Man of Justice

Chapter Thirty three

Fred had meant to take Jarrod and Nick back to the ranch himself, but one thing after another happened and he'd had to send them home by themselves. Now, he stood in the Barkley's living room looking rather uncomfortable. Tom and Victoria, who had been told by Nick what happened before Jarrod even had a chance to say a word, wondered if the fight the day before was the reason for the friend's visit now. Their concerns grew when Fred started speaking.

"I came to talk to you about your oldest." Fred took his hat off and turned it around in his hands trying to find the right way to start, finally he put his hands on his hips and asked, "Do you know about the incident in town yesterday?" He looked from Tom to Victoria, who was sitting on a chair holding her infant son in her arms while Audra was taking her afternoon nap and then back to Tom, who was standing against the fireplace.

Tom nodded. "They told us. Well, Nick told us and Man of Justice didn't deny it. Though, I can't see why you're here because of that. It seems like my son was in the right. The fact that Jarrod stood up for someone, who could not defend themselves, makes me proud."

"He was in the right; that's why I'm here." Fred's statement confused them, something they didn't try to hide.

"I don't understand." Tom's head tilted slightly while Victoria's face showed her own confusion.

Fred wasn't one to "overstep his bounds" when it came to other people's children, but he figured if Jarrod was ever going to make any real progress, he needed to speak his this time. "Tom, I've heard you say more than once you wish the day would come that your oldest would go back to using his own name, dress in white clothes and cut his hair. I have to say I don't think that day will come unless…" he paused as he saw both of his friends stiffen, "you stop treating him like the boy you lost. He's not a boy anymore. Yes, he's young, but whatever happened in that Shoshone camp not only changed him but gave him the status of a man as well." He again paused, waiting for his words to register. When he saw the understanding in both of the Barkleys' eyes, he then continued, "I took the liberty of talking to McCall before coming to the house." At this point, Fred made sure he was looking straight at Tom, "Have you taken the time to notice Man of Justice is doing the work you ask him to the best of his ability, but that his heart's not in it?"

Victoria and Tom looked each other, both were more than shook up. Fred was telling them the truth and asking them a legitimate question.Why hadn't they seen that? "No, I haven't. I…I just sent him out to do what he'd always done and he did it. I figured…" he rubbed his forehead while kicking himself mentally for not noticing. "…I told myself I had my first cowboy back; my heir apparent, so to speak."

"Apparently not," quipped Victoria, now more than ever very interested in what Fed had to say, whether he minced words or not, a light of hope warmed her heart.

Fred was now more determined to state his observations. "Do you realize how many times your oldest son has been in my office asking questions concerning the law? Do you realize how many times you've been in town and Man of Justice has come into my office to visit the prisoners and hear their stories?" He then lowered his voice…to reassure himself neither Silas nor the housekeeper, Anna, would over hear him. "Do you realize how many times the information I've turned over to the prosecuting attorney, or the defense attorney, has come to me through your son?" Fred wasn't surprised to see the look of two people in utter disbelief come upon Tom and Victoria's faces.

"I just thought he was taking a lot of time getting re-acquainted with Stockton." Tom spoke so quietly as he sat down in a nearby chair that Fred almost didn't hear him. He felt bad for the Barkleys. He knew what dreams they'd had for their oldest, especially Tom….dreams Jarrod had also had for himself at one time. Time and events had changed those dreams though, and the sooner his friends could accept that the better off everyone, including Jarrod, would be.

"Talk to him Tom, better yet listen to him. Show him you can accept that, in spite of his young age, life turned him into a man…even if it was sooner than either one of you would have liked. Do that and I will bet my bottom dollar he'll change his name, clothes and cut that hair of his; well, at least change his clothes and cut his hair anyway." Fred then excused himself, saying he had to get back to town and take care of some more business.

Silence filled the room as Tom and Victoria were left to deal with the truth Fred had handed them. Jarrod wasn't the same, he never would be again and Tom would have to look to Nick when it came time to train someone take over the ranch… when that day came. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but a necessary one. Finally Tom broke the silence as he stood up and headed for the door. "I'm going to go find our son."

Victoria smiled and the light in her heart grew bigger. She looked at the infant on her lap that constantly played with her lace collar. "I wonder little man, what you will become."

Finding Jarrod was easy enough, he was helping McCall with one of the horses. While he worked Tom took the time to stand back and really look at his son. He was saddened to see McCall and Fred were right. Jarrod was indeed going through the motions, even throwing McCall a small smile once in awhile, but the ache in his eyes screamed of someone whose heart was elsewhere. Finally, Tom got his own courage up and spoke. "Can you get someone else to help you, McCall? I need to talk to my son."

Because Fred had talked to him, McCall figured he knew what was going on. "Yes, I can, Tom. Thanks for your help." He looked at Jarrod as he headed for his father.

"You're welcome." Jarrod climbed over the corral fence and followed his father as he walked down a nearby path that led into an open field. He couldn't help but wonder what was up. Had he done something wrong? When they came to a couple of very small boulders, Tom sat on one while Jarrod sat on the other one.

"What did I do?" Jarrod kept his eyes straight as he asked the question.

Tom realized that his son did that a lot of the time, looked away from him while he was talking to him. He also realized it was only when they were talking about the ranch or some problem Jarrod was having that it happened. "Fred came by a little while ago."

So he was right, thought Jarrod. He was in trouble for fighting. He sat up straight and made sure his shoulders were straight. He would not apologize when he was in the right.

Because he assumed things and reacted the way he did, Jarrod was caught off guard when Tom continued. "He says you've got a knack for finding out the truth." Tom took a deep breath and forced himself to continue. "Whether or not either one of us likes it, the dreams you had as a boy have changed. What dreams does the man you have become now have?"

Jarrod whirled around, shocked to hear his father acknowledge him as a man. For a moment he could not speak. Finally, he took a deep breath and answered, "I was given my name for a couple of reasons; one of the reasons was because I always looked for the truth and brought it, the truth, to light. I want to fight for the truth here as well…I want to become a lawyer and fight in the courts like I have see Mr. Hillman and Mr. Murdock do." Kyle Hillman was Stockton's current prosecuting attorney and Lynn Murdock was the current defense attorney. Both were extremely good at their professions and well respected in the town.

Tom slowly nodded. "Okay, guess we need to start looking at college for you, but son…" he paused as he looked Jarrod over. He didn't need to say anything as for the first time since coming home Jarrod started smiling… no beaming.

"I'll get new clothes, cut my hair and..." he paused then added, "my name is Jarrod Barkley." Jarrod smiled as he stood up.

He didn't flinch this time as Tom stood beside him and placed a firm hand on his shoulder and smiled back at his son. Jarrod Barkley, soon to be attorney at law, and always a man of Justice, was a son he knew he could be proud of. Both walked together in silence back to the house… a good strong bond of silence and pride having been formed, one that would last until the day Tom died.