Chapter Seventeen
Heath and Nick met up with Jarrod for breakfast with Victoria. He closed the door for privacy. They all looked at him with surprise.
"I have an idea."
Jarrod presented his plan, "And I don't need an answer for a week or two. I know it's a lot to ask of all of you. We are all equal partners in the trust."
Victoria smiled over her teacup, "I vote yes."
Jarrod smiled gratefully at his Mother.
"The deal will have serious repercussions. I want you to think it out."
"Pappy, I got your back either way."
Nick and Heath shook their heads in agreement.
"Hoping you find an answer in Modesto or San Francisco."
"Me too." Jarrod agreed over his coffee.
The brothers headed out for the day as Jarrod finished up his breakfast.
"Mother, Davina would like to call on you while I am gone. Would you extend an invitation?"
"Of course Jarrod. I assume she is becoming quite a part of your world."
Victoria was anxious to get to know the woman that Jarrod had found so mesmerizing the past few months. He rarely mentioned a young lady and here he was courting Davina in town. There was no doubt he was serious in her mind. The girl was literally one of the most beautiful she had ever met—-but surely there is more to her if Jarrod is smitten. I can't wait to find out.
"Yes Mother. She is special and wants to know our family better." he beamed.
"I will have Nick on his best behavior."
Jarrod chuckled, "He is falling hard for little Anna."
"I have noticed. She is young in years but old in spirit. This one might stick."
Jarrod swallowed down the rest of his coffee and wiped his mouth.
"I will ask Davina for Sunday lunch."
"Thank you lovely lady. I must go pack and check on Lisette. She is having a hard time leaving the little fellow."
"He's all she has." Victoria said matter of factly, "I am not sure I would have left any of you either."
He cocked his head in surprise at her wise insight—- and kissed her on the cheek, "See you before I leave."
—-&—-
Heath thought a great deal about Jarrod's business proposal.
"I would ride with my big brother through hell and back. Think Nick will too."
And he turned his thoughts to his new plan to woo Grete.
He was her first customer of the morning but several more lined up after him. Kai brought him a cup of coffee and a sweet roll. He sat back in the chair and bided his time. Kai helped her behind the counter, wrapping orders.
An hour later, the first morning rush was over and Heath was on his third cup of coffee and second roll.
Grete walked over with hesitation to the table.
"Morning, Heath."
"Morning, looks like business is good."
"It is. Cousin Adolf is better too. He came downstairs yesterday and looked at the books. He was happy. Thanks you too for helping me at the bank."
"My pleasure."
Kai came up and talked to Heath for a few minutes. It warmed her heart to see him pay such consideration to her son. The ache of Davina's disdain filled her mind again painfully.
"Boy, can I talk to your Mother in the kitchen? You watch the counter?"
"Yes sir."
Heath brokered no opposition and walked Grete back to the kitchen for privacy.
"Grete, I was hoping to take you and Kai out to the ranch for a picnic—-once Adolf is better."
"I don't think it would be wise," she barely whispered, "Kai and I are—-how do you say, workers?"
Heath sighed, "Sit down Missy. I need to tell you some things about me."
He spoke of Leah, Hannah and Rachel. "Working the mines when he was Kai's age…"
"Came to the valley to find a father—he was dead but I gained a Mother, three brothers and a sister…"
Her eyes were wide with surprise.
"I understand working better than most. But my family, the Barkley's do too. I have never seen them look down on a soul."
She simply nodded at Heath's revelation, "I am sorry I thought—uh, I-"
Heath grinned at her and squeezed her hand quickly, "Now how about that picnic or supper?"
"Well, Miz Parks offered to come over so I could go to church and have some time away."
"Thank ya Miz Parks. I will bring ya home from church Sunday. It will either be a picnic or Sunday lunch with the family. Both involve horses so don't be wearing something that can't wash up well."
She beamed at his words.
He couldn't keep that lop-sided grin off his face all the way back to the ranch.
—&—-
Lisette fussed over leaving Henry and left an itinerary of where they would stay and be along their route north.
Anna smiled, "I promise I will take care of Henry."
"I know you will and I trust you and Mrs. Barkley—a lot has happened this month."
Jarrod took her arm, "We need to head out."
She kissed Henry one more time and left the ranch with Jarrod. She was quiet all the way to town.
"Jarrod, why are you helping me? Your reputation in town."
"Because I believe in your case. Reputations depend on who is telling the story, it is more important for me to sleep at night."
"Thank you," and she was quiet the rest of the time.
They boarded the train, lost in their thoughts.
—-&—-
Anna made sure Henry was dressed for play. She had gotten directions from Audra of a path to the creek and the easiest way to the corrals. Ciego would give her a gentle horse to ride. For the time being, Henry would ride with her. He had proper lessons back east but nothing like the terrain on the ranch. She would do nothing to put Henry at any risk in her charge.
She grew up riding in Maine in the summers and fishing in ponds—running through meadows and eating lobsters and oysters fresh from the day's catch at the seashore. Her childhood had been happy and she came from a close family. Very similar to the camaraderie she felt with the Barkleys. She was the youngest of four and was only fourteen when her beloved parents passed of influenza. Her siblings raised her after that and indulged her quest for education at Vassar.
She loved the education and especially reading the past two years at college but found the social world stifling. She wanted to go barefoot again, climb a tree or gather seashells instead of the coming out parties, teas, balls and cotillions. She convinced her brothers not to send her to society season in New York but allow her to come home.
She worked last summer in the family shipping business and enjoyed her family. Two nephews and a niece kept her busy. She went back to her sophomore year and began seeing a young man. He was wealthy, handsome and came from a prestigious family. At first she thought she was in love and allowed him chaste kisses and hand holding. Everyone assumed they would be engaged by spring. It started to feel stifling and frustrating running in his social circles. She hated dressing to perfection, and mindless small talk and conventions.
She went home on spring break and told her family she wanted to break it off. The family supported her completely and one night at dinner, she reconnected with Lisette Franklin, a family friend. One conversation led to another and she accepted a job for the summer.
Anna went back to school and gracefully extracted herself from the relationship. She found she lost her social circle too and couldn't wait for the end of April to get away. She had not made a decision if she would return in the fall.
She knew she made the right decision when she met Nick Barkley and his family. Their love for Henry had endeared them to her and the way they rallied around Lisette's case was remarkable.
But she was unprepared for the feelings she had felt when Nick held her hand in and out of the rig—-up on the horse. His grin at the horse auction, licking his fingers of the sticky licorice he shared with Henry—-his wink, his jokes with his brothers—the way he lowered his voice just so she could hear. Her stomach flipped and her breath hitched.
She had kissed chastely a few boys—-they were boys now in her mind after meeting Nick. She kept wondering how it would feel to kiss him and hold him near, as she had seen her married siblings do—
"Come on Henry, let's go explore."
"Boy Howdy, I am ready."
She laughed at how he had quickly absorbed the manners and vernacular of the ranch.
"And I hope we run into Nick—"
"I will be twenty soon. Will he think me a girl?"
"Race you outside."
Anna picked up her skirts and ran outside the door laughing and teasing Henry.
Victoria watched from the window, "She is pretty special. And she will be an excellent wife and Mother. Not to put the cart before the horse. But still—-"