Chapter 33

Jarrod, Victoria, and Audra were all sitting in the room enjoying the warmth from the fire dancing around in the fireplace. They were talking when the front door opened and a troubled looking Heath stepped inside. Because they figured his mood was tied into the fact that Nick had yet to write, Jarrod held up some papers. "We heard from Nick."

Heath's eyebrows turned slightly downwards as he threw his hat on the table closest to the foyer. He then walked over to the couch and sat down. "Where was he when he sent the letter? What does the letter say?"

"It was sent from Blythe Junction, said while Cliff wasn't in love with the idea of his sister being with a Barkley, he promised not to cause any trouble either…even wished them the best if they married." Jarrod shook his head. "Nick says he and Elizabeth decided to go ahead and get married, said Widow Tinsdale was a witness before she went back to Hayden. Because of the marriage Nick wanted me to transfer money from his personal bank account over to the school for the deaf. He doesn't want to have to worry about something happening and Tabitha not getting a proper education. He says they're going to travel down the coast of California, says they both like the idea of seeing the ocean from more than one spot." He paused and then admitted Nick had stated that he hoped Jarrod had transferred the ranch over to Heath. "I have done all that he asked only I still hope, when he writes again, you will be able to talk him into coming back here. As we've said, he and Elizabeth shouldn't feel unwelcome in this house." With the holidays soon approaching, they hoped to have all the family together.

Heath thought on the telegram he'd received in town. He pulled it out of his pocket. He wasn't surprised when a shocked look leapt onto his family's face. "What is that?" Jarrod asked, half afraid the uncomfortable feeling that had been hanging onto him all morning was more than he'd wanted it to mean.

"It's from, Nick." Heath unfolded the paper. He leaned forward and handed the telegram to Jarrod, who had stood up and walked over to his younger brother. "It only has one word on it."

A puzzled looked appeared in Jarrod's eyes and a frown spread across his face. Naturally, his mother and sister wanted to know what it said. "Phoenix." Jarrod looked at the telegram again. 'What are you trying to tell us, Nick?' Just as he silently asked the question, a knock came on the door.

Heath started to rise only to have Silas, who had just descended the stairs, answer the door. Moments later, they were all shocked to see Fred Madden stepping through the doorway looking more than upset.

"What is wrong, Fred?" Victoria, who had risen to her feet and was now standing next to Jarrod, asked.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, especially this time of the year." Fred turned his hat around in his hands, making it so all the Barkleys' hearts, along with Silas', dropped.

"Nick!" Audra, who was the first to find her voice, stood up and looked in earnest on the town's sheriff.

"This arrived at my office today." Fred pulled out a telegram. "It's from the stagecoach line that runs up and down the west coast. There was an accident yesterday…" He paused, not surprised to see the blood drain from all the Barkleys' and their faithful servant's faces. "The driver was able to jump free before the coach tumbled into the ocean only his two passengers weren't so lucky."

"Nick and Elizabeth," Victoria gasped as she held onto Jarrod; she had to in order to continue standing.

"I'm sorry." Fred, who had only heard rumors that the famous rancher had went and gotten himself married figured Victoria had just confirmed the hearsay, apologized again. "Their things are being shipped here, but they're bodies…" he shook his head. "…I'm sorry." he couldn't go on.

"It's fine, Fred." Jarrod assured him. "It's not like you caused…" Jarrod stopped mid-sentence for a split second then continued. "The accident wasn't your fault. I, we appreciate you coming out. We'd like to be alone."

"Of course, if I can do anything…" Fred headed for the door. "Just let me know."

"Talk to the reverend for me, if you would." Jarrod hated asking the sheriff to do such a thing only, after what he'd just realized, he couldn't risk talking to the clergyman. That man had a way of seeing through a person. Only after the door had shut, did Jarrod turn to face his family.

Audra started crying, which naturally had her mother wrapping her arms around her only daughter while holding her own tears at bay. "Mother, why don't you take Audra outside. Both of you could use some fresh air. We can discuss the details of a memorial service later." Jarrod stepped aside as he spoke, making sure the pathway to the door was clear.

"Good idea," Victoria led Audra out of the room and out the front door, after Silas had opened it up again.

"Silas, will you please go tell McColl what's happened? He can deal with the men." Jarrod wasn't surprised when Heath started to object. "I need to talk to you in here, Heath. Silas?" He looked at their good friend, who was still standing near the door.

"I'm going, Mister Jarrod." Silas turned to leave and then said quietly, "I'm sorry."

Jarrod gave him a sympathetic smile. "Thanks," He then watched as Silas exited the house. Once the door was shut, he turned to Heath. "Nick's not dead, and I doubt Elizabeth is either."

"Wh…" Heath, who had thought he was reeling before, was even more shocked. That is, until he thought some more on the one word telegram. "A Phoenix dies and rises again…" Confusion filled his eyes. "If that is the case, I can see the need for the trickery. After all, Cass can't catch wind of anything, or somehow hire someone to kill Nick, if he thinks he's dead. It wouldn't give him a reason to bother any of us either. Only, why not say something to Mother, Audra or Silas?" That part he didn't understand.

Jarrod shook his head. "I'll tell Mother and Silas after the memorial service is over and things have settled down. They'll be madder than a hornet at me only, heaven help us, their grief at that service has to be real. When it comes to Audra," he ran his hand through his hair and then shook his head. "She's too much like Nick. Granted, he actually took time to think things out this time, and he's right when he says Elizabeth shouldn't be considered a Hyatt-which is amazing, only …., " he sighed and shook his head again. "The day Nick comes back into our lives, he can deal with her. She'd never be able to keep it quiet, not for very long anyway."

"I think you're right." Heath headed for the front door. "McColl shouldn't be the only one dealing with the men on this. I'll go talk to them as well. Though, I'm leaving everyone but McColl to Nick as well. I sure don't want to be the one to reveal the truth to them later." He would have kept McColl in the dark as well only that man was extremely trustworthy and knew how to be quiet.

That got a small laugh out of Jarrod; he just happened to agree wholeheartedly.

~oOo~

While most of the deaf students ran around the school, playing tag, Tabitha sat under a tree near the dormitory. She wore a long silver necklace with a small blue butterfly; it had arrived the day before. She was holding the butterfly part in her hands while letting her mind wander back to the day Elizabeth had showed her the piece of jewelry.

'Don't ask me to explain the feelings that have been coming to me, because I don't understand them myself." Her mother's voice rang in her ears. "All I can tell you is that, if, some day, I give this to you-or send it to you-it will be a sign to you that things are not as they appear. Only," Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders. "Promise me, you won't tell anyone of this conversation. Just keep the necklace as a reminder of this conversation, and that I WILL explain as soon as I can. It might be days, weeks, months or-heaven forbid-even years, you WILL be told everything."

"Your mother married Mr. Barkley…their stagecoach…you will continue living here…" The Dean's words repeated themselves. "I will stay quiet, Mama Elizabeth only, when we see each other again-it better be good!" Tabitha stood up and went to join her new friends in their games.

Epilogue Part One to Follow