DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own the copyrights to The Big Valley. This is written for pure enjoyment.
Thank you to those who reviewed Long Road Home (whether on the board over through email). I hope you enjoy this story as well.
Overdue Justice
Chapter Three
SCENE FOUR
They'd been traveling a good part of the day when Nick turned his horse down a path that led deeper into the woods. Only when a headstone came into view did he stop his horse and dismount.
Anna did the same, "Friend of yours?" she asked as they walked towards the grave.
"My father." Nick stopped in front of the small fence that surrounded his father's final resting place. He was relieved to see no other markers setting next to the patriarch. It was one less thing to worry about.
Anna couldn't help but sigh as she thought on her own father. He had been something else. He would get up in the wee hours of the morning work the farm all day-unless urgent business came up and still have time for his family at nights. You had to be careful though; the man had a temper. Oh, he never hurt his wife or any of his children; still, there was no guessing when it came to what mood he was in. "Guess I know now why we didn't take the shortest route possible."
"You could have asked me why." Nick turned his head and spoke a bit sharper than he meant to.
If the sharpness bothered her Anna did not show it. "Naw," she shook her head, "I figured as bent as you are on getting Mr. Thatcher there had to be a valid reason for what you were doing."
Nick turned around and remounted his horse while Anna did the same. Soon they were headed back through the woods. She loved being among so many trees and watching the animals that chose to travel within her eyesight. Too bad she was having trouble enjoying it.
"Tell me about your family," she turned her attention away from the trees, "I'd like to know more about them."
Nick didn't answer right away leaving her to wonder if she'd been out of line in asking.
"My father was a good man," Nick finally began speaking, "one who loved his family and did his best. Unfortunately not everyone appreciated everything he was trying to do and they shot him." He went on to talk about his mother and each of his siblings, having to pause more than once, "I don't know, maybe I have a sister in a law or brother in law by now. Who knows. What about you? Was John your only sibling?"
Anna sighed and shook her head, "No. I have two brothers back east but they seldom come out this way. One has a wife who doesn't think civilization exists past the Mississippi River and the other keeps busy in that bank of his. My sister moved to Nevada with her husband five years ago. She died in childbirth the following year. John was supposed to be married," she fought to keep the bitterness that wanted to come out of her voice, "Maria wound up marrying and moving to another part of California."
As they continued riding they fell into silence. They still had a long ways to travel and night was coming upon them faster than they'd have liked.
SCENE FIVE
"When was the last time anyone stayed in here?" Anna knocked yet another cobweb off the ceiling. It had to be the tenth or twelfth one she'd gotten down. Nick had taken a chance and led the way to the old cabin saying if they were lucky no one else had moved into the place. The tables had a good inch or two of dust; along with everything else.
"Don't ask me. Remember I went on 'vacation'," Nick worked on fixing a leg on one of the two chairs the place held, "I am sure it will clean up nice enough though."
As she worked Anna couldn't help but think on their goal. They just had to get that man out of business. Okay, she wasn't so naive to think that stopping one man would shut down the lucrative business but it would give her a peace of mind—and from what she could see-Nick needed some of that same peace.
Once Nick had the chair fixed he went to work on the table. He was glad that Anna had insisted on 'listenin' to her gut feeling' and brought her father's tools along. They had come in handy more than once along the way.
He stopped working. He hoped to be able to stay in the cabin long enough to come up with a plan he felt good about. The ones he and Anna had come up with so far were so full of holes they'd have very little chance of succeeding.
"What is it, Nick?" Anna didn't like the worried look that had come upon her friend's face.
"Two against how many? I don't like the odds. We need at least my brothers on our side." Nick's frustration shown in his turned down eyebrows and could be heard in the irritation in his voice.
As much as she agreed with him she was also confused,"How are we going to get that without word getting back to Thatcher? I mean, as soon as anyone sees you it will be all over town."
He stood up and walked over to the window. He looked out and watched as a few stray jackrabbits scurried into some nearby bushes. Slowly he slid the bandana around his neck off and looked at it. Gold embroidery bordered the item and his initials N.B. set in one of the corners. Audra had made it for him two weeks before he was forced to sea. Slowly a huge grin spread across his face. He turned around and looked at Anna.
"What are you doing?" She was shocked when he walked up to her and secured the bandana around her neck then stepped behind her to flatten it out; making sure his initials were showing. What on earth was he up to? How was wearing his bandana going to do them any good?
"You are going to take a ride; that is," Nick smiled as he walked back around and stood in front of her, "If you trust me."
"Two weeks; I have known you two short weeks. You're stubborn, hot tempered and, like to push things to the limit!," that only served to put an even bigger smile upon Nick's face, "Guess I can not say much though. I am the crazy one because," she took a hold of his hands, "I trust you with my life. What do you want me to do?"