Night in Town

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.

"Could you watch where you're going?" Heath asked as Nick drove over yet another rock.

"We would make better time on horseback." Nick grumbled.

"But we couldn't bring back the books and supplies for the orphanage without the wagon. Nick!" Heath shifted in his seat as they drove over yet another rock. "You keep this up, and I won't be able to sit on a horse."

Nick didn't answer.

"Besides, it's not so bad. We did get out of mending fences." Heath reminded him.

"True."

"And we can eat in town, a nice, juicy steak dinner."

"We could."

"Then head over to the saloon for a few beers, maybe a poker game."

Nick snapped the reins over the horses' backs, his good humor restored.

"Watch the bumps, Nick!"

They eventually made it to town in one piece, despite Heath's reservations, only to learn that the books hadn't come in on the train.

Nick pulled his hat off his head in disgust, and wiped his arm across his sweaty brow.

"Now, that's just wonderful."

"Well, big brother, we are in town. Steak dinner, beer, poker -- that new girl named Rita. What do you say?"

It only took Nick thirty seconds to reach his decision.

"Okay, I'll pull the wagon down the street, you go order dinner. Be right there."

* * * * * * * *

Two hours later, stomachs full, the brothers were deep in a game of poker. Heath, always an excellent player, seemed intent on emptying the pockets of every man who sat down at their table. Jarrod stopped by for a quick beer before heading home, and stopped to watch the action.

"Should I tell Mother not to expect you for dinner?"

"That would be a good idea." Nick told him. "The way this boy's going, we'll be here awhile."

* * * * * * * *

The way Heath was going, 'awhile' stretched into 'all evening'. And so it was after midnight when the two Barkley brothers stumbled out of the saloon, and into the dark night. However, with Heath's winnings, and the amount of beer they had consumed, they weren't concerned about the lateness of the hour. Even the slight rain that was falling didn't bother them.

"Okay, big brother, find the wagon and take us home."

"Oh, no. You don't like my driving." Nick reminded him.

"I don't think the bumps will bother me now. So, where is the wagon."

Nick looked down the street to his left, then to his right, and pointed.

"Right there."

Heath stared grimly in the direction Nick was pointing.

"That's our wagon?"

"Yup. Right there. What's wrong?" Nick asked as Heath hurried across the street toward the wagon Nick had pointed out. Nick stumbled after him. "Heath, what's wrong?"

"You have got to be kidding me!" Heath turned and yelled at his brother.

"What? What's wrong?"

"I thought you told me you parked the wagon."

"I did." Nick was clearly confused. "Where are the horses?"

"Probably locked up in the livery stable." Heath told him. He walked around to the side of the wagon, then called to his brother. "Do you know what this is?" Heath asked, pointing to the wheels.

Nick stared at the wagon, even more confused now. A length of chain ran through the front and back wheels, held together with a padlock.

"What's that?" He asked Heath.

"A boot."

"A what?"

"A boot. Our wagon has been booted."

"Why?"

"Because you left the wagon sitting in a 'No Parking' zone." Heath told him.

"A WHAT?"

"Nick, don't you ever read the newspaper?" Heath ran his hand through his hair in exasperation. Talking to a drunk Nick was like talking to a backward child. "If you leave a wagon in a no parking zone, you get booted, and your horses get impounded. You have to pay a fine to get them back."

"So, where are the horses?"

"Locked up in the livery, most likely."

"Then let's just go get them and ride them home." Nick thought that sounded like a reasonable idea.

"We can't." His brother told him. "Once they get impounded, they become the property of the City of Stockton, until the owner pays the fine."

"Well, just wait until Jarrod hears about this!" Nick fumed. "Of all the dumb ideas!"

"I wouldn't go complaining to Jarrod." Heath cautioned. "Or Mother."

"Why not?"

" 'Cause they were on the committee that came up with the idea."

Nick just stood there, hands on his hips, totally disgusted with the whole world.

"Well, we're getting soaked standing here. Let's go to the hotel."

"Can't."

"Why not?"

"Hotel's closed for repairs, remember? The fire?"

"Well, now, that's just wonderful!" Nick was working up to a fine rage. "I say we just go to the livery, get OUR horses, and go home. We can get the wagon in the morning."

"That's not a good idea, Nick."

"And why not?"

"Because, they belong to the city until we pay the fine. If we take them, we'll be arrested."

"For what?"

"For stealing."

"Our own horses!"

"Well, technically they're not our horses right now because someone left the wagon where he wasn't supposed to." Heath reminded him.

"Excuse me for not keeping up with all the new laws." Nick retorted.

"Jarrod would say 'Ignorance of the law is no excuse'."

"Heath, if you weren't my brother, I'd bust you!" Nick stopped just short of the act, and looked sorrowfully at his brother. "No, I wouldn't. I'm sorry. I'm just wet and tired and drunk."

"I know. So am I."

They stood in the dark street, in the rain, contemplating their fate. Suddenly, Nick grinned and slapped Heath on the back.

"Jarrod's office!"

"What about it?" Heath asked.

"Let's spend the night there. He won't mind."

"Then why are we standing here?"

They hurried down the street, and soon stood in front of Jarrod's office.

"Give me your key. I left mine at home." Nick held out his hand.

Heath just stared at him.

"Let me guess, you don't have yours, either."

"Nope."

"Alright, then, we'll just break one of the side windows, and climb in."

"We're going to break into Jarrod's office?"

"It's not really breaking in. He's our brother. And we'll fix the window, tomorrow."

Heath looked doubtful, but shrugged his shoulders. He hadn't thought of a better idea, and it was a long walk home.

They had just broken the glass, flipped the lock, and were easing the window up when the silence of the dark night was broken by the click of a gun, just behind them.

"Hands up, boys." A voice in the dark instructed. "Then turn around, slowly."

They did as they were told, to find a stranger behind them, wearing a badge.

"Now, very slowly, one at a time, lift your guns out with your fingertips, and throw them on the ground."

"We can explain..." Nick was interrupted by the waving gun.

"Just do it!"

They dropped their guns on the ground, and put their hands back up in the air.

"Now, start walking toward the jail."

"We can explain. I'm Nick Barkley, and this is my brother, Heath." Nick stopped abruptly and stared at the man. "Who are you? Where's Fred?"

"Fred's on vacation. He left this morning, just after I got off the train."

"But, who ARE you?"

"I'm his cousin, from St. Louis. Now, move." He herded the brothers down to the jail and into a cell, which he promptly locked behind them.

"Look, really, we can explain." Nick told the man. "That's our brother's office. We forgot our key. We were just looking for a place to spend the night, since our horses got locked up."

"Locked up?"

"Well, someone took them, 'cause our wagon was parked in the street."

"Oh, was that your wagon? Well, you can have your horses back in the morning, after you pay the fine. Take the chain off your wagon, too, after that's paid for. 'Course, first you have to get out of this cell."

"Really, mister, that's our brother's office. Jarrod Barkley. He's Nick, and I'm Heath Barkley. We didn't have any way to get home, so we thought we'd stay there, but we didn't have the key..."

The stranger held his hand up, indicating that he wanted silence.

"I'll ask Mr. Barkley about you in the morning."

"You mean you haven't heard of us?" Nick asked disbelievingly.

"Nope. Just got off the train today. From St. Louis."

"Yeah, we know."

"Well, maybe we can clear this all up in the morning. Good night, boys." He headed toward the front of the jail.

Nick sat down on the bunk and buried his face in his hands.

"This is one fine mess." He mumbled through his fingers.

"Well, look at it this way. At least it's dry in here." Heath tried to comfort him.

Nick glared up at his brother, then stretched out and rolled over, facing the wall.

"Good NIGHT!"

* * * * * * * *

Nick squinted as he walked out into the bright sunlight. His head was pounding, and he badly needed a cup of coffee.

"Thank you, Jarrod."

"Don't mention it, Nick. I could give you a lecture on civic pride, breaking and entering, ignorance of the law." He stopped when he saw the expression on Nick's face. "Take it easy, Nick. I'm kidding. This certainly isn't the worst thing you've ever done."

"Well, it feels like the most ignorant."

"So, you didn't know. Now you do. Just be careful where you leave the wagon from now on."

"Don't worry." Nick assured him. "I may never bring another wagon to town."

"Sure, you will. Any time you need to pick up books for the orphans." Jarrod teased him.

"Let me tell you something." Nick started, but was interrupted by the whistle of the train, coming into the depot.

"Oh, look, brother Nick. The train. Maybe your books are here." Jarrod winked at Heath, who was trying hard not to laugh. He lost the battle, though, when Nick glared at his brothers, then turned and stalked down the street.

"Maybe I better go help him." Heath said, after their shared laugh.

"Maybe you should. At least try to keep him out of any more trouble."

"That's a full-time job, brother Jarrod."

"As I well know, brother Heath. And I don't envy you one bit."

THE END