Chapter Fifty Three
Jarrod and Lisette announced at Sunday breakfast their official plans to build a hotel in Stockton. The Barkleys shared a look knowing how much Jarrod had wanted this project and using land that was held in the family trust. Tom had taken it in his possession years before as collateral on a deal.
"You never can go wrong with land on a river. It will come up handy I just know it and at the other end of town from those blasted, noisy wharves" as Victoria recounted the story to the family.
"And now all these years later, we know what its purpose is—the second nice hotel for Stockton."
Lisette had been amazed at the preparation Jarrod did without her knowledge beforehand. A survey, a road permit, an estimate for a seawall and an engineer's report. He had a fifty year flood plain map of the county.
"How did you have time?" she asked as they took their first walk around the property, hand in hand on Saturday.
"I got the idea before we left for San Francisco. Figured if it didn't work out, then the preparations would be useful in the future."
"Jarrod? Does your mind ever rest?"
"Yes—on thoughts of you."
And he snuck a quick kiss behind a tree.
Heath munched on bacon next to Grete. She was sitting next to Kai with his leg propped up. Heath had brought him downstairs for the first time. They were going to try crutches after lunch. Nick was also downstairs for the first time leaning on Jarrod down the stairs and enjoying the attention of Anna.
"Nick, the road grating crew outta Merced? They did a good job at the new mine road after the mudslide."
"You are right, little brother. Might ought to send them a message to bid on the road."
"They are already in route. I didn't waste any time while you was getting all that beauty sleep."
Lisette looked over at them with interest.
Nick grabbed another piece of bacon, "Lis, Heath and I decided that it would be our contribution to the hotel. Wanted a good road to our investment."
"But you are doing the lumber too?"
"Yep. Has to be built with Barkley timber," Heath took a swig of his milk.
Audra jumped in, "Carl's cousin owns a factory that makes tubs and sinks. Just have to let him know what you want and he will get it ordered. We want to help with that. And you know I love to decorate, I am volunteering now."
Jarrod laughed, "Be careful Lissy. Audra has expensive tastes."
Victoria noticed the nickname of endearment.
Audra rolled her eyes at him and laughed.
"I will take you up on it." Lisette smiled.
"Gene wrote that we can have first quality shrubbery, ferns and palms from the nursery north of Berkeley. He already contacted the owner for wholesale rates and delivery. The grounds will draw people to the hotel in my opinion." Victoria poured more coffee.
Lisette shook her head in disbelief, "I have the best business partners in the world."
Henry popped up, "You know Kai and I are going to sell you quail for meals?"
Lisette laughed, "Sell?"
"Yes mam. We are businessmen, remember."
"Smart boys," Jarrod sipped his coffee.
"I would like to help with the menu and the kitchens," Grete volunteered.
Heath smiled in appreciation.
"Oh that would be wonderful. I have a widow, her son and his family in mind for jobs from the Modesto casino. Good people and I owe them my life. I want to build several staff cottages on the premises for security as well as a perk for working for me, I mean us."
The family chatted on and on about the hotel and Lisette was speechless.
"What kind of family is this?"
Victoria stood up, "I need to finish getting ready. Jarrod, let's say thirty minutes?"
"Yes Mother." he knew she was hurrying him as he often was the last ready for church; he winked at her.
"Henry and I will be ready,too." Lisette added.
"I am going to stay home to help look after Kai and Nick," then she reddened knowing how lame it sounded with Heath and Grete at home too.
The family suppressed their grin at the embarrassed Anna.
"Carl is picking me up." Audra said as she headed out.
"See you at church."
—&—
Paul and Miller said goodbye at the busy Chicago train station.
"I will be at the Cape May resort for the summer. You know the address if you need me."
"I am heading out. A ranchero in Mexico is in my future. Already bought and paid for thanks to your wife."
Paul frowned at him.
The news of the death of the four hired guns worried both of them. And they got word that Pinkertons were looking for them from a sporting girl in the house.
They tried to comfort each other that the four men would not have talked and had no information that would incriminate them in their crimes. But their ties to Buck Turner were a wild card. Paul wanted to get as far as he could from Miller and Buck. Miller wanted to take care of any loose ends like Buck and Lisette. He would use the time on the train to decide what he would end up doing.
But they both decided it was time to leave Chicago.
Paul was sad to leave his steel magnate's widow but "I can likely find more suitable money on the East coast. And standing too." and he pocketed a ruby-encrusted cigarette case for his bedding of the older woman.
Paul planned to make a surprise visit to Lisette's attorney in the East and leave an offer of divorce; he had done it several times over the years. He planned to ponder on the train his demands: her mother's jewelry, guardianship of Henry's shares in the east coast hotels, $50,000 or the fabled champagne diamonds that her mother was rumored to have owned. He had never seen any evidence of them but the nagging question haunted him. No matter which he decided the barter, he was asking for the diamonds.
—-&—
"Brothers and sisters of Stockton, Welcome—" Brother Jehu began his sermon to his full warehouse church. He listed the sins for thirty minutes that he had observed this past week in Stockton. He called for a protest at Big Annie's similar to the one that shut down the "wicked casino and its ungodly owners."
The next twenty minutes he listed the verses about witchcraft and practicing the dark arts. He mentioned "herbs, lavender, rosemary, mugwort, yarrow, rowan, nettle, cinnamon that all could be used in spells. Keep them in separate jars to bind their magical powers in your homes."
"Found in common businesses and cafes and restaurants and—-bakeries. All safe and useful until they are combined in a certain way by the devil himself. Ancient chants and foreign sounding words. Passed generations through witches. Females set apart by Satan to trap and bewitch men. Some brought over from the old country—Norse gods and French whoresons. Some by the Indian heathens. All brought to our door. We must call them out as we recognize them. I myself wasn't protected from such wickedness until the angels opened my eyes."
The parishioners sighed in fear.
Cousin Adolf stood up in the back and walked out with tears in his eyes. He was stooped over and looked ten years older since he kicked Grete and Kai out.
"Lord help me" as he walked back to the still-closed bakery.