Chapter Seven 1883 San Francisco

Liz woke up to a doctor and Victoria Barkley tending her. Amy watched from the corner feeling helpless as Jarrod and Heath had gone immediately to the jail to secure Nick's release.

Isabella and Audra were helping Katarina with all of the ten children at the hotel left with Bettina and Lucinda. Audra's two little ones were there too and Carl had already left after the wedding due to ranch business. They already had rented another suite so Liz could have her privacy to heal.

"The baby?" she whispered through her swollen throat.

The doctor answered kindly, "I have felt the little one move myself and a nice strong heartbeat."

She closed her eyes and gave a weak smile.

Victoria calmly asked, "Liz, I hate to pry but it is very important. Can you tell the doctor who did this to you?"

She looked confused at her, "You know...my husband. I came...here to the wedding-after he told me not to. This is legal for him to hit me-you know that."

The doctor shook his head in disbelief and disgust. "Shhhh—-now dear, just rest. Your body needs some time. You have a concussion and lots of bruises. I think you have a broken rib too and you need to keep still for the baby. I am staying the night with you. I have a daughter just your age and I would want someone to stay with her too."

Victoria rubbed her brow until she fell back asleep.

The doctor whispered, "I have found older wounds too. Someone has broken her ribs before. I will testify to it"

He looked broken and sad. "I see too much of this and she is right-the law is on his side."

Victoria got word to her sons that Liz had awakened and confirmed John had attacked her. She sent word for Tom Lightfoot and Nate Springer to come.

Amy still stood in the corner nauseated at all she had heard and seen. I never knew this part of the world existed in women of society; I thought it only happened to poor women.

The judge looked over the conflicting statements from the hotel residents. He was pretty convinced by Liz's, Victoria Barkley's, and doctor's statements about her husband but with the newspaper headlines already covering the story, he decided not to issue bail until an inquest in three days. I plan on running for office soon and I can't show favoritism to rich folks. It will look bad in the papers.

Jarrod had stayed all night at the police station arguing with anyone he could for Nick's release or even bail. But this wasn't Stockton where Sheriff Madden could hear both sides of the story and release Nick.

The judge's ruling for no bail until an inquest in three days caused Jarrod's temper to finally be unleashed. He ended up in a cell with Nick for disturbing the peace and threatening an officer of the law. He cursed the judge quite loudly for not issuing bail.

Amy and Victoria came in at dawn and were able to post bond for Jarrod's misdemeanor charges. But the police blotter had already been read by the reporter's pool. The noon edition of the paper added the Secretary of State's arrest in the love triangle.

Amy was mortified and had never been through a scandal in her life. Heath guided them firmly through the throng of reporters to pick Jarrod up at the back entrance to the jail. "What in the world is my Uncle going to say? The Governor? Do I need to ask Victoria how she does this, thinking of Heath?

A disheveled Jarrod got into the closed carriage. He was in no mood for pleasantries, "Don't say a word, I know I botched this."

Heath handed him a cigar and his flask wordlessly. He knew his brother well to have both ready.

Jarrod fumed all the way back to the hotel. Everyone else silently looked out the window waiting for his anger to subside. Amy took her cues from Victoria and Heath. They did not seem flummoxed by his behavior.

Victoria mentioned to him when they arrived back at the hotel, "We haven't told her what happened with Nick and that John is dead. She is heavily dosed with laudanum." He nodded.

Jarrod wanted to see Liz for himself. Amy took him to her room and stood back while he sat down beside her. She awoke through her swollen eyes and a drugged haze.

"Jarrod?"

"Yes, I am right here. Just rest. I wanted to see you for myself. The baby is doing good, I hear."

She seemed confused, "Violet?"

"No sweetie. You are carrying a baby."

She patted her stomach gingerly and disorientedly from the medicine, "Oh yes, I wish it were your baby. I loved you."

Jarrod wasn't caught off guard by the words as they mirrored his own thoughts. UNTIL seconds later he looked up to see the stricken face... Amy. She left the room instantly.

He got up and followed her, "My love, it is the medicine. She is addled. She would never say that if she were herself."

"Are you sure, Jarrod? I am not naive." and she rebuffed his hand on her arm and went back to her hotel room to think.

Jarrod did not have much time to react as Heath came bounding down the hallway, "Mrs. Amanda Jackson is here demanding to see Liz-John's stepmother."

Victoria was sitting rigidly with a very beautiful woman dressed in the height of fashion in her late 30's.

She was having tea with his mother and he could read the strain on her face.

"Oh, I am glad you are here, Mr. Barkley. I have read about your success in bringing water and industry to our illustrious state. I assume what I have read in the papers today is not the true version of events. I know my son-in-law well. He was very much like his father but I was fortunate enough to give him two sons. Poor Liz, failed in their eyes."

Jarrod and Victoria were incensed at her words but they held their tongues.

"May I see her for a moment? I promise not to wake her."

Jarrod nodded and opened the door to Liz's room. Amanda looked at her and walked out.

"I assume that she did not lose the baby seeing her swollen stomach."

Victoria steeled her eyes, "Is that what you wanted to see? Get to the point."

"I must take care of my sons just as you are doing Mrs. Barkley. I understand your husband Thomas and Jarrod here are very progressive thinkers allowing women to inherit. My late husband was not."

His rage near the surface again, he said, "What do you want?"

"I want what belongs to my sons, the company. I am a fair woman. I will give Liz her properties, a cash settlement, and whatever she wants, to hold full ownership to the shipping company. I think she will agree. She told me once she wanted no part of it. It had only brought her misery."

Jarrod asked, "Why would she do that? Especially if this child is a blasted son."

She looked directly into his angry blue eyes with her own focused brown eyes. "I will sue for full custody of my step-grandchildren, especially if this is a boy. Last night's episode will further my case that she is unstable and unfit. I can even add moral failures now. Jurors read the papers. And they are the ones who try civil cases. I do not need unequivocal proof; just reasonable doubt. Her husband and even my husband discussed it many times. If she sells out before the child is born, the deal stands. If not, I will be filing a petition that will tie her up for years. Her choice. I will give it a few days and then my attorneys will drop by with the papers. If she signs it this week, I will even testify for her in the inquest. Will I see you and your family at dear-departed John's funeral? I guess not. Good Day."

Victoria looked at Jarrod as she left, "What a horrible woman and a horrible family? What will Liz do?"

"Exactly what she has to do to keep her children. What she had done since she was 13 years old—-deal with the cards she is dealt. And the law is a stacked deck against her."