Man of Justice

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

Chapter Twenty-Two

One by one the members of the Shoshone village gathered in a celebration to honor Man of Justice. All were in awe of the young man who had proved, quite successfully, to be wise beyond his years. The young white brave had kept many injustices from being committed, or caught the real culprits after the fact. Many were saddened to learn that Straight Arrow had talked to the chief and the medicine man and that, together, the three decided that Straight Arrow was right…the young man known to them as Man of Justice might very well be going back to his white family.

The music of the Shoshone rang through the air as the feast that had been prepared was passed around. Men and women talked while young children played. Raging River's Friend made his way through the crowd that had gathered and walked up to the young man that had become his best friend. A part of him still did not believe what he'd been told. "Car-ney-im-me-ah-how?" He asked the question as if he thought that by asking it reality would change.

Was he going home? Man of Justice sighed as he looked around. This village had been his home for fifteen months. He'd laughed, worked, played…even grieved here. He had friends and, he looked to where his Shoshone father and new mother stood. He didn't want to leave, yet there were his dreams and Straight Arrow insisted they mean he needed to go back to the white world. Slowly, he nodded and answered, "Hah-car-ney-nea-me-ah." Yes, he was going home; well, he paused and shrugged his shoulders correcting himself as he really wasn't sure yet, but the chances were high.

Raging River's Friend laid his hand upon Man of Justice's shoulder and, with every fiber in his soul asked, "Im-him-by-coy?"

The question tore into Man of Justice's heart and soul. How could he say when, or even if, he would be back? That is, if he did indeed leave? He could not see the future now any better than when his white brother asked him about his dreams. With much sadness in his voice, Man of Justice answered simply, *"Ka-mah-shum-ben-y." What else could he say? He didn't know.

00000

It had been a quite a journey for Tom and Jim what with horseshoes that came off and accidentally taking a wrong road, but they had at last reached Pair of Dice. Once they'd gotten directions to the trading post, Tom and Jim had hurried to the establishment. They now stood outside Pair of dice's trading post with Jim talking to the owner; a man by the name of Paul Hopkins, a rather plump fellow with little hair but friendly enough. "You're looking for your son?" the man's eyes were wide in disbelief. He might not hate the Indians or hold the fact that some whites lived, or had lived, among them but he knew many who did not feel the same way. Very few men he knew would look for a son after this much time, especially if he was with the Indians.

"I was told there was a white boy living with the Shoshone." Tom did not feel like repeating what he'd just said, so he simply went ahead and explained why he'd come to Pair of Dice. "I was told that, if it's not my son, he could pass for his twin. I want to see him so I know which the case is. Do you know of such a boy?" He asked making sure his expression remained solid as a rock; his eyes set firm and an air of one with a determined attitude in his voice. He didn't feel like fighting the man, but he felt less like explaining the whole story over again.

Paul nodded. "I don't know if the lad is your boy or his twin, but yes, I have met such a young man. He has been in a number of times with his father and other family members." He hurried to add as he saw the way the man called Tom Barkley stiffened when he said father and family. "Look, whether or not he's your son doesn't make a difference. He calls the man father and talks about his uncle, aunts and cousins. Sir," Paul said as he rubbed his chin, doing his best to choose his words carefully, "Have you stopped to think that, even if this boy is your lost son, he might not want to go with you? I mean, it's been just over a year now you said. He might have, out of a need to survive mind you, grown attached to his Shoshone father and the tribe; he might not see leaving as an option." He hated to point that out to the man, but he'd seen such a situation before and… well someone had to raise the possibility.

Tom drew a heavy breath, as did Jim. It was something that had presented itself to both of them…but neither man had ever allowed themselves to entertain the thought in their minds for very long. "I have to see him." Tom replied. "For the sake of my family and my son, I have to try." Just then the three heard horses approaching, they turned around and looked so see who was coming.

Tom felt as if someone had just hit him below the belt for he saw two men and a young man riding towards the trading post. Because he was not overly concerned with the two adults, Tom did not dwell on them but a few seconds. The young man was a different story. After a few minutes of studying him, Tom knew the young man meant everything to him. For without a shadow of a doubt; the young man dressed again in buckskin pants, a buckskin shirt and moccasins with dark brown hair hanging to the middle of his back was his missing son...even if he had gone through a growing spurt. Nothing else went through Toms mind except the joy and relief of finally seeing his boy alive, and he imagined the day he would return him home to his mother.

Jim could see the steel resolve of Tom Barkley grow at the sight of his boy, but like Paul had suggested, he couldn't help but wonder would Jarrod leave the Shoshone and go to Stockton with them. More important yet, if he did, would he stay?

TBC

Car-ney-im-me-ah-how? =Are you going home?

Hah-car-ney-nea-me-ah = Yes, I am going home.

Im-him-by-coy = When will you come back?

Ka-mah-shum-ben-y =I don't know.