Chapter Five
Audra, Isabella, and Scotty got off the morning train excited for their first outing together, the horse auction. Audra asked for directions to the hotel and tipped the porter to take their bags.
Isabella looked around in awe. Hundreds of cowboys in the streets, visiting on the boardwalks and lined out of the various saloons. Several loud catcalls called out and Isabella blushed. Audra waved them off.
"This is nothing. You don't want to be in town after a big cattle drive. Money to burn, they haven't had a drink or woman in months. It's dangerous and not safe to be on the streets. These men have money in their pockets but they have come here with a purpose-horseflesh. They know what they want and stay sober enough to get it done. We may have some inappropriate offers but we are safe."
They checked into the hotel. Nick had left a note they had gone out to a ranch a few miles away and they would meet up at dinner. He made reservations at 7 pm next door.
Isabella unpacked and Audra fed Scotty.
"I am glad I brought the Moses basket. She will be out of it soon but it holds so many memories already. I can see Scott putting her down to sleep in it and us carrying it out to the pond to fish. I am thankful Liesel shared it." she took a deep breath and became lost in her memories."
"Wouldn't it be grand if Jarrod and Liesel have a little one to use the basket next time, perchance?"
They let Scotty sleep for two hours and they quietly visited.
Audra shared memories of growing up Barkley—-her first meeting with Heath at the grave, even the hotel room. Isabella's eyes grew big in the last story.
"I didn't think it through well. What if he wasn't my brother?"
Isabella shared stories of being the youngest of seven girls. "Liesel has always been my heroine. She is the strongest person I have ever known. I didn't want to live in France without her."
They talked until Scotty stirred.
"Let's go see what shopping is like in this town? Maybe we can find a candy store? Take some new recipes back to your beau?"
"Audra, he's not my beau-yet. As I told you, I allowed him to hold my hand and agreed to see him again. That's all. We will see."
"Senoritas, senoritas" called Don Alfredo Montero from the boardwalk as they passed through the crowds. Audra stopped out of politeness only.
"It's Senora Breckinridge, Don Alfredo." she curtly replied.
"A thousand pardons Senora. I have been gone from the valley quite a while to know that you were married. "
"I am recently widowed; this is my daughter. And my dear friend and companion, Miss Isabella Beaufort."
"Please, lovely ladies, let me buy you a cool drink. I am waiting for my nephew, Maria and her husband. They just crossed the street for a moment."
"Another time, Senor Montero. Good day."
He looked at Isabella, "Forgive my impertinence but are you related to Captain Beaufort of Beaufort Shipping? I have done quite a bit of business with him in Madrid."
"Yes sir. I am his youngest daughter. My sisters, Adrienne and Elizabeth have married Eugene and Jarrod Barkley. I have come to California with Liesel and her family."
"Very wise matches for the Barkleys."
Audra slightly flinched. Isabella sensed that the conversation was annoying her.
Just then a beautiful woman and two very handsome men joined them. Don Alfredo introduced them,
"My daughter Maria and her husband, Roberto. My nephew and namesake Alfredo." and both men bowed.
They curtsied back.
"My friends call me Al. I would like to have that pleasure from you two lovely ladies" and he kissed their hands.
"Si Senor" quietly answered Isabella.
"Hablas español?
She nodded.
"A lady of many languages, pardon mademoiselle au contraire?"
She laughed. "You speak French, too?"
"Yes, the language of romance."
Maria looked at Audra and softly said, "I am sorry for your loss, Audra. Your baby is beautiful. I have yet to be blessed in that way; I pray it will be soon." she said sadly.
She peered over the blanket longingly.
Audra's countenance changed, looking at the beautiful Maria with such sadness in her eyes, "Would you like to hold her?"
"Please por favor." she smiled and cooed with the little girl. Scotty smiled toothlessly and kicked her feet.
As Audra handed her daughter to her one-time friend. She noticed Maria had grown more beautiful in the years since she left Heath. But there was a sense of sadness unspoken between the ladies.
"Ladies, will you join us for an afternoon coffee?"
Audra went to say no but saw the pleading look in Maria's eyes.
"Of course. A cup sounds good."
The ladies accompanied the Monteros into a small cafe near them.
Maria caught Audra's arm as the men stood in line for a table.
"I am so sorry for how things turned out with our families. You were the only friend I had in the valley and I do not expect you to understand. We come from different families. I did care about your brother very much. I am happily married of course but I have regrets about what I did. Roberto and I are very happy."
"Maria, I am not the same person I was three years ago. I have learned people are not always as they seem and immature decisions sometimes turn into our destinies. It's Heath that deserves an apology."
"I understand what you mean. Thank you. Is Heath well? Married?"
"He is well and runs our ranch with Nick very efficiently. As good as Father according to my brothers. Maybe better according to Mother. He has not married. He is a very doting Uncle to Nick's three children and Scotty. And now to Jarrod's two little ones. Liesel was a widow."
Maria gave her first unrestrained smile as they were called to their tables. Al immediately held back and walked with Isabella. He offered her his arm.
She was still processing the conversation that just occurred. All she could figure out was Heath and Maria were once in love. It overwhelmed her as she stared at the great beauty and elegance of Maria Montero.
They spent an hour with tea cakes and tea with coffee for the men. Don Alfredo was very personable with the ladies and spent the rest of his time talking cattle, land, and horses with his son-in-law. Roberto was Oxford-educated, raised in Spain, and a horse breeder in Leon. He was trying to begin a University in Mexico. Maria was involved in bringing literacy to Leon's men and women.
Maria and Audra caught up and Al spent the hour conversing with Isabella.
Heath and Ed walked into the coffee shop; Heath stopped in his tracks seeing the Monteros at the table with his sister and Isabella laughing and talking.
Ed said, "We have been looking for you everywhere. Nick got a telegram and has left for Texas. He left a few minutes ago."
"Oh dear, Ben?"
Heath still had not said a word so Ed looked at him strangely and answered for him, "Yes he is missing according to the Pinkerton and the Fort Worth land agent."
'Oh no, I am so worried for him. Do you know what Ben was doing in Texas?"
Ed still answered, "No, just on a case for Jarrod."
Heath finally broke his look at Maria. Her husband was confused and her father was glaring. His gaze went to Al holding Isabella's palm. She pulled her hand back when she saw the anger on Heath's face.
Audra noticed his look, "Al was showing Bella her lifeline according to the palm readers in Seville."
Heath nodded, "I will see you at dinner, Audra." and he walked out.
Ed shrugged his shoulders and said his goodbyes.
"Mestizo grosero" muttered Don Alfredo.
Bella's eyes grew big, "I speak Spanish and Heath is not a rude half-breed. He is my brother-in-law." she spoke firmly.
Maria's father looked sheepish as the rest of the table agreed with Isabella; even his own nephew and son-in-law looked at him in disgust.
Maria looked as if she would cry. Her husband patted her arm.
He quickly apologized, "Forgive an old man, Senora Audra, and Senorita Isabella. I was wrong to open an old wound on such a delightful afternoon."
Scotty coincidentally began to fuss and Audra made their excuses to leave. The men got up as the ladies stood to leave. Al walked them to the door.
"I am new to this country too, Isabella. I would like to see you again? I apologize again for my Uncle's rudeness. He is of another century in his thinking."
Audra spoke up for Isabella, "Yes he was out of line and backward thinking but we shall not hold it against you. We are staying at the hotel and we may run into you again at the horse sale. Good day."
And she turned with her daughter to walk out.
Al took Bella's arm, "I would like to see you again here or in Stockton."
She smiled at the handsome man, "The Barkley's are my guardians. You will have to ask their permission first, please."
He kissed her hand, "I will."
Al sat back down at the table; Maria excused herself to the water closet angry at her Father and overwhelmed seeing Heath again. "He was even more handsome than she remembered in her dreams."
"Roberto, that was the half-breed that dared to try to marry Maria. The rest of the family is of excellent quality. I still to this day do not understand how Victoria Barkley took that bastard into her home."
He nodded awkwardly, not sure what he should say. Maria had told him all about her time with Heath and they had a happy union since they married in his opinion.
"Al, my godson, you might do well pursuing the Beaufort girl. Her family is one of the wealthiest on the continent with bloodlines intermingled with John of Gaunt and the English throne. Her family has connections in the highest echelons of Europe."
He grinned widely, "Beautiful and wealthy. That is pleasing news."
"Ah, youth." Don Alfredo dismissed his nephew and missed the look of disgust on Roberto's face. "Maria was right about not wanting to come home. She did not exaggerate her father's pompous self. As soon as I get those breeding stock, we will go back to Leon. Education is the future of Mexico"
McColl brought the telegram into the big house for the family. "Nick is headed to Texas. Ben Isaacsson has been missing five days. I am to send a message along with his route stations if anything happens at home with Katarina or the family."
Nick had caught a drover car out of town and headed to Jacksboro, for Carl, and for Jarrod.
Jarrod received his telegram just as he was leaving for the soiree at the French Consulate.
"Damn. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have sent a young green attorney into a corrupt county controlled by the Magness family. The Wheelers warned us they wouldn't stop until they destroyed him. I am glad Nick is going but it's not a good time to be leaving his family either."
Liesel straightened his hair after he ran his fingers through in frustration.
She already knew better than to try to console him when he got this way. She straightened his tie again in the carriage and laid her head on his shoulder. He slowly unwound on the long ride to the consulate on the other side of town with Liesel quietly supporting him.
She really is my calm in a storm. I pray tonight doesn't bring any more surprises.
The manservant opened the door and they entered announced,
Mr. and Mrs. Jarrod Barkley, Esquire
The first person that greeted them was the French Ambassador and then the Governor of California. Liesel graciously charmed them both. Jarrod looked on in pride. Their wives were already kindly conversing with his—-his wife; I like the sound of that and to think I may have missed out on this—-if it weren't for Scott.
They were seated at the head table as the daughter of Captain Beaufort with the dignitaries. Dining on champagne, French, of course, oysters, fruit, and rice. The first three courses were elegantly presented on the silver trays.
Liesel conversed in French and English alternatively with grace. The governor spoke to Jarrod about the investment of the Carrington Bank and their visit next week. He asked him to bring them to Sacramento if they needed any more persuading.
He also discussed the expansion of Beaufort Shipping in San Francisco Harbor with the advent of his marriage. Jarrod hid his surprise and listened to a very lengthy discussion of the shipping lines. He would defer his opinion until he met with Harris Kirk on Monday. Obviously, this was an inkling of what would be offered. Knowing the Captain, he would wait to see what strings were attached to this new development.
Jarrod would look over and watch Liesel fluently navigating the conversations. She really did remind him of a royal consort. He could see the influence of Marie de Beaufort in raising Liesel. He was so very proud of his wife. She turned and caught him watching her. He winked and she squeezed his leg under the table. Their eyes were full of love and desire for each other.
At another table in the large room, another Worth gown, in the very same gold color, tried to observe the head table.
She could only get a glimpse of Elizabeth Beaufort Barkley. Hmmm, she is very beautiful, I must say but simple, a bit boring. Just as Charles said, self-righteous, a cold fish in the boudoir— Probably an arranged marriage.
Jarrod looked extremely handsome in his tie and tails. He was talking to the Governor. She made polite conversation and kept her dinner date quite occupied while trying to view the rest of the room.
"I shall wait until the dancing begins" and turned her attention back to the attentive, handsome Swiss banker and consul.
"Oh Pieter, dearest. I am parched. Can you get us more champagne?