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

Blindsided

Chapter Twenty-Three

"How dare you!" Audra stood in the front room and glared at Brigham. Her brothers sat on the couch, finding themselves a bit amused at the tongue lashing Audra had been giving Mr. McCallister. It was getting dark and she'd just been informed by Brigham that he'd made arrangements for her to stay with the Millers due to unforeseen circumstances that were taking him away for a bit. "I've already stayed with the Millers once and then I had a believable reason to give them! I don't see why I can't go! You said there were only two men! Besides, what on earth did you tell the Millers you had to do?"

Brigham couldn't blame her for being upset; neither could her brothers, only they weren't playing an innocent game of cards with the men holding the supply of guns. If Brigham wasn't willing to take her into Nevada, why on earth would he even think to talk her brothers into letting her go to the cave he'd seen two men taking guns into? "I just said I had family business to take care of, and I dare," Brigham answered as he put his hands on his hips and glared back, "because I happen to be madly in love with you! You're staying at the Millers!"

Heath did his best to hide his crooked grin and Nick had to turn his face away from his angry sister. Neither man felt Audra needed to see how much amusement each one was getting out of watching Brigham and she go toe to toe with each other. As far as Brigham went, his feet were growing roots through the floor. He might like spunk in a woman, and Audra definitely had it, but he wasn't going to give in on this one. He would never be able to live with himself if something happened to her because he gave in and let her go along.

Audra stopped fighting and looked at her brothers. "I need to talk to Brigham alone." She headed for the bedroom.

"If you need help with your doctor bill," Nick said as Brigham started to follow, "let me know. I'm sure Heath and I could help out." That only had Brigham rolling his eyes and he too left the room.

Once inside the bedroom, he laid his hands on Audra's shoulders. He got one of his serious looks on his face and asked, "What's really eating at you?" Brigham knew there had to be something for the way she was acting; after all, she'd known for a long time he'd not have a woman near any real action.

Audra hated it when he gave her 'that look'; the one where his eyes were boring holes right though her, making it impossible not to answer him. "You didn't ask me where I wanted to stay!" Audra finally let it out and gave him both barrels. "You can come and go as you please, but I have to watch every step I make? It's not right!" It wasn't, and she wasn't going to stay quiet on the subject anymore either.

Brigham was taken aback. He had to admit he was guilty. He and her brothers and talked about it, but he'd never once asked her. "Where would you like to stay then?" His voice softened. "You have to stay somewhere, around somebody. I won't stand for you staying here alone." He couldn't. If something should go wrong and those men came here….no, he wouldn't even think about it.

Audra smiled and answered, "I'll go to the Millers; I just want to be in on the decisions from here on out; after all, what kind of husband leaves his wife out of decisions being made?" She slid her arms around his waist and looked up at him, her eyes laughing.

Brigham laughed and, keeping his arms around her shoulders, headed out of the room. "I'm not your husband yet, but," he said as he continued laughing, "the moment this is over, Father Robert is getting a few visitors, and I'll do my best not to leave you out of any decisions from here on out." "It's called compromise son," his father's word came back to him; they'd been spoken the day of his parents' fiftieth anniversary. "You'll learn what it's all about someday." "Yes, father." Brigham silently added the comment after the memory came back to him.

Audra only smiled though, silently, she whispered to herself, "He'd better."

By the time the four reached the Millers', the sun had crawled into bed and turned off the lights. Unfortunately, the moon was not as bright and made traveling slower than Brigham would have liked. Still, he and Audra rode in a wagon in front of her brothers as they made their way to the Miller home.

Mr. Miller, upon hearing the horses approaching, stepped out onto the porch. As soon as he saw who it was, he stepped back inside and soon appeared with his wife. "You know," the gentleman said as Brigham climbed down from the wagon and then helped Audra down, "some folks might say there's a better time to leave on any trip, business or pleasure."

"They might," Brigham answered as he grabbed Audra's bag and handed to Mr. Miller. "We'll be back as soon as we can." Brigham kissed Audra on the forehead and then he climbed back into the wagon. It tore Heath and Nick apart as, to keep the Millers from asking unwanted questions for Audra's sake, they said, "Goodbye, Mrs. McCallister," turned their horses around and rode off, with Brigham in the lead.

Once inside the house, Audra stood by the window looking out. She couldn't see her 'husband' or brothers for very long, but she didn't budge an inch while she could. After they were out of sight, Audra continued standing by the window for a good hour. Her friends, while questioning what kind of business took a man away from his wife at a time like this and had her standing motionless for as long as Audra was, did not disturb her. They figured, sooner or later, she'd find her way to the cot she'd used before.

"Bring them back alive, please." Audra looked up at the stars and sent a sincere heartfelt prayer upwards.