by Mars
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.
"Look at that one," Nick pointed at one of the
horses in front of the house, "What d'you think?"
He and Heath were by the coral, refreshing after a long
day's work. "Nice lookin' mare. I'd like to see her rider."
Nick grinned, "Why, young brother, we'll do just
that." He started towards the house.
"Nick, wait!" Heath waited for Nick to turn
around and look at him. "Mother said to not get in the house..."
Nick shrugged, "I guess not even you always followed
what a mother asked, hey?" He winked at Heath. "Or did you forget
that time when you..."
Heath stepped forward, "Al right, Nick! Just you
don't repeat that story..." The blond Barkley started to blush, "I
was kinda tipsy when I told ya that, y'know."
Nick's grin grew larger, "Yeah, sure boy. Now, you
comin'?"
They both headed for the house.
******
Inside, Victoria was at a lost. There was this young man
in the hall, waiting to be introduced.
"What is your name, yet?" she asked him. She had
heard so many names today, she bet she heard them all at least twice.
The young man, visibly intimidated, cleared his throat,
"Andy Shoemaker, ma'am. Pleased to meet you."
Victoria refrained a grin, "I'm sure you are
Andy," she retorted, unable but to glance at his shoes.
Just as she was to offer him to sit by the couch in the
foyer, the large doors to the family room opened. A man in his mid-forties
stepped out and almost shoved Andy out of his way as he strode out of the house
without a word.
Victoria blinked, then turn to the doors. Audra was walking
out, a sad look on her face.
"Audra!" Victoria exclaimed, a bit more happily
than she intended, "Here is Andy the shoem... Er, Shoemaker."
Audra barely looked at the young man, "Please come
in, have a seat, and I'll see you in a minute."
As soon as Andy entered the large room, Audra closed the
doors behind him.
"What was wrong with him?" asked her mother.
Audra sighed. "Mother, he was at least forty!"
"And what's wrong with being forty, I ask you?"
Victoria cut back, staring down at her daughter.
"Nothing, Mother..." Audra hesitated. "But
he choked on my cookies!"
Victoria frowned. But before she could add anything, Nick
and Heath came in the house.
"Ah!" Nick exclaimed, browsing the house.
"Are you done for today, sis?"
Heath stayed silent. He too, was tired of the ever present
visitors for Audra.
"One left," she whispered, then turned towards
the large doors, looking like a hog headed for the slaughter house.
"Hold it, sis," Heath said all of the sudden.
She turned, "What is it?"
"Well..." Heath wasn't sure anymore, but he had
to do something to help his sister. "I thought..."
"C'mon, boy! Spit it already! Keep the stammering for
your next fever or commotion!" grumbled Nick, more impatient by the
second.
Heath shrugged, not sure about his idea, "What if we
go with you, and ask some questions?" he finally voiced.
"You mean, like Jarrod would do with a witness?"
Victoria asked, just to make sure and also to get the idea down her daughter's
brain.
"Huh... no. Rather, like what Jarrod did to me as a
witness," Heath grumbled.
Nick blinked, remembering when Jarrod had to question
Heath in the court. "That's quite mean, boy."
"But that's a very good idea!" Jarrod cut in,
coming down the stairs. "I need some practice anyway," he explained.
There were too many concepts and ideas for Audra to argue,
so she accepted. "Just a few questions, ok?" she pleaded. "I
have a headache already."
*******
The Barkley family entered the family room, finding Andy
sitting on the edge of a couch. As they entered, he stood.
"Relax," soothed Jarrod. "We would just
like to ask you a few questions." He paused, "If you don't mind, of
course."
Andy nodded, quite impressed. He was there in the Barkley
house, facing some characters indeed. Nick and Heath, the best ranchers in the
whole valley; their brother Jarrod, a well known attorney; Victoria, the
fearless mother of the uncanny clan.
And Audra. Which Andy tried hard to not look at.
"Sit down, boy," Nick said.
Heath sat down. Smirking, Nick glanced at his blond
brother. "Not you boy, him boy."
Victoria sat down on the couch, beside Andy.
"So, what do you do for a living, Helmer?" she
asked with her kindest voice.
"Hrm... It's Andy, ma'am," the young man
corrected.
"I'm sure it's handy, boy," Nick cut in.
"But what is it?"
Andy frowned. Couldn't they hear Andy and not handy?
"My name is Andy Shoemaker, and I work for the newspaper...."
"Oh, I see. So you are a journalist?" Jarrod
asked.
The young man shook his head, "No, I'm not. Tho I'd like
to be one day."
Nick turned around, his back to the young man, a disgusted
look on his face, "No money," he silently mouthed to Jarrod.
Jarrod nodded. "You know that we are mainly ranchers,
although we still hold some shares in gold mines."
"Yes, sir," Andy could only answer, wondering
what Jarrod meant.
"How would you like to live on a ranch?"
Victoria asked, ready to cut it short.
Andy stared at her, "Living on a ranch, ma'am?"
he echoed.
Jarrod glanced at Nick just as his brother was pointing to
his own head, meaning, *Soft brain*.
"Yes, Helmut. Living on a ranch." Victoria
repeated, quite sure she didn't use the proper name, but really uncaring at
this point.
Andy cleared his throat once again, "It's Andy,
ma'am...."
"Oh, for cryin' out loud!" Nick burst.
"Livin' on a ranch is not handy!"
All the family sighed in unison, knowing what was
following.
"This is a working ranch!" Nick started.
While he repeated that speech of his about the ranch,
Heath looked at Jarrod and they simultaneously silently mouthed Nick's speech.
When their brother was done, they refrained to applaud.
Andy stood, now sure that he was in a house packed with
nuts.
Nick stopped the young man from going anywhere. "Now,
hold it just a minute, man! Where do you think you are goin'?"
Andy shivered. "Back to town... sir?" he tried,
unsure if he answered right.
"Adolf..." Jarrod walked to the young man. Andy
sighed, not trying to correct the man about his name. "All we want to know
is... Why do you want to marry Audra?"
Andy blinked, then pinched himself. "Marry...
Audra?"
"He sure as a way with repeatin'," noted Heath.
Nick grabbed Andy by the collar, "Yes, marry
her!" He was fuming, "Why, you little wet rat! Are you tellin' us
you'd just hop around for the money?"
Andy tried to free himself, but who could from Nick
Barkley. A shaking hand reaching for his pocket, he reached for a piece of
paper.
"Not all her money..." he gasped, fighting for
air.
"Not all? Why, I'll just..." Nick seethed.
"Just ... *gasp*... what she *cough* owes the Herald
for her *gasp*... for the *Lonely Hearts*... column..." He watched as Nick
glanced over at his sister, "Here's the bill... sir."
Nick let go of Andy, and grabbed the bill.
"Audra...." he grumbled.
Victoria sighed, "Didn't we tell you to arrange for
an annual installment?"
Jarrod was by Andy's side, helping him out of the room.
"You know, Heinrich. You've been victim of aggression. I can be your
lawyer for a small price..."
Heath jumped next to Andy, he too helping him to the door.
"I reckon, Hermann, that some generals would like to fix that thing with
it on your behalf...."