Chapter 4
After three weeks of relaxation at the Barkley Ranch, Jarrod and Adeline made their way back across the country. Their trip would take almost a week, but they both admitted enjoying their time together. During the day, they watched the countryside pass and when they stopped to transfer to a different train, they would take short walks together.
They had made it to Chicago and found out that their train would be delayed several hours due to mechanical problems. Jarrod and Adeline decided to eat an early dinner then take a stroll. Not being familiar with the city, they soon found themselves in a more seedy part of Chicago. They were both beginning to feel uneasy and had just decided to turn back when they were confronted by a rather large man.
He looked as though he hadn't bathed in weeks, his hair was matted and when he opened his mouth, several teeth were blackened. His eyes were bloodshot and it was clear he needed a bottle. He unsheathed a knife, causing Adeline to gasp. Jarrod tried to step in front of Adeline so that he would be between her and the offending man, but the would-be robber was surprisingly quick. He grabbed Adeline's arm and jerked her toward him.
"Now, fancy boy. Jus gimme some money and I'll let yer friend go."
Jarrod never took his eyes off the man as he reached for his wallet. He cursed himself for leaving his gun in his case back on the train. He threw a few bills at the man. The man smiled wickedly and started to shove Adeline away from him then hesitated. He looked over at her, his gaze traveling up and down her form and said, "Well, now. You are a cute little thing aren't you? Maybe you and I can go have a drink together, get acquainted like. Been a while since I been able to be with a woman."
Adeline's face registered shock and horror at what the repulsive man was suggesting. She looked over at Jarrod, his face a mask of anger. Before either knew what was happening, Jarrod lunged forward and grabbed Adeline's arm. She screamed out in pain as the knife from their assailant plunged into her upper arm. Jarrod and Adeline ran as fast as they could, making their escape. They didn't stop until they had reached the train station. Jarrod drew Adeline to himself and it was then he noticed her pale face and the blood that covered her arm.
He hadn't realized she had been stabbed and fear nearly overtook him. Her arm was bleeding profusely. A porter came to their aid and took them to an office inside the train depot. A doctor was summoned and arrived within minutes. Jarrod and Adeline were both in a state of shock, but Jarrod recovered quickly as a police officer began asking him questions. The doctor stitched up Adeline's arm, stating that although the cut was deep, it would probably heal quickly. He saw no reason they couldn't continue their journey.
As the train pulled out of Chicago, Adeline and Jarrod sat next to one another, still stunned by the events of the evening. Jarrod finally suggested they turn in and get some rest. It was early still, but both were emotionally exhausted.
Keeping his arm possessively around her waist, Jarrod escorted her to her sleeper. He walked in with her and for his piece of mind, checked to make sure her room was clear. She thanked him softly and he turned to go. He promised to come and get her for breakfast and reminded her that he was just next door if she needed him.
Jarrod felt incredibly guilty for allowing Adeline to get hurt. He berated himself over and over for not paying attention to their surroundings. He should have been more aware and he should have taken his gun with him. Knowing he wouldn't be able to get to sleep without talking to her about it, Jarrod walked to Adeline's berth and knocked softly. She called for him to come in and found her sitting on her small bed, her nightgown in her hand. He had left her over an hour before and wondered why she was still dressed.
Adeline looked up at him, her cheeks a bright pink, showing her embarrassment.
"I can't reach the buttons on the back of my blouse," she stated. Jarrod's eyes widened. He cursed to himself for not thinking about that.
"Here, let me help you."
He meant only to unbutton her blouse and then leave to give her some privacy. About halfway through his task he realized what he was doing. Adeline had closed her eyes at his touch, loving how his hands would just slightly touch her back. Jarrod finished and then turned Adeline around to face him.
Neither said anything for a moment. Adeline couldn't tear her eyes away from Jarrod's, loving the intensity of his gaze.
"I'm sorry Addy. It's all my fault," he finally whispered.
Adeline's brow creased and she shook her head a little, telling him she didn't know what he was talking about.
"I'm sorry for not paying attention today. For letting you get hurt."
"Oh Jarrod. It isn't your fault. I should have been paying attention as well. It's just my thoughts were..." She looked away from him, color rising in her cheeks.
Her words drifted off and Jarrod wondered what she was going to say.
"Your thoughts were...?"
She swallowed and looked up at him. "I was thinking about that day we went to the stream and how I wished I hadn't stopped us from..."
Jarrod smiled. Truth be told, that's where his thoughts had been as well. Jarrod drew Adeline to himself and held her close, careful not to touch her injured arm.
"Adeline," he whispered in her ear, "I want to stay with you here tonight. I promise I'll sleep on the floor. I just need to be near you. You can trust me."
Adeline was silent and Jarrod thought she was feeling pressured. He wanted to assure her and was about to say something when he heard her speak.
"I don't want you on the floor, Jarrod."
Jarrod tried not to feel too disappointed, nor was he angry with her. He was determined to show her he wasn't upset and pulled back from her. He opened his mouth to speak but she put her finger on his lips.
"I want you to stay with me Jarrod. You don't know how I've regretted stopping us that day by the stream."
Jarrod wondered if he had heard her correctly and he didn't want to take a chance.
"Adeline, are you sure?" his deep voice causing Adeline to almost tremble in anticipation.
Adeline put her hand behind his neck, drawing his face close to hers. She placed a kiss on his lips, and he could feel her deepening the kiss. He hungrily kissed her and crushed her to himself. He heard her moan and pulled back.
"I don't want to hurt you," he said, thinking of her arm.
"You can't Jarrod. You are incapable of hurting me."
The look on her face showed him that she trusted him completely. He lifted her up and placed her on the bed. She was sitting up, her eyes holding his as he removed her blouse. Again he looked in her eyes, wanting to make absolutely sure she knew what was about to happen and give her a chance to stop it. At the same time he was hoping she wouldn't change her mind. He ached to be with her completely. Adeline stared back at him and then a seductive smile played across her lips. Jarrod returned her warm smile and leaned in to kiss her gently. His kisses started on her mouth and then traveled down her neck. Adeline moaned in delight, leaning her head back to allow him more freedom to explore. His lips moved to the hollow of her neck and his tongue darted out to taste the sweet saltiness of her skin.
Afterwards, their passions spent, Jarrod held Adeline close and kissed her injured arm. He hoped he had not hurt her, but she didn't seem bothered by it.
As Jarrod thought on their time together, he realized that this was the first time he had ever made love to a woman. It wasn't the first time he had ever been with a woman. He had actually had quite a bit of experience. His father had once taken him to a well respected brothel in San Francisco and paid for him to have a few hours with a woman named Greta. Jarrod had enjoyed his time with her immensely. There had been others as well but never had he made love to them. He had only sought a release. With Adeline, the woman he wanted to marry and spend the rest of his life with, he had loved her completely. They fell asleep, each thinking about their shared time.
Jarrod wasn't sure what it was that had woken him up, but he found he was alone in the small bed. It was still dark outside and the one small lamp on the wall burned just enough to let him see around the room.
Adeline was sitting over in the corner looking at him. He sat up and swung his legs over the bed. Adeline didn't take her eyes from him as he wrapped the sheet around himself and walked over to her. She had put her nightgown on sometime during the night and Jarrod found his eyes drawn to the v-neck. He looked back up in her eyes and saw her slight smile.
"What are you doing up?" he asked softly, a hand coming to caress her cheek as he knelt in front of her.
Adeline looked away and sighed.
"I had a nightmare. Couldn't get back to sleep."
"Why didn't you wake me?" Jarrod asked, taking her hands in his own.
"I didn't want to bother you."
He leaned in and placed a kiss on her lips. "I wouldn't have minded. Want to talk about it?"
She shook her head. She didn't want to talk at all. She wanted to be in his arms again, feel his arms around her, making her forget about the events of the previous day. Jarrod seemed to sense her desire and stood. He held his hand out to her and she took it, walking with him to the bed.
Since she knew more of what to expect, Adeline became bolder. He in turn helped her to forget her worries and the two rose to the heights of pleasure once again. Adeline slept dreamlessly the rest of the night and Jarrod lay for a long time watching her.
They arrived in Cambridge and Jarrod walked Adeline to the boarding house where she had rented a room. It was difficult for them to part and Jarrod was tempted to ask Adeline to come home with him. He had rented a small apartment and knew there would be more than enough room for them both. He even thought about talking to Judge Stein about performing their wedding ceremony the next day but felt he would be cheating Adeline out of something special. It was a decision he would later regret.
Jarrod's first day of clerking for Judge Stein was a learning experience. The man was a perfectionist in everything and he demanded that Jarrod be the same way. Jarrod enjoyed the challenge and soon had the elderly man's respect. Jarrod was a hard worker and that was something the Judge found refreshing.
A week after they had returned, Jarrod made his way to the boarding house where Adeline was staying. They had only been able to see each other once and that was for a brief time. Jarrod had worked late every night, making sure he was doing everything correctly.
When he knocked on the front door, he was greeted by Mrs. Kingsly, the owner of the boarding house. She smiled as she welcomed Jarrod in and led him to the parlor. She went to tell Adeline she had a visitor and Jarrod couldn't wait to see her. Judge Stein had given him the next day off and Jarrod knew he wanted to spend it with Adeline. He smiled at the thought of being able to see her again. Plus, he had a plan. He had stopped by a small jewelry store on his way home from work the other day and found the perfect ring. It was elegant and screamed Adeline's name. He was going to give it to her on the morrow at their picnic.
His smile died on his face when she walked in. That she had been crying was obvious, though she had tried to hide it. He opened his mouth to ask her what was wrong when she shook her head, her eyes telling him not to ask now. He asked if she wanted to take a walk and she nodded. He reached for her hand, but she refused to take it. This puzzled him as she had never refused him before. Perhaps she was upset with him for not coming by more often during the week. The thought made him angry. She knew what he was doing was important and she would just have to work through it.
Another thought calmed his slowly burning anger. What if she were feeling guilty about their time together on the train? That thought cause him to reconsider everything and he was working a response in his mind when she spoke.
"My father showed up today, Jarrod."
That simple statement explained her tears. Jarrod felt some relief and reached out his hand to her. She took it and held on tightly.
"Is it hard for you to see him again?" he asked.
"He had someone with him."
Jarrod thought perhaps Adeline's father had remarried. Surely, she wouldn't be upset about that since it had been twelve years since her mother had died.
"Who?"
Adeline couldn't meet his eyes as she whispered, "My fiancé."
