I do Not own The Big Valley or any of the original characters. Sequel to "Last Train to Freedom". The idea came as a result of two things. 1. Saying never is not a good idea and 2. Two people can find themselves in the same boat per se (even if the circumstances are different).
Prologue:
Heath and the others raised their glasses while Nick gave a toast, "Here's to having big brother and his bride with us, and to an upcoming addition to the family!" then he winked at Jarrod, "Though, I still want to know how you make a connection that fast to someone. I could never do it."
The moment Nick said the word never Victoria had the funniest feeling come over her, and she sat quietly contemplating it as her sons and daughter talked and laughed like children at Christmas time.
To Catch a Falling Star
Chapter One
Nick staggered out of the Rockville bar and into a black haired woman he'd never seen before. "Sorry, ma'am," Even in his drunken state Nick still knew how to apologize for bumping into the lovely lady, "Didn't see you standing there."
Abigail couldn't help but smile; she'd never seen such a handsome drunk before. "Apology accepted, Mister…" her eyebrow rose slightly, "What is your last name?"
"Barkley, ma'am, Nick Barkley," he smiled and kept his eyes on her.
Abigail was surprised. Her cousin from Stockton had talked about a dark haired handsome rancher named Barkley, only what was he doing here? "Aren't you supposed to be in Stockton?"
Now it was Nick's turn to be surprised, "Do I know you?"
Abigail looked up at the sky; it was starting to get dark and ugly looking. "My cousin has talked about you quite a bit, only, I'm sorry I have to get going." She started walking only to find Nick walking alongside her.
"Who's your cousin?" he asked, unprepared to hear the name.
"Susan T. Hill," the young woman held her nose up in the air, 'a proper' lady from Stockton, or so she says." Abigail knew it wasn't nice, but the woman had two faces and it made her sick.
Sue! It was all Nick could do not to punch the nearest non-living item. The woman had played him for a fool, thinking to get him to marry her so she could enjoy the Barkley wealth. She might have succeeded, but his new sister in law, Deborah, had seen right through her and did some quiet digging. The digging had proved fruitful and the 'proper woman' was exposed for the tramp she really was. "You've heard of her?" Abigail asked the question although she figured she knew the answer.
"I dated her," Nick stated flatly as he about bumped into some stacked crates setting up against one of the businesses they were passing.
"My condolences." Abigail's quick, sincere, reply made Nick laugh. She went red from embarrassment. She'd spoken without thinking. By this time they were standing in front of a small white picket fence that surrounded a small two-bedroom home. A young boy around five sat on the steps and a three year old girl sat on the porch.
"Mama!" the children cried in unison and ran for their mother.
Nick quickly backed up, "I didn't know I was escorting a married woman home, why didn't you say something?"
The woman turned on him. "I didn't ask you to escort me home, sir!" Anger flashed through her brown eyes as she barked, "And if it matters to you, my husband is dead! I'm a widow!"
Nick felt like kicking himself, he wasn't so drunk he didn't know he'd just made a fool of himself. "I'm sorry." Gee, was that all he was going to, apologize to the woman?
She opened the gate and went inside, "He brought it on himself; he never should have been on that blasted train to Boston in the first place," she spoke before she realized what she'd said. She cut the conversation short and said, "Thanks for walking me home, Mr. Barkley. The streets aren't a good place for a woman to be at night."
Nick wandered back up the street and back to the bar, just the mention of trains made him think about Jarrod and the train wreck in Wyoming. He'd come so close to losing Pappy for good. He needed another drink.
000
Abigail was just putting her children down to bed when she heard some noise outside. She moved to her son's window quickly to find a smile spreading across her face. Mr. Barkley was sitting on the swing her late husband had put up for the family. She hurried out of the bedroom and out of the door.
Nick turned his head slightly and tried to stand. It was all Abigail could do not to bust up laughing when he said, "I'm sorry; did I take your seat?"
"No, but what will people say if they see you in my front yard at this time of night?" Abigail wasn't someone who walked around with her nose in the air, but she did care about her reputation and her honor.
Nick chuckled, "Either they'd congratulate me or give you their condolences."
That did it; Abigail lost it and started laughing and laughing hard. "I wouldn't need any condolences, Mr. Barkley, but you might. I'm not an easy person to live with." The laughter in her eyes and voice left as quickly as it had come. She turned to go inside.
"What's wrong?" Nick tried to stand up, but had to sit back down; the ground was spinning when he stood up.
"My husband got on the blasted train because I got mad at him and told him where he could take his philandering ways." Abigail bit her words off, not trying to show the anger she still felt at the way her late husband had shamelessly betrayed her.
"Sadly, too many men play the part of a fool at times." Nick again tried to stand only to find himself starting to fall. Abigail grabbed him and he smiled. It was then that the she saw 'him', the town's banker, and he liked to talk. Abigail hurried and helped Nick sit down on the swing.
By the time Nick was seated the banker had disappeared. "Great," Abigail sighed, "If I wasn't struggling to take care of my children, I will now. That man is going to spread lies all around town about us."
Nick grinned, "Whatever he says, just say it's true." He then passed out on the swing. Abigail looked up at the sky as the wind began to pick up, shook her head and sighed. While she had two choices, Abigail didn't have the heart to take the second one. She slid her arms underneath Mr. Barkley's arms and began the struggle of moving him.