Disclaimer: I do not own The Big Valley or its characters. I also am making
nada, zip, zilch, nothing from this story.
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Chapter 15
Time seemed to stand still for Nick as he continued his struggle against the bindings around his wrists and ankles. The Barkley boy couldn't tell whether it day or nighttime, let alone how long he had been there.
Nick decided to stop struggling since he wasn't making any progress. Instead the young boy sat quietly, trying to listen for any sounds that would tell him where he was. Nick could hear water dripping somewhere close by to where he was sitting. The boy could also feel cool air dancing across his face. This caused Nick to shiver slightly. The long sleeved shirt and britches he wore were fine when he was at school, however long ago that was. Now Nick wished he had at least a jacket to protect him from the cool, damp air.
Nick debated whether to call out for help. His kidnapper could be back any time, but Nick finally determined it was worth the risk. "Help!" he called out, then listened carefully for a response.
"Help!" Nick yelled out even louder this time, putting his loud voice to good use. Nick noticed that his voice sounded rather hollow, nearly echoing back to him.
After repeating his call for help a couple more times, Nick gave up. The boy was becoming frustrated and tears started welling up in his eyes. Nick fought back the tears as he sniffled. There was no way the man who kidnapped him was going to see Nick Barkley cry.
***
Jarrod lay in bed, listening for signs of his father's return. He had tried to fall asleep, like his mother wanted, but just couldn't do it. The boy kept worrying about his younger brother, imagining all of the terrible things that could have befallen Nick.
When he heard the front door open, Jarrod pulled back his bed covers and hopped out of bed. Jarrod rushed down the stairs to greet Tom when he entered the house. Jarrod stopped midway down the staircase when he didn't see Nick.
"Oh, I hoped you had found Nick," Jarrod replied, the sadness evident in his voice.
The look on his eldest son's face nearly broke Tom's heart. "I know son. We all hoped to find Nick, but I'm afraid none of the neighbors have seen your brother."
"You must be tired Tom. Sit down and I'll get you a cup of coffee," Victoria said as she led her husband into the main room.
Tom stopped and pulled Victoria next to him. "No thank you sweetheart. I'm going to ride into town and see if Sheriff Jenkins will round up a posse to go look for Nick. I just wanted to come in to let you know."
"I'll go with you Father," Jarrod announced. It wasn't a question, but rather a statement. There was nothing that was going to keep him from looking for his brother.
Victoria leaned down and hugged Nick. She didn't want to have to worry about another son going missing. "You're staying here with me Jarrod. It's your bedtime."
"You're mother's right son. You need to stay here and look after your mother and Audra and Eugene. You let me worry about finding Nick," Tom instructed. With a possible kidnapper on the loose, Tom wanted Jarrod and the rest of the children to remain close to home for now.
Jarrod was about to argue the point, but then saw the look on his parents' faces. They were very upset about Nick's disappearance and Jarrod felt it best not to argue with them. "Alright, but I don't think I can get any sleep. I don't have school tomorrow, so can I stay up with Mother? I can do some of my schoolwork or read a book."
Victoria actually was willing to promise Jarrod anything if it would keep him at home tonight. "Well, if your father doesn't object, I would enjoy the company of a handsome young man."
"I don't see why not. As Jarrod said, he wouldn't be able to sleep anyway," Tom reasoned.
Tom quickly left the house and headed off for Stockton as quickly as his horse would take him.
Two hours later Victoria and Jarrod were sitting in the main room of the Barkley house, attempting to keep their minds occupied with something other than thoughts of Nick.
Jarrod closed his book and looked over at his mother. "Mother, I'm kinda tired. I guess I'll go to bed."
Victoria reached over and gave Jarrod a hug and a kiss on his forehead. "Good night honey."
"Good night Mother," Jarrod before heading for the stairs.
As soon as he got in his bedroom Jarrod changed into his clothes, opened a window and climbed downstairs. Jarrod wished he could obey his parents and stay home he couldn't stay home with Nick in danger.
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Chapter 15
Time seemed to stand still for Nick as he continued his struggle against the bindings around his wrists and ankles. The Barkley boy couldn't tell whether it day or nighttime, let alone how long he had been there.
Nick decided to stop struggling since he wasn't making any progress. Instead the young boy sat quietly, trying to listen for any sounds that would tell him where he was. Nick could hear water dripping somewhere close by to where he was sitting. The boy could also feel cool air dancing across his face. This caused Nick to shiver slightly. The long sleeved shirt and britches he wore were fine when he was at school, however long ago that was. Now Nick wished he had at least a jacket to protect him from the cool, damp air.
Nick debated whether to call out for help. His kidnapper could be back any time, but Nick finally determined it was worth the risk. "Help!" he called out, then listened carefully for a response.
"Help!" Nick yelled out even louder this time, putting his loud voice to good use. Nick noticed that his voice sounded rather hollow, nearly echoing back to him.
After repeating his call for help a couple more times, Nick gave up. The boy was becoming frustrated and tears started welling up in his eyes. Nick fought back the tears as he sniffled. There was no way the man who kidnapped him was going to see Nick Barkley cry.
***
Jarrod lay in bed, listening for signs of his father's return. He had tried to fall asleep, like his mother wanted, but just couldn't do it. The boy kept worrying about his younger brother, imagining all of the terrible things that could have befallen Nick.
When he heard the front door open, Jarrod pulled back his bed covers and hopped out of bed. Jarrod rushed down the stairs to greet Tom when he entered the house. Jarrod stopped midway down the staircase when he didn't see Nick.
"Oh, I hoped you had found Nick," Jarrod replied, the sadness evident in his voice.
The look on his eldest son's face nearly broke Tom's heart. "I know son. We all hoped to find Nick, but I'm afraid none of the neighbors have seen your brother."
"You must be tired Tom. Sit down and I'll get you a cup of coffee," Victoria said as she led her husband into the main room.
Tom stopped and pulled Victoria next to him. "No thank you sweetheart. I'm going to ride into town and see if Sheriff Jenkins will round up a posse to go look for Nick. I just wanted to come in to let you know."
"I'll go with you Father," Jarrod announced. It wasn't a question, but rather a statement. There was nothing that was going to keep him from looking for his brother.
Victoria leaned down and hugged Nick. She didn't want to have to worry about another son going missing. "You're staying here with me Jarrod. It's your bedtime."
"You're mother's right son. You need to stay here and look after your mother and Audra and Eugene. You let me worry about finding Nick," Tom instructed. With a possible kidnapper on the loose, Tom wanted Jarrod and the rest of the children to remain close to home for now.
Jarrod was about to argue the point, but then saw the look on his parents' faces. They were very upset about Nick's disappearance and Jarrod felt it best not to argue with them. "Alright, but I don't think I can get any sleep. I don't have school tomorrow, so can I stay up with Mother? I can do some of my schoolwork or read a book."
Victoria actually was willing to promise Jarrod anything if it would keep him at home tonight. "Well, if your father doesn't object, I would enjoy the company of a handsome young man."
"I don't see why not. As Jarrod said, he wouldn't be able to sleep anyway," Tom reasoned.
Tom quickly left the house and headed off for Stockton as quickly as his horse would take him.
Two hours later Victoria and Jarrod were sitting in the main room of the Barkley house, attempting to keep their minds occupied with something other than thoughts of Nick.
Jarrod closed his book and looked over at his mother. "Mother, I'm kinda tired. I guess I'll go to bed."
Victoria reached over and gave Jarrod a hug and a kiss on his forehead. "Good night honey."
"Good night Mother," Jarrod before heading for the stairs.
As soon as he got in his bedroom Jarrod changed into his clothes, opened a window and climbed downstairs. Jarrod wished he could obey his parents and stay home he couldn't stay home with Nick in danger.
