Chapter Twenty
Nick stood in the doorway of the guest bedroom looking at Ruth, who lay on her bed fast asleep. That explained why she hadn't answered when he knocked on the door. She looked like an angel; Nick hated to wake her, only everyone but Heath was waiting in the living room. "I don't even see why we need to disturb her; you and I can tell everyone that's going on." His words, spoken just moments before, rang in his ears, along with Jarrod's reply. "She has the right to hear this. If she doesn't want to repeat the story to the family; you or I can."
Sighing, Nick crossed the floor and laid his hand gently upon Ruth's shoulder. As much as he hated it, Nick shook her gently. It took a couple of times, but slowly Ruth opened her eyes and then sat up. "I knew I felt tired, but I didn't think I was that tired." She said as she looked at Nick; the compassion in his eyes warmed her heart. Still, she could also sense a rather serious aurora around the famous Stockton rancher. "Jarrod's home?"
"Yes, he and the others are downstairs waiting for us." Nick told her and then added how good it was to see her relaxing enough to get some decent rest.
Ruth gave him a small smile and admitted she'd never had such an easy time falling to sleep before, first on the train and now in the room his family was letting her and Timothy use. "I always had to be on the alert, never had anyone to trust Timothy with." She fought back the tears that wanted to come, until Nick again put his hand on her shoulder. It was as if someone took a key and unlocked the gate to her emotions; the tears spilled out in bucketfuls, causing Nick to wrap his arms around her and pull her to him.
Ruth found herself basking in the warmth she felt every time Nick held, or touched her. A part of her didn't want that feeling to stop. However, after she'd regained control, she pulled back and stood up. Nick slipped his hand over hers and stood up also. "Come one, I'll be with you the entire time." He tightened his grip on her hand just a little, but not enough to hurt her.
"I'm not a child, Nick." She smiled from ear to ear. "Though, I do appreciate the support you're giving me." She paused and then amended her words. "I should say the support Uncle Jim, Heath, Jarrod and yourself have shown. You sure your mother won't be upset with me and this situation being brought here?" She didn't like the idea of that happening at all.
"She'd tan our backsides if we didn't." Nick smiled as they walked out of the room, down the stairs and then entered the living room.
Victoria was seated on the sofa while Audra sat in the chair near the entrance way to the living room; Jarrod stood next to the fireplace. Audra quickly stood up and offered Ruth the chair. "Thank you, but I hate to make you stand."
"I won't be standing," Audra said as she walked over and sat down next to her mother.
Jarrod looked at Ruth and asked her if she minded if he just gave the Victoria and Audra a brief synopsis of her and Timothy's situation. "Then we can get on with discussing my visit with the judge." He could see shock waves appear in everyone's eyes.
Naturally, Victoria and Audra thought the young woman must have done something wrong, and their stares were directed at her. That idea was quickly discarded when Nick barked. "She's not broken any laws!" He then looked at Ruth as he squeezed her shoulders just a little.
"Go ahead," Ruth looked at Jarrod and sighed. She wasn't up to trying to convince Mrs. Barkley or Audra of anything.
Jarrod took a deep breath and told his mother and Audra the basics of the situation Ruth and Timothy were in. Needless to say, two very audible gasps escaped the two women's mouths. "You'll stay here, of course!" Victoria looked at Ruth, apologizing for the first thoughts that had come in her head when Jarrod mentioned the judge. "And what your brother calls you is between the two of you, not us."
"You saw the judge already?" Nick asked the question while Ruth's eyes repeated it.
"Call it coincidence, call it luck, call it destiny, call it whatever you want, but yes." Jarrod leant his back against wall beside the fireplace. "He was just coming into town when I started to leave my office, so I stopped and asked for a bit of his time."
"What did he say?" Ruth asked after silence fell upon the room.
"He signed papers giving you temporary custody of Timothy for six months. We have to prove your story to be true-or at least enough of it-if it is to become permanent."
"How do we do that?" Nick demanded after he looked down and saw anxiety filling Ruth's eyes. "She only has the family bible."
"You're forgetting the empty grave." Jarrod answered as he looked at Ruth. "I have sent a letter to the Pinkertons and asked them to go immediately to Tennessee. The judge has a friend who has connections in that state…connections that give the agency permission to do anything they need too...without anyone else finding out. I've also asked the Pinkertons to get a copy of your father's will, quietly as possible. We need to see the exact wording your father used. Also, the judge wanted to know if Timothy is an alias for your brother or if it's his middle name, as your family Bible only has the name of 'Charles T. Randall'."
Ruth looked at him quizzically, but only for a moment as she quickly realized what Jarrod was saying. If her father had named each of her brothers, he would not have included her baby brother, as her father had never known about him. "My father had to have simply said his sons were to inherit the money." Ruth straightened up. "If he didn't, why would Uncle Kyle try to poison Timothy as a baby? And, yes, Timothy is his middle name, but everyone called him by his first name, Charles, at birth." Ruth continued, fighting to keep the fear out of voice. "Uncle Kyle could still find out. He could still come after Timothy." Without even thinking, she reached up and covered Nick's hand with one of hers. It didn't pass any of the Barkleys, though they said nothing.
"Maybe he will, and maybe he won't. The Pinkertons are pretty good at what they do and they know how to be discreet." Jarrod told her. He, Nick and the others quickly added that they would do all they could to protect her brother. "In fact, the judge even suggested that-as you never know what 'coincidences' will happen-that we continue to refer to Timothy as your son."
Victoria didn't like that. However, she also knew how many strangers passed through Stockton so she accepted it. Then, because she could tell there was something Jarrod wasn't saying, spoke up. "What other evidence do you think you can get to back up her claim?"
Jarrod looked at Ruth for a moment and then asked, "Do you know where your friend and her husband live now? The ones that helped you escape with Timothy all those years ago."
Ruth's eyes widened and felt shock waves roll over her as she thought on her friends. She also remembered her promise to them. She started shaking her head. "No!" She shocked everyone when she jumped to her feet and yelled the word. "I gave them my word I would never drag them into anything else if they helped me! The only way I'll break my word is if, by keeping my mouth shut, Timothy's life will be even in more danger!"
While Jarrod and the others knew their case would be strengthened with eyewitnesses, they also understood-and admired-the young woman's principles. He nodded ever so slightly. "All right," he stepped away from the fireplace. "We'll leave them out of this if at all possible. Nick, when Heath arrives home, I need to talk to both of you privately."
Nick frowned slightly, as did everyone else. Still, no one pressed Jarrod to tell them why. They figured that, if they needed to know, the three brothers would tell them eventually.
"Come on Ruth, I have some things up in my room I want to show you," said Audra.
"In other words, she has extra dresses and she wants to see if they fit Ruth." Nick muttered once his sister and Ruth were out of the living room, only to have Audra call back and ask him what he'd said.
"Nothing that matters," Nick hollered back and then excused himself, saying he had work waiting for him outside. When it came to Jarrod, he walked out of the living room and headed for his study…successfully fighting to keep any laughter he felt from escaping his lips.