Taking a trip for the holiday weekend! Will be back next Tuesday! Enjoy!
Chapter Five
Supper was muted and all the family excused themselves early to "get the children to bed."
Jarrod stayed for a few minutes as Uncle 'Gene took Rosemary on his back to their home as Tessa brought JT. Eugenie had gone into town with her ranch hand for the night.
"Mother? Can we talk?"
"I was hoping."
They walked into the study and closed the doors. He immediately poured them drinks.
"How bad is it?"
"You don't mince words, lovely lady"
She stared at him and he explained all the events of the day.
"It looks bad, Jarrod. Ghastly to think of those men murdered; I knew their families. Went to their funerals; paid their wages—-."
"Mother, I will plain-speak. If I were the investigator, I would have Father at the top of the list."
"He didn't do it."
"I know that and you know that but—Father and Anson Gregory got off on the last fueling site."
"Jarrod! I don't like where you are going!"
He went over and held her as she cried, "Those of us who know us won't believe it; those that do, don't matter."
"Mother, tomorrow I am going to go through all of our records—-every single one. Do you still have the news clippings of the sinking?"
"Yes."
"I want to be fully prepared to address any questions that come up."
"Jarrod, your Father didn't murder 23 men."
"I know that, Mother. And I am going to prove it."
—-&—
Nick went out to the corrals alone to sort his thoughts while Nellie braided Mary's hair after her bath and nursed Jonny to sleep.
James tiptoed up behind him. The glow of his cigar was the only light besides the full moon.
Nick whirled around with his hand on his gun.
"Oh, James. Let your Papa know when you come up on him."
"I am sorry. I didn't want to disturb you. I will go back in."
Nick shook his head. He had been married to Nellie over a year now and the twins' father—-but still they all lacked confidence in him occasionally. He had never spoken a harsh word to the twins even when he corrected them. And he never ever spoke in anger to Nellie. She literally cowered if she thought she made a mistake or made him unhappy. And the twins had flinched as if they were expecting to be hit when he called them in surprise.
"James, stay. I need some company."
"Yes sir"
Nick took a few more drags on his cigar.
James quietly watched the horses in the pasture.
Nick asked him, "Son, want to go on a night ride? Just you and me?"
"Yes sir" and he broke into a lopsided grin.
"So much like his uncle."
Nick shook his head and shared his widest smile.
"Let's go, son."
They rode for about an hour and took care of their horses. They walked back up to the big house.
"Papa? Could we see if Silas left some of that pie?"
"That's my boy. Good idea," and he slapped him on the back.
James grinned, "Glad you are my Papa," he blurted out.
"Me too, son. Me too." and he hugged him tight.
They stood like that for quite a while before they opened the backdoor.
—-&—
Heath and Sally put the children into bed.
"Heath? I would like a bath before bed. I will be in there in a few minutes or so."
"Sure honey"
"That's about all the words he has said all night. He said prayers with the children and mumbled a few words during dinner as The River Monarch sinking was explained to the family. I have never seen him so out of sorts." Sally worried.
Heath took the whiskey from the kitchen cabinet and poured two stiff drinks. He belted them down. He tossed his shirt across the brass footrail of their bed. He put the bottle on their nightstand next to Sally's hobnail lamp.
The events of today: the skeletons, the accusations, the punch; the look on his mother's face. It was too much.
"Tom Barkley's ghost, again?"
The dark seemed close to the surface in his thoughts: Strawberry, Libby, Carterson, Matt Bentell, the iron box— His thoughts grew angrier and angrier. He poured another drink.
His morose thoughts were pierced by his son's cry.
"Heath?" she called from the water closet.
"Got him Sally" as he cradled his three-month-old son in his arms.
"Shhhhh, shhhhh, Papa is here. I will always be here for you and your mamma and Posy. You won't grow up not knowing your Pa or run off to war being stupid. I will drag your butt back home and so would your uncles."
Little Heath quit fussing and looked up at his father with identical blue eyes. He held his gaze as if he understood every word.
He brought him to his shoulder and patted him back to sleep.
Sally watched him from the door, drying her hair in her long robe. Her heart was bursting with love for the man she married a year ago.
He looked up at her and winked. He mouthed "Just a minute." He put the baby back to bed in his room and came back to theirs.
He locked the door and motioned her over to the bed. She went to turn the light down and he said, "No. I want to see all of you—-clearly."
She nodded and let the robe fall to the floor. He took her in his arms and laid her on the bed.
The last thing she heard before he covered her was "I need you bad."
—-&—-
Jarrod walked around the study of his own house, brooding and sipping a scotch. He rearranged the papers on his desk and sat down by the fire. He went over the day in his mind, over-and-over again.
He searched his memory for any discussion with his father about the incident eight years ago.
"May I?" Tessa interrupted his thoughts.
"Of course, my love. It's your house too."
"You had that "I am thinking" look and I didn't want to interrupt. What aren't you telling me—-if you can tell me? Does that make sense?"
He chuckled—-"You know me true. Wine?"
"Yes, my love."
"Tell me first about your day."
She laughed and sat beside him on the leather sofa. She pulled the afghan across her lap and he laid back in her lap.
"Rosemary and JT both had some discipline. Rosie left the yard twice and I gave her a switching. She cried those big tears—-the ones that don't work on me but her Pappy believes. JT pulled up twice and reached for the lamp. I had to swat his hands. He didn't cry but buried his face in my skirts. He was so quiet the rest of the afternoon and sad. I wanted to be the one to cry." She chuckled.
"That's my boy. And our Rosie. No fence is too high she won't climb. Where was Eugenie?"
"Sorting the laundry to send out. She's so scattered these days. Seeing the ranch hand, Rory and always reading and writing. She still does what I ask but her mind is a thousand miles away."
"She is young, Tessa but I won't tolerate her behavior in our employ. Let me know if I need to talk to her."
"I will. And your day?"
"It's going to be bumpy. I told Mother that Father may be a suspect in the sinking and the missing gold. She didn't take it well." with his eyes closed.
"That would be an understatement—" as she rubbed his temples, "I am sorry, Jarrod. Being the head of the family has its own set of troubles."
"Nick is so angry and Heath punched a man who dared say what they were all thinking. I related to them both. I was especially proud of Eugene today. His clever mind pieced together most of the details"
"He does take after his older brother." and she leaned down and kissed him on the forehead.
Her bosom grazed his face as she bent down and he took a deep breath.
"Tessa—-"
"Relax Jarrod. Let me minister to you."
Her hands adeptly found her husband's need and she began to allow him to unhook her bodice. He groaned and quickly found himself lost in Tessa's love.
Eugenie watched the whole private scene from the door she cracked open—-
"Oh my. To be touched by such a man."