Man of Justice
I do not own The Big Valley or any of the original Barkleys.
Chapter Five
Jacob Michael, it was a name that was rapidly becoming connected to someone who would guide any traveler to their destination; a man who knew the best routes and had a knack of avoiding trouble with the natives, or at least being to avert it by talking with them. That is, in the west he was getting such a reputation. Having never been past the Mississippi, his name meant little in the area beyond it.
The wagons Jacob was now leading had been arranged so the families in them could fix a bit of lunch and stretch their legs. The majority of the travelers were heading to Oregon and had no reason to suspect their guide or anyone in the train of any hidden motivations for being with them, not even Jacob's wife, Rose, was suspicious.
Matthew Thomas, one of the men in the small company walked up to Jacob, who had just finished climbing out of one of the wagons, "I want to talk to you." he said. Matthew lowered his voice as he spoke to the wagon guide in order to avoid attracting unwanted attention. "Did you know the mostly peaceful Modoc are causing trouble off and on for the whites for some time now? There's folks here that have been talking, and I just heard this moments ago. Which could mean our "friends" might or might not leave us alone as they've done in the past."
Jacob, looking quite annoyed, barked softly. "I am fully aware of that. As you know, I've had many dealings with the Modoc in the past. If there's to be a problem, Horse Breaker will let us know at our usual destination! Don't worry though, we will be okay. As I just said, I've had many dealings with the Modoc! I would worry more about keeping an eye on your wagon." he barked back. Jacob's mouth said wagon, but his eyes sent another message; one that told Matthew the man was not concerned about the wagon itself, but the cargo hidden within it, "let me worry about how to appease the Modoc. That is, if we should run into any and if only they have a problem with us being there."
Matthew would have argued with Jacob only he had debts to pay and the cargo they were secretly transporting to some acquaintances in Oregon would pay off the majority of his debt. That being the case, he changed the subject to another matter that was bothering him. "They, the other families, say we're stopping outside of Stockton. They say you are stopping at a friend's ranch where you hope to enlist the aid of his young son. Why? I mean, sure, there's few men on this trip, but there's nothing we can't handle."
Jacob shook his head, as his own conscience was trying to tell him the same thing. Only problem was, he was being too cheap. Grown men cost money, and he could get Jarrod's help for free. "I need him, okay! It doesn't matter why, but I do! Now, be quiet about the matter! We should be on my friend's ranch by tonight. Whatever you do, don't go shooting your mouth like you just did now! Let me worry about the talking! Do you understand?" he snarled.
Again, Matthew didn't like it, but he didn't feel like he was in a position to argue with the man either. He shook his head and walked away. If he couldn't get Mr. Michael to talk, he had other things that needed to get done before they started on their journey once more.
Rose, who had been watching from a distance, could tell something was wrong. She didn't like it. Mr. Thomas had cornered her husband more than once since they started the journey and argued with him; something was going on, but what? Cautiously, she walked away from the fire pit where a few of the women were cooking and approached Jacob. She didn't want to set him off. While Jacob had never hit her, he could get highly agitated and start yelling. It made her uncomfortable and to some extent scared of the volatile nature she'd discovered lately in her husband. She also didn't want the extra attention from the families in their company. Laying her hand gently upon his upper arm, she asked, "Is everything okay, Jacob?"
Jacob stiffened for a moment and then his shoulders slumped slightly. "Our 'friend' doesn't see any need to ask Tom to allow Jarrod to come with us and help us. He can't see why I need him." He glanced over to where Matthew was working.
Rose might have voiced the same opinion, only she was chalking it up to the fact that her husband was trying to fill a void left by their son's death. After all, for as long as she could remember, Mark had helped his father guide many wagon trains. The young boy had often talked about growing up and doing the same thing…even if his father no longer guided the trains. "I wouldn't let it get to you. That lad is old enough to carry his weight and be of a great help to us, if his parents let him come with us. Besides, didn't you say you only need his help for a week and a half?" appeased Rose gently.
"Yes," Jacob sighed as he answered her, "and, yes, I know I shouldn't let that man bother me." He turned around and walked away doing his best to keep the wall of justification up. If only he had known that years later, when he finally hit his own rock bottom, he would wonder how on earth he had let his values sink so low as to take the advantage of a young boy and the one couple who had been such good friends to him and his wife…Tom had even served by his side in the military at one time. Jacob would also carry the guilt that came with the knowledge that his actions were the beginning of what had to be an extremely bad dream for the Barkleys…not to mention the start of a young man's nightmare. Foresight might have helped avoid it all; however, at that moment all he was doing was praying and hoping no one caught on to what he and Matthew were really up to.
Nick, whose legs were beginning to cramp, stood up, stretched his legs and rolled his shoulders back before leaning against the corral fence once more and looked in the direction of the house. "We didn't find out until it was too late that Jacob was being investigated by the law. Father never would have consented to let Jarrod begin that journey had he known the man had gone from a man to be trusted with your life to a man willing to get free labor wherever he could get it and one that would use other people as a cover for his own gain." Nick closed his eyes as he lifted his clasped hands up and rested them against his forehead. Heath waited patiently for his brother to continue the story.