Conspiracies and Unresolved Consequences Chapter 1, a big valley fanfic

Well what can I say? I really have no idea where or why this story came about and I must admit that it is quite different from my usual writings. You will need to take note of the dates in the first few chapters to keep the story straight. Thank you to my wonderful beta Mizmoo for all her patience and input for this story and the half hour phone conversation to decide on an appropriate title for it. Enjoy. Cathy

Conspiracies and Unresolved Consequences

Chapter 1

Before dawn, Monday August 7th 1876

Victoria Barkley gently placed her nib down on the blotter after signing the letters addressed to her children. She carefully folded the missives and placed them lovingly in the envelope, sealing it closed. Taking a deep breath she pushed her chair back from her writing desk and stood, the envelope gripped firmly in her hand. Rubbing absently at the ache in her left arm, she took a moment to scan her room through grey eyes, moistened with unshed tears before taking her leave of the room. Despite the early hour she could hear Silas pottering about the kitchen as he prepared the mornings breakfast. Walking quietly down the hall, she stopped at each of her children's doors, resting a hand softly on each door handle for a moment before moving on. Stealing out the front door of the mansion she headed across to the dark looming barn, saddled her horse and rode quietly from the yard, under the arch way proclaiming the Barkley Ranch and headed across the twilight lit range.

Afternoon, Monday August 14th 1876

Jarrod Barkley dropped the letter he had been reading, no, he corrected himself, staring at, for the last half hour, on his desk and regarded his sister silently as she plopped into the plush arm chair in front of the desk with a heavy sigh. Scrubbing tiredly at his face, noting with some surprise the uncharacteristic stubble adorning his chin, he waited for his sister to voice her concerns. Raising an eyebrow at Audra's continued silence he pushed his chair back from his desk and stretched aching back muscles that for too long had been forced into a motionless state as he considered the enormity of the letter laying on his desk and what it meant for the family. "How are you holding up honey?"

Audra visibly shook herself and turned her gaze from her hands and the small floral embroidered handkerchief that she had been unconsciously wringing to stare somewhat blank faced at her oldest brother. Blinking several times as if trying to focus on the brother before her she took a deep breath, contemplating Jarrod's question. How was she holding up, she wondered? With no definite answer to that particular question and not ready yet to delve too deeply into her feelings she posed a question of her own. "Do you think he'll find him? He's already been gone four days and no word."

Jarrod sat forward in his chair, rested his elbows on his desk and his stubbled chin on his steepled fingers. "I don't know honey, but if anyone can, Nick can. He knows the general vicinity to look."

"But what if he can't find him? What will we do then? Mother…" Audra choked on the last word and looked pleadingly at Jarrod.

"If Nick can't find him, I'll have Pinkerton's start a search. We'll find him honey. I promise you that."

Audra was silent for a moment. "What if he won't come?"

Jarrod sighed. Audra had just voiced his greatest fear. What indeed would they do if the man their brother was searching for wouldn't come? It wasn't like he owed the family anything and truth be told he had every right to reject the family's request. He dropped his hands and fingered the letter with its feminine cursive writing that was as familiar to him as his own. What would he do if their roles were reversed he wondered? How would he, himself, react to the information contained in the pages before him? Indeed, how had he already reacted, how had Nick reacted and Audra? Eugene was on his way home from Detroit where he was completing a six month placement at the Patterson Veterinary Hospital and he didn't think Eugene's response would be any different to any of their responses. To Jarrod, the last seven days had felt like he was bailing water out of a sinking ship in a hurricane. Riding the waves of emotions…like a sailor been tossed around on said sinking ship…of shock, anger, confusion, disappointment, disbelief, regret and an entire gamut of other feelings yet to be explored had left him exhausted and questioning all that he believed and valued as a member of the Barkley legacy. "Let's not buy trouble honey. We will just have to wait and see and cross that bridge if or when we come to it."

"That's not an answer Jarrod."

"I know honey, but it's the only answer I can give you at the moment Audra." Jarrod pushed back his chair and stood up, moving around the desk to stop by Audra's chair. Taking a seat on the armrest he wrapped his arms around his sister and hugged her tight. "Everything will work out Audra; Nick will find him and bring him back to the ranch."

Audra's body shook as she gave in to its needs and she sobbed in her brother's arms. "No it won't Jarrod, Mother is only holding on to see him, Doctor Merar said as much. We're going to lose her and him."

Breakfast, Monday August 7th 1876

"Good morning Silas," Audra stated as she moved towards the ornate mahogany sideboard in the dining room to pour a cup of tea. "Have you seen Mother this morning?"

"Morning Miss Audra," Silas replied turning from the dining table where he was placing the plates piled with fresh fruits and pancakes. "No I haven't seen Miz Barkley this morning."

Audra wandered over to her seat at the table and placed her cup of tea beside her setting. "I wonder where she is," she muttered distractedly.

"Maybe she's in the rose garden, before it gets too hot."

"No, I checked there already."

"Well Miss Audra, I'm sure she'll turn up soon. There are still a few minutes before your brothers come in for breakfast and your Mother knows how Mister Nick doesn't like to be kept waiting when there is food."

Audra laughed lightly. "Don't we all Silas."

"Yes Miss Audra we surely do." Silas replied with a smile as he passed Jarrod coming through the door. "Morning Mister Jarrod."

"Morning Silas," Jarrod responded as he moved to the sideboard to pour a cup of coffee. "Nick will be down in a minute."

Silas nodded. "I'll just bring in the last two plates."

The jingling of spurs announced the imminent arrival of Nick Barkley to the dining room. "Morning all." Nick strode across the room and poured a cup of coffee before taking his seat at the table. He looked at Audra and Jarrod and raised an eyebrow at the vacant seat at the end of the table. "Where's Mother? I'm starving."

"You're always starving Brother Nick and to answer your question, I don't know where Mother is and before you ask, no I haven't seen her this morning either."

"Neither have I," Audra replied worriedly.

"Have you seen Mother, Silas?" Nick asked as their houseman placed a plate of scrambled eggs in front of Nick.

"No Mister Nick, I haven't seen Miz Barkley this morning either."

"That's unlike Mother to be late for breakfast, or not tell one of us where she was going." Nick said, looking at his siblings. "Audra, did you check her room? Jarrod, did she mention anything to you about an early start this morning."

"No Nick, she didn't say anything to me about her plans for today."

Audra pushed her chair back. "I'll go and check her room."

Nick nodded as he reached for the plate of scrambled eggs in front of him. After scooping a large serving onto his plate and then adding crisp bacon, several pancakes and a helping of the cut up fruit, he looked to Jarrod with a shrug. "There's no sense letting the food get cold and besides, I have a ranch to run."

Jarrod sipped his coffee as he watched Nick eat and waited for Audra's return. "Did you see Mother's horse in the barn this morning Nick?"

Nick swallowed the mouthful of food and shook his head. "I haven't been to the barn yet."

Audra returned to the dining room looking worried. "She's not in her room and she hasn't left a note either. I'm getting really worried; it's not like her to go off without telling us where she's going. You don't think something has happened to her do you?" Audra looked between her brothers, tears forming in her blue eyes.

Nick threw his napkin on the table, breakfast forgotten as he pushed back his chair. "Don't worry little sister, we'll find her. She can't have gone far." He said, squeezing Audra's arm in passing as he headed for the front door. "Coming Jarrod?"

Jarrod placed his unused napkin beside his plate and rose from the table. "Come sit and eat breakfast honey, we'll find Mother, bring her home and then you can give her a piece of your mind for worrying you."

Audra tried to smile but it was forced. "Just find her please Jarrod."

Jarrod kissed the top of his sister's head, "We will honey," before following Nick out the front door.

Dawn, Monday 7th August 1876

Victoria brought her horse to a gentle stop as the first rays of a new day crept slowly into the lightening sky. Letting the reins trail on the ground, unconcerned about her horse wandering off, Victoria clutched the envelope in her left hand as she made her way to the headstone bearing her late husband's name. With a sob, she sank to her knees beside the grave, reaching out with her right hand to trace his name with her black gloved fingers. "What have we done Tom?"

Morning, Monday 7th August 1876

"Her horse is gone and Ciego says he didn't see or hear anything this morning." Nick growled as he busied himself saddling his horse. "Dammit Jarrod, what was she thinking? Where do we even start looking for her?"

"I don't know Nick but perhaps it would be best if we sent out a couple of extra search parties. We have a lot of range to cover and no idea where to look." Jarrod replied as he quickly saddled his own horse.

Nick nodded. "One step ahead of you counsellor, sent Ciego to wake up Duke and organise some search parties." Nick led his horse from the barn, followed by Jarrod. They both mounted and turned to look at the rising dawn. "Well which way?"

Jarrod was silent for a moment. "Where does Mother go when she wants to think in solitude Nick?"

Nick looked at Jarrod, "to Father, but why would she go there now?"

"I don't know Nick but I have sensed a certain disquiet in Mother ever since you and she returned from your trip up in the Sierras in February."

"And you're only mentioning this now Jarrod, that was six months ago." Nick growled as he kicked his horse into motion and galloped out of the yard and in the direction of their father's grave.

Jarrod sighed before following his brother out onto the range. Catching up to Nick's quickly retreating back, the two brothers rode silently, side by side for the first mile to their father's grave. "I asked Mother on several occasions what was bothering her Nick, and always received the same stubborn reply of I'm fine." Jarrod paused, "Sound familiar? Had I thought for one minute that it was something serious I would have brought it to your attention as well. You know Mother; she likes to keep her own counsel until she is ready to talk. I just assumed this was one of those times and she would come to us when she was ready."

Nick pulled up his horse and looked at Jarrod with a nod. "Father wasn't the only stubborn one in the family," he agreed. "Mother could be just as stubborn and immoveable when she put her foot down. I guess we all got a double dose of the Barkley stubbornness." Nick sighed, "Come on times a wasting."

The two brothers topped the rise that over looked the grove of trees where their father had been ambushed and killed and then buried, five years earlier. Movement in the trees caught their attention as their Mother's palomino mare wandered about grazing contentedly with her reins trailing. Pushing their horses into motion again, they rode slowly down the slope. "Mother," Nick called loudly as they entered the trees and made their way to the grave. "What the…Mother," Nick yelled as he leapt from the saddle and hurried to the grave and the supine body of his mother lying across its top, her right hand still stretched out and touching Tom's name.

Jarrod stood motionless beside his horse as he watched Nick gather their mother into his arms. Visibly shaking himself he hurried to his brother's side. "Nick is she…" Jarrod stammered.

Nick shook his head, "No, she's still breathing."

Jarrod turned away from the emotional scene and remounted his horse. "Pass her to me Nick and then ride into Stockton to fetch Thomas."

Nick stood, gently lifted his mother into his arms and passed her up to Jarrod, shaking his head. "I'm not leaving her."

"Nick we don't have time to argue. She needs a doctor now and you're the better rider." Jarrod gently cradled Victoria's small frame in his arms as he gathered up his reins and started his horse moving forward. "I promise Nick, I'll get her back to the house safely." Glistening blue eyes met wet hazel eyes. Nick choked in a deep breath and nodded silently, watching as Jarrod urged his mount into a gentle lope back up the rise and disappear over its crest. Turning back to his own mount he sprang into the saddle and then touching spur to flank he urged his horse into a gallop towards Stockton.

Midday, Monday 7th August 1876

Nick paced the hallway in front of his Mother's bedroom. "What's taking so long?" he demanded, stopping in front of the closed door with a deep sigh. He ran a calloused hand through his thick black hair and turned to look at Jarrod who was sitting on the arm of his leather wingback armchair that he had moved from his room to the hallway. Audra sat in the soft tan leather bound chair with its nail head trim, head resting against Jarrod's broad chest and her brother's white handkerchief clasped tightly in her hand.

"Thomas will be out as soon as he has finished his examination Nick and it will take as long as it takes for him to make his diagnosis."

"Is Mother…going to die, Jarrod?" Audra asked quietly.

Jarrod squeezed his sister's shoulder gently. "I don't know honey. We will just have to wait for Thomas' prognosis."

"What I want to know is what she was doing out there so early in the morning," Nick mumbled.

Jarrod remained silent, after all he had no answer to his brother's question although…his left hand moved to his jacket pocket and felt the envelope hidden within that he had pried from his Mother's left hand during the journey back to the house. He had noted briefly that the envelope was addressed to himself and he hoped that the contents it held would shed some light on their mother's actions. His thoughts were interrupted as the bedroom door opened and Thomas stepped out into the hallway, pulling the door gently closed behind him. Nick straightened and towered over the doctor as both Jarrod and Audra came to their feet.

"Thomas?" Jarrod asked cautiously.

Thomas sighed and looked grimly at each of the siblings in turn. "Victoria has suffered a severe stroke."

Audra gasped and dropped back into the chair she had just risen from. Nick slammed his fist into the door frame beside him with a choked cry. Jarrod nodded absently, having already suspected what the doctor's diagnosis would be as he had had time to study Victoria on the ride back to the ranch as he held her in his arms. "What can we do Thomas?"

Thomas Merar shook his head, "Keep her comfortable is about all that can be done. The left side of her body is completely paralysed but she does still have feeling on her right side. She is unable to speak but I believe she can hear and also see. Certainly she can track my finger with her eyes when I ask her to follow it. You can give her small sips of water from a spoon but you will have to massage her throat to help her swallow. The same will go for soft, mushy foods."

"Will she recover Doc?" Nick asked tentatively.

"I don't know Nick; so much is still unknown about strokes. Victoria may get some mobility back, she may regain her voice or she may remain semi-comatose until she passes. I'm sorry I can't tell you anymore. I will send a telegram to the hospital in San Francisco and ask for a nurse to be sent out at least for the next few weeks to assist your Mother with her daily needs."

"I can look after Mother, Doctor Merar."

Shaking his head, Thomas smiled kindly at Audra. "No you can't Audra, your Mother needs fulltime nursing care, the sort of care that you cannot provide nor would she want you to provide."

"Thomas is right honey, Mother's condition is beyond what care we can provide." Jarrod rested his hand on Audra's shoulder.

"What you can do Audra," Doctor Merar continued, "Is sit with her, talk to her, read to her. Let her know that you are there, that she is not alone."

Late evening, Monday 7th August 1876

Jarrod leaned back in his desk chair behind his large oak desk and sipped at his scotch, not really tasting the smooth liquor as its slid down his throat. Before him, placed neatly in the middle of his desk was the slightly crumpled, unopened envelope with his name on it that he had recovered from his mother's hand. He reached for it, sighed and pulled his hand away, opting for another sip of scotch instead. Rubbing his hands tiredly over his face, he replayed the afternoon's events in his mind. After seeing Thomas Merar to the door and handing him two hastily scribbled notes, one to be sent to Eugene and the other to be given to his secretary telling her to cancel all his appointments for the week he had hurried back up the stairs to join Nick and Audra at their mother's bedside. Jarrod wiped a lone tear from his cheek as he remembered his first glimpse of his mother, lying so still in the bed with her eyes closed. Had he not known the underlying cause he would have just assumed that Victoria was sleeping. It was about an hour into their bedside vigil that she had opened her eyes and stared dully at him and his siblings. The left side of her face was slack, her mouth and eye drooped and a small trickle of saliva dribbled from the partly open mouth. Nick whom was sitting in the chair on the left side of the bed had gently reached out and wiped the line of dribble with a soft cloth. Audra, unable to maintain her composure had burst into tears and fled the room, unaware that their mother had tracked her daughter's exodus from the room with her eyes. Jarrod remembered reaching out and gripping his mother's right hand and squeezing gently, promising her that everything would be alright, before Victoria had closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep. Audra, with eyes still red and puffy from crying returned to the room, retaking her seat beside Jarrod with a small wavering smile.

Nick had headed out soon after to speak with their ranch foreman McColl with orders for the man to run the ranch in the immediate future and only come to the house if something urgent that he was unable to handle arose.

Jarrod pushed back his chair and rose to his feet, moving silently across the checkerboard design hooked wool rug with its deep reds, oranges and browns to stand in front of his father's image. Leaning against the heavy oak mantle that sat under the portrait and over the open fireplace, Jarrod studied the stern countenance of his father. "What did you and Mother talk about Father?" he asked of the silent image. With a sigh, Jarrod returned to the desk, sat down, took a sip of scotch from the almost empty tumbler and picked up the envelope. Reaching for a letter opener, he carefully sliced the sealed flap open and removed the folded contents within.

Author's note. Patterson Veterinary Clinic/Hospital was founded in 1844 by Dr. James William Patterson, a veterinarian from England who moved to Detroit, where he opened a large animal practice, becoming the city's only veterinarian.

His son, Elijah Patterson, also became a veterinarian. He moved the hospital in 1909 to its present location in Woodbridge. The practice during the early 1900s focused on equines. The hospital was remodelled in 1926 and the focus shifted to small animals with the advent of the automobile. The hospital is still running today under its original name despite several changes of ownership.

I know many of us use the name Howard Merar for the Doctor, however Merar's first name was listed as Thomas Merar in the episode They Called Her Delilah. This was the only time his full name was ever listed in the credits.