almost pushed him over the edge, and I had really hoped he was finding his footing again." His shoulder's sagged, as the thought about the heartaches his brother had dealt with.
"Nicholas, I am happy that you can say that. Jarrod is a very good man, albeit a very idealistic one." Priscilla refolded her napkin for the third time, and Nick could see that she was carefully weighing her words. "I know that you are angry about the whole House of Flowers issue, but really Jarrod didn't do anything wrong." He heard her statement, and how she left it hanging out with no follow up. One part of Nick wanted to come back with his grievance, but by now he had learned that Priscilla was sometimes wiser than he could be.
"Nobody calls me Nicholas unless they want something. Nick said in a caressing tone. "You do want something Honey. What is it?" He proffered the last petit fours and waited patiently for her answer.
She smiled and seemed to relax a little. "Jarrod enrolled Noah in school because Maisy – a very doting grandmother – wanted stability for her grandson. We need to acknowledge that Jarrod put safeguards in place, for me to communicate with Noah's grandmother." Priscilla looked him straight in the eye, as her hand moved to his wrist, and her fingers stroked softly under the cuff of the sleeve.
Nick suppressed a sigh as Priscilla's fingers gently stroked his skin. The warmth and closeness of the contact caused his desire to flame hot. If it was anyone else besides Priscilla he would be suspicious that she was using her feminine wiles to get her way. However, she was the woman he loved, and Priscilla wasn't asking for herself, as he knew well.
"Your brother helped a doting grandmother give her grandson the stability he needed. I applaud her for understanding what would help Noah." Priscilla paused, and let her two fingers trace patterns on his wrist. "Jarrod put safe guards in place, so I would never have contact with Maisy." She stated, and went on to explain what Jarrod had told her, about communicating with Noah's grandmother.
"Are you saying that I was wrong for stating what I did?" Nick didn't like to admit that he was in the wrong, and it didn't help that he'd already conceded more than he ever would have.
"No, you are not wrong in the least Nick!" Priscilla declared quickly, as her fingers clasped his arm. "However, I think we need to make allowances for Jarrod doing his duty to a client. Neither you nor I care for his choice of clients, but at the end of the day is it really our concern if it doesn't affect the Barkley enterprises?" Nick concentrated on what Priscilla was saying. Her touch nearly made him deaf to her words. God, he wished he could take her in his arms.
"So you are saying I should give him a pass, because Jarrod was looking out for the young man?" Nick stated, taking her hand and entwined their fingers together. It came to him that she was right, did they really care who he took as clients? No, and if Priscilla didn't think she needed an apology why should Nick continue to insist that Jarrod giver her one?
"I just want you to be there for Jarrod." Priscilla sighed softly, and he was sure that she was wishing they were somewhere private. "Please don't make him a scapegoat for what was nothing but an unfortunate happening. We can turn it too good, if Noah gets his legacy."
Nick heard her words, and bowed his head. Yes, Sissi was right; he hated being at odds with Jarrod, and he admired how she was looking out for his relationship with his brother.
"Honestly, if you tell me that you are fine with what happened, I will go along with it." Nick stated. As he thought about how bad his brother had looked, when he'd seen him earlier, Nick felt only relief at the possibility of having it all over with.
"Yes Nicholas I am not upset with Jarrod; he was only doing what his client wanted." Priscilla's soft voice almost caressed him, and Nick threw in the towel at that point. Clearly his brother was beyond impossible; yes he loved him but really! However, if his beloved Sissi was willing forgive Jarrod, Nick needed to also. At the back of his mind he hoped though that Heath, who was having lunch with Jarrod, could get their oldest brother into a better frame of mind.
Heath was in fact finding it an uphill battle, trying to get Jarrod to explain just what the real issue was. If nothing else it was giving him insight into how people probably felt when they dealt with him. Jarrod had not wanted to go out, and instead asked Heath to bring lunch over from the hotel. When Heath returned with the food, he saw that Jarrod had opened a bottle of wine, which he took to be a good sign.
"Boy howdy it is too bad that Nick is missing this. He loves these sandwiches." Heath commented, as they dug into open faced roast beef sandwiches smothered in rich gravy. His hope was to introduce Nick into the conversation, as an opening.
"Well then he and Priscilla can get their own. I imagine he is having lunch with her." Jarrod replied curtly, as he took a large swallow of the red wine. Heath sighed to himself, and wondered yet again what was really going on. Jarrod's earlier melancholy was now replaced with an almost petulant belligerence, directed toward Nick and Priscilla too.
"Nick is very much in love with her, and she feels the same way about him. I was starting to wonder if he ever would meet someone." Heath commented, being curious to see what Jarrod's reaction to that would be.
"You mean someone who is willing to put up with his bossiness and need to stick his nose into everyone's business?" Jarrod retorted quickly. "Of course she can't keep her nose out of other people's affairs, so they deserve each other." That was followed by several swallows of the wine, and Heath now regretted the wine being open. He did think though that he'd found out what was really bothering Jarrod.
"Are you sure you are being fair to Priscilla? She didn't go looking for the House of Flowers, but ended up there inadvertently." Heath spoke slowly, hoping he didn't provoke an outburst. "From what Nick told me, he just feels that Priscilla was put in a bad position with Rufus Morton. You know how protective he is, and that is why Nick thinks Priscilla is owed an apology." He left it there, not adding that Nick wanted Jarrod to do the apologizing.
"I have no intention of apologizing for something that was none of my doing. I put the safeguards in place, and it was Priscilla who breached them." Jarrod declared, his icy blue eyes glaring. "Further, I will not be told how to conduct my law practice, especially by my younger brother." The fury was apparent to Heath, and made him wonder if the quarrel would ever be resolved. Heath's thoughts were not helped by the sense that Jarrod was actually in the right about the matter.
There was also the matter of what had been bothering Jarrod when Heath first came into the office. Heath rather doubted that Jarrod, in his present state would confide in him. Once the quarrel with Nick was over though, Heath thought he would talk to Jarrod again. His new plan was to let Jarrod enjoy the rest of lunch, with no mention of Nick.
Later, after the conference, Heath was planning on talking to Nick, to get him to see Jarrod's point of view. He hoped that Nick, once he saw that Priscilla was happy, would be willing to concede his stance. As he had that thought, Heath took a generous swallow of his wine, thinking he would probably end up needing whiskey before he was done with Nick. It came to him as he accepted a second glass of wine that Priscilla in her own way was causing as much trouble for the Barkley brothers as her sister had.