Matt Bentell was on his way back to the thicket to make sure Heath was dead after being unable to get close enough to the prisoner in the infirmary in Walnut Grove. “Those doctors are always so protective of the sick. Why they’d patch ‘em up the day before their execution.” He cursed himself for running from a chance, however small it might be, to end that prisoner’s and his own suffering. He realized he would have to find another way and another time to execute the prisoner who had survived in Walnut Grove.

Matt Bentell arrived at the briers by late afternoon. If Heath were dead, he decided to continue south to Modesto where he hoped to catch a train unnoticed to Promontory, to meet up with his wife. As he neared the secret hollow, which had held Heath, he saw the campfire. “What?” He quickly dismounted and ignoring the thorns that torn at his flesh he parted the stems to find it empty. “The prisoner’s gone, escaped.” Bentell remembered the whipping Heath had received as a result of his last attempt to escape. “I guess I won’t be as easy on you when I catch you this time.” This escape would be punished with death. He checked the campfire and found only one set of prints. Bentell did not know how the prisoner could even crawl, let alone walk. He followed the tracks back to the road. It was an easy trail. The ground was still damp and the footprints were well defined in the soft earth. The tracks continued all the way to the cabin and Bentell knew his prisoner was inside. Bentell waited for darkness to ensure his arrival remain unseen.

At dark, Bentell approached the cabin whose windows were lit like eyes piercing the blackness. He left his horse tied securely to a tree and walked silently like a shadow in the night. He avoided the warmth cast onto the ground by the glow inside. He remained hidden, silent and cold, peering into the sheltered space inside the cabin. An evil grin formed on his lips. Bentell made his way to the wall of the cabin and slowly turned his head into the lightness, searching until he saw his prey lying still on a bed by the fire. His brother was sitting in a chair beside him.

Bentell knew the layout of the cabin. The door opened into the dinning area that became a more comfortable sitting area with a few chairs and sofa nearer to the fireplace. When he entered, he would have them immediately at gunpoint. Bentell watched as Nick sat up then slid off the chair and knelt beside his brother. He rose, got some water, and held Heath’s head so he could drink. That man harboring his prisoner was now just as guilty. Bentell cocked his rifle and swiftly entered the cabin.

“Hold it right there Barkley.”

Nick let go of the cup and his brother’s head as he went for his gun and pushed Heath hard into the floor, as soon as the door flew open. His gun was gone from its holster and Bentell had them in his sights. He froze, forcing a struggling Heath to lay still.

“Step away from my prisoner and sit down here at this table.” Bentell saw the top of it still stained with blood.

Heath started coughing from his wasted efforts to rise. Nick turned him onto his side and clapped his back. “Don’t move Heath, or he’ll kill us both.” Nick whispered the only thing he could to try to keep his brother quiet.

Bentell walked toward Heath’s bed and saw the bindings. “Wait, first untie those bindings and bring them with you. Lay them slowly on the table then sit down in that chair and tie your legs together tightly at the ankles and the knees and then put your hands behind your back.”

Nick looked at Heath’s eyes and saw terror. “Do it or I’ll shoot him now.” Nick did as he was told.

Bentell drew his revolver while at Heath’s side. He unwrapped Heath's leg. “I see you’ve had my bullet removed. I so wanted to give you something to remember me by.”

Bentell still pointed his gun at Heath, keeping an eye on Nick. “You best not try anything or this poor boy will get a souvenir in his gut. Nick sat and tied his legs securely as Bentell watched. The warden leaned the rifle by the kitchen doorway, walked over to Nick, put the gun to his head and whispered, “If you try anything and don’t succeed I will put a bullet in that boy’s head. If you don’t cause trouble, I’ll let one of you live, your choice.

Nick nodded his understanding and allowed Bentell to tie his hands securely behind his back. Nick was frantically searching for a way to end this attack. Nick looked at Heath. Nick remembered his gun was still by the bed. It was too late. Did Heath know?

Bentell checked the leg bindings. With Nick, securely tied Bentell approached Heath’s bed. “It seems your brother has a choice to make. I wonder what it will be, after all that work getting you bandaged up?”

“This is between you and me. Leave my brother out of it he’s got no gun and no horse. He can’t come after you .Let him go.”

“Maybe, I will. It’s nice to see two brothers who care about each other.

“Who is going to live, Nick Barkley, you decide?”

“What? What are you asking? Nick was not sure what Bentell meant.

“Let me die Nick, he’ll never leave me alive anyway, I’m a witness.” Heath had lived through this torture before. Others had spared him as a child. He could not let his brother die in his stead now.

“So is he Thomson. I will let one of you live. I am a man of my word. Do you want your brother to live?” Bentell pressed Nick for an answer.

Nick looked at the pain in Heath’s eyes and closed his own before opening them to Bentell. “Yes, I want my brother to live.”

“NO. No, Bentell please! He didn’t do anything. Leave him be. Punish me.”

“But I am punishing you Heath. Living with the fact that your brother died to save your life I am sure will not be easy to live with. You will watch him die, slowly. How should I do it? Whip him to death, beat him, pistol whip him, cut him open. What will it be?”

Heath pushed himself off the bed and tried to move toward Bentell. He was too weak to stand or crawl but pulled himself slowly toward his tormenter. “Please, No, Nick, you don’t mean that. Please Nick take it back, my life was over a long time ago. Please Nick, it’s not too late.”

Bentell laughed tauntingly. “This is a walk down memory lane isn’t it? You naked, pitiful, crawling around in filth begging for mercy you don’t deserve.” Bentell laughed at Heath’s failure to help his brother or save his dignity.

“Heath, don’t move. Please stop. Let him do it. Do not make me be the one to watch you die. Please the dreams are bad enough. Please, just let me go.”

Heath stayed flat, belly down on the floor to regain his strength. His shoulders shook, as he could not stop from crying for the pain his brother would suffer and he would witness. “You are my brother, Nick. How can I let you go? This is my war not yours.” Darkness tried to take him and he welcomed its arrival.

Bentell grabbed Heath by the hair and forced his head up. “You best keep those baby blues open, you don’t want you brother to suffer alone do you? Do you?” He shook Heath’s head.

“No, No I don’t want him to suffer alone.” He thought as he found his last bit of strength and steeled his eyes on his brother’s. There was something there. What was it? Heath watched, frantic to understand what his brother’s eyes were telling him. What had he missed?

Bentell approached Nick and without warning slapped his face hard and fast with the butt of his gun. Nick did not make a sound, brought his eyes back to his brother’s, and found them wet with tears. Again, Nick was hit with the back end of the gun. Heath stood up but the pain in his leg erupted and could not bear his weight. He crumbled to the floor. He looked at the blackened wound. “Bullets, Nick’s gun.” Heath understood, and threw himself back towards the bed and scrambled to find what he hoped would be there.

“What’re you doing Thomson? Don’t you hide from this. I told you to watch. I’ll shoot him in the arm if you don’t turn around. It’ll just take longer if you’re not brave enough to watch. You’ll still hear him scream. Heath saw the gun under the bed. He reached for it never looking back. He heard a gun go off as his fingers found purchase. He rolled on his back and fired at Bentell until he heard the click, click, click of empty chambers. He saw Bentell fall to the ground and his brother slumped forward. Heath fought the coming darkness then gave into it hoping it would forever end his living nightmare.

Nick was the first to awake. His jaw ached his eyes ached his whole head ached. It took a few minutes before he was conscious enough to begin trying to open his swelling eyes. It took him even longer to focus. He tried to get up but was held fast by the bindings. He suddenly became alert as he remembered the situation he and his brother were in. He pulled hard against his restraints, and felt pain race through the nerves in his right arm. He looked down at his blood soaked sleeve. He did not remember how he it happened. He saw Bentell on the floor, blood pooling around him from a hole in his side. He was not moving, and he still had a gun in his hand.

“Heath, Heath, wake up boy. C’mon, HEATH, HEATH WAKE UP.” Nick saw Bentell twitch and he screamed again for Heath to wake. . “HEATH, GET UP. HEATH.”

Heath made no movement. It was even impossible to see if he was still breathing. Determination and adrenaline fueled Nick as he stood and hopped over toward the kitchen. He rammed the chair into the wall causing, it to break apart. He leaned against the wall for a moment and caught another movement from Bentell out of the corner of his eye. He backed into rifle and carried it with him as he struggled over to a drawer to find a knife. Nick got the drawer open but could not maneuver his hands inside. He pulled the drawer out. The crash spurred him on, as he feared every noise would rouse Bentell.

Nick quickly slid to the floor and sat among the utensils. His eyes and hands tried to coordinate to find a sharp knife. When he got hold of one, he was amazed at how difficult it was to cut through his bonds. With his hands tied as they were, he had very little leverage, and he was using his left hand, as his right was very weak. He finally felt the cloth begin to tear. His wrists free, he began cutting the bindings on his legs.

Jarrod crept to the same window by the door that Bentell had peered through. He heard a crash. He saw Heath lying on the far side of the large room. He motioned to his mother and sister.

“Audra you stay with the horses in case you need to ride for help.” Her mother advised and Audra nodded, praying they would find her brothers alive and well.

Jarrod went in, gun drawn, making sure not to walk into a situation ill prepared. He entered and scanned the room. Victoria was right behind him. Jarrod’s eyes went to Bentell lying hidden against the wall near the window he had looked through. He quickly went over, picked up the gun, and checked his pulse, while Victoria ran to Heath’s side. Jarrod joined her there after making sure that Bentell was not a threat.

Nick was so absorbed in his task that he jerked when he heard a noise and footsteps. He grabbed the rifle, cocked it and aimed at the kitchen door. He heard footsteps moving across the main room toward Heath. Nick Frantically cut away at the remaining bonds, then jumped, rifle ready into the main room to Find Jarrod lifting Heath back into bed. His mother kneeled by the bed and his sister entered through the door. Bentell lay still on the floor, but did not move. “Mother, Jarrod, Audra” Nick was so relieved. He sank to the floor and his confused and powerful emotions of the past few days drained the energy from his limbs. Jarrod was soon at his side to embrace and give strength to his missing brother.

Victoria dispatched Audra to get a glass, some water and towels to cool Heath down. Victoria filled the glass with water from the pitcher Audra brought. “Heath, wake up sweetheart, please wake up.” She lifted his head and cradled it in the nook of her arm as she held the glass to his lips. You need to drink this sweetheart, Please wake up.” Nick rose to help his mother and saw the glass tilt forward and the liquid disappear. “GOOD WORK HEATH” Heath flinched at the call. Nick strode to the bed and was met by tired blue eyes.

“Mother, what are you doing here?” Heath surveyed the room and found his whole family present. Heath looked at the unmoving form against the far wall and relaxed back into the bed. Heath’s eyes lost a bit of the cloud he hid behind for so many years.

Nick put his hand to Heath’s head to feel the heat still fighting infection in his body. He could not help but take his brother in his arms. “I’m sorry Heath, I couldn’t watch you die. I’m sorry.” Heath began shake and held on tight. It was over. He started to cough. Nick tenderly turned him on his side and pressed a pillow to his stomach to help with the pain, and stroked his scarred back. A loud moan came from Bentell. Heath struggled to get up. “Look out Nick, he’s not dead.” He reached for Nick’s gun, and fired. It was empty. He was out of bed, before anyone could stop him.

“Gun, where’s a gun? Somebody give me a gun. Jarrod shoot him. He’s gonna kill us.”

Nick and Jarrod forced him back to bed. Nick held him tight. “Settle down Heath. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

“I need to kill him.” Heath words fell quietly onto his shoulder before he closed his eyes.

“I know you do brother. Maybe you did. Maybe he’ll suffer a while.”

Jarrod went to check on Bentell. He turned him flat on his back. Bentell groaned again as the movement caused him pain. Jarrod eyed him with disgust. “He has one bullet in his side.” Jarrod announced, “Looks pretty bad.” Jarrod went out to the wagon and returned with a length of rope. Jarrod bent down and hooked Bentell under the arms, “Don’t make another sound or I’ll take you outside and tie you to the porch,” and dragged him to the kitchen. Jarrod tied Bentell’s hands and feet and cleaned up the jumble of utensils on the floor. He went to get a blanket and tossed it on top of his body.

“You move or make a sound; I’ll shoot you in the leg.”

Nick was rocking slowly back and forth, Heath still in his arms. “Nick, let your brother rest now.” Victoria understood that Nick needed to be close to Heath, but they both needed rest. She doubted either had slept for days and their bodies needed it to heal.

Nick held him all the tighter, his brother was safe, safe in his arms, safe in his heart.

Victoria placed her hand on Nicks arm. “Let him rest now, he’ll be fine.” She was firm in her message and firm in her grip. Tears finally fell from Nick’s eyes as he placed his sleeping brother down on the bed. Kneeling he turned and gave himself to the arms he knew were waiting for him to fill them. “Mother.”

Nick cried in his mother’s arms. He told her of his fears, how he pushed Heath away and almost lost him forever. That his gift was from God and he thought he could control it and that his brother needed him. Needed them all to help him face and accept the past and not let him hide from it, and that they all had to face it. She held him as he poured his heart out to her until he became heavy in her arms.

“Help me move him so he can sleep.” Jarrod helped her lay him flat and put a pillow under his head. Victoria leaned over and kissed her beloved son. She had never been prouder to be blessed with this child who never ceased to amaze her. He would teach them how to love Heath, not as their own but for himself.

Nick’s tears broke his family’s heart.

“What he said was true. We never pressed or asked for details about his previous life. It was painful to him, but also to me. I didn’t want to know what my brother suffered, when I wasn’t there.”

“I allowed it to remain buried too, Jarrod.” Victoria tried to ease his guilt.

“No wonder he was so quiet and withdrawn, Mother. Who did we allow him to be? A brand new Barkley whose life began the day he arrived. How hard this past year must have been on him.” We tried to make him fit into our mold. How could we expect him to know what that was?”

Audra, so quick to understand love, went to Heath’s side and kissed him. “I’m so sorry Heath; I didn’t really pay attention to you. I know you paid attention to me. I know you love me. You make feel good, capable, and loved. I just made you feel you had to be something you’re not, because I was too afraid that loving you would make me change who I am. It will, but I promise to pay attention and never let you hide from me again.”

Emotionally spent, Victoria pulled back Heath’s blanket to look at his un-bandaged leg. “Jarrod would you please bring in the medical supplies?” She began to take inventory of his injuries. She realized his physical injuries were not life threatening as long as they could stave off infection. She looked at her children as Audra had placed cold cloths on Nick’s face, and cleaned and bandaged his arm with the supplies they had brought. Jarrod was making his way into the kitchen with bandages. Heath was asleep and Nick was snoring softly.

The cabin seemed so small that night. It was crowded with soft words spoken to soothe a fevered mind. It was crowded with screams of anguish and hate. It was crowded with bodies begging for sleep. It was crowded with memories that would not rest. All night long, the Barkleys took turns sleeping and tending to the nightmares that seemed unending. Nick was awake most of the night talking to Heath helping him remember his friends and not the torture and deaths they suffered. They were not there to haunt him anymore; they were there to be remembered.

The family began to understand the quietness of the man. He was holding back a storm. Heath thrashed, screamed, and cried and Nick held on calling out names, cursing the guards feeling hunger, pain, nausea, seeing the torture the thinness of the inmates as they slowly starved. Nick saw Heath as he was when he was rescued. Nick couldn’t stand it anymore. He let go of Heath’s hand he didn’t know he was holding, as if he were burned by fire. Nick put his left hand on Heath’s shoulder and pushed himself to rise. The memories were one thing but seeing his brother like that again set Nick’s deadly temper afire. He stumbled toward the kitchen, blinded by tears that stung his eyes.

“Whoa Nick, where are you going?” Nick went right past Jarrod as he stiff-armed him out of the way.

Momentarily caught off guard, Jarrod recovered and grabbed Nick’s arm as he went inside the kitchen. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m doing what I should have done when they stood at our door. I knew what they did then; I just didn’t want to admit it. Didn’t want to take the time and energy and look where that got us.”

“Nick, he’s already good as dead. If that bullet doesn’t kill him, the hanging noose will.”

Jarrod’s words fell on deaf ears as Nick’s hands wrapped around Bentell’s throat. Nick watched as he opened his eyes in fear and panic, too weak to move. “Hope yer bags are packed Bentell cause yer goin ta hell.”

Jarrod watched in disbelief as Bentell’s face got red then blue. “Nick, stop it, you’re going to kill him.” Realizing the obvious, Jarrod tried to loosen Nick’s grip. Nick’s hands felt like steel, and did not come loose at all.

“I’m sorry Nick.” Jarrod grabbed his right arm and squeezed as hard as he could on the wound.”

With a cry of pain and betrayal, Nick lay on the floor holding his right arm as the bandage darkened with blood. “What did you do that for?”

“You were killing him Nick, that’s murder.”

“No Jarrod, that’s Justice. You said it yourself. If he doesn’t die here, he’ll surely hang. I’m just making sure he dies here, and be done with it.”

“Nick you can’t do that, you can’t decide that for yourself. He deserves a fair trial.”

“No, he doesn’t. He doesn’t deserve any more than he gave. Did he give his prisoners a fair trial, a fair shake, a fair anything?”

“It doesn’t matter, we’re not at war.”

“Aren’t we? What do you call it then?”

“I call it being civilized and bringing a prisoner in to stand trial.”

“Just when did your precious law, blind you from God’s.”

“When civilized people stopped killing in the name of God.”

“And just when was that.”

“Now Nick, let it be now.”

Nick let out an unconvincing sigh of defeat, but allowed Jarrod to take him to a chair and re-bandage his arm. “Sorry Nick.”

Nick did not reply. Confused, he just rose and walked past his mother and sister to sit next to Heath. Victoria and Audra had prepared to fight if need be as they witnessed the brothers exchange. Victoria wondered whose side she would have chosen.

The next morning Jarrod left with Bentell on a travois. He was sure Nick was plotting a chance to kill the man.

The strain of Bentell's presence lifted, after Jarrod left to take him to Galt. The small cabin was filled with love and fear for the youngest man. Victoria watched as Nick gave his entire attention to Heath who was struggling to free himself from the prison he shared with Bentell for many years now. . It was in Carterson that he spent much of the time that day when he was unable to fully wake from the shock of his injuries and torment of the wreckage Bentell left in his wake. Victoria and Audra were bystanders to the painful exchanges between brothers.

Nick was sullen and withdrew from his mother and sister in order to take care of his brother. It was bad enough allowing Bentell to leave the cabin alive, but Nick also witnessed the origin of the shame Heath felt when his scars or his presence at Carterson was revealed. The whole confrontation with Bentell had stirred up ghosts that Heath could no longer contain by himself.

Heath relived the last few weeks at Carterson with his friend, Sly, who died slowly in the cell he shared with Heath. Of all the torture that the guards inflicted on the teenager his most haunting and horrible memories were of his own guilt and powerlessness to help his friend. Nick understood this as the reason his brother hid his scars or the fact that he had survived the prison. Heath’s love, hate and self-loathing were so intricately tied to the shame and guilt he felt for the death of his beloved friend. Nick also understood the horrible accusation Bentell's wife had made to him at the door and why he had wanted to shoot her.

Victoria battled to take care of her son’s, one still trapped in prison and the other unwilling to come to her without the other. Nick would not leave Heath’s side unless Victoria pulled him away, to change the dressing on his arm. She worried about her sons and the way they isolated themselves from her and Audra. Heath would probably have nightmares regularly for quite a while. They should expect that Heath’s memories of Carterson plague him now. Nick reassured his mother they where as well as could be expected and that he would not leave Heath there alone.

Victoria’s toughest battle in caring for Heath was one she was well accustomed to. Getting Heath to eat or drink was nearly impossible unless he was lucid and back in the present. Heath was too seeped in the past for her to get him to take nearly enough nourishment to help him fight his injuries. Nick witnessed his brother’s refusal and tried to help him.

“Go on Heath, go ahead and eat it.” Nick lifted the soup to his brother’s lips.

“Go on Heath, go ahead and eat it. It won’t do me any good.” Sly urged his young cellmate to eat the small amount of food the guards had given them.

“Please Sly you’ve been given me some of your food everyday. Now you must eat something. Please.”

“Heath, look at me, my bones are all crooked. That little bit of slop won’t do me any good anymore, but it might just let your bones finish growing straight.”

“I can’t do it Sly. I can’t let you die because I took all your food. If I make it out of here I intend to walk out of here a man.”

“Well then you ain’t makin it out of here and you’d be mistaken for an ass on its way to heaven. I ain’t lookin like a busted up scarecrow because I give you that little bit to eat. Bentell’s been killing me since the day I walked in here. By the time you came, my insides were just about gone. You got a chance yet. When my day comes let me die thinking you still got that chance. Eat up son, that’s right. Don’t you waste that now, for crying out loud you make sure you keep it down. Even if it’s crawling when you eat it, you keep it down. I ain’t givin you my soup to have you starve cause the food don’t look right or smell good, you hear.”

“Sly, please don’t leave me.”

“I’ll stay as long as I can. But you gotta walk outta here son. Deal?"

"Well Heath is it a deal or are you gonna let your friend’s food go to waste.” Nick’s heart ached for the punishment he knew his brother inflicted on himself.

“Nick what are you doing here. I don’t want you here.” Heath was ashamed and buried his head in his arms on the floor in the small cell he shared with Sly.

“Why, because you’re hungry and your friend is giving you food his body can’t use anymore. You best finish that boy.” This was his sin. Heath survived and Sly passed away quietly just a day after liberation. Heath had shared his worst nightmare and Nick found no words to comfort him. Nick helped Heath with some broth. For a moment, Nick thought the soup would come back up, but Heath breathed deeply until his stomach accepted the rest of it. Nick gently rubbed his back and tried to bring him back to the family in the cabin, but Heath wasn’t ready to leave his friend Sly, so Nick kept him company.

Everyone was guilty at Carterson. At the very least the prisoner’s were guilty of being caught alive and guilty of surviving others, through cunning or strength, for winning the fight that another lost. The evil inside Bentell was expressed most clearly the way he tortured the hearts and minds of his prisoners. When Nick brought soup for him to eat, Heath would begin the battle the family expected. Nick would beg, yell, and cajole Heath until he would accept what was offered. Sometimes it would go down as if it were poison. Nick, like Sly would have to convince him to eat and drink. Heath would, but never without protest, tears or surrendering a bit of his soul.

Jarrod ran into Fred as he rode into a lamp lit Galt.

“Jarrod!”

Fred rushed to the travois and found Bentell. “Where are your brothers?” His eyes searched Jarrod’s unsure of what had happened for him to be bringing Bentell in alive.”

“They are back at the cabin, Fred. Nick was shot in the arm. Heath was beat up and shot in the leg. I am going back with a Doctor in the morning. I think we got to the cabin just in time. That’s where we found Bentell and my brothers. Mother and Audra are still there tending to them. Heath is still running a fever and is weak from blood loss. They are both exhausted. I didn’t really get the whole story. It was still chaotic until I could get Bentell away from them. I’m trusting that with a doctor’s care and good medicine, they will heal up fine.” Jarrod paused wondering about the ambiguity of his words. He realized how easy it was to ignore Heath’s hidden wounds. “Well, Fred I guess I hope they will heal. We are going to try to make sure they do.”

Fred puzzled over Jarrod’s second explanation, but thought it better to wait on that. “Let’s get the prisoner over to the doctor’s office and you can fill me in.”

Doctor Burcham examined the prisoner and then told both men to wait The doctor had been made privy to Bentell's identity and what had happened while Jarrod recounted the scene he had walked in on at the cabin, while Fred help prepared Bentell to have the bullet removed. Jarrod and Fred waited on news outside the operating room, while Heath’s bullet was removed from Bentell’s side. Jarrod felt sadness at that thought. Why couldn’t the bullet have killed him outright? All that fuss with Nick the others could have been avoided. He had received a cool reception to his plea for civility. Heath thankfully was asleep at the time trapped in a body “no more than bones” as Nick described it. Still his mind could not see it. Someday he would have to let it appear.

The doctor approached Jarrod and Fred in the waiting room. “It looks like he’s going to make it. He won’t be able to stand trial right away, but he’ll be there all right.” The doctor had done his job. Normally Jarrod would have had words of thanks, but all he felt was disappointment. “I should have let Nick kill him, and be done with it.” Jarrod questioned his decision to stop Nick from ending a nightmare that was now sure to continue for their new brother.

After the doctor cleaned up, Jarrod explained Heath's injuries to him. “Will you be ready to leave for the cabin by 4:00, doctor?”

“Yes Jarrod, don’t worry. I’ll leave Fred here in charge of Bentell. He can post a deputy and I'm sure Dr. Miller will take care of the rest. He will handle any emergency that comes up here. I will ride to the cabin to make sure your brothers will be fine.”

“Fred will you wire the station in Stockton to our car sent here. My brothers will need to be made as comfortable as possible.”

“Sure thing Jarrod, it’ll be waiting for you.” Fred looked keenly at Jarrod and noted his anxiousness. “They’ll be all right son.”

Jarrod wasn’t so sure, but nodded his thanks and headed for the hotel to get a couple hours of sleep. The doctor also retired and Fred watched over Bentell until a Deputy would relieve him.

Two days later, the family made the long and bumpy ride back to Galt and sent off two wires. One wire was sent to Henry to be waiting at the station with a wagon, and the other to Dr. Merar asking him to be there as well.

Dr. Merar was waiting when the train pulled into the station. Henry and a couple of the hands had a wagon and buggy ready for the family’s return. They all began the final leg of their journey home. Once there, Jarrod helped some of the hands lift and carry Heath into the house and up to his room. Jarrod was shocked at how poorly Heath looked. They lay Heath on the bed and Jarrod saw the deep bruising all over Heath’s body. He sat down in the chair next to the bed, and took in each bruise. “He doesn’t like good, Nick.”

“It was a long bumpy ride Jarrod. What did you expect? That he would be all smiles hiding his pain so we could go on with our lives and not be troubled by him?”

“Nick, I know you’re still angry with me. I’ve questioned my motives as well. Bentell will stand trial and I realize I have a lot to learn about Heath. I do know that you will always know him better, but that doesn’t mean I love him any less, so lay off.”

Nick realized he’d dealt a low blow. “Sorry Jarrod. I guess I just need to punch something right about now, but my arms kinda laid up.”

“That was one punch I’d rather have taken to the jaw, Nick.”

Doctor Merar checked Heath over as the brothers exchanged words.

“Why doesn’t he wake up, with all your poking and prodding?” Nick asked the doctor. .

“He probably got used to the feeling being tossed around in the wagon.” The Dr. unwrapped Heath’s ribs to listen to his lungs

“He was really hurting today. I made sure he still coughed up the infection when he started rattling.”

“Good, good.” The Doctor checked his ribs again. “Help me bind him up again. How did he get so congested?”

Nick stepped between Heath and the Doctor and sat on the bed. He looked at Heath as if he were seeing him for the first time since his disappearance. With trembling fingers, he rested his hand against the sleeping face, and shook his head unable to speak of what Bentell had put Heath through. Nick still couldn’t of Bentell’s evil or God’s miracle.

The Doctor turned Nick’s battered face when he got no response. He saw the welts and bruising on Nick’s face, tears in his eyes and clenched lips. “Nick I want to check you over too. Why don’t you rest in your room?”

“No, no, I have to be here when he wakes up.” Nick had not been away from his brother’s side for a time that seemed like forever. He could not bring himself to leave. The days and nights had been a jumble of waking and sleeping nightmares indistinguishable from each other.

“Nick, I do need to check you over. We can do it here if you rather.”

Nick nodded, and Jarrod emptied the chair for Nick to sit on.

“I do need you to tell me what happened to Heath so I am sure to treat him completely.”

Victoria and Audra were listening from the door. In all the commotion and joy of finding them alive neither, Nick or Heath had told them all that happened. What the two women heard brought sadness deeper than either had ever known. Victoria knew Nick had experienced an emotional quest, yet the cause of Heath’s injuries remained untold. It was another wall of silence Heath would build to hide his pain that she vowed to tear down in order to help her son.

...Continued