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Be A Man	By : cowgirl65 Category: 1 through F > The Big Valley Views: 3052 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I in no way own The Big Valley. I make no money from writing this, just the personal satisfaction of (hopefully!) entertaining those who love the show as much as I do.

Chapter List
- 13
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- 15
Heath sat quietly as the debate raged around him. He’d made his decision by showing up to the fight at Sample’s, the rest was up to his father’s family. Victoria Barkley had already ordered him to move his things into the big house and when Nick found out, Heath was surprised the mansion was still standing after the explosion. Looking up, he saw his oldest brother regarding him with the same warm acceptance he had when he offered him the cigar after the shooting stopped. Heath returned the look with a wry grin and turned his attention back to his other brother’s tirade.
“Just like that, we pick up a brother. Is that what you're trying to tell me? Well, I ain’t buying it!” Nick’s arms were firmly crossed across his chest and Heath thought of the mule belonging an old miner he knew.
Jarrod snuffed out his cigar. “Not quite just like that.” Heath saw him glance at both his mother and sister before he went over to Nick. “I know it’s usually a majority vote in this family, but I’m not going to force you to accept him, Nick.” Heath was saddened by the words, but he could understand. Jarrod and Nick had been brothers all their lives and he was just a new-come interloper. But he got a surprise when Jarrod walked over and stood behind him.
“If you don’t think Heath is entitled to an equal part in the family holdings, so be it, I’m not going to fight with you,” Jarrod continued. “But he’s still one of Father’s children, my brother.” He gripped Heath’s shoulder. “He gets half of my share.” Jarrod walked over to sit behind the desk. He pulled out a piece of paper, dipped a pen in the ink and started writing.
Heath was stunned. “Jarrod, you don’t have to do that,” he protested. Jarrod looked up and his steady gaze caught Heath’s.
“Yes, I do, Heath,” he responded quietly and resumed writing.
Heath suddenly knew Jarrod’s offer had nothing to do with what had gone on between them. It wasn’t a way to buy his silence, it was just who he was, the innate fairness and integrity of the man Heath was proud to call ‘brother’ and he couldn’t belittle Jarrod’s generosity by refusing. “Thanks, big brother.” Jarrod looked up again and gave Heath a smile that warmed his heart.
Victoria spoke up. “Heath is right, Jarrod. You don’t have to do that.” She looked meaningfully at her more volatile son. “Does he, Nick?”
Nick’s stance softened a bit. “No, I guess he doesn’t,” he conceded. “But if that boy's a Barkley, he has a job to learn.” Nick pointed an accusing finger at Heath. “And I'm gonna make sure you know what it is. This is a working ranch and you pull your own weight. And that means up in the morning, every morning, with the rest of the crowd at five o'clock and sweat! Just let you come to me just one time with a dry shirt on your back…”
“Boy howdy, Nick, you’d think I don’t know what it is to work for a living,” Heath cut him off. “I reckon there’s a mile of fences to be fixed and more than one patch of mesquite to clear that's just begging for fire. And that bridge has got to be fixed before my Modoc breaks a leg, which I don't cotton to happen.” He got to his feet. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d best get some shut-eye. Four-thirty comes awful early. Audra, ma’am,” he said with a nod to the ladies.
“Good night, Heath,” both Victoria and Audra said and Jarrod added, “Sleep well, Heath.” Nick just stood and glowered a moment before a slight grin came to his lips.
“If you ain’t up, I’m dragging you out of that bed,” he warned and Heath just gave him a cocky two-fingered wave as he left the room.
Victoria also rose to her feet. “I’m going to go up as well. It’s been a long day.” She kissed Nick then Jarrod on the cheeks. “Good night, dears. Don’t stay up too late.”
“Night, Mother.”
“Goodnight, Mother.”
Victoria turned to her daughter. “Are you coming, Audra?”
“Yes.” Audra stood up and gave both her brothers a kiss and a hug as well. “See you in the morning.”
Once they were alone, Nick went over to the cabinet and poured himself a drink. “Scotch, Jarrod?” When he didn’t get an answer, he looked over to the desk. Jarrod had his chin in his hands and was staring at nothing. Nick poured a tumbler of his brother’s favourite libation and set it in front of him.
Jarrod looked up. “What was that, Nick?”
Nick took a drink and perched on the edge of the desk. “So, what now?”
Jarrod leaned back in his chair. “I go into town in the morning and draw up the necessary documents and you let the men know there’s another boss on this ranch.”
Nick snorted. “I was talking about the railroad. I’ll handle the men.”
Shrugging defeatedly, Jarrod said, “I don’t know, Nick. Yours and Father’s way seems to be the only one that has any results.” He sighed. “I just feel so useless.”
“Jarrod, you’re the only one who can keep this from happening again,” Nick told him firmly. “There’s always going to be more guns and more money to hire them. This has got to be stopped for good. The only way to do that is through the law and you’re the best damned lawyer I know.”
Jarrod smiled a little. “I suppose since the governor vetoed my bill, the next thing to do is take our case to Washington. Judge Harkins is in San Francisco. He might be able to point me towards the right people.”
“Harkins,” Nick mused. “Isn’t he the one you read law with?”
Jarrod smiled a little at the memory. “Yep. Grant just appointed him to the Supreme Court. Maybe he can help us.”
Nick took a swallow of his whiskey. “Well, I’ll hold down the fort while you charm the movers and shakers in the capitol.”
“With Heath’s help,” Jarrod reminded him.
That statement made Nick drain his glass in one gulp. “You really believe that story of his, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Jarrod said simply. “And so do you, unless you actually believe our father was a saint.”
Nick looked down into his empty glass. “Reckon I just don’t want to admit I know he wasn’t,” he replied softly.
Jarrod got up from the desk and put a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Nick.”
“You got nothing to be sorry for, Pappy,” Nick assured him. “You’re the one who’s always held everything together and you’ve never done anything to disappoint me.”
Not that you know of, at least, was Jarrod’s thought as Nick put the glass on the desk.
“I should head up, too. Don’t you stay up too late. You need your rest for that arm to heal.” Nick started to leave and then turned back to give Jarrod a fierce hug. “Don’t know what I’d have done if that bullet had got you somewhere else.”
Jarrod returned the embrace. “And I don’t know what I’d have done if one found you,” he echoed.
Nick gave Jarrod a clap on the back and left as Jarrod sat back behind the desk to start preparing for the next engagement in the Valley’s war against the Coastal and Western Railroad.
- 13
- 14
- 15
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Be A Man