Yes, the animal rescue continues. So first an introduction to the two additions of my family.

On July 23^rd, two more little strays wandered my way. Litter mates they are both little females which are approximately four months old.

The first is Dory who bears a Greek name for Gift from God. Dory is the more inquisitive, smarter and more attractive of the two sisters. Don't the cute reach for the sky picture fool ya, she isn't really that complacent.

The second little bundle of joy is Ireland. Well Ireland has the sweeter personality and more easygoing style. Unfortunately she is also the noisier of the two. It took all my patience to take one picture without her mewing.

Due to the length of this particular piece, I will have to break it into sections over the course of the next two to three months.

BIG VALLEY EXPOSED (Ahem, I been Expose) Warning: Clichés abound. Pure silliness, though there is a plot.


It was a hot summer day; as it is always a hot summer's day in every piece of writing that graces the hallow fandom of Big Valley, when….

"MOTHER! JARROD!" Nick's voice came bellowing through the front door. Just on his heels the ever quiet fair-haired brother, all but non-existent until the best lines or action has to be delivered.

"Nick, must you yell, the moment you enter the house?" The matriarch floats and bounds downstairs as her feet seem to barely grace the steps.

Not quite sheepish enough to be really sincere Nick retorts coyly, "When would you like me to yell?"

Shaking her head wistfully and moving quickly into her next thought, knowing she has to squeeze as many lines in as possible before she is whisked away by this week's current lunatic kidnapper.

Not seeing her daughter within sight, Victoria feared that Audra had slipped off and is parading her womanly wears. Taking a single breath and launching into a soliloquy, "Where is your little sister? I do wish you boys would keep a closer eye on her; I fear she has her father's wandering ways in her. Nick weren't you suppose to watch her and make sure she does not bring home any more of those unscrupulous men to which she is so attracted?"

"No, it was Heath's turn. Just yesterday, I was saying to the boy here that sis would be riding. Yes, sir, I certainly did tell, little brother to keep a close rein on sis. And that is a fact," Nick answered, accentuating every endearment like a Shakespearean thespian.

On cue, sweeping down the stairs, from yet another one of her long naps or twenty baths she takes daily, Audra appeared in her ever poor taste of inappropriate attire.

"Audra, must you wear such outlandish clothes. This family has a reputation to uphold."

"Really mother." Audra purses her lips and gives a somewhat defiant pout.

"Audra, please change." Watching her daugther sulking back upstairs, Victoria turned to Nick, "Now Nick, what was it that you wanted?"

Nick barreled on, "Mother, where's Jarrod?"

"I would imagine still in town."

"At this hour, it must be what 10, 11?" Nick's impatience, unbridled energy and the fact he started working at 5:00 am making it too difficult for him to even come close to being accurate. The hour had not yet chimed 8.

Victoria could not help but question Nick's simple deductive reasoning skills as a clock was in clear view and he did know how to read time. Still she let the comment pass, and queried on, "Why dear, is something wrong?"

"No, no, just have some business to discuss. Did he say when he would be getting back?"

"No, all he said was he was working on a case," stating the obvious as what else would Jarrod be doing.

Nick quickly turned to Heath who has yet to speak, knowing Nick and mother could talk all day and he could quietly contemplate his next career move, "Heath, he say anything to you?"

Not even bothering to look up, Heath responded absently, "Nope, not a word, but Jarrod and I rarely speak. With you yelling and his galloping off here and there some place on this cause or that, I barely heard a word he said since I arrived here."

Her natural mother instinct taking over, "Nick, perhaps you should check on him."

"Mother, perhaps you are right. Seems to be that soon as dusk settles Big Brother always finds new ways to get his lawyer's neck wrung. It just don't know why Jarrod can't settle in and take up helping to run the ranch."

Considering how much trouble her eldest seems to find behind a desk, the pure thought of having Jarrod ranching made Victoria blanch. Heath's arrival alone had already caused Victoria to beg Dr. Merer to consider moving closer to the ranch.

"I don't know Nick, Jarrod might not take too kindly to us riding in and upsetting him. Maybe we should wait. You know how he is, probably has a burr in his side itching to scratch" This is Heath talk for Jarrod is probably working hard on his case and will come home once he gets every angle figured.

While Nick's head was telling him Heath might be wrong, his stomach was readily agreeing to wait. "Hmm, I suppose. Anyway, I'm starving. What's for supper?"

Audra had again made it back downstairs and was standing to the right of her mother. Although Audra no longer looked like a lady of the night, she continued to create clothing faux paux as she was now wearing a summer shade of cream crop pants with an autumn chocolate blouse.

Victoria could only smile and pray Audra would have reason to travel east and meet a nice Amish man so all her clothing woes would be solved.

Not waiting for an answer, each brother held out an arm and escorted mother and daughter to the dining room table.

The table was elegantly adored with piping hot and fresh, never burnt or cold, food that had magically appeared. Silas had already poured four glasses of water and four cups of the strong brew so well adored by the family. Silas had mystically and keenly surmised that one Barkley would not be gracing the table for supper that evening as he scurried.

Part 2- Also known as filler or transition...

As the Barkley brood less the barrister were benefiting from a bountiful banquet, the counselor was hard at work increasing his billable hours.

Out of nowhere a rock came crushing through the window, keeping the Barkleys yet again for the third year running the prime customer of ACME glass company.

Wrapped around the rock was a hastily written note requesting Jarrod's presence in a back alley at 10 pm sharp. Looking at his watch, Jarrod noticed he had ten minutes. Obviously bells should have been going off, clearly this note was not inviting the attorney for tea and crumpets.

For a man with a higher degree of education and the wisdom of Solomon, there were times when Jarrod had the commonsense of the germs Gene so disgusting discusses at dinner. Perhaps worse, the counselor seems most to resemble to a block of wood giving new meaning to the term loggerhead.

For if it is true that curiosity kills the cat, then another truism can be stated- Jarrod's probing will lead to a pummeling.

Buttoning his vest and coat as well as straightening his string tie, Jarrod set his hat just askew enough to keep his beautiful blues from being shadowed. Impeccably dressed as all know one must be properly attired for a proper pounding, Jarrod left his office and headed into the street below.

Instead of turning to the livery stable and logically riding straight to the ranch (making the would-be assailants come to him), Jarrod continued to follow the instructions left in the notice. Passing the corner into the dark of the street where neither street lamp nor moonlight shines, Jarrod meet by the ugliest three thugs, since all bruisers must be ugly to prevent empathy, to grace the good streets of Stockton.

Well time to get this over with, thought Jarrod. Tensing Jarrod firmly planted his feet waiting for the first punch.

Having taken the obligatory number of face and body shots sufficient to bruise but not break anything, Jarrod found himself mysteriously brought back to wakefulness, safe and sound in his bed. Sheriff Madden had again found a Barkley brother and made sure of his return. I really should charge by the mile, thought Fred.

Having not slept since his arrival in Stockton, waken at all hours of the day and night with a shooting, beating or some other incident related to the Barkleys, Fred met with Dr. Merar just a week prior. The two men had decided it was in their best interests to order enough laudanum to dope up the Barkley three for at least two weeks, giving both the doctor and sheriff a much needed vacation. Unfortunately the shipment had yet to arrive, so another sleepless night for both men awaited.

Moaning softly Jarrod alerted the four worried faces that stood around his bed that he was gaining consciousness.

"Who did this?" yet again another obvious question by the no-nonsense Nick.

"I don't know," the semi-conscious Jarrod responded. "I never saw them before."

Just tight-lipped enough Nick gave back a retort, though Jarrod was too tired and too sore to care. Plus the blessed and blasted laudanum had find its way in between his forced teeth. Blessed because it put the patient in a "I don't give a (add expletive)" mood and blasted because it tasted like a cross between horse urine and bad oriental beer.

Shaking himself awake having fallen asleep, Jarrod prodded his head and face. Nope, no bruises or bumps, he realized he must have fallen asleep. In fact, he was safely tucked away in his office reading. Had he been dreaming about the beating?

No, he was certain he read something similar. Ah yes in the report, he had yet to show it to his family though he was certain they would find it as invigorating and perhaps a little frightening as well.

Hastening putting together his papers, Jarrod made his way home that night. He could hardly wait to talk to his family.

I do love pictures so, of course, some new ones this month. I just stick with those from the television series and portrait shots.

So starting our favorite scoundrel, Gentleman Jack Darby, conniving but like-able gambler.

Then one of the family man Professor Everett, absent his ever present cardigan and looking surprisingly contemplative.

From family man to ladies man, Rex Randolph, the happy-go-lucky charmer gumshoe.

What set of pictures would be complete without at least one Jarrod picture as the confident Counselor makes a point.