Part 2
*Disclaimer – I do not own Big Valley or To Know Her by Name by Lori Wick which is where the idea for Heather's job came from.
**The Lyrics are from Superchick's song Rock What You Got
***I apologize for the delay, it took me this long to find a song I liked for the second chapter, I'm still not completely satisfied with it, but it is what it is. It was really hard to write this chapter, like extremely hard, when I started this story I don't think I knew what I was getting into.
Rock what you got
Rock what you got
Don't ever let them make you stop
Rock what you got
Light up the lot.
No one can rock the way you rock.
Heather knew life was hard, oh she knew it more than most, her life was far from easy. She had always had to fight against people's assumptions and judgment. Part of that was why she found it so easy to pose as a man and sign up for the army, why not be true to herself, she was never going to please people any way. Her brother had a much better chance of being judged by his merit than she did. The war was her only means of escape, even then when she ended up at the Treasury Department her life was still not her own. She had some freedom, but the Treasury Department owned her, and she had to do whatever she had to to stay in character.
Sometimes staying in character was easy, other times it was hard. Heather knew no matter what she did, she would always be judged. For the most part she could ignore the looks, the stares, the talk, but sometimes it got to be too much. She had enjoyed her time at Nettie's, Nettie had been under so much strain from the fight that she had welcomed Heather's help. Even before the fight Nettie and her husband had welcomed her help, anyone who wanted to help was there, but Heather was the only woman who offered to stay in the Cellar with Nettie. Most women kept clear, it was too dangerous, but Heather wanted to feel like she was doing something, she was an excellent shot but it would be odd for her to join the shooting, so she did what she could. It was just lucky for her that Billy Joe and Curly had used the ruckus in town to cover their escape.
Heather had spent the last two weeks helping out Nettie and comforting the children, she knew what it was like to grow up without a father. She quite enjoyed ranch life, she even went so far as to wish that one day she would be able to live on a ranch full time, and not in an outlaw's camp or in a mining camp. She knew it was unlikely, she was under no illusion that the Barkley's would ever accept her, specifically Nick, no matter how they accepted Heath, no her path would lead in a different direction than her brother's.
This one's for the beaten down
Who gave up on their rock and roll
Lift your eyes from what drags you down
You were born to rock inside your soul
Heath never expected the cattle drive to end up quite like this. They had been on the drive for 9 days when Nick got shot. Up to then everything had gone smoothly, and then it happened. Everyone had dismounted except Nick who rode up next to General Wallant, Heath was near by getting ready to unsaddle his horse.
Nick smiled as he addressed General Wallant, "Nine days, that's good."
General Wallant replied, "Feels good Nick." Then he returned to his task of brushing down his white horse.
Nick turned to Heath, "Heath, Heath. Don't unsaddle yet. I want you to..." at that moment a bullet struck Nick, knocking him out of the saddle.
Heath glanced at Nick to make sure that he had people taking care of him before he jumped on his horse and rode off after the shooter. A few men followed after him, they quickly caught up with the shooter. Heath dismounted and quietly approached the shooter; just as he did the shooter, who was climbing up a sheer drop, slipped on loose shale and fell.
"My back, my back." The shooter called as he clutched his lower back while laying on the ground. "Don't shoot."
Heath approached him carefully and stood over him, "Lillard, Schad. Up here," He called out. Suddenly a shot rang out and the shooter slumped over dead. Heath looked up to see General Wallant astride his horse with a gun in his hand. "He was helpless." Heath barked out.
General Wallant raised an eye brow, "Helpless?" He questions
"Except for what he could tell."
General Wallant dismounted and strode over. He turned the shooter over with his boot showing Heath the man had a knife clutched in his hand.
That grated on Heath's nerves that Wallant saved his life. He didn't trust him and was sure he was behind Nick getting shot. He glared at Wallant who said, "Every snake has two fangs, you remember that."
They had returned to find that Nick had been shot in the leg. His wound had been bandaged and they loaded him in the wagon to go see the doctor in Bakersfield. Nick left Heath in charge, which of courses didn't go well. Barrett tricked Schad into drinking coal oil and Schad almost set Barrett on fire. After ordering both men to taken watch for double shifts, and the men turned in Wallant had crept out of the camp. Heath followed behind, following Wallant to a house where he met two men. After Wallant and the two men had left, Heath approached the house to find it full of guns and ammunition. On top of that that morning Heath had given orders to the men and they refused to obey him. They didn't even obey McCall when he gave them orders, turns out all the men had joined Wallant as hired guns. Now Heath was holed up in the house watching Wallant and 10 of the Barkley's former men approach.
Rock what you got
Rock what you got
Don't ever let them make you stop
Rock what you got
Light up the lot
No one can rock the way you rock
Heather raised her hand and knocked on the door, she had come into town to check in on Billy Joe's girlfriend, Maybelle. Maybelle was renting a room at the Saloon and Curly had ordered her to keep an eye on the younger woman, so in order to keep her cover in tact she had come in to see if Maybelle needed anything. She didn't mind too much, she liked Maybelle well enough, even though she was far too young to be mixed up with the likes of Billy Joe.
At Heather's knock Maybelle called out, "Who's there?"
"It's Heather Thompson." Heather replied.
Maybelle answered the door, "Hello Heather, What brings you to town?"She opened the door and let Heather step inside before she quickly shut the door and latched it. "I mean, not that I don't mind the company but town is a bit dangerous these days."
Heather nodded, "Yes, although the excitement has died down quite a bit the past few days, since the hired gun men have started leaving town. Well, the ones that are left anyway."
Maybelle nodded, and sat down on her bed, allowing Heather to take the only chair in the room. "True, but it still gets mighty rowdy at night. You missed it too weeks ago, the Barkley girl came into town in the middle of the night."
Heather had been looking around the room, taking in her surroundings. The room was furnished better than most but it was still rather bare. The paint was peeling, the wood floor was worn, and the room over all was dingy, though Maybelle did keep it neat and clean as she could. She started at the mention of Audra and quickly tried to hide her shock. "She did?" She said as nonchalantly as possible.
Maybelle launched into her story about Audra, as Heather sat back to listen. By the end Heather was very glad that Heath had come into town. However she wondered how much problems her twin brother's sudden appearance was going to cause her.
Rock what you got
Rock what you got
Don't ever let them make you stop
Rock what you got
Light up the lot
No one can rock the way you rock
Eugene had been spending his day making sure he had everything he needed for his move to school. He had packed his bags with all the things he thought he was going to need, and decided to head into town to pick up a final few things, he also figured he'd drop in on his brother and see if he wanted to grab lunch with him. He asked his mother and sister to join him, and they readily agreed. They rode into town in the buggy, stopping first by the General Store. His mother and Audra talked to Melanie for a bit while Eugene made his purchases and then they headed over to see his brother.
"Hello Jarrod," Eugene greeted as he walked into his brother's office. He had left his mother and sister in the buggy while he went to get Jarrod.
"Why, hello little brother," Jarrod teased him with a smile.
Eugene pulled a face, Jarrod just laughed. "Mother, Audra, and I were wondering if you would be interested in joining us for lunch?"
Jarrod smiled, "Sure, just let me finish something up really fast."
Eugene agreed and went out to inform his mother and sister. Not long after the four of them were over at the hotel, where Audra had grabbed tea with Heather a mere two weeks before. They were greeted cordially and seated quickly. Food was brought out just as quickly and they dug in, enjoying the last few moments together before Jarrod and Eugene were gone on their adventures.
They were interrupted by a young man, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have a telegram for Mr. Jarrod Barkley, and one for Mr. Eugene Barkley." He handed the telegrams over to the brothers and took his leave.
"Jarrod look at this," Eugene said, as he read the telegram.
Jarrod looked up from his telegram, "What is it?" Eugene showed him the telegram.
Jarrod raised his eyebrow, "We'll take care of it, but first I need to tell you what was in mine." He turned to his mother and sister we should go over to my office." The others agreed and they adjourned to Jarrod's Law office. "This telegram came from over in Bakersfield, it's from Nick."
"What is Nick doing in Bakersfield?" Victoria Barkley asked confused.
"Nick was shot," Jarrod said, he held up his hand, "Don't worry, he's fine. He got shot in his leg, the perpetrator was killed right after by General Wallant. However that means he can't ride, he left Heath in charge, and he'll be getting in on the train this evening."
"I'll go home and prepare things for his arrival," Victoria said. "I'll send the buggy back into town for Nick."
"That's fine, Mother" Jarrod said. "Eugene will be home a little later. I have a job for him first."
Victoria nodded and collected Audra and they left. Both wondering but not asking about Eugene's telegram, which was very unusual.
"I guess they decided it was safe to give her the news now," Eugene said, "what with the gang being out of town for the time being."
Jarrod nodded gravely, "This is not what I expected when I agreed to be her contact. How do you tell someone their mom died?"
"I didn't even realize Heather didn't know," Eugene said softly. "She never even asked what brought Heath into town,"
"What?" Jarrod asked, what did his brother know that he didn't.
Eugene shook his head, "Nevermind. I'll head out to Sample's place to tell her."
Jarrod sighed, his brother was very good at keeping secrets apparently."Ok, Take my horse. I'll meet you at the house after Nick gets in."
Eugene solemnly nodded and left Jarrod's office without another word.
Rock what you got
Rock what you got
Don't ever let them make you stop
Rock what you got
Light up the lot
No one can rock the way you rock
Heath looked around at his surroundings in content, they were just finishing dinner, all gathered around the dinner table laughing and talking. There was Victoria Barkley who had accepted him rather quickly, even though his sudden appearance had brought her pain. Audra, his kind and loving sister who he was quickly coming to adore. Jarrod who the others occasionally called "Pappy," who was indeed more than just an older brother but the uncontested (by unanimous decision) head of the house. Nick, boy howdy, his brother sure was a pain, but he knew he would have his back. There were only two people missing from this new found Barkley family, but only one was universally missed. Eugene had left for college just before Heath had gotten back and no one knew about Heather.
Heath had gotten to know Eugene a bit over the two weeks before the round up, and was eager to continue to get to know his younger brother better. Eugene had been the only one to pepper him with questions about his past, about Strawberry, Heath wasn't one to share much but he appreciated his younger brother's enthusiasm. Heather, Heath knew he would track her down sooner or later, and when the time was right he would share her existence with the family, but for now he'd enjoy the blessings in his life.
The family adjourned to the parlor for heath to regale them with tales of the cattle drive, up to now he had only filled them in on the basics. He had shared with them the events that had transpired after Nick had gotten shot. He told how General Wallant had turned the men against him, and how he had holed himself up in the shack with the guns and ammunition he found. He informed them of what had happened when the men refused to back Wallant after they saw him think he was back in the war at Pioneer's Ridge, and Wallant tried to shoot Heath anyway, forcing him to shoot Wallant. Now he was to share some of the other stories that happened after that event and before they had delivered the cattle, for the men had come back to him, when Wallant was dead, including Barrett, who had called him "Mr. Barkley."
Audra sat down on the sofa, while Jarrod and Victoria grabbed the chairs sitting in from of the fire place. Heath sat down at the edge of the table as all three of them hung on his every word. Nick stood a bit off listening passively, his mind troubled over the events, Heath knew and let him have his space. He'd talk to him later.
He launched into his tale about the trout in the lake, that had been not supposed to exist. "Not only was there water in that dry lake you should have seen the trout." He pointed at Nick, yes he'd give him his space, but he wasn't going to exclude him from the story telling either. "Big as your feet!"
"Is that with his boots on or off?" Jarrod asked lightheartedly.
"You were telling us about the steer?" Victoria redirected the conversation.
"Yeah, listen we had this long horn,..."
"That crazy red," Audra said with a laugh.
"Well anyway,All the way down someone had to be at the back of the heard. Well wouldn't you know it but when we got to San Fanscisco..."
Heath continued his story, noticing when Victoria and Nick slipped out of the room, but not missing a beat. He'd let Mother handle nick for now. They talked for few minutes and Nick called out to Heath.
"Heath, how big did you say that fish was?"
Heath stood up to answer him, turning towards him, "Boy howdy Nick, as long as your arm!" Nick and Victoria rejoined the group, Nick now in a better mood, joined Audra on the sofa, while Victoria sat in her chair. Heath returned to where he was sitting on the edge of the table and took up his story telling again, all of them content and happy for now.