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A Small Price To Pay	By : cowgirl65 Category: 1 through F > The Big Valley Views: 2767 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own The Big Valley and make no money from this.

Chapter List
- 1-ch. 1
- 2-ch. 2
- 3-ch. 3
- 4-ch. 4
- 5-ch. 5
- 6-ch. 6
- 7-ch. 7
- 8-ch. 8
- 9-ch. 9
- 10-ch. 10
- 11-ch. 11
- 12-ch. 12
- 13-ch. 13
- 14-ch. 14
- 15-ch. 15
- 16-ch. 16
- 10
- 11
- 12
A stab of pain brought Jarrod instantly awake and he quickly rolled off his injured arm. Taking a moment for the pain to subside, he breathed a heartfelt prayer of thanks that his gunshot wound was the only injury he or his brothers sustained in the previous day’s shootout with the railroad. The only physical injury anyway, he told himself wryly. The later firefight in the library was just as volatile as the one at Sample’s, but at least that one didn’t involve bullets. Jarrod winced at the increased throbbing in his arm when he sat up. Not that Nick wasn’t wishing for a loaded firearm throughout the discussion, but since the rest of the family accepted the blond cowboy as Tom Barkley’s son, Nick had no choice but to eventually go along.
Sighing, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and started to get ready for the day. Nick hadn’t gone quietly and from the glares his brother directed his way last night, Jarrod reckoned he would be the target of Nick’s wrath for the next while for making the first overture towards Heath after the gunfight. Not that he could have done anything else. He knew Tom Barkley hadn’t been a faithful husband and he remembered that time twenty-four years ago. Nick had likely been too young to remember his mother’s tears when their father didn’t return for many long weeks, but he’d certainly accompanied their father to the brothels on long cattle drives and knew of Tom’s infidelity.
Nick would come around, Jarrod told himself as he eased his arm into the sleeve of his brown jacket, but no one was going to be safe from that temper for a while. Jarrod sighed again. They needed to stand together right now; Crowne wasn’t going to back down, not with Jordan pulling the strings. Nick knew how ruthless the rail baron was, not as well as he did, but he had some idea. At least the message they’d sent almost two years ago managed to hold Jordan off; Jordan hadn’t been able to make good on his threat to harm the family when Jarrod refused to be his whore any longer. He almost wished he could have seen the expression on the older man’s face when he learned of their stand the previous day. Almost, but not really. He had no desire to be in the same room with the man again, even though their paths had and would cross again as Jarrod continued the fight through the courts and the government.
He adjusted the black sling around his neck and breathed a sigh of relief when the support lessened the ache in his arm. There was a lot to be done, but first he had to survive the battle he knew was coming at breakfast.
Jarrod steadfastly ignored the glares from Nick as he listened to his brother’s tirade. Or at least he tried to. Hopefully it was just the Barkley temper that was fuelling the dirty looks, but if his support of Heath had opened an uncrossable rift between them… Jarrod refused to take that thought any further. In spite of their current disagreements, his relationship with his brother was one of the things that kept him sane since their father’s death and if it wasn’t for Nick, he’d be dead right now by his own hand.
Nick wasn’t a fool; once he got over their father’s betrayal in siring another son, Jarrod had to believe he’d forgive him for his support of Heath. He watched his brother pace to the door and back to the table and hoped Nick would be done soon.
“…just let him come to me just one time with a dry shirt on his back…”
Nick’s rant was cut off when the other object of his ire walked through the door wiping his hands. Heath’s shirt was soaked with sweat and he’d obviously been hard at work already, despite Nick’s insinuations to the contrary.
“I was fixing a fence and I had a patch of mesquite to clear that's just begging for fire,” Heath said to their mother as an explanation for why he was late. Then he turned to Nick with a cocky gleam in his eyes. “And that bridge has got to be fixed before my Modoc breaks a leg which I don't cotton to happen.”
Jarrod caught the grin Eugene shot his way and in spite of everything, he had to smile back at his youngest brother. There was no way the rest of them would have gotten away with showing up at the table without changing and cleaning up first, but from their mother’s amused smile, she was going to let it pass this time.
Heath sat in the chair to Jarrod’s left, tucked his napkin into his shirt and gave the rest of the family a small nod in greeting. He could feel the irritation emanating from Nick as his brother passed behind him to take his own seat and when Nick and Heath stabbed the same steak with their forks at the same time, Jarrod wondered if he was up to breaking apart the inevitable brawl. Well, Gene was there to help, even if he didn’t have the muscle of his older brothers and Jarrod involuntarily tensed in anticipation.
But the tension was broken by a giggle from Audra, even though Nick and Heath continued to glare at each other across the table. Suddenly, their attitudes seemed less like two alpha wolves fighting for control of the pack and more like two banty roosters all puffed up and seeing who could crow the loudest. Jarrod relaxed and knew that if there was going to be peace at the table, it was up to him to be the peacemaker. Looking from one unmoving brother to another, Jarrod picked up his knife and cut the offending piece of meat in half.
Somehow, that simple act triggered something. Heath grinned slightly, Nick started to chuckle and Jarrod breathed a sigh of relief as their mother said grace.
The rest of the meal continued smoothly as Heath included Gene in the plans to fix the bridge and Jarrod’s heart was lighter when Nick gave him an apologetic look. Jarrod silently acknowledged the apology with a nod and was finally able to set the conflict in his family aside. He didn’t believe that it was completely finished, but presenting a united front was essential if Heath was to be accepted as a Barkley by the rest of the Valley. And the same united front was needed if they were going to win the war against the railroad and not just the most recent battle. Hopefully yesterday’s firefight would sway public opinion in their favour and congress would override the governor’s veto when he took his bill back to the house.
Jarrod shuddered involuntarily. In spite of the fact that there had been no overt threats to the family, their stand at Sample’s was likely to infuriate Jordan beyond what his refusal to continue their deal had and he didn’t even want to speculate what Hannibal Jordan’s state of mind would be after his defeat.
His mother must have seen something on his face. “Jarrod?” she asked, setting down her coffee. “Is everything all right? Is your arm bothering you?”
He couldn’t very well say it wasn’t, not with the way it throbbed in time with his heart, but it was nothing worse than what could be expected after having a bullet lodged there that had to be dug out by the doctor. “It’s manageable, lovely lady,” he told her. “I was just thinking of the amount of work I have in front of me. I wouldn’t be surprised if I need to go to Sacramento and deal with the fallout from yesterday.”
Victoria eyed him sternly. “Don’t overdo it, Jarrod. Remember the doctor said you need to rest that arm.”
“Pappy’ll take any excuse not to get those hands dirty,” Nick scoffed. A knot formed in Jarrod’s stomach at the apparent insult, but when he looked at Nick, he knew his brother was only teasing with the long-standing jibe. Heath also looked momentarily alarmed, but Nick chuckled and their new brother appeared relieved as well.
“That’s why I made sure to get in the way of that bullet, so I won’t have to help burn mesquite,” Jarrod confirmed with a grin, earning him a glare from their mother.
“Jarrod, getting yourself shot is not funny,” she scolded.
“No, it’s not,” he agreed, “but you can’t blame me for being happy I’m still here to laugh about it.” He got up, walked around and kissed her on the cheek. “Now I need to get to the office. Gene, make sure you keep these two in line.” He gave Nick and Heath each a pointed look.
Gene grinned cheekily. “You can count on me.”
Jarrod clapped the young man on the shoulder on his way to the door. “Don’t worry if I’m late for supper.”
“Hey, Jarrod, wait up.”
He paused for Nick to catch up and they walked into the library together. Nick leaned against the desk as Jarrod gathered the papers he needed.
“Pappy, it’s not you I’m mad at. I hope you know that.”
A weight was lifted off Jarrod’s shoulders at that admission. He nodded and came around to perch on the desk beside Nick. “I know, Nick.”
“It’s just this whole goddamn situation,” Nick continued without a break. “You’re right, the only way to finish this once and for all isn’t with guns, but dammit, sometimes you need to stand up and fight!”
“I know, Nick,” Jarrod repeated quietly.
“And then Heath showing up and Father betraying us and knowing how much it hurt Mother that Father had another son…” Nick finally stopped. “I’m sorry, Jarrod. I shouldn’t have taken any of this out on you.”
Jarrod smiled ruefully, glad everything was all right between them again. “You were frustrated that I didn’t grab my gun and go after the goons from the railroad with you as soon as we heard about the notices the farmers got.” Then he shrugged. “You were probably right. If we would have done something then instead of me trying to wait for the courthouse to open, maybe Sig’s farm wouldn’t have burned and Frank and twenty other men might not be dead.”
“And maybe you would be dead instead of just wounded,” Nick told him firmly. “You did what you had to.”
Jarrod clapped Nick on the shoulder. He knew he’d always feel guilty for the deaths at Sample’s, but Nick was right, about his actions and Nick’s own. “And so did you. It’s probably a good thing we don’t always think alike.”
Nick chuckled, but then his expression grew more serious. “You think Heath’s gonna change some of that?”
“Things have to change, Nick,” Jarrod reminded him, “or they go stale. And would you rather sit on a three legged stool or one with only two?”
That got a loud laugh. “Only if we can cut that third leg down to size. Heath’s sure a cocky little bast-” Nick abruptly cut off what he was going to say.
Jarrod chuckled. “I understand completely, Nick. But we might get cut down a little too, y’know.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments before Jarrod stood. “I have to get going, I’ve got a lot of work to do. You should get moving too,” he added slyly, “Heath’s got a busy day planned for you. Working ranch and all that.”
“Funny, Jarrod,” Nick snorted, but Jarrod could tell he was amused. “Take it easy, okay?”
“You got it.”
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A Small Price To Pay