Chapter Seventy Five
Heath had ridden ahead and was eating supper with the Grete and the children along with his Mother. He was telling the boys about a covey of quail he saw on his trip, trying to avoid the issue of earlier.
Grete was relieved to have him home. She had worried about his anger the day before he left. And she already knew him well enough that something else was on his mind and they would talk in their room.
"Honey, these breads with the custard in them are pretty amazing."
"A spandauer. English call them pastries."
"Hmmmhmmmm good. I think I will have a second. Food on the road didn't stick to my bones well."
Victoria smiled at the interaction. She was so pleased that Heath had found his wife and her first grandson despite the gossip and circumstances. He seemed relaxed in a way she had never seen before,
Henry and Kai finished up supper and took their plates to the kitchen for Silas. They were anxious to check on their quail one more time.
"Boys, you know the rule. Take Mista Butch with you. He's on the back porch finishing up his suppa. You wait for him."
"Yes sir." the boys spoke in tandem.
Butch looked up from this dinner and finished the last few bites as the boys watched silently. He washed it down with his water.
He winked at the boys, "Let's go."
They all went out to the quail pen. The job had been a surprise to Butch. Nick had come to town and collected him from the boarding house. Victoria bought him three sets of clothes: two for the ranch and one for Sundays.
He wasn't thrilled to earn a living by his gun but the choices were limited to a one-legged Indian. But the Barkleys were exactly what Lightfoot told him, "Fair and square. They don't see skin color. I know." and he didn't further elaborate.
He had only had one conflict since he had been at the ranch. The city square. He had his hand on his gun at all times and it diffused on its own. Nick trusted him with all the women folk and the boys. and his trust meant the world to him. Aside from the Padre at the mission, he had never been treated with worth and responsibility—until Nick Barkley.
"Ok boys, let's see what these quails have been up to since this morning. They finished the clabbered milk it seems and the corn scraps."
He enjoyed the time with the boys. Prison had been hell for him so the freedom of riding outdoors corralling the boys or whittling while the ladies were outside. Maybe someday he would want more but for now, he was content.
—&—-
Jarrod and Nick drove the ladies back to the ranch. Anna was pretty calm while Lisette was mute. They all realized all the attacks she had been through in the past three months had been brought back to her emotionally at the office. She looked eerily stricken.
Victoria noticed immediately that Jarrod and Nick were at odds when they entered the foyer.
"Lissy, we need to get you upstairs," Jarrod took her arm toward the stairs.
Victoria and Anna came up on each side of her.
"Let us take her."
Jarrod hesitated and looked back at the fuming Nick.
"Let's go talk," and he walked to the study.
Nick followed silently.
They both poured a drink and they downed it.
"Nick—there isn't much to tell that you don't know."
"Anna almost gets killed and there isn't anything to tell me? Then what the hell is going on?" he bellowed.
Jarrod sighed, "A few weeks ago, the pane of glass at the office was broken. Sheriff said several revelers after a roundup were causing trouble. I didn't believe it. I got a new oak door and had the blacksmith make the bars and latches. I didn't like leaving Lissy alone unprotected."
"And you didn't think to tell me? Anna is with her all the time?" he yelled even louder.
"Nick! We have Butch. An eye on everyone—I have it under control," and then he slumped at the implication of his words.
Nick's eyes raged.
"I am sorry. It's my fault." Jarrod looked defeated.
"The only thing that is your fault is your damn self-righteousness. The high and mighty savior of us all."
Jarrod's eyes looked downcast, "You are right; I almost got Lissy killed in Modesto and now tonight—-"
His admission took the wind out of Nick's sails.
He whistled air through his clenched teeth.
Jarrod continued, "There were three men waiting for us in the hotel. They surprised me and Lissy paid for my mistake. In the worst way—-it seems—I just don't know."
Nick sat down beside him and handed him another scotch, "What about tonight?"
"Lissy heard something at the kidnapping that we kept to ourselves. Only Macklin and Nate know."
Nick started to anger again at those names.
"And you couldn't tell your own brother?"
"Stop Nick—listen. You were one of the targets at the kidnapping. One of the men said in front of Lissy that the boss wanted you dead."
"Buck Turner?" he knew instinctively.
"I assumed but then he was cleared. Brought Lissy back and didn't buy the casino—-supposedly. The hero. I don't buy it but I don't have a damn bit of proof. There were threats before the kidnapping even. I didn't even tell her. Someone is after Lissy or possibly Grete for this witch nonsense. I was thankful Lightfoot sent Butch."
"And you couldn't tell me?"
"I should have. I was wrong."
Nick took another deep intake of air and fixed himself another whiskey. The silence was deafening before Nick finally broke it.
"The bars Shad installed were a good idea. It saved them and then that derringer you taught Lisette to use—"
Jarrod just nodded staring into the fireplace.
"I know what she means to ya, big brother. Anna means the same to me. Is there anything else?"
He hesitated; he wanted to tell her he might be an uncle and if anything happened to him to give Lissy a home at the ranch. He let go a long sigh.
Nick shuffled for a second, "I will take care of her, Jarrod."
"Thank you," in a raw voice realizing Nick read his mind.
"No more secrets."
Jarrod simply shook his head in agreement.
Anna knocked on the door, "Jarrod, can you come up? Lisette wants to talk to you."
"Of course." and he got up quickly.
Anna went straight to Nick's arms and allowed him to hold her tight. He kept kissing the top of her head and she wet his shirt with her tears.
"I am never letting you go honey. Two weeks and we will never be apart."
"I love you, Nick."
"I love ya Annie. We need to talk about some shooting lessons tomorrow."
"I can bird hunt?"
"Good same concept. Was hoping you were a beginner so I could hold ya real close and help you aim."
"I can pretend." and she initiated a kiss to his delight.
He turned her slightly and put his arms around her tiny waist. She leaned back as he kissed her neck and allowed his hands to stay upon her bodice. She sighed in longing as he smiled.
"Yep, going to have a fine day teaching you the ropes."
—&—
Jarrod softly knocked on the door of Lisette's room; his Mother's voice told him to come in.
Lisette was laying on the bed with her long auburn ringlets around her and a proper cream-colored nightgown. Her cheeks were pink and her green eyes were vacant. A flicker of recognition and a soft smile broke her lips when she saw him.
Victoria recognized their need for privacy.
"I will be in my room if you need me. I can sit with her as long as need be."
"Thank you, Mother."
He waited until the door shut and immediately went over to the bed and sat down beside her.
"My love, Lissy. You were very brave today—-Anna told me."
She simply shook her head, "Jarrod, I should go to France. Leave. I don't want anyone else hurt. You keep our hotel. It's fine. I trust you. I can't do this anymore. I just want to be Henry's mother. And your wife—- but that's not going to happen. He isn't going to let me go."
"Lissy, trust me. We will find out who is behind this. Don't give up on our life."
"Jarrod, I can feel their hands on me. I can smell their odor in my nose. Oregano and cardamom—-horse sweat—-their breath. Pinching—-I couldn't get my lungs to work—-my throat was too dry to scream—-what if I—-they were going to kill you—-grabbing—pulling on my legs—-my throat—-the horse whip."
"Lissy keep talking to me. Give me the words so I can fight it with you—"
"I try to forget—-I try and then today—"
Jarrod stopped for a moment mid-thought, "Lissy, think. This is important. You said cardamom and oregano. You haven't ever said that before."
She shook her head, "Last week at Como's it hit me. I asked about the cheesecake. It had cardamom in it. Oregano—-in the baked dish. Like the bay leaf in the soup. I couldn't finish my meal and I realized why on the way home."
"Lissy! You have given me the clue I need. Do you know what smells like cardamom and oregano? A bay laurel tree."
She shook her head confused.
"You smelled it on the men at the hotel and later the man who kidnapped you— correct?"
"Yes but—-"
"I smelled it too on Buck's ranch. He has groves of the stuff that he harvests. Only grove I have ever seen. It rained while Heath and I were looking for you on his property. Stuff was pungent."
"So those were Buck's men— Yes, Miller and Paul's partner. Now all I have to do is prove he is behind the casino offer from San Francisco and I have my first clue already. I thought the deposit slip was a mistake."
"Jarrod, don't go to Modesto." she pleaded.
"I won't for now but I know someone, Macklin is itching to get to the bottom of it. I will send a telegram tonight."
"Don't leave me please." she said softly.
"I won't , my love. Give me some more time. Trust me?"
"And Butch hasn't left Henry or Kai. Or Grete."
She simply shook her head and he fixed her a sherry. He lay down beside her and she finally fell asleep in his arms
"You aren't going to France without me. I promise we will be married this year no matter what. I am putting the second plan into effect with Nate."