Read
all about it!
by Barkley Lady
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.
On the rail road to Stockton
It was a beautiful late
October day, and the afternoon was just starting to turn into evening when
Jarrod sat in his private car on the train home from San Francisco. He thought
about the coming week, when he had promised to follow his brothers up to the
lodge for a hunting feast, before they started the next round up and cattle
drive. Leaning back into the seat he looked out of the window for a while
before his eyes turned to his brief case. A sigh was left his lips. He really
didn’t have time for this vacation, but he had promised, and since it was
Heath’s first October hunting it had felt important to keep that promise. He
stood up, went over to the trolley and poured a small brandy before he returned
to the work he had with him. As he pulled the papers out he saw the Harpers
Bazaar he had gotten for the female Barkleys, and he decided to have a peek
into it to find out why they made such a fuss over this magazine every month.
What he saw when he opened it almost made him choke on the liquor. He read the
article over and over again before he burst out laughing. It was going to be a
very good week at the lodge, a very good week indeed!
At the ranch
Victoria sat looking at
the magazine her friend had brought to her from San Francisco. She couldn’t
believe what she read, and she wondered how on earth she had not heard of this
interview before. She couldn’t even remember talking to a journalist. From what
she could make of it, it had to have been done when the family were at the fair
in Sacramento. She, just as her oldest son was doing right then, read the
article again. The author really had captured the situation, and her son right,
but she wasn’t sure he would appreciate the effort!
Audra came almost
running into the parlour where Victoria sat, holding another copy of the same
magazine. Her eyes were glittering with pride.
In Stockton
Nick left the grocery
story feeling very unsure which was unusual for him. For some reason, he
thought the two girls that worked in there, and the young ones that came in
while he was paying, had been looking at him, and started to giggle when they
did. It was a very awkward feeling and he decided that he needed a beer to get
rid of it. When he finally did reach the saloon he had checked his fly about
ten times, and yes, it was still all buttoned up. He had checked his face in a
window to see if he had some food on it or something else. He also had taken
his vest off to see if anything was stuck on it. After checking all his
clothing he had pulled the Stetson hat down as much as possible and strode as
fast as possible to the safety of the saloon but as he opened the door to the
it, the girls stopped what they were doing, several blew kisses towards him and
as he reached the counter, Harry poured a large whisky for him before he even
said anything, and told him that it was on the house. Nick felt very confused!
A Travel Along The Central Pacific Line by Mrs
Theodosia Riley
So, I end this trip
along the Central Pacific Line with a detour to the California state capital
Sacramento. San Francisco was a lovely city and I do recommend a visit but
after recommendations I went to visit the State fair that is held every year at
the end of August. It was the final three days and every event of importance
was supposed to happen. For a city woman like myself, experienced in the ways
of the world, it was a very new and shocking experience and after the first day
I had almost given up. The California men and women that I met were a large
disappointment, as their manners and etiquette seemed far away from what is
suitable, and the amusements were nothing to talk about. With a very low state
of heart I went out for the second day and Ladies, I’m so happy I did give this
fair a second chance. Now what changed my mind? Before I continue I have to
remind you all, kind readers, that my husband accompanies me on this trip and
is always by my side. Having said that I shall tell you about the Barkley
brothers and mostly of Mr Nicholas Barkley.
Perhaps I shall start
with a description of a State Fair in California. It’s large, crowded, dusty
and in places very muddy, since its straight on the dirt. And you all know how
earth gets when water gets on it. Among the people there are animals, stock
it’s called here, horses, birds of different sorts, dogs etc, etc. Saloons are
open all day and there are tents with food, entertainment, competition all
mixed. At one end they have even built a large rodeo arena. There are people
selling candy, liquor, food, flowers, animals, fabrics, antiques, books. I even
saw an ad for the orphanage auctioning children. Most of the stalls are placed
in long lines, making roads where the potential customers walk. In the thick
crowds that there are you have to mind your purse or somebody might pickpocket
you. It happened frequently and the police did nothing! It’s not as organized
and well done as in New York.
Victoria felt a bit
annoyed when she read the description of the fair. In her opinion it was the
best organised fair that the state held and it got better every year. The
committee who arranged it worked for a whole year with planning and
preparations and this year had been no exception. As to crowded? Hmm, she
guessed it might feel so if you didn’t know where to go, where the regulars
always stood. As for herself she always found some lovely new fabrics for her
sewing, not to mention the lace she found this year. She knew that the boys had
found some good horses and stock, beside the games she knew Heath had got and
the books Nick found. If her memory served her right, didn’t Jarrod find a
painting for his office in San Francisco?
My dear husband Berthold
and I went to the fair grounds during early afternoon on the 30th
August. We had read that there was to be a competition in farm products, now
how exciting does that sound to you? Sorry, if I offend anyone but you have to
remember that I do come from New York City and have been a part of the society
there for as long as I have lived. Anyway, my husband and I walked over to the
tent where the women were setting up their products and judges were walking
around. For you city ladies, I shall tell you how a competition in food
products is conducted, for the rest of you ladies I apologise if I understood
things wrongly. The judges seem to have a paper with different grades and
titles and they all taste a bit from every jar that is placed by the name of
the woman who made it. If there are six jars, the judges will test all six,
even if they are done at the same time. The woman that only has one jar is
regarded as some thing the cat brought in, in the sense that she only managed
to make one jar. After the judges, in this case five men and one woman have
done their tasting they discuss with each other and then deal out the rewards.
The best is the blue ribbon, then the red and last the yellow. Guess my
surprise when I saw a young man standing by some pickled cucumbers! I had to
stop and watch this. This dark, well-built, tall man, didn’t look too
comfortable about the situation and with my professional curiosity I asked an
elderly lady, Mrs Grace Stullman, that stood near me, who he was. That young
man was Mr N Barkley. The elderly lady was more than happy to talk to me and
let me know that his sister had taken ill. Poor thing had her appendix removed,
on the train to Sacramento from Stockton and had gotten a promise from her
brother to see to it her pickled cucumbers were in for the judging. What a big
brother! My husband who would do anything for me said that he would never,
never do such a thing, not even for me! And young ladies out there, here is a
splendid unattached species of man; the only catch is that he is a rancher
which apparently is the same as a farmer. Now this young man stood there
patiently while the judges walked back and forth trying the cucumbers over and
over again. I just had to know more and as you know I’ll do anything for you
Ladies! So, after the judges were finally done and the rewards were handed out,
I steered my way through the crowds to get a chance to ask him a few questions,
but he was in such a hurry! For you ladies I did my best to keep up with him,
which wasn’t easy as I acted like a lady at the same time, so I lost him in the
crowd!
Audra’s hand went to her
right side and she touched the scar under her dress. She felt so proud that
Nick had kept his promises even though it had meant that he had to stand there
amongst the elderly women and some, she rolled her eyes, farm girls. Jarrod had
told her that Nick hadn’t even noticed the blonde girl next to him, so
uncomfortable had he been, but he had done it for her. She looked up at the
photo she had gotten from Jarrod that day and smiled.
Dear husband caught up
with me, a bit angry over my unladylike behaviour and he wouldn’t hear about my
explanation that it was for you all. To assuage his feelings I accepted his
invitation to join him at the shooting target competition instead and to my joy
whom did I find there if not Mr N Barkley. But before it was his turn to shoot
the speaker announced a Mr Heath Barkley! Here were two brothers one dark as
the night and the other light as the rye in the field. To Dear Berthold’s
surprise his wife pushed her way to the front line. Those magnificent brothers,
it turned out to be a competition between the two of them and I actually think
it was a draw at the end. Perhaps the best result, as anyone with brothers
knows how boys act when they lose. This time after the prize was given out, I
had decided that I was not going to miss my chance, but this horrible drunk man
tried to give me a kiss, me, a distinguished Lady from new York! If it hadn’t
been for Dear Berthold’s quick acting I don’t know what would have happened. So
I lost the young man again! I can tell you that I mumbled words a lady
shouldn’t say.
Heath picked up the
magazine when Victoria had to go and check on the dinner. He started to read
the article with a crooked smile and almost grinned when he thought about the
shooting contest. He had managed to persuade the judge to delay it a little and
to let Nick start last. Since his big brother was the leading champion and had
to help a lady in distress, Audra, it had been easy, and still Nick almost
missed the whole target shooting.
My Dear husband decided
that we needed a rest and led me to a restaurant tent where we had gotten a
decent meal the day before. To our disappointment every table was taken but a
young man and a lady offered us a couple of places at theirs. I almost fainted
when we introduced ourselves and this was Mrs Victoria Barkley and her eldest
son Mr Jarrod Barkley.
Now Victoria remembered
the woman and as she got irritated she placed the paper on the table with a
force that made Jarrod look up. Victoria felt betrayed. That woman hadn’t said
that she was a journalist, she had merely said that she had seen Nick at the
cucumber competition and then at the target and asked about him. Jarrod watched
her leave the room.
I took the opportunity
and told her I had just seen her sons compete and that I had wanted to talk to
Mr Nicholas. The kind lady told me she would help me and after the meal, roast
beef and baked potatoes, we all walked over to the rodeo. The kind woman
explained to us, city folks as they said here, the procedures of the rodeo and
Mrs Barkley kindly told me that the contents of the rodeo were almost a daily
routine for all that participated. Proudly she told me that her sons were
taking part. Now rodeo, Ladies, is when a so-called bronc or bull is ridden or
a calf is caught and tied up. I have to admit it was very exciting even if it
did look very dangerous and there were casualties. And it was not only hard on
the men, the poor animals got their share of it too. Well, our boys did well
and won one each. According to Mrs Barkley both men ran the family ranch so I
guess they get plenty of training. I know that you now are all wondering what
the eldest brother does, well he kindly informed me that he was a lawyer with a
practice in both San Francisco and Stockton.
Jarrod felt a sting of
envy as it seemed that he was a really dull person beside his little brothers
but then he thought of his latest case and he decided that he’d rather take out
the bulls in court than in the rodeo, he at least didn’t have to get all beaten
up and it did pay better. A mental challenge was so much more rewarding in his
mind.
When the rodeo was over
Mrs Barkley kindly invited me and Berthold to a party the state governor was
holding that evening. She knew this man personally and said he would be pleased
to greet long travelling visitors. Needless to say we did accept and left for
some rest before and to prepare us.
Since it was a private
party I’ll keep it that way but I have to say that we were well taken care of.
Mr Nicholas Barkley acted as our host and kept close by, seeing to it that we
were having a good time. He was being the perfect gentleman and I almost
thought I was back in New York or at the Royal Court in London. He saw to it
that dear Berthold was a part of the discussions taking place, that he wasn’t
left alone or without a cigar and whisky. He even introduced him to a gentleman
that had worked as a banker and after that my husband was deeply involved in
talk about money, stocks and what ever they do at a bank. As for myself the
young man not only let me get a chance to interview him, he also was the
perfect dance partner. I only have two regrets and they are that I don’t have a
daughter to marry off to this man and since that isn’t possible, that I am way
too old and married myself.
Now Nick as he prefers
to call himself has run the ranch of 30 000 acres since his father’s death in
1872, only earlier this year was he joined by his brother Heath. Now Nicholas
was very strict in telling me that the Barkley Holdings are owned by all family
members and include mines, vineyards, orchards, cattle and property in Mexico.
The only long period of time Nicholas has stayed away from his beloved San
Joaquin Valley is when he did two years in the army fighting for the Northern
side against slavery. He is a man with strong values if I’m to judge by the
answers he gives on some of my questions. When I asked him about his interests
beside the ranch he quickly answers that he does like to read, Alfred Tennyson
is a favourite, a good poker game is never wrong nor is a cold beer. He loves
horses and spends a lot of time with them and doesn’t see it as work. He enjoys
spending time with his family and he and his brothers tend to go fishing or
hunting when there is time over for them all. Now to his great honour I must
say that it was very hard to get him to talk about these things at all, I
gather he is a very private man.
The last day of the fair
it turned out that all three brothers had promised, I guess with their Mother’s
help, to judge the cake competition. I don’t think I have seen so many
different cakes, not even in a very well sorted bakery, and I can grant you,
the brothers didn’t have an easy situation. Afterwards the pieces of the cakes
were sold so that we, the audience could get a chance to judge too. There was a
Lemon Meringue Pie, a Vermont Apple Pie, a Pear Slump and Apple Blueberry
Cobbler that were heavenly and I managed to get you all the recipes of these. A
Chocolate Fudge Triple Layer Cake won. I even got that recipe for you.
Now it’s time to round
up this trip that started three months ago in New York. My husband and I will
tomorrow start the trip back but this time with no stops which means that we
will be home for the September Ball. And when this old lady meets the young
ladies that make their debut at the ball I think I shall have a young rancher
in mind for one of them. Mr Nicholas Barkley brother, son, man, and rancher, a
man with very many talents. And as I said before, Ladies, unmarried, good
looking, perfect husband material. If interested drop me a note and I shall
forward them to him.
Nick stood with his
whiskey looking at Harry in confusion as one of the saloon girls came up to him
with an copy of the October issue of Harpers Bazaar and placed it in front of
him. In horror he looked at the magazine pages and the photos of him that covered
them: him and Audra’s blue ribbon, at the shooting target, as he flew in the
air at the rodeo, in his tuxedo and worst of all, when he was judging the cake
competition. Not a picture of his brothers! and the subtitles under … A quick
read got him shaking and when the girl gave him a pen to sign one of the
pictures he fled the saloon only to bump into Mrs Stullman, who also held a
copy.
THE END