Pastor Nelson and the invited guests began arriving shortly after 10: The Holts and the Palmers, Will and Nancy Marvin, the Drumms, the Fryes, the Mendozas, the Espinosas, old and new neighbors and friends from the valley. Many had moved away over the years and some had stayed in touch. Carl Wheeler, now living south of Modesto, was unable to come but sent a nice floral bouquet.
Bertie and Florence did a beautiful job of keeping the coffee, punch, small cakes, and sandwiches circulating until the service began.
The house seemed full to bursting even with a guest list that omitted friends from the political and financial arenas. Victoria's children agreed her service would focus on the pioneer spirit of the woman and not her wealth or political influence.
Father Chavez, the Roman Catholic priest, spoke beautifully about Victoria's compassion and generosity of spirit and led the gathering in a prayer to which even the staunchest Protestant couldn't object.
Jarrod gave a heartfelt eulogy in which he honored Victoria as mother and teacher to her entire family. In it, he included his own memories from childhood that illustrated her courage and leadership.
Heath had been strongly encouraged to give a eulogy but he declined with just as much strength. A shame, thought Emily, for Heath could be so soulful and insightful. He would have offered a tribute as stirring as Jarrod's but Heath wasn't one for speeches; his expressed feelings for Victoria, when he expressed them, would remain a family treasure.
Audra wept openly. Heath and Sarah held hands. Emily, with Julia on her lap, just felt numb.
As the service came to a close, Vicky and Ellie played "Rock of Ages" on the piano and a violin, respectively. Emily managed to whisk Julia away from the room before the coffin lid was closed.
Tom, Will, and the sons of neighbors, serving as pall bearers, carried the coffin feet first out the front door and into the waiting hearse. The family climbed into the surreys directly behind the hearse, Nick and Heath riding their mounts. Slowly, the procession moved away from the great house and to the grove and the waiting grave. The hands not out with the herd stood lined up alongside the driveway, hats off in respect to Victoria Barkley.
Next to the grave of the father-in-law she never met, Emily saw the deep and neatly carved out grave waiting to receive her mother-in-law, friend, and mentor, and a wave of deep sorrow swept over her at last. She clutched Nick's arm affectionately and made herself look at the two small headstones in front of her: One for Jacob Jarrod Barkley, her baby who lived but a few short hours, the other for Henry Nicholas Barkley, Heath and Sarah's stillborn son. She leaned her head against Nick's shoulder and cried.
A few of the guests returned with the family to the house after the service but they didn't stay long. Emily found Jarrod standing at the foot of the stairs, saying good-bye to Amos Royce, son of Victoria's friends, Jim and Althea, and thanking him for coming. She stood and waited till Amos was gone and she had Jarrod's attention.
"Jarrod, can we talk privately?" she asked.
If Emily's voice didn't betray the importance of speaking with Jarrod privately, the expression on her face did and he followed her into the library and closed the door behind him.
Emily closed her eyes, took a deep breath. "Audra is covered in bruises," she told him and let out an audible sigh.
"She's what?!" he replied, a little too loudly. Jarrod's mind raced to find some acceptable explanation for what he just heard.
"There are bruises on her arms, a big one on her back, one on her jaw, different sizes, different colors," she spoke quickly, in short descriptions, trying to say as much as possible in a short amount of time.
"What does Audra say about the bruises?" Jarrod asked. He was trying to put aside personal concern and approach the issue as the attorney he was, though now he was pacing back and forth in front of her.
"She says she fell on the stairs," Emily explained, "then she tried to make me promise not to tell Nick."
Jarrod stopped and looked at her. "You didn't tell Nick," he said and she shook her head. It was a statement, not a question. They both knew she hadn't told Nick or Nick would be storming and ranting and threatening murder.
Jarrod resumed his pacing while Emily added, "Jarrod, she's says she's fine. Your mother knew something wasn't quite right and, Jarrod, I'm so worried."
Jarrod stopped again, patted Emily on the arm, told her to wait there, and stepped out to go get Audra.
~~BBB~~
There were platters of food in the dining room, mostly breads, cheeses, and meats for sandwiches should anyone want lunch. Most of the children were gathered there. Grace shared her sandwich with Julia.
The kids had been especially good throughout the events of the morning but Julia's patience was wearing thin and neither her oldest brothers nor her favorite cousin, Grace, could calm her down or talk her into a nap.
Tom tried and failed to pick up a squirming, crabby Julia so he dragged her into the parlor to find their mother but found their father first. Nick took the child up in his arms and sat her abruptly on his hip, all while she whined and twisted.
"That's enough, Julia!" Nick said with unquestionable authority. Julia stopped squirming but she whimpered, kicked her legs once, and banged her head against her father's chest and kept it there. He started to search for Emily.
James and Daniel sat on the staircase for a better view of the neighboring ranchers' hats and gun belts.
"Father?" Daniel said, to get his attention.
Nick walked over to him, "Yes, Daniel?"
"Momma's in the library with Uncle Jarrod and Aunt Audra," Daniel told him.
"Thank you, son! Nick said, and reached out to touch the boy's head with his free hand, the one that wasn't holding tight to the petulant child on his hip.
Nick was unprepared for tension he felt when he entered the library.
Emily was standing near the doorway, Audra sat on the sofa, while Jarrod stood before her leaning against the desk. He had just asked her if Charles ever hit her. Audra refused to answer but her face turned a deep scarlet.
"What is going on in here?" Nick demanded.
He was greeted with silence while Jarrod and Emily looked at Audra who had an almost defiant look on her face. Emily walked a few steps over to Nick, took Julia from him and left the room. No, Audra, she thought, I didn't tell Nick. I told Jarrod and Jarrod will tell Nick.
Emily was only a few steps into the foyer, with Julia in her arms, when she heard Nick yell, "What?!" from the library. Moments later, she was starting up the stairs when Nick appeared in the doorway to the foyer and shouted, "Heath! Heath! Get in here now!" and went back into the library.
"Boy," said James, still sitting next to Daniel on the stairs, "your father sure can yell loud!"
"Aw, that's nothin'" said Daniel, and then the two boys walked quietly towards the library. But Aunt Sarah intervened and shooed them away while her husband approached, walking quickly.
Heath looked at Sarah quizzically and she mouthed the words "I don't know" to him.