Miracles and Nitroglycerin (Victoria's Story)
Victoria Barkley sat in a chair by the fireplace after her children went to bed. She sat there with a book in her hand, but she laid the book down and took out another book. The other book was a journal. And, with the journal in hand, she began to record a time when she had been so afraid she would lose her three sons.
You see, a couple of years before, there was a forest fire near Stockton and this is her story. I'm Victoria Barkley. My children have turned in for the night. The boys have had a rough few days, especially Nick and Heath, who just came home yesterday from being on a cattle drive. Jarrod had been in San Francisco. He met up with his brothers on the drive and they all came back together. My daughter Audra spent her day at the orphanage. She gets so much pleasure from being with children. I'm praying someday she will have several children of her own.
And Silas, well he is long turned in by now. He has been our faithful Butler for many years. I'm just sitting by the fireplace watching the flames dance around. I can't help letting my mind go back to a time when I thought I had lost my three sons forever. You see, there was a forest fire that had broken out near Stockton, and it was heading this way. Well, a gentleman by the name Marquis De LaCaise told men in town that the best way to control the fire, in his opinion, was to create a firebreak. And he said that he would supply the nitroglycerin. So, three men volunteered to go. Clem Carter was one of them. Tragedy struck and the nitro blew up on the men, killing them, before they had the chance to make it to the edge of the fire.
So, without my knowledge my sons Jarrod, Nick, and Heath decided to take it upon themselves to do it. And, of course they didn't want me and their sister to know. They only told Silas at first because he was in town with them when they decided to do this. And, he was so worried and frightened for them as well as a little scared at how I would react toward him when I found out.
So, they didn't want Silas to tell me and Audra, so when he came back to the ranch he brought my birthday present back with him. And just told us that the boys were staying in town. My children were going have a little dinner for me, and I'm not going to tell you my age. Anyway, when news spread that the fire was coming closer, Audra thought it best to tell the padre about the closeness of the fire. I told her to bring all of the orphans here and that's what she did. Anyway, I was needing to go into town to get supplies for all the children here at the ranch. As I started to leave, Silas asked me not to go.
Well, I knew he was hiding something from me and after a lot of coaxing, he finally told me what my boys were planning to do.
Audra and I started out the door, but I realized that what my boys had to do, they had to do. And that if they were to see us, then they would not go at all for our sakes. So, Silas went into town to get what we needed and all the while Audra and I kept praying for their safety, trying to stay busy attending to the needs of the children. One of the girls was even trying to run away. Her parents along with her sister were killed in a fire, but she kept saying she had to go back to get her sister. Finally, she came back in the house with me and went to bed and slept really well. Now, about my sons. They drove a team of fire horses with a hearse. You heard me right, a hearse. Heath thought that it would be a whole lot easier than just a wagon. And from what they told me it did the trick.
The boys also had different experiences with women:
Jarrod with Gail Miller, Nick with Michelle De LaCaise. and Heath with Bridget Wells. Jarrod's story started when Gail Miller, one of the saloon girls came to him, asking him to get her money that Clem Carter had promised her. Well, that didn't go over well. She had a tough upbringing and all she knew was just get money anyway you can. So, Jarrod convinced her, as only he can, that if she really wanted to turn her life around and make a good life for herself, all she had to do was try. So, with his encouragement she moved to San Francisco and opened a dress shop.
And then there is Nick. He was sweet on the Marquis' daughter until he realized that the Marquis put her up to asking him to create the fire break. Just the thought of someone asking something like that made Nick furious. And believe me, Nick has a really bad temper. So, that relationship was over.
Now, we come to Heath. He met Bridget Wells, who runs a mission in Stockton. The daughter of missionaries, who with the rest of the family, except her of course, were killed by Indians. She wasn't a girl with courage. Heath saw that right away. She kissed Heath thinking that the kiss would give her strength, it didn't, but I have a feeling that just knowing Heath that's what gave her strength. So, on with my story they picked up the nitro and headed up the mountain. At one point, they had to stop when they came upon a gully. While taking the nitro off the hearse to carry it across, Nick noticed that one of the bottles was leaking, so he removed it, then realized that it had leaked onto the brake-shoes. Jarrod and Nick removed the brakes while Heath carried the nitro across. From what they told me later, they were scared when they had to remove the brakes. Then they rough-locked the brakes, which is also scary. And they just knew that the Barkley luck had run out.
Continuing down the mountain then back up to the other side, they made it safely. They arrived to the spot when Nick caught sight of Bridget. He was furious until they made her understand she must stay with the horses. She did, until a tree fell on Heath, which she tried to pull off him. She wasn't strong enough, but at that moment Jarrod and Nick found them. They put Heath on her horse and she took him to safety.
A Few days later at my party, Heath was the only one with a girl, He brought Bridget of course.
Oh, the gift they gave me was a painting by Charles Russell. I loved it, but Jarrod and Heath and Audra didn't think I would, but Nick knew I would. He picked it out himself. Well, my story must come to a close, but I must add one more thought and that is that miracles do happen. Goodnight!