The Big Valley plot
The wealthy and powerful Barkley family lives in the beautiful San Joaquin Valley in California in the 1870s. Widow Victoria lives with her brood on the Barkley Ranch to manage their livestock, mines, citrus groves and logging camps. Son Jarrod, a prominent attorney, handles all of the family's legal issues and manages his two law firms in Stockton and San Francisco. Her other son Nick, a strongly built rancher, physically manages the family's property. He is helped in this by Heath, Victoria's stepson. The youngest child of Victoria is her beautiful daughter Audra, who is protected by all family members. She is very sensitive, caring, loves horses and is a very talented rider.