Chapter Twenty-One
Victoria was watching from her bedroom window, listening for Jonny as Nellie napped. Eugenie had taken JT and Rosemary back through the rose garden for naps. Tessa was downstairs anxiously waiting. They had not told Sally nor Nellie of the incident until they had further details.
"Nellie, I am sure Nick would have sent word if there was a problem. James is with McColl. Get a little nap while Jonny is asleep. You seem awfully tired."
"I am. He didn't sleep well. It's like he knew Nick was gone." not telling Victoria her real reason for the circles under her eyes.
"I want to tell Nick first."
—-&—-
Dr. Merar's wagon appeared around the bend. Victoria could see Nick's slumped shoulders and his hat pulled down over his face.
"Well he's alive," she said with more confidence than she felt.
She went downstairs and Tessa had the front door open. A hand had come out to help with the horses and instead helped with Nick.
His head wound was bleeding again through his stitches after all his heaving. Double vision and dizziness plagued him.
Howard looked at Victoria, "Concussion. Got robbed last night. His friend died before dawn. Went out back. Needs a soft bed and new stitches. Make him rest. Don't like his hard-headedness."
"I can hear you."
"Good. That would be one of your senses not affected by last night."
"Hmph"
Howard and the ranch hand got on each side and helped him up the stairs. Victoria went to get a basin and cloths. Tessa went ahead to wake Nellie.
"Nell? Nell?"
"Oh my. How long did I sleep?" Nellie quickly opened her eyes at the door.
"Not long enough," as she pulled the drapes.
"They are bringing Nick up for stitches. Got robbed it seems."
Nellie immediately sat up, "What can I do?"
Tessa nervously laughed, "Probably sit on him to keep him still."
Nellie pulled her robe around her and met Nick at the door. She tried to gasp at his state. His shirt was drenched in blood and his pallor was gray.
She felt slightly relieved when he shot her a big grin even when he winced doing it.
"Hey Nellie, just a little blood. I will be fine."
She stood straight up and said, "Yes you will. Now let them get you to bed."
"Yes ma'am."
Nellie took his vest off and unbuttoned his shirt. She released the buttons on his trousers. He chuckled and she shook her head.
"Hush and lie back,"
"Yes ma'am,"
Tessa stifled her snicker remembering Jarrod's concussion comments in front of Heath, "Must be a brother trait."
Doc just rolled his eyes and put a cloth under Nick's wound. Victoria opened his bag and handed him his scissors. She doused the wound with whiskey.
Nellie made eye contact with him as his mother and the doctor tightened up and replaced some stitches. She held both of his hands and comforted him silently.
They laid him back gently on the towel.
Doc checked his reflexes again and they were still askew.
"His eyes?"
"Sign of a concussion. He saw double several times. In a few hours, try some broth."
"Whiskey."
"Nope, Nick. Not for a while."
"Hmpfh"
Doors were heard downstairs and Silas let his brothers know where Nick was.
They came quickly into the room. James ran in and hugged his mother. Tessa made eye contact with her husband and Jarrod acknowledged her with angry eyes. She knew the news was bad.
"Brother Nick?" He asked.
"Robbed it seems," Victoria answered
Jarrod and Heath shook their heads in disbelief.
Doc Merar stood up, "All this can wait. Nick needs some rest. Nellie wake him up every hour and no whiskey—-"
"Yes sir, I promise." She answered.
Victoria eyed her sons at the door and the looks on their faces, "Let's take this conversation downstairs. Tessa, will you stay with my stubborn son? Nellie, I think you need to be part of this."
"Of course, Mother."
James took his mother's arm and they walked downstairs. Doc Merar followed,
Nellie looked at her son, "When did you get so big?"
—-&—-
James stood beside his mother in the study as everyone fixed a drink.
Jarrod began, "Nellie, James was quite the man today. Braver than many a grown man I have known. He and Duke found two murdered men on our property this morning. He did everything Duke asked of him and even noticed some important details for the sheriff. There was a portion, about $50,000 of the gold from the River Monarch. And the Kyles were shot with Nick's gun."
"Wait a minute, Jarrod. Nick was with me all night. Until he went to the alley." Doctor Merar interrupted.
"I know. Someone didn't plan on my brother being with two witnesses, a doctor and a Reverend all night."
Nellie eased herself to the couch. James stood right behind her with his hand on her shoulder.
Jarrod fixed her some wine, "Watered please," she asked,
Victoria downed her drink, "What did Fred say?"
"He had no words to mince. He thinks we were set up—-by the location, uh um—-and being the Kyles. Two strikes against the Barkleys. The third was the gold."
"James? Can you take me back upstairs? I will ask some questions later. But right now, I need to be by my husband,"
They all nodded.
She and James closed the door. He took his mother's arm just the way he had seen Nick do—-even patting it as they walked upstairs.
Jarrod finished his drink, "No one goes anywhere alone. No one. Heath has already gone to bring Sally and the children to my house. Guards on both houses day and night."
"Jarrod? What are you thinking?"
"I have no idea. But no one else is going to die on my watch again—- I will be ready this time."
Eugene and Victoria shared a concerned look as Jarrod finished another scotch.
—&—
Doolin walked into his house, checked that the oriental rug was flush to the floor, and had Sammy run a bath. He was strangely invigorated by how he had handled the Kyles.
"I had never killed a man before. Look into their eyes and shoot them point blank. It was very primal and titillating if I am honest."
"It didn't bother me at all. I thought I would have some recompense or something. Nothing but relief it was over."
He poured a brandy and took in its calming aroma, "Sammy, send a message to my betrothed. I would like her company for dinner—-after work. Since we are to be married tomorrow, there might be a detail or two left up in the air."
—&—
Jarrod went over to his own home and checked all the windows and doors. He stationed two ranch hands to be on watch. He firmly explained the seriousness to Eugenie of protecting the children at all costs.
"You are to not fritter away any more time on your girlish silliness. You are paid to watch my children and help my wife. If you can't do that, leave NOW." He raised his voice.
"Yessssss sir Mista Barkley."
Tessa came in on the exchange, "Jarrod?"
"Did you walk over here by yourself? Damn it. Eugene should have walked you or Silas. You are NOT to be alone."
"Husband, we need to talk privately," as she tried to keep the peevishness out of her own voice. He realized Eugenie was taking in all of the conversations.
"Dismissed! And remember what I told you". He yelled at her again.
"Fix the guest bedroom for Heath and Sally. Add a pallet to Rosemary's bed for Posy. Pull out the cradle for little Heath." Tessa added in a kind voice.
As she walked out, Jarrod spat, "Don't coddle the girl, Tess."
He filled his third scotch of the day and he reminded her of a wounded animal.
"Jarrod? Talk to me."
"I told you."
"No. I was upstairs with Nick. Nelle told me some. Please explain the situation to me."
"Just stay inside."
"No. That is not enough. Two men were murdered with Nick's stolen gun. Gold was found up there by the Isla Del Ciego. Tell me."
Jarrod plopped down on the settee and put his head in his hands, "Beth was murdered there. Bullet for me. Because I didn't listen to a threat. I won't make that mistake again." never lifting his head up.
"Oh my beloved, an evil man killed your wife—-and now one or other kills these two men. Did you know these men?"
"Oh hell yes—-I head strongly defended their brother Korby against an eyewitness of murder. That witness was Heath. I smugly grilled him and cross-examined him. I was wrong. Korby did it. Heath was right. His two brothers, Alan and Emmet threaten to brand Heath, and beat him up for testifying. For the second time, I didn't listen and almost got him killed."
"And Cass Hyatt killed Beth. I hunted him to Rimfire. Things happened. I will be haunted for the rest of my life. I almost hurt Nick in a rage."
"But you didn't—-Jarrod. You were grief-stricken."
Tessa sat down on the settee and held his hands, "You are a good man. One of the best. But you are not perfect. You can't blame yourself for the deeds of evil men."
"I can and I will—Tessa. This was done to me and my family for a reason. I need to talk to Nick about Jock's last night but he's pretty much out of his head. I won't rest until I find out who is behind this and where the rest of the gold is—I will clear my father's name until the day I die and I will die defending you and the children. I won't lose you."
She went to comfort him and he pushed her away.
He grabbed her arm forcibly, "Don't leave the house."
"I won't, but you are hurting me."
He immediately let go, "I am sorry."
She swallowed her hurt feelings as she crossed the room, Eugenie saw her coming and quickly hid in the parlor drapes in the hall. Heath and Sally arrived with a hastily packed bag.
"Posy, Rosemary is waiting for you—Lil Heath, the cradle and your parents' room is ready. JT will be glad to see you."
Heath stormed by Tessa, hardly acknowledging her.
She shook her head at Sally, "They both have forgotten their manners today."
"I am pretty used to Heath's quiet moods. I get them myself. But this anger, I have never seen it before."
"Well let's go upstairs and get you settled in. I have a feeling this won't end quickly."
Eugenie stepped out of the drapes and went immediately to her room. She wrote everything that was said down.
"Rory will take it to him. I haven't ever asked him before but since we started sharing favors of the romantic sort, he is willing to do much more when I allow him—liberties of the wedding bed, I call them."
She snuck out and addressed it to her cousin in Modesto. "Care of Mr. Doolin. He knows how to get to him."
"Sure sweetie. Can we meet tonight?"
"No, Mr. Barkley has put us under house arrest."
"We have all been given more shifts. I am to help Mr. Nick in the morning. I owe him so much I don't mind."
Thinking of Jarrod's tone of voice and threats earlier, she sassed, "I don't owe anyone anything."
"Oh?" Rory looked at her quizzically.
"My whole life people have taken advantage of me. I learned a few years ago that the only way to change that was—to find my own advantages."
"Am I one of those?"
"No Rory, you are my sweetheart and someday, we will have enough money to leave here and make something of ourselves."
"I love you, Eugenie."
"Me too," she said flatly, "get on with that message."
"Yes mam"
