Chapter Four: Melly's Story Continued

Janie leaned over to Victoria as they were served their soup, "When Heath brought back Melly to the ranch, hadn't he been shot?"

"Yes. My sweet Melly was in quite a state. They were trapped in a mine for days; I had never heard her speak of it since that first week here. I was even surprised she spoke of Australia. She was locked in a hole in the ship for days when she was five. She still can't stand confined spaces. There was a warrant for her father's arrest. The Lord filed charges against her father for mule theft and lost wages. Sidney Glover made that disappear and hired them. Jarrod double-checked after they married."

—-&—-

Jarrod and Heath settled back as the younger men cooked the fish and laid out the fare from home. Rosita had packed several cakes for the men.

"What's this cake?" asked his grandson. Heath looked closely and grinned.

"Boy howdy, It's a Scotch shortcake. The first time I had that was when I met my Melly, your grandma. It's mighty fine eatings."

(Godey's Lady's Book recipe 1861 /2011/11/cakes-of-the-1860s-part-one/amp/ )

Jarrod grinned, "Yes, it is. Heath even asked for seconds that night. Or was it thirds?"

Both men shared a smile and remembered back to 1875.

—-&—-

"Sidney Glover, this is my brother, Heath Barkley. I am taking him on a tour of Barkley mines. Rimfire was the next on our route. He grew up near the old Strawberry holdings. I will depend on his advice in the future."

"Good to meet you, son. I knew Tom for years. We started these mines at the same time."

Heath looked at him carefully, "Glad to meet you too Mr. Glover."

Jarrod sipped on his bourbon and took a drag of his cigar. This was the last mine holdings they were scheduled to view. He already respected his new brother's opinion on the state of the Sierra Barkley holdings. Sidney would be the most difficult to convince and gain his trust.

"Where's Janice?" Looking at a brand new painting on an easel by the fireplace.

Sidney's countenance lit up, "Out riding. She should be back soon. She and her groom go out every afternoon."

Heath was staring at the painting as Jarrod commented, "Hard to believe that's the little girl I used to bring sweets to, Sidney."

"All grown up and heading back East for school in the fall. Unless I find her a suitable husband around here, not likely in Rimfire." and he looked hopeful at the eldest Barkley.

Jarrod changed the subject as Heath stared out of the French doors. He saw one lady ride up on a sidesaddle and the second rider, "a girl?"

He pushed the unlatched door, "Dern, that is a lady riding astride in britches and all."

Long strawberry locks were escaping from her ponytail and cowboy hat. She was laughing and smiling with the girl he took to be Janice.

" A female groom?" Jarrod said from over his shoulder.

Heath hadn't noticed Sidney and Jarrod joining him at the open door.

"Yeah. Name is Melly. Her pa was a good worker. Died last year. Miss his leadership in the mines. She's been a good companion for Janice all out here alone. Started working for me when she was about ten. Good with horses."

—&—-

The men walked out to greet the ladies. Sidney pushed Jarrod toward Janice; Heath stood back and observed.

The groom took both horses into the barn. She didn't make eye contact with any of them; she had the countenance of a servant. Mr Glover got a cursory, "Good afternoon, Mr. Glover." He dismissed her with a wave of the hand. Heath watched her go into the barn.

Sidney started up a conversation with Heath about a new horse he purchased.

"I would like your opinion, son."

They walked into the barn. Heath thought he was obviously leaving Jarrod with Janice to matchmake.

"Melly! Melly! Bring the mare around. The new one."

"Yes sir." she said quietly. Heath watched her walk away and couldn't help but notice her curves, even in the pants and loose shirt. Her reddish-blonde mane of hair was thick and lush and definitely askew.

She brought the horse around, and Sidney bragged about its lineage and price. Heath asked Melly about its gait and trot.

Her eyes looked up and stared at Heath. Their blue eyes were almost identical. She changed before his very eyes and animatedly spoke of the horse and all its qualities. She told him what he wanted to know and what she planned to try next with the mare.

"My name is Heath Barkley. I don't think we have been introduced."

She looked toward Sidney; he was watching his daughter and Jarrod talk. She knew her place and to not be forward with the guests. She and Janice could only be friends in private.

"Melly Jones." She said quietly.

The butler called them into supper, and Heath watched Melly walk away with interest. As she shut a half-door to the tack room, his eyes were drawn to a ranch hand eyeing her appraisingly. He glared at Heath and turned, and walked away.

The housekeeper served a currant and raisin dessert, Scotch short cake CC. Heath cleaned his place and asked for seconds. Both men joined him as Janice politely declined.

After supper, Heath felt the need to take a walk. A large, elderly shepherd dog had taken a liking to him, abet the scraps he fed him under the table.

"Mind if this old guy and I take a walk? Like to have night air?"

"Course," Sidney said, "If you don't mind, will you take the leash? There have been skunks in the area. Not a pretty smell on the old dog."

"I won't mind a bit, and I prefer not to tie up with a skunk either."

Jarrod offered to go with him, but Sidney encouraged him to stay and hear his daughter play the piano. The brothers shared a look, and Heath went out the door with the dog on a leash.

The girl was sweet and well-mannered, but Jarrod was not interested in matchmaking with the docile, young girl. He had been spending time with Judge Johnson's youngest daughter, recently home from abroad; she was widowed after only two years of marriage to an architect. Eleanor was beautiful and cultured—-she appealed to Jarrod on several levels. The judge had sponsored Jarrod for the bar. It had been over a year since he lost Beth, and he was well-pleased that he found Eleanor to spend time with. She was well-educated and had a wonderful sense of humor. She might be the one.

The tour of Barkley holdings had been just the thing for the brothers to reach the next step in their relationship. Making sure every partner, vendor, and foreman respected Heath and understood his authority was directly approved by Jarrod, himself. Sidney Glover would be the hardest to handle, and now with his husband-hunting, even harder.

Heath lit a cigarette and rolled it.

I appreciate what Jarrod's doing more than he will ever know. They could just hand me some gold and let me ride herd which I prefer. He's making me a full Barkley.

The lights toward the tack room and corrals were on. He wanted to get another look at the mare and if he was honest with himself, that cute little groom. There was something about her.

The old dog growled as they entered. Heath's senses were heightened but relaxed as a rat snake slithered past them.

"Damn snake," he muttered. He walked to the stalls and opened the door.

"She's a beauty." and he inspected her closely. The dog growled again. Heath shut the door and looked around. The dog barked. He tugged on the leash, pulling Heath hard.

A shadow crossed the light from the tack room. He bit his bottom lip for a second and went to check.

He could hear a lively poker game from the bunkhouse as he listened to the night sounds.

"Yep pup, there is somebody in the tack room."

He quietly walked with the dog. The tack room door was wide open and no one was there. He looked around. Another door was cracked open. He pushed it open, and it led to a small breezeway. An add-on dwelling for sure. A pot of geraniums, a hook-filled with straw hats, and a bucket of work gloves were by the slat door.

A man was looking through a window. There was a curtain pulled closed but one part was slightly open. Heath realized the man was watching the young groom. He thought it was the same hand from earlier.

He pulled him by the collar and slammed him up against the wall.

"Watching the lady dress?" and he smashed his head against the wall again.

"Naw. Just heard something. Anyway, she ain't a lady. Just an orphan hand, the family, took in. She needs a man. You coming to get some? I don't mind sharing."

The man never knew what hit him and slid unconscious down the wall.

Melly opened the door with a heavy coat over a white nightdress. She looked so young and terrified. She was shaking with her long locks down.

"Thank you, Mr. Barkley," she whispered.

The dog pulled away from Heath's slack and ran into the room. He jumped on the bed and muddied her quilt. He barked and wagged his tail at Melly.

"Seems like the dog likes ya too, Melly. He brought me here—- Call me Heath. I haven't been a mister for that many years."

He walked in to retrieve the dog, "Ma'am, has that man bothered you before? I bet Mr. Glover would like to know."

She put her head down, "No, Mister, I mean Heath. If that was the case, he would have to fire half his best hands. A lady is a distraction according to him. I keep my job because of his loyalty to my father and Janice. When she goes to school—I don't know. I have learned to protect myself best I know how."

Hannah, Rachel, and Leah crossed his mind. How they had to protect themselves all those years —

"Thank you, Heath. I will be more careful. Mr. Glover will think this is my fault. Please don't tell him."

Heath frowned, "Well, at least let me check all the windows and doors."

He fixed the latch to the privy, broom handles shoved in the two windows so they couldn't be raised from outside, and shook out the quilt from the dog. He pumped some more water for her basin so she wouldn't have to go back outside.

She looked at him with wonder. Not even her papa had taken so much care of her surroundings.

"I will stop by in the morning. See a couple of other things that need fixing."

"You don't have to, Heath."

"Yes, I do. I want to, and there are three ladies, Hannah, Rachel, and Leah, who would be haunting me i'ffn I didn't."

She looked at him strangely, then laughed. He thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

"Nite."

"Nite."

Heath dragged the unconscious man back to the bunkhouse. He opened the door and slid him in.

"Take care of yore friend. If him or anyone else bothers the groom, there will be hell to pay."

The look Heath gave the men—- assured the men he would do just that.

He took the dog back to the house to find Jarrod waiting.

"I have to head back to Stockton on the morning stage. The Judge has had an apoplexy, and Eleanor asks me to come. Any chance you can stay the week and review the contracts?"

"Will be glad too, Jarrod." thinking of the freckles and blonde curls out in the tack room.