Waterfront Adventures
Jarrod and Nick, along with Harris and a member of the San Francisco police force were examining the carriage that had been found abandoned several blocks from the waterfront. So far nothing had come to light, and Jarrod was ready to curse as loudly as Nick already was. He took several deep breaths, before he walked towards the back of the vehicle. Reaching into the pocket inside his jacket he took out a maroon and gold tin. With shaking hands he opened it and extracted a cigarillo from the container. Jarrod put the tin away, and was looking for his matches when he saw that Nick was offering him a light.
"Thank you brother Nick!" Jarrod exclaimed, after he had taken two successive puffs on the now lit cigarillo. Nick had no problems seeing the deep emotions his older brother was struggling with, and it moved him deeply. He was experiencing the same ones when he thought about Katarina, and was all set to ask his brother for one of the cigarillos when something caught his eye, on the wheel.
"Harris, Sgt. Tames, isn't that residue of crushed shells on the wheels?" Nick was looking closely at the white residue on the rear wheels. The retired Pinkerton man and the police officer came over and examined what Nick was pointing at. The residue glinted in the rare sunshine that was flooding the city on this day.
"Mr. Barkley, you're right; that is shell residue. This carriage has been somewhere in the Yerba Buena area of the waterfront. The roads in that area were recently lined with crushed shells to try to control the mud from the seeping water." Sgt. Tames informed the men, and Nick nodded his head. He had been reading about the project when they first arrived in the city.
"He would need an empty building, and there are not that many down there. Let's head over there, and I bet we can figure out which one pretty easily." Harris stated, running down recent business activity in that area. He was very aware that pirates in San Francisco often times wore fine broadcloth suits and spoke with well modulated accents. He maintained that he learned more about crime by reading the financial section of the newspaper than anywhere else.
Once they arrived in the Yerba Buena area it didn't take them long to see that only three warehouses were unoccupied, based upon the condition of their docks. The city was a port town, and if a ship couldn't dock and unload there would be no merchandise to sell. Sgt. Tames had acquired several more police officers and they quickly searched the two warehouses nearest to them first.
They then slowly approached the last warehouse with a dock in disrepair, coming from the sides of the structure. All the men were taking aback to see a confederate officer approach the front door of the structure. His pale hair shone in the setting sun, as it glinted off of the gilt insignia of his uniform. Jarrod now had his worst fears confirmed about Samantha's stalker, and he groaned.
Nick heard his brother's response, and squeezed his arm, before drawing his gun that he'd brought with him. Both Barkley brothers were all set to rush the man, but Harris held them back with a warning look.
"Look, we take him down now and all we have is that he is looking at waterfront property wearing a rebel uniform; none of which is a crime. Sit tight, and let's follow him to see what he does." The retired agent told them in a low voice, and Nick saw the counsel in what he was saying. Jarrod however was all set to throw caution to the wind, until his brother physically restrained him. At the back of Nick's mind was the thought that if he had to be the voice of reason, his older brother must love Samantha greatly.
The grey clad figured opened the door and strode inside, not shutting it behind him. The men, led by Jarrod and Nick stealthily followed the man's path, until the brothers were just inside the opening. What the confederate officer did next left them puzzled, and even more worried about the women.
"I am back, and now." Capt. Pettit's voice stopped in mid-sentence as he looked at the wooden post in the center of the room. There was nothing there but some discarded ropes, which enflamed the already angry man. He almost jumped over to the post, and picked up the ropes as if trying to figure out what had happened.
"You lying traitorous bitch, you will not escape me!" The uniformed man exclaimed, as Nick and Jarrod looked at each other in questioning glances. None of this was making any sense, and they both wondered where the women had gone.
"No, you are the traitor, and you won't escape us!" Nick was madder than he'd ever been, and scared to death about Katarina. He was also scared at how Jarrod was acting, and obviously the grey clad man knew where the women were.
Captain Reginald Pettit, 2nd Mississippi Regiment, Virginia Military Institute class of 1858, and one of the few survivors of the siege of Vicksburg was not a man to quake in fear. He took one look at Nick Barkley, walking boldly into the warehouse, his six shooter drawn, and knew a threat one he saw one. The ex-confederate drew out his colt revolver and leveled it at Nick's chest.
However, before he or Nick could pull the trigger of their guns Capt. Pettit crumpled over as blood oozed from his mouth. The man looked shocked at what had happened, before he died in front of Nick. The tall man looked up to see where the bullet had come from and saw his wife standing there in her cream, beige, and brown plaid dress with its ruffled bustle. Katarina had her gun and a cool expression on her face.
"Oh god, are you all right sugar?" Nick raced up to her and clasped her in his arms, and she sagged against him gratefully. His hands were stroking her shoulders and back, making sure she was safe with him.
"I was so scared of what he was going to do to you! What the fuck were you thinking charging in here like some one man army?" Katarina was relieved that Nick was safe, but appalled at the risk he was taking with his life.
"Now wait a minute Katarina! I'm not the one who snuck up in back of an armed man; he could have turned on you without a second thought." Nick pulled her closer to him, as she nuzzled against his neck suddenly wanting him next to her.
While Nick and Katarina were having their discussion the other men rushed into the warehouse, with Jarrod leading the way. He had pulled his revolver out, and was set to use it when he saw someone descend from the ladder. Recognizing Samantha right away he rushed over to her and pulled her into his arms. Harris and the other men scouted the barn to make sure that everything was secured. Once the ladies had calmed down, they told their story. Everyone but Nick was agog at what Katarina had done, shooting the man like she'd had. The story of how she'd escaped from the ropes also intrigued them.
"Honestly, why are you Americans surprised that a woman has a gun and knows how to shoot it?" Katarina asked in an aggrieved tone as they all regarded her with wide eyes. Nick almost wanted to laugh at how she looked standing there, in her feminine outfit, with the amber jewelry and feathered hat. He liked the fact that for all of her ruffles she was strong and tough; a fitting wife for him he decided with a satisfied smile.
Harris was trying to stay focused on the dead body, and not the handgun that Mrs. Nicholas Barkley was holding. He recognized it as one of the new designs from the German armaments firm of Krupp. Finally personal curiosity overcame him; after all the dead man wasn't going anywhere.
"Mrs. Barkley, is that the handgun with the overdrive mechanism that Krupp just developed?" Harris smiled winningly at the woman as he asked his question, while Nick rolled his eyes. Only the thought that the retired agent had provided good service, once again, for the Barkley's kept him from the remarks he wanted to make.
"Yes, it is! Are you aware of the design, Mr.? I don't think I've had the pleasure." Katarina beamed at the man, who kept a respectful distance from the couple. He knew all about Nick Barkley and didn't want to cross the man. Harris wasn't surprised that the tall dark cowboy was married a woman who carried a gun, and knew how to use it. You couldn't be a shrinking violet if you were married to that man.
"It's Harris, Ma'am, Phillip Harris. I used to work for the Pinkerton Agency, and part of my job was to know about guns. Would you mind if I looked at it?" He decided to push his luck, as Nick Barkley was too busy paying attention to his wife, he hoped, to take offense. Katarina passed the gun to him, and he started examining it carefully. Nick for his part was so relieved that she was in his arms, and as he looked at her he started kissing her deeply.
Jarrod still had Samantha in his arms, and as he held her trembling body close to him, he realized how close he'd come to losing her. "Are you all right? He didn't hurt you?" He had so many more questions to ask, but knew they would have to wait. There was one thing though that wasn't going to wait "Samantha, I love you so much!" Jarrod whispered in her ear, and was all set to kiss her when he became aware that Sgt. Tames was standing there, waiting to ask something.
"Miss St. Claire do you know this man? What was this about?" The police officer asked, and Samantha was all set to say something but Jarrod squeezed her shoulder.
"Miss St. Claire approached me a month ago; about a problem she was having with a stalker. She was concerned because she had dealt with a similar issue over five years ago, in New Orleans, when she was working on the stage there." Jarrod paused, and Samantha understood what he was doing, so she nodded her head in agreement.
"There had been a number of letters stating that the man was her only admirer, and if she didn't admit that he would harm her. I brought Agent Harris in, to try to find the man discretely. Miss St. Claire was concerned about the publicity, and we had not gone to the police because no crime had really been committed." Jarrod thought the explanation sounded plausible, and a deranged fan was an easy sell.
"So this man saw you in New Orleans, and fell in love with you? I imagine that he was probably mentally affected by the war, and would be prone to delusions. What a sad end for a brave solider, even if he fought for the other side." Sgt. Tames summarized the story, glad that it was ending so easily. He glanced over at the well dressed woman who had shot the man, still impressed at how coolly she had fired the fancy gun.
Katarina looked over at Samantha and saw how pale and shaken she still was, and decided she needed to get out of here. "May I take Samantha back to her house, while you gentlemen finish up here?" She asked the police officer, who nodded his head as he said it was a good idea.
"Samantha, I'll come see you when we are done here." Jarrod told her in a low tone, thinking it was for the best. She didn't look good, and he was sure the warehouse and the dead body weren't helping. For her part she was trying to both process what Catherine had done, and the fact that Jarrod had told her that he loved her.
"Mr. Harris, may I have my gun?" Katarina had walked up to the agent and flashed her dimple at him, which caused his heart to race slightly. He concentrated on the gun he was holding, fingering it one last time before he returned it to her.
"Thank for letting me see it, Mrs. Barkley. I've read about the fine quality of Krupp pieces, but have never had the pleasure of seeing one in person. They are very hard to come by." Phillip Harris sighed, before he regarded the woman "It is a pleasure to meet a woman such as you, Mrs. Barkley." He took her gloved hand and bowed as he kissed it. She was the most amazing woman he had met, and the trick with the ropes was one he would have to remember.
Nick was watching the performance with narrowed eyes, as the agent almost preened for Katarina. The only thing that was keeping him from punching the man out was the surprise at seeing the normally taciturn, serious man smiling happily. His wife laughed lightly, as she extracted her hand from the agent.
"I have a contact in Germany who can get guns from Krupp. I'm so grateful for what you did today, to help us, that I will be glad to order a handgun for you, Mr. Harris." Katarina flashed her dimple again, and Nick could almost see the man turning to mush in front of his eyes. He decided that his wife was a dangerous woman, even without a gun.
The police officers had found a carriage to take the women home, and Katarina was holding Samantha tightly. She was getting very concerned about the woman, because she was still trembling and had not said a word. An idea came to her, and she reached into her reticule and took out her flask, which she passed to the actress. Samantha stared at her, not knowing what was happening, until Katarina told her to drink some.
"Ah, ga, ah! What is that stuff?" Samantha's eyes were watering, and her throat was burning, as the liquid made its way down her throat. Katarina was relieved to see Samantha joining the living again, and smiled at her.
"Vodka, of course! Sorry, I should have warned you but I figured anything alcoholic would probably work." Katarina explained, before she asked "How are you doing? I'm taking you to your house, and you can get into bed and rest. I have to say that I'm ready for a rest too; I am tired again!"
Samantha remembered her earlier thought, in the tea room at Gump's, and was appalled at how she had risked Jarrod's sister-in-law's life. She started to shake, as Katarina put her arms around the woman. They arrived at the actress' house, and Piers and Elyse were waiting for them. Katarina followed them upstairs, and waited while Samantha changed and slipped into bed.
"Catherine, did you really kill that man?" Samantha had been reviewing everything that had happened in the warehouse. She had watched the Russian girl do what she did, but it seemed more like something that happened on stage, than in real life.
"Yes, Samantha I did. He was going to kill Nicholas, you, and me if he wasn't stopped. You saw his eyes, the man wasn't sane." Katarina responded in a matter of fact tone; the thought of her husband lying there dead flashed in front of her eyes. The actress looked at the young woman sitting with her and saw a determination there, to protect her loved ones. Samantha realized that when the Russian girl had said she'd understood the actress' actions, about what she'd done, she had meant it. She knew that Catherine would never judge her, and that they would become very good friends.
"Thank you, thank you for everything Catherine. I risked your life, and you are still talking to me!" Samantha was blown away by the girl's gestures and kindness toward her. Katarina giggled, and looked at Samantha from under her eyelashes.
"Well, I certainly want to be friends with the woman that Jarrod is in love with!" Katarina replied with a smile. Samantha looked at her with wide eyes, and then she remembered what Jarrod had told her in the warehouse. "Don't worry, I am not going to pry, but I will say some prayers for you!" The Russian added with a tilt to her head.
Before Samantha could reply they heard heavy footsteps on the stairs, and Jarrod was standing in the doorway to her room. Katarina smiled a knowing smile, as she stood up to leave.
"Jarrod, I'm going to say good night because I am tired. Is Nicholas downstairs?" She inquired of her brother-in-law, who nodded his assent, but didn't say anything else. He was too busy looking at Samantha, sitting up in bed with her dark hair loose, wearing a nightgown of thin white lawn with lace trim. Her skin glowed warm pink through the white material, and Jarrod hoped that he would be able to keep his desire under control.
Katarina went downstairs where Nicholas waiting the hallway; she rushed into his arms. He swept her up, and started kissing her like they'd been apart for days. She moved against him, wanting his body close to hers, and as she felt his warmth she burst into tears, not understanding why.
"Sugar, it's fine, you're all right, and I am here! Nothing is going to harm you, don't worry." He stroked her hair, as her tears made the front of his shirt wet. Katarina felt like a wave of exhaustion had washed over her, but now being with Nicholas she started to feel better.
"Oh Nicholas, I love you! I don't know why I cried liked that; I never cry." Katarina wondered what was going on with her body, especially when she started feeling something else.
"I am really hungry Nicholas! Can we go back to the hotel and eat, before we go up to our room?" Katarina asked, feeling ravenous all of a sudden. Nick gave her one of his big grins as he teased her.
"Now Darling, what do you want to do in our room?" He replied, which made Katarina giggle, before she whispered something in his ear. "I like the way you think my dear!" Nick responded, as they started walking towards the door.
"Do you know what I want to eat?" Katarina turned to look at him, a delighted smile on her face. He tilted his head, and she announced "A big thick steak, nice and juicy, with some potatoes!" Nick laughed loudly, as he put his arm around her.
"Katarina, you are starting to sound like an American! I think I'm having a good influence on you!" Nick declared, and they left the house laughing.
Meanwhile, upstairs Jarrod had entered Samantha's room, making a point to leave the door open to guard against temptation. He sat down on the bed and put his arms around her, as she snuggled into his chest. Her hair smelled like roses, and he buried his face in the side of her, enjoying the scent. Samantha's body was soft and inviting, and before he could help himself he was lightly kissing her jaw line before he found her lips.
Samantha felt his lips against hers, as lighting flashes hit her body, and when his tongue licked, then sucked her lower one, they parted with no hesitation. Her mouth welcomed his tongue's explorations, following it around before she returned the favor to him. Jarrod moaned as her tongue invaded his mouth, while her body started moving against his in the age old dance of love.
He kept on kissing her, while moving his hands to her lush body with its well developed curves. One of his hands glided over her stomach before his fingers trailed up to the valley between her breasts. Jarrod could feel their roundness, as he let the hand cup the underside of one of the tempting globes. By now he had moved his kisses to her neck, where he was nipping and licking the delicate skin. It was the strangled mewling sound that she made that made him realize he needed to stop now.
It took every ounce of control he had ever exercised, but he pulled back, breathing hard as he did so. Jarrod almost lost it though when she whimpered as he pulled away, and only when he looked to the nightstand could he keep his resolve. There was a picture of her son, in his school uniform, and he remembered her telling him at their first meeting that she had never had another illicit relationship because she wanted the boy to be proud of her.
"Samantha, we need to stop now, so I can keep my good intentions! I respect you too much to put you in a comprising position." Jarrod declared, sitting back slightly, but taking her hands in his. She looked at him with wonder and awe, as he made his statement. She wasn't sure what to say next, thinking about what he had told her in the warehouse, but he started talking again.
"Nick is hoping that I will bring you to the party he is throwing for Catherine next month, at the ranch. It is some Russian holiday, but between the two of us, Brother Nick likes to throw parties." Jarrod stopped and watched her closely as he finished up "I am sure that Catherine would like you to come too!"
Samantha process what Jarrod was saying, and what he was offering, but she wanted to be sure. "Jarrod, you said something to me at the warehouse; did you mean it?" She queried, hoping that it wasn't just the heat of the moment that had prompted him to say what he had.
"Oh, that I love you?" Jarrod replied in a soft voice, and then "Samantha I love you so much, I don't think you can fathom it. I have wanted to say something before today, but I was afraid you wouldn't feel the same way. My dear, when I thought that I might never see you again my world went dark!" He reached over and carefully kissed her on the forehead, not trusting himself to do more.
She had a thought, about what had happened today, and knew she had to tell the noble man sitting across from her. "Jarrod, Catherine knows the whole story." Samantha paused, and he looked at her with questioning eyes as she continued "Not that we were pretending to be going out, but about my past history and Peter Talbot." She hung her head sadly, wishing the sordid story had not come out.
"What was Catherine's response to the revelations?" Jarrod asked slowly, hoping that he knew his sister-in-law as well as he did.
"She told me that I had done the right thing, and that my son was lucky I was his mother." Samantha stated, as she started to tear up again. "Jarrod, I love you so much, but can you overlook my past?" She was terrified that at the end of the day her blotted copybook would always be against her.
"Catherine is a very intelligent woman, and I agree with her assessment of you. You took care of your son, as well as Piers and Elyse. Samantha, they could have stayed in New Orleans, but they followed you because of the person you are." Jarrod had spent some time talking to Piers and knew that the couple was devoted to Samantha.
"Jarrod, you still love me after all this? You are the most wonderful, good man I have ever met! I love you so much!" She exclaimed, looking at him with love. That look was enough to start Jarrod's control slipping, and he decided to lighten the mood.
"You know, I really don't see Catherine passing judgment on you, after she shot a man in cold blood. That is some gun she has, according to Harris." Jarrod observed, thinking about his sister-in-law taking down Pettit. "My brother has his hands full with that one, let me tell you!"
Samantha thought about the Russian girl in her finery, as she escaped being tied up, before she shot their attacker. She remembered the flask of vodka that had been in the reticule; the same reticule that held the gun. She was sure that nothing daunted the young woman, and Samantha was in awe of what Catherine had accomplished.
"I think you are right, your brother does have his hands full, but I don't think he would want it any other way!" Samantha exclaimed, before she yawned and looked at Jarrod. "I need to get some sleep, but I will tell you now that I would like to go to the party at your family's ranch, Jarrod. Thank you and I love you!" Jarrod kissed her lightly on the lips, and then said goodnight, going home a happy, but slightly frustrated man.