Man of Justice
I do not own The Big Valley or any of the original Barkleys.
Chapter Seven
Nick stood on the porch watching Jarrod hand one of the young children traveling with the small wagon train up to her mother. The noise around the yard had been at an all time high, as the adults in the company gathered up the children who had been running around the yard playing while the older children had help load a few more supplies. Tom had ridden into Stockton with Jacob and helped his friend bring the supplies back to the others.
When he turned his head, Nick could see Duke McCall standing off to the side of the barn looking as if he was rather uneasy. Curious, Nick ran down the steps and over to where their foreman stood. "What's wrong, Mr. McCall?" Nick asked as he climbed up on the nearby fences, so he wouldn't have to tilt his head up to see the man. "You don't look happy."
McCall's mouth turned slightly upwards in what looked to be somewhat of a smirk, though he spoke with nothing but a gentle tone to his voice. "You're an observant one, ain't ya?"
Nick shrugged his shoulders, "I guess so; what's wrong? You don't like Jarrod helpin' those folks either?" The idea that one of the grownups might feel the same way as him was a bit startling to the young boy. He didn't know why, but he did.
Duke smiled at the young boy sitting nearby. He'd heard the talk when it came to how Nick had "overreacted" to his brother's going on this trip. "You're supposed to help people when you can, if you can." Duke didn't have a chance to say anything else if he was going to, as Tom walked up.
"Nick, go into the barn and get Jarrod's tools for him, please. I told him he could take them with him."
"Yes, father." Nick jumped off the fence and ran into the barn. It took him a few minutes to gather up all Jarrod's tools, but the moment he had them he headed for the door. Just as he reached up to push the door all the way open, he heard Duke start to argue with his father, who kept his voice low as to avoid having any of their guest overhear what he was saying.
"Look Tom, I ain't sayin' anythin' but it's what my gut is tellin' me. I've heard Nick, on more than one occasion, tellin' Jarrod nothin' good will come from him leavin' like this. Call me crazy if you want, but I think the lad is right! I know your 'friend' swears up and down he's double checked with the authorities to ensure there is no trouble with the Modoc goin' on. I know he says they assure him it's perfectly safe to travel though that part of California. I know it, but my gut says somethin' ain't right!" Those feelings, and the inability to get through to Tom, were driving McCall up the wall…and it could be heard in his voice. At least, Nick could hear it.
"First off," Tom's voice was low, but just as firm, "Nick is not quite eleven years old! I can understand him stressing out and having strange dreams, even believing they mean something, but you? You're a grown man! You should know better! That man you're questioning has never been anything but honest with me! What do you want me to do? Lose my temper, go at him with both my fists and 'open him up' that way? For what?"
"To get some straight answers! He's hidin' somethin', hitting first and askin' questions just might open him up." Duke barked back.
"There's isn't anything to find!" Tom shot back. "Only thing that would happen by doing what you're telling me to do is that I'd lose one of the best friends Torie and I have ever had!" the blonde haired rancher turned around and stormed off, but not before he barked, "Tell Nick to hurry up with those tools!"
Nick didn't wait for Duke to come into the barn, he pushed the door open and hurried to take the tools he had to Jarrod. He ran so fast, Duke didn't have time to find out whether or not he had over heard any of the conversation between himself and Tom Barkley.
"Thanks, Nick." Jarrod took the tools, put them inside the back of the wagon he was going to be traveling in, and looked at his brother. He sighed when he saw the troubled look that had, once again, come upon his brother's face. He reached out and gave Nick the biggest bear hug he could, without actually hurting him. "When I get home, we'll go on that cattle drive and have the time of our lives, okay?"
"Okay." Nick answered as he stepped away from the wagon, though he said the word more for Jarrod's sake.
"Come on boy," Jacob walked up to Jarrod. Tom, Victoria and Audra, who was again in her mother's arms, were by the man's side, "Time to get these wagons rolling. See you, Tom, Victoria." He shook their hands and headed for the front of the wagon train.
"See you later, father, mother." Jarrod gave his father a hug and then Victoria. "See you sis." He gave Audra's hand a squeeze and then, for the last time, gave Nick a hug before climbing up on the wagon he'd be driving. The wagon belonged to one Widow Miller and her three young daughters, all under the age of eight. Her husband had died on the way out west and Jacob had told Tom the family was another reason he'd asked for Jarrod's help. "It's bad enough I'm short of help on this trip as it is, I don't want to worry 'bout the Widow and those three youngin's' on top of everythin' else."
As Nick watched the wagon train pull out of the of the yard he found himself believing Duke and wishing he was old enough do as the man had suggested; hit first and ask the questions later.