Can I Have A Puppy Instead?

by Arkangel

Disclaimer: The characters and situations of the TV program "Big Valley" are the creations of Four Star/Republic Pictures and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended by the author. The ideas expressed in this story are copyrighted to the author.

Victoria and Tom sat quietly in the parlor, the soft glow of the fire casting shadows in the otherwise darkened room. "Tom dear, I think it's time we tell the children that we're having another child." Victoria said tenderly.

Tom smiled, pulling his right arm from between them, he draped it across Victoria's shoulder, "I think you're right. Jarrod's had this conversation before, but Nicholas," Tom laughed, "do you know how you're going to tell him?"

"WE are going to tell him just as we told Jarrod before Nicholas was born." Victoria said giving Tom a gentle punch in the side.

"Okay ..... okay ..... no need to get rough." Tom stated with a chuckle, "How about we tell them tomorrow evening?"

"Oh Tom, I'm so excited, Nicholas is going to have the playmate he always wanted ..... I just know it's going to be a little boy, I can feel it." She smiled rubbing her growing stomach.

Giving his dear wife a gentle kiss on the temple, he pulled her close to rest her on his shoulder, "A house full of children, no man could be prouder than I am." He beamed. I want ten more."

Eyes big, Victoria raised her head and looked to Tom, mock surprise on her face, "Ten, Tom I'm not sure I can do ten more, how about four or five?"

"Eight?"

"Four."

"Seven?"

"Four."

Thinking, Tom smiled, "Five, one set of twins."

"Tom!"

"Joking ..... I'm joking ..... what ever God decides us to have will be fine with me." Raising up from the couch, he turns and helps Victoria to rise, "I think it's time for expecting mother's to go to bed."

"I am rather tired." Victoria said with a yawn.

Tom offers his arm, "May I escort you to our bedroom, pretty lady?"

"I would be honored, kind sir." She giggled.

Together, they made their way up the stairs and, with a quiet closing of the door, the day was ended.

The next evening proved to be quit a trial, after dinner, Tom asked for a family meeting to be held in the parlor. Nicholas, still energetic from the days activities, played with the wooden horse and buggy Duke lovingly carved for him on his fifth birthday. "Nicholas, please sit down." Tom scolded lightly.

"Papa, the horse is hungry, can't I take him to the stables before we have our meetin'?"

"Why don't you unhitch him and let him graze in the pasture." Tom said pointing to the rug. "We won't be long."

"Yes sir." Nicholas said doing as his father instructed.

Plopping himself up next to Jarrod on the couch, they waited for the meeting to begin.

"Father, are we in trouble?" Jarrod asked looking down at his fidgety little brother.

"I didn't do nothing." Nicholas piped in. "Jarrod did it."

"Did not."

"Did to."

"Boys ..... " Brow furrowed, Tom asked, "What did you do?"

Jarrod and Nicholas looked atone another, slight fear in their big eyes, "Nothing?" They said together.

Giving his head a shake, Tom cleared his throat, "You're mother and I have some wonderful news."

Jarrod, remembering how the conversation started when his parents told him that he was going to have a little brother or sister, put his hand to his face, "Uh oh."

"What?" Nicholas asked.

Tom grinned and looked to Victoria to take up where he had left off.

Blushing slightly, Victoria began, "We'll boys, we are going to have a new addition to the family." She smiled.

Jarrod smiled, nodding his head, he understood perfectly what was being said, "I knew it." He laughed.

"What!!" Nicholas asked again. "Are we getting a puppy? Jason got a puppy last week, it sure was cute, are that what we're gettin'?"

"No, dear, it's not a puppy." Victoria's smile grew wider.

"A kitten?"

"No dear."

"A pony?"

"No ..... "

"A calf?"

"Nicholas, if you would stop, we will tell you." Victoria laughed.

"Yes ma'am." Nicholas answered.

"Now, what your father and I are trying to say is that ..... " Victoria looked to Tom for support, seeing him nod his head she continued, "We are going to have a baby."

"A baby what?" Nicholas asked sincerely.

"What do you mean 'a baby what'?" Jarrod said hitting his little brother on the arm, "A baby ..... uh baby."

Nicholas thought for a moment, "You're gettin' a new baby?"

"We are having a baby, dear, yes." Victoria said motioning for Nicholas and Jarrod to come to the chair she was sitting in. Nicholas climbed up on Victoria's lap and Jarrod stood next to the chair, his hand lightly resting on his mother's shoulder. "It's that exciting?" She asked.

"Your mother and I are very proud." Tom grinned.

Jarrod leaned in and gave his mother a kiss on the cheek, "I'm happy, Mother." He whispered.

"Thank you, dear." Victoria said giving her oldest a quick hug.

"When are you gonna get this baby?"

"In about five months." Victoria answered.

"Why so long?"

"It takes time." Tom answered, fearing that the conversation was taking a turn neither of them wanted to travel.

"Where's it coming from?"

"Uh ..... " Tom started.

"Well ..... " Victoria tried.

"Is it takin' the train?" Nicholas continued.

"No, it's ..... "

"Martin said their new baby was brunged by a storked. Is a storked bringing us a baby too?"

Victoria looked up and caught Tom's expression, one of confusion and fear. Jarrod asked questions when told of Nicholas' impending arrival, but his were simple and to the point. They answered each with a vague retort and Jarrod was satisfied. Nicholas, on the other hand wanted details. Details they didn't want to give to one so young but on the other hand, they didn't want to lie to him, either.

Nicholas didn't notice the look passed between his parents and continued on, "Are you gonna get fat, mama? Bessie the cow got fat when she got a new baby." Nicholas patted his Mother's tummy, "You already got a little fat, is that what happens when a baby comes?"

Victoria's blushed deepened, hearing Tom chuckle, she tried to answer, "Well, Nicholas, yes I am getting ..... fat ..... " The word stuck for a moment, "But it's only for a few more months."

"Then you'll be skinny?"

"Yes, then I'll be skinny."

"And we'll have a new baby ..... uh ..... baby?" Nicholas asked. Thinking, he went on, "So ..... how come YOU get fat when WE get a new baby? How come Papa doesn't get fat?"

Tom had chosen, at that moment, to take a drink of coffee. Hearing the question, he sputtered and choked, "That's a ..... ah ..... good question, son." Turning, he looked to Victoria, "Vic ..... you want to take that one?"

Narrowing her eyes, she thought. Having prided herself with thinking quick on her feet, she grinned and answered with the age old, "You're too young to know, dear. Let's wait till your older."

Jarrod smiled proudly, "Yeah, squirt, when your older, like me, then you get to know all the adult stuff."

"You don't know neither!" Nicholas defended.

"Yep, Billy and Michael told me, and they heard it from Frank and Jessup." Jarrod stated matter of factly.

"And just what do you know, young man?" Tom asked.

Jarrod's face flushed, "I don't want ta say, Father, there's a lady present."

"Oh dear." Victoria said, fearing the information given to her son, "Tom, perhaps you should have a talk with Jarrod, I can only imagine what he's been told."

"I will, once we're done here." Tom answered. Turning to Nicholas, he asked, "Nicholas, do you have anymore questions?"

"Well, since you ain't gonna tell me, and I'm to young ta know ..... I only have one more question."

"What's that, son." Tom asked hoping that it would be an innocent, easy to answer question.

"Can I have a puppy instead?"

THE END