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A Time For Everything	By : cowgirl65 Category: 1 through F > The Big Valley Views: 1445 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: i don't own The Big Valley and make no money from this.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
A/N: The next three chapters are taken straight from the episode "A Time To Kill". The only place I've deviated from episode canon is in a comment Victoria makes to Brett. Instead of "I've often wondered...", I changed it to "I have to wonder..." so it feels more like she's never met Brett before.
Isn't it wonderful when you can write slash using all the original material?

Chapter 6 A TIme To Embrace

“What do you think, Nick?” Jarrod steepled his fingers while his brother perused the contract.
The dark haired rancher nodded slowly. “Looks good.” He held out his hand to the representative of the company that was bidding for the contract to ship Barkley produce back east. “I think we have ourselves a deal, gentlemen.”
Jarrod stood and walked out from behind his desk. “Then all we need to do is sign the papers…”
The door opened and his secretary came in, closing the door behind her. “I’m sorry to interrupt, Mr. Barkley, but there’s a gentleman here to see you. He was quite insistent and told me to give you this.”
Jarrod took the silver object and his stomach did a backflip when he recognized it. How long had it been? There had been a few letters during the war, but after several were returned, Jarrod no longer knew where Brett was. He’d gone into a deep downward spiral, drinking too much and hanging out with the wrong sort of people. He’d even convinced himself he was in love with Julia Saxon, a beautiful Confederate spy, to try and get over his loss, but there was always a gaping hole in his heart where Brett had been.
“Excuse me, gentlemen, I’ll be right back.” As he walked to the door, Jarrod had no idea what he was going to say or what he was going to do.
Jarrod opened the door and there he was, the same cocky self-assured man who’d stolen his heart so many years ago. All of a sudden, Jarrod was overcome by anger. Brett knew where he lived, knew how to find him and he hadn’t ever written. How dare he show up here out of the blue with those stunning eyes and that sexy smile? “Well, well, well, so you finally got here.” Jarrod put his hands on his hips in a defiant posture as though he was questioning a hostile witness. “You didn’t have any trouble finding the place?” He could see Brett was somewhat taken aback at his belligerent tone.
“No, I didn’t have any trouble.” Brett got over his surprise and mirrored Jarrod’s posture.
“You sure it didn’t inconvenience you?”
“No, not a bit.” Brett’s tone was just as adversarial as Jarrod’s.
“Just passing through, no doubt.”
“I’m here at your invitation, Jarrod.” Then Brett smiled and Jarrod’s anger melted away. It suddenly didn’t matter why Brett had vanished from his life, all that mattered was he was here now.
“Brett, you wild and wandering maverick, what do you have to say for yourself?” Jarrod took the two steps to reach him and grabbed Brett in a tight hug. There was so much he wanted to say, so much he wanted to do, but his brother and his secretary were watching them from the other room, so he let Brett go. “Why didn’t you let me know you were coming?”
Brett leaned back on the desk and Jarrod’s heart raced when he smiled that smile again. “What? And miss a welcome like this?”
Jarrod chuckled. “You haven’t changed a bit.” God, it was good to see Brett again, no matter what had happened and how long it had been. “Well, now that you’re here, what are your plans? Just passing through or do you plan to stay?” Please let him want to stay, his mind begged. They couldn’t go back to what they were, but Jarrod wanted a chance to see if they could become something again.
The smile never left Brett’s lips. “Well if I stay, can I make a place for myself?”
“In this valley? Believe me, it’s crying for men like you, it’s your oyster.” He laughed in relief. Brett was going to stay, at least for a little while.
Then he remembered the half coin he held in his hand. He turned it over before pulling out his watch chain. He’d almost lost his piece once during the war and when he got home, he drilled a hole through it and attached it to the gold chain of the watch he’d been given by his father. The only person who knew the coin’s significance was Nick and Jarrod knew his brother would never betray his confidence.
Fitting the two pieces together, Jarrod looked up at Brett and wasn’t sure what he saw in those hazel eyes.
“Unum ad finem,” Brett said softly and this time, Jarrod could read a myriad of emotions in Brett’s eyes, mostly guilt and fear tempered by hope. He wondered what Brett could read in his.
Jarrod tossed back Brett’s half, which the other man deftly caught. “I’ve got some work to take care of, won’t take a minute.” Heading into the office, he spoke quickly so Brett wouldn’t have a chance to object. “I’ll meet you over at the hotel and we’ll ride out to the house, you’ll stay with us of course.”
“Oh, I don’t…” Brett tried to protest, but Jarrod cut him off.
“Your objection’s overruled.” Jarrod told him and was rewarded with another of those smiles that still made him go weak in the knees. “Good to have you here, Brett,” he added softly.
“Thank you, counsellor.”
Jarrod nodded and as he went back into the inner office, he wondered why Brett had been so formal at the end.
It was all he could do to keep his concentration on the business at hand. He ignored Nick’s questioning look as they signed the papers and bid the representative farewell.
“Was that the other half of your coin?” Nick asked as soon as the door was closed.
“It was,” Jarrod confirmed as he retrieved his hat.
“Why the devil would he show up now, after all this time?” Nick wanted to know. Jarrod looked up from buckling on his gunbelt and noticed a faint scowl on his brother’s face. “How long has it been, anyway?
Contrary to his initial thought, Jarrod knew exactly how much time it had been. Eleven years, ten months and seven days had passed since he’d walked out of that apartment in St. Louis, eleven years, ten months and seven days since he’d kissed those delectable lips. It wasn’t as if he’d been celibate, but his dalliances were few and far between. He still craved the feeling of another hard cock against his or wanted to be sheathed in a tight muscular ass, but never again had he been on the receiving end of another man’s attentions. He could come up with a multitude of reasons why not, but deep down he knew the reason simply was that it wasn’t Brett.
“A long time,” was all he said to Nick, “before the war.” He started for the door. “I’ll meet you back at the ranch. Tell Mother we might be having a guest.”
Nick caught his arm before he could leave the room. “Now wait a minute, Jarrod. You spilled your guts to me about Brett Schuyler when we got drunk together after Father died and I’ve seen the look on your face when you pull that coin out of your pocket. He hurt you, dammit. Why would you want to open up old wounds?”
Jarrod pulled out of Nick’s grip. “I was the one who left, Nick,” he snapped, partially out of annoyance and partially out of the knowledge that Nick had a point. “Brett had every reason not to contact me.”
“Then why does he turn up in your office out of the blue?”
Jarrod didn’t have an answer for that. Instead, he put a hand on Nick’s shoulder. “I’m a big boy, Nick. I’ll be fine.”
Nick grabbed his hat and fixed it firmly on his head. “Well, he’d better watch his step or he’ll have me to answer to.”
Jarrod told his secretary to close up for the day as they left.
“I brought the big wagon into town today,” Nick told Jarrod as they walked across the street. “I’ll get Jingo from the livery before I bring it up and we can head off to the ranch together.”
Jarrod was going to protest but then thought better of it. If Brett asked him upstairs to a room where they could have some privacy, he could always tell Nick to go on ahead without them, even though Nick was sure to get ideas of what they might be doing behind closed doors.
But if it had been eleven years, ten months and seven days since they’d seen each other, it was also that long for both he and Brett to change. He wasn’t the same idealistic law student he was back then; he still held the same beliefs and values, but he’d been shaped by time and tragedy and Brett likely had been as well. Having Nick along would give him a chance to test the waters and figure out his own feelings without all the awkwardness that might there if they were alone.
“Sounds good, Nick. We’ll meet you outside.”
Nick went off in the direction of the livery while Jarrod entered the hotel. His heart leaped when he saw Brett lounging in a chair in the hotel lobby.
“You weren’t kidding when you said it wouldn’t take a minute,” Brett rose and clasped Jarrod’s arm in a firm grip. He picked up his suitcases and said, “Just find me a good horse and we can head out to your ranch.”
Jarrod didn’t realize how much he’d hoped that Brett would invite him up to his room until that moment. He masked his disappointment and grabbed one of the cases. “My brother Nick’s in town. He brought the wagon and suggested we all ride back together.”
“I’ve been looking forward to meeting him,” Brett said as he went towards the door. “In fact, I’m looking forward to meeting your whole family. I remember all the times you used to talk about them.”
But no mention of looking forward to the two of them spending time together, Jarrod noticed, and he hoped it was only because they were in a public place.

Jarrod opted to ride home, letting Nick drive the wagon with Brett beside him. Sitting beside Brett on the wagon, not knowing if he could touch him, was more than the lawyer thought he could take right then. He made a note to thank Nick for engaging Brett in conversation about the ranch and the happenings in the family over the past decade. It gave Jarrod a chance to sort out his own thoughts and from the look that Nick shot him, that was likely the intent.
Jarrod knew how fortunate he was to have Nick as a brother. It was like they’d only said goodbye yesterday when they met up in Philadelphia on their way home from the war, even though they hadn’t seen each other for almost seven years. Nick was at least a foot taller and they’d both been changed by the hell they’d seen, but they knew each other instantly and almost missed their train due to their elation at finding one another again.
Their bond had been further strengthened after their father was shot down. Neither had time to grieve; Jarrod made sure the rail barons didn’t sense any weakness to exploit and Nick had his hands full managing the ranch. Both young men needed to prove themselves worthy of filling Tom Barkley’s boots and it was late one night after the railroad finally backed down that his father’s loss fully hit Jarrod. When Nick came home after a tiring day of trying to prove that he was capable of taking over the ranch, the young lawyer had already consumed at least a quarter of a bottle of whiskey. It didn’t take long for Nick to catch up and soon they were lost in sorrow and drunken reminiscing. Guard down, Jarrod found himself telling his brother about that Christmas when Brett’s father died and how they’d ended up in bed together.
To his shock, Nick hadn’t hit him. He didn’t even pull back in disgust at the knowledge his brother had intimate relations with another man. Instead, he asked Jarrod if he’d been in love with Brett and what happened to him. Jarrod was finally able to talk about something he’d kept deep inside and poured out all his hopes, dreams and heartbreak about their affair. Nick listened without prejudice; he only commented that at least his brother couldn’t get another man pregnant.
Jarrod was shocked by Nick’s statement, but Nick went on to tell him that during the conflict, he’d met a young woman as sickened by war as he was. They’d taken solace in each other and when he was in the same area a few months later, he found out they’d conceived a child. They were going to marry, but everything was made moot when she caught fever and passed away.
Jarrod glanced over to Nick, who was turning Brett’s attention towards a herd of Barkley horses. Both brothers learned a lot about each other that night, not in the least was that Jarrod knew Nick didn’t judge him for preferring men over women. Later, when one of them was plagued by echoes of the war, heartbreak or just had something they needed to get off their chest, they’d retreat into the library with a bottle and pour their hearts out to each other. Nick knew exactly how much Brett meant to Jarrod, even though the other man had disappeared from his brother’s life. He’d even urged Jarrod to hire the Pinkertons to track him down, but Jarrod refused. Brett knew where he lived; if he wanted to be with Jarrod, he only had to contact him.
He’d resigned himself that memories were all he’d ever have until he opened his office door and saw Brett standing there. Did he dare hope that Brett was there for him? Glancing back over, Jarrod saw Brett looking at him. Their eyes locked together and Jarrod saw the longing and fear that he remembered from their first time. Jarrod’s breathing quickened and he felt the stirrings of desire.
Jingo shied and Jarrod tore his eyes away from Brett to regain control. When he glanced back, Brett was again paying attention to Nick. Jarrod knew he had to get Brett alone, find out why he’d finally come and what the future might hold for them.
A plan in mind, Jarrod devoted his attention to Brett for the rest of the way. The sandy hair, chiselled features and laughing hazel eyes were exactly as he remembered them. He didn’t try to keep the desire from his eyes when Brett occasionally glanced at him and hoped the only reason Brett looked away quickly was that Nick was there and not because he didn’t return the feeling.
Before he knew it, they were pulling up in front of the house. Brett looked at it in admiration as he stepped out of the buggy.
“Nice place.”
“We like it.” Nick took Jingo’s reins from Jarrod. “I’ll put up the horses and bring Brett's bags in.”
“Thanks, Nick.” Jarrod looked to Brett. “Ready to meet the others?”
Brett smiled and, much to Jarrod’s delight, he slung an arm around Jarrod’s shoulders. Jarrod reached up to grasp Brett’s shoulder and they went into the house together, smiling and laughing as though they’d never parted.
“Mother!” Jarrod called out. “We have a guest!”
Victoria came out from the arch to the dining room as they took off their hats and paused when she saw the two men.
“Brett Schuyler!” she exclaimed. “Welcome to our home.” She held out a hand and Brett clasped it warmly.
“Thank you, Mrs. Barkley. I’m surprised you recognize me.”
Victoria smiled indulgently at both of them. “Oh, Jarrod described you so well in his letters, I’d know you anywhere, even after all these years.” She turned at footsteps from the library. “Oh, Silas,” she told the black man as he entered the room with Audra. “This is Jarrod’s friend from law school, Brett Schuyler. Could you make up the guest room for him?”
“Oh, course, Missus Barkley.” He turned a wide smile on Brett. “It’s a pleasure to have you with us, Mr. Schuyler.”
Audra stepped forward as Silas went up the stairs. “Jarrod never told me we were having a guest.” She dimpled at Brett. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Brett looked from face to face, smiling widely. “Well, if I knew I’d have this kind of welcome, I would've come sooner.”
Jarrod wanted very much to ask why he hadn’t, but held his tongue. He’d make sure they had a chance to be alone later and find out why Brett had been silent for so long.
“So what brings you to Stockton, Mr. Schuyler?” Victoria asked as she led him to the parlour. “Business or pleasure?” She sat on the settee, spread her skirt and gestured for Brett to sit on the other end.
“A little of both, I hope.” Brett shot Jarrod a look that went straight to his groin and he hoped no one would notice as he went to light a cigar. “And please call me Brett.”
“A client?" Audra wanted to know. She took a seat across from Brett.
“No,” Brett said with a shake of his head. “I never actually practised law after graduation. I thought I’d do a little business, see an old friend…” Jarrod returned Brett's wink with a smile of his own.
All heads turned at the sound of the door and Nick strode in with Heath following him. “Heath, this is Jarrod’s friend from law school, Brett Schyuler. Brett, our brother Heath.”
Heath stepped over and shook Brett’s hand. “Brett. Would you like a drink?”
“No thanks.”
“I’d like a sherry please, Heath.” Victoria turned her attention back to Brett. “I’m sure you and Jarrod have some wonderful stories to share from your law school days.”
“Ah but where to begin?” Jarrod lifted an eyebrow towards Brett.
Brett shrugged. “I don’t know. How about with the time I liberated the dry ice from the medical college and filled the lecture theatre with fog?”
Jarrod laughed as he walked over to the mantel to stand by Nick. “And it was right after that when I painted the zebra stripes on Prof. Hamilton’s old mare.”
Brett looked at him indignantly. “Wait a minute, wait a minute; I painted the stripes on the mare. You put the liniment in his bathwater.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Jarrod took a puff of his cigar and felt a warm satisfaction. It was starting to feel just like old times.
“How did you two ever graduate?”
Jarrod looked over and saw the amusement on his sister’s face. It turned to laughter as Nick told them, “Well, they just broke into an office and stole two diplomas.” He walked over to Heath and poured himself a drink.
“Oh, no no no, it wasn’t all fun and games,” Jarrod protested. “Of course it might have been for Brett here, he was kind of the brilliant type, just breezed through.” Jarrod would have been jealous at the ease with which Brett aced his classes if his friend hadn’t been so damned charming and so damned sexy. Not a bad student himself, Jarrod knew his grades were better for having Brett’s help.
“I have to wonder why you never went into law,” Victoria asked. Jarrod hoped Brett answered her; it was something he wanted to know himself.
“Well, I couldn’t see myself clerking for a firm that might make me a junior partner in twenty years.” He gave Jarrod a knowing look. They’d often discussed that over late night drinks, about how experienced lawyers used younger members of the profession as virtual slaves. Jarrod was fortunate he’d made contacts in Washington during the war that helped him become a member of the bar and the Barkley name didn’t hurt when he set up in Stockton.
“So I traded the little my father left me in for experience.” Brett got to his feet and strolled over to Audra. “Equal parts vision, luck, a sense of timing… you attract fortune like a magnet.” As Jarrod watched Brett, he imagined him holding forth in a courtroom and reflected that the law profession had lost a brilliant member.
Brett continued. “Caution’s for the plotters, I leaped over their heads. Cattle, shipping, land…
“And now, Brett?” Victoria asked with an indulgent smile.
“And now… a breather.” Brett turned his full attention on Jarrod. “And then I think, law?” There was promise in his eyes and in his tone and Jarrod’s doubts melted away. It was all he could do not to take Brett in his arms and kiss him for all he was worth.
“Ah,” was all he said and walked over to Brett. “Right here, in this valley.”
“If you can stand the competition, Jarrod,” Brett answered smoothly.
“Competition?” How could Brett ever think Jarrod would set them up to be rivals? “I’ll send you the business. I’ll even set you up an office space. Fair enough?”
Brett seemed slightly taken aback. “That’s more than generous.”
Nick broke in. “Brett, I think you’ll find this whole valley is more than generous. Just give a little bit of yourself and it’ll never fail you.” Nick looked pointedly at Jarrod and Jarrod smiled when he realized Nick was talking of more than just the valley.
“You’ll see for yourself Brett, in time.” Jarrod knew he’d do everything he could to have Brett make the valley his home.
“I hope so.” Brett looked around the room and took a deep breath. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to go and unpack before dinner.” He gave the ladies a slight nod and went upstairs.
Jarrod turned back, chuckling with relief at how easily they’d seemed to slip back into their old camaraderie. “Well, I’d say he hasn’t changed a bit.”
“A rising star has become a comet,” Victoria observed and broke a bit of Jarrod’s bubble when she added, “Do comets ever stay put?”
“Well, I don’t know. He just might, this time.” Jarrod prayed that would turn out to be the case.

Jarrod bid goodnight to his family and turned back to his guest. He and Brett had traded stories from school all through dinner and Brett continued to charm his family when they retired to the library for coffee and dessert. But Jarrod was glad when the ladies and his brothers decided to turn in, leaving him alone with Brett.
“Well, what’s your pleasure?” Jarrod asked. “Cards, billiards…?”
Brett set down his glass. “I was… thinking of something a little more… intimate. As long as you want that, too.” He stepped up to Jarrod until their chests were almost touching.
Jarrod’s breathing quickened. Having Brett so close was intoxicating and all Jarrod wanted to do was kiss him, strip him naked and make passionate love to him. But it had been almost twelve years with no contact, almost twelve years of heartbreak and Jarrod needed an explanation before he risked himself again. So he stepped back and walked over to his desk. He toyed with the paperweight and asked, “Why, Brett? Why did you wait so long to come back?”
“I don’t know.”
Jarrod looked over to find Brett staring into the flames of the fireplace.
“I suppose I was… scared.”
“Scared?” Jarrod was confused. “Scared of what, Brett? Not me, I hope.”
Brett gave a small laugh. “Of what you’d think of me, not fighting for the Union, not becoming a lawyer…” He finally looked up and their eyes met. “I’ve never stopped thinking about you, Jarrod.”
This time it was Jarrod who walked up to Brett. “You’re here now. That’s all that matters.” He reached up to caress Brett’s cheek. “I never thought any worse of you for not signing up and I’d never condemn you for following your own path.” Leaning in, he brushed his lips against Brett’s and Brett reached around to pull his head in for a longer kiss. “Maybe we should go find somewhere more private,” Jarrod whispered, unable to catch his breath. “Your room’s closer, as long as you can be quiet.”
“For you, anything,” Brett replied with a devilish grin. “As long as you whisper those things in my ear.”
Jarrod’s eyes gleamed as his cock hardened. “Like what?” His voice lowered. “That I’ve been waiting almost twelve years to have your cum slide down my throat again? That I want to fuck you so hard you won’t be able to walk for a week?”
“Yeah,” Brett said back in a husky tone. “Those things.”
“Come on.” Jarrod led the way out of the library and up the stairs.
Door closed and locked behind them, Jarrod and Brett wasted no time in stripping off each other’s clothes.
“Damn, Brett, you are so hot,” Jarrod breathed, pushing Brett to sit on the edge of the bed. “Spread your legs and let me suck you.”
“Jarrod...” Brett moaned as Jarrod took the head of his dick in his mouth and worked his way down.
Jarrod was gratified to find out he hadn’t lost the knack of deep-throating Brett’s cock; he loved the feeling of that hard organ sliding in and out of his throat. Brett grabbed him by the hair, held him tight to his groin and started thrusting. Jarrod closed his eyes and made sure he took a breath whenever he could. It wasn’t long before his efforts were rewarded; Brett tensed and thick, hot cum flowed into his mouth. Jarrod swallowed and sucked, getting out all he could before he let Brett go.
Kissing his way up Brett’s belly and chest, Jarrod reached his lips. Brett pulled him back onto the bed as his mouth tried to devour Brett’s like a starving man. Jarrod’s cock was harder than it had ever been and it wasn’t long before he had Brett on his stomach and his cock buried in that hot ass.
“Oh god, Brett, you feel so good,” he muttered, leaning over to bite Brett’s shoulder. “I could almost fuck you forever, but I don’t think I’m gonna last that long.” Jarrod picked up the pace, driving harder into his lover until he exploded and emptied his cock up Brett’s ass.
Collapsing, Jarrod rolled off and pulled Brett close. “I’ve missed you more than I can say,” he whispered as he burrowed his face against Brett’s neck.
Brett’s arm tightened around his. “I’ve missed you too, Jarrod. I’m sorry I didn’t come back sooner.”
“You’re here now,” Jarrod pointed out.
Brett squirmed around to face him. “Yes, I am.” He gave Jarrod a long look. “You had every right to throw me out on my ass.”
Jarrod kissed him hard. “I had other ideas on what to do with your ass,” he said wickedly.
Brett chuckled. “Give me a few more minutes and I’ll do the same to yours if you want,” he breathed in Jarrod’s ear.
He wasn’t twenty anymore, but Jarrod felt his cock start to stir again. “It’s all yours,” he murmured.
Brett twisted until he was straddling Jarrod, leaned over and started sucking on his neck.
“Be careful,” Jarrod warned, “I don’t want to have to explain any marks.”
Brett’s eyes twinkled. “Then I’ll just leave them where no one can see.” Jarrod gasped at the slight pain when Brett’s lips moved down to his chest instead. He could feel Brett’s cock start to harden against his and spread his legs to get better contact. They rubbed and pushed against each other until both dicks were leaking again before Brett sat up and reached around himself. Jarrod realized he’d swiped some of the semen that was leaking out of his ass onto his fingers when Brett rubbed their slickness against his opening.
“I want you in me, Brett.” Jarrod’s voice was husky. “Fill me with your cock.” Brett grabbed his legs to spread them further and he groaned softly when Brett pushed inside. It hurt a bit, it had been so long, but Jarrod didn’t care. He grabbed Brett’s buttocks tightly to encourage him deeper and had to bite his lip to keep from crying out when Brett hit just the right spot. “You know, you’re the only one who’s ever been inside me,” Jarrod whispered.
Brett paused. “Jarrod, I had no idea…”
Jarrod caught his eyes. “That doesn’t mean you should stop,” he scolded.
Brett leaned over and kissed him before resuming his motions. Jarrod wrapped his hand around his own cock and started stroking to the same rhythm. He’d fantasized about this for almost twelve years and the reality didn’t disappoint. Jarrod gritted his teeth to stop from calling out Brett’s name as he came hard all over his hand and Brett buried his face in Jarrod’s shoulder to muffle his own cries of pleasure.
They relaxed into each other’s arms and Jarrod had to force himself not to drift off to sleep. “I’d better go,” he said reluctantly.
“Yeah.” Brett watched Jarrod get out of the bed and pull on his clothes.
Jarrod came over and kissed Brett tenderly. “I’ll see you at breakfast.”
“At breakfast,” Brett promised.
Jarrod pulled himself away and left for his own room, hoping that someday he could again wake up in Brett’s arms like they had so many times before.
- 5
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A Time For Everything