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-Two

Jarrod sat in his study behind his desk with the window behind him opened up just enough to let in some fresh air. He had an important case coming up and he was studying the case file. He would have preferred to do the work in his office, but it was being remodeled. Because of the case, he was deep in thought until he heard Brigham and Audra's voices. What they were saying made him lay the papers in his hands down and sit straight up.

"I told you before, I would give up the bounty hunting and other small jobs, but I can't give up investigating. It's who I am. I don't like the idea of taking you away from your family again, but what I am to do? I have to make a living." Brigham's voice carried in through the window. "Mr. Jenkins needs a private investigator on a full term basis. His law firm has grown enough to warrant hiring a professional. Ihate the idea of taking you away from your family again, not after they've been put through months without knowing where you were, but…"

"I know." Audra's voice held a tone of resignation in it. "I just hate the idea of leaving California is all. I married you though, not California. If something else doesn't open up soon, I guess we're heading to Colorado."

If Jarrod could have seen her face, he'd have seen one very mature lady keeping herself well composed in the light of the heartache she feeling. Brigham and Audra's voices grew distant as they walked away. The case before him was temporally forgotten; Jarrod's mind wandered trying to think of a way to keep his new brother in law and sister in, or near, Stockton. "You in there?" Nick tapped Jarrod's desk, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"I'm sorry," Jarrod answered as he looked away from the window, "when did you come in and what do you need?"

Nick sat down on the chair that set in front of the desk. "I was saying that I haven't had time to check into that Jolley fellow. It's been one thing after another today, both Heath and I have been kept hopping. Why don't you ask Brigham to look into the man? It's not like he hasn't done things like that before." Personally, what with Brigham's profession, Nick couldn't see why Jarrod had asked him and Heath to look into the matter.

A grin spread over Jarrod's face and he started chuckling. "You do have a way of reminding a person to open up their eyes and see the trees, don't you?" Jarrod wasn't surprised by the puzzled look that came upon his brother's face.

"I think you've been behind that desk too long. What on earth are you talking about?" Nick looked at Jarrod as if he was wondering about Jarrod's sanity.

Jarrod explained what he'd heard out his window. Nick sat straight up. "Well, the man has a point. Everyone has to make a living. You're being kept busy enough, why not ask Brigham to work for you? When you can't use him, we can use him around here." Brigham had been helping out on the ranch the past couple of days, so Nick had had time to see that the man was more than capable of doing any job handed him. Besides, no matter how he'd felt when Audra first told him the whole story, he liked Brigham and was grateful it had been him to grab those reins and not someone else.

Jarrod hadn't never really stopped to think about hiring a private investigator to work for him. After all, Nick and Heath had always done the investigating for him. But, on days like today, when he really needed some help and the ranch kept them busy… maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea, especially if it kept their sister and new husband nearby. "I'll do that." Jarrod stood up and hurried out of the room, almost bumping into Heath and Victoria as he did so.

"Where's the fire?" Heath asked as he backed up to avoid the collision. Once again, Jarrod found himself explaining the situation. "I'm going to see if I can get him to work for me, well, Nick and I instead." Again, he wasn't surprised to by the reaction he received.

"You'd better hurry," Heath stepped out of Jarrod's way, "I saw them heading towards the stables and heard them saying something about town and sending a wire." That sent Jarrod flying down the hallway and out the door.

Victoria and Heath didn't speak a word until they heard the front door shut. Heath could see a faraway look in his mother's eyes. He figured it was put there on account she'd just realized that, unless Brigham accepted Jarrod's offer, her little girl might not have come back to stay. He couldn't say anything either, the truth of the matter had hit him just as hard.

"I have to get back to work." Heath spoke quietly as he turned and hurried to do just that. He had to; it was that or think about how life would be if Audra left again.

Victoria made her way to the family picture that sat on the table just inside the living room. Once again she found it in her hands. She looked upon Audra and sighed. Had life given her daughter back only to have to watch her leave once more?