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.
Tom Barkley, a well-respected businessman and rancher in the San Joaquin Valley,
was sitting at his beautiful mahogany desk in the study of his magnificent
home. Tom was looking over several
documents he would need in the next few days as he going to meet with a
representative of the United States Army who was interested in purchasing
cattle and horses from him. The Army was always looking for livestock and they
had found that the San Joaquin Valley was the best place to find the best
stock. Wally Miles and Henry Marvin were also going to meet with the
representative.
“Mr. Barkley,” Richard Bost said looking
at Tom, “being the representative from the army, I’m here to buy as many cattle
and horses that I can. What we’re
looking for in horses are fast ones that are in good health. I’ve heard only
good things about this area and the ranchers here so I know I won’t be
disappointed.”
“I believe we can help you out Mr. Bost,” he replied smiling. Wally Miles and Henry Marvin will also have
cattle and horses for you to see. Yes, you’ve come to the right place. We all take very good care of our livestock
and don’t like to see animals mistreated.”
“That will be wonderful,” Bost told him.
“I look forward to meeting with you and the others in a few weeks. You
won’t have to worry about that. The
Army prides itself on taking care of its animals.”
“We’ll be ready,” he said as he watched Bost leave.
His lovely wife, Victoria, was in her sewing
room on the second floor of her home.
She had always loved to sew and several times had made beautiful gowns
to wear to important functions she attended with her husband. She knew she had
to look her best because she knew just how respected Tom was in the valley.
Victoria was also very respected among the Stockton Ladies Society of which she
was a member. She loved to show off her
home whenever she could.
“Oh Victoria,” Inez Pratt said as the
ladies were getting ready to leave after having their meeting at the Barkley
Ranch, “your home is beautiful. Tom did
a beautiful job. I wish our home was this magnificent. You are so lucky to have a man like
Tom. Walter doesn't care about fixing
our place up. He just wants to keep
trying to find his fortune.”
“It wasn’t only Tom,” she replied smiling.
“I had a lot of input on the way the house was to be decorated. Don’t be
so hard on Walter. He’s a dreamer. Maybe someday he’ll stop dreaming and
everything will become a reality for you.”
“I think the house is beautiful,” Inez told her smiling. “It’s at my home next. I hope you’ll be there. I know. And our house isn’t that bad but I just wish
he would just take an interest in something other than dreaming.”
“I certainly will and I look forward to it,” she said as Inez left.
Jarrod, twelve, was studying in his small
bedroom at his desk. It was smaller than Nick’s but Jarrod didn’t seem to
mind. He always made it a point to do
his homework first before he played or did his daily chores. He wanted to
attend college but was still undecided about what he wanted to study. But he
had a few years to decide. One thing
was for sure; he didn’t want to be a rancher.
In fact, he didn’t like the ranch.
He much preferred the city life and hoped one day to live in San
Francisco or Sacramento.
“Mother,” he said as he stood in the
study, “father, I would like to attend college when I finish my education. I’m not sure yet what I want to study.”
“Jarrod,” she replied smiling, “I was hoping that you would go. You want a career I know. And whatever you
decide will be fine with your father and me.”
“Yes,” he told her. “But I don’t have
any idea at the moment what I want to study.”
“Here’s something to consider son,” Tom said speaking for the first time. “I’ve known since you were young that you
didn’t like the ranch. You’ve always had a nose for business. You are a smart
and reasonable young man. But your brother is going to need help. He’s not much of a book learner. So I doubt that he will be able to keep up
with the finances of the ranch. But I
believe you can.”
“Me?” he asked stunned. “You want me to
help Nick. I don’t understand. Nick
doesn’t want my help. All we do is
argue.”
“I want you to be a partner with your brother,” Tom answered smiling. “You can still have a career if that’s what
you want. But please help Nick.”
Jarrod thought it over and finally nodded.
“Thanks son,” Tom said smiling broadly.
“This way the ranch stays in the Barkley family.”
“But I won’t guarantee how Nick and I will get along,” he replied.
Nick, eight, was in the barn brushing his
new horse. He preferred to spend his time in the barn as opposed to doing his
schoolwork. He knew exactly wanted he wanted to do, be a rancher like his
father and his grandfather. Tom was teaching him as much as he thought Nick
could learn at so young an age but he looked forward to the day that Nick would
run the ranch. However, he always wanted Nick to study a little harder so he
wouldn’t have to turn to Jarrod or Eugene for help when the responsibility for
the ranch was his.
“Nick,” he said as he looked at his young
son, “you need to apply yourself more to your school work. I’m thrilled that you want to follow in my
footsteps but you also need to know how to add and subtract as well as
write. Look at Jarrod. He’s making good grades.”
“I don’t want to go to school,” Nick replied looking at his father. “I want to be a rancher and work in the
outdoors. I don’t need school to do
that.”
“I’m afraid you do,” he told his son.
“You have to keep records of sales; when you buy something and you have
to sign a bill of sale. There’s a lot
more to running a ranch than just working in the fields. It’s not all fun and
games. There’s a business end that’s
going to keep you very busy.”
Nick looked at his father.
“All right,” Nick said as he stood up.
“I’ll try to do better in school but I won’t like it.”
The youngest, Eugene was in the upstairs in
the sewing room with his mother sleeping.
He was only a few months old. Tom and Victoria were happy when Eugene
was born but both longed to have a daughter.
“Maybe next time we can have that girl,”
Tom had told his wife after the birth of their third son. “Although I’m happy to have another boy, I
still wish I could have a beautiful little girl to raise.”
“I’m sure going to try,” she had said as she held her new son. “It’s not that I don’t love the boys but a
girl would be so wonderful. I can make
her new dresses and she can be the envy of all the boys in Stockton.”
“Yes,” he replied smiling. “She would
knock them all out with her beauty because her mother sure does.”
“Why thank you kind sir,” she told him.
Earlier in the work week, Tom had sent Sam
Williams, a man he had hired a few years earlier, up to one of the Barkley’s
line shacks near the Sierra Mountains to check fence lines and repair damage to
the line shack from the previous spring and summer rains.
“Sam,” he said as he stood beside of Sam
Williams, “now that we have some time here, I want you to ride up to the line
shack to see what damage has been done by the weather. It will be springtime
before you know it and there will be so much going on here, I don’t know
whether I can spare anyone to check the line shack.”
“I sure will Tom,” Sam replied smiling.
“I need a break from all this branding.
Those cattle have run me to death. And you’re right, it’s not going to
get any easier.”
“Stay up there long enough to make a list of what needs to be done,” he told
Sam. “I want you back before the first
big snowfall or you might have to spend the entire winter up there.”
“I know my way around Tom,” Sam said looking at him. “I’ll take care of everything.
Don’t worry.”
Although Tom had not had a chance to see what damage had been done if any in
person, he knew that the line shack needed to be inspected before the spring
branding started again. He couldn’t believe that it was nearly Thanksgiving and
he had so much to get done.
This was the first time since before the branding back in the early spring that
he could spare any hand from the ranch with all the work there that had to be
done here. He knew this was the early
part of November and it would be very cold up there but if the line shack was
not ready for the following spring, he would have to wait until spring to make
any repairs. And he was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to spare any hands at
that time so he sent Sam. Tom had wanted him to check the fence lines and make
everything ready for the coming snows. Sam had already been gone several days.
Sam had shown up at the ranch one day out of the blue looking for work. At
first, Tom didn’t like Sam much and he said so to the man’s face. To Tom he looked
like a drifter who probably wouldn’t stick around more than a week and Tom
couldn’t take that chance. He needed
hands that were willing to work hard.
“I’m looking for a job,” Sam said as he
dismounted from his horse in front of Tom. “I heard in Stockton you might be
looking for hands.”
“I don’t hire drifters,” Tom replied looking him up and down, not liking what
he saw. “You’d stay maybe a week. I
don’t hire men who won’t stay long enough to be of help here. This is a working ranch.”
Sam punched him in the face knocking him to the ground. Tom looked up at the
man from the ground where he had landed on his back. He rubbed the side of his jaw.
“I’m looking for work,” Sam said standing over him smiling, “not name calling.
If you want a hard worker, I’m your man.
I don’t blow in on the wind one day and leave the next.”
“I’ll give you a try,” Tom replied standing up holding the right side of his
face. “If you work as hard as you
punch, we’ll have no problems.”
“Thanks,” Sam told him. “You won’t be
disappointed.”
The two men shook hands. Whether either
of them wanted to admit it or not, a friendship formed that day. Tom realized that Sam knew a lot about the
workings of a ranch. He quickly
promoted Sam up to foreman.
Sam was the hardest working hand that Tom
had on the ranch. One day over a week later, Tom had a conversation with Sam.
“Sam,” Tom said a week later, “you are a vital part of this ranch. I am happy I hired you even if you did punch
me in the face.”
“I told you Tom,” he replied smiling, “I
wanted a job not name calling. I always
give my all to any employer that I have.”
“You sold me,” Tom told him also smiling.
“I think this is going to work out great. In fact, I’m hoping you can
help me get Nick ready for the job ahead of him. This ranch will be his someday to run. And although it will also be Jarrod’s and Gene’s, Nick will be
the one to keep it running. I need
someone who can ride herd on Nick to make sure he knows what he’s doing. He tends to forget a lot of things I teach
him and that won’t do on a working ranch.
He’ll grow up to respect you Sam as someone he can trust and be willing
to ask advice of.”
“I’ll do the best I can teaching him Tom,” he said smiling. “But that boy is a handful. In the first place, he’s always around the
other hands to see what they are doing. Some times he distracts them so they
are unable to do their jobs, which puts us behind schedule. And then he has been known to try to help
them. That has been another problem.
Although he is only eight, he tries hard but he is too small to be of
much help. But he will make a good rancher.
He has the guts for it and he’s not afraid. Sure, I’ll keep a close eye
on Nick.”
“I appreciate that Sam,” Tom replied nodding in agreement. “Nick is a go-getter but he tends to let his
lessons slide. And if he doesn’t learn
math how’s he gonna run this ranch? For another thing, he’s always solving
problems with his fists instead of his brain.
He just jumps in with both feet before he takes the time to see what’s
going to happen. I’ve tried to get him
to keep that quick temper in check but he doesn’t listen. And Jarrod is usually the one who has to
bail him out of trouble.”
“He’ll learn,” he told Tom. “I’m sure
with some persuasion he’ll be more than happy to learn. As for that temper, he
just has to learn to control it. It’ll
take time but I’m sure he’ll do fine.”
“What kind of persuasion?” Tom asked intrigued. “Busting his backside until he can’t sit down. I’ve already tried and it didn’t do any
good. Nick is a stubborn boy and I’m
sure he’ll be stubborn when he’s grown.”
“Tom,” he answered, “I believe if you push him into it, he’ll learn. Jarrod already knows book learning but Nick
needs to work at it a while. He’d rather work out in the dirt than look at a
book from what I’ve seen. That’s good
but he just needs to be reminded that there’s more to running a ranch than
getting dirty.”
“I’m trying,” Tom said looking at Sam with an expression Sam had seen
before. “But I can’t beat it into him.”
“Have you ever considered letting Jarrod tutor him?” he asked looking at Tom.
Tom thought about the question. He
hadn’t thought about asking Jarrod to help.
But he wasn’t even sure Jarrod would want to help. Sometimes Nick jumped on him too.
“I guess I can ask him if he would be interested,” Tom said nodding. “If he said no, I’ll have to make other
arrangements. I may speak to his teacher to see what she recommends. I know Nick’s a good boy but that temper is
what gets him in trouble. And then
Jarrod has to come in the picture to smooth everything out.”
“See,” he replied smiling, “I’m already earning my keep. But seriously, those
two boys are very close. Jarrod is the
reason and Nick is the result. Why not
put the two together?”
“You were earning your keep the day you decked me,” Tom told him smiling. “What
do you mean, put them together?”
“Tom,” he asked very seriously, “Jarrod can reason his way out of a jam right?”
“Yes,” Tom answered. “So?”
“Nick can fight his way out of that same jam,” he said thinking. “Why not let Jarrod try to reason it out
first and if he can’t come up with a solution, then let Nick handle it with his
fists.”
“I see what you mean,” Tom replied finally understanding. “That way it would be solved.”
“Yes,” he told Tom. “Those two could
work as a team.”
“I think you’ve got something there,” Tom said smiling. “Now if I can only persuade Jarrod to take
on part of this responsibility.”
“I’m sure you can if you explain it to him,” he replied looking at Tom. “He’s level-headed and he will make a great
addition to this ranch.”
“That he would,” Tom told him. “I’ll do
it.”
“Good,” he said.
Several weeks later, Tom asked Jarrod to
come to the study. Jarrod couldn’t
imagine what his father wanted with him.
He didn’t think he had done anything to anger his father. When he walked inside, Tom closed the door.
Jarrod noticed Sam sitting in a chair.
“Sit down son,” he said as he went to his
desk. “I want a word with you.”
“Whatever it is,” Jarrod replied a little jumpy, “I didn’t do it.”
“I’m not going to get angry with you,” he told his son. “I wanted to discuss an idea we had with
you.”
“I see,” Jarrod said looking at Sam.
“All right.”
“Sam,” he replied looking over at Sam, “why don’t you tell him since it was
your idea?”
“Right,” Sam told him. “Jarrod, you
know that your father has been trying to ready Nick for the responsibility of
taking over this ranch one day.”
“Yes sir,” Jarrod said nodding his head.
“I wasn’t interested.”
“Nick has a very quick temper that sometimes gets him into trouble,” Sam
replied.
“I know from experience,” Jarrod told him.
“I’ve been on the receiving end of that temper and it wasn’t pleasant.”
“I have an idea how to help Nick and your father,” Sam said smiling.
“How?” Jarrod asked intrigued.
“You would rather talk yourself out of a problem wouldn’t you?” Sam wanted to
know.
“Sure,” Jarrod answered. “I try to look
at it from every possible angle before jumping in.”
“If you would be a partner to Nick,” Sam said hoping that Jarrod would
understand, “you could keep him from jumping into something that he may not be
able to get out of.”
“Son,” Tom replied drawing Jarrod’s attention away from Sam, “what I’m asking
you to do is to be a partner in this ranch with your brother. When problems arise, you could look at them
and then advise Nick on the best course of action to take. What I want to know is would you be willing
to help Nick with the ranch?”
Jarrod sat there thinking about what his father had asked. He weighed the pluses and the minuses. After several minutes he looked up at his
father.
“What does Nick think of this arrangement?” he asked wanting to know.
“I haven’t asked him yet,” Tom answered.
“I wanted to see if you would agree before I did."
“I see,” Jarrod said continuing to ponder his answer. “What if I decide to move away from here?”
“By then hopefully,” Tom replied starting to smile, “Nick would have learned
enough to handle those situations where he would normally use his fists.”
“All right,” Jarrod told them. “I’ll do
it.”
“That’s wonderful son,” Tom said smiling.
“Thanks Jarrod,” Sam replied also smiling.
“I hope Nick understands,” Jarrod told them.
Later that day, Tom and Sam explained the
situation to Nick.
“You want to what!” he exploded as he
looked at his father. “Jarrod doesn’t
give a hoot about this ranch. He’ll run
it into the ground. How can you ask me to work with him?”
“This is just what I’m talking about,” Tom said calmly. “You jump before you think. All we’re asking you to do is be a partner
with your brother. Is that too much to
ask?”
Nick looked at Tom and then at Sam.
“I guess not,” he said after he had calmed down. “Jarrod is better with figures than I am and he knows all those
fancy words to impress people with.”
“Then you agree?” Tom asked hopefully.
“Yes father,” he answered smiling. “I
think it will be fun. Jarrod and I
working together to make this ranch work.”
“Yes you will,” Tom said smiling. “Son,
you won’t regret this.”
“I hope not,” he replied. “You remember
we do love to argue.”
“That will also help,” Sam told him.
“You can work out your problems that way.”
“I hope they don’t get into huge arguments,” Tom said thinking back.
“I promise father to listen to Jarrod’s side as long as he will listen to
mine,” he replied smiling.
“It’s a deal,” Tom told him.
As Tom sat there looking at the documents
after remembering how he and Sam had met and how Sam had helped him make a
decision about how the ranch would be run after his sons took over the
responsibility, he realized that he needed Sam’s signature on one of the
documents before he could take it to Stockton. He needed the signature
desperately as he had an important meeting scheduled the next day with the Army
representative and there was no way he could leave now. He hadn’t realized when
he had asked Sam to go up to the line shack that he would need him so soon. So,
Tom made a decision that he prayed would be wise under the circumstances. He was going to ask his sons, Jarrod and
Nick, to take the document to Sam. He realized that the boys were still young
but he felt with Jarrod’s level-headedness he could trust them to get the job
done. And this would be a job that they could do together. Tom stood up from
behind the desk and walked to the bottom of the stairs in foyer.
“Jarrod!” Tom called from the bottom of the stairs. “Jarrod!”
Jarrod, who was reading in his room, after finishing his homework for the
following week, heard his father calling to him. Being this was a Saturday; he didn’t
have to worry about studying until he went to sleep. So he had decided to read
after lunch. He stood up from where he had laid across his bed and left his
room after putting away his book for another time.
“Yes father,” he said as he appeared at the upstairs banister. “Did you call sir?”
“Jarrod,” Tom asked motioning for him to come down stairs, “will you come down
here? I need you to do something for
me. It’s very important and very urgent.”
“On my way sir,” he answered walking down the stairs.
When Jarrod reached the bottom of the stairs, Tom asked him to join him in the
study.
“Jarrod,” he said putting an arm around his son, “let’s talk in the study.”
“Yes sir,” Jarrod replied following his father.
He had no idea what his father wanted of him.
But by the look on Tom’s face, he knew it was important. Once the two of
them were in the study, Tom explained his predicament. Tom paced the floor as
he spoke while Jarrod sat down in a chair listening to what his father had to
say.
“Jarrod,” he said sitting on the edge of his desk for a moment, “I need you to
do something for me. I am going to entrust you to do this for me. It’s very important and I would do it myself
but I’m needed here.”
“What father?” Jarrod asked standing up in front of him.
“I need you to take this very important document up to Sam Williams at the line
shack near the Sierra Mountains,” he answered holding the paper in his right
hand. “I need him to sign it and then
bring it back to me. I’d go myself but
I’m expecting a visit from Wally Miles to go over what we’ll need for
tomorrow’s meeting with the Army representative before he looks at the cattle
and horses that we’re selling to them along with Henry Marvin. I’m trusting you to do this as quickly as
possible.”
“I will father,” Jarrod said taking the paper from his father. “It’s going to
be cold up there so I better take my heavy coat along. You don’t have to worry
sir. I’ll be happy to do it.”
“That’s a good idea,” he replied nodding. “No need in you catching a cold or
worse because you are not dressed for the weather. Why don’t you ask Nick to go
with you? He could keep you
company. It’s at least a two to three
hour ride. And we can try this new partnership between the two of you.”
“All right,” Jarrod told him starting to leave the room. “I’ll ask him.”
“Jarrod,” he said looking at his son, “be careful. There hasn’t been any snow yet but it being the first of November
it’s only a matter of time before there is one. I don’t want you or Nick to get caught in it. You are not experts
in riding in the snow. And up there it can come down in a hurry. It can also become deep in a matter of a few
minutes especially if the wind blows hard.”
“We won’t,” Jarrod replied smiling.
“We’ll ride up there, get Sam to sign the paper and then head back. No
dawdling sir. I promise.”
“All right,” he told his son. “You look
after your brother and don’t let him get into any trouble.”
“How much trouble can Nick get into on a horse ride?” Jarrod asked
laughing “It’s not like he’s going to a
wedding or something.”
“I know,” he answered trying to smile.
“But I don’t want anything to happen to you or Nick.”
“It won’t,” Jarrod said as he started for the door.
“You better get going if you want to get back before dark,” he replied smiling. “I’ll tell your mother so you and Nick can
get started.”
“Yes sir,” Jarrod told him heading out the door.
Jarrod hurried upstairs, first grabbing his coat and then Nick’s from his
room. Then he headed down the stairs
and out the door not bothering to say goodbye to his mother. He had a feeling that his mother wouldn’t
approve of what his father had asked them to do. When he walked into the barn,
he handed the coat to his brother and Nick looked at him wondering what Jarrod
was up to.
“What’s this for?” he asked taking it from Jarrod. “It’s not that cold.”
“Father wants us to ride up to the line shack where Sam is to get him to sign
this important paper,” Jarrod answered showing Nick the folded document in his
hand. “And it’s going to be cold by the
time we get there. The mountains are a lot colder than we are.”
“All right,” he said starting to saddle up.
“What’s so important?”
“Something about the meeting tomorrow with the Army,” Jarrod replied saddling
his own horse. “That’s all I know. Anyway, father suggested you coming along to
keep me company. And to see how we do working together on a project that has to
do with the ranch.”
“Sure,” he told his brother. “Sounds
like fun. I remember father saying something about the Army wanting to buy some
livestock from us. I want to be at that
meeting. I bet I could sell them every head.”
“Everything is always fun to you,” Jarrod said looking at Nick. “Nick, this is serious. This is important. We have to get there quickly, let Sam sign it and then get home
before dark. Father is entrusting us to do this for him. I don’t want to disappoint him.”
“Don’t get so upset Jarrod,” he replied smiling. “It’s not the end of the world.”
“I want father to see how responsible I am,” Jarrod told him. “Then maybe he’ll have more time for me.
Lately, all he’s had time for is this ranch or you. I feel so left out. But I
guess that’s the price you pay when your interests are not in the ranch like
mine are. However, I did agree to be a partner with you. And this is a good way to see how that is
going to work out.”
“He spends a lot of time with you,” he said looking at Jarrod. “You are the one who always has his face
stuck in a book. If you’d get out in the fresh air, you’d feel a lot better and
then father would have time for you. I
wonder sometimes what you see in those books you stick your nose in.”
“I love to read Nick,” Jarrod replied with some anger in his voice. “You should know that by now. I won’t be
here at the ranch too much longer before I’ll head to San Francisco or maybe
Sacramento. I want to live and work in the city.”
“I do,” he told him. “But father is not
a book reader. He is a rancher. What do
you mean you’re going to San Francisco or Sacramento?”
“And a businessman which you’re not going to be,” Jarrod said smiling. “I plan
to live there once I’m out of school. I’m just not interested in this ranch
although I might be interested in the business end of it as I can see you’re
not going to be. You’re going to make a
great foreman barking orders and things like that. But you don’t have a head for business and I do. I’m interested in making my own way too and
if it means leaving here so be it.”
“I may not be a businessman but I’m a rancher,” he replied smugly. “I am my father’s son. I’ll miss you. It
won’t be the same without you here.”
“So am I,” Jarrod told him. “I’ll be back and forth. I won’t be able to stay away from you for very long.”
“Boys,” Tom said as he entered the barn hearing them talking to each other,
“what’s keeping you? I told you I
wanted you back before dark.”
“I’m sorry father,” Jarrod replied looking at him. “Nick and I were having words.”
“Save them for later,” Tom told them knowing his sons’ pennant for arguing. “Now get going.”
“Yes sir,” Jarrod said mounting up.
The two brothers rode off toward the Sierra Mountains. As Tom walked back into the house, Victoria
met him at the door.
“Where are the boys Tom?” she asked looking around. “I just checked Jarrod’s
room and he wasn’t there. I wanted to
ask him something.”
“I sent them up to the line shack near the Sierra Mountains to see Sam,” he
answered.
“You did what,” she said staring at Tom.
“Tom, they’re just boys. You had no right to send them up there where
it’s freezing cold and maybe even snowing.”
“Victoria,” he replied trying to calm her, “I couldn’t go myself because Wally
is coming over. I need Sam’s
signature. They’ll be fine. They’re
going straight up there and straight back.
They should be back by late afternoon.”
“I hope you’re right,” she told him. “It’s going to be cold. Did they take their coats? Oh, I hope they
are wrapped up so they won’t catch a cold.”
“Yes,” he said still trying to be calm.
“There is nothing that can hurt them. The trail is clearly marked.”
“I hope you’re right,” she replied hoping the boys wouldn’t run into any
problems. “They are only boys.”
“Will you stop worrying?” he told her.
“Jarrod is level-headed and smart.
He won’t do anything foolish to put he or Nick in danger.”
“I worry when you do things like this,” she said shaking her head. “You know as well as I do that Jarrod and
Nick are too young to go off on a trip like this. What if one of the horses
throws them and they get hurt?”
“Jarrod is twelve,” he replied trying to reassure her. “He’s almost a man. If he doesn’t learn about responsibility now
he won’t ever. You have a tendency to mother them too much. They need to do new things and learn. They can’t do that if you’re always looking
out for them.”
“You always have an answer don’t you?” she told him. “If anything happens to the boys, I’m holding you responsible.”
“All right,” he said understanding her feelings. “I’m sure they’ll be fine and back before dark.”
As Jarrod and Nick rode, they realized that there was a storm front headed
toward the line shack. The sky was
turning black the way they were headed.
“We had better hurry,” Jarrod said looking up.
“I’m afraid it might snow.”
“What’s a little snow?” Nick replied smiling.
“We’ve ridden in it before.”
“That’s not the point,” Jarrod told him.
“We won’t make it home before dark if it starts snowing. You know how much can fall in a short period
of time. Especially up here. It’s not like back at the ranch. It can snow here for days on end. And I’m
not the best horseman anyway.”
“Yeah,” he said finally realizing that Jarrod was right. “You’re right. I guess this new partnership
will be worthwhile. You’re already
earning your part.”
“Nick,” Jarrod replied looking over at his younger brother, “I hope you don’t
mind coming with me. Father suggested it since it was a long ride.”
“No way,” he told Jarrod. “I get out of
doing the chores.”
“Very funny,” Jarrod said laughing.
Nick also laughed. They headed on.
Back at the ranch, Tom was talking to Wally at the corral. They were looking at
the cattle and horses they had in the coral to sale to the army.
“These should be enough for the Army,” Wally said as he and Tom looked over the
eighty head of cattle and several dozen horses in the corrals. “There’s at least eighty head here and those
horses are top-notch. And what Henry adds will make it worth the army’s while.”
“I’m not sure how much Henry will sell,” he replied wondering. “You know what a tough businessman he is.
They should bring a good price too.”
“Sure will,” Wally told him looking toward the mountains. “That looks like a nasty storm heading this
way. Probably will dump at least a foot
of snow. Those mountains will be covered by dark.”
“I hope it waits till the boys get back,” he said as he realized that there was
indeed a storm heading toward those mountains.
“Where are they?” Wally asked seeing Tom’s expression.
“I sent them up to the line shack near those mountains to get Sam Williams’
signature for tomorrow’s meeting,” he answered his expression one of worry for
his two sons. “I forgot to get him to
sign a document I’m going to need for the meeting before he left last week. As
my new foreman, he has a lot more responsibility than he did just a few weeks
ago. There’s been so much going on lately.
Eugene’s birth, the boys’ problems and trying to keep this ranch going.”
“I’m sure the boys will be fine,” Wally said trying to be calm around Tom
knowing that he was worried for his sons.
“They’ve lived here all their lives.
They know how to handle horses in snow. I just hope that Evan will do as
well when he gets bigger. I’m so happy
to have a son to carry on for me.”
“I know,” he replied but he was still worried.
“But I’m afraid something could happen.
Jarrod is twelve but Nick is only eight and prone to forget what he’s
learned. Evan’s going to do just fine with a teacher like his father.”
“Don’t worry so much,” Wally told him.
“Jarrod is level-headed.”
“I hope he reminds Nick of that,” Tom said trying to smile but he was worried.
Jarrod and Nick took it very slow as they worked their way up the steep
road. They knew it would be late
afternoon before they arrived at the shack but it couldn’t be helped. Jarrod did not want to cause any accident
that could injure either Nick or himself. He wasn’t that familiar with this
road either so he didn’t want to injure either of the horses.
“Jarrod,” he said looking at his brother who was riding in front, “maybe we had
better move faster.”
“No,” Jarrod replied glancing behind him at his brother. “This is fast enough for the terrain. If we
pick up too much speed, we might end up thrown or worse.”
“I guess you’re right,” he told his brother. “Now I know why Sam and father put
us together. You have the smarts and I
have the fists.”
“You know something Nick,” Jarrod said trying to lighten the mood. “You’re supposed to be the rancher in
training. How come you didn’t know
that?”
“I have a hard time remembering everything father tells me,” he replied trying
to smile.
“You mean that sometimes you don’t listen,” Jarrod told him.
“Maybe not as close as I should,” he said nodding.
“It figures,” Jarrod replied. “You know
father is trusting you with the ranch for when you are grown. How is he going to feel if you can’t
remember what you’ve learned?”
“I can remember,” he told Jarrod. “It’s
just that I choose not to remember it all right now. And besides isn’t that why
father asked you to help me? You’re the
one with the brains.”
“Nick,” Jarrod said, “you are going to hurt father if you don’t start listening
better. I can’t bail you out of trouble forever. You’re going to have to consider the consequences before you
act.”
“I know,” he replied. “I’ll do better.
And since I have you to remind me, it won’t be so bad.”
“I hope so,” Jarrod told him. “Because I’m not always going to be around to fix
things for you or smooth over misunderstandings for you.”
“I’ll do better,” he said crossing his heart. “I hope.”
Jarrod kind of doubted that Nick would fully be able to stop jumping into
things without thinking but he would try his best to help Nick. And if he had to teach Nick a lesson here
and there, so be it.
They finally arrived at the shack but it was later than they had hoped to get
here. Jarrod knew they would be after
dark getting home even if Sam was here and signed the paper immediately. But it couldn’t be helped. Jarrod wanted to be safe than sorry. Sam was evidentially out checking fence
because his horse was gone. There was
nothing they could do but wait. Jarrod kept his eyes on the sky and the clouds.
They didn’t want to go inside because Jarrod felt that it would be an
intrusion.
“I don’t like the looks of that sky,” Jarrod said as they sat on the porch of
the shack. “The temperature is dropping
and the wind is picking up. I wish Sam
would hurry back. It’ll be after dark now before we get back to the ranch. I
don’t want to think about going down that road in the dark. It’s bad enough when you can see.”
“Maybe we ought to go look for him,” he replied trying to be helpful. “Or at
least go inside where it is warm.”
“No,” Jarrod told Nick. “We’ll wait
right here. If we try to find him, we could miss him and then we’d lose even
more time. As for going inside, this is Sam’s house so to speak and I don’t
feel right about going inside without an invitation.”
“I guess you’re right,” he said pacing. “Jarrod, you sure can mix a boy up.”
“I’m sorry,” Jarrod replied not sure what Nick meant.
“It’s all right,” he told his brother. “We’ll just wait. He shouldn’t be much longer.”
Tom and Wally had concluded their business and as Tom was walking toward the
house, he looked back at the mountains.
It was getting dark very quickly as the storm clouds moved in. Tom looked at his watch. It was five in the afternoon.
“Boys,” he said praying they would make it back before that storm dumped that
snow, “hurry home.”
When he walked into the house, he almost ran into Victoria who was walking
toward the living room.
“Did you finish with Wally?” she asked as she held Gene in her arms. “I was
just going to give Gene his supper.”
“Yeah,” he answered. “How’s my newest boy?”
“Tom,” she asked looking at his expression, “what is it?”
“I’m worried about the boys,” he answered knowing that she had seen through his
pretending to be happy. “That storm
front is moving very fast. It’s getting
darker by the minute.”
“They’re probably on their way back,” she said trying to calm Tom. “And besides
weren’t you the one that said they would be fine?”
“I hope so,” he replied but he was very worried. “Yes. But now I’m not so sure. Maybe I was a little hasty in getting them
to go but I was desperate.”
“If you’re that worried,” she told him, “why don’t you take a couple of the
hands and go meet the boys.”
“I may have to do that,” he said starting to walk toward the study. “But I’ll wait a little longer. I’ll be in
the study. When the boys get back, tell
them I want to see them.”
“All right,” she replied as she watched him leave.
She was just as worried as he was.
Sam finally rode up to the shack at six.
When he saw the boys, he smiled. But Jarrod wasn’t very happy. He knew that it would be way after dark
before they got home and he didn’t envy them having to ride down that road in
the dark. It was treacherous enough in
the daylight.
“What are you two doing here?” he asked as he dismounted. “With the snow
heading in I would have thought your father would have plenty to keep you two busy
at the ranch.”
“Father sent us here to get you to sign this paper,” Jarrod answered handing
Sam the folded paper. “We’ve been waiting for about an hour.”
“Come in and get warm,” he said opening the door and going in. “I’ll read this
and then sign it. I’m sorry I was gone so long. There was a large section of
fence down and I wanted to try to repair it.”
Jarrod and Nick followed him inside.
Sam headed over to the small table in the room, lighting a lamp. Then he sat down to read the document. Meanwhile, Jarrod and Nick took off their
coats and hats, standing in front of the fire that was raging in the fireplace.
“It feels a hundred percent better in here than out there,” Jarrod said
smiling. “I tell you it’s going to be
snowing by dark.”
“All right Jarrod,” Sam replied handing the folded paper to him. “Here it is signed. You two better hit the road home. I don’t want you to get caught in a
snowstorm.”
“What’s a little snow Sam?” Nick told him.
“It can be very dangerous if you don’t use your brain,” Sam said looking at
him. “You think life is a game. Well it’s not. Snow can be very dangerous especially if the temperature drops
quickly. I need to learn you about how
to survive in the outdoors. Both of
you. Especially if you are going to be partners in operating this ranch.”
“I already know some,” Jarrod replied looking at Sam. “But I’m always ready to listen.”
“You see Nick,” Sam told him, “you need to be more like Jarrod. You think you know everything when you
really don’t. You can get hurt.”
“I’m sorry Sam,” Nick said lowering his head.
“I guess I need to learn so when the ranch is mine I can run it and know
what I’m doing.”
“Wait a minute little brother,” Jarrod replied stopping his brother’s
statement. “You mean when the ranch is
ours.”
“Yeah,” Nick told him. “Sorry. Poor choice of words.”
“It’s going to be all ours,” Jarrod said smiling. “Yours, mine and Eugene’s.”
“You mean our baby brother,” Nick replied shaking his head at the thought. “He’s not going to be a rancher. He’s too soft.”
“What do you mean by that?” Jarrod asked starting to get angry. “How would you
know? He’s just a baby. Wait until he gets bigger and then say
that.”
“He’s not cut out to be a rancher,” Nick answered. “You aren’t.”
“That doesn’t mean that Eugene won’t be one,” Jarrod said standing up for his
youngest brother. “You only think about
yourself Nick. It doesn’t matter to you
that other people are around you. You need to remember that.”
“Boys,” Sam replied trying to get them moving, “you can argue later. You better head for home. It’s started to snow and the light is
going. It will be pitch dark before you
get down as it is.”
“All right Sam,” Jarrod told him putting his coat and hat on. “Come on Nick.”
“Right behind you,” Nick said also putting on his coat and hat.
The two boys left the shack and mounted up.
“You be careful,” Sam said as they rode off.
Sam had a bad feeling about the boys but he couldn’t do anything about it. If Tom needed that signed paper by tomorrow
they would have to get it to him. He
hoped that everything would go well.
As Tom sat in the study behind his desk trying to concentrate on his work, his
mind kept thinking about his two sons.
He stood up walking to the French doors looking out. It was starting to get dark and he could see
how white the mountains were becoming as the light faded. He knew his sons
weren’t going to make it home before dark. He made a decision.
“Victoria!” he called as he left the study.
“Victoria!”
“Yes Tom,” she said from the kitchen where she was helping Silas prepare
dinner.
“I’m going to take Jeb with me and going to go look for the boys,” he replied
putting on his heavy coat. “It’s
starting to get dark and the mountains are white with snow. They could be in some kind of trouble.”
“All right,” she told him. “Be careful
and bring them home.”
“I will,” he said as he walked out the door.
Victoria prayed that her two sons would be all right.
“Silas,” she said as she walked back into the kitchen, “I hope the boys are all
right. Frankly, Tom and I are both
worried.”
“I’m sure Mr. Tom will find them,” he replied looking at her. “He’s a good horseman.”
“He’s going to have to be,” she told him.
Tom headed for the bunkhouse where he found Jeb Wilson sitting on his cot. Jeb
was older than Tom and he had come to respect and look up to Jeb. As he walked
over to the older man, Jeb could tell that something was on his boss’s mind.
“Hello Tom,” Jeb said as Tom walked over to him. “Something wrong? We were just talking about the first snow. Looks like it might be a big one.”
“I sent the boys on an errand to the line shack and now it’s snowing,” he
replied looking at the older man. “I’m
going to look for them. Will you come
with me?”
“Sure,” Jeb told him understanding why Tom was so worried. “Let me get my coat and hat. That road is
dangerous in the daytime. With snow
it’s going to be very hard to follow.”
Jeb retrieved his heavy coat and his hat.
Then the two of them headed out the door to the barn to saddle two
horses.
“How long they been gone?” Jeb asked as they worked.
“Since early afternoon,” he answered.
“I should never have sent them. I should have known they were too young
to go. But I thought they could do it.”
“Quit being so hard on yourself,” Jeb said smiling. “They’re Barkleys and they’ve had a good teacher.”
“I hope so,” he replied as they headed out to find the boys.
Jarrod and Nick were finding it hard to move in the knee-deep snow. It had been
snowing very hard since they had left the shack. They could barely see as they
rode. It was also getting much colder. And the snow was still coming down hard.
Jarrod was also having trouble remembering the exact way they had come. He thought he might have made a wrong turn
on two separate occasions.
“Jarrod,” Nick said as they went, “we’ll never get home if we don’t get a move
on. We’re going too slow.”
“I don’t want to cause injury to the horses,” Jarrod replied trying to judge
the correct way to get down. “But maybe
we can go faster even if I’m not sure we’re going the right way.”
“What do you mean?” he asked looking at Jarrod. “You’re not lost are you?”
“With all this snow,” Jarrod answered, “I’m just not sure of the right way
home.”
“We’re going down,” he said trying to be kind to Jarrod. “What other way could we go?”
“Yes,” Jarrod replied, “we’re going down but I can’t make out any landmarks to
help guide me like we had on the way up.”
They picked up their speed. Then
Jarrod’s horse stumbled when his front leg fell into a gopher hole. Jarrod was thrown from the animal’s back and
landed hard on his stomach over a medium sized rock that was lying at the side
of the road. His right leg was twisted at an odd angle. He felt nothing but
waves and waves of pain as he tried to turn over. Nick jumped from his horse
running over to Jarrod.
“Jarrod,” Nick said as he reached his brother. “Are you all right?”
“Nick,” Jarrod replied weakly. “My ribs
are on fire. And my leg...”
“You landed on a rock,” Nick told him trying to ease Jarrod onto his back. “Let me help you get in a more comfortable
position.”
With care Nick turned Jarrod over and slid him up against a tree trunk that was
nearby. As Nick tried to straighten
Jarrod’s right leg, he cried out.
“That hurts,” he said as the pain hit him even harder. “Please don’t touch it.”
“I think it may be broke,” Nick replied looking at the leg closely. “Can you stand?”
Jarrod tried to stand but any weight on that leg caused him terrible pain and
he collapsed back to the ground.
“No,” he said as he relaxed against the tree again. “I can’t go. You’ll have
to get father.”
“I don’t want to leave you,” Nick replied knowing that if he left Jarrod, he
might not be able to find him again. “The way it’s snowing, you could be buried
in it before I could get back.”
“You have too,” he told his brother.
“I’ll die if we don’t find father.
“It’s getting colder and the snow is getting heavier.”
“All right,” Nick said giving in. “I’ll
be back as soon as I can.”
“How’s my horse?” he asked not knowing what happened to his horse.
Nick went to where Jarrod’s horse lay.
He looked at Chestnut. Checking the horse thoroughly, he realized that
the horse was doomed. Then he turned back to Jarrod.
“Broken leg,” he said looking up from the horse. “Chestnut is alive but he won’t last long in this cold and with
that broken leg.”
Jarrod was shaken by the news. He loved
his horse very much. Then he looked at
Nick.
“Go,” he said trying to get Nick to move.
Nick mounted up and headed off in the direction he hoped would lead him toward
home. He wasn’t sure either. Jarrod
prayed that he would make it. He was
getting colder by the minute and he finally passed out both from the cold and
the pain. The snow continued to fall
and soon Jarrod was covered by it. It
would be a miracle if Tom and Jeb could find him now.
Tom and Jeb were moving as fast as they could through the deep snow. But it was
almost a blinding snow because the wind had picked up. It was also getting much
colder. Tom called out to his sons in hope of finding them quickly.
“Jarrod!” he called looking for any sign of the boys. “Nick!”
“No sign of them,” Jeb said as they rode.
“No tracks.”
“We’ll keep going,” he replied trying to keep some hope of finding the boys
alive. “I have to find them.”
They kept going.
Meanwhile, Nick was riding too fast for the weather. He had forgotten
everything his father had taught him about riding in snow. His mind was on Jarrod and getting help for
him. His horse buckled and he ended up on the ground. He hit his head on a tree limb that was hanging low weighed down
by the heavy snow and was knocked out.
Would anyone find them before it was too late?
Tom and Jeb kept going. The terrain was getting slippery as the snow began to
mount up. Tom was getting very worried as the darkness descended down on
them. He knew the temperature was also
dropping. They had brought lanterns but in the blinding snow, they couldn’t see
much.
“Tom,” Jeb said as they rode, “we’ll find them.”
“I hope so,” he replied but his worry was turning into panic. “I should never have sent them. It was a mistake.”
“They have to learn,” Jeb told him. “How are they going to learn if they don’t
try new things.”
“Not at the expense of possibly losing them both,” he said trying to will his
sons to be all right.
They kept going.
Back at the ranch, Victoria stood looking out the window toward the mountains
praying that Tom would find Jarrod and Nick. She could tell that it was getting
colder. But there was nothing she could
do except pray.
“Please keep my boys safe,” she said.
Finally, after riding for a couple of hours, Tom noticed something in the
snow. He dismounted. Walking over, he realized that it was Nick.
Reaching down, he slowly turned his younger son over after uncovering him.
“Nick,” he said softly, “can you hear me?”
Slowly, Nick looked up at his father.
“Father,” he said very slowly.
“How bad are you hurt?” he asked.
“My head,” he answered. “And my arm.”
Tom looked at Nick’s head and his arm.
“You’ve hit your head,” he said looking down at his son. “You’ve got a bad bump. Your arm may be
broken. I can’t be sure. Nick, where is Jarrod?”
Tom looked for any sign of his oldest son.
“Back there,” Nick replied pointing to the way they had come. “His horse broke its leg and he has a broken
leg. He couldn’t stand. I tried to get help but I must have pushed
the horse too hard.”
“Don’t worry son,” he told Nick helping him to his feet. “Jeb, you stay with Nick. “I’m going in search of Jarrod.”
“Right,” Jeb said dismounting.
Jeb built a fire out of some dry wood he found a few feet away under a blanket
he fixed over some low lying tree limbs to shelter them from the snow. He and Nick sat beside the fire. Neither said a word. Their thoughts were with Tom in hopes that
he would be able to find Jarrod before it was too late.
Tom mounted up riding off toward his other son. As he rode, he looked for any sign of Jarrod. Finally, he saw a high mound of snow. He dismounted. Walking over to it, he realized it was his son’s horse. He knew Jarrod was close by. Beginning to search, he got down on his
hands and knees. He felt around the
area surrounding the fallen horse. He finally spotted a mound of snow near a
broken tree. He made his way over to it and realized it was Jarrod. He was almost covered in snow. He was unconscious. He gently uncovered Jarrod and noticed his
right leg. The break was jagged and
there was a very deep cut. Blood was on
his pants leg. But he didn’t take the
time to set it. He had to get Jarrod to
help.
“Jarrod,” he said trying to rouse his son.
“Jarrod.”
Jarrod’s eyes opened a slit.
“Father,” he croaked.
“Don’t try to talk,” Tom said as he kneeled down beside his son. “I’m taking you home.”
“Nick,” he mumbled.
“He’s down the mountain a ways,” Tom said trying to smile. “Jeb is with him.”
Jarrod passed out. Tom picked him
up. Jarrod was ice cold in his
arms. He sat his son up on the saddle. Then he mounted up heading for Jeb and Nick.
Jeb had made Nick as comfortable as possible as he waited for Tom. Then he saw Tom’s horse.
“Did you find him?” he asked when Tom rode up.
“Yes,” Tom answered dismounting and lifting Jarrod off into his arms. “He is frozen plus he has damaged ribs and a
broken leg. We have to get the boys
home.”
“Right,” he said standing up.
The two men rode off toward the Barkley ranch and help. Nick was now
unconscious as Jeb had him and Tom had Jarrod.
They both knew that it didn’t look good for the boys. But neither one said anything. They were determined to get back to the
ranch and bring help for Jarrod and Nick.
Victoria looked at the clock in the foyer.
It was now eight in the evening.
Tom had been gone over two hours.
She looked out the window realizing that it was starting to snow. She prayed.
“Let my boys be all right,” she said.
Tom and Jeb couldn’t push the horses in the snow. They had to go very slow.
Tom kept glancing at Jarrod. He was
still unconscious and his breathing was getting worse. He hadn’t taken the time
to set Jarrod’s broken leg. He was in too much of a hurry to get his sons home.
Tom knew they didn’t have a lot of time.
“Jeb,” he said as they rode, “Jarrod’s breathing is getting more labored. We
need to hurry but the way it’s snowing, it’s hard for the horses.”
“I know,” Jeb replied glancing down at Nick.
“It will be close to ten before we reach the ranch at this rate. Nick passed out about an hour ago.”
“I should never have sent them,” he told Jeb berating himself. “It’s all my fault. Why did I have to send
them?”
“Tom,” Jeb said, “concentrate on getting them home. You can place blame later.”
“You’re right,” he replied nodding.
“Victoria is probably worried sick.”
They rode on. It took every bit of
Tom’s expertise to handle the horse and hold on to his son in the snow. He almost lost the reins a couple of times. He stopped, checking Jarrod every little
bit. The boy was still unconscious and
his breathing was even more labored.
But what really worried Tom was his body temperature. He was so cold. His lips were purple and so were his nose and ears. Tom knew that he was slowly losing his son.
“Jeb,” he asked wanting to know how his other son was, “how’s Nick?”
“He’s still out,” Jeb replied looking at the boy. “He’s cold and he’s having trouble breathing too. Must be the temperature drop.”
“Jarrod is getting worse by the minute,” he told Jeb trying to see in the
darkness even with the aid of the light. “I don’t know if he’s going to even make it.”
“Sure he will,” Jeb said trying to cheer Tom up. “He’s a Barkley. “They’re tough boys Tom. You have to have faith in them.”
“I’m very concerned for both of my sons,” he replied trying to control his
emotions. “If only I had considered the
weather before asking them to do this.
They would be at home safe.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Jeb told him.
“You know as well as I do that Jarrod and Nick are a vital part of this
ranch. It will all be theirs someday.”
“True,” he said nodding. “If they make
it.”
“We’ll be there soon,” Jeb replied but even he had his own doubts that the boys
would be all right.
“I hope so,” he told him.
Victoria couldn’t concentrate on her book.
She kept looking at the clock, counting the minutes. She knew something was wrong or Tom would
have been back by now. She heard Eugene
crying and went to check on him.
After nearly five hours on the trail, Tom and Jeb arrived at the ranch. They dismounted, handing the reins over to a
waiting Ciego.
“Riley,” he said as he walked over to one of the hands standing outside the
bunkhouse, “ride into Stockton and bring Doc Merrar out here. The boys are both hurt.”
“Sure thing boss,” Riley replied as he hurried to the barn.
Jeb and Tom carried the boys into the house where Victoria met them.
“How bad?” she asked as they walked in.
“Nick hit his head and probably broke his arm,” he answered as he held Jarrod
in his arms. “Jarrod has a broken leg
and some damage to his ribs. But he is
so cold. And for that matter so is Nick.”
“Put them both in Jarrod’s room,” she said following them upstairs. “It will be
easier for the doctor to treat them.”
After the boys were laid down on the bed, Victoria and Tom took off their wet
clothes. They put clean and dry long
underwear on them and then covered them up under warm quilts. Then Tom got a
good look at Jarrod’s right leg. In
addition to it being broken, there was a long and deep gash along the outside
of the calf below where it was broken.
“Jeb,” he said as he turned, “thanks for all your help. I’ll let you know.”
“Those boys will be up and around soon,” Jeb replied as he walked out of the
room.
“I hope they will,” he told her. “I
should have never sent them.”
“That’s beside the point,” she said looking down at her two sons. “Right now, we need to concentrate on
getting them well.”
The doctor walked in and went straight to his two young patients. After thoroughly examining both boys, he
turned to Tom and Victoria.
“Nick has a concussion and a broken left arm,” he said looking up. “Jarrod has bruised ribs and a badly broken
right leg. There is a six-inch deep gash on the outside of his calf. It could cause a problem. I’ll give him something to help with infection
and pain. His body temperature is far
below normal and so is Nick’s. First
thing is to raise their temperature.
Then I can set the arm and leg.
Nick will have a headache for a few days.”
“Will they be all right?” she asked very concerned.
“It’s too early to tell,” the doctor answered.
“I’ll know more in a few hours.”
The doctor went to work on both of the boys. He wrapped them in warm quilts and
had Tom build a fire in the fireplace in the room. It was difficult for him to
splint the leg with the gash so he decided to splint the upper part of the
boy’s leg for the break so he could wrap the gash. He didn’t tell Tom and Victoria but he feared that Jarrod might
have to lose that leg especially if infection set in.
“I’ve taken care of all the physical injuries,” he said looking at Tom and
Victoria. “Now we wait. That leg worries me.”
“You mean the cut,” Tom replied looking at the expression on the doctor’s face.
“It didn’t look that bad to me.”
“Yes,” he told them. “I was unable to
splint the lower part of Jarrod’s leg.
He may have problems from it in the future. I don’t know for sure.”
“Jarrod will be fine,” Tom said confident even though he wasn’t. “I know he will and so will Nick.”
“I can’t be sure about that,” he replied.
“Both are suffering from exposure along with their physical
injuries. Time will tell.”
As Tom and Victoria waited to see if their sons would survive, Victoria became
very angry.
“You shouldn’t have sent them up there Tom,” she said anger showing in her
voice. “They’re only boys. They could
die and it’s all your fault. You had to do this to them. I hate you for this Tom.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” he replied getting angry himself. “I didn’t realize at the time that it was
going to start snowing that soon.”
“I’m never going to forgive you if they don’t get better,” she told him.
“I don’t blame you for feeling that way,” he said looking at her. “But I’m sure they will survive. They are Barkleys after all.”
“Don’t give that line again?” she replied showing her anger. “I hate that sentence. That’s the way you’ve
always dealt with tragedy. You just say
that they are Barkleys. This time a
name is not going to make them well.”
“Barkleys never give up,” he told her. “I was told that when I was a boy. I survived.
They will too.”
“Yes,” she said sarcastically. “You
make it seem like all Barkleys are invincible. They’re not. You should know that by now. Our sons are in serious shape. They may even die.”
“Maybe we are,” he replied trying to be confident.
“Don’t start that with me,” she told him.
“I am very worried about my two sons.”
“So am I,” he said looking at his sons.
“Will you two stop it?” the doctor replied angrily. “It doesn’t matter whose at fault. Jarrod and Nick need you both.
They are very sick boys right now.
Arguing about them won’t make them well.”
“You’re right doctor,” she told him.
“Jarrod and Nick need us now.”
“I agree,” he said looking down at his two sons.
There was a moan from the bed and both of them turned to see which boy had made
it. Nick was slowly opening his eyes.
He grunted from the pain coming from his head and arm. It took his eyes a little while before they
adjusted to the light. Then he saw his
parents and knew he was home.
“What?” he got out.
“You’re safe at home,” she said leaning over him. “You and Jarrod are in Jarrod’s bed and you’re going to be fine.”
“My arm and head,” he replied trying to reach up and hold them.
“Your arm is broken and you have a concussion that makes your head hurt,” Tom
told him. “You’re going to have to rest.”
“Jarrod?” he asked
“He’s still unconscious,” she answered looking over at Jarrod and not liking
what she was seeing.
“What about his leg?” he asked.
“It’s badly broken and there is a deep cut on the side of it,” Tom answered.
“How did you know about his leg?”
“I didn’t want to leave him,” he said looking at Tom. “But he made me. I could see how badly that leg was lying. I wanted to set it but I didn’t think I had
the strength. It’s my entire
fault. If I hadn’t pushed Jarrod to
hurry down, he wouldn’t have fallen from his horse and gotten hurt. He landed on a rock.”
“You had to try and find help,” Tom replied trying to explain to Nick. “You did what was right. If you hadn’t tried
to get help, Jarrod would probably be dead by now.”
“Then how come I feel so sad,” he told them.
“You are a sick boy and need to rest,” she said knowing he needed to rest.
“All right,” he replied closing his eyes. “But wake me if anything happens to
Jarrod.”
“We will,” she said smiling and covering Nick up.
“He blames himself,” he told her.
“Yes,” she said looking at Tom. “But
he’s not at fault. He did what had to
be done to save Jarrod. If he had not left Jarrod, he would have probably
watched his brother die. And there
would have been nothing he could have done about it.”
“And he was a brave boy to do it,” he replied understanding the guts it took
for Nick to leave Jarrod. “A very brave boy.”
“But why doesn’t Jarrod wake up?” she asked fearing that Jarrod wouldn’t make
it.
The doctor stayed close to Jarrod. He
knew by the looks of that right leg that Jarrod’s life was in jeopardy. He looked at Tom and Victoria.
“I’m very concerned about his leg,” he said as he examined Jarrod again. “It’s not healing. I may have to take it off to save his life.”
Tom sat there stunned. He looked at his
oldest son. Jarrod was still
unconscious and he was pale. Tom didn’t
want to think about the prospect that his son would have to spend the rest of
his life in some kind of chair because he couldn’t walk. He refused to believe that.
“No,” he said very strongly. “I won’t
let you take his leg off. He’s going to
heal and he’s going to heal with that leg.”
“Tom,” she replied looking at her husband, “the doctor would know what’s best.”
“I’m not letting him remove Jarrod’s leg,” he told her. “It’s not going to happen.”
“All right Tom,” the doctor said giving in for now. “But it may come down to having to remove it.”
“No,” he replied again.
Jarrod’s leg wouldn’t heal. Infection
set in a few days later and the doctor looked at Tom and Victoria.
“I can’t wait,” he said as he looked at Jarrod’s parents. “That leg has to come off or it will kill
him. His fever has escalated and I can’t wait.”
“No!” Tom screamed as he looked at Jarrod.
“I’m not going to make my son spend the rest of his life in some chair
never being able to walk. You’ll have
to find some other way to help him.”
“Tom,” she replied looking at her husband, “maybe the doctor is right.”
“No,” Tom told her. “I’m not going to
allow him to take something from my son.
I’ve made my decision.”
“I just hope it doesn’t cost Jarrod his life,” she said shaking her head. “I
understand how you feel but wouldn’t it be easier to let Jarrod live with only
one leg than to die with both of them.”
“No,” Tom remarked as he watched the doctor work. “I’m not going to make my son an invalid the rest of his life.”
“All right Tom,” he replied. “I’ll do
everything I can to save that leg. But
if it comes down to that leg or his life, I’ll have to take the leg.”
“Agreed,” Tom told him.
Jarrod had still not regained consciousness and the doctor was very
concerned. In fact, so were Tom and
Victoria for that matter. Nick had
begun to heal but still had a headache from his concussion.
“Father,” Nick said as he looked over at his brother, “I don’t understand why
Jarrod won’t wake up. He didn’t seem to be hurt that bad.”
“Son,” Tom replied as he looked down at Nick, “Jarrod has been very badly hurt.
He’s trying to get well as well as
trying to wake up. But he has to use so
much energy to get well that he can’t afford to open his eyes right now.”
“I think I understand,” Nick told him.
“But will he wake up?”
“I hope so son,” Tom said as he looked over at Jarrod. “I hope so.”
The doctor stayed at the ranch to keep a close eye on Jarrod’s leg. Tom began to pace the floor, worry evident
on his face.
“Tom,” she said as she watched him pace Jarrod’s small bedroom, “please sit
down. You’re going to wear a hole in
the floor.”
“I pace when I’m nervous or upset,” he replied angrily. “I don’t see how you can be so calm knowing
that Jarrod might lose that leg even though I’ve forbid the doctor from
removing it.”
“Do you think that is a wise move Tom?” she asked.
“Victoria,” he answered as he sat down to face her, “I don’t want to give the
doctor permission to remove his leg and then find out that it wasn’t
necessary. Jarrod has most of his life
in front of him. I don’t want him to
blame me for taking something away from him.”
“I see your point,” she said nodding, “but if his leg is not going to heal
properly and he is not going to get any better, why take the risk.”
“Because I love him,” he replied getting up again. “I don’t want to deprive him of anything. I don’t want him to spend the rest of his
life in some kind of a chair and never be able to walk again. Every time I would look at him, I would
remember what I did and then I would become angry. Is that what you want?”
“No of course not,” she told him. “But
if it saves his life, isn’t it worth the gamble?”
“I’m not so sure,” he said shaking his head.
“I won’t take that risk if I don’t have to.”
“All right Tom,” she replied. “We’ll
leave it as it for now but if Jarrod gets any worse, I’m going to give Dr.
Merar my permission to operate.”
“Agreed,” he told her.
Two more days passed and Jarrod had still not regained consciousness. Tom and Victoria were very concerned, as was
the doctor. Nick was healing and was
finally allowed to sit up in a chair.
“Mother,” Nick said as he sat in one of the chairs in Jarrod’s room, “I’m all
right.”
“Sweetheart,” she replied shaking her head, “you heard the doctor. You’re supposed to take it easy for at least
a week. You still have a concussion and
your arm is still broken.”
“All right,” Nick told her still not happy.
“I’ll do what you ask.”
“Thank you Nick,” she said smiling.
“That’s one less thing to worry about.”
Tom had left the boys to go out to the barn but he couldn’t concentrate on
anything but Jarrod. He could still see
his son lying on that bed so still.
“Tom,” Henry Marvin asked as he walked up to Tom, “how are your boys today?”
“Nick is sitting up in a chair,” he answered looking up at his neighbor and
friend. “He still has a concussion and
a broken arm but he is mending.”
“And Jarrod?” Henry asked concerned.
“He’s still unconscious,” he answered very quietly.
“But it’s been four days since...” Henry said.
“I know,” he replied. “But there’s
nothing that we can do for Jarrod except wait and see.”
“You know I will do anything to help,” Henry told him.
“Yes,” he said smiling. “I’ll keep you
posted.”
Henry left and Tom walked back inside the house. He didn’t want to go to Jarrod’s room. He didn’t want to see his son lying so still on that bed. As he opened the door to Jarrod’s room, he
hesitated.
“Tom,” she said as she saw him starting to open the door, “come in here. There’s something you must see.”
Tom hurried into the room. He was
unprepared for what he saw. There in
the bed was Jarrod awake and smiling at him.
“When did you wake up?” he asked as he hurried over to the side of the bed.
“Just a few minutes ago,” she answered smiling.
“How do you feel son?” he asked.
“I’m still hurting some but I’ll be all right,” Jarrod answered smiling. “I wanted to apologize father for putting
Nick and myself in so much danger. I
didn’t realize it would take as long as it did to reach Sam and then he wasn’t
at the shack when we arrived. We had to wait an additional hour before he
showed up and then he had to sign the document.”
“Stop right there son,” he said putting his hand up. “You’re not to blame. I
should never have sent you in the first place.
You weren’t ready for that much responsibility. I should have known that.”
“I’m the one who’s sorry sir,” Jarrod replied. “I didn’t handle the
responsibility that you gave me very well.”
“All right,” she told them. “Let’s drop
it for now. Jarrod needs to stay calm
and rest.”
“Of course,” he said looking back at his son.
“You’re going to be good as new.”
“I hope so,” Jarrod replied. “But I don’t understand something.”
“You will,” he told his son. “What?”
“I can feel a throbbing coming from my leg,” Jarrod remarked. “Why?”
“Honey,” she said coming to the side of the bed, “I want you to rest now. Pain
is part of the healing process. If it
doesn’t hurt some, it isn’t healing.”
“Your mother is right,” he replied smiling.
“We’ll talk later.”
“All right,” Jarrod told them laying his head back and closing his eyes.
“What a relief,” he said after Jarrod had gone to sleep. “Why didn’t you let me know?”
“He had just woke up when you came in,” she replied. “I knew you would be relieved.”
“I am,” he told her and smiled. “Does
he know about his leg?”
“Yes and no,” she answered.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked confused.
“He knows that his leg is broken and has a cut on it,” she answered. “But he doesn’t know the severity of the injury. I thought it best not to worry him right
now. You heard how concerned he was about the pain.”
“You’re right of course,” he said nodding.
“We can tell him when he’s a little stronger.”
“That’s what I thought,” she replied also smiling.
The next morning the doctor came by to see how Jarrod was. After his examination, he looked at Jarrod
and Jarrod knew something was wrong.
“What is it doctor?” he asked very concerned.
“It’s your leg son,” the doctor answered.
“What about my leg?” he asked. “What are you not telling me?”
“It has a very long and deep gash cut into the thigh,” the doctor
answered. “It’s having a very hard time
healing. I thought at one point I might
have to remove part of your leg.
Jarrod just starred at him shocked at what he had just heard.
“But I wouldn’t let him son,” Tom said trying to soften the blow. “I didn’t want you to suffer for the rest of
your life.”
“Is it going to be all right?” he asked very concerned.
“It appears so,” the doctor answered.
“I don’t want you to even try to move it until I say you can. I have the break set and a bandage around
the cut.”
“I won’t sir,” he said nodding. But are you sure it’s going to be all right?”
“I’ll be back in a few days to check it again,” the doctor replied as he headed
for the door. “Keep it medicated and
wrapped. For now it appears to be healing.
Only time will tell for sure.”
“I will doctor,” she told him as he left.
“You both knew about this didn’t you?” he asked.
“Yes,” Tom answered. “We knew and
handled it the only way we knew how by not letting the doctor do something that
you would regret.”
“I thank you for that,” he said looking at his father. “I don’t think I could have spent the rest
of my life just sitting around. There is no way I could have gone to college if
I couldn’t walk.”
“We knew that son,” Tom replied. “And
let me tell you something, you could have too.
A handicap doesn’t prevent you from living as normal a life as you want. You have to put the effort out though.”
“Yes sir,” he said nodding. “I didn’t
mean anything by the comment.”
“You need to get some rest,” she told him.
Jarrod nodded and laid back closing his eyes.
“That went better than I thought it would,” he said as he looked over at his
wife.
“Yes it did,” she replied. “I wasn’t sure how things were going to go but
luckily we have overcome this hurdle and now all Jarrod needs to do is get
better.”
“You’re absolutely right,” he told her smiling.
As the days passed, Jarrod’s leg slowly began to heal. Then came the day that Tom dreaded.
“Jarrod,” the doctor said as he looked at the young man, “I want you to try to
stand on your legs. The break is almost healed and the cut is progressing
nicely. Let’s see if there are any
problems from that fall.”
“Doc,” Tom asked, “are you sure he should be doing this? I know I said that I didn’t want him to lose
his leg but I also don’t want him to fall flat on his face when that leg can’t
support his weight.”
“Father,” Jarrod said looking up at his father, “I’m the one who has to do
this, not you. I’m the one who has to
learn to walk all over again, not you.
Let me be the one to say whether I want to try or not.”
“All right son,” Tom replied nodding.
Jarrod slowly pushed the covers off his legs and swung them over the edge of
the bed. The splint was still on his
leg but it wouldn’t interfere with his walking.
“I’m scared about trying but I know I have to try,” he said as he pushed off
the bed and put weight on his leg for the first time. “I have to prove this to myself as well as to you.”
Jarrod cringed as a wave of pain shot up his injured leg but he shook his head
at Tom when he tried to stop him from taking his first steps.
“Son,” Tom told him, “you’re not ready to do this. You’re having too much trouble putting weight on that leg.”
“I have to father,” he said as he gently put one foot down and then the other.
“If I don’t, I won’t ever do anything else the rest of my life.”
Slowly and painfully, Jarrod made his way toward a chair against the wall in
his room. By the time he reached the
chair, he was almost out of breath.
“I did it,” he said with a big smile on his face as he sat down. “I didn’t think I could walk that far but I
did.”
“You sure did son,” Tom replied also smiling.
“Father,” he told his father, “I first want to apologize for trying to hurry
home that day instead of watching where I was going. If I had started sooner, not of this would have happened. I put Nick as well as myself in danger
because I didn’t think.”
“No son,” Tom said looking at his two sons.
“I’m the one who should be apologizing.
I shouldn’t have asked you and Nick to make such a perilous journey in
the first place. You are too young to
be put in that kind of situation.”
“It doesn’t matter whose fault it is,” she replied looking at her family. “I’m just thankful that my two sons are
alive and healing. And that my husband
had the ability to track them down and bring them home.”
Tom and his sons nodded and smiled.
Jarrod healed nicely and so did Nick. They had proved to their father that they were capable of doing a
man’s job.
THE END