Chapter Four Stockton 1880 Six Months Later
Liz and her brood arrived in Stockton for Heath and Isabella's wedding. Her beautiful cousin and the blonde brother had begun a courtship the night Violet was born. They became virtually inseparable and set a date quickly.
Liz was thrilled with the relationship and immediately transferred her guardianship of the 20-year-old to Jarrod with her portion of all the shipping holdings. She did it all perfectly legally for Adrienne at the same time to him. Adrienne and Eugene were pursuing a long-distance courtship while he was in college. She hoped it would progress. She felt safer with them in the Barkley family's hands. Neither could touch their trust until they were 25 or married. Now it was in Barkley's hands willingly from Liz.
John and BlackJack had been angry when they found out what Liz did without their approval. Her father-in-law berated her in a loud voice. John didn't say a word to defend her in front of him but she could read his face.
When he left them alone. Liz braced herself for his wrath. When he left her finally, she had bruises where no one could see, two broken ribs, and the possibility of another child. She set her jaw, went to bathe, and decided "it was worth it to give them a chance not to become chattel as she was."
She was so excited to be attending the wedding festivities that week. She and the girls had new dresses made and lots of fripperies purchased. Her bruises were covered by lace and healed enough. She had the deep need to feel pretty again.
John only occasionally graced her bed now without saying a word and it was fine with her. "You are a failure" after the fifth girl was born. Liz remembered the love in Jarrod's eyes after the delivery. She would hold onto that look forever.
He had declined to go to the wedding after Jarrod punched him, Liz assumed. They rarely talked on the few occasions he came home. His father refused to speak anymore since the guardianship. He accused her of having an affair with Jarrod. She ignored the comments but it did help gel her emotions after the traumatic birth.
Heath and Nick met her at the train with the large buggy. "You must be Nick Barkley, I would recognize you anywhere from your family's stories. Although you are much more handsome than Jarrod and Heath said."
Heath laughed, "Did I tell you Liz needs spectacles?"
They all had a good laugh. Nick already felt a deep admiration for her after his brother's observations. The girls chatted excitedly as Heath and Nick pointed out the sights. Violet fell asleep nuzzled into her mother's arms.
Nick told them about his three-year-old son Tab and that his Russian princess Katarina was going to have another baby soon, "I hope if it is a little girl, she is as pretty as any of the five of you."
Six-year-old Daisy asked him, "You really want a girl? Our father says girls are a waste except for having babies."
"Daisy! Hush! I am sorry for that." Liz was mortified. Why do children always pick up the worst things?
Nick and Heath looked furious. Nick pulled the rig over and turned around to the little girls, "I am saying an extra prayer tonight that I have a little girl just like you four, I mean five. I can't imagine anything better than being a Daddy to little girls."
The girls got smiles ear to ear and began chattering and laughing again about the ranch.
Liz just stared forward trying not to cry. Nick Barkley just gave my girls a great gift.
They unloaded their luggage at the Barkley's new guest cottage. Victoria had it built for all the company they seemed to have as their family grew. Liz's brood would fit well. Heath and Nick took the four youngest back to the house with them so Liz could feed the little one.
Jarrod and Victoria met them at the door of the big house. His face lit up to see those auburn ringlets made over in those little girls.
He felt his stomach lurch when he saw them and a wave of familiar anger bubbled up about John and the life he gave his family. His thoughts were interrupted by Adrienne and Isabella bounding down the stairs to see their nieces.
Everyone started to chatter at once and the children were excited to talk to their aunts and Victoria.
"We are outnumbered. Let's let the ladies visit. I want a drink." lumbered Nick off.
Nick and Heath told Jarrod what little Daisy had said. Jarrod let out a string of profanity.
"Why? Just why? She is an amazing woman any man would give his eye-teeth for and five beautiful, healthy daughters and he is so blasted stuck on having a son that he punishes them. His father is as bad with his new wife. Breeding her like a mare. She has a couple of boys and a girl now. Why isn't it enough?"
Nick and Heath exchanged glances at Jarrod's deep anger.
They exchanged some more information about the day but Jarrod was distracted, to say the least.
He headed out the door, "Going to check on Liz"
A few minutes later, Nick was reminded she was probably nursing the baby.
Jarrod went to the cottage and the door was ajar. He came into the parlor and saw Liz in the bedroom feeding the baby from the corner of his eye. He watched for a moment.
She's the most beautiful woman I have ever met and feeding our child she looks like a Madonna in a Renaissance oil. He didn't even correct his pronoun in his head.
He went over and shut the door so Liz could hear him. "Liz?"
"Oh Jarrod, I am so glad to be here. I am feeding Violet and I will be out in a moment. She's almost asleep."
He sat on the interior wall for modesty's sake. The picture he had stored in his mind would last a lifetime, he believed.
She put Violet down in the crib Victoria had set up for her by her bed.
"Oh Jarrod, it's so good to see you." and she kissed him on the cheek. She sat down on the settee.
"How have you been? Adrienne and Isabella have loved living at the ranch. I am not sure if that is more about California or your brothers." she laughed.
"Both of them are pretty enthralled with their Beaufort ladies."
"Thank you again for the guardianship of them. It takes a lot of pressure off me to know they are safe in your care. The investments looked very good that you sent me. Thanks for still letting me know."
"Of course Liz, you are their family and you did a very courageous act in doing what you did. Any regrets? Your husband and father-in-law were very angry with me in their communications; not that I care one fig."
"No regrets. I would do it again no matter the cost."
"It cost you, didn't it?"
"Under the law, he has the right. You know that."
"Liz, have you thought about leaving him?"
"I can't. He can have the shipping company but he would keep the girls and you know I can't do that. The law is on his side."
Jarrod nodded and reached out for her hand. He noticed the bruises on her arms and he pulled her tiny hands into his large ones and squeezed—-.It was all the comfort he dared give.
She changed the subject and they talked companionably for quite a while. She told him all about the girls from their art to their violin lessons to their French lessons. He laughed at the anecdotes and antics of the children.
He told her he was considering taking the Secretary of State appointed by the Governor. The current public servant had developed a serious health problem and he was going to resign. The Governor brokered a deal to replace him with Jarrod for the last two years of the term; he got both parties to agree to it. He would only run for re-election if he enjoyed it and felt like he could make a difference. Water, industry, freight, shipping, and the railroads needed to work together for the common man and the future of the state.
He talked to her about agriculture and cattle at length. She listened and asked him very astute questions. He knew she was intelligent but she confirmed it again today.
They heard Violet start to stir. Jarrod pulled his hand back and they both realized at the same time that they had been holding hands for over half an hour. Neither of them knew quite what to make of that kind of intimacy.
The wedding went off without a hitch. Liz gave Isabella a set of their mother's heirloom pearls as a gift. Heath gave her a pair of Isabella horses to begin a breeding line.
As Liz walked down the aisle with her daughters around her with baskets of rose petals, Jarrod couldn't take his eyes off of them. Life is so unfair.
They shared several dances at the reception. Their nearness discomfited both of them. They would end the dance and go to other partners, always keeping an eye on the other.
She got a small gnat in her eye and it began to water. Jarrod offered his handkerchief which she accepted. He looked deep into her eyes unnerved her. They felt frozen in that personal moment.
He walked her to the guesthouse after the reception. It was late and the moonlight reflected in Victoria's rose bushes. He couldn't help himself and he went to kiss her on the cheek. Her head turned and he met her full on the lips. He wet her lips and kissed her without restraint. She melded into his body. He could feel her trembling in his arms.
He finally pushed away from her, "I had no right. "
She calmed herself and looked at him, "Yes we should not have, but -I want to say thank you. I have never been kissed like that and feel what I am feeling. I am glad to understand what the poets write about."
"I know my love and it is a shame. You deserve to be kissed like that every day."
He took her hand and kissed her wrist. She turned and walked back into the cottage.
Jarrod left for Sacramento a few days later. He needed to leave before he acted on his feelings for Liz. Anything he did would only serve to hurt her and the children. The best thing he could do for both of them was leave town. He would never break the seventh commandment.
Liz extended her stay at the ranch a few more weeks. The children were very happy. And Liz went to sleep every night with a man's handkerchief under her pillow that smelled of bay and scotch.
Liz left on the train with her children. She bought a newspaper to read on the train. She tipped the little newsboy well when she saw the front page,
Jarrod Barkley appointed to fill a two-year term for Secretary of State by bipartisan representatives