The fifth part is set one year later, and the River Monarch episode is out of sequence with the original show in true BV fashion.
Chapter One
"Happy Birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Mother! Happy Birthday to you!"
"I have everything I want and need here today! Thank you all." as she blew out the candles on her large cake to the family's applause.
The youngest Barkleys gathered around her on quilts as Silas cut the cake. She looked at every one of her family with happiness.
"In the 365 days since my last birthday, my world has grown with such love and joy. I could never imagine the life we would come to know."
"Eugene home for the month from the university. Our very own professor. Audra and Carl married for over a month now,"
"My oldest sons, and that includes you, Jack," as everyone laughed. He mock-bowed to her.
"You have all done your part to carry on the Barkley name. Eight grandchildren in one year!"
"We try hard," Nick laughed risquély.
Nine-month-old Jarrod Thomas Barkley, JT, was playing quietly on the quilt under Rosemary's watchful eye. His first cousin was next to him; Myron Jackson Darby, Chip, as he was known to the family, was moving constantly and trying to crawl off the quilt. The boys could have passed for twins except for temperament. JT was quiet and observing. Chip was active and restless. Both boys shared the trait of inquisitiveness about their world.
Six-month-old, Nicholas Jonathan Barkley, Jon was sitting on the quilt next to James, his protective older brother. He would grab for objects and topple over with a giant wail. He wanted to do everything at once: sit up, play with a ball, eat and have his family's attention. Rarely did all those goals come together, and he would make his presence known. And as soon as the storm was over, he was all smiles once again.
Three-month-old, Heath Thomson Barkley, little Heath was sleeping quietly in a Moses basket by the table. Sally said the boy could sleep through anything compared to his older sister who still awoke during the night. There were less than two years between Posy and her brother—-and very little free time. But Heath would tell them," That's the way I like it. They don't ever remember life without each other." and Sally would smile lovingly at him. "Posy doesn't even remember life without a daddy."
—&—-
Tessa and Sally helped Nellie clean up the dishes. Audra and Zella had disappeared to see a new pattern in Godey's. Victoria came into the kitchen to visit.
All three infants had been put down for a nap along with Posy. James, Mary and Rosemary played on the verandah. The men had taken a cigar break down at the corrals to discuss the horse business with Eugene.
"Want some coffee?" Nellie offered.
All three of the Barkley wives sat down and discussed the day's events with their mother-in-law.
"The day couldn't have been lovelier." Vic thanked them as she sipped her coffee.
The ladies reminisced about the past year all living on the ranch.
"I can't imagine my life without you three. You have brought such joy to my boys and to me and Audra. Oh and all these children."
"Us either," they all agreed.
"Mother, do you remember when we got off the stage from San Diego?"
"I do," Victoria heartily laughed, "I was a bit hesitant over Nick's quick judgment but that quickly passed when I grew to love you and the twins."
Tessa added, "Well when Jarrod and I came to the ranch, Rosemary told everyone about Jarrod taking the glass out of my hiney, her words not mine."
They all laughed.
Victoria got serious for a moment, "But when that evil man attacked you in the ice house, I was terrified to lose you. Jarrod too."
"And you, Nellie with that ghastly rattlesnake bite. You were weak as a kitten for a month,"
"Felt like longer, " Nellie answered, "Nick was so kind to me and the twins. I will never forget the ride up here."
Victoria looked over at the quiet Sally, "And you my daughter, it was like a long lost child coming home to us. We grew to care about you in St John. We all saw Heath's face each time your letters came. I am so thankful he went back and found you and Posy. You complete him. He seemed to find the rest of him with you—"
"I feel the same." and they all looked at each other with compassion.
Sally spoke up in a quivering voice, "Mother? You filled our hearts too. We were talking once—-that night all three babies decided to awaken together. We all slept over when the men went hunting?"
"Yes, that was quite a night. Three small babies, Posy and Rosemary. Mary got up to help but James slept through the whole night, just like a man."
Tessa continued Sally's train of thought as she teared up, "Mother? Did you realize all three of your oldest boys married women—that society thought beneath them?"
Victoria looked aghast, "Please don't say that about yourselves. You are my daughters now and I couldn't be prouder. I don't give a fig about biddies or old pompous asses. Or Peter Doolin or those damnable gossip rags
Victoria's profanity caused them all to laugh.
"And all three of us were poor as a church mice too."
Victoria winked, "Those two upstairs didn't take a vow of poverty."
Audra and Zella's love of fine clothes was a striking difference in the family. Tessa, Nellie and Sally had been the object of their shopping and spending
"A penny saved is a penny earned, according to old Ben Franklin—according to my grandfather," Tessa remarked.
"First my father, then Walter, I had to ask for every cent." Nellie whispered, "Nick tells me not even to ask. Just go get it. It's still hard for me."
"And not reading well—-" crossed her mind.
"Me too. I showed up here in my grandfather's oilcloth coat and mucking boots. Audra still helps me with my wardrobe. Thankfully we haven't had too many society events lately. That horrible time with Doolin is hopefully past. Crowds aren't my forte."
"And me? An actress and farm hand going to the San Joaquin Land Bank ball? I thought I would be seen through any minute as a pretender—-a fraud. I like pretty clothes, I admit it but it's still hard to let go of the coin."
"Ladies, my sons chose perfectly in my eyes. Tom and I didn't always have money. Jarrod and Nick probably remember those days well."
She shared several stories of riding herd with her husband and the sacrifices they made for their future.
"We saved every ounce of gold we had to build this house. It was paid for in cash as well as all our mines, land, mills, timber and freight. Tom was set on this house and land—something for his family to be proud of—-but we would have rather had him home more and less? But I digress-". as the gray haired matriarch looked pensive.
"You never borrowed?"
"Only a few times. Tom had seen too many bank failures back east and didn't set much store in loans and interest. Don't want to fatten up the bankers any more than he had to."
"Your sons aren't afraid of hard work though, known lots of rich folks that ruin their children by giving them everything. You and your husband seemed to teach them right," Sally added.
"We tried. But ladies, my sons are generous men. The boys have increased their father's holdings trifold. It's their money too. They love you and want their wives to be comfortable and share their lives. Let them."
All three ladies looked down and nodded in understanding. Sally fidgeted with her beautiful topaz ring Heath gave her on their one month anniversary in Stockton.
Tessa patted Sally's hand as her own opals, and mine cut diamonds shown in the light. Nellie's large emerald and diamond ring was perfectly sized to her tiny hands.
She noticed all of their rings, "Yes, our husbands are generous men with an amazing friend named Abraham."
Victoria laughed, "Here's to Abraham! And my sons!"
—&—
The men took their cigars surveying Heath's spread. His Isabella's were thriving. Two were due to foal anytime.
"Proud of you Heath. You may have started the finest breeding program in California."
"Thanks brothers."
Eugene inspected each horse and told Heath about an article he had recently read on agriculture experimental farms at Berkley, sugar beet production.
"I think it would be worth it next year to put in some acres. Seems to make beautiful coats."
Heath explained his and Jarrod's newest idea, "We are going through all the closed mines looking for wolfram. They need it for steel back East and it's often found in old quartzite veins. We got quite a few of those. I have found scheelite in several already."
Jarrod added, "It's the metal of the skyscrapers. The future of this country."
"We still have those mines down in Bishop that look promising."
california/sng11_pine_creek_mine_story_
They visited a while longer while Jarrod and Nick discussed water issues and moving the cattle further out in the valley. Jack discussed the price of gold, silver and copper and the wisdom of buying shares at the exchange.
"Mr. Barkley? Sheriff Madden sent you a message." a young town boy came riding in.
Nick opened the message, "I will be damned. Some kid fishing found some debris from the old River Monarch steamer. They are going to dredge the area in a few days."
"Wow, it's been eight or nine years. Went down with a million dollars of government gold."
Jack's eyes lit up, "A million dollars in gold? I will drop down to my skivvies for and bring it up myself for a finder's fee, of course."
They all laughed.
Nick told Heath and Eugene about the death of 23 Barkley Freight employees by a boiler room explosion, "Only one survivor, Father's purser, Anson Gregory. You know him from town."
"I would like to see what they find."
"Me too,"
And the four Barkley brothers and Jack Darby decided to head to the river in a few days to watch the recovery.
—&—
The family gathering lasted all afternoon and until the evening.
"I don't think there could have been a better day, thank you," as Jarrod and Tessa left for their home next door.
"We couldn't celebrate anyone better than you, Lovely Lady,",and Jarrod kissed her on the cheek.
"Let me know how it goes with the River Monarch. I visited each of the twenty-three families that month. Your father never got over the loss of those men. Not too long after that, Cyrus DeLand left our employ. Opened DeLand Chandlery in town, by the river. Nick saw his daughter Melanie some when you were in San Francisco. She left for a teacher's college and came home last year. She takes care of her father now."
"I have met them. Mother? You sold that storefront to them. At below value? I remember seeing that in the ledgers. Had Madden sign off on their taxes."
She pursed her lips, "Your father and I always took care of our employees. Whether they wanted it or not. He was never the same after the loss of the shipment."
"I understand Mother," and kissed her again, "Another reason to be thankful for you and Father."