Chapter 2

It took another ten minutes before Nick and Heath could take off for Stockton. For Victoria those ten minutes seemed like ten hours. But she finally watched them go, and as the sounds of their horses faded into the distance, she was left with the darkness and silence of her house. It was terrifying.

Silas was beside her. "Mrs. Barkley, can I get you some tea? It might help you calm down."

Victoria shook her head, closing the front door and turning. "No, thank you, Silas. I'm not going to be getting any sleep tonight."

She headed into the living room and sat down on the settee. Silas followed her. "Maybe some warm milk?" he asked.

Victoria looked up at him and realized he was as terrified as she was. He was asking because he had to do something to try to settle his own nerves. Helping her - and some warm milk - would be good for him.

He could tell she was reading his mind. "I'm gonna make some for myself," he said.

It made Victoria smile a little. "I'll come into the kitchen and share it with you there."

They went into the kitchen together. Victoria sat down at the table there while Silas stoked the stove back to life and put some milk on to heat up. Victoria couldn't help but cover her face with both hands. So many horrible scenarios were flying through her brain.

"You got to have faith, Mrs. Barkley," Silas said when he put the cup of warm milk in front of her. "They'll find Mr. Jarrod before he gets into too much trouble."

As Silas sat down with her, Victoria said, "Do you remember when he was about fifteen? A boy at school was taunting Nick, and Nick was still too small to really defend himself against that boy."

"I remember," Silas said, staring into his cup.

"Jarrod nearly beat that boy to a pulp."

Silas looked up and smiled. "Mr. Nick pulled him off. Little as he was, he found the strength. Now he's bigger and stronger. He'll save his older brother from himself. He's already had practice."

Victoria had to smile back at him over that last comment, at least for a moment.

They sat together in silence for a long time, longer than either one of them was paying attention to. Then suddenly there was a loud banging on the front door. They both went running to it.

Victoria got there first and opened the door to Sheriff Madden. He took his hat off. "Fred, come in," Victoria said. Then she got a look at his face and slumped. "Nick and Heath didn't catch up with Jarrod, did they?"

"No," the sheriff said. "They got to me after Chad from the depot said Jarrod had taken off for Fryes Junction. Jarrod wheedled the truth out of him."

Victoria went white. "Jarrod didn't hurt him – "

"No, no," Sheriff Madden said. "Just scared him half to death – you know how timid Chad can be. Nick and Heath wanted me to let you know they were going after Jarrod."

Then the sheriff just stood there like he thought he ought to be saying something else, but there was nothing else he could say. Victoria sighed and the sheriff did not want to leave. He knew this woman needed his help.

"Victoria," he said, "you know, it hasn't been that long that Jarrod's been recovered from the shooting by the Dunigans. I think it's pretty possible he won't have the stamina to get very far."

Victoria shook her head and led the way into the living room. "He's fully recovered, Fred. His grief is driving him. He'll get wherever he wants to go."

Silas and Sheriff Madden exchanged looks. "Can I get you anything, Sheriff?" Silas asked.

The sheriff sighed and shook his head. "I expect Mrs. Barkley might need some brandy, though."

Victoria sat down on the settee, and the sheriff sat beside her, taking her hand, trying to console her. "No, I don't think so," she said.

"I'll just go clean up those dishes in the kitchen then," Silas said and left the room.

Victoria and the sheriff sat in silence for several long seconds before Victoria shook her head. "Fred, Jarrod was a dozen times angrier than he was when you were here this afternoon. There was no settling him down."

"Nick told me Jarrod had slugged him and slipped out of the house," Sheriff Madden said. "I offered to go with him and Heath, but Nick didn't think it would help."

"It probably wouldn't have," Victoria said, "and you're needed in town."

"I asked them to wire me sometime tomorrow, let me know where they were and if they'd found Jarrod. I'm gonna wire ahead to the sheriff at Rock Point, near Fryes Junction, and if he or Nick and Heath don't find him there, I'll keep wiring ahead to where he might go. But I'll bet Nick and Heath find him fast enough."

"They won't find him soon," Victoria said, shaking her head again. "He has a good headstart on them, and I know him. He'll ride all night, even if it's not safe. You know how he is."

"Yeah," Sheriff Madden said. "As relentless out of court as he is in. Victoria, I'm so sorry I couldn't keep Hyatt locked up."

"I know," Victoria said. "None of this is your fault. It was Hyatt's fault, and now it's Jarrod's. Whatever happens now is his responsibility."

"It's possible he might never catch up to Hyatt."

Victoria sighed. "He won't give up until he does. And if he does, and he kills Hyatt – " She sighed again, deeper, and tears started leaking out. "It's possible I may never see him again."

The sheriff squeezed her hand tighter. "Don't go thinking like that, Victoria. Nick and Heath will catch up to him, probably tomorrow or the day after. They'll stop him before he does anything he'll regret."

"Even if they do, Fred, this is something he'll take the rest of his life to get over. I know my first born. He doesn't give his love easily, and he did love Beth, with all his heart. For the first time he was thinking about a family of his own, and children – and she was a lovely girl – and – "

Victoria broke down, and the sheriff put his arm around her. He didn't know what to do other than let her cry.

Silas came back in a few minutes later. Sheriff Madden looked up at him, noting that he looked as worried as the sheriff had ever seen him. Sheriff Madden said, "Victoria, I have to be getting back to town. Silas will take good care of you, and I'll be back just as soon as I get that telegram from Nick and Heath."

Victoria wiped her eyes and stood up with the sheriff. "Thank you, Fred, I appreciate that."

She and Silas both walked the sheriff to the door. Sheriff Madden took Victoria's hand and squeezed it one more time before leaving, and Victoria then closed the door after him. Then she stood there for long seconds.

"Mrs. Barkley," Silas said, "maybe you best go to bed and try to get a little bit of sleep."

Victoria turned around, nodding. "You're right, Silas. You go on to bed as well. I'll let you know if I need you."

Silas smiled. "Good night, Mrs. Barkley. I'll see you have a good breakfast in the morning."

Victoria gave him a smile and headed upstairs. She was walking so slowly that Silas felt the need to linger behind and make sure she made it to her room. When he finally heard her door close, he put the lights out in the living room and foyer and went to his room to get some sleep.

XXXXXXXX

Victoria jumped awake with the face of her enraged eldest son leering at her. It was still dark and she nearly screamed, but the bit of light coming in from outside was enough for her to see by. She realized she was in her own bed. She remembered what had happened. She remembered that she hadn't even put her night clothes on, just lay down on the bed as soon as she came into the room. And she had fallen asleep so fast she hadn't realized it.

She got up and looked out of the window. Just a little bit of sunlight was coming alive in the eastern sky. She circled the room twice, wondering whether to go back to bed. Instead, she visited the water closet, washed her face and went back downstairs. She did not bother with any make-up today.

Silas was already up and had lamps lit in the foyer. Victoria could smell ham cooking in the kitchen. Thank heaven for Silas. How could anyone been as devoted as to stay up after she went to bed and be up before her, ready to take care of whatever she needed? Victoria went into the kitchen.

At the stove, Silas turned when he heard her come in, and he smiled. "Good morning, Mrs. Barkley. I hope you did get some sleep."

"Some, Silas, yes," Victoria said. Wearily, she sat down at the kitchen table, where Beth had sat down to help her cook only days ago. "Silas, why don't we just eat together here this morning? I don't think I can face that big dining room alone."

"Of course, Mrs. Barkley," Silas said. "Coffee's ready, would you like some?"

"Yes, please."

Silas fetched a cup from the cabinet and poured a cup. "Here you are," he said as he put it down in front of her. "The ham is just about ready, too. Will you have some eggs?"

"Just one," Victoria said.

"Comin' right up," Silas said.

In only five minutes, he had a plate of ham, eggs and bread in front of her, but he wondered if she was going to eat any of it. He poured some coffee for himself and sat down with a plate of food to go with it.

Silas watched as Victoria picked at her food, but at least she was eating some of it. Silas ate his more quickly so he would be ready to do whatever Victoria needed.

The sun came up and peeked through the kitchen windows. Victoria said quietly, "It looks like it will be a beautiful day."

"A good day to spend in the garden," Silas said. "Why don't you take a cup of coffee out there and enjoy the mornin' air?"

Victoria smiled, thinking it was a good idea as well, even though her mind would always be on her sons, all three of them. She prayed they were already together, somewhere, and that Sheriff Madden would be coming by soon with that telegram he was expecting. Buoyed a little by that hope, she finished her food and said, "I'll pour myself that coffee and go out to the garden for a while."

"I'll take care of things in here," Silas said. "You just relax a bit more out there."

In a little while, Victoria walked out of the kitchen door, carrying her cup of coffee, facing the morning sun in her garden.