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 Thirty
The sun was just getting out of bed when Jarrod walked up beside his mother; she was out on the verandah. The sunrise off in the distance had to be one of the prettiest ones he'd seen in a long time. "They should be here by nightfall." Jarrod looked at the telegram in his mother's hands and did his best to read the look upon her face. "How are you feeling, lovely lady?"
Victoria looked at the telegram and read the words out loud. 'Located Audra and Brigham. Coming home with us. Nick.' How did she feel? Relieved? Confused? Happy Audra was alive, but wondering why on earth she'd pulled such a stunt? "I'm fine, Jarrod," Victoria answered as she handed him the telegram they'd received the day before, "just wanting some answers is all." Her eyes did not hide the fact that the answers they'd receive when the couple arrived back with Nick and Heath better be acceptable ones; after all, this was her only daughter they were talking about!
Jarrod knew how she felt. After having to step up and take the role of Pappy when his father was killed, Jarrod wanted answers just as badly as his mother. His sister had married so fast after Garner was killed; it spelled rebound and that worried him. "We'll get them when they arrive. Now, how about breakfast? I'm sure Silas has something delicious prepared for us." He turned to go inside, but waited until his mother had entered first.
Victoria sat down at the table after Jarrod pulled the chair out for her. Jarrod, due to the continuing troubled look on his mother's face, again did his best to assure her everything would be fine. "Everything will work out, Mother." Jarrod sat down in his own chair as Silas finished putting breakfast on the table. "Thank you, Silas."
"You're welcome, Mister Jarrod." Silas smiled at his boss. The man admired Jarrod greatly. It wasn't everyone that could step into his father's place and do such a great job of it. He then left the room and went back to work.
Victoria sighed. "I can't shake the feeling there's more to it than two people meeting, falling in love rather fast and marrying. It's that feeling that has me tied up in knots."
Jarrod didn't know what to say. His mother had a sixth sense, especially when it came to her only daughter. Still, Jose had said Audra was happy and Nick had given no indication otherwise. Waiting was the only thing he knew that they could do. "Time will tell, I suppose. They're supposed to be here by tonight." The impending arrival of his sister was the exact reason he'd switched appointments around and worked quite late a number of nights.
"I suppose you're right," Victoria answered just before they blessed the food and started talking about other matters. It wasn't like they could do anything to hurry Audra and the others home sooner.
From where they sat on their horses, Audra, Brigham and her brothers could see the white stucco mansion the Barkleys called home. Brigham had to let out a low whistle. He'd known how wealthy the Barkleys were, and he'd heard they had a grand house, but not that grand. Again he thought on the matriarch that his new brother in laws had been more than happy to tell him about. "Nick," Brigham looked at the dark haired brother in law sitting off to his left, "are you sure I can't provide the bullets?"
Nick, Heath and Audra started roaring with laughter; they couldn't help it. Brigham had told him of his many adventures on their way back from Strawberry and here he was afraid of a woman who barely stood, if she was lucky, five feet five inches. "This is so priceless!" Nick couldn't help but savor the moment, as he'd savor the actual meeting between his new brother in law and Victoria. "Nope," Nick answered as his smile spread across his face, "you made your bed; now you can lie in it."
Brigham chuckled as he looked at Audra and Heath; they were both grinning from ear to ear. "No sympathy. Well," he said as his huge grin joined theirs, "can't say I really expected any."
Audra reached over and lay her hand on his arm. "Don't worry, dear. Mother will rip you up one side and down the other, and then she'll welcome you into the family with open arms. You'll see." She knew her mother well enough to know what she said to be fact.
Heath nodded and gave him a small crooked grin. "Audra's right. Mother doesn't hide it when she's upset, but she's gentle as a lamb afterwards." No sooner were they in sight of the ranch than Duke McCall saw them and took off running for the house! Within a matter of seconds, Jarrod and Victoria were standing outside, watching as Audra and the others rode up to the house.