Aide-mémoire: There are two Sallys in this story. Miss Sally was the school teacher that set her sights on Heath; they danced at Nick's wedding. Sally from NIGHT IN A SMALL TOWN came back with him from Arizona married with Posy (Tom Wlls' child) and now is the mother of his son, Little Heath.

Chapter Three

A load of lumber pulled up to Heath and Sally's home.

"Where ya want it, Miz Barkley? Mista Heath said in the da back."

"Yes, Freddie. Do you see that cleaned-out area under the trees? There please."

Little Heath was on the quilt with Posy. The men from the lumber mill entertained them as Sally laughed.

Heath had begun to build this ranch house the month they arrived from Tucson: a sitting area, kitchen and two bedrooms with a water closet. He had drawn up very intricate plans for the house to be added onto in a methodical way as their family grew. He added something pretty much each month to their home: a porch swing, a back porch, a walkway, bookshelves,, window seat for Posy to watch out —-a fireplace mantle, "all the things you need in a right and proper home" he would tell her with his lop-sided grin. She would fill with pride over his attention to detail in their new life. She put in flowers and vegetables, and new curtains and pillows.

He chose a grove of trees a mile down from the main house; Jarrod had built an Italianate-style fine home with white columns to complement the main house. It connected to the mansion through the rose garden. He had used an architect from San Francisco and collaborated on every detail. He ordered the furnishings and trim himself and all the way down to the moldings and floorings.

Heath's home was a traditional ranch home with a wrap-around porch and a picket fence to keep Posy in the yard. Sally had planted a wild rose Heath brought home from the mountains for her on the fence. She took water out each day to nurture it.

"This one ain't white but it is pink. Like your cheeks when ya blush, " as he kissed her hungrily after a week away.

Heath had decided a few weeks before that he wanted to add on a master bedroom and water closet for him and Sally. He envisioned it off the back of the house with doors facing the east, for morning sun. He ordered the glass for French doors and decided to build a verandah off their bedroom when he was finished. He ordered a big copper bathing tub for the vanity.

"Oh Heath, that sounds wonderful. We can drink our coffee out there in the mornings when the children are a bit older."

He laughed, "I like the idea, my girl but older is probably more likely. Kinda used to Lil Heath and Posy in between us before dawn. As long as they start out in their own beds—-I need my Sally alone time."

"And I need my Heath time," she said seductively to him.

"Woman come here," and he took her back in an embrace and a passionate kiss—-that was soon interrupted by a hungry baby boy cries and a toddler spilling a glass of water on the floor.

"Back to our mighty fine life. I wouldn't change a moment, Sally, not one. Just woulda come back sooner for ya."

—&—

Peter Doolin leafed through the handwritten notes he had collected the past year on the Barkleys from their little nursemaid.

"A statement signed by Cyrus DeLand and witnessed by Anson. That will do—- Where would Cyrus have gotten all that gold too? Pig lead is heavy but gold is heavier. Would have taken a whole team for him to get it away from the ship. Maybe he did it in increments. The old fool's brain is gone. Thankfully, I still have some gold from the small shipments we stole before the River Monarch. Took out some as an insurance policy and living expenses—-finder's fee, you might say. Good book says to 'not muzzle the ox that is treading the grain." It's in my San Francisco lock box in the bank. My deals with others have kept me solvent and not having to use it."

"It doesn't really matter if we find the gold to destroy the Barkleys. They are the only people who could hide a million dollars in their assets."

"I myself would like to find the gold for my future. Europe would be in my future with a lovely lady on my arm and in my bed."

"Weddings, babies, adoptions, horse deals, and more—-all could be useful fodder for a few days of bad press but this—-The River Monarch could destroy them. Bankrupt them. Finish them and tarnish them for generations. I have to handle this right. Drop little bits of information— maybe in other newspapers to begin the gossip."

"Cyrus DeLand and his pretty little daughter will be my star witnesses. Oh, Miss Melanie, I already know you are tarnished but I don't mind, I will polish you up into a real lady, Mrs. Peter Doolin. You will be on your knees or on your back to me—-soon. I wonder what I will find under that tight little corset of yours. And to take by sweet words or force what Nick Barkley couldn't have makes it sweeter."

He squirmed uncomfortably in his leather chair thinking of ravishing Melanie.

"Best get over to Big Annie's and relieve this itch. You will be in my mind, Miss DeLand. You can count on that."

—-&-

Melanie DeLand waited for the housekeeper to come to sit with her father. He was stable and breathing easy on his own. He had hollered out, "Star," several times as usual and he took some broth.

"I promised Sally, the school marm that I would come to the meeting about the new library. I really need some fresh air after the past few days."

Doolin and Anson's conversations had left her unsettled and questioning all that she knew about her father—and Nick Barkley the past few days.

"Sally, thank you for inviting me. I am so excited about the new library. I will use my connections in the publishing business to help us too. I would love to have a newspaper and periodical reading room too. Brings in more people."

"That is a wonderful idea. We have plenty of room in the new storefront. Victoria Barkley bought half a city block of unused storefronts. She is a generous woman."

"Yes, she is," thinking of the million dollars in missing gold.

They talked about remodeling plans and construction costs for the proposed fundraisers. An auction was to be held with donated objects of value at the Barkley manse in a few weeks. Jarrod had offered to MC and Audra to coordinate the event. Melanie had preferred to stay in the shadows of the committee planning the acquisitions and procedures.

"Let the rich folk do the donating," Sally had told her, "and us do the spending."

Sally had come to the meeting annoyed. She had seen Heath in town purchasing shingles and nail for his home. He barely acknowledged the time they spent together before his marriage and it always miffed her. He was always polite and checked in on the twins when they met or he picked them up from school.

"Sally? I have a question about the Barkleys. Everyone says they are upstanding people and I grew up thinking the same thing. I have heard something lately I am weighing in my mind—-what is your opinion?"

"Well, I mainly can vouch for Nick's children. Mary and James are delightful students and I really enjoyed catching them up. After six months of school, they were actually on or above the level in all subjects. Nick made sure of that."

Melanie sighed, "Yes, I assume he would be. What do you mean catch up?"

"They were behind academically in San Diego. Lived on a ranch far out so they didn't get much school work."

"Didn't their mother or father teach them?"

"Father was an old man. Mary once nonchalantly told me he taunted her for her shorter leg. You can't tell in her new shoes they had made. Nick is particular that no one mentions it. He once came to school when a boy laughed at her. Told James to hit anyone that made fun of his sister. They all have been in fear of doing it since. Nellie, their mother is very sweet but—" she lowered her voice conspiratorially, "She's simple. The children are always borrowing books for her to read. You would think a man like Nick Barkley would choose someone from his station. She's really young too. Must have had the twins at 15 or 16. James said his father died at age 60. He has brothers older than Nellie."

Melanie looked with disdain, "How sad. She is pretty, though."

"Very. Gave him a son pretty quickly too. Mary says her mother didn't go to school ever."

"Such a shame in this day and time."

Sally began to feel comfortable in her gossip with Melanie, "Do you know Heath well?"

"Not really, I was in college when he appeared on their doorstep."

"He showed up with a wife just like Nick did. Out of the blue. Trifled with ladies' hearts here in Stockton. Then just appeared one day with that actress, Sally. Same name as me. With a child. Adopted by him. She got with his child really quickly too. I guess his breeding showed through too."

Melanie sat quietly taking in all of Sally's talk.

"And Jarrod adopted a child too, I recall. Huge newspaper scandal about them living together before marriage and the father of her child. Isn't it strange all the brothers married common women? It makes me wonder, Does anyone really know the Barkley's like they think they do? Proof is in the pudding as one would say."

"You have a point."