Chapter Four

Excerpt from Ch 3

"It's a pretty large spread…thirty thousand acres." Jarrod replied as Mary finished burping Bonnie and began taking care of the child's other needs. "Father started out with ten acres and it grew from there. It helped that Mother was working by his side a lot. She never has shied away from hard work."

Mary let out a low whistle. "I believe you. Accomplishments like that aren't done if you have no work ethics. Your family must be kept quite busy."

"My brothers Nick and Heath, along with our hired help, do a rather amazing job. Though, I help out on occasions-as does my mother. Though, most of her time is spent doing charitable work and other things." Jarrod's eyes took on the look of one that was looking at pictures of the past. "My other brother, Eugene. and my sister, Audra, used to only they are both married now and living elsewhere." He shook off the nostalgic feeling that had swept over him.

Jarrod and Mary, who had found it necessary to take shelter in an old abandoned shack, were relieved when the unexpected rainstorm that had driven them into the barely standing building stopped. They had feared they were going to find themselves with no choice but to spend the night in the uninviting place. It might not have been so worrisome if it was simply the two of them. Only, there was no way either one of them wanted an infant to be placed in such a position.

"It might storm again." Mary looked up at the sky as they traveled. While it was not as dark and ugly as before, it wasn't exactly clearing up either. She turned her head and looked at the sling over Jarrod's shoulder. While Bonnie could not be-as the famous Stockton attorney had wrapped her in such a way as to shelter her from any rain while still allowing the infant to breathe-it was obvious where the concern in Mary's voice was coming from.

"We've been on my family's ranch for quite some time." Jarrod lifted the reins in his hands and pointed forward. "We should be able to see the house within five minutes. I think we can close enough that-if it starts raining again- we won't get too drenched."

Mary was relieved to hear him say that and fell silent until Jarrod started asking her questions.

"You said you late husband served during the war between the states." Jarrod, who had been trying to remember where he'd heard the name Brian Hill from, had finally pulled up some old memories. Though, after 'all these years' he didn't want to assume anything. "Do you mind if I ask you where he served?"

'Go figure, the one thing I didn't elaborate on, and he has to ask about it.' Mary silently sighed and then let out a slow breath. "If you're asking which unit he was in, I don't know..he never told me." She wasn't surprised when Jarrod's eyebrows rose in amazement-as well a bit of doubt that he was being told the truth. "He very seldom wrote me and never mentioned any particular unit. It wasn't until he returned home that I found out he'd actually been doing the work of a spy for much of his time in the war. He apologized and told me he had to keep me in the dark. He said I was better off that way. I figured it was way of saying his superiors didn't want a chance of anything slipping. I resented that at first only, over time, I had to admit I could see the wisdom in having him remain silent even to me." She then commented how dangerous a position her husband must have been in.

"He was. I met him a few times in Washington-never was told anything but that he was married." He then surprised Mary by asking if she'd stay on as Bonnie's wet nurse for awhile. "I know the Arnold family was good enough to give me a bottle for Bonnie only she has really taken to you. I mean, Mrs. Arnold was able to get her to nurse, but it was a bit of a struggle. You, on the other hand, had no problem whatsoever. I'd like to see her get natural nutrients for a few months at least, maybe even a year."

Mary didn't answer at first. She was too stunned too. She may have nursed other people's babies before only she'd never been asked to actually stay with the family. Then again… "If your family is okay with it."

Jarrod stopped Jingo which, naturally, made it so Mary stopped. She could tell by the look on his face, something was wrong. "What is it, Mr. Barkley?"

"Jarrod." He wrapped an arm around Bonnie, who had wiggled some and then stopped. "The name is Jarrod." He looked around and spotted a few small boulders nearby. He knew it might not be the best timing- with the skies still looking rather ugly, only Mary had to be told the truth."We really need to talk before we reach to the house." He wouldn't have said that only he knew that; most likely, at least his mother would be home. He could just imagine the questions that would be flying once she saw he had a baby and a woman with him.

"We can continue talking while we're riding." Mary told him as she kept her eyes on the road. "Bonnie will be waking up soon. If you're house is a close as you say it is, I prefer to be sitting in a comfortable chair nursing the child rather than on the hard ground-or even worse-in the rain."

"Agreed." Jarrod easily caught up with Mary and began telling her the whole story. "I would've told the Arnolds only I couldn't shake the feeling I needed to be quiet-even with your sheriff. I figured I'd talk to Sheriff Madden. He's the law in Stockton."

Mary, whose face had paled as he told her where he'd found Bonnie, recovered from the shock of hearing his story. "First off, that 'sheriff' back there," Mary did not try to disguise the disgust in her voice as she moved her thumb and gestured behind her. "Is in no shape or form, my sheriff. He may be the town's sheriff only I will never claim him." She shook her head as she continued. "When it comes to the Arnolds, as much as I hate to say it, I think it's good you kept quiet. They're good enough people, as you found out by the generosity they showed you. It's just that Mr. Arnold was raised with some definite ideas-even if some of those notions make me sick. Not sure he'd have lifted a finger to help if he had known the truth of the matter."

The two might have continued talking only a rider had come into view, and the man was pushing the animal he was riding rather hard.