I do NOT own The Big Valley or any of the original Barkley characters.
Blindsided
Chapter Eleven
The night air smelled great and nothing but the crickets and other night sounds could be heard. Brigham stood on the edge of town with Audra as they watched Jack and the other men riding off.
"I wish you were coming with us, Brigham." Jack had looked down at his partner, while the other men had waited a good two hundred yards away. It didn't pass Audra by that the man was talking low and keeping his eyes moving at all times."It's going to feel strange doing this job with you serving as a mere contact."
"I know," Brigham answered low and without emotion, "but remember, this was yer idea. Even if it wasn't, what choice do either one of us have? I slipped and brought her into this, and we can't take a woman into that area, not right with what's goin' on. Just get those men stopped! There's enough violence in this world without 'em addin' more!"
"Yes, sir!" Jack had sat straight up and spoken loud enough for the other men to hear. Audra had been sure it was so the men would know Brigham had been the one to give the orders.
Brigham turned and looked upon Audra. He shook his head. "We best get going. Our horses are waiting at the livery stable and the clerk said the keys to that house would be underneath the door mat when we get there." He started walking, as did Audra.
He'd promised to tell her all he could, but Audra wasn't stupid enough to expect him to do it out where anyone could hear him. After all, hadn't he taken great lengths to keep his and his men's' whereabouts away from everyone? She'd just have to bide her time and wait for him to keep his promise, which she'd knew he'd do.
Brigham's own thoughts were racing. He couldn't expect the young woman walking beside him to live the life of a hermit, yet he couldn't exactly have her traipsing around Strawberry either. "You've acted the part of a man for years," he thought as he opened the door to the livery stable. "Why did you act so irrationally this time around?" He knew he wasn't doing any good by continuing to berate himself; well, his head knew it anyway.
With his mind so occupied, Brigham almost slipped up again, only he caught the sound of quiet footsteps just in time to grab Audra and hurl the two of them into a stall before whoever was trying to be so quiet entered the livery stable from the back. With Brigham's hand over her mouth, all Audra could do was wait, her heart pounding, wondering what was going on. The fact that Brigham had his pistol out didn't help her heart slow down any.
Two men had entered the back of the livery stable and were now moving around until one said, "I know I saw him heading this way and that's his horse! I tell you, we just have to wait for him."
Brigham gritted his teeth in anger. He knew the voice; it belonged to a man he greatly disliked, a man from Tennessee, a brown haired, heavy set man by the name of Alan Pierce. The man hated Brigham for helping his, Alan's wife, to see how abusive her husband really was, and then helping her get back to her parents' home. "You stay here then," the other man's voice was filled with disgust, "I gave my word, as you did, I'd be in Reno as soon as I can. I'm out of here!" Only after the other man had left and Brigham saw the man leave through a hole in the livery stable, did he let go of Audra and inch his way to the corner of the stall. Sure enough, Alan Pierce could be seen with his back to Brigham.
When Mr. Pierce heard the cocking of a pistol he stiffened and an evil grin crossed his face. "I knew you were in here, but are you…" The man was talking as he turned around, but he made a fatal mistake. He tried drawing his gun out from his vest as he did; Brigham's bullet hit him before he could even get a shot off.
Brigham ran over to the man, as did Audra, her eyes wide as Mr. McCallister knelt down by the man. "You're good." Mr. Pierce stared at the man. "Guess I should have…" He never finished that sentence either.
Brigham looked up at Audra. "Sorry you had to see that, no one as young as you should have to deal with this." His frustration could be heard in his voice, he wasn't used to not being able to find the words he needed.
Audra swallowed hard and nodded. "He would have killed you." She knew she was stating the obvious; she didn't really care though. She was grateful Brigham had been able to stop the man. Her admiration at his ability to handle himself grew. She sure hoped whatever he had to tell her was acceptable; she disliked the idea of having to go back to hating him.
Brigham stood up just as the sheriff burst into the stable, along with a dozen other people. They'd heard the shot and came running. "What happened?" The lawman looked at the body of the dead man upon the floor.
Brigham told the sheriff who the man was and why he hated him, and then said, "He tried to kill me."
The lawman looked at the woman standing next to the stranger. "Is that true?" He figured he knew what she'd say, but he still had to hear it for himself.
For a moment Audra didn't answer. The dead man hated Brigham for helping his, the dead man's, wife to see she was worth more and deserved more? What a jerk the man must have been. "Yes, it is," Audra answered, "Brigham doesn't lie unless there's an absolute justifiable reason, and this isn't one of those times." As she was looking at the sheriff, Audra didn't see the smile that spread over Mr. McCallister's face, all she saw the look in the sheriff's eyes. She was amazed to realize there was a time, not all that long ago, she would have been upset at the momentary doubt she saw in the man's eyes, but not now. She knew she spoke the truth, and if he didn't like it so be it.
Knowing the dead man was a wanted man, as his poster had just arrived that day, the lawman turned to one of the men who had followed him in. "Come on Timothy, let's get the man out of here. You folks go on home that means you too." He looked at Brigham and Audra. Brigham said nothing as he grabbed the horses and led them out with Audra following.
