Author's Note: I know that in at least one episode of the series Jarrod's office was shown as being on the second floor of a wooden building, accessed by an outside staircase. However, I would think that by 1880's the town would be a great deal more developed. I tried to find out about what the courthouse would have been like during that time but had no luck, so I am using my imagination and knowledge of architecture of that period. I first referenced Jarrod's office being in the building next to the courthouse in Chapter Twenty-Six.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Eugenia Lennox was at her desk in the schoolhouse, setting up for a meeting she would be having with parents of a student. They were not due for another half hour, so she was surprised to hear voices outside. School had been dismissed almost twenty minutes earlier, and the children were not in the habit of sticking around the schoolyard.
When she looked out the window, she was surprised to see Simon, Sean, and Tara sitting on the steps. It puzzled her because she had received notes from both Priscilla and Sharon, about Simon going home with the Flynn's. Eugenia walked outside to see why they had not picked them up.
"Children, why are you still here? Wasn't Mother Flynn supposed to escort you?" She wondered if maybe she had misread the notes but doubted that fact.
"She always meets us after school, and today Simon is coming home with us." Sean had stood up when the teacher came out, as had Simon. "She has not arrived yet." His brows puckered, as he looked over in the direction Mother Flynn would come from.
"Well you can't dawdle around here" Eugenia paused and thought about what to do next. She had a meeting to prepare for but could not have the three children walk alone. It was not a long walk, but it involved crossing several busy streets.
"Mrs. Lennox, Senor Jarrod's office is the next street over." Simon spoke up, going on "I walk over there twice a week, so would you like me to take Tara and Sean over there? Senor Jarrod was going to bring me home later this afternoon."
Eugenia nodded her head; Simon did go over to Jarrod's office to study Latin. It was a subject, along with Greek, that she did not teach. However, the knowledge was critical for boys who wanted to pursue higher education. In Stockton, boys whose parents wanted, or expected, a college path would be enrolled at the Boy's Academy.
The headmaster had graduated from Yale, as a classical scholar and ran the school along the model of New England academies. When Priscilla had talked to her, back in November about Simon, they had decided that he could finish the year at the General School, to work on his English and then go to the Academy in the fall.
Now of course, Eugenia had been told, his grandparents had different plans for him. He would still need a foundation of Latin, and she knew that Jarrod had offered his services. Eugenia had heard about the other boy Jarrod had tutored, who was now a top scholar at a Jesuit boarding school in San Francisco.
"Simon thank you for offering; yes, that would be for the best." Eugenia smiled at the boy. She had been impressed from the beginning, both with his manners and his intellect. It had not surprised her when Sean and Simon became fast friends. Not only were the same ages, with red hair, but Sean was very self-confident; like Simon he presented much older than his actual age.
She watched as Simon led Sean and Tara across the yard, and down to the end of the block. Eugenia knew the children would be all right. Jarrod's secretary would be there for the children, even if the lawyer were busy. Turning she went back into the schoolhouse, to prepare for her meeting.
"Why do you go to Mr. Jarrod's office after school?" Sean asked with interest, as they walked down the street. He knew the man from having visited the ranch, with his Mum and sister. Mr. Jarrod was always calm, deliberate, and dressed like he was going to church every day.
"He is working with me on Latin, and some Greek. Brother Carlos – he was my tutor in Rio Blanco – had been teaching me those subjects. Senor Barkley is educated in those subjects and is tutoring me." Simon said in a matter-of-fact voice.
From the age of four on, Brother Carlos had come every day to the Inn to give him lessons. His parents had stressed how important his schoolwork was, and when he had been in Sweden his grandparents had affirmed the message. Simon had been scared, that first night in the valley, being with people he did not know. Senor Heath's wife screaming and throwing things had terrified him.
He still remembered how happy he was when Senor Heath took him to the Big House. Senora Priscilla reminded him of his mama, with how she fed him, and took care of him. It had felt familiar when she and Granny Elspeth – that had been his first English lesson, Granny not Abuelita – had started doing the same work that Brother Carlos had done with him.
The courthouse was a two-story stone edifice, with a cupola on the top decorated with a Lady Justice. Her scales were ornamented with gold leaf, a symbol of the gold rush of 1848. The building had pediments and columns that ornamented the windows on both floors. It had been completed three years earlier, after the previous building, made of wood, had burned down.
The building next door was brick, also two stories but decorated with white plaster work. It housed several law offices, as well as the Title Clerk's office; the second floor was used by the local office of the California Department of Revenue.
The lobby of the building had marble floors and elaborate mahogany molding with gilt trim. In the center was a carving of a bear, mounted on a marble pedestal, paying homage to the symbol of the state. Sean and Tara looked around with round eyes, awestruck at how fancy it was. Simon was used to the building by now, but patiently waited while his friends looked around.
Tara saw Simon, and nudged her brother "Sean, come on."
Sean turned away from the statue and walked over to where Simon had been standing. They followed him as he turned right and walked down a hallway to a dark wood door. There was an inset frosted glass pane that bore the words Jarrod Barkley, Esquire Stockton San Francisco Sacramento.
Sean could not help himself, and reached up to touch the lettering, as Tara did the same. He watched as Simon turned the brass knob and held the door open for him and Tara.
"Simon, hello." An older woman, with pulled back hair and a dark red dress looked up from her desk. "Today isn't one of your lessons?" The puzzlement was evident in her voice.
"Hello Mrs. Goshen, no it is not a lesson day." Simon walked over to her desk and bowed. "These are my friends Tara and Sean Flynn. I was supposed to go home with them, and then Senor Jarrod would pick me up later. However, Mother Flynn, their grandmother, never came to the schoolhouse." He went on to explain about Mrs. Lennox and her meeting.
"Well now I rather think you are a little young to need legal advice." Jarrod came out from his office, having heard Simon's voice. He was not supposed to pick the boy up from the Flynn's for another two hours.
"Senor Jarrod" Simon hugged Jarrod, who returned the embrace. He then explained again about why they were in the office.
"I think we need to find out what happened." Jarrod announced, looking over at his sectary "If Mother Flynn comes over here please explain that I have the children." In truth, he rather doubted she would come and what Tara said only confirmed his worry.
"She has been so tired lately. Several times Sean and I are up before she is, and we have to wake her." Tara had been very quiet, but Jarrod saw worry in her dark blue eyes. "Mum has been escorting us to school on several occasions, because Mother Flynn wasn't able to."
Jarrod watched as Sean went over and took his sister's hand; the siblings suddenly looked small and apprehensive. He did not like what he was hearing, and it made him change his plans, for the children. After saying goodbye to June, he led them over to the residential part of town that overlooked the river.
"Why are we going this way Mr. Jarrod? Our house is to the right?" Sean asked as Jarrod led the group to the left, to the bluff overlooking the river. This area was characterized by brick and stone town homes, built before the Civil War. The area Sean was referencing had been built closer to the river, in the mid to late 1870's.
Jarrod had investigated purchasing a house in the development when they were being sold. At the time Jarrod had been expecting that he would marry and divide his time between Stockton and San Francisco. He could see the value of having his own establishment in Stockton; plus, he was sure that his bride would enjoy having her own house. It was hard to think that a woman would want to move into the Big House with Victoria in residence, not even considering that when Nick did marry his wife would be house mistress.
He had purchased a lot, before he took that fateful train ride east, and then returned via Denver. It was a year after Beth's death that a fellow lawyer had reached out to him about his lot. By then the lots were all sold and being built on, but Jarrod's lot was barren.
The lawyer explained that he had a client who was interested in the lot, and was it for sale? Jarrod in truth had forgotten about the property but knew that he would never build. His original purchase had been a quarter of the value of the lot, but the offer to buy it had multiplied Jarrod's investment many times over.
He sold the property but donated all the money to the orphanage that Audra was the patron of. Jarrod knew that Beth would approve, even as he was careful to funnel it through a law firm in San Francisco. His sister only saw it as an anonymous donation, and she had been over the moon.
"We are going to Granny Elspeth's house Sean. If Mother Flynn is not feeling well, she would not want guests." Jarrod explained, thankful that Elspeth was in town. If something was wrong at the Flynn's he did not want the children to be there.
Elspeth's house was red brick, two stories, with white trim around the windows. It was set back from the street, by a black wrought iron fence. Jarrod had watched the transformation of the garden, over the last several years Elspeth had been living there. Now everything was dormant, but the stone path from the gate to the walkway was clean and smooth.
"Well now this is lovely! I was just getting ready to have tea but didn't want to partake alone." Elspeth announced, after Jarrod had lifted the polished brass knocker, on the painted black door. The knocker was in the shape of a thistle, which he knew was the flower of Scotland, Elspeth's place of birth.
Jarrod was not surprised that the older woman was so welcoming. Elspeth was the most dynamic person he had ever met. She and her husband had been summoned to Los Angeles, by a cousin who was England's representative to what was then northern Mexico. Henry had just been ordained, and his cousin who was very religious, had wanted to make sure he could go to services.
The couple had fallen in love with California, and they both valued helping the underprivileged of the area. Henry had founded a church, Elspeth had founded school, all the while looking out for the underdog. Jarrod had been entranced when he had first met the woman, and she had never let him down.
"Hello Elspeth, I am glad to hear that, because I am sure that the children are hungry and thirsty." Jarrod forced a cheerful note to his voice, while giving the older woman a warning look.
"Granny Elspeth, do you have that lemonade that you make, with the mint?" Simon had been to the house several times, and had always left well fed. He turned to Simon and Tara saying, "she makes the most amazing scones and serves them with thick cream and jam."
"Scones are good, and they are delicious. Mother Flynn makes us Irish Soda Bread, which we eat with fresh butter." Sean announced with pride.
"Your grandmother and mother both make delicious Soda Bread, which is a favorite treat of mine. My understanding is that it is a special family recipe." She led the children into the kitchen, thinking they would be more comfortable there than in the parlor.
"Jarrod, why don't you go see how Mother Flynn is, while the children and I have tea. We will save you some scones." Elspeth gave him a knowing look, and he felt a sigh of relief. The children would be safe and fed; it was clear that Elspeth had picked up on his underlying worry and would keep the youngsters busy.
He made his way over to where the Flynn's house was, being familiar with the area. Sean had told him the house number before he left, so Jarrod had no problem finding the place. He paused and looked at the street, admiring how well laid out everything was.
These were true town homes, with small lots for easy upkeep. The design and construction of the houses was very similar to San Francisco, with bright paint colors and elaborate trim known as ginger breading. Jarrod, for a moment, saw him and Beth in one of these houses.
The wave of sadness threatened to overwhelm him, but he forced himself not to dwell on it. Letizia had been a big help to him to deal with all the pain he carried all the time. They would discuss faith and say the rosary together; Jarrod was not Catholic but was sure God appreciated all prayers.
Jarrod let himself into the yard and paused to look at the yard. He knew the Morgan's had purchased it as an investment property. When Sharon accepted the job of managing the café, they had rented it to her at a deep discount. He knew this because he had drawn up the documents for the couple.
The yard was extremely tidy he noted, and he was sure that come March this yard could rival Elspeth's. He remembered hearing that Sharon grew herbs and made skin cream that was well regarded. Jarrod was sure that garden would be in the back of the house. The front was given over to ornamental shrubs and in due time flower beds.
The door was painted a pale brown, with a brass knocker in the shape of a pineapple. He knocked on the door, louder than what he would normally have done. However, based on what Tara and Sean had said it was possible that Mother Flynn was asleep.
When there was no answer, he turned the knob, but it was locked. Jarrod sighed and walked around to the back of the house. This gave him pause to admire the structured layout of the gardens. Jarrod was sure that each section was given over to certain needs, and he was impressed. Whoever had designed this had an eye for making the most out of a small space.
Jarrod was relieved when the back door opened with no problem; he had knocked for manners sake but was not expecting a reply. The kitchen was clean, and the stove banked with no fire. He went into the front of the house, where the front parlor and sitting rooms were.
He felt like he was snooping, as he regarded the rooms. The rooms were conventionally furnished, which made Jarrod think it had been rented as is. The front parlor could have come from a furniture catalog, but he could see that the sitting room had been personalized. The furniture had been arranged to be more inviting, and there were bright pillows on the sofa and chairs.
Shaking his head, he forced himself to turn and head upstairs, hoping he was not going to find what he thought he would. At the top of the staircase, he turned left and opened a door into what he recognized as the master bedroom. There was a sitting area and a view of the river.
Leaving the room, he went over to the right and opened the first door, which was a bedroom with two beds. Jarrod noted that one bed was decorated with pink bedding, and a small toy plush horse. The other bed was done in blue plaid and had a much-worn plush rabbit.
Looking in the corner, he could see an area that had been setup with a desk and chair. There was also a small table with another chair, a bookcase with books, and a trunk that he was sure contained toys. On the other side of the room were two small chests of drawers, and an armoire.
Even as Jarrod admired how well thought out the room was, he knew he was just putting off what he really needed to do. He left the children's room and went to the next door, knowing behind it was another bedroom. He took a deep breath and turned the knob. When he stepped inside, he saw that his worst fears had been realized.