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

Chapter 13

After school the next day Nick prepared to head for the stream and the scene of the crime. Jarrod caught up with his younger brother as they headed down the steps in front of their school building.

"Nick, wait up," Jarrod called out as he ran up his brother.

Nick stopped and turned around to face his older brother. "I'm in a hurry Jarrod. Can it wait?'

"Don't tell me you're really planning on going to look for clues?" Jarrod asked as he grabbed Nick's arm.

Nick pulled his arm from Jarrod's grasp saying, "Yeah, I'm gonna try to find out who killed Mr. Mosley and then I'm gonna try to prove it."

Jarrod sighed shook his head in disbelief. He couldn't understand Nick's impetuousness. Nick never seemed to think things through. "Nick, that's not a good idea. We talked about this last night. Sheriff Jenkins doesn't need your help."

A hurt expression crossed Nick's young face. "I want to help. What's the harm in that?"

"The harm is kids like us shouldn't interfere in grownup things," Jarrod informed. "You know what Father will do to you if he finds out you went to the stream looking for clues?"

Nick considered the question. He knew he would be punished, but decided it was worth the risk. "Yeah, I know what'll happen. But we saw the argument and I can't just let a killer get away."

"Who says the killer is going to get away with anything? Don't you think Sheriff Jenkins knows his job?" Jarrod asked, trying to get through his brother's thick skull. Nick's stubbornness could be quite exasperating at times.

Nick was getting tired of this conversation. Jarrod could be too logical at times. "Okay, Sheriff Jenkins knows what he's doing. That doesn't mean he can't use a little help. He gets up a posse to catch the bad men doesn't he?"

"Oh I give up Nick!" Jarrod exclaimed in exasperation. "Just be careful and if you see anybody that looks suspicious, come back home right away."

Nick smiled at his small victory. He was glad to beat Jarrod in an argument since it rarely happened. 'Good. Since we're done talkin' can you take my books home for me?"

Nick started to hand off his schoolbooks to Jarrod when his brother refused. "Nick, you can't go right now. You need to do your school work and chores first."

"But it'll be dark by then," Nick protested. "I know Mother and Father won't be happy but it'll be worth it if I can find some evidence. Why don't you come with me?

Jarrod took the schoolbooks from Nick. Sometimes he wondered why he even wasted his breath arguing with his younger brother. "Oh no, little brother, you're not dragging me into trouble with you."

"Suit yourself Jarrod," Nick answered.

"I'll tell Mother and Father where you are going and you can suffer the consequences," Jarrod responded, nearly dropping this armload of books.

Nick shrugged off his brother's warning. Nick had already decided it was worth the risk to help capture a killer. "See you at dinner Jarrod."

When Jarrod got home he told his parents where Nick had gone. Tom and Victoria weren't happy, but attempted to remain calm.

"I don't understand Nick's stubbornness sometimes," Tom announced. "That boy is going to be severely punished for running off like that. This is a working ranch. Nick knows that and is deliberately ignoring his responsibilities."

Victoria put an arm on Tom's arm, attempting to sooth her husband's anger. "Now Tom, there's no need to let your temper get away from you. Nick will probably spend an hour or so looking around by the stream and be back by supper just as he said. I don't believe it is doing any good getting angry. The killer certainly isn't going to return to the scene of the crime so Nick is in no real danger."

Tom relaxed slightly. "You're right. Perhaps I should let Nick come back on his own. It will give me time to calm down and decide on a suitable punishment."

At dinner time Nick still hadn't returned and his parents became worried. Tom saddled up a horse and rode out to the stream. He looked around, but saw no evidence that Nick had been there recently. Tom called out to Nick and was met by silence. Tom continued to search around the stream but found no other sign of his son.

Tom eventually gave up the search and rode back to the house. Tom saw no sign of Nick on the way back which caused him more concern. Tom walked into the dining room hoping to see Nick sitting at the dinner table with the rest of the family. Tom's heart sank when there was no sign of Nick.

"Did you find Nick?" Victoria asked, hoping to see Nick walk into the dining room behind his father.

"No, I looked around the stream but there's no sign of Nick," Tom informed matter-of- factly. He didn't want to alarm his family.

Victoria nearly dropped the cup of coffee she was holding. Jarrod looked up at his mother and became worried as well.

Tom saw his wife and son's concerned looks and tried ease their fears. "Now don't worry you two. Nick probably went over to visit a friend on the way home. I'll send one of the hands out to our neighbors and see if they've seen Nick."

"I hope Nick's okay," Jarrod remarked between bites of steak.

"We all do son," Victoria replied.