Four hours into their silent journey, Heath and Nick pulled up their respective team of horses and helped their wives down from the wagons.

"Thank you." Mercy softly uttered as Heath put his hands around her waist and helped her down. It was their first physical contact since the brief kiss she had hurriedly shared with him at their wedding.

"You're welcome," he said. He caught a good look at her face for the first time and noticed the hint of a blush start to creep across her cheeks. He began to regret that he hadn't spoken to her all through the journey. This situation wasn't her fault. She was a victim just as much as he was, perhaps even more so. He could tell her pride had been hurt by what had happened, forced as she was to marry a man she didn't even know. He gave her an understanding smile and was rewarded with a shy one back. It lit up her pretty face and he noticed for the first time that she had deep violet eyes. She shivered and he realized that she must be cold.

"Here, let's get a fire started. Can you and Emmie rustle up some food? We'll stop for an hour and then travel until sunset before making camp for the night."

"Mr Barkley..I mean... "

"Heath, my name is Heath."

"Heath."

"My Pa ain't a bad man, he just goes about things differently that's all."

"He forced you into marriage, didn't he? I never knew my father but it seems a strange way of showing someone that you love them."

He was about to move away when she stopped him.

"He does loves us Mr Barkley and no matter what he is our Pa. I'm your wife but I'll be wanting to see him and for him to see his grandchildren. I'll not deprive him of that."

Heath gave her a lop-sided smile and a questioning look.

"Like I said, the name's Heath. Okay Mercy, you can see your father but as far as children are concerned, I think you and me got a certain bridge to cross before that happens."

Mercy crimsoned immediately realizing what she had said. She had mentioned children and yet she didn't even know if this man wanted to stay married to her. He had every right to get the marriage annulled, especially since they hadn't.... she couldn't even bring herself to say the words. What if he didn't want her? What would she do then? She couldn't go back to her father then. Shamed into getting a husband there'd be even more shame in going back without one. And yet, he'd never mentioned annulling the marriage, his talk had been of the future, of visits to her father and crossing a certain bridge before having children. She watched him busy himself making a fire. Could it be possible that he would want to keep her as his wife after all?

Later that day they made camp for the night. The girls made the supper and Nick and Heath finally got a chance to speak to each other away from their wives.

"So you and Mercy... last night... ya?"

"Nope," said Heath bluntly. "What about you?"

"Well......"

"Ahh Nick, you did, didn't ya?"

"Well it wasn't so much me as her, Heath!"

"It takes two, Brother, there wasn't anybody else in that room was there?"

"Thing is Heath, it kinda makes an annulment difficult now, or d'ya think Jarrod can get me outta this? You'll be okay, considering...."

Heath gave him a look that said "Don't even go there."

"Do ya want to get outta of it Nick?"

"Why, of course, don't you?"

"Maybe, maybe not."

"I just thought you said you and she.... you didn't...."

"Ain't got nothing to do with it Nick. I mean think about it, think about them."

"I'm trying not to. Ah Heath, we got two girls back home waiting for us to take them to the town social on Saturday. What are we going to look like turning up on our dates with our wives? Dammit man, what's mother going to say? And don't think Jarrod will let us off lightly either. I can just see him now. Dammit Heath, we're going to be the laughing stock of err... Stockton. I won't be able to show my face in the saloon for weeks, neither will you."

"Look Nick, let's not think on it now. We've got three days before we get home. A lot can happen in three days."

"That's what I'm worried about. Hey, how about you and me bedding down in one wagon and Emmie and Mercy bedding down in the other? You don't know what she's like Heath. I need protection."

"Ya on your own, brother. Try having a word with her."

"She ain't interested in words Heath."

"You'd be surprised Nick. Tell her you want to take sometime out courtin' her first and getting to know her. Could be she might want to do the same."

"Hey, I'm wanting outta of this marriage, you're digging me in deeper."

"Nick, you did your own digging last night, I'm just trying to help you dig your way out."

Later that night both brothers retired to their wagons.

In the close quarters of the wagon, Heath and Mercy prepared to get ready for bed.

"I'll just step outside and let you get changed." Heath said gallantly. "Don't worry about what your father said this morning, I'll sleep outside tonight, I'll just get my bedroll."

"But you'll be cold. Don't do that. There's room for us both in here. We can still keep our distance." She blushed slightly with embarrassment.

"Only if you're sure. It ain't no problem for me to sleep outside."

"I'm sure."

"Then I'll let you get changed. I'll fetch you some water from the fire so you can wash."

Heath jumped down from the wagon and drew a pail of heated water from the fire which he poured into a tin basin. Mercy thanked him as he handed it up to her and then she drew the flaps of the wagon down for privacy whilst she got changed.

Heath walked away a short distance and pulled out a cigarette. As he lit it he turned for a moment and caught sight of the wagon. The oil lamp burning inside silhouetted the figure of his wife undressing. Good manners made him look away but the man in him drew his eyes back as he watched the graceful way Mercy stripped to the waist and then wash herself from the bowl, the movements of both accentuating the fineness of her figure and made complete by the slow movement of her toweling herself dry. He knew he shouldn't have watched but he was drawn to the silhouette of his wife like a moth to a lamp. This was going to be a tough night.

It was about one in the morning and Nick pulled the blanket round him and moved over to the fire. He was surprised to see Heath sleeping there.

"Heath, you asleep?"

"Yes," came back the reply.

"How long have you been here?"

"I don't know Nick, I'm sleeping."

"Heath?"

"About an hour."

"How come?" said Nick, nursing a cup of coffee, it wasn't fresh but it was hot and that's all that mattered.

"Got things on my mind."

"Did Mercy throw you out?"

"Nope..... Let's just say I threw myself out. Wagons are pretty confined spaces."

"But didn't you and Mercy sleep in the same bed the other night?"

"Slept yea, things were different tonight."

"Oh I see."

"No, I don't think you do."

"You mean you didn't."

"Nope."

"Then why are you out here?"

"'Cos I wanted to."

"Didn't she?"

"She doesn't know."

"Ah, tough one brother. Tough one."

"Anyway, why are you out here? Didn't you have that talk with Emmie?"

"You're looking at the results right now."

"It went that well, did it? Must be that old charm of yours Nick."

"Funny. Very funny. She accused me of not loving her anymore."

"And what did you say?"

"Told her I didn't love her in the first place."

"That always works."

"I told her that I wanted to take sometime to get to know her and for her to get to know me, for us to take it nice and slow at first."

"What did she say?"

"Heath, I've discovered Emmie's got two speeds and slow isn't one of them."

"You could teach her. Didn't say it would be easy, Nick."

"Heath, why am I listening to you? You ain't exactly perfecting this marriage business yourself at the moment."

"Cos I'm your brother Nick and 'cos I don't say much but when I do I've got something to say. Only fools choose not to listen."

"Ah, you heard that did you Heath?" Nick remembered the words he had spoken to old man Prescott describing his brother.

"Yea Nick, I heard. Thanks by the way."

"Well it's true."

"Nick?"

"Yea."

"Let's get some sleep."

The journey home continued and the familiar terrain of home came into view. They were on Barkley land at last, every inch of it known by these two brothers. If Emmie and Mercy were ever to fear a rival they were looking at it right now for in many ways Nick and Heath were married to the land. It was in their blood and neither could be away from it too long.

Emmie and Mercy peered out of the back of the wagon. The valley was rich, unlike their own father's spread which had grown barren in parts.

"Mercy, look how big this place is! These Barkleys must be rich."

"What does that matter Emmie? It ain't riches we're after."

"No, but it doesn't hurt either."

"Emmie, I thought you loved Nick."

"Oh I do Mercy, I do, but a girl can like pretty things too. Besides....."

"Besides what?"

"He's told me he doesn't love me. I kicked him out of the wagon last night."

"But Emmie, how he can he love you right now? He's only just met you. You know nothing about each other yet."

"I know he likes me but he doesn't want to like me that way again until we know each other better."

"Makes sense, I think it's real sweet. He wants to court you Emmie, you should be flattered."

"I should?"

"Emmie, think about it, he was threatened at gunpoint to marry you, where can love find a foothold in that? But these men are different, Emmie. They could have ditched us as soon as we'd left Pa's, even at that town we just passed through an hour ago, or the town before that. But they didn't. I'm not sure why. Put your silly girlish notions aside, Emmie. If you want to keep your husband, you're going to have work harder. You're going to have leave a little space between you and him so that love can take root."

"Is that what you're doing Mercy?"

"Heath Barkley is an intriguing man Emmie."

"Handsome too," Emmie saw Mercy blush.

"He's an enigma Emmie, I don't know how to read him quite yet. I can't tell if he likes me or is just being kind but I do know I can trust him and that's a quality I prize above anything."

"You're in love with him, ain't you Mercy?" Mercy blushed again.

"Haven't you been listening, Emmie? I said love needs space to grow."

"If you say so Mercy, if you say so."

"Just run that by me again, will you Nick?"

"Ah, Jarrod you heard me."

"No, no I'm not sure I did."

"Heath and I got married, satisfied."

"To each other? This'll take some explaining to, Mother."

"No, to the girls upstairs."

Jarrod turned around to pour his brothers a drink. As he did so he let the smile break free which he'd been desperately trying to hold in. He was going to enjoy this. Thank God Mother was away at the moment. Maybe he could sort this out before she got home. He only had two days but he could make a start. In the meantime he was going to make his brothers squirm. He put his smile away and returned with the drinks.

"Nick, Heath why don't you start from the beginning."

Jarrod sat on the edge of his desk with his arms folded across his chest as he listened to Nick tell the brother's story. He lost count of the times he had wanted to laugh out loud as Nick recounted each more fantastical part of the tale. He could tell Nick was scrutinizing him closely watching for the telltale signs of a laugh or a glib remark to emerge, but Jarrod wasn't a lawyer for nothing. He knew how to maintain a lawyer's composure, now would be too soon his instincts told him. If he wanted to have fun with his brothers, this joke couldn't be played out too soon. It had to be nurtured and helped along, it couldn't be rushed. And what a joke it was turning out to be, two brothers leave to buy horses and get hogtied and married instead.

Only half-satisfied that Jarrod wasn't laughing Nick continued his story irritated by the way Jarrod kept interrupting to add, "Yes, I see, Nick." "Really?" and "she locked the door? Well, of course Nick, I can see how that would make all the difference." Nick was seething at the situation and yet as he looked about him he appeared to be the only Barkley concerned.

He detected the hint of smugness on Jarrod's face, he couldn't prove it but he knew it was there, and as for Heath, his fellow victim in this, well he seemed content with his situation, so much so that he was sitting casually back in his chair nursing a shot of Jarrod's best whisky as if he didn't have a care in the world.

"Heath, don't you have something to say about this?" Nick said exasperated. "I mean I ain't the only Barkley married to a Prescott here."

"No, but you're the only one complaining about it."

"My point exactly."

"We just have different opinions on the matter Nick, that's all."

"So are you happy with your own situation Heath?" said Jarrod letting his own amusement drop for a minute to take on a more serious tone.

"Can't honestly say that at the moment Jarrod. All I know is I don't need a lawyer just yet. Of course Nick here, well he's a different matter. Never known a man so itching for a divorce the minute he said "I do." Mind you he showed a funny way of going about it. I reckon Emmie's growing on him in more ways than one."

"Why, you!" Nick yelled as he threw a book at his younger brother. Jarrod looked on in despair as his prized first edition flew though the air, missing the blond cowboy by inches and connecting with the far wall instead.

"Nick, did you have to do that?"

"Ah, Heath's alright."

"No, I mean the book."

"Huh?"

"The book!"

"Aw, I'll get you another one. You've got plenty of books, look we've got more serious business here. Right now there are two women upstairs getting real comfortable with being called Mrs Barkley. Oh, and thank you for showing them to our rooms Jarrod, that was real considerate of you too. Just where do you think me and Heath will be sleeping tonight?"

"Well it ain't proved a problem for you so far Nick," Heath answered for Jarrod, "you and Emmie seem to get on mighty fine so long as you keep to one subject. It's when you try and talk to each other you get into trouble."

"Hah! And just who was it who got me to do that? Talk to her you said, explain you want to take it slow. Well so much for slow, now I'm overdue for the divorce."

"I was just trying to help."

"Well don't try so hard next time. You'll exhaust yourself brother and have to lie down."

Jarrod didn't know how he held on to his laugh. In his heart he knew concern should have be the order of the day, even anger at what his brothers had been put through. Joking aside, they had been kidnapped and threatened at gunpoint too. Jarrod knew all these facts and yet, at this safe distance, knowing that they were now safe, it just seemed absurdly funny. So adroitly had Nick and Heath side-stepped marriage these last two years, Jarrod felt that he should at least shake the hand of the man who had finally outsmarted them. For all Nick's indignation Jarrod found it hard to believe that this old man Prescott would have really used his guns on them. Unconventional he might be but none of his brother's words so far had made him out to be a ruthless killer.

His lawyer's mind tried to work out the problem. What had possessed his brothers not to fight back? He looked at them now as Nick finished the story. Both of them over 6' and powerfully built and both possessed with enough charm to talk themselves out of any trouble. It simply didn't add up. Now he had one brother itching to get out of a marriage who possibly couldn't and another who more than likely could but probably wouldn't. What was he to make of his brothers' absurd situation? His brothers' dilemma.

Nick couldn't sit still. He was a bundle of nervous energy. Jarrod recognized the signs all too well. If ever there was a reluctant husband Nick filled those shoes.

Nick brought his fist down on the table.

"Dammit Jarrod, haven't you been listening? So? Whatcha think? Do you think you can you fix it?" He looked again at Heath for support but received a return look that said: "You're on your own with this one, big brother."

Nick now started to drum his fingers on Jarrod's new writing desk. Jarrod wasn't impressed.

"Good job I'm not paying you by the hour Jarrod, I'd been finding me a new lawyer real soon."

"I'm thinking Nick, a good lawyer needs time to think."

"Nick?"

"I'm still here, I ain't gone away."

"Nick, you clearly want out of this marriage."

"Do the good people of Stockton and Frisco really pay you for this advice? Yes," he said emphatically, "I want out of this marriage."

Jarrod ignored the barb.

"But certain facts you bring to my attention make the position for an annulment rather complicated."

"Certain facts?"

"Sit back, will you? I want to ask you a few questions."

"I am sat back."

"Nick, you're like a lion ready to pounce. Sit back, this'll take a while yet."

"Oh, okay then, right I'm sat back, now ask away. Anything, just get me outta this marriage."

Jarrod got up from his chair and paced the room in his best lawyer mode, forcing Nick's eyes to follow him as he walked from one side of the room to the other. Heath was impressed and waited for what was coming.

"In deciding if a marriage constitutes sufficient grounds for an annulment Nick, certain facts need to be established. I'm afraid these questions can get rather personal."

"Get on with it Jarrod. Do your worst."

"Okay Nick, first question. "Did you or your wife... Emmie not know what was happening during the marriage for reasons of insanity, mental illness or lack of consciousness?"

"Well I sure wish I had been unconscious, might have saved me a whole heap of trouble but no I guess we all knew what was happening. The gun in my back kinda helped."

"The answer’s no, then?"

"That's what I said."

"Okay, next question. Did you or your wife?"

"Stop calling her my wife."

"Nick, we have to accept that at the moment Emmie is your wife, can I continue?"

Nick gave Jarrod a withering look.

"As I was saying, did you or your wife intend to marry an individual who was not the person you married?"

"Huh?"

"He means did you intend to marry someone else, you know like Suzy?" Heath interjected, refilling his whisky glass and enjoying seeing his brother squirm. He knew exactly what Jarrod was doing and was grateful he wasn't the center of the lawyer's attack, well not yet, anyway."

"Well Suzy and I do like each other." Nick thought of the pretty brunette he was supposed to be taking to the dance on Saturday.

"Did you ever propose to her?" Heath said.

"No."

"Answer's no then, next question," said Heath downing his glass as soon as he had finished his words.

"Hey, when did you suddenly become the lawyer?"

Jarrod watched the exchange between the two younger brothers. "Can I continue counselor?" Heath raised his glass to the lawyer and gave his assent.

"Okay Nick, now this next question's kinda personal but I gotta ask it... where you or Emmie unable to hmm....fulfill the obligations of marriage because of a .... hmm... physical disorder or other condition?"

Heath sat bolt upright waiting for his brother's response, satisfied that Nick's face was crimsoning by the second.

"You mean in the bedroom department?" Nick blustered, he looked at Heath. "Well, I didn't hear any complaints, unlike others I could mention."

"Touché brother but I'm not the one seeking a divorce. Mighta been better for you if you had," shot back Heath.

Jarrod watched two strained smiles exchange between his two brothers. This was going to be a long night, he thought.

He wondered what the ladies were doing upstairs. He'd only just met them but he liked them already. How much fun he thought if he helped them to secure their position as wives rather than help his brothers to insecure them instead.

...Continued