Chapter Six
Excerpt from Ch 5
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."
Fred, who had been back talking to one of the prisoners, stepped out of the back just as Jarrod was opening the front door to the sheriff's office. "Hello, Jarrod. Good to see you; though, by that serious look on your face, this isn't a social call." Fred sat down behind his desk and watched as Jarrod pulled a chair away from the side of the gray walls.
Once Jarrod was seated, he acknowledged Fred was right. "I was wondering if you're received anything that indicates someone is looking for a female infant." He went on to tell Fred the story from the beginning. "I would have said something to their sheriff only I had a funny feeling about him. When I got home and told the family the story, Heath knew exactly who I was talking about." Jarrod went on to tell Fred everything Heath had said.
Fred let out a disgusted 'harumph' of his own. "Heath's right." The Stockton sheriff picked a paper that was lying on the desk up and handed it to Jarrod. It was a letter from one of the Pinkerton detectives. "I know those among the law who had reason to have Mr. Reed investigated for too many reasons to list. Though, it might interest you to know-my contact wired me just this morning. I don't know the reasons only Mr. Reed is now suspected of being the force behind driving Mr. Arnold into those woods you talked about. The Pinkerton Agency are keeping an even closer eye on the man now. As that letter states, they have high hopes of being able to nail him soon."
Jarrod let out a whistle as he read all the Pinkerton Agency had written. "While it's nice to know I was right to keep quiet," Jarrod handed the letter back to Fred, "I still need to know if you've heard of anyone looking for a lost child."
Fred leaned back and shook his head. "Not a word; though, if you found her hidden in those woods, I dare say I won't. I hate to say this only it sounds as if someone didn't want her and was deplorable enough to abandon her with the intention of her dying from neglect."
Jarrod had contemplated that very scenario more times than he cared to admit. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that had attached itself to him early on-the feeling that there was more to Bonnie's tale than met the eye. He also felt as if there was something staring him in the face only, for the life of him, he couldn't figure out what. "Well, please, keep your ears open. If her parents are alive and looking for her, I'd like to find them."
"I can contact the orphanage…" Fred started to offer only to have Jarrod stop him and explain the backup plan.
"Mother is willing to help and, if Laura and Heath do marry, I'm sure she will be helping out as well." Jarrod couldn't help but chuckle. Heath's girlfriend adored children and treated them like gold. He was a hundred percent sure that if he adopted Bonnie, and Laura married Heath, his adopted daughter would have plenty of care from the Barkley women.
"I'll start asking questions only, if you're serious, I'd prepare those adoption papers." Fred smiled as Jarrod told him he'd already planned on doing so as he walked out the door.
While Jarrod was talking to Fred, Victoria was visiting with Mary in the Barkleys' dining room. Mary had just fed Bonnie and put the infant down for a long nap. At least, both women hoped it would be a long one. Afterwards, they sat down at the table to enjoy some food and lighthearted talk before Victoria changed the subject. "Don't get me wrong." Victoria, who had just discussed the fact Mary was Bonnie's nursemaid. "I have nothing against wet nursing, just surprised you were asked to do it when the Arnold family gave Jarrod a bottle."
Mary shrugged her shoulders and put her empty glass she had in her hand on the table. "All I can say is, the Arnolds asked me to make the trip with Jarrod in order to care for Bonnie. Upon your son's request, I am nursing her as well. I don't mind really. I have always enjoyed helping with young infants and have been happy through the years I could be of service."
"May I be so bold as to ask you to tell me more about yourself?" Victoria figured if there was any chance Bonnie was going to become a part of the Barkley family, she might as well get to know the woman hired to care for the child.
Mary hesitated only a moment and then again shrugged her shoulders. "I don't see why not." She looked around. "Though, don't you think we'd be more comfortable in the living room, or even the Billiard room?" She might not have suggested the move only they were both finished eating.
Victoria moved her plates to the side just as Silas same out of the kitchen. He started gathering up the empty plates and silverware. "We'll be in the Billiard room if anyone needs us, Silas." The Barkley matriarch stood up, as did Mary.
"Yes, Mrs. Barkley." Silas smiled as he carried the plates and silverware back into the kitchen.
Victoria and Mary left the dining room and were soon relaxing on the couch in the Billiard room with the French doors wide open. While the air was growing colder every night, some of the days were still rather refreshing. Both women were grateful for that.
"So?" Victoria looked at Mary, quickly noticing Mary was a bit uneasy. "I don't bite I promise."
Mary, who hadn't realized her uneasiness was showing so well, apologized. "I know you don't. Just… it's been awhile since I talked to anyone about myself. Feels sort of strange, though I don't mind, really." She took a deep breath and then started talking. "I was born in Michigan only my father moved our family to Lodi when I was almost ten. I had two brothers only Cyrus died from wounds he received during the Battle of Shiloh. My other brother, George, moved back to Michigan last year. My sister, Francis, married rather young and moved to Wyoming with her husband." Mary refrained from saying just how young her sister had been and how she-Mary-had wanted to slap her father on every side of his head for agreeing to the union. Guess it didn't matter, as her sister was still married, and her husband treated her like a queen. Besides, she, herself, had married at seventeen. It really didn't give her much room to talk. "My younger sister converted to Catholicism and became a nun five years ago." She went on to talk about her late husband, the two children she'd lost and just how she'd gotten into wetting nursing other women's children. "Sorry, didn't mean to be so long winded." Mary apologized once she was through.
Victoria chuckled and told her not to worry. "I said I wanted to know more about you." She would have continued talking only the sound of a baby crying came through the slightly open Billiard room door.
"I think I'm being summoned." Mary quickly stood up and left the room.
For Victoria's part, she found herself not only going over everything Mary had told her, but analyzing Mary's silent body language. Victoria had quickly picked up on that- Mary's body language that is. The more Victoria dwelt on it, the more concerned she became for one simple reason. While she would swear on a stack of Bibles that everything Mary had said was true, Victoria felt strongly that there was something Mary wasn't saying. She couldn't help but wonder what it was. Though, knowing it was not the time to corner Mary on the subject, Victoria simply left the Billiard room and went about her day as usual.