Disclaimer: I don't own The Big Valley or its characters. I am making no
money from this story.
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Chapter 8
"Tom, you're aware that without a body or a victim there is no crime," Jenkins informed.
Tom thought over the implications as he poured himself a cup of coffee. "Yes, but I believe Jarrod and Nick so I am sure a victim will turn up sooner or later. Then you'll have your crime."
Jenkins held out his empty cup as Tom poured hot coffee into it. "I know you believe your sons Tom. I'm not questioning that or their honesty. I just want you to know what you're getting them and the rest of your family into."
"You've done a good job of that Mike. But you know me. I may take awhile to make up my mind, but once I do it stays that way," Tom reminded his friend as he replaced the coffee pot to the burner.
Jenkins didn't need any reminding of Tom Barkley's stubbornness. It was legendary all over the Valley. Jenkins hoped this time that stubbornness didn't come back to haunt Tom Barkley and his family.
Tom finished off the coffee and smiled at the sheriff. "Well Mike, I better finish the rest of my business here in town and get back to the ranch."
"Okay Tom. In spite of all I've said, I really do appreciate that you came in here to report what Jarrod and Nick told you," Jenkins said as he put his coffee cup down on his desk.
"Thank you Mike. Please let me know if that dark-haired stranger turns up," Tom requested as he headed for the door.
Sheriff Jenkins smiled as he shook Tom Barkley's hand. "I will. You can count on that Tom."
**** ONE WEEK LATER***
Sheriff Mike Jenkins knocked on the door of the Barkley home and was greeted by Silas.
"Hello Silas, is Mr. Barkley home?" Sheriff Jenkins asked.
"Yes sir Sheriff. Come inside and I'll tell Mr. Barkley you're here," Silas answered as he showed the sheriff inside to the main room just off the entryway.
Sheriff Jenkins took off his hat and played with it in his hands as he waited for Silas to return with Tom Barkley. Moments later Silas and Tom entered the room with Tom looking visibly excited.
"Well Sheriff, what brings you out here, as if I couldn't guess?" Tom greeted.
Sheriff Jenkins waited for Silas to exit the room before telling Tom the news. "I thought you ought to know that Farmer Miller brought in a dead body earlier today."
Tom Barkley blinked twice before responding, "Was it the dark-haired stranger?"
Sheriff Jenkins shrugged his shoulders. "Farmer Miller fished the corpse out of the stream that cuts through his property. There was no way to identify the body. It must have been in the stream for at least the last few days."
"That sounds like it could be our man," Tom commented.
"We'll have to wait and see about that Tom," the sheriff cautioned. "I'm having the Doc look over the body to try to determine the cause of death."
Tom Barkley knew in his heart that the corpse was that of the dark-haired stranger. It was just a matter of time before it was proven beyond a doubt. "I understand Mike, but it seems more than a coincidence that a dead body shows up a week after my boys witness a violent altercation."
Sheriff Jenkins had to admit that Tom Barkley had a point. This did seem more than a coincidence. "Well, hopefully Doc can tell us for sure soon enough."
Victoria entered the room and smiled graciously at the sight of the town's sheriff. "Mike Jenkins, what a pleasant surprise. Silas told me you were here."
"Victoria, you look lovely as ever," Sheriff Jenkins complimented.
"You still have a way with the ladies I see," Victoria joked. "What news do you bring us? Good news I hope."
Sheriff Jenkins didn't know what exactly how to classify the kind of report he brought to the Barkley home. "I was just telling Tom that Farmer Miller brought in a corpse earlier today. That could be the stranger that Jarrod and Nick saw Jacob Mosley hit over the head."
Victoria's expression turned serious as a cold shiver crawled down her spine. "I'm not sure whether to consider that good news or bad news Mike."
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Chapter 8
"Tom, you're aware that without a body or a victim there is no crime," Jenkins informed.
Tom thought over the implications as he poured himself a cup of coffee. "Yes, but I believe Jarrod and Nick so I am sure a victim will turn up sooner or later. Then you'll have your crime."
Jenkins held out his empty cup as Tom poured hot coffee into it. "I know you believe your sons Tom. I'm not questioning that or their honesty. I just want you to know what you're getting them and the rest of your family into."
"You've done a good job of that Mike. But you know me. I may take awhile to make up my mind, but once I do it stays that way," Tom reminded his friend as he replaced the coffee pot to the burner.
Jenkins didn't need any reminding of Tom Barkley's stubbornness. It was legendary all over the Valley. Jenkins hoped this time that stubbornness didn't come back to haunt Tom Barkley and his family.
Tom finished off the coffee and smiled at the sheriff. "Well Mike, I better finish the rest of my business here in town and get back to the ranch."
"Okay Tom. In spite of all I've said, I really do appreciate that you came in here to report what Jarrod and Nick told you," Jenkins said as he put his coffee cup down on his desk.
"Thank you Mike. Please let me know if that dark-haired stranger turns up," Tom requested as he headed for the door.
Sheriff Jenkins smiled as he shook Tom Barkley's hand. "I will. You can count on that Tom."
**** ONE WEEK LATER***
Sheriff Mike Jenkins knocked on the door of the Barkley home and was greeted by Silas.
"Hello Silas, is Mr. Barkley home?" Sheriff Jenkins asked.
"Yes sir Sheriff. Come inside and I'll tell Mr. Barkley you're here," Silas answered as he showed the sheriff inside to the main room just off the entryway.
Sheriff Jenkins took off his hat and played with it in his hands as he waited for Silas to return with Tom Barkley. Moments later Silas and Tom entered the room with Tom looking visibly excited.
"Well Sheriff, what brings you out here, as if I couldn't guess?" Tom greeted.
Sheriff Jenkins waited for Silas to exit the room before telling Tom the news. "I thought you ought to know that Farmer Miller brought in a dead body earlier today."
Tom Barkley blinked twice before responding, "Was it the dark-haired stranger?"
Sheriff Jenkins shrugged his shoulders. "Farmer Miller fished the corpse out of the stream that cuts through his property. There was no way to identify the body. It must have been in the stream for at least the last few days."
"That sounds like it could be our man," Tom commented.
"We'll have to wait and see about that Tom," the sheriff cautioned. "I'm having the Doc look over the body to try to determine the cause of death."
Tom Barkley knew in his heart that the corpse was that of the dark-haired stranger. It was just a matter of time before it was proven beyond a doubt. "I understand Mike, but it seems more than a coincidence that a dead body shows up a week after my boys witness a violent altercation."
Sheriff Jenkins had to admit that Tom Barkley had a point. This did seem more than a coincidence. "Well, hopefully Doc can tell us for sure soon enough."
Victoria entered the room and smiled graciously at the sight of the town's sheriff. "Mike Jenkins, what a pleasant surprise. Silas told me you were here."
"Victoria, you look lovely as ever," Sheriff Jenkins complimented.
"You still have a way with the ladies I see," Victoria joked. "What news do you bring us? Good news I hope."
Sheriff Jenkins didn't know what exactly how to classify the kind of report he brought to the Barkley home. "I was just telling Tom that Farmer Miller brought in a corpse earlier today. That could be the stranger that Jarrod and Nick saw Jacob Mosley hit over the head."
Victoria's expression turned serious as a cold shiver crawled down her spine. "I'm not sure whether to consider that good news or bad news Mike."
