My account is still acting weird. I am getting emails of your wonderful reviews but they are not showing up on the story nor showing anyone is reading. I emailed FF help. Thanks again for reading!
Chapter Twenty
Jarrod and Elspeth made it inside and said goodbye to the rest of the guests. Audra and Elionoir were gathering up all the flowers to save and hopefully dry for mementos. Eugene and McColl helped all the visitors get their carriages out of the pasture where they were parked.
Heath and Nick helped the hands put up the tables.
"Heath, where did you disappear to? Could have used your help with the meat? Oh wait, I saw you kicking up some dust with that pretty Aigner girl." Nick grinned.
Heath frowned, "Her father pretty much ended any of that. Took her off in the rain for just sitting with me on the bench. Wasn't touching her or nothing. Said I should have asked permission. Hell Nick, I wasn't asking for her hand, just wanting to talk. Foreigners confound me, sometimes."
"Sorry, Heath. I get confused with American rules enough. Can't imagine learning other countries too."
He quietly finished helping his brother, as he thought. "I wonder if I should head over there and make things right in a couple of days. She is mighty pretty and—-those sparkling eyes. Boy howdy, she may be worth putting up with that pompous daddy of hers."
—&—
Jarrod and Elspeth made their way upstairs to his room. They would leave in the morning for the lodge for a week long honeymoon and then return back to Berkeley to finish the park. All the ranch hands had pitched in and all the plants they gathered two weeks before had thrived.
Nick himself was caught pulling off some brown fronds of a fern and adding some water. Jarrod had teased goodnaturedly about becoming a farmer instead of a rancher.
"I figure Jarrod i'ffn you are going keep meat on Elspeth's table; I best help ya keep these things alive."
"Thanks, Nick for looking out for me."
"Somebody's gotta do it."
Eugene and Victoria came inside from seeing the last of the guests off.
"Thank you, Gene, for all of your help. Even with the rain, it was perfect."
"The next one, hopefully will be mine. Elionoir knows my intentions, and I got the Captain's blessing last night. Elspeth already gave me her approval."
Her eyes grew wide, and she smiled, "My oldest and youngest are happy. That makes my heart full, Eugene. Are there any more of the Buchanan sisters hidden away? Your other brothers need to quit seeing only their cattle. I will be well pleased with some red-headed grandchildren or any—-grandchildren."
They embraced for quite a while, and he kissed the top of her gray hair, "I am smarting that Jarrod beat me to the altar, but I hope to ask Elionoir soon—-when I know where I will be. There's so much uncertainty in my studies, and I want to do right by her. But the Captain told me that she'd be happy in a one-room flat or a mansion."
"Gene, your father and I had a happy marriage. There were hard times and many more good times—-, but I believe some of the very best days were in the small cabin. Chickens and all of it."
"Mother, if you could see where they live now—-it's one room, but they have made it a home. I think that she will make wherever we are together—-perfect."
"I believe with all my heart that she and Elspeth will be wonderful homemakers for my sons."
—&—
Jarrod opened the door to his bedroom. He stopped Elspeth from going in. "Oh No, Mrs. Barkely, we shall do this the right way."
He picked her up and carried her over the threshold. He placed her on the bed, kissed her soundly, and went back to lock the door.
She quivered in spite of herself. She looked over and saw the banked fire, chilled champagne, and a tray of fruit, cheese, bread, and meat.
"Sweet Silas. He thought of everything."
Jarrod walked back across the room, taking his jacket off and pouring some champagne for them. He took it to Elspeth.
"Oh, Jarrod, this will be my third glass of champagne. I am not used to such. I would hate to lose my head."
"I won't mind that at all, my love. I will be here to catch you for the rest of your life. I promise."
"And I promise you, Jarrod, to let you."
"I love you Mrs. Barkley"
"And I love you Mr. Barkley"
—-&—
The dawn was peeking through the blinds. Jarrod rolled over and pulled his new wife closer. His hands roamed thoroughly her long auburn curls. She began to stir, and a smile crossed her face.
"Oh Jarrod, Good morning, husband."
"Good morning, wife. Come here a little closer. You are too far away."
She laughed, "How can we be any closer?"
"I will be glad to show you."
She leaned into him, and loved her again. Afterward, he was playing with her curls and the ribbon of the locket around her neck.
"Your mother?"
"Yes. I had the Captain bring it for the wedding. Her dress and her locket. I don't have many things of hers after we lost the house."
"May I?" asking to open it.
"Yes. It's hard to open. There was a small campfire once, and it melted a little. You have to pry. I haven't opened it since, but I wanted a part of her with me on my wedding day."
"Let me. If the hinge breaks, I will have Abraham fix it. You should see your mother on your special day."
He took the ribbon from her neck and nibbled her neck as he pulled it off. He pried for a moment, and it popped open. The clasp broke.
"I am sorry, my love. It can be fixed. Is this your mother? You look just like her. "then he hesitated for a brief moment.
He looked to the other side, a faded picture of Edgar. The picture fell out in his hand, and he looked at the inscription.
Eubha, the love of my life, Edgar
He handed the picture and the locket to Elspeth.
She looked at it long and hard. Tears welled up and rolled from her eyes. Jarrod wiped them away.
He took the picture and the locket from her hand. He closed them and pulled her onto his chest. They lay there for a long time.
"Jarrod, where is he buried?"
He took a deep intake of breath, "An unmarked pauper's grave outside the prison."
Her tears began to fall again.
"He wanted it that way, Elspeth. An unmarked grave for a wasted twelve years, as he put it. But God knew his name, and that's what he wanted. Said he wouldn't have shaken the demons off without prison. He sent me to find you, Elionoir, and his father—wanted your forgiveness. He said he would tell you himself on the other side. He was anxious to be with your mother again. I believe he knew he was dying even before he took the knife for me. I am only alive because of his sacrifice."
"The Captain said the same. That he sent you to me. Like he knew I needed you." with racked sobs.
He held her tightly and let the tears fall from the last ten years. They lay there for an hour in silence.
"Jarrod, he really loved us?"
"With all his heart. You were his little girls and his life. The opium took all of him away except his heart. You and your sister always had that. He just couldn't show you."
"But he gave himself to that woman—what belonged to my mother? And lost all of my grandfather and his money—our money, our future."
"It wasn't him, Elspeth. It was another man. A part of him that couldn't shake the notion."
"But Jarrod, how could he do—what you and I have done married? With a stranger for opium. I saw them once when I went to his office on an errand. The door wasn't locked. They were unclothed—- I will never forget that woman."
"Oh dear God, Elspeth, I am so sorry. Edgar would have been mortified for you to know his shame." and he pulled himself up, "Elspeth—what your father did was wrong. He knew it too. What you and I have shared is pure and right and holy. Lord willing, we will have children and make a home. We said our vows to God last week and in front of our family yesterday. We are as it should be."
"I love you, and in a way, I need to at least thank my father for sending you."
"I thank him every day, Elspeth." and he kissed her deeply.
" Now let's get up and around. We have a honeymoon at the lodge to head to. Silas and Bill will have the wagon ready—-go get a bath and dry your pretty eyes. You will have to bathe in the lake this week—-with me," he winked,
"And I don't want Nick to think our wedding night made you cry." He chuckled.
She smiled through her swollen eyes, "I love you, husband. And a lake? That sounds interesting—-almost as interesting as the waterfall."
"I am counting on it."
—-&—-
Elspeth took a long hot bath and put some violet witch hazel on cucumber slices to reduce the swelling on her eyes.
"I must be the ugliest crier in the whole world." then she laughed aloud as she remembered Jarrod joking about Nick and their wedding night. If he only knew.
"Silas may have put them on the tray for nourishment or garnish—-I have another purpose."
She washed her long curls in rosemary wash and began to brush them out. She sat on the leather stool in Jarrod's water closet and looked around as she brushed, clad only in a towel.
"His bay, his razor, his mug—-his brush and mint—-his comb" as she touched each one intimately. "Hmmm ROWLANDS KALYDOR" and her memory went back to her father's washstand. The same green and white bottle. She took a deep intake of breath and pinched herself to stop the tears again.
Jarrod dressed behind the screen and washed up in the guest bath to give Elspeth privacy after their emotional morning.
"It went better than I feared," as he laced his shoes, "With her fiery side, I expected more rage. But those tears—-broke my heart. And to think she saw her father in an opium haze compromised—-oh Edgar, you would have slashed your wrists if you knew that. One of the last vestiges of pride you had left was that Consuelo had only been around your girls a few times."
He put on his work jacket and put his hand in his pocket. He immediately smiled, "Oh, there it is. I assumed I lost it."
Jarrod pulled out a clover ring she had made for him as they handfasted at the waterfall. He hadn't wanted her to feel a moment of guilt or shame for giving herself to him the night before. He thought back to last week with a smile and the promise of a week of passion to come—-and a lifetime with Elspeth.
They shyly dressed as dawn broke, ate breakfast, and rode on Jingo down to the hills. They knew each other intimately but the light of the day brought back some restraint. She rode behind him and he enjoyed her head resting on his back.
She hesitated to get on Jingo. "My love, trust me as you did last night. We will go as slow as you want. Riding will become second nature to you again, just as love."
He pointed out the sights of camping out here with his father and Nick: she would sigh or giggle with his stories. Occasionally she would point out fauna and plants to come back for.
"I thought I took your mind off work last night."
"Yes, you did Mr. Barkely, but today is a new day."
"Then I shall do my best to remember where the plants are—-and take your mind off of it again."
They got to the waterfall after lunch. The temperature decreased the higher they climbed the mountain, but they had still broken a sweat. Jarrod turned the corner, and Elspeth gasped. The lushest waterfall rolled in a thin line into a pool below them, accessible by an old Indian trail. Broken pottery and shards littered the cliff indentions. Indian markings were on the walls. Elspeth was entranced by the ancient art of the overhang.
They tethered Jingo and carefully walked down to the narrow pool. Unseen from the trail was a rock path behind the waterfall.
"Can we?" she said as delighted as a child.
"Your wish is my command."
He held her hand down the path, and they ducked under the waterfall. They started laughing, wiping the water from their faces. Jarrod wiped the water from her face with his thumb and tipped her chin. He kissed her gently, then went down on one knee.
"Elspeth Buchanan, will you be my wife?"
"Yes," she whispered.
He stood up and embraced her, "I was unprepared for our new life. My friend Abraham Issaccson makes rings. You shall have one soon—-worthy of your gift to me—-love, passion, peace."
"And that you have given me generously."
"Elspeth, do you know of an old Scottish custom, handfasting? I learned of it in law school and defended a couple about five years ago in Oakland. I don't have a Barkley tartan, but I would love for us to take your traditional Scottish vows, especially since we got the proverbial cart before the horse last night."
"Every little Scottish girl knows the words. 'Many a "pretend" wedding was held in Scottish homes. My parents and grandparents included it in their ceremony at the Kirk."
She looked over at a patch of clover and motioned him toward them. She sat down and made a clover chain.
"Just like Elionoir and I did as children."
She made a long chain. The links at the end broke off, and she tied them around his ring finger.
"Upon this day, our hands we bind,
A symbol of our hearts entwined.
To witness this, we ask of thee,
Our union forever blessed be."
He repeated them after her.
He wrapped their hands together in the clover cord. Jarrod brought their corded hand to his lips and kissed them. He then kissed her, "I love thee; let me show you again."
They lay down in the clover and consummated their love again. He held her until the clouds rolled in and the temperature dropped again. He helped her up, and they quickly fixed their clothing. They walked down the path quickly and made it to Jingo. She took the clover chain from her pocket and kissed it. She placed it demurely in her bodice as he watched in earnest. He let out a low groan at her gesture.
"Mr. Jarrod?" Silas broke his reverie.
"Yes, Silas?"
"Let me know when the missus is ready. I have ice ready to send and the foodstuffs."
He walked back to his room, and Elspeth was putting her last touches on. Her worn, patched tapestry bag was on the bed next to his fine crocodile leather valise. The difference startled him.
She smiled, "I am almost ready, husband. Let me get my rings. Jarrod, they are so beautiful. Your friend did such an amazing job."
He looked over to the canning jar with a lid; it contained the clover chain on his nightstand. She had brought it from the guest room when she moved her things over. He couldn't help but smile as he added his ring to the jar. She smiled as he then took her wedding rings from the china dish and placed them on her hand.
"Emeralds for true love, the gold from the Barkley minds, and the amethyst for serenity. Abraham brought all my ideas together with a floral band. You are my gold, my love, my peace."
"Oh, Jarrod," and she kissed him.
He pulled back and took her hand, "Let's remember where we left off. Silas is waiting."