Chapter Eleven 11/12
Ed got up before sunrise and rode for two hours scouting the panther's movements. Dusk and dawn were prime times for movement. It would be on the move most of the night, but at the setting and rising of the sun—that is when he planned to strike at the cat.
He came into breakfast and took the seat by Isabella. She poured his glass of orange juice from the pitcher beside her. Tab said a brief prayer and they began eating. Halfway through the meal, Nick and Heath came in from washing up.
"Looks good. Sorry, we are late. Brought around a few fence lines, southwest of the old one. Lost track of time."
They grabbed their napkins and sat down filling their plates.
Heath nodded at Isabella and she smiled back. Liesel stifled her grin.
Ed continued to talk about Verdi and opera. Liesel and Isabella had seen them all and Audra had seen half of them. They discussed the fancy opera houses of Europe and Isabella.
Nick and Heath felt like fish out of water.
Liesel volunteered, "Isabella can sing several selections of Verdi operas. She can do Violetta's solo in act II of La Traviata."
Ed's eyes grew big, "When Violetta is asked to leave Alfredo forever?"
"Yes," she said humbly and quietly.
"It is one of the greatest scenes in the history of opera. The garden scene—-"
Ed sighs deeply and closes his eyes.
Heath and Nick shared strained glances. They both shrugged their shoulders at the same time.
Ed took her hand at the table and kissed it. "Please, please, please share it with us tonight after dinner."
She nodded embarrassed and blushing.
Heath pushed back from the table, tossed his napkin on the table, and said, "Sorry to eat and leave, but I forgot to get something done."
He grabbed his hat and headed out. Nick put his head down and continued to eat. He finished and kissed Katarina on the cheek, "See you later today."
And the opera discussion continued after breakfast.
Ed saddled his horse and rode out again to look for trails of the big cat.
—&—
Jarrod met the Issacsons on the train and walked them over to his office. Abraham carried a very nondescript alligator skin bag, worn and well-used. His black felt hat and long wool coat revealed his religion. Ben followed his Uncle and Jarrod cleaning his round spectacles on his handkerchief of the Stockton dust. Jarrod offered them something to drink; they both chose brandy.
Abraham handed Jarrod a very old bottle of scotch he got from a client, "I thought of you, my friend."
"As always Abraham, you know me well. I appreciate you both and realize the inconvenience of traveling this far."
"Mr. Barkley, I would do anything for you. From getting me into law school, sponsoring me for the bar, and sending me clients, you have been my greatest mentor."
His uncle cleared his throat and said something in Yiddish.
Ben laughed, "Except of course for my Uncle Abraham and Aunt Riva who raised me."
The older man nodded in agreement.
Jarrod laughed too, "I don't mind taking the second spot. Let's get down to business. Abraham, I got married a month ago and I need a ring for my wife, maybe a few other pieces to make her green eyes sparkle."
The jeweler reached out and looked at Jarrod's edelweiss band, "Family heirloom, German, early 19th century, pure gold. Looks like from a royal line."
Jarrod smiled, "Elizabeth's grandfather was a Duke in Germany. He gave her the nickname Liesel as a child and it stuck. Her grandparents were married for forty years. She has the marching band."
"Liesel is also Hebrew. It means God is my oath."
"I didn't know that Abraham."
He opened his case on Jarrod's mahogany table and took out many loose stones and a sketch pad. Jarrod opened the velvet pouch and took out his mother's jewelry and the stones from the safe.
He told him what he wanted and gave him the freedom to use his artistic eye to create a ring and anything else he thought she would like.
"Amethyst? That is an unusual choice for a wedding ring."
"You don't have to use it; I know it's rather large but something about them reminds me of her."
"Amethysts mean serenity, trust, understanding, and grace. Is that her?"
Jarrod sighed, "Perfectly"
"Then that is why you are drawn to amethyst and your lovely chosen one."
He began to busily sketch and Jarrod turned to Ben.
"I have a really big case for you. Normally, I would handle it alone. I have known the Wheeler family my whole life. But with Audra's husband dying and leaving his empire in my lap with all of the Barkley holdings and being gone from California for three months, I admit I need help."
"Anything Mr. Barkley. Anything at all. I cleared my schedule as you asked and I am here at your disposal."
"Good Ben. But call me Jarrod as you would a partner. We will be working equally, well actually you will have the lion's share of responsibility. Do you carry a sidearm? There may be a chance of danger in Texas."
Ben pulled his waistcoat away and showed a derringer. Jarrod nodded.
"I have taken the liberty of a primary injunction for the Wheelers in California. One was filed in San Joaquin county and I will be sending one to Sacramento just in case. I am going to send you to Jacksboro, Texas. First, you will need to file paperwork for us as their representative. Second, you will have the liberty of selling the Sonny Wheeler ranch and sending back to them this list of property. It's just a few personal items: an arrow, a Bible, a wedding dress, a couple of rifles, and a crystal vase. I have contacted an agent in Fort Worth to value the land and house. I am assuming we cannot trust anyone in Jack county due to the family's prominence. The Magness family. I doubt we will be able to sell it but I would like to try. It's a lot of money for the family to lose. Third, I want you to acquire copies of death and birth certificates for these individuals on this list from Wheeler's lawyer. He is elderly but should be helpful to you. Carl says he is Sonny's friend but a bit too infirm to fight Jack county but he likely has all the documentation set aside. We have the law on our side as long as Carl stays put in California with Cap." and he went on to describe the three generations of ranchers.
"Why was he in Texas in the first place if he is a resident of Stockton and property owner?"
"He went to help his grandfather three years ago. He was seeing my sister at the time and while he was gone, she eloped with Scott Breckinridge. He never came home after that."
"Good to know"
"I will advance whatever funds you need for Texas. The Wheelers mean a lot to the Barkley's, Carl is pretty much the best friend my brother, Nick ever had. Cap helped my father stabilize this valley for the ranchers."
Jarrod took both men over for an early supper before Abraham took the train back to San Francisco. He would let him know about Liesel's ring. He had already drawn up a use for the large uncut Barkley amethyst from their safe.
They saw Abraham off and headed back to the office. They worked until nine pm on the Wheeler case. Ben checked into his hotel room and would meet Jarrod again tomorrow to work. Hopefully, he would be traveling to Texas on Wednesday or sooner.
Jarrod headed back to the ranch by the light of the moon. He patted his knife and he re-strapped it and his sidearm as he left his office. The rifle was on his saddle, unlatched.
An unsettling feeling followed Jarrod all the way home. Several times he felt like he was being watched.
—&—-
Nick and Heath were feeling unsettled, themselves in the house for several reasons. They were listening to Isabella's extraordinary voice singing while Liesel accompanied her on the piano and with harmony with her low alto and almost tenor parts.
Audra, Jane, and Victoria relished the music and felt as if they were in a private concert.
Nick kept checking his watch and wishing Jarrod was home. His big brother always worked into the night and they were used to his odd hours. But he had told Liesel he would be home late but he would be home.
Audra remarked, "I feel I have availed myself of a great recital in the halls of Europe. Isabella, how long have you trained?"
"Just with private tutors. Because of our station in life, Papa did not allow us many contacts with anyone outside of the chateau. I think it is in my bloodline as it is Adrienne's. Mama Marie always told me and Adrienne she would make sure we honored papa's progéniture first. Adrienne marrying Eugene assured me that I would not be allowed to leave for schooling. Oh please, don't mistake me. I am so happy she opened the door to break away from an arranged marriage."
Liesel laughed loudly, "As I am thankful for Adrienne going to music conservatoire and meeting Eugene. I shall remind Jarrod to thank his little brother again. Jarrod shall reward you with schooling, I promise."
Victoria pronounced with a wide smile, "We shall all thank Eugene and of course, Adrienne for going to school."
Jane loved music and these ladies were enchanting. She checked her watch pin discreetly several times. I hope Douglas doesn't get tired of waiting on me. I can't sleep well when I haven't ended my night with him. Since the whole family has been back and this panther is keeping us, hostage, our time together has been limited. When they were in Europe, I used to pretend we were married and he came home to me every night. How he makes me feel like a girl.
The men enjoyed music and would have been glad to listen to her selection of three songs but the undercurrent in the room was disturbing. Ed Tanner stared at Isabella and closed his eyes in contentment. He applauded loudly and once rose to kiss her hand-and Liesel's but not with the same fervor as her young sisters.
Heath was seething-first with the discussions of bloodlines. That deep wound of Senor Montero and the bull crossed his mind. "Yep, I don't need no more bloodlines and no princess blood at that."
Tanner stood up again and professed his undying appreciation of the sisters again. Heath looked at the door again trying to think of an excuse to leave. Nick looked over several times and Heath; he knew that the conversation was grating on his nerves.
"I told Jarrod I would be a gentleman but this performance has me questioning my judgment" Ed quipped and all the ladies laughed.
Nick realized it was a joke but obviously, his little brother didn't.
Heath's mind went back three years ago, "Boy howdy, where are we going in a dress like that in broad daylight?- Into that dress, you are going to get terrible sunburn.- It's the latest thing in Godey's Lady's Book.- Well, the sun might be weaker back east or those ladies have hides like mules.- Do me a favor, tell mother I will be home later in the afternoon.-Get yourself some cocoa butter in town. You sure are going to need it."
He hated himself that day for not stopping Audra. If I had thought more about it, I could have prevented all the family's pain-and yet we would not have Scotty.
And then Montero shooting the bull passed through his mind, again.
Heath jerked and sighed deeply and audibly while Isabella was singing.
Jane and Victoria flashed the same look at him, a Mother disciplining her small son.
He immediately sat up straighter and mouthed "I am sorry".
Nick smirked slightly. "I gotta get better with Tab hiding my grins and all. He knows when I am mad but it's usually so damn funny what he comes up with. ''
He started reminiscing how Victoria had given him that look hundreds of times. Striking fear in my heart.
Isabella had seen the looks on Heath's face and the whole room heard the sigh. She assumed he did not enjoy her performance. She swallowed her words for a moment and Liesel finished the song making it look like it was planned. Ed turned around and glared at Heath.
"Boy howdy, I got some apologizing to do. Not to Tanner but to Mother and Bella and Liesel. Funny thing is that she sings like a bird. I would be likin' it if Tanner was not hovering like a hawk over prey. And Isabella wasn't touting her bloodlines.
The last song finished but the room was shaken by a gunshot and a loud caterwaul.
"Jarrod" screamed Heath and Nick. Ed was up in a minute and they all ran for the gun room.
Liesel sat down weakly and closed her hands in silent prayer, rocking. The tears began to pour.
Victoria put her hands on her daughter-in-law, "That's what we should all be doing."