Chapter One San Francisco
"Douglas, my boys, and their families will be in San Francisco in two weeks. Jarrod took care of renting them suites at the Palace.—- I want them to meet you."
He took a deep breath and pulled her closer on the settee. They nuzzled close together in front of the fire. Douglas's brain was wheeling with what he had needed to say to her for weeks and had avoided like the plague.
He had ordered a new suit in town. The tailor assured him it was what gentlemen wore. He chose a simple dark gray with a navy western tie. He wasn't much for lots of dandy colors. 'Got two new vests, too. He paid for it and was to pick it up Friday. He bought him some new Sunday black boots that were fancy but comfortable if he had to wear them all day. He bought a new cowboy hat. "Couldn't stand them bowlers and such that they offered him to buy." He had plenty of money as a foreman; he saved for twenty-odd years or so. A coupla' beer a week and his cigars were his only 'spendin. Tom Barkley left him prime land in his will but he never much had a need for owning. He would give it back to Nick in his will when he passed. Mr. Jarrod paid the taxes on it every year when he paid the ranch's and said he took it out of his pay. I always doubted that but Nick told me to leave it alone. I will get the last laugh willing it to them back again. And now this fancy fine lady, sister of Miss Victoria herself was spending her time with him every day. He never would have dreamed such. He knew he loved her with every bone in his body and she sure acted like she loved him. He couldn't ask her yet-not till her family approved. His one hobby was reading books from the big house library or Mr. Jarrod's office. They had always treated him like family. Tom had started it years ago; finishin' a book and passing it to McColl. He had been thinkin' a lot about that David Copperfield book he had read. Could the Carrington boys see him like the Barkley boys did? As a man and not just a cowpoke.
"Jane, I will be mighty pleased for meeting your boys and their wives and dem' grandkids you talk about all of the time. But I have been wonderin' if they will be so keen meeting an old saddle tramp that has been raised on applejack and whiskey. I finished primary school and quit to help my daddy on the farm, Janie. My ma died of diphtheria with my little sister when I was nine. I hit the road when the bank took the farm and I headed west, met Tom Barkley. And you know the rests-"
"It only matters what I think of you Douglas McColl and I love you. That's that!" but her heart was full of worry too, ``What would they think?"
(applejack-A liquor distilled from cider, also called cider brandy.)
Jarrod and Liesel rode to the Stockton train station with the children and Lia. Benjamin Issacson was heading out himself for Jacksboro, Texas, and the Wheeler case. They would ride to the first stop together until Ben got a train west to Salt Lake City.
It had been three days since the panther was killed.
Jarrod told Liesel, "We need to go on to San Francisco. I need to get that panther out of my head, literally. These blasted stitches are starting to itch and I still feel its tail brushing up against Jingo. Ed is staying a few more days to hunt with Nick and Heath. I warned Ed off Bella and was relieved to know she was going to the dance with the Jim Rivers boy, uh, from the candy shop. It's time for us to be a family for a while."
"Jarrod, I will start packing." and she kissed him on the cheek.
"I want to see an architect when we get to the city. I have plans on paper and in my head for us to build next to the big house. I want you to look at them and see what you want to add. We need our own home close enough to family and far enough to have our privacy."
She beamed. "I can't imagine anything better than building a house with my husband."
The private car was ready early and the family settled in. Jarrod sat down with Ben and went over all of the fine points at the large dining table.
"Keep your eyes open. This Magness family is used to getting their way. Wear that sidearm at all times and keep it on your nightstand at the hotel. Get in and get out. I wish I could go with you but I have bitten off more than I can chew right now. I filed an appeal with a district judge on that Modesto case this morning. Stayed up all night but it was worth it to get it off the table. I settled out all the Barkley business and now the Breckinridge holdings are waiting in San Francisco. The east coast attorneys are in contact with my office there. Then I have a merger meeting in two weeks with the Carrington banks and a San Francisco bank. My cousins Joey and Will and their families are due in twelve days. We will head back to the ranch to Aunt Jane afterward. Do not hesitate to telegraph any news at all. Nick or I will relay it to the Wheelers."
"And Ben, I am looking to bring you in full-time if you are of a mind too. I am not talking about clerking either. Junior partner."
The young lawyer beamed. "I would be proud sir"
"It's not San Francisco but Stockton is growing. We have need of you-I have need of you."
"I got it, Jarrod. I will do you proud. You will hear from me probably more than you would like but I am grateful for your trust." said Benjamin as he departed the train for his next leg of the journey.
He waved goodbye to Jack and Rose as they waved to him from the window.
"Jarrod, why don't you take a little nap? You were up all night with that brief. You deserve a rest. The children can sleep too and it will be quiet for you, my love." as Liesel handed him his scotch.
He pulled her down on him and kissed her. "What did I do to deserve you."
Jarrod slept all the way to the city while Liesel read and counted her blessings of finding such a man as her husband.
The train pulled into the station and Jarrod hired a hack to his townhouse. Jack sat in his lap pointing out all the sights.
"It will never grow old to me watching Jarrod be a father to my—-our children."
Charles was waiting to settle them in. He did a mock bow to Jack, "And you would be?"
"I am Jean James Jacques Beaufort Barkley."
Charles stifled a laugh, "That's a big name."
"Cuz I am a big boy now. Call me Jack"
"Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Barkley and Miss Rose. I am proud for Mr. Jarrod to be bringing you home."
"And this is Lia, she will be helping with the children and anything else you need" Jarrod added.
"Miss Lia" he bowed again.
Lia and Charles walked the family upstairs.
Liesel looked around her new bedroom: a massive four-poster bed with mahogany furniture. She walked over to the bed and picked up a pillow.
"It smelled of cigars and bay."
Jarrod interrupted her thoughts, "Thinking of redecorating already? You have carte blanche of course—-except my office of course" and he winked.
"I don't want to change a thing here. It is a perfect place for the Jarrod Barkley I love—-and desire."
And he kissed her intensely only to be interrupted by the children bounding in.
"Mamere, Pappy, come see our new rooms"
He took Liesel's hand and helped her up. He whispered, "Remember where we left off."
Liesel did look at the room with the twin beds for the children. "I would like to add a trundle for me or Lia if you don't mind. Sometimes the children need us at night. This room is bright and full of light. "
"I think it needs a dollhouse and a train myself. Would you like that, children?"
"Yes, Oui. Pappy!" and the children clapped and applauded.
They jumped on Jarrod and he sat down on the floor with them. The room was filled with joy and laughter. Lia unpacked their bags and they even got her laughing with their antics.
Charles stood in the hall grinning ear to ear. "This is what Mr. Jarrod has always needed."
Jarrod went downstairs and went through the mail. He looked at his watch and decided he had time to run an errand and stop by his office too. He kissed Liesel goodbye as she was going over a grocery list and menus with Charles.
"Once we get settled, we will spend a couple of nights in the city. Just you and I "
He went to Abraham's first and was greeted by Riva.
"Ah Mr. Barkley, congratulations on your marriage-Mazel Tov!. "
"Bracha & Hatslacha!" (Hebrew for "blessing and success".)
"May your marriage be blessed with a lifetime of love and happiness."
"Thank you, Riva"
Abraham came out of the back "Ah Jarrod, I have your gifts for your bride ready. How is Benjamin?"
"He is traveling to Texas on a case for me. I hope to hear from him in a few days."
"Riva and I can never thank you enough for what you have done for our nephew. "
"He is a good man. You have raised him well"
Abraham unrolled the velvet wrap on the jewelry. "First, I finished off the edges of the huge amethyst into a brooch and necklace."
"It is fabulous, Abraham. I never dreamed."
Then he handed Jarrod the wedding ring,
"I was able to use the loose amethysts too with your mother's pearls and the emeralds you gave me. The gold is from the mine nuggets."
"It's perfect, Abraham. I have been so busy with Audra and Scott, then becoming a father, catching up on the ranch business and my law practice, then that damnable panther business, and now managing Breckinridge holdings, I feel like Liesel has been neglected somehow and I don't want that."
"Jarrod—-and don't think of me, impertinent. You told me you only knew her a few weeks before you wed and you have now been married a month. It's not enough, my friend. I am just an old man, an Alte Kocker. Riva, she's the matchmaker" and he smiled.
( Elderly person, old-timer; "A crotchety, fussy, ineffectual old man in Yiddish)
Jarrod grinned remembering all the times she tried to fix him up or encouraged him to wed. "You need a good woman, Jarrod Barkley"
"The ancient Jews did not conscript men into the army for one year after they were married. It was thought a couple needed at least a year to get to know each other. When we bring brides over from the old country, we tell them to spend time together —-and not just after the lamps are trimmed. It makes for long blessed life. Get to know your Liesel. It pays off my friend."
"Thank you Abraham for your wise advice as usual"
He had a cup of coffee with his old friends and headed the six blocks to his office.
"Afternoon Mr. Barkley", smiled the receptionist where he shared office space with others in the firm. "We have a small parcel of mail that we held until you got here. It doesn't appear to be anything pressing but of course, we didn't open anything marked personal."
Jarrod's stomach dropped remembering the night at the creek where he almost lost Liesel and his own life to the panther. Ghislaine's letter and her damn photograph were burned in his memory, not in lust but in anger.
Nate Springer and Tom Lightfoot came down the hall and greeted Jarrod. "This calls for a drink! San Francisco's most eligible bachelor has been captured by a French heiress."
He grinned his most charming smile. "Guilty as charged."
A reporter waiting for an attorney interview listened as Jarrod was congratulated on his recent marriage. She jotted down the details for the society column. The Stockton attorney was not a stranger to the social pages and this definitely warranted an update on his life.
He went into his friends' office for a drink and to be caught up on the legal proceedings at the firm.
"Breckinridge holdings, Jarrod? That's a pretty big undertaking with all the irons you have in the fire."
"I know. I know." and he sighed. He sipped on his scotch.
"You know we are here for you Jarrod. We would be glad to help any way you need us."
"Thanks. I am swallowing my pride and already asking. I brought young Ben Issacson to Stockton and gave him a case I would have normally taken on myself for a family friend. I know he's young but I trust him. I am planning on bringing him into a junior partnership in Stockton."
They caught up on the events of the past month: his marriage, London, Paris, LeHavre, Audra, the panther, adopting the children, Beaufort shipping.
Nate seriously looked at Jarrod, "That made me tired just listening. I can begin looking over the trusts Breckenridge set up. I can start getting some ideas from investors I trust."
"Nate, that would be a big help."
Tom added, "You would be here for us. We are here for you old friend. I don't take it lightly that you saved my life. I can start the adoption papers in the morning."
"Thanks, Tom. Remember they have to be kept strictly confidential. I am planning on getting Judge Miller to sign off. He isn't swayed by wealth and power. We need to look into French inheritance laws as well from their father."
"Let's get together at our home in a week-next Friday for dinner. Our wives will want to meet Liesel, and I would like to get a peek at the little lady who finally captured my bachelor friend," added Nate as they walked off. Jarrod grinned widely.
Jarrod accepted their help and invitation, thanked them again, and walked to his office. He would go through the mail here just in case.
And he was correct in his assumption, another letter from Ghislaine was in the stack. It went straight into the receptacle, torn up into pieces without being opened.
A transAtlantic cable had arrived from Captain Beaufort. He opened it.
Contact Beaufort Shipping for important information.
Jarrod took a deep breath, "I knew it was inevitable. Just didn't think it would be this soon."
"Here's some good news." as he opened the telegram acceptance of the appeal in Modesto.
An invitation to the French consulate was next in the stack:
Mr. and Mrs. Jarrod Thomas Barkley, esquire.
Your presence is requested at a soirée at the French Consulate in San Francisco.
"That's in three days. I will ask Liesel. I doubt she will want to attend."
He turned the invitation over, Mr. Barkley, it is requested by Madame Marie de Beaufort that you attend. Ambassadeur Popou.
It intrigued him that it was written in a woman's handwriting.
He placed the cable and the invitation inside his jacket and sighed.
"I was hoping for a quiet first night as a family"
—&—-