Post by modocgal on Nov 10, 2008 6:12:50 GMT -4
Sorry it has taken so long to post this chapter and the one for TONE but I was logged out of this board for a number of days. Thank you all for reading and commenting. Enjoy. Cathy
A Family Healing
Chapter 5 - Part 1 – An Interlude
“Oh Jarrod.”
Victoria slowly closed the plain brown manila folder containing the Pinkerton report on her new son and stared blankly out the window of their private carriage, not seeing the ever changing scenery rumbling past. Instead jumbled visions of a young six year old blond boy emerging dusty from the mouth of a mine intermingled with those of a fifteen year old, beaten, whipped and starving, crawling in the dust of a POW camp played before her eyes. She visibly shivered as unimaginable images continued to assail her.
“How did we fail him so badly.” There was a desperate plea for an answer in the quietly spoken question.
Jarrod placed a glass of sherry beside his mother before taking the seat opposite. He picked up his own glass, swirling the brandy around the bottom of the heavy based crystal tumbler. He waited as the liquor settled before lifting the glass to his lips and swallowing the contents, relishing the burning sensation as it slid easily down his throat.
He stared out the window barely registering the rolling plains that he knew would shortly give way to the treed pass that was the gateway to the valley and the sprawling ranch they called home.
“Mother we didn’t fail him. We couldn’t. We didn’t know of his existence until a few weeks ago.” Jarrod reasoned, directing his attention back to his diminutive, silver haired mother.
“That’s where you’re wrong Jarrod. We did fail him.”
Jarrod raised an eyebrow in question. “What are you saying Mother? That you knew about him?”
Victoria turned from the widow, picked up the glass beside her and absently took a sip of sweet liquor before replacing it on the small table beside her.
“No, no of course not. Your father and I had no knowledge of him, but we should have. Neither of us was naïve Jarrod. We both knew what could happen from your father’s liaison and we both chose to ignore the consequences.”
“Mother you can’t shoulder all the responsibility for what happened. Leah Thomson is also accountable for her actions. She knew who Heath’s father was. She had ample time to contact this family, almost twenty-four years and for whatever reason she chose not too.”
Victoria shook her head sadly, gripping the folder tightly in her small hands.
“That’s where you are mistaken Jarrod. We gave her no choice.” Victoria’s voice dropped to an anguished whisper, “not after the letter Tom sent her.”
“Mother, I don’t understand. According to what you have told us, the letter father sent to Leah was one of compassion, love and hope for the future.”
Victoria nodded. “For us Jarrod, not for Leah and certainly not for Heath. Had I received that letter from Tom I’m not so sure that I wouldn’t have done the same as Leah. She was a woman of integrity Jarrod. And I don’t doubt for one minute that she loved your father deeply, too deeply perhaps. She would never come between your father and his family. She knew how important family was to him and how her revelations could destroy all that he held dear. Instead, right or wrong, she took on the burden of raising her and your father’s son, your brother, alone. If only we had gone back.”
Victoria stared absently at her hands, resting on top of the file as Jarrod studied the strained features of her face.
“Tell me Mother, if you and father had gone back to Strawberry, had discovered Heath, would your marriage to father have survived?”
Victoria turned back to the window, noting that the shimmering heat of the rolling plains had given way to the cool, mottled foliage of the mountain range that formed one boundary of the valley they would soon be entering. The gentle swaying of the railcar gave way to the clatter of metal upon metal as the heavy engine and its cars crossed the trestle bridge that marked the descent into the valley below.
Jarrod sipped at his brandy, content to allow the silence to stretch out between them for the moment. His shrewd eyes registered the fleeting emotions that flickered across the troubled grey eyes. He blinked as the shadows cast by the tall trees disappeared in a sudden blaze of light as the train rumbled onto the valley floor.
Victoria put her hand up to shield her eyes from the sudden brightness and turned back to her patiently waiting son with a sigh.
“To be honest Jarrod, I just don’t know. I was devastated when your brother James passed away. That was why your father went to Strawberry in the first place. I shut him out, couldn’t bare to be near him, to have him touch me. I blamed myself for your brother’s death and couldn’t understand why your father would still want anything to do with me.”
“But his death wasn’t your fault Mother. You’ve told us that he had a weak heart.”
Victoria smiled sadly. “I know that Jarrod, but mothers can do irrational things when their family is sick, in danger or dead. It’s part of being a mother. To protect those closest to them. I chose to protect your father from more hurt by turning him away.
So he went to check on the mine at Strawberry. By the time he returned I had worked through my grief and was ready to pick up the pieces of my life as a wife and mother again. But when he returned I knew immediately that something was terribly wrong.”
Victoria’s gaze drifted from her son to the shadowed corner of their private car and the past held within.
Tom walked through the open front door and into the arms of his waiting wife. He breathed deeply of her scent and buried his head in the hair at the nape of her neck. A shuddering sob coursed through his body before he fell to his knees before her.
“I’ve done a terrible thing Vic. I didn’t mean to, please believe me, I just couldn’t help it. I didn’t know it was wrong at the time, I swear.”
Victoria lifted her husband’s head between her hands and gazed into the anguished blue eyes. “Tom whatever it is, we’ll get through it together, I promise. I want you beside me Tom, I need you beside me. I’m so sorry for treating you the way I did after James died”
“You don’t understand Vic, love. After you hear what I have to say you won’t want me by your side ever again” Another sob shuddered through the large, powerfully built body.
“It can’t be that bad Tom Please tell me.”
“While I was in Strawberry I was set upon and bashed unconscious. A kind, wisp of a girl called Leah Thomson found me in the alley behind the saloon and took me back to her cabin . She nursed me back to health. Vic I had amnesia, I didn’t know who I was, why I was in Strawberry, didn’t remember you or the boys. I swear I didn’t remember. Oh god Vic, I…I slept with Leah.”
Victoria dropped her hands, a strangled gasp issuing from her lips as she stepped back and stared blankly at her husband. Tom groped blindly for her hand, tears glistening brightly in his eyes.
“I swear to you Victoria, you are my only true love. As soon as I remembered who I was, what my family meant to me, what you meant to me, I came home. I’ll understand if you can’t forgive me but please believe I never meant to hurt you. You’re my life Vic, my reason for living. Without you I’m nothing.”
Victoria pulled free of his grasp and turned towards the stairs, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“I…I can’t, not now Tom. I…I need to be alone.”
Victoria blinked. “After he told me of the affair with Leah, I was devastated again. The thought of him with another woman, under any circumstances.” Victoria shook her head. “Well I nearly left him then, I started to pack. I was going to take you and Nick back to my Aunt Margaret’s in Philadelphia.”
“But you didn’t.”
“No I didn’t. I was folding my clothes and thinking. I remembered picking up the picture of you, Nick and James and staring at it for long minutes. I realized then that it was my fault that your father had left and ultimately had an affair, however innocent it may have been. I had to forgive him his transgression. I was the one who pushed him away, when he needed me the most, when I needed him the most.
Oh don’t think it was easy Jarrod, because it wasn’t. It took many days and nights of soul searching before I would accept your father back into my bed.”
Jarrod smiled.
“But I had nearly lost my family once through my actions and I wasn’t prepared to lose them again. I realized our marriage was worth fighting for and that is just what I did. I even found it in my heart to make peace with Leah. If I didn’t I knew I would always harbour a jealousy towards her that would eat away at my soul. She was a naïve young girl, in the wrong place at the right time and I will always be grateful to her for saving Tom’s life.”
Victoria shrugged. “Who knows, had it been one of the saloon girls that had found your father I may not have been so forgiving.”
Jarrod chuckled.
“I could see how easily she could have fallen in love with Tom, I know because I did, and how she thought her dreams had come true. They would have too, had your father not regained his memory.”
Victoria sipped her sherry.
“Our marriage had already survived the long trek from Philadelphia, Indian attacks, rawhiders, the death of a child, an affair. Had we gone back to Strawberry and discovered Heath, I believe it would have survived. Not without its trials and tribulations, I’ll grant you that and a lot of misgivings. But whatever troubles your father and I were having we would never have taken them out on you and Nick or Heath. You were all innocent.”
Jarrod nodded.
“Would you have brought Heath back to the ranch?”
Victoria focused on the dry rolling plains outside the window. “In all honesty Jarrod, I don’t know. I know your father would have wanted Heath living at the ranch but neither of us could have consciously taken him from his mother’s arms.”
“Even for his own good?”
Victoria allowed her thoughts to roll along with the motion of the rumbling train for a moment before replying.
“Who are we to decide what is good or not for a person Jarrod? From all Heath has said he had a loving, caring relationship with his mother despite the difficulties. And no well meant intentions can ever replace the love of a mother for her child, nor the love of a child for a parent. No, I believe we would have left Heath with his mother. That was where he belonged. Remember darling, I had already lost a child and would not wish that kind of loss and heartbreak on any mother.”
Jarrod sipped thoughtfully at his brandy and waited. He could see his mother formulating a further response and didn’t want to interrupt her thoughts. It was the first time since Heath’s arrival that she had openly discussed his father’s indiscretion and the effect on her and he believed it was something she needed to confront if she were to truly have a relationship with his new brother.
“What we would have done was ensured that this, “Victoria brushed her hand over the manila folder still resting in her lap, “never happened, and that Heath would have grown up knowing his brothers, sister and father.”
“I think Lovely Lady that I can safely say that Heath will live the remainder of his life growing up with his family.”
Victoria smiled warmly at her sons words. “That I can believe with all my heart darling. And thank you for been so understanding.”
Victoria leaned back against the plush velvet chair and closed her eyes, allowing the swaying of the their carriage to calm her nerves.
“What do we do now Jarrod?”
“Mother?”
“With this report. I can’t imagine that Heath will be too happy when he hears about it. He is a very private young man.”
“To be honest Mother, it’s not Heath that I’m worried about. I’m sure he will understand why I had the investigation done once I explain it to him fully.”
“Just why did you do it Jarrod? You never said.”
Jarrod stared contemplatively into his empty brandy tumbler. “Heath was so ill that first week Mother and we didn’t know whether he would live or not. I just felt that I needed to know about him before it was too late. To understand the nightmares that wracked his body and mind. Nick had taken it upon himself to be Heath’s sole support and I needed to know why. Not only that I was hoping there may have been information in there that would help Howard and us provide the best possible treatments. And I suppose I needed written proof of Heath’s admission to you of who he was.”
Jarrod smiled “I guess that’s the lawyer in me. I have to know all the facts before I take on a case or a cause.”
“Is he just a cause to you Jarrod?”
“No Lovely Lady, he is my brother.”
Both occupants of the carriage felt the jolt as the train began slowing down as it approached the long sweeping bend, the last before Stockton.
Jarrod chuckled, “Now Nick on the other hand. I can’t see him been very understanding at all. Still if I can gain Heath’s understanding and forgiveness, then Brother Nick will just have to capitulate, loudly, no doubt, and accept that I had the report commissioned.”
Whatever Victoria was going to say was drowned out by the train whistle announcing their imminent arrival in Stockton. Victoria fingered the folder once more then handed it over to Jarrod who placed it securely in the briefcase resting at the base of his chair. The train wheels ground to a halt with one final lurch that rattled the bottles of spirits and glasses that adorned the small bar in the plush rail car.
Jarrod stood and offered his arm to his mother. “Well Lovely Lady, shall we venture home and face the music so to speak?”
“What of our luggage Jarrod?”
“I have already organized for the rail car to be uncoupled and moved to the side track. We can lock the door and have one of the hands, or perhaps Brother Nick come back this afternoon with a wagon and collect it.
Victoria laughed lightly as she picked up her embroidered valise in one hand and smoothed her olive green traveling suit before accepting her sons arm with the other. They made their way to the door before Victoria stopped and turned toward Jarrod, squeezing his arm gently. “You don’t really think sending Nick to collect our luggage will placate him for long do you Jarrod?
“Not at all Lovely Lady, I’m merely protecting my delicate posterior from been summarily kicked the length and breadth of the range for several more hours.”
Jarrod opened the door to their private car and stepped out onto the platform and then down the two steps to the station platform. He turned and steadied his mother as she stepped down beside him. Together they skirted the crowds milling around the doors of the passenger cars, exited through the arch proclaiming Stockton Rail Station and stepped onto the sidewalk of Stockton’s main street. There they stopped and surveyed the familiar scenes of the bustling town.
“Well Mother, what shall it be? Perhaps a quick bite of lunch at the Cattleman’s or would you rather go straight home and see what Silas can rustle up for us?”
“Home I think Jarrod, I am anxious to get back and see how Heath is doing.”
“Your wish is my command.” Jarrod bowed with a flourish before straightening. “If you’d like to take a seat I’ll head to the livery and organize to hire a buggy.”
“No I think I’ll walk with you. I’d like to stop and speak with Howard before we return to the ranch. You can meet me back at his office instead.”
“Mother, Jarrod.”
A Family Healing
Chapter 5 - Part 1 – An Interlude
“Oh Jarrod.”
Victoria slowly closed the plain brown manila folder containing the Pinkerton report on her new son and stared blankly out the window of their private carriage, not seeing the ever changing scenery rumbling past. Instead jumbled visions of a young six year old blond boy emerging dusty from the mouth of a mine intermingled with those of a fifteen year old, beaten, whipped and starving, crawling in the dust of a POW camp played before her eyes. She visibly shivered as unimaginable images continued to assail her.
“How did we fail him so badly.” There was a desperate plea for an answer in the quietly spoken question.
Jarrod placed a glass of sherry beside his mother before taking the seat opposite. He picked up his own glass, swirling the brandy around the bottom of the heavy based crystal tumbler. He waited as the liquor settled before lifting the glass to his lips and swallowing the contents, relishing the burning sensation as it slid easily down his throat.
He stared out the window barely registering the rolling plains that he knew would shortly give way to the treed pass that was the gateway to the valley and the sprawling ranch they called home.
“Mother we didn’t fail him. We couldn’t. We didn’t know of his existence until a few weeks ago.” Jarrod reasoned, directing his attention back to his diminutive, silver haired mother.
“That’s where you’re wrong Jarrod. We did fail him.”
Jarrod raised an eyebrow in question. “What are you saying Mother? That you knew about him?”
Victoria turned from the widow, picked up the glass beside her and absently took a sip of sweet liquor before replacing it on the small table beside her.
“No, no of course not. Your father and I had no knowledge of him, but we should have. Neither of us was naïve Jarrod. We both knew what could happen from your father’s liaison and we both chose to ignore the consequences.”
“Mother you can’t shoulder all the responsibility for what happened. Leah Thomson is also accountable for her actions. She knew who Heath’s father was. She had ample time to contact this family, almost twenty-four years and for whatever reason she chose not too.”
Victoria shook her head sadly, gripping the folder tightly in her small hands.
“That’s where you are mistaken Jarrod. We gave her no choice.” Victoria’s voice dropped to an anguished whisper, “not after the letter Tom sent her.”
“Mother, I don’t understand. According to what you have told us, the letter father sent to Leah was one of compassion, love and hope for the future.”
Victoria nodded. “For us Jarrod, not for Leah and certainly not for Heath. Had I received that letter from Tom I’m not so sure that I wouldn’t have done the same as Leah. She was a woman of integrity Jarrod. And I don’t doubt for one minute that she loved your father deeply, too deeply perhaps. She would never come between your father and his family. She knew how important family was to him and how her revelations could destroy all that he held dear. Instead, right or wrong, she took on the burden of raising her and your father’s son, your brother, alone. If only we had gone back.”
Victoria stared absently at her hands, resting on top of the file as Jarrod studied the strained features of her face.
“Tell me Mother, if you and father had gone back to Strawberry, had discovered Heath, would your marriage to father have survived?”
Victoria turned back to the window, noting that the shimmering heat of the rolling plains had given way to the cool, mottled foliage of the mountain range that formed one boundary of the valley they would soon be entering. The gentle swaying of the railcar gave way to the clatter of metal upon metal as the heavy engine and its cars crossed the trestle bridge that marked the descent into the valley below.
Jarrod sipped at his brandy, content to allow the silence to stretch out between them for the moment. His shrewd eyes registered the fleeting emotions that flickered across the troubled grey eyes. He blinked as the shadows cast by the tall trees disappeared in a sudden blaze of light as the train rumbled onto the valley floor.
Victoria put her hand up to shield her eyes from the sudden brightness and turned back to her patiently waiting son with a sigh.
“To be honest Jarrod, I just don’t know. I was devastated when your brother James passed away. That was why your father went to Strawberry in the first place. I shut him out, couldn’t bare to be near him, to have him touch me. I blamed myself for your brother’s death and couldn’t understand why your father would still want anything to do with me.”
“But his death wasn’t your fault Mother. You’ve told us that he had a weak heart.”
Victoria smiled sadly. “I know that Jarrod, but mothers can do irrational things when their family is sick, in danger or dead. It’s part of being a mother. To protect those closest to them. I chose to protect your father from more hurt by turning him away.
So he went to check on the mine at Strawberry. By the time he returned I had worked through my grief and was ready to pick up the pieces of my life as a wife and mother again. But when he returned I knew immediately that something was terribly wrong.”
Victoria’s gaze drifted from her son to the shadowed corner of their private car and the past held within.
Tom walked through the open front door and into the arms of his waiting wife. He breathed deeply of her scent and buried his head in the hair at the nape of her neck. A shuddering sob coursed through his body before he fell to his knees before her.
“I’ve done a terrible thing Vic. I didn’t mean to, please believe me, I just couldn’t help it. I didn’t know it was wrong at the time, I swear.”
Victoria lifted her husband’s head between her hands and gazed into the anguished blue eyes. “Tom whatever it is, we’ll get through it together, I promise. I want you beside me Tom, I need you beside me. I’m so sorry for treating you the way I did after James died”
“You don’t understand Vic, love. After you hear what I have to say you won’t want me by your side ever again” Another sob shuddered through the large, powerfully built body.
“It can’t be that bad Tom Please tell me.”
“While I was in Strawberry I was set upon and bashed unconscious. A kind, wisp of a girl called Leah Thomson found me in the alley behind the saloon and took me back to her cabin . She nursed me back to health. Vic I had amnesia, I didn’t know who I was, why I was in Strawberry, didn’t remember you or the boys. I swear I didn’t remember. Oh god Vic, I…I slept with Leah.”
Victoria dropped her hands, a strangled gasp issuing from her lips as she stepped back and stared blankly at her husband. Tom groped blindly for her hand, tears glistening brightly in his eyes.
“I swear to you Victoria, you are my only true love. As soon as I remembered who I was, what my family meant to me, what you meant to me, I came home. I’ll understand if you can’t forgive me but please believe I never meant to hurt you. You’re my life Vic, my reason for living. Without you I’m nothing.”
Victoria pulled free of his grasp and turned towards the stairs, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“I…I can’t, not now Tom. I…I need to be alone.”
Victoria blinked. “After he told me of the affair with Leah, I was devastated again. The thought of him with another woman, under any circumstances.” Victoria shook her head. “Well I nearly left him then, I started to pack. I was going to take you and Nick back to my Aunt Margaret’s in Philadelphia.”
“But you didn’t.”
“No I didn’t. I was folding my clothes and thinking. I remembered picking up the picture of you, Nick and James and staring at it for long minutes. I realized then that it was my fault that your father had left and ultimately had an affair, however innocent it may have been. I had to forgive him his transgression. I was the one who pushed him away, when he needed me the most, when I needed him the most.
Oh don’t think it was easy Jarrod, because it wasn’t. It took many days and nights of soul searching before I would accept your father back into my bed.”
Jarrod smiled.
“But I had nearly lost my family once through my actions and I wasn’t prepared to lose them again. I realized our marriage was worth fighting for and that is just what I did. I even found it in my heart to make peace with Leah. If I didn’t I knew I would always harbour a jealousy towards her that would eat away at my soul. She was a naïve young girl, in the wrong place at the right time and I will always be grateful to her for saving Tom’s life.”
Victoria shrugged. “Who knows, had it been one of the saloon girls that had found your father I may not have been so forgiving.”
Jarrod chuckled.
“I could see how easily she could have fallen in love with Tom, I know because I did, and how she thought her dreams had come true. They would have too, had your father not regained his memory.”
Victoria sipped her sherry.
“Our marriage had already survived the long trek from Philadelphia, Indian attacks, rawhiders, the death of a child, an affair. Had we gone back to Strawberry and discovered Heath, I believe it would have survived. Not without its trials and tribulations, I’ll grant you that and a lot of misgivings. But whatever troubles your father and I were having we would never have taken them out on you and Nick or Heath. You were all innocent.”
Jarrod nodded.
“Would you have brought Heath back to the ranch?”
Victoria focused on the dry rolling plains outside the window. “In all honesty Jarrod, I don’t know. I know your father would have wanted Heath living at the ranch but neither of us could have consciously taken him from his mother’s arms.”
“Even for his own good?”
Victoria allowed her thoughts to roll along with the motion of the rumbling train for a moment before replying.
“Who are we to decide what is good or not for a person Jarrod? From all Heath has said he had a loving, caring relationship with his mother despite the difficulties. And no well meant intentions can ever replace the love of a mother for her child, nor the love of a child for a parent. No, I believe we would have left Heath with his mother. That was where he belonged. Remember darling, I had already lost a child and would not wish that kind of loss and heartbreak on any mother.”
Jarrod sipped thoughtfully at his brandy and waited. He could see his mother formulating a further response and didn’t want to interrupt her thoughts. It was the first time since Heath’s arrival that she had openly discussed his father’s indiscretion and the effect on her and he believed it was something she needed to confront if she were to truly have a relationship with his new brother.
“What we would have done was ensured that this, “Victoria brushed her hand over the manila folder still resting in her lap, “never happened, and that Heath would have grown up knowing his brothers, sister and father.”
“I think Lovely Lady that I can safely say that Heath will live the remainder of his life growing up with his family.”
Victoria smiled warmly at her sons words. “That I can believe with all my heart darling. And thank you for been so understanding.”
Victoria leaned back against the plush velvet chair and closed her eyes, allowing the swaying of the their carriage to calm her nerves.
“What do we do now Jarrod?”
“Mother?”
“With this report. I can’t imagine that Heath will be too happy when he hears about it. He is a very private young man.”
“To be honest Mother, it’s not Heath that I’m worried about. I’m sure he will understand why I had the investigation done once I explain it to him fully.”
“Just why did you do it Jarrod? You never said.”
Jarrod stared contemplatively into his empty brandy tumbler. “Heath was so ill that first week Mother and we didn’t know whether he would live or not. I just felt that I needed to know about him before it was too late. To understand the nightmares that wracked his body and mind. Nick had taken it upon himself to be Heath’s sole support and I needed to know why. Not only that I was hoping there may have been information in there that would help Howard and us provide the best possible treatments. And I suppose I needed written proof of Heath’s admission to you of who he was.”
Jarrod smiled “I guess that’s the lawyer in me. I have to know all the facts before I take on a case or a cause.”
“Is he just a cause to you Jarrod?”
“No Lovely Lady, he is my brother.”
Both occupants of the carriage felt the jolt as the train began slowing down as it approached the long sweeping bend, the last before Stockton.
Jarrod chuckled, “Now Nick on the other hand. I can’t see him been very understanding at all. Still if I can gain Heath’s understanding and forgiveness, then Brother Nick will just have to capitulate, loudly, no doubt, and accept that I had the report commissioned.”
Whatever Victoria was going to say was drowned out by the train whistle announcing their imminent arrival in Stockton. Victoria fingered the folder once more then handed it over to Jarrod who placed it securely in the briefcase resting at the base of his chair. The train wheels ground to a halt with one final lurch that rattled the bottles of spirits and glasses that adorned the small bar in the plush rail car.
Jarrod stood and offered his arm to his mother. “Well Lovely Lady, shall we venture home and face the music so to speak?”
“What of our luggage Jarrod?”
“I have already organized for the rail car to be uncoupled and moved to the side track. We can lock the door and have one of the hands, or perhaps Brother Nick come back this afternoon with a wagon and collect it.
Victoria laughed lightly as she picked up her embroidered valise in one hand and smoothed her olive green traveling suit before accepting her sons arm with the other. They made their way to the door before Victoria stopped and turned toward Jarrod, squeezing his arm gently. “You don’t really think sending Nick to collect our luggage will placate him for long do you Jarrod?
“Not at all Lovely Lady, I’m merely protecting my delicate posterior from been summarily kicked the length and breadth of the range for several more hours.”
Jarrod opened the door to their private car and stepped out onto the platform and then down the two steps to the station platform. He turned and steadied his mother as she stepped down beside him. Together they skirted the crowds milling around the doors of the passenger cars, exited through the arch proclaiming Stockton Rail Station and stepped onto the sidewalk of Stockton’s main street. There they stopped and surveyed the familiar scenes of the bustling town.
“Well Mother, what shall it be? Perhaps a quick bite of lunch at the Cattleman’s or would you rather go straight home and see what Silas can rustle up for us?”
“Home I think Jarrod, I am anxious to get back and see how Heath is doing.”
“Your wish is my command.” Jarrod bowed with a flourish before straightening. “If you’d like to take a seat I’ll head to the livery and organize to hire a buggy.”
“No I think I’ll walk with you. I’d like to stop and speak with Howard before we return to the ranch. You can meet me back at his office instead.”
“Mother, Jarrod.”
I couldn't seem to find it. 