Chapter Five

Previously:

Mary, whose face had paled as he told her the story, recovered from the shock of hearing his tale. "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. The only good thing is people back there are finally talking about replacing 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 on that horse was pushing the animal rather hard.

"Landsakes! There was no need to go and send someone for the doctor! I've simply sprained my ankle!" Victoria sat on the sofa with her left foot resting on the otterman the family had recently purchased. The Barkley matriarch was not happy to learn why Silas was not around.

"You not only fell down the stairs, Mother." Nick, who stood near the fireplace, didn't try to hide his own irritation at his mother snapping at them. "You weren't breathing for a few seconds. The doctor needs to check you over."

"I agree." Heath, who was standing next to his stepmother, agreed just as Jarrod opened the door and let Mary in. Naturally, Victoria and the others put aside the subject of her fall and injured ankle aside as they looked upon the unexpected visitor- along with the sling that Jarrod was carrying. How could they not look as they heard a soft cooing coming from the sling?

"Where have you been?" Nick asked. "And," he smiled at Mary, who he thought was easy on the eyes. "Who do we have here?" Though he, along with the others, looked at Jarrod as if to ask if he had something to confess.

"This is Mary Hill." Jarrod told them as he reached into the sling and lifted Bonnie up, and out of, the sling – ignoring the silent question. "This is Bonnie Liberty...no last name yet. Widow Hill agreed to nurse the child for now. Only, if we can't find her parents, I plan on filing adoption papers." He wasn't surprised by the shocked that leapt onto his brothers and mother's faces.

"Maybe you best start from the beginning." Victoria re-positioned herself intending to ask to hold the child- only to have Bonnie start to cry.

"Fine with me only I think Mary better take Bonnie upstairs first." Jarrod handed the infant to Mary who took her gladly.

"First room to your right after you climb the stairs and turn into the hallway." Victoria smiled as she pointed towards the stairs. "It's my daughter's old room and isn't being used at the moment."

"Thank you, Ma'am." Mary smiled back, only to have her smile grow even wider when Victoria told her to feel free to call her Victoria. The moment Mary and Bonnie disappeared around the corner, all eyes turned to Jarrod. He had walked over to the small table used to hold their alcohol beverages.

"I found the baby in the woods." Jarrod told mother and brothers after pouring himself a drink and turning around. He wasn't surprised by the looks of disbelief and shock that leapt onto his family's faces. He went onto to tell them everything-along with why he hadn't confided in the other sheriff. "I'm going into town and talk to Fred."

"Did you say Sydney Reed was the other sheriff's name?" Heath asked once Jarrod quit speaking. His question had Nick and their mother giving him quizzical looks while Jarrod was looking at him with great concern in his eyes.

"Yes, I did." Jarrod moved to the empty chair near the living room entrance. "Why? You know him?"

"Wish I could say no," Heath replied in disgust. "As far as I'm concerned, he has no business being in any form of law. Has a way of playing favorites and…" He paused and let out a disgusted breath, "is suspected of covering up crimes here and there. Only thing, no one can prove it. Bet if you look into it, he hasn't been sheriff in that town very long."

Jarrod sucked in his breath, as did the others. Though, his was more from the thought of what might have happened had he confided in the man. He shook his thoughts off, as Bonnie and the need to talk to Fred pushed themselves to the front of his mind. Jarrod glanced towards the stairs and then back at his family. "Like I said, I need to go into town. See if Fred has heard anything concerning a missing child only, as I said, if we can't locate her parents, I plan on adopting her."

"Orphanage might fight you on it," Heath spoke up. "Not that I agree with it only they don't like placing infants in homes without a mother."

"I'm here." Victoria spoke up before Jarrod could answer. "And, the way you've been talking to your brothers, it sounds like once Laura gets home from visiting her relatives-you might be getting yourself a wife. Even if you don't, I'll still be here."

Heath couldn't help but smile. Laura was a young woman who had moved to Stockton the previous year, in order to teach school. She and Heath had hit off an instant friendship that had only grown stronger with every passing day. In what seemed like no time at all, it was well known that no man should ask Laura out, nor should the young ladies continue to view the blonde-haired Barkley as a possible mate. "Mother's right. After everything is said and done, you'll have plenty of help raising Bonnie if you wind up with her as your daughter."

Jarrod smiled back at his blonde-haired brother, though he said nothing until he stood to leave the house. "Well, we best not put the cart before the horse. I'll go see Fred, and then come home. If I'm late, please, have Silas save some food for me." Because he was looking at Nick the family chuckled.

"I'm not going to eat enough to feed both of us!" Nick growled, even though his eyes were laughing as Jarrod turned and walked out of the house.