Chapter Forty-Four

Heath came into the parlor, to meet everyone before dinner. It had been three days since his meeting with JR and Rufus. He had sent Sharon a note that afternoon asking if he could escort her to the party. Her reply had not been what he was expecting.

Sharon stated that she would love to go, but because Violet had Sunday off, she did not have anyone to watch Sean and Tara. Heath saw right away the best solution, but it would mean involving Nick, Priscilla, and Victoria too. His original plan was for them to court for a month or so before he brought his family into the picture.

After further thought though, he wondered why he was waiting with his family. Sharon had already agreed to his business proposition – she would be his wife. Heath had also laid out exactly how important the interactions were with his family. They would be spending a great deal of time together, so why not start sooner than later.

He carefully bided his time, as the family caught up over pre-dinner drinks. Victoria was telling them that next month she would be over at the Wheeler's ranch. Carl was taking Audra to San Francisco, for two weeks, to celebrate their anniversary. Heath listened as his mother talked about everything Carl had planned.

Heath thought of how excited Sharon had been about the Gaiety Theater, and it came to him that she might enjoy city time. It would also solve the problem of the honeymoon. The Lodge was not an option; even if he and Sharon were to have real honeymoon, he did not think she would want the same spot he had taken his first wife.

San Francisco would be the perfect location, because he could get a hotel suite with two bedrooms. Further, Sharon could shop, both for herself and the house. Heath smiled as he remembered watching Sharon at the Gaiety, as she talked about the food and the show.

"Priscilla are you and Nick going to JR and Alice's party this Sunday?" Heath had waited until they were seated in the dining room, and the main course had been served. "Silas, please tell Mattie that the turkey is delicious. I like the sage in the dressing." He was too busy smiling at Silas to see the look his brother and Priscilla exchanged.

"Yes, we are! We are going to bring Simon home, and then heading over." She answered with interest. Simon had found out that Sean and Tara attended church on Sundays, and he had asked to go to the services. Heath had been relived when Priscilla agreed to the plan. She had relaxed a great deal about Simon going to town. He had asked her about it, and she had said that offense was better than defense.

Priscilla had said that she had realized that limiting Simon's activities would only add fuel to the rumors. Instead she, along with Victoria, had decided that Simon should be seen in town. That way, it did not look like they had anything to hide.

"I would like to ask a favor." Heath looked at his family, gathered around the table. Victoria was at one end of the table, and Heath was opposite the couple. They left the other head of table chair for Jarrod, whether he was there or not.

"Heath, anything at all." Priscilla replied, giving him a kind smile which he appreciated. He recalled the honey reference the other morning and realized that she was hoping for the outcome that was already in place.

"I want to escort Sharon to the party, but her housekeeper has Sunday off." Heath paused and looked at his sister-in-law; he knew at the end of the day Nick would defer to Priscila. "Could Sean and Tara spend the afternoon out here? I am happy to pay extra wages for Rosalie, and the children would enjoy the afternoon at the ranch." He was surprised to realize he was holding his breath.

"Sean and Tara are very welcome!" Victoria announced with enthusiasm, as she looked at him. "I had already planned for the boys to have a picnic in the garden, and then I was going to take Simon and Thomas Henry riding while Alden and Ducky napped. I understand that Paloma will be in the nursery?" Victoria referenced the new nursery maid that had been hired after Ducky's illness.

"Yes, she will, so she can be on call for Ducky. She is very sweet," Priscilla answered, and Heath wondered why Ducky needed someone available full-time. He watched Nick reach over and clasp Priscilla's hand, giving her a soft kiss on her forehead. That there was a story was apparent, but clearly it was not any of his business.

"Mother, just so you know Tara is horse mad, and knows all about Simon's pony. Sean and Simon are good friends; Sean is a skilled rider, so I am not sure how he will feel about trotting around the corral." Nick offered with a knowing glance, thinking about the young man.

"Simon will be happy to share Bramble with Tara, while I will ask Sean to help Thomas Henry with Jester." She referenced the light boned mare – she was just half a hand over being a pony and was very playful but docile.

"There you go" Nick almost beamed at Heath, which made him want to roll his eyes. He was sure his brother would take credit for the couple coming together. "We can all drive over in the larger surrey." It was apparent that his family was quite happy that he was courting Sharon.

Sunday found Heath waiting outside of Sharon's house. After church he had driven her and the children to their house, so they could change. He did not go inside, as he knew it would not look good, since Violet was not there. When Sharon and the children came out, he saw that she still had her church clothes.

The outfit reminded him of what she had worn the day that Ducky had been born. The jacket was caramel poplin, trimmed with ruffles made of plaid ribbon in colors of cream, caramel, and dark brown. The skirt though was made of the same plaid as the ribbon, with a small bustle in the back. Heath noticed that she was wearing the duck brooch that Priscilla and Nick had given her. It touched him that had chosen to wear that, for their first outing with the couple.

He had to work hard not to admire the feminine figure, and her peaches and cream complexion. She had a hat that was decorated with plaid ribbon that sat jauntily on her glowing copper colored hair.

"Mr. Heath can I go see the horses as soon as we get to the ranch?" Tara looked up at him expectantly as she asked. It forced him to stop thinking of how lovely Sharon looked.

"Thank you for inviting us for the afternoon Mr. Heath." Sean smiled before looking at his sister and shaking his head. He noticed that both children were in simple clothes; Tara had a pink sweater on, while Sean had a corduroy jacket.

"Tara lass" Sharon gave her daughter a look, and Tara nodded her head.

"Thank you for inviting us to the ranch. I am looking forward to it." The little girl smiled and showed her dimples.

"I think you are going to have a good time." Heath explained what the plans were, and he saw Tara's eyes light up when he mentioned Simon's pony. He could only imagine what her reaction would be when she received her own pony.

After lifting the children into the wagon, he helped Sharon up on seat next to him. He noted that she left some space between them, which made him glad. Heath scolded himself that he needed to remember that this was business.

The ride out to the ranch was fun, with Tara asking him questions non-stop about the horses at the ranch. Sharon had started to quiet her, but he had told her it was all right. Heath enjoyed talking to the little girl; he tried to pull her leg a couple of times, about the horses, but she saw right through it. Her laughter was like bells, and he noticed how happy Sharon looked, as she turned around to gaze at her daughter.

When they arrived at the Big House, Ciego was waiting for the wagon. Heath escorted the family into the house, where Victoria was waiting. She greeted everyone with a hug, and then took Sharon and the children upstairs to get settled.

"Were the children excited?" Nick came into the front parlor, where Heath had decided to wait. "I'm surprised Tara did not want to go straight to the barn." He added with a laugh. They spent the next twenty minutes talking, until Sharon and Priscilla came into the room.

Priscilla's dress was white, with a print of red flowers. The same fabric was ruffled at the skirt, trimmed with red ribbon, and bustled back. Her hat was a jaunty affair of red ruffles; her jewelry was her triple row pearl necklace and pearl drop earrings. It was eye catching, Heath had to admit, and she and Sharon looked great.

"I feel bad that Jarrod is not here, but I am sure Sean will have a good time." Priscilla was talking to Sharon as they walked in. Nick inquired about the statement, with Heath nodding his head.

"Ever since Sean went to Jarrod's office – you know the day Mother Flynn passed" Sharon tilted her head. "Sean admires Jarrod and has decided he wants to be a lawyer so he can work in a fancy office." Her voice was tinged with pride.

"I thought he wanted to be a horseman. Does he know he will have to get gussied up every day?" Nick laughed.

"According to Sean, lawyers make a great deal of money so he will be able to afford any horse he wants." Sharon explained, and then a rueful look came across her fact. "He won't mind getting dressed up. Sean likes to look nice; in that respect he takes after my late husband who was something of a dandy."

"Does Sean take after your late husband in other ways?" Heath was very curious about her late husband. The comment that he was a dandy intrigued him and made him want to know more. The fact she mentioned Paul made asking about the man easier. He had noticed the tight look on her face and wondered what that was about.

"Not really. According to Mother Flynn, Sean is very much like her late husband, his grandfather. He is named for the man." Sharon's countenance resumed it happy smile. "He was an estate agent, and very good at recordkeeping. I can see it, as Sean is very good at math, and has a great memory."

"Well then there you go. He sounds like he is a perfect fit for a law career." Priscilla beamed at Sharon. Heath could see that the two women were close, which made him think of Sarah.

When Priscilla had first come to town, and then being courted by Nick, she had made an effort to reach out to Sarah. He remembered that Priscilla had designed the gardens at his house. It came to him that it was sometime between their wedding and Audra's wedding that Sarah had started to pull back from his family.

"I don't know about you, Heath, but I am hungry and I'm sure the ladies would like to get going." Nick's booming voice interrupted his thoughts, which was for the best. Heath reminded himself that the past was past.

On the ride over Heath found himself sitting upfront with Nick, while the ladies sat in the back. They talked about happenings in town, and Reverend Peterson's sermon. Priscilla's comments were very scholarly – of course, while Sharon and Nick's were more general. Heath had to agree that the interpretation of the readings was good.

Heath had let Nick drive, mostly because he was not sure where JR's house was. He assumed it was somewhere on the Morton ranch and figured that Nick would know. They turned down the road and entered the ranch property. There was an arch, done in whitewashed wood, that had the ranch brand at top.

They approached the main house, and then took the turn off to the barns. Nick drove past the barns, and Heath saw there was a road off to the left. It was short, and they found themselves in front of a Spanish style house. Heath discerned that the house was walking distance to the barns and the main house.

The house was cream colored stucco, with red clay roof and trim. The front of the house had a triple arched portico, with the same red clay roof. The façade was rose two stories and was topped with a curved roof line. Heath thought the design of the house was an interesting choice, as it was new construction.

There were several buggies ahead of them, but the line moved quickly. When they arrived at the portico a hand was waiting to take the horses. They walked across the tile floor to the door, which was propped open. When they entered, they were greeted by a familiar face.

"Senor Nick, Senor Heath" Juan smiled at them, before bowing to the ladies. "It is a pleasure to see two such bello ladies. Welcome to Descanso del Corazon."

"Hello Juan, isn't Rufus keeping you busy enough?" Nick asked with a laugh.

"Senora Alice, she doesn't keep a large household staff, since they spend most of their time in the Arizona Territory. When she and the Senor entertain, several of us come over to help out." The older man explained, and the group nodded their heads, and moved on.

They walked into the main hall, which was open to the second story. Heath saw Sharon looking around with round eyes, as she took everything in. He wondered if she had not been in this style of house before. They walked across the hall to a series of French doors, which were open to a courtyard. Alice and JR were standing by the central door, greeting people as they came.

"We're so glad you all could make it." Alice hugged both women, and then greeted the men. "Just so you know there are food and drinks being passed around in the courtyard. We are having a late lunch in a bit, which will be served buffet style." She waved her hand in the air.

"Your house is so amazing! Is that a fountain?" Sharon indicated the courtyard, that was centered around a three-tier fountain. The water danced lightly over the stonework. The courtyard was paved with mosaic tiles and decorated with plants. On either side of the fountain, at the edge of the courtyard were two fireplaces, done in the same mosaic tile. They had fires going, to help offset the chill of the overcast sky.

"Thank you. We modeled it on the house we have in the territory. I will give you a tour later." Alice beamed at Sharon, and after a few more words the party moved to the courtyard.

"I want to go look at the fountain. What an incredible place. It is like your outside, but inside too." Sharon indicated the groupings of sofas, chairs, and tables, where people could sit and talk. They had rugs underneath, to define the space.

"This is very common in Spanish architecture. The stucco, and the courtyard are designed to keep the place cool in extreme heat." Priscilla explained, going on "Granny Elspeth says that the courtyard element is very common to India also."

"Can you imagine sitting outside at night, admiring the stars?" Sharon's eyes were wide. "It would almost be like a room without a roof."

Heath was finding her reactions interesting. He liked to admire the stars at night and had to admit this would be more comfortable than sitting on the ground. It made him wonder how she felt about outdoor activities. The first time they had courted they had done simple activities, like picnics, horseback rides, and fishing.

"Would you care for a beverage?" A man in white shirt, black pants, and a colorful fabric belt came up to them. "We have sangria, lemonade, and beer." He proffered the tray with filled glasses.

"What is sangria?" Sharon asked, as Priscilla took a glass filled with a red liquid and fruit.

"It is red wine that has had fruit steeped in it; very delicious." Priscilla explained and handed a glass to Sharon.

"Oh, that is good." She exclaimed after taking a sip of the beverage.

Heath and Nick both took glasses of beer and toasted the ladies. Sharon's eyes were sparkling, and her pink lips were curved in a smile. She looked pretty and bright, and Heath was proud to be seen with her. The next hour was spent talking to people and sampling the finger food that was being passed around. Everything was delicious, and they had to remind themselves that there was still lunch to come.

The meal was laid out on long tables at the end of the courtyard, with tables and chairs having been set up to the left. There was grilled beef, a turkey, and a pork roast, being carved by the kitchen staff. Fresh baked bread, and a wide assortment of sides completed the meal. On a separate table was a display of cupcakes in different flavors.

It was later in the afternoon and Sharon was standing by the fountain, talking with Heath. The afternoon had been lovely, with delicious food and great company. She was entranced with the courtyard and decided that if Heath's house did not have a fountain, she would install one.

"I think I see a fountain in my future." Heath's voice had a teasing quality to it, and it made her smile. Sharon looked at him and could tell that he was having a good time at the party. Back when they were really courting, they had not done any socializing together.

Yes, she had been invited to the Big House several times, but otherwise their activities were low key. They did one on one dates, and some parties with the other Irish settlers. Sharon was sure that a big part of that was because she resided at Kilkenny Farms, while Heath was in Stockton.

Sharon had also noted how comfortable Heath was at this party. She recalled seven years ago, where he was still trying to fit in with his new life. Heath had shared his story with her, and Sharon understood what it was like to feel like a foreigner. It came to her, with her maturity and experience, that Heath and Sharon had both been at a similar stage in their lives all those years ago.

What if they had married, she mused to herself? Sharon was sure that they would have had a hard go, as they both tried to find their way. She recalled a comment about God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers. No, her marriage to Paul had not been good, but she had Sean, Tara, friends, and a life that she enjoyed.

"I see you are admiring the fountain. It is a copy of the one we have in Arizona." Alice said as she and JR came up to them. She added several details about the design, and who made it, which Sharon listened to closely.

"Would you like to see the house?" Alice smiled at Sharon, before looking over at her husband. "JR has some business he would like to talk to Heath about."

"I would love to see the house." Sharon enthused, and looked at Heath, who nodded his head. She followed Alice across the courtyard and into the house.

The house was well decorated, in a comfortable relaxed style. All the main floor rooms opened to the courtyard; the staircase swept up in a curve. At the top of the landing, Alice indicated that the other bedrooms were down one hall, while the nursery and master bedroom were down the other one. She did not show Sharon the master but mentioned that it had a balcony that overlooked the courtyard.

"When we designed the house, we used our house in Arizona for inspiration, but this one has a much better floor plan." Alice spoke in a soft voice as she turned the doorknob on the nursery. "I wanted the nursery close to my bedroom."

When Sharon had had her babies, the little cottage they had did not allow for a nursery room. The babes had just slept in a cradle in her room; once they were older, they moved to the other bedroom, with Mother Flynn. Sharon knew about nurseries from her days at the castle in Ireland, but they were in a different part of the house.

"I want to introduce you to Grace." Alice had gone over to the cradle, nodding to a young Latin woman who was sitting in the corner.

"You timed it well Senora Alice, she just woke up." The nanny spoke in a soft voice, and Alice introduced her as Anna. Sharon watched as Alice picked up the baby, who was wrapped in a pink blanket. It reminded her of when her children had been that age, and she smiled fondly.

"Would you like to hold her?" Alice asked and Sharon nodded her head eagerly. She took the baby, and when she held the little bundle close Sharon felt a welling of joy.

"You forget how small they are." She told Alice, going on "Sean is seven and Tara is six." Sharon cooed at the baby for a bit more, and then handed her bag to Alice.

"I am a very proud mama! I love her so much." Alice's face glowed as she cuddled the child. "She is six months old – Grace was born when we were in territory this past year."

"Was it hard, having a baby down there?" Sharon did not know much about the land, but she was sure it was not as settled as California.

"Not really, because we have lots of friends. JR and I spent the first year of our married life in the territory." Alice explained, laughing at the memory. "I missed my family, but JR and I had so much fun being on our own. There is a well-established community, from the days that Spain controlled the area. We have this huge house, with tons of servants, all left over from the last owners. We socialized a great deal, went riding, and explored the area."

"That sounds wonderful! I would love to hear about the area, but I don't want to keep you from your guests." Sharon remembered her manners and smiled at Alice.

"Well hopefully we will see more of you and Heath." She beamed, before handing the baby to Anna. "I don't know Heath very well, but my folks think highly of him. We all – them and JR – felt bad when he had all that mess back in the fall. However, he handled it like a true gentleman."

"How did you and JR come together?" Sharon was curious, but also wanted to deflect the attention from her and Heath.

"I will tell you as we walk downstairs. It was because of Priscilla and St. Paul if you can believe that." Alice giggled with pleasure. "When Priscilla came to town to teach school all the young men, including Zack and JR were very interested in her. JR found out that she went to the Bible study group that Reverend Peterson ran for young people."

"One night we were discussing some of the verses, and JR offered a very interesting interpretation. It was insightful and made me rethink how I had read the verses." Alice paused, and Sharon nodded her head. "Afterwards I asked him about it, and we ended up talking for over an hour. JR later told me that I was the first girl who spoke to him as a normal person." The laughter in her voice made Sharon ask about the comment.

"JR at that time was a very popular man about town; he escorted lots of society girls and was considered quite a catch. There were always women fawning over him" Alice giggled. "I am not the fawning over type, and I made it very clear to him. It gave us the chance to be friends, and really get to know each other."

When they arrived downstairs Alice excused herself and Sharon went to find Heath. They spent another half hour visiting with people, but then left as the party started to wind down. On the way home the couples chatted about the party, with Nick and Heath being very impressed with the amount of food.

"We have to do this again." Nick exclaimed in a booming voice, as he looked over at Priscilla. They had arrived at the Barkley Ranch and were disembarking from the surrey. "We were thinking about next week doing dinner on the river." He went on to explain about an old paddle wheeler, that had been converted into a dining establishment. The boat had been refurbished to its glory days, and the dining room offered views of the river.

Heath looked over at Sharon, who nodded her head happily. They talked for several more minutes then Sharon and Heath collected Sean and Tara, who were sad about leaving. After saying goodbye to Nick and Priscilla, Heath drove Sharon and the children into town. Sean and Tara were both full of stories about their afternoon, so they talked all the way.

"Thank you, Heath." Sharon stated, after sending the children into the house. "The party was great, and it was so nice of your mother to take on Sean and Tara."

"She enjoyed it and was glad to do it. My family is very happy that we are courting." He replied with a rueful smile. Heath was trying not to be bothered at how he was not being honest with his mother and brother. He pushed that thought aside and said goodbye to Sharon. It was very circumspect because they were standing in her front yard. On the drive back to the ranch Heath was in a happy mood, as he thought about the afternoon.