Chapter 10
Jarrod headed straight for Ben Gordon's office, wondering if Gordon was going to be surprised to see his black eye or if he knew about it before it even happened. Gordon gave him a stare when Jarrod came into his office, but the first thing he said, pointing at Jarrod's face, was, "That's not my doing, but the word about it is all over town already."
Jarrod sat down. "Who's doing was it, Ben?"
"I don't know for sure," Gordon said. "But it's not mine. I might come up on a nasty line now and then, but I won't cross it, and I intend to do more business with you someday. I'm really surprised whoever beat you up didn't give you a better idea of who he was backing."
"So am I," Jarrod said. "It's hard to tell who I'm supposed to be selling to without a name. Kinda defeats the purpose of beating me up."
"I'd think about who you've talked to who is looking at this as a one-time deal with the Barkleys."
"Well, then," Jarrod said with a smile. "Let's have our final meeting right now. I got an offer yesterday that beats the one you gave me, and I intend to go take it, but it's you and him now. I'll give you last crack if you come in substantially – and I mean substantially – higher."
Gordon eyed him carefully. "You think the guy who gave you that offer is the one who had you beaten up."
"Let's just say I'm tired of getting beaten up and I'd just as soon end this now, whoever it was who beat me up," Jarrod said. "And I know you have other property over there and this one could break the logjam keeping you from getting it all."
Gordon smiled. "You're not interested in doing me any favors."
"No, I'm not," Jarrod said, "but if I can do myself a favor, it won't bother me that it helps you out too. Come on, Ben. What you want is within your reach. Just give me the number you know I'm looking for."
Gordon hesitated. Jarrod knew Gordon was a man who just hated getting bested in a negotiation, but he was not known as a man who would give up a great business deal just because he thought he could have done better. Jarrod kept smiling.
Gordon finally gave him a number. "And no more, Jarrod. Go take your other offer if this isn't good enough."
Jarrod liked the offer, and he wanted Gordon to know he liked it, but he didn't want to look too eager about it. He just waited, looking like he was thinking it over.
"Come on, Jarrod," Gordon said.
Jarrod smiled more, stood up and reached across the desk to shake Gordon's hand. "We have a deal, Ben. The land is yours – IF you give me that mortgage release, of course."
"My secretary has it for you," Gordon said. "I'll have her draw up the papers for the property sale. When will the Mathewses be out?"
Jarrod turned and headed for the door. "I plan to move them tomorrow. I'll go file that mortgage release, and we can settle the day after."
"Assuming you don't get beaten up again," Gordon said.
"I'll start spreading the word that you and I have the deal, and you can do the same," Jarrod said. "You've made a good decision, Ben. It won't be long, you'll be the richest man in Sacramento."
"Land rich, anyway," Gordon said.
XXXXXXX
Jarrod went to the land records office and recorded the mortgage release along with the deed granting him the property across the river. Then he went to the nearest telegraph office and wired his family. He didn't say anything about having been beaten up, but told them things were going well and he expected to be home in a few days. He figured that would keep Nick happy, at least.
From there he went to the mercantile and found Libby waiting on a customer, a woman buying some cloth. They were finishing up the transaction, and as soon as the customer was gone, Jarrod went to Libby and said, "Good news. I've sold the property to Ben Gordon."
"Ben Gordon?" Libby said.
Jarrod nodded. "For a tidy little profit, too. We'll split that, and I'll get the money in the bank for both of us after settlement the day after tomorrow."
"My Lord, this is going so fast," Libby breathed, almost out of breath.
Jarrod took her hand. "It's good that it is. I have the keys to your new place, I'll grab Danny and we'll go start packing, and by tomorrow, you'll be settled in. We'll settle on your new property next week."
Libby sighed now and shook her head. "You are a good lawyer."
Jarrod laughed a little. "Not a lot of lawyering involved here. Just a lot of knowing a lot about Ben Gordon. Now, you have a wonderful day and I'll stop back here around 4 or so to see how you're doing and let you know how we're doing. And to take you and Danny to dinner since we're going to be packing up your house."
Abruptly, Libby kissed Jarrod on the cheek. "I'm feeling better already, Dakota. Thank you. For everything."
"My pleasure," Jarrod said.
XXXXXXXX
Packing was slow, but luckily Libby had a barn full of crates left over from when she and Danny moved there in the first place. Some of them still held goods that were never unpacked. Moving as quickly as they could but careful not to break anything breakable, they packed and stacked crates and got everything ready they could. They left personal items and clothing for the next day.
"Tomorrow morning, we pack up your wagon and put whatever leftover we have in the buggy," Jarrod said. "We take it into town to your new home, come back for more if we have to, and unpack what we can so you can sleep there from now on."
"What about the beds and the other big stuff?" Danny said.
Jarrod smiled. "We're both big men, Danny. We can handle it all. And besides, I had a private word with your boss at the livery. He'll be here in the morning to help us."
Danny grinned. "I can't believe he'd do that."
"He got his other man to cover the livery. He likes you, Danny. He wants to help."
Jarrod checked his watch. They had a few things still unpacked, but it was getting close to four o'clock. Jarrod decided they needed to head back into town, and before long they were at the mercantile.
Libby was looking so much better it was amazing. Jarrod figured the relief from the strain of her problems was beginning to bolster her health, and the pneumonia was disappearing into the past. When they arrived, a customer was just leaving but no one else was there.
"How is it going?" Libby asked.
"Pretty close to done," Jarrod said. "You and Danny and I will get an early dinner, then we'll head back and finish what we can. In the morning, we'll get all your personal items packed and we'll load up the wagon and bring things to town. We'll make two trips if we have to. I'd like to get you and Danny out of the way of that property sale as quickly as possible."
"I thought you had a deal with Mr. Gordon."
"I do, but I'm not sure if somebody isn't going to like it and I don't intend to take any chances. Mr. Luce – "
The proprietor was behind the counter. He looked up from the cash register, and smiled. "Go ahead, Libby," he said. "Call it quits for the day. You have a lot to do, and I won't expect you tomorrow."
Libby smiled at the man. "I can't thank you enough for being so lenient with me."
"I want things to work out for you," Mr. Luce said. "You're lucky to have a lawyer like Mr. Barkley on your side. He's pretty famous in these parts, you know."
"Not famous," Jarrod said. "Just more well-known than I'd like sometimes. Now, let's get us an early dinner and go finish up at your old house so we can take you to the new one first thing tomorrow."
Mr. Luce bid them good evening, and Jarrod took Libby and Danny to the hotel café. It was very quiet at this hour, which was relaxing. They talked, they ate, they laughed, and when they drove back to the house on the other side of the river, they dove into finishing up what packing they could do. Jarrod and Danny loaded the living room furniture into the wagon, plus quite a few boxes. Then Jarrod came back into the house with Danny.
The living room was stark and empty. Libby was standing there, looking around. "Dust," she said.
There was some on the floor, especially in the corners, but Jarrod said, "You can't reach it all when you live in a place."
The kitchen table and chairs remained. Libby said, "Would you like a cup of coffee before you go, Dakota?"
"No, I don't think so," Jarrod said. "I'd like to take advantage of all this hard work I did and get a good night's sleep."
They had brought Jarrod's horse back here, tied to the wagon, and the three of them went outside together. As Jarrod unhitched his horse, he looked at them both. It was almost like looking back two years, to the two of them on the porch at the house at Stone Creek.
"Get some rest," he said. "Tomorrow is going to be a very big day."
"Good night, Dakota," Libby said.
Jarrod mounted up and took himself back across the river to town. He left his horse at the livery and headed wearily for his hotel room, tired but pleased at how the day had gone. He had sold the property across the river. He had bought the new house, and he had helped Danny pack everything up to move the Mathewses in tomorrow.
He was pleased. He was happy. He felt optimistic for the future.
He was grabbed and pulled into an alley before he even realized it was happening.
