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

Blindsided

Chapter Twenty-Five

Jonathon set the lantern Eric had handed him on a natural shelf that the sat on the wall of the cave. It, along with the one Brad was holding, gave the light they needed. Jonathon opened the lid to one of the crates that had arrived only a couple of hours ago and started counting the rifles. He had to make sure the correct number had been delivered. If they were short, Mr. Mitchell would be taking it out of his pay, if not his hide. He was only half way through when Brad, as nervous as ever, walked over and started talking.

"Are they all there? Did they send the correct ones? There's nothing…" He never finished the last sentence as Jonathon let out a string of cuss words and sent the man flying with his fist. How he wished he could just fire the man! As it was, Brad would be lucky if he let him live.

Brad's eyes widened in shock, and then narrowed in anger as he scrambled to his feet. "What did you do that for!" He didn't see the need for such action.

Jonathon lit into him. "I was trying to count them, you idiot! How can I do that if you ramble questions off in my ear? One after another to boot! What are you so fired worried about, anyway? If any of them are missing, you're not the one who gets the blame! Now, just shut up!"

Brad stormed out of the cave and stood in the dark. He was getting tired of Jonathon pushing him around and refusing to answer justifiable questions. The fact that the man couldn't concentrate on counting, listen to him and answer all at once was something that seemed to go right over Brad's head. Just about the time he decided he had his fill of it, Jonathon walked out of the cave.

"They're all there; everything is fine. Now," he said as he glared at Brad, "we're getting paid a pretty penny for guarding these rifles until the men Mr. Mitchell is sending come to pick them up. There is nothing we have to do after that. The Injuns get their guns, they get their war and we get a decent profit out of it all. Is it all that hard for you to wait? It's as if you think something is going to go wrong, but how is that going to happen? No one but that friend of yours knows of this location and the idiot got scared and ran!"

Maybe that was it, maybe he did feel something in the air; Trace wouldn't just have taken off, not after the talk the two of them had had the other day; but, Jonathon would never believe him. Well, he wouldn't believe him without proof, and he had none. "I said I'd wait two more nights," Brad finally answered as he gazed at the stars, "guess I can wait the week out if I need to." Jonathon said nothing as he went back inside.

Eric was inspecting the rifles when Jonathon reentered the cave. He knew the look of exasperation upon his brother's face; he'd seen it many times in his life. "I don't see why you pulled him into this job in the first place. He'd too edgy and impatient. If we're not careful, he'll blow this for all of us." Eric laid down the rifle in his hands and picked up another one.

Jonathon knew Eric was right, but said nothing as he walked to the back of the cave that had been picked to hide the needed guns and ammunition in. '…too edgy and impatient.' Jonathon stood in the back corner of the cave, letting the words run through his mind once more. Truth was, as badly as he wanted to fire Brad, he too was feeling uneasy. Sure, the men were not past the deadline, but Mr. Mitchell had said he didn't expect them to need the last week and here it was, the last week.

Eric finished inspecting the rifles and walked back by his brother. He didn't know what to think about Jonathon anymore. The man seemed so organized and all, yet here he was looking like a nervous jackrabbit. Oh, Eric would never tell him that. After all, his older brother would just bite his head off and tell him he was seeing things, and then he'd tell him to stop poking his nose into matters that weren't his to look into. Though he dared to venture to inquire about the man's health. "You feeling all right?"

Jonathon nodded as he glared towards the front of the cave. "As long as our friend out there doesn't get too impatient, we'll be fine."

Eric knew there was more bothering his brother; he also knew it was useless trying to get anything out of the man when he was like this. That being the case, Eric turned around, went back up his bedroll and lay down. After all, he should have been to sleep hours ago, and would have been had it not been for the arguing that had been going on between his brother and Brad.

By the time the sun started climbing out of bed, Nick, Heath and Brigham were all up and awake; they had to be, the sun was already being threatened to be put into hiding by some dark clouds that were starting to roll. Due to that, the threat of bad weather, it didn't take long to eat a little of the jerky they had with them and a few of the apples Heath had brought along. Once again, they got in a position where they could see the cave and any man that might come out of it. Just as Nick started to think he might have made a mistake in suggesting they wait, the three men walked out of the cave.

Nick grinned. "At least we know what we're facing now. I'd say it was time to go round up some guns and a few extra pawns." Neither Heath nor Brigham argued as they started towards the cave.