Chapter 6

The Barkley men enjoyed sleeping in the next morning, catching a late breakfast and then splitting up to do some information gathering. Nick and Heath spent much of the day trying to find out about the cattle sales in Grand Junction, without coming anywhere near Abel Hill. Jarrod went to the land records office to nose around in the files about Hill's lavish property – did it have a mortgage? Was the man really as well off as he appeared? Then he went by the court records office to find out about any lawsuits or liens against the man or his property. It was just before dinner when the men gathered again in the hotel bar.

"He got a price seventeen percent higher than the prices we checked on the California markets the other day," Heath said.

"How'd you find that out?" Jarrod asked.

"Talked to a couple of his men at a saloon near the train depot. They had just gotten in. Hill did all right on our deal."

"I was hoping he'd take a bath," Nick said, "but it looks like he might have a money-making idea here, shipping cattle by rail. We might check it out next year."

"Well, it's probably lucky for him he did get such a good price," Jarrod said. "I looked at the land records – he has a big fat mortgage on that ranch of his, so big and fat he probably wouldn't be able to get a second one. And according to the court records, he has a couple judgments against him he hasn't paid off yet. Maybe he can at least get the judgments out of the way with his profits."

"Do you think he's not paying Gwendolen because he doesn't have the cash?" Heath asked.

"It's possible," Jarrod said. "It's no excuse, though."

Something suddenly caught Nick's attention. "Jarrod – " Nick pointed toward the doorway to the lobby.

Jarrod looked. Gwendolen was standing there, looking around. When she saw Jarrod looking her way, her eyes widened. Without a word, Jarrod went over to her. "Gwen, what are you doing here? I was going to come talk to you later."

"Jarrod, it's important. Can you come with me for a few minutes or so?"

"Where?"

"Over to where I work. Cecily came to see me this afternoon, and we talked, and now she's back and wants to talk to you. I've got her in a back room over at the saloon."

Jarrod was reluctant. "Gwendolen, I don't think it's a good idea I get involved between the two of you. You're still my client, and I can't take her on at the same time."

"I'm not asking you to. Just come talk to her for a minute, please."

Jarrod sighed. He gave his brothers a wave and left with Gwendolen.

"Well, we're on our own," Heath said.

"Yeah," Nick agreed. "I hope Jarrod's not getting himself into Pappy mode with this whole situation."

"It might not be Pappy mode we need to worry about," Heath said.

Nick looked at him. "You don't think he'd really get involved with Gwendolen."

"I hope not, but I get the feeling there's another one coming into the mix – Cecily."

"Naw, Jarrod would never get into that kind of triangle."

"Maybe not. But you know how it gets with some of his female clients. You know how it got with Gwendolen before."

"Naw," Nick repeated. "Jarrod won't let things get out of hand."

"It ain't all up to him, Nick," Heath said. "There's two women in this situation now who need help."

Nick understood where Heath was going with his thoughts, but he said, "Naw," again. And then hoped he was right.

XXXXXX

Jarrod would not talk with Gwendolen about anything as they walked over to the saloon. He did not want anything to be overheard by anyone on the street. They moved quickly and were soon in the back room of the bar, where Jarrod met Cecily Carter for the first time. She was waiting at a table, alone, crying.

Jarrod thought, Oh, no.

"Jarrod," Gwendolen said, "this is Cecily Carter."

Jarrod tipped his hat. "Miss Carter. Before we talk, I hope you realize that I am not your attorney and I can't be. Whatever you say to me, I can't keep confidential."

"I understand," Cecily said, dabbing her brown eyes dry. "I won't say anything to you that you'd have to keep confidential."

Jarrod and Gwendolen sat down at the table with her.

Cecily went on. "My father suggested I talk to Gwendolen, and she's told me all about her marriage to Abel and about the divorce and how he's refusing to pay her what he owes under the divorce settlement. I have to admit, it's been a terrible shock."

"What is it you wanted to talk to me about?" Jarrod asked.

"My father seems to think I should call off my engagement to Abel," Cecily said. "I am not sure I want to do that, but if I don't, my father wants me to have Abel sign a prenuptial agreement before we marry. He thinks Abel is after my money."

"I understand that," Jarrod said.

Cecily heaved a sigh. "Do you think he is, Mr. Barkley?"

"Miss Carter, I can't say one way or the other," Jarrod said.

"Mr. Barkley, I saw you at the courthouse today, after I spoke with Gwendolen earlier," Cecily said. "I saw the offices you were going into. I'm a judge's daughter and I knew who you were and I know what it was you were looking into. I've heard rumors that Abel is having financial difficulties, but I coerced my father into not looking into it. I didn't want to know. Now, I want to know. Is he having financial trouble?"

Jarrod heaved a deep breath. "Miss Carter, the work I was doing today was for Gwendolen, my client."

"You may answer her, Jarrod," Gwendolen said.

Jarrod knew that was what Gwendolen would say, but he was still uneasy answering the question. "He has a substantial mortgage on his property, and there are several court judgments outstanding against him. On the other hand, he just completed a business deal with my family that made him a nice profit. If you are asking me, is he after your money to ease his financial burdens – I really can't say. I don't know."

"But you recommended the prenuptial agreement to my father," Cecily said.

Jarrod nodded. "Yes, I suggested the two of you consider it." Jarrod was beginning to feel like he was sinking into a pit of mud he wasn't going to be able to get out of.

But Cecily started to cry again. "It was foolish, I know, but I actually did fall in love with him."

"So did I, once," Gwendolen said.

Jarrod interrupted what he was afraid Gwendolen might say. "Miss Carter, neither one of us can tell you what to do. Neither one of us is going to tell you not to marry the man, or to get the prenuptial agreement before you do. Those decisions are entirely up to you."

Cecily dabbed her eyes dry again. "Are you married, Mr. Barkley?"

"No, I'm a widower," Jarrod said.

"Then you do know how marriage is from a man's standpoint."

Jarrod had to smile a little. "I only know how it was from my standpoint, Miss Carter. I can't begin to guess how it would be from Abel Hill's standpoint."

"I've been in love and engaged before," Cecily said. "He was a banker, very well off, and I thought I loved him, but it turned out he preferred gambling to my company. I called the wedding off and my father made sure he left Sacramento."

Jarrod's discomfort was growing every moment. "Miss Carter, this really isn't for me to help you with. Perhaps it's your father's advice you should be turning to right now," Jarrod said.

Cecily looked straight at Jarrod. "Did you love your wife?"

Jarrod wasn't expecting this conversation to take that kind of turn, but now that it had he fumbled with what to say. He swallowed before he said, "Very much."

Cecily looked at him very earnestly now. "I just want to know that there are men a woman can trust with her heart. I thought my first fiance was one of them, but he wasn't. I thought Abel was one of them, but now – now I don't think so."

Jarrod stood up. He had to get himself out of this. "Miss Carter, you should go home and talk with your father about what we've said here, about what Gwendolen has said to you. It's not our advice you need. It's his."

Cecily nodded and dabbed at her eyes some more.

"Gwen, can you take the time to see Miss Carter home?" Jarrod asked.

Gwendolen got up, nodding.

Jarrod said, "I'll come by later and we'll talk about your situation. Miss Carter, I wish you the very best."

Jarrod tipped his hat again and left as quickly as he could. All the warning bells in his head were clanging. Do not get any deeper into this, do not get any deeper into this. There are two needy women here. This is trouble. Do not get in any deeper. He left the saloon, feeling like he could finally breathe again once he got outside, and he hurried back to the hotel where he had left his brothers.