Chapter Eleven
They rode back to the ranch pleasantly. Todd managed to get himself by Isabella. He had her smiling and laughing at his jokes. He had a way with the ladies.
The twins and Tab were up from their naps and Valeria had them eating a snack on the porch. Victoria smiled, "look at Grandma's babies." She kissed them each and sat down beside them. They looked at each other adoringly. She had waited a long time to be called, Grandma. Tab smacked a kiss on Victoria's cheek and left a mark of jam. She reached up and touched it with her fingers. She tasted and remarked, "At least it's Barkley grape." Everyone broke out laughing.
Valeria lowered her eyes and then opened them wide at Todd. He felt the heat across the room and her fully ample bosom was obvious. He quickly turned away and stilled his body. He took Bella's arm and asked her to show him the way to his room. "I need to freshen up."
Jarrod shook his head. This is going to be troublesome.
There was a telegram from Ben Issacson. He would be delayed another day as the trial he was working had a continuance. He will be in Stockton by Friday at the latest.
"Should you get someone else?" wondered Victoria.
"No, I need young men I can trust completely that have not made a name for themselves. These lawyers are hungry and smart. They can do the job. They are young enough to be fearless. Two days won't change the plan and I don't have the arrival times of the Pinkertons yet. They will be watching the big names. Pity Nat Springer is limiting his practice to criminal law. Even though, this borders on the criminal"
Jarrod had met Benjamin Issacson when he attended his Bar Mitzvah in San Francisco. He was the nephew of his good friend Abraham, the gifted artisan jeweler. He had invited his lawyer and friend to the family event. Jarrod was the only goyim or Gentile in attendance.
"You'll see Jarrod. He will be an attorney. The boy has a sharp mind and an argumentative spirit! Ha! Ask his parents!"
Jarrod had taken a keen interest in the boy and found Abraham's opinion to be correct. He helped him get a scholarship into Harvard and he himself helped him with living expenses. Jarrod believed he had the potential to become one of the premier litigators in the state or possibly nation.
Nick and Heath came in from the range and greeted the family in the parlor. A very handsome young man was on the settee with Isabella. He was animatedly telling her a story and she was laughing. Something about the scene infuriated Heath. Nick read his mind. So did Victoria- So did Katarina-. So did Elizabeth-So did Jarrod.
"Nick, Heath...this is Todd Freeman, one of the attorneys that will be helping us with the railroad."
"Sure appreciate you coming to help. 'Would shake your hands but we have just come in from the cattle." grinned Nick with a clenched jaw. Heath remained quiet looking at him sitting too close to Bella in his opinion.
"Let's go, Heath. I know you like to get to the hot water first." and they turned up the stairs.
Isabella got her feelings hurt that Heath hadn't said anything to her. In fact, he seemed angry at her for some reason.
The rest of the family thought some version of "He's got it bad".
When they got up to the landing, "Little brother, if you want her...fight for her." whispered Nick.
Heath took plenty of hot water this time. He scrubbed and scrubbed trying to sort his feelings out. They hadn't promised anything to each other; they had only held hands. He had done a lot more with a lot more ladies than that and didn't feel what he was feeling right now. The more he stewed, the more he blamed that young fancy lawyer. He had himself pretty lathered up by the time he came down for dinner and it wasn't the soap he had washed away.
Dinner was subdued because of Heath's bad mood... Todd knew no different. He figured the Barkleys were the reserved meal type of folks. The sisters knew the difference. The animated conversation and playful banter were missed.
Camellia was the first to say what everyone was thinking, "Did somebody get sick or break something? It's so quiet. Is somebody in trouble?" Laughter broke out around the table.
Nick answered first, "No sugar. I remember that from when I was a kid. This table was pretty quiet when I came home from school with notes from the teacher."
"I remember it well." laughed Jarrod.
The child's observation picked up the small talk and they retired to the study for drinks afterward. Jarrod did the honors. Todd stood beside Isabella and started another conversation. Heath broke off the chalk on the cue trying not to watch.
Nick decided it was time for him to help, "Heath, I play you every night. I want a change. How about you, Todd?" He took him up on the invitation.
Nick nudged Heath, "The rest is up to you, boy."
Jarrod was enjoying the interaction between his brothers. He had missed it so much and he was hoping the beautiful Isabella would be what Heath needed.
Audra was due home tomorrow and Eugene on Friday. Then they would be complete.
"Bella, I have something to show you in the barn." Heath got his courage up.
She was still annoyed by his bad manners earlier but "agreed to go with him." Todd had no idea that she had left with the "quiet one" as he nicknamed him until she was gone.
The ladies shared a knowing look and a hopeful one.
"Heath Barkley, you better have a good explanation for how you are acting. You have been looking at me with anger all night. What in the world have I done?"
"I am not mad at you."
"Well as my mama said, tell your face that"
Heath started chucking, "My mother, Leah used to say the same thing when I came in all puffed up about something. I haven't ever been real good talking about what bothers me."
"Leah? I heard you call Victoria, Mother. I just thought…I am sorry I didn't mean to…"
He took her hand, "Bella, it's fine. I am pretty well used to the story by now and there's no one I would rather know the truth than you" and he squeezed her hand. And he proceeded to tell her about becoming a Barkley…
"This is the most beautiful family story I have ever heard. Most folks don't take others into their lives and hardly any at all would accept another's child. Leah and Victoria are pretty special for you to both call Mother."
"They are" and he smiled his crooked grin.
Heath relaxed the breath he had been holding and squeezed her hands and rubbed his thumb over hers. It was an intimate moment that they both experienced without a word looking into each other's eyes. And years later, they would tell their children about Heath following Bella out to the barn in a jealous snit and coming back in love.
"Heath, May I tell Elle about this conversation. She needs to hear this."
"Of course, pretty much all of California has heard the story of the Barkley bastard."
"Heath! Please don't ever call yourself that again. I would have never known if you hadn't told me. You are a Barkley through and through."
"Sorry...I just have kinda gotten used to hearing that whispered behind my back."
It was so obvious to him that she had never been in a relationship before. That was pleasantly refreshing since most of the single ladies in Stockton were "chock-full of tricks and flirtations". She was shy around everyone else but she enchanted him with her thoughtful observations about life in their private moments. And her voice- He thought he had never felt so peaceful and comfortable with a woman. She was no Maria Montero or LibbyValence. He even thought Sister Jacob would like Bella.
He just stared at the auburn-haired beauty in front of him. Heath got up his courage and pulled her close. He had plenty of experience with the ladies but this one was different. He didn't want to mess this up or think badly of him.
He reached out and brought her to face him in the moonlight coming through the window of the barn... The warm dry wind blew an auburn hair across her cheek. He used his thumb to brush it away. "There's something I have been wanting to do "
"C'Mere."
He lightly moistened his lips and silently looked into her green eyes; he dipped his head and kissed her gently. She shyly leaned in for her very first kiss.
"Did I do it right?" she smiled at him flirtatiously.
"I am not sure Bella, let's try it again just in case."
He gave her his lopsided grin and kissed her again a tad more fervently, again. She responded in turn.
Nick had been keeping an eye peeled through the veranda door. He caught their silhouette coming up the walk and he saw Heath kiss her.
"That's my boy." grinned Nick ear-to-ear. Victoria and Jarrod stared at him strangely but when the young couple came in the door holding hands, they figured it out.
Isabella shared her "first kiss" with her sister as sisters do at bedtime. Elizabeth genuinely was happy for her. She trusted the Barkley's with her sister and her child, and her own life.
She then told Elle the story of Heath. Elizabeth listened and smiled. "He is taking this pretty seriously, I think sis." winked Elizabeth. Isabella tossed a pillow at her. She didn't tell her Jarrod had told her already.
"Isabella, I need to tell you something else. There was a threat in the trunk; Mrs. Barkley brought it to me." She was surprised.
"I didn't see it Elizabeth."
"It's ok, I think Mrs. Barkley was trying to protect us. She waited until Jarrod was here to give it to me. It was—-about Camellia's birth. The same rumors we heard in Bermuda. I assume someone in San Francisco heard them and told the railroad lackeys.
"Elle, can I ask you about Camellia's father? I never have. I heard things and you knew I had. You just said they were gossip, were they?"
"The gossip was gossip. I promise. But there is one thing I never told you, I never was married. Papa made it up to protect me. I was 15 and didn't realize I would have to live with a lie for the rest of my life."
"I did wonder about a Beaufort cousin I never met."
"I met a man the summer you were in Trinidad. I found out later he was married after I was with his child. I believed he loved me and was going to marry me. Jarrod is the only person besides Papa and John that knows. All those other stories were gossip. No one ever really had any truth, just suppositions."
"Oh Elle, bless you. I admire you so much and it makes sense now. When I had my fifteenth birthday, all I could think about was you already having Camellia. You threw that beautiful party for me and then took me to New York for new gowns and the theatre. We had the most glorious time. You were giving me what you didn't have..."
"Yes, I never, ever regret keeping Camellia and she is the best thing that ever happened to me but yes, I wanted to give you a season I missed in life."
They hugged each other and had a good cry.
Jarrod and Todd had a nightcap before retiring. Jarrod went over the plan one more time and Todd made some excellent observations. They trimmed the lights and headed up to bed.
"Those ladies from Beaufort Shipping are pretty something, aren't they. When I get back after the court appearances with your brother, I may take another look at those beauties."
Jarrod didn't answer but he felt like he had been kicked in the gut.