Overdue Justice

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE BIG VALLEY. THIS IS WRITTEN AS WRITING PRACTICE AND PURE ENJOYMENT ONLY. Only the "Guest Stars" per say are my creation.

The idea for this story came after watching 'Barbary Red'. The normal 'What if…' took over.

Chapter One

OPENING SCENE

It was dark when the ship finally docked; not a soul was in sight as the sailors started for dry land. The captain watched as one man stood on the docks looking more like a statue than anything. He was a hard worker but stubborn as a mule. More than once the captain was sure there would be one more man lost at sea only to find himself siding with the fellow. Truth to told; he couldn't afford to get rid of him-for whatever reason he'd been the glue that kept the other men from deserting.

"I am sorry, really," he walked up to the lone figure, "I was desperate. If you ever find yourself in this situation again; just ask for me. I owe you," he did too-the man had saved his life not once but twice, maybe that was why he was willing to take a risk and at least let the man off in the same state he'd been taken from-that is, after getting his word to leave him out of any plans he may have, "I hope someday you can forgive me." Though he meant every word they sounded so hollow and empty. The man he'd actually grown to admire for his ability to stand his ground and fight against the odds said nothing as he simply turned and walked away.

'Heaven help the ones who brought him to me' the captain thought back to the night the man had been transferred to his ship; then, slowly he turned and headed for his own home.

SCENE ONE

Anna was just shutting the door to the chicken coop when she heard the rider coming. She stood next to the porch as the man approached. She was confused. He wore the clothes of a sailor but he wore a gun and rode the horse as if it was second nature. Was he a cowboy or a sailor?

"I don't suppose you can tell me the nearest place to get a change of clothes." He'd been in such a hurry to get away 'from that place' he hadn't even thought about the clothes he wore until after he'd bought a horse and started his journey. The look that was upon the woman's face was the same one he'd been getting for some time now. He smiled; the woman's dishwater blonde hair, blue eyes and beautiful figure were a sight for sore eyes.

"Normally I would tell a body they had another ten miles to travel before they could buy anything like that only," she looked him over and nodded towards the house, "I have some of my late brother's clothes in the house that might fit you. May I get your name?" She knew her mother would turn over in her grave if she heard Anna offering him John's clothes but, land sakes, the man had been dead for two years!

"Nick," he dismounted the horse he'd bought the day before, "Nick Barkley. You live out here by yourself?" He couldn't see anyone leaving a pretty young thing like her out in the middle of nowhere and, at approximately five feet (if she was lucky) she must be feisty-had to be to survive this part of the country!

"Up until last month I was not alone," she shrugged her shoulders as she headed into the house, he followed, "my mother finally gave up the fight and joined my father." She kept her composure but Nick could still see the hurt in her eyes and hear it in her voice.

Was his family still living? How many nights had he lain awake thinking about them; about the ranch and other things? It was those thoughts that had kept him going on the worst of days. One way or the other he was going to see his ranch, his mother, sister and brothers again! Nick shuddered at the thought that any one of them could have passed away; then again-they were probably thinking the same thing about him.

"Mr. Barkley?" Anna had seen the look of anger that had flashed over her visitor's face.

"Sorry," he started smiling again, "I let my thoughts wander; my condolences on the loss of your mother. Where are those clothes you were talkin' about?" He asked as he opened the door and held it while she entered the house.

Once inside he looked around. The front room was spacious enough but held very little furniture. Off to his right a couch set up against the window that set next to the door and a small table set off in the left hand corner. The kitchen lay on the other side of an archway that separated the two rooms.

"Come with me," she motioned for him to follow her as she went though the archway and turned to her left. He followed her up a flight of stairs and into the first room that they came to.

The room was small but still had plenty of room to walk around. "You can look through there," she pointed to a dresser that set up against the north wall, "there should be something that will fit and," on the spur of the moment, she opened the closet and pulled down a box, "Does that pistol of yours happen to use this type of bullet?" she handed him the box of shells.

Nick couldn't believe his eyes as he took the box and opened it up. He'd been trying to figure a way to get more bullets. It had taken most of his money to get the horse and what little food he had. "I cannot pay for them right now; I barely have enough to pay you for the clothes. That is; if they fit."

"There is no cost for the clothes and," she paused, "I do not know where you are heading but if you will not argue with going with me as far as Stockton; the bullets can be yours for no money either."

Stockton! He wanted to start laughing. "What is waiting for you in Stockton?" He was shocked when the look on her face turned cold.

"Overdue Justice." He was left wondering as to what she meant as she turned and left the room.