Chapter Eight
Phil Archer called a press conference with Dorothy Darby and Matthias Finn. The word of mouth went quickly and the informal town square was full all the way packed to Zella's. Jarrod and Jack listened from an open window with the ladies. The location was chosen carefully to make sure the Darbys could hear the oration.
"Ladies and gentlemen of Modesto. I bring a matter of great importance to your attention. This fine, respectable lady has come all the way from St. Louis. All the way on a dirty dusty stage—-to inform you about her story. A story that has no legal ramifications. Only moral implications. The scoundrel has covered his tracks well. Only a copy—-not signed or certified but a single copy of the injustice survives the cover-up. Not one shred of justice can be had in our courts—-only in our hearts and the ballot box."
Jarrod nodded, "Well done, Phil. Checkmate. Nothing that can be used against you."
"I have invited several ladies from Modesto's Christian Temperance Union here in town. They have interviewed Mrs. Darby and find her testimony to be very honest and forthright. These ladies will be releasing a statement to the papers of their opinions on the mayor's race."
"Opinions, check!" Jarrod sighed, "He has done his work on this."
Philip continued, "When the Stockton Herald called Modesto "a God-forsaken and devil-ruled town," it was repeating a commonplace, not reporting the news. Your past mayor stained the name of this great California town with his despicable rustling and thieving ways."
The crowd hissed and booed at his name.
"I don't blame you for interrupting my speech with your disdain and distress at what this man laid at your door, at your fair city's door. The gambling, the drunkards, immorality, the Chinese—-the hasheesh and the opium walked through your front door with the previous administration. You have a choice to give them a boot right out the back door. Straight back to hell where they belong."
"Yeah! " rang from the crowd.
Phil allowed the crowd plenty of time to hoot and holler. Dorothy fanned herself and Matthias graciously help her sit. She was wearing simple calico and a straw hat. Very different than the satins and silks with low bodices she arrived in.
Phil then loudly introduced Matthias Finn, "the truest of the true sons of Modesto. A legitimate candidate for mayor! "
"Thank you, Mister Archer and all you fine folk of Modesto. Your applause humbles an old wheat farmer like myself. I learned to walk in our dirt of furrowed rows and they will bury me in this sacred dirt of Stanislaus County. I am one of you just like my grandparents before you."
The crowd cheered. He put his hand up to stop them.
"I am just one of you folks. When I heard this poor lady's story, I just wanted to help her. Like the Lord says—protect the weaker vessel. Mrs. Darby brought important information to our attention. What shall we do with it, Modesto?"
"Vote Matt Finn" rang from many mouths.
"Tar and feather Jack Darby" came from two people in the front. Phil couldn't help but grin at the two men he placed there.
The murmurs continued as Matthias brought Dorothy to his side. She played the ingenue well. She waved demurely to the crowd and mouthed her thanks. She didn't speak directly to the crowd.
Jarrod whispered the Jack, "Playing the ingenue. Well done again. She looks so sweet and victimized up there. Wholesome and innocent."
"I can vehemently deny that." Jack hissed back, "She can lie better than anyone I knew and deal a crooked hand in a heartbeat."
The men continued to watch Dorothy and Matthias work the crowd.
Phil's eagle eyes scanned the crowd for approval, "Maybe politics is for me."
"Hang the lying b$&%#! "bellowed from a third-story window at the back. The crowd looked around and could not find the source.
Jack and Jarrod stepped back from their window seat and ran toward the attic stairs.
"Zella! Come down here!"
—-&—
Jarrod stretched in the narrow stairwell as Jack convinced Zella to come downstairs from the third floor.
He sighed deeply and rubbed his back on the corner, "Blasted bed. It wasn't meant for three people. The hotel better make it right tonight. Four nights without my wife is a prison sentence as happily married as we are."
Jarrod thought back to the last two nights, "First, the water pipe leaked in the adjoining room and flooded the hall. Stayed up half the night listening to pails clank and mops sop up the water. Finally, the three of us fell asleep again in the brass bed. Tessa looked as disappointed as I felt at least.
Then—-damn-it-to-hell, the second night, the fire bell went off and we all stayed in the street for hours. Tessa grabbed her quilted robe over that sweet green lingerie I brought back from Sacramento. We wrapped Rosie in a blanket with her doll and horses. She cried for her books. Tessa tried to comfort her the best she could—- I just wanted my good scotch from the room. 'Couldn't believe I forgot it but at least, I remembered the horses. Guess that is what being a Father does to you. Dorothy eyed us all night from the farthest side of the green. Phil watched all eagle-eyed. Probably looking for a client to sue .Put out a cigar fire in the livery next door. Some drunk fell asleep and the wet hay smoldered. Smoke plagued the hotel. Rosemary couldn't go back to sleep. My girl was scared. All three of us again in that feather flop of a bed. But tonight, they better have my rooms ready or we are moving out. I will rent a whole house if I have to—-"
—&—-
Peter Doolin got off the train and checked back into his room. He had gone to Modesto for the meeting and came back with a treasure trove of material to "sink Jarrod Barkley."
"Sink Jarrod Barkley as deep as the old River Monarch," he repeated aloud.
He emptied the contents of his briefcase on the bed,
The sworn statements from the rustling case
A wedding picture was copied from the negative at the studio; it was being processed and duplicated by a clerk interested in some extra cash. Victoria had left the plate at the studio for a formal wall portrait to be made.
Jack Darby's rap sheet
The tax records from Knight's Ferry
San Francisco clipped society columns
He jotted down some more notes and laid back on his bed. Sipping his bourbon, he mused aloud,
"Jarrod, I don't think you will be running away from this and all your fancy words won't make a difference."
He eyed the picture of Tessa and Jarrod on their wedding day. Jarrod in his suit and western tie—-Tessa in her fine dress with the delicate seed tiara in her curls. His six-foot frame made her five feet and a few minutes look tiny.
"She's really a beautiful woman. Those large green eyes are positively enchanting and haunting at the same time. Too bad she will bear the scars of the Barkley name. Like many before her—that tiara is a bit old-fashioned with her new satins. Out of place."
He picked up a clipping about Jack and Zella Darby. Read the details of their business, a proper cafe, and a gambling parlor attached by a lobby.
"Unique idea. Well considering the way Modesto is growing. The old High-and-Low was a dump. Matthias will probably want to shut down the gambling parlor. Not smart for then games will spring up in alleys. All sorts of crime there. Better to keep it contained. It likely will be sold for a lark when Jack Darby and his lovely wife get tarred and feathered. Hopefully, Jarrod will choke on a few of those feathers too."
—-&-
Victoria waited two days after sending Jarrod the missive on Elaine Jason's information. He replied with a simple, "Thank you lovely lady, as always. Love JTB."
Nick and Heath got home from the horse sale and took another day riding the land to make sure the workers had done all the chores they left; she asked to speak with them at supper about a matter on her mind, "Audra will be at the Westerfield's tonight."
"Of course, McColl has it under control. Let's head back and see what Mother wants to talk to us about."
"Yep. She's got that look and she don't shake it off easily. Something is in her craw and I have a feeling its getting ready to be stuck in ours too."
Heath laughed.
"She did say it wasn't an emergency at breakfast but a family matter. Private such."
"Yep little brother, we going to be dragged into sumthing."