Chapter Fifteen 15/18

Heath and Sally got up at daybreak and were the first ones in the dining room. She fed Posy scrambled eggs as Heath read the horse sale form dropped off for the day.

All of the sold animals were marked on the flyer; traders that sold out as well as traders new to the market were listed.

Heath's face lit up, "Well Sally, here what I have been waiting for, Pablo and Sons. Are you willing for your husband to start a new business with lots of financial risk?"

"I trust you Heath—-honestly I fell in love with you before I knew what the Barkley name meant—and I will love you no matter what—-so I think the answer is yes. And the other night—"

"I wasn't thinking about business the other night either. Can't say a thing crosses my mind but you when we are alone."

She winked at him as she wiped Posy's face.

"Isabellas are pretty stubborn to train but then they are loyal for life—they say. You train them with gentling I have heard. Nothing harsh."

"Just like me," she whispered.

"Must be why I am drawn to Isabellas and you—"

They shared an alluring look until Posy loudly protested that no one was feeding her.

Heath spooned up some eggs on his plates and gave her some.

She responded, "Papa, more."

"You have my appetite too," he laughed.

"Thank you Heath for coming to Turnbull. I didn't know life could be this way."

"I felt that coming into the valley and then into Turnbull. Posy ain't ever gonna know that feeling i'ffn I can't help it."

She deeply sighed and wiped a tear from her eye. He winked and squeezed her hand.

They finished up breakfast and Sally cleaned up Posy in the water closet.

"Barkley Farms may begin today. Let's be the first ones outta here." as he escorted them out the door.

—&—-

"Sheriff? My name is Jarrod Barkley. I would like to speak to Bill Johnson."

"You are the one that he attacked. Your brother said you were like a dog with a bone. Wouldn't let it be until ya chewed on the thing yourself."

Jarrod nodded; Tessa smirked at Heath's description.

He took the keys and motioned for them to follow.

"Holler when you are done."

Johnson had his back to them. The velvet vest and striped pants were rumpled from his time in the cell. He rolled over and rubbed his eyes.

He recognized his victim and frowned immediately, "Well hell—- your brother was right you are older and heavier than Darby. I guess I owe you an apology."

Jarrod instinctively sucked in his stomach and immediately winced in pain.

The sheriff pulled up two wooden chairs outside the cell, "Looks like you need these."

Tessa realized Jarrod's pride was at play so she took the first chair, "Yes thank you, sheriff. I definitely need to sit down."

Jarrod then begrudgingly sat next to her; Johnson faced them on the bed with the bars between them.

"I know you thought I was Darby and I know you were obscenely drunk."

Johnson started to argue but decided against it, "Yes I did—was. You want to know why I hate Darby?

"Yes. Your answers will help me make a decision about pressing charges. Which I am inclined to do. You have cost me almost two weeks of my life and disrupted a very important event in my family."

He searched Jarrod's eyes and saw no malice, just truth. He really wanted to know.

"Dorothy was my life. She wasn't perfect but she was mine. When my luck went south, she went west with Darby."

"Were they or you—- running a scam?"

"Business partners, I would rather say. She was my dealer or my distraction depending on our game. Either deal "our" cards or distract a wealthy mark with her —-assets. Darby or I would play the mark and build up the pot. Split it between us."

"Why do you blame Darby if she left willingly?"

"How do you even know that? He probably convinced her. They left with everything I had, my reserves, my stake, even my lucky cards. I served time for indigence.

"Women can be fickle." Jarrod evenly replied.

Tessa cut her eyes at him and cleared her throat.

Jarrod laughed, "Well some women. I stand corrected."

He looked at his wife, "Are you sure you aren't related to Victoria Barkley."

"I am." she demurred.

"Anyway, Mr. Johnson? I would like the rest of the story."

"Dorothy and I married young. Kansas City about seven years ago. Both of us grew up pretty much alone. Found each other and played the poker circuit."

"And?"

"And what, Barkley? Yes, I grifted. A man has to make a living. I am not here for that."

"Darby?"

"I thought he was a friend. He was known strangely enough as an upright man. Had some integrity, a ladies man, he wouldn't prey on the weak, the drunk, the over-extended, liked a challenge."

"I have seen that too."

"Dorothy and I had an agreement—-we weren't always uh faithful but me more than her—-but we always were a team and left the town together. Darby changed all that. He wanted her, pursued her, twisted her head—-stole her away."

"I know Jack Darby pretty well and he is not a saint. But Dorothy is a wily lady herself. She has a mind of her own.

"Yes, but Barkley—you don't understand folks like us. You and yore wife never had to scrape by. We didn't have no one staking us in life. Being poor ain't no excuse but neither of us wanted to stay that way."

Jarrod looked at Tessa out of the corner of his eye. She looked sympathetic to his argument.

"You know Dorothy works for Pinkertons occasionally? She coulda won the war for either side she landed on if she tried."

Jarrod and Tessa's jaws dropped.

"She can get into places a man can't."

"I can see that."

"I wanta find her. I was heading towards Modesto when I needed money and hit Arizona Territory."

"My brothers put her on a train for San Diego, Los Angeles—-south. She tried to blackmail Darby in Modesto with a fake marriage license. Tried to stop him from running for Mayor and took some bribes—-including the one to leave Modesto. Jack is happily married and doing well. I can assure you, Dorothy is only part of his past. As a friend, brother-in-law and his attorney, I can confirm that."

"Married and Mayor? When pigs fly with their tails forward! I will be damned."

Jarrod sighed and added, "Do you have a marriage certificate? I would like to make a copy for several reasons. The sheriff can hold it for you just in case."

"Yes. In my valise, in the hotel. The deputy can get it and you can see it."

"Thank you."

"Why?"

"Dorothy has caused quite a bit of trouble pretending to be married to Darby. I would like it as an insurance policy."

"Darby married your sister?" he said again incredulously.

Tessa spoke up for the first time, "Yes to my sister. They are very happy. I hope you find someone who makes you just as happy." in a soft, kind voice.

"I will drop the charges with the sheriff. Good day, Mr. Johnson." And they stood up. He called for the sheriff.