Chapter Fifty Nine
Nick and Anna came down to breakfast with smiles on their faces, holding hands and the color had come back to Nick's face.
Nick took his fork and tapped the water glass, "We have an announcement. Miss Anna Devereaux has consented to marry this old cowboy."
Anna blushed and beamed.
The family all offered their congratulations.
"When is the big event?"
"Well, Anna wrote to her family last week. I enclosed a letter to them too. Her brothers and sister—they can come the first week of July. We got a response yesterday—-"
Audra slipped, "That's only six weeks. It takes months to plan a wedding."
"It's six weeks too long in my opinion," Nick grabbed a biscuit.
"I have two brothers and one sister. All married and I have four nieces and nephews. They will all meet up in Philadelphia and come together as a family. They have never been west so it shall be quite the adventure as it was for me. Seeing the Rockies took my breath away."
Victoria agreed, "Crossing them the first time was an experience. I enjoy it much more by train. We followed the Humboldt River through Nevada and into Carson City. There were 40 miles of desert until we hit the trails of the Sierra Nevada. The trails were blazed by the gold panners with a few settlers like us mixed in."
Lisette asked her, "Have you written your stories down? I would love to read them."
"Yes. I have been journaling since I was a young girl."
"What a gift for your family," Anna added.
"Yah, our stories have just been passed down orally. I would love to have Kai know more of our family from Denmark. I am thankful I have been taught the recipes and the traditions from the old country."
"You should write them down—-for your granddaughters one day."
"I may just do that," Grete was excited about the idea.
"My family is in the champagne business as you know. I too would like to write down my mother's story and her family. I do hope to visit them all one day. We have kept close with letters and occasional visits."
"We have a story in our family that our first ancestors from England eloped. Grandmother was from a Patriot family; my grandfather was a Tory at the beginning—-she converted him or maybe he joined the winning side. All ship builders and traders—" Anna continued.
Victoria got an idea for a gift for the three young women. She would order them soon from town.
"Papa, I am doing better on my leg. Crutches. Can we please go check on my quail?"
"Sure. I will go with you. Don't be trying it on your own."
Henry popped up, "They are growing so fast. When should I feed them more?"
"We will add some clabbered milk, egg shells and grit to beef them up; they are ready for some table scraps too.," Nick commented.
Kai and Henry chatted about their quail business to the amusement of the adults.
The boys finished up and asked permission to go outside.
"Be careful with those crutches." Heath reminded.
"Take your plates to the kitchen please." Grete reminded them. She was a stickler that the boys do household chores and Lisette loved the ideas when Grete first made Kai. She asked that Henry be included in the family tasks..
She had noticed that Jarrod was quite comfortable in the kitchen and doing chores. She had grown up with servants and barely knew how to keep house. She decided after living with the Barkleys that Victoria's way was better. Henry was a compliant soul and he seemed to thrive in responsibility. And it had been just the two of them for so long—-
"Yes ma'am" they echoed.
"Well if everyone has time, I would like your input on the plans we have drawn up from the architect in Sacramento"
The family left the table and headed to the study.
Jarrod rolled out the plans on the pool table and Lisette stood behind him in pride.
"We used an architect that was familiar with The Broadwater in Helena, Montana and the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego along with studying with the designers of the Manitou's Cliff House at Pikes Peak, The Delaware in Leadville, Colorado and Durango's Strater Hotel.
(Hotels are within 20 years of canon,)
"Those are some fancy digs," Nick commented.
"Yes they are. We plan to start small in all areas except one." Lisette smiled.
"One?" Heath asked.
"What does Stockton not have?"
"A casino?" Nick joked.
All the eyes rolled at his attempt at humor.
"Sorry 'bout that." he sheepishly admitted.
Victoria asked, "A hall? Since the old one collapsed under heavy rain and was torn down?"
"Yes but better, a full ballroom. For dances, weddings, celebrations—We have purchased the bar from the old Gold Star saloon and will refinish it. It predates statehood. Brought west from New Orleans. We have the chandeliers already in the warehouse. Saving one for the foyer of the hotel. The hardwood floors will arrive next week from the mill. We open it first. Bring the town out. And see the landscaping that Gene has underway."
Lisette added, "We will put walls up with a chair rail and paint for now. I have a velvet flocked wallpaper in mind if I can get it on time."
"Or paint a mural on one wall," Jarrod winked trying to convince her.
"We will see," she blushed.
"Luxurious powder rooms with a terrace for smokers"
"You have thought of everything."
"The first twenty rooms will be built this summer around a courtyard. Adirondack chairs and picnic areas and chaises. Family suites with a water closet."
"Ten more on the next row for one-night stays, businessmen, salesmen, people passing through."
"The stables will house at least ten rigs at the beginning and we will contract with the livery for day or trip rentals."
Heath piped up, "Good idea. Got off the train and had to walk a mile for a livery to rent a horse in one town I stopped on mining business."
"Kitchen? restaurant?" Audra asked.
"Kitchen will be built on the site of where we want the restaurant to be. For the first summer, there will be room service and outdoor seating only."
"We are going to San Francisco and Sacramento soon to look at two restaurants that are going out of business and an auction—buying used for now."
"You have put a lot of thought into this."
"I have the best partner in the world." Jarrod said with pride. She looked lovingly at him.
The family had suspicions but he confirmed it in their minds with his words. His brothers shared an approving grin.
And none of his brothers were displeased, it was obvious to Anna and Victoria.
Victoria looked at them intently; she never mentioned their late arrival. She had always stayed out of our son's personal life. Marcy Howard, came to mind. Adultery.
"No one has ever called Victoria Barkley naïve." She mused to herself.
"But was it the same? I am thankful I brought her and Henry to the valley."
"But he is my son. I don't want him hurt."
—-&-
"Where is Paul?"
"Living his fancy east coast society life."
"Have you seen his wife?"
"No but so I will. I have wanted that woman since the first day I saw her two years ago in Denver."
"I forgot you were there."
"You wanted her too—admit it."
"I don't have to admit anything but as a courtesy, I will tell you, yes I do. Not did. Still planning on a trip to sample that fool Paul's leavings."
"She's the mistress of the Barkley lawyer."
"Never figured her as a mistress but it makes it easier for me. Obviously likes bedsport. Paul musta not been her cup of tea."
"Not if I get to her first—"
The men stared each other down.
"Why are you here?"
"Why are you here? I am taking care of business."
"So am I."
"Sorry old friend but I don't like your tone. We had a business deal and we both benefited. We need to go our separate ways and forget we ever knew each other."
"I would take ya up on that if I could trust you—-federal marshals are involved now. Did ya know that?"
"I am not stupid."
"Stupid would be to trust the one man who can bury me to save his own hide."
"Let's shake on it and walk away. I never knew you."
"No I don't think so." and he drew first and shot the man in cold blood.
His eyes were filled with rage and then emptiness as his lifeblood flowed out.
The housekeeper ran into the room and screamed, "Oh no!" and fainted dead away. He leaned over her body and checked for a heartbeat, "I have to get rid of the evidence."
The body was thrown into the Stanislaus River. A search of the dead man's pockets produced a bank account number and a real estate broker in San Francisco.
—&—-