Man of Justice

I do not own The Big Valley or any of the original Barkleys.

Chapter Nine

Because Nick had no desire to be in the same room as their visitors, he and Heath had entered the Barkley's home through another door besides the front door. Even though Nick could tell him things that Jarrod had told him over the years, Heath found himself glued to the spot he was standing in listening to Victoria and Jarrod taking turns telling a part of the story. Nick too found himself unable to move.

The children's laughter could be heard ringing though the camp. Jacob and a couple of the men on the wagon train had decided to hunt for some game. That being the case, the rest of the men and Jarrod stayed in camp, to keep an eye out for any sign of trouble and Jarrod to help where he was needed. At that moment, he was working on helping one of the men, a red haired fellow by the name of Paul Hansen, work on fixing the tailgate to his wagon. The man's nine year old son, William, was doing what he could too. After the job was finished Jarrod headed back towards the Miller's wagon.

"Jarrod," eight year old Maria Miller ran up to him and held her hand up to him, "it hurts." The child was doing her best not to cry as she spoke.

Jarrod took her hand in his and immediately saw what the problem was; the girl had a sliver of wood embedded in her hand. He looked around and saw that the Widow Miller was busy with her two other girls; six year old, Jessica and four year old, Carolina. He looked back at the splinter. He took out his small pocket knife. The sliver wasn't all that deep; he was sure he could get it out quickly. "This will hurt just a little," he told her, "but I'll be as careful as I can. Do you think you can hold real still like?" He hated the idea of inflicting any more pain on the young child than was necessary.

"Huh, huh," Jessica closed her eyes as she answered, "Just get it out, please."

Jarrod worked as quickly and as carefully as he could. He was glad to find out he was right; the splinter was indeed easy to get out. "There," he said as he put way his pocket knife, "You can open your eyes. It's out. I'd go show it to your mother though; maybe she'll have something to put on the cut. You know, to keep it from getting infected." He grinned and chuckled just a little as the young girl ran for her mother.

He was startled when Leah Hansen, Paul's wife, walked up beside him smiling from ear to ear. "That was awfully kind of you. Not many young men I know have the kind of compassion and gentleness you just showed towards that little girl. Your mother must be pleased with you."

Jarrod was a bit uncomfortable with the compliment. He'd only did what he could for the hurt child. "I hope so, ma'am." He told her as he hurried off to gather the wood he'd promised Mr. Michael he'd have stacked by the time he and the men who had left with him got back. After all, a promise was a promise and he wanted to be the kind of person that kept his.

0000

Tom and Victoria, along with Audra, rode in their buggy. Nick and McCall were riding their horses a little ways ahead of the family, all were going to a friend's wedding. "I think this next week can't go by fast enough. I think my eardrums are going to break and if I hear from Mrs. Simms again, I think I'll scream." Victoria did her best not to sound too ornery, only in between McCall and Nick, the front door of their home was going to come off its hinges; she was sure of that.

Tom managed to keep a grin as wide as Texas off his face. He'd witnessed Nick slam the door the same way he'd seen McCall do out at the bunkhouse, and he'd been cornered by his wife when the schoolteacher, Amanda Simms, had come out two days after Jarrod left to talk to his wife about the fact that Nick had gotten into a fist fight with one of the other boys. Miss Lee freely admitted that she didn't blame their son for being angry with Johnny Crane. After all, the boy had purposely taunted Nick that he knew something that Nick didn't and should. Only it had been a lie, as Johnny knew nothing important. However, that part had not come out until Nick hit him hard…and then began asking the questions. "I'll have a talk with him again, if you want." promised Tom.

Victoria made a face and snapped, but not so loud as to wake Audra who had fallen asleep as she leaned against her mother. "Think you can talk to McCall too?" She would have suggested getting a quieter foreman, but not only was Tom right about how the man handled the other ranch hands, Nick had bonded with the foreman so fast it had made their heads spin. To let the man go and get another one before Jarrod got back would be the biggest mistake they could make, and she knew it.

Tom couldn't help it, he started laughing. That action earned him a soft slap on his arm, though he didn't let it stop him. "I don't think I can get a grown man to change his ways, besides being loud is not a crime, Torie." He kept his eyes on his foreman and Nick. "Anyway, shouldn't we be glad the man has taken Nick under his wing the way he has? It is keeping Nick busy enough that he's not bothered by those blasted dreams anymore and, thanks to McCall teaching him how to brand a cow, I've had time to get some other business done."

Victoria knew that and she was grateful. It was her ear drums and low tolerance for a child Nick's age to have already been in a couple of fist fights that was getting to her. She was sure it was because her son had picked up on McCall's attitude of acting first and then asking for information. She also had an uncomfortable feeling that, if things didn't "get back to normal" soon, she'd be forever jumping ten feet in the air when Nick entered a room or having to send someone to bail him out of jail when he got older; for getting into brawls for acting before he took time to think. "Maybe, I should increase my supply of cotton balls." She feigned a scowl as she rubbed her left ear.

Tom just chuckled again, and snapped the reigns with a loud "Ye hah!" himself. Victoria's eyes widened, but she soon relaxed when the sleeping toddler in her lap never moved a muscle. It seemed everyone except Victoria had gotten used to the loud voices of their loved ones.