Ever since he was a little boy Jarrod had been so in-tune to the feelings of those around him. Therefore his instincts must have told him if this Christmas was going to be a joyful one, it was up to him to start it off on the right note.

Jarrod roused Nick from his bed at six that morning. The fourteen year old did some good natured grumbling which prompted a brief pillow fight, but he was soon pulling on a pair of socks, pants and a shirt. Jarrod dragged Nick along to the nursery where baby Audra was sitting up in her crib playing with a rag doll. She smiled and held her arms out to her big brother.

"Peeeweh," Nick held his nose. "Take her to Mother."

"I think we can give Mother a little break from diaper duty on this day of all days."

"Maybe you can, but don't count me in on that idea."

Jarrod carried the baby to the table his mother used for diaper changing and dressing. "I'll handle the diaper, you find her a dress and some socks."

Nick was willing to do that much for his baby sister. In ten minutes time the little girl was clean, dressed, and had a fresh ribbon in her hair though admittedly the green bow tilted farther to the left than it should have.

Jarrod passed Audra to Nick as he hurried to Heath's room. He opened the door with a big grin on his face and boomed, "Merry Christmas,......"

Jarrod's words faltered as he walked into the room. Heath was hardly the picture of excitement like Jarrod remembered himself and Nick being at the age of eight on Christmas morning. The blond boy was dressed for the day and sitting by the window. His forlorn gaze never left the ranch yard below.

"Heath?"

Heath turned as if this was the first he was aware of his siblings.

"Come on," Jarrod urged. "We're going down to see what Santa left for everyone."

Jarrod didn't allow the morose boy anymore time to brood. He swept Heath from his chair and swung him to his shoulders. Jarrod followed Nick out of the room, ducking under the doorway so Heath wouldn't hit his head.

Jarrod backtracked down the hall just long enough to pound on his parents' bedroom door.

"Merry Christmas, Father! Merry Christmas, Mother!"

Nick's voiced echoed the same sentiments.

Jarrod added, "Heath and Audra say Merry Christmas as well."

Victoria was belting her robe when she opened the door. She smiled at the sight before her. A fully dressed Audra smiling from Nick's hip, Nick and Jarrod standing together looking so handsome and grownup, and a somber Heath perched on Jarrod's shoulders whether he wanted to be there or not.

Tom was slipping into his robe when he joined his family. "Go on then, Jarrod. Let's get this Christmas Day started."

Jarrod bounded down the stairs, calling, "Hang on, Heath!" Nick followed with the laughing Audra who squealed with delight at all the commotion.

The boys went right for their stockings. Tom took Heath off Jarrod's shoulders while Victoria took Audra from Nick. Nuts, oranges, and chocolate candies spilled out of the boys' stockings while Audra received a rattle, a teething ring, and a new cloth doll. Jarrod and Nick dug further, Nick finding dime novels by his favorite western author while Jarrod found a bottle of after shave and a pocket dictionary.

Heath let Tom guide him through his stocking, only reaching for more treasures when he was prompted to do so by his father. If the gifts brought Heath any excitement Tom was hard-pressed to discern it from the boy's reserved demeanor.

The man did his best to cover Heath's behavior. When all the stockings were empty he clapped his hands and said, "Okay, everyone! Gather around in a circle by the tree."

Tom took Heath by the hand and led him to the evergreen. Jarrod sat next to Heath with Nick on the other side of him. Victoria sat between her husband and Nick, Audra on her lap.

Tom picked up the first present. He read the writing on the tissue paper. "This says it's for Heath from Papa and Victoria."

Heath took the gift and opened it. Without comment he studied the wooden car that would hook on the back of his train engine. He finally lifted his eyes to his father.

"Thank you, Papa."

Tom patted his back. "You're welcome, son. That was from Victoria, too."

Heath knew what his father meant by that last comment. He glanced across the room, barely making eye contact with his stepmother.

"Thank you, ma'am."

"You're welcome, Heath."

Tom continued to passed out gifts one by one until everyone had a pile of open presents surrounding them. Audra sat in the middle of the floor now, ignoring her new dolls and the jack-in-the-box to instead play with the discarded wrapping paper.

Tom watched his family for a moment. He smiled at his sparkling baby girl, his eyes then shifted to his older sons. Nick was sighting the new rifle he'd gotten while Jarrod poured over a set of law textbooks Victoria had ordered for him from Boston. Heath was the only one who showed little interest in his gifts, though he had said thank you after he'd opened each one.

The family patriarch reached under the tree one last time. He found gifts from Nick and Jarrod to himself and Victoria, and gifts from them to each other, Heath, and Audra. Whether or not Nick would have purchased Heath a gift without Tom's prompting the man didn't know, nonetheless the purchase had been made at some point in recent days and that was all Tom cared about.

Victoria opened the first box Tom handed her. Her eyes grew wide with shock.

"Jarrod,.....oh, Jarrod, it's beautiful."

The woman held up a slate gray cameo broach for all to see. "Honey, you shouldn't have. The money you must have spent."

Jarrod rose and stepped over Audra. He bent and kissed his mother's cheek. "You're worth every penny."

Her gift from Nick was a jar of colored bath salts and a bottle of her favorite perfume.

"Why, thank you, Nick. Thank you. This was so thoughtful of you. And to think you even know what my favorite perfume is."

Nick blushed and shrugged his shoulders. "It was nothing. But when you're ready to use those things,.....on a night when Father takes you out to dinner maybe, I'll watch Audra."

Tom looked at Nick mouthing, "And Heath, too."

"And Heath. I'll stay here and watch Audra and Heath so you and Father can go out to dinner. Maybe even take the train to San Francisco and see a play."

"That's a wonderful idea, Nick. When Audra's a little older I'll take you up on it. Thank you, son."

While Victoria helped Audra open the gifts Jarrod and Nick had given her no one noticed Heath scoot back toward the tree. His hand encountered two presents he slipped into the back pocket of his pants. By the time Tom was opening his gifts Heath was seated next to him once again.

The man was surprised to find a present wrapped in brown paper with his name printed on it.

"To Papa," he read, "From Heath."

Tom smiled down at his blond son while he opened the gift. His jaw dropped as he hands rubbed over the soft leather of the wallet.

"Heath, this is nice. Very nice. But wherever did you get the money to buy it?"

The weekly allowance Tom paid Heath for doing chores around the ranch wouldn't have purchased a wallet this expensive.

"I made it."

"You made it?"

"Yes. After school and on weekends when I was in the tack room. Phillip gave me the leather. He said they were scraps no one would ever use."

Tom turned the wallet over to see the word 'Papa' burnished on the other side. He watched as Jarrod and Nick opened wallets with their names burnished in the leather as well.

"Where did you ever learn tannery?"

"From Mr. Overmeier in Strawberry. He was the tanner. I cleaned his shop for him whenever he asked me to."

Jarrod expressed his pleasure at Heath's craftsmanship, and even Nick was forced to admit this new little brother was constantly full of surprises. For the first time since Heath had arrived he spoke to the boy in a civil tongue.

"Thanks, Heath. Thanks a lot."

Victoria opened the gift addressed to Audra from Heath. A leather necklace strung with colored wooden beads was just the right length to tie around her chubby neck.

"Where did you get the beads?" Tom asked.

"Miss Wellington got them for me. She traded me two week's worth of blackboard cleaning for them 'cause I told her I don't take charity."

Tom laughed and pulled his son to his chest. "You're quite the little businessman, aren't you."

"And I made Silas a belt. I'll give it to him after breakfast."

"That was very thoughtful of you, to remember Silas like that."

"He's my friend," was all Heath said in return.

Tom looked under the tree one last time. When he didn't see anything for Victoria from Heath he wasn't sure if he should question the boy or not. He caught his wife's eye and saw her shake her head no. He swore he saw tears swimming behind her gaze, but she turned away before he could ascertain that fact. Victoria distracted the family by picking up Audra and announcing, "Silas is putting breakfast on the table. Let's leave our gifts for the time being and eat."

The family attended church services at noon that day, then returned home to the Christmas feast Silas had awaiting them. Friends and neighbors popped in throughout the afternoon and early evening. By ten o'clock that night the Barkleys were settling into their respective beds. Even Nick went without a fuss, the long day taking its toll on him as well.

Tom turned on his side and snuggled against his wife. "Victoria, I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"For not making certain Heath had a gift for you. I never gave it a thought that he would buy,.....or make rather, any of us presents this year. I assumed he wasn't comfortable enough with us yet so I didn't broach the subject with him."

"It's okay. Heath has the right to give gifts to whomever he chooses."

"But he doesn't have the right to leave you out. That's not the way we do things around here."

"Let it be for now. Please."

"But,..."

"Tom, this situation is no different than what you said a while back about Nick."

"About Nick?"

"Regarding George Barnsworth and how he picks on Heath. You said you couldn't make Nick fight for Heath, nor love him either. Well, you can't make Heath love me. To quote you, he'll be drawn to do that in time, or he won't be. None of us can predict what the future holds."

Tom made no reply to his wife. As much as he hated it when she found occasion to use his words against him, he had to admit they were appropriate given the current situation.

Victoria said no more and Tom fell asleep holding her. She didn't allow her tears to flow until she felt his soft snores against her back.

The next two weeks flew by. New Year's Eve took Jarrod and Nick to the party at the Hansen ranch and brought the Manners family to the Barkleys' homestead.

Somehow Jarrod found the time to give equally of himself to everyone. He worked alongside his father, took trips to town with Nick, went horseback riding with his mother, played with Audra, and walked with Heath beside the river that cut through the Barkley property when the boy took Chief's puppies out for their daily romp.

Everyone hated to see Jarrod return to school, but the day came when they had no choice but to wave goodbye. Nick helped Tom secure Jarrod's luggage to the back of the buggy. One of the ranch hands was driving Tom and Jarrod into Stockton. Tom was taking the train to San Francisco with his oldest son. He had business to conduct in the city for several days and decided this would be a good opportunity to get it taken care of.

It wasn't unusual for Heath to disappear whenever Tom went to town. Therefore, Victoria wasn't concerned when she didn't see him after the buggy pulled out of the main gates. She knew he never wandered too far, but always seemed to find something to occupy his time on the Barkley acreage.

Nick flew into the dining room at five minutes after six that evening. He slid into his chair.

"Sorry I'm late, Mother."

Victoria leaned sideways with her napkin and wiped at a smudge of dirt on her son's face.

"It looks like you've been busy."

"Some horses broke out of the east corral. I was helping Randall and Paul repair the fencing."

"Your father will be pleased to know he can leave the ranch in your capable hands."

Victoria saw Nick's chest swell with pride at the compliment, though he simply shrugged his shoulders in reply to her words. The woman reached out and slapped at one of Nick's hands.

"Nick, put that roll down. You know we don't begin eating until everyone is seated." The woman craned her head toward the foyer where Nick had entered from. "And speaking of everyone being seated, where's Heath?"

"I don't know."

"You didn't see him on your way in?"

"No."

"That's odd. He's never late for a meal."

"That's for sure," Nick snorted. "The kid's like a cuckoo clock when it comes to being fed."

"Nick."

"What? No one's around to hear me. Well, no one but Audra that is and she's not going to tell anyone, are you Audra?"

The baby gurgled at her big brother as though she'd understood every word he said. Nick reached over and moved her blocks around on her high chair tray.

Victoria stood and went to the dining room windows. "When was the last time you saw Heath today?"

"I don't know. I guess when Father and Jarrod left."

"That was the last time I saw him, too."

Silas entered carrying a platter of ham. Victoria turned.

"Silas, have you seen Heath this afternoon?"

"No, ma'am. Least ways not since you were all gathered outside saying goodbye to Mr. Jarrod."

Victoria turned back to the windows as Silas exited the room.

"It's getting dark," the woman said to her son. "It's not like Heath to stay out after dark. And it's especially not like him to be late for supper."

"Do you want me to go out and see if he's in the barn?"

The woman turned to her son. She could tell by the look on his face that he'd rather be eating. She appreciated him taking a mature stance for once where his younger brother was concerned.

"Yes, Nick. Please do that. And if he's not there look in the other buildings as well. And check with the men in the bunkhouses, too."

"I will."

This time Victoria didn't admonish Nick when he reclaimed his dinner roll on his way out the door. On impulse she took Audra out of the high chair and called to Silas.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"I'm going to check upstairs just to make certain Heath isn't hiding somewhere on us. Would you please look in all the rooms down here."

"Yes, Mrs. Barkley. I'll do that right now. But don't you worry none. It'll probably turn out like Christmas Eve. Mr. Heath is probably curled up in some corner somewhere sound asleep."

Victoria nodded as she and Audra headed for the stairs.

Silas is right. I'm worrying for nothing. Heath has probably fallen asleep somewhere, or is outside feeding Jarrod's dogs and has lost track of time.

An hour later Victoria knew she now had reason to be concerned. The search of the house proved futile, as did Nick's search of the out buildings. The fourteen year old was getting some men together to ride the ranch looking for Heath when horse's hooves pounded from the west. Nick strained to see into the darkness.

"Whoa," the man said as he reined his horse to a stop next to Nick.

"Heath!" Nick cried. "Where have you been? It's after seven o'clock and you've got everyone goin' out of their minds with worry."

The ranch hand swung down off his horse, then lifted the soaking wet Heath out of the saddle.

"I found him walking home from the river, Nick. He said he fell in."

"Fell in! Why you little,.......you know the river's off limits unless an adult is with you."

Nick looked up at the man who had brought his brother home. "Thanks, Art."

"No problem." The cowboy tousled Heath's wet hair. "And you stay away from that river, young fella'."

Nick grabbed a handful of his brother's shirt and propelled the child toward the house. "Boy, are you gonna get it. Mother's gonna tan your hide for this stunt. First you disappear without telling anyone where you're goin', then you practically get yourself drowned in the river. You have yet to see Victoria Barkley's temper, but I have a feeling you'll be well acquainted with it before you're sent to bed."

Even if Heath had wanted to make a reply he couldn't have. The air temperature was fifty degrees and the cold water of the river hadn't felt any warmer than that. His teeth were chattering and his limbs stiff as ice.

Nick was shouting before he even opened the door.

"Mother! Mother! Mother, look who Art brought home!"

Victoria rushed down the stairs from the nursery.

"Heath! Heath, where have you,......Heath, what happened? My Lord, you're soaking wet."

"He fell in the river."

"In the river? What was he doing down there?"

"I don't know. Art found him walking home a little while ago."

Victoria shuddered as she thought of the wild, rushing river that cut a wide path through the Barkley property. It was as beautiful as it was deadly. Only on the calmest of summer days could it be used for a swim. In winter, when it was filled with snow run-offs from the mountains it was swollen and angry. As angry as Victoria was right now when she thought of what could have been had Heath somehow not gotten himself to safety.

"Heath, you know you're not supposed to be near that river unless an adult is with you! What in the world made you go down there?" The woman cupped the child's chin and raised his head so he was forced to make eye contact with her.

"Heath? Heath, answer me."

When it became apparent the boy was going to make no reply Victoria shook her head in both anger and disgust.

"Go upstairs and get changed out of those wet clothes." The woman turned to her house servant as he entered from the kitchen to see what the commotion was about. "Silas, please help him. Get him in bed while I warm up some soup."

"Yes, ma'am." Silas put a hand on Heath's cold back. "Come on, Mr. Heath. Let's get you warmed up."

Heath watched Victoria with wary eyes when she entered his room thirty minutes later. He was dressed in a clean night shirt and tucked in bed with two extra quilts spread over him. He wouldn't meet Victoria's gaze as he sipped at the chicken soup. At least she wasn't trying to make conversation. She was so angry with him she simply sat perched on the edge of his mattress waiting for him to finish his meal.

When Victoria got up to leave she realized it was Tom who had always tucked Heath into bed for the night. She knew little of what their night time routine contained. She never gave it a thought when she leaned forward to kiss the boy's forehead. She would have made this gesture to any of her children no matter how upset she was with them.

Heath cowered into his pillows when he saw Victoria moving toward him. She stopped in mid-motion, his blatant dislike of her made the woman feel as though someone had taken a slice from her heart.

She stood with the soup bowl in her hand. She leaned over the oil lamp and blew out the wick, plunging the room into darkness.

"Good night, Heath."

The boy didn't answer Victoria, but then she didn't expect him to.

Victoria sat in the parlor staring into the fireplace. The flames offered no answers to the questions churning in her mind.

She wondered what had lured Heath to the river. Though he generally disappeared when Tom wasn't around, he'd never before been disobedient and wandered somewhere he'd been told he wasn't supposed to be.

And his dislike of her. He'd been with them over two months now and nothing had changed. They hadn't even begun to form the slightest of friendships, let alone forge a mother/child relationship. While some women in Victoria's position might have looked upon Heath's silence as a blessing, she knew in his case actions did speak louder than words. The most recent example of that was the Christmas gifts that had been given to everyone but her. Why even Silas received a gift, but there had been nothing for her and no mention as to why not. Well, Victoria knew the why nots. The boy hated her. He resented her for being the woman whose role it now was to take his mother's place.

Maybe Tom needs to take him back to Strawberry. I thought we were doing the right thing by bringing Heath here, but now I see I was wrong. Heath hates me, he has no desire to get to know me, or allow me to get to know him. And then there's Nick. We shouldn't have expected him to accept this boy as brother. It's not fair that this has altered Tom and Nick's relationship. All for a little boy who doesn't want to be here in the first place.

Heath and Audra were sleeping, and Silas had retired to his quarters for the night. Nick was out in the tack room mending a saddle meaning Victoria had the main floor to herself. She sat in the parlor until the clock chimed ten times. She thought of going outside and telling Nick it was time for him to get ready for bed, then decided he might as well enjoy his last few days of school vacation. Besides, he'd been such a help tonight. So calm and level-headed when organizing the men to search for Heath. So confident that Heath would be found when he patted Victoria's arm and said, "Don't worry, Mother. Everything's going to be all right. I'll find him, I promise."

Yes, Heath had been found and with plenty of help from his guardian angel everything had indeed, been all right. But what would tomorrow bring? And the day after that? Would the child eventually run away? Had he been trying to do just that this evening when he fell in the river? And what heartache would it bring Tom if the boy disappeared at some point in the future and was never found? Would Tom ever be able to forgive himself for the mistakes that were made the night Heath was created?

Victoria stood and crossed to the fireplace. She wished she knew what opinions she was going to express to her husband when he returned from San Francisco. Should Heath remain at the Barkley ranch, or be returned to Rachel? Perhaps that decision was best left up to the eight year old. But would Tom even be willing to consider such a thing? And if he wasn't, what price might they pay for keeping Heath with them? What price might Heath pay for staying with them?

With a heavy heart Victoria removed the poker from its rack and rolled the logs. She left the fire burning low, knowing Nick would take care of it when he came in.

The woman lifted her skirts and climbed the stairs. She placed her hand on the knob of Heath's bedroom door, her intention to silently enter the room one last time to make certain he wasn't suffering any ill effects from his swim. She paused a moment and cocked her head. There it was again. A muffled, gasping sound like someone was crying. Crying but didn't want to be heard.

Victoria opened Heath's door and took two steps into the room. The lights from the hallway gave her all she needed to see by. Heath lay curled in a ball with his back to her. His body shook as he sobbed into his pillows.

"Heath?" The woman rushed to the bed. "Heath? Honey, are you all right? Do you feel sick?"

Victoria sat on the edge of the mattress. Heath curled up even tighter when he felt her come to rest beside him. She ignored his movement and placed her open palm on his forehead. When she couldn't detect a fever she ran her hand down to his cheek. With her own children she'd often found this was a good gauge of how high their temperatures were.

Heath's skin felt a little warm to Victoria, but she wasn't certain if that was a sign of illness or if it was from the exertion of crying. His face was wet with tears. He sputtered and gulped, trying to stop their flow, but the weeping seemed to continue on its own accord.

"Heath, can you tell me what's wrong?"

When Victoria got no answer she kept her voice quiet and soothing when probing again.

"Are you sick?"

Still no answer.

"Heath, please. I'm worried about you, sweetheart. If nothing else please tell me if you're not feeling well."

Finally Victoria saw him nod against his pillow.

"Does that mean you're all right?"

His voice came out soft and nasally. "Yes, ma'am."

"You don't have a tummy ache?"

"No, ma'am."

"How about a headache?"

"No, ma'am."

"Are you too warm or too cold?"

"No, ma'am."

Victoria put a smile in her voice when she asked her last question.

"Have you grown another arm or leg? Or perhaps another set of toes? Or an extra ear?"

"No, ma'am."

"Well then, young man, I'd say you survived your swim unscathed." It wasn't until after she'd brushed Heath's hair off his forehead that Victoria realized he'd allowed her to touch him. She pulled a hankie out of her dress pocket and wiped the tears from the side of his face that was visible to her. She held the white linen to his nose and encouraged him to sit up.

"Here, sweetheart. Blow."

Heath rose on an elbow and did as instructed. Victoria folded the hankie and returned it to her pocket. She sat in silence with the boy for a moment, trying to decide how to proceed with this very fragile thread that suddenly existed between them. She kept her voice soft and gentle.

"Would you tell me why you were crying, honey?"

Heath leaned against his pillows but turned his head away. Nonetheless, his movement couldn't hide the tears she saw well up in his eyes again.

"Heath?"

When Victoria got no reply she absently fingered the quilts that lay across the boy's chest.

"You know, when my children are upset it upsets me, too. It hurts me to find you crying in here all by yourself. Sometimes when something bothers us so much that it makes us cry it helps to have a friend to talk to."

Heath thought a long moment before confessing, "Rachel used to talk to me when I cried after my mother died."

"Rachel was a good friend then, wasn't she."

"Huh, uh. And Hannah, too."

"Yes, and Hannah, too. I'm glad to hear you had such good friends. I know when we have to move away from our friends it can make us very sad. Are you crying because you miss Rachel and Hannah?"

"No."

"I see. Well, maybe you're crying because you had to say goodbye to Jarrod today. Saying goodbye to Jarrod made me sad."

"I didn't want Jarrod to go either. I like him a lot."

Victoria smiled. "Everyone likes Jarrod a lot. He's a good brother, don't you think?"

"Yes."

"So is that why you're crying? Because Jarrod had to leave us to return to school?"

"No."

Victoria thought further, trying to remember what it was like to be eight years old. Trying to put herself in Heath's place. She pondered bringing up the subject of his mother, but thought it was best to follow his lead in that area. She looked around the room, her eyes traveling to the vast hallway beyond. This house must seem so enormous to Heath after the home he was used to living in with his mother. Tom had told her it had one room that served as both kitchen and living room, and one tiny bedroom barely bigger than a closet where Heath slept, while Leah slept on a cot near the stove.

Victoria could easily imagine how frightening it must be for Heath to sleep in this big room all by himself. She wondered why she'd never thought of this before. On the other hand, how could she have? Prior to this moment she'd always gotten the impression Heath didn't want her in the room with him.

"Heath, were you crying because you're scared?"

Victoria's question prompted a fresh flow of tears.

"Sweetheart, what is it that's frightening you so?"

When the boy didn't answer Victoria prompted, "Heath?"

"Papa,.....Papa's gone."

"You're scared because Papa went with Jarrod?"

Heath nodded his head.

"There's no need to be scared, honey. Papa will be back. Remember when he left today he told you he'd see you on Saturday."

The boy's answer came in a hiccupped sob. "I,...I,....I....know."

"Papa will be back on Saturday, and in the meantime I'm here with you and Nick and Audra."

"But,.....but,......but.....you'll send me away,......away to some place..... some place where Papa will never find me."

"I'll do what?"

"Send,.....send,....me......away."

"Who told you that?"

"My,....my......Uncle Matt."

"Your Uncle Matt? When did he tell you that?"

"The day I lef,...left Strawberry. Uncle Matt wanted me to stay with him and Aunt Martha. He told me to tell Papa I wanted to stay in Strawberry. Only I didn't want to. Well,......maybe I did a little because I love Rachel and Hannah. But Uncle Matt is mean. Especially when he drinks whiskey. And Aunt Martha,....well Hannah says she's not right in the head and it's true. She looks at people funny and laughs for no reason at all. Sometimes she even wears her clothes backwards, or forgets to put on her shoes, or wears her night gown to the general store. I didn't want to live with her and Uncle Matt. If I couldn't stay with Rachel and Hannah then I wanted to come with Papa 'cause I already liked him."

"Exactly where is it your Uncle Matt told you I'd send you?"

Heath finally made eye contact with his step mother. Though Victoria could tell he was frightened, she could also tell he was ready to face the fears that had haunted him since the first day he came to the Barkley ranch.

"He said you'd hate me because I'm not your boy. That you'd hate me 'cause I'm just your husband's bastard. He said the first time Papa went away for more than a few hours you'd send me to an orphanage where Papa would never find me."

Victoria was getting a good idea as to just what kind of a man Matthew Thomson was. She had a strong suspicion he'd filled Heath's head with even more lies than had just been revealed.

"What other things did your uncle tell you about me?"

"That,.....that,...." tears threatened to cut off Heath's voice.

Victoria stroked his cheek with the back of her hand. "Honey, don't cry. There's nothing to be afraid of. Your Uncle Matt has told you a lot of things that aren't true. Things that have been scaring you and have prevented you and me from becoming friends. Now why don't you tell me everything else your uncle said."

It took Heath a moment to find his voice. "He said even if you didn't send me away you'd beat me. That I wouldn't even have to do anything wrong and you'd take a strap to me. He said you wouldn't want me in your house 'cause I'm not one of your kids. That you'd just as soon put me out with the garbage than to have to look at me."

"Is that why you don't like me to touch you, and why you don't like to talk to me? It that why you disappear every time Papa goes to town, because you're afraid I'll beat you? Is that why you wandered down to the river tonight?"

The boy dropped his eyes.

"Heath?"

Victoria saw him give a skittish nod of his head.

"Heath, look at me please."

The eight year old reluctantly lifted his head. He was shocked to see tears rolling down his stepmother's face.

"Sweetheart, I would never, never send you away. Not to an orphanage, not anywhere. This is your home now. You live here with your father and your brothers and your sister. You have just as much right to be here as anyone else in this family. And I do want you in this house. Don't you think for one minute that I don't. As far as me taking a strap to you,.....well, have you ever seen me take a strap to anyone?"

"No. But Nick said you were going to tan my hide tonight."

"Nick knows perfectly well that I have never struck any child in this household. Unfortunately, when Nick gets angry he tends to stretch the truth."

"Nick's angry with me a lot. I want to be his friend, but he doesn't like me much."

"Nick hasn't given himself time to get to know you, Heath. Which is his fault, not yours."

"He thinks I took Papa away from him. I never meant to. I always try to make sure Papa spends more time with Nick than with me because Nick needs him more than I do. I love Papa, but I got along okay for eight years without knowing him so if it makes Nick mad 'cause he has to share Papa with me then I won't mind if Papa ignores me. Besides, Uncle Matt already told me that my brothers and sister wouldn't want me here either 'cause I'm the bastard kid."

Victoria kept her seething anger for Matt Thomson from showing on her face or in her voice.

"Heath, we need to discuss several issues. First of all, it's very generous of you to say you'd allow Papa to ignore you if that act would make Nick happy, but let me assure you Papa won't be ignoring any of his children. Just like Jarrod had to learn to share Papa when Nick was born, Nick will now have to learn to share Papa with you. Such is the way of families long before any of us came into this world.

"And as far as your uncle saying you're a bastard,.....I don't like that word. It's a stupid word. It's a stupid word that just means your Uncle Matt isn't a very smart man."

"No. It means that I don't have a father. Other people in Strawberry used to call me that sometimes, too. I even fought some kids in school who used to call me that."

"But you do have a father, Heath. Everyone has a father. None of us could be born without one. Granted, not all of us grow up living with our fathers, but I don't care who the person is, he or she has a father. So see, you aren't a bastard."

Heath mulled over Victoria's words before nodding his agreement to the logic behind them. She sat stroking a hand through his golden hair, allowing him time to contemplate their conversation. When he spoke again she had to strain to hear the little voice that was pitched just above a whisper.

"Sometimes I cry because I'm scared,.......and sometimes I cry because I miss my mother."

And with that the flood gate broke. Sobs wracked the boy's body as he cried for the woman he had loved so much and tried so hard to take care of.

Victoria wrapped Heath in her arms. He buried his face in the hollow between her neck and shoulder, weeping so heavily Victoria could soon feel his wet tears dampening the material of her dress.

The woman rocked back and forth in gentle rhythm. One hand cupped the back of Heath's head while the other rubbed up and down the curve of his boney spine.

"I know, sweetie. I know it hurts. I know how much you loved her and how much you miss her. I know," Victoria soothed. "I know."

Heath pushed words out between his sobs.

"I've tried....tried to be good. I've tried to wish her here. I thought,....I thought maybe.....maybe if I....if I didn't cause anyone,....anyone any trouble that....that.....God.....God would give her.....give her back to me. I even asked Santa Claus to bring her. I didn't,....I didn't ask for anything else. Nothing. Just my mother. But then I woke up,......woke up on Christmas and went downstairs to look for her and,....and she wasn't here. That's when I knew.....when I knew she wasn't ever coming back. Never. No matter how good I am,.....or how hard I pray,.....or how much I wish. I'll never see her again, will I?"

It broke Victoria's heart to have to tell this child the truth. Despite the fact that her husband had slept with Leah Thomson, Victoria wished she had the power to bring Heath's mother back to him.

"I'm so sorry, Heath, but no. No. You won't ever see your mother again. Or at least not for a long, long time until you're a very old man and God calls you home to heaven. But in the years between now and then you'll have the memories of your mother to carry in your heart."

"I just want,.....I just want to hug her one last time. I just want to tell her I love her again. She was so,....so sick when I told her that day. That last day that she was,.....was alive. So sick that I don't think she heard me."

"Oh, honey, she heard you. She heard you."

"How do you.....how do you know?"

Victoria's lips brushed the top of Heath's head. "Because a mother always hears her child's voice no matter what."

Heath clung to Victoria and cried a long time that night. She suspected every memory he had of his mother was coming alive within his mind. She also suspected he was taking the first steps toward saying goodbye to a life he could never have again, and to a cherished woman he would never see again.

When Heath's tears stopped he was content to remain folded within Victoria's embrace. He didn't say anymore, and neither did she. She simply held him, stroking his hair and rubbing his back until she could tell he'd fallen asleep.

The woman eased Heath to his pillows without waking him. She sat beside him a while longer, then stood and made sure he was well covered. She leaned down and placed a light kiss in the middle of his forehead. As she walked out of the room she could only hope tonight was the beginning of a new day for both of them.

Victoria closed Heath's door, then turned to face Nick. She'd heard him come up the stairs shortly after she'd entered Heath's room. The entire time she was with Heath she was well aware that Nick was standing outside the open door eavesdropping.

Nick ducked his head while swiping at his eyes. No matter. Victoria had seen the tears brimming there.

Her voice was quiet but firm when she spoke to her fourteen year old.

"I imagine you now have a better understanding of what your brother is going through, and why this adjustment is just as difficult for him as it is for you. For as much as he needs a mother, he also needs a friend. At some point very soon I hope you decide to be that friend. If you don't, then someday he'll look elsewhere for someone he can turn to, admire, work beside, and have fun with. My woman's intuition tells me you'll live to regret it if that's what you allow to happen. I have a feeling that little boy in there is just itching to make someone the best friend you could ever hope to have."

Nick's reply was unsteady and tight. "Yeah. Yeah, I,.....I get that feeling, too."

The young man accepted his mother's kiss on the cheek.

"Good night, Nick."

"Good night."

Victoria, Audra, and Heath were already at the breakfast table the next morning when Nick entered the room. Heath's eyes slid sideways when Nick took the chair next to him rather than the one across the table from him.

"Good morning, Mother!" Nick boomed with sunshine in his voice. His greeting to Heath was no less exuberant. "Morning, Heath!"

Victoria smiled. "Good morning."

Heath's "morning," was full of wary caution, as though he wasn't sure what Nick's motives were.

Victoria saw Heath's eyes widen when Nick spoke of the day he had planned. There wasn't one thing on Nick's list that didn't include Heath's participation.

"If it's okay with you, Mother, Heath and I will inspect that north fence line Father asked me to check. Then we'll ride to the line shack and drop supplies off to Bill and Jack. I'll have Silas pack us a lunch. We'll eat in the orange grove, then look over the trees. After that we have a little errand to run."

"An errand?" Victoria questioned.

"Yeah. Me and Heath need to pay a visit to George Barnsworth. We have some business to take care of with him."

"Business?"

Nick looked at Heath and smiled. "We need to let him know that there's just some things you can't get away with sayin' to a Barkley."

"I see. Well, that does sound like important business. You boys take care of it in whatever way you see fit."

Nick's smile was transferred to his mother. "I thought you'd say that."

Nick shoveled his eggs in his mouth then gulped his orange juice in three swallows. He tousled Heath's hair as he stood.

"Come on, little brother. Day's a wastin'."

Victoria smiled to herself when Heath jumped from his chair and ran after Nick with open devotion written all over his young face. She turned to Audra who was smiling as well, as though she knew exactly what was transpiring in her household.

Victoria dabbed at her daughter's mouth with a napkin. "Audra, I do believe your brothers are on their way to becoming life-long friends."

The woman turned and looked out the window. She watched as one dark head and one blond head disappeared together into the barn. She had a feeling this was a scene she'd watch over and over again for many years to come.

Victoria looked up when she heard the front door shut. She was in Tom's office balancing the books as she did every month. Audra was spending the morning with Phillip's wife so Victoria could go about her work uninterrupted.

The woman smiled when she saw Heath peer around the corner.

"I thought you and Nick were already off doing all those things Nick said needed tending to."

"Not yet." Heath approached the desk without hesitation, his hands clasped behind his back. "Nick's helping some of the men fix one of the corral fences. The new stallion broke a board on it this morning. I got our horses ready so now I'm just waiting for him."

"I'm sure he'll be along in a few minutes."

"Yeah, he will." Heath dropped his eyes. "I,....I have something for you."

"For me?"

Heath produced two wrapped packages from behind his back. "I was gonna give these to you for Christmas, but,...."

Victoria moved out from behind the desk and led Heath over to the sofa. She sat down next to him and took the presents he handed her.

"But what, Heath?"

The boy shrugged. "They're not fancy like the pin Jarrod bought you. And they don't smell nice like the perfume Nick bought you. After I saw what they gave you I didn't think the presents I had for you were good enough. But I didn't have the money to buy you anything from a store. I send all the money I earn working for Papa to Rachel and Hannah."

"You do? Does Papa know that?"

"I don't think so. I mean, I never told him. He said I could do whatever I want with my money."

"He's right, you can. And I think it's very generous of you to send your allowance to Rachel and Hannah."

"They need it. I have so much now and they both have to work real hard to make a living. I promised my mother I'd always take care of Rachel and Hannah 'cause they always took care of us."

"You have a very loving spirit, Heath, and don't you ever let anyone tell you differently. When Papa gets back from San Francisco you talk to him about what you've been doing. I think he'll come up with another plan to assist Rachel and Hannah in such a way that you won't have to give up the allowance you work so hard for."

"Okay. But I don't take charity."

"I know that," Victoria smiled. "And so does Papa. I'm sure the two of you can negotiate a deal that will allow you to better provide for Rachel and Hannah over and above what you've already been sending them."

The woman looked down at the gifts in her lap. "Do you want me to open these now?"

"I guess. But you might not like them."

"I'm sure I'll love them."

Heath looked doubtful as Victoria unwrapped the first gift. The necklace was just like the one Heath had given Audra. Colorful wooden beads were strung on a soft string of leather that tied at the back of her neck. Victoria immediately put the necklace on.

"It's beautiful, honey. And it's just the right length."

"Miss Wellington tried it on for me so I knew just where to cut the strings." Heath bit his lower lip. "I,...I made one for my mother, too,.....but.....but I know now she won't be able to have it so I'm going to send it to Rachel. I'll make one for Hannah, too, so she doesn't feel bad."

Victoria couldn't speak around the lump in her throat. Her hat was off to Leah Thomson. What a special little boy she had raised.

"I'm sure Rachel and Hannah will be thrilled with their necklaces. When you get them done you and I and Papa will drive to Strawberry so you can deliver them personally."

"Really? Can we? Can I really go back for a visit?"

"I don't see why not."

"I'd like that. Can Nick and Audra come, too? And Jarrod if he's home?"

"Certainly. The whole family will go."

"That will be great. Rachel loves company. She makes the most delicious pies. If she knows we're coming she'll cook all day."

"That alone makes the trip sound worth it to me."

"Me, too."

Victoria unwrapped the second gift. A brown leather purse appeared from the folds of the paper. It was trimmed with beaded tassels and closed on top with a drawstring making Victoria think of what she'd seen Indian women carry. Victoria knew hours of craftsmanship had gone into making the gift.

"Oh, Heath, it's beautiful. Absolutely beautiful."

Heath beamed as he said, "Turn it over."

Victoria did as she was told. She saw the names of her children burnished deep in the purse's underside. She ran her fingers over the letters that formed Jarrod, then the ones that spelled Nick, then the ones that said Audra. She looked at the boy sitting next to her.

"This is a wonderful gift, Heath. But I think you have a little more work to do before it's complete."

Heath studied the bag, not certain what he'd missed. Ever seam was sewn shut and every bead strung tight. When he looked up at Victoria with open puzzlement she gave him a gentle smile.

"You forgot a name, sweetheart."

"I did?"

"Yes. You forgot Heath."

Heath studied his stepmother, then threw himself forward and wrapped his arms around her waist. Victoria held him close while running a hand over the back of his head. She didn't tell him that by August there would be yet another name to add. She already knew she was in the early stages of pregnancy, but hadn't told Tom their family was going to be blessed with yet another child.

The woman smiled as she thought of her husband.

Maybe Tom will finally get to make use of that name he's so fond of after all. Eugene. I can't say it's one I'd pick out, but he let me veto it when we finally settled on Jarrod, and then again when we eventually came to agree upon Nicholas. It's a good thing Audra was a girl because we never did choose a boy's name for her. Once again Tom was trying to sell me on Eugene. I suppose I should give in to him this time if another little boy is added to our family.

Victoria turned her attention back to the boy in her arms. She heard Heath's muffled, "My mother used to call me that all the time."

"Call you what? Sweetheart?"

"Yes."

Victoria gently disengaged Heath's arms from her waist. When she could look into his eyes she said, "Perhaps it's time we discuss what you want to call me. I don't think, after these beautiful gifts, that I want to hear you calling me ma'am any longer. It sounds a bit too formal in my opinion."

"I suppose."

"Would you like to call me Victoria now like Papa suggested on the first day you came here?"

Heath thought a moment, then shook his head. "My mother said you shouldn't call adults by their first names. It's disrespectful."

"Your mother was correct about that. I've taught your brothers the same thing. Nonetheless, I think this a special situation, don't you? Perhaps we can overlook the rules this one time."

"I don't know," Heath mused aloud. "I'm not sure it would be right." Granted, he called Rachel and Hannah by their first names but that was different. They'd been his mother's best friends and Heath had known them for as long as he could remember.

Victoria patted the child's knee. "I'll tell you what, you think it over for a few days and I'll do the same. Maybe between the two of us we can come up with something that will make us both happy."

"All right." Heath glanced out the big windows and saw Nick leading Coco and Ginger from the barn. "Nick's ready. I'd better go."

The woman stood and walked with Heath to the doorway of the study. "Have a good day. And thank you again for the gifts, Heath. I couldn't love them any more had they come from the most expensive store in New York City."

"Really?"

"Really."

"I'm glad."

Victoria watched the boy race for the door. She marveled at the transformation that had taken place in less than twenty four hours.

The woman headed back to her work. She almost fell over when accosted from behind by two arms that encircled her waist. She turned around to see a familiar golden head buried in her skirts.

"I decided," Heath said.

"Decided what?"

"If you're going to call me sweetheart,....."

"Yes?"

"Then I'd like to call you mother."

Victoria crouched down so she could give Heath a proper hug. She kissed his cheek then pressed her face against his. She didn't have to voice her approval to him, when he felt her tears against his skin he knew he had made her happy.

When Victoria finally pulled away from Heath she cupped his face in her hands and placed a final kiss on his forehead. "I'm so lucky, Heath. I'm so very lucky. I have four beautiful children named Jarrod, Nick, Heath, and Audra. Each and every one of those children fills my heart with joy."

Victoria released the smiling boy, then turned him toward the door and gave him a playful whack on the behind.

"Go on with you now so I can get my work done. Have a fun day with Nick."

"I will." Heath ran from the room, only to appear again seconds later. "Oh, I need to ask you one more thing."

"Yes?"

"Do you promise you won't tan our hides if we give George Barnsworth what he has coming?"

Victoria saw the twinkle in Heath's eye and knew she was being teased.

"Let's put it this way, son, what I don't know I can't dish out punishments for, right?"

"Right."

Heath whirled away with a smile. Victoria heard his boot heels pound across the foyer, then the slam of the front door. Until this moment she hadn't realized how much she'd missed having a little boy in the house.

Victoria crossed to the windows and watched Heath race across the yard.

"Come on, Nick, we gotta go! Boy howdy, but this will be great! Mother says she won't even tan our hides for giving George Barnsworth what he deserves!"

Victoria laughed while cocking an eyebrow. "Boy howdy? Now there's an expression I haven't heard before."