An Educated Man

(Silas' POV)

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.

Many a people thinks I'm uneducated, but I's not, I's was taught in life and hardship was my teacher. My mama, she taught me to read and write, my papa taught me to fight for my freedom. They both taught me to be proud of who I was and were I come from. I traveled a long hard road to get here, but the Lord blessed me for my faith. He gave me a family to take care of.

The Barkley's, they's special, never do they treat me like a lesser person, they's make me feel wanted and loved. I thinks they would fight for me as much as they'd fight fo' each other. That makes me real proud. I'd do anything in the world for these folks. The first week I's here, I was nervous about working for them, not sure what would happened, but Mr. Tom, he seat me straight real quick. He told me "You work for me, Silas, I don't own you. You're as much my friend as any man in this Valley. If you need anything, you just ask." That made me feel something deep inside. I's was a man working and being paid, not a slave to be bought and sold. It saddened me that my mama and papa had to feel the painful bite of slavery, but they longed for my freedom and they made it happen.

Hidin' me on that train car was the hardest thing my mama and papa'd ever done, but it brought me to California and a few years later, to my new family and true freedom. I's sure they were punished ... but they knew that would happen, I's remember talkin' to them and askin' them nots ta send me away because they'd be hurt. My papa said, "Son, we be hurt more if you stayed." I's didn't understand much of what he was telling me until I's became older, he meant that it would pain them to see me live as a slave. They wanted me to be free.

Mr. Tom, he found me in San Francisco, I was cookin' for a family friend o' his. Well, let me tell you, Mr. Tom loves fried chicken, so's the Judge, he asked me to make it fo' dinner that evening. I was young, but I's knew how ta cook, I watched my mama many a night preparin' food, so's I cooked up a batch o' fried chicken and that Mr. Tom, he was all smiles when he finished. Told the Judge outright he's gonna steal me away from him. The Judge said to me, "Mr. Barkley is a good man, Silas, if you want to go work for him and his wife, you're more than welcome to. That's your decision." I was mighty impressed with Mr. Tom, we was a kind man and he told me he'd pay me fifteen dollars a month. I'd never been paid that much money befo', the Judge, he just smiled and nodded his head. So I's left with Mr. Tom.

Funny thing is, it felt like the Lord was leadin' me ta go with 'em. He brung me to the stables, bought an extra horse and saddle so's I could ride and he lead the way to my new life. He talked ta me the whole way there, told me 'bout Mrs. Barkley and how she's expecting their first child. She need help cause the little one was due any day. Ol' Silas was full of joy at the thought of takin' care of a youngun, well it made my heart burst.

When Mr. Tom brung me to his ranch, it was the prettiest thing I'd seen. Oh it was smaller than it is today, the house was differnt', they was building on the big house and it wasn't quite finished. I's watched as, everyday, the house got bigger and grander. Mrs. Barkley, she had a precious little boy, little Jarrod. Brown hair and blue eyes. Mrs. Barkley would let me tend ta little Jarrod sometimes, and I's felt like he was my family. When Jarrod turned one, we's all moved into the big house. Mr. Tom, he had a special room build fo' me. A big bedroom with it's own water closet. Never had a room all for me befo'. The Judge, he let me stay in the servant's quarters, but, Mr. Tom, he built a room that was just for me. He called it 'Silas' room'. Never a servant, never a slave, I was an employee and I's had my own room. I's think it was Mrs. Barkley what told me I's wasn't a servant, I was the 'houseman' but she liked to call me friend. I liked that, gave me a title and a purpose.

And let me tell 'bout little Jarrod. He was somethin'. Ask question all day long, once he learned to talk. He asked once why my skin was a different color. I's told him that God made me this way and he said, "I like it, Silas. You's special." Brought tears to these eyes. He was four year's old when he asked that. Mrs. Barkley, she was expectin' another child at that time, so's little Jarrod, he spent a lot a time with ol' Silas. He loved to help me bake cookies, then we'd sit right down and eat everyone of them with a glass o' milk. He wouldn't let me not have some, he said, "Silas' you need another cookie." and he'd pile a few on my plate. He was a joy.

When Mrs. Barkley had her new baby, the whole house was full of excitement. Little Jarrod couldn't keep his hands off little Nick. It was a site to behold. Never seen so much love from one youngun to another. Jarrod loved that little boy from the first day he laid eyes on him. And so did I. Little Nick, now he was a bit different. He would cry and you could hears it through the whole house. He held alot a wind for a little fellow. I's remember when he was about three or four, he decided he'd make his mama breakfast cause she was expectin' again. He gots up, went downstairs and dragged a chair to the table in the kitchen. Made the biggest mess I ever did see, but I's helped him finish and together, we made the best breakfast his mama and papa ever had. Pancakes the size of dinner plates, biscuits that'd travel the hardest dust trail and come back in one piece, but to the Barkley's, it was the best they'd ever had. Little Nick, he always tried to do good, he has a heart as big as all of California.

When little Charles was born, Mr. Tom was walkin' on air. He had three sons to carry on the name, buts then the unthinkable happened. Little Charles, he got's real sick, had the fever. Little Jarrod and little Nick, they's got's worried, Nick wanted that little brother so bad, he'd tell me, "I get to be a big brother, just like Jarrod." When little Charles went to be with his Lord, the house was full of heartbreak. Little Jarrod cried most every night, and little Nick, he couldn't be consoled. Mr. Tom, you'd thought his world done come down around him. He would hold his two son's and tell them how much he loved them. Broke my heart.

Mrs. Barkley, well she got's real sad, sometimes she'd stay in her room holding the baby blanket she'd made for little Charles. Death is a cruel thing and it laid a shadow over the house. Those were bad times sure enough. Mr. Tom, he had to go off and take care of business, so he left for a few months. Mrs. Barkley worried me somethin' awful, she was so despairin'. She spent time with the children, but she very seldom would smile. They knew, for one's so young they'd understood because they felt's it too. Then one day, little Jarrod and little Nick was playin' out back whilst Mrs. Barkley was settin' in her rose garden. Little Nick had climbed a tree and he fell. Broke his arm. I think that was the day what brought Mrs. Barkley out of her sadness. She held little Nick and cried while Mr. Duke wents to fetch the Doctor.

Mr. Tom came back two months later. He was right troubled. I remember they'd been talkin' and Mrs. Barkley would come out cryin'. Something mighty bad happened. They was on bad terms for a bit, but I's think that, what ever happened, Mrs. Barkley forgive Mr. Tom.

These fine folks lost two more children before Miss Audra was born. Miss Audra, she was a true blessin'. Bright blue eyes and a head full of blond hair. An angel sent from heaven. Little Jarrod and little Nick, they doted on her as if she were made of fine china. They spoiled that little girl more that their parents did. Little Nick, he'd be eight by now, well he'd read to the baby and tell stories he'd make up hisself. That little girl, she loved her brothers. When she started walkin', she'd follow them boys from one end of the house to the other. Nick use to growl cause little Audra started callin' him 'Bobo'. She's could say 'big brother' yet. Nick'd say it sounded like a dogs name and little Audra would giggle. Jarrod thought it was right funny cause little Nick started calling him 'Pappy' around that time and they both called little Audra 'Sunshine' and later 'Sweetlady'.

Everything was right smooth after that, Mr. Tom and Mrs. Barkley, they had another blessing. Little Audra was two and Mrs. Barkley had another little boy. All smiles, that's what he was. Pleasant and kind, even as a babe. Made me laugh when little Eugene said his first words. Now most baby, they says 'mama' or 'papa'. Not little Eugene, he said 'doggin'. That was his word for dog. I's new from then on, this boy had a love for animals. He's gonna make a fine doctor, fer sure.

The Barkley's, they lived a wonderful life, full o' love. The children grew up not needin' a thing. They's had a lovin' family and Mr. Tom, he held them babe in his heart where ever he went. Mr Jarrod, he growed up and wanted to be a lawyer, and he's right good at it too. Mr. Nick, he wanted to be a rancher, just likes his papa. The men all respects him. Miss Audra, well she's the pretty thing this side of the Mississippi River, beautiful inside an out. Mr. Gene, he's gonna start to that fancy school to be a animal doctor. He got's the heart and the head for learnin'. We's lost Mr. Tom a few years back, shot down by the railroad. That was powerful painful, the whole valley wept. I kept my tears silent, but they's were plentiful. My heart hurt with loss. The family, they was strong, but a piece of them was broken. No child should lose their papa, no matter what age they is. I's felt like my best friend had died. He's with the Lord and his three youngun' who went befo' him, and I's know he's watching this family.

The family, they pulled together. They's a sight to behold. One day, a few months back, a stranger came sayin' he's Mr. Tom's son. Well, the family wasn't real sure 'bout this youngun', but I saw it. He had Mr. Tom's eyes. After some fightin', the family invited him to stay. He risked his life to help with the railroad. He's a blessing, I's think. I just wish Mr. Tom was here to see's him. He's strong, loyal and full of the want for's a family. It took some time, but he's blended right in. He's the missing part of this here family, and I thank the Lord that he showed him the way home. Mr. Heath, he's soft spoken and kind, but ornery as a bear if'n you get him riled. Mr. Nick's, he's meet his match with this one. He started calling Mrs. Barkley 'Mother' and her joy was as bright as the mornin' sun.

So's this here family, they ain't perfect, but theys my family and I's love them dearly. I'll see Mr. Tom again one day and we'll sit and talks about old times and 'bout his wonderful family. I'll tell's him how proud I's was to be included. I love's this family. So see, I's is an educated man, I was smart enough ta find a family and a home. I learned lessons along the way. I's experienced hardships and joy, love and loss. All this ol' man needs to feel complete.

I's got a home.

THE END