I do NOT own The Big Valley or any of the original Barkley characters.

Blindsided

Chapter Sixteen

Audra held onto Brigham's arm as they walked into the building that Strawberry had recently turned into a gathering place for dances and such. The town might still be small, but the addition of the social hall, as some had begun calling it, made the citizens of the small town feel as if it was growing rather nicely.

With men, women and children standing, sitting, visiting or dancing, Brigham and Audra made it onto the dance floor, hearing, "Hello, Mr. McCallister," or, "Hello, Miss Audra," more than once. Both kept an eye out for anyone they did not recognize. After three weeks in the small town, the two had become acquainted with most of the residents. There was the hotel clerk that they'd already met; he was still talking up a storm. There were Jason and Molly Peters and their seventeen year old son, Thomas. They owned the newly redecorated mercantile and were quite polite and gracious people. Along with these people, there were a number of miners and their families. Brigham and Audra figured ninety-eight percent of the residents were quite decent people.

Audra couldn't help but smile from ear to ear and chuckle inside. She still found it quite amusing that life had flipped the coin on her and put a man in her life that had appeared to be an outlaw, only to have it revealed he was on the right side of the law. As she dwelt on those thoughts, she realized she'd forgiven Brigham of any perceived wrongs, though she couldn't pinpoint the exact moment she had done so. Now, she really liked him. Oh, she'd liked other men before, but this was different somehow. She couldn't understand it, but she knew it was the truth. Audra found herself hoping like crazy that maybe, just maybe, Brigham was starting to feel the same way. After all, hadn't she caught him watching her hanging up the wash just that very afternoon? Oh sure, he quickly went back to work on one of the steps that had started to come loose; still, she had seen him and she could hope.

Brigham had indeed been looking at Audra and, once again, chastised himself. He was thirty-two; she had to be around nineteen or twenty. He didn't know, for he'd never really asked. Even if she wasn't so young, after what he'd done, how could her family ever accept him into their family? They'd have to accept him too. He would not be the cause of driving any sort of wedge between family members, not without just cause anyway. He couldn't see it happening though. Putting her in a position that made it impossible to return to her family for awhile; no, how could they forgive that one?

Now, as they danced, he made himself keep his eyes and ears open, and forced himself to think about Jack and the men who were, hopefully, getting closer to trapping the culprits behind the guns being slowly delivered to the Bannock warriors. What else could he do? He couldn't be falling in love with her; it was impossible.

Just as the band began playing another slow song, Brigham saw them. Three strangers had entered the building and sat down at a table tucked into the farthest corner. By the clothes they wore, Brigham figured he pretty well knew what they were doing in Strawberry.

"You notice them too?" Audra stepped closer to her 'husband' as they danced and whispered low, just loud enough for Brigham to hear.

Brigham automatically drew Audra closer. To protect her, it had become second nature faster than he ever thought possible. "Yes, I do." He answered knowing full well that, if they were connected at all to the Nevada job, he'd be meeting them sooner or later. Remembering the Millers' invitation to stay with them for the night, due what looked like to be an impending storm and the distance to their home, Brigham decided it would be best to take the family up on the offer. After all, he didn't know which side, if any, the men were on. With that being the case, he couldn't risk endangering Audra.

Kyle Parker kept an eye on the gentleman that fit one of the descriptions he'd been given to him just before leaving *Washington Territory. He would have just walked up to the man and introduced himself, but there were too many people around. As it was, he and his friends sat and enjoyed the music while keep an eye on Brigham and Audra.

"It can't be the right man." Twenty-four year old Alan Michael kept his voice low while talking. "True he fits one of the descriptions, but that man was supposed to be leading the men, not staying here as a contact! I don't like it!" Truth was, Alan never liked anything.

"Things happen in life we can't stop," forty year old Kyle replied matter of factly. "We'll camp out for tonight and look him up tomorrow." He didn't see where they had any other choice and, unlike Alan, had learned long time ago there was little sense in getting riled up over something they obviously had no control over. Time may be running out, but there was still enough of it that they could wait until morning to discuss the matters they'd come to Strawberry for.

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*Washington was admitted to the Union as the 42nd state in 1889. http:/www.