A Gift for a Gift
Interlude 4

by Lindabrit

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.

The coat was just there when Heath got home at the end of a long tiring day in the saddle. It was lying on his bed, carefully laid flat and was clearly brand new. He looked at it and then gingerly touched it, it was a beautiful skin, expensive and exceptionally well made. Heath picked up the coat and ran an appreciative hand over the luxurious sheepskin lining. He stripped off his old green coat, which was still damp from a grueling afternoon's work in the grey drizzle of the December afternoon.

Heath shrugged his powerful frame into the new coat, it was a perfect fit and he could feel at once the comforting warmth of the thick fabric. He crossed to the cheval glass in the corner of the room and looked at himself, turning this way and that to get a good look at the coat. It sure was something special, no doubt about it, Mother had excellent taste and always knew exactly what would look right. He had been leaving the selection and purchase of new clothing to Victoria ever since he came here two years ago, she loved doing things for him and he was grateful for her help.

He took off the coat again and hung it up on the hanger where he had always kept his old coat. His instinct with a coat of the quality of the new one was to carefully hang it away in his closet, keep it for best, but he knew that Victoria would not permit him to do that. It was winter time and cold with it, she had decided that his old coat was worn out and this was her choice of a replacement. She would expect to see him in the coat tomorrow, even if it did go against his frugal ways to use so fine a garment for ranch work.

Heath cocked an ear, yes there it was, the powerful voice of Nick Barkley upraised in song, that meant he had gotten to the bathtub first...as usual! Heath stretched himself out on his bed, he might as well put his feet up while he waited for his turn in the tub, he would know the moment Nick clambered out of the bath, because the joyous singing would cease abruptly.

Heath settled himself more comfortably on his bed, putting his hands behind his head. His thoughts strayed back to that day two years ago when he had first come here to claim what was his by birthright. He smiled to himself, his bedroll had been a modest one in those days. As far as he could recall, he had owned two pairs of workpants, two workshirts and one half way decent outfit for the rare social events that ever came his way. He had a total of three pairs of socks and two of underwear. That had been the full extent of his wardrobe at that time.

Things had started to change almost immediately after he took up residence in the Barkley mansion. Victoria Barkley had simply set about replenishing his stock of clothes. She had done it quietly and without fuss, never embarrassing him in front of the rest of the family. He had frequently come home and found new clothes neatly laid out on his bed, they were always to his taste, suitable for their purpose and they invariably fitted to perfection.

Soon after his arrival, eldest brother Jarrod had taken his new sibling into Stockton and talked him through the financial side of his new life. Heath had never had a bank account before and he was almost dizzy with the details of his new found wealth by the time Jarrod had finished. If he felt uneasy about the amount of money to which he now had access, Heath comforted himself by reflecting that he worked damned hard to earn it.

He had come to a simple arrangement with the lady he had soon begun to call Mother, she bought the clothes and he paid her for them later. It was a good system and it meant that whenever he was called upon to accompany his new family anywhere he always had the appropriate garments to wear. Heath sat up on his bed and swung his feet to the floor, he glanced around the room, usually if Mother did some shopping on his behalf she left him the bill so he could pay her later. His gaze swept the whole room, but he could see nothing. He crossed to his desk, there was nothing there either.
Heath shrugged mentally, he would see Mother later and pay her for the beautiful coat, it was no great problem.

Victoria knocked at his bedroom door, Heath knew it was her, he recognized that gentle knock. She came in, crossing gracefully to him to kiss his cheek. He loved to watch her move, she was so elegant, she seemed almost to float rather than walk.

"How was the coat?"

"It's beautiful, thank you for getting it for me."

"Does it fit well?"

"Yes, it's perfect. I guess my old one was getting kind of shabby, I hadn't noticed."

"Oh there's nothing wrong with your old coat, I just wanted to give you a gift, keep the new coat for best if you like."

Mother and son sat together on the side of the bed, Victoria listened for a moment, Nick's singing could still be clearly heard.

"That brother of yours is still in the bath, shall I throw him out for you?"

Heath shook his head, "no don't bother, tell me what I've done to deserve the coat?"

Victoria smiled at him, slipping her hand into his.

"It's a gift for a gift," she said.

Heath frowned, "sorry Mother, you lost me."

"I'm talking about that magnificent horse you gave to Nick when we came home from Mexico last week."

"Saracen? I just came across him at a horse sale, I saw him and I knew Nick would like him, that's all there is to it."

Victoria half turned and looked lovingly at Heath, "is that so? Well that's strange Darling, because I met Bill Liscard in town today and he asked me if you were still looking for a horse for Nick. He said he knew of a sale next week where there might be a prospect or two. He told me you had been scouring the sales for months for a good horse for your brother and I know why."

Heath was looking at the floor, he said nothing and she went on,

"I always knew it was going to be a wrench for Nick when he had to face up to the fact that Coco's working life is over. I've seen you try to interest him in different mounts from time to time, without success. Then he was away all that time in Mexico, leaving you to do his work and your own and of course you did it! I have no idea how you found the time to search for a wonderful horse for Nick as well but I'm so glad you did! It has been so much easier for Nick to retire Coco now that he has Saracen, bless you Heath."

He was looking sheepish and wriggling uncomfortably so his mother rose and headed for the door. She turned back to say,

"The coat is my gift to you to thank you for your gift to your brother, now I'm going to drag him out of that bathtub or you're never going to get any dinner this evening!"

Heath watched her leave, listened for a minute then grinned as he heard Nick's voice raised in protest, she really was dragging him out of the tub. He was touched by her gift, the coat was superb. He was very relieved she had said he could keep it for best, how Nick would have teased him if he had shown up tomorrow for work wearing it!

The End