Chapter Thirty
"Is this a private conversation?" Victoria had knocked on the door to the study before opening the door. She swept into the room, the skirt of her burgundy brocade dressing gown swishing as she walked. "I don't want to intrude, but if something is going on that concerns the family I need to know." Her voice was firm, as she looked at her sons standing by the desk.
"I think Heath will need to answer that, Lovely Lady." Jarrod replied, offering her some sherry, which she took. Victoria was not surprised at his response and turned to look at her youngest son.
"Heath, does this have something to do with where you have been for the last three days? I know it wasn't in Strawberry" she pursed her lips. "Dotty Bowman said her son saw you on the Milk Train going to the city." In truth she had been suspicious of his story before he left, but what her friend had told her the following day confirmed that something was going on.
"Actually, Heath was just getting ready to tell us all about his activities, such as they probably were." Nick huffed. Victoria could see that her middle son had not been in favor of the trip.
Heath found himself being regarded with three pairs of inquisitive eyes, and he wished his mother would have stayed out of the matter. On the other hand, nothing made it past her, which he knew all too well. Nick shared that trait with her, of having to know, and being able to find out, everything that was happening on the ranch.
"You see, it was" he went on to talk about how Maud had told him about Olaf's trip to San Francisco. Heath explained why he had decided to go up, mentioning the two-week gap in the couple's travel.
"And what did you discover?" Victoria asked expectantly. Jarrod had his court face on, while Nick looked bored. Heath remembered the feeling from before he left, that his brothers had been humoring him in his quest.
"When he first arrived in the city, he checked into the Golden Bear Hotel, which is located in the southwest part of the city. The Swedish Consulate is in the opposite direction, by the way." Heath explained, before going on. "He spent the next three days at the Hunter's Point Shipyard, in meetings from what the agent and I could see. The shipyard is patrolled by private security, and not open to the general public. The agent had a contact who works there, which is how we knew what he was doing."
"Hunter's Point? They were just awarded a large naval contract." Nick announced, as the other occupants of the room looked at him with surprise. He noted it and added "I was over at the Morton's the other day, delivering gifts for the children. One of Phoebe's brothers was visiting." Nick was now the center of interest.
"According to Nate – Phoebe's brother – the contract was for three new warships. The final bidding came down to a shipyard in Maine, the one in San Diego, and Hunter's Point. Nate said it was disappointing that San Diego didn't get the contract, but that it was good that a California yard had won." Everyone knew that Phoebe's family ran the chandler's shop that supplied the US Naval Base in San Diego.
"I didn't have the chance to tell you Heath, but I have the Pinkerton Report on Olaf and Maud." Jarrod picked up a file from the desk. "They are upright, respected, church going people. One thing in the report that you will want to know, in light of Nick's news, is who the main client is, of the shipyard that Olaf works for." He held the file up expectantly.
"Jarrod, this is not a courtroom, please get on with it." Victoria declared, taking a sip of her sherry.
"The main client is the Swedish Navy. Last year, when the firm delivered the warship HSwMS Prince Carl Magnus the King personally decorated Olaf for his work." Jarrod handed the report to Heath. "In fact, Olaf is very well regarded in naval circles as one of the best designers of war ships. He has had very lucrative offers from German, Russian, and English companies to come work for them."
"The agent's contact did say that one day Olaf and senior management went over the US Naval Base. That was all we could find out; Pinkerton didn't have access to the base." Heath offered, feeling very bothered by what he was suspecting. "Do you think he is a spy?"
"Good god! What would there be to spy on? The contract was just awarded." Nick looked at his brother with annoyance. He wanted to be done with all of this drama and upheaval that had started with Simon's arrival. As much as he would miss the boy, Nick's personal opinion that Simon going back to Sweden was the best thing for Heath and the family.
"I have to agree with Nick. From what you have described it sounds like Olaf is there as a consultant to the shipyard." Jarrod said in a calm voice, not wanting Heath to get off on yet another tangent. "The man is well known in naval circles, and it is perfectly legitimate of him to want to see shipyards in America. That is probably what he was doing those two weeks in San Francisco. When I have gone to Europe I have sat in on courts."
"I see what Jarrod is saying Heath. It makes sense that the shipyard would want to talk to a man like Olaf, in light of the naval contract." Victoria put her hand on Heath's arm. "Olaf had business in the city, so they took the extra time, knowing that Simon was being taken care of from the lawyer in Mexico." She decided to change the subject, as she had been wanting to speak to Heath privately for several days.
"Heath, would you escort me upstairs? There is a matter I need to discuss with you." She looked up at him as she spoke. "I will see you two in the morning. Sleep well." Victoria bade goodnight to Jarrod and Nick, as she let Heath escort her out of the room.
On the way up the stairs Victoria made light conversation about happenings on the ranch and in town. When they arrived at his room, she went over and sat in the armchair over by the fireplace. There was only one chair, so Heath took a seat on the blanket chest at the end of the bed. This had been Heath's room before his marriage; after he had moved out Priscilla had redecorated it as a guest room.
The wallpaper was dark blue brocade, the furniture adorned with elaborate carving. The bedding and drapery were blue and maroon silk, while the rug underneath was a medley of blue, maroon and cream. The tables were marble topped, and the scones and lights had blue silk shades with crystals ornamenting them. The overhead light fixture was made up of leaded crystals pendants that sparkled when the sun shone in.
Victoria had admired the room when Priscilla was done, thinking any guest would be impressed and comfortable at the same time. Now though, as she looked around, she could not imagine Heath being pleased with the room. Heath was not an ostentatious person and would not want this kind of décor at his house. It made her wonder if part of the reason why he had wanted to move back to his own house was this room. Even though Heath had been living here since September she noted that there were no personal touches.
"When I was in town the other day – when I heard about you on the train to the city – I also heard some news about Sarah." Victoria paused and looked at him with concern. This news, along with the fact that Simon would be leaving after Christmas she was sure, would probably have him moving out of the Big House.
"If you are going to tell me that Sarah married Adam Cohen last week, I already known." Heath crossed his arms as he made the statement.
"You know? How did you find out? Did she tell you?" Victoria was taken aback, both that he knew, and how calmly he was acting. It was different from what his moods had been over the last month, alternating between silent brooding, or forced cheerfulness.
"Some kind soul" his voice dripped with sarcasm as he said the words "sent me the clipping from the San Francisco paper with all the details."
"Oh Heath, I am sorry you had to find out like that!" Victoria's eyes widened, before she asked, "Do you have suspicion of who sent it to you?" She did but was curious to see if he thought the same thing.
"My guess is Penny, as I can't see anyone else who would want to rub the news in my face." He stood up and walked over to the window, to look out at the night sky.
"When I'd heard you'd gone to the city I was wondering if it was because of the news." Victoria paused, and waited for him to reply.
"I will be honest, when I read about the wedding, I became very upset. I was sure that there obviously had been an affair going on, based on the marriage hard on the heels of the divorce being finalized." Heath turned back around to look at her with a smile.
"What happened to make you reconciled to the matter?" Victoria hoped that he was ready to put the matter behind him. The family had been very worried about him but knew that he would not want their sympathy.
"When I took Maud around the ranch the other day, she asked if Simon had been the cause of my divorce. I told her the whole story, and as I was talking to her it became clear to me how different Sarah and I were. I remembered you making the comment that you had been concerned about that fact also." He went over and put his arm around her shoulders.
"Not that I blame you for not speaking up mother, as I would not have listened at the time. I was in love with the idea of Sarah, and a family of my own." Heath told her, going on "boy howdy did I misread the situation. I have seen that I have done that before with women, which is why I am done with courting."
His comment saddened her, because Heath would make the right woman – suddenly Sharon popped into her mind – a wonderful husband. He would be a great father and deserved a happy family life. She did not want him to get involved with anyone right away, but she hoped that as time went on, he would reconsider his decision. Sharon came to mind again, but Victoria doubted that she would want to remarry, even if Heath was interested in her.
She knew, from talk in town, that a number of men had tried pursing Sharon but to no avail. The word was that Sharon was busy with her job and devoted to her children. The woman spent time with both Audra and Priscilla, as well as being an active member of the library committee. Victoria had also seen the skincare products that Sharon made at the mercantile, and that undoubtedly kept her busy. Inwardly sighing because Sharon would be the perfect wife for Heath.
"I understand why you feel like you do now, but don't completely shut the door. Sharing your life with someone changes it for the better." Victoria knew that contradicting him would go nowhere, but she said a silent prayer that he would change his mind. They said good night, and Victoria went to her room but did not sleep well. Her thoughts about Heath, and Simon, kept her tossing and turning.
