Chapter 6

Jarrod fell asleep on the sofa, but Eugene kept awake, waiting for Donna. He was just as worried as Jarrod was about her coming here so late. Maybe he was more worried, but he tried to avoid going to the window to look out. He wouldn't be able to see much anyway.

As if he had an alarm set to go off in his head, Jarrod woke up at about 2:25 a.m. A little bleary, he saw Eugene sitting in one of the armchairs. Jarrod sat up on the sofa. "What time is it?"

"Nearly 2:30," Eugene said. "I'm getting worried. I thought she'd be here by now."

"Let's give it a couple more minutes – "

Jarrod didn't get to finish the sentence. A knock came on the door. He got up, went to it, and opened it such that he could shield himself from view with most of the door. In the light coming from inside his home, he saw Donna and opened the door further. She came in. He closed the door right away, keeping himself shielded the whole time.

"May I get you anything, Donna?" Jarrod asked.

"No, no," she said.

"Come in. Sit down."

She came in, and Eugene ushered her to the sofa. He sat beside her, and Jarrod sat down in one of the armchairs facing the sofa. "Tell me what's going on," Jarrod said.

"A.J. Bonaventure," she said. "I remember the name from a newspaper article I saw two years ago. He went to prison on an assault charge."

"Do you remember who he assaulted?" Jarrod asked.

"A woman named Edith Settle."

Jarrod perked up.

"She's one of your witnesses in this Bolen case, isn't she?"

"Yes, but how did you know?" Jarrod asked.

"It was in the paper," Donna said. "I have no idea why Mr. Switzer would be talking to Mr. Bonaventure, but I did hear him say the name Bolen outside. I pretended not to hear anything they said. I don't know what they're up to, but I thought you'd better know, if you didn't know, that Mr. Bonaventure and Mr. Switzer were talking."

Jarrod looked away, thinking. He couldn't imagine why Switzer was going to be talking to someone who assaulted Edith Settle two years ago, unless he was worried about her testimony. Jarrod hated to ask out loud, but he asked, "Was it a sexual assault he went to jail for?"

"I really don't know," Donna said. "The paper said it was simple assault he was convicted of. The paper never said why he assaulted her, and I don't remember the name Bolen being involved in that case at all."

"Maybe Switzer is planning to call him to attack Miss Settle's credibility, but I don't quite know how," Jarrod said. "And Bonaventure isn't on the witness list." He sighed. "Another twist Switzer is throwing into this case."

"Mr. Barkley, when Mr. Bonaventure assaulted Miss Settle, it wasn't the first assault he was accused of, according to the newspaper two years ago," Donna said. "That's what has me concerned. I'm wondering if for some reason Mr. Switzer has him planning to assault her again – to keep her from testifying perhaps? She hasn't testified yet, has she?"

"I haven't started presenting my defense yet," Jarrod said. "She won't be testifying for another few days. I'd better talk to my client and see if he knows any reason Bonaventure might be into this. But Donna – I'm concerned. If Bonaventure has a history of assault – if he finds out what you know and that you've told me."

"I know," Donna said. "I'd be more comfortable getting out the way, but I want to be available if you need me."

"Does your uncle know you're here?" Jarrod asked. "Does he know what you heard?"

"No, not in detail," Donna said. "I didn't want him to risk knowing, but I told him I wanted to get away for a few days, so I won't be going back to the bar for a week or so."

"Where are you going to go?" Eugene asked.

"I don't know," Donna said. "I could slip off to Sacramento or something."

"I have a better idea," Jarrod said. "Gene, why don't you take an early train out of here in the morning, and Donna why don't you go with him? Both of you go to San Jose, and Donna, you can lie low there but let Gene know where you are, in case I need to contact you."

"I have a better idea," Eugene said. "Let me take her to the ranch. They can keep her safer there."

Jarrod thought about it. "Donna, I don't want your name to be one the railroad would have. How do you feel about traveling as Mrs. Eugene Barkley? No one will question it if the railroad says Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Barkley are traveling to Stockton."

Eugene and Donna looked at each other. "It's not the arboretum," Eugene said.

Donna finally chuckled.

Jarrod said, "There's a train out at six o'clock tomorrow morning. Just get on it and go."

"I'll need to get some things from my room," Donna said.

"Our sister can fix you up with whatever you need," Jarrod said. "You're about the same size, and I'd rather you didn't go back to your room tonight. If someone is still watching, better they should think you're here on business, like you suggested. The chances are slim anyone would hang around until morning."

"All right," Donna agreed.

"And don't let anyone know where you are," Jarrod said. "I'll tell your uncle you're safe, but I won't let on where we sent you."

"All right," Donna said again. "But I sleep on the sofa tonight."

"Nonsense," Jarrod said. "My bed has clean linen. You take my bed, and I'll bunk with Gene. If someone does decide to come looking through a window, I don't want them to see you down here."

"All right," Donna agreed one more time. "You'll find a way to let us know in Stockton what's happening here?"

Jarrod nodded. "Remember when you were a little boy, Gene? We used to play that code game?"

"Holy cow, Jarrod," Eugene said. "I'm not sure I remember enough."

Jarrod smiled. "We can play our own version of Donna's 'what the' game. If I need Donna to come here, I'll wire you to go back to school – "

"Wait," Donna said. "Write it all down. I'll read it and remember it. Having a perfect memory for what I read can come in handy."

"I dare say, it can," Jarrod said. "Gene, show Donna upstairs so she can clean up. You'll have to sleep in one of my clean nightshirts, Donna."

"I can handle that," she said with a grin.

"While you do that, I'll write our little code down – and yes, I will remember it too. My memory may not be as perfect as yours, but this I will remember. I'll keep it simple. We'll get you both on the six o'clock train out of here in the morning. We don't need to tell Mother you're coming. She handles surprises very well, despite the fact she says she doesn't like them."

"I'll see if I remember anything else while I'm getting ready for bed," Donna said.

Jarrod stood up, reached for her hand, and helped her stand. Eugene stood with them. "I'm hoping this is all nothing to be genuinely concerned about," Jarrod said, "but I prefer taking the precautions. Whatever it is, it should all go away in a few days. And I thank you very much for your help. But one other thing."

"Yes?" she asked.

"We left before we heard more than one clue and got the answer tonight." Jarrod's blue eyes sparkled mischievously.

Donna smiled again. "Wait - what the pink elephant could the answer be? I mean, what the purple stage coach could I have been getting at?"

"Things of the wrong color," Eugene said quickly, before Jarrod could answer.

"I'll owe you an evening of free drinks when we get back to normal," Donna said.

Eugene impulsively kissed her hand. "I'll collect."

For a moment she looked startled, but only for a moment. Then she smiled at Eugene.