I do not own The Big Valley, nor any of the original Barkley Characters. Blind Man's Bluff Chapter Ten Scene Eighteen
Jarrod was leaning on his crutches in the bedroom doorway when Peggy turned around. At first she was annoyed until she realized he was looking at her, really looking at her! "Thomas? What is it?" she sat up, a part of her feeling funny calling him Thomas when she knew his real name, but she forced herself to. After all, if by some wild chance they actually got a visitor, she didn't want to let it slip to who he really was.
Jarrod didn't answer at first. He'd been in too much shock when he first woke up from his small nap, not sure if he was still asleep and just dreaming. "Well, if these eyes of mine would decide to clear up and get focused, I'm sure the picture I took with my hands last night on the porch would pale in comparison to what I'd see with my actual eyes."
Peggy let out a soft squeal of delight and hurried to his side. As she looked into his eyes she could tell neither he nor she was hallucinating. "It will take some time, but I'm sure your vision will come back fully. I'm so happy for you! Really! But," her shoulders slumped ever so slightly, "I guess that means, once that cast comes off you'll be on your way." she started to turn away, she found tears wanting to come and she'd not have that. After all, she shouldn't feel like crying. She really was elated that he was getting his eyesight back.
Jarrod reached out and took hold of her arm, pulling her gently back, "I may be on my way, but I'll not be leaving alone, I hope. After everything you've done for me, do you really think I could turn my back on you? Besides, I'm ninety eight percent sure I'm still considered legally blind at this point," he paused then continued, "Your brother and his friends aren't gong to be thanking you for helping me, should they find out you knew from the start. The way I see things, if anything, you're in harm's way just as much as I am."
She knew that. She'd known it from the start, only he'd needed her then. As if Jarrod could read her mind he lifted his hand to her chin and lifted it up, "I may not need you as my guide, should my eyesight clear up before this journey is through, doesn't mean I have to stop caring about what happens to you. Does it?" he smiled at her.
"Why did you have to go do that?" Peggy asked as she kept her eyes on him. She had to, it was like there as an invisible force making her keep her eyes on him. No one had ever succeeded in making her feel that way; she wasn't sure she liked that or not.
"Do what?" Jarrod's eyebrows turned down a bit as his eyes filled with a puzzled look.
"Smile at me," she blushed as she answered him. Jarrod's only answer was to lean against the door, put one crutch against the dresser than sat right next to the door and pulled her to him. He did not have to destroy her good reputation to savor the feel of her lips on his.
Scene Nineteen
"No!" Adam barked softly as he again paced in front of his friend's cell, "We can't find them anywhere! It's like they've dropped off the face of the earth or something! And," he glared at Peter, "as you already know, your good friend," he flicked his fingers in the air when he said the word good, "Mr. Sanders didn't destroy everything like he was supposed to! They found evidence he was hired to deliver Mr. Barkley to someone. Thank goodness, the last part of the letter was torn off, or I'd, most likely, be in there with you! Now every lawman there is, and probably a few private detectives, are keeping a close eye on everyone that is know to have any kind of association with you! That's not making our job a whole lot more..." he stopped abruptly as, for the first time he realized, really realized the description he'd been given fit 'Mr. Taylor to a tee'. He swore.
"What? What is it?" Peter demanded. He didn't like it when people started a sentence then stopped.
Adam shook his head as he admitted to what he just realized, "I don't know how he got a letter sent to Mr. Taylor! It's like I said though, thanks to your friend our job has been made more than difficult."
He couldn't believe his sister was with Jarrod Barkley! Peter cursed as he looked out the window set behind him. She would protect him tooth and nail no matter what, wouldn't make a difference if she knew the truth. She was always defending those she saw as innocent. "So, find someone new! Someone they don't know is associated with me! I don't want to go to prison!"
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Nick and Heath had finished talking to every Caldwell who lived in and around Little Creek, not one of them had heard a thing. They, Heath and Nick, might have confessed Michael was really Jarrod, but the way Peggy's father was acting, they didn't dare. The man might go find them and do more than yell at them! Nick didn't' know whether or not he believed any of the Caldwell's, but he had nothing to prove otherwise. They were just mounting their horses when they heard someone calling them. They turned their heads; a young man was running towards them, "Mr. Barkley!"
Heath and Nick both took their feet out of their stirrups and faced the young boy, "What is it?" Nick wasn't sure what to make of their visitor. "My name is Josiah Hammer. I need to talk to you. It's about the Taylors."
The Taylors! "What about them?" the steel in Nick's eyes and the bark in his voice would have scared the young man, had he been paying attention.
"First off," Josiah looked to make sure no one was listening, and lowered voice, "I didn't tell you this, you hear? My parents would tan my hide if they knew I was talking to you, to anyone for that matter. Miss Peggy begged them not to say anything to anyone. She and Mr. Taylor were awfully nervous about something."
"Boy," Nick snapped, "Will you get to the point? We don't have all day!"
Josiah shot him somewhat of a dirty look, but took a deep breath and said, "They stayed at our place a few days. Mr. Taylor had a bummed up shoulder and a broken leg. They were awfully nervous about something. Personally, I got the feeling they thought someone was after them."
Both Nick's and Heath's eyebrows turned down. The only thing they knew that could be making the couple nervous was Peter Caldwell, and Jarrod had amnesia. They looked at each other and felt
shock waves go through them. For the first time they both realized that maybe, just maybe, the amnesia thing was only a cover! "Why do you say that?" Heath asked, curious to as what the lad may say.
Josiah went on to explain, in detail, the request Miss Peggy had made then said, "If you want I can show you the path they took when they left our place."
"That your horse?" Nick looked down the street; he could see a horse tied up to a small tree.
Josiah nodded, "Yes, sir, it is."
Heath and Nick mounted their horses, "Then go get it!" Nick barked, the boy paid no mind to Nick behavior. He figured the stranger was only acting out of stress.