Chapter Three 1879 San Francisco One Year Later
"I hereby christen you, The Lizzie A!" and a very pregnant Liz broke a bottle of champagne on the bow of Jackson-Beaufort Shipping's newest ship and shipping offices. She forced a smile and wave for the crowd.
Jarrod looked on in frustration and smoldering anger. "If she were my wife, I wouldn't be parading her around the docks with swollen ankles and exhaustion just to make a new business alliance with the San Francisco harbor exchange."
He had brokered a very lucrative deal with the shipping companies of his old friend for an office in Stockton on the new canal of the river. It would bring important freight interests to the San Joaquin river and break the freight stranglehold of the railroad. This deal had begun that week in Washington over a year ago and he sunk his time and effort into it after Beth's murder.
The old man with the leases had dealt with Liz's father and wanted Liz and Adrienne to sign for their company. John should have refused. Liz was supposed to be on bed rest in Denver but John sent for her anyway.
"She'll be fine. She pops those babies out like a heifer."
Their private car from the east coast had stopped in Denver when she started having some preterm labor. John left them there and lived the "high life" of San Francisco for three weeks until he sent for her to come.
Jarrod had picked up Liz and her family from the train station. He and Jarrod had argued over Liz. He clenched his fists not to hit him.
"I don't take you for a prude, Jarrod. You have your share of the ladies."
"You are married to a beautiful woman who deserves better than your lies, friend"
"Jarrod, I won't lie to her. I pride myself on being an honest man. She knows exactly why I married her—-and, why I bed her…a boy. If she will just provide me something besides a pack of girls, I would never bother her bed again. She has money, everything she wants, and the girls to take care of. I have only raised my hand to her a few times as within my husbandly rights when she tries to deny me or talks back to me."
"And to think I thought I knew you." and he turned to go meet the ladies at the train.
Jarrod brought them to the ceremony. John, his father BlackJack, and the children posed with the ship for the newspaper. Adrienne and their cousin Isabella visited with all the dignitaries.
Victoria had come up with Jarrod for the ceremony for a few days. She was pleased that he was getting out more since the tragedy with Beth and the debacle with Cass Hyatt. Adding in the blame the Randalls laid at his doorstep, she worried he might never recover. Nick and Katarina stayed home with their son Tab. Audra and Carl Wheeler had gone to Oregon for a few weeks to make some cattle contracts.
Heath and Eugene offered to take the ladies and children to the fair on the docks and the after-party along with the nanny, Bettina.
Jarrod took Liz for tea at a quiet shop and then back to the hotel. "You don't seem well, Liz"
"I can't catch my breath. I am sure it's just the baby making me uncomfortable"
He helped her out of the carriage.
"Thank you so much for seeing me back to the hotel, Jarrod. I just don't think I could go to the parties too. Never mind trying to walk around a street fair. John was angry I suppose but he has never carried a child."
"If you don't think I'm presumptive, I would like to see you upstairs too."
She went to turn him down but felt a flush of pain. She had pain for several days after leaving Denver.
"I think that is a good idea if I get off my feet. I would appreciate your help."
They rode the elevator upstairs and she leaned on Jarrod for support. He got her to the room and helped her to bed. Pulling down the blankets and taking off her shoes as quickly as he could.
He called a servant for drinks and a meal for Liz. They arrived but she didn't feel like eating. He poured her a glass of wine and pulled up a chair by the bed. He wasn't leaving her alone.
"Thank you Jarrod for staying. I don't feel very well. I think you might go to the desk and ask for a doctor. I have a month before the baby is to be here but my back is really hurting all day. I think I pulled something when I was walking, I guess."
He was concerned and went downstairs to the concierge for a doctor. The nearest one was several blocks away and they would send porters for him. Jarrod got impatient waiting for the elevator and walked up the seven flights to her suite. He was a bit out of breath and annoyed it had taken him so long to get back to the room.
"Jarrod, thank God. The baby is coming. My waters just broke."
"I have a doctor coming, Liz. Hang on. What do I need to do?"
She grimaced when another contraction hit her and panted breathlessly.
"Get me some towels and extra linen, please."
He grabbed what he could from the armoire and brought them back to the bed. He sat back down next to her after taking off his jacket, vest and tie. He rolled up his sleeves in case she needed him.
"Jarrod, you might need to go outside. It gets really unpleasant." and she gasped with another contraction.
"I am not leaving you, Liz. Just tell me what to do." He sounded braver than he felt.
She reached out for his hand and squeezed during the next pain.
"I hope the doctor comes quickly. This baby is in a hurry." He cursed in his head.
Jarrod was terrified if he admitted it to himself but he wasn't leaving her alone to give birth. He had delivered horses and cows on the ranch. Surely it wasn't harder than that.
He helped her sit up and she brought her knees up to relieve the pressure.
"Where is the doctor?" she screamed during the contraction.
"I am sorry Jarrod" when the pain retreated for a minute or so.
She looked at the fear on his face and yet it was tempered with the most compassion she had ever seen in a man.
"We can do this. Just breathe Lizzie. The doctor will be here any minute"
About fifteen more minutes of intense pain occurred. Jarrod thought she was literally going to break his hand several times. Who says women are the weaker vessel?
"Jarrod, the baby is ready. I feel like I need to push. Do you have a knife?"
He felt weak-kneed but responded affirmatively. I would rather be facing a gun-slinger right now.
Jarrod got up and cleaned his knife in the basin then poured whiskey on it.
Jarrod helped adjust the sheets and steeled his nerves to look.
"I can see the baby's head, Liz."
"Here we go, Jarrod."
Four pushes later, a small but healthy baby girl was born. Jarrod caught her and cleaned her up with the towel. He carefully cut the cord then rubbed her back and feet so the baby pinked up. Liz had him check her mouth and nose. She let out a mewling cry after just a few minutes of rubbing her.
Jarrod and Liz smiled relieved. He placed the baby wrapped in a towel on her breast. He washed his hands and took his place by her head.
They kept smiling at each other and checked the little girl out. Jarrod counted every one of her fingers and toes. He ran his fingers through her wet ringlets of hair. She was perfect.
The door opened and the doctor rushed in. "Well, it looks like I am not needed. The proud Papa did my job."
Jarrod and Liz reddened then started laughing.
"Is this your first?"
"No, it's my fifth."
"So do you know what I mean when I ask, are you finished?" as he looked for the afterbirth.
Jarrod looked confused and bewildered.
"No, it hasn't come yet."
The doctor handed the baby to Jarrod, "Take your little girl out and let me finish up this little mama."
He walked out with the baby. They just stared at each other. "I am going to look out for you little girl, your momma, and all your sisters —-and your Aunt and cousin, too. All of you redheads! Not all men are like your Papa. I will make sure you know that."
Victoria rushed in, "I left Bettina and the girls in the lobby when the desk clerk alerted us when we arrived. Is Liz ok?"
Jarrod grinned, "Well this little one and I did pretty good. My first delivery that didn't have four legs—- Her mama is the strongest lady we know" and he smiled at the little one.
"The doctor is in there checking on her."
Victoria beamed at pride for her son. She took the baby and checked her out. "I think she is about five pounds and that is wonderful for a month early."
She handed the baby back to Jarrod, "Let me go see how Liz is."
Jarrod cooed and cuddled the baby. The doctor and Victoria came out in a few minutes. "You did good, Mr. Barkley. Sorry, I confused you for the father."
"It was a compliment, Doc"
The baby was pronounced healthy and hale. "I will come by in the morning to check on the little lady and mama."
Jarrod took the baby back to Liz and sat down. She looked so much better, just tired. Victoria went downstairs to get Bettina and the children. She met Heath and Eugene with Adrienne and Isabella in the lobby returning. BlackJack was close behind them.
"Where's John?"
His father shrugged his shoulders, "He is a man. How do I know?"
Victoria angrily responded, "Well my son, Jarrod just delivered his child alone."
They all turned to look. He said, "Well what was it?"
"A beautiful healthy girl. She's tiny but strong."
"Seems like she can't have boys."
Heath balled his fist in rage and was tempted to punch the elderly man.
They all went upstairs leaving BlackJack to go find his son. They excitedly crowded in the suite with smiles and sighs.
Jarrod got slaps on the back from his brothers, "Lizzie did all of the work."
The four little girls all wanted to hold her.
Liz smiled at them all, "Tomorrow will be soon enough. She is getting hungry."
Jarrod stood to the side smiling and not taking his eyes off Liz and the baby.
"What's her flower name, Mamere?" asked Rose.
Liz smiled, "I don't know yet but Mr. Jarrod will be deciding. He took very good care of us. What say you, counselor, what flower name will suit your godchild?"
Jarrod thought for a moment, "How about Violet? They are tiny on the mountains in the Valley but beautiful and unique."
"I love it. Violet Isabelle Jackson, meet your family."
John showed up two days later after hearing it was another girl. He met the fist of Jarrod Barkley as he left his wife's room.
"I guess I deserve that Jarrod. I never asked to be married." and he walked out of the hotel.
"You don't deserve a damn one of these children or Liz"