I do not own The Big Valley nor any of the original Big Valley characters. The idea came from the 'what if Jarrod hadn't gotten his sight back in 'Time After Midnight'. What would have happened afterwards and and and... Thanks to my Beta Reader, though all mistakes are still my own.

Blind Man's Bluff

Chapter Two

Scene Three

Jarrod turned his head slightly as Peggy came into the room; at least, he assumed it was Peggy. The footsteps were light and he could hear a skirt brushing back and forth across the floor. She must be bringing the lunch she promised him. Sure enough, he felt a tray being set on his lap. "There's a sandwich for you," Peggy said, as she straightened back up, "I'll go get you something to drink." Soon she was back with the beverage. It didn't pass him by that she'd shut the door, again.

"I will assume that the good doctor is not to be trusted?" Jarrod wasn't sure he liked that, being stuck with a doctor who was not trustworthy.

"He's a good enough doctor, but, no, the name Jack Ward does not carry much weight around here. That is, not when it comes to keeping one's mouth shut," she answered as she pulled up a chair. The wheels in her head had been spinning faster than any train traveling down a railroad track. Peggy knew that, sooner or later, someone would be looking for the Stockton attorney; which meant that Adam would, eventually, be given a description of the gentleman. Once Adam Carson realized the man she was tending to, was the same man who would be handling the case against Peter, he'd be back. She had to figure a way to get Mr. Barkley out of the small community without arousing anyone's suspicion.

"So," Jarrod said as he finished his lunch, "When does the stagecoach come and go around here? I need to get going." When Peggy stood up and walked to the window, without saying anything, he knew there was a problem.

"It doesn't. We're miles away from the nearest place that a stagecoah would stop, even it stopped nearby you're in no condition to ride one of those things," Peggy finally answered, then paused, "Mr. Barkley," she started speaking again as she turned around and walked back over to the bed where he lay, "It's easy enough for me to get a wagon and get you to where you need to be, only," once more she paused, as she felt very uncomfortable, "With all due respect, even if you hadn't been injured, you're in unfamiliar territory. I'd have to go with you, with a good reason for doing so. I say that because, while I'm a grown woman, you don't know my father. He's a nut, not nice I know, but true," she continued as she sat on the foot of the bed, "The only way you can get your own passage out of here, and get someone else to be your guide, is to give them your true identity, and that would put you in harm's way. Peter is as guilty as a body can get, only he has a few friends who don't want to accept that."

From past experiences, he knew full well what could happen when someone's 'friends' got involved, and she had a point; he couldn't travel, in this area, by himself and he knew it. After a moment, he asked, "Do you have any ideas on how do we can leave without your father interferring, and who am I?"

"Michael Taylor. Ironically, he was killed in another stagecoach accident, but only person around here that knows that is me. Let me explain." she answered.

Scene Four

"What!" Mr. Caldwell stood in the doctor's office in shock. He couldn't believe what he was hearinng. He had hoped his daughter had finally 'came to her senses', and wanted to moved back home. How he'd gotten that idea was beyond her.

Peggy handed him the letter she'd 'found' in the man's belongings, praying like mad she could pull it off, "Look, I wrote that letter myself." Inwardly she had to chuckle, that part wasn't a lie. She had written it, so she'd only done it that morning. That part was a tiny technicality she wasn't going to mess with.

Mr. Caldwell looked at the doctor, "You said your patient was blind! Mr. Taylor never mentioned any blindness!" Mr. Taylor was a gentleman she'd been corresponding with, a man interested in a mail order bride. Mr. Caldwell was appalled to think anyone would keep anything like that from anyone he intended to marry.

"Sir," Dr. Anderson was highly irritated, "there is a chance he was blinded by the accident. I never thought to ask him and, apparently, he's been too busy dealing with his other injuries!"

Furiously, Mr. Caldwell turned on his daughter, "I told you in the first place this was no way to get a husband! There's plenty of men around here willing to court you! Now get your things. I'm taking you home!" he went to grab her arm only to find her quickly moving out of his way.

"I have not lived under your roof for years, and you have no legal right to make me return!" she spat back, "Now touch me again, and I'll bring charges up against you!" she planted her feet underneat the floor, and put her hands on her hips. Dr. Anderson slipped into the back room. He'd seen how ugly Mr. Caldwell could get, and now he'd pushed Peggy to the point that the the doctor figured he was safer out of the line of fire. He needn't have worried. Peggy's father grabbed his hat and stormed out of the log cabin.

"I am assuming you heard every word." she walked into the bedroom where Jarrod lay and stood at the foot of the bed.

"I heard," Jarrod had not really been surprised by the man's action, but he was by the request that came out of his protector's mouth.

"When I get you to a place of safety, I am going to take a stagecoach to my friend's home in Nevada. Please, should anyone cross your path looking for me, just say the last time you saw me I was getting on the stagecoach."

Jarrod's eyebrows turned down, "May I ask why?" He grew concerned for anyone who seemed to be running from anything, though he pretty sure he knew what it was in this case.

"I am of age. How long I've been of age for quite some time, but my father refuses to see that. He refuses to see it with any of his children who are grown adults. I want to live my own life without constant interference from him, and that's all I've gotten ever since I 'had the nerve to move out without a husband'." She was tired of it too; inf fact, Peggy had grown tired of her father's ways years ago. She'd had her bags packed a the day before she could leave with the law on her side. She'd left just after two in the morning the next day. She'd never looked back.

Guess he could see that one. "Help me get out of here," Jarrod said after a moment, "and I'll keep my mouth shut."

0000

Nick and Heath rode with the other men who had joined in the search for the missing coach. They'd been searching for a couple of days when Paul, a rider who had recently joined them, shot off his gun three times. They all spurred their horses in the direction of the sound. Every one of them cringed at the sight that met their eyes. "What was he doing taking the coach this far off the road he was supposed to be on!" Paul barked as he covered the driver up. That was a question they all figured they had would not get an answer to; that is, they wouldn't get an answer until they found Mr. Barkley. Nick, Heath and the others spread out as they looked for their missing brother.