Disclaimer: I don't own The Big Valley or its character and I am making no
money from this story.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews folks they mean alot. Keep 'em coming.
************************************************************************
Chapter 7
The three Barkleys rode back to the Barkley house with Nick and Jarrod racing each other the last half mile. Jarrod was slightly heavier, but had the faster horse and won by a neck. Nick wasn't happy to lose to his older brother, but remained a good sport. He was happy just to have Jarrod around to race against.
Victoria greeted her husband and sons as they come through the front door. "You're just in time for dinner. Did you find anything at the stream Tom?"
"Boys, why don't you go upstairs and clean up for dinner," Tom instructed.
Nick scowled at announcement. The boy was anxious to tell his mother of Jarrod's close call. "But I wanted to tell mother what happened."
"I'm going to tell Mother. After all it happened to me," Jarrod protested.
Victoria looked at Tom, curious to know what had transpired during the search for evidence of the argument. "It sounds like you three had an exciting time at the stream."
Tom shifted his weight to his other leg, dreading Victoria's reaction to Jarrod's encounter with a snake. "Yes it was exciting. However, I think I should be the one to tell your mother what happened. Now both of you go on upstairs."
Victoria listened as Tom recounted Jarrod's close call with the rattlesnake. Victoria remained calm despite her concern. Encounters with wildlife came with living in the San Joaquin Valley and the west. Victoria wasn't about to turn tail and run from the dangers. She was too strong of a woman for that. However, Victoria was glad she didn't have to sacrifice her son to the dangers of the western wildlife.
"Well thank Heaven everything turned out okay and Jarrod is unharmed," Victoria commented after Tom finished the story.
"Yes, I'm glad Jarrod has a good head on his shoulders and didn't panic," Tom replied.
During dinner the conversation shifted from Jarrod's close call to the missing body of the dark-haired stranger. Jarrod and Nick were left with no doubt that their parents believed their story. The main concern was what to do next.
"First thing tomorrow I'll go into to town and tell the sheriff the boys' story and see what he recommends," Tom announced to Victoria.
Nick swallowed his bite of steak looked up at Tom. "Can me and Jarrod go with you Father?"
"It's Jarrod and me Nick," Tom corrected. "I'll go alone. I don't want you two to miss any school."
Jarrod and Nick look disappointed but accepted the news good-naturedly. They knew better than to argue with their father. The conversation then turned to school and what kind of lesson the teacher was giving lately. Jarrod was excited about History while Nick groused about the grammar lessons.
The next morning Tom walked over to the sheriff's office after dropping off Jarrod and Nick at the schoolhouse. Sheriff Jenkins was sitting at his desk filling out paperwork when Tom Barkley entered.
Sheriff Jenkins stood up and shook Tom's hand. "Well Tom Barkley, what brings you into town? I thought you'd be busy running your ranch."
"I am, but I have a pressing matter I need to speak to you about Mike," Tom replied as he sat down in the chair in front of the sheriff's desk.
Sheriff Jenkins leaned forward in his chair. It wasn't often that Tom Barkley had a pressing matter that concerned the town sheriff. "Alright Tom. What can I do for you?"
Tom took a deep breath and began recounting the story of Jarrod and Nick witnessing an argument between Jacob Mosley and the dark-haired stranger. Sheriff Jenkins listened intently, not giving any indication whether he believed the story.
"That's a very damaging story if it's true Tom. Jarrod and Nick are accusing Jacob Mosley of murder," Jenkins remarked.
"Now wait a minute Mike. Jarrod and Nick are only saying they witnesses Jacob commit a possible act of violence. I believe the law calls it assault and battery." Tom replied.
"That's not what the townsfolk are going to think when word gets out. The people of Stockton are going to say that Jarrod and Nick are accusing Jacob Mosley of murder. Now you and I both now how that is going to sit with the good citizens of Stockton. They respect Jacob and all the good he's done for Stockton and its citizens," Jenkins pointed out.
Tom leaned back in his chair and sighed. Sheriff Mike Jenkins had a valid point. There was no body found and it was doubtful there ever would be. Tom debated whether to press the matter and fill out an official report regarding the incident. Still, Tom Barkley wasn't one to back down when the going became difficult. The deciding matter was how it would affect Jarrod and Nick. They were young boys and Tom felt as if he would be throwing them to the proverbial wolves by pressing for an official investigation.
"You make a good argument for keeping this matter quiet Mike, but if a crime has been committed then I can't allow the perpetrator to get off," Tom reasoned.
"Even if it may cause harm to your sons?" Jenkins countered.
Tom nodded his head ever so slightly. "Yes. What kind of lesson would I be teaching Jarrod and Nick if I backed down from doing what is right just because it would prove unpopular?"
Jenkins let out a horse laugh. "You're always so sure you're in the right aren't you Tom?"
"I have to be Mike; it's the only way I can go on when everybody else thinks I'm daft," Tom replied.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews folks they mean alot. Keep 'em coming.
************************************************************************
Chapter 7
The three Barkleys rode back to the Barkley house with Nick and Jarrod racing each other the last half mile. Jarrod was slightly heavier, but had the faster horse and won by a neck. Nick wasn't happy to lose to his older brother, but remained a good sport. He was happy just to have Jarrod around to race against.
Victoria greeted her husband and sons as they come through the front door. "You're just in time for dinner. Did you find anything at the stream Tom?"
"Boys, why don't you go upstairs and clean up for dinner," Tom instructed.
Nick scowled at announcement. The boy was anxious to tell his mother of Jarrod's close call. "But I wanted to tell mother what happened."
"I'm going to tell Mother. After all it happened to me," Jarrod protested.
Victoria looked at Tom, curious to know what had transpired during the search for evidence of the argument. "It sounds like you three had an exciting time at the stream."
Tom shifted his weight to his other leg, dreading Victoria's reaction to Jarrod's encounter with a snake. "Yes it was exciting. However, I think I should be the one to tell your mother what happened. Now both of you go on upstairs."
Victoria listened as Tom recounted Jarrod's close call with the rattlesnake. Victoria remained calm despite her concern. Encounters with wildlife came with living in the San Joaquin Valley and the west. Victoria wasn't about to turn tail and run from the dangers. She was too strong of a woman for that. However, Victoria was glad she didn't have to sacrifice her son to the dangers of the western wildlife.
"Well thank Heaven everything turned out okay and Jarrod is unharmed," Victoria commented after Tom finished the story.
"Yes, I'm glad Jarrod has a good head on his shoulders and didn't panic," Tom replied.
During dinner the conversation shifted from Jarrod's close call to the missing body of the dark-haired stranger. Jarrod and Nick were left with no doubt that their parents believed their story. The main concern was what to do next.
"First thing tomorrow I'll go into to town and tell the sheriff the boys' story and see what he recommends," Tom announced to Victoria.
Nick swallowed his bite of steak looked up at Tom. "Can me and Jarrod go with you Father?"
"It's Jarrod and me Nick," Tom corrected. "I'll go alone. I don't want you two to miss any school."
Jarrod and Nick look disappointed but accepted the news good-naturedly. They knew better than to argue with their father. The conversation then turned to school and what kind of lesson the teacher was giving lately. Jarrod was excited about History while Nick groused about the grammar lessons.
The next morning Tom walked over to the sheriff's office after dropping off Jarrod and Nick at the schoolhouse. Sheriff Jenkins was sitting at his desk filling out paperwork when Tom Barkley entered.
Sheriff Jenkins stood up and shook Tom's hand. "Well Tom Barkley, what brings you into town? I thought you'd be busy running your ranch."
"I am, but I have a pressing matter I need to speak to you about Mike," Tom replied as he sat down in the chair in front of the sheriff's desk.
Sheriff Jenkins leaned forward in his chair. It wasn't often that Tom Barkley had a pressing matter that concerned the town sheriff. "Alright Tom. What can I do for you?"
Tom took a deep breath and began recounting the story of Jarrod and Nick witnessing an argument between Jacob Mosley and the dark-haired stranger. Sheriff Jenkins listened intently, not giving any indication whether he believed the story.
"That's a very damaging story if it's true Tom. Jarrod and Nick are accusing Jacob Mosley of murder," Jenkins remarked.
"Now wait a minute Mike. Jarrod and Nick are only saying they witnesses Jacob commit a possible act of violence. I believe the law calls it assault and battery." Tom replied.
"That's not what the townsfolk are going to think when word gets out. The people of Stockton are going to say that Jarrod and Nick are accusing Jacob Mosley of murder. Now you and I both now how that is going to sit with the good citizens of Stockton. They respect Jacob and all the good he's done for Stockton and its citizens," Jenkins pointed out.
Tom leaned back in his chair and sighed. Sheriff Mike Jenkins had a valid point. There was no body found and it was doubtful there ever would be. Tom debated whether to press the matter and fill out an official report regarding the incident. Still, Tom Barkley wasn't one to back down when the going became difficult. The deciding matter was how it would affect Jarrod and Nick. They were young boys and Tom felt as if he would be throwing them to the proverbial wolves by pressing for an official investigation.
"You make a good argument for keeping this matter quiet Mike, but if a crime has been committed then I can't allow the perpetrator to get off," Tom reasoned.
"Even if it may cause harm to your sons?" Jenkins countered.
Tom nodded his head ever so slightly. "Yes. What kind of lesson would I be teaching Jarrod and Nick if I backed down from doing what is right just because it would prove unpopular?"
Jenkins let out a horse laugh. "You're always so sure you're in the right aren't you Tom?"
"I have to be Mike; it's the only way I can go on when everybody else thinks I'm daft," Tom replied.
