Setting the Record Straight

FF Big Valley

Set in same AU as my last story Truth Prevails. I do not own the copyrights to The Big Valley

Ch. 2

Confession Begins

Audra sat back down, after telling Pilon- who had done the calling- they'd be out later. Audra then interlocked her fingers. "First, you might as well know Duke and I had feelings for each other before that day." She ignored Heath's eyebrows flying up. "He never spoke a word to me about his until we were in that camp and living very much as man and wife." Her mind's film moved back in time and mist could have easily rolled across Audra's eyes as she recalled her late husband's confession.

"I admitted to myself I loved you shortly after you turned eighteen." Duke spoke slowly as he sat at the only table they were allowed to have. "I promised myself I would not speak of those feelings, but I would be whatever you needed me to be. Whether that be your brother's best foreman and family friend, or more. I would not ever make a move you did not want.

"Duke kept that promise Heath; if he hadn't people would have been talking long before his death." She shook her head. "But someone-most likely Grover – must have figured things out because Duke was lead to believe you all were out there and needed his help to get me to safety."

Heath let out a low whistle. "Never had a clue that had occurred." He then had a thought hit him right between the eyes and asked Audra when had she admitted to herself, or Duke, she had feelings for him?

"Shortly before our marriage was made real; which was nowhere near two years." Audra sighed. "Before then I didn't dare speak, or even think of it. He was our foreman, old enough to be father and… well...I figured , at the very least, Mother and Nick would come unglued. So…" Her shoulders lifted up and down. "I let others court me, acted as if I cared, but deep inside was always choosing men who I knew would end up letting me down. When Duke and I made it the real deal we knew we had to have each others back or we'd break in that camp." She looked at Heath. "And, as to any vocal fights while we were there? We really only had one; the first really wasn't that loud. Nonetheless, after our second one things changed: I would just hiss at him behind closed doors if I got mad. Again a memory played itself for Duke's widow.

"Honey, you don't have to agree with me all the time, but…" Duke took a hold of her shoulders. "We can't fight like that out in the open. I won't be able to protect you if we do. And…" He'd looked her straight in the eye. "Back home I know you put on an act of ...very little brains...to avoid fighting with your mother and, normally, I'd not ask you to continue it. However; when we are out there?" Duke nodded towards the door. "Out there be as bullheaded with the other prisoners as you want, be that way with me behind closed doors, but when I'm talking to you in view of others – especially the guards- please don't fight me."

"I consented and that is when his rations went down, or they had him work longer hours, so I did as he said; kept any disagreements behind closed doors, even though I'd not let any of the other workers boss me around. Guards, I had to listen to or Duke and I would have been goners for sure. Now, is there anything else?" Audra wasn't surprised when Heath asked why she'd claimed it was two years in the first place.

"As I just said; I'd gotten over protective of Duke. I didn't wish to give anyone room to complain against him or throw rocks at his grave so to speak." Audra shook her head. "Might not be a good enough reason to some, but it's what I have." Heath's sibling was grateful he didn't push the issue but asked instead if she'd ever figured out how Duke had managed to stay alive.

"I mean it seems to me Grover would have wanted him dead at that point." Heath watched as his sister look out the window yet again and then back to him.

"Oh, Grover did, but by the time he found out Duke was still alive we were at the camp." Audra wrapped her arms around her waist and turned to face Heath yet again. "Those men? In the field? They were supposed to shoot him with no questions asked only I rode around the corner and Duke instantly begged them not to shoot his wife. He spoke those words because a few of those men were known from his childhood; Duke knew they'd have no problems with him being dead if they thought him to be single. And…." she pointed her finger at Heath. "Don't even suggest he was just saving his own skin."

"I wasn't going to." Heath fought against shaking his own head. "It's not hard to figure out if he was dead you couldn't be protected. So? He took on the only roll he could in order to keep you alive- and not in their hands?" Heath then asked about why Grover didn't get Duke out of the picture...have him killed at the camp.

"Because, Duke was right and wrong; No, Grover would not have had him killed within a mile of the camp. Nonetheless, he still wanted my husband dead. Grover…..that ….man... he wanted Duke to be in this area with a fresh wound, not one that had grown cold." Audra did her best not to growl.

"And the preacher?" Heath raised an eyebrow. "There's something off there too. Yes…" He held up his hands, "We met his nephew on his way out; he told us what he told you, but…" Heath leaned towards his sister. "There's something neither one of you is telling us, and I'd like to know what it is. I've kept quiet far too long on that subject."

Audra stood up and walked to the window. Glancing out at Thomas; who bore an eerie resemblance to his father she sighed. Heath deserves the truth; the others do too, but at least tell Heath the sentence was spoken to her from the other side. No one had to tell her who had spoken it; Audra knew it had been Duke.