Chapter Eight
Nate Springer and Tom Lightfoot were waiting in Jarrod's room. Victoria and Heath met them there. Jarrod had stopped by Amy's room but she had left to help with all of the children.
Hopefully, that meant she still wanted to be part of his family—-he would keep his word to her. He would honor his promise-he had compromised her and he would not desert her. I can't think of having Liz- He couldn't think past that right now. If he did, he would lose his mind today.
The lawyers took meticulous notes as Victoria and Heath testified what they knew and witnessed in the past and the fateful day when John died.
Jarrod was very silent. His mind was racing and he was writing all of his notes down too. Except, he was finding ways to keep Liz safe from the machinations of the Jackson woman.
"I feel quite confident we will have Nick cleared at the inquest. He's only there because of who he is. 'Arresting a Barkley' is big news!"
"Now you, Jarrod, what in the hell were you thinking?" Nate asked.
Jarrod laughed at least, "Well obviously I wasn't. I made this much bigger for Nick and all of us."
"Yes friend, you did. You have a very promising future and career and we have to get ahead of this."
"I am not worried about me."
"Well, you should be. Nick will be cleared easily. You not so much. Plus you have a very prominent fiancée who is a niece of a senator and a cousin to the Governor's wife. She will be fodder for the press and it will bring mud to all of their doors."
He chewed on the cigar, "Then what do you suggest?"
"You show the courtroom Friday a happy couple. We have Katarina there with all the Barkleys in full support. They need to be affectionate and show the world that John Jackson was a delusional wife-beater."
"I will ask Amy. It makes me angry for you to stage this but if I am honest, it's exactly what I would do for my client."
"Here is our next conundrum for us."
And Jarrod explained the visit from Amanda Jackson, "Call it an offer or a threat? But it has to be dealt with. Liz hasn't woken up enough to even know John is dead and Nick is in jail for three days."
As they talked about legal strategies for several more hours, Liz started to stir in her room. The nurse came for Victoria and Isabella first.
She was awake and the laudanum was worn off. She wanted to sit up. Victoria and Isabella came in and propped her up. "John had never hit me this hard before and where people could see it—-but I guess it's my fault since I defied him and came to the wedding."
The ladies grimaced. Isabella and Victoria just looked at each other.
She tried to smile with her busted lip and bruised cheek, "Well I think it's worth it even now to see Adri so happy. I guess he's gone now?"
"Oh my dear," said Victoria.
"What's happened? Did he hurt the children? Take them?" as she stifled a scream.
"No Liz, he is dead."
She was stunned, "How?"
"Nick came in as he was attacking you. You were unconscious. There was a terrible fight and John's gun went off."
"Nick? Do the children know?"
"Nick's fine but he was arrested and the children don't know. You have been in and out of consciousness for almost two days."
"Two days! I have to help Nick. This is all my fault."
"You already told the doctor that John attacked you."
Liz flinched and said, "Ohhhhh" and she grabbed her side. "The baby kicked and it hurt"
"Yes, you have broken or bruised ribs. The doctor hasn't been able to tell which yet because we have tried to keep you still."
"The baby ok?"
"Yes strong and healthy"
"Tell me why Nick is in jail if it was self-defense?"
And Victoria told her the whole of it.
She started to cry. "I have ruined it for everyone. I am so sorry."
Victoria sternly told her, "STOP! This lies solely at the feet of John Jackson. I am glad Nick did it and would have him do it again."
"Jarrod?"
"He's been up to talk to you but the drugs were weighing on you. He will be fined for a misdemeanor at worst. He's fine, stubborn as the men in my family are- and just worried about you as the rest of us are."
"What day is this? When is the inquest?"
"Wednesday and it will be held Friday"
"I am going."
"Let's wait and see what the attorneys say and most importantly the doctor"
" I can't let Nick be in trouble for helping me."
"He would not want you to jeopardize your health and the baby either"
"Can we tell the children later? I need to think but if you think someone will let it slip, we can do it now. I don't think it will bother them too much about John but they adore Nick. That is so sad that I had to say that but it's the truth."
"I agree but Nicholas loves those girls so much. So do Jarrod, Eugene, Carl, and Heath. They will always have strong men in their lives I promise."
"Thank you Mother—-I mean Mrs. Barkley"
"I take that as a compliment my dear. Isabella and Adrienne already call me that and I would be honored if you would too."
—&—
Jarrod had still not seen Amy for several hours. She hadn't checked out at least but was making herself scarce helping with all of the children. He was trying to make this right again with his head and his actions. His heart was a different matter.
"How many times in my life have I done the right thing when my heart was screaming another? I envy men whose choices are simpler."
He, Nate, and Victoria went after Liz slept a few more hours to present the details of the inquest, her testimony, and the unsavory offer of Amanda Jackson.
Amy entered after them a few minutes later to listen.
"Amy is that you? My eyes are so swollen. Come up here. Thank you for being here and helping. And all of the help with the children. I don't know what I would do without all of you. Jarrod, move over so Amy can hear all of this. I trust her completely too."
Jarrod cut his eyes at Amy and he moved over so she could sit down. She hesitated and then sat as far as she could without drawing attention to herself and Jarrod. Victoria noticed immediately her look of distress and his look of discomfort.
"Ok tell me again what Friday looks like and whatever bad news you still haven't told me. I can read your faces."
Nate explained the inquest and if the doctor cleared her to testify at court. "If the doctor doesn't, a court reporter will come here and take your sworn statement."
"I understand that. What else Jarrod?
He paused and patted her hand. "I think it is horrific as can be but you need to make a decision before Friday about the company. We have all talked, the attorneys and my brothers well, except Eugene who doesn't know what's happened. They are somewhere on the East Coast by now. I have Adrienne and Isabella's guardianships myself. They will defer to your wishes since you have paid the highest price for the company of all. I know the Admiral and Madame Marie would not have wanted you to live this way for so long."
Liz started to cry but stopped herself, "Just tell me Jarrod" and he told her of the offer.
She stoically listened and Amy took some deep breaths herself. "Solomon couldn't have solved this one easily. She is hurt any way she goes."
Liz pursed her lips so hard that blood began to trickle down them. Victoria took Nate's offered handkerchief and dabbed the wounds.
Everyone was broken at this point. The dilemma was heart-wrenching, to say the least.
Liz closed her eyes and asked them all to leave. "I need to pray about this and I will tell you in the morning, Thursday right?"
"Yes"
"Thank you for telling me. I hope to have the strength tomorrow to tell the children too"
They all filed out of the room not knowing what else to say. Jarrod took Amy's hand and she let him.
"We need to talk, Amy" he broke the silence in the kindest voice he could muster.
"Not tonight Jarrod. I need some sleep myself"
She let him kiss her on the cheek and he walked her to her hotel room door.
Jarrod went down to the children's rooms to check on them. "How's Mamere? I know she is sick."
"Well I just saw her and she is doing good. I expect she will be seeing you in the next couple of days."
Violet climbed into his lap with little Tori and Charlie of Audra's. Jarrod ended up sitting on the floor as all of the children wanted some Uncle Jarrod time. He helped the ladies get them all settled on beds, trundles, and pallets.
Victoria had asked the concierge for another servant girl to help the rest of the week. He sent up 16-year-old twin Irish girls. "We have lots of brothers and sisters at home. We know just what to do."
Eire and Fiona took charge of all the baths and nightclothes. Bettina and Lucinda were thankful for the help. They were exhausted and worried about Miss Liz. They weren't getting any younger.
Lily, the 11-year-old, walked to the door with Jarrod. "Pappy, can I ask you something?"
"Of course sweetheart."
They stepped into the hall. "Did Father hit Mamere again? I know he does it when he doesn't like what she says or does."
Jarrod spent the longest looking into those deep green eyes. "Yes, and she is going to be fine. The baby is kicking and moving with a strong heartbeat."
"Good. I am almost grown now and I like the truth. I love my Mamere and hate my Father. I pray every night about it "
"Oh, Lily" and he reached out to hold her tight and let her cry.
—&—
The note came to the hotel from Senator Marsheton's office for Amy to come home. "I do not want you in this scandal and I am very upset about Jarrod. The Governor is too. I want you home now."
Amy thought long and hard about her future. She would stay and support the Barkleys at the inquest but after that, she had no idea what she would do. She truly liked the family and believed Nick was completely innocent. Liz deserved justice.
She was a practical woman. She loved Jarrod, yes, and they were very happy together—in Sacramento. She loved city life but had no desire to live on a ranch. It was a lovely visit to his family's home but it wasn't for her. She had been mulling it over for weeks.
Discussions this week at the hotel were about the drought, water rights, and cattle prices; Audra and Victoria even joined in. Isabella kept talking about breeding a new line of Mexican horses from Spain; they even were of the same name as hers- This wasn't her world and did she love Jarrod enough to join it?
But they both knew it wasn't a head-over-heels love and discussed it. She probably was only engaged to him after their one night of drunken passion which they both regretted the next morning. She would think about it until Nick was free. She felt so sorry for Liz, too. "I think we could be good friends except for Jarrod"
Amy went down to breakfast alone on purpose. Helping with all the Jackson and Barkley children yesterday had overwhelmed her. She really didn't want more than one child. She was still frightened by childbirth and children depending on her for everything. She knew she would want a nanny. She liked children well enough off of the breast and independent in the water closet if she was being completely honest.
As she was being seated, she ran into Peter Phillips, an old beau before her husband. She smiled brightly at this unexpected encounter. He was a widower with two young boys of grammar school age. She asked him to join her at breakfast; he was delighted. He had always loved Amy since she was a debutante and honestly, his wife was his second choice. The moment she had met Bill Pierce, she left all her numerous suitors behind and pursued him doggedly. He had a good marriage but sometimes late at night, he wished it was Amy. He was a successful banker in San Francisco and owned a mansion on Russian Hill
He did ask during their breakfast about her fiancé.
"Jarrod is busy with his family right now. I am sure you read the papers."
He nodded.
"It was self-defense completely. Nick Barkley was only arrested because of the Barkley name and Jarrod because he challenged the inept judge."
Amy had a great breakfast and re-lived her young debutante ball days with Peter. She impulsively asked him for dinner, just like old friends.
"Peter, I sound presumptive but I would like to meet your boys. I am feeling trapped by all the reporters at the hotel. Jarrod is busy with his family and all this inquest. I would like some time away."
He grinned ear-to-ear, "I would love that. I will send a carriage at 5?"
"That's wonderful, Peter." and she clasped his hand. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. She smiled lovingly at him and squeezed his hand. They were whispering into each other's ears and laughing.
Victoria viewed the whole thing from the hostess's table ordering food to be sent up for the family.
She narrowed her eyes and backed into the shadows so Amy wouldn't see her as she walked the young man out. Amy was widely smiling at the man and they were holding hands.
Amy avoided Jarrod the rest of the day and left him a note that she was meeting an old friend for supper and not to wait up for her. She would meet him at the inquest.
The family's day stayed full, avoiding reporters, taking care of children, and working on legal strategy. Jarrod spent the afternoon with Amanda Jackson's attorneys negotiating a settlement for Liz. Amanda would testify, the deal would be held by the counsel and signed Friday afternoon after the inquest.
Then Jarrod and Katarina visited Nick at the jail, taking him his suit and preparing testimony.
"Katarina, Jarrod, I want to make sure we take Liz home to the ranch at least until she has the baby. She doesn't need to be alone in San Diego with all the children and a new baby."
"Of course Nicholas—-I think Mother is thinking the very same thing." smiled his wife.
"I love you Nick Barkley" and she kissed him quite passionately in front of Jarrod. He smiled and turned his head from the couple.