I do NOT own The Big Valley or any of the original Barkley characters.
Blindsided
Chapter Twenty-Six
The wind was starting to blow gently through the air as Jonathon and Eric turned to go back into the cave, but they stopped when they heard the approaching horses and wagon. They whirled around to see the three men they assumed to be part of their team arriving. Relief flooded over Jonathon, now he could shut Brad up. The man had been driving him up a wall ever since they woke up. The sooner these men had the guns in the back of the wagon, the sooner Jonathon could head back to his home.
"May we help you?" Jonathon asked as Brigham stopped the wagon and Brad climbed down from the small boulder he'd been sitting on for the past hour. Brad was sure if he had to spend another day on the blasted thing he was going to have permanent damage to his backside. He too looked forward to getting started on the return trip his wife, who was completely oblivious to his illegal activities; she thought he was checking out some land he'd been told about.
Remembering everything Peter had said in his drunken state, Brigham climbed down from wagon and replied, "We're headin' to a celebration in Nevada, but I was told I'd be needin' to pick up some party supplies first." His face was that of an expert poker player as he spoke, but his heart was racing as he prayed like mad Peter had not given him bad information. Nick and Heath too kept straight faces and prayed for the same thing.
"Yes!" Brad shouted only to get a glare from Jonathon. Brad wanted to throw his fist into the air, but didn't. The fight he was itching to have with that man could wait. They had to get the guns loaded and loaded fast. After that, Brad would deal with him.
"Pull the wagon up alongside there." Jonathon grinned as he nodded towards the side of the opening to the cave. "The supplies are in there. Come on," Jonathon slapped Eric on the shoulder and headed to the cave. Eric said nothing as he kept an eye on Brigham, Nick and Heath.
The fact that the one called Eric was keeping a close eye on them made all three men nervous. Did he, somehow, suspect the truth or what? They didn't know, nor did they exactly have time to contemplate all the 'what ifs' either. Since the cave wasn't overly large, it wasn't long until the six men were standing by the crates.
Again, remembering everything Peter had told him, Brigham acted as if he was suspicious. "Let's see the supplies." He kept his eyes on Jonathon as the man opened the crates the guns were in. Brigham picked one up and handed it to Nick. Nick inspected it as Brigham had told him he'd need to do. When Brad handed Heath one, he too inspected it.
"It looks fine to me, not going to make much noise empty though." Nick spoke as Brigham had directed him to as he handed the rifle back to Brigham, who had just finished inspecting one of the rifles.
"The ammunition is there as promised." Eric pointed to the crate and sneered, "It's just on the bottom is all. Now where's our money?" He almost broke the lid to the crate by slamming it down.
"Watch it, you idiot!" Jonathon hurried to make sure the lid had been undamaged. He'd already had to replace one lid due to his younger brother's action; he didn't want to have to hear about another one. "Let's get these supplies loaded up!" Brigham and Nick grabbed a crate while Heath and Brad did the same. Jonathon and Eric were behind them. It wasn't long before they had the three crates inside the back of the wagon.
"You say here with him," Jonathon spoke to Eric as he looked on Brigham, "Brad and I'll help these other two fellows load up the rest of the crates." Eric would have fought him, but he was still trying to figure out where he'd seen this man before. It was driving him up a wall, but he couldn't figure it out.
"Whatever you say." Eric leaned against the wagon as his brother turned and headed back towards the cave.
Eric wasn't the only one trying to get old memories to surface. Brigham was doing it too, had been every since Eric had spoke up and assured them the ammunition was indeed with the weapons. He didn't know the man's face, but the voice was eerily familiar. The fact that he recognized the voice over the face told Brigham the man had to have either been in disguise at one time, or he'd talked to him through some sort of barrier.
"Where have we met before?" Brigham didn't like this. If he was right, and this man and he had met before, then it was only a matter of time before Eric remembered and they were all in trouble. That is, if he didn't remember and come up with a plan first.
"That's the last of it." Brad and Heath pushed crate into the back of the wagon and shut the back.
"Here's your money…" Brigham pulled out his wallet and started to take the money he'd brought along to make it look good when he remembered where he'd met the man named Eric before. He stiffened ever so slightly as he saw Eric with his gun in his hand and realized the other man had remembered too.