Chapter 12

The next few days of school were much the same for Meredith. She couldn't seem to do anything right for her new teacher. Every night she would have so much homework and her arms would be sore from having to write sentences on the blackboard. And to top it all off, no one wanted to be her friend. One girl had tried speaking to her at lunch one day, but Miss Peters called the girl over to her and said something. The girl then shook her head and ran off in the other direction. Miss Peters glared at Meredith, who just sighed and sat on what she now termed as "her stump". The other children for the most part ignored her, but a few would send small smiles her way or give her a look of sympathy at the way she was being treated.

The frustration at not being able to do well in school, coupled with the anger she already had for her mother, was fast coming to a boiling point. Meredith had not taken the news of Jarrod's departure a few days before well and was very sullen. The only thing that seemed to bring a smile to her face were the riding lessons her Uncle Heath was giving her. Meredith was a quick learner and soon was doing well enough to ride short distances on her own. Meredith needed these few moments alone to quiet the rage that was building inside of her. And the object of that rage was soon to bear the brunt of it.

Adeline could tell that something wasn't right with her daughter, but their relationship was not one that would allow her to talk about it. She wished with all of her heart that Jarrod would return soon, but received word that he would have to be gone for several more days.

Addy was not looking forward to sharing the news with Meredith. She decided to wait until they got home and would tell her then so that she could take Misty, her grandmother's horse, out for ride, knowing that Meredith loved riding. The ride home was mostly made in silence. Just as they turned down the lane that would bring them up to the house Meredith asked when Jarrod would be home.

"Not for a few more days. He's had a complication and will be delayed."

Meredith didn't say anything, but in her frustration, kicked the front of the buggy.

"Meredith, please don't do that," Adeline admonished.

"Don't tell me what to do!" Meredith shouted.

"Meredith," Adeline said, shocked. She stopped in front of the barn and said, "You will not speak to me in that way. I'm your mother and-"

"Well, I wish you weren't! You've ruined everything! My life was fine before you found me. Why couldn't you have left me alone! I hate you!"

Adeline's eyes widened at Meredith's words. Meredith herself couldn't believe that the thoughts she had been having for the last week were now coming out of her mouth. Meredith jumped out of the buggy but Adeline made no move to stop her. She watched as her daughter ran toward the back of the house. Heath and Nick came from the barn, both having heard Meredith's raised voice.

Heath saw the look of hurt in his sister-in-law's eyes and wanted to comfort her, but she asked quietly for him to take care of the buggy and then walked into the house. Nick had been watching the direction in which Meredith had fled and made a move to go after her, but Heath held his arm.

"They have to resolve this themselves, Nick. We have to just let them be."

"But we can't let Meredith talk to Adeline like that."

"She's wrong and she knows it. But she has to be the one to make it right. There's a lot of anger that needs to be worked through. If we interfere, we might make it worse."

Nick nodded, but he was a man of action. He hated the "wait and see" approach, but knew that Heath was right. The two worked silently together as they put the horse and buggy away. Both were hoping that Jarrod's business would conclude soon and that he would be home.


Because of an increase in criminal activity brought on by the large numbers of men seeking their fortunes in California's gold mines, a State Prison system was established in 1851. Originally it was a private enterprise and a temporary prison was set up on the Waban, a 268 ton bark ship. As it quickly became overcrowded and escapes common, building began for a permanent facility on Port San Quentin in 1852, near the coast in San Francisco.

Jarrod Barkley had visited San Quentin a few times, the last time had been to see Keno Nash when he had been released from prison. Jarrod had prosecuted him and years later, evidence had been found that showed Keno had truly been innocent of the charges. Jarrod offered Keno a chance and the man reluctantly took it, but was able to make a good life for himself. He stayed at the ranch for a year, earning enough money to eventually marry Meg, his deceased friend's widow and the two moved to Nevada to start their own ranch. He got letters from Keno occasionally and was glad to know he was doing so well.

As Jarrod stood in the Warden's empty office, he tried to control his rage. The Warden had just that day been confronted with the fact that Cass Hyatt was living apart from the other prisoners in a section of the prison that almost looked like a house. Women were often seen coming and going from the cottage and Cass Hyatt was literally eating "high on the hog". Marshall Pierson's face paled as Jarrod and the Head of the State Prison System, Michael Warren, told him he was relieved of his duties and was then escorted out of the prison by armed guards. He would soon be joining the ranks of the prisoners he had been in charge of.

The door opened and Jarrod stood. Michael walked in and looked at Jarrod.

"Everything's all set. You sure you want to see him? You don't have to."

"Yes, I do."

Michael nodded and led Jarrod down a long walkway. After having several barred doors locked behind him, Jarrod was finally able to see the object of his fury. Cass Hyatt was sitting in his "cell", looking forward to his night. The warden had been by the day before and told him a new group of girls was coming in and he could have the pick of who he wanted. Could even take a couple as long as he didn't rough them up. The girls would be paid generously for their time spent with the prisoner.

Cass looked up as he heard footsteps approaching. He didn't recognize the first man, but the second, he knew well and his shock showed. He saw that look in Jarrod Barkley's eyes. The look that had haunted him for years; the look that had caused him to wake up many a night in a cold sweat. And the thing that scared him the most at this moment, was that he knew that Jarrod Barkley had somehow found out the truth about what had happened.

Jarrod didn't say a word, but watched as Cass was led from his comfortable residence to solitary. After a few days there, he would be put in a normal prison cell and integrated in with the other prisoners. He listened with some satisfaction to Cass's screams as he was being led away. Jarrod turned to his friend and told him thank you. Michael promised Jarrod that nothing like that would ever happen again, that Cass would finally be punished for his crimes.

Jarrod turned and walked away. He wanted to go home to see his wife and daughter, and finally put behind him the memory of Cass Hyatt.


It was mid-afternoon of the next day when Jarrod finally made it home. He let himself into the house, but didn't see anyone around. He set his hat, gunbelt and briefcase down on the table in the foyer, then made his way up the stairs. He peeked into his and Addy's room and saw her lying down. He could tell she wasn't asleep but she hadn't heard him come in. It wasn't until he sat down on the edge of bed, that she looked up.

"You're home!" she said, sitting up to wrap her arms around him. Jarrod held her close, drinking in the smell of her. He had missed her tremendously and couldn't wait to get home. He hated sleeping apart from her. He pulled back and it was then he noticed her tears.

"Addy, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing Jarrod. I'm just tired and the past few days have been a little rough."

"With Meredith?"

Adeline nodded. She quietly told Jarrod about Meredith's outburst and subsequent attitude toward her. He listened, his face becoming serious as he thought about his daughter. He knew she had some adjustments to make, but her behavior toward her mother was inexcusable.

"Just hearing those hateful words coming from that sweet child's mouth. It was horrible."

"I'll talk to her when I pick her up from school this afternoon. She'll apologize and it won't happen again," he said firmly.

"No! You can't Jarrod!"

"Adeline-"

"No Jarrod. She and I have to settle this between ourselves," she said, not realizing she was telling Jarrod exactly what Heath had told Nick. "If you interfere, you could damage the relationship you two have. Plus, she'll think she's being ganged up on and I won't have that. I know that Heath and Nick heard her and thankfully, they didn't say anything. Just let me figure out what to do. Please, stay out of this."

Against his better judgement, and very reluctantly, Jarrod nodded.

"Alright, but I'll not let her speak disrespectfully to you in my presence."

"Oh, she wouldn't, my darling. She adores you too much to risk upsetting you. We'll work it out. I promise," she said giving him a kiss.

Again Jarrod nodded. He had remembered then that he didn't see anyone around when he first came in the house. Adeline saw the look in his eyes that she loved so much.

"What are you thinking, Counselor?" she asked, knowing full well what was on his mind.

"I was just wondering where everyone was?" he said, his eyes roaming over her, and Adeline's body began to tingle with anticipation.

"Silas dropped your mother and sister off at the orphanage on the way to town; Nick and Heath left for Modesto this morning and will be back in a few days and Meredith doesn't get out of school for," she glanced at the clock and smiled, "at least three more hours."

"So we are all alone," Jarrod said, leaning in to kiss his wife.

"It would seem so," she said, accepting his kiss.

"How about a bath?" Jarrod asked, standing and bringing his wife up with him.

"Mmmmm...A bath sounds lovely."

The two made their way to the bathroom and slowly undressed each other. They climbed into the bathtub and explored one another for the next hour. They then made their way to their room where they brought one another to the heights of pleasure, going oh so slow and enjoying every moment of it. Afterwards, Jarrod noticed Adeline smiling and asked her what she was thinking.

"Oh, just that I wonder what your clients would say if they had seen you the way I did a half hour ago."

Jarrod laughed. "I'd probably lose quite a bit of business."

"On the contrary, I bet most of the women in town and around Stockton would find reasons to visit you and to get some legal advice!"

Jarrod rolled over on top of his wife and began to tickle her. She laughed with glee and then accepted him once again as his passion for her made itself known.

Later, as Jarrod and Adeline dressed, she asked if they could wait a while longer before telling anyone about the baby.

"I know you're eager to share the news with the family, but I just don't think it's a good time, not with how Meredith is toward me. Maybe we could wait a few more weeks?"

Jarrod kissed his wife. "Alright. We'll wait. But we won't be able to wait much longer, you're already beginning to show."

Adeline embraced her husband and sighed with relief that he was now home. She hoped he would be home for a long while.