Forbidden love for a Barkley
Part Five:
"Jarrod Returns"
As planned, Nick made good on his promise to take Stefania out for a ride and show her more of Stockton. That was of course after she spotted him playing a game of hide and seek with her nieces Cara and Mariah while waiting for her. While riding around and later, sitting under the same tree he and Heath sat under just the day before, Nick and Stefania had told each other more and more stuff about themselves and their lives. Things such as Tom's cheating, when Heath first came to Barkley Ranch, Eugene's current status, and Stefania's first love Pasquale just to name a few. This would lead to both of them admitting that they do get lonely and in so many words, long for a romantic partner which would in turn lead to the most anticipated moment of all time; the confession of feelings. Romantic feelings which they both confessed that despite only knowing each other for a day, they have developed feelings for each other, but knowing that their past relationships didn't pan out as they had hoped, Nick and Stefania agreed to "take things slowly". That was later followed by a passionate kiss. Now, the question is: Will Nick and Stefania manage to keep their slow growing relationship a secret from their families? If so, for how long? Stay tuned!
Author's note: I do NOT own "The Big Valley" or its characters. The only stuff I own are this fic, the Mangano family, and the characters of Leonard Barkley and Stefania Mangano. Also too, you read the chapter title correctly, because Jarrod will indeed return from San Francisco. This chapter just might be short and brief. I am not too sure, but we shall see what happens. Anyways, enjoy the story and please, no trolling or rudeness. Thank you.
(Flashback to part 4)
"You get lonely, too?" Stefania asked.
"I do. I really do at times and while I can be lonely all I want, Barkley Ranch doesn't run itself and I have to put those feelings aside. However, that doesn't at all discount the times where I wished I had somebody to rub my shoulders, talk about my stresses to, and well, treat like a queen. I may have a hard shell, but I also have love in me and I do hope to share that love with someone." Nick had a sad tone in his voice, despite doing his hardest to hide it, "Do you get lonely at times?"
"Yes. Lots of times. I mean I see my brother and his wife with Cara and Mariah plus my sisters in their relationships & just wish that I could have that as well. I love Cara and Mariah with all my heart, but I wish I had a husband and children of my own. I've been wanting to have a family of my own for a while and I almost did with Pasquale, but he did me dirty and I just kind of gave up." Stefania looked into his eyes, "Until recently."
"Until recently?" Nick felt his heart starting to beat a little fast, again.
"Yes." Stefania turned away and took a deep breath, before looking back into Nick's eyes, "Nick, I-I-I think I have something to tell you."
"That's strange, because I have something to tell you too, Stefania." Nick's eyes got big.
Before Stefania could say anything, she accidentally knocked over some of the fruit she picked.
"Oh, allow me." Nick went to pick up one of the fruits right at the same time Stefania did.
The next thing that happened surprised the two of them, because their hands had touched for the very first time which in turn caused them to stop in their tracks and look into each other's eyes.
"Nick, our hands are...are touching." Stefania's eyes had also gotten big.
"I know. I know. However, you go first and say what um...what you have to say then I will." Nick felt another adrenaline rush coming on.
"Nick, I can't hide it anymore!" Stefania took her hand away and turned her head to the side, "I like you and I don't mean in a friend way. I really really like you! I know we barely met and we barely know each other, but I'm drawn to you and I just can't help it. I'm so sorry if this comes off as weird and if you don't feel the same way, I'll be sad, but I'll gradually understand."
"Stefania..." Nick put his hand on her shoulder, "You didn't come off as weird, because well...I feel the same way and plus, who cares if these feelings are sudden all because we barely met? Who cares? You see, I haven't felt this way about anybody for a long time, so to me, it is all brand new and the moment we met, I was drawn to you almost immediately. I tried my best to deny it and hide it, but I knew I couldn't do that any longer, because if I did, I would explode. My point is, I like you a lot and I can't hide it anymore."
"Do you really feel that way?" Stefania turned to face his direction and look directly into his eyes.
"Stefania, if I didn't, I wouldn't have said anything." Nick put his index finger and thumb on her chin and gently caressed it.
"That's true, but how do we-how do we go about this?" Stefania asked in a worried tone of voice.
"We'll just take things slowly and let it build itself from the ground up. You understand, of course." Nick suggested.
"I understand completely, Nick because I also wish to take things very slowly." Stefania looked deeper into his eyes and started to get mesmerized by his looks.
Nick looked into her eyes and also started to get mesmerized by her beauty.
Then, before anybody knew it, Nick and Stefania gave into their emotions and shared a very passionate kiss.
(Now)
Nick and Stefania continued to share their passionate kiss. One had to admit that it felt good for both of them to get all of that out and share this kiss, because it was marking a new beginning for them. A new beautiful beginning. Of course, they had already agreed to take things slowly and see how it would all pan out.
After a few moments, Nick and Stefania slowly broke away from the kiss and just looked each other in the eyes.
"I haven't had that in a long time." Stefania spoke up after a few long minutes of silence had passed.
"Neither have I. In fact, I admit that-look, we needed that. We both have...for a long time might I add. You haven't had a man's touch in a while and I haven't had a woman's touch in a while." Nick gently stroked her cheek with his index finger and thumb, "I have to admit that it felt good."
"It sure did, Nick. It sure did and if I had to have a man's touch again, I'm glad it was yours." Stefania put her hand and the back of Nick's head and slowly ran her fingers through his hair, "However, what will our families say?"
"Well, we will burn that bridge when we cross it and no, we will not literally burn a bridge, but we'll just take it one day at a time and tackle that part when we feel we're ready. However, as of now, let's keep it between us and be good friends in front of them. You know, so we don't make it obvious and end up getting way way way ahead of ourselves. Plus, our siblings just might not have enough decorum to be mature about this just yet." Nick was bound and determined to keep all of what just happened between Stefania and him plus their slow growing relationship a secret from everyone else, as he had, had bad luck with his past relationships and he didn't want to go through that anymore. He wanted this to work out and he figured the only way for it to truly work out was to keep it all a secret for now and reveal when he felt he and Stefania were good and ready.
"You have that right regarding our siblings. Siblings can be immature. However, I am all for it, Nick. I also want our slow growing relationship to really truly work out and secrecy is the best way to go. I just hope our families will understand." Stefania was all for it since she had been unlucky in love and gave up on it for a while. She really wanted and hoped this one will work, even though, part of her felt bad that she and Nick were keeping their families in the dark until they were ready to reveal everything. However, she and Nick were bound and determined that this relationship will work out and just hoped that the Barkleys and Manganos would understand why they had to keep it all a secret, but like Nick said, they'll burn that bridge when they cross it.
"Oh, Stefania. They'll understand. They'll understand completely once we explain to them our reasoning and all, but let's not worry about that. Let's just focus on us." Nick tried to reassure her, before giving her another kiss on the lips, before leaning against the tree.
"You're right. You're right, Nick. Let's focus on us for right now." Stefania moved closer to him and rested her head on his chest.
Nick held her close to him and looked up at the sky, Stefania following suit.
*Back at Barkley Ranch, four hours later*
Four hours had passed since Nick had left to spend the day with Stefania. The sun was starting to set which meant Victoria's fears were starting to set in, yet again. She found herself staring out the window and eerily enough the sun set had the same color it did the night she found out Tom was murdered, which only exacerbated her fears. Normally, she wouldn't be this fearful, but she remembered that Tom's birthday was coming up and all of the good and bad memories plus the pain of his murder and the grief that followed were all resurfacing like mad.
Audra and Heath walked in to see that Victoria still had not moved away from the window. Worried, they walked up to her very slowly
"Mother?" Audra gently tapped Victoria on the shoulder.
"Audra, before you say anything, I'm not moving away from the window." Victoria had that familiar firm tone in her voice. The firm tone that she only used when she was worried or in the process of putting one of her children in their places.
"Mother, Audra and I figured that maybe you could rest for a few moments or so. You know to get your mind off of things." Heath lightly suggested.
"Yeah, I mean after all, Nick's fine. He's with Stefania and plus, he can handle himself." Audra affirmed.
"Your father said the same thing and look what happened." Victoria continued to stare out the window and started to squeeze the sill as hard as she could.
"But father went to Strawberry. Nick is right here in Stockton. Yeah, he may be a few miles or so away, but he's right close to home." Audra tried to point out the differences between when Tom left town and Nick going off to spend the day with Stefania.
"He may be close to home, but still, something could happen. Something always happens." Victoria's knuckles started to turn white, "I mean your father was killed not too long after he arrived to the Barkley Mine in Strawberry and the time Jarrod took his late wife Beth up to his special place, it wasn't too long that Beth was killed. I don't want Nick and Stefania being another Tom and Beth. Plus, I doubt Stefania's family is too happy about her being out this late."
"We understand how you feel, mother but like you told Jarrod when he wanted to get revenge on the one who murdered Beth and like we all agreed on after father's murder that we all have to remember father and Beth's love for each of us and that they wouldn't want us to get revenge or worry every time one of us leaves the house. Remember those words?" Audra reminded her in a gentle way.
"I remember, but as a mother, I tend to be such a worry wart. It's that maternal instinct and no matter how old your kids get, you never lose that feeling." Victoria was still squeezing the window sill and looked down for a moment, before looking back up and going back to staring out the window at the sun set, "Audra, Heath, when you become parents, you'll understand."
"We understand, mother. However, it would do you some good to-" Audra was cut off when she saw Silas walking into the room with a paper of some kind.
"Pardon me, Miss Audra, Mr. Heath, and Mrs. Barkley, I don't mean to intrude, but I have a telegram for you." Silas held up the paper.
"No intrusion at all, Silas. Who's the telegram from?" Victoria finally turned around and surprisingly, regained her composure.
"It's from Mr. Jarrod." Silas handed her the telegram.
"Thank you, Silas." Victoria took the telegram and read it.
Silas smiled, nodded and walked off.
"What does it say?" Audra asked.
"Jarrod is going to be home first thing in the morning." Victoria smiled and had a slight sense of relief run through her, only to have the fears come back and her smile disappear.
"Mother, Nick will be home, too. We promise." Heath put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Look, why don't you go upstairs and rest in order to ease your nerves?" Audra took the telegram and put her arm around her mother.
"No, Audra. No. Not until I know Nick is home and safe & the same with Stefania." Victoria shook her head and turned her attention back to the sun set.
*Back with Nick and Stefania*
As Nick and Stefania continued to sit under the tree and enjoy both nature and their time together, Stefania lifted her head, saw that the sun was beginning to set, and just smiled, before putting her head back onto Nick's chest. Normally, Stefania would've fretted and tried to hurry back home due to the hateful bigoted morons usually striking at nightfall & hurling slurs/possible threats at her, but this time, she wasn't fretting nor was she hurrying. Being with Nick made her feel safe and it was the first time in a long time that Stefania felt safe around a man who wasn't her brothers Vincent and Carmine Jr, her father Carmine Sr, her uncles Salvatore also known as "Sal" and Luigi, or her late grandfather Emilio. Plus, she felt at ease talking about her life in Italy and her first love, which she did so without crying which was a first, because usually, she would refrain from talking about stuff like that, but with Nick, she felt she could talk to him about anything and without fear of him judging her. To her, this was a nice slight change of pace, even if she had only known Nick for a day and a half.
All the while, Nick was feeling content and comfortable plus loved. Of course, he felt loved by his mother and siblings, but that love was different than the love and warmness he was getting from Stefania. That was more romantic and intimate which was something he hadn't felt from his previous girlfriends or his former fiancee. Sure he was in love with them, but that all took forever for him to feel whereas with Stefania, it was as if the feeling came on almost immediately and it was different than before. In fact, he felt more and more comfortable talking about his life, most notably, the subjects on how Heath became part of the Barkley family and his father's twice infidelity. Subjects, he couldn't talk about to just anyone, especially when it came to his father, because every time he would start to bring up his father, he would be on the brink of tears which in turn forced him to immediately change the subject. Even though, he talked a little about Tom, he knew he had to be honest and tell Stefania about his murder which wasn't going to be an easy task, but he'd burn that bridge when he crossed it.
Anyways, Nick had since fallen asleep under the tree and was in a somewhat deep slumber.
*In Nick's dream*
Nick was sound asleep under the tree with his hat over his eyes. It had been a long day of chores, errands, and such that he had just wanted to take some time to rest. As he was getting deeper and deeper into the slumber, he felt someone slightly shake his arm.
"Nick." the voice whispered.
Nick didn't move a muscle and continued to sleep.
"Nick." the voice said, only a little louder this time.
Nick still didn't move.
"Nick!" the voice slightly yelled.
"Ahhh! I'm up! What happened?" Nick jolted awake and looked around.
"You fell asleep and I was looking everywhere for you." the voice said, in a gentle tone.
"I'm sorry, father. It was just a hot day and you know, on a hot summer day, chores can tire a fella out." Nick looked up at his father, before standing up and dusting himself off.
"I understand, son but the chores weren't going to do themselves, now were they?" Tom smirked and patted Nick on the shoulder.
"Of course not and truth be told, I'm the only one who can do them correctly. You ask Jarrod, Gene, or Audra to do 'em, it would look as though, a twister hit the place." Nick laughed, as he got back onto his horse Goldie.
"Now, now, in fairness to your siblings, they do just as good a job at the chores as you do." Tom climbed back onto his black stallion Eustace.
"Ahhh! I'm better at it and everybody knows it." Nick was getting a little cocky, "Home, Goldie. Mush!"
"Home, Eustace." Tom rolled his eyes and shook his head, before lightly tapping Eustace.
*Five minutes later*
As five minutes passed, Nick had suddenly stopped after riding for a few miles. Tom had caught up to him and seeing that Nick had stopped all of a sudden drew the feeling of concern over the older Barkley as Nick never just suddenly stopped like he did.
"Nick, is everything okay?" Tom was fearing that something may be wrong.
"Of course everything is okay. Why wouldn't it be?" Nick turned to his father.
"Well, you never stop like you just did and I got a little worried." Tom put his hand over his chest.
"Father, I assure you everything is fine. I didn't mean to worry you." Nick affirmed.
"Then, why did you stop?" Tom, despite being reassured that everything was okay, still had that concerned feeling lingering.
"Look at that beautiful sunset. Isn't that just one of the most beautiful things you ever saw?" Nick turned his attention back to the beautiful sunset.
"Yeah. Yeah, it is beautiful, son." Tom's concerned feeling dissipated and he smiled once he took a gander at the sunset, "Gee, I feel silly for getting all worried over nothing."
"Ah, you're just doing your job as a father. That's all." Nick put his hand on his father's shoulder.
"I know, but I shouldn't get all worked up over nothing. Then again, it is better to be that way than the alternative. Plus, I guess I just am not over that one time you got shot by that blasted arrow. Y'know, if I had seen that Patrick Hyatt scumbag who shot ya with that arrow, I would've killed him dead on the spot!" Tom cocked his gun.
"Father, I believe the sheriff is doing a good job keeping Pat Hyatt behind bars." Nick sounded firm, yet gentle at the same time.
"You believe the sheriff is doing a good job? Oh yeah, he's doing a good. Now, that is! Where was he when you got shot with that arrow? Where was he when Audra and your mother were held hostage by his men while I was away?! Where was he when Jarrod and Eugene were assaulted by his men after Jarrod helped put his son Cass away?! Where was he?!" Tom ranted.
"Father..." Nick was interrupted.
"He sure as Hell wasn't doing his job!" Tom had a vein starting to pop out of his forehead.
"Father..." Nick rubbed his father's shoulder, "He may not have been in town when those things happened or whatever the case, but that's all been said and done and now, we just move forward."
"You're right, Nick. You're right, but as the head of this family, it is my duty to be protective and ask questions." Tom firmly reminded him.
*In reality*
Nick moved around in his sleep and was mumbling things like: "Father, I'm okay.", "Hyatt.", and "Don't worry, father." repeatedly and loudly enough for Stefania to hear and try to get him awake, believing he was having a nightmare or something.
"Nick?" Stefania whispered, as she tried to gently wake him.
"Hyatt...Hyatt...Hyatt..." Nick was mumbling in his sleep.
"Nick." Stefania shook him.
"Hmmm?" Nick got awake and by the look on his face, one would think that he had gotten lost and needed to find a way home.
"You fell asleep and you were talking and mumbling in your sleep." Stefania put her hand on his shoulder and had a look of concern in her eyes, "You okay?"
"Yeah, I was just...dreaming of my father, again." Nick started to remember a little bit about the dream.
"You miss your father, don't you?" Stefania asked.
"I'd be one helluva liar if I said anything, but yes." Nick looked down and nodded, "His birthday ever since his death has been very hard on my family and me. No matter how long it has been."
"If I may ask, how did he die?" Stefania was curious.
Nick looked her in the eye and did not answer.
*Back at Barkley Ranch; Two hours later*
The sun was still in the process of setting and it still had the same color it did the night Tom was killed, despite a couple of hours having passed by. Victoria was still feeling uneasy and staring out the window. With the fear of tonight being a repeat of her late husband and Jarrod's late wife, she had been praying like mad in her head, hoping God and the guardian angels plus Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers, would protect Nick and Stefania from any trouble. With Tom's birthday coming up, she just couldn't afford to have a double whammy of tragedy, especially at this time since the tragedy of Tom's murder was lingering in her mind.
'Dear God, please, please, protect my son and the lovely young lady he met. Please, protect them. Make sure trouble doesn't come their way. Please.' Victoria silently prayed in her mind, once again.
As she continued to say more and more prayers, she found herself looking at another framed picture of Tom with a determined look on his face.
*Flashback to that time*
It had been three weeks since Jarrod and Eugene were assaulted and a month since Victoria and Audra were held hostage by none other than men working for Patrick Hyatt, a well-known bank robber and troublemaker. Apparently, he had been after the Barkley family for sometime, possibly stemming from jealousy or a feud he and Tom were engaged in. Either or, nothing excused his actions towards Jarrod, Eugene, Victoria, Audra, and now, possibly Nick. Nick had just been found laying a few feet away from Barkley Ranch with an arrow piercing his stomach. Lucky for him, it was just a flesh wound and didn't damage anything major. As of now, while he was in the bedroom, getting stitched up and tended to by Dr. Drysdale, Tom and the rest of the Barkley family were downstairs, waiting in anticipation. While Victoria and Audra were trying to comfort each other & Jarrod and Eugene were trying their best to remain composed, Tom had been ruminating with the whole incident in his head and his eyes got big after he came to a sudden and terrifying realization. Seeing this, Jarrod walked up to his father.
"That damned Pat Hyatt!" Tom whispered to himself.
"Father?" Jarrod walked up to his father, a look of concern on his face.
"Oh, hey, Jarrod." Tom stood up and started to leave.
"Father, where are you going? Aren't you going to stick by for when Dr. Drysdale comes out to tell us about Nick's condition?" Jarrod put his hand up.
"You mean idly stand by like an idiot and let the one responsible get away? No way on God's green earth." Tom shook his head and made his way to the parlor room.
"Father..." Jarrod started to follow Tom, only to feel a hand on his arm.
"Jarrod, where is your father going? Doesn't he want to hear about Nick's condition?" Victoria had a confused look on her face.
"I dunno, mother. I'll find out and hopefully, bring him back here." Jarrod told her, before going off into the parlor room.
*Inside the parlor room*
Tom could be seen opening the gun cabinet, grabbing a gun, and looking around for the ammunition. After searching for a few minutes, he found some ammo and started loading the gun. Jarrod, who just happened to walk in on all of this, got an extremely surprised look on his face when he saw his father loading up a gun.
"Father, you can't be-" Jarrod was interrupted and bug eyed.
"Serious? Oh yes, I am. In fact, Jarrod, I have never been so serious in my life until now!" Tom continued to load the gun.
"Father, this isn't-" Jarrod was interrupted, again.
"The answer? You're starting to sound like your mother and let me just say, Jarrod Thomas Barkley, neither you, your siblings, nor your mother or anybody in this damn town is gonna stop me! Not now!" Tom gritted his teeth.
"Father, you're taking this-" Jarrod was interrupted for a third time.
"Too far? Too far? How dare you say that to me?! How dare you, Jarrod Thomas?!" Tom had a look of anger in his eyes.
"Father, you've been talking over me these past few minutes and quite frankly, yes, you are taking this a trifle too far. I mean we're all angry about what happened to Nick, but there's one thing we don't know." Jarrod affirmed.
"Oh yeah?! What's that?!" Tom growled.
"We don't know who did it and why." Jarrod ran a hand through his hair.
"Yes, we do. Well, I do. I know who it was and they're NOT getting away with it!" Tom finished loading his gun and put on his hat.
"Really? If you know, please do tell." Jarrod sat down on the table.
"Patrick 'Pat' Hyatt and get your butt off the table." Tom started to head towards the front door.
"Now, why would Patrick Hyatt want to hurt Nick? Plus, how do you know if he did it on purpose? For all we know, he may have done it by accident and feels really bad about it." Jarrod was doing his best to be logical and try to get his father to stand down.
"DON'T SAY THAT! PLEASE, DON'T SAY THAT! YOU CLEARLY DO NOT KNOW HOW PAT HYATT OPERATES! WHENEVER HE DOES SOMETHING, IT IS QUITE INTENTIONAL! HE NEVER EVER DOES STUFF BY ACCIDENT!" Tom yelled, "I'M GOING TO GO FIND HIM AND MAKE HIM PAY! NOW, DO YOUR FATHER A FAVOR AND STAND ASIDE."
"Father, I can't let you do this." Jarrod shook his head and stood right in front of his father.
"JARROD THOMAS BARKLEY, STAND ASIDE! DON'T MAKE ME TELL YOU, AGAIN!" Tom yelled, again.
"Father-" Jarrod was interrupted for a fourth time.
"JARROD, GET OUTTA WAY! I DON'T WANT TO SHOOT AND KILL MY OWN SON, BUT I WILL IF I HAVE TO!" Tom continued to yell.
"Tom! Tom! Tom! Shhhh!" Victoria came running in and tried to shush her husband.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'SHHHH', VICTORIA?!" Tom still yelled.
"One, we use indoor voices when we're inside and two, Nick just might be trying to rest and you yelling isn't going to help." Victoria scolded.
"Well, you may be right on those counts, but the only reason I'm yelling is, because our eldest is blocking me from going out!" Tom's voice was back to its normal tone, surprisingly.
"Jarrod, why were you blocking your father?" Victoria turned to Jarrod.
"Because, he was loading up his gun and is going to go shoot and kill Pat Hyatt." Jarrod slightly raised his own voice.
"Shoot and kill Pat Hyatt? Oh, Tom, what's gotten into you? Why are you going to go do such a foolish thing?" Victoria turned to her husband.
"Foolish thing? You call making Pat Hyatt pay hell for attempting to kill Nick a foolish thing? Victoria, what's gotten into you? Don't you love your son?" Tom was apalled by what Victoria had said.
"I love Nick and you & I and everyone else all know that. However, when it comes to what you're about to do, yes, it is foolish. I mean think about it, you go and kill Pat Hyatt, it won't change the fact that Nick is recovering. Plus, you know Nick loves you and wouldn't want you to do this & risk losing everything. Everything you ever built." Victoria was trying to be a voice of reason.
"Losing everything I built is nothing compared to losing or possibly losing my own son." Tom started to get teary eyed, "I'm not going to let Pat Hyatt get away with murder!"
"Tom, think reasonably for-" Victoria was cut off.
"Think reasonably?! You dare say that to your own husband at a time like this?! What happened to our wedding vows?!" Tom glared at his wife.
Before Victoria could say anything, Dr. Drysdale came down the stairs.
"What's the verdict?" Victoria walked up to the doctor.
"Your boy is very lucky to be alive. Very lucky indeed." Dr. Drysdale smiled.
"Yeah, that's all fine, but how is he?!" Tom was clearly in no mood for all of this 'very lucky' business.
"Well, it was a flesh wound. No internal organs were damaged. However, his dressing will need to be changed periodically. Right now, I gave him a sedative in order to rest. That being said, I want him to rest up in bed. No heavy activities or anything like that." Dr. Drysdale told them in a firm tone.
"So, other than that, he's good to go?" Tom folded his arms.
"Yes, sir." Dr. Drysdale nodded before leaving.
Tom nodded before he started to go out to the door that led to the barn, only for a hand to grab his arm.
"Tom, where are you going?" Victoria asked.
"To find Pat Hyatt." Tom had a look of determination on his face.
"Why? You heard Dr. Drysdale. Nick's going to be fine." Victoria looked him in the eyes.
"I heard the doctor. I ain't hard of hearing, Victoria." Tom sounded stern, "However, my plans have not changed whatsoever. While Nick is going to be fine, thanks be to God, I still want to find Pat Hyatt and make him pay hell for what he has done to our family."
"Now, you don't know that he shot Nick." Victoria shook her head.
"Victoria, I know what I know. Plus, have you forgotten that Pat Hyatt's men held you and Audra hostage?! Have you forgotten that his men also assaulted Eugene and Jarrod afterwards?! All while I was away need I say more?!" Tom started to raise his voice, again.
"No, I haven't forgotten. Those were harrowing times, but that doesn't-" Victoria was once again interrupted.
"That doesn't what? That doesn't mean Nick was targeted?! Is that what you're saying, Victoria?! Are you defending this man?!" Tom clenched his fist.
"No, Tom. I'm not defending anything. I'm looking at things from a common sense perspective. I mean there's a chance that you're blowing this whole thing out of proportion." Victoria suggested.
"I'M NOT BLOWING ANYTHING OUT OF PROPORTION, VICTORIA! OUR SON WAS ALMOST KILLED! YOU AND OUR DAUGHTER WERE HELD HOSTAGE FOR LORD KNOWS HOW LONG! OUR OTHER TWO SONS WERE ASSAULTED! ALL BY THE SAME MAN! SURE, HE DIDN'T GET HIS HANDS DIRTY THE FIRST TWO TIMES, BUT HE GOT HIS HANDS DIRTY NOW! WITH BLOOD MIGHT I ADD! NICK'S BLOOD!" Tom started shouting again.
"Thomas Wardell Barkley, keep your voice down! There's no need to shout." Victoria shushed her husband and gestured 'down' with his hands.
"Now, we know where Nick gets his tendency to shout." Eugene chimed in.
Jarrod and Audra quietly snickered at Eugene's comment.
Tom turned to his eldest son, only daughter, and youngest son and gave them what appeared to be a death glare. One could swear there were balls of fire in the Barkley patriarch's eyes.
"Gene, there was no need for that comment." Victoria gently scolded her youngest son.
"I'm sorry, mother." Gene looked down.
"Now, Tom-" Victoria was cut off, yet again.
"Victoria, I've said my peace. I'm going to go hunt Pat Hyatt down and kill him & none of you, not even Nick or Silas can stop me!" Tom went to head for the barn, only to feel Victoria grab his arm.
"Tom, you know that's not the right or ethical thing to do. Pat Hyatt may be what he is, but if you go on ahead and kill him, it won't make you any better than he is. In fact, it'll make you worse." Victoria had a firm grip on her husband's arm.
"Let it make me worse! What the hell do I care anymore?!" Tom pounded his fist on the wall.
"Father, you don't mean that. You-" Audra was cut off.
"Audra, don't tell me what I mean! I know what I mean and I mean it when I say that I don't care whether it makes me worse or not if I kill Pat Hyatt. You ask me, I'm doing the world and society a favor!" Tom snapped at his daughter.
"By what? Lowering yourself to Pat Hyatt's level?" Victoria continued to look him square in the eyes.
"Lowering myself to Pat Hyatt's level? Victoria, I'm much much lower than he is!" Tom had a sinister grin forming on his face.
"No, you're not, Tom. No, you're not. You're an upstanding citizen. You're a God fearing, ethical, compassionate, and logical man. We all know you are. Now, why don't you portray those characteristics instead of this blood lust you have?" Victoria tried her best to reason with her husband in a firm, yet gentle tone.
"Mother has a point. Father, you're better than this. Plus, speaking of ethics, how about letting the law take care of this?" Jarrod stepped in.
"Victoria, all of that went out the door when Pat Hyatt and his men started harassing you, Audra, Jarrod, and Gene & when he shot Nick with an arrow. Jarrod, why? Just why? The law is going to hell! Criminals are running free and getting off easily!" Tom's face was starting to get hot pink, "It's time that we start taking the law into our own hands! It's a free country, ain't it? Plus, Jarrod, you're a lawyer, son, you should be defending me and backing me up!"
"Father, I am indeed a lawyer, but I have ethics. Am I angry about what happened to Nick? I'm mad as all hell, but I'm also thankful that he's okay. I believe we all are and you should be, too. You can be angry and furious all you want to. Any of us can, but there's a fine line between that and vigilante justice. In every case I have dealt with, I have had to talk people out of vigilante justice. I never let that slide with anyone, which includes you, my own father and everybody else here, even myself. Now, you're not going to leave until you hand me your gun and sit back down after agreeing with me that we are going to let the law handle things." Jarrod held out his hand for his father's gun.
"Hand you my gun? Who in the damn hell died and left you in charge of things?" Tom tightened his grip on his gun.
"Now, Tom, Jarrod has a point. We're not going to let you destroy yourself over what's happened." Victoria still gripped her husband's arm.
"Exactly. Now, hand over your gun." Jarrod made the "gimme" motion with his hand.
Tom didn't move a muscle and simply shook his head 'no'.
"Father, I hate to do this, but either you hand me your gun or I'll have to take it from you and you know I don't even want to do that." Jarrod sounded calm, yet firm at the same time.
Tom picked up his arm and pointed it at Jarrod, his finger itching towards the trigger.
"Father." Jarrod's eyes got big.
"Tom!" Victoria had a look of horror in her eyes.
"GET AWAY FROM ME! DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!" Tom cocked his arm.
"Father, please. This isn't-" Audra was cut off, again.
"This isn't what? This isn't like me?! I'd be careful with my words if I were you, Audra." Tom briefly pointed the gun at her, before turning his attention and gun back to Jarrod.
"Tom, what's gotten into you?! You're pointing your gun at your own children and me!" Victoria still had that look of horror in her eyes.
"This is just a warning and to tell you all to back off." Tom deeply sighed and slowly backed himself towards the door that led to the barn while still aiming his gun, "Now, I'm going to go ride into town or wherever, find Pat Hyatt and his men, and take them all down. One by one. If any of you follow me, the first shot will go to your leg."
"Father, going on a murder spree isn't the answer and you & I and everyone else all know it isn't! Now, hand me the damn gun, step aside, and let the law handle things!" Jarrod got closer to his father.
"Why?! So, they can drag their feet and I can become more of a failure than I already am?!" Tom finally spoke the quiet part out loud, well some of it.
"What?" Jarrod and Victoria said in unison, while sporting shocked expressions on their faces.
"That's right! I'm a failure! I admit it! I fully admit it!" Tom's voice started to break.
"Father, you're not a failure. Don't say that." Gene put his hand on his father's shoulder and rubbed it.
"I am a failure! Well, I was, but no more! No...more!" Tom shook his head, as tears started to spring to his eyes.
"Tom, you look you're gonna cry." Victoria got a sad look on her face.
"I am! However, you all should be the ones crying and cursing me!" Tom sniffled.
"Why?" Jarrod asked.
"Because I failed all of you! I'm a horrible person! I mean if I wasn't gone, you and Audra wouldn't have been held hostage, because I would've been here to prevent that! If I wasn't gone, Jarrod and Gene wouldn't have been assaulted, because I would've shot those scumbags dead on the spot! Nobody harms my family and gets away with it, but sadly, they have gotten away with it and like a good boy, I stood on the side & let the law handle it! I STOOD ON THE SIDE & LET THE LAW HANDLE IT AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED! NICK ALMOST DIED...AND-AND-AND-AND-AND IT'S BECAUSE OF ME!" Tom shouted the last part, before bursting into tears, despite trying his hardest not to.
*Back to the present day*
Victoria continued to stare at that picture of Tom, before going back to the window to stare at the sunset. Much to her dismay and horror, the sun had finally set which in turn brought on more and more fears while the memory of the time Nick was shot with the arrow was playing in her head, which didn't help.
'You didn't fail any of us, Tom. You didn't fail any of us.' Victoria thought to herself.
Pretty soon, she snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the front door open and close.
"Mother?" a familiar voice called out.
"Nick?" Victoria spoke out, hoping it was her second eldest son.
"Audra? Heath? Nick?" the voice called out, again.
Victoria left the window and went into the main foyer where she was greeted by Jarrod who hugged her after setting his brief case down.
"Oh, Jarrod. It's so good to see you! I'm so glad you're home and just in time!" Victoria hugged and kissed her son all over his face.
"Hey, I wouldn't miss father's birthday for anything. Plus, I was due home anyways. San Francisco is boring." Jarrod chuckled.
"Hiya, Jarrod." Audra walked in and greeted her eldest brother.
"Hi, big brother." Heath came in after Audra.
"It feels good to be back home, but it seems as though we're missing a Barkley." Jarrod hugged his brother and sister, before looking around.
"Oh, Nick's been out all day." Audra told him.
"Nick!" Victoria ran over to the front door, opened it, and looked outside, before closing it and feeling her heart start to beat a little faster than usual.
"Mother, is everything okay?" Jarrod was concerned, as he had never seen his mother like this before. Naturally, she was a worry wart like her late husband was, but not to this degree.
"Jarrod, did you see Nick on your way back here? Did you see that sunset?!" Victoria's voice was filled with fear.
"No, I just returned from San Francisco and to answer your second question, I didn't pay attention to the sunset. Now, before anybody says another word, would anyone please fill me in on what I missed?" Jarrod was completely thrown off by everything. Why wouldn't he be? The man just walked through the front door a few seconds ago and already he was expected to know where Nick was, whether or not he saw the sunset, and just everything.
"I'm sorry, Jarrod. You just got home and here I am worrying my head off and expecting way too much." Victoria sighed.
"It's alright, mother but that still isn't filling me in." Jarrod reassured her.
"Nick fell in love with a girl." Audra said in a matter of fact way.
"Nick fell in love? After swearing up and down left and right that he was done with women and romance? That's a little surprising. Good, but surprising considering that it is Nick we're talking about." Jarrod raised an eyebrow.
"Well, Nick met a girl named Stefania and even though he won't admit to it, he has feelings for her. Now, whether that is true or not, we're happy for him and so is mother, but Nick has been gone all day and mother saw the sunset which sported the same color it did the night father was killed and she's been worried that it is going to be a repeat of father and your late wife Beth." Heath took a breath after saying all of that.
"Oh, I think we all know Nick when it comes to a pretty face. He falls head over heels for the girl then he gets his heart broken." Jarrod took his hat off, "Now, regarding mother's fears, it is quite understandable considering what has happened and the tragedies we experienced. I mean every time she sees a sunset, it sets off that memory of father being murdered and us being informed of it. Just like every time I see yellow flowers, all I can remember is Beth leaning down to pick them up, only to be shot in the back. It's natural for certain things to bring a bad or good memory back to us. That being said, mother, I'm sure Nick is fine and I'm sure Stefania is fine, too. After all, this is Nick we're all talking about and he'd go down kicking and screaming. I believe we all know that."
"You're right, Jarrod. You're right, but when you become a parent, no matter how old your child is, you'll always worry about them. I worry about you, Audra, Gene, Heath, and Nick. It's the maternal instinct in me. Obviously, it's a little different than how your father used to worry, but we can delve into that some other time. However, as of now, how about you get to the table and eat something. You must be starved." Victoria's fears started to dissipate little by little.
"Actually, I had a little something in San Francisco, but I cannot pass up the stew Silas makes. Did he make it tonight?" Jarrod rubbed his stomach.
"He sure did." Victoria nodded.
*Back with Nick and Stefania*
It was nightfall. Nick and Stefania were staring up at the starry night sky, waiting to see if there would be a shooting star, so they could make a wish. However, no shooting stars have arrived just yet. Plus, with her question remaining unanswered regarding Tom's death, Stefania had been waiting and waiting for Nick to finally and eventually answer, but seeing as that was not happening, she decided to try again and ask. Who could blame her? He had been candid about everything else in his life and so has she, so why would Tom's death be something he felt he needed to hide? Plus, as part of a growing relationship, both parties are supposed to be honest and candid with each other. Maybe not right away on everything, but on some things such as: first love or loves, past relationships, upbringings, relatives, interests, etc.
"Nick..." Stefania spoke up after a while.
"Hmmm?" Nick turned to her.
"You still haven't answered my question." Stefania looked him in the eyes.
"And what question is that?" Nick moved in for another kiss.
"The question about your father. How did he die?" Stefania slightly pulled back.
"Isn't that a little personal, Stefania?" Nick nervously chuckled, while trying hard not to look uncomfortable.
"Nick, I told you about my first love Pasquale and I never tell anyone about it. Nobody. Not even a close friend. Plus, since we are in a slow building secret relationship, it is only right that we are honest, because aren't relationships about honesty?" Stefania folded her arms.
"Well yeah, but-" Nick was cut off.
"You told me about your father's twice infidelity and how your brother Heath came about with no problem, so why can't you tell me about how your papa died? You see in Italy and in the Italian culture, we value our family ranging from parents to grandparents to ancestors before them and those ancestors." Stefania had a firm tone to her voice.
"I know and I told you that the Barkley family is just the same. We cherish our family members, ancestors, what have you." Nick said.
"Well?" Stefania asked.
"Well, what?" Nick gave her a funny look.
"How come you can't tell me about how your father died?" Stefania asked the question for a third time.
"Can't you tell me a little more about you?" Nick tried to dodge the question.
"Nick." Stefania gave him a look.
To Be Continued...
HAPPY NEW YEAR/2024 EVERYBODY!
I WISH EVERY ONE OF YOU OUT THERE A HAPPY, HEALTHY, BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL, AND BLESSED 2024.
Nick: Stefania, I just can't talk about it.
Jarrod: Talk about what?
Nick: Jarrod? Are you eavesdropping?
Jarrod: Wait until the next chapter or whatever at this point.
Eugene: What in the Sam Hill?
Nick: R&R, people!