Chapter 6

Jarrod didn't give Archer or even court another thought for a while. He didn't want to tell anyone, but he especially wasn't all that anxious to talk to anyone in the legal community about the trial he'd seen. He was having trouble sorting his thoughts out, and frankly, he wasn't sure he wanted to do the digging he would need to do to even ask intelligent questions of Michael Quinn or anybody else in the legal field. He honestly did not know what he wanted.

Instead, he began working with the herd again, although he still was not ready to do any heavy lifting or horse breaking. They were moving the herd into the summer pasture, so he just helped with that. He chose to spend an entire week, day and night, helping to tend the herd – and letting his brain air out. It was good to think uncomplicated thoughts for a while. Maybe the questions rolling around in there would answer themselves.

Questions about the procedures and substance of the law. Questions about his place in the system, if he even had one anymore.

He finally found his way back to the house on a Tuesday morning, tired and dirty and with a beard because he had given up shaving when he first went out. And he knew he smelled like cattle, so he planned to head straight for a bath. He hoped he wouldn't see his mother or sister on the way to the tub, but they were in the kitchen when he came through the back door, heading for the back stairs.

"Oh, Nick, for heaven's sake – " Victoria turned from the stove expecting a different son. "Jarrod! My word – "

"I know, I know," he said and hurried up the stairs. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were cooking. I'll bathe and be down in an hour or so." The last was almost lost as he disappeared upstairs.

Audra laughed, and even Silas, cutting vegetables at the table, had to smile.

Victoria shook her head. "I don't think I've dealt with Jarrod smelling that bad since before the war."

"Oh, he's been on cattle drives since then," Audra said. "You've just forgotten how bad that smell can get."

"I'd just as soon never be reminded again," Victoria said.

Audra gave a glance at the stairs. "Do you think we should tell him about Phil Archer?"

"We'll tell him when he comes down," Victoria said. "Archer has waited for five days. He can wait a bit longer."

Silas brought the bowl of vegetables over to the stove. "How is this, Mrs. Barkley?"

"Perfect, Silas. Put them in the pot."

Silas complied, saying, "I'm not sure what Mr. Jarrod's gonna think about Mr. Archer's visit."

"If he remembered Archer, I know what he'd think," Victoria said. "He'd turn him down flat."

"Are you so sure about that, Mother?" Audra said. "Jarrod always was one to look at the facts of a situation and leave the personalities out of it."

"I'm not sure he'd have felt that way about Phil Archer," Victoria said. "But, since he doesn't remember him – well, I suspect he will try to help the man."

"Maybe he won't since he can't practice law," Audra said.

"That doesn't mean he won't help somehow if he can," Victoria said. "I just hope he doesn't regret it."

About an hour later, Jarrod came back down the back stairs, drawn by the wonderful smells coming from the kitchen. He was bathed and shaved now, smelling of bay rum aftershave and not cattle. "Whatever you're cooking smells wonderful," he said and came to the stove. "What is that?"

"A three sisters soup," Audra said. "Corn, squash and beans, with some fresh herbs and onions from the garden. And bread fresh out of the oven, not two hours ago."

"I guess it is almost lunch time, isn't it?" Jarrod said.

"How was your week riding herd?" Victoria asked.

"Very good for my head," Jarrod said. "Helped me get my thoughts in order."

Victoria and Audra looked at each other. Victoria said, "Silas, would you finish this up and call us to the table when it's ready?"

"Of course, Mrs. Barkley," Silas said, and watched Victoria beckon Jarrod into the living room with her and Audra. He gave a big sigh, silently wishing Jarrod the best decision-making he could have given the holes in his memory.

"Is there something you wanted to talk about?" Jarrod asked as he followed the women into the living room and poured himself a bit of scotch.

"Yes," Victoria said and sat down on the settee with Audra. "And I hate to upset you now that you've gotten your thinking in order, but Phil Archer was here a couple days after you left. He looked very unhappy and I had the feeling he wanted to ask for your help on something. He said he'd be back sometime this week."

Jarrod sat down in his "thinking chair." "Why should that upset me? If he needs legal advice, he probably knows that I can't give it."

"Well, I'm not sure what he wanted. Advice of some sort, but I'm not sure it was legal."

"What else could he want of me?" Jarrod asked and took a sip of his scotch.

"Perhaps only your common sense. I didn't ask."

Jarrod did not feel particularly ill at ease about the prospect of talking with Archer. "Maybe I ought to make my way to town this afternoon and see what he wants before he comes out here to bother you again."

"He didn't stay long enough to be a bother," Victoria said.

Audra finally intervened. "I think Jarrod has a good idea, Mother. You weren't very comfortable seeing Mr. Archer when he came."

"Well, then, that settles it," Jarrod said. "I'll go see him after lunch. Chances are I can get rid of him in five minutes."

"Jarrod," Victoria said, "let me just tell you something about yourself you may not have confronted yet. You've never been the kind of man to turn someone down who needs your help just because you don't like him, or just because he's a difficult individual. If Archer has a problem that you can help him with, your inclination will be to help him."

Jarrod eyed his mother. "How do you feel about that?"

Victoria took a deep breath. "Ordinarily it wouldn't bother me, but life for you isn't ordinary yet. I'm not saying don't help him. I'm only asking you to be careful what you do. Give it careful consideration before you say yes or no."

"He didn't give you any idea what he wanted?" Jarrod asked.

"No, he didn't."

"Well, maybe he only wants to know the best way to get to Ely, Nevada."

"Don't take it too lightly, Jarrod. Please."

Jarrod saw she was genuinely concerned. He smiled. "I won't. I promise."

XXXXXXX

The first thing Jarrod had to do when he got to Stockton was find out where Archer's office was. The sheriff or the clerk of the court would know. Still a little skittish about being in the courthouse, Jarrod decided to check the sheriff's office first, and it was a good thing he did.

Jarrod went in and found Sheriff Madden cleaning one of his rifles. "Afternoon, Jarrod," the sheriff said and put things aside. "What brings you in here today?"

"Afternoon, Fred," Jarrod said. "I've been out in the field for a week or so and while I was gone, Phil Archer came to the house for some reason he didn't say. I want to go talk to him, but I can't remember where his office is."

Sheriff Madden made an unhappy face and didn't answer. He just waved Jarrod toward the cell block, and he opened the cell block door.

And there was Phil Archer, in a cell.

Jarrod looked at Archer, and then at the sheriff. With a moan, he turned around and went back into the office.