Chapter 16

Sheriff Chase came over to the house in the morning at about ten, to update Linda and Barkleys on what was happening. He didn't look happy, but then he didn't look unhappy either.

Jarrod was sitting in the living room now, his leg resting on a chair from the kitchen. Linda sat beside him on the sofa and Victoria sat in an armchair. The sheriff kept standing as he explained.

"Fowler is still trying to get himself a lawyer, and he still denies everything – even stealing the horse," the sheriff said. "But Abner Kimbro filed charges on that and we have him cold. Once he gets a lawyer, he'll probably plead guilty. As for attacking you, though, Mr. Barkley – all we have is that note and yes, the clerk he gave it to at the hotel identified him, but it doesn't really help much. The district attorney says if you can't remember and if there were no witnesses, there's nothing to file charges on."

"I'm not surprised," Jarrod said, "but I'm not going to lie. I don't remember a thing about the attack."

"When will he be arraigned on the horse theft charge?" Linda asked.

"Tomorrow," Sheriff Chase said. "I'll have him in jail at least until then and since he's a flight risk, he probably won't even get bail. But if you folks are thinking of leaving for Stockton tomorrow morning, I'd go ahead and do it and get out the way. He won't come after you up there, and if it wasn't him who made the attack, I don't think whoever did will be after you up there either. They'd likely have tried for you down here first."

"Just between us here, my money is still on Follet," Jarrod said. "He stole a horse and fled and even Jack Follet wouldn't do that on a lark. He was running, and I'll bet it was because he saw Linda or somehow found out that she was asking questions all over town. He ran because he knew Linda was getting close and that note he left gave him away to Mother and me. And frankly, I can't think of anybody else here in Los Angeles who'd be interested in beating me up."

The sheriff gave a long look to Linda. Linda said to Jarrod, "I haven't told you, but John Michaels – well, I wondered for a bit if he might be involved."

"Why?" Jarrod asked.

"He acted inappropriately with me when we went to the safe deposit box at the bank," Linda said. "I had very sharp words with him, and told him I never wanted him around me again. I half wondered if he might have something to do with beating you up, even though I don't have any evidence at all for it."

"I don't have any either," Sheriff Chase said. "About the time Andrew Bonner told me he left you here the other night, Michaels told me he was having dinner at the Delmonico with one of his lady friends. He has several. I confirmed it with the manager there. Michaels didn't attack you himself."

"He might have hired Follet," Jarrod said with a slight sneer.

"I don't have any evidence at all of that," Sheriff Chase said. "I can't even connect them except that Follet sometimes took money to the bank for Abner. Michaels told me straight out that Follet was there when you all went in, and he wouldn't have told me that if he was really tied into this with him. That's probably when Follet spotted you, when you were in the bank, but Michaels said Follet left without talking to him personally and bank personnel back that up. That's all there is to Follet and Michaels, and that's nothing."

"Well, everything you've said makes me want to leave Los Angeles by tomorrow, Sheriff," Victoria said. "I'm more than ready to go home to Stockton."

"She's not alone," Jarrod said. "I know I'll recover better there. Linda – I hope you don't plan to stay here alone."

Linda shook her head. "No. I'll come back to settle on the house unless we can do it by mail, but I'm ready to go too. Sheriff, thank you for all the help you've been."

"Can I ask for one more thing?" Victoria said.

"What's that?" Sheriff Chase asked.

"I want to go to the train station and arrange for their car to be coupled to the morning train north," Victoria said. "I'd just as soon not take Linda with me and leave Jarrod here alone. Would you be kind enough to see her there and back"

"My pleasure," the sheriff said, and gave Victoria a slight bow.

Victoria gave somewhat of a smug smile as she went out the door with him, leaving Jarrod and Linda alone. As soon as she and the sheriff were gone, Jarrod said, "She's matchmaking, Linda."

Linda chuckled. "She's not exactly subtle about it, is she?"

"I think you'll find there's not much my mother is subtle about," Jarrod said, and he put his arm around Linda.

Linda drew closer to him. "It looks like it might run in the family, Counselor."

Jarrod kissed her hair.

XXXXX

They all slept better that night, and in the morning they happily moved back into the Barkley family car at the railroad station. Jarrod made himself comfortable on the sofa, his splinted leg resting on a chair with a pillow. He announced this would be his sleeping bed too.

"Are you sure about this?" Victoria asked. "You'd probably be more comfortable in the bed."

Jarrod quickly shook his head. "This is nice and long and I can get perfectly comfortable here. It's closer to the wc, too, and there are things I can hold onto between here and there so I'm not likely to get knocked over if the train is moving."

Victoria still looked doubtful.

"Don't fuss, Mother," Jarrod said.

Linda had been in the bedroom area and came out just as the train began to move. She stumbled and caught herself on the wall. Victoria started to fall too but steadied herself on the chair Jarrod was resting his leg on. Jarrod was perfectly comfortable and steady on the sofa.

"See?" he announced, spreading his arms wide. "I'm fine right here."

Linda sat down on the sofa with him, but turned slightly so she could look out the window. She watched Los Angeles go by, maybe for the last time, she realized.

Victoria noticed her wistful look. "Linda, I hope you'll continue to be our houseguest until Jarrod recovers enough and the two of you can go to San Francisco."

"Thank you," Linda said. "I was planning for us to go to San Francisco right away, but it's going to be a while before Jarrod can get around again."

"We'll see what good old Dr. Merar says," Jarrod said. "In the meantime, we can dig into my work some more. By the time we do go to San Francisco, you should have a pretty good familiarity with the types of cases you'll deal with there."

Linda smiled. "I'm really actually excited about it. I really don't know where I'd be without you, Jarrod, and all of the Barkleys. Prison, probably."

Jarrod reached for her hand. "Don't even think about that anymore. You have a future to look forward to. I think Adam would have liked that."

Linda squeezed his hand. "I am looking forward to it, and yes, he would have liked that."

Victoria liked it too. She hadn't seen that look in Jarrod's eyes since Beth was alive and he was so much in love with her. It was clear he and Linda had a special bond already, born of when he had defended her in court and the love of the law they both shared. Strengthened by the work she did so fast and so capably in Los Angeles, to help the sheriff find and arrest Jack Follet. She was going to make an excellent law partner for him, and Victoria was hopeful she would become his life's partner too.

As if they had been reading her mind, they both looked up at Victoria at the same time. Then they squeezed each other's hands at the same time.

Oh yes, Victoria thought with a smile. It will take the proper time, but I'm going to get a daughter-in-law out of this.

The End