Man of Justice

I do not own The Big Valley or any of the original Barkleys.

Chapter Ten

The summer sun continued to beat down upon the wagon train. Jarrod had been surprised when Jacob Michael stopped the wagon train hours ahead of schedule. The man had said there was something wrong with one of his, Jacob's, horses. From where he stood Jarrod could see the man kneeling down and checking one of his horse's legs.

"Is the horse goin' be okay, mama?" Maria Miller looked up at her mother, as they stood by the wagon, watching on..

Her mother smiled and nodded, "I think so. He doesn't look bad to me."

"He's not bad at all." Jarrod thought only to himself. Something wasn't right, but he didn't know what it was. Before he had a chance to dwell on it, one of the women screamed and Jacob Michael flew to his feet, as the other men grabbed their guns.

"Hold your fire!" Jacob hurried to end of the wagon train and looked at the scene that had everyone's undying attention and fear. A handful of Modoc Indians sat on their horses about four hundred yards away from the small group. "Wait here!" Jacob barked the order as he headed towards the Indians watching them, "I know just enough of their language to talk to them, if they don't happen to speak English. Meanwhile, get the women and children into the wagons!" No one argued.

Jarrod watched, still feeling somewhat confused. Certain things just didn't make sense. His keen mind turned one thing after another around in his mind, and some inconsistencies began to surface. Jacob Michael had insisted from the moment he'd stepped foot on the Barkley ranch he meant to get the wagon train moving as early as possible and keep a steady pace, barring any unforeseen event. The first two days they'd done just that. However, just that morning the man might as well danced a slow waltz a few times over, for as fast as he got the wagon train moving he had no sooner made one excuse after another to stop the wagon. It was almost as if, no…Jarrod shook his head. His mind couldn't accept the thought that had just entered his head. Though, he found it repeating itself anyway.

In spite of the fact that Jacob Michael had assured his father the government contacts had assured him that the Modoc had been forced onto a reservation, it was as if the man knew we'd be meeting up with the Modoc sooner or later; was almost preparing for it. That was the thought that continued to press itself upon Jarrod's mind. But why would the man lie? Jarrod didn't understand it, and it made him nervous.

When the Indians turned around and rode away, Jacob hurried back to the wagon train. Everyone sighed with relief when he said the leader knew English and he'd been able to assure the man and the men with him that the wagon train was just passing through Modoc country. "Seeing how I was wrong about my horse, we'll have to start moving again. Let's get goin'." Jacob hollered as he headed for his own wagon.

The men hurried to climb aboard their wagons with their families. All were eager to get away from any threat from the Modoc. Everyone but Jarrod relaxed. How could he? He'd watched Mr. Michael take way too long to check his horse's leg; another thing that added some weight to the theory he'd been waiting for those Indians. How convenient that now he was trying to claim he'd simply been wrong? The man was hiding something, but what? The nervous feeling that had made itself Jarrod's companion refused to leave; in fact, if anything, it grew.

0000

Victoria sat on the porch mending a shirt, Audra sat at her feet playing with a small doll, while Tom stood in the yard talking to McCall and Nick. It was Saturday and Nick had been helping McCall all day. Their talk came to an abrupt halt, when they saw a man with a badge riding their way. As the stranger drew closer, they were all shocked to realize it was a U.S. Marshall that was on their land.

While Tom and the others were curious as all get out, Tom waited until the man had stopped his horse not five feet him and dismounted before he spoke. "Somethin' I can do for you, Marshall?"

Marshall Lyman Mitchell looked over at Victoria, who had picked up Audra and hurried over to her husband's side, and then at Nick, who stood in between his father and McCall. After what the Marshall had learned, he didn't want to scare the woman or the child. "Hello, I'm Marshall Mitchell, are you Mr. Tom Barkley? He asked.

"Yes Marshal, What's this about?"

"Is there someplace we can talk?" His eyes and tone of voice, along with a very slight tilt of the head silently added the word 'alone'.

Victoria would have none of it; however, she didn't want Nick around either. "McCall, didn't you say you were taking Nick with you while you checked some fence lines." She spoke up as she turned her attention to their foreman.

"I want to stay!" Nick stomped his foot and bellowed.

"You will not use that tone of voice with your mother, young man nor will you raise your voice to her!" Tom growled as he glared down at Nick. "You will either help McCall or go to your bedroom!" He wasn't surprised when Nick shut up and followed McCall towards the barn. Once the two were out of sight, Tom turned his attention to the U.S. Marshall in front of him.

"What is it?" He braced himself for the worst.

Marshall Mitchell shrugged his shoulders and replied, "I need to ask you a few questions concerning a friend of yours, one Jacob Michael." He wasn't surprised by the shocked looks that appeared on the faces of the couple before him.