Chapter Three

"Zella, sit down! Jack and Jarrod will be back soon. Here, drink another whiskey—-but slower this time. Let it sit in your stomach. Have you had anything to eat?"

"No, I am not hungry. I want to know what's going on."

"I agree, Zella. But we have to wait on our husbands. Husbands, did you ever think we would be married to men, doppelgängers, as Jarrod says? Jarrod is 37. Jack is 27 but the same in so many ways—and yet different just like us. Twins of our sweet mother thirty minutes apart. Can you believe that Grandmother, when bathing us, lost the ribbon of the firstborn they tied on? So no one will ever know who is older. Twenty-three years ago."

"I am sure I am the oldest. I am a natural leader."

"Yes, you are—-you lead us straight into trouble so many times."

Zella finally relaxed enough to laugh, "Yes, I did. We had a helluva time growing up."

Tessa frowned, "Yes we did—Remember, little pitchers have big ears." pointing at Rosemary playing with her horses on the window sill.

"Sorry, Tessa, you know I am not cut out to be a mother. You were always the motherly one,"

"Zella, will you and Jack have children?"

"A long time from now if at all. Jack says he has to settle down first and make something of himself. Me? I just don't see myself with a baby. Will see. When I think about what our dear cousin, Betty went through before she died. I want to wretch.- Someday, maybe? I betcha Jarrod can't wait to get an heir off you. Rich men are like that. Not poor men like Rosemary's pa who haven't got a pot to piss in."

Tessa shook her head and looked at Rosemary, "Billy is dead. Let's not talk ill of the dead; it was a shock to him about the babe."

"You are telling me? I saw his face looking like he wanted the earth to swallow him up."

Tessa wanted to change the subject, "I want a whole passel of children. Raise them on the ranch. Rosemary would love lots of brothers and sisters. Jarrod is going to build us a house on the ranch."

"Sister, you know you can't tie a man like Jarrod Barkley to a homestead. He's a man of the world. If you try, he will end up hating you or leaving you behind. I am glad to see Audra has been working on your wardrobe."

"Audra has been wonderful to me. And yes, the clothes have given me a bit of confidence just like you said—it's just that I have gone without them for so long, everything feels like an extravagance. I just saw myself living in Knight's Ferry the rest of my life with Billy but that dream ended. Jarrod is being patient with me. I was going to Sacramento with him but Rosie got the measles. I promise I will learn how to make him happy. But I do love the ranch so much already. It feels like home."

"Tessa, has he brought up Rosie's father?"

"No not once."

Zella shook her head and went to the window to look. Then she checked the door again for Jack and Jarrod.

"Aunt Zella? Wanta play horsey."

"I do," and she sat down distractedly with Rosemary.

The child laughed loudly, "Aunt Zella, you silly. That horsey is upside down."

They all laughed and Zella added, "Just like my life."

—&—

Jack and Jarrod took the back alleys to Zella's. They wanted to avoid the gossip until they could make a plan.

They went up the backstairs to their apartment; Pablo was guarding the door. He was relieved to see the men.

"Miz Zella awfully upset. It was all her sister could do to calm her down."

Pablo unlocked the door, "Did like you said. Kept her up here until you got back. She's a wildcat when she gets stirred up."

"Don't I know it."

Rosemary ran over and jumped on Jarrod's leg. He picked her up and kissed her cheek.

Jack went over and kissed Zella, "Well, we know who brought her to town, Matt Finn. They are trying to disrupt the mayor's race. Hired a lawyer that doesn't take kindly to my brother here, Phil Archer. Even said won't likely be held up in court—so she is here to keep me from becoming Mayor."

"Not after I get ahold of her," Zella snarled, "let me take care of this. She won't have a hair left on her lying head."

Jarrod hid his smile in Rosemary's curls while Tessa frowned in resignation.

Jack pulled Zella close and whispered into her ear, "Love you, sweetheart. We will figure this all out."

The tears started down Zella's face and Tessa immediately went to comfort her. She melted into her sister's arms and let her lead her to the bedroom, "Let's get some sleep. I promise it will look better in the morning."

"You always say that," Zella whispered in a little girl voice.

"And I am right," smiled Tessa as she pulled back the covers. She helped her sister unbutton her dress and take down her hair. She plumped the pillow just as Rosemary came in.

"Auntie Zella, I pray for you."

Tessa reached out for her chubby hand as she climbed next to her aunt.

"Tank you God for Aunt Zella, Unca Jack, Mam, and Pappy. I love my family. Pease, don't let Auntie cry no more. And—-tank you for my horsey."

Tessa and Zella both began to cry in the child's prayer. They held each other tight and let the tears flow.

Rosemary looked at the sisters, one at a time in confusion, "I sorry?"

"Oh no, precious. You did nothing wrong. Your prayer was beautiful just like your mam." Zella sniffled.

Tessa trimmed the light and hummed to her sister. She rubbed her eyelid like she had done so many times before. Rosemary crawled up next to her and mimicked the hum.

—&—

Jack and Jarrod talked strategy over cigars and scotch.

"I will make contact tomorrow with the lady and her attorney. I will feel out what they really want. Lay low. Stay here at your business. Don't let them goad you into a response or something worse, a scene. Keep a tight leash on Zella. Let's see what happens. I will be here by lunch."

"Sounds good. No noises from the bedroom. Tessa either calmed her down or suffocated Zella with a pillow."

Jarrod laughed.

Tessa pushed the door with a sleeping Rosemary on her shoulder. She motioned to her husband for help. Jarrod stood up immediately and took the little girl.

Jack stood up and kissed Tessa on the cheek, "Thank you. I don't know how you settle her down but you do—-every time."

"You are welcome. She is still awake but the whiskey is doing it's part too. Good night. Take care of my sister."

"Love, honor and obey—-till death do we part," Jack recited.

"Good night," as she and Jarrod headed out for the hotel.

—-&—

The crowd had dispersed and they checked into their rooms finally. Their luggage was already there and a maid had hung up their clothes. Jarrod went to open the adjoining room to lay Rosemary down. It was locked.

"I will go downstairs and get a key. Need to get Rosemary settled into bed so we can have some private moments. I have thought about you all day." he said huskily.

She blushed, "Me, too."

He winked at her and she felt herself shiver as he left..

She rolled over the sleeping child and undressed her layers. She pulled a nightgown over her head and undid her braids. Rosemary moaned for a second and moved—-but stayed asleep.

Jarrod came back upstairs angrily, "They messed up our reservation, and the hotel is booked. We don't have a second bedroom. They will bring a trundle up—-if they can find one. I guess we will have to postpone our evening."

They undressed in the dark while Rosemary snored slightly in the middle of the feather bed. Jarrod went over to Tess's side and kissed her goodnight.

"I am sorry, my love. I know I wired for two rooms."

"It's ok, I promise."

"I will just have to make up my time tomorrow night."

"And Mr. Barkley, I will take you up on that offer."

His sapphire eyes grew wide, and he smiled. He loved it when she expressed the same desire that he felt. He knew they had areas to work through in their relationship, but the bedroom was not one of them—-for which he was thankful.

He trimmed the lights, and they slipped into bed. Tessa reached over Rosemary and held his hand. Rosemary turned and nuzzled into Jarrod's shoulder. One small chubby hand was on Jarrod's silk pajama top, and the other was full of Tessa's curls. The family of three fell asleep quite contently in the small brass bed.