(An add-on to the
episode)
by Pearl
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.
Synopsis:
This is an add on to the episode ‘The Stallion’. It takes up where the episode leaves off.
Victoria gave thanks once more for Heath
coming into their lives. Had it not
been for him, she felt sure Brahma would have been killed. Nick was too close to Brahma to see his age
slowing him down. Brahma had been with
the Barkleys for twenty years. Nick was
a young, impressionable boy when Brahma first came to work for them, and he
immediately idolized Brahma. Brahma was
a top hand. There was no one around
that was better. Nick would sit in the
bunkhouse at night listening to all the tales Brahma had to tell. Tom never allowed any alcohol in the
bunkhouse during the week, so he’d let Nick stay from after supper until
bedtime. He said it would do Nick
worlds of good to be exposed to the men and their stories. Victoria wasn’t quite so sure at the time,
but nothing ever showed up negative about it, so she allowed it. Nick would have never been able to tell
Brahma no to anything he wanted until Heath called his attention to it. A knock on the door brought Victoria from
her thoughts.
“Libby, how nice to see you,” Victoria
exclaimed, “do come in.” She stepped aside to allow Brahma’s only child to
enter her home.
“Victoria, I hope I’m not intruding too much.”
“Nonsense, I was ready for a break. SILAS, oh, there you are. Will you get us some refreshment?”
“Yes Ma’am, right away.”
“Sit down Libby.”
“Victoria, I can’t stay very long. I need to talk to you. I need your help.”
“Certainly, I’ll help in anyway I can.”
“It’s about Heath.”
“What about Heath?” She curtly asked; her
protectiveness instantly coming to life.
She had felt that way with Heath from the moment he’d walked into their
lives.
Libby noticed Victoria’s defenses coming up
the way any mother’s would. “Oh, it’s
nothing he’s done. It’s Andrea.”
“Andy?”
“Yes, you see Andrea always been a
tomboy. I’ve tried my best to get her
to be a lady without any success. Then
two weeks ago, after Heath brought her home in the buggy, well Victoria, I
don’t know how to say it. She’s
infatuated with him. She has started
wearing dresses, and she insists on everyone calling her Andrea now. Before, I was the only one she tolerated it
from. Every time she sees her
grandfather she questions him to no end about Heath. What has he been doing?
What does he say? How do you
think Heath would feel about whatever?
Victoria, she talks about him constantly.”
Victoria smiled. Andy...Andrea was not the
first young lady around Stockton to be enamored with Heath, but she was the
youngest. Andrea was only
fourteen. “I see your problem, but how
can I help?”
“I don’t know exactly. I don’t know what to do, or if I should do
anything? Is this something that will
pass? I thought maybe with you raising
Audra, well, you might have some advice for me.”
“Libby, I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about,
and I think it will pass. I do think,
if you don’t mind, I’ll let Heath know.
He should watch what he does or says when Andrea’s around.”
“I think that would be a good idea, Victoria.”
Silas entered the parlor with some lemonade
and teacakes and set them on the table between the two ladies.
“Thank you, Silas,” Victoria said.
After Silas left the room, Victoria asked, “Do
you want me to ask Heath to speak to Andrea?”
“Oh, heavens no! I don’t want Andrea to know I’ve spoken to you about this. A girl her age embarrasses easily. If it doesn’t pass, maybe we’ll have to go
that route, but for now let’s wait and see.”
“All right, Libby.”
* * * * * * * *
As it turned out, Libby need not have worried
at all. Andrea’s infatuation with Heath
did pass. Victoria found this out two
weeks later at church.
“Libby, how is everything - with Andrea I
mean? Has everything turned out all
right?” Victoria asked.
“Well, yes, I guess you could say it did. I mean her infatuation with Heath has
passed. I just hope her new infatuation
passes as quickly as her first one.”
Victoria’s mouth fell open when she saw Andrea
walking over to the refreshment table.
Andrea was dressed in black pants, a black vest with a white shirt, and
wrapped around her boots were spurs.
Libby looked to see what had caused this
reaction from Victoria. “Yes, I’m
afraid so. She now is hooked on
Nick. And...she’s back to wanting to be
called Andy.