Chapter Thirty-Five
"Stay here. Let me go get Nick." pulling into their usual delivery stall.
"No Grover. What room is Nick in? I need to talk to him privately."
"Miz Maris—-no. It's not proper. He wants me to protect your reputation above all."
"I know and I appreciate that. Will you escort me there then? It's important or I wouldn't ask,"
He hemmed and hawed for an answer.
"Grover, thank you so much; I will tell Nick I forced you." after he agreed, thinking it through. He took her arm and they entered through the back door for employees and servants. He took her to the stairwell and they slowly walked up.
He looked both ways and escorted her down the floral carpet. Two raps at the door and an anxious Nick opened the door grabbing his hat—-
"Maris?"
"Nick, I had Grover bring me. We need to talk."
"Mare—to be seen in a hotel with me? We discussed this. It will destroy your chances in court."
"I will take the chance today," she spoke up firmly.
"Want me to wait?" Grover sheepishly asked.
"No thank you, Grover. We can send for you." Maris answered with the same firmness Nick had never heard before..
Nick looked at her and her determined tone, "Thanks, Grover. We will go with the little lady on this one. I have a hard time telling her No either."
And she walked into his room, pulling her hood off.
Nick just shook his head in surprise as he closed the door. He went to kiss her on the cheek and he could tell she was very nervous.
"Honey? Are you ok?"
"Would you mind ordering us some wine? We need to talk and I would like some."
"Yes ma'am I will." with a confused wrinkle to his brow to Maris's unreadable mission.
—-&—
Jarrod and Elisabeth tucked each of their children into bed. Benjamin finagled two more stories from his Pappy. Elisabeth stood at the door watching him finally get his son to sleep. The love in her heart was strong. She turned off the hall light and walked up to the third floor to change into more comfortable clothing. She would join him downstairs for drinks before bed as they usually did.
Jarrod had already fixed wine for them and banked the fire in their private sitting room when she walked in to change. She smiled knowing his plans for the evening. The chartreuse peignoir set came out of the armoire and she washed up quickly. She left her hair up knowing how much he enjoyed taking it down and unbraiding it.
She smiled over at all his preparations even on such a traumatic day for him. They both were emotionally decimated by the recusal and no verdict for Nick and Maris.
The message had come during the afternoon and his frustration was evident. Nate and Alice had come over immediately to discuss the verdict. They all agreed that someone had gotten to the judge. Nate told him that Maris went to tell Nick.
"I think that's best for them, to talk it out and decide. The law isn't on our side—-we knew that. Women have no custody rights even in abuse. But—"
"But, but, but a thousand reasons that a knave shouldn't take his grandson from his mother."
"Elisabeth, I can't imagine choosing between you and the children or you having to with our girls."
"Me either Jarrod. I know we would both choose our children—but I cannot imagine life without you."
"Oh yes, my love. And I know their conclusion will be the same as ours. I will go see Nick in the morning. We have to pick the boys up together for Thanksgiving break before supper tomorrow. We will have dinner here then take the car back to Stockton."
"What will poor Maris do?"
"She is welcome at the ranch of course but it may not be the best legally or emotionally for them, we will see of course what tonight brings them. Nate and Alice will invite her for the holidays of course. They adore her."
"We all do."
She heard the door open and heard the familiar click of the lock.
Jarrod walked into the room and saw his wife sitting at her vanity. He walked up and kissed her long neck. She closed her eyes and sighed.
"I need you, Elisabeth," he whispered in her ear.
He began taking her hair down and brushing out the braids. She was glad she was sitting down since she was trembling at his kisses. He had always taken his time with passion and she appreciated his care for her needs as well as his. She had heard enough from unhappy wives over the years that she was blessed with her first husband and now Jarrod.
He picked her up and carried her to their large four-poster. She undressed him as he liked—they quickly responded to each other's needs and spent themselves in each other's arms.
They had been asleep for about an hour when they were awakened by breaking glass and the sound of fireworks. The screams of their children pierced the air as they quickly dressed and threw on their robes. Jarrod grabbed his sidearm.
They got to the landing and gathered all five children.
"Grab your shoes," Jarrod yelled, "There is broken glass. And your coats."
Chinese fireworks were exploding on the first floor giving the stairwell yellow and red light. Elisabeth helped the children button their coats over their nightclothes. Benjamin was crying and sucking his thumb on Jarrod's shoulder. William ran back into the nursery and brought out his baby brother's blanket.
"Here, little man. Got your lovey."
The girls grasped their dolls and William looked to Jarrod for a plan. The first floor was still exploding with loud sounds and smoke.
The back stairs had smoke coming up from them too. Jarrod could spy a direct path to the front door with the shooting sparks, crisscrossing through the entry.
"William, grab the blankets off the girl's beds. Elisabeth, grab all the quilts off the guest bed. We are going through the your heads low and covered. I will get us out."
He placed a covering over each child's head and led them downstairs, holding hands. The brass door knob burned his hand as he opened the door. He saw the two servants run from the back of the house to help. The kitchen maids were in their nightgowns too and shivering in the night air.
They made their way to the garden. Neighbors came out with more blankets as they watched smoke and flashes of light come out of the Barkley brownstone first floor. The windows shattered as rockets hit them and smoke billowed out.
Jarrod paced with fire in his eyes and swiveled as he heard the watchman yell, "Stop".
Two gunshots resounded in the night and Jarrod took off for the direction of the sound.
He came upon an elderly nightwatch standing over the body of a young Chinese man. His lifeblood was pooling out on the road.
"Dirty yellow dog, Mista Barkley. Caught him in bushes watching the damage he done did to yore house. Blasted Chinese, good for nothing."
Jarrod's head was shaking in the darkness. His robe was loosely tied over his silk pajama bottoms and his leather slippers on the cool night.
"The boy was shot in the back,"
"Yep told him to stop twice."
Jarrod rolled him over and pushed up his shirt sleeve, the traditional Tong mark.
"Lookie there. Ya got a Tong tang damn chink."
Jarrod shook his head, "Get him out of the road."
On second thought, he searched his pockets. A small miniature of a Chinese girl and a fifty dollar note. No other identification.
"I am keeping the picture. I will let the police know."
The night watchman kicked the body several times and started to drag him. He called for help and several other officers ran over.
Jarrod walked silently back to his house.
His five children were huddled around Elisabeth and the two maids—-covered in blankets. Neighbors were surrounding them with protection and comfort.
The fire bucket brigade had marshaled and was already on the first floor. Gray smoke poured out of the broken windows.
A captain came out, "No raging fire thank heavens. Just fireworks. Scorching and fabric burns and glass everywhere. A smoldering mess. The first floor is a mess but my men can get to the second and third floors if you will show us what you need. Smoke will settle in the whole house soon and most clothing will be ruined."
"Can I go in? I have some papers and my family will need clothes for the hotel."
"Sure Mr. Barkley. I will send some men with ya. Hurry up before the smoke ruins it all."
He whispered to Jarrod as they entered the house, "He was in your house. We counted seven crates brought in. While you was sleeping. Coulda burned the whole house down if the glass hadn't broken. Had to have a cart or wagon too. He had help."
—-&—
Jarrod and the firemen's brigade appeared about ten minutes later. Heaps of all the clothes they had brought and Jarrod's valise with court papers—-He handed Elisabeth her hairbrush and jewelry box with a sad smile.
"I got these too."
"Thank you, my love."
"Let's go to Nate's. I don't want to draw any attention to The Occidental. Ladies, we can drop you off at home or you can come to the Springers with us. " as he looked over at the two young maids.
He picked up Benjamin and helped Elisabeth up, "We will figure this all out tomorrow."
