A Difficult Choice

Chapters 1-8

by Janet

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.

Prologue

“Tom,” Victoria Barkley said with an angry look on her face, “I won’t allow it. He’s too young and you know it. It’s ridiculous to allow a ten-year-old boy to take a trip like that alone. You know that.”

“Victoria,” he replied very calmly, “Jarrod is grown up for his age. He’s only going as far as Abbottsville to see my brother, Jim. I’m going to personally put him on the train and Jim will take him off. I don’t understand why you are getting so upset.”

“Who’s going to watch him while he’s on the train?” she demanded to know. “He’s too young to be on that train alone. You know that as well as I do. What if he gets sick or homesick? Who’s going to keep him safe?”

“I’ll ask the conductor to make sure he keeps an eye on Jarrod,” he told her trying to reassure her. “There’s nothing that can go wrong. I’m telling you the truth. He’s going to be perfectly safe.”

“I still think he’s too young and too small to go on a trip by himself,” she said. “Any number of things could happen. Sometimes I don’t understand you Tom. You’re supposed to be his father. Act like it!”

“Will you please allow him to do this?” he asked almost in a begging tone. “Jarrod has wanted to spend the summer with Jim since he was very small and something has always come up. Now when he finally gets the chance you want to ruin it for him. My brother will give him all the time he can. I know in the past I haven’t been the best father to him but I still love Jarrod. That’s why I want him to go. Jim and Jarrod are a lot alike and I believe that Jarrod will really have a good time.”

“It’s not that I want to ruin it for him,” she answered softening. “I’m just concerned about his safety. I wish you were taking him. I know you’re a good father to both of the boys. It’s just that I’m his mother and I worry about him. Tom, what happened a couple of years ago is in the past. Jarrod has forgiven you for that.”

“You know I can’t,” he said shaking his head. “I have business meetings all week. If I leave this ranch now, everything could collapse. No, Jarrod will be fine. He’s level headed and smart. I understand how you feel. I really do but try to understand how I feel and how Jarrod feels. Let him do this. I appreciate you understanding about that time. I put him through hell but that’s behind us. He needs to do this.”

“I hope so,” she replied. “I don’t want anything to happen to him. All right. I’ll let him go but I won’t stop worrying about him till he’s at Jim’s.”

“It won’t,” he told her smiling. “I’m glad. You’ll see how much he’ll enjoy the trip and the time away. Jim will be good for Jarrod and I think Jarrod will be good for Jim.”

“You’re right about that,” she said nodding. “He does need some time to himself. He hasn’t had much of that since Nick sticks to him. He can’t go anywhere without Nick begging to tag along.”

“That’s another reason I want him to go,” he replied smiling. “Jim doesn’t have any children and Jarrod will be spoiled rotten.”

“Oh I hope not,” she told him shaking her head. “I don’t think I can deal with that.”

“You know it won’t go to his head,” he said smiling. “As level headed as Jarrod is he’ll just enjoy the time and then be the same boy he was before he left.”

“Tom,” she replied looking into his blue eyes, “I love you. You really look out for your boys. A lot of fathers don’t give their sons the time of day but you do. I’m so proud of you.”

“I try,” he told her. “It’s not always easy. I hate to punish either one of them but I know I must to teach them right from wrong but it doesn’t mean that I love them any less.”

“I know,” she said. “That’s why I love you.”

Later that day, Jarrod came in from playing. Unfortunately, he had had to spend the entire time with Nick when he would have rather spent it with Matt and Frank. It was so hard to play games with a six year old but he also knew that he had made a promise when he had first laid eyes on Nick that he would always be there for him and he wasn’t about to break that promise even if it drove him crazy keeping it. It was the middle of June and school was out for the summer. But Jarrod missed the time he spent in school. He wanted to learn so he could make something out of himself when he grew up. He wanted to help his father but Tom didn’t feel Jarrod was quite old enough to be of any help to him right now during branding except for maybe getting in the way.

“Mother,” he asked as he walked into the house, “have you and father decided for sure if I can go to Uncle Jim’s or not? I don’t think I can spend the entire summer babysitting Nick. I would rather die first.”

“We’re still discussing the matter Jarrod,” she answered smiling at him, “but it looks like you’re going to be going. Jarrod, that’s not a nice thing to say about your brother.”

“Great!” he cried. “I was so hoping you would let me go. Nothing is going to happen. You’ll see. It is if you’re in my boots. You don’t know what it’s like having Nick follow you around like a puppy. I want to spend time with Matt and Frank but they don’t want Nick there either so I get stuck with him.”

“I still think you’re too young to be going on such a long trip alone,” she said trying to be gentle. “Your brother looks up to you. I want you to remember that.”

“You’re just being a mother,” he replied smiling. “I know that mothers worry about their children. I love Nick mother don’t get me wrong but I would like some time for me to enjoy what I want not what he does.”

“That’s very true,” she told him. “But that’s not my only reason. “I’m just not sure you’re old enough for a trip alone. Someday, when you’re a grown man and have children of your own, you’ll understand why you had to take on this responsibility. As for the trip, I’m glad you’re going to spend time with your uncle. It’s just getting you there that worries me.”

“Oh mother,” he said disappointed. “Haven’t I proved to you how grown up I am? I mean I watch out for Nick. I can help around the ranch. What more do I need to do to prove to you?”

“You don’t have to prove anything to me,” she replied placing a hand on his shoulder. “I guess I’ve made up my mind now. You can go. But I want your uncle to wire us the minute you arrive.”

“I’m sure he will,” he told her smiling widely. “And you won’t have a thing to worry about. I promise.”

“You go on now and get ready for dinner,” she said pushing him toward the stairs. “You’re not leaving until Friday and that’s not for two more days. I’ll call you when we’re ready to eat.”

“Yes mother,” he replied still smiling and headed for his room. “I’ll start putting some of the things I want to take together for the trip.”

“Don’t get in too big of a hurry,” she told him as he headed up the stairs. “I want you to have something to wear for the next couple of days.”

“Oh mother,” he called back as he went out of her sight.

When Tom walked in a short time later, she shook her head at him.

“What’s that for?” he asked not sure what she meant by the gesture.

“I gave in to Jarrod,” she answered still not wanting to let him go. “I told him that he could go. Sometimes, I can just look into his eyes and my resolve just melts.”

“I knew you would agree eventually,” he said smiling. “You’ve made Jarrod a very happy boy. He has a way with people. I don’t really think he knows that but he does.”

“I wish I had your feeling of ease instead of a feeling of dread,” she replied still very apprehensive. “I can’t shake that feeling.”

“It’s just being a mother,” he told her smiling. “It will all work out. I promise.”

“I hope so,” she said.

Nick came in from doing his chores. He was dirty and left dirty boot prints in the foyer floor.

“Mother,” he asked loudly, “where’s Jarrod?”

“He’s in his room Nick,” she answered looking at him. “Please Nicholas don’t start yelling the minute you walk into the house. I can hear you without the yelling. Look at you. You’re a mess. I want you to go and take a bath this minute.”

“Sorry mother,” he said. “Did you decide to let Jarrod go on the trip? Do I have to? I was just doing what I was supposed to do.”

“Yes,” she replied trying to smile. “Jarrod will be leaving on Friday for a month. Unless I change my mind. You are the only boy I know who enjoys getting filthy. What did you do fall in the horse trough?”

“You won’t,” he told her. “Jarrod will make sure of that. He really wants to go and I wish I was going with him but I can’t. Father wants me here to learn and I told him I would. But Jarrod doesn’t need to be stuck here bored to death. Uncle Jim can keep him occupied. Oh all right. I don’t see why I have to take a bath and not Jarrod. No I didn’t fall in. I just got splashed by Shadow. He thought it was funny and so did I.”

“I know,” she said smiling. “Your uncle really loves you both. I’m sure Jarrod will enjoy his time there. Because Jarrod doesn’t need a bath young man and you do. Now go.”

“I know he will,” he replied heading up the stairs.

Nick barged into Jarrod’s bedroom without knocking before heading to take his bath. He wanted to tell Jarrod how happy he was that he was going to Uncle Jim’s.

“Jarrod,” he said as he found his brother lying across his bed reading, “I heard you’re going to get to go after all. That’s great. I knew mother would come around.”

“Yeah,” Jarrod replied looking annoyed at Nick. “Nick, why don’t you ever knock? I might be doing something very important one of these days and you would make me angry. What happened to you? You fall in the horse trough.”

“I didn’t think I needed to knock on your door,” he told Jarrod. “After all you’re my brother and brothers stick together. No I didn’t fall in. I was working in the barn and when you work you get dirty.”

“Not all the time,” Jarrod said still annoyed at Nick. “Hey, now that you’re here, you can help me pick out what to take with me after you get cleaned up. I don’t want you to get my room dirty.”

“All right,” he replied smiling and headed off toward the bathroom. “Listen, one of these days you’re going to get dirty and I’m going to hound you about it. I promise you that.”

“Sure you will,” Jarrod told him smiling as Nick shut the door behind him.

The two boys spent the rest of the afternoon packing for Jarrod’s trip after Nick finished getting cleaned up.

That night at dinner, Tom looked at his oldest son.

“I guess you’re ready to go by now,” he said smiling.

“Yes sir,” Jarrod replied also smiling. “I don’t have all my clothes packed. I was hoping mother would help me with that.”

“Yes,” she told him smiling for the first time. “But not tonight. There’s plenty of time tomorrow.”

“All right,” Jarrod said a little disappointed. “I’m just excited about going. I’m looking forward to seeing Uncle Jim.”

“Cheer up son,” he replied looking at Jarrod. “This time Friday you’ll be in Abbottsville with Jim.”

Chapter One

On Friday morning the family was up early. Jarrod was so excited about his trip that he couldn’t do anything right.

“Jarrod,” Tom said trying to get his oldest son to hold still, “stand still and I’ll help you. I don’t know why you are so nervous. All you’re going to do is visit Jim.”

“I want to look my best,” he replied wanting to do it himself but failing miserably. “I want Uncle Jim to be proud of me.”

“He will be,” Tom told him smiling. “Why wouldn’t he be proud of you? You are after all a lot like him. Sometimes I wish you were his son because you two are so much alike.”

“You don’t really mean that do you father?” he asked genuinely hurt. “I never meant to hurt you. All I ever wanted to do was to make you proud of me.”

“You haven’t,” Tom answered smiling. “You are my son and I am proud of you. Some of the things that have happened in the past were not pleasant but if I had them to do over again the ending would have been different.”

“You’re talking about what happened the year grandfather died aren’t you?” he asked remembering that time like it was yesterday instead of nearly two years ago.

“Yes son I am,” Tom answered trying to keep his tears from showing. “I was so hard on you. I never meant for it to escalate into violence but I just couldn’t control my temper. A lot of things happened that year and the year before that caused my temper to flare. I’ve since put those things behind me but it almost cost me my oldest son. I never meant to hurt you Jarrod. You have to believe me.”

“I’m not angry with you any longer,” he said putting a hand on his father’s arm. “I was at first but after that day you.... Well, I forgave you and you have been the best father a boy could ever ask for.”

“I appreciate that son,” Tom replied smiling. “You are a wonderful son who will be famous someday. I know you will and I hope to be there to see it happen.”

“I don’t know about me being a famous man when I’m grown up but I still hope you are there to see how I turn out,” he told him. “You know something father, it’s not easy being the oldest. I have to almost be perfect in Nick’s eyes and I’m not. I feel sometimes like I let him down because I’m not. It’s not that he tries to be like me. I know he’s not and never will be but I feel like he thinks I’m God or something. He thinks that I can fix anything and it will be all right but I can’t.”

“I will,” Tom said realizing he understood how his son felt. “You know something. I remember Jim saying the same thing when he was young. He had me to look after and I was forever getting into some kind of trouble. He always had to tell father about the fixes I got into. But he never stopped standing up for me or looking out for me. I’ve never forgotten that because if it hadn’t been for him, I might not have turned out the way I did. Nick doesn’t think you’re God but that you’re his brother and he is also proud of you. You’ve shown him right from wrong and helped him understand when he’s been wrong. Not a whole lot of brothers would do that. You’re a special boy Jarrod.”

“I understand father,” he replied nodding. “And I promise no matter how aggravating Nick is, I’ll never abandon him either.”

“I know you won’t,” Tom told him. “We’d better hurry or you’re going to miss that train.”

Tom helped Jarrod finish dressing and walked downstairs to the dining room with him. His mother was waiting on them.

“My don’t you look handsome honey,” she said as Jarrod sat down at the table to be served. “Did you have to have some help? I gather from the fact that your father wasn’t here to eat with me that you needed his help.”

“Yes mother,” he replied a little embarrassed. “I just couldn’t seem to do anything right this morning.”

“I don’t know why you’re all thumbs,” she told him smiling. “You’re just going to spend a month with your uncle. That’s nothing to be nervous about.”

“But I want to make a good impression on him,” he said trying to make her understand. “I don’t want him to think I don’t have any manners and I dress like a tramp.”

“Your uncle is not going to believe any of that,” she replied smiling. “He knows his brother and knows that Tom has raised his sons to be young gentlemen.”

“I hope so,” he told her beginning to eat. “The one thing I’m going to miss on this trip is your wisdom mother. You always know the right words and I’m afraid I’ll put my foot in my mouth.”

“Listen,” she said putting a hand on his, “you’re not going to be that far away and it’s only going to be for a month. I’ll be here if you need me. All you have to do is let me know and I’ll be there with you.”

“I know that,” he replied looking at her. “I don’t really think I’ll need you. I am growing up but it’s the first time I’ll be gone for a whole month. What if you forget about me?”

“That’s not ever going to happen,” she told him grasping his hand. “I’m never ever going to forget I have a son named Jarrod. I’m very proud of him too. Every night when I get ready to go to sleep I’m going to say a small prayer for him too. How’s that?”

“Oh mother,” he said turning red. “I know you are. I try to do my best and learn but sometimes it’s not easy. I was just telling father how hard it is being big brother to Nick. I sometimes feel like I fail in keeping him out of trouble.”

“Life is never easy honey,” she replied. “That’s why God put parents on this earth to help guide their children in the right way. Your father and I have tried to teach you boys right from wrong. I’m not always sure you listen but in the long run I believe you will both turn out to be good men just like your father.”

“I’ll try mother,” he told her. “I’ll try.”

“I know you will,” she said finishing her meal.

After breakfast, Jarrod retrieved his bag from his room heading down the hallway when he ran into Nick.

“You ready to go?” Nick asked as he stopped in front of Jarrod.

“Yeah,” he answered smiling. “Are you going to be all right without me for a whole month?”

“Yeah,” Nick said nodding. “Believe me father is going to keep me busy learning the entire time. I probably won’t even realize that you’re gone.”

“You’re probably right,” he replied putting an arm around his brother’s shoulder. “Father can be a bit hard-nosed sometimes but he cares about us both.”

“I know,” Nick told him as they walked down the stairs. “I hope you have a great time with Uncle Jim. Maybe he’ll even let you ride on his palominos.”

“I’m sure he will,” he said laughing. “I’ve heard father say how much Uncle Jim loves his horses. I can’t wait to see them.”

“There you are Jarrod,” Tom replied as he walked up to his two sons. “We’re going to be late if we don’t get a move on.”

“Yes sir,” he told his father as he handed Tom his bag. “Nick, you listen to father and learn all you can. Someday this whole ranch will be yours and I don’t want to see you lose it because you didn’t listen to him.”

“I will Jarrod,” Nick said looking at Jarrod. “But you made a boo boo. You said that the ranch would be mine someday. It will be ours someday. I want you to be part of it too.”

“Thanks little brother,” he replied as he started for the door. “My mistake.”

“Jarrod,” his mother told him as she hugged his neck, “you mind your aunt and uncle. Get plenty of rest and I’ll see you in a month.”

“I promise I will mother,” he said as he returned the hug. “I’ll tell you all about the trip when I get back. I’ll be all right.”

“I’ll look forward to that,” she replied smiling. “I know you will. But I’ll be here if you decide that you need me.”

“I know,” he told her as he walked out the door following Tom.

Tom and Jarrod left the ranch heading for town.

“Father,” he asked as they rode in the buggy, “what’s Uncle Jim like now? I haven’t seen him in two years. What if he doesn’t like me any more or worse what if he doesn’t even remember me?”

“Jarrod,” Tom answered turning to look at his son, “your uncle is still the kind man you remember from Denver. He’s not going to stop liking you. He’s the one that asked that you come to visit. He wants to see how you are doing and what your interests are. I guess he just wants to make sure you’re all right from what happened that day in Denver. I told him that everything was fine but he wanted to see for himself. He cares a great deal about you. And for that matter so do I.”

“What do I tell him?” he asked looking shocked. “I don’t have any. Father, what happened on that day so long ago is behind us. I’ll never fully understand what prompted you to do what you did but I never stopped loving you. Uncle Jim doesn’t need to worry about that. All he needs to worry about is that I don’t ride his palominos into the ground.”

“Of course you do,” Tom answered nodding. “You still enjoy reading along with studying. Just tell him that. Stop worrying so much. Everything is going to be fine. Just be you and everything will be great. You better be careful with his horses. They are his babies and he doesn’t allow anyone to hurt them.”

“I hope so father,” he said trying to smile. “I’m just afraid that without you and Nick with me he’s going to become bored with me and ask me to leave. I won’t hurt them I promise.”

“Jarrod,” Tom replied trying to calm his son’s fears, “just be yourself. That’s all you have to be. Your uncle loves you and cares about you or he wouldn’t have asked for you to come visit. I’ll be happy knowing that you are having a great time.”

“Are you sure?” he asked looking up at Tom. “I just don’t won’t to do anything to hurt my relationship with him.”

“I’m sure,” Tom answered.

They arrived in Stockton and Tom put Jarrod on the train himself.

“Have a good time son,” he said as he hugged Jarrod. “Remember, just be yourself. Everything will be fine if you just relax and enjoy.”

“I will father,” Jarrod replied returning the hug. “I love you, will miss you and have a good time while I’m gone.”

“Conductor,” he asked as he turned to leave, “will you keep an eye on Jarrod? He’s going to Abbottsville and I want him to get there safe.”

“I’ll do what I can Mr. Barkley,” the conductor answered. “I’ll make sure he gets there. Although I can’t watch him every minute.”

“Good,” he said as he exited the train and then watched it pull out of the station.

Chapter Two

After the train left the station, Jarrod realized that he hadn’t gotten his uncle a gift for letting him come to visit. He promised himself that he would get off at the first stop and find something very special. He knew that he had promised his father he would stay on the train but the gift haunted him. So he knew he would have to break that promise but he also knew he would board the train with plenty of time to spare so he wasn’t worried.

“Mister Conductor,” he asked when the conductor appeared, “when is the next stop?”

“We have to make a stop in Porter and then in Tate’s Crossing before we get to Abbottsville,” the conductor answered. “Why? Is something wrong?”

“No,” he said smiling. “I was just wondering.”

The conductor left and Jarrod knew what he had to do.

When the train pulled to a stop in Porter, he slipped out of his seat and headed toward the general store where he looked the place over for something special to get for his uncle.

“You need some help son,” the store clerk said looking down at him. “I don’t believe I’ve seen you in here before.”

“I’ll know what I want when I see it,” he replied continuing to look for just the right gift. “I’m not from here. I’m on my way to see my uncle.”

Then his eyes came to rest on a beautiful wooden pipe with a beautiful wooden stand.

“How much is that pipe sir?” he asked looking up. “That is just what Uncle Jim needs. I’m sure he smokes just like father does.”

“That one is three dollars,” the man answered picking it up to check the price. “It’s a really nice pipe too. A man who smoked would really enjoy something like this.”

“I’ll take it,” he said smiling. “Could you please wrap it? It’s a gift.”

“Sure,” the man replied turning to ring up the sale. “It will take a few minutes.”

Just then Jarrod heard the train whistle and ran to the door to see the train pulling out without him.

“You miss the train?” the man asked as he wrapped the gift.

“Yes sir,” he answered very upset with himself. “Do you have a livery stable where I can rent a horse to ride to Abbottsville? I have to get there to meet my uncle or he will become worried.”

“Sure do,” the man said pointing to a building at the end of the street. “Right down there. Aren’t you a little young to be riding out here all alone? If you wait all you have to do is catch the train tomorrow. It won’t be that long and you can wire him.”

“No sir,” he replied taking the gift and heading toward the livery. “I can’t do that. I have to get there today. I have too.”

When he walked inside he looked at the different horses in the stalls. An older man walked up to him.

“You looking for something son,” he said as he looked at Jarrod. “I don’t much like kids around the livestock. It spooks them.”

“I need to rent a horse mister,” Jarrod replied desperate to get on his way. “I missed the train and my uncle will be worried if I’m not on it when it gets to Abbottsville.”

“You won’t catch that train with no horse,” he told the boy. “Best you just wait until tomorrow and catch the next train.”

“I can’t,” Jarrod said almost crying. “Please, I have money that my father gave me for emergencies. I just want to rent a horse. I have to get to my uncle. I have to.”

“All right,” he replied pulling a bay out of one of the stalls. “Here’s a fine animal. He’ll get you where you’re going but he’s going to cost quite a bit. It ain’t that I don’t trust a young fellow like you. It’s just that this animal cost me a pretty penny and I don’t want to lose anything.”

“I have the money if you will just tell me how much he will cost,” Jarrod told him very angry at being held up from his trip. “Please I’m in a hurry.”

“It’ll be twenty-five dollars,” he said looking at Jarrod. “Cash.”

“I have twenty,” Jarrod replied looking up in shock. “Would that be enough?”

“Well,” he told the boy. “I guess I could take twenty for him although I’m losing money.”

“My father will pay you the difference when I explain it to him,” Jarrod said trying to hurry the man up. “I know he will. Please mister. I need to use the horse. I’ll take good care of him. I promise.”

“Just who are you anyway?” he asked wanting to know who he was dealing with.

“Jarrod Barkley,” Jarrod answered holding his head up high. “I’m from Stockton. My father will make it good on the horse.”

“Some of them Stockton Barkleys,” he said not believing Jarrod. “I’ve heard about them. They have money to burn.”

“I don’t know about that sir,” Jarrod replied looking annoyed. “But I’m sure my father will pay you whatever you think the horse is worth over the twenty dollars. I don’t have any identification on me. It’s on the train headed for Abbottsville. Please mister.”

“All right,” he told the boy. “I’ll let the horse go for twenty but I do expect the other five from that father of yours.”

“You’ll get it,” Jarrod said smiling. “I promise.”

Jarrod didn’t take the time to look the animal over like he should have. He was in too big of a hurry to get to Abbottsville and his uncle.

“This ain’t no ordinary horse boy,” he said as he saddled him up for Jarrod. “He’s a runner and if you don’t know how to handle him you might want a calmer horse. I have a couple of them over yonder in the two end stalls.”

“No,” Jarrod replied not really listening to the man. “This horse will be fine. I need to get to Abbottsville now.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he told Jarrod as he watched the boy mount up and ride away. “Don’t push that animal too hard. You may not make it where you’re going if you don’t hold on.”

When he was well away from town, he came to a fork in the road. He wasn’t sure which way to go so he headed right. It would take him on a journey that he would not soon forget.

Chapter Three

Henry and Mildred Baxter were a couple in their thirties who lived on a farm outside of the small town of Prairieville which was twelve miles east of Porter in the opposite direction of Abbottsville. They had been to town for their weekly supply run when Mildred saw something lying on the side of the road.

“Henry,” she said pulling on his arm, “stop. I see something. I think it’s a body but I can’t be sure.”

“What in the world are you talking about woman?” he asked not really paying attention to what she was saying. “We need to get back to the farm before dark so I can get my chores done.”

“Henry will you stop arguing long enough to listen to me?” she asked looking at him. “I said there is something lying on the side of the road up ahead and it looks like a body.”

Pointing, she showed him what she had seen.

“Well,” he said pulling the buggy to a stop close to the body, “I’ll be. You were right. It is a body. I’ll get down to see who it is.”

Henry stopped the buggy, climbed down and walked over to the body on the side of the road. When he turned the body over, he was shocked to discover that it was a young boy.

“It’s a boy,” he said looking up. “Peers to be alive but I can’t be sure under all that dirt and dried blood.

“Where is he hurt?” she asked looking down at the boy and her husband. “I mean I wonder what happened to him.”

Henry examined the boy more closely.

“He’s got a lump on the side of his head and he’s bleeding from a deep cut over his right ear. He don’t seem to have any broken bones. I wonder what he’s doing out here all by himself. I don’t see any form of identification on him.”

“Where did he come from?” she asked as she climbed down to get a better look at the boy. “How did he get all the way out here? Maybe he can tell us when he wakes up.”

“Beats me,” he answered. “I don’t have a clue. I’ve never seen him before in my life. I don’t think he’s from around these parts either.”

“Then where was he going and what happened to him?” she asked as she kneeled down. “Henry, we can’t just leave him out here all alone.”

“I don’t know,” he answered looking at her. “What do you want to do? Take him home? I don’t know if we should. He could be a troublemaker or something.”

“I don’t think so,” she said shaking her head. “He’s hurt and he needs help. I’m not going to leave him here.”

When she kneeled down beside of him, she was shocked to see how young he was.

“He’s just a boy,” she said looking at her husband. “Couldn’t be over nine or ten at the most. If he’s not from around here, then where is he from?”

“He must have fell or been throwed from his horse,” he replied shaking his head. “I don’t have any idea where he is from. He’s here and he’s hurt. What should we do with him?”

“We’ll take him to the farm and you can go get Dr. Miller,” she told him. “We can’t leave him out here to die.”

“Now wait a minute,” he said shaking his head. “How do we know he’s not some thief or ruffian like I said before? We could be asking for trouble bringing him home.”

“We don’t,” she replied looking down at him again. “But I don’t think he’s that kind of boy. Look at his clothes. He’s not poor by no means. I think it will be all right to take him home to tend him. Then we can find out where he belongs and contact his folks.”

“What if he ain’t got no folks?” Henry asked looking over at her. “What do we do with him then?”

“Then we’ll let him stay with us,” she answered. “We have always wanted children Henry. We could take him as our own.”

“Now wait a minute Mildred,” he said shaking his head. “Are you sure you’re up to this? Being a mother is a full time job. You know we’ve tried to have children but we can’t and now you want to take in a total stranger to raise as your own.”

“I know that,” she replied looking at him with annoyance. “But if he doesn’t have anywhere to go but to some orphanage, is that where we want to send him? He looks to be a hard worker and could help you out around the farm. Some of those orphan homes are tough. They work those children to the bone for a small amount of food and water. I don’t think I want to send him to that. I want to keep him here as my own son.”

“That’s true I suppose,” he told her. “I guess we can take him home, get the doctor and see what happens. Maybe Dr. Miller will know who he is.”

“That’s possible I suppose,” she said standing and heading back to the buggy. “Let’s just get him well first and then we can worry about what to do with him.”

“I suppose,” he replied reaching down to pick him up.

Henry gently picked the boy up, carried him to the buggy and laid him in his wife’s lap. She placed his head careful of the injury on her lap. Henry climbed in beside of her and they rode off. Neither one knew they had just rescued Jarrod Barkley.

“Henry,” she said as they rode, “he’s still bleeding and that’s a nasty wound. Dirt has gotten into it. He’s going to need a lot of care before we can dare worry about what to do with him.”

“I suppose,” he replied knowing that his wife had already fell in love with the boy. “You already care about him don’t you?”

“Of course,” she told him not sure of what he meant. “There is no way I’m going to leave him out here in the weather to die.”

“I don’t mean that,” he said smiling at her. “I mean you’ve already decided to keep him even after he’s well.”

“You can read me like a book,” she replied also smiling. “I would love to have a son like him. What do you say Henry?”

“If he’s not from around here and don’t have any folks, he can stay,” he told her. “It might be nice to have a boy around the farm. Old Shemp will finally have someone to play with and I’ll have someone to teach the goings on of the farm to. I’m beginning to like the idea myself.

“Thank you Henry,” she said kissing him on the cheek. “I’m glad you’re going to let him stay. When he wakes up, we had better find out what his name is. I don’t want to call him something he doesn’t want to be called.”

“Yeah,” he replied smiling. “Wouldn’t want to go around calling him boy all the time.”

“Oh Henry,” she told him also smiling.

They headed on toward their farm and an adventure that would make Jarrod have to choose between four people he really loved.

Chapter Four

As the train pulled into the station in Abbottsville, Jim Barkley waited for his oldest nephew to disembark. When all the passengers had gotten off, he walked up to the conductor.

“Excuse me,” he said looking at the older man.

“Yeah,” the man replied looking up from his work.

“Didn’t you have a ten-year-old boy on board from Stockton?” he asked genuinely concerned.

“Yes I did,” the man answered. “You Mr. Barkley’s brother?”

“I am,” he said starting to get very worried. “Why is there a problem?”

“Your nephew somehow got off the train in Porter and never got back on,” the man replied trying to explain. “I tried to get the engineer to go back but we had a schedule to keep. I’m betting he’ll be on the next train. There’s no way he would try to rent a horse to catch up to the train. That would be suicide.”

“I better find out,” he told the conductor as he turned toward the telegraph office and the hardest wire he had ever sent off. “Thanks. I hope he didn’t try to ride all this way. He’s never been here before and there are many different turns to make. He could end up miles away and not even know it.”

“You sure you want to send this?” Jimmy the telegraph operator asked looking up at Jim. “I mean from what I’ve heard of you talking about that brother of yours, you’re going to upset him something awful.”

“I don’t have a choice,” he answered looking slightly annoyed at the young man. “My nephew is only ten and I promised Tom he would be safe. Now I can’t even find him. No, Tom has to know.”

“All right,” Jimmy said sending the wire to Stockton. “You want to wait for an answer or should I bring it out to the house?”

“I’ll be in town at the saloon,” he replied turning to leave. “I think I could use a drink.”

Jim left the telegraph office and waited for the answer from Tom. He knew that Tom was going to be angry and right now he couldn’t blame him. How could this have happened?

In Stockton, Barney the telegraph operator emerged from the telegraph office and spotted Tom walking down the street toward the sheriff’s office.

“Mr. Barkley,” he yelled trying to get Tom’s attention. “Mr. Barkley.”

Tom stopped and turned in the direction of the yell. He saw Barney running toward him.

“Barney,” he asked as the older man stopped in front of him, “what’s the hurry? I could have come to you.”

“I just got this wire and it’s very important,” Barney answered. “It’s from your brother.”

“Great,” he said smiling. “That means that Jarrod arrived safely.”

“I’m afraid not,” Barney replied shaking his head. “The boy never made it to Abbottsville.”

“What!” he cried not believing what he was hearing. “You have to be wrong.”

“Here,” Barney said handing him the paper.”

Tom opened the folded piece of paper and reading it. It said:

Jarrod never arrived stop. Conductor said he got off at Porter and never got back on stop. Suggest you meet me there to look for Jarrod stop.

Jim

“I can’t believe this,” he said shocked. “I have to tell Victoria.”

Tom turned toward his horse, mounted up and rode off toward the ranch.

“What do you mean Jarrod has disappeared?” she asked very shocked and upset. “I told you something like this would happen but you wouldn’t believe me.”

“Jim said he never got off the train,” he answered trying to remain calm. “He said the conductor told him that Jarrod got off in Porter so I’m going to start searching right away for him. Jim is going to meet me there. Don’t worry. We’ll find him. He probably is waiting to catch the next train.”

“I hope you’re right,” she said but in her heart she wasn’t so sure. “Tom, please find him. He’s just a little boy and he’s all alone in a town miles from home.”

“I will,” he replied heading out the door. “I’ll let you know what I find.”

Victoria decided not to tell Nick about this. She didn’t want to worry him.

Chapter Five

“The boy has a serious concussion which could cause temporary amnesia,” the doctor told the Baxter’s after his examination. “I won’t know for sure until he wakes up. He also has some banged up ribs and a bruised arm. From the looks of things, I would say he was thrown from a horse.”

“Do you know him doc?” he asked wanting to find out who Jarrod was. “We don’t have any idea who he is or where he lives.”

“No,” the doctor answered. “Never seen him before. I’ll give a description to the sheriff. Maybe he’ll know.”

“Good,” he said nodding. “In the meantime, the boy can stay here for as long as needed.”

“That’s good,” the doctor replied. “That way I don’t have to worry about him knowing that he is here being looked after.”

“Doctor,” she asked finally speaking, “what can we do for him?”

“Keep him quiet,” he answered going over the list with Mildred. “Make sure he stays warm. If he wakes up, don’t let him up. He may have headaches or blurred vision or dizziness.”

“All right,” she said nodding. “Is there anything else we should do?”

“Also,” the doctor replied handing her two bottles of liquid, “give him a spoonful of each every four hours. It will help with the headaches and dizziness.”

“I will,” she told him as she looked down at Jarrod.

Jarrod began to moan and slowly opened his eyes a crack.

“Son,” the doctor asked, “who are you? Are you from around these parts? We need to know who to contact. You were hurt in a fall. Do you remember?”

“Jar...” he tried to answer. “Jar...”

“I believe he’s trying to say Jerry,” Henry said listening to the way Jarrod was saying his name. “Is that it boy, Jerry?”

Slowly, Jarrod nodded not sure about his name. In fact, he wasn’t sure about anything at this point. He had a bad headache and he was dizzy but he tried to answer their questions.

“We’ll call him Jerry,” she said looking at the two men, “until he tells us different. At least it’s a name.”

“How do you feel?” the doctor asked turning back to Jarrod. “Any pain or dizziness?”

“I hurt,” he answered closing his eyes to the terrible pain coming from his head. “I don’t remember how I got hurt. All I remember is that I hurt.”

“That’s to be understandable,” the doctor said. “You have a pretty bad head wound. I want you to rest for at least three to four days.”

Jarrod barely nodded before his eyes closed.

“I want you to give him this medicine every four hours,” the doctor said reminding them again of the medicine he wanted the boy to take. “Remember keep him quiet.”

“Sure doc,” Henry replied. “In the meantime, until we can find out where his folks are, he can stay here with us. Even though he’s hurt he’s livened up this house. We sure didn’t know how much we miss having children until right now. It’s kind of nice to have a boy in this house even if he ain’t really ours.”

“What if he doesn’t have any folks or can’t remember them?” she asked. “I mean he may never remember or he could be an orphan.”

“Then I guess we’ll take him on as our boy if you want to Mildred,” Henry answered. “I mean we can’t just turn him out into the elements to die. But I have a feeling that he belongs to someone. His clothes are pretty fancy. But I could be wrong.”

“Oh yes Henry,” she said smiling. “I’ve always wanted children and never been able to have them. I’ll be a good mother to him. I’ll take very good care of him. You’ll see.”

“I know you will,” Henry replied smiling. “After all you’ve taken good care of me all these years. I know you’re going to be a good mother to him. And to keep down questions, we’ll call him Jerry Baxter around town. That way only the doc and the sheriff will know he ain’t really ours.”

“That’s a good idea,” she said nodding. “I wouldn’t want our neighbor Otto Waters to accuse us of kidnapping this boy. He’s accused us of everything else.”

“Now Mildred,” he replied looking at her, “don’t you worry about Waters. He won’t cause us no trouble on account of Jerry. I’ll make sure of that.”

“I’ll give the sheriff a description of the boy to see if anyone matching his description has been missing,” the doctor told them. “I’ll come by tomorrow to see how he is. Henry, you be careful with Otto. He’s meaner than a snake.”

“You don’t have to tell me that doc,” he said nodding. “I’ve had more than one run in with that snake over cattle supposedly breaking down some of his fence lines, Shemp stealing his apples and so on.”

The doctor left the house. Henry and Mildred looked down at Jerry resting peacefully.

Jarrod’s eyes cracked open again and he moaned.

“You should be asleep young man,” she said shaking her head. “The doctor said you should get plenty of rest.”

“I heard you talking,” he mumbled looking up at them. “Who are you?”

“I’m Mildred Baxter and this is my husband, Henry,” she said rubbing a hand through his hair. “You’ve had quite a day.”

“I don’t remember much of it,” he replied still hurting. “I don’t even remember what happened to my head.”

“The doctor said that you hurt your head pretty bad,” Henry told him. “It might take a few days for you to remember. Right now, you need to rest.”

“All right,” he said looking at Mildred. “What do I call you?”

“Jerry, you can call us pa and ma if you want to until we are able to find out where you came from,” she said smiling. “I mean we’re not trying to take your folks’ place but since you can’t remember them it will make things less troublesome.”

“I like that,” Jarrod replied smiling. “Where am I?”

“You’re in Prairieville Jerry,” Henry told him. “We found you on the side of the road. Looks like you were throwed because your horse was gone.”

“I was riding a horse,” he said not remembering a thing. “Where was I going?”

“We don’t know that,” she replied trying to ease his fears. “Maybe after your head heals, you will remember.”

“I hope so,” he told her. “It’s hard not knowing where you came from or who you are.”

“Well,” she said smiling, “for the time being you’re Jerry Baxter our son. That will keep down talk in town.”

“I’ll remember,” he replied starting to close his eyes.

“You need to rest,” she told him covering him up.

Jerry nodded and closed his eyes.

Chapter Six

Tom met his brother Jim in Porter and they went to the sheriff’s office.

“Can I help you two?” Sheriff Ben Gates asked as he stood up from behind his desk.

“I hope so,” he answered. “My name is Tom Barkley and this is my brother Jim. Yesterday, my son got off the train when it pulled in here and disappeared. We’re here to see if he is still here or if he tried to go on to his destination.”

“What’s your son’s name?” Gates asked trying to understand the entire situation. “I’ve not heard of any missing boy or any trouble on the train yesterday.”

“His name is Jarrod Barkley and he is ten years old,” Tom answered. “He’s got dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes. He was on his way to Abbottsville to spend a month with my brother when he left the train. That’s all we know.”

“I haven’t heard anything about a missing boy,” Gates said again shaking his head, “but that don’t mean that he didn’t get off here. Let’s go see Carl in the livery. Maybe he knows something. It’s possible that he tried to get a horse from Carl.”

The three men walked down the street to the livery stable where they ran into an older man in his late sixties.

“Carl,” Gates said as he approached the man, “I need a word with you.”

“Make it fast,” he replied as he continued his work. “I got a lot of work to do.”

“Carl,” Tom asked him as he stepped forward, “did a boy come in here yesterday to maybe borrow a horse? He would have been in a hurry I suspect.”

“Who are you?” he asked looking Tom up and down. “I don’t know you.”

“He’s Tom Barkley, Carl,” Gates answered for Tom. “Carl is very leery of strangers. He’s had problems in the past from strangers so he don’t trust them very much.”

“You one of them Stockton Barkleys?” he asked shaking his head. “I always did think you were too high and mighty for us hard working folk.”

“Now Carl,” Gates answered trying to keep trouble from starting, “all we want to know is if a boy came in here wanting to borrow a horse.”

“To answer your question sheriff,” he said finally answering the question, “yeah one did. He wanted to rent a horse from me to go to Abbottsville I think. He seemed in a powerful hurry. Said something about missing the train and something about how worried his uncle would be.”

“That would be me,” Jim replied speaking for the first time. “Did you sell him a horse?”

“Well,” he told them skirting the issue, “we discussed the matter.”

“Carl,” Gates said getting frustrated with the man’s attitude, “all we want to know is if you let him borrow a horse.”

“Yeah I did,” he replied nodding. “He only had twenty dollars and I was going to charge him twenty-five. He said something about his father paying the rest but I wrote it off. Didn’t think his father had any money. Didn’t know he was one of those rich Barkleys from up around Stockton.”

“I’ll pay you the extra five and another ten if you tell me which way he rode off toward,” Tom told him getting out fifteen dollars to hand the man. “It’s very important that you tell me which way he went. You see he never made it to Abbottsville and now he’s missing. I have to find him. I have to.”

Tom was becoming very agitated and upset with each passing minute. Jim put a hand on his brother’s shoulder to try to calm him down.

“He took off out of town toward Abbottsville but there are so many forks you have to take I don’t know whether he made it or not,” he said taking the money from Tom. “I told him not to push that horse too much either. It’s a runner and he might not be able to stay in the saddle.”

Tom’s features hardened as he realized his worst fears were coming true. He knew that Jarrod was out there somewhere all alone, maybe hurt or even dead.

“Thanks for the information Carl,” Tom replied turning to leave. “I’ll start searching for him right away. It shouldn’t take too long to find him now.”

“Not so fast,” Gates told them. “You going to look for that boy by yourselves?”

“Yes,” Jim said looking back at the sheriff. “He’s just a boy and he could be lost or hurt or both. There’s no time to waste.”

“We have to find him,” Tom remarked. “I won’t stop looking for him until I find him.”

“This is a big area to search alone,” Gates replied trying to calm them down. “The best thing to do is send out a description of the boy to local law enforcement and see if he’s been sighted. Then you can narrow the search.”

“That will take too much time,” Tom told him thinking with his heart instead of his head. “Jarrod is too young and I have to find him before it’s too late. He could be hurt or even dead. No. I’m going to look myself.”

“Tom,” Jim said looking his brother in the eye, “the sheriff is right. It might take time but you can cover more ground than if we go by horseback. You need to go back to Victoria and help her cope with the loss until Jarrod is found.”

“I can’t just quit looking,” Tom cried. “He’s my son and I have to find him. I can’t just sit on my hands knowing that Jarrod is out there somewhere all alone maybe hurt or lost. I can’t.”

“Tom,” Jim replied trying to remain calm, “this is the best way and you know it is. I will go back to Abbottsville and you go back to Stockton. Sheriff Gates can send out the description in telegrams and have them send their replies back to your sheriff. It’s the only way to find him. Then when he is located if you need my help I’ll go with you to get him.”

Tom knew Jim was right but he couldn’t go back to the ranch empty handed.

“Mr. Barkley,” Gates said looking at the distraught father, “your brother is right. Your wife needs you right now. I’m sure your son is safe. And he’ll be found.”

“I guess you’re right,” Tom replied finally giving in. “Please help me to find him. He’s just a boy and he’s all alone.”

“I’ll do everything I can,” Gates told him. “You go on now.”

Jim guided a distraught Tom out of the livery and put him on the next train back to Stockton.

“You stay at the ranch and I’m sure you’ll hear very soon about Jarrod,” he said as he left his brother. “Let me know what you find out either way.”

Tom just nodded. Right now he was numb. He didn’t know how he would go on without knowing what had happened to his oldest son. But he also knew that Victoria as well as Nick needed him and he knew that he would have to tell Nick about Jarrod, which would hurt Nick just as badly as it had Tom.

Jim went to see Sheriff Gates before he headed off.

“Sheriff,” he said as he walked into the jail, “I wanted to come by and see you a minute.”

“What is it Mr. Barkley?” Gates asked as he stood up from behind his desk.

“I’ll write out the description of Jarrod for you so there will not be any mistakes,” he answered picking up a piece of paper and pencil. “My brother won’t rest until my nephew is found dead or alive. He’s just upset at Jarrod’s disappearance and he’s not thinking too well. He’s worried and I can’t blame him. Jarrod shouldn’t have gotten off that train.”

“I understand how you must feel,” Gates said nodding. “I’ll send them all around this area, even east and west in case he might have ended up some ways away from where he was supposed to be going.”

“I appreciate that,” he replied. “My brother is not a bad man. He’s just very upset over losing his oldest son and heir. My sister-in-law wasn’t too happy about Jarrod taking this trip in the first place and now she’s going to be very angry as well as upset.”

“I understand,” Gates told him. “I do hope that the boy is found unharmed and safe.”

“So do I,” he said nodding. “So do I.”

Jim wrote out a detailed description of Jarrod including his full name and handed it to the sheriff. It read:

Jarrod Thomas Barkley

Ten-year-old son of Tom Barkley

Dark brown hair and blue eyes

Contact Sheriff Harry Lyman

Stockton, California

Then Jim left heading for home to wait for word himself on whether or not Jarrod would ever be found. He knew this was the best way to go but he couldn’t get rid of the feeling that maybe Jarrod would never be found because he and Tom didn’t search for the boy themselves.

The sheriff sent telegrams to all the sheriffs, marshals and police in one hundred square miles of Porter. Everyone just waited to hear if Jarrod would ever be found.

Chapter Seven

“Tom,” she said her tears flowing down her face after he returned to the ranch, “you can’t stop looking for him. You have to find Jarrod. He’s just a little boy and he’s out there somewhere all alone. He could be hurt or lost. Why didn’t you keep looking?”

“Where do you propose I look?” he asked with more force than he meant. “I’ve looked everywhere between here and Abbottsville even though the sheriff in Porter told me it was a waste of time. Telegrams have been sent out to all the sheriffs in the nearby counties to be on the look out for Jarrod. That’s all that can be done.”

“I know you’re right,” she said shaking her head. “I just wish I knew what had happened to him. It’s the not knowing that hurts.”

“This much I know,” he replied holding her tightly. “He got off the train in Porter. Then he missed getting back on. He rented a horse and headed out of town toward Abbottsville. I don’t know what happened after that. All we can do is hope that one of the wires that was sent out comes back with an answer as to where Jarrod is.”

“We can’t give up hope of ever finding him,” she told him. “I don’t care how long it takes.”

“I’m not giving up hope,” he said as he released her. “I’m going to wait to hear back from the wires that were sent. Hopefully, someone will recognize Jarrod and let us know. Until then, all we can do is wait. But I won’t ever give up hope of finding him and if this doesn’t work, I’ll start a search of my own. I won’t rest until Jarrod is found.”

“I haven’t told Nick yet,” she replied looking at her husband. “He has a right to know about his brother.”

“I’ll tell him,” he told her turning to leave the house. “It will be hard but Nick will understand we are doing all we can to find Jarrod.”

Tom found Nick in the barn doing his daily chores.

“Son,” he said as he walked in the barn, “I need to talk to you.”

“Father,” Nick replied smiling, “I didn’t know you were back from your trip. How did everything go?”

“That’s what I want to talk to you about,” he told his son. “Come here and sit down.”

Nick knew something was wrong but he wasn’t sure exactly what. He knew in his heart that it had something to do with Jarrod.

“Son,” he said as calmly as he could, “your brother is missing.”

“What do you mean Jarrod is missing?” Nick asked not completely understanding what his father was telling him. “I thought he went to spend some time with Uncle Jim.”

“He never arrived,” he answered trying to be as truthful as he could. “He got off the train in a small town called Porter and never got back on. He then got himself a horse and that’s all I know.”

“Why did he leave the train?” Nick asked looking up. “He had to have had a reason. It’s not like Jarrod to leave a train without a very good reason especially if he promised you he wouldn’t get off the train.”

“I don’t know,” he answered shaking his head. “I never found out.”

“OK,” Nick said thinking. “Jarrod got off the train. Why would he?”

“I told you I don’t know,” he replied getting upset. “What’s getting off the train got to do with anything now? It’s over and done with. Jarrod is missing and that’s a fact.”

“I’m not fussing at you father,” Nick told him. “I’m trying to see if I can come up with a reason for Jarrod getting off that train in the first place. He was going to see Uncle Jim. Wait a minute.”

“What son?” he asked wondering what Nick was thinking. “You come up with a reason Jarrod got off that train.”

“Father,” Nick wanted to know, “did Jarrod have something to take to Uncle Jim?”

“Not that I know of,” he answered shaking his head. “Why?”

“I believe that Jarrod would have wanted to take a present to him for letting him come to visit,” Nick said nodding. “Maybe he got off the train to buy one. He was worried about how Uncle Jim would take to him. He told me that if he had a gift for him maybe it would make it easier on them both. I don’t know for sure.”

“I did give him some money in case he needed it,” he replied realizing that Nick might be right. “That would explain why he left the train after I told him not to. And he was concerned about how Jim would react to him. I bet that’s exactly what he did.”

“You said he got a horse,” Nick told him. “He probably missed the train trying to pick out something nice for Uncle Jim. Then in his haste to get to Abbottsville he didn’t think about not knowing where he was going.”

“You’re absolutely right,” he said nodding. “Jarrod has never been in that part of California before. He wouldn’t know the area so it is possible that he took a wrong turn and ended up somewhere else. The only problem is where did he end up? It’s still a big area to cover by horseback.”

“Right,” Nick replied. “I know this much for sure. Jarrod is alive but he’s been hurt. I don’t know where he is but I want you to find him. You have to find him father. Jarrod is my brother and my best friend. Without him, I’m lost and alone.”

“I can’t son,” he told Nick. “I promised the sheriff in Porter to wait until I heard back from the wires he sent out. If I go off looking for Jarrod and a wire comes in saying that he’s been found, I wouldn’t know it. It might be weeks or months before I would get back to go and get him. No. It’s best if I stay right here and wait even though I’m not one to just sit around and wait. But in this case we need to be patient.”

“I guess so,” Nick said becoming very sad. “I just wish Jarrod was here with us instead of out there somewhere all alone.”

“I’m going to make you a promise son,” he replied looking at his young son. “I won’t rest until I find Jarrod and bring him back home.”

“I know,” Nick told him trying to smile. “I better get the chores done.”

He went back to work because he didn’t want his father to see him cry. Tom knew how upset Nick was and he didn’t know how to help him. All he wanted to do was search every inch of the state if he had to for his missing son but he knew that would be fruitless and take too much time. He went back inside the house.

“Did you find Nick?” she asked as he walked inside.

“Yes,” He answered looking at her. “I’ve told him about Jarrod and he believes that Jarrod got off that train to buy Jim a present.”

“You know,” she said remembering something, “Jarrod did mention that he wanted to remember to get his uncle something before he left. In all the confusion of trying to decide whether to let him go I guess we forgot to get it.”

“Then Nick was right about that,” he replied nodding. “He also said that Jarrod had been hurt but that he was alive.”

“If anyone would know,” she told him, “Nick would. Did he say how bad Jarrod was hurt?”

“No,” he said shaking his head. “I guess he didn’t know the answer to that one. I want to go out and look for him but I know that if I do, a wire will come in and I’ll be gone. Something has to happen soon or I’m going to go crazy. I’m not a very patient man when it comes to the safety of my family.”

“I know how you feel,” she replied nodding. “But we have to be strong for Nick. He’s going to need us now more that Jarrod is gone. You know how close those two are. Nick is hurting inside but he won’t let it show.”

“You’re right about that,” he told her. “I remember when Nick got hurt a year or so ago, Jarrod knew it before we told him and then he wouldn’t leave Nick’s side until he was better.”

“Tom,” she said looking into his blue eyes, “we are going to find him. I know we are.”

“I hope so,” he replied trying to be strong. “I just wish we would hear something soon.”

Chapter Eight

Jarrod continued to hurt for almost a week. He had headaches and was dizzy. His ribs slowly healed but he couldn’t shake the headaches. He didn’t understand why he couldn’t remember anything about himself.

“Ma,” he asked as she was straightening up in his room, “why can’t I remember who I am and where I came from?”

“I don’t know Jerry,” she answered trying to be as understanding of his situation as she could be. “The doctor said you would remember someday. He just didn’t say when that would be.”

“I wish I knew what kind of boy I was,” he said trying not to cry. “Maybe I was a mean boy who stole or hurt people.”

“I don’t think so,” she replied sitting down on the bed beside of him. “You don’t seem to be that kind of boy. From what I’ve seen in the last week, you’re a very caring boy who seems to be very bright.”

“I remember I think I like books,” he told her. “I’m not sure.”

“I have a few books in my room,” she said smiling at him. “I’ll bring them in here so you can read them if you like.”

“I’d like that,” he replied nodding. “But I don’t know if I can with these headaches.”

“Are you still having those headaches?” she asked worried about him. “I thought they had stopped. Why didn’t you say anything earlier? We could have gotten Dr. Miller to check you again.”

“Yes,” he answered starting to cry. “They just won’t go away. Every time I try to remember something from my past, my head wants to explode. I don’t understand. I’m sorry. I didn’t think. I guess I’ve really messed things up now.”

“Maybe you don’t need to try to remember Jerry,” she said rubbing a hand through his brown hair. “Let the memories come back on their own. In the meantime, you have a home here with us. I want you to know that. You haven’t messed anything up. We love you Jerry. We want you to feel at home here while you recover and when you’re better if you still don’t remember, you’re welcome to stay here for as long as you want.”

“I know I do,” he replied trying to stop his crying. “I really appreciate you taking me in and taking care of me. You and pa are good people. I won’t ever forget what you’ve done. I’ll consider what you’ve said. I don’t remember anywhere else but here so I feel safe here. I might as well stay here for now.”

“Jerry,” she told him smiling, “you have brought us so much pleasure. We never realized until the day we found you how much we really miss having children. You have been a Godsend. Don’t question it. Just enjoy your new home and I promise I’ll make it as happy as I can.”

“I know you will ma,” he said smiling for the first time. “You and pa have been wonderful to me. I couldn’t ask for better parents. I love you both very much.”

“We love you too,” she replied also smiling. “I believe it’s time for you to get some rest.”

“All right,” he told her and let his eyes close.

A night or two later, Jarrod had a dream.

“No!” he cried as he slept. “No!”

Henry and Mildred both heard him yelling no.

“Mildred,” he said as he woke up, “I think Jerry is having a nightmare or something.”

“I heard him,” she replied getting up out of bed. “I’ll see what’s wrong.”

“We’ll both see what’s wrong,” he told her also getting up. “After all, if he is going to be our son don’t you think we both should take care of him?”

“I do,” she said smiling at her husband. “I love the idea of having a child Henry. I didn’t realize how much until the day we brought Jerry home. He’s wonderful and I love him very much.”

“I do too,” he replied nodding. “I’m going to show him everything about the farm. Even if someday he remembers where he came from, he can take the knowledge back with him.”

“Henry,” she told him, “you’re a wonderful father to Jerry.”

“Thanks,” he said smiling. “Speaking of Jerry, I believe he needs us.”

She nodded and they left their bedroom. The two of them walked in Jerry’s room a few minutes later. Jarrod was drenched in sweat and his heart was pounding very rapidly. Mildred went straight to his side.

“Jerry,” she said as she sat down on the bed beside of him, “wake up sweetie. You must be having a nightmare. “Come on. Wake up.”

Jarrod slowly opened his eyes. His heart was pounding in his chest and he was breathing hard.

“What did you dream about boy?” Henry asked him as he looked down at Jarrod. “We heard you saying no. Was it a nightmare?”

“I saw a face,” he answered still very upset. “A face I know I know but can’t remember.”

“What kind of face Jerry?” she asked trying to keep him calm. “Was it a mean face or a gentle face?”

“The face belonged to a boy,” he answered looking up at her still shaking. “He had dark hair and bluish green eyes. He just kept looking at me. He didn’t seem to be angry but I don’t know.”

“It’s probably because you can’t remember who it is that scared you,” she said smiling and reaching out to pull him to her. “Don’t worry about it now. Do you think you can go back to sleep?”

“No,” he replied starting to cry. “My head is hurting and I’m sick.”

“All right,” she told him reaching for the medicine that the doctor had left. “Here you take your medicine and then I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”

“Yes ma,” he said opening his mouth to swallow the medicine. “I’m sorry about all this.”

“Henry,” she replied looking up at him, “you go on back to bed. I’ll stay with him. He’ll be fine after his head stops hurting him. You hush sweetie. You don’t need to say anything. Just close your eyes and rest. I’m right here.”

“Are you sure?” Henry asked concerned about Jarrod. “I could stay if you want.”

“Yes,” she answered smiling, “I’m sure. You have a lot of work to do tomorrow and need your rest. Jerry will be all right after he gets a good night’s sleep.”

Henry left heading back to bed. Mildred stayed with Jarrod until he finally fell asleep.

“It’s all right Jerry,” she said as she held him in her arms. “You’re not alone. We’re here with you. You close your eyes and everything will be all right.”

“All right ma,” he replied letting his tired eyes close.

Mildred stayed with him until she made sure he wouldn’t wake up and then she went to bed after easing him back on his pillow. She covered him up and kissed him on the cheek.

“Goodnight sweetie,” she said as she left his room

When she walked back into her room, Henry was still awake. He looked at her with concern on his face.

“How is he?” he asked when she climbed in the bed. “I’ve been real worried about him.”

“He finally went to sleep,” she answered looking over at him. “I really think that boy’s face scared him. He wouldn’t stop talking about it. It has to be someone from his past but who?”

“I don’t know,” he said shaking his head. “Maybe Jerry will remember soon.”

“I wish there was something we could do to help him adjust to living here,” she replied hoping that she could help him adjust to his new life. “If only he had something to take care of. Maybe that would help.”

“How about giving him Shemp to take care of?” he asked wondering out loud. “I believe Shemp could really help him to take to his new life here with us. The dog hasn’t left Jerry’s room since we brought him in. It’s like he knows that the boy is scared and lonely.”

“Henry,” she said sitting up in bed, “I think that’s a wonderful idea. He would help Jerry deal with being all alone in a strange place. I believe that dogs can know things that people don’t. We’ll let him have Shemp and see how he does.”

“We can do it in the morning after he wakes up if you want?” he suggested. “It’s too late to tell him now and he’s finally gone back to sleep.”

“All right,” she said lying back down. “You are a wonderful man.”

The next morning, Henry and Mildred went to Jerry’s room to see how he was. He was awake when they walked in.

“How you feeling boy?” he asked as he looked down at Jarrod. “You gave us quite a scare last night waking up screaming like that.”

“A little better,” he answered looking up at them. “I’m sorry I woke you up last night. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

“Jerry,” she said sitting down beside of him, “you didn’t bother us. We told you that we would take good care of you until we could find out where you were from. I didn’t mind a bit sitting up with you until you went to sleep.”

“I’m glad,” he replied smiling. “I just feel so alone here. It has nothing to do with you. It’s just that I still can’t remember anything from my past and I don’t understand why.”

“I think we have a way of stopping that,” Henry told him walking over to the side of the bed.

“How?” he asked very curious.

“Mildred and I talked this over last night and we want you to have Shemp as your own dog,” he answered smiling.

“Who’s Shemp?” he asked having not seen a dog.

“This is Shemp,” Henry answered showing Jarrod the dog lying in the corner of the room. “He’s not left your room since we carried you in a week ago. He’s genuinely concerned about you Jerry. I believe that he loves you.”

Jarrod raised up slightly to see the dog. He wasn’t the prettiest dog but he fell in love with him the minute he saw him. Shemp was a dirty brown mutt that came up to Jarrod’s knees. He was around five years old but he had a wonderful disposition. Shemp walked over to the bed, licking Jarrod on his hand. Jarrod patted the dog’s head smiling up at his folks.

“Pa,” Jerry said as he looked at Henry, “I don’t know what to say. I’ve never had a dog before. I think I’ve always wanted one but for some reason I never got one.”

“Don’t say anything Jerry,” he replied smiling. “I want you to have Shemp as your very own dog. Maybe he’ll make it easier for you to adjust to living here with us.”

“I’ll take good care of him,” Jerry told him. “I’ll make sure he’s feed and watered. I’ll play with him. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

“I think we do,” Henry said smiling. “Is there anything else that you need?”

Jarrod laid there thinking. Then a thought struck him.

“I don’t have a hat pa,” he said looking sheepish. “If I had one I must have lost it.”

“I think we can get you a hat,” Henry replied smiling. “We’ll go into town the first of next week after you’ve had a few more days to rest and get you a hat.”

“Thank you sir,” he told Henry smiling. “You have been so good to me. You don’t even know where I’m from or what I ‘m like. I wish there was something I could do to repay you both.”

“There is,” Henry said as he looked down at Jarrod. “You can work by my side and learn about farming because if you stay here this farm is going to be yours someday. And even if you don’t stay, the knowledge could help you.”

“It’s a deal pa,” he replied smiling and stuck out his hand to shake Henry’s.

Henry took the hand and both smiled at each other. Jarrod was now happy but in the back of his mind he still wondered if he would ever remember who he was or where he had come from.

Continued…