“Just what did happen between Carson, Dukes Heath and you?” Jarrod asked as the brothers rode at toward the Barkley property. “I knew you’d fired them, but what really happened?”

“Well it started the same way that we just received that message. With McCall.” Nick looked at his older brother.

Stockton- Eleven years earlier.

“Nick, hey Nick.” Duke McCall called to his boss. “Wait up.”

“Yeah.” Already running late for his meeting Nick continued along the sidewalk, forcing McCall to increase his stride just to keep up. “What’s up?” “Carson and Dukes.”

“What about em?

“You left them up near the badlands rounding up strays Yes?”

“What of it?” Nick was puzzled.

“You sent Heath up there to oversee the operation yes?”

“Yeah, so? You got a problem with Heath?” Nick’s hackles were beginning to rise.

“Nick, no of course not you know that.” McCall went on the defensive. “But others do.”

The last remark brought Nick to a halt.

“Go on what others?”

“Scuttlebutt in the bunkhouse says that Carson and Dukes in particular have a real problem with Heath going from ranch hand to boss overnight like.”

“Not sure about the full reasons behind it, but they sure weren’t too pleased. I’d say your brother is in for a tough time out there.”

“Heath can take care of himself.” Nick said confidently, but privately McCall’s information was worrying him a little.

“We’re talking about the Badlands.” McCall reminded him. “High summer, resentful men and Heath unfamiliar with the area.”

It all spelt disaster with a capital ‘D’. Nick had to agree as he listened to Duke.

“Duke I want you to take over with the breeders.” Nick thought fast. “ Don’t go for anything over $250. I’m heading back, if you finish quickly enough catch up with us at the entrance to the Badlands.” The breeders and their stock suddenly went way down in Nick’s priorities. His little brother and his safety were paramount.

Racing toward the badlands one thought and one thought alone occupied his mind. How had he been so blind? Why hadn’t he seen this coming? He was after all the boss, and it was, after all, the boss’s responsibility to know the ins and outs of his spread.

Carson and Dukes. Two of the most honest hard working hands a boss could ask for, they’d both been on the ranch for over three years now and never once had either of them put so much as a fingernail out of place. Well now, by god, they’d both stepped over the line and would pay for it he’d see to that.

“So anyway I caught up to them, got out of them what they had done and where Heath was and then sent them back to the ranch with two of the hands as an escort.” Nick finished.

“I remember them coming in but never knew the details.” Jarrod informed him “What I never heard was how you found our little brother, and how the two of you got out there.”

“That was luck and a bit help from a certain guardian, looking back on it now.” Nick reflected.

“Ohh?” Came the prompt.

“Okay I was well in the badlands… The dust storm that day was raging something fierce.” Nick continued his remembrances.

Blasted dust. He thought as another gust of wind sent a cloud of particles into the exposed skin around his eyes.

A large wet bandana covered his nose and mouth but in order to see he had to leave his eyes uncovered. The brim of his Stetson prevented the majority of the grit and grim getting in but not all of it.

Again he cursed Carson and Dukes, as much as he wanted to give them both a good kicking earlier, finding his brother in all this dust, dirt and heat was his number one concern, time later for payback.

Damn it, now of all times. His brother had barely recovered from the earlier mishap in no mans land and now this. Could he survive? Was he strong enough to get through this? Again he cursed fate and timing.

He stopped to pour some more water on to the bandana the covered his neck. Looking down at the canteen he recalled what he had said as Heath had left the ranch earlier, and what he had seen tied to Carson’s saddle. Heath’s spare canteen.

Heath, by now would be almost out of water. This kind of heat dehydrated a man quickly; even if Heath had taken drinks sparingly his only canteen would be just about empty by now, that was assuming Heath was still capable of lifting the canteen to his lips and swallowing.

The image of his younger brother laying in full sun slowly dying from dehydration and heatstroke caused him to dig his heels into Coco’s sides and spur the middle aged horse to greater speed.

Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of something that didn’t really belong in the arid landscape, not that anything really belonged here in the first place, but this really didn’t belong. A flash of silver/white, almost ghost white, tail. A large thick tail. A wolf tail. Great that was all he needed, on top of a missing brother, to have a wolf pack stalking them as well.

“ARRROOOOOOOO!”

The single long howl sounded above the whistling of the wind.

Although he could only see a few feet in front of himself, he scoured the area looking for the beast from which the howl emanated. Finding nothing he turned to what few outcrops and ledges where around him. Nothing again. Moving Coco forward a few feet he repeated the procedure. Still nothing at ground level, but again movement from above on one of the outcrops caught his attention.

“ARRROOOOOOOO!”

The call came again, almost as if it was urging to move in its direction.

Logic and experience told him to ignore the call; there was the strong possibility that it was a trap. Fighting it was that one little voice in his head called instinct, it was telling him to follow, that maybe it was the right thing to do.

Instinct won out and he set off in the direction the call had come from.

“ARRROOOOOOOOOO!”

The call came one last time and was so close that it was almost like he could reach out and touch the lupine. The call was almost directly above him, he looked up and again saw the flash of tail and then down and saw the figure laying still and silent in the sand.

“HEATH!”

Jumping off Coco and grabbing his spare canteen he hurried to his unconscious brother

As he neared his brother a sense of relief overcame him. Heath had heard his voice and was trying to lift his head. The face that greeted Nick was a deep red, burnt by the sun. Thankfully his shirt had prevented the sun doing damage to other parts of his body

“Nic.” Heath croaked.

“Don’t talk.” He advised “Save your strength. You’re going to need it. We can’t stay here much longer, we’re loosing the shade.”

“Dry.”

“Here, slowly now.” Carefully hold the canteen he watched as Heath took the first cool drink he’d had in some time. “It’s good to see you little brother. Do you know how scared I was?” He could now let his emotions run free.

Too weak to say much more. Heath nodded.

“Come on can you make it up?” Gently and carefully he held his brother as Heath tried to stand.

Heath had barely been on his feet for thirty seconds when he let out a loud gasp of pain and clutched at his calf muscles.

“WHAT?” Fear laced his voice; this was an added complication they didn’t need. “Cramp?”

Heath just nodded.

“WE have to move you know that don’t you? And you know that it’ll be painful?”

Again Heath nodded.

“If you can hold on I’ll try and make this as quick as possible.”

A squeeze on his shoulder told him that Heath agreed, and trusted him. Even in the bleak conditions of the badlands it felt good. To know that the little brother he had almost killed just one short month ago trusted him, enough to put his life in his older brothers hands.

“The first part of that journey out was a nightmare.” Nick continued. “Heath was in such pain, not that he complained but I could feel him tightening up as a pain wave hit him. Half way out he lost consciousness which was a relief for both of us.”

“Now I remember, that was that night you both didn’t come home, instead sending the hands back.”

“I couldn’t risk moving him again so soon. He was still terribly hot and cramping when we finally crossed out of the badlands. My only thought was get him cool and stop the cramping.”

“Just one last question Nick. How did you find your way back out with out any problems?”

“You’ll see soon Pappy.” Nick smiled.

Dammit. Heath thought Nick was right again. The wind does cause the landscape to change. Nothing looked familiar.

He pushed further on. Sure that the direction he was taking was the correct one. What he was looking for was a stonewall with a bit of overhang, somewhere on his left hand side. At least he thought it was on his left hand side. That’s where it seemed to be eleven years ago.

On the edge of the badlands Leith Carson and Cal Dukes debated over their next move. Wait on the safe side for Heath to come out or risk going in after him.

“We wait. “Carson argued. “Safer and we can jump him as he comes out.”

“I still say go in, that way we can grab the artifact, grab his horse and leave him there.” Dukes offered his own thoughts. “Let the badlands claim him, like it was supposed to all those years ago.”

“Quiet!” Carson ordered as he tilted his head in order to hear better. “Quick, hide riders coming.”

From their hiding spot they watched as Nick and Jarrod Barkley along with ten to twelve ranch hands rode past.

“Mouth Barkley.” Carson spat.

“And Fancy Pants.”

“We stay here.” Carson decided. “We can’t take all that lot on. If he does like he did last time. Mouth will send the rest on home once everybody’s out, then it’ll just be him, Fancy Pants and that no good half Barkley. Easy, Fancy Pants won’t be a problem and then we’ll take the other two out and grab the trinket.”*****

“Trouble.”

The thought pierced Littlewolfs mind.

“Growlshard, Howlswisely and Softpaw and trouble.”

Duty was calling to her. They were in trouble (What else was new?) and would need her. She’d failed them once in the recent past and wasn’t about to do it again.

A small yelp from near her paws stopped her in her tracks.

Whitecub!

Still to small to be left unwatched she’d have to think quickly if she was to help the three human pack males.

Living like she did, a pack less wolf, she was without the support that a normal she-wolf would have from other pack females. Those females didn’t mind cub sitting occasionally. In fact it was what bound many of the females together.

Another female, another female. The thought raced through her mind. Then it hit her, there was one female she might be able to get to cub sit for her. Possibly the only female she would trust with her newest offspring. Silverwolf.

With the morning sun now gone from the private garden Victoria decided it was the perfect time to be outside with her only granddaughter. The household was quiet, Audra had returned to Nevada with Joe, Ben and the boys. Sara and Margaret were in San Fransisco. It was just her and little Victorialeah.

This part of the garden was hers and hers alone. Nobody ever came into it without her permission. So engrossed in the story she was telling Vickylee that she never noticed the stranger quietly enter her garden. It wasn’t until a small ball of fur was deposited near her feet with a tiny humph that she looked up and saw the Barkley Family guardian before her.

“Danger?” She asked the question. “The boys are in danger aren’t they?”

The silver/white head that had been resting on similarly coloured front paws rose and yellow/green eyes looked at her.

“Give me a moment and I’ll come with you.” Victoria continued lifting Vickylee to her hip and starting back toward the open French windows.

“Grrrrr.”

Startled Victoria turned. This was not one of the ‘language’ sounds the family normally heard.

“You don’t want me to come?”

“Huff.”

From experience that meant yes.

“What then?”

Amazed she watched as the wolf’s eyes travelled from Victorialeah on her hip to the book she’d been read to her granddaughter to the little fluff ball cub and back again.

“You want me to baby-sit. Is that it?”

“Huff.”

“Therefore knowing your little one is safe you can go and watch and protect the boys?” Without even waiting for the huff of yes she continued, “Go. I’ll watch her, she’ll be safe here. You just do what you have to and bring them back to me.”

Grateful yellow/green eyes looked at her.

“Ok Nick.” Jarrod looked into the expanse of land that was known as the Badlands. “Just how are we going to find our little brother and then get out?”

“Like this Pappy.” Nick answered as he turned from Jarrod to the Barkley ranch hands. “ We’ll be playing this one exactly like we did eleven years ago. “He announced. “That’s why I asked for all of you to come.”

Fascinated Jarrod followed and watched. They’d gone about thirty feet into the hostile territory when one hand dropped back and stopped. Nick nodded is approval. Another thirty or so feet another, and then another.

“You’re leaving a trail” Jarrod observed and feeling proud of his younger brother. It was something he would never have thought to do.

“Yep. We’ll travel on until it’s just you and me. We’ll search as far as we can, then retrace our steps back via the breadcrumb/ cowhand trail and then start again in a different direction.” Nick grinned under the bandana he had tied around his nose and mouth. “It worked last time.”

Lost for words Jarrod just shook his head in admiration. Nick and his crazy ideas.

As she hurried along the secret trail known only to a few between the human pack den and the area known to them as the badlands Littlewolf thanked the ‘Great Wolf Above’ for the understanding and the wisdom of Silverwolf. It was a relief to her knowing that Whitecub would be watched and protected. No one would dare cross the dominant female of the human pack, she’d seen that many times before and not just Howlswisely, Growlshard, Softpaw, Sunfur and when she was alive Firefur. The other humans, the ones who worked as the wider pack wouldn’t cross Silverwolf either.

The thought of Firefur and how her friend died brought back all the hurt and the regrets. If only she’d been able to warn the other members of the human pack, maybe Firefur would still be with them and Softpaw wouldn’t have taken off into that harsh territory alone. The born littermates would be safe and together. And more urgently little Brighteyes would still have her mother. More than any other she knew what it was like to lose her mother at a young age.

She might not have been able to save Firefur, but with Softpaw, Growlshard and Howlswisely there was still a chance. If only she could get there in time.

The messages on the breeze told her that as well as the alpha male, the two beta males and other male members of the human pack near the arid lands there were two others scents. Stranger’s scents. Danger scents.

“Admit it.” Heath told himself as he and Rush headed off again in yet another direction. “ You’re lost. And even if you do manage to get out of here Nick and Mother will have you’re hide for pulling a stunt like this.”

He was so sure he’d be able to find that wall again. Now, as he looked around at the dust, dirt and sun, he was beginning to have he doubts. It had been a reckless spur of the moment idea, barely planned out and very ill conceived.

“And if they don’t they’ll think I’ve lost my mind.”

A quick shake of the second of the three canteens he’d set aside solely for drinking purposes revealed that it was half empty. He was now at his pre arranged return point. One of the conditions he’d set for this little venture was that he’d turn back once he’d used half of his drinking water supply.

Swinging Rush a full one eighty degrees he started out for what he hoped would be the edge of the badlands and Barkley land, the way home.

Watching the figure of Softpaw below her Littlewolf got the overriding impression that he was giving up, abandoning his quest. And just now when he was so close. All he had to do was move his equine just a little to it’s right and he’d be where he wanted to be. The hope that Softpaw held of returning the symbol to the cave as a way of honouring Firefur were evaporating, like water in this heat bowl.

Step in and help him or let him find it for himself?

“ARRRROOOOOO”

The sound caused Heath to raise his head. A wolf cry was the last thing he expected to hear in this wasteland. What wolf in its right mind would live here?

“ARRROOOOOO”

No wolf would. But a silver/white one might venture in.

Shaking his head he thanked the powers that be once again for the day the Barkley family guardian made her presence known to the family. Now if only he could spot her.

“Nick?” Jarrod queried as the faint sound of a wolf cry reached the brothers.

“Yeah Jarrod I heard it too.” To him it was a familiar sound, one he’d first heard eleven years ago. “This way.”

He pointed Stealth’s nose in the general direction the sound had come from. To him there was no mistaking that call. It was the Moonwolf, or in this case her daughter.

“It’s her Jarrod.”

“Like her mother?”

“Yeah, just like her mother did all those years ago. She’s leading us to him.”

A silver/white wolf against the backdrop of a white-hot sun isn’t the easiest of creatures to spot and it was some time before Heath actually found her.

Or more precisely her white tail against the sandy-grey of the dirt that he spotted first.

She was above him and to his right. Sitting on an overhang. Just like the one…

Moving closer he put out a hand and felt

Stone.

It was the same wall. Finally.

“JARROD” Nick cried into the wind “OVER THERE” He pointed.

In the distance Jarrod could just make out a figure, as the brothers got closer he could begin to see that the figure was indeed his missing youngest brother. Heath was safe, and it looked like he was just about to find the object of his quest.

“HEATH” Nick, who had the loudest yell of the brothers, called.

A muffled cry reached Heath’s ears, as he was about to reach into the crevice and extract the precious artifact. Turning he saw two figures coming out of the dust toward him. On instinct he went for his gun, then relaxed as he began to recognize the shapes coming toward him.

“Heath” Nicks voice sounded again.

“Nick, Jarrod what are you two doing here?” Heath called.

“Looking for you little brother.” Jarrod replied as the pair reached Heath’s side.

“Just what in the blue blazes do you think you’re doing.” Nick sounded off. “Running off like that. Causing us all to worry.” The gruffness of his tone hid his relief.

“Just something I had to do.” Heath answered.

“HERE?”

“Look it’s complicated ok?

“Try us Heath.” Jarrod broke in with before Nick could have another go. “ But not here, once we get out of this hell-hole.”

“Just one more minute.” Heath asked as he placed his hand into the crevice and felt the cloth wrapped parcel. “Almost got it.” He clasped at it with his fingertips and began to pull it toward him. “Got it.” He announced triumphantly and pulled his hand back.

“GREAT, we’ll look at it once we’re outta here.” Nick urged. “Let’s move.”

With Nick’s trail of breadcrumb cowboys to follow the boys were out of the Badlands in no time.

“Ok fella’s head on back and thanks.” Nick dismissed the rest of the ranch hands. “Now give us a look at this artifact, see if it’s worth all this trouble.”

From their hiding place Carson and Dukes watched the Barkley hands move off in the general direction of the ranch and smiled at each other. Things were going just as they planned.

Above them another was also watching what was going on. The scent of trouble was heavy in the air and it was coming from directly below her. Not wanting to alert the troublemakers by growling she hoped the human pack males would notice her, not that she’d be that hard to spot, silver white against the brown/red rocks.

“Well” Nick said impatiently.

“All right I’m going as fast as I can.” Heath countered with. “That brave knew what he was doing when it came to tying knots. Hey he could teach you a thing or two big brother.”

Nick’s only response was to playfully clip the back of his younger brothers head.

It was Jarrod who noticed the silver/white against the brown/red backdrop.

“Not just yet Heath.” He whispered and laid his hand across the parcel blocking Heath’s attempts to untie the knots.

“Jarrod?” Nick queried quietly as he picked up on the warning tone.

“We aren’t alone.” With his eyes he indicated to where the Moonwolf was sitting. “She’s just sitting there not moving.”

“Agreed.” Heath quickly stole a glance in the direction his eldest brother indicated. “If that’s not a warning …”

“I don’t what is .” Nick finished the thought.

“Just put it in you saddle bag.” Jarrod advised “And we’ll head out.”

“Let’s go.” Dukes urged as he and Carson watched the brothers. “They’re leaving and we won’t get another chance.”

Unwilling to do anything rash or hasty Carson weighed up the situation Now was the time they’d agreed, the Barkley’s alone

“Get ready then.” He drew his gun and waited as Dukes drew his weapon.

Above them Littlewolf saw the danger and reacted. In the best wolf tradition she lifted her nose to the sky and let go with one long, loud howl.

“ARRROOOOOOOOO”

This was followed up by a loud snarl and a fierce display of her teeth

It had the desired effect.

Caught by surprise both Carson and Dukes took an involuntary step back and exposed their hiding spot.

“Hello boys.” Nick snarled the greeting. “Heard you were back this way.”

Turning round Carson ran straight into Nicks right fist and went down. Dukes suffered the same fate but this time at Heaths hands.

“Didn’t you two learn your lesson the last time?” Nick boomed as he towered above the would be attackers “Or do you both need a reminder?”

Looking up at the angry Nick Barkley and seeing behind him the still snarling wolf Carson and Dukes took stock their situation.

With the element of surprise well and truly gone, and the courage and bravado they’d both earlier displayed also rapidly fading the pair scrambled to their feet and beat a very hasty retreat.

“Ok.” Nick said as he turned back towards his brothers “Let’s see this artifact.”

Both he and Jarrod watched as Heath carefully unwrapped the Talisman from its cloth prison.

In the light the tiny beads of the medicine wheel and the dream catcher sparkled. It looked as new and beautiful as it had that day many, many years ago when the artisan had handed it over to the tribe. Protected as it was in the cloth it hadn’t aged or faded. Even the third circle, the wooden shield with the painting of the silver/white wolf head hadn’t faded. Still as silvery/white as ever, the yellow/green eyes still as clear and sharp and looking for all the world like they were following every move made by whomever was in their range.

“So old” Jarrod breather as he carefully ran his fingers over the beading of the medicine wheel circle.

“What are you planning to do with now you’ve found it?” Nick asked as he watched his younger brother. What Heath had done and the why he’d gone about it made Nick very pleased, proud and honoured to be able to call him brother.

“Put it back where it rightfully belongs.” Heath announced. “To make that cave and all that is in it complete and whole.”

“Why Heath, why now and why this?” Jarrod asked, although he had a pretty good idea. He still wanted to hear it from Heaths own lips.

“It was just something I felt I had to do. It’s sorta my way of … well of saying. “Heath’s voice broke as he struggled to get the words out.

“Goodbye?” Jarrod finished.

Fighting back tears that were threatening to spill out Heath only nodded.

“She loved that place so much..” He finally got out “It’s my of … well making it whole again, some last way of saying goodbye, something to remember… I know it doesn’t make much sense.”

“It does, little brother. ‘Nick reassured him as he squeezed Heath’s shoulder “Believe me it makes perfect sense.”

“Jarrod there is one other thing” Heath continued after he’d wiped the tears from his eyes and regained a little of his composure “Can you arrange that that Valley never be touched, that it will always stay as it is?”

“It may take a little doing.” Jarrod pondered the question. “But yes Heath I think I can arrange for Mystic Gully to stay as it is now.”

Above them the one who did call Mystic Valley her home voiced her approval. With that one decision her and all those who would come after her would be protected, their home and future secure.

As mid afternoon turned into late afternoon three riders and one wolfish shadow made their way back towards the Barkley ranch.

“MOTHER.” Nick announced his presence in his usual manner. “MOTHER WE’RE BACK AND LOOK WHAT WE FOUND.”

“Nicholas.” Victoria’s voice echoed from the private garden. “Keep your voice down, you’ll wake the children. Welcome home boys.” She reached up and kissed each of her sons. “You young man.” She said as she kissed Heath. “Have some explaining to do.”

“Yes Mother I know. But on the other hand we did find this.” He opened the cloth parcel again and allowed Victoria to examine the Talisman.

“So it wasn’t just a myth.” Victoria said as she examined the artifact. “I’m so proud of you, all of you.”

“Mother.” Jarrod broke in “What was that about children? Thomas? Are Margaret and Thomas?”

“No, Margaret and Thomas are still in San Fransisco.” Victoria led the way out and into the private garden. “While you boys were off finding the Talisman I had the rare honour of babysitting the next Barkley family guardian.”

She stepped aside.

On a thick blanket, and covered by another, sleeping peacefully was little Victorialeah. Not far away, covered by another blanket was the five-day old wolf cub.

“Our friend came to me with an unusual request.” Victoria went on to explain. “She needed her cub watched while she was off helping you and I was glad to help.”

“Mother. Just how do you baby-sit a wolf cub?” Jarrod, ever the practical one asked.

“Easy, when the cub is only five to six days old.” Victoria replied. “If she’d been five weeks or five months it would’ve been a different matter. Her mother must’ve fed her before they arrived here, so after chasing her tail for a while, then sitting and I swear listening, to one of the stories I was reading to Victorialeah she promptly curled up and went to sleep.” Victoria smiled as she watched the little cub twitch in her sleep. Carefully and quietly she lifted the blanket off the little wolf and stepped back as the Moonwolf entered the garden.

As one the family watched as mother and daughter wolf were re united.

As the first rays of afternoon sun streaked into the cave that held the relics and memories of the original inhabitants of the land the Barkley family along with the Moonwolf watched as in loving memory of his twin sister Heath Thomson Barkley carefully and with great reverence returned the lost Talisman to it’s rightful place on the stone alter.

Later on the same day as the last rays of sunshine broke over the Barkley family burial plot another paid her respects to Heatherleah Barkley- Roberts.

Waiting for just the right moment, that moment when the last portion of the sun was sinking into the west and the moon started to appear in the east

At that moment looking for all the world like a luminous ghost wolf, Littlewolf lifted her black nose to the sky and in her own way paid her final respects to her dear friend. Giving her that which is given to only the bravest and most respected members of the pack. The Wolf Tribute.

SIXTEEN YEARS LATER.

“Mum would’ve been so proud.” The redheaded young woman remarked as she and her three uncles stood in the cave. “You did the right thing Uncle Heat.”

“She really loved this place, it was always so special to her.” The now slightly greying figure of Heath Barkley told his young niece. “You look so much like her.”

“I know, you and Uncle Nic.” She turned to the older Nick Barkley and smiled fondly at him. “And Uncle Jar” Again she turned this time to face the grey figure of Jarrod Barkley. “Have been telling me that since before I can remember.” This time she smiled down at the tiny portrait in her hand. “I know it has and still hurts you, that I do look like Mum, I mean.”

“I got over that a long time ago.” Heath hugged her

“Uncle Nic.” Victorialeah Barkley Roberts moved to stand next to Nick. “I remember that day all those years ago when you said you had to go, you promised you’d be back and with Uncle Heath. You didn’t break your word and for that I thank-you.”

Lost for words, the still handsome and straight figure of Nick Barkley, could only hug and kiss the head of the girl, his eldest niece, who looked so much like his long dead sister.

“Uncle Jar.” Vickylee turned to the man who now governed that state of California “Thank-you for seeing to it that this.” She paused and waved her arms around the cave. “And the land around here will be preserved as it is.”

The distinguished figure of Jarrod Barkley smiled and once again looked at the piece of paper he held in his hands. The degree announcing the Mystic Valley and the lands around it were now a state protected site.

Outside, just by the entrance a silver/white lupine figure raised her nose and sounded her thanks to the breeze.