Chapter Fifty Six
Grete and Heath walked privately into Jarrod's bedroom to talk.
"Grete, don't say a word. I had to do it."
"Not one word," and she forcefully initiated a kiss full on his lips.
He responded in kind full of the emotion of the day—until he felt her wince.
He pulled back, "Did I hurt your jaw?"
She rubbed it, "I would say I hurt my own jaw but it was worth it husband."
They embraced for a few more minutes, "I think Macklin brought some legal news for Lisette. We will stay here a few minutes more."
"I won't mind."
"Grete, you know Sheriff may show up and arrest me for assault if he presses charges. Might have to spend the night in jail and Jarrod will bail me out."
She trembled, "Will you be ok? Have you been in jail before?"
"A time or two before." he winked, "Fred and I will pass the night playing cards if it happens—-although this would be the first time I have something better to come home to—-"
"And you will or would—again tonight."
He kissed her neck carefully avoiding her jaw. He laid her back on the bed caressing her.
She rolled for a second and pulled something from the duvet cover.
An ear bob, a sapphire and diamond drop.
They both knew whose it was.
"Maybe she naps here during the day."
Heath didn't respond. What Jarrod and Lisette did was their business in his mind.
He pulled her up and she straightened her dress.
"Why don't we just leave it on the nightstand?"
Heath shook his head yes.
"I wouldn't embarrass her for the world. If she is looking for it, she will check in here."
—-&—-
Lisette brought a tray of coffee into the conference room.
"Esther, please stay." she asked.
It struck Victoria as odd that Lisette was serving at Jarrod's office and knew where all of Jarrod's things were in the kitchen. She put the idea from her mind and began to listen to Macklin's news.
"Everything you told them checked out. Clean as a whistle just like you. So far they haven't found any banking laws broken and I suspect they will quit looking since them fancy bankers got their money from you."
Jarrod frowned even though he knew it was likely. The political pressure would end when they were paid and no one was very interested in protecting a woman's interests in society.
"They still are watching your husband's moves. He is on the east coast now and Miller—that's a concern. Cleared out some personal accounts and sold his horses in Denver. Headed west."
"Do you think he is coming here? Or do the marshals?"
"Everyone's first guess is he is heading for Buck Turner. Miller is wanted for questioning about the four hired guns, the Stockton death, the kidnapping, the attack in Modesto and the saloon girl. There is no direct evidence he hired those men or participated in their crimes—but they have been seen with him on multiple occasions in the Modesto casino and with Buck."
Lisette inadvertently shuddered again. Jarrod immediately responded with a squeeze of the hand. It did not go unnoticed by Victoria.
"What about Buck?"
"No investigation as far as I know. Every alibi checked out."
Jarrod and Lisette shared a look.
Everyone noticed.
Jarrod explained, "I still don't trust him."
"I think you have good instincts, Jarrod."
They finished up their coffee and Heath came out—"Y'all finished?"
"Yes, come in."
"Fred hasn't shown up yet but I better go over to the jail. Just in case. Hate for him to have to come find me. Leaving Grete here with yall."
"Of course, son."
"Want me to go?" Jarrod asked.
"We were all witness to what the man said."
"I will send for bail if I need. I want to get home tonight. Got some stuff that needs tending."
Grete smiled and blushed from the other room.
Lisette cleared the table and Esther went back to her office. Grete joined her in the kitchen.
Jarrod and Macklin continued their conversation in his office.
"Mister Barkley, the mail is here and some looks important," Esther interrupted with a worried look on her face.
Esther was privy to many of the details of Lisette's complicated case and he knew she was astute to know the nature of their relationship. Jarrod couldn't even make any new excuses for all the surprise afternoons off he had given her.
On top were receipts from the bank. The escrows had closed and the deeds transferred. The money from the three casino sales was deposited and the cashier drafts had been sent today for the debts. Lisette was free and clear of all obligations with a thousand dollars in the Bank of Stockton. Her family's millions were reduced to raw materials in a Wheeler warehouse and a thousand dollars.
A large envelope was opened second. A draft for the auction house in Denver of her father's possessions was included. Jarrod read the list of items sold including furniture, household items and clothing. Lisette had only kept an oil portrait of her mother, several more paintings, two cases of books and family photographs. They were placed in storage at the auction house and the rent paid for six months out of the proceeds. She was to write where she wanted them sent.
A personal letter to Lisette from her attorney was next. Jarrod put it aside.
A letter of repossession of the Denver stables and the Taylor home. Lisette had wisely let it go back to the bank than pay off the liens. The Denver housing market was in a bit of a slump and the debt was overwhelming. She had made that decision first after the funeral and Jarrod had been impressed with her financial acumen in those first hours as her attorney.
A small package from Denver was also in the mail. He recognized the name as her father's clerk.
Lisette came back in and saw the mail, "My case?"
Macklin excused himself, "Going to check on your honery little brother. Never forgot that plate glass window."
Victoria rolled her eyes at him. She still could not forget what he put her family through.
"I am going to check on Grete." and his mother pulled the doors behind her. She knew the look on Jarrod's face well enough.
"Bad news?"
"Not that I have seen. Just finalities but you have several personal items."
She looked in his eyes and could see a mix of sadness and love for her.
"Business first."
He pushed over the check and receipts. She read each carefully. Several tear drops hit the pages and she wiped them away.
"It's finally over—-the business debacle. My father's legacy to me is a mountain of debt." she whispered with bitterness and anger.
He simply shook his head allowing her time to grieve.
"Jarrod, may I have the items shipped here? Until I, we—-"
"Of course, my love. And it is we."
She opened the letter and read it. She pushed the letter across the table to Jarrod.
"New divorce demands. Just as I predicted." with rage in her voice, "He is sitting on millions of my Father and he has the audacity to ask me for money."
Jarrod's eyes grew cold and angry as he read.
"Jarrod, will you respond as my attorney?"
"I would rather respond as your lover but yes I will."
She gave him a weak smile of appreciation.
"Lissy, what are these diamonds he asks about?"
"Family legend. During the French Revolution, my ancestors supposedly hid royalty and titled landowners for diamonds in the vineyards. Even the revolutionaries preserved the champagne industry. It's all in a book."
Jarrod seemed to know there was more to the story but he didn't ask.
She opened the last parcel with a note from her father's clerk.
Mistress Lisette Taylor,
I am so grieved at your loss and the way your family treated you. It is not my place to judge but I have sat for five years watching and listening. A clerk is often seen as a fixture like a lamp or you first for giving me the excellent job reference. I begin at a brokerage tomorrow.
Second, I must confess my sins to you. I removed this a year ago from that scoundrel Miller's desk drawer. It was never to be kept by me. I wanted you to have it. Your father believed he lost it. If I returned to him, they would have just swindled it away from him again. I wanted to give it to you sooner but I was a coward. I hope this brings you some comfort.
Your loyal servant, Andrew Stevens
She unwrapped the linen and found the diamond stick pin her mother gave her father for their first anniversary. Lisette let out a loud sob and the tears poured.
Jarrod got up and just held her.
The office heard her sobs and all decided to leave the couple to their privacy.
Grete and Victoria walked out the back and Esther locked up the front.
"We will get home just fine." as Victoria hitched the small rig of Jarrod's.
She sent a boy with a note to the jail that they headed back to the ranch.