Man of Justice

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

Chapter Twenty-Three

Tom sat beside the campfire, next to Jim and across from Jarrod. He was feeling everything from the greatest joy a man could know to the greatest sorrow he'd ever felt. He had his son back, but he didn't. His fifteen year old son sat crossed legged, still wearing the buckskin clothing he'd worn to the trading post and not speaking a word. Tom's mind wandered back to the moment Jarrod and the men he was with stopped in front of the trading post and the subsequent visit.

He'd taken a step towards his son only to have Mr. Hopkins reach out and stop him. "If I were you, I'd wait to see your boy's reaction to you." Tom had, reluctantly, watched as the men and his son dismounted their horses.

Because Straight Arrow had kept a eye not only on his son, but all those they had passed or were approaching, Tom's knee jerk reaction, along with Mr. Hopkin's actions, told him he would not have to worry about getting Man of Justice back to this place called Stockton. He looked from Paul to Tom and then back to Paul. "Is he looking for Man of Justice?" he asked, knowing full well Paul was fluent in the language of the Shoshone people.

Paul's shock showed on his face. He had not expected such a question so quickly. He nodded and replied, "Os,hah." What else was he supposed to say? He knew this Indian well enough to know that you did not give him long winded answers or explanations, as that would only convince him you were trying to hide something.

Straight Arrow looked at the man he would always consider to be his son. He saw fear, concern and…he sighed…a longing for something lost in his eyes. "He is your white father?" he asked knowing, somehow, what the answer would be.

For a moment, the young man who now considered himself to be Man of Justice thought of denying it, but no, that would not be honorable and show great dishonor to both men. That was something he did not wish to do… dishonor either father. "Os,hah." Jarrod answered slowly, noting Tom's ever so startled reaction to hearing Jarrod speaking Shoshone instead of English.

Straight Arrow looked at Mr. Hopkins. "Nea-tag-win-o-yont-im-a-nah-re-wing-gen?"

"Os,hah." He turned looked at Tom. "He wants me to translate everything he says to you, I simply told him yes. Only do you mind if I ask him, your son and the two of you inside? There is a table we can sit at or, if he insists, the floor is better than this dirt."

Tom nodded, as did Jim. Neither one of them felt like taking the possibility of becoming a show to anyone who might happen by. "Fine with me,"

Paul then turned back to his visitors and repeated his request. Straight Arrow nodded and he, along with Man of Justice, followed them inside while the friend who had accompanied Straight Arrow and he to the trading post stayed outside. Once inside Paul began pulling some chairs away from a nearby table, not to be surprised when Straight Arrow and Mr. Barkley's son sat cross legged on the floor.

It took everything Tom had in him to do the same, only he wanted his son back. He knew, if he showed any signs of what Jarrod might see as disrespect towards the people who he'd been living with and who had most likely protected him and kept him alive, lose any chance he had with him. For the sake of his boss, Jim did the same. Paul then joined all four of them.

While Straight Arrow knew what he was about to ask a question that might sound stupid, he spoke the words that came into his mind. "Hin-ahnt?" He wasn't a bit surprised…and smothered a laugh...when a look of disbelief appeared on Mr. Hopkin's face.

"What did he ask?" Tom, who had noticed the look, demanded to know.

"He is asking what you want." Paul answered with a look of 'I can't believe those words came out of his mouth'.

Tom found his heart beating a bit faster as he looked upon the unreadable expression on Jarrod's face. "I want to talk Jarrod; I want to talk to my son." He looked Straight Arrow in the eye even though he knew Paul would have to translate. Paul did just that.

All noticed Jarrod stiffened ever so slightly the moment Tom had spoken the words. Naturally, Tom assumed it was because he understood every word and was simply choosing not to speak. Of course, that thought sent pain through the very center of him as the guilt resurfaced; he couldn't help but wonder if Jarrod blamed him for the Modoc taking him. Not knowing what Horse Breaker had done, Tom was left to wonder how Jarrod wound up with the Shoshone.

Jarrod looked at his Shoshone father and then to Tom. "My name is Man of Justice." Then, due to a long conversation he'd had with Straight Arrow, he added, "I am no man's son yet. I have not chosen. Does he think to make me choose today?"

While Paul was hesitant to repeat the words, he did so at Tom's demand. Again Tom had to fight himself, as he wanted to reach over and shake Jarrod in hopes it would 'bring him to his senses', but he knew that was a childish reaction. Though, he was confused. Jarrod had grown up speaking English, he obviously understood everything he'd said, so why speak in Shoshone? Then again, as he thought on it, maybe it was simply so the man who had been raising him would not be left out. "No," Tom answered even though it meant he might have to wire Victoria and tell her he needed more time, "though I need to be heading back to Stockton soon, a couple of days at most."

Again, due to the talks Jarrod and he had had, Straight Arrow again spoke. "If Man of Justice chooses you, can you be patience with Man of Justice while he adjusts back to your world? Or will you expect him to make the change 'without troubles and doubts?" It never ceased to amaze Straight Arrow when he heard stories of human beings doing that to another.

Tom was brought out of his review of earlier events and thoughts as the son he'd finally been reunited with stood up and went to lie down underneath his blanket. It had taken almost five hours of talking, through Paul, and twenty four hours of waiting before Jarrod had said he would go back to Stockton as long as Tom did not ask him to dress in anything but the clothes of a Shoshone, cut his hair or call him anything but Man of Justice until he decided to make the changes himself. Straight Arrow also made it clear as the noon day sun that if, for any reason, Jarrod needed to return all he had to do was ride into the village.

"Do you think he'll be able to make the adjustment?" Jim asked very cautiously; he didn't want to upset his boss.

Tom gazed into the fire and thought of Victoria, the children, the ranch and the "good" people of Stockton. "I hope so; I truly hope so." His whispered answer was almost inaudible. The rest of the evening was spent in silence as Tom made plans to write a letter in the morning. The letter would explain everything to his family, including the fact that he'd be making the return trip home slower than usual. Tom planned to do that in order to give Jarrod and him more time to get reacquainted.

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"Nea-tag-win-o-yont-im-a-nah-re-wing-gen?" =Will you translate eveything I say?

Os,hah = Yes

Hin-ahnt =What do you want?