I do NOT own The Big Valley or any of the original Barkley characters.

Last Train to Freedom

Chapter Nine

Jarrod opened his eyes; he could hear people starting to walk around; he, Deborah and the others had been in the village for two months. He turned his head slightly and smiled, at least now waking up with Deborah curled up beside him, her head in the crook of his arm and her arm across his chest was not a surprise or a shock. His mind turned to the night before. 'Deborah, are you sure? ' his eyes had widened as she'd untied the deerskin dress and let it fall. She'd merely put her finger to his lips and said, "I may be grieving for members of my family, I will be for a long time, but you're my husband and you shouldn't have to wait any longer. Just," she paused, "be a patient teacher." That had done it. He'd let any more questions disappear as he laid her down. A part of him wished their lovemaking the night before could have lasted forever, but that was impossible for anyone. His mind also wandered back to the first time he'd laid eyes on the woman who was now his wife in every sense of the word and her family.

"We'll get back to Stockton," Deborah opened her eyes and assumed Jarrod was thinking about his family again, the two of them had talked about them again last night; she leaned up on her side, "You'll see. The day will come."

Jarrod sat up making it necessary for her to do the same. "I was actually thinking about your father," he spoke after a few minutes.

Deborah's eyebrows turned down, "What about him?" She was still very much hurting over the fact that her father and brother had been killed in the wreck, that her father had 'woke up' too late, and her brother turned out to have such low standards.

Jarrod sighed and repeated what had taken place between her father and him just before Jarrod had returned to the sleeping compartment. Deborah shook her head, "So that is what his dying words meant. I don't believe he meant any insult to me, Jarrod. I think he was thinking more about the 'class' difference between us. I hate it myself only let's face facts; the majority of people insist on putting people into 'classes' and you're not supposed to marry 'below you'. Papa was a good man, but he wasn't a wealthy one. I have no 'dowry' so to speak. I'm sure he didn't expect to see the day come when his stubborn, outspoken daughter would be married to a lawyer, especially when he was letting his grief interfere with his thinking. And," she chuckled, "saying I am stubborn and outspoken is not an overstatement on my part. You've only gotten a taste on how stubborn I can be."

She was referring to the night at the Denver hotel and he knew it. Still, he had to start laughing, "As I've told you a number of times, stubbornness runs through my family. Now," he turned to her, "Don't you think it's about time I know my wife's age?"

Whether or not Deborah wanted to tell anyone her age it didn't matter. Before she could answer Benjamin was opening the flap just a little, "You two need to get up. The women are going to get water from the stream and Running Fox and the chief wish to see Jarrod, Roy and myself."

Jarrod hurried to get dressed, as did Deborah. Jarrod couldn't help but wonder what was going on. Why would the chief want to see him and the other men? As he thought on Roy and Benjamin he had to chuckle. Roy, who had talked about nothing but New York City, looked as if he was actually adjusting to life in the outdoors quite well. Benjamin had more than adjusted to it; he'd been spending more and more time with the Indian woman who had caught his eye, and had inadvertently became his girlfriend. Paul and Abigail had, somehow, somewhere along the way, gone from clinging onto Deborah and himself to spending more and more time with Benjamin and the woman called Evening Star. Jarrod wouldn't be surprised, if things kept going in the direction they seemed to be heading, if Benjamin didn't wind up married to the woman, adopting the children and consenting to stay with her and her people. As it was the children had already managed to move into Evening Star's teepee somehow. Before long Deborah was with the other women and Jarrod was sitting with Roy and Benjamin in the chief's teepee.

Jarrod, his brother in law, and Benjamin listened as the chief, who had been joined by the other three men who sat on the council, spoke. Spotted Eagle was translating. "Sioux angry with white man. Safer here, still danger, not as high danger. You have learned how use bow and arrow, hunted with us using our weapons, lived with us. Guns," he pointed to their pistols, "save, use only if village is attacked by Sioux or other enemy," the brave paused, "not safe for you travel yet. When safe to travel, a brave take you to train tracks, wait for train, train will carry you home."

Jarrod wanted nothing more than to take his wife and head for the train tracks now, but he knew the brave spoke the truth. Already there had been rumblings through the camp when it came to the Sioux and their activities, he knew that because Running Fox had talked about it the day before, when they were hunting.

"You understand? We not want force you to continue to stay," Spotted Eagle looked at the men, smiled at Benjamin knowing full well what was going on between the widowed Evening Star and the man, "you help Running Fox, we now want help continue to live, go back to your people someday."

"We understand and thank you," Jarrod smiled politely at the men before them, "I cannot speak for the others," he nodded towards Roy and Benjamin, "but, my wife and I will continue to stay." His heart was breaking as he said the words. He knew, for now, it was the best, but he felt horrible for what his mother, sister and brothers must be going through. He hoped someday to help them to see there really hadn't been much choice.

"I'll stay until you go," Roy looked at his brother in law then at the chief and council. He had a promise to keep and he meant to do just that, keep it.

Benjamin shocked no one when he said, "Of course, I am staying; only what are the chances I can marry Evening Star?" he looked at the chief and the council. Spotted Eagle started grinning and translated the question to the chiefs. Smiles and nods of approval were received. When the chief looked at Benjamin and spoke, Spotted Eagle smiled and said, "You marry Evening Star, be one of us," then, knowing the children had basically moved in with Evening Star," he looked at Benjamin and Jarrod, "Children, who take care them now?"

Benjamin looked at Jarrod, "I know you took care of them first only they've fallen in love with us and we with them. They assure us they have no family now. Would you mind if we took them in and raised them?"

Jarrod thought for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders, "I have my reservations, but Paul's close to fifteen. He's old enough to decide for himself and his sister, as young as she may be, shouldn't be separated from her only sibling." Once the meeting was over the group went back to their daily routines.