Chapter Six
"Let me go first, Jarrod." as she put her hand on his arm to stop him from following.
He nodded reluctantly as he read the letter from Ghislaine. She wanted to apologize and rekindle their relationship. He disgustingly threw it and the photograph into the fireplace; he watched it burn.
Five minutes was all he could bear to wait and he went to find his wife and mother.
—&—
Isabella and Katarina looked from their card game as Victoria stuck her head in the door.
"Did Liesel come in here?"
"Yes, she wanted to borrow a cloak for a walk. She said she left hers in the study and she didn't want to go back in there."
"Anything wrong?"
"I just wanted to talk to her."
Victoria found her in the guest room coming out with Isabella's cloak.
"Liesel, are you ok?"
"Fine. It was just a shock. I need some time to declutter my thoughts. It was just a shock, I promise. I do better when I am alone to think it through."
"I understand. Jarrod never loved that woman. It was a lapse in judgment. Beth's death and all that befell afterwards left him adrift."
"It was just a surprise to me. I will be fine—-I have experience putting aside my feelings."
Victoria could see the tears welling up in her daughter-in-law's eyes.
Victoria took her arms and looked straight into her eyes, "He loves you—-Liesel. He swore to never marry again and then he met you. I know my son—-I stopped him from coming up here. He loves you. Don't push him away, Liesel. I did that with my husband and I regret it very much—-I couldn't get past my own pain and I pushed him away. I love Heath very much and I can't imagine life without him here. But—-he came from one of those seasons in my life where I couldn't manage my pain."
Liesel was shocked at Victoria's admission.
"I will pray upon what you said, Mother. And thank you. I just need some quiet." and she kissed her mother-in-law on the cheek.
She asked Ciego for directions to the creek path she had seen earlier in the day.
Victoria stopped Jarrod from following her.
"Let her settle her thoughts. She knows you love her. It was a shock; she just took a walk."
He went up and saw the children; Nick arrived back from town and they talked about the telegram and the Wheelers. He checked on Audra and they talked in her room.
He kept listening for the door and Liesel's voice. It had been an hour when he looked at the clock. He couldn't relax until he talked to his wife.
"It's almost dusk. I am going to find her. It's getting late."
He passed Ciego and asked if he had seen Liesel.
"Yes sir, Mr. Barkley. She took the path to the creek. I gave her directions and there is bush on both sides this time of the year. She couldn't get lost that way."
"Thanks", that assurance relieved him at least.
The sun was getting low as he spied Liesel sitting on a log looking out on the water.
She turned towards him and softly smiled. She had been crying. He quickened his steps.
He took her into his arms and hugged her—- held her without saying a word. She melded into him and was content to let him hold her tightly.
"Liesel, I love you. I am sorry about that letter. There is nothing between Ghislaine and me. It was over before I met you."
The name, Ghislaine, burned the bile in her stomach.
The first time she had heard it, she was pregnant with Jack. She overheard her new husband talking about his new mistress in glowing terms. "She's beautiful—- she delights in all my attention. She's available when I want her of course….various talents….and the best thing is no retching in the basin or swollen stomach and ankles. All the men laughed and commiserated about their wives and mistresses. She had been mortified in the early months of her pregnancy when her inebriated husband came home at dawn for his husbandly rights to find her in the throes of morning sickness. He was disgusted at her and told her so. She had actually thought he was going to strike her. Then to remember the gallery at the Jardin Mabille in Paris.
She closed her eyes to block out the memory.
Jarrod saw her close her eyes and assumed she was angry at him. He continued to hold her until she relaxed. He murmured endearments into her hair and ear.
She finally spoke, "Thank you, Jarrod. I just needed time to think before I spoke. You have done nothing except being the best husband possible." and with a chuckle, "a very good father too. You have been a very patient man."
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. Their desire for each other came to the surface and he inched her carefully to the ground. He took her slowly almost fully clothed and made sure she knew how much he loved and cared for her. She responded to him ardently. She laid her head on his chest and they looked up at the sunset. They finally moved and gathered themselves to stand up.
"Jarrod-" she barely whispered as she stared at a full-grown male panther across the creek. He had come out of the brush almost silently to watch them.
He pulled her close and wished he had a sidearm.
"Be still. Do NOT run."
She stood shaking in Jarrod's arms. The panther was huge. He was around six-seven feet long and muscular. His paws looked massive. His eyes shined greenish-gold in the dusky light. He made eye contact with both of them.
He paced back and forth several times and took a drink from the creek.
Jarrod knew they were helpless and the cat could take both of them in an instant. He would fall on Liesel, of course but could he save her?
He said a silent prayer for Liesel to survive. Running would make them prey.
Liesel thought immediately of Jack and Rose growing up without her. A tear slipped out of her eye and she involuntarily quivered. She said silent prayers for the children and her sisters. "Ghislaine doesn't seem so important right now."
Her knees were getting weak but Jarrod held her up.
"Keep standing, Liesel. Make eye contact with him."
She imperceptibly nodded and leaned on him. They kept still and quiet. The big cat would stop his pacing and stare at them again. He put his paw into the creek and shook it off.
They stayed in place shaking and holding each other tight.
"Jarrod? Liesel? Y'all down here. We were getting worried and supper is almost ready" Nick yelled coming down the path.
He had been fretting all day on how to tell Tab about the pony. He was still avoiding the talk.
Nick came off of the path and caught the eye of the big cat. He pulled his six-shooter and shot. He missed with his shaking hands and the cat bounded off into the darkness.
Two minutes later, they heard an unearthly screech by the cat. It shook their souls with terror.
Liesel collapsed onto the ground crying and Jarrod bent down to comfort her.
"Well Nick, you just saved our lives. He has had us cornered for at least twenty minutes. Thank you, my brother."
He could only nod.
Nick turned into the brush and threw up.
The three of them took time to compose themselves. They were all shaken to the core. They finally walked back to the house.
The family was waiting for supper on them and Heath immediately got up seeing the look on their faces.
Jarrod poured himself a scotch, Nick a whiskey from the dining sideboard.
"Liesel, what would you like?"
"Brandy, please"
Jarrod explained about the panther. Liesel couldn't quit shaking and Nick couldn't quit pacing.
Nick went upstairs and washed his face in the water closet. He stayed there silently crying.
Heath and McColl grabbed some men and lanterns to go check the area. He came back in and looked worried.
"Liesel, you are a pretty blessed lady. The panther has been staying in the brush by the creek. We found lots of scat and bones and matted hairballs. It has been rubbing too on the Fremont Cottonwood nearest the creek."
She shook again violently and Jarrod was by her side immediately. She looked like she would collapse. He refilled the brandy. She downed it.
"I think we will turn in now." and he guided Liesel out of the room. He took the brandy bottle with him.
Audra volunteered to help Silas clear the table as Victoria went to check on the nursery. Isabella helped her.
Jane walked out with McColl. It was to have been his first family dinner.
"Damn Jane, that's less than two miles from the house. Just thinking about it. We could be burying Jarrod and his new wife. Nothing in life is guaranteed. I took Tab down there fishing last Saturday and it was dusk when we returned. It could have been me and the boy."
"Oh Douglas, it's horrible. You told me how bad one hurt Nick before. I will be glad when that hunter gets here."
"Me too, my lady"
He pulled Jane into the shadow and kissed her more fervently than he had ever before. She felt weak at the knees and breathless.
He walked her back to the house afterward, "I love you, Janie"
"I love you, Douglas"
—-&—
Jack and Rose came to their room for nighttime prayers and kisses. Liesel was still too emotional so Jarrod did their prayers with them. She couldn't quit shaking and she sat quietly in the rocker, clasping her hands.
The twins were already asleep but Nick went and took Tab to their room. He put him in between him and Katarina until he fell asleep. He didn't want him out of his sight.
About an hour later, Katarina had a muscle cramp and woke up with Tab on her back.
"Nicholas, can you take him to his bed? He's just getting so big and he moves all night."
Nick did with regret. He tucked him and kissed him. He kissed Sophie and Mae's cherubic cheeks; on second thought, he went back in and kissed Rose and Jack. They were his too now.
Earlier, Jarrod had undressed Liesel and got her into bed. He took down her braids gently and brushed out her hair. Her hair had always been a sensual pleasure for him making love but tonight it brought him comfort. She reminded him of one of Audra's rag dolls.
Pouring the third brandy, he got her to drink it down. She was not a drinker and the alcohol took effect easily on her empty stomach. He kissed her and rubbed her eyelid until she fell asleep. He put down several scotches himself and climbed into bed holding her.
Heath tossed and turned all night. The looks on his brothers' faces haunted him. The sheer terror in Nick's hazel eyes was mirrored in Jarrod's blue ones.
A little after midnight, Heath heard a stirring from Nick's room; he peeked and his brother was putting Tab in bed. Heath quietly went back to bed trying to sleep.
About an hour later, he was awakened by Nick again.
He ran to the bedroom as Katarina was trying to calm his flailing arms and legs.
"Back up sister, he may hurt you and the baby. He couldn't live with himself if he did that."
"Noooooooooooo take me. Not Tab." were the only words they could make out.
Katarina put her hand on his brow, "Nicholas, Tab is in the nursery."
Heath finally got him to settle down, "Heath, Heath did you see the cat? It got Tab. I couldn't get him away."
"Nick, you are dreaming. Tab is fine. I got Tab. That damn panther is in your head again. Fight it. fight it."
Nick lurched forward with his hands, "I got its throat, Heath. I got it."
"Kill it— Nick— Kill it."
He jerked one more time and his whole body relaxed. "It's dead"
"Oh Heath, how did you learn to do that?"
"From Nick, he has got me out of many 'a mines and out of a tunnel at Carterson."
Katarina kissed him on the cheek, "You, brothers, are pretty special men."
He waited until Nick was fully asleep, "Leave the door cracked. I will be back if you need me."
And he kissed his sister-in-law on the cheek.
He met Isabella in the hall tentatively waiting. Her long auburn ringlets were cascading down her nightgown and the sheer material clung to her. He noticed immediately.
"Heath, I am sorry. I couldn't help but hear. Is everyone alright?"
"Yes Bella, they are. That panther is in everyone's head tonight."
"I couldn't sleep either, thinking how close I came to losing my Liesel."
He walked her back to her room and he straightened a curl off her cheek. She took a deep intake of air and he stopped himself.
"Good night Bella"
The last thing this family need is another princess. And a bloody bull passed through his mind.