Jarrod Barkley watched his cousin hastily throw some clothing into her travel bag, her frustration evident as she was muttering to herself in Yiddish, something she seldom if ever did. Speak in Yiddish, that is. Muttering to herself she did quite frequently.
"Going it alone?" Jarrod inquired.
Exasperated Michelle huffed. "I am perfectly capable of traveling to Nevada Territory all by myself."
"I know. I know. Just under the circumstances I thought you could use a little moral support. Care to have your favorite cousin accompany you... and no jokes about having to see if Heath is available."
Michelle smirked in spite of herself. "And how is it you are so sure you're my favorite cousin anyway?"
Jarrod shrugged. "Well, you have know me the longest."
Michelle closed her travel bag. "Correction. I've known Betty the longest. And that being the case I suppose I should have seen this coming." Michelle sighed. "Alright. I suppose some moral support would be in order. You'd better go pack."
The side of Jarrod's mouth lifted slightly. "I already have."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Ben Cartwright paced the distance between his house and the nearby house once occupied by Adam and Betty... now held in fortress fashion by his daughter-in-law. He walked in silence his words having left him some time ago. Every once in a while he would stop in front of one of his sons, raise a finger as if to say something, drop his arm, shake his head, then continue his path. After several laps he came to rest in front of Adam. "Exactly, when is Michelle going to get here?"
Jarrod detrained and assisted Michelle to the platform. "The livery should have a buggy waiting for us," he told her.
Michelle sighed. "I have a feeling I'm going to regret coming here."
^^^^^^^^^^^
"Where are Jarrod and Michelle?" Nick Barkley had been out when the telegraph message came.
Audra wasn't even able to finish explaining when Nick was quickly back out the door. He returned three hours later with a wad of cash.
Heath studied his brother. "Boy howdy, Nick, where'd you get all that money?"
"I won it," Nick bragged triumphantly. "Bet everyone in town that that marriage wouldn't last a year... And I WON."
Victoria shook her head as Audra exclaimed, "Nick, how could you!"
Heath rolled his eyes. "Don't you think collecting on those bets was a bit premature. I mean nobody said anything about the marriage being over."
Nick was not to be derailed. "Oh, come on now," he told the younger brother. "We are talking about BETTY."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Michelle approached the door to the main house as Jarrod tugged the rope ringing the bell. Instantly, the door flew open. Both were startled by an animated Hop Sing. "Whole family gone crazy!" he informed them. "You fix or I go back to China!" He took off towards the kitchen.
Cautiously Michelle and Jarrod entered the house. Without any warning Michelle was grabbed and hugged tightly from behind. Michelle jumped. There was a pause. "Joseph, please let go of me." He squeezed harder. "Preferably now."
The arms that encircled her released and Joe came around to face her. "Sorry, ma'am. I've just missed you so much." Then he turned calling in all directions, "Pa! Adam! Hoss! She's here!"
"I must be invisible," Jarrod quipped.
Joe turned toward Jarrod's voice. "Oh, hi, Jarrod." He stepped closer and gave him an after thought of a hug.
Almost immediately the other three Cartwrights descended on the Barkley/Kaufman pair, Ben announcing that it was about time. Then to Michelle's dismay all four started to talk at once about what was going on, the only word she could make out from any of them was 'Betty'.
Jarrod chuckled. "Well, what do you think?"
Michelle rolled her eyes and exhaled. "I think Hop Sing had better start packing for China."
The chatter ceased abruptly. Ben looked Michelle in the eye and asked, "Well, what are you going to do about this?"
Michelle looked bewildered. "I don't even know what 'this' is yet."
All four began talking at once again.
"Quiet!" Michelle's voice shocked even her. The four looked at her in stunned silence. "I know I'm going to regret this," she sighed. "But, one at a time." When they all started to open their mouths she turned to Adam. "You first."
"Your cousin threw me out," he informed her.
Michelle turned to Jarrod. "That's it. Let's go home."
Now Hoss stepped forward. "Ma'am, ain't ya gonna do nuthin'"
"Yes, Eric, I am... I'm going to mind my own business."
"This is your business, " Ben put in. "If you had married my son when you were supposed to all of this wouldn't be happening."
"All of what wouldn't be happening?" Michelle asked automatically. Geez, it was too late to catch her mouth's adventure ahead of her brain. She mentally slapped herself.
"Well, for one thing Betty doesn't want children," Adam spoke evenly.
"I know," Michelle said. "And so did you. Let's go, Jarrod."
"And she won't engage in any activity that might result in children," Adam continued quickly. Michelle faced him again. "I mean if wanted to spend all this time celibate I would have waited the fifty years for you."
Michelle threw him a look. "You would have been waiting a lot longer than that."
"Ma'am, my brother's awful unhappy. You gotta do something." That was Little Joe.
"Sorry, Joseph, I left my magic wand back in Stockton."
Now Ben spoke again. "At least if you'd married my son you would have performed your wifely duties."
Michelle turned... very slowly. She eyed Ben with an ironic combination of the iciest stare anyone had ever seen yet everyone present would have sworn that flames shot from her eye sockets. "I.. beg...your...pardon. Mr. Cartwright, I suggest that you refrain from any more pompous, archaic remarks, especially if you want me to stay and help with this situation. Do we understand each other?"
Ben was quite taken aback. "Yes, I think we do," he stammered.
Hoss leaned to Joe. "I think she done brought that magic wand with her afterall."
At that Jarrod pulled Michelle aside. "We are here. Why don't you at least talk with Betty?"
Michelle nodded. "We did come all this way. But while I'm doing that why don't you talk with Adam. Maybe between the two of us we can get a full view."
Jarrod grinned.
"What?"
"I told you you'd want me along."
Michelle made her way along the path that led from the main house to Adam and Betty's home. She knocked on the door.
"Go away, you miserable, no good..."
"Betty," Michelle interrupted, "it's Michelle."
"Michelle."
"Yes. Remember me. Your cousin who just took a long train trip to get here."
Michelle heard the sound of bolt locks being released. The door opened, but just slightly. Betty's eye appeared in the opening. "You alone?"
The younger cousin was frustrated. "Just let me in."
The door opened just enough for Michelle to slip inside. Betty immediately shut the door and bolted it.
The two women entered the main room. Betty indicated a chair and Michelle sat. Betty sat in the chair opposite her. "So, how's everything in Stockton," Betty inquired casually.
"Fine," Michelle told her. "How's everything here on the Ponderosa?"
"Fine," Betty answered innocently. "Why do you ask?"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"I'm miserable," Adam blurted as he and Jarrod entered his old bedroom. "Pa is miserable, Hoss and Joe are miserable. Even Hop Sing is miserable." He deflated under the emotional strain that had been obviously building for some time.
Jarrod was not keen on getting involved in the marital affairs of his cousin and best friend. 'Be supportive but butt out,' he reminded himself. Then looking at the unhappy figure in front of him his older brother instincts kicked in and he beckoned Adam with his hand. "Come here." Adam hesitated. "Come here." Jarrod encouraged.
Adam was not usually given to something as vulnerable as a 'just because' hug, but he took the couple of steps closer and accepted as Jarrod wrapped his arms around him, standing stiffly at first then finally relaxing and even hugging him in return. After a minute Jarrod released his hold. "Why don't you tell me about it?"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"There's nothing to tell," Betty stated matter-of-factly. "Adam's trying to break our agreement. That's all there is to it."
"About children?" Michelle hazarded the guess having heard something along those lines at the main house.
"Yes...No..." Betty trailed off.
Michelle sighed. "Well, which is it?"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Adam shook his head. "It's everything. Children, location....
"Location?"
"Yeah. She keeps talking about wanting to move back to New York.." Then he continued, 'the people in town..."
"The people in town?"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"You know what they have the nerve to call me in town?" Betty asked indignantly.
Michelle hemmed. "The fastest mouth in the west?"
"No! They call me Mrs. Cartwright."
"What did you want them to call you? Hey, you!"
Betty stiffened. "Just plain Betty would suffice. Cartwright is Adam's name."
Michelle winced. "Well, you can't expect people to know that about you."
"Too bad. I don't like it."
"And exactly how many fights have you gotten in over this?"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Ten," Adam told Jarrod. "She has beaten up no less than ten people for calling her Mrs. Cartwright." He sighed in a tired way. "I'd ride up to the sheriff's office and folks would ask me if I was there to bail out my little brother and I'd have to tell them 'No. I'm bailing out my wife.' Which, by the way, she has a problem with that word too."
Jarrod reacted. "What's wrong with wife?"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"It's so damn sexist," Betty informed her cousin. "I've told you how I feel about terms like that."
Michelle folded her arms. "What do you prefer, female husband?"
"Not funny," Betty informed her. "And, for the record, I never hit anyone just for that." There was a pause as Betty waited for her cousin to ask for details. When she didn't she continued anyway. "I was in town one day and politely informed a young cowboy that I preferred not to be addressed as Mrs. Cartwright that just plain Betty would suffice. Well, he had the audacity to turn to a friend and say, 'Fat Betty would be more like it...."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"So she hit him," Adam explained to Jarrod. "Popped him right in the nose. He forgot she was a woman at that point, swung back, Betty decked him."
Jarrod looked puzzled. "I still don't see where that adds up to ten." When Adam gave him a look he clarified, "You said she beat up no less than ten people."
Adam shook his head remembering. "By the time the sheriff got to them she was fighting off the nine friends who had come to his aid."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Then there were ten people," Michelle stated.
"The others should have stayed out of it," Betty remarked indignantly. Then she added almost as an afterthought. "Like everyone around here."
'Like I'm trying to do,' Michelle thought to herself.
But it was no avail. Betty continued as though she'd been probed to explain. "Anytime anyone in this house even sneezes it's like someone from the main house hears and says,'gezundheit'. Of course, the great Ben Cartwright has an opinion about everything to do with this marriage....
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Well, naturally Pa is... involved. That's just how Pa is," Adam said with a sigh. "Not too different from your mother, I'd venture."
Jarrod actually chuckled slightly at this.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Ten minutes later Michelle and Jarrod met each other on the path between the houses.
"I know what the problem is," Michelle informed her cousin.
"Ben Cartwright," Jarrod said evenly.
Michelle laughed slightly. "I knew Betty would never be able to live in a situation where a third party controlled any aspect of her life But Ben is not the problem. The problem is Adam. He seems unable or unwilling to stand up for their independence. No wonder she wants to go back to New York." Michelle looked to the heavens as if summoning some force for strength. Then she turned to Jarrod. "Would you visit with Betty while I speak to Adam?"
Jarrod nodded with a smile. "I knew you'd need me."
Michelle rolled her eyes. The two started for opposites houses.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Michelle entered the main house to find all Cartwrights sitting in the living room as if nothing unusual was going on. Hop Sing was just setting down a tray with cups of tea. He looked directly to Michelle. "You fix now?"
Suddenly filled with new resolve Michelle squared her shoulders. "Yes, Hop Sing, I fix now. May I have use of your kitchen?"
Hop Sing smiled. "If you fix, kitchen is yours."
Michelle stepped further into the room. "Adam, I'd like to speak with you please." She led the way to the kitchen and turned to find not only Adam but the entire clan. "I meant ALONE." Hoss and Little Joe chuckled slightly. Adam looked sheepish. Ben looked completely surprised. "Certainly in this big house the three of you can find somewhere else to be." Hoss and Joe took the direction and exited. Ben stood his ground and opened his mouth, probably to proclaim that this was his house. "Either leave this room or I'm leaving the Ponderosa right now and everything can be just as I found it when I arrived," she stated more directly. Ben pushed out a breath but turned and left. "And no listening at the door," Michelle called after him.
Michelle then turned sharply on Adam who was chuckling at her bravado. "Now if you had done that I would not need to be here!"
Adam's amusement halted abruptly. "You know I can't talk to Pa like that," he told her defensively.
Michelle folded her arms. "Then, just maybe you shouldn't have promised Betty that you wouldn't let your father interfere in your marriage."
Adam's shoulders dropped. "I figured she'd understand," he attempted weakly.
Michelle pinned with a gaze. "And just how is that working for you?"
"It isn't," Adam admitted.
"The problem is not children, or spousal names, or location. Your problem, Adam Cartwright, is that there are three people in your marriage and that is one too many. "You can either be married to Betty.... or married to your father. You decide."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Adam knocked on the door to Little Joe's room. "Joe, may I come in?" There was a barely audible response. Adam opened the door and entered to find his youngest brother face down on the bed, muffled sobs wracking his body. Adam hated to see his little brother cry and this was particularly bothersome knowing that he was the reason behind the tears.
Adam silently approached the bed and sat beside his brother. "Joseph...Joseph, please don't be like this." Gently, he placed his hand on his brother's back. "Joe, please look at me."
Almost reluctantly Little Joe rolled to his back to greet Adam's pleading gaze. "You're leaving me."
Adam shook his head. "I'm not leaving you. I'm just leaving the Ponderosa."
Joe sniffed. "What's the difference?"
Adam took hold of Joe's hand. "Betty and I need a fresh start, somewhere where we can feel independent."
Joe pulled his hand back. "All I know is you're leaving and never coming back. I'll never see you again." Joe sounded like a child but he didn't care.
Adam shifted so he could lean against the headboard. He reached out an arm, wrapping it around Joe and pulling him close. "Come here." When Joe was settled Adam said, "We'll visit." He dusted a kiss on the top of Joe's head. "And you can come to New York." Another kiss. "It will be okay. You'll see."
"Don't you understand? I'll miss you."
"And I won't miss you?" Joe shrugged. "I already miss you," Adam told him. He placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. "And remember my being in New York won't change how much I love you."
"You just love Betty more?" Joe ventured.
"No," Adam assured him. "It's just to show her how much I love her I need to make this move."
"Everything okay?" Jarrod appeared in the doorway.
Adam nodded. "It will be." There was a pause. "But will you tell Betty that I'm going to stay the night with Little Joe?"
Jarrod smiled. "Sure. Have a good night."
Adam watched Jarrod walk away. He then pulled Joe just a bit closer and settled in for his last night in the house where he had spent more of his life.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Betty had not looked as happy in months as she looked at the train station that afternoon. She seemed lighthearted as she said her goodbye's. She even had a cordial goodbye for Ben who himself was dealing with mixed emotions. His oldest was leaving.... but then again so was Betty.
Betty plastered Jarrod's face with kisses before boarding the train leaving Adam to say his farewells.
Adam stepped to Hoss first and received a bear hug. "I love ya, big brother." They parted and Hoss put a kiss on Adam's cheek. Adam kissed him back. "I wish Joe had changed him mind about coming."
Adam sighed, "I understand why he wasn't up to it." He then turned to his father who silently hugged him.
Hop Sing was next and handed him a box. "I make special cookies for your trip. Don't eat all at once."
Adam kissed Michelle's hand reminiscent of the very first greeting he ever gave her. "Goodbye, lovely lady. And thank you."
Adam and Jarrod hugged. "I love you, my friend," Jarrod told him.
Everyone watched as Adam boarded the train. As the train started to pull away Betty blew kisses and waved from the open window. "Tell Nick I'm sorry I didn't get to say goodbye." Soon the train was out of sight.
Michelle turned to Jarrod. "Well, I can't say I'm sorry it turned out this way."
Jarrod nodded. "Just one thing. We never did find out who sent you the telegraph message."
Neither one noticed a smiling Hop Sing.
"Speaking of that," Michelle began, "did you remember to wire your mother an update."
Jarrod dropped a hand on her shoulder. "I did that yesterday."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The slamming of the door shook the entire house and nearly raised Victoria, Audra and Heath from their seats. Victoria looked up from her book. "Did you get all the money returned?"
"Grumble" Nick started up the stairs, stopped halfway and turned sharply. "I can't even rely on Betty to mess up a marriage." He stalked the rest of the way up the steps. The family waited until they heard his door slam and when it did they burst into laughter.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
EPILOG
Jarrod dropped a hand on his cousin's shoulder. "Our train isn't for an hour. How about something to drink?"
"Sounds good."
"One thing. Now that all this is over... I mean really over what are you going to do?"
Michelle smiled. "Well, I've been giving it a lot of thought and I've decided that I'm going to live with my favorite cousin." She pointed to Jarrod.
Jarrod grinned. "I knew it. But what are you going to do about your writing?"
"Well, I actually have an idea for a series of novels about three brothers who own a very large spread...."
Jarrod beamed. "And what are you going to call the series...Stockton?."
Michelle shook her head. "No...something catchier like.... The Big Valley!"
Jarrod chuckled. "Could work. Think your publisher will go for it. You usually write stories that take place in other countries."
"They'll go for it if it's presented right.. a promo like this....Echoing a call of high adventure..."
Amused Jarrod rolled his eyes.
Michelle continued, "A story of a close-knit family torn by bitter conflict..."
"Bitter conflict?"
Michelle was unfazed. "We have Jarrod, the eldest of the Barkley brothers, Nick, the loudest...."
"Oh, he'll love that."
"Okay, Nick, the strongest and Heath, the outsider who fought for recognition..."
Jarrod looked at her. "The outsider who fought for recognition?"
Michelle turned mischievous. "Well, at least fought to get his oldest brother to kiss him goodnight."
"You'd tell that wouldn't you?"
"I sure would. Hey, my readers would love it."
"Well, then, how about Michelle the cousin whose bossiness was unequaled..."
"Except by their mother?"
Jarrod laughed, "I love you." They started to walk from the platform. "How about letting your favorite cousin buy you a cup of tea? And, remember, you've admitted it now."
"I'll never forget."
Jarrod draped an arm around her shoulder. "The Big Valley. It does have a nice ring to it."
*The End
*And literally this is. While I've had a lot of fun writing for The Big Valley/Bonanza I have been spending more time lately on my original works and this story seems a nice way of wrapping things up.