Full Circle

by ShiningStar

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.

This is a flashback to the time when Royce and Victoria made the decision to adopt the baby found in a line shack near the Barkley Ranch. Although it stands alone, parts of the story may be slightly unclear if the reader is unfamiliar with “Out of the Ashes”, “Vengeance Is Mine”, and “A Matter of Justice”.

Part 1

Royce stood in silence, gazing out the window of the room they shared at the ranch. Victoria touched his arm. “Royce, we need to talk about this.”

He took a deep breath. “All right, Victoria, I’ll be honest with you. I do want her, but it’s folly to even think of it.”

“Why?”

“I’m fifty-five years old, and you’re...”

She laughed softly. “I know how old I am without you reminding me.”

He turned then and gathered her in his arms. “How ungallant of me!”

She reached up to caress his face. “I’ve raised four children. I suppose it’s a little like riding—you don’t forget how.”

“I love you, Victoria. We have a good life together. I don’t want anything to change that. I won’t let anything change that.”

“Would the baby change things?”

“She might. We’d be less focused on each other and more on her.”

“Not necessarily. I’ll admit I don’t want to spend a year rising in the wee hours to feed and diaper an infant, but since I’m not necessary to her feeding, as I was with the others, we could employ a live-in nurse for that.”

“Yes, we could, but that would change things, too. Now we have complete privacy—a nurse would be—would be. . .awkward.” He grimaced.

“You managed quite well the other night with Nick next door,” she teased him.

“It was a distraction.”

“Oh, my, and all this time I thought I’d captivated your attention completely!” She kissed his cheek.

“Nevertheless...” He sighed. “Victoria, you have a maddening way of not considering what you don’t want to consider.”

“So I’ve been told before.”

He sat down and pulled her into his lap. “I don’t know anything about babies—or children—especially little girls. I could teach a boy to ride and to play ball and...”

“To court the ladies.”

“That’s about all I’m good for now. No! I don’t mean courting...”

Her laughter filled the room. “Oh, Royce, I do love you!”

“Sometimes I look at you and wonder why.”

“What do you mean?” Her smile disappeared.

“You had a good life before I came. You weren’t alone.”

“Wasn’t I? I was alone in the worst way. My children’s lives were all in front of them while mine appeared to be over. The house had become a prison of sorts. More and more I was at loose ends.”

“I’ve worried that you’d miss the ranch.”

“And I do—but in the right way. It’s wonderful knowing that we can come back to visit, but my home is with you, wherever you are, and my whole life has new meaning.”

He stroked her soft hair. “You know you’d be mistaken for the baby’s grandmother, don’t you?”

“I was mistaken for Eugene’s grandmother more than once.”

“Not really!”

“Yes.”

“She’d always be provided for financially, but—but one or both of us might not live to see her grown. I might never walk her down the aisle at her wedding.”

“Life is a risk any way you look at it. She’ll have extended family—Audra and the boys.”

“That’s another thing. I’ve barely ingratiated myself with your family—what will they think if we announce that we’re—that you’re starting over?”

“Oh, Nick will rant, and Jarrod will caution—Gene will enthuse—Audra will squeal—and Heath will keep his own counsel.”

“Nick will rant.”

“He’ll come around.”

“You’re sure of that?”

“With Nick one can never be sure, but I think he’ll see the light eventually.”

“They’ll feel I’m selfish for burdening you.”

“I think they know me well enough to be sure that I’d never agree to something I didn’t want.”

“I don’t want you doing it for me.”

“I’m doing it with you, Royce. She’ll be our daughter—another bond between us.”

“You’re quite sure?”

“Very sure.”

They sat holding each other for a long silent moment. Then Royce said quietly, “Thank you, Victoria.”

She lifted her face. “Thank you for loving me.”

Audra knocked on their door and announced that dinner would be served in a quarter of an hour.

“I’d better clean up,” Royce said. “And perhaps we shouldn’t mention this right away.”

Victoria stood up. “Whenever you’re ready,” she said agreeably. “We’ll talk more after dinner.”

He reached for her hand and, turning it over, kissed the palm. “I had something else in mind,” he murmured.

“With Nick next door?”

He smiled sheepishly. “Maybe he’ll go out tonight.”

* * * * * * * *

“You two are certainly quiet tonight,” Jarrod observed halfway through dinner.

Victoria startled, then smiled innocently. “Are we?”

“Say, Royce, where’d you get to this afternoon?” Nick asked. “One minute you were behind me, and the next you weren’t anywhere in sight.”

“I just took a little ride,” Royce replied, not looking up.

“You headed down the south road,” Gene said. “There’s nothing down that way except the orphanage.”

“I wanted a better look at the place where the new one will be built,” Royce said casually. “Audra pointed it out to me on Christmas Eve, but it was too dark to see much.”

“It’s going to be so wonderful!” Audra’s dimples deepened. “I wish there wasn’t any need for it, but since there is, I want those children to have the best we can manage.”

“Well, perhaps it’s better for them than being farmed out,” Jarrod said. “I don’t like seeing them go to a place just because an extra pair of hands happens to be needed. At least at the orphanage they can go to school as long as they want to and...”

“But the little ones need homes,” Audra protested. “Real homes! Little Mary is so sweet—she holds up her arms to anyone who comes in. It breaks my heart to have to put her down when I leave. And the baby—oh, Jarrod, that darling little baby needs a mother and father to love her!”

Jarrod shrugged. “I know that, Audra, but people willing to adopt babies seem to be in short supply these days.”

Audra sniffed. “Someone should take her. If they don’t, she’ll always be that child in the line shack. I’ve heard those righteous old biddies talk!”

“Audra.” Victoria shook her head.

“Well, I have, Mother, and so have you! It isn’t fair! That baby didn’t ask to be born like that and. . .it just isn’t fair!”

“Say, Mother, you and Royce should take her,” Gene said, winking at his sister across the table. “I mean, what else do you have to do, Mother, since we’re all grown?”

Nick set down his glass with more force than necessary. “I hope you’re joking, Gene! That’s the silliest thing I ever heard of! What do Mother and Royce want with a baby at their time of life?”

Victoria lifted her napkin to her lips to hide her smile. “For one thing, Eugene, women have other roles in life than raising children. And for another, Nicholas, Royce and I would be very good parents.” She glanced at Royce who nodded imperceptibly.

“Actually,” Royce began nervously, “we’ve discussed it—discussed adopting the baby, and...”

“You what?” Nick’s face reddened, and his voice rose. “That’s crazy!”

“Nicholas!” Victoria fixed him with a warning look.

“Oh, Mother! Oh, that’s wonderful!” Audra squealed.

“Don’t squeal, Audra,” Victoria said automatically.

“That’s wonderful! I mean, I was joking, but that’s wonderful!” Gene’s face split in a huge grin.

“Now, Mother, have you really considered this from all sides?” Jarrod began. “Do you really know what you’d be taking on?”

Victoria and Royce looked at each other remembering her earlier predictions. “You know your children well,” he murmured, reaching for her hand.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Nick growled.

“Just that I said you’d rant, Jarrod would caution, Gene would enthuse, and Audra...” She glanced affectionately at her daughter. “Audra would squeal.” She smiled at Heath, who hadn’t let the discussion interrupt his meal. “And you, of course, would keep your own counsel.”

“You’re really serious!” Nick said, his voice rising again. “You’re—that’s—insane!”

“Nicholas! I said!”

“It’s wonderful!” In her excitement, Audra dropped her fork with a clatter. “When will you get her? Gene and I’ll go to town tomorrow and buy everything you’ll need!”

Jarrod took a sip of water, much as he did in the courtroom when he was pondering his next move. “Mother, you don’t just pick up a baby like you do a new dress. There are formalities. Besides, Fred’s still hoping to find the girl’s family and...”

“You know how much age difference there’d be between that baby and the one we’ve already got?” Nick said loudly.

Gene threw down his napkin. “Now wait a minute! Wait just a danged minute, brother Nick! Being the youngest doesn’t make me a baby for life!”

Silas, coming in from the kitchen, stopped dead in his tracks as the voices rose in a raucous cacophony. Lord have mercy! Thought things were settlin’ down ‘round here! What now? Lord have mercy!

Victoria held up her hand imperiously, and to Royce’s amazement, silence was instantaneous.

“There’ll be no need to do much shopping, Audra, except for bottles, and we may have to send to San Francisco for those. The trunk with the baby clothes I saved from you and Eugene is against the back wall in the attic on the left—it’s the newest trunk there, so you can’t miss it. Everything will need to be laundered, but I’d use a tub in the kitchen instead of the wash pot outside. They were clean when I put them away and won’t require a scrub board.”

She turned to Gene. “The cradle is covered with a piece of gray canvas near the trunk. It will need to be brought down and the mattress beaten and aired.”

Her head inclined toward a disapproving Jarrod. “I’m well aware of the legalities involved, Jarrod, and I trust you can take care of them. If the girl had a family she could count on for support, she wouldn’t have given birth in a deserted line shack. I feel certain that no one is going to petition for custody of that baby except Royce and me.”

Finally, she leaned slightly in Nick’s direction. “Nicholas, I understand your concerns, but the decision is ours to make. I feel sure we can count on your assistance in this matter—or, at least, your silence.”

He stared back at her.

“And your brother Eugene is, as he said, no longer a baby by virtue of being the youngest sibling. He is, in fact, a young man and has been for several years. You’d do well to remember that.”

Gene threw his mother a grateful look.

Victoria smiled serenely and folded her napkin. “Silas, I believe we’ll have our coffee in the library now.”

* * * * * * * *

They lay awake later discussing the individual reactions of her grown children—particularly Nick. “I’m not sure Do as you please then! is exactly the supportive statement you had in mind,” Royce mused.

“Does it matter?”

“Actually, I’m more concerned about Jarrod’s opinion. He seems to believe that the girl’s family will be found and will claim the baby.”

“I don’t believe that for a minute.”

“It would be too hard to lose her. Perhaps we should delay until Jarrod is sure...”

“He said he’d speak with Fred and the judge tomorrow.”

Royce turned on his side and drew Victoria closer. “We’ll need a name for her.”

“Yes, I’ve been thinking of that.”

“Perhaps Victoria for you.”

“Audra is named for me—that is, for my mother and for me.”

“I wasn’t aware of that.”

“When you were talking to Nick the other morning—when he apologized—I must admit to eavesdropping, and I heard what you told him about how we’d entered into this marriage confident that we could be happy together because we’d been happy in our first marriages.”

“I remember.”

“I was thinking that this baby should reflect the circumstances that brought us together. Katherine Barkley Wardell. We’ll spell her name with a K to make it unique to her.”

Royce was silent for a moment. “It’s a very long name for such a little girl.”

“She’ll grow to it.”

“We could call her Kate—that’s a good solid name. I like it.”

“I like it, too. And when she’s old enough—when we explain to her the circumstances of her birth—and we will, Royce—nothing but total honesty will bind the relationship forever. When we tell her, we’ll tell her about Catherine and Tom and how she completed our family in a special way.”

“I hadn’t thought to have this chance, Victoria. I hope I won’t botch it.”

“You’ll be a wonderful father, Royce. As wonderful a father as you are a husband. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

Part 2

They accompanied Jarrod to Stockton the next morning and were present as he spoke with Sheriff Madden and later Judge Billings. “She was a saloon girl over in Ash Flat,” the sheriff said. “Got a wire from the sheriff over there—he found the woman who hired her. Name was Annie—that’s all she knew. Got off the southbound stage but never would say where from or if she had people somewhere.”

“Was she pregnant when she arrived?” Victoria asked.

“No—said it happened later.” He looked embarrassed. “Well, you know it happens, Victoria.”

She nodded. “I want her buried decently.”

“Yeah, I was going to arrange that today. Good thing it’s been so cold—Doc had ‘em put her in the ice house until...”

Royce winced. “For pity’s sake, let the poor girl rest! I’ll pay the expense.”

“No need for that, Mr. Wardell. The city...”

“No, she’ll have better than that,” Victoria said. “I’ll speak to the Reverend Forbes about holding a service tomorrow afternoon.”

“You think he’ll do that?” Fred asked.

Victoria’s chin went up defiantly. “If he won’t, then he has no business passing himself off as a shepherd of the flock in this community!”

Jarrod cleared his throat. “Yes, well, we should get on over to Judge Billings’ office now, Mother.”

The judge had known the Barkleys for twenty-five years. He had known Tom Barkley well, acting as his attorney on many occasions in the early years. He’d mourned the death of a friend and been glad for Victoria when she was given a second chance at happiness. But he was clearly astounded by her request now.

“Adopt the baby from the line shack!”

“That’s what I said,” Victoria replied calmly.

“Victoria, speaking as an old friend...”

“An old friend would understand,” she said steadily.

He sighed. “I’ll talk to the sheriff then—get the facts from him. He’s got enough to do tracking down all the people who’ve broken the laws of man. This girl only broke the law of God.”

Anger flared in Victoria’s eyes, but she kept her composure. “I don’t think your duties extend so far as to pass a moral judgment on her. Who knows what the circumstances were?”

The judge looked up in surprise. “I didn’t mean—I don’t want to quarrel with you, Victoria. If you want the child...”

“My husband and I want her very much.”

He shook his head. “Draw up the papers, Jarrod, and I’ll sign them. I’ll even waive the waiting period for the adoption in this case. When are you going back to New Orleans?”

“In a week,” Royce said. “We could stay longer if...”

Judge Billings dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand. “No, no—I’ll take care of it.”

* * * * * * * *

Audra Barkley hung the last small garment on the line she’d strung up behind the house. It had taken her an hour to wash them to her satisfaction, and she sighed when she thought about all the ironing they’d require. Far away from the clean laundry, Gene was beating the mattress from the cradle.

“Be easier to get a new one,” he commented as his sister walked over to inspect his work.

“I’ve never seen any for sale in Stockton. I’m sure Father sent off for this.”

She shivered. “Hurry—it’s cold out here.”

Gene gave the mattress a few more whacks with the beater and was gratified to see that no more dust rose from it. “What d’you think Father would say about all this?”

“I don’t know. I know he’d have wanted Mother to be happy—to marry Royce if that’s where her heart lay, and it obviously does. He’s a good man, Gene.”

“I believe that. But to become a father for the first time at his age...”

“Mother says he deserves the chance—and I really think she wants that baby as much as he does.”

“She’s been at loose ends since Father died, and we grew up, hasn’t she?”

“There’s been less and less for her to do—and she isn’t much for society, especially in Stockton.”

Gene took his sister’s arm. “I’ll leave this to sun. Let’s get back inside.”

* * * * * * * *

Nick had been quiet since breakfast, and Heath—who hadn’t expressed his opinion at all—let him be. When they stopped work at noon and pulled out the lunch Silas had packed, Nick didn’t seem hungry.

“It’s a lot to get used to all at once,” Heath finally commented.

“Yeah.”

“But you like Royce now.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“You’re okay with Mother marryin’ him.”

“It’s done.”

“C’mon, Nick. I haven’t ever seen her this happy since I came. I mean, there was always something sorta sad about her—didn’t you ever notice it?”

“Not really.”

“Well, she’s real happy now. You gotta be glad of that.”

“Sure.”

“And if they want to raise that baby...”

Nick slumped back against the tree. “They might not live to raise her.”

“That might be true even if they were our age.”

“Yeah.”

“We’ll all be here.”

“Yeah.”

“Nick, it’s a done deal. Gonna have us a brand-new baby sister in a coupla days. Might as well get used to the idea.”

Nick nodded. “Yeah, might as well.” He put his head back against the tree and closed his eyes. “When Father was killed, I felt like somebody’d dropped a big rock on me. Had this ranch to run by myself. Mother was all torn up and—yeah, I gotta admit, she wasn’t ever the same after that, not really. Not until she met Royce. Still scared me though—her startin’ over, maybe getting’ hurt again.”

Heath rolled a cigarette as he waited for Nick to go on.

“Sure, Royce’s a good man—I shouldn’ta acted the way I did, Told him I was sorry. He was real nice about it, too. But I don’t wanta see either one of ‘em hurt. That baby could—she could die—she could turn out bad and hurt ‘em.”

“You and Jarrod turned out pretty good, I’d say, and Audra and Gene.”

“All of us gave Mother more’n her share of trouble at one time or another.”

“That’s part of being a kid, ain’t it? Reckon I gave Mama a few bad moments.”

“You?”

Heath laughed. “You think I was some kinda plaster saint?”

“You were all your mama had—thought maybe you...”

“Yeah, well, I did mostly. But I was a kid, Nick. Kids get into trouble. Never did anythin’ all that bad, and I reckon you didn’t either.”

“Jarrod and I used to say we’d rather be locked up than face Mother after any of our scrapes.”

“I wouldn’t want to face her either. Mama was a tough little lady—but I gotta say—Mother’s tougher.” He chuckled.

“Think she’ll be tough on this baby?”

“I’d bet my new saddle on it.”

“Royce’ll be a pussycat.”

“Guess every kid needs one pussycat.”

This time Nick laughed. “Yeah—and you know—Father was that where we were concerned. He said boys would be boys—and he spoiled Audra rotten.”

“She turned out just fine. She’s got a good heart.”

“That was Mother’s doing—I mean, her raisin’. Father gave her everything she wanted.”

“Never figured him that way.”

“Yeah, well, he was.” Nick brought his hand down hard on his thigh. “Damn, Heath, I was so mad at him for getting’ himself killed!”

Again, Heath waited.

“Leavin’ me with this ranch! Hurtin’ Mother!” He reached for his canteen and unscrewed the cap. “Maybe I’m still mad—a little.”

* * * * * * * *

Audra and Gene joined their mother and Royce in the dining room for a late lunch. “When are you going to bring her home?”

“Tomorrow afternoon,” Victoria said. “I spoke with Reverend Forbes about having a service for the girl in the morning. Her name was Annie.”

“Annie.” Audra contemplated the name. “How old do you suppose she was?”

“Fifteen or sixteen, Dr. Merar said,” Victoria replied.

“I gave the undertaker some money to buy her a decent dress,” Royce said. “And she’ll have something better than a plain pine box.”

Audra chewed her lip. “Mother, I want to give her a dress.” She jumped up and disappeared, coming back with her new—and unworn—blue dress over her arm.

“Audra, that’s your new one—the one you ordered from San Francisco!”

“I want her to have it. If it were me, wouldn’t you want...”

Victoria rose quickly and embraced her daughter. “Thank God, it’s not you, Audra darling! If you’re sure about the dress, put it in a box and have Ciego take it into town.”

Audra clung to her Mother. “Maybe I’m not completely spoiled,” she whispered.

* * * * * * * *

The service was brief in deference to the chilling wind that sprang up as the Barkley family arrived at the cemetery—and because there was nothing to say about a girl known only as Annie. Reverend Forbes spoke sincerely, however, of God’s mercy and enduring love, and the casket was quietly lowered into the ground.

Royce and Victoria took the chaise alone to the orphanage. Stopping at the front door, Royce turned to Victoria. “Are you really sure?”

“I’m as sure as you are.”

He smiled. “All right then. Let’s go get her.”

“This child is twice blessed,” Amalia Gordon said as she placed the blanketed bundle in Royce’s outstretched arms.

“She’ll have the best of everything,” he said.

Victoria raised her eyebrows. “Yes, that’s what I’m afraid of.”

Her husband looked startled, then smiled a little sheepishly. “Oh, I see what you mean.”

Only Audra was waiting when they arrived home. Taking the baby from her mother’s arms, she went into the library where she’d spread a quilt in front of the fireplace and deposited the baby in the middle of it. “I want to see every inch of you!” she cooed, unwrapping the blankets. “Oh, look at those little fingers!” She kissed them.

The baby seemed to revel in her new freedom and kicked vigorously until both feet were free from the drawstring at the end of the gown. Then she sneezed.

“Oh, she’s caught cold!” Royce said immediately.

“Babies sneeze,” Victoria said easily.

The baby sneezed again.

“She’s fine!” Victoria and Audra said in chorus.

“Gene went out with Nick and Heath, and Jarrod hasn’t come from town yet,” Audra said. “And Silas is in the kitchen making bottles.”

“I’ll check on him,” Victoria said. “Don’t you take your eyes off that baby, Royce,” she said lightly.

“No, I won’t!” Then he realized she was teasing him. “Oh, go on!”

In the kitchen, Silas was stirring something in a saucepan. In the middle of the table, on a clean white cup towel, stood a dozen empty glass bottles and rubber nipples. “I fixed things like the note from Miz Gordon said.”

“I’m sure everything’s fine,” Victoria replied. “But a dozen bottles won’t last long. Maybe you can convince Audra that making formula is as much fun as polishing the silver.”

Silas grinned slyly. “Might at that!”

“She did wash and iron all the baby clothes.”

“With me watchin’,” Silas said firmly. “Almost got th’ irons too hot a time or two!” He shook his head. “Found a tin box in the pantry,” he went on. “It’ll do ta store th’ bottles on th’ porch so’s ta stay cold ‘til you need ‘em.”

“Bottles will be a new experience for me, too,” Victoria sighed. “The old-fashioned way was much more convenient. Is that ready to be poured up?”

She returned to the library with a warm bottle and thrust it at Royce. “You may as well get your feet wet,” she said. “Audra, hand him the baby.”

It took him a few minutes to get the hang of it, but when the baby was finally sucking greedily, Audra slipped out of the room, leaving her mother watching the proceedings from the arm of Royce’s chair. By the time she reached the foot of the stairs, she was weeping without understanding why.

She was happy, of course, that the baby had a home—the best to be found—and that Royce Wardell had his long-awaited chance at fatherhood. There was something touching about his eagerness. And Mother—well, it was plain that Mother wanted another chance, too, and this time she wouldn’t have Father to contend with.

A brief feeling of guilt flooded the girl. She’d adored her father, but when he was gone, she’d realized that he’d done her a disservice. It had taken Mother awhile to shame her into that realization, but once she understood, she’d striven to do better. Royce wouldn’t do that to this baby. Mother wouldn’t have to fight him to be part of her life.

Audra sighed and went off to the kitchen. There was more work to be done now that the baby was here, and Silas would accept her offer to help without question.

* * * * * * * *

The baby slept in her basket through dinner. Afterwards, Royce fed her again as the family drank coffee in the library. Then, as if by prearrangement, the four Barkley siblings disappeared upstairs, claiming a variety of waiting tasks, leaving Victoria and Royce alone with the baby.

“It’s difficult to tell how they really feel about this,” Royce commented, managing to burp the baby this time without startling and almost losing his grip at the unexpected explosion. “Except for Audra, of course.”

“It will take time, but somehow I think each one of them will develop his own special relationship to his baby sister.”

“We’ll have to visit frequently so that she’ll know them.”

“Christmas and summer,” Victoria said. “We don’t want to be gypsies. Besides, babies need routine.” She frowned as she thought of the routine of wee-hour feedings to come. “I hope the Vandemeers are successful in finding a nurse before we arrive.”

“I wired them yesterday.” Royce examined the baby’s eyes. “Do you think they’ll stay blue?”

“Possibly, but it’s too early to tell.” Victoria rose. “I’m going to take her upstairs and put her in the cradle. I think you could use a stiff drink—a sherry at least.”

Royce laughed. “You may be right. Becoming a father isn’t something that happens everyday. I feel quite overwhelmed.” He handed the baby to her.

“Take your time. You realize, of course, that she’ll have us up again in four hours.”

“Not really! Are you sure?”

“Quite sure.”

* * * * * * * *

Victoria, coming back from Audra’s room later, heard Nick’s voice coming from her own. “Kate,’ he was saying. “That’s an old lady’s name—no name for a pretty little baby girl—is it now? Yeah, I can see you agree with me. Well, I ain’t gonna call you Kate—nah—Katie, that’s it. Katie Barkley. . .KatieBee! That’s the ticket!”

Victoria moved a little so that she could see into the room. Nick was hunkered down beside the cradle. “Well, you listen to me, KatieBee. I’m Nick—your big brother Nick. Your really big brother Nick! And I’m gonna teach you to ride and rope and shoot good as any boy! I sure am! This is a workin’ ranch, ya know! And you’re part Barkley now—and part Barkley’s plenty good! Mother’ll teach you to crook your little finger over a cup of tea and tease the boys, but I’ll save you from all that, you’ll see. You’re gonna be the best!”

He startled as Victoria pushed open the door and stepped inside. “Why, Nicholas, what in the world are you doing in here?” she asked innocently.

His face reddened. “Thought I heard—well, you went off and left her alone, didn’t you?”

“I was just next door in Audra’s room, and she’s safely tucked into the cradle. She’s not going anywhere.”

He shuffled his feet nervously as he edged toward the door. “What you want with a little bitty thing like that, I’ll never know!”

Victoria smiled. “No, of course you don’t. But you’re gonna teach her to ride and rope and shoot good as any boy...”

She leaned against the bedpost and laughed as Nick fled.

* * * * * * * *

Excerpt from the diary of Dr. Katherine Barkley Wardell:

One of the first stories I was able to comprehend was how I got the nickname KatieBee on my very first night with the Barkleys. I always loved the mental picture of my broad-shouldered brother Nick bending over the cradle talking to me and saying what he would do for me. Over the years, he did all that he promised and more.

As Mother predicted, I developed a special relationship with each of my much-older siblings. By the time I was eighteen months old, I was an aunt, courtesy of Jarrod and Sarah. Nine of my sixteen nieces and nephews were fewer than ten years younger than I was. It made for an interesting family mixture.

I retired from medicine when I was seventy. The next year, I fulfilled a promise I’d made to myself when, at the age of twelve, I’d learned the origin of my name and all it stood for. My son-in-law, Richard Wright, accompanied me to New York and arranged, by virtue of his family connection, for me to visit the grave of Papa’s first wife, Catherine Wright. I left a nosegay of violets, her favorite flowers, beside the marker.

Later, Vicky went with me to California where I made a similar pilgrimage to Tom Barkley’s grave. This time I left wildflowers gathered from the ranch.

Finally, I stood alone beside Annie’s grave, knowing it would be the last time I visited her. No words are ever adequate to thank someone for the gift of life, so I offered her nothing but a moment of silent tribute and three red rosebuds for Mother, Papa, and me.

“Have you done what you wanted to do, Mother?” Vicky asked me as I joined her in the car.

“Yes, I have.”

“I still don’t understand.”

I patted her affectionately. “You don’t have to, Vicky dear. They understand—Catherine, Tom Barkley, and Annie.”

She put the car into gear. “All right. I won’t ask any more questions.”

I closed my eyes as we drove away. I had come full circle, and it was good.

THE END