Chapter Fifty-Two

Nick stretched and kissed the top of Maris's head. The late afternoon sun was coming through the front sitting room windows. She snuggled in closer and sighed, "Thank you. For comforting me. And the new lesson," she giggled.

He chuckled, "There's another new one, comfort. Never heard it called that."

She playfully swatted him, "Well it worked."

"Healing, comfort, courage, learning, teaching—- you got some pretty special words for loving, Mare. I like it."

She laughed and patted his bare chest.

"I didn't hurt ya, did I?"

"No, my love."

Maris fought tears most of the way down the cliffs to the cottage. Nick didn't know what to do but held her shaking hand. She squeezed it back in appreciation for his silence and letting her get her thoughts together.

He helped her down and walked the cart back to the boarding house.

"Gonna take the horse back. Will be back in a few minutes. You ok?"

She simply nodded and walked inside; she changed into her dressing gown from Ruthie's loaned gown. Maris set the iron on the pot-bellied stove.

She was trying to press out the wrinkles from knotting up the long dress when he came back in. He placed his hat on the hook and took off his coat.

She burned herself in haste on the hot iron and Nick took it out of her hands. He brought the burned fingers to his lips and kissed them. He turned over her wrist and laid another kiss on her pulse.

"Maris, do you want to talk about it?"

She spun around in frustration and anger and tears, "That my son's grandfather killed his son?"

"Come here little lady." and he pulled her into his strong arms, "Yell, scream, cry,' curse, it doesn't matter to me. Won't think any less of ya. Surprised you have kept your head about you through everything —-whatever you do I am going to protect you and James David for the rest of your lives. I promise. You are safe with me."

"I know and I trust you—-but what if?"

"Honey, what ifs will destroy ya; trust me. I have done it to myself. Let me pour ya some wine."

She took several sips and sat down on the window seat. He sat down next to her.

"I don't understand why this is all happening."

"Me neither—Look at it this way. James David is safe at the ranch; Pinkerton isn't taking the case. You still have holiday visitation all month—-Jarrod and Nate won't quit until they settle it all out. We got a whole month together to work through this bull—excuse me, mess. And you are still healing up from that kidnapping, ribs, and your head and yore cheek. Let's take it real slow, Mare. I ain't going nowhere. You are my wife in every sense of the word. We can do this together. You are brave. Not the same little lady I met on the train. Found your voice and I fer one love it—-you."

"My voice says I love you, Nicholas "

He leaned over and kissed her. It accelerated quickly and her soft sounds made him more amorous. He already knew how she liked his hands within her bodice so he obliged. Her breathing proved him right.

He whispered into her ear and she shivered.

"In the daylight? I thought you were supposed to do it at night?"

"Little lady, you got some more learning to do."

He swooped her up in his arms and took her to their big brass bed.

—&—

Maris shyly pulled the sheet up with her and walked to the water closet. Nick appreciated the view and whistled. She blushed but giggled at him

He lit his cigar and took a drag, "Women are shore funny. We have been together four times, well five now and there ain't nothing I didn't leave my brand on. And she gets all modest and embarrassed. She was all pleased as I checked out the stock. Wonder if she will go with my bathtub at the ranch? And overnight camping. I can be pretty persuasive if I do say so myself."

—-&—-

Jarrod was downstairs in his own home going through ranch correspondence that Heath had left him. Just a few contracts and invoices for the beginning of the new year. He organized them by date and urgency. He took the top one off and began to fill it out when James David knocked.

"Sir? Could I have a moment?"

"Of course, son. Come on in"

He shut the door behind him and took the oversized leather chair in front of Jarrod's large desk.

Jarrod thought his stature looked smaller in the chair and yet his facial expression was that of a young man.

"I appreciate all you have done for Mother and me. Especially explaining all the legalities to me. Like a man. I have a few questions if you don't mind. Now that I have been here for four days, I have had some quiet time to think."

Jarrod smiled with appreciation for the young man.

"You do your Mother proud."

"I hope the sea air helps clear Mother's headaches. I am glad Nick was so chivalrous to take her."

"Me too," Jarrod smiled thinking of Nick planning the getaway for some quiet time together.

"If my Mother loses visitation, can I still contact her? Write? Meet in a cafe or restaurant?"

"It depends on the order."

"Can Grandfather change my school out of California?"

"Yes if the residency is rescinded by a new judge."

James David sighed deeply, "I was afraid of that."

"But James David, Mr. Springer, and myself are working very hard to keep the present order in place."

"Thank you again. Why again can't Nick and Mother marry? Does it really make Grandfather that angry?"

"Yes, unfortunately it does. They decided not to marry until we got a ruling. Nick believes it would further exacerbate the situation and make it worse. And—he is probably right. We have gone to great lengths to make his legal team believe he is out of the picture. He struggles that your Mother might lose all contact with you until you are of a legal age and even then, it might prove difficult."

"Why can't Mother have custody of me? She has always raised me and Grandfather only sees me half a dozen times a year?"

"There was a prenuptial agreement that she signed, I believe as a minor and illegal but another document after your Father died, that stipulated that custody would revert to him. She was not aware of either provision. And honestly, courts do not recognize the rights of a Mother when a man sues for custody. Whether it be a father or in your case, a grandfather."

James David grew pensive. Jarrod allowed the young man to process all of the intricacies of the legal case.

His voice grew very quiet, "Is it wrong I still love my Grandfather? But I love my Mother much more?"

Jarrod gave him an appreciative look, "I would be surprised if you felt differently. You are a fine, fine young man—-a credit to Maris."

He looked at Jarrod with his big green eyes, so similar to his Mother.

The boy smiled, "So what if I wrote my Grandfather a letter about my vacation with friends. While my Mother is convalescing. Hunting, fishing and riding. Without mentioning where I am. Chip and JT suggested I mail it from a train in San Francisco. Postmark it there. They had some wilder ideas but this one I thought might work."

"Of course they did. You are a smart boy to take what my son and nephew say and ponder on it." he chuckled.

"I have the letter. Would you read it and make sure I don't hurt my Mother in any way and yet let him think I am safe? I made two copies. One to our Denver address and one to the ranch in Milton, just in case."

"That's a fine idea."

Dear Grandfather,

I have started Thanksgiving and Christmas vacation with my friends from school. Their family has been very warm and inviting. Mother is convalescing from her injury from that evil attack at the Springer's home. She writes that she is well and needs time to heal. Please keep her in your prayers.

Hunting…..fishing…..deer, trout, hope to elk hunt one day in Colorado with you— went north riding horses spotted bear tracks—-

My grades are as you like, all high marks. I hope to graduate at the top of my class in two years. I enjoyed anatomy and physiology as well as art history this semester. Mathematics is still my favorite subject to study. Elocution and rhetoric went well. I am enclosing an early Christmas gift for your office. A still life with antlers of a deer I shot. I was able to frame it myself in the woodworking class at school.

I am very distressed about the legal case. I love you and my Mother. I hope that it can be resolved and reconciled soon.

Your dutiful grandson, James David Autonberry

Jarrod read the letter with a lump in his throat.

"Well done, son. I will make sure it is postmarked from San Francisco. And that is a very excellent pen and ink. He will be proud."

"I did one for Mr. Nick too. I hope he likes it. The antlers were from the ranch this summer. First time I hunted with him."

"He will be very honored, James David."