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.
"I didn't
know." Tom said sadly as he watched the events unfold.
"I know."
Came the short, comforting reply.
Fight after fight,
argument after argument, harsh words thrown meant to sting and injure. Tom
closed his eyes, the cruelty of the life of his son, his son by another woman,
flashed slowly and deliberately before his eyes. "Why?"
"You
know."
Tom thought, but
only briefly, "I would have wanted him with me. I would have raised him as
a father should." Turning and looking into the soft eyes, "I would
have loved him."
"Yes, you would
have."
"My son."
The care and pride of those two words encircled both as they quietly spied the
two cowboys, one dark haired, one light.
"He's so much
like you."
"He has my
eyes." Tom smiled, "My smile."
"Your courage,
your heart ..... your sense of right and wrong."
The smile slide
quietly from Tom's face, "Right and wrong? I never looked back, I didn't
know ..... I should have checked ..... I WAS wrong. He suffered because of
me."
"It made him
stronger."
"It made him
bitter." Tom redirected. "It made him hate me."
"No, no
bitterness ..... no hate.
Tom shook his head,
"No love."
"Always love,
Tom ..... always."
Tom felt compelled
to reach out ..... to touch his two sons, "Nick is angry ..... he doesn't
understand."
"No, but he
will. He's very bright ..... just like his father."
"He's
afraid." Tom whispered. "He's afraid to love him as a brother."
"Possibly."
Tom raised an
eyebrow.
"He handles his
emotions differently, this is not hate or loath you're seeing.
"What is
it?"
"Confusion
..... conflicting feelings ..... heart over mind ..... call it what you
will."
"He believes
him?"
"Yes."
"But he still
fights." Tom spoke.
"He is not the
only one fighting."
Tom watched, he had
been watching from the first day of his newest son's arrival to his beloved
ranch. What passed as minutes to Tom, were days, weeks, months in the life of
his family.
"It's getting
better, they're getting along." Tom grinned once the newest fight was
resolved.
"They fight
less and less ..... a good sign."
"He has my
boots. I loved those boots." Tom chuckled.
"So does he, as
much as he loves you."
"No."
"Yes, he is
understanding ..... he loves you because you gave him brothers and a sister
..... you gave him a family, Tom."
"He had to look
for them, I didn't give them to him." Tom frowned.
"You did .....
you also gave him a wonderful ..... caring woman that he can call mother .....
she is very special."
"Sometimes I
wish I could go back and un-do all the wrongs I've done ..... but that would
mean that he wouldn't be here ..... Nick wouldn't have the little brother he
wished for to help him with the ranch."
"That's right,
everything happens for a reason, Tom. The future could have been quite
different if Heath was not part of this world."
Tom nodded but
didn't answer.
"Do you
understand, now?"
"Yes."
Turning to the woman standing at his side he continued, "You raised a
wonderful boy, Leah."
"Thank
you." She smiled. "You raised a wonderful family for our boy."
Smiling to one
another, the two turned and, in the dim light of evening, walked slowly, ever
fading into the surrounding, peaceful in the knowledge that all was well and
good with those they love.
THE END