Chapter 7

Jarrod arrived back home just as the family was gathering in the parlor before dinner. Heath was walking down the stairs as Jarrod was going up. The two men nodded to one another, but nothing was said. Jarrod cleaned up quickly to join the rest of the family.

Emma was excited to see him and to share her adventures of the day with her Aunt Miss Audra. She talked about seeing Uncle Mister Nick and Uncle Mister Heath with the cows and a few other details that Jarrod tried to pay attention to, but his focus was on Becca.

She looked weary and her eyes sad. He knew he had been the one to cause the sadness and he wanted to do what he could to change it. They needed some time alone, but he wasn't sure when and where that would happen.

Becca watched Emma excitedly tell Jarrod about her day and her heart constricted. Would the child she carried now have that one day with him? She'd felt his eyes on her, but she had trouble looking him in the eye. The hurt she felt was palpable. The baby decided to give her a kick that jolted her. Everyone looked her way and Jarrod was by her side in an instant. The smell of scotch turned Becca's stomach, but she tried to not show how repulsed she was by it.

"Are you alright?" he asked. She nodded. The rest of the family moved toward the dining room to give them a bit of privacy.

"Becca, could we talk later? Alone?"

Becca sighed. She knew she owed him that much.

"Alright. After we put Emma to bed?"

Jarrod smiled. His heart skipped a beat when she said "we". He held out his arm to escort her to dinner and had just entered the foyer from the parlor when there was a knock at the door. Jarrod kissed Becca on the cheek and told her to go into the dining room and he'd join her momentarily.

He waited until Becca was out of sight before opening the door. He didn't think he could be too cautious and didn't want to chance the person on the other side of the door being one of Thatcher's men.

"Mr. Barkley?"

"Yes," Jarrod answered. Before him stood a man dressed in a suit, the beginnings of a 5 o'clock shadow on his face. He looked dusty and tired, but Jarrod didn't have any intention of inviting the man in the house.

"My name is Cal Andrews. I work with Frank Monroe. He contacted you several years ago about Brett Schuyler." Andrews showed Jarrod his credentials.

"I remember."

The man looked as though he wanted to be invited inside but Jarrod instead walked out and closed the door behind him.

"What is this about, Mr. Andrews?"

Andrews cleared his throat.

"We haven't been able to get in touch with Mr. Monroe for several weeks. We are retracing his steps and we knew he had been near Stockton a while back. Have you seen him recently?"

Jarrod kept his expression neutral. The credentials he'd been presented had looked authentic enough, but that didn't mean the man that stood before him was not on Elliot Thatcher's payroll. Monroe had confided in Jarrod that he believed one of his own had betrayed him before regarding Becca's husband, Adam. This resulted in Adam being killed and it being staged as a suicide.

"I have not. Mr. Monroe and I concluded our business after Brett's trial. We haven't stayed in contact."

Not exactly the truth, but close enough. Jarrod didn't volunteer any more information.

"Well, I guess I'll be heading back to town then. I'm staying at the Cattlemen's Hotel for the next few days. If you have any information, you'd like to share…?"

Jarrod smiled but the smile did not reach his eyes.

"I'll be sure to seek you out," he said. The man held out his hand and Jarrod shook it before turning to go back inside. He closed the front door and locked it. He had a nagging feeling that things were going to come to a head soon with Thatcher. Jarrod had to wonder if the other agent was telling the truth about Monroe being unreachable. He was also wondering if the agent was telling the truth about Monroe letting it be known he had been near Stockton.

After dinner, he was going to speak to Nick and Heath about tightening up security around the ranch.

Dinner was subdued and Becca felt responsible. Even Emma, who was normally quite vocal seemed to pick up on the tension and ate in silence. Everyone else kept up quiet conversation, glancing at one another and at the other end of the table where Jarrod and Becca were seated.

Becca did little more than pick at her food. Her back still ached and no position was comfortable. She didn't want to ask Victoria or Audra to help care for Emma any more than they had for fear they'd grow weary of the task. She needed to make it through dinner.

Jarrod could tell something wasn't right with Becca. Something beyond what had happened between them earlier. His blue eyes watched as she would take a small bite but mostly, she pushed her food around her plate. She shifted in her seat, seeming to be in pain.

Finally, the meal was over, and everyone rose to head to the billiard room. Becca wanted nothing more than to climb into bed and shut out the world but since she'd been at the Barkley ranch, the tradition of the family spending time together after dinner seemed to be expected. Normally, she would have enjoyed it, but she didn't have it in her to be social. Still, she refused to excuse herself and Emma and decided to push through. She could sit with everyone for an hour or so and then she would excuse herself and Emma to turn in. Becca sighed. Of course, that meant then Jarrod would want to talk. Becca wasn't up to the task. She'd ask for them to talk later, perhaps tomorrow after Becca had gotten more rest. Becca nodded to herself. That sounded like a good plan.

Jarrod slowly sipped his scotch, absentmindedly staring out the window of his office. He watched as people milled about below, some hurrying to their next destination and some seemingly out for a leisurely stroll. He'd paid a visit to Fred Madden to let him know about Cal Andrews with the Secret Service being in town and asked that he keep an eye on him. Fred agreed that the man showing up and asking for Frank Monroe seemed to be a bit suspicious.

Jarrod's mind drifted back to the night before and he sighed. Becca had asked to postpone their talk until later, stating she was tired. Jarrod could tell she wasn't feeling well, and he agreed, although reluctantly.

He'd made a mess of things. He should have told her about Beth when they were at the lodge. Finding out as she did, she had to be wondering if his feelings for her were real since he'd married so quickly after they'd parted in Washington. He wished he could find a way to convey to her just how much her leaving had devastated him. Not to make her feel guilty, but to help her understand just how much he did love her. For one who was usually a great orator, Jarrod was having difficulty expressing what he needed to help Becca understand. She filled that void in his life like no other women ever had before. Or since, he admitted to himself.

The guilt Jarrod felt regarding Beth was immeasurable. She'd been a lovely woman. Someone that he knew he could have had a dependable and even enjoyable life with if she'd lived. After Becca, he'd realized he wanted a family. He'd gotten used to having someone when they'd been at the lodge. Doing the everyday things together and enjoying each other at night. Becca leaving almost shattered him. It wasn't just the heartbreak of not having her in his life, but not having the promise of a life together.

Beth's death ate away at him. His mother had told him to forget about the ugliness that had happened after she'd been killed, and he'd tried. The scotch, the women. Nothing seemed to help. Becca's return had been a balm on those open festering wounds, but he thought of Heath's words: I just don't want your demons to ruin anything.

And the demons were going to if Jarrod didn't get them under control. He knocked back the glass of scotch and went to pour another. He felt his world beginning to crash in on him. He knew he loved Becca, Emma, and their child. He knew he wanted a life with them. Yet those demons were biting at his heels, snarling, and catching up with him. Becca coming back into his life had helped to impede their advance on him, but that was only temporary.

There was a knock and he sighed. He set down the glass and went to open the door. Frank Monroe stood there, looking haggard and weary.

"Monroe," Jarrod greeted.

"Got your telegram," Malone said as he walked into the office. "How are Becca and Emma?"

"They are well and safe."

Monroe waited for Jarrod to close the door. He turned to him.

"We have a problem," he said.

Jarrod motioned for Monroe to sit and then sat across from him.

"Elliot Thatcher cut a deal. In exchange for his testimony, he'll receive immunity."

Jarrod took a deep breath.

"You think he'll still go after Becca and Emma?" Jarrod asked.

"Without a doubt. Becca can still pin him for Adam and Brett's murders. He's going to want to stop that. Plus Elliot Thatcher has a long memory. He's going to want revenge for her betraying him."

Jarrod nodded but he could tell Monroe wasn't done with giving him information.

"What else?" Jarrod asked.

Monroe took a deep breath.

"Elliot is pushing to have Becca arrested for kidnapping and is going to try and gain custody of Emma. Since his son's death, Emma is considered his heir and he wants her back with him."

Jarrod's eyes turned cold.

"I'll fight him on that. Becca and I can be married right away, and I'll adopt Emma."

Monroe figured that's what Jarrod would do. He was again thankful he had thought of Jarrod Barkley and asked for his help in keeping Becca and Emma safe.

"Cal Andrews is in town," Jarrod mentioned. He saw Monroe's eyes narrow at the news. "He's at the Cattleman's. He stopped by the ranch last night but as far as I know, he isn't aware of Becca and Emma staying there."

"What did he say to you?" he asked.

"Just that you haven't been heard from in a while. And that he thought you'd been near Stockton recently."

Monroe nodded.

"I've always thought Cal was a good man. Haven't had any reason to believe he isn't…" his voice trailed off.

"But?" Jarrod asked.

"But I still don't know who let it slip about Adam. I can't trust anyone in the agency," Monroe said.

Monroe stood and Jarrod stood with him, both men walking toward the door. The two men shook hands.

"Let me know when the wedding is," he said as he turned to Jarrod.

"It'll be tomorrow if I can get the judge out to the ranch. I'll draw up the papers now for Emma's adoption and get them over to the courthouse tomorrow as well."

Monroe left and Jarrod went to sit back at his desk to work on the paperwork to legally adopt Emma. Once he had the papers drawn up, he sent a telegram to John at Pinkerton's that things were heating up and asked what information he had. He then went to see Judge Cross and asked that he be at the ranch the next morning. He'd perform their wedding ceremony and then Jarrod would ask him to sign the adoption papers which would make everything legal.

Jarrod knew Becca didn't want to spend time with him but things were dire. He found her out in the garden sitting on one of the benches. She looked peaceful and he hated to disturb her solitude.

"Becca," he spoke softly. Becca turned to him, her violet eyes still holding so much sadness Jarrod almost had to look away.

Jarrod walked over to her and asked if he could join her. She reluctantly agreed.

"Your uncle was in town earlier. He had some news," Jarrod said. He decided to be direct. "Elliot cut a deal and will receive immunity."

Becca's eyes widened.

"What does that mean?"

"The counterfeit charges will be dismissed but.."

"But what?"

Jarrod reached over and took Becca's hand.

"You'll still need to testify against him for what you know about the murders of Adam and Brett. But Elliot is wanting to have you arrested for kidnapping and is going to try to gain custody of Emma. Because he hasn't been convicted of a crime, he might be able to convince a judge -"

Becca gasped and stood. She started to move away from Jarrod, but he caught her.

"Becca, I'm not going to let that happen," he said quickly.

"You can't stop it! We have to leave. We can't let him find us-"

Jarrod grabbed on to Becca's shoulders and then drew her to him. She didn't resist, crying in his arms.

"We're going to fight this. And we can win. I've made arrangements for Judge Cross to come out to the ranch tomorrow. He's going to marry us. I've also drawn up papers to adopt Emma. Elliot won't have any legal right to her."

This was all becoming too much for Becca. She knew in her heart she wanted to marry Jarrod, but she hated being forced into it. She also knew this was the only way to keep Emma safe, but it was all happening too fast. She wanted to run away and in her mind was trying to figure out how she could do just that.

As though Jarrod was reading her thoughts he began to speak.

"Becca, you can't run away from me again," Jarrod said as he stroked her hair. "We have a lot of figure out, but I know we can make this work."

Becca pushed back from Jarrod and wiped her eyes.

"Thank you, Jarrod. I know this isn't what either of us was thinking would happen…I'd like to go lie down for a bit before Emma wakes up from her nap."

Jarrod watched as Becca left and he sat down heavily on the bench. He then took a deep breath and went to find his mother to tell her the plans for the next day.