Disclaimer: I don't own Big Valley or any character of the show. I only use them for my own personal entertainment with hopes I'll entertain others with my imagination.

Summary: I always wondered what would happen if Heath wasn't raised by three wonderful women. How would his actions be different? How would life be for an unwanted son? I also think Hannah James was a wonderful character on BV. I'd love to have had her more on the episodes. I'd love to see how the Barkley siblings reacted to Heath's past, which would include meeting Hannah. Therefore, this is a Heath story (of course) in an AU version of BV. Heath will be a Barkley as will all other Barkley's remain Barkleys. Audra IS his sister. LOL Hannah takes on a more important role in this story as Heath's caregiver. This is a story of his youth in different settings and circumstances than BV

Warning: There will be abuse of a minor in more ways than physical. Therefore, T is the rating. I will try to warn at the beginning of the chapter when abuse is about to be written.

Prologue

With dark green eyes, Leah peered down at her two year old son, she realized how exhausted she was. Her brown wisps of hair matted to her sweaty forehead. Her shoulders ached from bending over the metal wash bucket she used to clean the clothing of miners as well as linens from her brother's hotel. She was tired.

Her small son looked nothing like her. His cherub face was surrounded by thick blonde curls that were almost white upon his head. His eyes were such a clear blue that when he looked at anyone, there was an immediate smile. There was a smile until people found out about his parentage, or lack there of, then there was an immediate scowl. Heath looked like Tom Barkley had taken a piece of himself to create the boy. There was nothing of Heath that held Leah's own looks. Therefore, when looking at him, Leah became even more tired.

Leah had written Tom Barkley about the birth of her son. She wasn't sure if she hoped it would make Tom return to her of hearing she was with child or if she had hoped Tom Barkley would simply send money her way to help her with the baby. However, she received notice that he had no legal obligation to her or the baby. It was written in a formal script,which made Leah realize it was of a lawyer's pen. Tom Barkley had made sure of his rights or non rights when concerning the child. Leah was told in no uncertain terms if she claimed Heath was Tom Barkley's son, she would be liable for slander. Therefore, she was warned to remain silent on the subject. Leah knew she could still cause the man trouble. She had nothing to lose if she was sued. However, she chose to allow Tom his happiness.

The birth of Heath was a difficult one. It had wracked her body with pain and weakness. The complications of Heath's birth caused her to never be able to carry another child. Leah's child bearing days were over. She had birthed the infant in a tent on a stormy day. When the child was laid in her arms, there was no happiness or joy that filled her of him. There was worry and dread of the future. However, she would try to love the baby as best she could. After all, it was the only child she would have.

Leah had named him Heath. She didn't even know where the name came from. Perhaps she had heard the name as a child or in the mining town. It just seemed like a strong name. In her opinion, a name that strong had to bring about a boy just as strong. She knew her son would have to be strong to be able to make it in this life. A boy without a last name of his own must be strong.

Leah's thoughts were interrupted by the two tikes playing at her feet.

Reginald, Leah's five year old nephew, sat beside Heath. There was such a striking difference in the boys. Reginald had thin brown hair that was cut tightly to his head. His eyes were a murky gray color with hints of brown. However, it was the coloring of their skin most obvious in difference. Heath's skin glowed with health while Reginald's skin was pale. The paleness told of his sickly nature. The boy was born without the use of his legs. His body seemed to be withering away each year rather than growing healthy. Heath was becoming more robust each day.

Matthew Simmons was Leah's older brother. They shared a mother but not fathers. However, the brother and sister were close due to Matthew practically raising her alone after their mother's death. Leah's father became a drunk due to the death of his wife. That left Matt Simmons with way too much responsibility of a younger sister.

Martha was Matt's wife. She was a beautiful woman, who was a great wife to Matthew and great mother to Reginald. She was a tall well built woman with the blondest of hair. She always kept up the appearance of class and sophistication. Matthew and Martha tried to support Leah in the decision to keep Heath. Even after Leah received the letter from Tom Barkley telling of his family, a wife and two sons, they never judged her. However, it was Leah who started to become angry of what life threw at her. She was determined to not let herself become bitter and aged as her father had done to himself. That bitterness had led the man to commit suicide in front of his stepson, Matt.

Men still gave Leah a lot of attention. The 23 year old was beautiful beyond that of normal beauty. Her hair had a natural curl that caused the tendrils to lay seductively to the tip of her waist. Her skin was a cream color best described as porcelain. Her body, although petite, held very feminine curves.

Leah didn't give many of the men much attention back. For the last three years, no one could measure up to Tom Barkley. However, that had changed a few months ago with the flirtation from a widower named Owen Endicott. He was a wealthy business man twice the age of Leah. He had a grown daughter near Leah's age. He also had a son ten years of age and a daughter six years of age. He was still handsome at the age of 46. Owen was part of the rich mine owners trying to find land worthy of settling down on. However, his heart belonged to the East, where his daughter resided with her husband. At the moment, his ten year old son and six year old daughter were with Owen's oldest daughter.

Leah realized her attraction to the man was due to the fact that he looked nothing like Tom Barkley. Therefore, Owen would not be a constant reminder of her love lost. He was tall , approximately 6' 5". He was a skinny man with the blackest hair she had ever seen. Tom Barkley was around six foot tall with a muscular build. Owen's eyes were almost as black as his hair. He was more debonair and less rough around the edges as she had remembered Tom Barkley being. However, she found Owen alluring none the less.

The only problem to come of their new courtship was that of Heath. Owen had made it plain he would not be a father to another man's son especially a son brought into the world due to a dreadful sin. He would not damage his good name for such a child nor would he chance his own children suffering for that child either. Therefore, when Owen asked Leah for her hand in marriage, there was one stipulation. Heath was to be given to an orphanage or to Matt and Martha Simmons.

At first, Leah was devastated. How could she give up her lovely child? However, Owen promised a pampered life if she would go back East with him as his wife. Leah looked at her water soaked hands. Leah glanced at Heath giggling as Reginald played with her son. She was determined to not let this mining town kill her youth.

Martha came in scooping up Reginald with a laugh. "My are you getting big, young man."

Reginald's thin arms stretched around his mother's neck. "Mama, I am having a grand time with baby Heath."

Soon, Matthew held Heath on his hip. He tickled his young nephew causing a loud chain of baby chuckles. He tried to put back the resentment of the pain the child caused to his beloved sister.

Leah took in a deep breath before nervously uttering. "I need to talk to you both."

It was settled within only a few hours, Heath would be raised by Martha and Matt Simmons. Martha insisted the child could not have the name Simmons. That was reserved only for her Reginald. However, she agreed to be a good aunt to the boy. Matthew Simmons agreed. He was more than happy to take the burden of Heath from his younger sibling.

After two days, Leah and Owen married before leaving Strawberry to head East. Leah wept over Heath but soon find her tears at bay when she thought of a life with Owen. She was happy again. Leah never thought of the fact she had chosen two men over Heath. The first being Tom Barkley. She chose to allow him the happy life without causing him grief of a son. She did this despite the fact that Heath would forever have to face the stigma of his birth. Then she chose Owen Endicott while pushing Heath away. The love of a man seemed more important than the love of a child. Leah left Strawberry not looking back.

If she would have bothered looking back, she would have noticed Martha's resentment of Heath's health compared to her own child's sickness. She would have noticed Matt's devotion to Martha and her feelings over that of Heath.

Leah didn't want to look back. She was tired of sacrificing for a child that was sapping the youth and beauty from her. She wanted to be happy again. She found that with Owen Endicott.

A/N Reviews are always welcome both good and bad. As always reviews, have us authors clamoring to try to get readers more updates. It lets us know if you find our stories of interest. I will still be writing on A Satchel Full of Truths. But this idea came to me and I wanted to write it before I forgot about it.