A/N: This is my first story so please R and R. I love the Big Valley. I do not own Big Valley or any of the characters. Happy Reading!


"Audra," Victoria cried. "Let her go. You let her alone."

"Now don't you fret none, mama bear," the leader of the three-man crew answered softly as he held Audra by the wrist. "We ain't fixin' to do nothin' but talk to her."

"What do you want," Audra glared at the man. "What do you want here?"

"We want you to let your kin folk know that we are takin' your mama with us," he smiled. "We are takin' her and if they wanna see her back here unharmed, they are gonna have to pay for it."

"No," Audra screeched and tried to pull away from him to get to her mother. "You leave my mother alone."

"Be still now," the man pulled her back hard while the other two held Victoria at gun point. "Now, listen here," he shook her. "We are takin' her and they are gonna need to bring us $10,000 to Indian Springs by noon tomorrow. You hear me girly?"

"Where in Indian Springs," Audra looked at her mother and then resumed her glaring at the leader.

"They will find it," he grinned menacingly. "We will make it real plain for 'em. Now, you tell them two brothers of yours, we don't care which one, but only one brings the money and they come unarmed."

Audra forced herself not to give away her confusion. What did he mean two brothers; didn't he know that there were three Barkley brothers? She didn't know who these men were, but clearly, they had not learned that Heath had joined the family. That meant that they hadn't known the Barkleys in over five years now. She didn't know if there was a way that information could help their mother, but she wasn't going to let them have anything from her.

"I understand," Audra nodded.

"Now," he loosened his grip on her arm. "We are going to ride out. If we catch anyone following us off this ranch, I'm gonna have to hurt your mama. You hear me girly? Same goes tomorrow, if we see anything that don't look right, you and them brothers of yours will be burying your mama."

"You hurt my mother and every one of you will be dead men," Audra sneered as she looked back at the men holding her mother.

The leader chuckled. "Come on boys, let's move." The two who had been holding Victoria dragged her out the front door as she struggled. The leader took out his gun and pointed it at Audra. "Mrs. Barkley, I do suggest you come along quietly."

"Audra," Victoria gave up the struggle and eyed each man carefully. Then she hung her head and started for the horses that were waiting in front of the house. One of the men took the rein of the horse they had for Victoria and they rode off to the east, toward Indian Springs.

Audra waited until they had disappeared from view and ran to the corral. Heath and Nick were out riding fence and Jarrod was in town at his office. She ran to the barn and saddled her horse. She decided that she would go to town and find Jarrod. He could go to the bank and get the money so that they would have it ready. She saddled her horse and took off west toward Stockton at a full gallop. She had to make sure that they did what the kidnappers said. She couldn't let anything bad happen to her mother.


A/N: Let me know what you think!