Miracles and Nitroglycerin (Nick's Story)
Nick Barkley sat on top of a hill looking out over the land that his family owned since before he was born. He began to think back of different defining moments in his life. So as he sat there he retrieved a pencil and small in size notebook from his saddlebag.
Howdy, Nick here I'm sittin' here right next to my faithful companion, my horse, Coco. I've been looking out over the valley here, on the West Ridge of the Barkley Ranch. And decided that I would write down my thoughts about the time my brothers and I took nitroglycerin up on the mountain a couple of years back. You see, there was a forest fire and three men went to attempt a firebreak, but the three men had been killed attempting to do it when the nitro exploded. So, my brothers and I decided to go try it ourselves, just hoping the Barkley luck would hold true, as well as a miracle and bring us back home safely. The night before we were to take it up there, I went by to visit Michelle de LaCaise, a pretty young lady I was sweet on. She is the daughter of Marquis De LaCaise, the man that was supplying the nitro. I not only went by to visit with her, but also to see when the train would be in.
When I first arrived, the conversation was going very well. We talked about each other. She told me some about her family and her father's disappointment about some of the things that had happened to him in France. And we talked about us a little as well. That is, until she let me know that her father was wanting me to take the nitro all along. So, of course, the idea that the whole thought of me and my brothers taking the nitro was planned by them, mostly him . . . Well as you can imagine, I was furious. I let the Nick Barkley temper that I'm famous for erupt like a grizzly bear. And even though my brothers and I decided to go on our own, well, a little while earlier, just the thought of The Marquis wanting me to go made me furious anyway. So, the next morning Jarrod, Heath, and I headed towards the fire to attempt the firebreak. It was a very scary situation for all of us. I'm sure that each of them will tell you the same thing. There are people who might think that grown men don't get scared, especially me. Some people will tell you that they are afraid of me 'cause of my temper, especially children. But, as my family will tell you, and I won't just tell this to anyone, but I can have a soft side as well. I knew that doing the firebreak was something that had to be done and I also knew that if any men could do it that we could. As long as the famous Barkley luck held out. The morning we left there was no one in town except Gail Miller the girlfriend of one of the men that had been killed trying to do the firebreak a few days earlier. As we were waiting for the train to carry the nitro to the mountain, we were just chatting when I said that we had better save our laughs for the trail. Well, there wasn't much talking going on up the hill, that is until we came upon the gully. Then, we had to unload the nitro and carry it across. That's when I found a leak in one of the bottles. So, after I took the bottle and moved it a long enough distance away. We found then that the nitro had leaked onto the brakes. So, we had to remove the brakes. That is what Jarrod and I did while Heath carried the Nitro across. Talk about scary! To be honest, I think I was more scared at that moment than any other time on the trip. Well, maybe except for when I was in front of the horses. Since we didn't have any brakes, they had to be rough-locked. Talk about an adventure! And I failed to mention that Heath was driving the team. Well, I lost my footing and rolled down the incline as well as having the hearse go over me. Yes, you heard right . . . a hearse. Now, I'm not superstitious and thank goodness for it. A hearse is what we drove to carry the nitro up the mountain. We figured, well, I'd better say Heath figured, it would be smoother than just a wagon, and I've gotta
hand it to him he was right. So, with the hearse and with two horses that I got from the fire station, we were ready. We got them because they are used to fire as they are fire horses, so naturally they are not fire shy. I joked with Heath about that very fact the closer we got to the fire, which he found to be funny too. Well, we got to the spot where we needed to be and set the nitro where it needed to be and put the powder to it and got out of the way in a hurry. Oh, I almost forgot this part of the story. When we arrived at the spot to unload the nitro, we saw a girl named Bridget Wells.
And I was furious at the thought of her being there when she knew it was dangerous. Turns out Heath had met her before, and she was only trying to help people that may have been trapped by the fire on the other side of the mountain. Well, she couldn't get through because of the flames, so she stayed with the horses, while we set out the nitro. The plan was to set the bottles in certain areas then put powder around them. Then, we were to set it off and then we were to each fire up a shot to let the others know that we did our part. Then come back to the hearse. Well, the three shots went off and Jarrod and I were both at the wagon, but there was no Heath, and no Bridget. So, Jarrod and I followed to where we thought that our little brother was and sure enough, we found him under one of the trees that had fallen from the powder and the nitro. Bridget was trying to take a rope to try to pull the tree off of him, but when we got there, we just lifted it up and he crawled from out under it. Then, we helped him on her horse, and she got him to safety. So, looking back on it, it was a blessing in disguise that she was there. Our mother's birthday was just a couple of days after our return. And the one thing she wished for had come true after all. And the wish was that we would come home safe, which we sure did. She found out what we were doing. I'm not sure if anybody outside the family knows this or not, but we didn't want our houseman Silas to tell our mother and sister about what we were gonna do. Because, of course, we didn't want them to worry, but then came a situation where Silas had no other choice, but to tell them. Anyway, for mother's birthday present, we, that is my brothers and sister and I decided to get her a painting and I picked it out. Jarrod and Heath didn't like it. They didn't even think that she would like it, but I had a feeling she would. Now, if you are wondering if we had lady friends accompanying us to the party, believe it or not, Heath is the only one that had a girl with him. Jarrod had a long talk with Gail trying to convince her that if she wanted to make a go at life, all she had to do is try. And I guess for Jarrod she did. She moved to San Francisco and opened a dress shop. And I told you about my sad story earlier. Now, that it is behind us I can truly say for myself that I have no regrets and while I wouldn't wish for it to happen again, I'm sure glad that we did it. I guess what they say about the Barkley luck is true, but I have to tell you as well that Nick Barkley knew then and I still know today that it was nothing short of a miracle that the three of us are alive and well.