Chapter Three
Previously:
Jarrod didn't argue as he followed his mother up the attic stairs. While he did, he ran any memory he had of being at his aunt's and uncle's small ranch outside Modesto through his mind-along with the contacts he'd had there. After all he'd had a few of the people keep in touch with him and his family through the years. By the time his mother was opening one of the old trunks that set in the attic, Jarrod was ninety percent sure he knew who the author of the letter was. Though, if he was right, he was more confused than ever. The gentleman he was thinking of had never married-and never been known to be the kind to step a foot inside any sort of brothel.
Jarrod inwardly sighed; he would just have to wait as his mother began searching through the items in the trunk.
Jarrod opened hie eyes as the stagecoach he was riding in came to a stop. He waited until the other passengers had climbed out before getting out himself. Abbotsville's streets were rather quiet; then again, it was close to eight o'clock at night.
"Jarrod!" Jim Barkley, who was standing near the corner of the mercantile, called out and then hurried across the street. "It's good to see you, though I was surprised to get your telegram. I thought you were too busy to leave California." He was grinning from ear to ear as he spoke.
"I had some business to take care, figured I might as well visit you during the same trip." Jarrod told his uncle as the two of them headed for the wagon Jim had driven into town.
Jim, who had always been able to read Jarrod-as it were-said nothing until the two of them had driven out of town before pressing Jarrod to tell him what was going on. "And don't give me that visiting bit. Something's up, and you know it."
Thinking of the gentleman who had worked for his uncle for more years than Jarrod could count, and had moved to Abbotsville to continue working for Jim Barkley, Jarrod admitted there was more than visiting his uncle when it came to this trip. "I was hoping to visit with Bradley Hutchings as well."
"Going to be kind of hard to do that," Jim sighed. "He up and had a stroke a couple of weeks ago. Doc didn't think Bradley would survive past a couple of days. Ornery old coot has proven doc wrong only he can't communicate very well." Jim paused and then asked if Bradley was in some sort of trouble. "I'm not asking for specifics. I just … he's been a good friend for years. You are aware of that."
"He's in no trouble. I was just hoping he could tell me a few things." Jarrod kept his face forward. "Still want to see him,"
"You can use one of my horses and head over there tomorrow afternoon. His missus won't let anyone visit until that time, says Bradley isn't up to seeing people in the mornings." Jim said, knowing what Jarrod's reactions would be to what Jim had just said.
Sure enough, Jarrod stiffened and turned his head. "Did you say his Mrs? Since when did Bradley Hutchings have a wife?"
"Since he married her?" Jim said with laughter in his voice, and then grew serious. "He and Sarah married not long before his stroke. She's fifteen years younger than he is, but it makes no difference. She's honest, hardworking and extremely faithful. If you doubt that one, ask the cowhand that thought he could get her to be otherwise." The laughter in his uncle's eyes told Jarrod the cowhand had more than come out on the losing end. Jim continued talking. "Could've easily turned her back on Bradley iff'n she'd wanted to. I mean, who expects to get married and all of a sudden have the other party have bad health so soon after the vows have been taken? Anyway, she's very protective of him. If you ask me, I think she's the force behind the doctor being proven wrong when it comes to Bradley. Don't ask me for her background, because I don't know it." He then asked Jarrod if he, Jim, could be of any help. "I've known Bradley a long time-close to forty years. Know a lot about him too, more than most people I dare say." Jim said as they continued down the road that would eventually lead to Jim's ranch.
Jarrod thought a moment. While he doubted his uncle would say anything that would help him out in this matter, he figured it wouldn't hurt to get the man to talking about the past either. "His parents came out with Grandpa and Grandma Barkley. Didn't they?"
"Yes, along with a few other families. They all settled in this area, though not all in the same town." Jim started talking about the Hutchings and Barkleys. By the time they reached Jim's ranch, Jarrod had enjoyed the stories, only- as he had thought-learned nothing that would help him give Badger any answers. That is, until he and Jim parked the wagon alongside Jim's barn. "You know, Bradley might not have had to wait so long to get married if Joe and Anna Barton had stuck around."
Barton! The name Badger had mentioned. "How long did they live here, and what makes you say such a thing?"
"Oh, I didn't mean the couple lived in town, and they only stayed for a little while—on the outskirts of town. I might never had met them at all only Bradley had to take water out to them a number of times. They had a number of children, a few were even near Bradley's age. From what Bradley's mother said, a couple of them were girls—pretty ones too. I can't help but think if they had stayed, got to know more people, they'd have been a great asset to the community." Jim climbed out of the wagon; Jarrod did the same.
"But they didn't. Instead, they moved before anyone had a chance to get to know them." Jarrod said hoping that, by some wild chance, his uncle might say something that would actually help. Though, for the life of him, Jarrod wasn't sure what that would be. "How long were they here? Where did they go?"
Jim shrugged his shoulders and started walking towards the house. "Can't right say on either account. It's been so long ago. I don't think they were here for more than six months, maybe eight. They didn't come into town very much at all...even then it was usually just Mr. Barton that came in long enough to get a few things and leave. Strange, he was friendly enough to me when I was with Bradley. They all were. Only, when he was in town? He simply got what he needed and left. Hardly said a word to anyone. Well, anyone but the Hutchings. And don't ask me what they'd talk about. I never asked."
Jarrod frowned slightly, even as he became more determined to pay a visit to Bradley Hutchings. He just hoped that-in the man's condition-Mr. Hutchings could still tell him something.