Legend of the Jewelflower

by baddkid

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.

Jarrod Barkley made one last futile attempt to move and only broke off when the pain from his trapped leg became absolutely unbearable. He leaned back against the shifting bank of earth and shook the sweat from his eyes. It was bitterly cold, but the effort to free himself had made him sweat profusely. He felt lonely and afraid and another emotion coursed strongly through him too. Bitter fury, all self directed made him so angry that he trembled and could barely breathe. Stupid, he thought, of all the stupid, stupid things to do! All his life he had criticized his hot-headed brother Nick for his impulsive actions, now I've been a bigger fool than either of my stubborn brothers Nick or Heath could ever be!

He drew his coat closer, although it didn't do much to keep the bitter chill away. Early spring was already painting the valley in variegated shades of green. Here, near the mountains, it still felt like winter. Jarrod decided he would rest a bit, then try again to free himself.

The daylight was fading from the sky, and he pictured everyone at home. It was that time of day when they all gathered for pre-dinner drink and family conversation. Nick and Heath would have some amusing story from their day at work. If Mother had been to town, she would have some interesting bit of gossip to share. Audra had spent the day at the orphanage, and would regale them with the children's latest antics.

Audra. If he were Audra, instead of Jarrod, he could cry right now. It would be acceptable for her to weep and wallow in fear. But he was a man. Men took charge. Men dealt with their fears, and their pain. Men made decisions, then carried them out. Unfortunately, it was a foolhardy decision regarding Abbi that had gotten him into this mess.

Jarrod thought back to the first time he ever laid eyes on the lovely Abbigail. He was working in his office in San Francisco, and his clerk stepped in to tell him his two o'clock appointment had arrived. Jarrod wondered why his clerk look so amused, until the door opened, and he saw her. Abbigail Marie Alexander, the woman he knew he would marry.

She was flanked by two matrons that Jarrod would later refer to as the watch aunts. Abbi had grown up in their home, after her parents had been killed in an accident. Her father, a shrewd businessman, had left the young Abbi well provided for. The purpose for this visit was to secure a new legal retainer, as the old family lawyer was retiring, and the aunts wished to guarantee continuity in the handling of Abbi's fortune.

As Jarrod showed the three ladies to seats, and instructed his clerk to bring tea, he found he couldn't take his eyes off young Miss Alexander. She was tall, for a woman, slender and graceful. Her long, chocolate brown hair hung down her back, almost to her waist. And her eyes! Jarrod felt he could drown in them, big dark brown eyes that looked back at him clearly and honestly. This was not a woman who kept secrets, or played games. This woman was real, and honest, and Jarrod found it hard to concentrate on the business at hand.

With great effort, he made notes of the detail of Abbi's investments and holdings, promising to make an appointment with her old attorney to tie up any loose ends. This visit was a formality, really, the aunts having already decided that young Jarrod Barkley, with his stellar reputation and even more stellar family ties, was the one they wanted to handle their dear nieces affairs.

In the weeks that followed, Jarrod made numerous visits to their home, to discuss investments, clarify details, and just generally make certain that he missed no opportunity to do his best at handling Abbi's estate. The aunts weren't fooled; Jarrod was quite capable of handling the business affairs without their help. Of course, when he came, their would be coffee and cake. One lovely spring afternoon was just perfect for a stroll around the neighborhood, where Abbi could point out lovely old homes of great interest. In the early summer, Jarrod came around with four tickets to an opera that the ladies had been gushing over for weeks. Later that summer, Jarrod invited them to Stockton, to visit his home for the annual rodeo. As the summer evenings took on a chill, Jarrod and Abbi had professed their love to one another. After Thanksgiving dinner, shared by both families at the Barkley ranch, Jarrod took Abbi for a walk and proposed to her in the chilly light of the full moon. At Christmastime, the ladies worked out the details of the wedding, which would be held in Stockton, as Abbi's only family was her aunts.

One late night, just after New Years, Victoria found Jarrod in the deserted front room, staring into the fire.

"Can't sleep?" she asked.

"No, Mother, too many thoughts running around in my head."

"Would you like some company?"

Jarrod gestured toward the sofa. She took her place silently, watching her son stare into the fire, his brow furrowed in deep thought.

"Problems?" she asked.

"No, not really. Only the ones I create for myself."

"Does this have anything to do with Abbi?"

"Unfortunately, it does." at his mother's worried look, Jarrod hastened to reassure her. "No, Mother, it's not like that. We're still getting married, that's not the problem. God, I love her so much I can't imagine life without her."

"Tell me, Jarrod, what do you love about her. What makes her so attractive to you."

Jarrod smiled at his mother's suddenly animated face. She so loved sharing her children's secrets.

"It's everything, Mother. I love the way she walks, the way she wears her hair. I love the way her face lights up when she sees me. I love her scent. Sometimes, I think I can smell her perfume when she's nowhere near me."

"Oh, Jarrod, that's love, real love. When you feel so full of the presence of the other person. So, tell me, what's troubling you?"

"It's probably silly of me to worry about it. It's just, I want to give Abbi something special, as a gift for our wedding. Something that no one else has ever given her, or will ever give her. Something that shows just how much I love her, and how far I'll go to prove my love to her."

"And?"

"And my head is so full of grand ideas, I can't decide on the important one--what to give her."

"Why do you feel the need for some grand gift?" Victoria wondered.

"Oh, the gift itself doesn't have to be wonderful, just the intention behind it." Jarrod smiled at her suddenly, a little-boy smile, full of pure happiness. "And, as usual, talking with you has made me feel better. Even if I haven't come to a decision."

"I'll miss that, Jarrod."

"What's that?"

"The right to be the one to make you feel better. After your marriage, that privilege will go to your wife."

Jarrod rose from the chair, crossed the room, and gently pulled his mother up to stand before him.

"You will always be the first lady in my life. Abbi knows that. She also knows that won't take anything away from what we'll have together."

"If you are half as good a husband, as you've been my son, then Abbi is getting a real prize."

"And it's no less than what she deserves, Mother. I'd give her the moon and the stars, if I could."

A month passed, and Jarrod was no closer to a decision than he had been after the new year. It was frustrating to him, to think of ideas, then discard them. No possibility was ever perfect enough. He didn't understand this driving need to find the perfect gift. He only understood he would not rest until he had accomplished his mission.

It came to him one cold Sunday afternoon, as he was looking through his father's papers for information on an old land deal. As he removed an old file from the desk, a paper fell out. Picking it up, Jarrod realized it was a letter his father had started to write and never finished, a letter to his brother. Jarrod's gaze grew misty for a moment, tracing the letters of his father's strong hand. He read the letter, slowly at first, then more excitedly, as he realized his father had given him the answer to his dilemma.

"I have decided on the perfect gift for Victoria. Of course, you remember the legend of the jewelflower, that mystical little plant whose very existence many question. According to the legend, if a man presents his bride with a jewelflower blossom on their wedding day, their union will be long and blessed. Well, I just pray that little flower is not just a figment of people's wild imaginations, for I intend to find one for my beautiful beloved."

Beautiful beloved. Jarrod felt that way about Abbi. He knew his father had felt that way about his mother, right up until the day he died. Jarrod wondered if he had found that elusive little flower.

When Jarrod mentioned the subject at dinner that night, it seemed as though he had just suggested a trip to China.

"Are you out of your mind, Jarrod?" Nick asked loudly.

"No, brother Nick, I'm not. I intend to find a jewelflower, and give it to Abbi on our wedding day."

"But it's just a myth, Jarrod, a legend. Everyone knows that."

"But I don't believe it's just a myth, and I intend to prove everyone wrong."

"Jarrod, you know the last place that flower was supposed to have been seen was in the foothills, east of the valley?" Heath asked his brother quietly.

"I do."

"And you do realize those foothills have been overrun with men looking for gold for the last thirty years?"

"I do."

"And you do realize it will still be winter up there when you're traipsing around, falling into holes, looking for something that doesn't exist?" Nick joined in.

"I do." Jarrod calmly buttered his bread, as though he hadn't a care in the world.

"Jarrod, you're getting married on May the first. That little flower, if it does exist, has such a short growing season, you'll have to go there right before your wedding to find it, and be back on time." Victoria tried reasoning with him.

"I know all this, and I'm still determined to try. Now, if you'll all stop worrying, let's finish our dinner, shall we?" Jarrod turned on his most charming smile, which, unfortunately, was quite lost on his family this evening.

Nick and Heath looked at each other for a long moment, then sighed as one.

"Alright, Jarrod, if you're so determined, we'll go with you." Nick told him.

"Can't. The groom has to find the flower by himself, the legend says so."

"Hang the legend!" Nick shouted at him.

But, for all their pleading, reasoning, threats, and outright anger over the next few weeks, Jarrod remained determined to go off by himself and find the jewelflower. It wasn't so much the beauty of the flower; it was a short stemmed plant with maroon flowers and a short growing season. It was what the legend represented.

Of course, when Jarrod was alone, he had to admit to himself there was another reason he was so determined to make this trip. Knowing Abbi had opened up a door in his heart. She had shown him how to love deeply, feel things freely. For the first time in his adult life, Jarrod had the opportunity to do something that made absolutely no sense. For once, he could act like his brothers, and do something just because he wanted to.

It wasn't hard to get away, as April wound down and his wedding day drew nearer. It was spring, and the boys were busy with the ranch. The wedding was less than a week away, and the women were busy with last minute details. Jarrod merely packed some gear, saddled his horse, and rode away one morning.

And that was how he came to be here, stuck in this gully, covered in wet leaves, his leg trapped beneath a pile of dirt and rock. And no one knew where he was.

Jarrod looked up at the fat full moon. He knew the night was almost gone, he had missed its passing in his remembrances of the events of the past year. With a sinking heart, he realized that the sun would soon rise on that day that was the day before his wedding. He would have to find a way out of here, and make his way home. But how, he wondered. He was stuck, dirty, hungry, hurting, and quite angry with himself.

He was no closer to freeing himself when the sun filled the little gully with bright light. He wondered if his father was watching, and if he think badly of his son for crying, for that was the only thing Jarrod could think of that seemed like a good idea. When he heard the rustling sounds, the sounds of twigs snappin, he froze. Who knew what wild animals were out here?

"Jarrod!"

Then he really did feel like crying. The wild animal that belonged to that voice was none other than his brother, Nick.

"Down here!" he called back.

It wasn't long before Nick's face appeared above him.

"Now, if you don't look silly, sitting there in the mud."

"Nick, you can say anything you want. Just get me out of here."

Nick let himself down into the gully.

"Well, we came to take you home. You ready?"

"We? Is Heath here, too?"

"Wouldn't miss this for the world, brother Jarrod. This is a story I can tell your grandchildren."

"I don't care what you tell them. How did you find me?"

"You weren't that hard to track, Jarrod. Come on! You weren't exactly trying to hide from anyone." Nick broke off his tirade, and knelt down on the cold ground beside his brother. "Are you really okay?" he asked softly.

"I'm fine, Nick. I'm just stuck. I don't think anything is broken"

"Then let's get moving. We have just enough time to get you out of here, back home, cleaned up and rested, in time for dinner. Then it's early to bed, because tomorrow you're getting married."

It didn't take long for Nick and Heath to move the mound that held Jarrod pinned to the ground. They helped him to stand, slowly, working the circulation back into his stiffened legs. It took the combined effort of both men to help him out of the gully, and onto level ground.

"Do you think you can ride?" Heath asked.

"I think so. Besides, I don't see any other way to get home, do you?"

"I ought to tie you, belly down, over your horse, and let you ride home in embarrassment." Nick told him.

"I'm ashamed enough, Nick, okay?"

"Well, I'm just sorry your trip was in vain."

"Oh, but it wasn't. I found that elusive little jewelflower. I was reaching out to pick it when I fell in the gully."

Jarrod reached into his pocket and pulled out the once-proud little jewelflower blossom, now crushed and lifeless. He stared at it sadly.

"You're going to give that to Abbi?" Nick asked.

"I was planning to." Jarrod answered defensively.

"Boy, she must really love you. Or you're really sure of yourself."

"It's a little of both, brother Nick."

"I'm sorry we had to spoil things and come rescue you, Jarrod." Heath told him. "I know how much that legend meant to you."

"But you didn't, Heath. The legend said I had to find it by myself. It didn't say I had to carry it home by myself."

Nick grinned at his brothers as he swung up on Coco.

"Then, what are we waiting for?"

THE END