Chapter Twenty Six
Phillip Davies boarded a train bound for Promontory Point, Utah to meet the head of the Pinkertons himself to brief him on the investigation of Wilson Investments and Beaufort Shipping. He could hardly sleep the night before. He couldn't figure for the life of him why there was such interest in the Beauforts and shipping fraud. The Secret Service investigation had been ramped up too. This case was pushed to the forefront by the higher-ups in the administrations.
Meeting with Allan Pinkerton in a deserted rail yard in private cars was overwhelming. An aide de camp for the United States military and a Secret Service operative was there in attendance and had him sign a non-disclosure agreement under the penalty of treason for the information disclosed in this meeting. He took the pen and signed.
"Mr. Davies, thank you for coming all this way. I hate the subterfuge but these secrets have been long buried for years in the military intelligence community. We owe the Beaufort family, Marie and Jack a debt of gratitude. They were British citizens but they risked their livelihood and lives for the Union. Four of us promised to always look after each other's families if something has happened. We have watched the Beaufort sisters since Jack's death. They escaped the hurricane and ended up in Stockton with the Barkley family. Jarrod Barkley and John Jackson were part of military intelligence during the war. They were highly trained valued agents."
Phillip continued to listen. He had seen Jarrod's security clearance records in their years of cases together so he wasn't surprised.
"During the war, spies went through the countryside and seas at will, and military operations were often compromised. The Confederacy used Bermuda as a base to disrupt shipping, transport supplies, and send gold shipments. The British government was highly involved in the cotton industry and wanted to keep the cash crop coming to supply the textile mills in England. It was a valuable commodity."
"Jack and Marie probably saved tens of thousands of Union soldiers' lives from their intel on the island. Troop movements, supply chains, payrolls and bribes, spy names… they were as valuable as any general or commander we had."
Allen Pinkerton looked out lost in his own memories. "He saved my life twice."
"We do not plan to allow anyone to take those young ladies through the mud or destroy Jack's shipping empire. One sister was already murdered and one left for dead years ago and survived. By damn, we won't let them be hurt again."
He spent the next two hours pouring over all of the information with him and his aides. He had reports from the secret service that Phillip had not seen before. This was bigger than he ever dreamed.
But even Phillip wasn't privy to the file on the child known only to the 'four' men left.
The week after Thanksgiving fell into a comfortable routine. It continued to be warm in the Valley so all of the ranch activities were still in full swing. Jarrod divided his time between Lis, his law practice, and riding the ranch with his brothers. She was staying up most of the day with only one nap. Daisy started her lessons back. Katarina worked on her French and Russian. Eugene and Adrienne divided up the other subjects. Julienne sat with Elizabeth and learned more about the shipping ledgers and the financials behind them.
Jarrod had finally told Lis about the fire, "Elizabeth, when you were still unconscious the day before Thanksgiving...Harris Kirk and my friend Phillip Davies came to Stockton."
"You didn't tell me."
"At that point, we didn't know if you were going to regain consciousness or not, then when the seizures started, we were under strict instructions for rest and calm."
"Jarrod...and?"
"There was a deliberate fire at the shipping office. No one was hurt and it was late at night. The ships and warehouses are fine. We think it was to destroy the evidence you found. Thankfully we had already given it to the Secret Service. Harris was able to save some personal effects too. Jack and John's portraits. They are in the foyer closet."
"Can we rebuild?"
"Harris has already had the lot cleared and the framing up in two weeks."
She looked at Jarrod carefully trying to discern what else he was keeping from her. He channeled all of his attorney skills and deflected.
" I have lost a Junior partner to a rival firm and since I broke things off with Miriam, the political offers have been rescinded. It was to be expected after what a mess I made of things."
She knew Jarrod well enough that he was minimizing the trouble but she decided not to push the issue. "I trust you Jarrod" and she looked at him and added, "I know you will do what's best for me and Daisy."
"Can I see the portraits?" Jarrod went to the closet and brought them out. Big tears filled her eyes and she leaned back into Jarrod's arms on the settee and stared at them. She fit perfectly under his arm. They nuzzled in, both lost in their own thoughts.
A few minutes later, Heath came in, "Am I interrupting something? I have been trying to catch you two alone for a couple of days now." They both sat up to listen.
Heath was a bit nervous and he paced in front of the fireplace and then got up his courage, "You both know I have been seeing Bella for the past couple of months every day. You are her family and … I was going to ask you…. I would like to marry Isabella''. There he got that out.
Lis and Jarrod broke out in wide smiles. "Heath, I would be proud of you to marry my sister." Jarrod bear-hugged him. "This deserves a toast."
"When are you planning on asking, Heath?"
"Hopefully around Christmas, if I can wait."
Jarrod walked Lis upstairs to say goodnight. His mother had already retired for the evening and Daisy was sound asleep. He looked both ways down the hall to make sure they were alone. He opened the door and followed her in. Since she had recovered, he had tried to stay out for the sake of propriety and a lecture from Victoria about being a good example for her younger sisters since now Lis was up and around. But privacy was at a premium with this many people in the house and since she was not up to a horseback ride yet...
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. She leaned in and enjoyed his kisses on her lips, earlobes, and then her neck. She pressed her body against him. Jarrod had awakened needs she never knew existed. He stopped to both of their disappointment.
"Lis, are you ready to set a wedding date? I am willing to wait as long as you need. Big wedding, small wedding...it's up to you. We just can't elope or Mother will take her wooden spoon to us. I have to admit Heath's announcement tonight made me antsy. I am really wanting to have a date to look forward to. Let's settle this tonight"
"Jarrod, think this through carefully. What if I have seizures for the rest of my life? I know the Doctor says we can have children but what if I drop our baby or fall or any of a thousand possibilities? What if I am not what you want after a while? I don't want to tie you down as an invalid " All of her feelings about the scar and epilepsy melded and bubbled back up.
Jarrod recalled Victoria's words of a few days ago when he talked about Lis and setting a wedding date. "A woman learns to trust men at the knee of her father first. If a girl cannot trust her father to be there for her, she will have trouble believing her husband will be there when times get hard. You have to be two men at once. "
"Lis, life is full of uncertainty. What if I get shot by a client or thrown from a horse or my blindness returns? I have lost one wife and I ran as fast as I could from my feelings for you to avoid the pain of losing someone again. I don't want to lose you. We can get through this together. I would marry you tomorrow if you would. I am more sure of marrying you than anything I have ever done. I am not leaving you while I have a breath left in my body. "
She looked up at him as if she were trying to read his mind...to trust him to know his own mind...to believe in him enough to still her own fears. To believe she was ENOUGH for Jarrod Barkley.
"Jarrod, I just need some time. I do love you but everything is closing in on me."
He hugged her, kissed her on the forehead "of course, my love. You have all of the time you need. I think we both are very tired. I am sorry I pushed you for a date." She could read the frustration all over his face.
Jarrod closed the door and walked downstairs. "Does life ever get easier?"
He had a couple of drinks and still couldn't sleep. He wanted Lis in the worst way. Epilepsy made no difference to him. How could he make her see that.?
He saddled Jingo and headed to town. He ended up at Big Annie's. He would go in and see Ruthie... just to talk.
Lis couldn't stay asleep and went softly down to Jarrod's room after midnight. She turned the knob and quietly opened the door. She was afraid to knock as to wake someone up. His bed was made up and Jarrod wasn't there. He must be in the study working.
She quietly padded down the stairs in the dark.