Victoria was sitting in the living room having a cup of tea after the doctor had ordered her out of the bedroom and told her not to come back till she had something to eat. Audra and Jarrod were sitting with Heath while Nick rested and Doctor Merar had left for home shortly after eight as he now believed the worst was over. He would return sometime the next day to change the bandages. Nick had insisted that he would be staying up with Heath that night so the others could get a good nights sleep. They were all worn out from worry and lack of sleep and could use the rest.

The grandfather clock had just struck nine when a knock sounded at the door. Silas came from the back hall to open it and found old Charlie waiting nervously, twirling his cowboy hat and shifting from foot to foot.

"Come in Mr. Boyd, Mr. Nick is restin' right now, but Mrs. Barkley is here if y'all like to see her?" At the nod Silas closed the door and led him into the living room. "Mrs. Barkley, Mr. Boyd is here to see you."

"Come in Charlie, come in," Victoria got up and crossed the floor to take the cowboys arm and lead him to the chair opposite hers. As they sat down she offered him a drink which he quickly refused.

"No, thanks ma'am. We saw Doc Merar leavin' and I just come to see how Heath is doin', the boys are all worried. We ain't heard nuthin' since yesterday and young Billy, he's takin' it real hard, thinkin' it's all his fault."

Victoria put down her cup and folded her hands in her lap, "Nick told me what happened. It was an accident and even though Nick wants to blame someone, I know Billy didn't do it intentionally."

The grizzled old man gave his grey head a negative shake, "no Ma'am, why that boy worships the ground Heath walks on. There ain't nothin' he wouldn't do for him."

Victoria reached out to lay her hand on his arm, "I'm sorry, how is he? We've been so preoccupied since yesterday, no one has had time to go see the men."

Charlie shrugged and said, "he hasn't had nuthin' but a bit of soup since yesterday, all he does is lay in his bunk and stare at the wall. The men are kinda blamin' him too I guess." He looked at the regal lady hopefully. "It sure would help if we knew Heath was gonna be all right."

"Doctor Merar feels that the worst is over, it will take a few weeks but he is optimistic that Heath will be all right in time." She felt a sudden relief at saying the words aloud ... Heath would be all right.

"That's good to hear Mrs. Barkley, I'll go tell the boys, they've been worried somethin' fierce." Charlie rose to leave and Victoria accompanied him to the door.

She paused for a moment in thought, "Charlie, I think I'll go over to the bunkhouse with you and have a talk with Billy. Would that be all right?"

"I'd appreciate that ma'am, that boy looks like he's lost his best friend."

"I'll go now, if you think the men won't mind?"

"I'll have them clear out for awhile till you're done."

She opened the door for him and said, "I'm just going up to check on Heath again, that will give you time to talk to the men. I'll be over in a few minutes."

"Thank you ma'am." Charlie tipped his hat and started for the bunkhouse.

The men were all sitting on the porch of the bunkhouse talking or having a smoke as Victoria approached and they straightened up and nodded respectfully as she pushed open the door and entered the large room. She could see Billy curled up on his bunk, the blanket pulled up around his ears.

Closing the door gently she made her way over and sat on the side of the small bunk then reached out and laid her hand on the thin shoulder to get his attention, "Billy, I want to talk to you."

He held his breath at the sound of her voice and thought, 'she must be here to yell at me for what happened, and I can't blame her. It's my fault it happened, she must hate me... I hate myself.' His whole body stiffened as she started to rub her hand up and down his arm.

"I know you're awake, now why don't you roll over and talk to me?" The voice was gently coaxing.

He pulled the blanket higher and shook his dark blond head.

"All right then, if you won't talk to me, I'll talk to you." She continued to rub his arm in a soothing manner. "You're not to blame for what happened. Do you understand me? It was an accident."

Again the head shook and he tried to shrug her hand off.

"Doctor Merar thinks Heath is going to be all right, it will just take some time."

The thin shoulders started to shake and a muffled sob escaped as the boy turned over and choked out, "It's all my fault, if I had of listened when he told me to get away from the corral, none of this would of happened. He must hate me."

A smile tugged at her mouth as she looked into the light green eyes that were awash in tears. She reached up and pushed back the blond hair that had fallen over his brow, "I think I know my son well enough, and while he might have thought so a couple of times in the past, I really don't think he's capable of hating anyone, especially you."

He wouldn't let it go, "but it's my fault. I should have known what was going to happen."

She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow, "did you do it on purpose?"

He let out a horrified gasp, "of course not ma'am, I would never do anything to hurt Heath." Fresh tears ran down the pale cheeks, "he's my friend!"

"So why would he hate you then?"

He dropped his head while he searched for another reason to condemn himself. He muttered into his chest, "Nick will hate me, I don't know why he hasn't told me to leave yet."

Victoria let out a small sigh, "Nick has a temper and right now he's very upset. Heath will talk to him when he's feeling better and he'll calm down, now don't you worry about it."

The green eyes searched her face, "but what if Nick tells me to leave?"

She gave his knee a reassuring pat, "Nick will do whatever his brother asks of him."

Billy wiped his shirt sleeve across his eyes and sniffed, "can I see him?"

She pushed him down and pulled the blanket over his shoulders as she stood, "not tonight, it's late and he's sleeping, maybe tomorrow. Now you get some rest, things will look brighter in the morning."

As she went out and closed the door, she stopped on the porch and her gaze raked over the men who had again straightened up. She might be small, but she commanded respect and they shuffled nervously as she addressed them in an authoritative voice,"as I've told Charlie, Doctor Merar thinks that Heath is going to recover. It will just take time. I don't want you men blaming the boy, it was an accident. Am I making myself clear?"

A chorus of "yes ma'am's" followed her statement.

"Good." She continued, "Nick will be staying up with Heath tonight, so Charlie will assign the work for tomorrow and Nick will be out later in the afternoon to talk to you." Her grey eyes softened and she smiled at them, "I want to thank all of you for your help yesterday... this mother is forever grateful. Goodnight."

Nick sat in the leather chair that was pulled up close to the bed and watched his brother sleep. 'He looks so peaceful when he sleeps', he thought, the pain medicine the doctor had finally decided to prescribe knocking Heath out for long stretches at a time while his body healed. The few times he did wake up, he was barely lucid.

It was two-thirty and the rest of the family had gone to bed hours before. Nick had slept for awhile and gotten up at eleven to take over from Audra who was out on her feet and Victoria and Jarrod had retired at the same time, exhausted but secure in the knowledge that Heath was out of danger and knowing Nick would call them if there was anything wrong.

The lamp on the night table was turned down low, casting shadows around the room and making it seem more cozy. Nick bent over, forearms resting on his thighs as he held Heath's right hand in both of his and absently played with the fingers. He had never noticed before how alike their hands were. He held Heath's against his own, they were the same size and shape, both large, long-fingered, work roughened hands.

He turned the hand over to rub his fingertips over the calluses at the base of each finger and across the palm, the same as the ones that covered his. His gaze travelled further and he let out a shuddering breath at the sight of the deep black and blue bruises on the wrists, bruises that these hands of his had made. He wrapped his fingers around Heath's and lifted them to rest against his lips.

It had just gone three-thirty when a small moan brought him upright in his chair and he leaned forward as his brother's eyes opened slightly and the raspy words croaked out, "Nick ... what happened?"

Nick answered in the softest voice any one had ever heard him use, "you tangled with a herd of wild horses and lost, don't you remember?"

Heath's blue eyes opened wider as memory came back and he bit back another groan, "oh yeah, I remember now... hurts Nick."

Nick let go of Heath's hand and reached for the pain medication sitting on the night table, "here, take some of this, it'll help."

He put his hand behind Heath's neck and helped him lift his head while he spooned some of the foul tasting liquid into his brother's mouth then poured a glass of water and held it to Heath's lips as he gulped it down. then gently eased the blond head back onto the pillow and replaced the spoon on the night table.

"Thanks Nick."

Nick moved closer and kept his voice low, "you sure do know how to scare a body Heath, didn't I just get through tellin' ya to be more careful?"

"I know, I'm sorry Nick." Heath turned his head a bit, to better see his brother.

His eyes lit with humor and Nick growled out in a gruff whisper, "SORRY!! SORRY!! You've gotta do better than that little brother 'cause I can't take much more of you gettin' hurt. Seems to me Doc Merar is out here all the time tending to you." He had to see that lop-sided grin to know Heath was going to be all right so he waved his hand in the air and continued, "why, you know that new buggy Doc has? He claims he paid for the whole thing from your doctor's bills alone!!"

Nick was rewarded when the smile appeared and a small laugh followed, "well, if he did, then you paid for the horse pullin' it, 'cause he's seen you almost as much as me."

His dark brows lowered in a scowl as Nick sought to regain the upper hand, "now hold on a minute there boy..."

The pain medication was starting to work and Heath's voice got stronger, "how many times has he had to patch you up after you got your head busted in a bar room brawl?"

The whisper increased in volume, "YOU WERE RIGHT THERE BESIDE ME IN MOST OF THEM!"

Heath eyed him in amazement, "you started them, I was just helpin' ya out!" He tried to move to a more comfortable position and held his breath when pain stabbed through his broken ribs.

Nick abandoned the argument and jumped up to sit on the bed and put his hand on the bare chest, "will you stop movin' around Heath, you're gonna' push those broken ribs right through your lungs." He pulled the blanket up a bit and fussed with it, his voice getting more gruff, "I swear you're gonna' be the death of me yet."

Heath smiled to himself, he knew Nick cared about him deeply. Oh, he didn't show it often in physical ways, as he himself didn't, a light touch, a pat on the back, the strong arm thrown across his shoulders, and now and then, if they had been apart for awhile, an exuberant hug. No, it wasn't the physical things that told him his brother cared, it was the look in the hazel eyes, the worry, concern and love were always there for anyone who cared enough to see. And Heath cared. He let out the breath he had been holding and caught his brothers eyes, "how bad Nick?"

Nick knew what he was asking and he gave a slight shrug, "bruises all over, three broken ribs, twenty stitches to close a gash in your leg, six for the one here," he reached up to touch the bandage above Heath's left eye, "and the best black eye I've ever seen."

The blond haired cowboy grinned and his drawl deepened, "better'n the one those Morton boys gave ya that time?"

Nick put a hand on each side of the bed, leaned over and scrutinized his brother's face, "well ... it is right close, but I think you've got me beat."

His smile faded and Heath searched Nick's eyes, "will I live?"

"'COURSE YOU'LL LIVE, WHAT KIND OF A QUESTION IS THAT??" He straightened up, looked at the door quickly, then turned back and lowered his voice, "now you close those eyes and go to sleep boy, you've been talking too much. I swear I haven't been able to get a word in edgewise!"

Anyone who knew them would have laughed out loud, Nick Barkley talked all the time, while Heath usually just listened, threw in the occasional comment and nodded now and then. Heath closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, a small smile curving his lips while his big brother kept watch over him.

Victoria had arisen just after six after having her best night's sleep in two days. The house was still quiet and she tied the sash of her pink wrap and made her way across the landing and down the hall to check on Heath. Nick hadn't woken them so she knew everything was still all right.

She pushed the door open quietly then stopped and wrapped her arms around herself as she leaned against the door jam. Jarrod heard her door open and came from his room down the hall to walk up behind her and place his hands on her small shoulders and she lifted a hand and pressed her fingers to her lips as tears welled in her eyes.

The early dawn light was spilling across the bed where Heath lay on his back. Beside him, lying curled on his right side with his arm thrown across his brothers stomach, Nick lay sleeping peacefully.

Jarrod dropped a kiss on her hair and Victoria reached up to pat his hand, "you go down, I'll be along shortly."

He bent and asked in a hushed tone, "are you all right?" At her slight nod, he gave her shoulders a little squeeze and reasurred her, "he's going to be fine Mother, don't worry."

She looked up into the deep blue eyes of this son who knew her so well and gave a small smile, "I know, I just ..."

He gave her another squeeze, "I'll go down and see if Silas has coffee started."

She nodded gratefully, he was so wise, this oldest son of hers. He knew she needed this time to be alone and just watch her two sons sleep. She slipped quietly across the room to pick up the extra blanket that had fallen on the floor and placed it gently over her middle son. He never moved as she brushed her hand lightly through his sleep tousled hair and dropped a fleeting kiss on his weathered cheek. She reached over him to run her fingers down her youngest sons cheek before bending over and pressing her lips to his forehead while the thought came unbidden to her mind, 'he looks so much like his father'. Her grey eyes teared up again, and she turned and made her way to the door where she paused to look back once more.

A contented warmth enveloped her. Nick had shifted in his sleep and his dark head was now resting on the pillow next to his brother's blond one.

Her eyes filled and a tear slipped out as she whispered, "thank you for them Tom."

It was close to ten-thirty before the two awoke. Nick rolled over and stretched, grumbling and muttering as he threw off the blanket and sat up. He leaned back on his arms and looked down at his brother. "Heath ... Heath ..." no response, "HEATH!"

Heath's eyes struggled open and he peered up at his grumpy brother, "WHAT!" His groggy voice was clearly annoyed.

"Wake up, it's late and ya haven't had your medicine," he raked a hand through his hair and swung his long legs off the bed, "besides that, I'm starving. Now wake up so I can get this stuff down ya."

He walked around the bed, sat down and poured the liquid onto a spoon, "open your mouth."

"No, it tastes awful." He gave Nick a defiant look, the black eye making the look even fiercer.

"You open your mouth boy or I'll open it for you." The scowl on Nick's face told him he better open his mouth.

Nick again lifted Heath's head as he gulped down water trying to rid his mouth of the bitter taste of the medicine. "All right, I'm gonna go get cleaned up." Nick started searching for the boots he had pulled off in the night, "I'll be back in a few minutes."

"I have to go too."

Nick sat on the bed and tugged the boots on, "you're in no shape to get out of that bed, you'll have to use the chamber pot," He pulled his pant legs down over his boots and looked at his brother, "I'll help ya."

At the look on Heath's face, Nick let out an exasperated sigh and growled, "how do ya think ya went for the last two days Heath?!!"

Heath shifted uncomfortably and muttered, "I don't remember that."

Nick stood up and threw his hands in the air, "of course not, ya were barely conscious most of the time."

Heath thought about it for a moment while he picked at the blanket covering his chest. Suddenly his eyes opened wide and he looked up in alarm, "Mother and Audra weren't here when...when...?"

Nick couldn't resist, he planted his fists on his hips, bent over a bit to look into the terrified eyes watching him and gave his brother an evil smile.

"Niiiiiickkkkk!!"

He straightened up and thought, 'I really shouldn't torment him this way, he is hurt after all, but that look on his face,' Nick smiled to himself, 'heh, heh, heh, that was priceless!'

He waved his hand at the wretched figure clutching the blanket, "oh calm down Heath, I was just funnin' with ya."

Heath shot him a dirty look, "that wasn't funny Nick, now help me up. I'm going to the bathroom if I have to crawl there."

"All right, all right, just wait till I get ya some pajama's," he raised a dark brow, "unless ya plan on walkin' there naked?"

At the quick negative shake of the blond head, he went over to the dresser in the corner and rummaged around until he found a pair of cotton pajama bottoms then brought them over and threw them on the chair by the bed.

"Ok, now let's think about this for a minute." He sat down and twisted sideways to assess the situation, "all right, here's what we'll do, you put your arms around my neck and I'll pull ya up. Now go slow, those ribs aren't gonna' take any sudden movements."

Heath hooked his arms around his brothers neck while Nick wrapped his around Heath's back. He pulled him slowly upright, then waited while Heath rested his head on his shoulder and panted against his neck, winded by the small exertion.

Nick rubbed his hand over his back, "you all right?"

He felt the quick nod against his neck as Heath's arms tightened a bit and his tired voice whispered, "I'm fine, just give me a second."

After some awkward maneuvering they finally managed to get Heath into the pajamas and were just getting ready to stand up and head for the door when it opened and Jarrod sauntered in.

He stopped at the foot of the bed with his fingers in the front pockets of his dark blue pants, tilted his head and with raised eyebrows inquired, "what are you two doing?"

Nick stood in front of Heath and indicated him with a wave of his hand, "he wants to go to the bathroom." He turned to look at Jarrod with narrowed eyes , he was wearing his, 'at home' clothes, "what are you doing home, I thought you had a case to work on?"

"I decided to take the day off."

He pondered the scene before him. Heath was sitting on the bed clad only in pajama bottoms, trembling with pain and fatigue. Nick stood in front of him, scowling down at the blond head, fists on his hips, clothes wrinkled from sleeping in them and his dark hair falling forward across his brow. Jarrods blue eyes twinkled and he pulled one hand out of his pocket and wagged a finger at them.

"Mother isn't going to like this."

Nick looked at him quickly, "Where is she?"

The fingers returned to his pocket. "I convinced her and Audra to go for a ride. They've been in here every hour checking on you two, they both needed to relax a bit and get out of the house."

"Well, she'll never know then, will she?"

Jarrod shoulders lifted in a slight shrug, "she's a mother, they always know."

"Well she won't this time, not unless you tell her." The statement came out as a question.

"Far be it for me to bring Mothers wrath down on your head Nick, I'm sure you'll manage that all by yourself."

Nick turned a scowl on him, "look counselor, are you gonna' help me here or not? If not, then go downstairs and read some of those dusty old law books of yours."

Jarrod pulled both hands out of his pockets and held them up, palms out, "all right Nick, all right, but when Mother asks who's idea this was, and she will, I'll be sure to tell her it was yours."

"Fine."

"Fine."

A weary voice issued forth from the bent blond head, "will you two please stop arguing, you're giving me a headache. Now, are you going to help me up or do I have to do it myself?"

Nick crouched down in front of him, "maybe this isn't such a good idea Heath."

"I'm fine, it's only a few feet away, now help me up."

Nick sat down beside him, draped Heath's right arm across his shoulders and put his left arm around the lean waist. "All right Heath, but go slow. Ya don't want to tear those stitches and start that leg bleeding again. Why, you've got so much of my blood in ya now, I expect you'll start acting like me soon." His tanned cheeks dimpled with pride, "another smilin' Nick Barkley."

Jarrod's deep blue eyes held an amused glint and he shook his head, "I shudder to think, one of you is more than enough, thank you."

Heath looked at Nick warily, "ya mean I'm gonna start hollerin' and yellin' and stompin' around?"

Nick's scowl deepened as he started to pull him up, "never mind about that, I've told ya before you're not funny Heath, now let's go before I change my mind." He reached up to grab the hand draped over his shoulder and grumbled under his breath, "I don't holler."

Both men rolled their eyes and looked at him in disbelief and he glared at them, "would you just help me out here Jarrod, he's heavy."

Jarrod gave a resigned sigh and moved around the bed to help Heath to his feet. Together they managed to get him to the bathroom where he insisted on washing and shaving also. Nick ended up having to sit him on the side of the tub and do it for him when Heath's hand holding the straight razor shook so much, Nick was afraid he would end up cutting his throat.

They had just gotten him back into his room when they heard footsteps coming down the hall. The light tread told them it was their mother and they hurriedly hustled their brother back into bed.

Nick adjusted the blankets then quickly sat in the chair by the bed. When Victoria entered the room she found him sitting with one ankle resting on his knee and his fist propped under his chin, a guilty look on his face while Jarrod was leaning against the window sill with his arms crossed looking innocent. Her eyes darted to her youngest son, the pain medication had started to work and he was having trouble keeping his eyes open. Her swift perusal took in the hectic color and fine sheen of sweat on his smooth face. The dampness at the top of the bandages around his chest, coupled with the faint scent of shaving cream, was enough to tell her what they had done.

She crossed the room and stood in front of her middle son, hands planted on her hips in a gesture that was oddly familiar, "what have you been up to?"

Nicks gaze darted over to his brother standing by the window. Jarrod shook his head and gave a little shrug, a small smile tugging at his mouth and Nick's eyes narrowed as he gave him a glare and thought 'hmmmm...no help there.' He lowered his leg to the floor and slouched lower in the seat, furtively searching for an answer.

"Nothing."

"Nicholas." Her grey eyes bored into his and he gave it up quickly, none of them could look their mother in the eye and lie.

"It was Heath's idea."

A low snort sounded from the direction of the window as Victoria turned to look at her youngest son. He had finally fallen asleep and the dark circles under his eyes told her of his exhaustion and pain.

She turned back to Nick and arched an eyebrow, "Heath's idea was it? So how did my son, who's barely conscious, manage to walk to the bathroom, wash and shave all by himself?"

"He made me." Nick squirmed deeper in the chair.

She dropped her arms and crossed them in front of her, "he made you? And you couldn't stop him? Is this what you're telling me Nick?"

Nick waved his hand at the exhausted figure in the bed and gave her a half-hearted grin, "he's a lot stronger than he looks."

Victoria drew in a deep breath and her voice rose, "I can't believe you would do something so idiotic Nick. Your brother is badly hurt and in a great deal of pain. He needs rest, he shouldn't be out of bed running all over the house."

Nick waved his hand back and forth, "he was hardly running Mother, it was more like being dragged."

"That will be enough Nick, I don't want to hear anymore."

She gave him one more angry look before sitting on the bed and placing her palm on Heath's forehead, checking for renewed fever after the mornings escapade. Satisfied no harm had been done she adjusted the covers and leaned over to place a light kiss on his flushed cheek and winced as her eyes travelled over his bruised face and chest. Even through the golden mat of hair, the bruises could be clearly seen, deep black, blue and purple extending up across his shoulder.

Nick heaved himself out of his chair, bent and placed a kiss on his mothers cheek, "I'm sorry for upsetting you, Mother." He shrugged and spread his hands, "I just can't say no to him."

She patted his hand where it rested on her shoulder, "I know dear, but we have to do what's best for Heath, all right?"

Jarrod had come over to stand at the foot of the bed, "I told him not to do it Mother, but you know Nick, he will be stubborn." He directed a smug smile at his brother who returned the look with a scowl.

Victoria stood up and glared at her oldest son, "you're as much to blame as Nick is. As a lawyer, I should think you would have been able to talk them out of this foolish idea. Never mind that you're the oldest and should know better."

She held her hand up to stop the protest before it could be uttered, "never mind Jarrod, perhaps you'll both be more responsible in the future. Now let's go down and have lunch, Audra's already eaten, so she can come upstairs and sit with Heath."

Her voice drifted over her shoulder as she made her way to the door, "oh, by the way, Doctor Merar will be here about five o'clock to check on Heath and change his bandages."

....Continued