Chapter Sixteen Three Days Later
She watched Jarrod quietly get up from their shared bedroll and add some more kindling to the fire. It popped and flared up—crackling and popping.
Aunt Euphemia was right. I still can't believe that happened.
He turned and looked at her in the darkness. It was as if he knew she was awake and what she was thinking. He looked at her with desire—-she reached her hand toward him, and the fire raged again.
Yesterday
Jarrod and Eugene packed the wagon. They took two extra horses and tethered the horses to the back. The ladies wore riding skirts and layered their clothing for the different terrains they would take at the 30,0000 acres of the Barkley holdings. Eugene and Elionoir took several opportunities to ride ahead as Jarrod and Elspeth drove the wagon. Ethan's tools were packed along with his journals, covered in oilcloth.
Several hours into the first day, they stopped in a patch of cedars. Elionoir spied a thatch of ridge ferns. They carefully dug them up and dipped them in the stream—-tying them securely in burlap. Elionoir walked to the stream again with the tin bucket. She slipped on the moss-colored stones and fell into a hole of soft mud. They rushed to help her and pulled her out. The heel of her boot was broken. Eugene carefully unlaced it and pulled her foot out. The ankle immediately swelled without the confines of the shoe. It looked ghastly. "I am not sure if it is broken or not—-"
They bound her ankle, and Jarrod gave her a bit of scotch. She couldn't walk on it at all.
"You go on ahead. The plants are important. We are on a tight calendar."
Eugene helped her onto the horse. He jumped up behind her, "I will get her back to the house and to Dr. Merar.
They tied up the second horse and headed further into the backcountry of the ranch. They rode most of the day in companionable conversation. He told her about growing up on the ranch, law school, and even Beth. She told him about her happy childhood, memories of her mother, Scotland, Oxford, and her grandfather. The summer with Charles Dodgson, Lewis Carroll. Learning to draft and graft, "my rhyming hobbies." She told him she collected butterflies; he told her of his and his father's interest in gemstones. She shared medicinal properties of herbs; he spoke of writing bad poetry and his love of literature. He even spoke of his time behind bars; he rarely spoke of Edgar but in passing as not to spook her. She listened with interest. They shared smiles and laughter all day. They found themselves holding hands and, several times, embracing. She felt safe in Jarrod's strong arms. Aunt Euphemia's words kept crossing her mind. Was she right?
They found two more varieties of flora along the way to where they would camp for the night. Elspeth watered the plants and went to freshen up for the night. Tomorrow's ride would be longer and warmer up to the ridge. Jarrod prepared Silas's stew in the cast iron pot and poured them a cup of coffee around the fire he made.
He started picking out the evening constellations. She smiled at him, "My grandfather's telescope is in the cabin. He loved to teach us the stars."
He reached over and gently took her hand. He tugged on the soft kidskin glove and pulled it off. "I like holding your hand."
She smiled back, "It's pretty rough."
"I like your hands just the way they are." and he kissed her fingertips. She sighed.
"Elspeth, you are an extraordinary woman."
"Thank you, Jarrod. It feels so good to trust someone again. I admit I kept you at arm's length and questioned your motives."
He chuckled, "I hadn't noticed."
"I am excited about our partnership. With Elionoir settled with Eugene, I am thankful you are here to help. What did you call yourself, my business manager?"
"I have been called worse."
"Not by me—not ever that I could imagine."
He moved closer to her.
"Els? I would like to see us 'settled' to use your words."
She looked at him with confusion in her eyes, "Jarrod? I don't belong in your world. You are a Barkley."
Anger flashed in his eyes, and he held her hand a bit too tight, then he relaxed, "My lady, I have been to prison, to hell, Yes to the finest houses in San Francisco, to law school—buried my father and my wife from an undeserved bullet—killed men in self-defense and to protect those in need—I have sinned untold times in God's eyes. I held your father as his lifeblood seeped out—- dying in my place. What world don't you fit in? It's about me, not my name. My world. If anything, I don't deserve you."
Her large green eyes tried to take in all he was saying.
And he calmed himself, "And so if I accept the name of Buchanan, can't you accept the name of Barkley?"
She looked into his sapphire eyes. Hers filled with tears. She couldn't answer but nod yes to him.
"You will be mine? Forever? I think I have wanted to marry you since the first day at the park. Will you?"
"Yes, Jarrod"
He pulled her into a kiss. It began gently and escalated quickly to passion. She pulled him back onto the bedroll. He found himself getting lost in the moment and compromising her fully clothed. He had been too long without a woman; he pulled away so as not to carry this further than he should.
"I am sorry, Elspeth. I wanted you so badly. I apologize for my presumption."
"Jarrod, you didn't take advantage of me. I promise I wanted what happened. My Aunt Euphemia told me I would know when my Solomon touched me."
"You'll know Elspeth, you will know his touch." as she heard the words in her head.
He looked confused but remembered the scriptures.
He kissed her on the forehead and drew her into his chest, sighing. "My lady, I don't want to take advantage of your innocence."
She looked at him with her honest eyes, "I am not an innocent, my Jarrod. I have never experienced the passion that I felt the last few moments that I did with you—- so in that, I am vestal. But I have been tumbled, poked and prodded against my will. In that part, I am well-versed. And yet prepared to give myself completely to you; I trust you to teach me what I do not know."
He looked at her and kissed her. She initiated a deeper kiss.
"Are you sure?"
"Never more sure."
"Elspeth, I will marry you. I can't compromise you; I owe your father too much."
She sighed and initiated a passionate kiss.
—&—
The sunrise caused both of them to stir. Jarrod was holding a handful of her auburn curls, and her hands were on his bare chest. He grumbled about moving from "my honey spot, my sweet one."
"I could stay this way all day, my queen bee. Your worker bee is content and sated."
She laughed, "Never thought a hive was a term of endearment until you, Mr. Barkley, I shall never look at my wooden honey dipper and my grandmother's silver honey skep, the same way."
"Els, let's stay here today. I haven't been this relaxed, another day one way or another — There is a waterfall several miles away and a place to catch some trout. I would like to spend the day with you, my intended."
She agreed, and he covered her mouth again.
By the time they finished three days later—-with a full cart of plants—and headed back to the ranch, she found out how he liked his eggs, and he found she didn't like to clean fish.
They had said their vows at the waterfall and consummated their union.
—-&—-
Nick met them about ten miles from the mansion.
"Mother was getting a bit worried, so I told her I would ride this way. The way Elionoir says her sister can shoot, I figured my brother would be safe enough."
Jarrod laughed as he rode beside the wagon. Elspeth drove the wagon slowly and aptly.
"Well, we killed a coyote and a rattler—and ate quite a few fish." she smiled.
"How's Elionoir?"
"Mighty bad sprain. Doc says he can't rule out a break, but he thinks it's just sprained. It looks nasty and swole up. Walking with the old cane of yours, Jarrod. Gene is following her around all moon-eyed."
He rode up beside Jarrod, "You look pretty rested for an old guy out digging up plants. Miss Elspeth, did you go easy on my brother?"
She blushed and Jarrod laughed raucously, "Nick, she barely gave me a moment's rest."
Elspeth cut her eyes at him and his sapphires twinkled back at him. Nick didn't notice the shared look.
"Well, folks, this is a working ranch. Going to head to the north forty i'ffn I am this far. See ya at the house."
And he pulled Coco to the side and headed onto another trail.
"Jarrod Barkley, you are downright ornery."
"Yes, I am. And you did keep me up late. Not that I am minding—and I don't think you did either."
She reddened, "You are incorrigible."
"Yes ma'am, I am." He winked.
"Els, are you really fine with a wedding in Mother's parlor? We can do a big church wedding in town, Berkeley, or wherever you want. All I want is to marry you—-and have my mother in the front row. She wasn't very happy to miss my first one. And I just want to make an honest woman out of you. I remember the "marry or burn" part of scripture."
"No, Jarrod. Your home is perfect. I just want the Captain to give me away. "
"After we finish the university gardens, we can go wherever you want. Paris, Versailles, Florence, Snowdonia, Shropshire, Capri—"
"I can't even imagine those places. How will your family take the news?"
"They will be happy. They love you already, and they don't want me to die a crotchety old bachelor."
"Or me an old maid," she giggled.
—&—
They arrived before supper. Elionoir was, as Nick said, up and around with a very attentive Eugene. She went outside to help catalog the plants while the men brought additional water for the burlap bags. They opened several bags that needed sunlight and left the deep roots closed.
"Let's get upstairs and ready for supper," as Eugene finished the last of the water.
Jarrod made eye contact with Elspeth, "Hey Gene, will you stay around for a second?"
—&—-
Elspeth helped Elionoir upstairs so they could freshen up.
"Elionoir, I need to talk to you."
She frowned, "Are you ill? Something wrong?"
"No, something very right," and she sat on the bed next to her.
"I have accepted a proposal from Jarrod."
"A project? A Job?"
"Not a job—-marriage."
"Elspeth! Are you sure? When? Do you love him? Oh, I am so excited—if you are?"
"Yes, I do love him. We began as friends, which for both of us was most important. I trust him. He's a good man. He knows all my secrets and holds them in his hands well."
"Oh, sister. What a surprise. I am so happy for you."
"I wanted to tell you first. We will tell his family tonight, and Jarrod will send a telegram to the captain. We shall be married soon."
"This year? I don't understand."
"Next few weeks."
"Oh?"
"Elionoir, Jarrod, and I both have had our share of disaffiliations—-quiet ceremony in the parlor is perfect. We can work together, travel, and make a home. Jarrod doesn't have his law license back nor a full pardon. I promise you this is all I have ever wanted. A man who loves me and doesn't give a fig about society. A good man."
"Then that's all I need. For you to be happy, sister. Audra is going to be over the moon. She worries about Jarrod. He is so different since his wife died."
"Elionoir—-as he should be. One cannot face the ugliness without being tainted by it. Then we make the best of the wound and sometimes someone comes and helps us carry it. Jarrod did that for me. Hopefully, I can help him too."
"One more question—-does he know what Charles did? And that New York man?"
"Yes, and he already tended to that."
Elionoir's eyes grew big.
"Surely she doesn't mean that. Not that." And she put the thought out of her mind.
—-&—-
"Jarrod? Everything ok?"
"Yes. Couldn't be better. I have asked Elspeth to marry me."
"What? Boy Howdy as Heath would say, you move fast."
Jarrod smiled, "You can rest assured, I put much more thought into this choice. Working side by these months and getting to know her—-"
"Congratulations! Want a double wedding?"
"Not unless you are planning the next week or so?"
"Whoa—not that I wouldn't like to. It's getting hard to see her to her room each night but not quite able to make a plan without a job or fellowship."
"I understand. Just giving you a jest. But I will marry her soon in the parlor. So we can travel and work together and finish the park. I want to take her on an extended honeymoon next year to the continent."
"I am so surprised and pleased. She's a fine woman, and you both deserve all the best!" as he bearhugged his older brother.
—&—
The rest of the family was ecstatic to hear the news after dinner. Victoria cried tears of joy as Audra began planning away.
Heath said, "Boy Howdy, you pick 'em fast."
Jarrod and Gene laughed.
Nick belted down a whiskey and poured a drink for everyone in the room.
"To my big brother, the fastest tying knotter in the west."
"Here here, " and they toasted the couple. Jarrod kissed her in front of his family.
"I don't think I have ever seen him happier. She seems to be exactly what he needs—-to chase the past few years away." as Victoria watched her happy family around her.