Victoria watched as Abby played checkers with Audra and Mary. It had been almost two weeks since Jarrod killed Wells and his recovery although slow was progressing nicely. Nick and Heath left two days ago to return to the ranch since they had been gone almost a month but promised to return when Jarrod was able to travel back home. Sister Catherine left that morning headed back to the church.
Jarrod was recovering nicely but Victoria noticed her son's mood was slowly souring with each passing day. She questioned him about it and he would just tell her he was tried of lying in the bed. She didn't believe him for one minute but she had been unable to question him further as he always said he was too tired to talk.
She wondered if it had something to do with Mary but she didn't think so since it was quite obvious how they felt about each other. She looked back to Abby and knew Jarrod's testy mood probably was due to Abby. She hadn't been able to talk to him about Abby since the child spent every waking minute she could with Jarrod but tonight Victoria would be staying with Jarrod and she would find out once and for all what was bothering him.
"Mrs. Barkley?" Mary called.
Victoria looked in Mary's direction, "Yes."
"Are you sure you don't want me to stay tonight?"
"No, you need a break." Victoria knew her son and Mary looked forward to when everyone finally turned in for the night as it gave the couple time to talk and get to know each other. In fact it was Mary who had filled Jarrod in with all the happenings since he had been injured. "Besides I need to have a talk with him without being interrupted."
Mary laughed, "Well good luck with that because if I bring up a subject he doesn't want to talk about he tells me he is tired," Mary rolled her eyes.
Victoria raised her eyebrows at Mary and wondered if the young lady had noticed her son's testy mood. "Oh?"
Mary nodded her head slowly and said, "All I can get from him is it has to with Abby." Mary paused as Abby continued playing checkers with Audra. "He is worried what will happen to her after he leaves here."
"She will go with us," Victoria stated.
Mary asked, "Will she? Jarrod's not so sure."
"Why on earth for?"
"Because of Wells parents. He is worried she'll go to them and they won't allow him to see her since he is responsible for killing their son."
Victoria closed her eyes as she nodded her head, "We'll fight them with everything we have to keep Abby with Jarrod."
"But it may not be enough," Mary walked to the window and spoke quietly, "he is a widower and he is responsible for killing her father even if it was in self defense."
Based on what Mary was saying Victoria knew Jarrod had opened up to her. "So Jarrod does want to raise Abby?"
Mary turned around smiling, "Oh yes."
Victoria smirked, "From what she has said Abby wants to stay with you and Jarrod."
Mary looked down at her feet as she blushed, "Ah well we haven't really talked about that."
"Who? You and Jarrod or you, Jarrod and Abby?"
Mary blew out a breath as she spoke, "I care very much for Jarrod and Abby both and would like to see what the future holds for all three of us. I have told Jarrod I would have no problem moving to San Francisco or Stockton to help with Abby."
Abby and Audra finished their game and walked over to Victoria and Mary.
Mary was glad for the interruption and said, "You ready for some fried chicken?"
Abby grinned widely, "Yep."
Mary pointed to Jarrod's room and said, "Okay, go with Ms. Audra to say good night to Jarrod and I'll be along shortly."
Abby giggled and asked, "You gonna kiss him again?" Abby made an ugly face which made all the women laugh as she ran to Jarrod's room.
She reappeared shortly and said, "He's sleeping again."
Mary smiled as she shook her head and went to Jarrod's room but he was sleeping. She had hoped to speak to him if only briefly but she knew he tired easily. She tip toed over to him and kissed his lips lightly as she walked out of the room.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Several hours later Jarrod awoke to find his mother sitting beside him reading a book. He sighed as he tried to go back to sleep but Victoria had already seen he was awake. He knew she would want to talk and he didn't want too.
Victoria put her book down and asked, "Would you like some water?"
Jarrod nodded his head and said, "Yes."
Victoria fixed a glass of water for him and helped him drink since his arm was still in a cast. Once he finished he whispered, "Thank you," as he tried to go back to sleep.
Victoria knew what he was trying to do but she would not be denied. "Jarrod we need to talk."
"I'm tired mother."
"You just woke up but we are going to talk sometime tonight whether it's now or two hours from now."
Jarrod sighed in disgust. He wished he was strong enough to get out of bed but he wasn't. "What do you want to talk about?"
"Abby."
Jarrod looked at his mother and said, "What about her?"
"What are your plans Jarrod?"
Jarrod frowned at his mother and said, "What do you mean?"
Victoria blew out a disgusted breath and said, "Jarrod I've been here for almost two weeks and I'm tired and worn out so I'm in no mood for your courtroom tricks young man. You know very well what I mean."
"I want to take her with me but I'm pretty sure that will not happen."
"And why not?"
"Wells parent's are both still alive and since they are blood relatives..." Jarrod's voice trailed off.
"Have you talked to them regarding Abby?"
Jarrod replied angrily, "How am I supposed to do that when I've been laid for two weeks?" He raised his arm and spat, "And to add to that I can't write them a letter now can I?" Jarrod paused and spoke quietly, "I'm sorry mother. But to answer your question I haven't talked to them."
"Do you plan on it?"
"I need too but I'm worried of what they'll say to me and forbid me from seeing Abby," Jarrod admitted.
"Because you killed their son." Jarrod nodded his head. She could understand Jarrod's concern but she could also understand if Abby's grandparents wanted to raise her. She cleared her throat, "Jarrod you are one of the strongest and caring men I have ever known and I could not be prouder of the man you are but you're avoiding what is staring you in the face and the longer you put this off the worse it will be."
As Jarrod looked at his mother she saw the sadness in his eyes. He admitted, "I don't know what I'd do if..." Jarrod's voice trailed off.
Victoria sat beside Jarrod on the bed and patted his hands. "I firmly believe that Abby's grandparents will work with you son. Don't get me wrong, as I'm sure Mr. Wells parents loved him, but I suspect they knew what kind of person he was and if need be I'll have no problem showing them the rather extensive file his former attorney sent us regarding his activities." Jarrod couldn't hold back the smirk as he listened to his mother. "You did what was right for Abby and I know in the future you'll continue to do so."
Jarrod sighed as he ran his hand over his face. "I'll get Mary to send a wire tomorrow."
Victoria smiled as she was glad he had brought up Mary. "Good. Now that we have that settled there is one more thing we need to talk about."
Jarrod looked confused but Victoria knew her son was playing possum again.
"What's that?"
Victoria raised her eyebrows at Jarrod, "Mary."
Jarrod blew out a breath and asked, "What about Mary?"
Victoria frowned at her eldest as sometimes trying to get information out of him was next to impossible. "Jarrod Thomas Barkley," Victoria scolded. She noticed Jarrod flinched when she used his full name. "How does Mary figure into this?"
"I don't know mother," Jarrod admitted. "We haven't talked about that."
"And why not?"
Jarrod sighed as he answered, "We've only known each less than a month and I don't want to rush into anything."
Victoria smiled sadly at Jarrod understanding why he said that. "Jarrod it is quite obvious how she feels about you and Abby both. The question is how do you feel about her?"
Jarrod couldn't help but grin and said, "I'm quite taken with her mother but..." Jarrod's voice trailed off once again.
Victoria knew Jarrod was still carrying around a good bit of guilt regarding Beth's death. "You can't continue to live in the past Jarrod. It's time you moved on sweetheart."
Jarrod looked at his mother and she could see the tears forming in his blue eyes, "I've tried but..." Jarrod tried to shrug his shoulders but couldn't.
"Jarrod I know how you feel and God knows it took me awhile to put my life back together after your father was killed but eventually I did. Beth knew you loved her Jarrod and she would not want you to continue to punish yourself. You quite possibly have a second chance with a wonderful young lady and I would hate for you to lose it."
Victoria moved back to her chair and said, "Go back to sleep, we can talk later."