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. No infringement is intended in any part by the author, however, the ideas expressed within this story are copyrighted to the author.  No original storylines and characters can be used in part on in their entirety without expressed consent from the author concerned.

 

A 30 Minute Roundup

A Tale of Three Cities by Nicolegesq

 

He didn't know which was more famous, the Barkley guts or the Barkley luck. But he knew he'd need both.  He looked into the parlor, seeing the three women, one blonde, one brunette, one redhead.  And then there was the silver haired matriarch, looking far too amused at his predicament.

 

“Jarrod!” she greeted him.  “How was the trip back from Denver?”

 

“Just fine, Mother,” he said smoothly, stepping forward to kiss his mother on the cheek.

 

“Now, I believe these ladies are all friends of yours and that introductions should not be necessary.”

 

“No, no, I suppose not.  Assuming of course, you’ve introduced yourselves to each other.”  He tried his most winning smile, his blue eyes shining, but he could see by their faces that they weren’t going to give in to his charms so easily.  He stepped forward.  “I’m sure Mother has been the perfect hostess as always, making sure you’re all comfortable.”

 

“Your mother has been wonderfully hospitable,” Sophie commented, her blue eyes flashing.

 

Jarrod swallowed hard, calling on all his reserves to maintain his cool demeanor.  “And did you have a good trip from Sacramento?”

 

She nodded her head, amazed by his calm response, certain her own face was nowhere near as welcoming.  “It was uneventful, until my arrival here.”

 

Colleen sat forward, one fist rhythmically opening and closing as it dangled over the arm of her chair, the white knuckles the only sign of how furious she was.  “I would say the same of me, although of course, my trip began in San Francisco.”  Her fiery green eyes met Jarrod’s blue ones, and Jarrod knew he was in trouble, that her fierce temper was barely within her grip.

 

Isabella shifted slightly at the end of the settee.  “I, of course, did not have to travel far at all, only as far as the Mission just outside of Stockton.”  Jarrod stared at her and the way her fan whipped through the air, serving to make the dark brown tendrils dance in the breeze she created.

 

He turned slightly when he heard the door open and, out of the corner of his eye, he saw his brothers enter the house, the two of them sweeping their hats off their heads as they walked in.  Nick was the first to speak.  “Jarrod, we heard you got in, just wanted to come in and join the homecoming.”

 

For one moment, the normally eloquent attorney was glad to not have to continue the previous conversation.  “Nick, Heath, ladies, I don’t know that you’ve all met my brothers.”

 

Nick grinned broadly, his dimples deep.  “Oh, no, Jarrod, we’ve met.  We’ve all met.  Heath and I were just busy getting things done, waiting for you to get home.  This is a working ranch, you know.”

 

Jarrod’s face fell at his brother’s amused manner and the twinkle in Heath’s eye, the two of them obviously enjoying his predicament, having come inside just to witness his downfall.  “Are you sure you don’t have anything else to get done?  I know how busy the two of you are.”

 

“Nope, ranch is pretty well in hand, wouldn’t you say, Heath?”

 

“Yep, pretty well managed, got the fences mended, horses all fed, spring roundup is done.”  The blond cowboy smiled a little half grin at the ladies, his eyes meeting those of the dark haired, dark eyed Spanish beauty.  She threw a dismissive look at Jarrod.  “Jarrod tells me you’re a wonder with the horses.  My father has a cantankerous stallion.  He’s worried about breaking his spirit but doesn’t want to geld him.”

 

“I’d be more than happy to help any way I could.  Would hate to not be neighborly.”

 

“Could you come by this afternoon?  Seeing as you and your brother aren’t busy with the ranch.”

 

“I’ll ride over now if you’d like, see you back home.  Course, as long as Jarrod doesn’t mind.”

 

Her eyes never left his.  “I’m sure Jarrod won’t mind.  He does seem to have his hands full.”

 

Jarrod watched as his younger brother picked up his hat and Isabella barely nodded at him as she stood.  “Mrs. Barkley, thank you so much for the tea.  Ladies, so nice to have met both of you.  Jarrod,” she added as an afterthought.

 

Colleen watched her stand.  “If the two of you are heading back toward town, would you mind if I joined you?  I’m not entirely certain which way and I thought I might catch the afternoon train back to San Francisco.”

 

Nick turned toward her.  “Now there’s no reason for you to get here and immediately head back.  Doesn’t seem right for a body to be cooped up on that long train ride twice in a day.”

 

Colleen studied the tall cowboy carefully.  “Now I wouldn’t be minding a day in the fresh air, seeing the green grass.  It is a welcome change from the city.”

 

“And do you enjoy the country, Miss Carrick?” Nick asked.

 

“Aye.  Reminds me of my home country.  So fresh, green.  Untamed.”

 

Nick’s dimples grew deeper as he saw the twinkle in the dancing emerald eyes.  “If you’d like, I could show you around the ranch, a prettier sight you won’t find anywhere.”

 

“That’s a mighty big promise to make to a girl, Mr. Barkley.  Are you in the habit of keeping your promises?”

 

Nick glanced down at the floor, fighting back the laugh threatening to surface.  “You can be sure of that.  What kind of rat would tell tales to such a pretty thing as yourself?” he asked, smiling through the steam he felt radiating from his older brother.  Offering one hand to the dazzling redhead, he pressed the back of his other hand into Jarrod’s chest, pushing him back lightly.  “S’cuse us, Jarrod.”

 

Jarrod watched as his brothers left with two of the ladies, leaving the one sitting in the parlor.  Victoria watched the looks exchanged by her oldest son and the delicate woman still remaining.  “If the two of you will excuse me, I think I’ll see our other guests out.”

 

Neither spoke until the door closed, the spirited conversations fading as they moved outside, leaving the house silent.  “Jarrod Barkley, I believe you have some explaining to do.”

 

“Yes, it seems that I do,” he admitted, walking across the room to stand before her.

 

“You’re a lucky man, to be so gifted with words.  Let’s see how far your courtroom training can take you today,” she challenged, sitting back, wrapping her hands around one knee.

 

“And until this moment, I had no idea just how lucky I am,” he answered smoothly, leaning down, his hands resting on the arms of her chair.

 

“Are you sure you’re lucky?” she asked, shaking her head, even as her own smile responded to his in spite of her best efforts to fight it.

 

“You’re still here.”

 

“Yes, but maybe because I wanted to be sure to give you a piece of my mind.  Really, Jarrod.  A girl in every port?  I expected better of you.”

 

He nodded in acknowledgment.  “But then, you are the one who said you weren’t willing to make our relationship exclusive, with my spending so much time in Stockton and San Francisco.”

 

“Did I say that?” she teased.

 

“You did.”

 

She took in a deep breath.  “Well, maybe we should rethink that.”

 

“Should we?  I could show you around Stockton, show you that it’s not completely without its charms.”

 

“Apparently,” she answered drolly.  “And seemingly so completely different from those of Sacramento.  And San Francisco seems to have its own attractions as well.”

 

Jarrod cleared his throat.  “And yet, Sacramento is the only one with the political cunning to stay for the fight through the end.”

 

Sophie stared at him coyly.  “This debate isn’t over yet, Mr. Barkley.”

 

He shared her smile.  “Ah, but I have faith in the system, my dear.  And you know what they say about politics, don’t you?” he asked, moving close to her, tilting her head back with one finger under her chin, then claiming a soft kiss.  “It does make for the most interesting bedfellows.”