Follow Your Star
Interlude 7
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.

Part 1

Nick Barkley finished rinsing the two tin plates and cups in the cold creek water and carried them back up the bank to his tethered horse. He stowed the rest of the gear and checked the cinch on his own and Heath's saddles. Now where in tarnation had that boy gotten to now? He raised his powerful voice and called his new younger brother's name.

"Heath? Where are you Boy?"

"Coming Nick,"

The voice came from over the crest of the nearby hill and Nick knew at once what Heath had been doing. He loved to watch the birds, was good at it too, could get real close without scaring them. He listened to and learned the many different birdsongs and could reproduce them at will. His sister Audra had been entranced by this skill when Heath had been persuaded to share his talent with the rest of the family during the Christmas celebrations.

The newest member of the Barkley family came over the crest of the hill and ran lightly down to join his brother. Not so new now, it was almost six months since Heath had turned up at the Barkley ranch. He had come to demand his rights, though he had not expected to receive them. To his amazement the Barkleys had given him his birthright and much more, a home, a family, an inheritance.

The young Heath had spent much of his childhood in enforced isolation, when not isolated he was often reviled, it had made for a lonely and somewhat dark boyhood, lightened by the love of the trio of women who had raised him with all the tenderness of which they were capable. Heath delighted in his new family and his role in it, although it had been a struggle to gain the wholehearted acceptance of all the members of the Barkley clan. Especially that of older brother Nick, boss of the Barkley ranch and not about to share his power with an upstart half-brother.

Time and circumstance had given Heath the opportunity to prove his worth to this demanding brother and since Nick Barkley didn't know the meaning of the term half-measures, what had been so determinedly withheld, was now given with equal and enthusiastic generosity.

Nick Barkley considered himself the gainer, he had striven to fill the formidably big role of his father and he was proud of what he had achieved, but it had often been a solitary struggle. His older brother Jarrod had backed him strongly, but there were many times when Jarrod was away and Nick had to undertake cattle buying trips, take business decisions and make changes on the ranch without the benefit of another person with whom he could discuss his options.

Now there was Heath, a quiet, capable intelligent young man, humourous and stubborn, fearless and proud, every inch a Barkley in fact. Together the two men ran the ranch as a team, rode and worked shoulder to shoulder and learned to know and appreciate each other's strengths. If outsiders observing their behaviour thought that Nick was the boss, because it was he who barked the orders and Heath who usually acceded, the brothers knew better. Theirs was a partnership and both men were happy to have it so.

In the last few months, they had learned a great deal about each other, it was a continuous process and each strove to understand what was at the core of the other's nature. So far they had gotten along pretty well, Heath hoped that what was likely to happen this evening wasn't going to wreck that, his growing friendship with Nick was important to Heath, but he had a promise to keep and he wasn't the man to break his word, even if he risked the wrath of Nick Barkley to keep it.

Part 2

Heath enjoyed teasing Nick and he smiled at him now, "oh did you wash the plates, I was going to do that, seeing as you cooked the stew and all."

True to form, Nick rose to the bait, "sure I washed the plates! I'd like to reach the Chester ranch today not next week!"

"The stew was delicious," murmured Heath dulcetly.

Nick grinned, "believe me it was a pleasure, I only eat your beans as a last resort!"



The two men resumed their journey to the Chester ranch, now less than a day's ride away. Zeke Chester was an old army friend of Jarrod's, he was a prosperous rancher, building up his spread after his retirement from the Army with the rank of colonel. He had married his wife Emily at the same time as he took up ranching but she hadn't survived the birth of their only son Thadeus.

Zeke had raised Thad alone and had done his best by the boy. But he was a slightly stern father and unable to win his sensitive son's love. They had rubbed along together reasonably well but shy quiet Thad found it difficult to stand his ground against his ebullient parent and even more impossible to have any kind of meaningful conversation with him.

Nick and Heath had been to the San Francisco stock sales, swinging by the Chester spread to add Zeke's cattle to their own. They had got a good price for the entire herd and their journey home was to be broken at the Chester ranch again so they could settle with Zeke. The hands had been granted a short holiday and would then head back for the Barkley ranch. Nick had told them jokingly that any man who didn't make it back to the ranch before the bosses did was fired!

The visit to the Chester spread to collect the cattle marked the first meeting between Heath Barkley and Zeke and his son Thad. Heath was beginning to handle this type of introduction with more confidence than at first had been the case. The first few times Nick had made Heath known to friends or neighbours had made the blond loner cringe inside but he gathered a little strength from each successful encounter and was able nowadays to acquit himself creditably when meeting new folks.

Zeke had been warm and friendly, swift to notice that if he was quiet, Heath was certainly no shrinking violet, there was a latent power that emanated from him and his was the quiet calm of a man who knew himself competent to handle most things. Zeke slapped the newcomer on the back and told him he was a lot like his father.

It wasn't the first time people had made comparisons between Heath and Tom Barkley and these too had disconcerted him at first, now he could accept the implied compliments with equanimity if not much enthusiasm. Heath liked Colonel Zeke, a bluff no-nonsense type of man with a good heart but he didn't think much of Zeke's skills as a parent.

Heath was perceptive enough to see the underlying nervousness whenever Thad had to interact with Zeke, the boy wasn't exactly afraid of his father, but was perhaps in awe of him. There was something more too, Heath didn't know what it was, but the tension emanating from Thad was almost solid enough to touch. Kindly Heath made up his mind to get the boy alone and find out what was eating him.

He succeeded after dinner, Nick and Zeke were still at the table zestfully refighting a battle they had both been involved with during the war, aided in their efforts by the cutlery and condiments on the table. Heath found it easy to gain the confidence of his new young friend and learned from Thad that the youngster harboured a cherished ambition to become a teacher.

Heath was supportive of his young friend's aspirations but shaking his head sadly, Thad gave Heath to understand that his career choice did not meet with his father's approval. Colonel Chester it seemed, intended his only son for the army, Heath could imagine no boy less suited to the life of a soldier than Thad. Looking at the troubled face of the younger man, Heath made a rather rash promise. When the drive was completed and the Barkleys returned, Heath would tackle Zeke on Thad's behalf and try to persuade him not to consign his gentle, scholarly son to army life.

The glowing look of gratitude in Thad's soft eyes was all the thanks Heath wanted, but now, on their way back to the Chester place, he wondered what had possessed him to make the promise in the first place. He barely knew Thad and his father even less so. Glancing at the tall figure of his brother, riding beside him, Heath wondered again what Nick was going to think when Heath tackled Zeke on Thad's behalf.

It crossed Heath's mind that he should broach the subject now and he almost did it, but though they were learning to know each other more and more, Heath still wasn't sure how Nick would react. In the end he decided to leave it until he could speak to Zeke Chester, if Nick got good and mad with him, well it sure wouldn't be the first time!

Part 3

Dinner passed pleasantly enough, Zeke was well pleased with his share of the profits from the cattle sale and he and Nick swapped army stories all through the meal. Zeke tried to draw Heath out about his own war service but Heath's wartime memories were a dark place he preferred not to go and he had little to say about those days.

Zeke seemed to understand Heath's reluctance, "well Boy, seems to me you must have been mighty young to have joined up?"

Heath didn't reply, and Zeke turned to Nick for confirmation.

"Yep," answered Nick with vicarious pride, "he shouldn't even have been there by rights, but that's a Barkley for you!"

Zeke laughed and gestured down the table to his son, "well I'm hoping that the life will make a man of this shy boy of mine, Thad's going to be joining up a little later this year."

It didn't need Thad's trusting eyes on him to tell Heath that this was his moment and he hoped he could find the right words to explain to Thad's father why forcing his son into the army was a really bad idea.

Heath kept his tone of voice quietly respectful, "Zeke, please forgive me if I'm talking out of turn, but do you think Thad here is cut out for army life?"

Heath saw Nick's head jerk up and encountered a rather searching look from his brother's hard hazel eyes. Nick glanced from Heath to Thad, the boy's hopeful, eager eyes were fixed on Heath's face, not a doubt but that this was pre-arranged. For once in his life, forthright Nick wasn't sure what to do next, he decided to bide his time and see what happened next.

Zeke Chester had been so taken aback at Heath's words that at first he didn't respond. He glanced at the tense figure of his son, the boy didn't betray the slightest surprise, he and the Barkley boy had plainly discussed this matter before. The colonel's thick brows twitched together in annoyance, how dare this comparative stranger presume to tell him what was best for Thad, the nerve of the young whippersnapper!

Choking down his rising anger, for he didn't want to create a rift with the Barkleys if he could help it Zeke said carefully,

"If you don't mind my saying so Heath, I think it's the business of a father to decide what path his son should follow in life."

Heath's honest eyes met Zeke's without flinching, "I surely don't mean to offend you Sir," he said quietly, "but Thad and I were talking when I was here before and he tells me he'd like more than anything to study for a teacher."

Zeke glared at his son with hard contemptuous eyes, "I've never thought you had much backbone Boy, but I didn't figure even you would let another man fight your battles for you."

Thad's gentle eyes snapped with unexpected fire, "how can I fight you Pa, you never listen to a word I say! You talk at me all the time but you don't hear me."

Surprisingly, Zeke didn't appear to mind his son's vehement outburst, there was a gleam of satisfaction in the old soldier's eyes as he said more kindly,

"well seemingly you have a little more spunk than I'd guessed Son."


Zeke looked at Nick Barkley who was keenly observing the scene being played out in front of him.

"Nicholas, are you in on this conspiracy to gang up on me?"

"No I'm not Zeke, Didn't know a thing about it," said Nick with a long hard look at his brother.

Zeke was still looking at Nick, "I'm glad to hear that Nick, and I'm betting you agree with me too don't you? A father is the best judge of what his son should take up as his career, am I right"

"You asking my honest opinion Zeke?" Nick Barkley's voice was quiet and even.

"Sure I am and I bet I know what your answer is going to be, you agree with me don't you?"

Heath Barkley sat at the table uncomfortably awaiting his brother's reply, he didn't feel that he had helped Thad at all, and like Zeke Chester, Heath too thought he knew what Nick's answer was going to be.

Nick Barkley answered his friend's question with an apologetic smile, "sorry Zeke, I'm afraid I don't agree with you, actually I agree with my brother."

Heath's head whipped round to look at Nick, his expression registered his surprise. Nick smiled slightly before turning to Zeke again.

"I don't normally hold with interfering in another man's affairs, but you asked me Zeke, I have to say that I don't think Thad would enjoy the life of a soldier, he's clearly an intelligent young man, why not let him study and see where his brain can take him?"

Zeke Chester was not an unkind man and he liked and respected Nick Barkley, he looked from Nick to Heath then to his son. He didn't have a lot in common with Thad but he was sincerely fond of his son.

"Well Thad, it seems you and I need to have a talk about your future in the morning," he saw Thad's eyes flare with hope and smiled, "don't worry Son, I promise I'll listen to what you have to say."

As the Barkley brothers said goodnight to each other that night, Nick grinned at Heath,

"Surprised you didn't I?"

Heath's lop-sided smile dawned, "yeah, I admit you did Nick, I was sure you wouldn't agree with me."

Nick punched his brother's shoulder in friendly fashion, "When we're riding home tomorrow, I'll tell you why I do, goodnight Heath."

Part 4

Nick had gone to bed with a smile on his face, the nerve of that younger brother of his, squaring up to one of Jarrod's oldest friends and taking him to task about his private family affairs! He had done it quietly, even respectfully but he had done it. It gave an insight into Heath's capacity for friendship, he had met, liked and gotten to know young Thad and perceiving that the boy needed his help he had given it unhesitatingly.

Stretching his long limbs comfortably in bed, a pleasant contrast to the last few nights out on the trail, Nick wondered whether it had crossed Heath's mind to discuss the situation with him before tackling Zeke. He was inclined to think that Heath had wanted to tell him, indeed he could recall an awkward silence or two in the last few days, they were probably the moments when Heath had considered sharing his dilemma.

Why didn't Heath tell me, mused Nick, well I guess I know the answer well enough, he thought I'd disagree, probably thought we'd fight about it. He and I have come a long way in the months we've worked together, but I guess there are many things I still don't know about him and plenty he doesn't yet know about me. As he slipped into a dreamless sleep, Nick's last waking thought was a keen anticipation for the ride home on the morrow, there was much he wanted to share with his brother Heath.

Breakfast was more convivial than Heath had thought it might be, he was still doubtful about Nick, his older brother had seemed friendly enough last night, but Heath still wondered whether he was in for a tongue-lashing on the ride home. Nick flashed him a welcoming grin as he took his place at the table and Heath thought there was a gleam of amusement in the hazel eyes.

His host greeted him with more warmth than Heath had expected, talking to him genially and on a number of different subjects, no mention was made of the events of the previous night. Thad seemed tense and withdrawn this morning, probably screwing up his courage to stand his ground in the promised talk with his father. Heath felt powerless to help his young friend any further, he had brought the matter out into the open and now Thad would have to fight the rest of the battle alone.

Heath gave Thad a reassuring smile and the boy smiled back, he gave a tiny nod, he understood that from here on in, his fate was very much in his own hands. He had done some hard thinking in the dark watches of the night, he was timid by nature, but not a coward and he had learned a lot from observing the two Barkley brothers.

Nick was a lot like his Pa, forthright, outspoken and brimming with confidence, but Nick thought he should be allowed to study, that was interesting. Heath was just as strong a personality as his more ebullient brother, but he made his point with a quietly emphatic firmness of purpose, very differently to Nick, but just as effectively. Thad resolved that he was going to try and be more of a man, more like Heath Barkley if he possibly could.

When it came time to depart, The Chesters, father and son, saw their guests out to their horses. Zeke shook hands with Heath and Nick wished them a safe ride home and turned away to go indoors again. Looking sharply at his son and telling him he would be waiting in the study when Thad was ready for that talk.

Thad murmured a soft "yes Sir," and watched him walk away before turning to the Barkleys once again.
He held out his hand to Nick,

"I wanted to thank you for backing Heath up last night, I reckon it was you joining in that made my Pa think twice, I'm really grateful Nick."


Nick Barkley grinned and slapped the boy's back as he shook hands, "my pleasure Kid, I know your Pa pretty well and I believe he'll think the better of you for standing up to him, you just tell him what you really want, good luck to you Thad."

Thad turned to Heath and shook hands with his friend, "Heath I can't thank you enough, I hope you know what it is you've done for me."

Heath blushed, disclaimed and sounded a warning note, "Don't thank me too soon Thad, your Pa hasn't definitely changed his mind yet you know. I'd say you still have some way to go with him."

Thad smiled, "I wouldn't have got this far without you Heath and I thank you for that."

Nick could sense Heath's growing discomfort at being so warmly thanked and rescued him by climbing into the saddle and saying cheerfully, "move it Heath, we've got a ranch to run, can't be dawdling here all the morning!"

Heath squeezed Thad's shoulder, "good luck Thad, you keep in touch and let me know how things are with you, you hear?"

As they rode away, Thad stood waving farewell and Heath glanced worriedly back at the boy's rapidly diminishing figure. He said nothing and Nick looked a question at him, "what's on your mind?"

Heath said quietly, "Thad's pretty optimistic, you know Zeke a lot better than I do, you think there's a chance he may change his mind?"

Nick grinned, "doesn't matter," he said briefly.


Heath was taken aback, "it matters to me," he stated flatly.

Nick laughed, "you've got me wrong Heath, I don't mean I don't care, I mean it doesn't matter if Zeke's changed his mind or not, if I'm any judge young Thad has made his up his mind to follow his own star and he'll do it whatever Zeke may say."

Heath looked searchingly at Nick, an arrested expression on his own face, "you think so?"

"I do, there's a whole different attitude about that boy today, you mark my words, he'll go after his star come what may and you did that for him."

"Me? All I did was speak up for him as a friend," said Heath highly embarrassed.

Nick smiled warmly at him, "sometimes that's all it takes, we all need a friend now and then, but you've done something more for Thad, something I don't think you realize yet."

Heath looked a question but didn't speak.

Nick explained, "you showed him that a man doesn't have to raise the roof or use his fists or a gun to make a point, he just has to show he has the inner strength to stand his ground. Thad senses that in you and maybe a bit has rubbed off onto him, time will tell."

Half way home the brothers stopped to rest their horses and eat the food the Chesters cook had prepared for them. Heath brewed a pot of his excellent coffee and the two men lingered in the early afternoon sunshine enjoying their impromptu holiday after what had been a very busy period of work on the ranch. Seated on a rock sipping his coffee, Heath tossed desultory stones into the fast flowing stream that ran through this small valley. He glanced at his brother, stretched beneath a tree, back comfortably against the trunk, Nick dozed contentedly.

Heath carefully aimed a small pebble and it struck true, bouncing off Nick's head and causing him to sit up with a muttered oath. Before he could protest, Heath grinned at him.

"You promised to tell me why you backed me last night."

Nick sat up straighter, "yeah I did didn't I." He returned Heath's grin, "didn't think I would did you?"

"No, I wanted to talk to you about it but I was sure you'd say I shouldn't interfere and..."

"Go on Heath," prompted Nick gently.

Heath met his brother's gaze, "and I guess I figured you'd always followed your father's wishes, running the ranch and all."

Heath's use of the term ‘your father' saddened Nick a little, after all Tom Barkley was Heath's father too. He knew that when Heath first turned up at the Barkley ranch, he had nursed a bitter hatred for the man who was his sire. His feelings had softened and altered some, as he came to learn more of the complex, powerful and much loved man who had been his father, though without ever knowing he had another son. It was perhaps unreasonable to expect Heath to feel any differently than he did, maybe in the fullness of time he would learn to say ‘our father' but that time was clearly not yet.



Nick came slowly to his feet, stretching like a cat and came to sit beside Heath, he took one of the stones from Heath's hand and skimmed it expertly across the water.

"You didn't know Father," he said quietly, not wanting the words to exacerbate the wounds his brother bore from his lonely boyhood.
"He was an amazing man, larger than life in some ways, he was the kind of man people either loved or hated, no in between. He was a powerful man and I guess people who didn't know him well would see him as a sort of benevolent tyrant, but he wasn't Heath. He always said a man should follow his own star and he let his sons do just that. When Jarrod said he wanted to be a lawyer, Father let him do it, he wasn't thrilled about it, but he did everything in his power to help Jarrod all the same."

Heath had been listening intently, eyes never leaving Nick's face but he interrupted now, "yeah, but he knew he had you too, he must have known you'd be the one to follow in his footsteps, didn't that make it easier for him to let Jarrod have his own way?"

Nick had expected this and he smiled, "yeah I'm sure it did, until I went off to sea and came home again all on fire to be a sea captain!"

Heath understood this, the two men had done much swapping of personal histories in the last few months and he knew all about Nick's time aboard the good ship Camberwell Beauty. Heath was curious now,

"What did he say when you told him you might take to seafaring?"

Nick smiled reminiscently, "he gave me his blessing, told me I was man enough to decide for myself, but I wasn't fooled, I could see the hurt in him. It would have cut him to the heart if I'd done it."


Heath was beginning to comprehend what Nick was trying to tell him.

"Your point is that he would have let you do it, even if it was the last thing in the world he wanted?"

Nick squeezed his brother's shoulder, "exactly Heath, that's just what I mean."

"Did you stay to please him or yourself?"

"I guess a bit of both, I would have liked a life at sea, but the ranch has always meant the world to me, well I guess you know that."

"I guess I do," answered Heath, voice low. "The way you feel about the ranch had a lot to do with how hard you fought me a while back didn't it?"

"Yeah, I hope you know I don't feel that way now?"

Heath's smile transformed his grave face, "I know," he said simply.

Nick stood and looked around for his discarded hat. He picked it up, dusting it off and set it on his head again. " I can hear the Old Man saying it, ‘Boy, a man has to follow his own star and don't you forget it!' You did the right thing back there and if I'm right, young Thad will prevail with Zeke and get his wish."

Heath stood up too, he looked diffidently at his older brother, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you Nick, I wanted to."

"I know, you and I are still getting to know each other, but we're making progress, wouldn't you say?"


"I think so," agreed Heath. He looked earnestly at Nick, "I'm glad my star led me to...to...led me home Nick."

"Not half as glad as I am Heath," said Nick dropping a hand on his brother's shoulder and gripping it hard.


Two weeks later the Barkley family sat in the library at leisure after dinner and Jarrod looked up in surprise from a letter he was reading.

"Well here's a surprise, Zeke Chester wants me to advise him about a good college course for Thad, seems he's agreed to let the boy go in for teaching."

Nick and Heath exchanged glances and smirked, the gesture was not lost on Jarrod who immediately said, "what do you two know about this?"

His brothers heard the sharp note of suspicion in his voice and both turned innocent faces towards him.

"Us? Nothing, nothing at all," said Nick.

"No," echoed Heath, "not a thing."

"Uhh huh," grunted Jarrod sceptically.

The lawyer perused the letter further, glancing up again to say to Heath, "you appear to have made quite an impression on Zeke, he tells me you are a chip off the old block, now what do you suppose he means by that?"



Heath's face of limpid innocence made Victoria hide a smile, she watched appreciatively as he shrugged his shoulders, "sorry Jarrod I don't have a clue," he asserted.

Jarrod looked to Nick for explanation and the rancher's handsome face split in a grin, "our little brother just taught young Thad the Barkley family creed about following your own star is all."

Jarrod Barkley smiled, "did he now?" He glanced approvingly at the bashful Heath, "good for you Brother Heath!"

THE END