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

Weeping Willow

Chapter Fourteen

Victoria was standing by the living room window when Jarrod walked in through the front door. It was after lunch and knew everyone had left the house for the day, leaving his mother alone. He sighed, as he watched his mother. He suspected she was a thousand miles away. He could only imagine the depth of her grief; after all, there had to be a difference between grieving for a sister and grieving for your child. He set down his briefcase and walked over to his mother. Laying his on top of her shoulders, he asked, "Are you okay, lovely lady?"

For a moment Victoria didn't answer. Her mind not only on the daughter she'd lost, but on what she'd felt Tom tell her the day of the funeral. It bothered her to no end that she had been unable to figure out what he meant. Finally, she shook her head, "Some days I think I'm fine and then something happens, and I begin to question my sanity," she almost whispered. Jarrod gave her a small hug.

"Let's go for a walk, lovely lady." He smiled as he threw his coat back on and then, grabbing his mother's, held it out for her while she put in it on. He then offered her his arm.

Victoria didn't feel like a walk, but for the sake of her son, she smiled and took the arm he extended. The air might have been on the crispy side, but it still felt strangely comforting as they walked down the path that led into "Audra's garden". When they drew close to the entrance, Victoria pulled back.

Remembering how his brothers had insisted that they go places Audra loved to go, how they'd swapped stories and how much it had helped him, Jarrod felt the walk would do the same thing for his mother. He hoped sitting in the garden under "Audra's" tree, a weeping willow tree she'd helped their father plant when she was only three years old, would ease his mother's pain a little. Though when Victoria hesitated, he nearly turned around. Instead, he grasped her arm a little firmer and patted her hand. "Please," Jarrod smiled warmly at his mother, "you know she wouldn't mind."

Victoria exhaled, and allowed her oldest to lead her to the bench that sat under the gorgeous tree Audra had loved so much. As they sat down a breeze blew through the air causing a couple of the drooping branches to sway back and forth, one even came close to touching Victoria. She couldn't help but let out soft chuckle and give Jarrod a sad smile, "Think someone's trying to say hello?"

The corner of his mouth turned up as he covered her hand in his. "Who knows, maybe that someone is trying to tell you everything is okay, or will be anyway." Jarrod raised his eyes to the swaying long limbs of the branches above him, "I wonder if trees weep." He mused out loud.

Victoria felt a pain shoot through her as she thought on it. If anything on their land had the ability to miss Audra it would be this tree and the garden. Oh, she knew her daughter like shopping and her dresses, but she had spunk and she loved this place more than anything. She was startled to hear, as the branches of the tree swayed back again, what seemed to be a voice whisper, "I'm weeping too, but we haven't lost her."

Seeing his mother's face pale, Jarrod hurried and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Maybe bringing her outside hadn't been such a good idea after all. "Mother? We can go back in, if you need to. I mean, it is on the cold side out here."

"No," Victoria smiled as she regained her composure and looked up on her son, "This is exactly what I need. Thank you." She didn't understand it; she couldn't explain it, but she knew it was true. Besides, how could she tell him what she'd just heard, that in between it and what she'd heard at the funeral, she was starting to wonder about the young woman lying next to Tom. How could she tell him all that when it didn't make any sense to her?

"You're welcome, lovely lady." Jarrod smiled again. He and his mother continued to sit for another hour talking about Audra, her garden and her energy and her fiery temper when fighting for a cause, before finally giving into the cold and letting it coax them back indoors.

OOOOOO

While Jarrod was doing what he could to comfort his mother, Mr. Hammer, now totally recovered from his own illness, was pushing his horse to his limit. With every inch of road he covered, he planned on how to convince at least one of his sons to stay on the farm, knowing that while even one of them and their children were on the farm Kyle would not step foot on it or near it.

Zeb had just stepped outside of his house when he saw Mr. Hammer off in the distance. He had planned on going out to the fields, but now he stood leaning against the porch railing. The moment Mr. Hammer stopped he was off his horse and up the stairs

"Where is he?" He had to fight to control the volume of his voice; he knew how loud he could get and didn't want to chance Kyle being anywhere close enough to hear. It was a concern shared by Zeb.

"Inside," Zeb opened the door and let the man in while Jonathon put up the horses.

The moment Cody stepped inside Scott let out a squeal of delight and ran for his grandfather's open arms. "Grandpa! You came for me! I hoped you would!" the boy's joy spilled over into giggles and a sparkle appeared in his eyes. It made his grandfather feel ten more times protective of the lad. Before he could voice that very commitment Audra stepped into the room.

Audra had heard Scott squeal, heard his words, so she knew who the man standing in the Milton home was, but she didn't know what to say when she saw the shock that spread like wild fire over the man's face. His eyes looked as if they might fall out of their sockets and his jaw fell to the floor. Audra felt embarrassed and somewhat guilty, but most of all sad at the idea that this man's daughter was dead. And he she was looking so much like her. It must be breaking his heart, she thought and dropped her head for fear she might cry.

It was Scott who broke the awkward silence in the air. "This is Miss Barkley, grandpa." Scott, now standing by his grandfather's side, pointed to Audra and smiled from ear to ear. "She took care of me after mama was killed, and then Mr. Knowles there," he said as he pointed to Adam, who was standing near the window, in order to keep an eye out for any strangers, "found us and brought us here."

Mr. Hammer let go of his grandson's hand and walked slower than he had in a long time towards Audra. The adults in the room found themselves holding their breath as the gentleman stopped and gazed upon his daughter's "twin". "I can't believe it." He started to lift his hand and then let it drop to his side. "You look exactly like my daughter."

Audra saw the tortured look in the man's eyes and felt her heart go out to him. "I'm sorry, Mr. Hammer. There was nothing I could do for her." She prayed he would know that.

As soon as Cody had heard the sound of Audra's voice, he felt like someone had thrown cold water in his face. He shook his head slightly and came out t of the reverie and back to reality '. "I believe you." The pain Audra saw in his eyes turned quickly back into a force of composure like steel, "we might not be able to change the past, but we sure the…" he caught himself just in time, "sam hill can send word back to Stockton and get a member of your family up here while we're looking for Kyle!"

Zeb Milton stared at his friend. "There's a stagecoach that leaves Henderson Springs twice a week. Why not just send a telegram and then put the young lady on it?" He had no more said the words though and he felt like an idiot. He knew exactly what that reply was going to be. It was.

Mr. Hammer exploded, "With all due respect, I realize what risk you took letting your guests stay here, and I do appreciate it. Now with that said and done, Kyle Hannifin already drove my daughter to take the boy and run! That running led to her death on an ill fated stagecoach! Do you want us to put this young lady in a position where that…that…" he had to stammer to keep from saying what he wanted to say and find a more appropriate word for the Audra and Laura's ears, "sorry definition of a human being will find her and kill her on sight?" He had no doubt his last words were true.

"No, guess not." Zeb sighed and shook his head.

"I'll get word to the Barkleys somehow." Adam stepped away from the wall and headed for the door. "You best stay inside Miss Barkley, only safe place for you right now."

Audra infuriated at being told what to do exploded herself. "I am fully capable of taking care of myself! I will not just sit around inside waiting for what? Something, anything or nothing to happen!"

Her outburst put grins upon everyone's faces, but Adam quickly wiped his off and put his foot down. "So, you would leave this house, leaving yourself wide open to the risk of getting shot at by a man desperate to keep who he thinks to be his wife quiet, and thus risk the having to hurt your family a second time when we have to put you back in a grave? Another grave that they will stand over, weeping until their cries are raw." The look on his face could have scared the dead back to life.

Before Audra could answer him, Cody interjected. "It's not safe for her here at the Miltons. Kyle won't be afraid to come here. I brought my wagon and my oldest son, who stayed outside at my request; she should come with Scott and me. Kyle won't come near my place as long as we have extra company. Though, it wouldn't hurt to have another set of eyes on our place." He spoke sending a please get my drift look to Adam; he got the message.

"I'll get our things," Adam turned around and left the room.

Audra wanted to argue with the arrangements, but the thought of her family stopped her. She just prayed like crazy it didn't take Adam too long to get her family word.