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Winning the War	By : cowgirl65 Category: 1 through F > The Big Valley Views: 1709 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Jarrod sat back down to the pile of papers on his desk. He was happy he’d arrived early for court that morning; he was suitably impressed with the lawyer trying the case before his, enough so that he’d asked the young man if he might consider working in Jarrod’s office. The discussion continued over lunch and both attorneys were pleased with preliminary plans for an upcoming partnership.
Jarrod flipped through the files and was glad to see he was finished with all his current cases when there was a knock on his door followed by his secretary.
“Mr. Barkley, there’s a Ben Moore here to see you.”
Jarrod’s brow lifted in surprise. “Send him in, Connie.”
Janie’s father entered the office and removed his hat as Connie shut the door behind him. Jarrod rose to his feet and walked around the desk to shake the older man’s hand.
“Ben, this is a pleasant surprise.” Jarrod started to worry when he noted how the normally genial man’s smile was uncharacteristically brief. He gestured to a chair. “What brings you to Stockton?” he asked and prayed there was nothing wrong with Janie as he perched on the edge of his desk.
Ben sat, took a deep breath and looked Jarrod firmly in the eye. “Jarrod, I’m not going to beat around the bush. What did you do to my daughter?”
Jarrod was slightly taken aback. “I assure you, Ben, I’ve always treated Janie with the same respect I’d expect a man to show my sister. Why? What’s wrong?”
“Ever since she came home from her visit, she’s been downright maudlin. Moping around, hardly smiling, even her cooking’s worse than it was before.” He shook his head sadly. “I reckoned it was something to do with you.”
Jarrod got to his feet and admitted, “I think it is, Ben.” He paced to the window. “I asked Janie to marry me and she turned me down, even though I’m sure she feels the same way about me that I do about her. She says she’s just not ready to leave you or Mineral Springs. I tried to tell her that she didn’t have to, that I’d come to her, but she wouldn’t listen.” He sighed. “She’s convinced there won’t be enough work for me to open a law office there.” Upon hearing a snort, Jarrod turned around. The twinkle was back in Ben’s eye and a smile was on his face.
“Well, don’t that beat all.” Ben shook his head, this time in amusement. “My Janie’s as sweet as honey and I know how she feels about you, but sometimes I reckon she’s part mule.”
Jarrod had to chuckle. “I can’t argue with that. I think you should know that I’ve decided to relocate to Mineral Springs anyway.” Ben looked surprised and Jarrod continued. “I’ve had an associate in my office in San Francisco for over a year, I don’t have to travel there very often and I’m planning on doing the same thing here. I love Janie, Ben,” he told the other man solemnly. “There’s no way I’m letting her go without a fight.”
Ben held out his hand and Jarrod took it. “You’ve made an old man very happy,” he stated with a wide grin. “I’m glad I don’t need to pull out my shotgun.”
Jarrod smiled wryly. “I almost wish you would. It would make things a whole lot easier.” Then he chuckled again when a wicked thought entered his mind. “Y’know, that’s not a bad idea.”
“I thought you said there was no need.” Ben looked puzzled.
“Oh, not on my part,” Jarrod said with a devilish glint in his eye as he leaned back on the desk. “But your daughter on the other hand…” He briefly related what happened at the pond when Janie arrived.
Rather than being scandalized, Ben was amused. “Well, you just get yourself down to Mineral Springs and I’ll make sure the gun’s loaded. Can’t have an upstanding young fellow like yourself dishonoured like that, not at all.”
Jarrod laughed. “Ben, I’m glad you’re on my side. Now how about coming out to the ranch for dinner? I’m assuming you were planning to catch the stage going out in the morning.”
Ben put on his hat as Jarrod gathered up a few papers to finish at home. “Reckon I’ll take you up on that. And you’d better make sure your mother comes up for a bit after you and Janie are married. Her cooking was getting better, but I’d hate to see a strapping young fellow like you starve.”

*

Jarrod looked up from his packing at the tap on his bedroom door. “Come in.” His mother entered with a bundle of quilts in her arms. “What’s this?”
Victoria smiled as she set it down on the bed. “I thought you could use a few extra items of bedding, assuming you thought to pack any at all.”
Jarrod chuckled and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you for saving an old bachelor from having to sleep on a bare mattress,” he teased. “Even though I don’t plan on being a bachelor for long.”
Sitting on the bed, Victoria patted a spot beside her. “It’s not going to be the same around here without you, dear.”
Jarrod sat beside her and took her hand. “Mother, I’m only moving to Mineral Springs. It’s less than a day’s ride from here.”
“I know.” She smiled at him a bit wistfully. “But even though you’ve been living your own life for quite a while now, it’s still hard for a mother to see one of her children move on.”
“It’s not that I want to leave, Mother…” Jarrod started, but Victoria forestalled him by placing her hand on his cheek.
“It’s that you love Janie and want the two of you to be happy,” she finished for him. “Just as I know you will be.”
Jarrod pulled her into a warm hug. “Thank you, Mother.”
“Oh, I just hope you’ll still be thanking me when I become a meddling mother-in-law,” she said mischievously. “You know you won’t be able to stop me from being underfoot from time to time.”
Jarrod chuckled. “As if I’d dare try. Besides, Ben reminded me that Janie could probably use a few more cooking lessons.”
“Jarrod! You finished yet?” Nick strode into the room without any other warning. “Heath and I are all ready, hurry up!”
Jarrod turned a quizzical look on his loud brother. “Ready for what?”
“Didn’t I tell you?” At the shake of Jarrod’s head, Nick elaborated. “There’s no way we’re letting you leave without a proper send-off. Everyone’s meeting at the Golden Slipper, now get a move on.” Hands on hips, he tapped his foot impatiently.
Jarrod chuckled as he stood and helped his mother up. “Duty calls,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
“Don’t wait up, Mother,” Nick called over his shoulder as Victoria’s laughter followed them out of the room.
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Winning the War