From Rockville to Stockton Chapter 12

Danny was so startled by what Jarrod said that he didn't know just what to say. They then began to laugh, that's when Jarrod began telling him about how when he first received the letters that he was truly alarmed because he could not remember Danny's first name.

He proceeded to tell him that he had been to Rockville many times through the years, but that trip, well that trip held mixed emotions for him, because of all that had transpired there.

"Jarrod, I know I'm responsible for you losing your memory, I have not forgotten about that or even forgiven myself, even though I am glad we got to know "Dakota," Danny admitted then hanging his head.

"Danny, that was several years ago; all is forgiven and remember, if it had not happened, it's as you said, I would have not gotten to meet you, your mother or your grandmother."

They both smiled at each other before Jarrod said with a light-hearted laugh, "Danny, I am very fond of the nickname Dakota, I treasure it, I honestly do."

"I appreciate that Jarrod, I do, thank you.

Then Danny continued, "I called you that because of course we didn't want to just call you Mr. or stranger," he laughed a little when he said that. "The name of the place I found you is known as Dakota Flats, so that's where Dakota came from." Both started to smile at each other.

"Well, Danny, I have to admit that when we were having dinner just after you came to town and we were talking about our families, you said you had lived on a small ranch outside of Rockville, I knew for certain that it was you. And I am ashamed to admit this, maybe I even shouldn't…"

Jarrod then grew silent, he knew he wanted to be honest with Danny, but he didn't want to hurt his feelings in any way.

"Go on Jarrod, it's alright," Danny urged Jarrod to continue.

"Well, you see Danny, and I know I should have mentioned this before now, but many times as a lawyer you will have a target, or targets, on your back and…,"

"And you were afraid that I was out to get you because of why you arrived in Rockville to start with," Danny finished what Jarrod was saying.

Jarrod nodded his head again feeling sorry and ashamed about the ordeal that, even though several years had passed, now talking to Danny it seemed as if it just happened.

"Don't Jarrod." It seemed as if Danny was reading Jarrod's mind at that moment.

"Don't what?" Jarrod was trying to smile and tease him.

"Don't be ashamed that you couldn't remember my name remember I was only ten years old at that time. I'll bet there's other things you can't remember from then, if you really think about it."

Jarrod shook his head and then he smiled. "So, Danny, I haven't even taken the opportunity to ask you, what made you want to become a lawyer?"

Danny put his head down, was quiet for a little while thinking how he wanted to answer the question.

"Well, you see, several years ago a man came to our ranch and helped us out a great deal when he didn't intend on helping us in the first place." He stopped to look at Jarrod who was getting misty eyed, then continued, "We found out this man was a lawyer and through the years I would occasionally read articles of some of his big cases that he had won, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps, because I look up to him."

As Danny was telling Jarrod what an influential person, he was for him, Jarrod couldn't help but remember the talk he had with Heath a few weeks before Danny arrived in Stockton. Heath had told Jarrod that he would bet money on the fact that Danny was coming to intern for Jarrod because of the wonderful influence Jarrod had been on Danny way back when Danny was a child, and Heath was right. Jarrod smiled, not sure if he wanted to let Heath know that he would have won that bet. Jarrod noticed Danny was using the present tense, and that made him proud of himself.

Both men looked at the clock: it was going on 8:00pm they both agreed they should be going to where they lived. But they also wanted to talk more, and they really didn't want to wait until they left for San Francisco on Sunday. So, they decided to have lunch together again the next day. They stood and walked out of the office together and went their separate ways until the next afternoon.

8:45 PM. Jarrod came through the door at the Barkley Ranch and, as he knew she would be, his mother was waiting in the living room for him.

"Good evening, Jarrod," she said as she looked up from a newspaper she was reading.

"Good evening, Mother, I hope you all went ahead and had dinner," he asked concerned.

"Yes, we did. Your brothers are in the study and your sister is taking her bath."

He smiled, glad that things were normal at home. He walked over to where the brandy was and poured himself a glass. As he took a sip of it, he sat down next to his mother. Just looking at her, he remembered how blessed he and his siblings were to have her.

"So, Jarrod, how are things working out with the intern? I know he's been here over a month, but we haven't had the opportunity talk about it, that is if you want to talk about it. If not, then I will respect that…"

"Mother it's like you always say to us, don't borrow trouble," She listened in earnest to whatever he wanted to say about his intern, knowing that there were things he would want to keep just between him and his intern; she just let him speak.

"Alright Jarrod, I know that if you want to say something about him you will. But I do have one question…"

Jarrod smiled. He knew his mother well enough he already knew her question, but he let her go ahead and ask instead of just telling her.

"Jarrod, is this the same Danny Matthews that you met when he was just a boy?"

"Yes, Mother he certainly is."