Chapter 7

Jarrod and Adeline rode into town together. He dropped her off at the dressmakers and she told him she would meet him at his office. He didn't plan to work long but wanted to get in touch with Pinkerton's to get the investigation going. Jarrod was eager to meet his daughter and bring her home.

His daughter. He couldn't believe it. As Adeline had the night before, he wondered what kind of life she had been living. What were they going to do if she were in a loving home? They couldn't upset her world and yet, she was a Barkley. He wanted her home with him and Adeline. He wanted his daughter to know her grandmother and her uncles and aunt. Jarrod was torn. He didn't want his daughter to be growing up in circumstances that would require her being removed from her home and yet, he wanted her with them.

He realized that he and Adeline hadn't talked about Meredith since she had told him about her. They needed to talk about every possibility, be aware of every possible thing that could happen.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. He called for whoever it was to enter and was delighted to see his wife. He stood and walked to her, drawing her into his arms. He kissed her with passion and loved how she responded to him. Since it was the middle of the day, they had a very good chance of being interrupted, so Jarrod didn't let things go too far. It took every ounce of his self control to keep from laying his wife down on the settee and ravishing her. He broke off the kiss and looked into her bright blue eyes. The flush to her cheeks only weakened his resolve.

"Well, Mrs. Barkley," he said, loving the sound of the name. "Were you able to purchase what you needed?"

Adeline smiled. "I was. I was also able to order two new dresses and Sally even had one that I could take with me today. I can't wait for you to see it."

"I've sent a telegram to Pinkertons, and I should hear back from them tomorrow or at the latest, the day after. They'll probably send an agent to discuss details with us."

Adeline nodded, her face serious.

"We need to talk, Adeline. I want to know everything you know before we talk to the investigator. I was thinking," he said, drawing her close again, "that we could go for a picnic. I know of a beautiful spot by a stream."

Adeline couldn't keep the smile from her face and Jarrod leaned in and kissed her.

"I'm all done here, so we can go."

Jarrod locked up his office and escorted his wife to the waiting buggy. He remembered something he needed from his office and ran back up. Adeline waited patiently for him and he was back in just a few minutes.


They both changed into more casual clothes while Silas packed them a lunch. They then rode out to their favorite spot, a place they had not been together in ten years. Adeline got down from her horse and walked around, loving the fact that this place had not changed. If anything, it had gotten more beautiful. She turned around and found that Jarrod had placed a blanket on the ground and set out their lunch. She joined him and the two ate quietly for a time, lost in their thoughts.

"What if she's in a good home, Jarrod?" Adeline's soft words brought Jarrod's head up. Before he could answer she went on, "And what if she isn't? I can't stand the thought of her suffering in any way, but I want her with us."

Jarrod reached over and took Adeline's hand. He brought it to his lips, kissing it softly.

"I don't know, Adeline. We need to be prepared for either possibility. I want her with us too, but..."

Adeline couldn't stop the tears from falling. Jarrod wiped each one with his hand as they fell. He then leaned in and began kissing them away. Adeline accepted his kisses and the two gave in to their passions. There were no inhibitions by either one and it turned out to be one of the most passionate times they had ever spent together.

Afterwards, as they lay next to one another, Jarrod decided he wanted them to go back to San Francisco for a while. They had been apart too long and he wanted to enjoy his wife fully. Not be concerned with being overheard during their time alone together. Adeline rose and began to dress and Jarrod followed her. They then decided to go for a walk.

When they had been walking for about a half hour, Adeline said, "I'm sorry about your father, Jarrod. I heard about it several months after his death. I wanted to write to you, but..." Adeline's voice drifted off.

Jarrod squeezed her hand. "I understand. He liked you a lot. When I told the family that things were over between us, he seemed sad."

"What did you tell them?"

Jarrod sighed. "That it wasn't going to work. Later on, my father tried to get me to talk to him, but I told him I accepted the way things had to be and asked that he leave it at that. He did as I asked, but I could tell he wanted to press further."

"Your father was a wonderful man. And Heath seems nice too. He reminds me of Tom."

Jarrod smiled. "Heath is a lot like father. Especially in the way he looks. But also in the way he loves the ranch. He and Nick are the perfect complement to one another. Nick's a lot like Father as well. He has his personality."

"You have a lot of your father in you too, Jarrod. Maybe not in looks, though I can see him in your eyes. But a lot of your mannerisms remind me of him."

Jarrod smiled. Adeline loved listening to Jarrod as he talked about his family. She was thankful to be a part of it now. When he had caught her up on the details of the family, she couldn't help but smile at the fact little Eugene was now a grown man living in Europe, following his dream of being a doctor. She looked forward to seeing him again one day.

Her thoughts turned back to Jarrod and she sighed, feeling guilty.

"Jarrod, I'm sorry for...for that night on the train. If I hadn't given in and asked you to stay, then none of this would be happening."

Jarrod stopped to looked at Adeline, his face serious.

"Adeline, there is something you need to understand. I don't regret what happened that night. No, maybe it wasn't proper and maybe we should have waited, but what if we had? Would you have sought me out after Cedric's death? Would we be married now? I knew that there was a possibility that we created a child that first night. I wasn't as careful as I should have been. I intended to talk to you about it, but..." Jarrod ran a frustrated hand through his hair. He then straightened and looked her in the eye. "And I refuse to label our daughter a mistake. She was created out of our love for each other, not because we gave in to a moment of weakness."

Adeline couldn't stop the tears and Jarrod drew her close. Adeline's tears were more than just from what he had said. She knew that they wouldn't be together now because if it hadn't been for her, Beth would still be alive. It was her fault that Beth had died and Jarrod needed to know. But before she could say anything, he started to speak.

"I have something for you." He led her back to their horses and he opened the saddle bag. He pulled out an envelope and handed it to her. She opened the letter and then looked up at Jarrod.

"You kept this?" she whispered.

Jarrod nodded, a slight smile on his face. Her eyes went back to the letter, re-reading the words she had written to him after leaving to marry Cedric. When Jarrod began reciting the words to her, she looked up, his eyes holding hers.

"There can be miracles,

When you believe.

Though hope is frail,

It's hard to kill.

Who knows what miracles,

You can achieve.

When you believe,

Somehow you will.

You will when you believe."**

When he finished speaking, Adeline noticed he held in his hand a small box. He opened the box and took out a beautiful ring. Adeline gasped, her right hand going to her mouth. Jarrod placed the ring on her left hand's ring finger. It fit perfectly.

"I bought this ring two days before you left with Cedric. I was going to ask you to marry me, but...well...In any event, I kept the ring and the letter hoping for a miracle. And this is our miracle, Addy. I'm hoping for one more. That we can bring our daughter home and be a family. And maybe even give Meredith some brothers and sisters," he added and Adeline smiled. She admitted, she had been hoping the same thing.

Adeline's heart was too full to speak. Jarrod sensed she didn't want to talk any more so they silently cleaned up their picnic lunch and headed for home.


Later that evening, Jarrod, Nick and Heath were involved in a game of billiards. The ladies had gone up to Audra's room to look at some new dresses she had purchased.

Nick had something on his mind that he wanted to say but wanted to make sure the ladies wouldn't overhear him. He didn't want to risk hurting his new sister-in-law. While Jarrod was taking a shot, Nick poured himself and his brothers a drink. He handed each one a glass before claiming his own and proposed a toast.

"To dear brother Jarrod and his new bride."

They each took a drink and then Nick refilled the glasses.

"You know Jarrod. I'm glad that you and Adeline are married and everything," Nick began. Jarrod looked up from his drink, wondering what Nick was going to say.

"Is there some reason why you didn't want us there?"

Jarrod chuckled but then grew serious when he took a good look at Nick. He wasn't kidding. Jarrod looked over at Heath who was being quiet. Jarrod hadn't intentionally left his family out of his wedding plans in either case. The marriage to Beth was literally a spur of the moment thing. And with Adeline...

"I'm sorry, Nick. Heath. I didn't mean to leave you out of anything. It's just...Well, I lost Adeline once before and I didn't want to take a chance on losing her again. Just so you know, she did ask about waiting until we got here, but...I don't know. I couldn't go another moment without her as my wife. I had waited ten years. I couldn't wait anymore."

"I think I understand, Pappy. Just know that we want to be a part of your life," Nick said the words quietly. Jarrod nodded and patted his brother on the back. Heath gave him a lopsided grin to let him know everything was fine.

"Well now, how about the three of us go on a little camping trip. Just for a few days. Make it a celebration of Jarrod's marriage!" Nick enthusiastically suggested.

Jarrod tried to look happy with the idea, but he didn't want to be away from Adeline right now. He hoped Nick wouldn't get upset when he told him no. Thankfully, Heath came to his rescue.

"That's a great idea, Nick. But somehow, I think Jarrod and Adeline are going to be busy with trying to find Meredith. Maybe when things settle down."

Jarrod looked over at Heath and saw his slight wink. Jarrod smiled his thanks. Nick agreed to wait awhile, but he was determined for the three brothers to spend some quality time together soon.


The detective from Pinkerton's arrived in Stockton several days later. Jarrod and Adeline gave him the name of the doctor who had delivered Meredith, her birth date and other essential information. The meeting lasted for over an hour and by the time the investigator left, Adeline's emotions were raw. The ache in her throat from the unshed tears was almost too much to bear. She slowly made her way up to their room.

After seeing the other man to the door, Jarrod went in search of his wife, knowing she was upset. He found her standing at the window, but he could tell she wasn't really seeing anything. He went up to her and put his arms around her. It was all Adeline needed to release her pent up emotions. She sobbed against him and he held her, letting his own tears fall as well. There was no guarantee that they would ever find their daughter. They both agreed that if she was in a loving and happy home, they would leave her be so as not to upset her world. They would write to the parents and explain their situation and ask that Meredith be allowed to contact them some day. They would not make any moves to take her from her home. Unless she wasn't being cared for. That thought hurt Adeline more than anything.

After a while, Adeline lifted her face to Jarrod and kissed him. He gladly returned the kiss and the two found comfort in one another's arms. As they lay in the afterglow of their time together, Adeline again thought of the secret she carried and wondered if she would ever have the courage to tell her husband. She looked toward the dresser and saw the spot where Beth's picture had been. Jarrod had insisted on moving it and had placed it on the desk so that it wasn't quite as visible. Adeline was thankful for his thoughtfulness toward her, but truly wasn't bothered by the picture. Beth had been Jarrod's wife and she knew he had loved her. And Beth must have loved Jarrod. How could she not?

Adeline snuggled closer to Jarrod and he tightened his arms around her. He began to kiss her again and she couldn't help but smile. Again they were lost in their own world.


Jarrod had informed the investigator from Pinkerton's, John Hampton, that if he needed to contact them before the end of the month, that they would be in San Francisco. Jarrod had a court case coming up that needed his attention.

Jarrod spent his days at his office working on his case, and his nights in the arms of his wife. Life was almost perfect. The only drawback was not knowing where their daughter was. John had been in contact with them keeping them updated on any new developments. So far, there hadn't been any major breaks, but Jarrod and Adeline remained hopeful.

They had been in San Francisco for three weeks when Adeline came down with a fever. Jarrod sent for a doctor, even though Adeline insisted she just needed rest. The doctor agreed with Adeline and ordered her to rest and drink lots of fluids. Jarrod stayed by her side, even when she couldn't keep anything down. He held her hair back for her as she wretched and wiped her face when she was done. Adeline would have cried at his tenderness but was too weak to even do that. Her fever spiked and she became delirious. The doctor was called back, but just said for Jarrod to keep on doing what he was doing.

Adeline began talking in her delirium. Jarrod couldn't understand a lot of what she was saying, but caught references to Cedric, Meredith, and himself. Just before her fever broke, Adeline began saying something over and over that puzzled Jarrod. He stayed by her side and was thankful that she was finally sleeping peacefully.

When she woke the next morning, Jarrod was by her side in bed, watching her. She smiled at him and he smiled back, but didn't like how pale she was. Before he could stop himself he asked, "What do you mean Beth had to die because of you?"


**Words from the poem is from the song "When You Believe" from the movie the Prince Of Egypt.