Chapter 3
The air was fresh and new and full of early spring crispness, which is exactly what Victoria needed to restore her courage and her faith. Somewhere two of her younger sons were chasing her oldest. They would find him, before he would fall victim to his own blind relentlessness. They would find him before he hurt anyone. They would find him before he killed Cass Hyatt.
She told herself these things over and over again while she breathed as deeply and evenly as she could to keep herself calm. When they came home, they would need her. Jarrod wasn't the only one who whose wellbeing was at stake. What was happening out there was going to change all of them, forever. Victoria knew she needed to be ready for that.
Her coffee cup ran empty after half an hour or so, but she stayed in the garden for a long time. When she finally looked up, Silas was beside her with the coffee pot. "Another cup, Mrs. Barkley?"
Victoria smiled and held her cup out. "Yes, Silas, thank you," she said. "You had the right idea. Being out here has been very good for my soul."
"You always do come in from the garden refreshed, Mrs. Barkley. What else can I get for you?"
"Nothing for me, but will you change the linens on all the boys' beds? When they get back, they're going to be exhausted and will probably fall right into bed."
"Yes, ma'am, I'll see to it, and do the same for your room and Miss Audra's. You're both gonna want that, too."
"Thank you, Silas," Victoria said as Silas went back into the house.
It was only a few moments later that Ciego came up from the stable yard, his hat in his hand. "Buenos dias, Senora Barkley," he said, moving carefully and quietly.
"Good morning, Ciego," Victoria said.
Ciego stumbled on his words. "Senora Barkley, I just wanted you to know that your horse is rested and ready if you decide you want to take a ride today. And Senorita Audra's horse is also rested and ready."
Victoria finally remembered that Audra was due in today on the train from Philadelphia. "Oh, Ciego, did I ask you pick up Audra from the train this afternoon?"
"No, Senora, but with all your sons away, I thought you would want me to, so I will complete my regular work in time to leave to get her."
"Thank you, Ciego, and will you go early enough to ask Sheriff Madden to talk to her as soon as she arrives? I don't know if she got the wire we sent to her in Kansas City to let her know – " She stopped on the words. It was almost to difficult to say. "To let her know what happened to Beth," she finally got out.
"Si, Senora, I will do that," Ciego said. "Is there anything more I can do for you?"
Victoria suddenly saw Sheriff Madden riding in. "Oh, never mind about talking to the sheriff. Here he comes!"
Victoria got up, leaving her coffee on the bench, and went down into the stable yard with Ciego. Sheriff Madden was dismounting there. Victoria's heart fell. He did not look happy.
"Good morning, Victoria," he said, tipping his hat.
"Good morning, Fred," Victoria said. "Have you heard from Nick and Heath?"
"Yes," he said. "They wired me from just south of Lathrop. I'm afraid they haven't caught up with Jarrod yet. They're continuing south toward Fryes Junction and expect to be there in a couple days, if they don't find Jarrod first."
Victoria sighed. Despite all her optimism and strength an hour ago, she was devastated now, even though deep down she always knew Jarrod would not be caught easily.
Sheriff Madden touched her arm. "They'll find him, Victoria. They know where he's headed, and they'll find him."
Victoria nodded. "I know. It's just – I wish it had been today."
"It still could be. Don't give up yet."
"Would you join me in the garden for a few minutes? I'd like to talk to you."
"Of course."
The sheriff followed Victoria back up to the bench in the garden. Victoria picked up her coffee cup and sat down, the sheriff sitting beside her. Before Victoria could even ask, Silas was there with another cup of coffee. "Would you like some coffee, Sheriff?" he asked.
Sheriff Madden took the cup. "Thank you, Silas."
Silas smiled and bowed slightly before he went back into the house.
"The man always thinks ahead of us, doesn't he?" Sheriff Madden asked.
Victoria said, "Yes. He knows us too well."
"How are you holding up, Victoria? I know this is eating you up."
Victoria appreciated his speaking up. "I'm so afraid I can't even admit it to myself," she said, her voice closing on the words.
The sheriff put his arm around her. "You've been through plenty of hard times before with your family, Victoria. Your sons have made mistakes before and found their way back around."
Victoria shook her head. "This is different. None of my sons has ever turned into a murderer before."
"Jarrod's not a murderer," the sheriff said quickly. "He won't be a murderer. He's not that kind of man."
"That's the trouble. I don't know what kind of man he is right now. I only know he's lost and we weren't able to reach him to keep him from going after Hyatt. I don't know who he is or who will come back, if he comes back."
"He'll be back, and if he isn't the same as he was before this happened, he'll be a better man for having faced this and handled it. He will handle it in the end, Victoria. Whatever happens to him out there, he will handle it in the end. You have to have faith in the son you raised."
Victoria looked at the sheriff and nodded slightly. "Fred, Audra's due in on the afternoon train. Ciego will come to get her, but will you be there to greet her and tell her what's happened? I just don't have the strength for it right now."
The sheriff nodded. "I'll talk to her. You know, she's quite a woman herself now. She's strong enough to help you through this."
"I know she is," Victoria said. And then she heaved a big sigh. "Would you do one more thing for me?"
"Of course."
"Would you stop by the church and tell Father David what's been happening? Ask him to say a prayer for us."
The sheriff smiled. "I already did that yesterday, but I'll stop by and ask him again."
"Thank you, Fred. You're a dear friend. Maybe, with some luck, you'll get another telegram today saying Nick and Heath have found their brother."
The sheriff smiled. "Maybe. Keep your faith up, Victoria. Everything will be all right in the end."
Victoria nodded. "By the grace of God."
XXXXXXX
Victoria was napping in the afternoon when something woke her up. She listened – it was the sound of a buggy coming in. She got up and looked at the window to see Ciego arriving with Audra.
Her heart jumped up inside her. Audra had been touring the east for a month. Victoria was never happier to see her come home. She hurried downstairs and found her coming in the front door.
"Mother!" Audra cried, without a smile.
Victoria ran to her and embraced her. "Darling, I'm so glad you're home."
"I'm glad I'm home too," Audra said. "The sheriff told me everything that happened. Oh, Mother, I just don't know what to say."
"I know. I don't either. Where are your bags?"
"I had too many for the buggy. They're holding them at the depot and Ciego is getting one of the hands to go get them."
Victoria guided her daughter into the living room, where they sat down together. "You must be exhausted," Victoria said.
"Not really," Audra said. "I'm too upset. The sheriff told me everything, but I just couldn't believe it."
"It's true. Jarrod's gone after Hyatt to kill him, and his brothers are trying to find him before he does."
"Jarrod's not a killer."
"I don't know, Audra. You didn't see him. You didn't see how joyous he was to be married to that beautiful girl and how devastated he was when she was killed. He changed. He changed in the blink of an eye."
"Not deep down. Deep down, he's still our Jarrod."
Victoria sighed. "I'm not so sure. I'm just not so sure."
"Mother," Audra said, took her mother by the arms and looked straight into her eyes. "Jarrod will not kill a man in cold blood, not even a man who killed his wife. It's just not in him."
Victoria's eyes filled with tears. "I'm not so sure," she said again.