Disclaimer: I don't own The Big Valley or its characters. I am making no money from this story.

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Chapter 10

"Mike, these items belong to Jacob Mosley. I recognize the watch. He had one with an eagle engraved on it, just like this one. You realize what this mean?" Tom asked dumbfounded.

Sheriff Jenkins nodded his head as he took the papers and pocket watch from Tom Barkley. "It means that the corpse Farmer Miller brought in is probably Jacob Mosley's. Not the stranger your boys saw with him."

Tom sighed and sat down on the edge of Sheriff Jenkins' desk. "This mystery is getting murkier by the minute. First we have a crime but not body. Then we have a body, but it's not the body it should be."

"This is definitely one of the wilder murder mysteries I've ever encountered,' Jenkins admitted as he put Mosley's effects away in a desk drawer.

Tom Barkley got up, shook Sheriff Jenkins' hand and left the office. While waiting at the buckboard for Victoria and the children, Tom began sorting everything out in his mind. If Jacob Mosley was dead then what happened to the stranger Jarrod and Nick saw arguing with Mosley? Is the stranger dead too? Did he get away? Did the stranger kill Mosley?

Victoria walked up to Tom with the children in tow. Audra looked adorable in her new pink dress. Jarrod and Nick were sporting new shoes as Jarrod cradled a new book in his hands. Even Eugene, the youngest, was enjoying a new toy.

"Well, it looks like your shopping adventure was successful," Tom commented as he grabbed hold of Eugene.

"Yes, it was very successful. Are you ready to go back home?" Victoria asked as she climbed aboard the buckboard.

"Uh huh," Tom answered, his mind on the murder mystery.

Victoria noticed her husband's distant look as he drove guided the buckboard back to their home. Tom barely said a word the whole way back which Victoria chose to ignore for the time being. Victoria Barkley knew her husband well enough to know that there was no use trying to get Tom to open up right now. Tom would confide in her when he was ready.

That evening Jarrod and Nick came down the grand staircase after changing for bed. Tom heard his two oldest boys and looked up from the book he was reading. "Is there something I can do for you boys?"

Nick gave Jarrod a nudge with his right elbow, earning him a stern look from the older boy.

"Father, Nick and I were wondering if you've know of any news about Mr. Mosley and the stranger we saw?"

Tom debated whether to divulge any information, finally decided he could trust his sons. "Yes, as a matter of fact there is. I'm sure you've heard at school that Farmer Miller found a dead body."

Jarrod and nick shook their heads in unison. "Yes sir. Is the dead person the stranger we saw?" Jarrod asked for both of them.

"No boys. The doctor and Sheriff Jenkins believe the dead man is Jacob Mosley," Tom informed.

Jarrod and Nick's eyes grew as big as saucers as they looked at each other and then back to their father.

"What happened to Mr. Mosley? Did somebody hit him on the head too?" Nick asked.

Tom Barkley took a moment to decide just how much information to tell his sons. "Well, Mr. Mosley was killed by someone and it was on purpose."

A look of understanding and surprise crossed the Jarrod's and Nick's faces. "Another murder!" they exclaimed in unison.

"Now boys, I want you to promise me that you will not tell anybody else about what I just told you. Do not tell anybody about Mr. Mosley being dead. Do you understand?" Tom asked, placing his hands on their shoulders.

"Yes father," Nick replied emphatically.

"We'll keep it a secret, just like we did about seeing Mr. Mosley hit the stranger," Jarrod assured.

Tom smiled at his sons. He knew he could count on Jarrod to remind Nick of their promise if the younger boy ever forgot. "Good boys. Now it's time you both headed upstairs to bed, so give your father a good night hug."

Jarrod and Nick hugged their father and hurried upstairs to their rooms and hopped into bed. Victoria tucked them in after checking on Audra and Eugene.