Chapter Nineteen 19/19 The Conclusion Vignette to Follow on the Morrow
Thanksgiving week at the Barkley's was extremely busy. It was Jarrod's last week home before the wedding, Stella and Billy married in the parlor, and the house was almost completed. Much of the furniture had been delivered and Jarrod had supervised each piece of where he wanted it in his mind's eye. Liz was very content watching Jarrod take charge of the last decisions as long as he stayed out of her garden or the kitchen.
She had picked out wallpapers and fabrics and bedding with Victoria, Audra, and Katarina. They were already up in the house before Jarrod came. The huge marble island was in place too. The ranch hand and freight company workers let a few profanities slip on the heavy piece she ordered for baking. The stove from Chicago was almost as heavy and frustrating for the men to move in. They tripled-charged her for freight and delivery.
She laughed too at her priorities, "I ordered the best copper cookware money could buy, easels for painting, and roses months ago. The stonemason built me an outdoor oven styled after the European ones I grew up with. I am waiting for the stone fountain, the signature piece of the garden to arrive after Christmas along with the piano. I haven't even thought about china, silverware, or crystal. I can get that on our honeymoon to San Francisco, I bet. I wonder if Audra would like to do that? She did so well on the house items she picked. Too bad Jarrod didn't think of that when he ordered his lead glass for the bar. Jarrod even ordered all of the chest of drawers, chifferobes, and armoires or they wouldn't have anywhere for their clothing. But they had both already ordered books for their custom shelves in the study that Jarrod designed. He told me to buy anything I wanted and I did—-he said he couldn't believe how little I spent. I told him the freight bills weren't in yet for the marble and fountain. He just laughed. I am so blessed to marry him but he hasn't realized we don't have plates and forks."
Stella and Billy had been a valuable addition to their family. She loved the children as her own and was constantly supervising Fiona and Eire who was only a few years younger. The twins were still helping with Katarina's and Isabella's children as well. Stella spent quite a bit of time under Silas and Rosa's tutelage in the big house kitchen learning the family recipes.
Billy kept working for Nick and Heath on the ranch. He was progressing well and they gave them the foreman's cottage that was empty. McColl was pleased for them to have it since his wife died. He had moved to the private bedroom off of the corral and near the bunkhouse. Too many memories.
On the last night before he returned to Sacramento, he took Liz to their bedroom to see it. Liz was awed. A huge four-poster bed in the French style, a vanity, a lady's desk, and a gentleman's desk with a large Persian rug of Katarina's in the middle of the room. Golds, blues, and rust melded into an ancient pattern. Rust-colored hobnailed lamps chosen by Audra were on each nightstand. It tied in well with the gold drapes that Victoria picked out.
A crocheted canopy picked by Isabella framed the bed. Jarrod drew her to the bed and patted for her to sit down. She smiled and joined him.
"I love you Liz and the next time we are on this bed will be our wedding night. I wanted to take you to the cabin my parents built as Nick and Heath did. But I don't trust the weather up there in December and since we leave for San Francisco the next day on the private rail—I want to have our first night in our bedroom. Mother and the family will keep the children so no one will be in our home except us."
She blushed.
"Liz, you are a maid to me. We will go as slow as you choose. I have the rest of my life to continue what I started tonight."
Liz widened her eyes and looked confused.
He took her hand and said, "Trust me. I want to give you something to look forward to on December 26th."
He had debated all week if this was the course of action that would conclude his gentling lessons before the wedding.
He decided it was what he wanted and of course, he would stop at any point if she was distressed. Christmas week would be stressful enough and then to add a wedding on top of them would be hard for Liz. He wanted her to taste what was in store tonight and long for him.
He leaned her back on the bed, took all of the pins out of her hair, and gently unbuttoned her bodice. He nibbled, kissed, and suckled along her neck and earlobes. So far so good as she made soft sounds of delight.
He deeply kissed her and allowed his hands freedom. She leaned into his touch and moved her arm to give him more room to roam.
He watched her closed eyes carefully for any sign of distress. He saw none but only passion.
He moved his hands lower and rested near her thigh. She didn't flinch. He began slowly. Her eyes flew open and she looked into his eyes. He questioned her eyes but her look was indiscernible. He waited a few minutes all the time making eye contact with her. She relaxed.
"I trust you."
And he continued and brought her to a place he was sure she had never been before. Her calling his name in unison with his ministrations was everything he dreamed it would be.
She nuzzled in and after a few minutes, "but what about you?".
"I have exactly what I wanted." and he allowed her to doze on in the crux of his arms.
—&—
They exchanged several intimate notes while he was in Sacramento; she had even placed one in his valise when he unpacked. He would keep them forever. They warmed his nights as he negotiated his last bill. His Republican replacement was in line after the November election in this lame-duck session. The two dams and a range bill along with the channel in San Francisco Bay and the canal for the San Joaquin river were likely to pass after the election season. He wined and dined the legislators on the fence. He was finally satisfied that he had secured enough votes with a comfortable margin.
He gifted his staff with significant bonuses and secured positions for them in new administrations. He sold his townhouse for a big profit and packed up a few belongings for the new house. He hoped he was leaving the Capital better for the common man.
The legislation passed and he hurriedly sent off a telegram to Nick before celebrating with the Governor.
"Jarrod, your name has been floated in the next election as attorney general. Are you interested?"
"I am flattered and thankful for all of your support but I shall decline. I am looking forward to a new life and a wife back home."
"You know, Amy got married at Thanksgiving?"
"Yes, I did. She sent me a note and I sent a congratulatory case of Barkley wine to the newlyweds. I am thankful for Amy and the influence she had in my life and Liz's. I wish her well and all the happiness in the world. She and Liz now correspond."
The Governor looked at Jarrod trying to discern this unreadable friend of his. He only saw sincerity.
—&—
Christmas was lively at the ranch with all of the children. Victoria was in heaven. Jarrod gifted all their children and nieces/nephews with an abundance of gifts.
Liz rolled her eyes, "Good thing we have that big empty house to fill up" laughing.
He leaned over conspiratorially and whispered, "Be kind my dear, or I will forget where I put the smallest gift of Christmas."
"You can't bribe me, Mr. Barkley"
He whispered something in her ear about Thanksgiving night. For a moment, he thought he went too far with the look on her face. He was getting ready to apologize when she spoke.
She blushed and took a deep breath. "I take back my unkind word, sir" and she quickly kissed him on the cheek.
He laughed loudly enough that the family all turned to look at the couple. They just shared a secret smile.
She opened a double rope of pearls with drop earrings. Then he brought out a velvet box for a small strand for each of their daughters. Liz just cried when he fixed the clasp for each little one around their neck. Laurel just played with the peppermint stick from Heath.
The wedding went off without a hitch the next day. All the daughters and nieces wore lavender dresses while all of the men wore black suits. Dressed in their pearls.
Nick walked her down the aisle and kissed her on the cheek. Victoria and Katarina recognized the mist in his eyes. He had been her best friend through the bad years and now he was her brother.
He proudly went to stand with his brothers.
A reception followed with Silas's best cake and plenty of champagne. They danced to music this time—-their first time ever without a child between them.
Jarrod and Liz signed all of the adoption papers with the girls after the signing of the marriage license. The girls excitedly signed to become Pappy's daughters and even Laurel managed to leave a sticky peppermint stain on the papers.
They went over to the house. The wine and champagne were chilling along with a charcuterie tray of food from Silas. The bed was turned down and rose petals were scattered around it. Stella and Billy had filled the room with the flowers from the wedding and more from the greenhouse. Billy lit the candelabras as they stole back to the reception.
And they walked up to their room for the first time as husband and wife. Jarrod soon found that gentling had worked and worked well.
To be continued