Two days later they were no closer to finding out where their mother had spent two weeks of her life than they were before. Dr. Phillips had been out every morning, and had nothing helpful to tell them yet. So far, they hadn’t seen another outburst from their Mother. She hadn’t mentioned Heath, and neither had they. Heath was meeting Nick and the men every day to work, and then returning to town at night. If anyone in town had noticed, they hadn’t said anything.

This morning, Jarrod and Nick were at the telegraph office early checking to see whether or not there was a telegram for them.

“As a matter of fact, this just came for you,” the clerk said handing the message to Jarrod.

It was from the Pinkerton Agency.

Jarrod’s face paled and his knees weakened as he read it and then handed it to Nick.

“Let’s go get Heath, and find this scum ball,” Nick snarled.

Nick and Jarrod were banging on Heath’s hotel room door. “Where could he be?” Nick asked.

“I don’t know but we don’t have time to look for him. We’ve got to find Jason Phillips,” Jarrod said it like a bad taste in his mouth. According to the Pinkerton Agency, their mother got off the train in San Francisco with Jason Phillips, who is not a physiatrist. He is a well-known con artist from the East Coast.

An hour later, they were headed to the ranch. They’d looked everywhere and were about to give up when they ran into Dr. Merar, and he said he’d met Dr. Phillips on the road. It looked like he was headed to the ranch.

The front door crashed open as Nick and Jarrod busted in.

“AUDRA! MOTHER!” they both yelled out.

“You take the top floor; I’ll check down here,” Jarrod said to Nick who then took the steps three at a time.

A few minutes later Jarrod heard Nick holler out, “JARROD, UP HERE!”

Jarrod rushed into his mother’s room to find an unconscious Audra lying in Nick’s arms.

All the blood drained from Jarrod as fear took control of him, “Is she...” He couldn’t voice his question.

“No, she’s out cold, but her pulse is strong,” Nick said. “Audra, Audra,” Nick tried to revive her as he gently patted her cheeks. “Get a cool cloth, Jarrod. I think she’s coming around.”

Audra eyes fluttered open. Her vision was blurred, and her head was hurting.

“How do you feel Honey?” Jarrod asked as he bathed her face with a cool cloth. He noticed the side of her face was already starting to turn purple.

Audra’s moan was the only answer Jarrod got.

“Audra, can you tell us what happened?” Nick knew she didn’t feel like talking, but they needed to know. “Where’s mother?”

Suddenly Audra’s eyes flew wide open.

“Heath,” she said trying to rise.

“What about Heath?” Nick urged her as a cold chill ran through him.

“Oh Nick, it’s awful! We’ve got to find them. Roger Phillips, Nick, he’s not a doctor.” Audra was getting hysterical.

Nick took a hold of her head, “Audra stop it, and tell us what’s happened,” he demanded.

“Dr. Phillips came out to see Mother. I listened to them outside Mother’s door. I heard Dr. Phillips tell Mother that Heath was very dangerous now, and she needed to kill him. Kill him now before he could hurt any of us.”

Fear gripped Nick’s whole body, and a feeling of doom came over Jarrod.

“I rushed into the room, and I saw Dr. Phillips swinging a watch in front of Mother. Mother was just staring at it.”

“Hypnosis,” Jarrod whispered, “Go on,” he added.

“Dr. Phillips turned around and hit me then everything went black until I woke up with you.”

“Heath,” Nick whispered.

“We’ve got to find him now. He and mother and let’s hope they’re not together,” Jarrod said.

“Nick, we didn’t check inside Heath’s room,” Jarrod said.

Heath read the note that was slid under his door while he was gone to check on Charger. It read, ‘Come to my room as soon as you can. I need to talk to you about your Mother.’ It was signed by Dr. Jason Phillips.

He dropped the note on the dresser and headed out the door. When he knocked on the door, Dr. Phillips called for him to come on in. Upon entering, he saw Dr. Phillips behind his mother with his gun drawn. “Come on in and shut the door,” he said.

Fearing for his mother’s life, Heath followed all his commands and the next thing he knew, Dr. Phillips was telling his mother to kill him. He could see the hate in his mother’s eyes as she looked at him. There was no doubt in him, that she would shoot him.

“What have you done to her?” he asked Dr. Phillips.

Jason Phillips’ evil laugh filled the room and sent a chill coursing through Heath. ‘This man is a lunatic,’ Heath thought and an even deeper chill went through him.

“What’s wrong? Can’t believe your want-to-be Mama doesn’t love you anymore?” he shrieked. “I guess there’s no harm in telling you, you’re gonna be dead soon. Someone doesn’t like the Barkley’s very much, and has paid me handsomely to destroy you.”

“Why? Who?” Heath asked.

Jason Phillips eyes were glazed and he had a wicked grin as he answered Heath. “I don’t know. It doesn’t matter to me either. I was paid good; paid in advance. The reason doesn’t matter any to me. The money does.”

“What have you done to her?” Heath asked looking at his mother who seemed to be in a trance.

“I’ve been hypnotizing her. She’s a very good pupil,” he answered.

“Was she with you the whole time she was gone?” Heath asked. He was trying his best to understand this plus stall for time.

“You’re pretty bright. Getting her was the easiest part. I just told her Jarrod was hurt and needed her. She followed me like a trained pup. A mother’s weakness is her children. When they think one is in trouble, they can’t think straight long enough to question what is happening until it’s too late,” he said as he ran his fingers along Victoria’s cheek.

“Get your hands off of her!” Heath said as he started toward them.

“Back!” Jason commanded, showing Heath the gun.

Heath stopped. His mother was still in that trancelike state. She didn’t seem aware of anything going on around her.

“Enough talk, I’m ready to finish this.” Jason said drawing his pocket watch from his shirt pocket.

“What is having my Mother kill me going to accomplish? If you want me dead; you do it,” Heath baited.

That wicked, insane laugh filled the air again.

“That’s the beauty of this whole thing. It has to be you, and it has to be her. You’re the only one it would be believable that she’d kill. Poor Victoria Barkley, after living with the knowledge of her husband’s adulteress affair for a year, she finally snapped. She killed you. She’ll either go to an insane asylum, or prison. She won’t remember anything she’s done, but when she’s free of hypnosis, she’ll likely go insane upon finding out what she did to you. The rest of the family will fall apart. Your senseless death at your mother’s hand on top of losing her will be too much for them, and the Barkley dynasty will tumble.”

Holding the gun on Heath, he reached into his pocket and produced another gun. He handed this one to Victoria, and told her to take it. Heath saw his mother take the gun without looking at it, or blinking her eyes. Jason Phillips then turned his gun on Victoria where only Heath could see and bringing his other arm around her, he started swinging his pocket watch in front of her.

Heath couldn’t move. The gun that was being held on his mother was too close. It wouldn’t miss at this range. Unless something happened, Heath knew he was facing certain death. He wouldn’t try to save himself as long as that gun was on his mother.

“Now Victoria, it’s time to get rid of Heath. He’s no good. He’s after your children. You’ve got to kill him. It’s the only way to save your children. If you don’t stop him, no one will and Nick, Jarrod and Audra will be dead.”

Heath knew his mother was an expert shot, but in her trancelike state, she was weaving slightly as she watched the watch. With any luck, if she did fire, her shot would not ring true.

“Shoot him now.”

She pulled the trigger, and Heath felt the shot push him back before he felt the pain.

Nick and Jarrod rode Cocoa and Jingo full speed back to town. They found wagon tracks heading toward town from the ranch. They sent a ranch hand to town for Dr. Merar for Audra. In the meantime, Silas was with her.

Nick and Jarrod ran into The Cattlemen’s. “Morning boys,” the clerk greeted them.

“Tom, have you seen Heath or Mother today?” Jarrod asked.

“I haven’t seen Heath, but Mrs. Barkley and Dr. Phillips went up the stairs about thirty minutes ago.”

Jarrod and Nick turned and fled up the stairs. They busted the door open to Heath’s room, but no one was there.

“Wait Nick, take a look at this,” Jarrod picked up a note off the dresser.

Nick read, ‘Come to my room as soon as you can. I need to talk to you about your Mother. Dr. Phillips’.

“Let’s go,” Nick ran out of the room and down the hall with Jarrod behind him.

“Which room is his?” Nick asked.

“15,” Jarrod answered.

They heard a gun shot seconds before Nick kicked the door in.

The shock of the door flying off the hinges and splintering into the room, startled Jason Phillips long enough to give Nick the advantage he needed. He landed a quick right hook to Jason’s jaw, and then Jarrod held a gun on him.

Nick turned to his mother then froze. She stood a few feet from Heath with a gun pointed at him. Heath was holding his arm, and blood was running through his fingers down his arm.

“Mother don’t,” Nick said unsure of what to do. If he made a grab for her, she might pull the trigger. If he didn’t, she might pull the trigger.

“Mother, we love Heath. He’s a good man. He’s a part of us.” Nick softly said as he inched his way toward her.

“No, he’s going to hurt you, Jarrod and Audra,” she said. Her voice sounded flat and emotionless.

“I would never hurt them or you,” Heath spoke up. “I love all of you. Do you remember when I had that infection and was running high fever? You sat with me all night long. Every time I woke up, you coaxed me to drink a little, and you bathed my head and body with cool cloths throughout the night. You didn’t leave until my fever broke.”

Nick inched a little closer.

Heath spoke softly to her, “Do you remember our first conversation? You told me that any son of Tom Barkley had a right to be proud. To live has he lived, fight as he fought, and no one could deny me my birthright. Your words gave me the courage to stay here and find a place in your family. I‘ve never been happier, and I would never do anything to hurt anyone in our family. This family means more to me than life itself.”

Victoria’s eyes started to water, her lips started to quiver and her hands started to shake. In a raspy voice, she cried, “What have I done?” and dropped the gun.

Nick grabbed his mother and brought her into an embrace as Heath let out his breath and picked up the gun.

A large crowd had gathered in the hall. Fred Madden pushed his way through. Looking at the scene in front of him, he turned to Jarrod who looked like he was in shock. “Let’s get all of you to Dr. Merar’s, and then I want someone to explain to me what went on in here.”

“I’m not sure I understand sheriff, at least not the why of it,” Jarrod answered, “but one thing’s for sure, you need to lock this man up.” Jarrod said pointing to Jason Phillips.

When Fred took over Jason Phillips for Jarrod, Jarrod went to his mother’s side. “Let me take her,” he said.

Nick reluctantly released his mother. He was at loss for what to say or do which was a feeling he was not familiar with. He looked at Heath, “You ok?” he asked.

Heath nodded, but Nick could see how pale he was and blood was still running down his arm. Nick took his bandana off and tied it around Heath’s arm. “Come on, let’s get you to the doc,” he said.

“Oh, I just remembered Fred,” Jarrod spoke up, “we sent for Dr. Merar to go to the ranch to take care of Audra.”

Heath’s head shot around to look at Jarrod, “What’s happened to Audra?”

Jarrod looked at Nick before he answered, “Audra walked in on to Jason Phillips hypnotizing Mother and telling her to kill you. He hit her hard, knocking her unconscious.” Seeing the stricken look on Heath’s face he quickly added, “She going to be all right Heath.” Jarrod looked down at his mother, but she was in her trancelike state again and didn’t seem to be aware of anything he’d said about Audra.

“Why don’t we go on out to the ranch, and let Dr. Merar take care of us there?” Nick suggested and added, “That be all right, Fred?”

“Yeah, all right, I’ll come out later this afternoon and get statements from all of you,” Fred said as he ushered a handcuffed Jason Phillips out the door. “All right folks, clear out and go on about your business,” Fred said trying to disperse the large crowd now gathered in the hall. He shut the door to the room to give the Barkleys some privacy until the people cleared out. Before the door closed he turned back and said, “I’ll have a carriage sent to the hotel for you.”

“Thanks, Fred. Would have them hitch Jingo and Coca to the carriage and tie Charger to the back?” Jarrod asked.

Fred nodded, then left. After the door was closed and they were alone no one said anything. Jarrod sat down with his mother on the side of the bed with his arm still holding her tight. She looked small and frail in her trancelike state.

Nick went to stand by the window to watch out for the carriage, and Heath sat down in a chair near the bed.

About fifteen minutes later, the carriage arrived. “It’s here,” Nick said turning from the window.

“I think it’s best if I stay here,” Heath spoke up. His eyes were glued on his mother. “I’ll be fine until Dr. Merar gets back. “The bleeding’s stopped.”

Nick looked down at Heath’s arm. The bleeding had stopped, but Heath was paler and the bullet was still in his arm. He went and stood in front of Heath. Determined hazel eyes met pain filled blue ones head on. “This family, the whole family, is going home. Now that we know what we dealing with, we’ll get through it. We are going to heal together, understand?”

Heath gave Nick a weak lopsided grin and a slight nod.

Nick’s eyes softened and he put his arm around Heath, and they followed Jarrod and their mother out the door.

After Jarrod and Nick finished telling Sheriff Fred Madden everything that had been going on prior to the shooting, Heath walked into the room.

“What’d the doc say?” Nick wanted to know.

“He said I could go back to work tomorrow,” Heath said without blinking an eye.

“Don’t give me that boy,” Nick threw back.

“The arm will be fine after a few days rest, Nick,” Heath returned with a smile. He just loved to rile Nick. “Doc’s in now with Mother and Audra.”

Fred broke the banter, “Do any of you have any ideal who’s behind this?” he asked.

“No, did Phillips say anything after you got him locked up?” Jarrod inquired.

“Not a word. I’m going to do some checking on his patient when I get back to town,” Fred said as he rose and added, “You know boys, I haven’t seen a stranger in town, and every time I saw Dr. Phil...er Jason Phillips, he was alone. Have either one of you seen this patient of his?”

After the Barkley brothers shook their heads, he said, “Well, we’ll know soon enough. Give my best to your mother and Audra, and I’m sorry this had to happen, but I’m glad everything seems to have worked out all right.”

“Thanks, Fred,” said Jarrod.

“Yeah, thanks Fred,” added Nick as Heath nodded his thanks.

“I’ll let myself out. Heath, take care of that arm,” he said as he turned and walked out.

When Fred had gone, Jarrod turned to his desk and sat down, and running his hands through his hair, he let out a long sigh.

Nick walked over to Heath and picked at the bandage on his arm, “You sure you told me the truth. I’ll find out you know.”

Heath gave him a lopsided smile, “I know,” and after a few seconds added, “The bullet missed the bone and didn’t do much damage to the muscle.”

A flush of relief went throughout Jarrod’s body as he watched his brothers. ‘Things could have so very easily turned out different,’ he thought.

“Well, in that case,” Nick boomed turning around to wink at Jarrod, “I’ll just save that fence around the entire south meadow for you.”

“Now Nick, I don’t think I should be over doing it,” Heath responded.

“Oh you won’t, it’ll be good exercise. Whip that arm in shape in no time, little brother,” Nick baited him as he poured them all a drink.

They froze when they heard an upstairs door shut, and looked at each other. Within a few minutes, Dr. Merar came into the room.

“How is she, doc?” Heath asked right off.

“I think I’ll have one of those too Nick,” he said as Nick was putting the top on the decanter.

Nick looked at his brothers with a ‘that bad of news’ look, and poured another glass and handed it to the doc.

After taking a drink, Dr. Merar said, “I left them both resting. Audra has a mild concussion, and bad bruising. With a lot of rest, she’ll be fine. If she has any fainting spells, I need to know though.”

“All right doc,” Jarrod said, “and Mother?”

He looked at her three sons and saw the deep concern in their eyes. “Boys, I wish I had more I could tell you, but the truth is, I know very little about hypnosis. But your mother is resting peacefully now, and she seemed to be back to her old self before she drifted off.”

Looking at Heath, Dr. Merar added, “There is one thing good I can tell you. When I mentioned your name to her, I didn’t see any hostility and aggravation like before. That’s a good sign to me.”

Heath nodded slightly and gave the doc a small smile.

“I’m going to wire a few doctors I know who may be able to tell us more. In the meantime, go on as you’ve always gone. She may not remember anything as far back as before the hypnosis started. I don’t think I’d tell her anything just yet if she has forgotten it, but use your own judgment there. Tell her as much as you feel she’s ready to hear.”

“Doctor, is there anything we need to look for?” Jarrod asked.

“Nothing I know of. I wouldn’t leave her alone yet until we know she’s not going to slip back into that trancelike state. I’ll let you know as soon as I find out anything more,” the doc said as he put his glass down.

“I’ll be back to check on her tomorrow afternoon,” he said as he walked toward the door with Nick following him out.

“All right, doc,” Nick said. “I’ll walk out with you.”

When Nick returned, Jarrod said, “I don’t think we should tell Mother anything.”

Nick nodded, but Heath asked, “What do I tell her happened to my arm?”

“You came off a bronco sounds reasonable to me,” Nick answered. “I’ll help you clean it, and she’ll never know it’s a bullet hole.”

“I’ll go tell Audra before she has a chance to tell Mother anything,” Jarrod said as he quickly left the room leaving Heath and Nick in the room deep with their own thoughts.

“FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, FRED, HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?” Nick was livid. He knew it wasn’t Fred’s fault, but he needed someone to blame. With this latest event, his family was in danger more than ever. The best chance they had to find out who was after his family hung himself in the jail without ever revealing anything. It turned out Jason Phillips’ patient turned out to be a cover. There was no patient; at least none was seen by anyone in town including Dr. Merar who admitted Jason Phillips had only told him about his patient, but he’d never actually seen him.

“Now, Nick, I understand how you feel, but how was I to know he’d tear his sheet in strips and tie them together to make a rope to hang himself with?” Fred was being patient with Nick. He knew how much his family meant to him. The stress of the last two weeks was showing in Nick’s face and his temperament.

“I know, Fred. I didn’t mean anything by it. Huh, I’ll see you later.” Nick left the sheriff’s office to go meet Heath at the general store. Heath was coming out as Nick got there.

“I could use a beer,” Nick said, “and yeah I’m buying before you ask.”

“You read my mind,” Heath replied.

The saloon was empty except for the two Baker brothers sitting at a table nursing a bottle and a couple of men at the bar.

“Sam, two beers,” Nick said tossing his money on the bar.

“Well, it IS true,” Jake Baker said loud enough for anyone in the room to hear, “he didn’t die. I can’t imagine what took Mrs. Barkley so long to try to get rid of him.”

“Looks like she would’ve tried long before now,” Willie Baker added to his older brother’s comment.

The men at the bar moved as far down the bar away from Nick and Heath as they could get.

“I always knew he was bad news for the Barkleys. He’s as sorry as they come,” Jake Baker started in again.

Nick’s muscles in his jaws were flexing. He made a move to turn around when Heath put his hand on his arm. “Let it slide, Nick. They’re only baiting us. It doesn’t bother me, don’t let it bother you. What they have to say doesn’t matter.”

The Baker brothers got up and started walking to the bar. Willie Baker, not one to let his brother get the last word in, piped up, “I always knew there was something wrong with the high and mighty lady, taking him in in the first place. Now it’s proven, she’s a real lunatic.”

“Nick,” Heath said through gritted teeth.

“Yeah, Heath,” he answered.

“Forget what I just said,” Heath said as he turned and landed a powerful right hook into Willie’s face.

Nick was on Jake in a flash. Holding in his temper for all those comments on top of being furious that Jason Phillips had hung himself, only added power to Nick’s punch, and Jake Baker lay unconscious on the bar room floor after taking only one punch.

Nick caught Willie as he was propelled backwards from one of Heath’s punches, turned him around and said, “You don’t talk about our family like that and not pay the price. Now get your brother and get out of our sight.”

Willie took one look at Nick’s eyes and decided not to argue. He pulled Jake up and dragged him out the door.

“You know Heath,” Nick said on their ride home, “we’re going to have to keep Mother away from town as long as talk like that is still going on.”

“You’re right, but she’s already been asking to go to town and to the orphanage,” Heath added, “I don’t know how much longer we’re gonna be able to protect her.”

Nick was quiet the rest of the way home. It had been two weeks since she’d shot Heath. She had recovered from her hypnosis as far as they could tell. Dr. Merar told them that after consulting with several doctors, the best medicine for Mother was lots of rest. With time, she’ll make a full recovery and the effects from the hypnosis will all be gone. And they were, she hadn’t been in another trancelike state. She’d had several headaches the first two days, but they were gone now. She was her old self again, except she couldn’t remember what had happened. She didn’t remember taking the trip even. They hadn’t told her anything. So far, they’d been successful at keeping her from town, and the friends who came to call, knew not to say anything. They knew they’d have to tell her soon, but they were going to wait awhile longer.

Heath was deep in thought too on the way home. Except for Victoria, they were all living on the edge. Whoever had paid Jason to destroy them was still out there, and he was quite sure they were still in danger. Audra was fully recovered and sticking close to their Mother. Jarrod was doing most of his law work at the ranch, so between Audra and Jarrod, Nick and Heath were able to return to working the ranch. Heath’s arm was healing, and was just a little stiff. Those punches to Willie made it smart quite a bit and he’d been flexing it while on the way home.

Heath looked over at Nick. He knew Nick and especially Jarrod were ready to tell their mother what had happened, but he wasn’t. As far as he was concerned, he never wanted her to know.

The boys were so lost in their thoughts, they were riding through the gates before they realized they were home.

Having been a welcomed guest in this mansion, he had no trouble finding the princess’ bedroom. ‘Oh, she looked so lovely, sleeping in a world of wonderful dreams,’ he thought as he lowered his hands to her face.

Audra’s eyes flew open as a rag was stuffed in her mouth, and her hands were being held and tied. It was too dark in her room to see who stood above her. She let out a muffled scream as she was roughly jerked to her feet and pushed toward the door. “Don’t make a sound or you’re dead,” a voice said. She’d heard that voice before but couldn’t place it.

They made their way down the hall and noiselessly down the stairs. She was pushed into a chair and felt her feet being tied to the chair legs and her waist was secured to the chair’s back. In the moonlight coming through the window, she could only make out a few features of her assailant. He was a large man, and though she couldn’t get a good look at his face; his form looked familiar. He lit a lamp, and when he turned toward her, she gasped, “You,” she tried to say in spite of her gag. He smiled at the shocked look on her face. Still looking at her and smiling, he picked up a vase and threw it to the floor, sending jagged pieces flying. He then walked to stand behind Audra with a gun pointed at her head and waited.

Nick was down the staircase first with Heath following close behind. Jarrod and Victoria were only seconds behind them. They all froze at the bottom of the stairs as they took in the scene before them.

“Matt Bentell,” Nick snarled through gritted teeth.

“Come in. Have a seat. All except you Mrs. Barkley,” he said.

When no one moved, he cocked his gun and moved it closer to Audra’s head. Heath, Jarrod and Nick reluctantly moved into the parlor and sat down.

“Mrs. Barkley, take those three pieces of rope on the table and tie your sons’ hands behind their backs. Tie them secure or your daughter will pay the price.” Matt Bentell’s eyes were cold and unfeeling as he looked at the Barkleys.

After they were secured, he held Mrs. Barkley to him as he walked around and checked to see how well they were tied. He then tied Mrs. Barkley’s hands behind her back and shoved her on the sofa beside Jarrod.

“My, my, look at the high and mighty Barkleys now. Do-gooders like all of you make my stomach turn. Oh, you thought you were so smart making Heath come to the lumber camp to protect me. It was such a noble thing to do. That’s why you all have to die now, and not just him.” Bentell said pointing to Heath.

Turning back to look at Mrs. Barkley and Jarrod he continued, “You made me feel like you were doing me a favor by letting me stay on. I don’t like being made to feel that way.”

Looking right at Jarrod and Victoria, he snorted, “A lot you care for that boy. You don’t know what I did to him do you? No, I don’t think he told you, or not all of it anyway. I tried to kill him in Carterson, BUT YOU JUST WOULDN’T DIE BOY,” Bentell yelled as he whirled around to look at Heath, “I promise you this, I would have succeeded had the war not ended when it did, and now I am going to succeed.”

He walked over to Heath. “There wasn’t much left of you after my beatings and holding food from you was there boy?”

He walked away and looked at the rest of the family. “And his family made him protect me,” he let out a blood-curdling laugh. When he stopped laughing, he looked at Heath with what little kindness he was capable of and said, “I can’t stand you boy, but even I felt sorry for you then.”

Jarrod and Nick stole a glance at Heath. He was staring at Bentell with eyes that were blazed with hate. Guilt was running through the whole family as the implication of what they did to Heath was revealed.

Seeing rage in Heath, and the tortured look of guilt on the rest of them, Bentell continued, “Did he ever tell you about the time he tried to help a fallen inmate? He tried to give him a drink.”

He walked over to Heath. “You disobeyed me boy,” he sneered and struck Heath across the face.

“Why you,” Nick growled, and started to get up, but Jarrod warned him to stay put.

Bentell was so engrossed with his tale, he failed to notice Nick’s reaction. He was back at Carterson.

“I ordered him tied outside for twenty-four hours with no food or water.” He was back in Heath’s face again. “The sun about baked you didn’t it boy?”

Heath fixed Bentell with a cold stare and remained quiet.

Bentell walked away and stood in front of Jarrod and Victoria. “And then his family, who supposedly loved him, told him to prove what he had of his father in him. To rid himself of hate. Ah, I loved it, loved it I tell you. I was standing outside the door. I heard it all.”

He got down in Heath’s face once more. “You had to protect me, knowing what I did to you, knowing I hated you and given the chance I’d see you dead. I would have let you die in that explosion up at the lumber camp, but I didn’t know who might be watching. I knew I’d get another chance. I thought Jason Phillips would succeed.”

Seeing the surprise on their faces at this revelation, he added, “That’s right. I paid the man five thousand dollars to do what he did. When he failed, I decided to finish the job. Oh, by the way, it was your money I paid him with. You paid me good for running your lumber camp. And what you didn’t pay, I took.”

Walking to Victoria he lifted her chin with his pistol and said, “I wanted you around to know what was happening Victoria Barkley, so I waited until you were well before making this move.”

Seeing the puzzled look on Victoria’s face, he said, “What? You don’t know what you did Victoria?”

“Don’t,” Nick said. He’d held back as long as he could.

“You shot Heath. You tried to kill him. If your aim had been better, he’d be dead, but as it was, you only hit his right arm.”

“No,” Victoria said shaking her head, “You’re lying, I wouldn’t hurt Heath.” Her voice was breaking.

“Shut up, Bentell,” Heath growled. Until now, Heath had been quiet, but seeing the pain on his mother’s face, he couldn’t keep quiet any longer.

Ignoring Heath, he laughed, “Oh, but you did Victoria. You wanted him dead. YOU POINTED A GUN AT HIM AND PULLED THE TRIGGER,” Bentell yelled. He delighted in seeing the tormented look consuming Victoria’s normally composed face.

He didn’t see Heath coming until his head caught him full in the chest, and both men hit the floor. Nick and Jarrod were up in a flash. The force of Heath’s hit had knocked the gun out of Bentell’s hands. Jarrod kicked the gun into the next room while Nick kept Bentell busy fending off his kicks.

Being on the floor gave Heath the advantage of being able to pick up a piece of glass from the vase Bentell broke. He hurried worked to cut the ropes binding his hands. When he was free, he checked to see how Nick was faring before he ran to get a gun.

In the meantime, Bentell had managed to grab Nick’s feet and pull them out from under him sending Nick to the floor, but that’s as far as he got.

“Hold it Bentell,” Heath said pointing a gun at him. He approached Bentell with a cold steely look in his eye. Keeping the gun on Bentell, he helped Nick to his feet then untied his hands with his eyes never leaving Bentell.

Nick untied the rest of the family while Heath kept his gun aimed at Bentell.

“Go on boy, pull the trigger. I know you want to kill me. Well, go on. DO IT! If you don’t, I’ll try again to kill you and your family. None of you will be safe until I’m dead.”

Nick looked around. Heath was standing four feet from Bentell with his gun pointed at him.

“Heath,” Jarrod said.

“Maybe I’ll even break that little sister of yours in,” Bentell added.

Heath pulled the hammer back.

Nick walked over to Heath. He’d never seen such hate in his little brother’s eyes, and he knew Heath was dangerously close to pulling that trigger. Not that he blamed him; he wanted Bentell dead too. But as much as he wanted Bentell dead, he wasn’t about to lose his little brother in the process.

“Heath, don’t pull that trigger. I need you little brother. I want you with me by my side for the rest of our lives. Let the law deal with this scum. He’s not worth a noose around your neck.” Nick tried again, “Don’t you see, that’s what he wants. If you kill him, your life is over too, and then he’s gotten what he wanted. He’s won.”

Nick saw the tension in Heath’s hands relax and knew he had reached his little brother.

“YOU COWARD!” Bentell yelled. He felt Nick’s fist before he saw it.

Standing over Bentell, Nick picked him up by the front of his shirt and stated, “Heath’s got more courage in his little finger that you’ve had in your entire body your whole life.”

Jarrod found Silas in his room bound and gagged. He was shaken up, but unharmed. One of the hands went to town for the sheriff. After getting statements from everyone, Fred and a couple of his deputies left with Bentell. Silas went back to bed at Victoria’s insistence.

When the family was alone again, Victoria walked over to Heath and taking his right arm in her hands she tried to roll up his sleeve. “Don’t,” Heath said gently moving his arm out of her grasp.

“Did I shoot you Heath?” Victoria asked with a quivering voice and with eyes that were filling with tears. Inside her heart was breaking for she knew the answer before she asked. Little flashes of shooting Heath had been coming to her mind since hearing Bentell’s words.

Taking her face between his hands, he looked into her eyes and prayed she’d see the truth in his eyes which were threatening to spill over with tears. Quietly and with a depth of feeling he said, “No, you didn’t. It wasn’t you.”

“Oh Heath,” she cried, and he pulled her into his arms and held her tight.

It was dawn before the Barkley family made their way back to bed. They’d shared with their mother everything that had happened. Then, Victoria, Jarrod, Nick and Audra each asked Heath to forgive them for what they’d forced him to do in protecting Matt Bentell. Heath had told them there was nothing to forgive; after all, he hadn’t shared with them the extent of his treatment at the hands of the deranged man.

A month later, Victoria Barkley was watching her children from her bedroom window. Heath was breaking a wild stallion, and Nick, Jarrod, Audra, and the hands were cheering him on at the fence. Life on the Barkley ranch had gradually returned to normal. It took some doing to talk Nick into letting her finally go to town. She understood him wanting to protect her, but she told him if Heath could weather all the remarks he’d had to in his short life, she could certainly stand the few remarks directed at her. There had been a few, but they died out pretty quick. She shuddered as she thought about Matt Bentell and how close he came to destroying everything she held near and dear. He’d been found quilt of six counts of attempted murder, and sentenced to serve fifty years in San Quentin. Victoria shook her head to clear her mind of thoughts of the man, and focused again on the scene below.

Looking at her children now, you’d never guess the ordeal they’d been through, and Victoria knew all of them were stronger because of it. She turned from the window and went below to join her family.