Chapter 7

Breakfast went well enough, with a lot of encouragement and repeated offers to go into town to help with what was coming, but again Carol declined. "I really don't want a parade," she said. "I want this to go as quietly as possible."

Jarrod took her into town in the buggy. They didn't talk a lot, just enough for Jarrod to confirm what was going to happen. "We'll go to the jail for you to see Arthur, and we'll ask for Sam Davison to be brought there. We'll talk to him first, and then when we're done, we'll send for Joe and have him meet you there. Everything takes place in the sheriff's office. There won't be a crowd. Anybody who sees us go in will just assume you're Arthur's wife, a stranger."

Carol nodded, but she was still shaking.

Jarrod noticed. "Don't worry. Your lawyer will be with you all the way. So will your friend."

That made her smile. "You've been wonderful, Jarrod. Your family has been wonderful. I only hope we can get Arthur released and when I talk to Joe – " She couldn't finish the sentence.

Totally focused on Carol now, Jarrod didn't even think about how this reunion between her and Joe was going to affect him. He had decided overnight that what would be, would be. He'd keep himself together for their sake, and they didn't need to know any more about his own feelings than they already knew.

Before long, Jarrod was pulling up in front of the sheriff's office and helping Carol down out of the buggy. Her cane and uneasy gait only amounted to a few steps and only one or two people close by noticed. They didn't seem to be interested in her bonnet at all.

Jarrod smiled reassuringly as they went inside. Sheriff Madden was there along with his deputy. Jarrod said, "Fred, this is Mrs. Martin. Maybe, if you would, go send for Sam Davison to come here and talk to her. You can see – walking is a little difficult for her."

"Henry, go get the DA," Sheriff Madden said to his deputy.

The deputy went out, leaving Jarrod and Carol with Sheriff Madden. The sheriff had a curious look on his face. He knew Carol Payson too, and both Carol and Jarrod could see he was trying to place Karen Martin when he felt like he knew her.

Carol resisted removing the bonnet, but she said, "Sheriff – Fred. I am Carol Payson."

Sheriff Madden nearly fell over. He looked closer. He didn't smile, but he didn't frown either. His face just went blank. Finally, he just asked, "Does Joe know?"

"Not yet," Jarrod said. "Shall I explain, Carol?"

"Please," Carol said and sat down in the chair near the sheriff's desk.

"Carol was injured in that boating accident, not killed," Jarrod said. "She's been living in San Francisco and Arthur Martin is a friend who's been taking care of her. They are not married, they don't live together, he's just a caring friend. I know you have lot of questions, but Sam will have them too. I'd just as soon my client here only have to answer once."

Sheriff Madden nodded. "Do you want to see Arthur?"

"Can you bring him out here?" Jarrod asked. "So Carol doesn't have to stand."

The sheriff heaved a sigh, more confused than resigned, but went into the cell block. A moment later he was ushering Arthur Martin out.

Carol started to cry when she saw Martin, but he smiled, came to her, and took her hand in his. "I'm glad you came," he said.

"I didn't have a choice," Carol said. "The prosecutor was going to subpoena me, and Arthur – I really couldn't let you go to jail, not for me. You've done more than enough for me already."

Martin said, "I hope you're planning to see Joe."

Carol nodded.

"Why don't I go get him?" the sheriff said. "I'll trust you two not to make off with my prisoner."

Carol started to tremble.

Jarrod said, "I think Carol would rather see him after she talks to Sam Davison."

"All right," Sheriff Madden said. And then he said, "Carol – it's awfully good to see you. Awfully good."

Carol was holding things together and by the time the prosecutor arrived was ready to answer questions. Sam Davison was another man who had known Carol before she disappeared, and when he came in and saw her, he took on the same confused look that the sheriff had at first.

Jarrod said, "Sam, this is the woman who has been going by the name of Karen Martin. As you found out, she isn't married to Arthur Martin here. Sam, this is Carol Payson."

"Oh, my God," Davison breathed. "Does Joe know?"

"Not yet," Jarrod said. "Ask your questions quickly. I think we can resolve this all right now, since it's obvious that the theft charge can be dropped. You can't have your own property stolen."

Davison went into prosecutor mode. "Is it still her property? Didn't it go to her husband when she was reported killed?"

"She hasn't been declared dead yet, Sam. Just missing. And now she's not missing."

Carol said, "I wanted the jewelry to pay for an operation to help correct my leg." Then she slowly took off her bonnet, revealing the bad scar. "This can't be fixed, and between my face and my leg, I couldn't even legally be seen in public. Arthur here helped fish me out of the bay after the accident and has been taking care of me for a year. He came to get the jewelry because – well, for a lot of reasons, I couldn't."

Davison sat down, still gawking, still thinking. "Martin still broke into your husband's home."

"If Joe wants to drop the charges, will you do it?" Jarrod asked. "This has all happened with the best of intentions. Everything that is happening now is righting a mistake, not a crime."

"I should have come back to Stockton, but I just couldn't, not like this," Carol said, pointing to her scar. "I just couldn't."

Davison looked from her, to Jarrod, to Martin, to the sheriff. Then back to Jarrod. "I'll have to get Joe over here before I can drop any charges."

"Are you ready?" Jarrod asked Carol.

She nodded.

The deputy, who had been holding back by the door, opened it to leave, but before he did, Jarrod said, "Don't tell him his wife is here. Just get him over here."

The deputy nodded and left.

Martin put his arm around Carol, smiling. "This is the right thing to do, honey," he said. "It's way past time you came home."

Davison relaxed a little, still looking from Carol to Jarrod to the sheriff to Martin. Then he shook his head. "This is not the day I expected to have, but – Carol – it's awful good to see you."

"I'm beginning to understand what a terrible mistake I made by not coming home," Carol said. She looked from Davison to the sheriff. "I shouldn't have doubted you. I was just afraid."

Davison nodded.

"I've got some coffee on the stove," the sheriff said.

"I'll take a cup," Davison said.

That's all the conversation there was until it happened, about five minutes later. Henry the deputy opened the door, and Joe Payson came in.

Sheriff Madden nodded Henry out of the office, and he left. Joe Payson came slowly into the room, looking at Martin who at first still had his arm around Carol's shoulders. But now Martin moved away. Payson didn't understand and so far hadn't looked at Carol at all, but now he did.

He stared. He stared even more.

Carol began to cry even more than before.

Payson finally understood. "Carol," he whispered. "Oh, my God, Carol?"

She nodded.

In a moment, Joe Payson was kneeling on the floor in front of her, taking her damaged face into his hands, crying, smiling, cheering. "Carol! Oh, dear God in heaven, Carol! Carol!"

He took her into his arms, and the two of them trembled, and wept, and kissed.

"Carol! Carol!"