Chapter 14
Meredith was as happy as any could remember seeing her when she was told she would be taking a break from school. Victoria, Audra and Nick were surprised that Jarrod and Adeline were keeping her home, but didn't question it. Nick noticed that Heath didn't seem surprised and he had to wonder just what was going on.
Meredith went up the stairs to change from her school clothes and Jarrod took the opportunity to inform his family of what had happened. Nick's anger clearly showed on his face while Victoria stared at her eldest son in shock. Audra looked thoughtful and Jarrod asked her what she was thinking.
"Remember a few months ago when I substituted for Miss Peters? I spoke with one little girl, May Colliers. She said she really enjoyed me as her teacher and wished I could stay on. I didn't think much about it, but when I went back to school the next week to pick up a book I had left, I tried speaking with May. She wouldn't even look me in the eye. She kept her head down. I saw May a few weeks later and she was just as friendly and chattered as she had when I taught her. Then she changed all of a sudden and when I looked around, I saw Miss Peters staring at us. I couldn't understand why May would change like that, but now it makes sense."
"What will you do?" Victoria asked Jarrod.
"I'm going to try and get Meredith to open up to me. If she will tell me what's going on, I can go to Dace since he's the head of the school board."
"Why not just go now? Take Meredith to him and let her tell her story?" Nick asked.
"Because we don't want Meredith to think she can't trust Heath," Adeline said softly. "Meredith didn't ask him not to tell us, but she also didn't give him permission. If she thinks that every conversation she has with one of you will result in you telling us what you talked about, she'll not be able to trust us."
Nick nodded. In a way, he was glad that Meredith had told Heath and not him first. He wondered just what he would have done. He knew what he would like to do. He'd like to go to that Miss Peters and give her what for! Nick looked to Heath. He sat there, looking relieved that Jarrod had come up with a plan.
"Well, we gotta get going," Nick said as Meredith walked back into the room, making it seem as though they had all been talking about a mundane topic such as the weather. "We've got cattle that need branding and horses that need breaking. You coming, Heath?"
"Be right there," Heath said, taking a last drink from his coffee. He kissed his mother goodbye and told the others goodbye as well.
Meredith took her seat again and waited for her father to tell her what their plans would be for the day. She hoped it would include some time alone with him.
"Meredith, I have to go into town for a few hours. When I get back, how about if you and I go for a ride. Your Uncle Heath tells me you have made a lot of progress with your riding."
"Oh, Papa! That would be great!"
Jarrod smiled. He kissed his daughter on the top of her head when he stood, then reached for his wife's hand and the two left the room. Adeline always walked him out to tell him goodbye.
"You sure you don't want to come with us?" he asked her.
"No, she needs to spend some time with you alone. I don't think she'll open up if I'm there. I just hope she'll tell you soon."
"Me too," he said. He gently kissed his wife and then winked at her as they parted. "I'll see you later, Mrs. Barkley."
Adeline smiled and then went back to help with the breakfast clean up.
Jarrod and Meredith had been riding for several hours when they stopped to give the horses a break. This was the third afternoon in a row that they had gone riding together and Meredith was enjoying each and every moment of it. Jarrod watched her face as she took in the view of the mountains. She seemed to be at peace and he was thankful that she had opened up to Heath about what had been going on at school. So far, Jarrod had not had any luck in getting her to talk to him, but he wasn't worried. The last two days were spent just relaxing and enjoying one another. Today, he had a plan.
Meredith didn't see Jarrod place one of her school books in his saddlebag. When he pulled it out, he was watching her face. His heart squeezed at the look of dread that showed.
"I thought we would work on some of your lessons while we were here."
"Yes sir," she said softly and came to sit beside him. They worked together for a while, Meredith correctly giving him the answers to the questions he asked. They took a break and ate some food that Silas had sent with them. Jarrod decided that now was the time to ask her about school.
"You did very well with the arithmetic problems I gave to you."
"Thank you," was all she said.
"I noticed on your report card that you haven't been doing very well in that class. Did you just need some tutoring?"
Meredith stopped eating and looked out over the Valley. "I guess so."
This was going to be more difficult than Jarrod thought. He decided to try a more direct approach.
"Meredith, do you enjoy going to school here in Stockton?"
Meredith wouldn't look at him, but kept her head down. She bit her lip, something that Jarrod realized she did when she wasn't certain about her answer.
"No sir," came the soft reply. "Not really."
"May I ask why?"
Meredith looked up at him, tears gathering in her eyes. She wanted to tell him everything, but wasn't sure if she should. His compassionate look was her undoing and she started talking.
"Miss Peters is just so mean, Papa. I hate it. I hate going to school and getting all the answers wrong. The first day, I didn't even have any books and she got upset with me for not asking for them. I didn't know what to do. So when I didn't have the assignment ready when she wanted, she told me I had to write sentences on the board. It took me all morning. Then I missed two more classes and had to make up that work. She took my sketch pad away and it's the only one I have! She said it wasn't my work. But I promise Papa! I did draw those things, I did!"
Meredith burst into tears and Jarrod held her close. When she had calmed down, he gave her his handkerchief and she wiped her eyes and blew her nose.
"Meredith, is that all Miss Peters has done?"
"What do you mean?"
"Have you told me everything?"
Meredith thought for a moment. She then told him about the name her teacher had called her. He asked her to say the name and smiled when she said she was afraid her Granna would wash her mouth out with soap. He promised not to tell her, so Meredith said the word. Jarrod hugged her to himself again. He promised that everything would work out and that he would talk to someone about how Miss Peters was treating her. Meredith felt relieved that she had finally said something. It never occurred to her that Heath had said something to her parents.
They rode back home and Meredith went to her room to change. Jarrod didn't say much to Adeline about their conversation, promising her to give her details later, but he told her Meredith had finally opened up to him and he was going to go in to town and see the school board chairman the next day.
Later that evening, after Meredith had been put to bed, the adults talked about the situation. Jarrod had been thinking all afternoon about what he would say to Dace. He wondered if any of the other students had heard Miss Peters' comments toward Meredith. If none did, it could be a case of Meredith's word against her teacher's. Victoria suggested that maybe he go and visit some of the families of the children in school and make discreet inquiries. He was hesitant to do that, fearing that word would get back to Miss Peters, but it looked like it would be the only way for him to find any witnesses. He just wished he could figure out why Meredith had been singled out. The time that Jarrod had spent with Stockton's school teacher the year before had been brief, but she had given him the impression that she loved her students and teaching. After a few dinners together, he had realized that he just wasn't interested in her and broke things off as gently as he could. She seemed to agree with him at the time that things were not working out and Jarrod wasn't so arrogant to think that he had broken her heart and now she was taking that out on his daughter.
Jarrod lay awake long into the night, trying to come up with a different plan. Finally, he decided his mother's suggestion would have to be the course of action he would take. He shifted and brought Adeline closer to himself. In her sleep, she snuggled against him. He never tired of holding her and if she hadn't looked so tired when they went to bed, he would gently awaken her now. His mind brought back the images of their afternoon together when he had returned from San Quentin.
Jarrod felt his desire for his wife becoming almost unbearable and knew he needed to get his mind off of making love to her. He was trying to come up with something else to think about when he felt Adeline's hand caressing him. He groaned in pleasure.
"Please, Addy. I need you," he whispered and she sat up to pull her nightgown over her shoulders. Jarrod pulled her on top of him and he joined his body to hers. Their time together was short but passionate. Both gained the release they sought. Adeline had to bite her finger to keep from screaming out Jarrod's name and risk waking the entire household. She moved to his side and they snuggled together under the covers and fell into a peaceful sleep.
The next morning, Meredith sat in her room, thinking about a conversation she had overheard between her parents the afternoon before. Meredith wanted to ask if she and her father were going riding again the next day and she paused just outside the door of their room to knock. It was then she heard her name mentioned.
"How much do you still think about what Meredith said?" She heard her father ask.
"I try not to think about it. But my heart just hurts. I waited for so long to get my daughter back and to know that she hates me is sometimes more than I can bear," Adeline said tearfully. "I know she didn't really mean to say those things, that what she said was because of the frustration with what is going on at school, but still..."
"It'll be fine. Remember, 'There can be miracles, when you believe.' We just need to trust that the miracles will keep coming. You're sure you don't want me to talk to her?"
"No, I don't want her to think I'm going to send you to her any time there's a problem. I'll find a way to reach her."
Meredith hurried away to her room so that she wouldn't be seen. She had forgotten about what she had said to her mother several weeks ago. The anger she'd had was still there, but Meredith knew she was glad her parents had found her. She loved her Granna and had been happy with her, but she always wanted to live with her real parents.
Meredith sighed. She decided she was going to talk to her mother and apologize. Meredith walked into the dining room and stood beside Adeline at the buffet. Adeline looked down at her and smiled. Unless she absolutely had to, Meredith did not speak with her mother. But this morning, Adeline heard the soft words, "Good morning."
"Good morning, Meredith. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, I did." Meredith then busied herself with fixing her plate. She didn't want to make the apology in front of everyone. She would wait until they were alone. She still couldn't bring herself to say the word "Mama" to Adeline, but she was getting close.
Adeline smiled again and glanced over at Jarrod who was watching the exchange. He winked at her and mouthed the word, "Miracle". Adeline smiled and knew she was seeing the beginning of another miracle in her life.
