Chapter Four

Heath walked around for a few minutes deep in his thoughts. St John was muddling his thoughts. He ended up at the saloon.

The pine sawdust assaulted his senses. Walking in here again after the past years. He ran his hand around the edge of the unused pool table. The small tear in the green felt had not been replaced. Small bump of sap filled the gap. He touched it with his fingers.

"Pool is the devil's game."

A cowhand interrupted his thoughts; his finger was still on the tear.

"Wanna play? That there bump is a hazard. We all have adjusted our play for it. As we see it, just another obstacle in life. You live, you try to miss the bumps, you drink, you die."

"Rack 'em," Heath stoically replied.

The man broke the game and made several shots. Heath knocked two balls quickly in the holes but missed the third. The man won the game.

"Another?"

"Nah. Thank ya anyway. Is it too early for a whiskey?"

"Never. Shoulda been here a couple years ago. Fool sheriff wouldn't let drinks be served until 8—afta family hour. What in the hell was the rest of us to do?"

"I was here then." and he turned, walked toward the bar, and put down a coin, "A bottle."

The same bartender grabbed the whiskey bottle and pushed the coin back to him, "I remember you," and he lowered his voice, "He woulda killed ya. You gave him a fair warning. Saw it from the boardwalk."

"Lou lived ya know?"

Heath nodded, poured a drink—-then downed a second one. Left the coin and the bottle on the bar.

He was so still—-Sally and I just stood there waiting for him to die. All he was a kid

The cooler night air hit him in the face. He thought about heading to the hotel but changed his mind.

"Not sure I would be good company."

—-&—

Jarrod dozed in and out of his sleep. His dreams were odd and disoriented, waking every few minutes with this bound shoulder and throbbing head.

He asked for scotch but Tessa said, "Doctor says no. He gave some laudanum when they were putting the shoulder back in place. You can have some tomorrow."

He growled at her impatiently and tried to get comfortable.

"Pappy sad at Mam?" echoed across the room.

"No baby, Pap is just hurting."

Jarrod opened his eyes wide and extended his hand to Tessa and said, "Come here Rosie. Pappy is sorry. I love my girls."

Rosemary kissed his hand again as he squeezed Tessa's. He winked with his good eye and immediately winced with pain.

"Ok Rosie, tell Pap good night. Go to Eugenie and get ready for bed. I will be in to tuck you in."

"Ok. Love you, Mam and Pap."

"We love you, too,"

The little girl bounded out of the room. Tessa tucked the blankets back around Jarrod and he reached up for her, "A goodnight kiss?"

"Of course." and she softly kissed him.

"I am sorry I was rude,"

"It was the pain, I know that."

"Tessa, are you well? The baby and all?"

"Yes, sweetheart I am. Cooling off and supper was what I needed. And seeing you alive and going to get better."

"Good. I don't want this to upset you after the hard day you have had. Please promise me you will sleep."

"I promise. Good night, Jarrod, my love."

"My love," he repeated.

—&—

Eugenie got Rosemary ready for bed and Tessa kissed her Goodnight after prayers.

"Thank you, Eugenie. I am going to retire, I would like to bathe. Mr. Heath should be home soon. He should have a key."

"You are welcome. I will read a while before I sleep on the trundle by Rosie."

She watched Tessa walk out and close the door. She listened for the water and got up. Eugenie first went to look in on the sleeping Jarrod. He had a slight snore so she went to his discarded trousers and jacket. She checked the pockets and as usual kept the coin. She hung up his clothes and shut the door.

Next, she opened the door to Heath's room. He hadn't unpacked but had left three dollar bills on the bureau. She took only one and left his room.

She took the coins and the bill to her pouch in her traveling trunk. After working for the Barkleys two months, she had almost doubled her wage from them. Coins here and there, Mr. Barkley never seemed to miss them. Change from grocery lists and errands,slightly shortchanged. Tessa noticed quickly when money was gone so she never pilfered from her mistress.

"These rich people," she sighed.

She then opened her traveling trunk and pulled a notebook out of the lining.

Man attacked JTB for something in his past. H went to jail to find out.

She looked at her previous notes: N wife was married before to mean man in San Diego; N adopted twins; Girl short leg; boy taller; Jack Darby paid off the mortgage on Zella's; JTB adopting R in AZ; Knows judge; No one says who R father is; TB is with child. Acts like it is her first. Z too. Heath buying horses for ranch…

Every so often, her cousin in Modesto would stop by for her notes. He knew a newspaper man that paid for information about the Barkleys.

"I am not doing anything wrong. It's not like they tell me not to talk. And I need the money. Don't want to be a maid all my life. And the money I take is just left around. They don't miss it."

And she slid the notebook back into the lining as well as the pouch into the case.

She picked up her dime novel and began to read it again.

—-&—-

Nick and Nellie walked down the hall to their room, arm in arm. They had said their prayers with the children and tucked them in.

He whispered an endearment into her ear and she giggled. They reached the door and walked in. Nick turned the key in the lock.

"Two weeks of marriage Nellie and I can't keep my mind on anything but you."

She smiled at him as she sat down in front of the vanity mirror. She began to take her hairpins out.

"Here let me." and he began to pull the pins out. He would stop and kiss her neck. She closed her eyes as he gazed at her in the mirror. Finally, he got the volumes of blonde curls down and pulled them into his hands. He undid her bodice deftly as he watched himself in the mirror. Nellie never opened her eyes but leaned back into him for his hands to gain greater access.

"That's my girl. I think you like that."

"Just a little. But husband, I know what you like too."

"Oh you do?"

"Yes I do." and she quickly turned to face him. She playfully pushed him to the floor in front of the fireplace rug.

"I think Mrs. Barkley, you better be true to your words," he huskily joked.

"I always tell the truth," as they lost themselves in the moment.