His mulishness was hard on his family who tried to put the past behind and move on. Every night, Nick would sit out on the front porch, eyes staring at the iron gates, hoping to see Heath ride up. He never did. Second reason being that it was fairly dark, quiet and peaceful, as opposed to the daylight cacophony of yapping, mooing and neighing. At night, alone, he was in touch with his inner self. He let his mind go blank in order to concentrate on Heath’s voice only. He would hear his brother calling him, begging him to come and rescue him from a horrible fate. Nick was tormented. He knew Heath was alive and that he needed to reach out to him but hadn’t a clue as to where to start looking.

« Tell me, Heath . Tell me where you are and I’ll come for you. Please, tell me, » Nick beseeched, eyes shut tight in concentration.

« Tell you what? » Jarrod asked in puzzlement as he casually walked onto the porch, hands in pockets.

Nick opened his eyes in a jolt and looked up at Jarrod with a vacant expression. « Nothing. »

« Mind if I sit down? »

Nick shook his head absentmindedly. Jarrod sat beside him on the bench. « I’m thinking of going to Denver for a few days. Perhaps you’d like to tag along? »

« Whatever for? » Nick asked crushingly.

« You haven’t been there for a while. Might do you some good to get out of the valley, shake the cobwebs away. Besides I’d enjoy your company.»

Nick signed in exasperation. « Pappy, how many times have we had this conversation in the past 10 months? » he asked with an edge of annoyance.

Jarrod stared down at his feet, already knowing the answer.

« 23 times. I’ve been counting. And everytime, my answer is no. So don’t waste your breath. » Nick snarled.

« Nick, this has got to stop. Do you know what this is doing to Mother? » Jarrod ripped.

« Do you have any idea what this is doing to me? » Nick snapped back at his brother.

« Let him rest in peace, Nick. Hang on to the memories, not the false hope, » Jarrod mollified as he rested a hand on his troubled brother’s shoulder.

« He’s alive, Jarrod, » Nick hissed between clenched teeth. « I can feel him. I can hear him. I just…. » Nick turned his stare towards the gates. « I just don’t know where he is. »

« He’s dead, Nick. »

« No he’s not! » Nick scorned, springing to his feet. « I will find him. God as my witness, I will find him. » Nick stormed back into the house. He breezed past Victoria on his way upstairs . He entered his bedroom and smacked the door close, seething. Tears gushed to his eyes. With both hands, he gripped his hair and pulled them back angrily, gnashing his teeth in contempt. « Heath, where are you? » he yowled, falling to his knees.

Alleyville, Nevada. A quiet town of 150 inhabitants, South East of Mesa. Everyone minded their own business, trying to stay on the good side of the law. Folks were neighborly but rather withdrawn from the outside world. They shied away from strangers riding into their town and seldom mingled. Behind the seemingly peaceful community hid a dark secret. In the outskirts of town, the hair-trigger-tempered dictatorial sheriff had erected a high-security penitentiary for outlaws and criminals. Most men were imprisoned on trump-up charges and were basically good citizens who had just stepped on the sheriff’s toes at one time. They were arrested on the spot and thrown in that jail where they were sentenced to hard labor.

What was once a job gradually became an obssession for the irascible lawman. As felons began dropping like ninepins from malnutrition and constant whippings. Sheriff Sovern resorted to nefarious tactics to instigate potential candidates to break the law.

Sovern was on an unofficial trip to Stockton once where in the saloon, Heath accidently spilled a beer onto his shirt The blond cowboy quickly apologized and even offered to buy him another drink but Sovern was fuming at the embarrassment he had suffered at the hand of this brash buckaroo who had the impertinence to laugh in his face as he considered the incident amusing. Sovern needled Heath into a fist fight. The bartender ended the brawl with a single gunshot in the air. Sovern cast Heath a scorching look « This ain’t over yet, blondie, » he threatened, grinding out the words between gritted teeth and eyes blazing murderously. He then thundered out of the saloon, hurling the swinging doors in a rage.

Heath shrugged in disbelief, dismissing the bellicose man as a sore loser.

The next day, as Heath was riding past Meadow Creek, he heard a scream. He reined in Charger and pricked up his ear. When the strangled cry slashed through the air once more, he spurred his horse toward the river. He jumped down his mount and didn’t hesitate in diving into the water to reach the drowning woman. Despite the strong current, Heath managed to swim ashore with the unconscious woman in her arms. He laid her gently on the grass and checked her pulse. Suddenly, everything went black as a man knocked him over the head with a rifle butt. The woman bolted upright and sneered as Sovern clenched her in his arms and kissed her. She was his mistress, Melinda, a decoy to help him reel in the big fish. They removed Heath’s vest and along with his Stetson threw it in the water to make believe the young man had drowned. Their contrived account of the incident was that his attempt at saving a young boy, her son, from drowning failed. Melinda and her fake husband and two brothers, Beau, Luke and Rance were to testify to that while Sovern and his deputy rode back to Alleyville with Heath.

Luke reached for Heath’s wallet in his pants back pocket. His eyes took on a haunted look. « Boss, that’s Heath Barkley! »

« What? » Sovern snapped to wallet out of Luke’s hand and looked at the identification. « I’ll be darned! » he crowed with a malicious smile.

Melinda gasped pop-eyed at Heath lying face down on the grass. « Barkley ranch? » she asked, spasms crossing her face.

« Yeah, » Sovern answered.

Her toes curled up in her shoes as she recoiled in fear. « No, we can’t do this, Paul! They’ll track us down. The Barkleys are an influential family. They will move heaven and earth to find him. »

Sovern grabbed Melinda by the shoulders « Listen to me! » he barked as he shook her senseless until she regained her composure. « That man drowned! You stick to that story and everything will be fine. »

« Why not just forget about it. He’s not worth the trouble. We can easily hook another fish, one that no one cares about, « she added forcefully.

« I want him! » Sovern hissed. « His family will find his horse, vest and hat. They will think he’s dead! You got that? » he snapped, leering at her with the veins in his neck breaking out in livid ridges.

Melinda nodded as she swallowed dryly.

Sovern turned to his cohorts. « Alright men, load him in the back of the wagon. And put a blanket over him. »

« Four witnesses saw him drowned, including the boy’s parents, » Jarrod’s words still thundered in Nick’s mind. His blood pounded in his throat as he tried to squash them into silence.

Nick laid down on his bed and made his mind void of all negative thoughts. Heath was calling him and he needed to intensify his concentration.. Exhausted, he fell asleep, sprawled on his bed, still fully clothed. He experienced a recurring nightmare where he saw himself riding along the riverbank where Heath had supposedly drowned, looking behind every bush, combing every inch of the area, and waking up never finding him. This dream was different. As he neared a small clearing, he made out the body of a man lying face down on the ground. He swung down Coco and hurried over to it. He rolled the man onto his back. Blood drained from his face when he realized who it was. Heath’s clothes were soaked to the skin, his body was chilled to the bone, his lips and finger nails cyanotic and his shallow breathing rasped in his lungs. Heath looked at Nick with bulging eyes as he tried to suck in breaths. « Nick! » Heath gasped out, too weak to reach for his hand.

« I’ve found you, brother, » Nick said exultantly, a broad smile chiseled on his face as he gently cradled Heath in his arms. « You’re safe now. I’m bringing you home. « Nick’s excitement couldn’t be contained. For 10 months he has had this nightmare and always roused before finding Heath. This time, he had found him and wasn’t going to let go.

« Ni…Nick…Al..Alley…Alleyville. Go..g…go to..A..Al..Alley…ville, » Heath slurred whisperingly before heaving his last breath in Nick’s arms.

« NO! » Nick shook Heath frantically. « No, no, no, no, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! » he screamed. At that moment he jolted awake in his bed, panting and dripping with sweat. He buried his face in his hands and wiped off the beads of perspiration pearling down his face. He raked his wettish dishevelled hair and plopped his head down on the pillow. He exhaled a sustained breath. He closed his eyes as his face began to pucker. He felt a huge weight lifted from his conscience. « I’ll find you, Heath, « he pledged, shifting to his side and hugging his pillow.

It was barely dusk when Nick pattered down the stairs with the bare essentials he needed for the trip to Alleyville. He crept in the kitchen to grab a supply of food and water and then went to the barn to saddle Coco. He walked back to the house and put a folded envelope on the hearth then quickened the pace back out and rode away.

When morning broke, Victoria found the letter and read it out loud to Jarrod and Audra. Nick explained that he needed to embark on this quest and forbade the family to follow him. He promised to wire them once he reached his destination. At this point, they were given no indication as to which direction Nick took. Victoria dissolved into tears and wept in Jarrod’s arms. She had just lost one child and was afraid to lose another.

Three days went by and still no news from Nick. Victoria sensed it was a bad omen and was frantic that something dreadful had befallen her son. She wanted Jarrod to set out to look for Nick right away but they had no idea as to where to head the search. She suggested Jarrod to wire the sheriff of every town in the valley with a physical description of Nick, hoping one might have seen him riding by. Jarrod tried to reason with her by explaining that the procedure would take forever and that Nick was bound to have given sign of life by then.

Nick finally arrived in Alleyville. He was bushed, dust was eating away at his sweat-drenched clothes, his back ached and his legs were benumbed from having sat astride his horse for long stretches of road. He grimaced as he dismounted, rubbing his tender lower back with one hand as he tethered his horse to the hitching post with the other. His throat was dry and raspy. He figured the best medecine to cure his ailment was a tall mug of beer.

Before indulging his thirst, Nick wend his way to the telegraph office to wire his family of his whereabouts. He reassured that he was alright and apologized for not giving word sooner, stating that he was mostly out on the trail. He firmly reiterated his wish to not be followed until he finds Heath, knowing perfectly that his demand would fall on deaf ears.

As soon as Jarrod picked up the telegram in town, he readied himself to take the first train out to Mesa, Nevada where he and four ranch hands would continue on horseback.

Meanwhile in Alleyville, Nick assailed the town residents with questions about Heath. They cowered away from this prying stranger, merely shaking their heads in negation. Their monosyllabic replies was unsettling to Nick who gradually became curious as to the reason for their silence. Still, the dark-haired Barkley remained unremitting in his efforts to locate his brother.

He dropped by the sheriff’s office. Sovern was standing by the gun cabinet, taking inventory with his deputy, Clay Hawthorne. Spurs jingling and footsteps thuddering anounced Nick’s arrival.

« Sheriff Sovern? »

« Yes! »

« I’d like a word with you. It’s important, » Nick said in a defiant stance that spoke volume.

« Sure. » Sovern handed his rifle over to Clay and step up to Nick.. « What can I do for you stranger? »

« Ah, my name’s Barkley. Nick Barkley. »

« San Joaquin Valley Barkley ranch? »

« Yeah. Heard of it? » Nick queried, raising an eyebrow in suspicion.

« Who hasn’t? »

« I’ve been on the trail of my brother Heath. I have good reasons to believe he’s here or at least was here. »

Sovern’s nails dug into his palms as he strived to control the inflection in his voice. He cast a sidelong glance at Clay that barely went unnoticed. « Heath Barkley? » He shook his head. « No, that name doesn’t ring a bell. » He turned to Clay. « How about you, Clay? Ever heard of a Heath Barkley riding into town? »

« No Sheriff. Never heard of him. »

« Sorry Mr. Barkley. Perhaps the folks in town might be able to help you. »

« They can’t or rather I suspect they won’t, » Nick informed sarcastically, his withering glare swivelling back and forth to the two lawmen. His eyes caught a glimpse of Clay’s colt revolver in his gunbelt holster. Nick fixated it as he slowly walked up to the man. As he drew closer, he recognized the gold eagle plate carved on the stock and instantly identified its true owner. « Where did you get that gun? » Nick asked with a voice thick with insinuation as he jabbed a finger at the gun.

Clay pulled out the six-shooter. « It’s mine. »

« You’re lying! » Nick hurled as he pounced on Clay with a crazed look and veins throbbing at his temple. « Where’s my brother you rotten son of a bitch?! » he sputtered angrily as his sturdy hands clawed at Clay’s neck, choking him.

Sovern unsheathed his gun and swatted Nick over the head with it, knocking him unconscious.

When Nick came to his senses, he was riding in the back of a wagon, hands tied behind his back. The deputy sheriff was holding him a gun point.

« What’s going on here? » Nick asked groggily, in a complete haze, his head pounding as he was joggled about.

« Shut up! » Clay ordered.

« Where are you taking me? »

« To jail »

« What’s the charge? »

« Assault and battery » the deputy informed cynically.

Nick’s eyes darkened wrathfully. « Where’s my brother? » he asked, lips pursed in suppressed fury.

« Clam it, loud mouth! »

« He’s alive, I knew it. Where have you taken him? » Nick continued to pester.

« I said shut the hell up! » Clay blared, poking Nick in the stomach with the rifle muzzle.

Nick doubled over in pain. The driver halted the horses in front of the prison gate. A guard opened it and they drove the rest of the way through the yard where clusters of convicts on the chain gang were grinding away. They were all in a pitiful state, drudging like draught horses under the charring hot sun.

As Nick was being shoved down the wagon, he saw a prisoner slump to the ground from exhaustion. One guard yanked him to his feet and drove a rifle butt into his gut The man doubled over in pain, crumbling to his knees. The guard jerked him to his feet once more and tossed him in the arms of fellow inmate.

« Your shift isn’t over yet, mate. Get back to work! » the guard barked.

Nick was appalled by the ill-treatment administered to those men and had a hunch he was about to suffer the same fate. Inside the walls, the jailors removed Nick’s bonds before hurling inside a cell.

« Hey, blondie! You’ve got a cell mate, » One guard yelled at a man lying on his side on a soiled cot as he bolted the door. Nick went to the prisoner, whose face was to the wall. He crounched down and felt his pulse. He was barely alive, skin and bone and dehydrated. He exhaled a faint moan at the touch of Nick’s hand.

« Hey, what’s your name, friend? » Nick asked, trying to make friendly conversation with his cell mate.

The martyr was too weak, and his throat too dry to utter a single work. Instead, he groaned. As Nick ran an empathetic hand through his matted hair he felt a strange sensation forming in the pit of his stomach. Gently, he turned the man on his back. His jaw dropped in horror as he recognized the face of his brother.

« Heath! Oh my God, Heath! What have they done to you? » Nick exclaimed in disgust.

Nick’s familiar bellow prompted Heath to open his eyes. He felt disembodied, as if in a dream. « N…N…Nick? » he whispered stutteringly.

« Yeah, it’s me Brother, » Nick informed excitedly. He felt a sudden urge to hug his brother but refrained his impulsion, fearing it might do more harm than good.

Heath managed to fashion a faint smile. « N..Nick…I..I…kn…knew you…you’d co…come. »

« You told me where to find you and I listened. »

Heath began to sob uncontrollably. « Wh…what…t..t..took….you..s..so…long? »

« Everyone thought you were dead. Four people said they saw you drowned. »

« W..what? » No…no..I was kn…knocked on..t..th..the head and br…brought...to…this..hell..hell hole » Heath broke down in tears. « Oh, Nick, » he wailed, gasping for breath as each sob blunted the edge of his painful ribs. His respiration was ragged and wheezy.

Nick rubbed a soothing hand against Heath’s belly. His brow creased and his lips twitched as he felt it swollen. « Shh, shhh, shhh. I’m going to get you out of here. I’ll bring you home. »

« Home? » Heath mused in a blissful sigh. The sweet word provided a temporary shelter from the throes of agony.

Nick smiled back and wiped Heath’s tears running down his clammy bruised cheeks. « Yeah. »

Heath closed his eyes as he felt sleep overcome him. Nick gazed at him and continued his effective soothing massage. « That’s it, get some rest. I’ve found you and I’m not leaving without you, » he whispered in his ear.

The next morning, two guards burst into the cell and kicked both Nick and Heath awake. « Come on you two! Wake up. It’s time for your shift. »

When Heath didn’t respond, one guard lifted his leg and drove the heel of his booth intothe blond’s back. Heath squealed in pain and writhed in agony. Nick leapt to his feet and lunged at the guard. As he was beating him senseless on the floor, the second guard began kicking Nick in the side until he rocked into a fetal position.

« You keep behaving like this, Cowboy, and you’ll get plenty more, » The second guard spewed out with malicious glee, glowering at Nick twisting on the floor.

« Get up! » he barked, yanking Nick to his feet.

Nick clenched his aching side as he saw the first guard stagger to his feet and vent his anger on Heath by pulling the wretched man to his feet. He could barely stand.

« No, please! Let him be. » Nick shouted. « I’ll do his work. Just let him rest, please, » Nick pleaded in a more subdued voice.

The jailors both looked at each other and smiled sadistically.

« Okay, why not, » the first guard said, pushing Heath back on his cot. Nick’s wrists were chained. He cast a last look at Heath, wincing at the thought of his agony before he was shoved out the cell.

« Please, give him some water, » Nick beseeched.

« Sorry pal. Water is strickly reserved for working men. Now move! »

Nick was sickened by the amount of slavery one man was put through in a day and having to do double duty was torture, but he dared not complain knowing that they wouldn’t hesitate in dragging Heath out to do the share of the work. He had managed to convince the jailors to let his brother rest and couldn’t afford to antagonize them and risk having them change their minds.

Whenever Nick was allowed to drink water, he would conceal his hands and fill to the rim a small container he’d found. At the end of the day when he was thrown back into his cell, he would make Heath drink. He also tried to feed him pieces of bread he had tucked in his shirt pocket, but Heath’s stomach would’t keep them down. Minutes after, he would vomit the bread along with the bit of water he had swallowed. Heath was fading fast.

Nick slid his cot next to Heath’s and lied beside him. He laid awake, watching him sleep, hearing his breath rasped in his lungs as he rubbed his hand up and down his brother’s arm. « Hang on, brother. I’ll get you out of here. I’ll get you home, » Nick mumured softly, convinced that Jarrod was halfway to Alleyville by now.

Jarrod and his traveling companions arrived in Alleyville on horseback. John and Jarrod headed for the hotel while Pete, Alan and Rick marched down to the saloon, Nick’s customary hangout.

« Yes. Mr. Barkley rented a room five days ago but he never occupied it. He hasn’t been back since, » informed the hotel clerk in answer to Jarrod’s question.

« Thank you, » Jarrod replied as he dropped a few dollars bills on the counter to pay for two rooms.

After signing the register, John and Jarrod walked across the street to the livery stable.

« Hey Jarrod, isn’t that Coco over there? » John said, pointing to the cocoa-brown horse in the far end stall.

They walked over to the animal. The ‘B’ mark was branded on the romp. « That’s him alright, » Jarrod confirmed, his brow knitting in worry.

The stable boy stepped up to them. « Hi! Interested in renting a couple of horses? »

« Ah yes, particularly this one here. Where did you get him? » Jarrod queried.

« Sheriff Sovern brought him. Said he found him wandering in the streets. Since no one’s claimed him, we assume his owner got killed, » the boy stated as he gently tapped Coco on the croup.

Jarrod’s heart clenched and fluttered. A prickling sensation ran up his spine as the thought of Nick dead crossed his mind. He knew his brother would never part with his treasured horse unless he was in dire straits.

« Sir, you want me to saddle him up for you? »

« Euh, not now. I’ll be back later. »

« I can’t guarantee he’ll still be here when you get back, but for two bucks I can hold him off for you, » offered the boy.

« You do that. » Jarrod remitted a five-dollar bill to the boy to retain Coco’s ownership.

« Groom his coat. I want it shiny when I come for him later. »

« Yes sir! » the boy assured emphatically, his eyes widening in euphoria at the money he was given.

Jarrod and John entered the saloon and found Alan, Pete and Rick drinking at the bar. « Found out anything? » Jarrod asked.

« You bet. Something very interesting. See that waitress over there? » Pete motioned with his head to the red head serving drinks at a table. « Don’t she look familiar to you? »

Jarrod fastened his attention on the woman, observing her, scanning her facial features until it hit him. She was the grieving mother whose son Heath died trying to save. « That’s Mrs. Halloway. »

« Wrong. Found out her real name is Melinda Reeves. Rumor has it that she’s the Sheriff’s little playmate, if you get my drift. Lived here all her life. And here’s the interesting part. She’s single, has no family, including brothers and never had any kids. »

Jarrod reacted shockingly. «How did you get all that information? »

« Bartender, » Pete motioned to the man behind the bar. « He was shy at first but I managed to coax him with a little green dough. Money screams in this town. »

« Did he see Nick? » Jarrod asked.

« Says no. Although the creases on his brow told otherwise. Get the feeling your brothers might have been shanghaied. »

« Nick knows better than to get caught a second time. »

« Might not have seen it coming. Just like Heath. I’m beginning to think Nick’s hunch was right on the nose. Heath might still be alive. »

« Let’s say we pay the Sheriff a friendly visit, » Jarrod suggested with a wanton smile. « Pete, Alan, you stay here and keep your eyes and ears open. Stay with the woman. Don’t let her out of your sight. Might have a word or two to exchange with her once I’m done talking with the sheriff. »

« Careful Jarrod. He sounds like a hard cookie. Town folk seem to be under his yoke. They shrink back at the mere mention of his name. »

Jarrod nodded and tapped Pete on the shoulder. « Give us 15 minutes. If we’re not back by then… »

« We know what to do, boss, » Pete assured, smiling in acknowledgement.

With a second Barkley snooping around, Sovern began to entertain serious doubts about the loyalty of his trusted servants. He suspected one of treason, leaking information on his prized jailbird, Heath Barkley. After 10 months, why would his two brothers be out searching for him when he had successfully convinced them of his death.

Jarrod short-fused temper soon erupted at Sovern’s insolence. He suspected the tyrant of being instrumental in his brothers’ disappearances. As Jarrod poised ready to take a swing at Sovern, the lawman and his deputy swiftly unsheathed their guns. He ordered the three meddlers to drop their gun belts to the floor and beckoned them to walk inside an empty cell. Sovern bolted the door and instructed Clay to stand guard while he hightailed it to the prison camp.

20 minutes had elapsed. Worried, Pete and Alan decided to go check on Jarrod. As they exited the saloon, they saw Sovern ride out at full galop in a twirl of dust. Puzzled, they hurried down to the Sheriff’s office and burst in, shooting Clay in the chest before he had a chance to draw on them.

« Jarrod? » Pete called out.

« Over here! » Jarrod shouted from the cell in the back of the office. « Quick! » he urged as Pete fumbled to unlock the cell door, « we must pick up Sovern’s trail. I have an inkling he’s going to lead us to Heath and Nick. »

The sheriff arrived at the prison camp and alerted his men that Jarrod Barkley was on to him. He ordered that the Barkley brothers be executed at once and that their corpses be buried to erace all traces of their residence in the compound. One guard haled Heath out of his cell and dragged him to the backyard while Sovern handled Nick personally. At gun point, he commanded him to kneel beside his moribund brother who was sprawled unconscious on the ground. Heath was knocking on death’s door and Nick was not far behind. Neither had the strength to fight.

One guard cocked his rifle and levelled it at Nick’s head.

« Stop! » Jarrod shouted from behind the fence.

The sheriff signaled his men to open fire and a fierce gun battle ensued. Nick teetered to his feet and grabbed Heath by the crook of his shoulders and painfully pulled him to safety, out of the line of fire. As Nick tried to jump Sovern, he quickly swirled round and shot Nick in the chest. Nick jerked back and crashed to the ground. The gunfire exchange continued as Nick crawled over to Heath.

He rolled Heath onto his back. Heath was barely conscious. « Heath! » Nick gasped out, striving to keep conscious as his breathing became increasingly labored. He leaned on his right elbow.

« N..Nick, » Heath whispered weakly.

« I..I’m sorry. I failed, I promised to get you back home and… » Nick’s voice faltered as he tried to catch his breath.

« I ..I am home, » Heath confided in a serene murmur, his glazed eyes staring vacantly into space before they closed.

Nick could feel the life ebbing away from his brother’s body. With his eyes growing dim with tears, he rested his head on top of Heath’s chest where he heaved his last breath and died.

Sovern sneaked away as his last five standing men surrendered one by one. The hands held them at bay while Jarrod dashed over to his brothers. He was too late. They were gone. He dropped to his knees beside their corpses and wept.