Chapter Ten
Ed Tanner got off the train with several ladies chatting and giving him their calling cards. He tipped his fine black felt hat with a velvet trim to match his tweed jacket with velvet trim, white ruffle shirt, and a gentlemen's satin-lined puff scarf tie.
"Boy howdy, that man is a fancy dresser. He will turn around and bust out that buckskin shirt and huntin' hat. He won't look like the same man."
"Jarrod told me not to let him wrangle you into going to the Chinese theatre. You won't get out of there for three hours and that rice wine doesn't take the place of whiskey."
"Ed! Over here!"
"Nick, Heath, good to see you again."
"And who is this fine hunter?"
"Tab Barkley, sir"
"Pleased to meet your acquaintance."
"The pony the panther killed was mine. I want to hire you too"
"You got a deal, my boy."
The porter brought his luggage around and Heath got the mount ready. He had brought the best horse they had.
Ed looked his horse over, "Fine animal"
They walked over to the saloon and got a beer. Nick and Tab walked to the cafe for pie and lemonade.
"My—- how times have changed. Ain't admitting it but it's not bothering me a bit."
Several saloon girls leaned up against the handsome stranger and filled his drink again. He grinned his charming smile and the ladies swooned at his charm.
Heath laughed, "Some things haven't changed, Tanner."
"Wine, women, and song make the world go around."
Heath explained what they knew about the cat. He tried to keep the emotion out of his voice. He described the brush by the creek, the scat, and Jarrod's description of the cat. Ed took it all in.
"Your brother's eye is very telling: male, seven feet, stumped tail. Making eye contact and standing straight up. If they ran or squatted or turned their backs, they would be dead."
Heath just stared straight into their glasses.
"Barkley, let's head out. I would like to see the creek by moonlight."
They collected Nick and Tab. Ed entertained the boy and the men too, if they admitted it, with hunting stories all the way home.
—&—
Victoria and Jarrod met them at the door, "Welcome Mr. Tanner, welcome"
"Jarrod, Mrs. Barkley. I am proud to be invited back. It's been a while but your fair home is still the most inviting I have ever been invited to —- and my dearest matriarch, you are still as beautiful as ever. Haven't aged a day."
"Still as silver-tongued as my barrister son but I shall take it."
She poured him a glass of Barkley vintage and he toasted her.
They all turned as two auburn-haired women with rogue ringlets walked into the room. Jarrod walked over immediately and kissed Liesel on the cheek.
"Ed Tanner, this is my wife, Liesel. Her sister, Miss Isabella Beaufort."
"Ladies. Your great beauty overwhelms me. Jarrod, you are a very lucky man"
He kissed both of their hands and made eye contact for a few seconds with Isabella.
"I see no ring m'lady. Does that mean that some gentleman or in my case, rogue hasn't swept your loveliness away?"
Heath stiffened as Isabella smiled and blushed profusely.
Jarrod said, "Well, Ed, I may have to lock my sister-in-law in the attic if you play the Lothario."
They all laughed but Victoria knew he wasn't kidding.
Jane came downstairs with Audra and Katarina, "and this is my Aunt Jane Carrington, Nick's wife, Katarina and my sister Audra."
"Ah and again- another beautiful woman in the house. I cannot turn my head without seeing untold beauty."
"Audra, Mrs. Breckinridge, please accept my sincerest condolences."
He kissed her hand as well as the others.
They settled in with conversation and drinks. Ed kept looking at Isabella wherever she was in the room. He offered her a game of chess which she accepted. He lingered over moves and placed his hand over hers with ease. She sighed.
The clock chimed ten pm.
"Ladies, we need to take a ride in the moonlight. Thank you for your gracious company. I need to change from my traveling clothes into something more comfortable for riding. Ladies" and he nodded as he headed up the stairs.
Heath paced. "Are you sure Jarrod he's the best? I know what he did for Nick last night but I don't trust him"
Nick frowned, "What has got you wound up boy? We will all have a chance at the kill. Maybe his gun will jam a second time."
"It's not that—-" and he broke off talking when Liesel and Isabella walked by.
Nick and Jarrod looked at each other with recognition of Heath's turmoil but knew better than to mention it.
Jarrod walked Liesel upstairs, "lt may be late."
"I don't mind being woken up by my handsome husband. Here is a kiss to keep me on your mind" and she initiated a very passionate kiss.
"Woman, I won't be able to keep anything else on my mind," he growled, kissing her again. She responded and they finally pulled away breathlessly.
"Jarrod, be careful, please. I never felt like I was going to die in my life until the other night. It's like the panther stared into my soul unblinking. It scares me."
"I have faced death before Liesel. It changes you. But the other night, it was the worst. Because I faced losing you too. I didn't want to live if you weren't by my side. I have never felt that way before."
"I was terrified to leave my children alone, Jarrod. This isn't the time to talk about this with you walking out the door—-but Jarrod, I want a will. If anything happens to the children, you and Adrienne and Bella will raise the children, please."
"Of course my love. You had only to ask. But—-" and he hesitated.
"Jarrod, ."
"I have wanted to have the time perhaps when we get to San Francisco but now is fine. Would you allow me to adopt the children?"
"Oh, Jarrod yes…. I didn't dare to presume that."
They kissed again and he heard Nick bellow from downstairs.
"Go on," she said. "We have all night to talk and plan and other things," she smiled.
—&—
They tracked the panther in the moonlight from the creek to the rock outcropping several times. They trusted their horses to smell the cat in the night.
Twice, Nick's Coco pulled up and whinnied. They all stopped and circled. Each man circled and cocked their rifles. They listened carefully and heard nothing.
Ed whispered to Nick, "Were you riding Coco when you were attacked by the first cat?"
"Yes" was all Nick could get out and keep his composure.
He nodded and kept his finger on the trigger.
Jarrod was sweating profusely and Nick found himself shivering. Neither man acknowledged their bodies' sympathetic reaction. They recognized the fear in each other and understood. They were both thankful for the darkness to hide their eyes.
Heath kept his eyes peeled for the cat and at Tanner.
Soon they heard the cat scream in the distance. Their horses reared and they jerked them back into position.
Ed thought for a moment, "It's late. Let's get back. He just told us he's not coming back here tonight.
The men rode back in complete silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
—&—-
Jarrod rode into Stockton the next day, mid-morning. He had quite a bit of work left plus a meeting with Abraham and Ben Isaacson on the 2 pm train. Abraham would return on the 6:00 o'clock train but Ben would stay in Stockton. He would take him out to the Wheelers and show him the other matters he needed his attention on. He and his mother had taken out several gemstones from the safe and Victoria gave him several pieces from her jewelry box that could be reworked.
"If you remember, I did this for Nicholas too. I like the idea of your Father's gifts and bounty being part of his son's life. I hope Eugene will want to create one for Adrienne. I miss them so much, Jarrod but I am trying not to dwell on it. A year does pass quickly. Now back to Liesel, Abraham still has some nuggets from the mine, right? I thought Nick took plenty for safekeeping and family jewelry."
"Yes, he did. Mother, what about this amethyst? It's huge and we could get several more pieces from it. It's still encased in rock. I know it's not a traditional stone for a wedding ring but something about them reminds me of her. The only piece of jewelry I have bought her was an amethyst necklace in New York. She wears it all the time."
"That uncut amethyst has been in the safe for more than twenty years. Your father took it on a debt payment."
He put the amethyst on the table and continued to look with a furrowed brow.
"Jarrod, she loves you and I promise she will be happy with whatever you choose. There isn't a sweeter feeling than a gift from the man you love."
"Lovely lady and here you are giving me the stones Father gave you. Thank you."
"It makes me happy to share the love to the next generation I promise. I shall be delighted to see them on Liesel and Adrienne and Katarina. Even Heath one day I hope will accept a gift."
And as she retold Jane about the story later, she added a private detail. "I wouldn't dare tell my sons—or anyone but you— I have always questioned the gifts Tom brought me since Heath came into the family. Infidelity does that. It taints the past whether you want it to or not. My jewelry collection, is it from love or assuaging guilt? I will never know. It's why I really only wear the pieces from our wedding day- when our love was pure and untarnished. I wear the gifts he gave me when the children were born too. I know they were conceived in love."
He told Liesel not to expect him for supper as he kissed her goodbye. He took his rifle just in case along with his sidearm and for once, he strapped on a hunting knife. He could see the panther's unblinking eyes in his mind.