Man of Honor

Chapter Nine

Jarrod was again sitting behind his desk, only this time it was Sheriff Madden he was talking to. The lawman stood in front of Jarrod's desk even though the famous Stockton attorney had offered him a place to sit. If the lawman didn't look so upset, Jarrod might not have been worried. As it was, all he could do was wait for the man to speak as all the formalities had been taken care of.

"I received these telegrams this morning." Fred thought on the news inside. While they validated the young widow's claims; it also told him trouble might very well be headed their way. "I think you should read them."

Cautiously, Jarrod reached up and took the telegrams Fred held out to him. He didn't have to ask what they were concerning, as there was only one matter lately that gave Fred reason to travel from Stockton out to the ranch. He unfolded the papers in his hands and read...

Information confirmed. Outlaw's name Michael Billings. Will change name on Wanted Posters.

Jarrod couldn't help but smile at that one. At least this gave Rebecca the backing she needed. Weaver might not like it only, next time anyone saw him, which Jarrod was sure they would, he'd have to listen and get off Rebecca's back. However, the smile disappeared when he read the next telegram...

Yes, Michael Billings seen your area. Judge says NO bail if apprehended. The telegram then included all the names of Michael's gang.

Now Jarrod knew why Fred looked so upset. As he went to say something Jarrod sat straight up, a look of grave concern came upon his face. Naturally, his reaction made it so the lawman was instantly on alert.

"What is it, Jarrod?"

Jarrod didn't answer at first. He stood up and, pushing the chair away, hurried to the door. Only then did he say anything. "I don't think Rebecca has anyone but Audra with her at the moment! I don't want them out alone with men like this in the area!"

When he heard that, Fred also grew alarmed. He didn't like the idea that Mrs. Wilson didn't have one of the Barkley men, or ranch hands, with her. He grabbed his hat, which he'd laid on the desk, and followed the lawyer out of the study. He had to walk at a pretty good pace to keep up with him too. When they got to the living room, the two found Victoria talking with Nick and Heath. Joey was playing on the floor near his father's feet.

Victoria, who felt tension fill her as she saw the worried look on Jarrod's face and the confused one on Fred's, asked, "What is it Jarrod?"

While Jarrod had been right in the assumption he had made to Fred, he asked not even attempting to hide the urgency he felt. "Where's Rebecca?"

Jarrod's question had both Heath and Victoria sitting straight up, and Nick stepping away from the fireplace. "She and Audra insisted on going on a short ride."

Heath stood up as he answered, a feeling of dread started to come over him. "Why?"

Jarrod handed him the telegrams. The color in Heath's face drained slightly when he read the second one. Upon seeing Heath's reaction, Nick demanded to see them. His reaction was pretty much the same as Heath's. He might have exploded only Heath had found his voice. "If Billings is heading this way, Weaver will see them. He'll assume it's Hank Wilson and probably shoot him before we can get a confession out of him for the crimes committed before Rebecca's husband was killed."

Fred, who had not spoke up to this point, did so at that time. "When it comes to that, it won't matter. As far as the law's concerned, his name's been cleared. However, I think I best start hunting Mr. Weaver up. The last thing we need is his interference in this matter." He went on to tell them everything else he'd learned about the men before coming out to the ranch. Afterwards, the lawman bid his friends goodbye and hurried out the door.

Heath looked at his mother and, even though he knew it was a stupid question, he asked, "Would you keep an eye on Joey for me?" He wasn't surprised when his mother gave him "I can't believe you had to ask" look.

"Of course not," Victoria answered as her young grandson pulled himself up to the coffee table and began walking around the piece of furniture. Of course, he was holding onto the table the whole time he was walking.

"Thanks, mother." Heath hurried out the door; Nick was right behind him. Neither one of them wanted to waste what could very well be precious time. They had to find Rebecca and their sister. Jarrod would have joined the search if wasn't for the fact that Fred asked him if he'd hang around the area where the bank stood, along with Fred's deputy as he, Fred, had the strongest feeling that, sooner or later, there would be an attempted robbery. The lawman wouldn't have made such a request if it wasn't for the fact that his second deputy was laid up with a broken leg at the moment.

~oOo~

Audra and Rebecca pushed their horses forward as they raced each other; their goal Audra's favorite pond. She loved to swim around in it or simply sit by the edge and let her feet soak in the water. When Rebecca had confessed to enjoying the same thing, Audra had pushed for the two of them to have a race to the pond. Whoever got their first could choose which one to do.

"I won!" Rebecca flew off her horse and ran to the side of the pond just moments before Audra, who was laughing as she dismounted her own horse. The two women who were usually very good about tying their horses to a tree or something when riding were in such a hurry to beat each other that they entirely forget to secure their horses anything solid. Still, the horses remained standing where they were.

While Audra hoped that Rebecca's late husband's name could be totally cleared soon, she knew she'd miss her new friend greatly when it this was all over. Her new friend had already contacted a friend in San Francisco and asked if she could stay with them while she searched for work and got on her feet in spite of the Barkley family's offer for her to stay with them.

"I appreciate the offer, really I do. I just…" the young woman had stood in the living room looking upon the family in earnest, especially at Heath whom she'd grown to admire very much, along with Joey who she simply adored, struggling to find the words she needed.

When Victoria had seen her struggle, she'd finished the thought for her. "You just need to start over in a place where you're not turning around every minute with reminders of your late husband." Victoria smiled at her feeling empathy for the young widow.

Rebecca nodded. "I've never had time to grieve for him, not really. And, right or wrong, I can't do that here." That statement had them all nodding slightly.

Audra's thoughts were interrupted when she and Rebecca heard someone walking up behind them. Both women whirled around, horrified to see two men with very cruel expressions looking at them. Before either one of them could say a word, Paul had a hold of Rebecca and Henry had Audra. While both women were screaming their lungs off, no one heard them as the men managed to secure the women's hands behind their backs. Henry, who had brought an extra bandana, managed to gag Rebecca, thus muffling her cries for help. Their screams frightened their horses and the animals ran off before the men could stop them.

Paul let out a few choices words and hollered, "We'll have to rid double!"

It didn't take Paul and Henry long to force Audra and Rebecca up onto the horses and then mount themselves. By the time the men pushed their horses forward Weaver, who had heard Audra's continuing screams, and could still hear them, had emerged from the trees just in time to see the four riding off. Because he could not see Rebecca clearly, he assumed she was simply riding with the gentleman of her own free will. He turned around, hurried back through the trees, mounted his horse and then rode hard in the direction the four had gone. "Just you wait," he told himself, "I'll rescue Miss Barkley, arrest Mr. Wilson and make it so everyone has to apologize to me for a change!"

It was a lie he was to tell himself for miles.