CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Preparations

Thursday, December 20, 1877

Jarrod tapped at the front door. He hadn't been invited to come and go as he pleased, so he would stick to the formalities.

Brad answered the door with a scowl. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm at your disposal today," Jarrod answered. "I can help you with whatever you need help with."

Brad studied him a moment. "You can make dinner."

Jarrod stared at this man. If there was one place he wasn't comfortable, it was the kitchen. Especially someone else's kitchen. He had no clue where to look for food or what sources were available. He kept his blue eyes locked on the man's green ones. "Why don't I go muck out the stables and let Caroline take care of the kitchen work?"

Brad shrugged. "Suit yourself. Caroline can give you a list of what she needs to accomplish today."

Jarrod nodded. "While I'm here, could I speak to you just for a moment?"

"Speak away."

"I was thinking if we scheduled the wedding for one o'clock tomorrow, we'd have time in the morning to pack whatever Caroline needs to take with her, and then all of us could go to town and I'd treat us to dinner. Then Caroline and I can be on the train by five-thirty. Would that work for you?"

"Let me get back to you on that," Brad stated.

Jarrod allowed his intense gaze to stay on the man for another few seconds. If he thought they were going to change their plans now, he was in for another think. But Jarrod was beginning to see how the man ticked. Things needed to be Brad's way and according to Brad's schedule. And Jarrod would allow him that—as long as he didn't mess with Jarrod's plans or hurt Jarrod's bride-to-be. Without another word, Jarrod turned and let himself out of the house.

XXXXX

"I came to trade jobs with you," Jarrod said, smiling at his bride-to-be.

Caroline's eyes flitted across the barn as though concerned.

"The boss man said it was all right."

"Brad?"

A small smile escaped as Jarrod nodded. "I asked him what I could do to help today, and he assigned me to kitchen duty—and that's the one thing I know nothing about."

"He's okay with me doing it?"

"As long as I do your work. What's on your roster for the day?"

Caroline listed off six chores.

Jarrod nodded. "I better get busy, then. I'll see you at dinner." He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"It won't be for a while yet," Caroline stated. "I'll ring the dinner bell."

"Okay. Let me know if you need any help."

"I'll be fine."

But noon came and went and there was no dinner bell. One came and went and there was no dinner bell. Two came and went and Jarrod was glad he'd eaten a huge breakfast. But when three came and went, he began to get a bit antsy. He'd completed all his chores but one, and he needed to go to the pasture to do it.

He saw Charlie along the way.

Charlie looked up and smiled.

Jarrod pulled his rental horse near Charlie. "Did I miss lunch?"

Charlie smiled. "We just eat breakfast and dinner."

"Oh." Jarrod frowned. "What time is dinner?"

"Usually around four or five."

"Okay. Can I hear the dinner bell from the pasture?" Jarrod asked.

Charlie nodded. "Yes, if you listen for it. If you don't hear it by five, come on in."

"Thanks, Charlie."

Charlie offered a smile. "I'm glad you're marrying Caroline," he said. "She's a good person."

"I know she is."

"She will be a good wife."

"I'll bet she's been a good sister, too, hmmm?"

"The best." Charlie looked into the distance. "I only wish I could've been a better brother to her."

Jarrod studied the younger man. "I stopped at the probate court and looked at your parents' will today," he said quietly.

Charlie jerked around, his eyes on Jarrod. "You're still gonna marry Caroline, ain't you?"

Jarrod smiled. "Of course, I am. But I also saw where you should inherit half the proceeds from the sale of the farm."

Charlie nodded.

"Is Brad planning to give you your share?"

Charlie shrugged. "I doubt it." He glanced around nervously. "I done talked to an attorney, though, and he said we can easily fight it and win."

"So, are you?"

Charlie took a deep breath. "I don't know yet. I'd rather let him keep the money and be done with 'im." His gold-flecked green eyes met Jarrod's blue ones. "The money just ain't worth it."

Jarrod studied Charlie for a minute. "What are your plans when this is over?"

"I don't know." Charlie stared into the distance. "I'd like to move somewhere far, far away from here."

"You know you're always welcome at the ranch."

Charlie smiled slightly. "I appreciate that."

"In fact," Jarrod said, "You're welcome to go back with Caroline and me."

Charlie shook his head. "No. You need your privacy." He shrugged. "And I wanna stay here until the closing—make sure it all goes the way it should."

Jarrod nodded. "Are you comfortable defending yourself?"

"From Brad?"

"Yes."

Charlie again smiled slightly. "One of the benefits of him sitting on his butt while I work hard is that he don't mess with me no more."

"Do you carry a gun?"

"No."

"Can you shoot?"

"Oh, yeah."

"If I pick you up a gun, would you carry it?"

Charlie nodded, but then he took in a breath. "I don't got no money, Jarrod, and I ain't gonna take no charity."

"We will consider it a loan," Jarrod stated. He glanced back towards the log house. "I am worried about what Brad will do after I leave."

Charlie didn't say anything, but the look that crossed his face said clearly that he, too, worried about that.

"Charlie, why don't I confront Brad tonight? Tell him we all know about the will."

"You think that's a good idea?"

"Well, I'm thinking it might be if we offer him a compromise."

"What kind of a compromise?"

"I saw some papers in Brad's office that he's getting about forty-two thousand dollars when he sells this place. Also, his parents mentioned around there's around thirty-thousand in the house safe. Do you know if that is still there?"

"I'm not sure. I know Brad took money out when he sent Caroline to the finishing school and for his education, and he gave us money when we went to Margaret's wedding. Supposedly, whatever money we make from working the farm goes back in there, but I don't think we've been making that much. It's possible we've made enough to replace what's been taken out, but I'm not sure. Only Brad has the combination to the safe."

"What if we ask him to give you half of what's there, and, if he does that, you'll 'go away' and won't sue him for the rest of your share? Would you be willing to do that?"

Charlie grunted. "I'd be willing to do it for a lot less than that. I just want enough for a train ticket out of here." He patted his horse's neck. "Why don't I just ask for five hundred?"

"That's up to you, but that doesn't give you a lot of wiggle room to negotiate with him."

"No, there would be no negotiation. For five hundred, I'd pack up, leave, and it's all his."

Jarrod nodded. He could understand where Charlie was coming from. Peace was more important than money. He slapped Charlie's arm. "Well, think about it. And also think about coming out to the ranch. Nick would be happy to give you a job—and the pay that goes with it—and I know Caroline would be happy to have you near." He smiled. "And I think Audra might enjoy your company as well."

A blush crawled up Charlie's face, but he didn't say anything. After a couple of awkward minutes, Charlie met Jarrod's gaze. "You will treat Caroline good, right?"

"Yes, I will."

"She deserves to be treated good."

Jarrod smiled at Charlie. "She sure does."

Charlie returned a slight smile, then turned back to his work.

XXXXX

Jarrod made it through the day. Caroline had roasted a chicken, baked four loaves of bread, and cooked carrots and peas.

Brad scowled. Evidently, this was a waste of food.

"I'll make chicken soup for us tomorrow," Caroline explained. "And we can have bread for breakfast in the morning."

"Jarrod wants us to go to dinner in town after the wedding," Brad stated.

"Then I'll still make the chicken soup tomorrow, and you and Charlie can have it over the next few days." She gave a nervous smile.

They all survived dinner. Then, of course, Jarrod was summoned into Brad's office.

"Sit down," Brad ordered.

Jarrod did, but he kept his fiery blue eyes trained on Brad.

"I have approved your plans for tomorrow," Brad said.

Jarrod tilted his head and tried to withhold his sneer—and the sarcasm in his voice. "Thank you, Brad."

"Caroline would like to take the chest her mother left to her," Jarrod stated.

Brad's eyes narrowed.

Jarrod's icy glare intensified.

Finally, Brad rubbed his head as though comforting an ache for a couple of long minutes, and then he nodded. "Okay."

That was it. Just "okay."

Jarrod would have liked to continue the discussion and place Charlie's demands on the table, but he held back. That was Charlie's fight, although Jarrod was glad to fight by his side.

So, Jarrod stood, nodded at Brad, and walked out.

Caroline was still in the kitchen. Jarrod smiled and kissed her cheek. "Good night, my darling. I'll be back tomorrow morning."

"Good night, Jarrod," Caroline said softly. "I love you."

XXXXX

Friday, December 21, 1877

Jarrod didn't sleep. He was awake all night, pacing the floor, smoking a cigar, sipping scotch, waiting for his watch to show another minute. At 4:45, he could stand it no longer. He went ahead and took a long, relaxing bath, shaved, and dressed in his "farm clothes," since his suits were still at the cleaners. By the time he finished that, the hotel restaurant was open, so he went down and enjoyed a large breakfast.

After breakfast, he stopped by the cleaners and picked up his suits—and, as promised, his best suit looked good as new. From there, Jarrod went to the livery.

The same boy was working, and he looked thrilled to see Jarrod. "Good morning, sir."

"Good morning, Toby. Today, I'd like a carriage instead of a horse."

"Very good, sir. What size?"

"What do you have?"

The boy led Jarrod to the storage barn behind the livery. Instead of a carriage, he chose a buckboard. That way, there would be plenty of room for Caroline's chest and clothes. "I'll have it back to you in twelve hours," Jarrod promised, handing the boy another generous tip. He opened his carpetbag and put the weddings rings in his pocket, then placed his suit and carpetbag inside the buckboard.

Then Jarrod went to the town's only jewelry store, which also acted as the town's only gun shop. He handled every pistol until he found one that had a nice feel to it and wasn't too large. He also purchased a box of ammunition. And, since he was in the jewelry store and since he still had money in his pocket, he found a bracelet to match the necklace he'd bought the day before.

Finally, he made another stop to the courthouse. As unpredictable as Brad was—and as irritating—Jarrod didn't want to depend on him to perform the ceremony. Nor did he particularly want Brad to marry them—and he was pretty sure Caroline would feel the same. So, he made an appointment with the justice of the peace. Relief immediately flooded through his body, and he realized this was what had kept him awake.

By the time he made it to the farm, it was half past nine. He stopped at the house first, hoping Caroline would be there.

Instead, Brad met him.

"Is Caroline around?"

"She and Charlie are repairing a gate."

Jarrod glared at Brad. It was the girl's wedding day, and she was out working! He hoped he'd be able to make it through the day without losing his temper with Brad, but deep in his gut he knew he'd end this day with bruised knuckles.

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