Not That Different

(A Heath story)

by Peg

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.

He knew he wanted her to be his wife. They had been courting now for three months. He was going to ask her to marry him. He knew they lived in two separate worlds. She with all her fine upbringing and fancy clothes and the best things that money can buy.

All he owned was his black Modoc, Gal, his Mexican rifle, and the clothes on his back. They were walking along the river bank when he asked her to marry him.

“Oh, Heath!” she cried. As she looked up at him, she said, “We’re much too different. We're from two separate worlds.”

He held her in his arms…

And he admitted she was partly right,

but in his heart's defense, he told her what they had in common

was strong enough to bond them for life.

He said…

”Look behind your own soul, and the person that you'll see

just might remind you of me.’

He brought her face up to him, and tears slowly rolling down his face, he said,

“I laugh, I love, I hope, I try, I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry,

and I know you do the same things too.

So we're really not that different, me and you.”

Now she could hardly argue with his pure and simple logic,

but logic never could convince a heart.

She had always dreamed of loving someone more exotic,

and he just didn't seem to fit the part.

So she searched for greener pastures,

but never could forget what he whispered when she left.

“I laugh, I love, I hope, I try, I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry

and I know you do the same things too.

So we're really not that different, me and you.”

It's been a year since she's been gone. A lot has changed for him since he asked her to marry him. He owns so much more than he had back then. He has all the money he’s ever wanted or needed. He works on one of the biggest ranches in the San Joaquin Valley that he also owns along with the best thing that ever happened to him, his family.

He is no longer Heath Thomson. He is now Heath Barkley. He had it all, all but one thing, the one person who could complete him. Just like he knows one day his brother Nick will accept him as his brother, and will love and protect him just like his other siblings, he knows she will come to him when she is ready. When she figures out that only he can make her whole as only she can make him whole. So he waits, and he will continue to wait, but he feels that he won't have to wait for too long.

There was a knock at the door one day and Heath went to answer it.

Was it time or was it truth,

maybe both led her back to his door.

As her tears fell at his feet,

She didn't say "I love you."

What she said meant even more.

“I laugh, I love, I hope, I try, I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry

and I know you do the same things too.

So we're really not that different, me and you.”

He smiled his lop-sided grin, opened his arms, and she rushed into them. He brought her face up to his and they shared a long lingering kiss.

THE END

"Not That Different" by Colin Raye