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 authors. The ideas expressed in this story are copywrited by the author.

 

 

Racing Trains ~ Nutterone

 

It was one of those hot, dry days that left a man scratchin’ his insides to clear the dust.  Heath, in his usual calm manner, used his kerchief to wash up at the pump in the yard.  Nick arrived seconds later and in his typically abrupt manner, simply dunked his head in the trough.  When he brought his head up, he shared the refreshing water with anyone within five feet.  He shook his head as a dog would. 

 

Heath, knowing what was about to happen, had slinked back and after watching Nick’s antics with a long smile on his face, he strolled over to the far corral.  He didn’t even need to whistle.  Gal sauntered to him and he immediately reached for the area just behind her soft ears.  He whispered affectionate words to her and she turned into his attentions, softly nickering.

 

“She’s a good ol’ horse.  She didn’t deserve that pothole.”  Nick had joined his brother and reached over to pat the loyal horse as well.  Heath still took her for easy rides, but primarily she entertained the orphans and was used to calm nervous horses new to the ranch.

 

Gal, Heath’s longtime companion and best friend had been lamed several months back when she hit a pothole at a full run.  Heath had been on her back and been laid up himself for several days from the wrenched back. 

 

As Heath lay sprawled on his back, watching his beloved friend struggle to stand and whimper from the pain, he couldn’t help but feel it was over for her.  He could see that the break in her foreleg was bad.  She’d never run free again.  He knew that a life lived hobbled so was something he couldn’t fathom for himself, so he pulled his gun from its holster and aimed.  Just then, she reared her head and looked him squarely in the eye.  A lone tear fell from his eye and he held his breath, whispering his sorrow. 

 

“Heath!  Heath!”  Nick and Jarrod rode up.  It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon and the boys had been out having fun in the warm, sunny weather.  “Hold still.”  Nick went immediately to calm Gal, while Jarrod tended to Heath.  Heath clammed up utterly disappointed that he hadn’t been able to spare his friend himself.  Nick or Jarrod would do what he couldn’t.

 

Three days later, Heath slipped from his bed and made his way to the stable, wanting to touch his saddle and be reminded of his wonderful friend.  As he pulled open the stable door, he was stunned.  There in the early hours of the morning, were his three brothers, working with his best friend.  Gal hung suspend from ropes, her front legs unable to touch the ground. 

 

“What’s going on?”  Heath asked, stunned.

 

Nick beamed.  “She’s comin’ along just fine.  The leg’s healing well.  I don’t think she’ll be racing trains anymore, but she’s gonna have a long, happy retirement.”  Pride beamed from the faces of Jarrod and Eugene as well.

 

Heath thought out loud.  “I’d have never thought she would be happy with this life.”  He gestured to the simple pasture in which she spent her days.

 

Nick laughed.  “Just goes to show you.  People change.”

 

Heath smiled.  “She ain’t a person, Nick.”

 

“You wouldn’t know it from watchin’ the two of you.”  Gal adjusted herself and present Nick with her rump.  He chuckled and complied, scratching her hindquarters.  There was no denying Gal was enjoying the attentions.  “Think she misses racing trains?”

 

Heath pondered the question, but not for long.  “No.  She’s happy.”

 

“Why do you say that?  For an old gal, she really seemed to come alive racing those trains.  I bet she misses it.”

 

“Those were different days.  She needed to race those trains.  She had to prove to herself she could do it.”

 

“Why has that changed?”  Nick asked, wondering what might cause a horse’s thinking to change.

 

“She has a home.  She has a purpose and work to do.  She doesn’t need the challenge anymore.  She’s happy enough.”

 

Nick smiled, wondering whom they were really talking about.  “So, she’s content huh?”

 

Heath nodded.  “She sure is.”

 

“So, how come you don’t race trains with Charger?”

 

“Don’t know.  I don’t think it’s in him.”  Heath mused.

 

“Not in him?  He’s second only to Cocoa in this valley.  He could easily handle a train, even those fast ones out of San Francisco.”  Nick grinned.

 

Heath chuckled.  “But he doesn’t need to.  He is a powerhouse.  No one doubts it.  He knows it, too.  There’s no challenge in the train for him.  Like you said, he knows he can do it.”

 

“Hmm…” Nick was quiet.  “It’s been a hell of a journey.”

 

“What’s that?”

 

“It’s been a year.”  Nick stated simply.

 

“What’s been a year?”  Heath still wasn’t following his brother’s thought process.

 

“Since you came here.”

 

“Really?”  Heath thought about it.  “I didn’t realize.  I didn’t know you were keeping track.”

 

Nick placed a hand on Heath’s shoulder.  “I been thankin’ the good Lord for every day since you came to us.”

 

Heath was overwhelmed at the comment.  He fumbled for an adequate response.  He found nothing.  The men continued to attend to Gal in silence.  Finally Heath broke the silence.  “Every day?”