Heath rode back from town, his jaw clenched in anger. He'd gone to pick up a few supplies and to check for a package he'd ordered for Emily since her birthday was coming up in a few months. He'd written to Abraham Isaacson – a jeweler friend of Jarrod's in San Francisco – about a necklace he wanted made. He carefully sketched out the design, knowing he could trust in the expertise of the other man to create exactly what Heath wanted.
After visiting the post office, the package safety tucked in his vest, he decided to stop by Harry's for a beer. Nick and Jenny wouldn't be back for another week and a half from their honeymoon so Heath knew he couldn't stay away for long. He'd received word that Emily and Jarrod were due back by the end of the week with Bella in tow. While he admitted he was missing Emily, he thought things had worked out well for her to go to Denver to help her cousin. This allowed Heath to work long days without feeling guilt over not spending time with his wife.
Not that Emily would have ever complained. She'd told him many times she knew the work he and Nick did at the ranch was important and while she did miss him while he was gone, she was content to know that he would return home to her at the end of his day.
While at the saloon, there had been quite an intense poker game going on and Heath couldn't help but take a few minutes to watch. He leaned against the bar, his eyes on the table several feet away. He heard someone clear their throat and saw Harry had come back over to him after helping a few other customers.
"Uh…Heath…do you have a few minutes?" Harry asked, glancing around. Heath straightened and turned to the other man.
"Sure, Harry."
Harry again looked around.
"Can you meet me out back? Won't take but just a moment."
Heath furrowed his brow. He nodded, wondering if Harry was in some kind of trouble. Harry discreetly told him to finish his beer and meet him in the alley in 5 minutes. Heath turned back to the game, pretending to be enthralled by it. He finished his beer, then sauntered out of the saloon, no one noticing his departure.
He saw Harry looking around when Heath approached him behind the saloon.
"Are you alright, Harry?" Heath asked, concerned.
Harry nodded, still casting furtive glances around.
"Look Heath. You know I hear lots of things in the bar? Mostly gossip and such. I try not to get too involved," Harry said. Heath raised an eyebrow knowing Harry loved a good bit of gossip as much as the old biddies in town. He remained silent though, waiting for Harry to continue.
"A couple of weeks ago, the night of Nick's wedding, most of the Barkley hands came into town," Harry started. Heath nodded, Nick having given the men the night off. Harry took a deep breath.
"Well, one of the hands, Abe, he was uhhh…."Harry hesitated.
"He what, Harry?" Heath asked. Abe wasn't one of his best cowhands. The man wasn't motivated at all and did the bare minimum. He was always more interested in getting his pay to visit the ladies in town.
"He was talking about how he and a woman at the ranch were meeting up. He didn't say the woman's name but he was very descriptive and…well…specific about their…activities," Harry continued.
Heath's eyes narrowed. There had been quite a few guests for the wedding and Heath hoped Abe hadn't taken advantage of anyone.
"When you say descriptive…?"
Harry sighed.
"I've only seen her a couple of times. Mostly when she's coming or going from town. Heath…I swear by what he was saying, he was describing Jarrod's wife."
Heath's mouth settled into a firm line.
"Who all was there," Heath asked.
"Couple of hands from your place. Abe wasn't really loud that people at other tables could hear. The reason I know about it is because I was helping Sissy with delivering the drinks that night since we were short handed. If I hadn't been at the table, I probably wouldn't have heard anything. I haven't said anything to anyone. I promise. You and your family have been great to me and yeah, I know I like to gossip…I saw your eyebrow raise before when I said I tried not to get involved. But I swear I haven't said anything to anyone. I don't know what anyone who heard has said or even if they think it's Jarrod's wife. A name was never mentioned. But I felt you should know."
Heath nodded and held out his hand.
"I won't say that you told me anything. But I appreciate the information."
Heath left town, his thoughts in a jumble. He admitted he didn't much like Jarrod's wife and felt she was manipulative and conniving. But for the sake of peace in the family, Heath kept his opinions to himself.
He wouldn't say anything to anyone about what Harry said, but Heath also felt as though what Harry said was probably true. He would be patient and try to gather information. If he could prove what Harry had told him, he'd then figure out what his next step should be.
****
The train moved West, Jarrod, Emily, and Bella sitting in first class, enjoying quiet conversation off and on. They'd arrive in Stockton mid morning of the next day, Jarrod having sent a telegram at the last stop to let Heath know so he could meet them.
"I'm so glad Heath was able to get at least one of the upstairs bedrooms finished so you can stay with us," Emily said excitedly.
"I hate to intrude. I can always stay at one of the hotels in town," Bella replied, biting her lower lip.
"Nonsense! You aren't intruding."
"You and Heath are still essentially newlyweds. I can't imagine Heath wants your spinster cousin staying with you."
Jarrod's brows drew together. He knew Bella was a year older than Emily but hadn't considered her anywhere near a spinster.
"Stop calling yourself that," Emily replied. "You aren't a spinster. Plus you are family and family takes care of one another. Isn't' that right, Jarrod?"
Jarrod smiled and nodded, agreeing with his sister in law.
Emily excused herself not long after to take care of her personal needs, leaving Jarrod and Bella sitting across from one another. Jarrod stared out the window at the dark night, the sun having set an hour before. At their last stop, the train experienced a delay which allowed the three travelers to go to a small hotel to get some food. He was glad they were moving again, eager to get back to Stockton where he'd stay for a day or so and then go to San Francisco. He was eager to see his wife.
Jarrod looked over at Bella to see her watching the people around her in the dim light of the lit lamps throughout the car .
"Anything interesting?" Jarrod asked, Bella turning to him feeling slightly embarrassed because of her people watching. She smiled impishly.
"Some," she said quietly. "Remember the man with the bowler hat?"
Jarrod nodded as he leaned forward to hear her words.
"Well, he started out sitting with a group of men but has since moved to sit with a certain young woman who is traveling alone. They've been in quiet conversation since we boarded at the last stop."
Bella looked around.
"There's also Smith."
"Smith?" Jarrod questioned, wondering how Bella would know anyone's name. He hadn't seen her speaking with anyone except he and Emily during the trip.
"Well, I'm not sure if that's his name but it's what I call him. Anyway, Smith has been watching Bowler Hat and his lady friend with great interest. I think he was interested in Lady Friend as well but waited too long to strike up a conversation. He's being aloof, trying not to show his interest and I think if Bowler would get up even just to go to the smoking car, Smith would introduce himself to Lady Friend."
Jarrod laughed. He'd gotten out of the habit of people watching and was enjoying Bella's narrative. Emily returned asking what was so funny.
"Just telling Jarrod about the people traveling with us," Bella said with a wink.
"I noticed Bowler and Lady Friend. Poor Smith," Emily said with a shake of her head. Jarrod couldn't help but chuckle at his sister in law and her cousin.
"We used to travel more when we were younger. Papa would have cases in different areas and he'd take us a long if school was out. Emily and I would pass the time watching people on the train and wondering what their lives were like. We'd make up scenarios and it became quite fun. We were never cruel of course. But we knew we'd never see those people again so it was all quite harmless," Bella explained.
Eventually, Jarrod excused himself to go to the smoking car, leaving the two ladies to continue their game. He returned a short time later, taking his seat.
"Don't look now," Jarrod said in a conspiratorial whisper. Bella and Emily leaned forward. "Bowler arrived in the smoking car while I was there. He was still in there when I left, and I just saw Smith talking to Lady Friend."
Emily and Bella surreptitiously looked over.
"Uh oh. Bowler just returned. He doesn't look happy," Emily whispered.
The rest of the evening was spent between the three talking in quiet tones, enjoying their game. Each eventually drifted off as the night wore on, awakening at first light the next morning. Jarrod went in search of coffee.
He came back, sitting down and passing the ladies each a cup of the hot steaming liquid.
"Did you happen to see if Bowler, Lady Friend, or Smith are around?" Bella couldn't help but ask as she took her first sip.
"Bowler was also getting coffee. Smith was walking toward the smoking car. Haven't seen Lady Friend."
Both ladies found this new event curious but since they'd be arriving in Stockton soon, they pushed aside their curiosity about the other passengers and settled in for the rest of the trip.
At half past 10, the train pulled into the station. Bella watched Emily smile as she spotted Heath who was waiting for them on the platform. She felt a twinge of jealousy, wishing she had someone waiting for her but pushed it aside.
She didn't regret the choices she'd made, spending the last several years with her father, helping him and enjoying the little time he'd had left. She'd cherish it forever.
As she reached out her hand and Jarrod took it as he helped her to step down, Bella took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She had a feeling her life was about to change forever and she was looking forward to whatever was to come her way.
