Chapter One
10th Street Modesto
The train whistle blew as it entered the Modesto station.
"Loud Pap, loud!" Rosemary yelled with her hands over her ears.
"Shh, Pap has you. Nothing to worry about. It will stop in a second," he cradled the three-year-old in his lap.
Tessa Knight Barkley looked over at her daughter and husband beaming. She was filled with pride. This was their first trip out of the valley in two months of marriage. They had honeymooned at the lodge for a week; Rosemary stayed at the ranch with her Honey. Jarrod had worked out of his Stockton office with only one out-of-town trip to Sacramento in the past two months. He had asked Tessa to go and she agreed. But Rosemary came down with the three-day measles so she stayed home.
She and Jarrod had discussed the issue at the lodge, "Tessa, I know you have come to love the ranch. I want us to build a house next to the mansion so Rosemary can grow up surrounded by family."
"Oh, Jarrod, I would love that."
"Tessa, you know I have a law practice in San Francisco as well as Stockton. I will need to go there often and to Sacramento. I want you and Rosemary by my side." He held her hand tightly and made her look him in the eye.
She bit her lip and tried to stifle her anxiety. She tried to breathe calmly and swallow.
"Yes, Jarrod, of course, for better or worse. I promised," she whispered. He took her into his arms and held her tightly.
"Tessa, trust me. It won't be for worse. You trusted me with your life and Rosie's in Knight's Ferry. We will go slowly I promise. We will make our travel to the city as a family wonderful and pleasurable. I understand and I value our life together above all else."
"We will go slowly, trust —-" ran through her mind. The same words he used on their wedding night. Zella had told her what to expect and—she was wrong."
—-&—
Jarrod read the Stockton, Sacramento, and San Francisco papers on the train as his family slept. The trial against the rustlers ended with the mayor and sheriff taking plea bargains. The story had broken in the papers the day before they left.
He was relieved that Tessa would not have to testify. He wanted her first trip to the big city to be a pleasurable one—-and not as a witness in a very public, scandalous trial. She still had occasional nightmares about the men she killed protecting her home.
Jarrod had been able to keep her name out of it. Her statement was entered into the record but not challenged by the defense. They knew the brutal harassment of a woman would bode poorly for their clients. Her testimony was only used by officials to get a confession.
He looked over at his napping wife and daughter with love and pride; he folded the papers back up into his valise. He was content.
—&—-
Robert Danforth read the papers at his Gentleman's Club with disgust. He remarked to his companions, "Barkleys, pah. They get all the credit for these arrests in the newspapers. Probably bought off the reporters to look good. So glad I saw through that cad and did not allow him to see my fair daughter again. And pulled my business from his firm."
The man across from him sighed; they knew the real story—Jarrod had not allowed Danforth to put him under his thumb, "Robert, let it go. Jarrod Barkley is married now. Lucy Claire was too good for that pompous ass. You got the best end of the deal."
"Married?" he frowned.
"I thought you knew. New Year's Day according to my Martha. She saw a Stockton friend at the charity league."
"That's awfully sudden. He was with Catherine the Great or whatever the society pages call her in December. Lucy Claire the week before that. New Year, you say?"
"Yes. My friend at the courthouse said she was part of the rustling story. She helped in some way catch the men."
"How could a woman be of help in such an important way? Tomfoolery I say. "
"I heard the same thing, Robert. She killed one of them I think. They didn't put her part in the papers. It made the case for the state. Seems pretty common if you ask me. Not a well-bred lady like your Lucy Claire."
Robert took a long drag on his cigar, "Quick wedding, you say. Probably in a pudding club." (Crude Slang for pregnancy in Victorian times)
"That would explain it,"
The men at the following table heard the exchange and repeated it again, "Barkley had a shotgun wedding? Wrong side of the sheets? He was quite the lady's man after all."
Danforth asked his friend as they left, "Can you get me a copy of the lady's testimony in that rustling trial? Just interested, you know."
"Sure. It's a public record. I will get it at the courthouse from a friend. Just don't tell anyone where you got it."
"Of course."
And by the next day, Jarrod's name was on many a lip. Most of the town didn't believe the rumors—but as always enough did.
—&—
Jarrod tipped the porter to get their bags to the hotel. Rosemary held onto her doll and one of her painted horses. She looked around and took all the surroundings in with awe.
Tessa pressed out the wrinkles in her new blue satin dress and straightened her matching hat under her green wool cloak. Audra had made it her personal mission to build a wardrobe for her new sister-in-law.
Tessa had only gone into Stockton with Jarrod, Audra, or Victoria. She was uncomfortable with the stares she received.
Audra had told her, "Don't let it bother you. It will settle down. Always does. Give them a smile and a nod. Everyone is just curious about the lady who finally stole my brother's heart. I think he is the lucky one, Tessa."
Audra had not told her about the sidelong looks at her stomach or questions about her past that ran rampant through the town. Her friends peppered her with questions at church and town.
Her mother had told Audra when she confided her concerns, "I know, I have seen it and no one dares speak it in my presence. But Audra, if Beth had not been murdered, it would have happened to her too. She only went to town once after their marriage. When you defy convention—and Barkley's often do, my dear—-people assume the worst. "Weather the storm in a good slicker and a flask," your Father always said. It will die down. They will find someone else to gossip about. But I do worry about Tessa. She's a strong woman, and in Knight's Ferry, she had the respect of the town. Here she will have to make her way with all of our help. We are her family now, and she does make your brother happier than I have seen him in years. Rosemary is young too. Many will remember she came here without a last name."
"Mother? Do you know who —-"
"No Audra I don't. She has never confided in me but Jarrod is content—and that is all that matters."
—-&—-
She checked the chain for her pendant; their wedding photograph now faced Rosemary in the locket. Her rose gold, opal ring, and the band were subconsciously straightened under her fine calfskin gloves.
Jarrod noticed her insecurity and put his hand on the small of her back, "You are exquisite, my wife."
"Mr. Darby?" and Jarrod turned to look.
"Oh, sorry sir. My mistake," the man wandered off.
"Guess, I should expect it by now."
They walked arm-in-arm to Zella's. They passed under a canvas, painted sign: Modesto's Ace: Vote Jack Darby for Mayor.
Zella's had a sign hanging from her placard, Up the Ante with Darby
Darby: A Face You Can Trust made Jarrod burst out in laughter.
Pablo greeted them at the door with a smile and a hug for Jarrod. He stared at Tessa, "You are bello! Zella's melliza. I never thought the heavens could give us two of them."
He kissed her hand and bowed, "Senora Barkley, Pablo is your servant for life. Just like the Senora Darby. Las la belleza!"
He bent down and kissed Rosemary's hand. She giggled as Jarrod ushered them into the cafe.
Zella was taking customers to their seats in the cafe when she saw her sister.
"Tessa, you made it!" and she ran over to hug her sister and niece. She left a loud kiss on Jarrod's cheek. Most of the cafe turned to watch the newcomers. Muffled conversations went around the room about Tessa. In her fine outfit, she was almost a perfect double of her sister. A bit more natural color to her complexion and no cosmetics seemed to be a major difference.
"Jack is in the gambling parlor campaigning for votes with free beers. The cheap stuff of course."
"Of course," Jarrod smirked.
They sat down at a far cafe table. Jarrod seated all three ladies and Tessa looked at him with love.
Zella looked at Jarrod then Tessa, "Looks like you two lovebirds have nested pretty well. Come to think of it, How's that bird of yours?"
Rosemary grinned, "Sings all the time. Likes Mam the best. She says I hug too hard. Named him, Birdie."
"That's a perfect name, Rosie-roo." as Zella tossed the child's curls.
The serving girl brought coffee, tea, and lemonade to the table. She looked at Zella and Tessa, then Jarrod. She did a double take. She hurriedly crossed herself and sprinted back to the kitchen.
"I guess we better get used to the stares," as Jarrod stirred his coffee.
Tessa cut up the finger sandwiches and cucumbers for Rosemary, "Just try them. We make pickles out of them, and you like pickles."
Rosemary scrunched her nose, "Deese aren't sweet, I like sweet."
"Rosemary, just try one more bite please."
"Ok," She took a tiny bite, stuck out her tongue, and grimaced. Tessa shook her head, and Jarrod hid his smile under his hand. Zella did not even try to hide her laugh, and she received a glare from her sister.
"That's a smart girl. I avoid cucumbers too. Taste them one too many times after I eat them. Sometimes all night."
"Tank you, Aunt Zella," Rosemary said seriously.
Tess and Jarrod just shook their heads. He placed his hand under the table on his wife's thigh and squeezed.
She took a deep intake of air as she stifled the desire his touch elicited from her. She knew it was mutual and what was on his mind. She had learned to read Jarrod like a book, but unfortunately, he had the same sway over her. It made for quite passionate first months of marriage.
Pablo came in from the antechamber, "Miz Zella, the boy from the hotel says he gots some information for you."
She frowned and went with Pablo. The next thing Jarrod and Tessa heard was Zella demanding the gun from behind the bar, "I will kill her."
Jarrod immediately took off and stopped his sister-in-law with Tessa close behind. Rosemary was listening intently to the profanity Zella was shouting. Jack came out of the gambling side quickly to the commotion.
"What the hell, Zella? Oh, hello Jarrod, Tessa, Rosie-roo. What in smithereens has got you lathered up, woman?"
She calmed herself, took a deep breath, and looked around. The people everywhere dispersed, still trying to listen. She patiently waited and then hissed.
"I told you I would do it. Dorothy Darby just checked into the hotel."
Jack blanched, Jarrod was incensed, and Tessa looked terrified. She took Rosie's hand back to the table.
"Give me the damn gun," she yelled as Jarrod took it from her again.
"Let me look into this. Pablo, take Miss Zella upstairs and hogtie her if you have to—-until I check this out. Jack, come with me. He looked at Tessa, "head to the hotel with Rose when you are done. Wait for me there."
Everyone took Jarrod's orders, including Zella, as she defeatedly headed upstairs with Pablo. Jack was antsy and agitated as he called after her.
"It's going to be fine, honey."
"I am going to make it fine, fine with me. You are my husband."
"You know that, and I know that. Zella, you are my wife, and nothing changes that. I never married that woman."