by Torie
Disclaimer: The characters and situations of the TV program
"Big Valley" are the creations of Four Star/Republic Pictures and
have been used without permission. No
copyright infringement is intended by the author. The ideas expressed in this story are copyrighted to the author.
This goes along the storyline of "Days Of
Wrath." After Beth's death Jarrod and Beth's daughter, Elizabeth, have to
learn that Beth's death was beyond Jarrod's control and Elizabeth has to
forgive her stepfather for it.
Elizabeth Randall sat next to her stepfather, Jarrod Barkley, as she sat in the
church the day of her mother's funeral. Her mother, Beth Randall Barkley, had
been killed two days before. Elizabeth sat there biting her lip so as not to
cry in front of her new father's family.
Elizabeth and her mother had met Jarrod on a train going to Colorado. Jarrod
had proposed after five days, but Beth had agreed to the marriage if Jarrod
would give her daughter his name. That meant Jarrod was her father now.
Elizabeth was unsure of her feelings about Jarrod. He was kind to her on the
train and had even bought her a book and candy when they reached Virginia City,
Nevada. If he wanted her to love him as her father she had to admit he got an A
in effort.
Elizabeth's green-blue eyes went down to the fabric of her mourning dress. When
Jarrod's mother, Victoria, found out that she didn't have a black dress among
her clothes, she went out and bought a dress and bonnet to match.
Elizabeth hated the dress. It was a morbid and ghoulish color. Beth would have
hated the dress too. As soon as I get back to Jarrod's house, I'm putting
this dress in the attic, Elizabeth thought fiercely.
Jarrod. That was still an oddity to her. A week ago he was Mr. Barkley. Now he
was Jarrod, her stepfather. When Beth had married Jarrod she had told her to
move to call him "Papa," "Daddy," or "Father."
But she couldn't move past the name "Jarrod" to her embarrassment. It
would probably make no difference an way if she called him "Father."
Right now he was mad at the person who killed Beth and she was mad at Jarrod
for letting it happen.
Elizabeth felt tears come to her eyes and she bit her lip harder, forbidding
the tears of pain, anguish, anger, and loneliness from coming in torrents.
Elizabeth clenched her hand into a fist in her lap as another way not to scream
out in pain. Elizabeth nearly lost her self-control not to cry when Victoria,
sitting next to her, touched her tightly clenched hand.
One lone tear rolled down Elizabeth's face and then came the flood. Tears of
loss and despair rolled down her cheeks. Elizabeth covered her face with her
hands and the tears rolled onto her hands and into her reddish-blonde hair.
Elizabeth felt Victoria slip an arm around her shoulders as they went outside
to bury Beth's coffin.
Jarrod's mother was kind and she was grateful for the woman's support.
Later that afternoon Elizabeth had just decided that she
was hungry. Since her mother's death she hadn't eaten any food and she was
about to die if starvation.
Elizabeth reached the top of the stairs just as someone knocked on the door.
Victoria went to the door. "Hello Fred," Victoria greeted the
sheriff.
"Victoria. Where's Jarrod?" Fred asked, taking off his hat.
Jarrod came into the room from the parlor. He held a small object in his hand. It
looks like Mama's cameo necklace, Elizabeth thought.
"I'm here, Fred," Jarrod said, his voice devoid of emotions.
Fred looked up at Elizabeth. Her face was like Jarrod's voice; no emotion
whatsoever. "I think it would be best if the child would go somewhere
else," Fred said.
"I was going to the kitchen to get something to eat. Mrs. Barkley, may I
get it and eat in my room?" Elizabeth asked.
"Of course. Go ahead," Victoria said, smiling warmly at her.
Elizabeth walked to the kitchen, but stopped as she heard the sheriff's voice.
"I'm sorry I didn't make it to the funeral this morning. I was questioning
Cass Hyatt," Fred said.
"Well?" Jarrod asked.
"Jarrod, I had to let him go," Fred said, with a hint of defeat in
his voice.
"You what?" Jarrod asked, shock and anger in his voice.
"Jarrod, he didn't do it. He was at the French camp that day," Fred
said.
"He could of borrowed a horse," Elizabeth said, coming into the
foyer.
The three grownups turned to look at Elizabeth. "I thought you were
getting something to eat, Miss Randall," Fred said, accusingly.
"I was. Until I heard your conversation," Elizabeth looked at Jarrod,
guilt written all over her face. Jarrod looked upset, but not too upset.
"I agree with Elizabeth," Jarrod said with finality.
"And I say you're both wrong!" Fred exploded.
"What if we're not wrong?" Elizabeth asked, cocking her head
contemplatively.
"He could have borrowed a horse like Elizabeth said," Jarrod said.
"There was no horse. What I think is that a hunter was out shooting
rabbits and got scared," Fred said.
"Do you really believe that?" Jarrod challenged.
"I'm trying to tell you that it's possible!" Fred protested.
"All you're trying to do is excuse yourself for letting a cold-blooded
killer free!" Jarrod raged.
"Jarrod!" Victoria reprimanded.
"All I know is my wife is dead and you're not going to do anything about
it," Jarrod said coldly.
Fred stood silently as Jarrod picked up his gunbelt and tried to open the door.
Victoria placed her hand on Jarrod's shoulder in a restraining manner.
"Jarrod, I didn't know Beth very well, but I do know that revenge is not
what she would have wanted. Don't destroy the memory of her love by destroying
yourself. Think of Elizabeth. You're the closest thing she has to a
father," Victoria said.
Jarrod looked at Elizabeth. She was looking at the hall carpet. Jarrod knew
that Elizabeth didn't much pick him as her father, but he had promised Beth
that he'd raise Elizabeth as his own daughter and give her his name.
He nodded his head and put the gunbelt down. Elizabeth did an about face and
went into the kitchen. She remembered that she had wanted to eat something.
The sound of footsteps going down the stairs brought
Elizabeth out of her room where she had been reading on her window seat. It was
Jarrod. He had a rifle in his arms and was wearing ranch clothes. This was the
first time that Elizabeth had seen her stepfather dressed like this. By the
rifle he carried it didn't take a genius to know that he was going after Cass
Hyatt.
"Jarrod?" Elizabeth asked, trying to keep up with her stepfather's
long strides.
Jarrod turned to face her. Where are you going?" Elizabeth asked.
"I have something to do. I'll be back in a few days," Jarrod said.
"You're going to kill Cass Hyatt, aren't you?" Elizabeth asked.
"Your mother never told me that you were a question asker!" Jarrod
exclaimed, getting exasperated and annoyed.
"Jarrod, she has a valid question," Victoria said, slipping an arm
around Elizabeth's shoulders as she came up behind her.
"I'm going to find Cass Hyatt," Jarrod said, walking down the stairs.
"We don't know where he is, Jarrod," Victoria said, both Victoria and
Elizabeth following him.
"I'll find him," Jarrod said.
"Jarrod, Beth would not have wanted you to destroy your hopes and dreams
with anger and vengeance," Victoria said as the threesome went into the
gunroom.
"All my hopes and dreams were buried in the ground this morning,"
Jarrod said, putting bullets into his rifle and pistol.
"So were mine, Jarrod. Now that Mama's gone I have no family left to care
if I lived or died," Elizabeth said softly.
"No, it's not true. You think it is, but it's not," Victoria said to
both of them.
"Mrs. Barkley, if you send me away, I'd do better if you sent me to an
orphanage. My father's family all died out by the time I was born and my
mother's people never liked my father or myself. They think I am nothing
because my father was a poor dirt farmer," Elizabeth said, her voice laced
with bitterness.
"How can I make the two of you understand? Jarrod, if you do what you plan
to do you're turning your back on everything you ever stood for as a man and as
a lawyer. The same thing Beth loved and married you for!" Victoria
protested.
"I'll take care of this," Nick Barkley said, coming into the room.
Victoria left the room. Elizabeth looked at her stepfather and his brother.
Jarrod looked angry and Nick looked determined.
"Now you listen to me. If you expect to leave, you'll have to get over me
to do it," Nick said. Jarrod turned to leave. "Oh, Jarrod!" Nick
exclaimed, grabbing Jarrod's arm and turning him back around. Jarrod's fist
shot out and struck Nick square in the jaw. Nick fell to the floor unconscious.
Elizabeth looked up at Jarrod. He looked into her eyes. She had never seen him
like this. Jarrod looked at Nick just before he left.
Elizabeth sat looking at the scissors in her hand. Jarrod
had been gone for two days now. Elizabeth had had plenty of time to think of
her new status as a Barkley.
She had just recently determined that Jarrod Barkley wouldn't want her as his
daughter anyway now that Beth was dead. It was exactly the way she felt about
him too. She didn't want him to be her father either.
With a wince she took a long lock of her reddish blonde hair and cut it. By the
time she was done it looked crooked and short enough to stuff in a hat. She
then changed into a pair of pants, shirt, and vest. She then put on a pair of
gloves that she found in the barn and a hat.
She had never dressed like this before. She had bought the outfit before her
mother and herself had come out west. Her mother had said that the chores in
Colorado would be easier to tackle if she had these clothes to do them in.
Elizabeth slipped downstairs and to the barn without a hitch. She would stay at
the Barkley Ranch like Beth wanted, but she would also stay out of Jarrod's
life. He hadn't wanted her as his daughter anyway, she had to keep reminding
herself.
* * * * * * * *
Elizabeth was brushing some horses in the barn when three
riders came in. Since Elizabeth had started to work on the ranch as a stable
hand a week ago, no one questioned her or asked where Elizabeth Randall had
gone.
Elizabeth looked up as Nick, Heath, and Jarrod Barkley put their horses in the
stalls next to Victoria's and Audra's horses. Elizabeth walked over to Jarrod's
horse, Jingo. Jingo was a calm horse and sniffed the sleeve of her left arm.
Elizabeth grinned at Jingo in spite of herself. She loved horses. She moved her
green-blue eyes to Jarrod. He looked terrible and had an ugly bandage around
his head. Elizabeth had to refrain from asking her stepfather how he had gotten
the wound. Jarrod didn't love her and she didn't love him either.
Jarrod looked over at her and she moved her eyes back to the horse so Jarrod
wouldn't recognize her. Elizabeth pulled the hat she wore tighter over her head
with one gloved hand. The other hand brushed the horse with a currycomb.
"New ranch hand, Nick?" Jarrod asked, turning to Nick.
"I may have hired this boy, but I don't remember it. What's your name,
Boy?" Nick asked Elizabeth.
"Peter Lacy, Mr. Barkley," Elizabeth said in a low voice.
"Lacy? Sounds like a girl's name," Nick said, trying to get Elizabeth
to look up or talk louder.
"Not any dumber than if you carried the name Barkley," Elizabeth
said, refusing to be baited.
"Then why do you work here?" Heath asked.
"I have nowhere else to go. If I had any family I'd go there,"
Elizabeth said, bitterness in her voice.
"Where's your folks, Boy?" Heath asked.
"Don't have folks. my pa died when I was a baby and my ma died a week
ago," Elizabeth said.
"Well, continue on, Peter," Nick said, a hint of compassion in his
eyes and voice. A compassion that Elizabeth knew she didn't deserve. Now she
felt like a rat for lying.
Jarrod and the others had already gone to bed when
Elizabeth entered the house. So far Victoria hadn't caught her coming out of
her room or going back into the room. So Far. Victoria or Jarrod might catch
her one day, but it wasn't today.
Elizabeth walked into her bedroom and collapsed on the bed, falling asleep as
soon as her head hit the pillow. She was so tired! She hadn't eaten in days,
but her stomach was too upset to allow her to eat any food.
* * * * * * * *
The next morning the morning sun shining through
Elizabeth's window woke her up. Elizabeth blinked her eyes sleepily. She looked
over at the clock on her fireplace mantle. It read 9:00! Elizabeth gasped in
terror. She stood up and pulled the cuffs of her shirt.
She'd be lucky if Jarrod wasn't downstairs. On the day after she arrived in
Stockton, Jarrod and taken Mama and herself to see the town and his office.
Right now she hoped he was there. It would give her a chance to go to the
dining room and eat without being caught. She knew Jarrod would catch her
eventually, but at least it wasn't now!
Elizabeth picked up her hat, but didn't put it on. She looked both ways as she
looked down the hallway. No one was there! She went down the main staircase and
froze.
Jarrod was in the parlor! He was supposed to be at work! That head wound
must have caused brain damage, Elizabeth thought. He'd probably kill her for working in the barn and she wouldn't
blame him if he did.
Jarrod turned as soon as he heard her step. His eyes bored into hers.
"Jarrod, I thought you were at work," Elizabeth said, her voice low
and even.
"Not for a week, Elizabeth. Or should I say, Peter Lacy?" Jarrod
asked, his voice and eyes amused.
"You knew?" Elizabeth asked in a small voice.
"Yes I knew. You wouldn't look at me when we talked yesterday and also
Peter was your father's name and Lacy was your mother's maiden name,
Elizabeth," Jarrod said.
"Mama never told me that you could tell when I was lying," Elizabeth
said.
"I guess I better start. I am your father-" Jarrod started.
"My father died when I was a baby. Now I have chores to do,"
Elizabeth said shortly.
"Elizabeth, I want to talk to you," Jarrod said, walking over to her.
Elizabeth put on the gloves 6that she took from the barn and walked toward the
door. She scooped up her hair and shoved it into her hat. "Elizabeth,
please," Victoria said.
Elizabeth looked at Jarrod and reverted her gaze to Victoria. "I am sorry,
Mrs. Barkley. I just want you to know you're the nicest woman, besides my
mother that I've ever met and I'm only staying here because Mama wanted me
to," Elizabeth said, opening the door.
The spring wind gently blew her face and the tendrils of hair that poked out of
her hat. The warm wind was very pleasant and was filled with the scent of the
flowers and oranges from the Barkley orchards.
Elizabeth walked into the barn, preparing to clean it up.
The barn was messy. Tack was strewn all over the place, horse blankets were
muddied and saddles were falling apart.
Elizabeth picked up a rag and started to polish and oil all the saddles that
were intact. By noon the saddles and two blankets were cleaned and mended. It
had taken some tying in some places with leather on the saddles, but Elizabeth
wasn't going to complain to Nick. Elizabeth rubbed her hands on a clean rag.
Elizabeth walked back to the house and went up to her room.
She poured some water in a basin and dipped her hands in the water. She scooped
some up in her hands. She put her wet hands on her face. The water was cold,
but it felt good on her hands and face.
Elizabeth then picked up her ivory-backed comb and ran it through her tangled
hair. The snarls weren't as bad as they used to be on account that her hair
wasn't that long any more. She pulled it back in a simple ponytail and went
downstairs, her stomach growling with hunger.
Elizabeth entered the kitchen where Silas was stirring a pot of beef stew and
dumplings. The smell was wonderful to her hungry stomach and it growled so hard
that it hurt her stomach.
"Hello Silas," Elizabeth said in a low voice to the elderly servant.
Silas turned around to face her. "Miss Elizabeth, why are you in
here?" Silas asked.
"The food smells good and if I'm in time for dinner I'd like to eat, if
it's all right if I eat at this table," Elizabeth said, sitting down at
the kitchen table.
"Why don't you eat with the Barkleys, Child? Mr. Jarrod is awful worried
about you," Silas said kindly.
"I don't want to eat with Jarrod," Elizabeth said stubbornly.
"Why what's the matter with Mr. Jarrod?" Silas asked, his eyes
filling with concern.
"Nothing. He's just not my father," Elizabeth mumbled, looking at her
hands folded together on the table.
"Mr. Jarrod knows that. He promised your mama he'd adopt you and make your
name Barkley," Silas said.
"I didn't ask for his promise to Mama or his name," Elizabeth said
bitterly. The child was still angry at Jarrod for marrying Beth and for not
preventing her death from happening.
"The stew 'n' dumplin's done, Miss. I'll go tell Mrs. Barkley and Mr.
Jarrod that you'll eat in here," Silas said, taking a plate of dumplings
up. He left the kitchen with the plate, leaving Elizabeth by herself to cry.
* * * * * * * *
Jarrod sat in the dining room listening to Nick and
Heath's banter. Since Jarrod had nearly killed Nick, Jarrod had felt guilty for
almost doing it. He felt even worse for hitting Nick in front of Elizabeth. He
wanted to apologize to her, but she had been staying away from even Victoria
and Audra.
Silas entered the room with a plate of hot dumplings. "Silas, have you
seen Elizabeth?" Jarrod asked.
"Yes Sir, Mr. Jarrod. She's eating in the kitchen," Silas said,
filling Jarrod's coffee cup.
"Why is she eating in the kitchen instead of with us?" Audra asked,
confused.
"I'm under the impression that she's mad at me. Though I'm not sure
why," Jarrod said.
"Silas, tell Elizabeth to come in here please. It's time we had a family
discussion with her about what it means to be a Barkley," Victoria said.
Silas turned to follow Victoria's bidding, sorry for both Jarrod and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth walked into the dining room five minutes later,
after 3 minutes of arguing with Silas she sulked for a minute and left to do
Victoria's bidding. She quaked in her boots at the thought of Victoria's
sternness. She didn't think of Jarrod getting angry with her, but Victoria took
her by complete surprise.
Elizabeth stood before Victoria, her eyes fixed on a crease in the linen
tablecloth. "Silas said you wanted to see me, Ma'am," Elizabeth said
softly.
Elizabeth pushed back a lock of reddish-blonde hair behind her ear as Victoria
fixed her hazel eyes on her. The eyes were serious and had a no-nonsense look.
"Elizabeth, won't you sit down?" Victoria said, indicating the empty
chair next to Jarrod.
Elizabeth sat down without a word. Whatever Victoria had to say to her involved
having her sit down with Jarrod and his family.
"Elizabeth, we wanted to have a family discussion and since you're a
member of the family we wanted you here," Victoria said.
"All right," Elizabeth said mechanically.
"Elizabeth, how come you wanted to eat in the kitchen?" Victoria
asked.
"Just wanted to. Is there something wrong with that?" Elizabeth
asked, her chin jutting out defensively.
"You are a member of the family," Victoria said.
"Not really. I wasn't born into your family," Elizabeth said.
"Would you like to be part of the family? Your mother agreed to our
marriage if I adopted you. Would you like to become my daughter?" Jarrod
asked.
"Before I answer that can I ask you a question?" Elizabeth asked,
looking into Jarrod's brilliant blue eyes.
"Of course. What is it?" Jarrod asked.
"Why did you make that promise to Mama for? I mean, even if you did adopt
me I'm not really your daughter," Elizabeth said.
"I loved your mother. When she told me about your father dying when you
were a baby, I felt sorry for both of you. She said that her family hated you
because of your father and if something happened to her no one in her family
would lift a finger to help you," Jarrod said.
"Ain't that the truth. So you decided to become my father?" Elizabeth
asked.
"You could say it that way," Jarrod said, covering Elizabeth's hand
with his own hand.
"No, thank you! I had a father, remember?" Elizabeth asked, jerking
her hand out of his. She jumped up and ran out of the room.
"That went well," Audra said. The family turned to look at her.
"Audra, stay out of this," Nick said. The rest of the meal was taken
in silence.
A month later things still hadn't changed. Elizabeth
stayed away from the house a great deal of the time.
Cleaning the stalls and fixing saddles kept her in the barn really late. She
would stumble tiredly into the kitchen, eat a snack, and then stumble tiredly
to her bed. Once a week she would also visit her mother's grave, but she didn't
tell anyone about those visits.
She would gather some flowers that grew along the road and grew beside the
banks of the river. She'd spend that time telling her mother about the chores
she did in the stables and how she was trying to like Stockton and the Barkley
Ranch.
One afternoon as she was visiting the gravesite, she didn't notice that she had
a person watching her. Audra Barkley had noticed that she left the ranch one
afternoon every week, but she didn't know why. That afternoon, she decided to
follow her.
They had buried Beth where Tom Barkley also was buried and Elizabeth was
sitting between the two grave stones. She was talking to only one of them.
* * * * * * * *
"Hey Mama. I miss you. I wish you could be here with
me. Ciego told me that Jarrod had started the proceedings to adopt me. I wished
you'd asked me if I wanted him for my father. I don't know if I want him as my
father. I had a father. Mama, I wish you hadn't died," Elizabeth said, her
voice trembling with sobs.
Elizabeth laid her hand on Beth's grave stone and cried bitterly. It was as if
she were two or three years old when she cried. The tears ran down her cheeks
in torrents.
Audra came up to the young girl. Elizabeth's shoulders were shaking with sobs
as the blonde-haired girl touched her head.
Elizabeth stood up and looked at Audra, the tears rolling down her face.
"Miss Barkley, I didn't hear you come up," Elizabeth said, furiously
wiping her face.
"It's all right. I heard you talking to your mother. You sounded like you
loved her a whole lot," Audra said.
"Yes. She was all I ever had. My father died when I was a baby. After she
married my father and had me she cut all ties with her family. She once told me
that if they couldn't accept my father or myself she didn't want anything to do
with them," Elizabeth said.
"Do you know that Jarrod loves you and has been worried about you?"
Audra asked.
"No. Miss. Barkley, it wasn't fair that she had to die. Why did she
die?" Elizabeth asked, fresh tears rolling down her face.
"I don't know. But God cares for you and He knows the pain your in. Why
don't you pray that God would heal the hurt?" Audra asked, holding the
sobbing child in her arms.
Elizabeth sniffled, wiping her nose on her hand. "Audra, would God give me
a new father and mother if I asked him for it?" Elizabeth asked.
"I think he already did. Jarrod got your adoption papers today. In the
eyes of the law you are Elizabeth Margaret Randall Barkley," Audra said.
"Do you think Jarrod would understand if I don't call him "Papa"
just yet?" Elizabeth asked.
"I think he would. You can call him Jarrod for as long as you want
to," Audra said.
"Aunt Audra, I think I'd like to go home now. Is it all right with your
mother if I eat with you tonight?" Elizabeth asked.
"Of course it's all right," Audra said, running her hand through
Elizabeth's reddish-blonde hair.
Elizabeth and Audra mounted their horses and rode back to the house.
Elizabeth and Audra walked into the house as Victoria was
leaving.
"Mrs. Barkley, where's the fire?" Elizabeth asked calmly.
"Cass Hyatt's trial is today and I told Jarrod I would find out how he was
going to be punished," Victoria said.
"Then in that case if you find out don't tell me. I don't want to find out
EVER," Elizabeth said, putting extra emphasis on the word ever.
"I'll do that," Victoria said.
"Where is Jarrod anyway?" Elizabeth asked.
"He's in his office. I believe he's putting your new birth certificate and
adoption papers in his safe," Victoria said.
Elizabeth went to the study door and rapped on it lightly with her knuckles.
"It's open," Jarrod said, his deep masculine voice sounding slightly
strained.
Elizabeth opened the door and nearly snorted at what she saw. Jarrod was trying
to get his safe open without much success.
"Jarrod, what are you trying to do?" Elizabeth asked, a smirk on her
face.
Jarrod stood up and tried to look frustrated with the safe.
"I'm trying to open this safe if you must know," Jarrod said.
"I see. Did you forget the combination?" Elizabeth asked, still
grinning.
"No. It just won't open," Jarrod said.
"Uh-uh. Care to let me try?" Elizabeth asked smugly.
"I'll try anything as long as you get that smug look off your face,"
Jarrod said.
Elizabeth went to work on the safe. Five minutes later the safe swung open.
"Voila!" Elizabeth shouted.
The look on Jarrod's face was priceless. "How did you do that?"
Jarrod asked.
"I'm smarter than you maybe?" Elizabeth hazarded a guess.
"Uh-uh. That was not the answer I was looking for," Jarrod said.
"Well, keep guessing Jarrod," Elizabeth said, pushing a stay piece of
hair behind her ear.
She walked out the door with Jarrod scratching his head in confusion. It took
Jarrod all of one minute to ask her another question.
"Where are you going?" Jarrod asked.
"Upstairs. I need to get ready for dinner. I hope my dresses are still in
my closet," Elizabeth said.
Jarrod was still confused, but he wasn't going to ask why she had a different
attitude from a month ago.
Later that night Elizabeth was going downstairs when she
heard Jarrod and Victoria in the parlor.
"They sentenced Cass Hyatt today. They gave him life," Victoria said.
"It doesn't really matter. All I feel is shame. I discovered something in
myself that I didn't know I had and I pray to God that I never see it
again," Jarrod said, looking into the flames of the fireplace.
"It would be best if you forgot about it," Victoria said.
"All of it?" Jarrod asked.
"No, not all of it. Not Beth," Victoria said.
"But she was part of it," Jarrod said.
''No Jarrod. Elizabeth and Beth are not part of the ugly
part," Victoria said, tears in her voice.
Elizabeth turned to go back to her room, tears falling down her face. She had
told herself that she didn't want to know what punishment that Cass Hyatt got.
But now she knew she was lying.
Cass Hyatt had gotten off easy compared to Jarrod and herself. The tears fell
in torrents as she cried herself to sleep.
Elizabeth felt lighter after a few days. Cass Hyatt was in
jail and had gotten life for what he did to her mother, Jarrod and his family
was making the effort to treat her like a Barkley, and Elizabeth was making a
conscious effort to like her new stepfather.
Only one cloud hung over her happiness. She still couldn't call Jarrod her
father or forget that she had a father once. The name on her new certificate
read Elizabeth Barkley. She was happy with her new status, but sometimes when
Victoria said Elizabeth Margaret Barkley Elizabeth would get this blank look on
her face.
On the first day of school Elizabeth had washed her face and combed her hair
carefully. A new teacher had taken over the Stockton school and Elizabeth was
nervous about it. This was the first time that she had been taught by someone
that wasn't her mother.
Jarrod had said his name was Hannibal Applewood and he had taught at
prestigious schools all over America. Elizabeth had rolled her eyes at that and
said "Oh brother".
Of course Jarrod had ignored his stepdaughter's bad attitude and kissed her
forehead gently. Elizabeth had ran out of the room and spent an hour rubbing
her forehead till it was pink with a rag in the bathroom.
Elizabeth braided her hair and ran downstairs to the dining room. Jarrod was at
the table with his family when she came in.
Jarrod looked at his stepdaughter as she slid into her chair next to him.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Jarrod asked, a glimmer of
amusement in his blue eyes.
Elizabeth stood and quickly kissed her stepfather's cheek. It still felt
strange after two days. She had asked Jarrod if she could hug or kiss him like
he was her father. He had given his permission, but often Elizabeth forgot to
hug or kiss him.
"Good morning, Jarrod," Elizabeth said wryly.
"Good morning, Elizabeth. Are you ready for school?" Jarrod asked,
after taking a drink of coffee.
"I suppose. Catherine says that she's not too eager to go to school with a
man with the name like an undertaker," Elizabeth said, shivering slightly.
"He might be an excellent teacher," Audra said, putting some ham on
Elizabeth's plate.
Elizabeth smiled at Audra as she took the plate. "I don't know. I'm used
to my mother teaching me and I have never been taught by a man before,"
Elizabeth said, enjoying the taste of the ham and eggs.
"Like Audra said he may be an excellent teacher," Heath said, plowing
into his breakfast.
Elizabeth grinned and took a small drink of her milk, trying to control her
giant first-day-of-school butterflies. Nick was unusually quiet for the first
time since Elizabeth had met him, but she wasn't going to complain. If Nick was
quiet for the first time since she met him she was going to enjoy it as long as
it lasted.
Elizabeth carried her schoolbooks and lunch to the
schoolyard An old man was standing on the steps. The man was dressed in a black
suit and string tie. He looked as happy as the undertaker, Mr. Beckett, which
was not very happy. Elizabeth walked over to her friend Catherine Gooden.
"The new schoolteacher?" Elizabeth required curiously.
"My pa says that Mr. Hannibal Applewood arrived in town late last
night," Catherine said, threading her arm through her friend's arm.
"Hannibal Applewood. I still think that it sounds like the name you would
give to the undertaker," Elizabeth said, wrinkling her nose.
Catherine giggled at her tall red-haired friend's comment. "Yeh, and he
looks like an undertaker too," Catherine snickered.
The bell clanged loudly through the schoolyard. Catherine and Elizabeth
followed their schoolmates into the building. Elizabeth paused and stared at
the man on the steps. He looked back at her, his wrinkled face expressionless.
Elizabeth pushed back her hair and went into the schoolroom, shrugging her thin
shoulders.
The group giggled as they settled into their seats. Mr. Applewood entered the
room and set a valise on the teacher's desk. He picked up the hard wooden
pointer and yelled, "SILENCE!" He slammed the pointer down hard on
the desk.
"The class jolted into silence instantaneously. "Good. You follow
orders. I am Hannibal Applewood, your new teacher. I've been told that you have
a problem with discipline. That will stop. I have a few rules that you must
abide by. All students will put their name, grade, and date in the upper
right-hand corner The omission of any of these will result in a failing grade.
The mark of an eraser on any assignment will result in a failing grade. There
will be no talking or whispering. There will be no speaking unless you are
spoken to. Now your first assignment will be to see how well you listened. I
want you to take out a sheet of paper and write down the rules as I just
dictated them. NOW!" Applewood screamed, hitting his desk with the pointer
again. He had seemed so smug and sure of himself a few minutes ago. Now he had
scared the class again.
Elizabeth pulled out a sheet of paper, handed it to Catherine, and started to
work on her own assignment. A piece of paper that was folded landed on her
desk. Elizabeth paused, uncertain. Should she open it? Or should she take it to
the teacher and hope that he would trash it? Elizabeth made up her mind.
Elizabeth touched it briefly and tried to open it without giving herself away.
No such luck.
Applewood looked up and saw her trying to open the note. "Elizabeth
Barkley, what is that on your desk?" Applewood asked, his voice as
rhythmical as a drill sergeant's.
"Just a piece of paper," Elizabeth lied in monotone.
Apparently this teacher knew instantly that Elizabeth was not a very good at
lying. Jarrod also knew this. When Elizabeth lied to him a week ago on a
certain matter, Jarrod had told her he couldn't take people lying to him. He
knew that she was lying! He also told her never to lie to him again.
"A piece of paper? Bring it here," Applewood said, sarcastically.
Elizabeth stood up and walked to Applewood's desk, the paper in her shaking
hands. Applewood took the note and read it. Applewood picked up his pointer and
walked toward Elizabeth. He turned her hand over where her palm showed.
"One for passing notes and two for being late," he smacked her hand
hard with the pointer. Elizabeth flinched slightly as the pointer made contact
with her skin.
"Now since you like to write so much, let's give you plenty to work on the
blackboard," Applewood said, the sarcasm dripping from his voice.
Elizabeth turned to the blackboard trying to control the tears from dripping
down her face.
School ended on a happy note. Elizabeth had just finished
all her schoolwork that she'd just missed in her writing assignment's on the
black board and she felt really worn out and drained from all the hard work.
Her right arm was sore from all the writing that she had done on the writing
and her left hand was sore from the pointer. Two blotches were on that hand
where Applewood had hit it with the pointer.
"How's your hand, Elizabeth?" Catherine asked, concerned for her
friend.
"It'll be all right," Elizabeth said, clenching her hand tight so she
wouldn't have to look at the bruises on the palm.
"Are you going to tell Counselor Barkley about Mr. Applewood hitting
you?" Catherine asked, staying in step with Elizabeth.
"No, I'm not. Jarrod is probably busy. I don't want him to worry about
me," Elizabeth said, pushing back a lock of reddish-blonde hair with her
hand.
Jarrod, Nick, and Heath were in front of the general store as the two girls
walked past. One of the Barkley wagons was in front of the store. Heath and
Nick were hauling grain sacks into the wagon. Elizabeth had completely
forgotten that Jarrod, Heath, and Nick were coming to town that day.
"Hi everyone," Catherine breezily called to the Barkleys.
"Hello Catherine," Heath said in greeting to the black-haired girl.
Nick and Jarrod nodded their heads in greeting to Catherine.
Jarrod noticed his stepdaughter standing behind Catherine. How was school, Elizabeth?"
Jarrod asked.
Catherine looked at Elizabeth. Elizabeth shook her head as if telling her to
keep her mouth shut. "Fine, Jarrod. I did a lot of writing, but it went
fine," Elizabeth said, using false cheer.
Jarrod looked into his stepdaughter's eyes. Since she had lied to him once, she
never did it again after she knew where her stepdaughter stood on lying.
Catherine went inside after a few minutes. "Okay, what happened?"
Jarrod asked in his best prosecuting lawyer's voice.
"Nothing happened, Jarrod. Nothing at all," Elizabeth said, keeping
her hand behind her back.
"Elizabeth Barkley, you have five seconds to tell me what happened. I am
your father," Jarrod said, his patience worn to a frazzle.
"You're not my father. My father died when I was a baby. So stop trying to
take his place," Elizabeth said, her tiredness and frustration making her
grumpy and irritable.
Jarrod's face was priceless. He looked at her with an hard, angry look in his
blue eyes. "Elizabeth Barkley, I never want to hear those words out of
your mouth ever again. I may not be your father, but I am your guardian. If you
want me to treat you like a grownup, behave like one," Jarrod said sternly
"I'm sorry, Jarrod. I didn't mean it. I've just had a hard day at school
and I'm tired," Elizabeth said wearily.
Jarrod wrapped his arms around her thin shoulders and hugged her. Elizabeth
buried her face in Jarrod's chest. "So, do you care to tell me about what
happened in school today?" Jarrod asked.
"Do I have to?" Elizabeth asked.
"No, but I hope you can tell me anything," Jarrod said, brushing her
hair with his fingertips.
"It couldn't have been too bad," Nick said.
Jarrod and Elizabeth had forgotten that Nick and Heath were there. Elizabeth
emitted a loud groan. "I thought you were going to be quiet today. Just my
luck! Couldn't this day not get any worse," Elizabeth said, sitting on one
of the grain sacks in the wagon.
Heath and Jarrod laughed out loud at the grumpy bear look on Nick's face.
"She's a Barkley already if she can put down Nick!" Heath said
between chuckles.
"Now you got that out of your system, you care to tell us what
happened?" Nick asked, sarcastically.
"I got in trouble. I got caught with a note I didn't pass, I got my hand
swatted, and forced to write spelling words out on the board as
punishment," Elizabeth said, looking at the wooden planks on the floor of
the general store.
"Are you all right?" Jarrod asked, pushing some of her hair out of
her eyes, concerned.
"My hand's a little sore, but I'll live. I'll have to hurry to finish all
my missed classwork and homework," Elizabeth said.
"Do you want me to talk with your teacher?" Jarrod asked.
"No. I got into this myself. I'll get out of it myself," Elizabeth
said.
Mr. Applewood was walking down the street when he saw Elizabeth, Jarrod, Heath,
and Nick. Elizabeth felt a chill run up her backbone and her stomach clamped
nervously as the grumpy old man passed them in the street without saying a word
about what happened to Elizabeth in school.
Jarrod looked at the teacher and then down at his stepdaughter. "Time to
go home," Jarrod said.
Elizabeth ran to the stable to get her horse, Princess. She mounted her horse
and raced over to the general store.
The next day Elizabeth was studying her spelling at lunch
time. Since she had gotten punished she was cramped for time. She had asked
Applegate about it and he gave her a little extra time to study, but only until
after lunch.
Her head was against a tree, and she was spelling the words out quietly. A tall
boy, taller even than Jarrod came up to her. "Hey there. How ya
doin'?" The boy asked, sitting next to her.
"I've been right here hoping that I do all right on that spelling
test," Elizabeth said, looking at another word and spelling it out.
"That old crab-Apple, he's a real meanie. That's why he picks on ya. Me
and the boys were talkin'-" he started.
"He's been real nice to me today," Elizabeth said, closing the book.
"He gave you a slight break in your spelling," the boy pointed out.
"For him that's nice. Look if you're my friend you won't do
anything," Elizabeth said.
The boy stood and shrugged his shoulders. He left her alone to work on her math
in the five minutes left of lunch and recess.
* * * * * * * *
An hour later, Peter Lane came running into the school,
late. He slid into his chair next to Charlie, his best friend. Applewood looked
up at Peter.
"Peter Lane, come up here," Applewood said, sternly.
The tall seventeen-year-old ambled up to the front with a swagger. "Hold
out your hand," Applewood ordered.
"What fer?" Peter asked confused.
"You are being punished for being lat. Peter, hold out your hand,"
Applewood repeated.
Peter held out his hand and Applewood smacked it three times. Each time a
stupid grin got bigger on Peter's face. "You can't hit hard enough to
tickle," Peter said, smirking.
"Go back to your seat," Applewood said, putting the pointer on his
desk.
"Yes Sir and I was late because our horse was foaling today," Peter
said.
Peter walked back to his seat. Elizabeth watched him, done with her
assignments.
"Elizabeth Barkley, since you don't have enough to occupy your time, why
don't I give you some more work on the black board," Applewood said, his
voice dripping with sarcasm.
Elizabeth groaned inwardly. That probably meant more spelling words on the
blackboard. Elizabeth's arm was still sore from the day before. Elizabeth
walked up to the desk, trying not to cry. She walked to the blackboard and
started to write, the tears falling on her pale cheeks.
Elizabeth picked at her food dully at dinner. Jarrod was
laughing at his brothers jokes when Victoria noticed Elizabeth's lack of
appetite. Victoria laid one soft hand on Elizabeth's forehead. "Are you
all right, Elizabeth?" Victoria asked, concerned.
"I'm all right, Ma'am. I'm just not hungry," Elizabeth said in a low
voice, trying not to cry again.
Jarrod looked at his stepdaughter. She looked as if she had lost her best
friend in the whole world. "Are you going to be okay, Elizabeth?"
Jarrod asked, feeling the concern his mother showed.
"I'm fine, Jarrod. I'm just not hungry tonight," Elizabeth repeated,
averting her eyes away from Jarrod's.
Jarrod reached over and touched his stepdaughter's forehead. 'You don't have a
fever. Are you sure you're all right?" Jarrod asked, skeptically.
"Jarrod, I'm just not hungry. May I please be excused? I have
homework," Elizabeth said dully. The way that sounded it was like doing
homework was like facing the firing squad.
"I suppose so," Jarrod said. He watched her go and then looked at the
rest of the family. They were all silent during this. When Beth had died Jarrod
had said in no uncertain terms that his family was not going to tell Jarrod how
to raise Elizabeth. But even they knew something was wrong. Elizabeth's
appetite had been all right since she had stopped being a ranch hand. Something
had to have happened.
"Jarrod, what are you going to do?" Audra asked, spooning some more
stew on Nick's plate.
"I don't know. Apparently Elizabeth feels that she can't talk about it to
me or anyone else," Jarrod said, picking up his coffee cup.
"I think it's probably school-related," Victoria asked, touching her
lips lightly with her linen napkin.
"What makes you say that, Mother?" Heath asked.
"Haven't you noticed that when we ask her about school she's very vague?
It's like she's terrified and she just looked like doing her homework was like
facing a firing squad," Victoria said.
"Mother, I used to look like that when I was 12 or 13," Nick said,
smiling at his mother.
"Nick, you hated school period. Beth told me the day before her death that
Elizabeth always liked school and did well in it," Jarrod said, putting
his knife and fork on his plate.
"Jarrod, what do you think e should do?" Audra asked, her blue eyes
sad.
"We'll wait for her to tell us what's wrong. "I don't think I should
push her to tell me what's wrong," Jarrod said.
The family nodded their head in agreement. Whatever was troubling Elizabeth,
they'll wait for her to say what it was.
Meanwhile upstairs, Elizabeth sat on her bed and looked at her mother's picture
on the night table. "What would you have done, Mama? I wish you were
here," Elizabeth said, touching the glass of the photo. Elizabeth cried
herself to sleep, forgetting about her homework.
* * * * * * * *
Meanwhile Applewood was sitting with the Shaw family in
town. "It's wonderful that someone is interested in bringing culture to
this awful town," Mrs. Shaw said, her voice and face lighting up.
"I hope that it will come to this town. I find culture very hard to find
out here," Applewood agreed, enjoying the supper immensely.
"That is correct. The richest family in Stockton are the Barkleys, but
they don't always act like the epitome of refinement like people think. The
lawyer is always defending deadbeats. Nick Barkley is always brawling. Heath
Barkley is just half a Barkley. Accepting him and that girl from Washington
D.C. is not acceptable to proper society," Mrs. Shaw said in a snotty
tone.
"Maura, Jarrod promised his wife that he'd adopt her daughter," Mr.
Shaw objected, shocked.
"Promises to a wife that you were married to for five days don't
count," Mrs. Shaw said cruelly.
"You mean that Elizabeth Barkley is not Counselor Barkley's real
daughter?" Applewood asked, interested.
"Of course not. That girl's mother and the girl met Jarrod Barkley on
their way out west to teach school. Jarrod married her and she was murdered by
a man that Jarrod sent to prison. Of course I've been told that the girl's real
father died when she was a baby. Jarrod adopted her and gave her his
name," Mrs. Shaw said.
"How long has she been a Barkley?" Applewood asked.
"I don't know, but she's just an orphan and a troublemaker," Mrs.
Shaw said.
"Maura, that's not true. I've seen Elizabeth what Elizabeth acts like when
she comes to town. She's a polite, well-mannered girl. And Jarrod Barkley loves
her," Mr. Shaw objected again.
"It seems as if everyone treats her like a princess, though, Evelina
Morris said, glaring at her father.
Mr. Applewood seemed thrilled at hearing this information. In his mind
Elizabeth had just become trash.
Elizabeth and Catherine were talking outside a few weeks
later. Elizabeth glumly listened as her friend chattered brightly. Since
Applewood had arrived Elizabeth's schoolwork had started to suffer. Failing
grades had started to become very common in Elizabeth's life. Elizabeth hadn't
shown any of the papers to Jarrod; she didn't have the heart to. The rest of
the family, however had started to notice her lack of appetite and the
disinterest she displayed in the things that used to please her.
Also Victoria had noticed that Elizabeth was falling asleep a lot at the
breakfast table. Once she told Jarrod about Elizabeth falling asleep at meal
times, but Jarrod said it was probably not enough hours in the night to sleep.
In all honesty Elizabeth's melancholy attitude was starting to worry Jarrod.
But Jarrod figured if something was wrong Elizabeth would tell him.
"Catherine, I don't want to sound rude, but I have spelling I have to
study for," Elizabeth said, interrupting Catherine's speech.
"Are your grades still bad?" Catherine asked, her brown eyes shining
with concern.
"Yeah. I'm in danger of failing and I can't tell Jarrod," Elizabeth
said dejectedly.
"Why not? He is your stepfather," Catherine said. Catherine was
curious to know why her friend wouldn't tell Jarrod and his family anything
about school. Jarrod would help her with Applewood if she wasn't so stubborn in
telling him that Applewood was cruel to everyone.
"I don't know. I just don't want him mad at me," Elizabeth said,
burying her face in her hands.
"I don't think he would be. Jarrod Barkley loves you. He worships the
ground you walk on," Catherine said.
"I have to go," Elizabeth said, gathering her books up in her arms.
Elizabeth stood up and walked back to the school. Since her appetite failed
her, she was paler than a sheet and often got dizzy spells. Her steps were
unsteady, but she determined not to fall in front of anybody.
Applewood came out of the schoolroom. Elizabeth looked up at the teacher.
"I have to study my spelling," Elizabeth said monotonously.
The teacher didn't say anything as Elizabeth moved into the classroom.
Elizabeth sank into her seat with relief. As long as she sat she was in no
danger of dizzy spells and fainting. She picked up her book and tried to spell
the words out under her breath.
20 minutes later Elizabeth was still spelling the words out when the bell rang
and everyone rushed into the room, giggling. Catherine slid into the seat next
to Elizabeth. Applewood walked into the room and up to his desk where his
valise was on the table.
Applewood reached into his valise for tests that he had graded the night
before. He pulled his hand out with a look of disdain on his Scrooge-like face.
A dark fluid was all over his hand and the papers in his hand.
Everyone, except Elizabeth, started to giggle again. "STOP IT! Destruction
of public property and you think it's funny?" Applewood roared.
Elizabeth's face was totally ashen-gray and emotionless as she waited for
Applewood to signal her out. She usually was the scapegoat for every bad thing
that happened in that school and it happened, regular as clockwork, that she
was punished.
"Elizabeth Barkley, come up here," Applewood said, picking up his
pointer.
"Mr. Applewood, please? I didn't do it," Elizabeth begged in a tiny
trembling voice.
The school room was deathly quiet for all but two seconds. The next eight words
sounded as if they came from a funeral bell.
"Elizabeth Barkley is hereby expelled from school," Applewood said,
in a dangerously low voice.
Everyone gasped in shock. No one had ever been expelled from the Stockton
school before. Elizabeth's chin and knees shook and her stomach lurched
violently as if she would throw up. Elizabeth thought of Jarrod instantly. How
was she going to explain what happened to Jarrod?
Elizabeth walked through the fog to the Barkley ranch.
Since Stockton was a waterfront town fog was common both morning and afternoon.
She shivered slightly at the chill of the fog.
The Barkley mansion was aglow with warm lights as he approached Elizabeth
walked up the stone steps and pushed at the oak door. The Barkleys-Jarrod
included-were all congregated in the parlor. Elizabeth remembered dimly that
Jarrod had said that he was working at home today. Jarrod looked up at
Elizabeth as she came into the room. Her face was red and tear-streaked, her
hair was all a mess.
"Elizabeth, what's wrong? Are you sick?" Jarrod asked, his voice
turning all serious.
At Jarrod's kind-but serious-tone, Elizabeth burst into tears and ran to her
stepfather. She threw her arms around his neck and cried as if her heart would
break.
Jarrod smoothed back her tangled reddish-blonde locks of hair and gently kissed
her forehead. "What happened?" Victoria asked kindly, putting a hand
on Elizabeth's shoulder.
"He...He...He expelled me, Mrs. Barkley. I didn't do anything,"
Elizabeth sobbed, looking at Victoria.
"What did he say you did?" Jarrod asked, stroking her ear.
Elizabeth wiped her nose with his sleeve. "He said that I poured ink into
his valise, but I didn't! I didn't! Jarrod, you know me! I'm NOT a
troublemaker!" Elizabeth said, nearly close to shouting.
"I know you didn't. When you lie to me you don't look me in the
eyes," Jarrod said, pulling out his linen handkerchief to wipe her
tear-stained cheeks.
"Here. Blow your nose, Elizabeth," Jarrod ordered, handing her the
handkerchief.
"What do I do, Jarrod? I can't go back. Mr. Applewood hates me,"
Elizabeth whimpered, looking first at Jarrod and then looking at the others.
Jarrod felt a brief tug at his heart. After a few weeks Elizabeth was looking
to him to help her. She was starting to trust him with her problems at school.
Jarrod looked at Victoria, Heath, and Audra. All of them felt sorry for her,
Jarrod could see that in their eyes, but because of the promise that they made
not to tell Jarrod how to be her father, they kept quiet now.
"You won't go back today. You can stay here with Mother and Audra and
continue your studies," Jarrod said firmly.
"Thank you, Jarrod. I...I...love you," Elizabeth stammered.
Jarrod's blue eyes glowed with happiness. In the few weeks that he had been her
father, this was the first time that she had said that she loved him.
* * * * * * * *
Later that night, after Elizabeth had gone to bed, Jarrod
sat with his family in the parlor. Jarrod and the family was trying to talk
about Elizabeth's problem at school. Elizabeth had finally told Jarrod that she
was failing her grade and no one in the family had understood how or why.
"Jarrod, you know that Elizabeth would never pour ink into that man's
valise," Victoria said, bringing everyone's attention back to the original
problem that happened that day.
"I know, Mother. That would explain why she has been so lethargic lately
and lost weight," Jarrod said, drinking his coffee.
"Beth would have told you if Elizabeth was a troublemaker, wouldn't
she?" Nick asked.
"Yes she would have, Nick. I don't think that Elizabeth is to blame for
what been happening. I think something might be wrong with the teacher,"
Jarrod said, standing up and putting his hand on the fireplace mantle.
A slight cough from the corner drew everyone's attention. Silas, the family
butler, was looking at Jarrod. "Mr. Jarrod, Miss Elizabeth's friend Miss
Catherine came by a few days ago," Silas said, putting some more coffee on
the coffee table.
"What about it, Silas?" Victoria asked.
"Miss Catherine said that Mr. Applewood is too harsh on everyone. He
whipped a po' boy fo' bein' late to school. And the boy said he was hepin' out
on his pappy's farm," Silas said.
"So Catherine says that he's too harsh on everyone and Elizabeth's the one
who gets punishment worse than anyone," Victoria said thoughtfully.
"Yes, Mrs. Barkley," Silas said, ;laying a log on the fire.
"Pappy, can Heath and I join you in the schoolroom?" Nick asked,
turning to his brother.
"Nick, maybe you should stay home. I know your temper and you could lose
it," Jarrod said uneasily.
"Pappy, I'll be calm and civil," Nick promised, a cherubic look on
his face.
""Just don't hit him, Nick," Victoria warned. Like Jarrod
Victoria knew her middle son's temper. Heath could usually talk his brother out
of getting mad, but neither Victoria or Jarrod knew if Nick wouldn't lose it
this time.
"I promise, Mother," Nick said.
Early the next morning, before school had started for the
day, Jarrod, Elizabeth, Nick, and Heath sat in the schoolroom, listening to Mr.
Applewood tell the story of his valise and the ink. "Ruined. Absolutely ruined.
And I believe your stepdaughter did it," Applewood said, putting extra
reflection on the word stepdaughter.
Jarrod felt a touch of annoyance at his daughter being referred to as his
stepdaughter. "Mr. Applewood, I've known Elizabeth for only a few weeks.
I'm the one who brought Elizabeth and her mother out here. She has rarely ever
lied to me. If anything, she has been very honest. I believe her when she said
she didn't do it," Jarrod said, his voice firm.
"Well, parents-even stepparents-believe anything about children. But there
are two sides to every story," Applewood said.
"Oh, I agree. You were at the front of the school, weren't you?"
Jarrod asked in his best lawyer's voice.
"Of course," Applewood asked, puzzled.
"Then could there have been a possibility that someone could have come in
through the other door?" Heath spoke up, catching the gist of what Jarrod
was asking.
"Yes, it is quite possible. Maybe I did react in haste. Elizabeth, you are
accepted back into school," Applewood said, looking kind for the first
time since he became the teacher.
"Thank you, Mr. Applewood," Elizabeth said, nearly wilting with
relief.
"You're welcome. Elizabeth, would you like to ring the bell?"
Applewood asked generously.
"Yes Sir and thank you, Jarrod, Nick, and Heath," Elizabeth said,
turning her eyes to Jarrod and his brothers.
"I'll see you at home later tonight, Elizabeth," Jarrod said. Jarrod
gently kissed his stepdaughter's forehead and both walked out into the predawn
chill. Heath and Nick walked out with their brother and niece and wished her
goodbye. Nick and Heath walked down to the livery and Jarrod went to his
office. Elizabeth pulled the rope to ring the bell with great force.
The children piled into the school and greeted Elizabeth as she rang the bell.
After the children had gone inside, Elizabeth looked up at Mr. Applewood. The
look in his eyes made the skin on her arms crinkle in gooseflesh. The hatred in
his eyes told her that he still believed that she had poured the ink in his
bag. Jarrod, Heath, and Nick's persuasive argument had done nothing to sway
Applegate's opinion.
After lunch that day the students came into the classroom
to find Joshua Shaw dumping Applewood's valise and papers all over the floor.
Elizabeth froze in utter consternation at the scene before her. "Get out!
Get out!" Elizabeth waved her hands at Joshua as if he was a pesky fly or
dog.
Everyone ran to their seats as soon as they heard Applewood's steps returning
to the classroom.
Elizabeth sat in her chair, her face in her hands, waiting for Applewood to
single her out for punishment. Again. Applewood hissed under his breath as he
walked toward his bag. He picked up the valise and papers and turned toward the
class, his gray eyes blazing with anger. Elizabeth held her breath, waiting.
"Peter Lane, come up here please," Applewood roared.
"What fer?" Peter asked, perplexed.
"For destruction of property and to receive punishment," Applewood
said automatically.
"No Sir," Peter said, his face falling into a deep frown.
"Then I will come to you," Applewood said, picking up his pointer and
walking toward Peter.
Elizabeth knew then that Peter was going to be punished for something he didn't
do. Elizabeth also knew that if she said something she could get punished in
his place, but she was willing to cover for both Joshua Morris and Peter Lane.
"He didn't do it," Elizabeth said as Applewood walked past her desk.
Applewood paused and looked at Elizabeth. Her hands were folded calmly on the
desk and she looked ahead at the blackboard. "Elizabeth Barkley. Then I
suppose you do know who did this?" Applewood asked sarcastically.
Elizabeth kept her features calm and collected and didn't say a word.
"Young lady, you will reveal what you know. NOW!" Applewood roared,
hitting her desk with his pointer.
"That's enough!" A voice roared out in the wooden echo of the
pointer.
Elizabeth turned her head to look into the bright blue eyes of her stepfather.
Heath, Jarrod, and Nick stood by the back stove. All of their faces were grim and
fatalistic.
"Elizabeth, go get your things. You're going home now," Jarrod said,
his blue eyes locked on Applewood's gray eyes.
At that instant Elizabeth knew that Jarrod was very furious. He only talked to
her in that tone of voice when he was angry. The only thing that made her feel
better was that it wasn't her he was mad at.
"Mr. Barkley, you've caught me in an awkward position," Applewood
said, trying to save himself.
"My daughter forgot her homework. But Elizabeth won't be back in your
class ever again," Jarrod said.
"Mr. Barkley, I was close to resolving my little problem," Applewood
said, still trying to save himself.
"My brothers and I heard your 'little problem' halfway down the street.
Mr. Applewood, I'm calling a meeting of the school board," Jarrod said.
Elizabeth entered the room from the school's cloak room, wearing her brown coat
and carrying her dinner pail in her hand.
"I'm ready, Jarrod," Elizabeth said.
Jarrod wrapped his arms around her shoulders and led her outside, Heath and
Nick following them.
Applewood followed them out in a fit of rage. "Mr. Barkley, I haven't
finished talking to you!" Applewood snapped, treating Jarrod as if he were
a pupil.
He grabbed Jarrod's arm and swung him around. Jarrod grabbed Applewood by the
shirtfront and pushed his head against the schoolhouse.
"You owe our mother a thank you. She told Nick not to hit you, but she
didn't say anything about Heath or myself," Jarrod said. Jarrod grabbed
Applewood's pointer and broke it over his leg.
Elizabeth, Nick, and Heath stared at Jarrod in shock. Jarrod was angry, but
this was different than if Elizabeth lied to him or Jarrod wanting to go after
Cass Hyatt in revenge. This was parental rage. That of a father protecting his
little girl.
At the school, later that afternoon, Applewood stood there
telling his side of the story. Of course this story put Jarrod, Heath, and Nick
as antagonists who were out to cause trouble for the teacher.
"So I was close to resolving my little problem when Counselor Barkley and
his brothers came in and pulled Elizabeth out of my school," Applewood
said, concluding the story.
"Do you have anything to add to Mr. Applewood's story, Jarrod?" Fred
Madden asked his friend.
"No. I did pull Elizabeth out of the school after I heard him threatening
to hit her. No man has any right to strike any child of mine. Not even a
teacher," Jarrod said, his jaw tightening.
"But Jarrod, children also have to be in school. The law is very strict
about that. You're a lawyer. You helped pass that law in Stockton," Fred
said.
"Yes, I am a lawyer. But I'm a father first. I promised my wife I'd raise
her daughter as my own and protect her," Jarrod said.
"Promises to a wife you were married to for 5 days don't count,"
Maura Shaw said cruelly.
Everyone in the room stared at Maura. Jarrod broke the ice with a question.
"Mr. Applewood, why is my daughter failing?" Jarrod asked.
"I suppose she doesn't try hard enough," Applewood said, his face
turning red.
Jarrod picked up a file that he had brought with him. "Allow me to read
this to you. It was written by my wife when I first said that she would have to
go to school here. 'Elizabeth Randall is a great student. While her strengths
are reading and math, her weakest areas are geography and writing. Elizabeth is
a joy to have in any classroom. And while she does make occasional mistakes,
she does try," Jarrod finished, closing the file.
"I really don't think this is necessary to listen to, Mr. Barkley,"
Applewood said.
"I most certainly agree with, Mr. Applewood," Maura piped in.
"I believe it is. I have to understand why-or how-my little girl could go
from a good student to failing," Jarrod said, laying the file on his desk.
"You said that your wife wrote that. A parent will say anything about their
children," Applewood said, slandering Beth.
"I agree that most people would, but let's take a look at your resume.
Fred, may I have the resume Mr. Applewood gave you?" Jarrod asked, holding
out his hand.
Jarrod opened the file where he stood and read for a few seconds. "I'm not
going to go into this entire list of schools. The glowing reports from your
teaching experience are impeccable. You have taught at a lot of impressive
schools. Tell me, why did you leave the last school you were at in Minnesota?"
Jarrod asked, going into lawyer-mode.
"I was unhappy with the position," Applewood said vaguely.
"And what about the school before that?" Jarrod pressed relentlessly.
"Is this really necessary? This is about Elizabeth and how her mother
could say anything about her," Applewood said, trying to change the
subject.
"You said that my wife could have lied about my daughter. What about
you?" Jarrod asked.
"What are you driving at, Jarrod?" Fred asked, confused.
"We were hard-pressed for a teacher and we accepted Applewood's resume on
face value. I think we should contact these references and see what kind of
teacher he was," Jarrod said, his blue eyes hard as ice.
"I did not lie on this!" Applewood roared to Fred.
"Jarrod is not saying that you did!" Fred protested.
"You hired me to teach the children and when I do you blame me for
punishing a troublemaker!" Applewood continued his rampage.
Jarrod's jaw tightened at Applewood referring to his daughter as a
troublemaker. "I've run into people like you before, Barkley! You want
your children to be disciplined, but are afraid to. In the schoolroom children
have to learn that there is only one voice. Mine. That they have to be punished
for wrongdoing. If children want love they should find that at home," Applewood
said, his gray eyes brittle.
After that rant everyone stared in shocked silence. Applewood looked at
everyone. Even Maura Shaw didn't look as if she were on his side any more.
Applewood walked to the cloakroom and picked up his hat. Applewood looked at
Jarrod and then at Fred. "My resignation will be on the desk
tomorrow," Applewood said in a dead voice as he walked out.
Jarrod breathed a huge sigh of relief. Elizabeth's problems with the teacher
were over. He could just picture her relief when he told her. The only problem
left was, who was going to teach school now?
Elizabeth sat in the parlor, trying to be patient as she
waited for Jarrod to come home. It struck her as funny if she thought about it.
A few weeks ago she wouldn't have wanted to know if Jarrod was coming home or
not. But now she found herself wondering what the school board had decided
about Applewood.
Nick looked over at her as she sat there, nervously biting her lip.
"Relax, Elizabeth," Nick said, putting his hand on the mantle of the
fireplace.
"I'm trying, Uncle Nick. It's not easy though. I hope they get rid of
Applewood. I'd really like to have a teacher like my mother was,"
Elizabeth said, taking a drink of tea from the cup on the table beside her.
"I'm sure we'll find a teacher. I taught the school once and Audra taught
a few times," Victoria said, patting Elizabeth's knee gently.
"I don't mind what I get as a teacher. I bet that Mrs. Shaw is probably a
better teacher than Applewood was," Elizabeth said.
'I think anybody is a better teacher than Applewood," Heath said,
grimacing at Applewood's treatment of Elizabeth that afternoon.
The front door opened and Jarrod entered the foyer. "Jarrod! How did it
go? Did Applewood get fired? Who's going to be our next teacher?" Elizabeth
asked, the questions coming out in rapid succession.
"Hold your horses, Elizabeth. I can only answer one question at a
time," Jarrod rebuked her gently.
"I'm sorry, Jarrod. Okay. How did it go?" Elizabeth asked, slowing
down.
"Let me get my hat and coat off first," Jarrod said, taking off his
hat and coat and hanging them on the hall tree.
"I'll wait in the parlor," Elizabeth said. She left the foyer and sat
down on her footstool, drinking her tea.
Jarrod entered the room and sat down on the couch next to his mother.
"Now?" Elizabeth asked her stepfather.
"Not very patient, are you?" Audra asked, confused by Elizabeth's
need to know.
"Nope. I'm a hopeless case and I'll never improve," Elizabeth said,
grinning sheepishly.
"Applewood has retired. You never have to worry about him again,"
Jarrod said, looking into Elizabeth's blue-gray eyes.
"How did that happen, Pappy?" Nick asked.
"When I questioned his references he pitched a full-scale fit. He retired
when he saw that no one would defend his actions anymore," Jarrod said,
turning to his brother.
"So Jarrod, who's going to teach us?" Elizabeth asked.
"The school board talked about that too. Audra, would you like to teach
the children until we find a teacher," Jarrod said turning to his sister.
"I'd love to. When do I start?" Audra asked.
"Is tomorrow all right?" Jarrod asked.
"It's perfect," Audra said, smiling a sunny grin that matched her
blonde hair.
Elizabeth's stomach growled loudly at that moment. Elizabeth started to giggle.
"I'm sorry, Everyone. I haven't eaten much in a long time," Elizabeth
said, her face turning red.
"That's all right, but you are going to clean your plate tonight, Young
lady," Jarrod said, pretending to be stern.
"Yes Sir, Jarrod," Elizabeth said. She was melting with relief that
Applewood was gone and the joy radiating from her smile was felt by everyone in
the house.
Jarrod sat in the parlor late that night, looking into the
flames of the fireplace. Elizabeth had just come down for a glass of milk and
held the glass in her hand. Her reddish blonde hair was unbraided and went down
to her waist.
"Jarrod, if that fireplace hasn't talked back yet, then I suggest you go
to Islas del Cielo," Elizabeth said, half-jokingly.
Jarrod turned slightly to look at his stepdaughter. "Very funny,
Elizabeth. What are you doing up so late? you have school tomorrow, I
believe," Jarrod said.
"I know. I just couldn't sleep. I figured a glass of milk might
help," Elizabeth said, sitting on a footstool at Jarrod's feet.
"I was just thinking about everything that has happened in the past few
weeks. You and your mother arriving, your mother dying, and the problems we had
and Applewood," Jarrod said, pushing a lock of her hair behind her ear.
"That's a lot to think about, Jarrod. One thing is different, though, from
a few weeks ago. I hated you when I first met you. My father died when I was
small. I thought you couldn't take his place," Elizabeth said, in a small
voice.
"What do you think now?" Jarrod asked, serious look in his blue eyes.
"That I didn't want another man to take my father's place, but you come
awful close," Elizabeth said, a teasing twinkle in her eyes.
"Thank you. That means a lot to hear that coming from you. A whole
lot," Jarrod said, with tears in his eyes.
Jarrod and Elizabeth sat there in silence. Elizabeth drank her milk quickly.
After she licked the milk mustache from her upper lip, she looked at Jarrod
again.
"Jarrod, why did you stick up for me? I've been rotten to you since Mama
and me met you on the train," Elizabeth asked.
"Well, when I met you I thought you were a good kid. I still do,"
Jarrod said.
"Thanks. Can I ask you a favor?" Elizabeth asked, her blue-gray eyes
shining.
"Of course. What is it?" Jarrod asked.
"Can I call you Father," Elizabeth asked, her eyes pleading.
"Nothing will please me more," Jarrod said, his blue eyes glowing.
"All right, Father. I think I'll go up to bed now. Good night,
Father," Elizabeth said.
"Good night, Elizabeth," Jarrod said.
Elizabeth kissed Jarrod's cheek and hugged him before she went upstairs. She
knew that she loved Jarrod with all her heart. That now she was ready to call
him her father. That finally the broken heart she had felt on Beth's funeral
day was now healed.