Chapter Fifty-Four
Victoria quietly slipped away from the merriment in the rail car and stepped outside for some fresh air. The small platform swayed as the train moved south, causing her to hold on to the elaborate brass railing. The sky overhead was a dark blue – as blue as it could get before the black of night took over. The stars sprinkled across the sky, like diamonds on velvet. She inhaled the air, and sensed already the difference from the valley.
The train was headed south to Los Angeles, and would pass through high mountain areas before dropping down again to sea level. By the time morning came they would be pulling into the railroad station that flanked the old Spanish plaza. It had been over twenty-five years since Victoria had been to Los Angeles; she and Tom had stopped there for business reasons, on the way back from their mines in Mexico.
At the time the city had been small, still clinging to the vestiges as the northern most seat of a once great empire. Victoria looked out at the passing countryside, as she thought about that trip, and the time with Tom. She found herself doing that so much, even ten years since his death. Several of her friends; widowed themselves, had told her that it became easier as time went on. For Victoria though she found herself missing Tom more, especially as their children embarked on their own lives.
Tom was especially on her mind because of the news Audra and Carl had privately shared with her earlier that day. Victoria had watched with pride and joy as Audra settled happily into married life, becoming mistress of the Wheeler Ranch. She had been touched to with how Carl had reached out, welcoming her to their house whenever she stopped by.
Audra and Carl had told her that she would be a grandmother in the New Year, but they were waiting until after Nick and Priscilla returned from their honeymoon to announce the wonderful news. Seeing Audra so well settled and happy gave her peace; the blonde haired angel – how Tom had referred to her – had been close to his heart. Victoria had not always agreed with her husband, in how he doted on their only daughter, but now she drew comfort in the happiness Audra had brought to the family.
Jarrod's baritone laughter floating out through one of the open windows caused Victoria's mind to switch from Audra to her oldest son. He had returned from the east coast ten days ago, in very good spirits. It had been a while since Victoria had seen Jarrod so upbeat, which had cheered her immensely.
She was sure that some of his enjoyment had come from Noah Jones, who'd gone east with him. Victoria had met the boy several times, when Jarrod had brought him to the house for lunch and tea. Jarrod had told her his whole story, and what his future was going to be; she had been charmed by the Noah and how Jarrod was being Pappy. Victoria had seen how pleased Jarrod had been, as he informed her that Noah had decided to attend the boarding school in San Francisco, to be close to his grandmother and Jarrod.
Victoria contented herself with having Jarrod back to his normal good spirts, as he oversaw the family happenings. Jarrod had thrown himself into organizing the events surrounding Nick and Priscilla's wedding. She had ignored several naysayers who'd commented that Jarrod was very good at doing things for Nick and Priscilla. The implied reference to the happenings in the canyon two months ago angered her more than she'd liked to admit, but Victoria kept her thoughts to herself, as she focused on the wedding.
The Barkley's had left Stockton earlier that day; to head down to Los Angeles. It was mid-June in the valley, which meant warm days but still cool nights; the perfect weather for the fruit trees. The flowers of the orchard were strong and lush, and Victoria had always enjoyed riding among them. The thought of orchards made her think of the orange blossom flowers stored in special containers packed in ice.
Orange blossoms were prized by the English as a wedding flower, and Priscilla had requested of Nick some for her bouquet. Nick had been more than willing to acquiesce to her request, and Victoria rather thought that there were enough boughs to decorate the entire church. She smiled now, as she thought about the love and happiness her middle son had finally found.
Nick's courtship of Priscilla had been watched very closely by Victoria, and she had paid close attention to the young woman. She approved of what she saw, and as the relationship deepened Victoria observed how Nick showed Priscilla the ranch, vineyards, and orchards. Priscilla had come out to the house every Sunday after church, and usually once or twice during the week.
Victoria had made it a point, once the engagement was announced, to spend time with Priscilla on her own. They would be living in the same house; Tom had set it up so the house went to Nick, but Victoria had lifetime tenancy. She took Priscilla around the ranch also, but this was to visit the families who lived and worked on the land. This would be Priscilla's home, and Victoria wanted to make sure that she understood what she was taking on.
Priscilla for her part was always kind and deferential, while projecting a down to earth attitude and a good sense of humor. Victoria had seen her use those attributes in dealing with Nick, and she liked how Priscilla could calm Nick down without discouraging him. She discovered that Priscilla spoke the colloquial Spanish of the workers, which made a good impression on the people they visited. That Priscilla was good with children was a given, but Victoria admired how the young woman was able to talk to anyone and put them at ease.
No, Victoria thought, she had no qualms about Nick's choice of a bride, which led to a silent chuckle. For the first time in many years she wasn't worrying about her middle son. He'd found love with an honorable young woman who understood him.
The thoughts of Priscilla made her think of her other daughter-in-law, and Victoria wished she'd made the same effort with Sarah to establish a relationship that she'd done with Priscilla. Victoria in fact had at first not thought that Heath's interest in Sarah was going to go anywhere, based on how the young woman discouraged his – or anyone else's - attentions.
Heath though was not Tom's son for nothing, and he had persevered with Sarah; at the time it had amused Victoria to see her young son so smitten. As the courtship progressed though, the little time Victoria spent one on one with Sarah gave her private doubts about the couple. It wasn't anything against Sarah – or her mother who Victoria admired for picking up the pieces of a shattered life. Rather it was the dawning realization of how alike Sarah and Heath were in personality. They were both quiet people who liked to be alone; further they were both haunted by what their fathers' had done with their lives.
In Heath's case it had been unintentional, as Leah never let Tom know about the son he'd fathered. Sarah though had been forced to watch her father abandon his family with a suspicious death, rather than face his financial obligations. Victoria understood why both Sarah and Heath felt the need to work as hard as they did, to try to atone for their fathers.
Victoria didn't mind Sarah wanting to keep on working, and she understood that Heath with his background wouldn't mind his wife working. While Tom had been building up their wagon business, Victoria had worked right alongside him, often driving a team if it was needed. No, her concern with Sarah and Heath working so hard is that they weren't working together, to the same goal.
On more than one occasion Heath had been at the big house for several nights, while Sarah stayed in town or traveled for business. Victoria knew that Heath was someone who found it easier to do many tasks himself, than hand them off to someone else. That tendency, along with Sarah being busy in town had led to the circumstances that Victoria was concerned about.
She was hampered by not having a close relationship; or really any relationship with Sarah. The young woman had always been respectful but distant with her, and Victoria, not wanting to be a meddling mother-in-law had gone along with the situation. Victoria admitted to herself that she'd been very hands off with the couple because Heath was level headed, and the couple would be living in their own house.
In retrospect she regretted her decisions, as she now watched Heath struggle with loneliness, and Sarah's moodiness. They were too much alike, in Victoria's opinion, and she said prayers every night for the couple. Victoria remembered Sarah's behavior before and during Audra's wedding, and had already seen how Sarah had declined a role in Priscilla and Nick's wedding. For a person who disliked large functions, the wedding could be the tipping point for Sarah. Casting one last look up at the spangled velvet sky Victoria saw a shooting star, and she quickly made a wish for Heath and Sarah, before she turned in for the night.
The first rays of dawn poked through the windows of the sleeping car, and Heath, used to waking up early stirred in the bed. The Barkley's car only had two sleeping compartments; Victoria had taken the largest, and Jarrod the other one. Nick was going to sleep on the sofa in the sitting room, while Audra and Carl, along with Heath and Sarah had booked sleeping booths in the Pullman car that rode in front of the Barkley's car.
There were two beds, an upper and lower one, both of an average size for a single person. Sarah had retired to bed earlier than Heath had, who'd stayed to talk to his brothers. When Heath had come into the compartment he had not wanted to disturb Sarah, who was soundly sleeping in the lower berth, so he'd taken the upper one. He decided now though to move down to be with her, to hold her close as he liked to do. As he slowly moved Heath thought about how good things had been since that day in the dressmaking shop.
Yes, she was still working at the shop, but Sarah had stopped traveling to San Francisco, unless Heath could come with her. He also appreciated the fact that on most nights she was there to greet him when he came home. Heath would, if she was going to be in town late, oftentimes go stay with her. Sarah had also agreed to the trip to Colorado in the fall, which made him very happy. He wished she would have agreed to be a bridesmaid for the wedding, but understood her feelings.
The wedding was on his mind now, as he thought about what he needed to tell Sarah, before they arrived in Los Angeles in several hours. There would be over 400 hundred guests at the wedding, including the Governor of the state, along with other prominent individuals. It would be a high profile event, with lots of press coverage, which Heath knew would be upsetting to Sarah. What she didn't know though was a piece of information that would raise the press interest even more.
"Mmm, good morning." Heath slid under the covers, moving in motion with the train that was rushing forward. He enjoyed the way the bed smelled of his wife, as he inhaled deeply. The linens were warm, and he molded his body against her, feeling the softness of her curves. She had on a thin cotton nightgown, held in place by ribbon threaded straps. Her back was to him, and Heath nuzzled against her neck, gently kissing the area just below her earlobe, while his free arm wrapped around her waist.
"Well this is a nice way to be woken up." Sarah whispered, as she rolled over to face him, burying her face in his chest. Heath usually only slept in his drawers, and as Sarah's hands traced light patterns over his skin he sighed with pleasure. For one moment he was tempted to make love to her right now, but then recalled what he needed to talk to her about. After their last argument about Hester, Heath had decided that he would make time to tell her what she wanted to know.
"Yes, it is. We have several hours before we get to Los Angeles." Heath stated, as he changed his position slightly so he his back was against the wall, and Sarah was next to him, with her head on his chest. He intertwined their hands together, so she wouldn't be able to arouse him by stroking his chest – and other places too.
"What is Los Angeles like, Heath?" Sarah snuggled against him, and Heath felt his body respond to the movement. Stifling a groan he forced himself to think about her question, even as the train wheels clicked-clack in rhythmic motion against the rails. It would be so easy to pull her close to him, before placing her under him and Heath gritted his teeth to fight against his desire.
"It is very sunny, hot, and the climate is drier than you would expect, since they are right by the ocean. You will like the palm trees, how tall they are and how they sway in the wind." He described the area in some more detail. "The city is an interesting combination of old Spanish architecture and new buildings like you would see in San Francisco. It is nice that they've kept the old buildings, and one part of the town is exactly like it was at the turn of the century."
Heath went on to tell her that where the wedding would be was in the part of town adjacent to the old city. It had been known as the diplomatic enclave, where foreigners lived and worshiped in protestant churches. Their hotel, The Castile, was in the old town, but had been thoroughly modernized, while keeping all the trappings of a grand European hotel. The family had booked the top two floors, with each floor having two suites, so everyone but Nick could have their own room. Nick was either going to stay in Jarrod's or Victoria's suite, until after the wedding.
"Sarah, there is something you need to know about Priscilla's family." Heath cut short the description of Los Angeles, to get on with what he wanted to say. His hope that it would go quickly and smoothly, so he could act on what he was feeling.
"Don't try to tell me there is a skeleton in the closet Heath! Priscilla the Perfect's father died in a respectable fever epidemic, so she could be raised by her grandparents." Sarah started to sit up, but remembered the upper bunk hanging over them. "There is also the fact that her grandfather was a minister who when not preaching was busy with every social and political happening in Los Angeles." She finished her almost tirade with a sad sniff, before she collapsed against him.
Heath felt the sorrow and sadness under the sneering remark about Priscilla, who he knew Sarah really liked. In fact Priscilla was her only female friend in Stockton; or anywhere else. At the same time, Heath understood where Sarah's anger was coming from – toward her father – and also the dig about Priscilla's grandfather. Heath remembered how impressed his mother had been when she'd seen Elspeth's guest list for the wedding.
Victoria had the current governor, and his cabinet, as well as every major figure in Northern California and the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. Elspeth, in addition to every mover and shaker in southern California, had two Governors Emeritus, the current Territorial Governor of Arizona, as well as the Admiral of the US Pacific Fleet stationed at San Diego. Further, she had every major land holder – all old Spanish families – to the Mexican border. There was also the matter of the Roman Catholic Arch-Bishop for California, who had been an old poker buddy of Henry Cavendish, and was going to be somehow involved in the wedding ceremony.
He didn't even want to think about the Hawaiian prince, younger brother of the king who was traveling with Priscilla's cousin, to present his diplomatic credentials in London. Heath could only envision a circus of publicity, and he was very worried about how Sarah would deal with it all. Now though he pushed that worry aside, as he said what he wanted to.
"It seems that Priscilla's grandfather's great-uncle; I hope I have it right." Heath tried to recall exactly what Nick had told them the night before they left. "He was a duke, and Priscilla's Cousin Andy, who is giving her away? Well his grandfather is the current duke, so he and his wife are Lord Andrew and Lady Beatrice Cavendish." He stopped there, wanting to give Sarah time to absorb the information and understand the implications.
"Wonderful! Even more attention for the wedding; not that it was going to be a quiet event anyway." Sarah answered softly after several minutes, and Heath could see the worry in her eyes.
"Well I think it works to our advantage my dear. We get to enjoy a nice trip, and since there is a week until the wedding we can do some exploring. I rather thought." Heath went on to describe several places he wanted to take her, hoping to distract her. "No one is going to care about us; or your father Sarah. We can have a very good time together, and a lot of it will just be us." He hoped by offering that promise she would be happy.
"Hmm, you sound like my mother almost." Sarah replied, but Heath felt her body softening as she cuddled against him. She reached up with her face to nuzzle his neck, and Heath closed his eyes as a hard shudder hit his body. "She told me I needed to stop obsessing about Papa, and start behaving like the wife of a prominent man. She even picked out my wardrobe for the trip; you will love it as everything is pastel colored with ruffles and lace." Her voice was muffled, as she continued to nuzzle against him.
"Ah, I really don't care about your clothes, unless it is getting them off of you." Heath moved his body which was slightly hard given the close quarters of the sleeping berth. However, he managed to shift so that Sarah was underneath him, pinned between his thighs. "Now this nightgown for instance is a hindrance to what I want to do." He growled that last sentence, as he moved his hand to sweep one of the thin straps off of her shoulders.
From there it was easy for him to pull the thin cotton lawn garment down, until her breasts were fully exposed. Their rosy tips were a beckoning invitation and he decided that he wanted to take advantage of what she was offering. His hands moved to explore, as his lips found hers in a deep passionate kiss that she returned with equal fervor. Heath was glad of the noise of the wheels, as they both found satisfaction in being together.
