*The correct chapter fourteen is up. I uploaded chapter 14 accidentally from an older story. I am so sorry." J

Chapter Fifteen

Maris and James David arrived early as some of the hosts. Maris greeted donors and board members. She joined a group of their wives.

"What a lovely orchid, Maris. It fits your dress perfectly."

"Thank you," as she touched the vial again.

"I am so sorry about the Peterson's. I hope they will be among us soon."

"Mr. Barkley was stopping by to see them today. I pray we get good news about their health. They are so dear to me." Maris replied.

"I heard the Barkleys came to your rescue. Fine family. Fine. Fine. Victoria Barkley with her departed husband were some first settlers to our great state. They were honored a few years ago at the Governor's Ball as a first family of California. Jarrod Barkley was attorney general then. Brilliant man. Was called the most eligible bachelor in the state with Nick for quite a while. Could have been a Senator or Governor, my husband lamented. Gave it up to move back to Stockton with the widow he married. Such a handsome man if I do so myself."

"Oh my honey, have you seen all of them? I have. Eugene the youngest is a friend of my son. Brilliant surgeon and animal husbandry professor. Worked on the cattle anthrax vaccine. Beautiful wife and children. He is quite the catch himself."

"Have you met?" and the lady lowered her voice, "the baseborn one?"

Maris turned her head in curiosity and listened carefully.

"Those eyes. As handsome a man as I ever saw—-for his station of course. Marked him as a Barkley. Victoria accepts and raises him as her own. Heath is married and lives on the ranch with her. She regularly brings him to meetings and he is very active in the mining portion of the business. Used to give Unc'l Samuel heart palpitations with his ideas. God rest his soul."

"What about Nick and Jarrod giving him a full share of their holdings?"

"My husband still talks about that. Unheard of !"

They shushed as a group of men passed them and then resumed their conversation.

"Speaking of handsome, the middle brother Nick."

Maris blushed unconsciously and was glad the ladies were too busy gossiping to notice.

"Oh, my yes. I remember when we were all young. Nick was a wild one. Had his choice of the ladies. Married a rancher's daughter. A beauty but uncivilized." and she lowered her voice again, "Didn't wear a corset or her hair up as a proper married woman. Long braids like a maid. Saw her in Stockton with a straw hat."

"Oh my," they all gasped.

Maris kept her composure and the need to giggle to herself, "If they had seen me the past week, I would be fodder for days."

-&—-

Jarrod stopped by the hospital to see the Peterson's. He was pleased to see them sitting up in the sunroom of the private hospital.

"Jarrod, so good for you to visit. They are keeping us a few more days to convalesce."

"Looks like you are in good hands," as he kissed Mrs. Peterson on the cheek.

"Oh Jarrod, thank you for all you did for us. How is Maris?" she asked.

"Yes, how is she? She isn't used to being without companions. Maris is delightful and such a lady, a wonderful mother—but JD takes such care of her provision. She is lucky to have him. I told you I brought her back twenty years ago from Baltimore. A mere child bride. Look how we have pruned and nurtured the perfect flower of womanhood. We consider her a daughter as does JD." her husband pronounced.

Jarrod kept his face schooled but he did not like the terminology. It reminded him of Nick's "bird in a gilded cage comment."

"Maris is quite well. She has been delightful company for my family."

"Good. She is that. We look forward to our dotage in some way knowing she will be our companion."

Jarrod's face dropped for a moment and Mr Peterson noticed.

"She is like a daughter to us."

"But her son is close to the age of independence. Would she not maybe remarry?"

"Of course not. JD would not allow it. We all enjoy her company. Her father signed a lengthy prenuptial during the negotiations for the marriage. She would lose everything if she was to remarry. Why would she want to do so? James David would not stand for it either."

The older attorney patted his chest hard and his wife fluttered her fan in angst.

"I apologize. I did not mean to disturb you." Jarrod said firmly.

"I accept your apology. Neither of us could imagine life not chaperoning our Maris."

"Does she know of the agreement?"

"Of course not. She was but a child bride to that fiend David! She could not comprehend such legalities," his wife sputtered.

"Jarrod, let us change the conversation. It is too much for my wife. Plus she would never leave her home. Pah on such an idea."

Jarrod finished up with some pleasantries and quickly left.

"I will not tell them until I can find out more. I feel like Nick is becoming his old self again and I won't spoil that for the world. I wonder if Nate can make some innocuous inquiries if such a thing is legal."

"Damn," as he tore the end off his cigar and got into the hack.

—-&—-

"Are you all right?" Elisabeth asked her husband as he fumbled with his tie and buttoned his vest.

"Here let me." She offered.

She knew him well and he had been preoccupied since his visit to the Peterson's at the hospital.

"Thank you. Yes. I was harried about the Peterson's. I got quite a lot of insight into JD Autonberry and his attorney. Between us, I got the impression that Maris is treated as a possession—-not allowed to think for herself. I couldn't help but think about our three girls. And—"

"And—-," she finished his sentence with a passionate kiss, "Another reason I love you, Jarrod Barkley."

"Stop that woman, we are going to be late if you kiss me like that again."

She languorously pulled the watch from his vest pocket and pulled her hand across his trousers.

"We have time." as she walked across the room and turned the key.

His eyes darkened and he reached for her.

"Sorry about last night," as she allowed him to open her dressing gown.

He covered her mouth with his apology and they lay down on their oversized four-poster bed.

—&—

Jarrod headed downstairs later and met the boys in the hall. Nick was pacing and ready to go early. He had herded the boys into baths and suits.

"Just a few more minutes and we will be off, Nick. Elisabeth had a mishap with her hair and she needed to redo it."

They all accepted his explanation as they waited.

Jarrod stretched and smiled to himself, "That was worth the price of a new shirt after all."