Chapter Eleven

Excerpt from Chapter Ten :

"May we go to Modesto first? I would like to at least meet the woman who should have been able to raise me; she has the right to know I'm alive."

Jarrod couldn't agree more. "That will be no problem."

~oOo~

As Jarrod and Steve entered Modesto, Jarrod could see a few older gentlemen standing in front of the general mercantile; they'd stopped talking and were staring at Steve. Since Steve had shocked every one on the ranch by going into Stockton and having his hair cut and any resemblance of facial hair removed, it made Jarrod think his mother-once again-knew exactly what she had been talking about. After all, the late Mr. Alders had spent a lot of time between Stockton and Modesto. That idea was proven correct, as Jarrod and Steve passed the men and heard one man who seemed to be trying to whisper but failing say, "He's got to be an Alder."

Steve, thinking about what he hoped would be a joyous celebration, turned his head and looked at Jarrod. He wasn't surprised that he was unable to read any emotion on Jarrod's face; Heath had said Jarrod had a pretty good 'poker face' when he wanted one. Steve could only imagine what Jarrod might be thinking and feeling at the moment. "If you want, you could go to the Davies ranch yourself. I mean, you would get there faster than sticking with me."

Jarrod was mighty tempted to do just that, especially since Mrs. Alders would, most likely, want them to stay a few days. On the other hand, this John of whom Steve spoke of didn't know him…and Jarrod highly doubted John (if he were Nick) would remember the name Jarrod Barkley. True, there was a slim chance he had heard the name, but that was it. No, he knew it was imperative that John hear Steve's story from Steve's own mouth, before he was ever asked to listen to Jarrod. "I'll wait until you're free to come with me."

Steve, who didn't have to ask Jarrod's reasoning, simply nodded and said nothing more.

~oOo~

Mrs. Alders, known as Widow Alders, stood in front of her daughter and son-in-law's three-bedroom home which was surrounded by the traditional white picket fence and gate. She was looking down at the flowers she'd planted the year before. She had been feeling restless all morning and had been trying to get busy 'until the feeling passed'. She might have simply chalked it up to the fact that she was going through the change every woman went through at her age, but the restless was different somehow. It bothered her because she couldn't put her finger on any one thing.

"Mother, lunch is al…" Mrs. Alder's thirty-two-year-old daughter stepped out of the house and started to call to her mother only to stop as she caught sight of the two men who were riding her way. As she'd seen many pictures of her father when he was younger, Marie gasped in shock. Her reaction naturally had her mother lifting her head. Her heart skipped a beat and she felt the color begin to drain from her face. One minute she was standing up, the next she was lying on the ground and looking up at Steve and Jarrod who had both flown off their horses, ran through the open gate and went to her aid.

"Charles?" Mrs. Alders said her late husband's name without thinking as she placed her hand gently upon Steve's face.

"No," Steve answered slowly as he and Jarrod helped her stand up. "People call me Steve Brighton only," he paused, not wanting her to faint again. "I was called Tommy as a child."

Mrs. Alder's eyes opened wide, and her mouth dropped open as her hands flew to her mouth. Tears forming in her eyes. "I..I.." she stammered and then threw her arms around his neck, "TOMMY! I can't believe it! You're alive!" She started crying and held onto Steve for all she was worth.

Not wishing to interrupt the reunion, Jarrod walked back to the horses, saying he was taking the horses to the Modesto livery stable and would be back. He wasn't surprised when no one made any objections. By the time Jarrod walked from the house to the livery stable and then walked back, Steve was sitting in his sister's living room telling his story and getting reacquainted with his family.

~oOo~

Jarrod, who was sitting on the front porch swing that Mrs. Alder's son-in-law had hung for her, turned his head when the front door opened. He watched as Mrs. Alder sat down on the opposite side of the swing and then turned his face forward again. The sun had set, and the stars were starting to poke their heads through the blackened sky. Jarrod felt slightly guilty as he half-way wished the silver haired elderly woman would simply disappear back into the house.

Mrs. Alders, who had noticed Jarrod's quiet demeanor during supper sat down on the opposite end of the swing. Her heart went out to him and the rest of his family. Neither one said anything for a good ten minutes, and then it was Mrs. Alders who broke the silence. "I won't lie and say I'm sorry it was Tommy who rode into Stockton, but I am truly sorry Nick wasn't with him."

Jarrod shrugged his shoulders and kept his eyes on the stars. "Life isn't always the way we want, as you already know."

"How's your mother?" Mrs. Alders was concerned for her friend, especially when Steve admitted how long Victoria had known who he is and how angry she'd confessed to being before she'd told him which boy he was.

Jarrod turned his face towards the older woman and sighed. "Everything considered she's doing okay." He then backed up what Steve had already told Mrs. Alders and then said, "She is happy for you and says she's sorry she didn't speak up sooner, only she literally shut down every time she tried. She, all of us, think it was not only because she was extremely angry that it wasn't Nick who came back to Stockton, but because she was terrified that your son would tell us Nick had died in those mountains."

Mrs. Alders nodded her head; she could understand that one. After a moment of gazing at the stars she said quietly, "How do you expect to keep up with Steve tomorrow if you don't get some sleep?"

Jarrod whipped his head around and looked at her in astonishment for two reasons; one, he was sure she'd want Steve to consider taking the name Tommy-even Tom-back and; two, he had been equally sure the elderly widow would insist on Steve staying at his sister's place longer.

His reaction earned him a sympathetic smile from Mrs. Alders as she rested her hand on his left shoulder. "I thank you for telling Steve where I was living and for bringing him here. What name he goes by will never change the fact that I will be forever grateful to you and your family. Now," she sighed as she gave his shoulder a slight squeeze, "Your mother is a good woman who has suffered just as much I have, still is. I can't blame her either, probably feel the same way if I was in her shoes. Your trip to Nevada might prove fruitful; it might not. However, I dare say I would be making a huge mistake if I tried to get him to stay here and sent you on your way. I mean, there is an extremely high chance this John he speaks of is your brother; he might listen better if Steve is with you. Either way, your mother, you and the rest of your family need to know for sure."

Jarrod, who felt an overwhelming feeling of gratitude, gave the woman a gentle hug and said, "I think so too. Thank you." He then stood up and went back inside, as Mrs. Alders was right; he needed some sleep.