Chapter Nine
Excerpt from Ch 8
"You can always ask, only I cannot promise what the answer will be."
"Fair enough." Slowly, he explained what his mother had said, along with the fact- while thinking about it on his way up to the nursery, he'd realized he'd seen the same thing. "If there is some problem, something we can help with... it won't be an imposition. When I say 'we', I am talking about my mother, myself, Nick and Heath. All of us."
Mary sat in the garden underneath the Weeping Willow tree. Since Bonnie was asleep, and any chores Victoria needed help with were done, it gave Mary some much needed down time. Flat gray stones had been laid throughout the garden. Any cracks that had existed had been filled in with *cement. While the air had a bit of a nip, it wasn't so cold that she'd needed to grab anything but a light sweater. Only when she heard the sound of spurs hitting the cement and rocks, did Mary turn around.
"Thought you were out on the range." Mary didn't try to attempt to hide the confusion she felt.
"I was." Nick sat down on the same bench as Mary, though there was a couple of feet between them. "I got done early for a change." He paused, and then asked very bluntly if what Jarrod had said was true. That is, what Jarrod had told Nick before he and Heath rode away with Fred-the lawman needed a couple of men to ride with him to Lodi. Since Jarrod had visited with Fred about the sheriff down there and the area around it-the Stockton sheriff had asked Jarrod and Heath to go with him. Jarrod might not have consented only, after what Mary had told him, he was going to be heading that way anyway. "Don't get me wrong. I have no cause to think you'd lie to him only I don't understand. Why not speak up when you saw Jarrod holding Bonnie? If your sister..."
"Isabella wasn't my sister." Mary interrupted Nick, quickly apologized and explained. "Isabella and I were simply so close we sort of adopted each other as sisters. And," Mary shrugged her shoulders. "All I have is the word of a dear friend who is no longer living. Sure, I know her word was as good as gold only-in a court of law-that doesn't hold much weight."
"And there's no way -if he is the guilty the party – Sheriff Reed is going to admit to forcing himself on Isabella." Nick was sick to his stomach. Though, he was still puzzled, and it showed by the look that was in his eyes. "Though, if the blame is his-why wouldn't he recognize he own daughter?"
"Easy... Isabella's late grandmother. She looks nothing like Isabella, but Bonnie is the spitting image of the woman." Mary stated bluntly.
"Who put Bonnie in the woods?" Nick couldn't see Mary doing such a thing, and this 'sister' of hers was dead. He was completely baffled.
"As I told Jarrod, I was- and am- confused, almost as much as you look to be at this moment." She paused before continuing. When she started talking, it was in a somewhat frustrated and sad tone in her voice. "I left the area around Lodi for awhile because I was meeting Isabella-to take her somewhere else until the baby was born. We talked a few times about the night she was raped. True, she couldn't swear in a court of law it was the sheriff – as it was dark. Only, she told me she was eighty percent sure it was-never really did tell me why she thought that, and I never asked because it upset her so much." Mary took a deep breath and continued. "Once we both realized the baby was the spitting image of her grandmother, Isabella flat out refused to give the child up for adoption as originally planned. She said she'd just tell people she adopted her. She was in a position to do such a thing-though I wondered how she would be able to pull it off. I mean, what with the orphanages' views on who should adopt a child and who shouldn't. Anyway," Mary stood up and walked to the edge of the garden before turning around. "Things were going well as far as I knew. Only, after she hadn't come by my house for a few days, I went to check on her. She was in bed, sick...and dying. I couldn't see the baby anywhere and tried asking her about it only her fever…" Mary closed her eyes and then opened them back up. "She kept mumbling that a friend was helping protect the child from 'that monster'-said 'that monster found out somehow." Mary walked back over to the bench and sat down. "Sheriff Reed has got to be 'the monster' she was referring to only I'm clueless as to what supposed friend had her daughter. As far as I know, I was the only one that knew she had even been in the family way. And, before you ask, as crazy as it might sound-Isabella had named her daughter Liberty. When I found out what Jarrod had named Bonnie, I had to silently laugh, though I dared not say a word. As I said, Sheriff Reed has got to be 'the monster! If he has found out…" Mary choked up at the thought of what the man might do to Bonnie.
Nick didn't know if the lawman was guilty or not only it was obvious someone had intended for Bonnie to die. His vote was on the rapist. It infuriated the Stockton rancher. "I'm going to have McColl and the other men doing the majority of the work on the ranch while Heath and Jarrod are gone. I'll let you and Mother know where I'll be at all times." Even as he said the words, he felt strongly there would be no danger they'd have to deal with. Though, he still wasn't taking any chances. He started to turn away only to have Mary stop him.
"I thanked Jarrod and your mother, and I'll thank Heath when he gets back. I am indebted to you as well." Mary, who was very much grateful for the support being shown by the Barkleys smiled at Nick. "I don't know how I can ever thank any of you."
Nick smiled back. "Well, can't speak for the rest of the family only I wouldn't mind taking you to dinner tonight. Mother and Silas can watch Bonnie while McColl and the others can watch the house." Again, he got the impression he was going overboard, and that nothing would happen to warrant anyone guarding the house. 'Oh well, I've been known for going over the top before.' He told himself-even as he kept his eyes on Mary.
Mary, who was having no problem seeing Nick was interested in her, smiled wide. It had been a while since she'd felt any sort of attraction to anyone, a long time since anyone had looked at her in that way as well-even if she had gone out with a few men. "I'd love it." She wasn't surprised when Nick smiled even wider and walked away.
A/N According to the internet, cement was invented in 1824. when was cement invented - Search ( )