Chapter Seven
A/N The unincorporated towns HOLDEN and HAYNES mentioned in this chapter are-as far as I know of-fictional. If such towns did, or do, exist, I don't know it.
A/N Reminder… I labeled the category as Drama and ROMANCE. That is not changing.
Heath, Jarrod and Fred, who had left their horses at Holden's Livery Stable, stood in front of the town's general mercantile. They would have been at their destination sooner only they'd stopped anyone and everybody on the way their-asking if they'd seen the missing Stockton Rancher. Having no success, they'd continued traveling until they arrived at the small, unincorporated town. So far, the few men they'd been able to talk with had all said the same thing. As far as they knew, Nick had left on time, saying he was heading straight home.
"I'll go talk to Hans Miller." Fred looked at the two Barkley brothers. "He's the closest thing this 'town' has for a sheriff. I'll meet you back here." The lawman pulled out his pocket watch and looked at the hands on the face of the small time piece. "Let's say in an hour, if not before? It's not like this is that large of a town."
"Sounds good to me." Heath looked down the street. He could see a small brown building with the words ADAM'S TAVERN written in bold letters above the doorway. "I'll go see if anyone in there knows anything."
Jarrod nodded towards the store behind them. "I'll go in here." He said as he watched Heath and Fred walk away. However, he didn't go straight in. How could he when he found himself gazing towards the nearby snow covered mountains? That was another thing that had delayed them. The unexpected rain storm the valley had received. Both the snow and rain were early and had caught everyone off guard. The fact that he couldn't seem to take his eyes off the mountains made him wonder if his hot tempered brother was actually 'up there' only that made no sense. If his goal was to go straight home, why go up into any hills or mountains? Finally, he turned around and entered the store.
Once inside, Jarrod looked around. The west wall was full of non-perishable food items, along with some kitchen supplies. The east wall reminded him of all the small 'boxes' a post office would hold-only these were slightly larger and full of miscellaneous items. There was also a table near the west wall, full of material for the women who wished to sew new clothes for their families. The counter was at the front, and a slightly balding gentleman in his late forties stood behind the cashier drawer. Jarrod knew him instantly.
"Roy Johnson!" Jarrod smiled as he moved quickly to the counter. "I didn't think you and Liza would ever leave San Francisco! What on earth brought you here?"
Roy's smile-which had been as wide as the ocean when he saw who had entered the store-shrunk slightly. "I'm sorry, Jarrod. I should have written to you only I couldn't do it. Every time I did," He held up his hands, "these things forgot how to work. The thing is, my Liza passed away last year. I needed a change of scenery, and my daughter invited me to work here with her and her husband until I was ready to face the city without her mother."
Jarrod felt horrible for his acquaintance, and also felt a bit of fear grip his heart. He hoped and prayed that-permanently losing a family member- would not be in the cards for his family any time soon. "My condolences." He said before taking a deep breath and asking if Roy had talked to Nick before the rancher had left town-and could he back up the fact what Jarrod had been told so far. Jarrod then told him exactly what the others, so far, had said. When a frown appeared on Mr. Johnson's face, concerned filled the man's eyes, and there was no answer for a minute, Jarrod found himself holding his breath-half afraid he'd hear bad news.
Roy, who could easily tell what the most famous attorney he knew was thinking, shrugged his shoulders. "It's true Nick had no other plans before he left here only, no, he didn't get away as soon as he'd intended too. I needed some help, and he insisted on giving it. He was a good two hours behind schedule when he left here."
Again, Jarrod saw a frown and the concern. It took him only a minute before he knew where the concern was stemming from. "The first storm that hit us wasn't all that long after he left, was it?"
"No," Roy shook his head. "I think he had time to get a good ways from here, but-" he turned up the palms of his hands and, not knowing about the wrong turn Nick had made, said, "I'm not sure where he'd have taken shelter." His eyes held the question, "Are you now thinking the same as me?"
Jarrod didn't like it. Even if Nick had been caught out in the storm, he still should have made it home before anyone went looking for him…or at least crossed their paths. That being the case, he had no problem following the storekeeper's train of thought. He took a deep breath and shook his head. "He told us he was using the same route as us. That first storm changed those plans."
Roy, who sincerely hoped that was the only problem, agreed. "It might have."
Jarrod pointed to some wrapped jerky and then handed Roy some money. "Thanks, thanks for everything." He then bid the gentleman goodbye with the intention of going to find Heath only, by the time he'd shut the store door behind him, Heath and Fred were both heading his way. The looks on their faces told Jarrod that, most likely, they had learned the same thing.
"What did they tell you?" Heath gestured towards the store.
Jarrod repeated everything. He wasn't surprised by the frustrated sighs that he received as a reply. "We might as well head home. If he has indeed taken another route, he should be home before we are-or shortly afterwards. Even as he spoke the words, he again felt a pull towards the mountains and, without half thinking, he allowed his eyes to drift towards the giants and their white blanket.
Heath and Fred quickly followed his gaze-thinking that; perhaps, the storms had chased Nick back to Holden. They were shocked to realize where Jarrod's eyes were actually focused.
"You don't think he's up there! Do you?" Heath and Fred both asked at the same time, confused as to what had turned Jarrod's mind in that direction.
"I don't know. I…I hope not." Jarrod looked at Fred. "Would it hurt to pass through Haynes on the way back to Stockton?"
Heath and Fred looked at each other. Haynes was the nearest town to the base of the mountains, and would add ten miles to their journey. Still… "Fine, but I'm wiring mother and Audra. Don't know what I'll say, only I'm sending them word of our delay." Heath looked back at Jarrod, who wasn't about to fight his blonde haired brother. Why should he when he had thought about doing the very same thing.
