Chapter 15

As Jarrod was getting Jingo ready to go, he thought more about his plan to go see the other families. He still wasn't sure it was the best course of action, but couldn't see any other way to find out the information he needed. He heard a wagon coming into the yard and he went out to see who it was. Rand Colliers, along with his wife Elise and their daughter May were just climbing down from the wagon.

"Rand," Jarrod said by way of greeting. "So good to see you."

"Jarrod. I hope we aren't disturbing you."

"Not at all. I was actually on my way to see you."

"Oh?"

"Yes, I was wanting to ask May a few questions about school."

Rand looked at his wife and she nodded slightly. "Well, that's part of the reason we're here, Jarrod. May told us some things last night and we thought you should hear them."

"Let's go inside."

Jarrod led the trio to the study and then excused himself to get Adeline. After the introductions were made, Rand began to tell Jarrod how May had been worried that Meredith wasn't in school this past week. When they questioned her further, May told them about some of the things Miss Peters had been doing to Meredith as well as some things May had heard her say. Jarrod felt Adeline squeeze his hand. It looked like May would be the witness they needed.

"May, could you tell me exactly what happened?" Jarrod asked. May looked nervous, but Jarrod's gentle voice and kind expression helped her to open up.

"Well, the first day Meredith was with us, she didn't have any books. Miss Peters didn't give her any and got mad when she realized she had forgotten. She made Meredith write a bunch of sentences. Then a few days later, I tried to play with Meredith, but Miss Peters called me over to her and asked me if I wanted to write sentences on the board. I told her no and she said for me to leave the..."

May faltered and looked to her parents. They both nodded to her and she said softly, "Miss Peters told me to leave the little bastard alone."

"Is there anything else?" Jarrod asked.

"Miss Peters gets really mad at Meredith if she gets answers wrong. She makes her write more sentences. When Meredith didn't come to school the last few days, I was scared for her. I thought maybe Miss Peters had hurt her or that Meredith was going to move away. I like Meredith a lot, Mr. Barkley. She's so nice. I want to be her friend, but I hate writing sentences on the board. My arms get tired."

The adults in the room looked at one another and smiled.

"Meredith is upstairs in her room, May. If your parents say its alright, would you like to go and see her?" Adeline asked.

May's eyes brightened and she looked to her parents. They nodded and Adeline took May up to Meredith's room.

"I can't thank you enough for coming to see us, Rand. I know it was difficult for you to do," Jarrod said, holding his hand out to the other man.

"It was no problem, Jarrod."

"It just broke our hearts when May told us what that Miss Peters was doing to Meredith. No child deserves to be treated that way," Elise said, her eyes holding unshed tears.

"What will you do?" Rand asked.

Jarrod took a deep breath then let it out slowly. "Would you allow May to talk with Dace Stewart? If May will tell him what she witnessed, then we can start the process of dismissing Miss Peters."

"Of course. Just let us know when and where."

"Lunch will be ready soon. Will you join us?" Adeline asked, walking back into the room.

"Oh, we would love to Mrs. Barkley, but I've got some work I've got to catch up on," Rand said.

"Then would you permit May to stay the afternoon with us? She and Meredith seemed to have hit it off well."

"That would be fine, Mrs. Barkley," Elise said with a smile.

"Please, call me Adeline."

"Then you must call me Elise. Perhaps we can get together next week for tea, Adeline."

Adeline's face brightened. She hadn't admitted it to anyone, but she was eager to have friends almost as much as Meredith.

"That would be lovely," she said.

May was called down to tell her parents goodbye, then the two young girls went back to Meredith's room where they could be heard giggling the rest of the day.


The meeting with Dace Stewart went as well as Jarrod could hope. An emergency meeting was called between the school board members and Miss Peters. Jarrod and Adeline were present as well. When Miss Peters heard the charges against her, she began to strike out at May Colliers, calling her a bad student who was upset at the grades she had been given. Jarrod submitted May's report card to the board, showing that May was almost a straight A student. He also gave his copies of Meredith's school records from Syracuse to the board which showed that Meredith was also a good student. Miss Peters was summarily dismissed as Stockton's school teacher. She walked out of the school house and Adeline followed her, her eyes sparking with anger.

"I hope you will remember Miss Peters that children are a treasure. Your abuse of my daughter was inexcusable. And not that it is any of your business, but Meredith is not a bastard. She was born when I was married to my first husband."

Miss Peters didn't say a word, but turned around on her heel and stalked off. Jarrod came up behind Adeline and put his arm around her shoulders.

"I found this in her desk."

Adeline smiled. It was Meredith's sketch pad. "She'll be so happy."

"Let's go home," Jarrod said, leading his wife to the buggy. Both sighed with relief that this was finally over.

Meredith's school experience improved dramatically. She looked forward to going to school each morning with her Aunt Audra who was filling in as Stockton's school teacher. It was too late in the year to find a permanent replacement, and since Audra had prior experience it seemed the natural thing for her to substitute. All of the children were relieved to have Miss Peters gone. She wasted no time leaving on the train out of town. No one knew where she had gone or much cared. They just hoped she wouldn't ever try to teach again.


Meredith had not forgotten about her plan to apologize to her mother for her hateful words, but had not had much of an opportunity to speak with her alone. One afternoon, Adeline had come to pick Meredith up from school. They would be meeting Jarrod at his office and then going out to an early dinner. Jarrod and Adeline knew it was time to tell the family about the baby, but wanted to tell Meredith first. Adeline hoped with all of her heart that her daughter wouldn't resent the news of the baby, but would be excited.

As they drove the short distance to her father's office, Meredith made herself turn toward her mother and speak.

"I don't hate you for real. I'm sorry I said that to you."

Adeline stopped the buggy and turned toward her daughter. She had tried to put out of her mind the hurtful words that Meredith had spoken to her and this was the balm she needed.

"I'm sorry you said that too," she said softly.

"Is your heart still hurting?" Meredith asked. Her blue eyes were wide with concern and Adeline smiled slightly.

"I wish I could tell you it didn't, but my heart still hurts a little." Adeline believed in honesty and while she wanted to assure Meredith of her love, she also wanted to teach her a valuable lesson.

"I wish your heart would feel better right now," Meredith said, her eyes still holding her mother's.

"This is a big lesson for you to learn, Meredith. Once you say something, the words seem to have a power all on their own and even though you might want to take them back, you can't. And even if you apologize, it might not always fix things as you'd like them to be fixed. Just as those words you spoke a few weeks back hurt, the words you just said to me will help to heal."

Meredith listened intently to what her mother was saying. She remembered how horrible Miss Peters made her feel with her hurtful words. Meredith promised herself to try and never let what came from her mouth hurt anyone again. She listened as her mother began to speak.

"I once read a verse in the Bible that says, 'Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones'. I've not always succeeded at this, but I try to let the words that come from my mouth be sweet to whoever hears them. That's not to say I won't be firm in the words I speak, or that I won't say something that will be hurtful. But I try to not purposefully hurt others. Do you understand?"

Meredith nodded. "I do."

Adeline smiled and Meredith smiled back. Another miracle, Adeline thought. She started the buggy again and the two rode the rest of the way into town.

Jarrod noticed the new warmth between his wife and daughter as soon as they walked into his office. Adeline just smiled at him, a silent communication passing between them that they would talk later. Meredith sat on the sofa in her dad's office with Adeline and Jarrod on either side of her.

"Meredith, your mother and I wanted to share something with you. We're going to tell the rest of the family tonight, but we wanted you to know before them."

Meredith's eyes widened. Her parents looked excited about whatever it was they were going to say, and she couldn't help but become excited as well.

"You, Meredith, are going to be a big sister this Fall. Your mother is going to have a baby."

Meredith didn't think her eyes could get any wider but they did. She looked from her father to her mother. A huge grin broke out onto her face. She had always wanted to have a brother or a sister.

Adeline watched her daughter's face and was relieved when she saw the happiness there. One of the reasons they had waited as long as they had to tell her the news was because Adeline was afraid of how Meredith would react. She looked up at Jarrod, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks. He winked at her and reached behind Meredith to give her shoulder a squeeze.

"How about we go to dinner?" Jarrod suggested. The three made their way to the Cattleman's Restaurant where they enjoyed a filling meal. The ride home was spent laughing and planning for the new baby. When Meredith asked if she wanted a baby brother or sister, she tilted her head to the side in thought. Then she straightened and grinned as she said, "Both!" Adeline groaned and Jarrod chuckled. For the first time, they all felt like a real family.


The family of three didn't see the person watching them as they rode by. Someone wanting revenge because his life was ruined by none other than Jarrod T. Barkley. One of the three would have to die and the other two would watch. That would be revenge enough, to know that the other two would forever hold in their memories the death of their loved one. The watcher smiled. It had been difficult, trying to decide who would be the one to die. So, after much deliberation, it was decided that Jarrod Barkley himself would do the choosing.

Now, the person only had to wait for the right time. And unbeknownst to the three riding in the surrey, that time would be soon.