Blowing in the Wind
Chapter Twenty Seven
A/N I have not taken time to find out what towns, if any, a train going from
Sacramento to Stockton would stop in. I have simply made up a town (at least I think I have. It it really exists, it's pure coincidence). I have put a * by that town.
Previously:
The old woman was relieved the stranger got on his way, but shook her head just the same as she looked at her mule, that was letting out a 'heeee hawww'. "I warned him, can't do anything else." She turned her attention to the fire and started muttering about the wind, three birds and the fool who wouldn't listen to her.
~oOo~
By the time the train rolled into Stockton, Jarrod had had plenty of time to think…what with John lost in his own thoughts and Steve getting off the train in *Harperville in order to catch a stagecoach to Modesto-an action he only took after receiving a telegram before leaving Carson City; it confirmed that Lily and Paulette had left Stockton to journey to his mother's home. That the being the case, there had been little to do but get his own thoughts and feelings straightened out. The first priority was to brace himself for a reunion that could go either way. Looking out the window, Jarrod could see the family sitting, or standing, near the ticket office.
John looked out the window and followed Jarrod's gaze. He saw a white haired regal woman dressed in a purple dress sitting on a bench, next to the bench stood a blonde haired gentleman dressed in the clothes of a cowboy. A beautiful blonde young woman stood on the other side of the older woman. "Is that them?" He turned and face Jarrod.
"Yes, that's mother, Heath and Audra." Jarrod smiled wide.
John shocked Jarrod when he swore and then said, "Where do you keep your shotguns?"
"Shotgu…" Jarrod's smile disappeared as he looked at John with a questioning look in his eyes only to realize his brother had gone back to looking at the family, or more specifically Audra. Confusion fled and Jarrod starting laughing, and laughing hard. "She's had a number of young men call on her and she's made it plain just what she thinks of having two overprotective older brothers, three when Gene's visiting."
"Four," John turned away from the window and stood up as the train came to a stop. "I don't know if I'm staying past six months." He said as Jarrod also stood up. "But, she can complain about having four brothers who keep an eye on her while I'm around."
Jarrod might have chuckled again only the hard tone in John's voice, and the look in his eyes, caught Jarrod off guard. It was then that it hit Jarrod hard that his brother's reaction had been too fast, and the intensity of his words too strong, for someone who had just seen his sister for the first time. He was even more shocked to have the thought 'His strong reaction has nothing to do with Audra herself, but everything to do with something in his past' press itself upon his mind. Inwardly Jarrod sighed as he realized once more just how much he had to learn when it came to this particular brother. That being the case, he said nothing as he followed Nick off the train.
~oOo~
Heath, Victoria and Audra all watched as the train rolled in. While Heath and Audra were excited to meet the long lost Barkley, they were also a bit nervous. They couldn't help but wonder if six months would be enough time to convince Nick there was a place for him on the ranch. Glancing towards Victoria and then back at the train, all they could do was hope things would work out the way they hoped.
When it came to Victoria, it had been years since she'd felt this unsettled. She had hardly been able to rest since getting telegram. It had been so long. After Steve had told her more about John-before the two went to Nevada-she had found herself bouncing back and forth between wanting John Summers to be her missing son to telling herself it would be too good to be true, and to accept that her son, Nick, was gone forever. Now, standing up, she found it more than difficult to keep herself calm as the doors to the train opened and people started filing out one after another.
"There he is!" Audra squealed in delight as Jarrod stepped off the train; Nick was right behind him. "Jarrod said Nick would be dressed all in black, looking very much like mother's side of the family. It's got to him!"
"I would think so, sis." Heath replied, while giving her a crooked smile and gauging his stepmother's reaction.
For Victoria's part, she too could see the strong family resemblance John bore. She felt as if someone had just handed her an early Christmas present, one she was half afraid of opening, afraid someone would come along and take it, away. As Jarrod and John started walking towards them, Victoria swallowed hard and stepped forward…as did Heath and Audra.
For John's part, he wasn't sure what to feel. His head wanted to embrace this family as his own. After all, he had no reason to doubt Jarrod when he confirmed this was his family. However, his heart was leery and held back. By the time he and Jarrod stopped in front of Victoria and the others, John felt his heart pounding a hundred miles a minute.
After an awkward silence, Victoria held out her arms. While she wanted to call him Nick, Victoria knew it was not her place to tell him he had to drop the name he'd used for years, "Welcome home, John."
As strange as it felt, John went ahead and gave the white haired woman before him a hug. After all, it was like Mama Davies had told him 'She's your birth mother; make sure you treat her with respect." "Thank you, ma'am,"
Victoria cringed when he called her ma'am, but she was able to hide it…as she really hadn't expected him to call her mother right off the bat. However, it didn't stop her from vowing to work on getting him to do so.
"John and I need to get our horses and then," Jarrod said as he headed for the animal car. He might not have pushed to leave only he'd noticed people starting to stop and look in their direction. "Let's head home."
Heath, Victoria and Audra didn't argue as they headed for the wagon while John followed Jarrod.