Heath and Heather Chapter 8: Love Part 2, a big valley fanfic

Chapter 4

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 fromPlus One'ssongUnder the Influence of You

When you show me you love me
I can do anything
You give me something to believe in
And you're everything I need

Audra, Lloyd, and Heather rode up to Mrs. Coleman's house and pulled to a stop in front of the house. Audra dismounted and walked to the door calling over her should she was going to see if Mrs. Coleman was at home. Heather and Lloyd dismounted as Heather knocked on the door. Mrs. Coleman opened the door and stared coldly at Audra.

"Hello Mrs. Coleman, I brought some things I thought you might need." Audra greeted.

Mrs. Coleman hugged her arms closer to herself as she said, "Your families' conscience bothering them, Audra. Gifts can't heal it. You just take what you brought and get off this place, and don't any of you Barkley's ever come back here again."

Heather watched as her sweet, gentle sister slowly turned back towards them, hurt by the words that Mrs. Coleman had spewed at her. Audra walked to her horse and just stood there running her hand up and down the supplies.

"Don't take it too hard, Audra." Lloyd told her, "She doesn't mean it."

"She does!" Audra exclaimed. "And she has every right. My family told her husband to stand up to those men that shot him." With every word, she got closer and closer to drying.

Heather stepped forward and embraced her little sister, "Give Mrs. Coleman some time, Audra. She's hurting right now, lashing out. She may feel differently later." She told her, as Lloyd grabbed the supplies off the horses and took them to the front door, and left them there.

Both girls broke the embrace, turned and looked at Lloyd in surprise. "She'll feel different about it in the morning," He told them.

"Will she?" Audra asked.

"She just needs a little time, that's all." Lloyd said as he mounted his horse.

"See I told you," Heather told Audra as she too mounted.

Audra turned to Lloyd quickly, "I'd still like for you to meet my mother. Would you have supper with us?"

"Alright," came Lloyd's reply.

"Tomorrow night?"

"It'd be a pleasure."

"Do you know where we live?"

Lloyd nodded, "It's the first thing you learn when you come into this valley."

Audra smiled and nodded as she too went to mount. She and Heather rode off one way, while Lloyd rode off another, parting ways for the time being. They stopped near the Sample Place and Heather reassured Audra about Margaret Coleman. Audra opened up to Heather, about everything and Heather smiled at her little sister who was falling in love for the first time.

"Just be careful, Audra." Heather told her, before they parted ways.

Under the influence of what you got
Under the influence of what is true
I'm goin' higher than I've ever been
'Cause I'm under the influence of you
Under the influence what you give
Under the influence what you do
I'm goin farther than I've ever been
'Cause I'm under the influence of you

Audra had just finished another ride with Heather and was rubbing down her horse when she saw Lloyd ride into the ranch yard with the black stallion tied behind him. Audra immediately dropped the brush she was holding and ran over to Lloyd.

"Where did you find him!?" She asked joyfully.

"Up from where you saw him. We had quite a chase."

Lloyd dismounted and grabbed the lead for the black stallion. He walked around the front of his horse and led the black stallion a few feet away from where his horse was standing.

"I've had a saddle on him, but he'll need gentle handling for a few days, "Lloyd told Audra.

"Oh. He's beautiful!"

"That's why I caught him for you." Lloyd said. "For me!?" Audra asked.

"'Course he's going to cost you."

"How much?" Audra asked with a smile as she petted the black stallion.

"Couple hours tonight, have supper with me at the hotel."

Audra took in a deep breath, "Tonight? Oh, I don't know. That's very short notice.

Lloyd smiled at her, "There's a pleasure on doing things on impulse."

Audra laughed nervously, "Oh, I love being impulsive, but…"

Lloyd cut her off, "Are you afraid of me Audra?"

Audra sighed and smiled softly, "Oh, how could I be. You saved my life."

"There's a special reason I want you to have supper with me." Lloyd told her.

"What is it?" Audra asked, interested.

"It's a celebration for us."

"For us?" Audra asked

Lloyd motioned to the black stallion, "Without him, we never would have met."

"Alright," Audra said thinking she was falling more in love with Lloyd by the minute. Later, that night after supper, this thought was confirmed when she and Lloyd shared a kiss.

And it feels so good
I'm intoxicated
And I just can't get enough
Just like it should
I'll always be living and
rising up above

Audra and Heather rode into Lloyd's camp unaware of what was going on. Audra had come running to Heather after walking in on her brother's ganging up on Lloyd. Heather had listened as Audra cried her eyes out, sharing that nick thought Lloyd had killed Coleman. Heather had listened calmly, and then suggested she go home and sleep on it, tomorrow she could sit down with her brothers and calmly talk it out. Audra stated that she wanted to talk to Lloyd, Heather advised against it, until she had heard what her brothers had to say first, but Audra was insistent. Heather frowned but not wanting to let Audra talk to Lloyd alone, she opted to go with her.

Lloyd walked over to Audra and Heather, as they stopped their horses and demanded, "What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't believe what they said without asking you." Audra said, dismounting.

"You shouldn't have come," Lloyd said, turning on his heel and walking away.

"You said I know you better than they ever would," Audra told Lloyd, walking after him.

Heather frowned, as she listened to their conversation, she knew something was going on. Her instincts were screaming at her that something was wrong. Not only because her brothers thought so, but the little things she had been noticing were starting to piece together, and she wasn't liking how it was starting to look.

"Do I, Lloyd?" Audra asked Lloyd. "Do I?"

Lloyd didn't answer right away, so Audra called his name. "Sure," Lloyd told Audra finally, "You know me better than anyone." Lloyd had his back turned to the girls but they could tell he was emotional. "But there's no use. It just won't work." Lloyd stated coldly.

Audra blinked back tears, "I think I should know the reason."

"Forget it, just mount up and go home." Lloyd replied harshly.

"But why, Lloyd, why?" Audra cried out, her heart breaking.

"I told you to just go home. Now that's it!" Lloyd yelled at Audra.

Audra took a deep breath and turned towards her horse. She stalked back and mounted, spurring the horse on. Heather moved to follow, but the rest of the men in the camp moved to stop them.

"Kind of stupid letting them go Lloyd." One of the men said as he grabbed Audra's reigns. "The Barkley's will pay now."

Lloyd tried to stop the men from keeping the girls in the camp but three of the men jumped him and quickly over powered him. They held his arms behind his back, Heather knew that there was no escape now. Audra however refused to give up, she looked down and Lloyd being restrained and close to tears she spurred her horse on one fore time. The man hold her horse's reigns, simple pulled the horse to a stop again, not letting them move very far. Audra was terrified now as she realized that her and Heather were in trouble.

Jarrod, Nick, Heath and Victoria Barkley were gathered in the den, Jarrod was reading a note that they had received demanding ransom for the return of Audra. Nick was pacing the room, angrily spewing words of frustration at the knowledge that his sister had been kidnapped.

Victoria tried to calm him down, "Oh, Nick don't."

"Don't. Don't what? Don't admit that we are human beings? Because we are and that's a fact!" Nick growled. "We're like everyone else and we are pinned to that wall, we pay."

Jarrod had been staring into the fire, but he turned at that, "We have until noon tomorrow to do that, Nick."

Heath stood up from where he had been sitting at the edge of the table. "Jarrod, we can't take the risk…"

Jarrod held up a hand stopping Heath from saying anything else, "I know the risk Heath." He looked back at the note in his hand and then decided to go talk to Heather about it. "Stay here, I'll be back soon." He ordered his brothers and went off to find his sister.

Arriving at the Sample's place he was greeted by Mrs. Sample. "Oh, Jarrod, I'm glad you are here," Mrs. Sample said ringing her hands. "Heather hasn't come home, she never stays out when she's in town."

Jarrod frowned, "Do you know if she was with Audra last night?"

The oldest Sample child who was walking from the barn to the house overheard Jarrod. "Yes sir. Miss Audra, she was upset and Miss Heather, she went off with her."

Jarrod sighed and said, "I was afraid of that."

Nick rode up at that moment, "What's going on with you Jarrod?"

"Heather is with Audra," Jarrod stated, as the oldest sample child continued inside.

Nick frowned, "What was Audra doing with Heather?"

"I'm assuming that Audra was confiding in her best friend."

Nick growled, "Best friend?"

Jarrod nodded, "Yes, Heather is Audra's best friend. They've been friends for a while now."

Nick growled again, "Now isn't the time, but WE WILL be talking about this later."

Jarrod nodded and turned to Mrs. Sample, "It seems Heather and Audra were taken by the same group that have been terrorizing the country."

Mrs. Sample gasped, "The same group that killed Harry Coleman!? Oh Jarrod."

Jarrod nodded, "We have until noon tomorrow to come up with a plan. We'll have our girls back soon."

"Oh be careful, Jarrod." Mrs. Sample said as Jarrod and Nick rode off.

"What's the plan?" Nick asked Jarrod when they were out of ear shot.

Jarrod shook his head, "I was hoping Heather would be able to help, I should have known she would be with Audra. Audra would have wanted to confront Gardiner and Heather wouldn't have let her go alone."

"Will Heather be able to keep them safe?" Nick asked concerned.

"I sure hope so," Jarrod replied.

Jarrod and Nick rode back to their house and Nick told Jarrod, what he and Heather had talked about the other day. "I want to respect her wishes," Nick stated. "She doesn't want heath to know she's here, and I say we keep it that way if we can. She should be able to approach Heath on his own."

Jarrod nodded, and they decided to send Heath to the drop point with the money the next day, while Jarrod and Nick hid with the sheriff and his deputies to follow the man who came to pick up the money. Heath was to drop the money off and ride back towards the house. The next day everything went according to plan, Heath dropped off the money and the man picking it up, was no one the wiser when Jarrod, Nick and the sheriff and his deputies followed behind him to where the girls were being held.

Jarrod and Nick followed the man to the river, where he crossed it and dismounted. Nick could see Heather and Audra standing beside each other, surrounded by the men. Lloyd was sitting on fallen down tree, watching everything that was taking place. Nick and Jarrod dismounted and signaled to those with them to do so too. Then they quickly ran for coverage and began to sneak up on the camp. The man they had followed had handed the money over to another man, not Lloyd, who was counting the money.

Nick saw Lloyd get up and hand the reigns of their horses to Audra and Heather, "You can leave now."

Audra and Heather mounted and started to leave when the man who was counting the money stopped them. He grabbed their reigns and refused to let them go, "I didn't say they could go."

"You don't need them now." Lloyd stated.

"You're right I don't, in fact they've become a nuisance around. Them knowing who we are and all."

Heather tensed, she knew they weren't getting away without a fight. Lloyd tried to talk the man out keeping them, or worse killing them. "Turke, let them go."

Turke refused, grabbing Audra's reigns and ordering her to get down. Heather urged her horse over and forced Turke away from Audra's horse.

"Ride Audra," Heather yelled at her as she blocked Turke from going after Audra. Audra rode off into the river, crossing to the other side, following Heather's order.

Turke moved to pull Heather off the horse, but Lloyd grabbed Turke and threw him to the ground. Lloyd took his hat and swatted Heather's horse with it.

"Go!" Lloyd yelled at Heather, who didn't hesitate in spurring her horse forward.

Turke grabbed his gun and shot at Lloyd, hitting him in the back and killing him. Audra had turned back at the sound of gunfire and watched as Lloyd fell. Tears fell from her eyes as she watched Turke go to shoot Heather who was crossing the river. Just as he went to shoot, the sheriff shot him.

Jarrod and Nick stopped the man who picked up the money.

"Where are the others," Jarrod demanded.

"Where are they?" Nick asked again.

"Waiting at camp," came the reply.

Heather had reached the bank while all of this was happening and was checking on Audra. "Are you okay?"

Audra shook her head and wiped her tears away, her brothers had yet to look their way. They were checking on Lloyd and Turke, trying to find a pulse. It was obvious there was no pulse as they turned and looked solemnly at Audra and Heather. Audra took a deep breath and crossed the river again, to meet her brothers with Heather following behind.

Later that day Nick and Heather were in town at Jarrod's office waiting for the sheriff and Jarrod to return to town. After Audra and Heather had joined Jarrod and Nick, Jarrod had taken Audra home, while Nick had taken Heather to Jarrod's law office. At the house, Jarrod had requested that Heath watch over her while he went into town to meet with Nick and the sheriff to wrap things up. Heath took her inside to her mother who was very glad she was home safely.

Nick took Heather to Jarrod's office and sent Soong out to get some tea and brandy. He settled Heather on the couch in Jarrod's office and then grabbed a chair in front of Jarrod's desk. Heather watched curiously as Nick, sat and stared at her, not saying a word. Soong returned with tea and brandy and Nick poured her a cup of tea and added a little brandy.

As Nick handed Heather the cup, Heather spoke up, "Thank you, Mr. Barkley."

Nick nodded, and walked back to his chair. Heather waited until he sat down and asked, "Why are you being so nice to me? I would have thought you would have been upset to learn of my friendship with Audra."

Nick smirked, "I would have been before recent events. I mean I'm still upset but you protected my sister, letting her escape. You didn't have to do that."

Heather nodded and took a sip of her tea. "I never wanted anything to happen to her," she told Nick softly. "I didn't want her to go to Lloyd's camp alone and I knew I wasn't going to talk her out of it."

Nick nodded, "She's stubborn."

"Boy Howdy, you're telling me. She get that from you?" Heather teased.

Nick frowned at Heather's words, "Heath says that all the time."

Heather smiled wistfully, "Where do you think I got it from?"

Before Nick could respond, Jarrod entered with the Sheriff. "The rest of the outfit has been rounded up and is in custody. The Sheriff has some questions for you Heather, if you don't mind answering them.

"Not at all, but does he have to talk to Audra? I'd rather him not, she's been through enough."

The Sheriff agreed that as long as Heather could answer the questions, there was no need to bring Audra in. After being questioned, Nick and Jarrod took Heather to the Sample place where Heather was surrounded by Mrs. Sample and the children who were glad to have her back home safe.

Jarrod and Nick then returned home to find out Audra and Heath and gone out on a ride. Audra had decided to let the black stallion go free, and Heath had agreed to go with her. Once they had returned, the Barkley's settled down for the night, enjoying each other's company and Audra started her path towards healing from her broken heart. Victoria and Heath showered Audra with love and attention and Jarrod and Nick were glad to join in but their thoughts also lay with a girl, much like Audra, who was at a neighboring farm.