“How’s it look?” asked Nick, his brother still wrapped in his arms.

Jarrod finished wrapping the gash on the leg before answering. “I think I got all the wood pieces out and as long as the bleeding doesn’t start again, he should be fine Nick.”

Sighing, Nick smiled into the eyes of Pappy and leaned his head back against the wall. Closing his eyes, he suddenly reopened them and stared at the box.

“Jarrod, what about the box?”

Looking over at the metal container, Jarrod said, “Heath can decide what he wants to do with it when he wakes up. It may not matter to him now.”

“Yeah.” sighed Nick staring down into the pale face in his arms. “It sure as hell doesn’t matter to me. I’m just glad he’s here with us.”

Taking Heath’s top half of his slack body out of Nick’s arm, Jarrod laid him on the floor and covered him with a blanket, placing his head on a rolled up jacket. “Nick, you better get some sleep.”

Yawning, Nick nodded and lay down with a groan. His shoulder hurt like hell, the pain a throbbing but his heart was lighter than it had been in weeks. Smiling gratefully when Jarrod covered him with a blanket, he closed his eyes and was quickly claimed by sleep.

Staring at his younger brothers, Jarrod wiped a hand over his weary face and leaned up against the wall close to Heath, prepared in case the youngest of them woke in terror. Shivering when he recalled the voice and look on Heath’s face in the midst of his nightmare, Jarrod reached over and ran his fingers lightly through the blonde hair.

His eyes teared and his mind apologized for their Father’s lack of knowledge which left the gentle man in an environment that created the nightmares.

Heath mumbled in spanish and turned his head away, causing the watchful blue eyes to sparkle with amusement remembering the blonde’s reflex welcoming of Eugene three weeks ago.

Closing his eyes, Jarrod let his lighter thoughts lead him into sleep.

Jarrod Barkley was ready for the sun to rise in the east.
Jarrod Barkley was ready for whatever the new dawning of the day would bring.
Jarrod Barkley was ready for the challenges of a new day.
Jarrod Barkley was ready for accept the ride as the world spun again.
Jarrod Barkley was enveloped in the warmth and love of the brotherhood of the Barkley family.
Jarrod Barkley was whole again.

Time has a way of passing in a manner which is quick as a rattler’s strike, fast as a lightning bolt streaking across the sky, faster than a hummingbird’s wing. It takes your breath away when you think of how rapid time passes.

Sixty seconds in a minute. Sixty minutes in a hour. Twenty four hours in a day. Seven days in a week. Fifty two weeks in a year.

It hadn’t been fifty two weeks since the ride from Strawberry to Stockton. It hadn’t been fifty two weeks since the brothers found the secret box hidden in the floor of the childhood home of one Heath Thomson Barkley.

It’d only been three weeks.

To Victoria, Audra and Jarrod, they would have sworn it’d been ten or twenty weeks since the return of Heath to the family fold.

It’d only been three weeks and the fireworks were still exploding all around them.

It’d only been three weeks of a living hell for the rest of the crew and family on the ranch.

The daily battles being waged between the two had thrown everyone into a tail spin. They watched the two men struggle against each other, fighting the battle of wills. The sight before them reminiscent of the battles caused by Heath’s arrival to the ranch to claim his heritage.

At the secluded training area, Duke dismounted and unnoticed, walked over to the corral to watch Heath work a new stallion. The day was giving way to night and the foreman knew this was where he’d find the normally calm, level-headed Barkley son. The blonde was working longer into the night, seemingly to avoid the battles occurring on a daily basis.

Heath’s thoughts wandered as he worked with the new horse, his mind trying to wrap around the reason for the battles he found himself fighting again with his dark haired brother. Inwardly chastising himself, Heath knew he had been reacting to Nick’s actions instead of trying to find out the underlying reason for his brother’s actions.

He had to stop and take the bull by the horns to find out why or they’d end up ripping each other apart. Shaking his head, he realized his mistake a split second right before someone shouted.

The stallion bided his time and lashed out at the moment of opportunity provided to him by the lack of concentration of the man. His hoof found it’s mark and caused the man to be flung back into the corral posts and slide to the ground. Standing to finish the job, his hooves met with dirt when another man reached through the corral opening and took his target away.

Duke’s frantic grab of the blue shirt and yank of the blonde boss through the opening of the corral bars left his heart pounding wildly in his chest. Turning the blonde onto his back, he cursed at the blood flowing from the gash in the blonde hair.

Ripping his shirttail, Duke held the cloth onto the wound and studied the face of his unconscious boss. His pleas to Heath to open his eyes were unanswered.

Tying the cloth around the wound, he dragged the young man over to his horse. Untying Charger and wrapping the reins around the saddlehorn, Duke lifted Heath into the saddle of his horse and climbed up behind him. Heading towards the ranch base, anger flew through him and his jaw clenched in fury.

Grooming Coco, Nick hands worked over the horse, cringing at the anger inside of him he was directing at his little brother. Jarrod was right he was pushing away the very man they’d fought so hard for over the past few months.

Nick couldn’t answer the question as to why when his older brother demanded to know. He didn’t understand it himself. Ever since the whole nightmare was put behind them, he’d been treating Heath like he did when he first arrived.

Jarrod’s statement of how much did he think Heath would take before he left caused Nick to panic. He spent the afternoon on Lookout Point trying to ascertain the reason behind his uncalled for actions. He spent the afternoon in the very spot his little brother first handed him a small token of trust so long ago and revealed his nightmares.

Currying the horse, Nick’s heart fluttered at the sudden blow to his stomach and queasy feeling of unrest. Frowning, he couldn’t understand the reason for it. Patting Coco one last time on the neck, he left the stall and stopped at the empty stall signifying his little brother was still out working. His hours of work getting longer as the battles continued.

Shaking his head, Nick knew he needed to sit down with the blonde and figure out what was happening between them. Sighing, he only hoped he wasn’t too late and Heath would give him another chance.

Leaving the barn, Nick stopped at the front door and hollered into the house at the sight of the men riding double with Charger trailing behind.

Stopping in front of the white columned house, Duke saw the black leathered gloved hands reaching up towards the still man in front of him and snarled, “DON’T TOUCH HIM, NICK BARKLEY. THIS IS ALL YOUR DAMN FAULT!”

The fury in the shouted words from the long-time Barkley foreman stopped the gloved hands a mere inch away from their intended target, the shock reflected in the hazel eyes staring upwards.

Jarrod was just as stunned at the fury in the shouted words from the Barkley foreman. Moving forward, he gently pulled Nick out of the way and reached up for his injured brother. Duke handed Heath down to Jarrod and helped the attorney carry the unconscious man upstairs and lay him on the bed.

Audra rushed to get the items her Mother requested. Victoria sat on the side of the bed and untied the knot in the cloth around her son’s head, her stomach turning at the amount of blood flowing from the wound when she lifted the blood soaked padded cloth away.

Coming out of his shock, Nick shouted for Ciego to get Dr. Merar and followed the others up the staircase. Standing in the doorway to Heath’s room, Nick’s face reflected his anguish at the sight of his still brother.

“Has Heath been awake at all Duke?” asked Victoria.

“No, Mrs. Barkley. He hasn’t uttered a sound.” informed the foreman.

“Duke, what happened?” asked Jarrod watching his mother inspecting the damage.

From the other side of the bed, Duke glanced towards Nick standing by the doorway and keeping his eyes on the man, replied quietly, “Heath was at the training center working with the new stallion. I think he lost his concentration for a second and he caught a hoof. It pushed him back against the corral rails and he slid to the ground. I was able to pull him out before the stallion finished the job.”

The realization of the reason for Heath’s lack of concentration and his near death encounter weakened Nick’s knees and he fell back against the wall. His breath was coming in gasps when Jarrod grabbed him by the arms. His blue eyes filled with worry at the whiteness of Nick’s face. “Nick?”

“I nearly killed him.” whispered Nick in torment. “I could’ve killed my brother.”

The anguish in Nick’s voice shook everyone in the room and turned Heath’s head to the side slightly, his eyes moved beneath his lids.

“Nick, get a hold of yourself.” stated Jarrod firmly giving his brother a slight shaking. “We need to concentrate on Heath now. We’ll discuss this later.”

Duke walked over and stood by the side of the brothers, “Nick, I was scared and worried about Heath but I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”

Nick shook his head, “You had every right, Duke. Thank god you were there. You saved his life and you have our gratitude. We’ll let you know how he’s doing.”

Duke nodded and squeezed his boss’ shoulder before leaving the room and heading back outside to take care of the horses.

Victoria saw the signs of Heath trying to wake and caressed his cheek, “Heath, open your eyes sweetheart. Come on, let’s see your eyes.”

Gathering around the bed, the rest of the family held their breath as Heath struggled to come from where he’d been sent. His head moved slightly and his eyes moved beneath their lids. With a moan of pain, the fight to wake stopped and he went limp, all movement ceasing.

“HEATH!” startled Nick grabbing a hand laying on the bed, concerned at the limpness in it.

“He’s breathing, Nick. He’ll be okay.” assured Victoria seeing her words work through the fear in the hazel eyes, however, not taking it from her own heart.

“Nick, let’s go downstairs and wait for Dr. Merar.” requested Jarrod softly trying to pull Nick away from the bed.

“NO!” growled Nick pulling his sleeve out of Jarrod’s hold. “Leave me alone, Jarrod. I’m staying here with my little brother!”

“LITTLE BROTHER?” screamed Audra furiously. “HOW DARE YOU CALL HIM THAT NICHOLAS BARKLEY? HOW DARE YOU! AFTER THE WAY YOU’VE TREATED HEATH THESE PAST WEEKS!”

“AUDRA!” snapped Victoria silencing the girl’s outburst. “That will be enough!”

Clasping a hand over her mouth to stop her sob, Audra nodded and turned into Jarrod’s arms, her tears running down her face. Nick had stepped backwards from the bed at his sister’s furious words, the truth of them ringing in his ears. Turning quickly, he mumbled he was going to wait for Dr. Merar and left the room.

Victoria sighed and shook her head in resignation of the discord between the siblings. Her face broke into a small relieved smile when she saw the flow of blood had stopped. Jarrod calmed down Audra and smiled slightly into the gray eyes before following Nick’s trail of escape.

Nick sat on the bottom step of the staircase, his head held in his hands, trembling with worry. Sitting beside him, Jarrod put an arm over the quaking shoulders.

“Nick, he’ll be fine. Heath’s got a hard head.” teased Jarrod quietly.

Shaking his head in denial, Nick couldn’t hold back the tears spilling from his eyes. “I’ve been so awful to him lately. I was just so mad I couldn’t figure out why and I took it out on Heath. He didn’t deserve that and now look what happened.”

“It’s both your faults, Nick. Yours and Heath’s.” replied Jarrod.

“WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN? IT’S NOT HIS FAULT – IT’S MINE!” shouted Nick angrily, hazel eyes sending bolts of anger into the cool blue ones.

Jarrod said firmly, “Heath is a grown man and a rancher, Nick. He’s worked with horses all his life. He knew the risks of getting into a corral with a wild horse. He knows better than to not pay attention when he’s in there. Yes, you were the cause of his lack of concentration because of your treatment of him lately. So, in conclusion, you are both to blame for what’s happened today.”

Staring into the face of his older brother, Nick said quietly, “You know I really don’t like lawyers.”

“I know, Nick.” smiled Jarrod tenderly pulling Nick into his arms and holding on tightly. “Let’s go see our brother. You two will have plenty of time to straighten everything out.”

Wiping his face, Nick sighed and turned to ascend the stairs when a knock sounded at the front door. Heading across the foyer, he sighed with relief at the sight of Dr. Merar and all three men climbed the staircase to the bedroom.

Victoria stood up and relinquished her place by the bedside to the family physician. Smiling at his old friend, Howard squeezed her arm and set his bag on the bedside table.

“Victoria, any waking or blood from his ears?” inquired the physician leaning over the bed.

“No blood from his ears. He started to come around, then moaned and went limp.” informed Victoria receiving a nod from the physician who was busy probing the gash with his skilled fingers.

“I’d say about twenty stitches will be needed to close the wound. Some ice will help with this goose egg he’s got.” said Howard nonchalantly, his words loud in the quiet room.

“He’s awfully pale.” whispered Nick earning a sideways glance from the family physician at the softness in Nick’s voice.

Howard smiled, “He’s lost blood, Nick. That’s why he’s so pale.”

Nick nodded and turned his eyes back to the pale face laying on the bed.

“Jarrod, can you close the curtains? Nick, help me lift Heath up so I can put some pillows behind him. I don’t want him lying flat on his back with the blood loss. It’ll be harder for him to wake up.”

The men rushed to do their appointed tasks while the physician took out his stethoscope and listened to Heath’s heart. Nick took a post by the bedside. Jarrod moved back to encase his mother and sister in his strong arms.

The room was darkened considerably by the closing of the curtain and opening the left eyelid, Howard moved a candle back and forth. He repeated the same procedure with the right eye and frowned slightly. Closing the eye, he waited a minute and repeated his action.

“Howard, something wrong?” asked Victoria

“Unequal pupil size. That’s common with a concussion, Victoria.” assured Howard taking his needle and silk out of the black bag. “Audra, please have Silas bring me more water. Nick, you can open the curtains.”

Howard bit his lip to stop the wide smile which threatened to break out on his face from the mother grizzly bear mentality of the loud and brass Nick Barkley. Opening the curtains, Nick hurried back to the bedside and maintained his protective stance over his unaware brother.

Thanking Silas for the water placed on the bedside table, Howard delicately cleaned the area of the wound before closing the opening. Placing a pad over the wound, he wrapped a bandage around the blonde head.

Putting his instruments away, he leaned over and called to the younger man while tapping his cheek with his fingers. “Wake up! It’s Dr. Merar.”

Everyone watched carefully for any sign of waking from the physician’s words. Not receiving a response to the gentle taps and his calls, Howard pinched the tanned cheek. Opening his mouth, Nick started to protest the action when a soft moan was heard in the room.

“That’s it. Open your eyes now.” ordered Howard loudly. “Wake up!”

Heath slowly lifted a hand to push the fingers tapping his cheek away. His hand was pulled away and held as he struggled to open his eyes. The momentous undertaking had him slipping back into the darkness until he felt another pinch on his cheek.

Howard could feel the irritation and agitation flowing through his patient each time he pinched his cheek. After the third time, the physician was rewarded with a snarled ‘don’t’ and a pained moan.

“OPEN YOUR EYES!” shouted Howard firmly, his tone letting Heath know he was not going to stop until he responded.

Slowly opening his eyes, Heath regretted letting the pinches wake him when his stomach revolted from the dizziness and blurred vision. Howard quickly turned Heath onto his side to let the contents of the man’s stomach evade him into a basin Nick held.

When the heaving ceased, Howard wiped the sweaty face and laid Heath back. “How many fingers?”

Heath blinked slowly, his eyes looking at the physician with confusion, unable to hear the words from the ringing in his ears.

Biting back a groan, Heath mumbled, “Ears…ringing.”

“HOW MANY FINGERS?” shouted Howard holding up one finger in front of the dazed eyes.

Barely able to keep his eyes open, Heath’s face scrunched up in pain, “Three.”

“Head…hurts” muttered Heath reaching his hand upwards towards the source of pain.

Grabbing hold of the slow reaching hand, Howard smiled at the dazed glare he earned from the blonde and shouted, “DON’T TOUCH YOUR HEAD! WHAT’S YOUR NAME?”

“Heath.” Whispered the blonde unable to escape the pain in his head, only wanting to close his eyes and sleep.

“YOUR WHOLE NAME, HEATH?” shouted Howard patiently, not quite sure why all the members of the family seemed to be holding their breath waiting for the reply.

“Thomson.” Whispered Heath blinking his eyes again. “Barkley.”

Nick’s eyes closed briefly in prayer before he grabbed hold of the hand closest to him and held it between his two larger hands. Howard watched the eyes move slowly to the side at the new physical contact.

“Nick…brothers?” asked Heath before his eyes closed and he lost the strength to stay awake.

Nick bit back a sob, his fingers caressed the pale cheek and he called into the closest ear, “Damn right we’re brothers, Heath!”

A week passed before Heath could be awake without feeling the effects of nausea and dizziness. The ringing in his ears diminished though headaches were still plaguing him. The prescription for a concussed rancher was rest and headache powder.

Heath opened his eyes, relieved the dizziness in fact appeared to be finally gone. Each time he’d opened his eyes, Nick was there. No matter what time of the day or how long in between he slept, Nick greeted him each time. This time was no different.

Nick grinned as the blue orbs looked over and saw him. “Morning.”

Smiling slightly, Heath wiped a hand over his face. “Morning already?”

Chuckling, Nick nodded. Heath saw the same look in the hazel eyes, when his vision cleared over the past week, each time he woke up. Sighing, he pushed himself to a sitting position and leaned his head back onto the headboard.

“Alright, out with it.”

“Out with what?” asked Nick.

“Out with what’s put the angry guilty look in your eyes.” stated Heath firmly staring into the hazel eyes. “Does it have anything to do with what was going on before I got the horse beating?”

“Horse beating?” puzzled Nick at the phrase.

Smirking, Heath replied, “I got beat up by a horse. He had a wicked right or so Duke said.”

Rolling his eyes, Nick snorted, “A wicked right. Boy, sometimes your humor leaves a lot to be desired.”

“I suppose.” admitted Heath quietly. “Nick, when we came back from Strawberry did I do something wrong?”

Shaking his head, Nick sat on the bed and fiddled with the edge of the blanket. “No, you didn’t do anything wrong. It’s what I did or didn’t do.”

“What’s that, Nick?”

Taking a deep breath, Nick’s voice trembled slightly. “I had a nightmare that you needed me and were calling out for me, Heath. It happened two days before you were taken from the bank. I rushed into your room and it took me a minute to remember you were in Pine Crest. I should have acted on it and I didn’t.”

Tilting his head slightly, Heath squinted in confusion, “I know I’ve been concussed, but Nick that don’t make any sense. What were you supposed to do? Ride to Pine Crest that night? It’d have taken you three days by horse. It was just a bad dream, Nick.”

“No, it wasn’t. I knew you were hurt or gonna be hurt. I’m your big brother. I should have been able to do something! I could have sent a wire to warn you. Then your uncle wouldn’t have taken and almost killed you!”

“What would you have said in the wire Nick without sounding crazy? You couldn’t have prevented anything that happened. Hell, I was there and if I had moved faster, none of it would’ve happened.” explained Heath patiently. “That can’t be the only thing that’s eating at you, Nick. What else?”

Heath watched the gambit of emotions run across the strong face of his brother, his eyes widened at the biting of the lower lip.

“Nick?”

Clearing his throat, Nick shook his head and looked away. “When we were looking for proof of your mother and our father, I was so damn scared we wouldn’t find it. It terrified me we were gonna lose you if we didn’t find it.”

“And?” prompted Heath quietly.

“I was so relieved when we found the box. Then when you said we were brothers bound by our souls, well, I felt the weight of the world was taken off my shoulders. But after we came back, I was so angry and I didn’t know why. I knew I was hurting you, but I just couldn’t stop it.”

Heath queried, “Did you figure it out, Nick?”

“Yeah. The day you were hurt, I spent the afternoon at Lookout Point trying to figure out why I was angry.” admitted Nick jumping up from the bed and pacing the room as the anger started to rise again.

“Tell me, Nick.” stated Heath seeing the agitation flowing through the larger man. “NICK, TELL ME!”

Clenching his fists, Nick’s words came tumbling out, his emotions blazing in his hazel eyes.

“How could you have even considered walking away from us? Away from the family? It’d have been the third time you’d have done it to us? To me! I can’t believe you were willing to give up on all we’d been through and meant to each other!”

“JUST LIKE THAT” shouted Nick with a snap of his fingers, “YOU’D HAVE LEFT AS QUICK AS THAT! HOW COULD WE HAVE MEANT SO LITTLE TO YOU THAT YOU’D GIVE US UP?”

“You’re right, Nick. I would have given up everything and while it would’ve killed me inside, I’d have done it.” admitted Heath watching the disbelief showing on the tanned face.

“Yes, I would have left and it would have been the wrong thing to do. Nick at the time everything in my life felt like a lie. Between Uncle Matt, the nightmares, the doubt and the shock of finding out mama been married before, I couldn’t think straight. I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was causing you so much torment, Nick. Leaving everyone behind would have been the worst thing I’d have ever faced in my life and I don’t think I’d have survived it had I done it.”

Wiping his hands over his face, Nick took a deep breath and sat back on the bed. “I just kept thinking how easily you’d have given us up like we meant nothing to you. It was really pissing me off.”

Chuckling Heath nodded, “Yeah, so I gathered, big brother.”

The grin on Nick’s face faded and seriousness took over, “What about the box? What are you going to do with it?”

Turning his head, Heath stared at the small unopened container laying on top of his dresser in the same spot since their return from Strawberry.

“Nick, I understand family means more than sharing the same blood. It means sharing good things, bad things, weaknesses, strengths, caring for each other, helping each other.” said Heath softly, tearing his eyes from the rusted box and stared into the hazel eyes. “I know you’re with me every step of the way. Everytime I look at that box, I wonder.”

Nick sat on the bed and nodded, “What if it has something in it, well, something you may not like.”

Sighing, Heath wiped his eyes and leaned his head back. “Everytime Mother is in here, her eyes are drawn to it. She has some of the same questions I have. Questions we need answers to. I don’t know if the answers are in the box but I’m willing to do whatever I can to lay my questions, but more important is laying Mother’s questions to rest.”

Nick inwardly smiled at the undisclosed love in Heath’s eyes for the Barkley matriarch. He was her son in every sense of the word and she, his Mother. Heath would do anything for his Mother and she would do anything for her son.

Reaching over, Nick squeezed the back of Heath’s neck and tenderly smiled, “I want you to know I’m a lucky man to have you as a brother.”

Surprised at the emotion in the hazel eyes, Heath turned crimson. “I think we both made out on this deal, brother Nick.”

Chuckling, Nick wrapped the blonde in a hug and patted his back. “Horse beating, huh?”

Snickering, Heath nodded. “Good thing it wasn’t more than one round.”

....Continued