I do NOT own The Big Valley or any of the original Barkley characters. Thanks to my Beta Reader, though all mistakes are my own.

Blindsided

Chapter Seventeen

Brigham stood on the porch of the Miller's home and leaned against the railing. As usual, the night air was refreshing and the stars were sparkling as the little light they had to share was sent down upon the earth, along with the light of the moon. His mind was so much on the three men they'd seen at the dance that he didn't hear Audra walk up beside him until she wrapped her arm around his. He couldn't help it; he chuckled.

"And what's so funny, Mister McCallister?" Audra smiled and said 'mister' in a teasing sort of way.

He turned his head and smiled back. "Life," he answered as he laid his hand over hers. "Sometimes you want to make it stand still and other times it won't go fast enough." The three strangers once again crossed the stage of his mind and his smile disappeared. Audra wasn't blind; she knew what was wrong and held on a little bit tighter than before.

"If they're on the wrong side," Audra finally broke the silence that hung between them, "how are you going to let anyone know? The telegraph office is still not working; in fact, they're talking like it might be weeks before the problem is fixed." Neither one of them liked that, but it was something they accepted. After all, what choice did they have? They couldn't change it.

Brigham went back to star gazing and answered, "The only thing I can do. Send them on their way and pray like mad the blasted company gets their wires fixed soon. Until I find out who they are, I'm going to talk to the Millers about you staying here. After all, they have that sister Mrs. Miller is always talking about that's supposed to be arriving tomorrow. From what the Millers say, Mrs. Miller's sister has a lot of children."

Audra drew back. She knew he meant well, but she saw no reason for it unless they knew for sure the men were bad. "No, Brigham. I'm not leaving the house, not right now. Sure, I'll be glad to offer to help the Millers out, but not stay." There was no way she was going to do that. After all, like it or not, they were in this thing together now and she wasn't going to run. Barkleys didn't run.

Brigham turned and took a hold of her upper arms. He realized he couldn't force her to do as he asked, not this time around. Still, he had to get her to see how dangerous it could be. If those men… He shuddered. He didn't even want to think about it. "Please, Princess, do as I ask and stay here. It may very well wind up meaning the difference between life and death."

Audra wasn't blind. She could see what Brigham had been desperately trying to hide from her quite successfully until now. He cared about her and not just as he would any woman that might cross his path. He cared about her. She knew some might call her forward; they might call her a few things. She still slid her arms up his chest and around his neck. "Would it really make that much of a difference to you?" she asked as her eyes danced.

Brigham hesitated, telling himself once again he had no business falling in love with her, but the look in her eyes did him in. He pulled her close, allowing himself the pleasure of tasting her lips once more. He might not have done it, but he knew full well that, with the Millers right inside, he'd have the ability to pull back, thus ensuring her virtue would remain intact. After a few minutes, he made himself do just that. "Please, don't fight me on this. I have to find out who those men are and what they are up to, and they are here for a specific reason. I can feel it. I can't chance you getting hurt; I just can't."

"How long do you want me to stay here?" She kept her arms around his neck. She might have dropped them had she seen the Millers' smiling at Brigham and herself from the corner of the front room window.

"At least until I find out what's going on, maybe longer," he added as he smiled at her, "though I think you need to keep that crop of yours handy."

Audra was horrified. "If you don't feel it's safe for me…" He started laughing and put his fingers on her lips.

"I didn't say I thought you might be in danger. It's just that if I start to panic again, you may need to use it on me!" He winked at her and continued laughing; she joined in his laughter. Once their laughter died down, their talk turned to other things, more light hearted. Their smiles could have filled the night sky and sent a few startled smaller wild life running, which only got the two to laughing once more.

Audra and Brigham weren't the only ones awake, nor were they the only ones happy that the moon was sharing plenty of light that night. Heath and Nick had made quite good time due to the light of the moon. Now both brothers sat around the campfire they'd built. Nick was staring into it, saying nothing.

Heath didn't have to ask what was troubling Nick as he, Heath, sat back and gazed into the fire also.

Jarrod, Heath and Nick sat in the study discussing the results of the questions Jarrod has been asking his contact.

"Mac says there was a man by the name of Brigham McCallister hired to help in a group effort to stop the trouble that's heading for Nevada before it actually started, must be that trouble I heard about while on the train." Jarrod explained to both his brothers. "Mac says he's one of the best and is a highly respectable man. He also said that, for reasons he has not been able to find out, Mr. McCallister did indeed turn over leadership to his partner Jack Kilgore. He says the man is now their main contact in Strawberry, but they haven't heard from him. At first they were worried, but it seems like the telegraph office down there has been having major problems."

"That doesn't make sense!" Nick bellowed. "If he's the Brigham McCallister Audra is supposed to have married, why would he take her along on a job like that? What kind of man does a thing like that?"

Jarrod had turned up his hands, his own frustration showing. "I don't know, but from everything Mac said, I have to believe Audra entered the marriage willingly," he sighed and added, "with that being the case, we need to do our best to reconcile with her. Heath's been talking about going to Strawberry to visit his mother's grave, along with Hannah's and Rachel's anyway. The two of you can use that as an excuse to go check things out, without upsetting Mother." Maybe it was wrong to keep it from her, but Jarrod didn't want her hurting any worse than she already was. "But, Nick," Jarrod had said as he looked right at Nick and pointed his finger at him, "I want you promise within an inch of your life to keep your temper in check! We all agree Audra should not be down there, but we had an agreement before I had the man checked out, and it needs to be kept! Get the answers before you swing, if you indeed feel the urge to do so! Promise?"

Nick hadn't answered at first, his fists doubled and then relaxed. He didn't want to drive his sister further away. "For Audra's sake, I promise, but only for her sake."

"We'll find her, Nick. We'll get this straightened out." Heath tried to sound positive.

"I hope so," Nick replied as the two slipped back into silence and into their own thoughts.