Chapter Five
The week was going splendidly with Isabella, Elizabeth, and Cammie, as Tab had adamantly renamed her. A hand came into the corral with a telegram for Nick. "They said it's important sir, from Mr. Jarrod"
Nick tore it open. It was written using their childhood code. Nick took a pencil and worked it out.
RR coming after new land grant. Dangerous situation for valley. On my way. Contact EB that her family may be in harm's way. JTB
He showed the message to Heath. "It's a good thing Mother invited the ladies here or I would be on a train to San Francisco dragging them back here."
"Where am I being dragged to?" asked Elizabeth in a half-smile as she rounded the corner.
"We need to talk" and he sat down with her and Heath on some hay bales.
Jarrod's information had been right on target. The heads up from the Vanderbilt RR attorney had given them time to plan, just not what to plan for. The first inkling came two days after Jarrod's telegram.
Elizabeth opened a letter from the train. It was from her shipping office manager.
The Coastal&Western have canceled all shipments to be stored in our warehouses and shipped through our lines. Almost 25% of our business is coming through Northern California. Please advise.
She sat down and wrote a quick response. How are payroll reserves? Use the Seattle and Vancouver revenues to cover if necessary until we can ascertain the situation. Contact me. immediately if any other unusual occurrences occur.
The next day, she got a note from the young attorney she had used in San Francisco at the auction house. He had resigned from her service and moved to Denver unexpectedly. A second telegram came from a different station in another city from him,too. It only said, fais attention Je m'excuse. She gave that note to Nick and Heath, too.
"You may know already but that is French for Be Careful, I am Sorry.
"Thanks...I needed to brush on my French speakin' words" laughed Nick
"Tell me what he knew about your land and the auction." Began Heath
"He is the one that told me that Jarrod was an honest man and attorney. He knew about the sale and he was in charge of filing the necessary paperwork and title with the state of California. He was a very nice young man. We spoke about his French grandmother who taught him her native tongue."
"Do you know if he filed it before you came here?"
"Yes, well I hope so... I didn't see the filing decree but I left to come here. I believe I have a copy in my traveling valise." She went upstairs to find it.
It was providential that she had stuck it in at the last moment. All of her other paperwork had been left with the young attorney, at the hotel suite and her shipping office safe. It had all appeared to be so routine.
"Do you think what I am thinking? Somehow they are trying to negate the deal? But how?" paced Nick. "If I could put my hands on Crown.."
She came down with the notarized deed. "You should have a copy too, correct? Can I put this in your safe? It is notarized but it doesn't have a filing date."
Nick had not thought of that. "There should be one in Jarrod's office in Stockton. We still get all our legal documents there and his old secretary Esther comes in and sorts it. Sends some to Jarrod and the rest to an attorney friend of his."
"We better put our hands on that and get it in the safe. I am not taking anything for granted with the railroad." Heath declared angrily.
They were interrupted by Isabella. "Heath? Are we still going for a ride? Did I misunderstand the time?"
Nick motioned to him, "Go on and ride with your lady friend. We need to act as normal as possible until Jarrod gets here."
Elizabeth waited until they left, "Is my family in danger?"
"I would like to say no for certain but I can't. We have lost too much to the railroad in this Valley. I think it's time to circle the wagons. Isabella will be safe with Heath."
He used a strong but reassuring voice, "and I want the three of you to stay here with us until this blows over. We are the ones who got you in this mess."
His instincts were heightened especially after hearing of their childhood last night. He was going to keep these ladies under his protection no matter what.
"We will stay and I do feel safe here. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. But Nick, I made the choice and I have found that part of life is dealing with your choices good or bad...making the best of them. God knows I made them both."
She took Nick's arm and they walked into the house to talk to Victoria and put the deed in the safe.
Jarrod was beyond frustrated trying to get to the West Coast. This was going to be the longest four days he could imagine. He couldn't shake this bad feeling. Something was very wrong and he had to get home. He opened another bottle of scotch to think.
They rode out to the North Ridge. Heath showed her his thinking trees. He had not brought another lady out here since Maria Montero. Isabella seemed to be the one to break that streak.
"Heath, are you going to tell me what's going on? My sister says it's just business and nothing to worry about. That is not what I saw on your faces earlier. She is still protecting me I know."
"It is business. Your sister did us a good turn-a real good turn- by giving us some property we needed-the whole valley needs. The railroad wants it, bad. Jarrod is on his way here to do some legal wrangling of his to get it straightened out. We just are worried how far they will take this."
Heath had the most honest, reassuring manner and it calmed her.
``How can they take the property she sold, I mean gave you?"
"We have no idea and that's the blasted truth. Pardon my language."
That got a laugh from her, "I was raised around sailors! I assure you I have heard much worse."
He took her hand and brought her to sit under the trees. "Now let's change the subject."
"Tell me something, Bella, can I call you— Bella? I think it fits you. About yourself, I don't know."
"Yes, you can call me Bella. Well, let me think...I know. I love to sing."
"Well, do I get a sample?"
She blushed , cleared her throat and clearly sang a French lullaby: Frère Jacques, Frère Jacques, Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous? Sonnez les matines Sonnez les matines Ding ding dong Ding ding dong.
Heath closed his eyes and listened, She sounds like an angel.
"What does it mean in English?"
She began singing again: Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping? Brother John? Brother John? Morning bells are ringing, Morning bells are ringing. Ding ding dong, Ding ding dong.
"My Mamere used to sing it to us. Of course, John was our brother so we thought she wrote it for him. We were disappointed when we grew up and found out it was a traditional French lullaby."
"Did your mother sing to you?"
Heath got very quiet. "Have you ever heard the one about lavender and dilly dilly? I don't think I remember all the words but I still can hear her singing. You probably don't. It's kinda silly... Look at me makin' a rhyme."
Isabella beamed. "I know it " and she began in her clear voice singing the second lullaby, the one Leah sang to Heath. She assumed Victoria sang it to him.
Lavender's blue, dilly dilly,
Lavender's green
When you are King, dilly dilly,
I shall be Queen
Lavender's green dilly, dilly
Lavender's blue
You must love me, dilly, dilly
'cause I love you.
Who told you so, dilly dilly,
Who told you so?
'Twas my own heart, dilly dilly,
That told me so
Call up your friends, dilly, dilly
Set them to work
Some to the plough, dilly dilly,
Some to the fork
Some to the hay, dilly dilly,
Some to thresh corn
Whilst you and I, dilly dilly,
Keep ourselves warm
Lavender's blue, dilly dilly,
Lavender's green
When you are King, dilly dilly,
I shall be Queen.
Heath couldn't speak for a while. The lump in his throat was choking him. He just reached out and held her hand. She got her courage up and lay her head on his shoulder. They stayed put for an hour or so just enjoying the quiet.