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By Any Other Name	By : cowgirl65 Category: 1 through F > The Big Valley Views: 2468 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I in no way own The Big Valley, the characters or situations from the show. 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
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Nick swore softly under his breath. It wasn’t as it he’d never tied one of those godforsaken things before, but for the life of him, it just kept coming out crooked. He glared at his reflection in the mirror as if he could intimidate the tie into fastening itself properly.

“Looks like you could use a hand, brother Nick.” Nick turned to see his older brother impeccably dressed in his black suit. The cuffs of his white shirt with their gold cufflinks extended exactly the right amount below the sleeves of the jacket, Jarrod’s hair was groomed to its usual perfection and his tie sported a perfectly formed knot.

Nick huffed in exasperation and Jarrod chuckled as he strode over and efficiently retied the offending piece of clothing. “And now you know why I’m called the ‘best man’,” the lawyer kidded.

Nick had to grin. “Thanks, Jarrod. Reckon I’m a bit fumble-fingered today.”

Jarrod reached up and squeezed Nick’s shoulder. “Understandable, Nick, after all, you are getting married. I know I was a nervous wreck on my wedding day.”

It was Nick’s turn to give his brother’s arm a reassuring squeeze. “I wish this wouldn’t have to bring all that back, Pappy.”

Jarrod smiled wryly. “That’s okay. Lord knows I wallowed in grief and self-pity for long enough. I’ve come to realize that what everyone’s been telling me is true, that life does go on and sometimes in a way you never expect.”

Nick eyed Jarrod closely. There was a certain undercurrent of happiness to his big brother’s expression that he hadn’t seen in a long time. It reminded him a lot of the feeling he had whenever he thought of Carrie.

“Does this thing you didn’t expect have a name?”

Jarrod glanced sharply at Nick before chuckling softly. “She just might, at that.” He was about to add something when Eugene poked his head through the door.

“Time’s up, Nick,” the youngest Barkley announced. “The guests are seated, the reverend’s waiting and I hear the bride hasn’t come to her senses yet and even might be ready.”

“Funny man,” Nick grumbled good-naturedly. He took a deep breath, tugged on his shirtsleeves and squared his shoulders. “How do I look?”

“Like you’re ready to conquer the world, Nick,” Jarrod told him with a smile. “Lead the way, Gene.” The three brothers went down the stairs to where the guests were all seated. Jarrod and Nick took their positions at the far side of the room beside Rev. McKay before Gene escorted their mother and Carrie’s down the aisle and sat beside Victoria in the front row. The reverend gave a nod to Audra who was seated at the piano and the strains of Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus” echoed through the house.

Carrie’s sister came down the grand staircase first, wearing a dress of pale silk. Jarrod noticed the smile she gave her husband as she walked by him. The lawyer had only met his brother’s future in-laws the day before, but they seemed to be people he could like and respect.

Then all eyes went back to the stairs as Carrie descended on her father’s arm. Jarrod glanced over to Nick. His brother only had eyes for the vision in ivory lace that was walking slowly towards him. It hadn’t been quite the same, Jarrod thought, waiting for Beth in the lobby of the hotel and walking into the office of the justice of the peace. But he still remembered that awed feeling when they were pronounced ‘man and wife’ and the pride with which he took her on his arm when they had their portrait taken.

As he listened to the reverend perform the ceremony, Jarrod relived the memory of his own wedding. But something in his mind started to change. Instead of Beth’s face looking at him when he said ‘I do’, it was Heather’s. And it was Heather’s soft voice he heard repeating her pledge back to him.

The realization hit Jarrod like a ton of bricks as he handed Carrie’s wedding ring over to Nick. He was in love with Heather. In love with the woman he was paying to warm his bed; in love with the totally inappropriate choice of a soiled dove; in love with the most enchanting and provocative woman he had ever met. That sudden recognition took Jarrod’s breath away and he managed to regain his composure in time to congratulate the newly married couple.

The wedding luncheon was served, the toasts were made, the cake was cut and before Jarrod knew it, he was shaking Nick’s hand as Carrie went upstairs to change clothes before they left for a week’s honeymoon at the Barkley hunting lodge.

“You be good to her, Nick,” the elder brother admonished the younger, “don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“Well, that gives me a lot of leeway, counsellor,” Nick shot back with a grin, “I’ve heard stories.”

Jarrod chuckled as he tucked one of his expensive cigars into Nick’s pocket. “And some of them might even be true,” he confessed with a wink.

Nick reached out and enfolded Jarrod in a warm hug. “When I get back, you’re gonna have to tell me her name,” he ordered.

Jarrod just smiled. “Have a good time, Nick,” he said as he saw Carrie come down the stairs. He watched as Nick gave Eugene a hearty goodbye and their little sister a big kiss. The young man was leaving to finish off college back east in a couple days, accompanied by Audra and their Aunt Ruth who had graciously offered for her to spend the summer; this would be the last chance Nick had to wish them well.

After the happy couple was seen off, Jarrod grabbed another cigar, a glass and the remains of a bottle of champagne and excused himself to the garden as the army of staff hired for the occasion set the house to rights. He needed some time to think about the revelation he’d just had.

Jarrod lit the cigar and took a deep inhale of the fragrant smoke. Heather. Even the thought of her set his mind aflame. His mind, not just his body. She was intelligent enough to challenge him, they had the same tastes in literature and art and she made him smile. She made him more than smile; she made him happier than he ever thought he could be again and he knew his life wouldn’t be complete any more without her in it. People would talk and whisper behind his back, but Jarrod didn’t care. If they didn’t respect his choice to follow his heart and his political ambitions suffered for it, that was their loss more than it was his.

Jarrod made up his mind. As soon as he got back to San Francisco he would tell her so and ask her if she would become his wife. Pouring himself a glass of champagne, he held it up in a silent toast to Heather, love and their hopefully long lasting happiness together.

*

Heather looked at the stack of cash. She had saved up a lot of money in the weeks she’d been with Jarrod, but wondered if it would be enough. Sighing, Heather decided it would have to be. Leaving would only get harder the longer she stayed and if she really loved Jarrod, she had to go before any hint of scandal affected his future ambitions.

She gathered up the money and went to change into some clothes more suited for travelling as well as tuck most of the money into a belt she fastened on under her clothes. She packed her things in a carpetbag and a tear trickled down her cheek when she ran a hand over the red silk dress she’d worn to the opera. It wasn’t practical to take it with her and she didn’t think she could ever wear it again anyway without thinking of what could never be.

Heather knew she was being a coward, leaving while Jarrod was out of town, but she didn’t think she’d be able to stick to her resolve if she had those expressive blue eyes looking at her. So she wrote Jarrod a note, telling him how much she treasured their time together, but that she had to move on with her life and he with his.

Gathering up her things, Heather left the house, locking the door behind her before searching for a cab to take her to the train station.

*

Jarrod’s first stop when he arrived in San Francisco was the jeweller’s. He resisted the impulse to buy the largest, flashiest ring in the showcase and settled on a gold band inset with small diamonds and sapphires that he thought suited Heather perfectly. Picking up a bouquet of roses from a street corner vendor on impulse, Jarrod told his driver to head for home.

The town house was quiet and when Jarrod couldn’t find Heather, he assumed she was out shopping or had maybe even gone for a ride. He sighed, not really wanting to wait and chuckled at himself for his impatience. Going into the study, he set the flowers down on the desk and went to pour himself a glass of scotch.

A note was propped against the crystal decanter and Jarrod read his name on the outside, written in Heather’s neat script. He unfolded the paper and his heart fell as he read its contents.

She’d left him.

Jarrod sat back heavily on a nearby chair, feeling like he’d just been punched in the gut. He’d never given her the impression that she wasn’t good enough for him, had he? He thought back over the time they’d been together and realized to his shame that the only time he’d really taken her anywhere in public was to the opera the week before. Jarrod’s heart constricted painfully. Her background didn’t matter to him and by the tone of her note, he’d hurt her terribly by not telling her so.

Jarrod didn’t know if Heather would return his feelings and want to make a life with him, but he knew he had to rectify his mistake. He would do whatever he needed to find her, apologize for his unthinking behaviour and declare his love. He only prayed that she loved him too.

Mind made up, Jarrod grabbed his hat and flagged down a cab. He’d start his search at the train station. Heather was a beautiful woman and she couldn’t have left more than three days ago, after he’d gone to Stockton for Nick’s wedding. Surely he’d find someone who remembered where she’d gone and he could follow her trail. Jarrod paid the driver when they arrived and gave him a generous tip. He made his way towards the ticket office through the crowd of people waiting for the next train.

He spotted a flash of blonde out of the corner of his eye and turned, words on his lips, but his heart fell when he saw the woman was a lot older than his beloved. Jarrod gritted his teeth against his fallen hopes and continued towards the ticket booth.

A burly man pushed his way through the crowd and Jarrod felt someone bump into him from behind. At the soft, “Excuse me,” Jarrod’s heart rose back into his chest as he turned and caught her arm.

He gazed into her surprised blue eyes and, without any thought for propriety, pulled Heather tight into his arms and kissed her passionately. He didn’t intend to break off the embrace until he had to for lack of air. After what seemed to him like an eternity, Heather’s arms slipped around him and her lips matched his with equal fervour.

They broke apart slowly, Jarrod reluctant to let her go even the slightest bit.

“I love you, Heather,” he breathed, “you’re my heart and my life. I don’t care where you came from, or who you were, I just want you to be Mrs. Jarrod Barkley. Please say you’ll marry me.” Heather stared at him and Jarrod thought he could see the love he felt in her eyes as well.

“Jarrod…” Then Heather looked around and said softly, “Everyone’s staring.”

Jarrod took a look around and saw disapproving stares, but here and there a smile as well.

“Come on,” he said and picked up Heather’s bag and grabbed her hand. He led her out of the station and down the street to a nearby park. Finding a secluded bench, he put down the carpetbag and sat, pulling her to sit beside him.

“I love you,” he told her again, “I’m sorry it took me so long to realize it.” Jarrod reached up and cupped her cheek. “I know I shouldn’t expect you to feel the same way, but I want you to be more than my mistress. I want you to be my wife.”

Heather looked away and Jarrod could see tears in her eyes. “You can’t, Jarrod,” she said quietly. “A man like you can’t marry a woman like me. It just isn’t done.” She looked back at him “What about your work, your career? I know you were thinking of running for Attorney General.”

Jarrod couldn’t stand the hopelessness in her eyes. “It doesn’t matter,” he told her firmly. “All that matters is you and how happy we are together. You make me happy, Heather. Happier than I ever thought I could be again.” He kissed her softly. “Marry me, Heather. The only thing I can’t live without in my life is you.”

Heather’s lip trembled. “I must be dreaming,” she whispered, “but if this is a dream, I never want to wake up. I love you, too, Jarrod, and yes, I will marry you.”

“This isn’t a dream,” he assured her with another kiss. “This is very, very real.” He reached into his pocket, drew out the box he still had there and slipped the ring on her finger. “Come on, let’s go home.”

The ride passed quickly, the two of them holding each other close. Jarrod swept Heather into his arms as soon as he closed the door to the townhouse and carried her up the stairs against her laughing protests.

“Jarrod, aren’t you supposed to wait until we’re married to carry me across the threshold?” she teased.

He dropped her on the bed and lay down beside her. “Well, there are other things we’re supposed to wait until we’re married to do,” he said mischievously. “Should we wait for those as well?”

“I think it’s a little too late to be thinking of that,” Heather teased as she pushed him onto his back and started unbuttoning his shirt.

Jarrod chuckled as he reached up and took the pins out of her hair to let it tumble around her shoulders. “And I wasn’t planning to.” He pulled her head down and kissed her ardently. His mouth devoured hers and his hands made quick work of unfastening her bodice. He caressed the creamy breasts that spilled free and Heather’s lips turned their attention to his neck. Jarrod’s pants were getting tight, so he didn’t protest when she moved out of his grasp to finish removing her clothing and started on his. He stretched his arms above his head and lifted his hips so she could slip off his pants after she removed his boots. She ran her hands up his thighs, hips and over his stomach as she made her way back up to take his mouth again. Jarrod held her close, revelling in the feeling of her warm body covering his. He broke off the kiss and pushed her up slightly so he could meet her eyes.

“I love you, Heather,” he told her.

She reached up and brushed back the lock of hair that had strayed onto his forehead. “I love you, too, Jarrod.” She shifted so the slickness between her legs rubbed against his hard shaft. Jarrod reached down to grasp his member and guide it into her waiting portal. He pushed in slowly. Heather moved with him until he was completely embedded within her. She started rocking on his shaft and Jarrod held himself still, letting her set her own pace. His hands roamed across her back and buttocks and as she started to ride him harder, he grasped her hips to aid her movements. Their joining felt so complete, so right, Jarrod didn’t rush, he just wanted the moment to go on forever and never leave her embrace. And after they came down from the heights of their ecstasies, he continued to hold her close and knew that this was the way it was meant to be.
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By Any Other Name