Monterey: Camellia Chapter Thirteen Part Deux
Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day saying, I'll try again tomorrow. – Mary Anne Radmacher
TWO WEEKS LATER
Elizabeth woke early and dressed in the proper shirtwaist and skirt Jarrod picked out. She had shyly asked him when they were rehearsing her testimony the night before. He went upstairs with her, and she pulled various dresses out of the chifforobe. She was beginning to pack her trunks to leave. It felt strangely intimate with him in her bedroom, but she had learned in the last two weeks to trust him completely in all matters of the railroad. But not her heart.
He had masterminded the case from the beginning to this finale. Jarrod had still not allowed the railroad to see him at the helm. His two protégés, Ben and Todd, had argued down the injunctions and subpoenas in six different jurisdictions accompanied by Heath and Nick...and won. Jarrod had taken Ben's advice and established Stockton as the sisters' residence to require the railroad to travel to the Barkley's home territory for the last lawsuit, and Ben requested a jury trial…
Valeria had begun helping Elizabeth as a personal servant. Silas found a young lady at his church needing a job desperately, and it worked out perfectly for all involved. Valeria still helped out where she was needed with those active toddlers, but she had become attached to Elizabeth and her family. She hurried to do whatever Elizabeth asked of her or tried to anticipate her every need. Last night, Valeria began packing their trunks to depart from the ranch after the trial as she was asked.
Victoria had remarked to Rosa, "It seemed like she changed overnight… for the better." Rosa agreed.
Only Jarrod knew where this newfound devotion came from, and it humbled him still.
He walked upstairs with Elizabeth to her room and left the door open for propriety. He had to step around the open trunks. He tried to ignore them by making a joke, "This is worse than a mined harbor in the war."
After he picked out her clothing, he sat her down in front of the vanity mirror. He pulled her hair back and took it out of her fashionable bun, and showed her the look he wanted. He stopped once and brought her hair to his nose. "Lilacs" was all he said, and he dropped her hair from his hands as if it burned. He quickly left the room after giving his idea on her hair for the trial. He didn't trust himself. Her feelings of insecurity were piqued again.
Valeria worked on a high crown braid to bring her long auburn mane down her back. Jarrod wanted her to look as young as possible for the trial. "I want you to look like you just left the schoolroom for the jury."
Elizabeth was completely confused by the Jarrod of the past two weeks. His easy-going charm and familiarity were replaced with a more guarded, unreadable response. Everything between them became measured and planned with care.
One night, he awakened the whole wing with a nightmare. They all came to their doors but did not want to embarrass him. Heath went immediately to Jarrod's room and stayed for a while.
Isabella asked Heath about it the next day as they rode out to the sunrise, "He said he had some of those dreams after Carterson too, so he understood and left it at that." she told Elizabeth. She assumed it had something to do with the war. It had happened to Papa and John before.
She would wonder if she had done something wrong, but then he would surprise her with something out of the blue, making her tea in the morning and sharing his favorite poems in the afternoon on the quilt in the rose garden; he always had her wine ready after dinner. He would always seem to hold her hand a little longer as he helped her up to ride. She would look up and catch him staring unreadably at her.
She stared at a single pink rose he picked out of the garden and impulsively gave her. As soon as he gave it to her, he went quickly into the house. He used the pretext of grabbing a cigar. She waited, and he did not return.
She kept it on her vanity table, and she planned to press it in her Bible. She had already sketched it out, trying to remember her first flower from a man and likely her last. He never finished the conversation they had begun two weeks ago when interrupted by Audra and Todd. She tried to finish it out in her head to no avail.
He spent more time with Camellia teaching her to ride, and presented her with a new kitten he had gotten from a local farm. Jarrod had sent Audra and Todd on the search for him. He liked Audra with Todd so far. After his initial response and stern brotherly lecture, they settled into a young romance.
Ben was happy at the ranch lodging himself into Jarrod's library. Silas found him asleep in there several times with a book and his spectacles still on. He even went into Stockton and worked from Jarrod's office. Todd and Ben were working out beautifully as legal associates as two opposites that tended to bring out the best in each other.
Pappy had begun reading Camellia the new novel, Black Beauty, every evening before bed. And things at the ranch had fallen into a comfortable routine with the railroad on the horizon looming not far from anyone's thoughts.
Jarrod tied his solid black western tie and looked at himself in the mirror. It was providential that he was wearing his best suit the night at Vanderbilt's party. He hadn't taken the time to change, only to leave instructions for his secretary and Rafe and grab some traveling clothes.
Silas starched his white shirt and pressed the black suit. The best tailor in NYC had made it, and he had treated himself after winning a significant case. He borrowed the tie from Nick. His city cravat would look out of place in Stockton, and nothing should distract the jury from this trial. He placed Elizabeth's original deed in his interior pocket and attached his Father's pocket watch. He was ready for whatever came.
Katarina came downstairs dressed in demure navy silk. "Oh no, Missy, you aren't going to the trial. It could be dangerous, and you will not go." blurted out Nick.
"Am I not a Barkley, Nicholas?"
"Of course you are, sweetie, but this is ain't no place for a lady. There is likely going to be trouble" he changed his tone.
"Nicholas..."
Audra and Isabella came down dressed with Victoria. They all stared at him defiantly.
Heath looked at his brother and grinned, "Give it up, Nick. There's too many of them."
Katarina kissed Nick on the cheek and he smiled, "I have my gun in my drawstring bag," she whispered.
"Ok, if there is trouble, you have to get away and listen to me." Nick conceded.
The children would be staying with Silas, Rosa, Penny, and Valeria. They all waved goodbye to the adults as they left to present a united family on the front row bench of the trial.
Eugene loaded the ladies up in the buggy, and Nick and Heath rode by their side.
Jarrod came downstairs and then, on impulse, walked into the parlor. He stared up at the painting of Tom Barkley.
"I know Nick is more of your son than I am—-but I am your son too, and I hope to end this war with the railroad once and for all. I want you to Rest In Peace and know your sons have done the best they can for this Valley that you loved. I am sorry I didn't get to know you, man to man only as of the son who disappointed you by taking a path away from the ranch. I like to think you would have been proud of me, and hopefully, today, you will see a bit of Tom in me, too."
Jarrod saddled Jingo to leave and was to ride into town alone. His gun was close at hand. He would use the back entrance at the judge's chamber and add his name to the attorney list with Ben and Todd at the last minute.
Elizabeth mustered all the courage she could find and followed him to the corral. He turned around, surprised.
"I just wanted to thank you for everything you have done for my family and me. I will never forget you, Jarrod Barkley. You are the most courageous and kind man I have ever met."
She leaned up and kissed him full on the lips. "I told myself I wanted to do that before I leave the ranch and go to Monterey —and there I did it. See you in court, counselor".
Jarrod was speechless for once. Before he could think of a response, she turned her back to him and sashayed outside. His last thought went to her derrière. Damn, how have I not noticed before?
She walked away to meet Ben and Todd to ride to town with them.
Jarrod's mind was full on the way to Stockton.