Chapter Fifteen

The sun was already up the following morning as Victoria rode up the drive to Heath and Sarah's house. She recalled the last time she had made this trip, to talk to Heath about spending time with Sarah. Victoria sighed, both with sadness and tiredness; it had been a long night. The knowledge that Heath had sired a child – in the same way he had been sired – tore open the old wounds.

It had been like a recurrence of a bad dream, as she watched her family come to terms with facts. Victoria knew that Nick would see it as a betrayal all over again, while Jarrod would be forced to mediate the legal side of the matter. She was only concerned about the gossip in relation to how it could relate to Simon and his staying in the valley. Victoria would later, in talking to Priscilla, agree that the best outcome was for Simon to go live with his grandparents.

She tethered her horse and walked up the porch steps to the front door and knocked. Victoria hoped it was not too early; Sarah had never struck her as an early riser. Further, after the events of last night, Victoria was sure that her daughter-in-law had not been up at sunrise. On the ride over she had rehearsed what she wanted to say to Sarah, about Simon and Heath. Her circumstances in dealing with the same situation were very different to Sarah's.

"Senora Barkley, good morning. I am sorry, but Senora Heath has left." Juanita informed her, after answering the door. Victoria looked at the woman and noted how guarded she looked as she clasped her red shawl close around her shoulders. Before she could say anything, Juanita added "Senora Heath, she left early to go to town."

Victoria was surprised and dismayed that Sarah had already left but hoped that she could still talk to Sarah. She privately hoped that Sarah had gone to her mother's – Victoria knew that was what Audra would do – before boarding the train. Daughters were close to their mother's, and she knew that Penny and Sarah were especially so, because of Wilton Rose's debacle and death.

Coming into town she turned down the street to Sheriff Madden's house and managed to smile as she admired the display of fall mums lining the walkway. It had been just two years ago that Fred had married Penny, after courting her diligently for three years before that. Victoria had been glad that two lonely people had found love after having dealt with so much heartbreak with their previous marriages. Fred's wife had died suddenly and fast, in an outbreak of fever, leaving him lonely, while Penny's heartbreak had been front page news.

"Victoria, hello." Penny opened the door, after Victoria had lifted the brass knocker. She noticed the delicate design of the brass, in the shape of a bee that shone against the French blue the door was painted. Penny had redone the house both inside and out, after her marriage; it was now bright and welcoming. Victoria thought back to the heavy wrought iron knocker on the oak door at Heath's house, and the town house in San Francisco which shared the same bee door knocker and sighed.

"Good Morning Penny, I am sorry to be calling so early" Victoria paused reflecting that it was not even nine o'clock – social calls were not paid until after lunch. "I want to talk to Sarah." She stopped, not wanting to reveal anything until she heard what Penny would say.

"Really, you want to talk to Sarah? And not Heath? "The tone of the reply let Victoria know that Sarah had told Penny everything. "I don't want to leave you standing on my doorstep, so please come in." The statement was delivered as Penny opened the door and turned her back on Victoria, who noticed the action. Victoria followed Penny into the parlor and noticed how warm and comfortable it was. She could see Fred coming home and stretching out his feet, while Penny fetched him a whiskey. Fred had told her back at his birthday party how lucky he was to have Penny as his wife.

"I want to talk to Sarah about the situation with Simon. I think Heath misunderstood about Simon's guardianship." Victoria hoped that phrasing the matter in that way would calm the situation. In truth, because of the story Jarrod had proposed – it was more than socially acceptable.

"Sarah told me that this Mexican lawyer showed up on their doorstep, announced that Simon was Heath's son, and he needed to take custody of the boy. Are you stating that the lawyer was misinformed? And traveled all the way from Mexico with this information?" Penny had not invited Victoria to sit down; instead, she'd walked over to open the drapes in the room. "Every lawyer I've ever known, more than my share, doesn't do anything without a guarantee."

"The Mexican lawyer, Senor Delgado, is a fine learned man, according to Jarrod. Simon's parents" Victoria made it a point to raise her voice "were killed by guerillas as they were coming back from a trip to the provincial capital. He is staying with us while Jarrod reaches out to Simon's grandparents – his legal guardians – who live in Sweden."

Victoria's hope was that she could deflect Sarah from walking out on Heath and filing for divorce. Her hope was that Jarrod would find the boy's grandparents sooner rather than later. She was sure the Mexican lawyer, based on the documents he had given to Heath, had reached out to the couple.

"According to what Heath told Sarah there was no mention of other family members." Penny turned from the windows to look at Victoria with cool disdain. "Your son announced that Simon would be staying at the house, and she needed to get dinner for him!" The words took Victoria by surprise, having a hard time seeing Heath acting that way. She then recalled how he had been with Jarrod, in regard to Simon.

"So many months has Sarah cried about not being with child, even as she has had to put on a good front at all your family functions? She has known that Heath wanted a child, but in spite of her best efforts it didn't happen." Penny observed "of course Heath always had a trip to Mexico or Colorado to advocate for mine safety. And should we need to go into how Heath – not Nick – was the one who had to go out to the far range? Leaving Sarah alone without a second thought?"

"Penny, I think both Heath and Sarah need to sit down together and talk" Victoria was taken aback at Penny's statements. Clearly Sarah had painted herself the victim and convinced her mother that it was true. Victoria could not fault Penny for her loyalty but realized that Sarah's mother would not be willing to help with Sarah.

"I will be honest; when Heath first started courting Sarah I was concerned because of his background. However, his type of situation is not unknown in well-bred circles, and you had acknowledged him as a Barkley." Penny moved to fluff the pillows on the sofa, and Victoria noted that she still had not been asked to sit down. She tensed up at the reference to Heath's parentage and stiffened her spine.

"Heath though impressed me with his maturity and kindness; he seemed to dote on Sarah. Her father had made her the center of his world, and what I saw of Heath he would do the same thing. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way."

Victoria noted how Penny seemed to know every low blow to inflict on Heath and the Barkley's. Further she had not liked the reference to Heath being the one always gone, when Sarah was always up in San Francisco Her first instinct was to spring to Heath's – and her family's – defense but she held her tongue, because going down that road would do nothing to help the situation. Victoria swallowed hard, but before she could do anything Penny spoke.

"I admire what you – and your family - are trying to do to avoid a scandal. Did Jarrod come up with that story?" Penny's smile was forced, and Victoria tried not to look surprised that Penny had named Jarrod as the author. "It is kind of you to try to spare Sarah's feelings and pride, but Victoria it is too little, too late. Heath has not been a good husband to her, and I won't make her stay in a bad marriage, no matter what society says."

Penny's attitude, and feelings about Heath took her aback; it was not the response Victoria had expected. Of course, she said to herself, nothing had been anything she had expected. Heath was a good man and loved Sarah – even if it was not how Sarah and her mother thought love should be. Inwardly she chastised herself, for not speaking up about her concerns about the marriage. It was as if her fears had come home to roost in her house.

Now she stood in Penny's pretty parlor, her unwelcoming hostess standing in front of her in a crisply starched peach dress sprigged with white flowers. For all the delicateness that displayed on the surface Victoria looked into blue eyes that were blazing with fire. She saw that this woman would do anything to protect her daughter, no matter what. Suddenly Victoria recalled the mad Irish priest at the wedding back in the summer – his prayer – St. Michael the Archangel be our defender in battle. As the man had made the statement he looked right at Victoria.

"Penny, I love Sarah as a daughter, and just want to talk to her." Victoria quashed the fear that she was feeling. "Look, I have a daughter who I would want to protect no matter what. It is what we as mother's do." She hoped that appealing to Penny's maternal instinct would appease the woman.

"Somehow I don't see Carl Wheeler bringing home a bastard for Audra to raise." Penny's voice was properly socially modulated but the venom was apparent, even as it was delivered in a soft southern drawl. "And somehow Jarrod and Nick – despite his past – have not sired bastard sons either. Only Heath." She raised her chin as she stated the last sentence.

"Just so you are aware, Sarah left earlier on the train to San Francisco. I will be joining her later this afternoon, to be with her during this difficult time. It was bad enough that my late husband, Sarah's father, opened her to scandal and disgrace; now her husband is doing the same thing." The inflection on the words stung Victoria.

She heard the unspoken message – a husband was to protect and stand by his wife, as she would do for him. In Sarah and her mother's eyes Heath had broken that covenant, and Victoria realized that nothing she could say, even if she knew what, would change their opinion. Victoria felt a cold chill in her spine; it was fear of what would happen next.

"I would ask you to stay, but I have household responsibilities to care of." Penny said in a polite voice, and then sighed. "Victoria, I had hoped that our children would have a happy marriage, with grandchildren we could spoil. However, Heath's actions have changed everything. Good day."

Penny walked across the parlor, to the front hall and opened the door; Victoria recognized dismissal and was not going to demean herself by groveling to Penny to get to Sarah.

"I feel bad that things have come to this state, with Heath and Sarah. Quite frankly Simon will not at the Big House for long, as he has grandparents who are his legal guardians." Victoria had made it to the door before she turned to look at Penny before leaving. "I would hate to see Sarah throw away her marriage because of a misunderstanding."

"Victoria I am ever so impressed that you can refer to an illegitimate child as a misunderstanding! Of course, when you dealt with this situation you were a widow with happy memories and children. None of which my Sarah has." Penny opened her pretty painted door and indicated for Victoria to leave. Victoria noted the condescending look in the woman's eyes and hated seeing the contempt and pity.

She went through the social motions of saying goodbye, even as Penny was throwing her out of her house. Victoria hoped – oh god that word again – she had not used it as much as she had had this morning – was to keep the line of communication open.

She took a deep sigh, as she stood on the front porch of the Madden's house and clenched her shoulders as frustration over came her. Sarah had already left for San Francisco, and by the afternoon would have a divorce lawyer.

Victoria knew that several top law firms would be glad to handle a divorce involving the Barkley's. It came to her that she had failed in her mission, and with sadness she went to untie her horse from the hitching rack outside the cottage. Misty, her sorrel mare was waiting for her, and Victoria stroked her forelock as the mare leaned into her as if she felt her pain.

Misty had been a heavy used broodmare at a ranch that only cared about producing colts. Brahmin had, in buying her first-rate foal, and insisted on the mare also. He had told Victoria that it had cost another $500 but the mare needed to be rescued. Misty had nursed her foal, who would go on to be Best in Show at the California State Fair, and with Nick would be Top Cutting Horse in the State.

On the way out of town she rode past Jarrod's office and saw the lights were off. Victoria thought about getting breakfast at the Cattleman's or the Sunnyside Café, to wait for him. However, her stomach was tight and churning and she could not fathom the thought of sitting in front of a plate of food.

"My Dear, we are going back to the ranch." Victoria stroked the mare's neck. Misty turned to look at her with sympathy, Victoria was sure. "I have failed, even as I don't know if I could have succeeded" Victoria stated outload. It was with a bleak heart that she headed back to the ranch.

Meanwhile at the Madden House

Penny stood off center of her front parlor window and watched Victoria ride away. She was sure the woman would stop by Jarrod's office, before heading home. The question was how long Victoria would stay, but at least, Penny reminded herself, the lawyer's office was on the other side of town from the train station. Turning away she walked down the short hall to the back bedroom and saw Sarah asleep on the bed, fully dressed. Penny sighed with hurt and felt tears welling up in her eyes for what her baby girl was dealing with; all because of Heath.

"Sadie Bell, Sadie Bell" Sarah heard her childhood nickname – the one her papa had always called her- and struggled to wake up. She was so tired, and it was hard to open her eyes. When she did she saw her mother sitting next to her on the bed and stroking her hair.

"Oh gosh I fell asleep! I need to catch the train." Sarah awoke in a panic, the events of last night coming back to her in crystal sharpness.

"Shh, Sadie Bell it is alright. The train doesn't leave for another forty minutes, and I have dealt with Victoria." Her mother helped her sit up and asked if she wanted coffee; Sarah said yes, and her mother went to get her a cup. Her mother came back into the room, with the cup which Sarah took gratefully. As she sipped, she noted that her mother had fixed it just as she liked with cream and sugar. It made her think of Adam who always brought her coffee in bed, fixed this same way.

"What did Victoria want?" Sarah felt more awake after several sips of coffee and asked the question even as she was sure she knew the answer. The Barkley's would not want a divorce, and the scandal it would bring to them and Heath. She had seen on more than one occasion how the family all bent over backwards for Heath.

"The great lawyer Jarrod Barkley is already circling the wagons around the family." Penny's reply was delivered with a disdainful sniff and Sarah wanted to laugh. Her mother was better than anyone she had ever met at being able to see a falsehood. Several years ago Sarah had summoned the courage to ask her she always knew if someone was lying; Penny had replied sadly that she'd had a first rate teacher in late husband.

"Per Victoria, Heath misunderstood the Mexican lawyer about Simon's guardianship. The mother was married to some Scandinavian, and the man's parents are the boy's legal guardians." Penny told her, rolling her eyes as she did so. "Frankly, the Barkley's don't want the boy any more than you do and are looking to foist him off – provided the grandparents actually exist and want the child."

"Heath didn't say anything about the boy having other family." Sarah sat up straight, annoyance in her voice. "All he cared about was that he had a son." She then started to quiver, forcing her eyes to fill up with tears. One of her talents was being able to cry with no reason, and she used it for good purpose now. Yes, her mother was on her side, wanting to avenge her hurt and betrayal; down the road she knew she would need her mother's support if the divorce turned acrimonious.

"I don't think Heath is going to get his son if his family has anything to do with it. The boy is at the big house, causing extra work in the nursery. Even your sainted sister-in-law must be put out, and I don't see Nick liking the situation in the least." Penny observed, as she stood up and looked down at Sarah.

"If you want a divorce, it has to be sooner, rather than later!" She declared firmly. "If these mythical grandparents exist and they come to get the boy, your grounds for filing disappear. So, you need to be on that train, and when you get to the city, go to the best law firm in town; it is Heath's money you will be spending." The last words were delivered with a satisfied smile, which Sarah understood.

"Thank you, mama, I don't know what I would do without you." Sarah rose from the bed, finished her coffee, and went to put her hat on. She then closed her traveling bag, feeling hopeful and purposeful.

"One other thing Sarah." Her mother's voice held a note of warning, which Sarah paid heed to. "You need to take at least a fortnight of leave from the store. I am sure that Jarrod has heard the rumors about you and Adam. The last thing you want is for him to contest the divorce and countersue on the grounds of adultery."

"There is no basis to those rumors, mama, you know that!" Sarah forced indignation in her voice as she made the statement. "I work with Adam at the store. Further, he and Heath are friends – they went out together the last time Heath came to the city." She threw her hands up in frustration and stomped her foot.

"Sarah, I do know that, and I know that Adam is a very well-bred, cultured man." Penny came over and hugged Sarah. "And Jarrod Barkley is in no position to be talking about adultery, based on everything we've heard about his relationship with Senora Rocasolano; but of course, it is always different for men."

"I also know how quick public opinion can turn, and you are wading into murky waters. You need to hold to the high road, which is why I will be coming up to the city this evening, to be with you during this time." Penny tilted her head, and Sarah saw concern and love in her mother's blue eyes. She was touched because she knew how much her mother loved Fred but was willing to come to the city.

"You don't want to come with me now? Or can I wait and we go together one you get things settled here?" Sarah was sure her mother needed to get her domestic affairs taken care of.

"No you need to go, and get the proceedings going. I need to stay here to make sure that your side of the story is known. Otherwise the Barkley's will whitewash it all, and make you seem to be in the wrong." Penny's voice carried a strident tone, and Sarah understood what her mother was going to do in town. She inwardly chuckled as she thought of how Penny would deal with Victoria and Jarrod.

The next ten minutes were spent with Penny giving Sarah a dark full-length cape to put on, before they left for the train station. Sarah noted that her mother took the back way, just in case Victoria was still in town. However, the station was almost deserted as they arrived, and Sarah was touched that Penny paid for her train ticket. The ten o'clock train had the benefit of not being very well traveled going north; it would make its revenue on the trip back from the city.

Sarah settled into a first-class seat – velvet upholstered with the benefit of facing the wall – so no one would be opposite her trying to make conversation. As the wheels rolled against the rails all Sarah dozed off, happily thinking of the next stage of her life once she was done with Heath Barkley.