I do not own The Big Valley nor any of the original Barkleys.

Once In a Lifetime

Chapter Fifteen

Scene Twenty-Eight

Grant Payne opened the door to the hotel. The lobby was bare of any patrons, though he could hear some moving around in the hall way of the building. He walked up to the desk clerk, who had his back turned and was putting mail in the various mail slots. Mr. Payne automatically went on 'alert mode', as he called it, when the man turned around. From the back view, the man resembled the old clerk, but from the front view it was clear a change of employees had been made. This could not be good; the old one was in cahoots with him and the Hanks, and the man was far by too greedy to just up and leave. "May I help you?" the clerk smiled politely.

"I need a room; what happened to the old clerk?" he answered and asked his question, bluntly. He'd never been one for beating around the bush 'at a times like this'.

Mr. Hall, the clerk, looked surprised, "You haven't been in Stockton for a while have you?" The man had to have been away not to know the answer to that question.

"If it's any of your business," Grant again answered bluntly, "No, I haven't," then lying through his teeth he added, "Mr. James was supposed to line me up with one of the local ranchers. Now, just answer my question."

"He's in prison, along with a William Hanks and his cousin, Troy. It seems like he helped obtain some cyanide that Troy Hanks used to try to poison one of the Barkleys' mine's water, which contaminated a local water hole. Thank goodness it was discovered before any men or cattle died from it! As it stands now," the man shook his head, "if you need work you'd best look elsewhere, none of the ranchers are currently hiring anyone they don't personally know."

It was all Grant could do not to explode; why on earth had the Hanks and the James fellow moved before he was back? He was even more furious as he realized someone had to have ratted the men out for the plan his friends had come up to have failed.

"Who found out what was going on?" he asked, acting as if he was just asking out of pure curiosity.

The man only shrugged his shoulders, "I don't rightly know, still want the room?" He looked at Mr. Payne and held a key up.

"I'll take it." He took the key, signed the book and went to the room, saying every cuss word he knew in his head.

Scene Twenty-Nine

Peggy, now four months along, Audra and Cynthia were walking down the streets of Stockton when Grant Payne exited the hotel. Cynthia stopped in her tracks as the memory of seeing him the day she and Audra had seen him came to her mind, but this time the last of the memories she had of visiting the historian finally pushed its way to the front of her mind. Her face started draining of its color and both sister-in-laws had to grab her as she came close to passing out.

"Maybe, you should see a doctor." Audra said as they helped Cynthia sit on a bench that set up against one of the businesses.

"No," Cynthia shook her head, "I just need to get back to the ranch fast; I need to talk to Heath." He was the only one she could explain things to. Before any of the women could say another word Jarrod stepped out of his office and looked up the street. He could tell something was wrong and hurried to where Peggy and the others were.

"What's up?" he put his hand on Cynthia's shoulder and gave her one of his 'pappy' looks.

She smiled weakly, "I need to get to Heath, please," she looked earnestly at her brother in law, "I need to get him now!"

The fact that she was so insistent worried them all, but they didn't take the time to argue as Jarrod helped Cynthia to her feet, "I'll take you. I needed a break from town anyway. You two," he looked at Peggy and Audra, "go about your business and have fun." Neither one argued, but they did glance back, once or twice, as they walked away.

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Heath was pounding on a horseshoe when Cynthia hurried into the barn, her face full of fear. He quickly threw down the hammer and took hold of her shoulders, "What is it! What is wrong!" His voice was raised slightly as he shot out the questions.

"There's a man in town," she did her best to keep her voice level, "He was in the background of the picture Mr. Mills was in. He stood out just enough that I asked the historian who he was. He said it was a man by the name of Grant Payne and, Heath," she looked him straight in the eye, "I can't believe I didn't remember this when Mr. Mills was taken away by the marshal only…Mr. Mills was only a middle man per se. It was his friend, Mr. Payne, who was behind the scam from the beginning! Call me crazy, call me whatever, but" she wrapped her arms around Heath and held on for dear life, "If you're shot by anyone, it's by him. I just know it!"

Heath wrapped his arms around his wife, who was shaking slightly, he'd not doubt her gut feeling, "At least we know who to keep an eye out for. I'll talk to Jarrod and the others too, don't worry though," he pulled away from Cynthia and smiled, "I'll keep my mouth shut as to why you recognized him." Heath then led her back to the house and after convincing Victoria, who had was more than concerned at Cynthia's pale's face, she was simply tired, insisted his wife lay down.