Disclaimer: "Big Valley" and its characters belong to Four Star. I made no profit and no copyright infringement was intended.
Setting: 8 years after the Civil War.
Days gone by: An old friend from the Civil War comes for a visit with some surprising news.
Jarrod was busy working in his San Francisco office, attempting to finish up some work so he could accompany his mother and sister to the Symphony that evening when his secretary Mrs. Burke knocked on his door and interrupted him.
Poking her head around the door, Mrs. Burke apologized, "Sorry Mr. Barkley, I know that you don't want to be disturbed, but there is someone here to see you and I know that you would want to speak to them."
Mrs. Burke's tone had Jarrod intrigued; she was a very mild manner woman that didn't fuss much but now she sounded very concerned. "Please show them in."
Jarrod stood and straightened his tie in preparation for meeting his visitor. He didn't have long to wait, Mrs. Burke soon brought in a woman whose age was hard to determine. At one time she was probably a beauty but illness had left her pale and skeletal with pronounced dark circles under her eyes. Her clothing was clean and tidy but the style of her traveling dress indicated that she had it for years, and it hung loosely on her.
Mrs. Burke quickly made the introductions, "Mr. Barkley, this is Mrs. Susan Cramer." With a reassuring pat on the woman's arm, Mrs. Burke added. "Don't worry, everything will be fine." As she left the office, she indicated that she would be in momentarily with some coffee.
"Mrs. Cramer, please sit down." When the woman was seated, Jarrod continued. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm sorry to disturb you but as you can see, I am not well. I have been in turmoil until last month, when I came across this article." The woman paused and handed Jarrod a winkled newspaper clipping that showed a picture of him and Heath with the Governor of California at a fund raiser. "It was used as packaging for some crystal candle sticks that came into the shop where I worked in Chicago. I knew my prayers had been answered."
"You've come from Chicago for my help?"
"Yes, you see, I knew your brother during the war …"
Jarrod flung open the door to his town house shouting. "Mother!" His tone was excited not concerned.
Victoria Barkley regally rose from the chair where she was reading and joined Jarrod in the foyer, gently admonishing him as she walked. "Really Jarrod for a moment I thought that Nick had decided to join us in San Francisco!"
"Sorry. Can you and Audra be ready to catch the 7 o'clock train back to Stockton?"
"Back to Stockton?" Victoria was concerned. "Has something happened at home?"
"No, everything is fine but we need to go back to Stockton tonight. I need to introduce Nick to his son." Jarrod had taken his mother's hands in his as he uttered the last words. At Victoria's confused look, Jarrod continued. "This afternoon an old flame of Nick's came into my office. She had lost her husband early during the war and didn't think she would ever be happy again and then she met Nick. They fell in love during the war."
"I don't recall Nick mentioning a woman from the war." Victoria stated.
"Nick had mentioned her to me when he was in the hospital at the end of the war. He had thought she was dead. She was living in Maryland at the time, marauders had burned her home to the ground, and Nick had been told that everyone had died but she had already left for Chicago after hearing about Nick's death."
Victoria shuddered. She remembered her elation of the war ending had been dashed after hearing Nick had been killed in fighting after the war had ended. For six weeks the family grieved for their lost until they received a telegram from Nick. "Not dead, Love Nick." Jarrod, who was still in Washington trying to find his brother's body to bring home, had been charged with getting the details about his brother's condition. Jarrod had found Nick gravely wounded in a Union hospital grieving his lost love. By the time Nick had returned home, his grief had been tempered.
"She didn't find out she was pregnant until after she was in Chicago. She tried to get information from the army to find us, but there was so many young women claiming to be pregnant by dead soldiers that the army wouldn't release the information. All she knew was Nick was from California and had a brother Jarrod and a sister Audra. Not easy to track us down with that information. A month ago, by chance she came upon an article with my name and picture which mentioned that I was a lawyer in San Francisco. Mother she is dying and she has been worried about who would care for her son when she is gone."
"Maybe the army was right to withhold the information, maybe Nick isn't the boy's father and she is just trying someone to look after him when she is gone."
"Mother, when you see him, you won't have any doubts."
"Where is the boy now?"
"At the park. They arrived this afternoon from Chicago and came directly to my office. Susan thought is would be best if Jonathan could run off some energy before getting on another train. I told her we would meet her at six. So we need to pack and be ready."
Victoria agreed and hurried to inform Audra about the change in plans and to pack.
A carriage dropped the trio at the pre-arranged area. A group of young boys were playing near by. Victoria paused and looked at the boys and caught her breath. Grabbing Jarrod's arm, she spoke in a hushed voice. "Jarrod, is that him?" She pointed to a small boy, whose dark brown hair fell over his forehead. He was obviously the ring leader of the game and his voice could be heard above the other children.
"Yes Mother, that's Jonathan. That's Susan on the bench over there."
Victoria turned to face her grandson's mother. Her heart went out to the young woman who was so obviously sick. Jarrod had given his mother some details about Susan and Jonathan. Back home in Chicago, Susan had a difficult time, she was treated as an outcast, betraying her husband's memory by becoming pregnant by another man. Some of that ill will had also been transferred to Jonathan. Susan thought Jonathan was a lot like Nick. He was very outgoing and boisterous.
Jarrod introduced his mother to Susan and Susan immediately apologized. "Mrs. Barkley, I am so sorry."
Victoria held up her hand. "Please don't apologize, Jarrod has explained the situation. I am just grateful that you were able to find us."
"Uncle Jarrod!" a young boy's voice interrupted Victoria. Soon Jarrod found himself being hugged by his nephew. "Are we going to meet my father now?"
"Soon Jonathan. But your grandmother and aunt are here now and are eager to meet you."
"Hello Grammy." Jonathan hugged his grandmother. "Is it ok that I call you Grammy, or do you have another name I should call you?"
"Grammy sounds wonderful to me." Victoria answered returning the hug. She then held her grandson at arm's length and looked at him. "You are the image of your father at age 7."
"That is what Uncle Jarrod said. In school I was the smallest kid in my class. Uncle Jarrod said that my father was the shortest in his class until the 4th grade but when he came back to the 5th grade, he was the tallest and stayed the tallest. Do you think I can be tall too?"
"I don't see why not."
"Do you think my father will be happy to meet me?"
"Yes, Jonathan, I think your father will be very happy to meet you. Just as I am."
"I'm real happy to meet you too. I'm happy to meet you Aunt Audra."
"Don't I get a hug?" Audra asked.
Jonathan left his grandmother's arms to hug his aunt.
"We can talk in the carriage and on the train." Jarrod then glanced around. "Susan, where are your things."
"Here they are Uncle Jarrod." Jonathan rushed to the bench were two bags could be found.
Jarrod and his mother exchanged glances but said nothing. Jarrod picked up the bags and lead the party to the waiting carriage. Jonathan kept up a steady flow of chatter throughout the carriage ride. He was only silenced when Jarrod lead them to the family's private railcar. The silence did not last long.
"Wow, Momma have you ever seen something so super in your whole life!"
"No honey I haven't." Susan voice was weak and she glanced around the railcar with a worried expression.
"Susan, are you sure that you're up for traveling? We can spend the night in San Francisco and leave on the train tomorrow."
"Thank you Mrs. Barkley but I would rather see Nick sooner rather then later."
"Is anyone hungry?" Jarrod asked.
"I am!" Jonathan shouted.
"Jonathan must you shout?" his mother said. This caused Victoria, Jarrod and Audra to laugh.
"I've bet you've been saying that to him since he could speak." Victoria stated.
Susan agreed and Jarrod took Jonathan to the dining car to check that they had received his dinner request.
Despite his excitement, Jonathan was asleep when the train pulled into Stockton. Jarrod hadn't sent word that they were arriving that night. Both his mother and he agreed that Nick's first meeting with his son should not be on a depot platform. Jarrod left the women and Jonathan in the railcar while he made arrangements for a buggy and handled the luggage. Once the buggy was loaded, Jarrod picked up his nephew and escorted the group to buggy. His mother settled onto the front bench and Jarrod placed Jonathan on her lap. Jarrod then assisted his sister and Susan into the back seat. Victoria had doubts on whether they should have attempted the journey that night. Susan had grown considerably paler during the trip.
The journey to the ranch was quiet. Susan noticeably gasped when she saw the house. Even in darkness it was impressive. Audra patted her hand. "Despite its size, it is still just a home." Susan mutely nodded.
By the time Jarrod had assisted Susan and Audra down, Ciego was out helping with the buggy. Jarrod reached up and took the still sleeping boy into his arms. Victoria led Susan into the house.
Regardless of the late hour, there was a light burning in the library. Heath and Nick had a long difficult day due to someone making mischief. Several fences had been cut and their cattle had scattered. They came home to a late dinner and decided to play a few rounds of billiards as they discussed who the possible culprit could be. Upon hearing the carriage, they glanced outside. Seeing Jarrod behind the wheel had increased their concern. The two ranchers reached the foyer the same time as the travelers from San Francisco.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Nick shouted causing Jonathan to wake up.
"Is that him?" the boy sleepily asked Jarrod.
"Yes, Jonathan."
Nick didn't hear the question or the response. His gaze was fixed on the woman being supported by his mother and sister. She looked familiar to him but he could place her until she smiled. "Susan?" He asked in an incredulous voice. Heath whose eyes were fixed on the small boy in Jarrod's arms transferred his gaze to the woman.
"Hello Nick. It seems that we were both mistaken regarding the condition of the other." She left the support of Victoria and Audra and walked towards Jarrod. Jonathan had already wormed his way out of his uncle's arms and was practically jumping as he waited for his mother to introduce him.
By now, Nick had noticed the boy and his eyes were as wide as his son's.
"Nicholas Jonathan Barkley, I would like you to meet Jonathan Clark Barkley."
No sooner had the words left his mother's lips, Jonathan throw himself into his father's arms. "Papa, Papa, I am so happy to finally meet you. I thought you were in heaven watching out for me but now I find you alive and well. Ever since I was a little kid I wanted a papa of my own and now I have one." Jonathan paused and regarded his father. "You're not mad are you?"
"No Jonathan, I'm not mad. I am also very happy to meet you." Nick hoisted his son up into his arms and glanced at Susan. "How, what, I don't understand."
"Perhaps we can talk after we get Jonathan settled." Susan replied.
"Oh, I'm not tired." Jonathan replied. Then over Nick's shoulder, he shouted "Hi Uncle Heath!"
"Hello, Jonathan, please to me you."
"I'm pleased too!"
"Jonathan, please let's turn in. The sooner you turn in, the sooner your father and uncles can show you all the horses and cattle."
"Will you teach me to be a cowboy?" Jonathan asked his father.
"I'll teach you to be the best da.. umm, very best rancher there is."
"Tomorrow?"
"We can start tomorrow but only if you get a good night's sleep tonight."
"How many families live here?"
"Just us."
Just the five of you?"
"Six, you haven't meet Silas yet."
Susan cut off her son. "Jonathan, please bed now, questions answered tomorrow." Susan couldn't disguise the weariness from her voice.
"Yes, Momma" Jonathan said in a subdued voice, even at his young age, he knew just how tired his mother was.
Before they left Chicago, Susan had explained to Jonathan that she was very sick and would be leaving him soon. Upon learning of Nick, she spent a portion of the afternoon explaining that Nick hadn't really been dead, she just thought he was. When she died, there would be no coming back. During her discussion with Jarrod, she knew that her son will be safe and cared for. Jarrod had carefully listened to her story. He asked a few questions and made a few comments. She wasn't sure if Jarrod believed her or not. However once he saw Jonathan she knew that Jarrod was convinced. She was surprised when she saw the private railcar. Nick had often talked of his ranch and described it as large but never mentioned the actual size. He described his family with much love but never the house itself. Nick never mentioned that his family was wealthy. She was grateful at the warm acceptance that the family had shown them. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that each family member had accepted Jonathan as one of their own and she knew that they had already taken him into their hearts. Although she hated to be parted from her son, she could leave him with the knowledge that he would grow up surrounded in love.
