Chapter Seven

"Mr. Barkley, please? Louis Godey." He handed Esther his card. Godey's Ladies Book, Louis Godey, owner and editor

"Give me a moment please."

Esther tapped on Jarrod's door and he bid her to enter. She shut the door just in case her employer didn't want to meet with the man without an appointment.

"You have a visitor."

He took the card, "Send him in." and he stacked the papers he was working on into a neat stack.

"Mr. Godey, Mr. Barkley will see you."

Jarrod came around his desk and shook the man's hand, "Louis? Good to see you. It's been a couple of years. How's Philadelphia?"

"Cold in the winter as usual. Headed to San Francisco for some meetings. Martha and I stayed over in Stockton last night. We will leave in the morning. Tiresome being on the train and always good to see friends."

"Drink? Cigar?"

"Cigar sounds good."

Jarrod led him to the humidor.

"I knew you would have the best."

"A man who appreciates the finer things.'

"I understand congratulations are in order. Must be a beaut for you to settle down."

The comment annoyed Jarrod but his guest didn't notice. He found himself extolling her virtues.

"Elisabeth Jane is quite the catch, I agree. She is a gifted writer, an excellent conversationalist, keen intellect, and a kind lady. Thank you, Louis"

The thought crossed Jarrod's mind that her independent suffragette colloquies rubbed off on him.

Louis took a deep drag on his cigar, "Those are good too. Beauty fades."

Jarrod changed the subject, "How did you hear of my engagement?"

"Your beauteous sister, Audra made my acquaintance at lunch. I did not realize how close your office was to the hotel. Kind of rustic compared to the fine city by the bay."

"My family settled this valley. It is the center of our enterprises."

"Ah yes, cattle and wine. I took a case home last time. I must remember to do that again."

Jarrod's nettle was raised and he did not offer a complementary case as he assumed the editor wanted.

"You mentioned Audra?"

"Yes. She showed my wife a drawing of her wedding gown and asked for our opinion. Fabrics and such."

Jarrod joked, "How much is this visit going to cost me? My dear sister has been planning her wedding since she could toddle."

Louis laughed, "Great fashion does have its cost. I am interested in the drawing she brought."

"Which one? Mother says she has a book of them. I have written checks to several such in San Francisco myself for her visits this year."

Louis continued, "This one is in pencil and a family friend did it quite recently. I want to inquire of the patternmaker:"

Jarrod remembered what EJ had said about Rionach drawing them all dresses the first days back from the hospital. She had said she was very humble and self-deprecating about her talents. She had made them promise to keep them to themselves as a lark. She planned on using the dress but with Sally cutting the pattern and her regular dressmaker to put it together. Rionach wanted no credit at all and to be kept in the dark. EJ respected that.

He had a bad feeling about this line of questions, "Yes. A family friend. Why are you inquiring?"

"She has a gift. A rare one. I would like to sponsor her—a layout—promote her to the fashion houses. She is very continental in her designs and that is very popular among the Knickerbockers on the coast."

"I will let her know. She is convalescing and does not take visitors yet. "

"Are you her attorney? I can make her a lot of money."

"Thank you Louis. I will be in touch if she decides to look at the opportunity. As I said, she is not well."

" Can you give me her name and address? Where can I send her well wishes for her health?"

"I will pass them on."

"Jarrod, at least her name? For an old friend."

His mind went back to the days of the search, and he impulsively said, "Elowyn Bannister" as the back stairwell caught his eye.

Lying made Jarrod uncomfortable but this felt like a threat to Rionach.

"Sounds foreign?"

"No, she is as American as you or I."

—-&-

Jarrod finished up some paperwork that was due at the courthouse and left it for Esther. He was doing his best to keep calm with Audra but the cigar and the scotch weren't working.

He blamed himself for Audra. He along with his brothers had spoiled her since she was born. Even Gene fell into his brother's footsteps allowing his sister to rule the proverbial roost. Tom had been delighted to have a 'little girl' and her uncommon beauty made it hard to say no to her. Their mother had been the only one to try to wrangle her impulsivity and honestly, selfishness. Audra was an enigma to him, selfish and selfless were a heady the family. What she had inadvertently done to Rionach lay at his feet too.

He saddled up Jingo and headed to the ranch—-not quite set on what to say to Audra—and Rionach.

—-&-

Martha met Louis at the door with a drink and a smile.

"I got a name but no more help from Jarrod Barkley."

"I don't have a name but the maid found out that the Barkleys brought three immigrants here to naturalize. They also have a family member with a dressmaking shop. I went there but it was closed. One of them works there. She's not sure who is what."

"Thank you my love. You have been busy. Let me send a note with my interest and willingness to meet to the post office. Her name is Elowyn Bannister, though. Jarrod said she is American."

"Hmmm, the maid said German, Irish and Chinese. That's confusing."

"It makes no sense to me at all! I am offering the world of fashion. Surely the child would want to listen.'

"You would think. You would think so."

"I wonder what Jarrod seeks to gain by hiding the girl from the world."