Disclaimer: I still do not own Big Valley or its characters. The original characters in this story belong to me however. I am not making any money from this story.

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Chapter 12

The night that Tom received the note from Sheriff Jenkins Tom was not very talkative at dinner. His mind was busy running over the possibilities of who murdered Jacob Mosley and why. There was no doubt that Mosley had been a victim of murder. Mosley couldn't have put a bullet in the back of his own head.

"Tom, you seem rather distracted. Is something wrong?" Victoria asked. She had noticed her husband had been unusually quiet all evening. Tom hadn't asked Jarrod and Nick about their day at school; something which he rarely neglected.

Tom was brought out of his thoughts, looking a bit embarrassed. "Hmm? Oh I apologize dear. A rider came by and delivered a message from Sheriff Jenkins while you were busy upstairs with Eugene."

Jarrod and Nick stopped eating and looked over at their father, eager to hear what the message was about.

"What did the message say Tom?" Victoria asked calmly. She had a suspicion as to what the note contained.

"Sheriff Jenkins sent word that Jacob Mosley was the dead man that Farmer Miller brought in to town," Tom answered matter-of-factly. He didn't want to alarm Jarrod and Nick.

Jarrod and Nick looked at each other with surprise. They had assumed the dead body was that of the dark-haired stranger.

"Where is the stranger and what happened to Mr. Mosley?" Nick blurted out in a loud voice, forgetting his table manners. This earned the 8 year old stern looks all around the table.

"Nicholas, do not raise your voice at the table. It isn't polite," Victoria gently scolded.

Nick lowered his eyes sheepishly. "Yes mother. I'm sorry. I was just anxious to know what Sheriff Jenkins had to say."

Victoria remained firm. "I understand Nick. We all have questions we are curious to have answered, but we must mind our manners."

"Well, there isn't much more to tell really," Tom began explaining. "The dead man is Jacob Mosley and his killer is still at large."

"Then we must find the stranger Nick and I saw arguing with Mr. Mosley. I bet he knows what happened," Jarrod replied.

Victoria knew her sons were anxious to help solve the murder, but wasn't about to let them go off and play detective. "Now Jarrod and Nick, I don't want you going around trying to find the stranger. All of the people of Stockton, your father included, pay Sheriff Jenkins to apprehend those that break the law. He doesn't need your help."

Jarrod and Nick looked disappointed and Victoria hated to dampen their enthusiasm for helping catch criminals, but she didn't want the boys to get into any danger.

Tom tried to ease his sons' disappointment. "I think you boys might be able to help in the case. You may be the last two people to see Mr. Mosley alive and you might have to testify. That would be a great help if you just do that boys."

"I see what you mean Father," Jarrod replied. "Even if we don't actually go out and catch a crook like Sheriff Jenkins, we can help in other ways."

Tom was happy that Jarrod understood. He knew that of his two oldest sons, Jarrod was the more reasonable one. "That's right Jarrod. I'm glad you understand. I hope you understand too Nick."

Nick hesitated before answering. The boy understood, but didn't like not being able to get involved in helping to capture a criminal. "Yes Father, I understand. I still wish I could help catch the bad man."

"We would all like to see the bad man captured Nick," Victoria stated. "There are just different ways of helping. Now I want both of you boys to promise your father and me that you will not try to catch the bad man. If you see the stranger that argued with Mr. Mosley again I want you boys to just keep away from him and run and tell us or Sheriff Jenkins."

Jarrod and Nick nodded their understanding. "I promise," they answered in unison.

Later that evening Jarrod was in Nick's room helping his brother with homework once again. Nick paused from his problem and turned to Jarrod. "Jarrod, I'm gonna go back to the stream and see if I can find any more clues."

Jarrod knew it was useless to attempt to get Nick to return to his homework now. At his young age Nick had a one-track mind and right now it was focused on solving the murder of Jacob Mosley. "Nick, I don't think Mother and Father would want us snooping around like that. I'm sure the Sheriff and others have already looked all over that area."

"Well, it couldn't hurt for me to just look around," Nick replied, getting up from his chair.

"I still think it's asking for trouble Nick," Jarrod warned. "Now come on back here and sit down. You've still got some homework left."