Our Son

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.

Story Synopsis: This story takes place the year that Nick was born and Jarrod was so sick and is told by Tom and Victoria.

Prologue

My name is Tom Barkley and this is my wife, Victoria. We have four beautiful children and want to tell you about the year our second son Nick was born.

That’s right, Victoria said. It was 1848, and one of the coldest winters in the valley. The snow was so deep that our young son, Jarrod, could hardly walk in it. He was only four years old at the time.

I had been helping several men in town with some business ventures, he replied, or lack of business in the town of Stockton.

Tom Barkley was sitting in the office of Leo Pike, a mining engineer, that Wally Miles had hired to check some rotting timbers in one of the Miles-Barkley mines in Stockton. Tom and Wally had several joint mining ventures but this one was definitely showing problems within the mine itself. The two men had been close friends and neighbors since the Barkleys came to the valley six years earlier.

“Gentlemen,” Pike said as he addressed both Wally and Tom, “you’ve got some major problems with the mine.”

“What kind of problems?” Wally asked.

“The overhead timber is almost completely rotten,” he answered. “And some of the support beams are also unsteady.”

“So what you’re telling us is that we’re going to have to re-do all the support in that mine,” Tom said.

“That’s it in a nut shell,” Pike replied. “If you don’t, you could loose some valuable men.”

“Great,” Wally told him. “What else can happen?”

“What are you complaining about Wally?” Tom asked. “You’ve not lost a great deal of money in just a month. I’ve never seen so much go wrong in so short a time.”

“I didn’t mean anything,” Wally answered. “No one expected the Watson Mill to close after fifty years of operation. No one expected the Miner’s Bank to be robbed either.”

“You don’t have to bring up everything that has gone wrong this year Wally,” Tom said. “I know what’s happened and I’ve felt the pinch. But we can’t give in. We have to keep our nose to the grindstone. Maybe we can figure a way to bring new business into the valley and stop the old from leaving.”

“And speaking of grindstone,” Wally said. “The Flattery Grist Mill closing up.”

“All right Wally,” Tom replied. “I don’t need this right now.”

“Sorry,” Wally told him. “Didn’t mean to upset you. But I saw David Flattery just yesterday and he told me he couldn’t stay here any longer. He was going to move to Fresno.”

“You didn’t,” he said turning back to Pike. “We’ll send some crews in starting the first of next week to shore up the mine.”

“Good,” Pike replied. “That will save lives.”

“I’ll talk to Phillips about what will be needed,” Tom told them. “I refuse to put men under my employ in danger if it can be helped and this problem can be remedied with a little hard work.”

“I’ll head on out to the mine sir,” Pike said heading out the door. “I want to do some more checking.”

“I’m ready to go home,” Tom said leaning back in the chair after Pike left. “I want to spend some time with Jarrod. I hardly have any time to spend with him. He’s usually in bed by the time I get home in the evenings. I bet he thinks his father has forgotten all about him.”

“Don’t get down Tom,” Wally replied. “Things have got to look up.”

“I hope so,” he told Wally. “I’m going home. With Victoria pregnant, I need to help her as much as I can.”

“Can’t that fine boy of yours help?” Wally asked smiling.

“Jarrod’s only four,” Tom answered. “But he helps when we let him.”

“He’s a fine boy Tom,” Wally said. “And I’m not saying that because he’s my godson.”

“I know,” Tom replied also smiling. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the mine.”

“All right,” Wally told him.

So I left Stockton, heading for the ranch.

Chapter One

I was at home working on a blanket for the new baby, Victoria said. I had noticed for the past couple of days that Jarrod had a slight cough but I didn’t think it was anything to worry about. Jarrod was playing outside near the barn when Tom rode up.

“Hi son,” Tom said as he dismounted from his horse. “How’s my boy?”

“Fine sir,” Jarrod replied looking up at his father. “I have a cough but I’m all right.”

“That’s my boy,” Tom told him running his hand through Jarrod’s brown hair. “Where’s your mother?”

“In the house,” Jarrod said coughing again.

“You better come in now,” Tom replied. “You don’t need to stir up any more of this dust because of that cough.”

“Yes sir,” Jarrod told him following him into the house.

\When we walked inside, Victoria met us at the door.

“It’s about time you were getting home,” she said as Tom and Jarrod walked in. “I was beginning to think you were going to spend the night in Stockton.”

“No,” he replied. “But a mine’s timbers have to be replaced.”

“Oh no,” she told him. “What else is going to happen to this family?”

“I hope nothing,” he said.

“Mama,” Jarrod asked, “can I have supper?”

“I forgot all about you honey,” she answered. “Of course you can. The time just flew by while I was sewing.”

“Jarrod’s not hurting,” Tom said looking down at his son.

I led Jarrod into the kitchen giving him his supper. It was well after six and I knew he was starved. Most of the time before Tom was able to finish up and come home, Jarrod was in bed.

“Jarrod,” Tom said as Jarrod sat at the table, “you look a little peaked son. Are you sure you’re feeling all right?”

“Yes sir,” Jarrod replied. “I just have a cough.”

“All right,” Tom told him. “But I want to keep an eye on you.”

“Yes sir,” he said continuing to eat.

Chapter Two

That evening after supper, Tom and I were sitting on the couch. Jarrod was sitting in the floor reading a book.

“Mama,” Jarrod cried as he vomited all over his book and his clothes.

I looked up from my work, seeing him vomit again.

“Oh honey,” she said rushing to her son’s side. “Let me get you cleaned up.”

“Mama,” he replied, trying to talk but vomiting again.

“Tom,” she told him, “help me with Jarrod.”

I picked up Jarrod carrying him to his room. He didn’t vomit again but he was very red in the face. I looked over at Victoria.

“You think he’s picked up a virus of some kind from one of the boys he plays with?” Tom asked.

“I don’t know,” she answered. “He’s running a fever. Jarrod, how long have you been hot?”

“I don’t know,” he said starting to cry. “Mama.”

I held him in my arms until he quieted. Then I told Tom to ride into Stockton and ask Dr. Merrar to come out to the ranch to see him.

I headed to his office.

“You just lay very still,” she said, laying him in his bed after putting his nightshirt on. “I’m sure you’ll be fine tomorrow.”

“OK,” Jarrod replied lying back in his bed. “I’m sorry mama.”

“Don’t you worry about a thing,” she told him. “Your father and I will be here until you’re better.”

I stayed with Jarrod until Tom and Dr. Merrar arrived. When the doctor walked into Jarrod’s room, he had some upsetting news.

“Victoria,” he said, “I was just telling Tom that there has been several cases of pneumonia around and according to the symptoms Tom described, I’m afraid Jarrod is a very sick boy.”

“Are you absolutely sure?” she asked.

“No,” he answered. “Not until I examine him. But from the symptoms, that’s my guess.”

The doctor went to Jarrod’s bed and examined him. While he was checking the boy, Jarrod vomited again. We cleaned him up. When he looked up, we both knew what he was going to say before he actually said it.

“His fever is around 101 to 102,” he said. “He’s having a hard time breathing, and he’s coughing. The vomiting is sometimes a setup to the actual pneumonia. He’ll have to stay in bed and be monitored for the next seven days at least.”

“Seven days,” Tom replied. “You’re telling me my boy is going to be that sick for seven days.”

“That’s usually the way pneumonia acts,” he told Tom. “It’s going to be hard on Jarrod because he’s so young. But his being young will help him fight it.”

“Will he be all right?” Victoria asked.

“He should,” the doctor answered, “but there is a possibility that his breathing could become a problem. We’ll have to wait and see.”

“What can we do for him?” she asked.

“Keep him warm and quiet,” he answered. “Give him plenty of liquids so he doesn’t dehydrate. He needs plenty of rest.”

“He’ll get it,” Tom said.

Victoria and I looked down at our young son. Jarrod was so sick. His face was very flushed and the coughing was getting worse with every labored breath he took. I wanted to reach down and scoop him up into my arms but the doctor wouldn’t let me.

“Jarrod,” Tom said running a hand through the boy’s wet hair, “you just rest. We’ll be right here.”

“All right,” Jarrod replied. “Mama, I hurt.”

“Where?” asked the doctor.

“My tummy,” he answered and vomited again.

“He’s going to vomit a few more times I’m afraid,” the doctor said. “Let’s get him cleaned up.”

The three of them cleaned Jarrod up. He finally drifted off to sleep but his breathing was getting much worse.

Chapter Three

As the evening turned into night, neither Tom nor I got any sleep. We were very worried about Jarrod. He tried to rest but he would wake up, the sweat just pouring off of him and crying. The next time he would wake up with cold chills. The cough grew worse as he fought to breathe.

It hurt so much to see Jarrod so ill, Tom said. I wouldn’t leave him alone. So his mother and I sat down in chairs in his room along with the doctor and waited. By the next morning, his fever was still high. We were becoming very worried.

“Doc,” Tom asked, “are you sure that’s nothing else you can do for him?”

“Not now,” he answered. “Pneumonia has to run its course. It takes anywhere from seven to ten days. All we can do is be patient and wait.”

“But what if his breathing gets worse?” she asked.

“That’s part of it too,” he answered. “I know this is hard on you two but Jarrod is a fighter and this is his biggest fight.”

As the day wore on, Jarrod was still burning up, Tom said. I was very worried about my son. Victoria was trying to go into labor because of her worry for Jarrod. The doctor finally had to put her to bed. I was running between her room and Victoria’s trying to tend to both of them.

“Tom,” she said as he walked into the room, “you don’t have to keep coming in here every few minutes. The doctor will let you know when it’s time. Our son needs you now. Since I can’t be with him, it’s up to you.”

“He’s asleep,” Tom replied. “I’ve got Mabel Johnson sitting with him. She’ll let me know if he wakes up.”

“Still,” she told him. “I think you should stay with Jarrod. He’s so young and scared.”

“You’re right,” he said starting to leave. “I’ll be here when it’s time.”

Chapter Four

I left my wife’s room, Tom said. As I walked into Jarrod’s room, he was calling my name.

“Papa,” Jarrod said crying. “Papa.”

“I’m right here son,” Tom replied sitting down on the bed. “What do you need?”

“I’m cold papa,” he told his father.

Mabel handed me another blanket and I wrapped him up, Tom said.

“Papa,” Jarrod said looking up at his father, “hold me please.”

He reached up for me, Tom said. I gently picked him up wrapping the blanket around him. He was so sick. He put his tiny arms around my neck and laid his head on my shoulder. He drifted off to sleep. I stood up from the bed, walked over to a rocking chair in the room and sat down. Jarrod never moved. I held him until the doctor walked in wanting to examine him. I finally laid him on the bed and he woke up crying for me.

“Tom,” the doctor said as he walked into the room, “I need to examine him.”

“Right,” Tom replied as he stood, carrying Jarrod to the bed.

“Papa,” Jarrod told him crying as he woke up. “Hold me.”

“The doctor needs to examine you,” Tom said trying to comfort his sick boy.

The doctor examined Jarrod, Tom said. I walked the floor, worry evident on my tired face. I knew Jarrod still had to endure this for at least three of four more days. I didn’t know if I would be able to stand it as I watched him so sick. Then he started coughing up this awful brownish-red stuff. The doctor assured me that it was part of the pneumonia.

“Doc,” Tom asked, “what is that?”

“It’s phlegm,” the doctor answered. “He’s getting closer to the turning point.”

“How much longer doc?” Tom asked worry evident in his voice. “He’s so miserable.”

“I don’t know for sure,” the doctor answered. “When the fever breaks.”

I asked the doctor to stay with Jarrod while I went to tell Victoria what he had said, Tom said. I knew she was just as worried as I was.

“Tom,” she asked as soon as Tom walked into the room, “how is Jarrod?”

“He coughing up this brownish-red stuff,” Tom answered. “The doctor said its part of the pneumonia. But he’s so miserable.”

“I wish I could be there with him,” she said. “I know you are doing the best you can but he probably wants his mother there.”

“He asked me to hold him,” he replied almost crying. “He fell asleep in my lap. I don’t know what to do to help him.”

“You’re doing enough,” she told him also feeling helpless. “The doctor knows what is best. Give him my love and as soon as the baby is born, I’ll come see him.”

“How are you doing?” he asked.

“The pain is gradually getting worse,” she answered. “The doctor said it shouldn’t be too long.”

Chapter Five

I was notified that the baby was on its way the next morning, Tom said. I again asked Mabel to sit with Jarrod and promised him that he would see his new brother or sister very soon.

“Mabel,” Tom said as he headed out the door, “thanks so much for sitting with Jarrod. You have been a big help.”

“It’s no problem Mr. Barkley,” Mabel replied. “He’s a very sweet boy.”

I hurried as fast as I could to Victoria’s room, Tom said. She was already in labor when I walked in.

“Tom,” the doctor said a short time later, “you have a son.”

I walked over to the bed and looked down at a dark-haired boy with hazel eyes, Tom said as he thought back. Boy what a set of lungs that baby had.

“Tom,” she said as she held their newest son, “you have your rancher.”

“Yeah,” he replied, “with those lungs he can bark commands and keep the men in line.”

“What are we going to name him?” she asked.

“I have no idea,” he answered. “I wish Jarrod could see him.”

“He will when he is well,” she said looking down at her newest son. “How about Nicholas Jonathan?”

“Nicholas Jonathan,” Tom repeated. “I like it and we can call him Nick.”

“You better go see how Jarrod is,” she replied.

I headed back to my son’s room, Tom said. He was awake when I walked in.

“Papa,” Jarrod said smiling for the first time in five days. “I feel better.”

“His fever broke about an hour ago,” Mabel replied smiling. “He’s asking for something to eat.”

“Oh Jarrod,” Tom told him reaching out for him.

“Papa,” Jarrod said smiling and reaching for Tom.

I held him and then he looked at me, Tom said.

“Papa,” he asked, “has mother had the baby yet?”

“Yes,” Tom answered. “It’s a boy. We named him Nicholas Jonathan Barkley.”

“I like the name,” he said. “Is he handsome?”

“Yes,” Tom replied. “When you are a little stronger, I’ll take you to see him.”

Chapter Six

A few days later, Jarrod saw Nick for the first time, Tom said. He was amazed at the voice that boy had.

“Nick,” Jarrod said as he stood looking down at his little brother. “Me name is Jarrod. Me your brother. Me’ll help you learn everything you’ll need to know.”

Jarrod let his hand fall down close to Nick who took hold of his finger, Victoria said.

“Nick,” Jarrod said, “you hold on tight. Me be there for you always. You learn from me. Me promise.”

Tom and I couldn’t have been more proud of our two sons, Victoria said. Jarrod kept his word and was there when Nick needed him. Nick learned a lot from his brother. They became best friends.

That’s right, Tom replied. Now our boys are nearly grown. I can’t believe how the time has flown past. I have been teaching Nick how to run the ranch and Jarrod is learning the business end so he can help Nick after we are gone. I’m so proud of my sons.

I am too, Victoria told us.

THE END