Nick outstripped the wind hoping to the narrow the gap between he and the robbers. When it seemed he was following a dead end, he stopped and dismounted to check the hoof prints on the ground, which were practically non existent given the hard and dry soil. He mounted back and continued his search at a light amble until the tracks disappeared. Scanning around the area he noticed a small opening at the bottom of a hill half concealed by tree branches. He tethered Coco to a branch and with gun drawn, he proceeded circumspectly toward the entrance of what appeared to be an old abandoned mine.

As he neared the opening he felt a stinging sensation in the back of his skull. His world went black before hitting the ground with a loud thud.

“Garrett!” Zach shouted to his leader down the mine shaft. “Look what I found?” he motioned to the load he was bodily dragging behind him. “Caught ‘im snoopin’ ‘round. As I was patchin’ the hole.”

“I recognize ‘im from the bank.” Garrett pulled the hammer back on his gun and aimed at Nick’s head.

“No!” Heath yelled, slapping Garrett’s arm down. “Ain’t we got enough blood on our hands?”

“That scumbag saw us; he knows who we are.”

“So do half of California,” Heath rebuked. “We was once wanted robbers. Now ‘cause of your happy trigger finger, were killers. I can smell the posse ridin’ the wind lookin’ for us right now.”

“What d’ya expect me to do with him?”

“Let’s tie him up until we’re ready to split,” Sam suggested, glancing Heath’s way to seek his support.

“Sam’s right, Garrett. And when we get far enough we’ll let word back to his kin where to find him.”

“I say we finish him right here and bury the damn body,” Zach piped up as he made his way down the shaft to his companions after stuffing the mine entrance with thick-foliaged branches. “Why bother with a hostage?”

“Maybe we can get somethin’ out of him,” Sam pondered.

“Like what?”

“Money you dumb ass,” he sassed with a smirk that ruffled Zach’s feathers.

Zach stepped up to Sam with a scorching glare and, brushing the tip of his sharp twig underneath his chin, he warned. “Don’t ya ever call me that.”

“Guys, guys! Stop bein’ such bone heads and think!” Garrett summoned to order. “Maybe we could get a ransom for him, that is if he’s worth his weight in gold. Anybody knows who that fella is ?”

Heath hunched down beside the unconscious man sprawled on the ground to rummage through his pockets. “Found his wallet.” He handed it over to Garrett whose face instantly lit up in triumph. “Nick Barkley, the mother lode, boys,” he crowed with a cynical laugh.

“Garrett I say we just plumb forget ‘bout this idea and hightail it outta here b’fore they sniff us out,” a edgy Heath proposed, hoping the others would back him up but greed was running rampant and obviously overshadowing any commonsense.

“Who’s with me?” Garrett asked his cohorts who all grinned their agreement with a slight nod of the head. He then turned to Heath with threatening dark eyes that spoke of a certain demise should the young blond refuse to be a willing team player.

“Jake ya’re good with letters. Ya write the ransom note. Sam and Zach’ ll go set Mister Barkley in a nice comfy room in the back. We wouldn’t want our golden goose to run off b’fore she lays the loot,” he crowed, his eerie machiavellian laugh echoing through the walls, sending chills creeping down Heath’s spine. “Come on, Kid.” He shoved Heath onwards with a clap on the back. “Go help your elders.”

Once Heath was out of earshot, Jake stepped up to his cohort already relishing the ransom money that he hoped would bring his life of crime to an end. “Say Garrett, go easy on the kid. After all he did warn ya ‘bout that bank teller.”

“Yeah,” Garrett repented. “But what if I hadn’t pulled the trigger? D’ya think he would’ve?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

“Well he ain’t looked like he was gettin’ ready to. Look don’t get me wrong, I like Thomson, but he’s weak.”

“It’s just a kid. Docile like a dog to his master. Besides he’s the best darn sharp-shooter we’ve got.”

“I ain’t about to kick ‘im out but if he so much blinks the other way,” Garrett slid his gun out of its holster and with a murderous grin he aimed at the heap of rocks before him, “he’s dead.”

“All done, boss,” Zach proudly informed. “Barkley’s tied up real good. Me and Sam left Thomson back there to guard him.”

“Has Barkley come to?”

“Nah. He groaned some when we was tyin’ him but he ain’t awake.”

“Alright. Let’s go lay out a plan of action. I wanna hear your ideas.”

Young Heath Thomson sat on a flattened boulder with one arm resting on his bent knee and his head leaning against the wall when he heard a faint moan coming from the hostage. His right hand instinctively went for his gun lying next to him. He brushed his fingers against the shiny cold metal, standing at the ready to grab a hold of it at first sign of trouble.

Nick’s moans intensified into groans of pain as he grew aware of the throbbing headache that struck him. His heavy head swayed back and forth before coming to rest against the hard wooden shoring beam to which he was tied. “That’s some hangover,” he slurred, licking his dry lips and swallowing hard in order to better articulate. He blinked away the fog and dust in his eyes to focus on his surroundings. “Wait a minute. What the heck is this place?”

“Your hotel room for the time bein’. Sorry the accommodations ain’t up to your royal standards Mister Barkley,” Heath spewed with crushing cynism, “But it’s the best we can do.”

“We?”

“Me and my cohorts. Don’t ya remember?” Nick stared at him with a bemused expression. “The bank robbery in Rosedale?”

Nick’s addled mind rove back to the event still shrouded in a thick mist of confusion. “Shot.”

“That’s right. He would be alive if he hadn’t played hero for a lousy five hundred bucks.”

“Lousy to you maybe but to some that represents a lifetime of hard labour.” Heath didn’t flinch at the answer he considered typical of a rich man. To break the icy silence, Nick continued on a solemn tone, “What are you going to do with me?”

“Reckon we’re gonna let ya go once we get that ransom money.”

“Ransom money?” Nick huffed out a giggle, “Good luck, Kid.”

“Your family’ll fork over the dough if they want ya back alive.”

Nick cocked his head to better read the blond’s eyes that somehow didn’t mirror the words spoken so vehemently. “What’s your name again?”

“Why d’ya wanna know?” Heath replied indignantly.

“Well unless you prefer I keep calling you kid or boy.”

“It’s Heath.”

“Heath. Been with this bunch long?”

“Couple of years.”

“You don’t strike me as a bank robber.”

“Ya don’t strike me as a mama’s boy either so we’re even.”

“I’m not a mama’s boy,” Nick bellowed peevishly.

“All rich kids are spoiled brats,” Heath sassed back with steely eyes that spoke volume.

“I take it you’re not one of them?”

“Gee, ya’re very perceptive mister,” Heath scorned with a voice dripping with sarcasm. “I’m a bastard. The old man had a roll between the sheets with my mom one day and left her with child, never to be seen again. She could barely make ends meet and got sick all the time. She died when I was ten.” Nick frowned with concern at the young man’s wretched existence. He now had a better understanding of the reason that drove him to join up with the gang. “The guys are my family. I owe them for savin’ my sorry hide.”

“You’re showing your gratitude by robbing banks?”

“Enough outta ya Barkley. Clam up or I’m gonna put a bullet in ya,” he emphasized by thrusting his gun at Nick’s head.

“Alright. I’m shutting up, for…” Nick’s sentence was cut short by the distant rumbling heard above their head. Both looked up with fear in their eyes. As the roaring drew closer they both exchanged a look of doom; the terrified expressions conveying a finality that both were not ready to resign to. In this brief exchange, Nick picked up a glimpse of Heath’s true nature; one of a boy desperate to redeem himself. The desperation in Heath’s eyes tore at his heart moments before the ceiling came tumbling down.

An ominous silence ensued as the dust began to settle inside the ink-dark mine. Minutes wore on before a faint cough echoed amidst billowing rubbles.

“Hey Heath!” Nick managed to rasp out before his parched throat triggered a powerful coughing bout. After hacking his lungs out, he blinked open his eyes to try to adjust to the darkness but the stinging sensation prompted him to keep them close. “Heath!” he called out, perking up his ears to detect the tinniest moan. “Come on, Kid. If I made it, you did to. Come on, give me a sign. Heath!” Nick heaved the loudest sigh of relief at the weak groan he heard to his left. “Thank God. Where are you?”

“I…I don’t know,” Heath croaked out weakly.

“Can you move?”

“I think so.” With one sluggish push of the hand, Heath shoved the hindering debris off him and painfully crawled out of his death trap. “Where are ya?”

“Follow the sound of my voice.” Nick kept talking until he felt a hand grip his arm. “You got it.”

“Ya alright?”

“Yeah. Nothing broken.”

Heath reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a knife. “I’m gonna cut ya loose. Hold on.” He groped his way to Nick’s hands and once the rope severed, he slumped sideways onto the ground.

“Hey Heath, you’re still me, Kid?” Heath?” The alarming silence that answered him chilled him to the bone. He dropped on all four and crawled over to the insentient man. “Heath!” Nick felt Heath’s body for any possible broken bones before cradling him in his arms. He ran a hand through the blond’s damp hair and leaned closer to his ear. “Come on, Kid. You can’t leave me here all alone. I need your help to get out. Come on!” He pressed his ear against the blond’s chest to study the heartbeat while groping his neck for a pulse. He heaved a sigh of relief at the strong beat he felt underneath his fingers. “Come on Heath!” He coaxed, shaking the listless body lightly. “Come back. There’s no time to sleep. We’ve got to get out of here.” Come on!”

The last strong shake triggered a debilitating cough that nearly choked the life out of Heath. Nick gingerly lifted him into a sitting position, careful to ease….. his head against his shoulder. “Easy, Kid. Easy. Breathe slowly and deeply,” Nick coached calmly with one hand on Heath’s forehead and the second rubbing his back in a gentle circular motion. “That’s it. You’re doing fine.”

“We’re finished,” Heath heaved out dejectedly.

“No we’re not. We’re gonna get out of here.”

“How?” Heath coughed.

“I’m gonna lay you down on the ground for a sec while I go check out the damage. Will you be okay?”

“Yeah.” Heath winced at the searing pang radiating through his left side as Nick gingerly eased him down onto the pile of debris; the mere shift in weight causing him to gasp in pain. It had become increasingly difficult to breathe in the dust-swathed mist permeating the air of their death trap, but thankfully there were no sign of any fractured ribs. Heath laboured to sit but the pain convinced him otherwise. “Barkley, where are ya?”

“Right here. I think I found the opening of the shaft. There’s a bunch of rocks blocking it. I’ll see if I can shake some loose.” Nick huffed and puffed, groused and grunted; his efforts proving effective. Before long the wall of stones came tumbling down at his feet.

“Dammit!” Nick cursed.

“What’s the matter?”

“Threw a rock on my foot. Darn that hurts!” Once his pain lessened Nick scaled the wall of rocks and craned his neck to peer through the small opening, squinting to see what was on the other side. A distant flickering light filled him with hope that freedom was attainable. “Hey Heath! I think we can make it out.” He clawed at the piled stones to clear a wider passage for both men to squeeze through. Satisfied with the results he groped his way back to Heath. “Do you think you can make it out on your own, Kid?”

“I’ll try,” Heath wheezed out, The searing pang in his side was becoming increasingly unbearable but he would not allow Nick to see him weak and helpless. He tried heaving himself into a sitting position but this job proved tougher than he anticipated. He was glad for Nick’s immediate assistance, tough his pride forbade him to show any gratitude for the solicitude he believed was purely selfish on Nick Barkley’s part. But he was baffled as to why was he was taking time to help him out of the hellhole if Barkley only wanted to save his hide? This contradicted the dictates of his conscience that kept wheedle him into loathing the filthy rich man. Although he tried he couldn’t bring himself to resent Nick.

“Easy there, Heath. Here, lean on me for support.” Nick slung Heath’s arm over his shoulders, then took a firm hold of his waist to help him stride over the heap of rubbles strewn on the ground, and onwards through the opening. On the other side, Heath let himself slide to the ground as he waited for Nick to join him. Again, the blond leaned on the dark-haired as they drudged on towards the glimmering light.

“Oh God!” Heath quavered upon tripping over Zach’s body. “Is he dead?” Nick momentarily released his hold on Heath to squat down and check the man’s pulse.

“I’m afraid so. There’s another one beside him, also dead.”

Heath took one step forward and squinted to establish the identity of the second corpse. “That’s Sam. I wonder if Garrett and Jake are alright?”

“Do you really care?” Nick queried with an eyebrow raised in suspicion.

“F’course I do!” Heath retorted indignantly. “Told ya these guys are the closest thing to a family.”

“You can do better. You deserve better.”

“Oh really? Who says?” Heath scoffed with bitter sarcasm.

“Me.”

“Why d’ya care, heh? Ya don’t know me from Adam.”

“I just do.” Nick relished the prospect of guiding this lost soul on the righteous path now that the bad influences were no longer hindering the way. “Come on. Let me help you out. That bleeding wound will need some tending to.”

“I’ll be okay.”

“Sure you will,” Nick bluntly dismissed the statement and grabbed a hold of Heath’s waist. The young man tried to wrench himself free from the grip but the pain in his side convincing him to welcome the helping hand.

No sooner were they out of the mine coughing out the dust from their lungs and inhaling cleansing draughts of fresh air that the sheriff and his posse rode up. “Mister Barkley!” he called out as he leapt off his mount to hurry to the two dust-covered weary men. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. We’re fine now. I found your gang of bank robbers.” He motioned toward the mine. “They’re all in there.”

“Who is this?” the sheriff asked, puzzled as to the identity of the young man standing by him.

Heath flashed Nick a look of terror; his wild eyes begging not to give him away. “This is Heath. He’s one of our ranch hands. He came on the horse-buying trip with me,” Nick fibbed convincingly. “He caught up with me as I was following the gang. They knocked us both and tied us up in the mine. Then there was a cave in and luckily we both made out of there alive.”

“What about the others?”

“We stumbled on two corpses on our way out. The two others are either dead of still trapped.”

“We’ll take care of them.” The sheriff beckoned his men to search the premises.

“Sheriff, can you lend us a horse to get back into town? We’ll leave it at the livery.”

“Sure, take mine. I’ll ride double with of the men.”

“Thanks. If there’s anything you need, you know where to find me?”

“Sure. Barkley Ranch. I might get in touch with you to tie up loose ends.”

“No problem. Come on, Heath.” Nick assisted a wobbly Heath to the sheriff’s horse and gave him a light shove upwards into the saddle.

Heath flashed Nick a grateful lopsided grin. “Thanks Barkley. I ain’t rightly know why ya fibbed for me but know I ‘preciate it.”

“Don’t think I did it for free. You’re gonna have to pay for my continued silence.”

“What’s that?” Heath frowned with worry.

“You’re going to come back to Stockton with me.”

“Stockton? I don’t think so, chum,” Heath scoffed.

“Your choice. You either come with me or I tell the sheriff you were the fifth robber. I’m sure townsfolk in Rosedale will testify to that.”

“Barkley, I’m a wanted man. Not only in Rosedale but in a dozen other cities. If I wanna be free I’ve gotta head down to Mexico.”

“Sorry friend, you’re coming with me,” Nick argued forcibly, then on a more mellowed tone he added. “Just give it a chance, Kid.”

“Why d’ya care?”

Nick stopped to think and then shrugged. “Told you, I just do.”

“Sorry Barkley. No can do.” On that sour note, Heath turned his horse around and kicked him at a full gallop.

“Darned stupid kid!” Nick blasted between clenched teeth as he swung in the saddle with one fluid motion and spurred his mount to chase after Heath.

Half a mile down the road, Nick caught up with the runaway who was sitting on the ground holding his injured side. Nick leapt off his mount to go to his aid. “What happened?”

“My horse tripped on a rock and threw me.”

“Let me see that.” Nick started to lift Heath’s shirt to peek at the wound when the young man swatted his hand off.

“Leave me alone!” Heath groaned with smouldering eyes.

“Sorry, no deal.”

“You’re beginnin’ to get on my nerves.”

“It’s usually the other way around. People say I have a very short fuse when it comes to patience and understanding.” He grabbed the canteen hanging on the saddle pommel and poured some water onto his neck cloth to clean the wound.

“Then why are ya wastin’ your time on me?” Heath asked, then cringed at the pain caused by Nick’s ministrations.

“I somehow think you’re worth the trouble.”

Heath huffed out a chuckle. “Are ya in the habit of takin’ in strays?”

“Only the ones with cute faces and crooked grins,” Nick said winking at Heath; his witticism wringing a faint smile out of the blond.

“Ya don’t know what you’re gettin’ into.”

“Maybe I do. “ He dabbed at the last speck of dirt around the red swollen area and pulled down the shirt.” Hopefully that’ll stop the infection from spreading until I can get you to a doctor.”

“I told ya Barkley, no doctor.”

“That wound is rather deep. If infection sets in…”

“I might die,” Heath continued. “Good. The world’ll be better off without a rotten bastard like me.”

“Why are you so hard on yourself?”

“Because I’m trash.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“I don’t give a rat’s hole what you believe. Besides ya don’t know me.”

“But I’d like to.”

“Barkley, just leave me alone okay?” Heath lashed out with annoyance as he attempted to lift himself up. He reluctantly accepted Nick’s assistance in hoisting him to his wobbly legs. Barely was he standing up that his knees buckled. Thankfully Nick was beside him to prevent his fall. “I can do it by myself,” Heath groused, wrenching his arm free from Nick’s grip.

“Sure you can,” Nick humoured sarcastically. He took the sluggish man by the waist and gave him a leg up his horse, careful to clasps the rein so Heath wouldn’t take off as he did the last time. He then got on his mount and kicked it at a light amble towards Stockton.

During the journey home, Nick would glance back at Heath he saw swaying dangerously on his horse. He would stop and rest a bit when he figured Heath needed to catch his breath and have a drink of water. When it became obvious that the pain made it unbearable for Heath to sit alone in the saddle, Nick decided to ride double on his horse the rest of the way.

Nick couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling that he’d seen this young man somewhere before. As hard as he cudgelled his brain he couldn’t put a specific date or place to his hunch. Why did he care whether this boy lived or died? He was a perfect stranger who wouldn’t have hesitated in putting a bullet in him had he tried to hurt one of his cohorts, or would he? He strived to understand his strong need to protect this young troubled soul at all cost, even if it meant forsaking his own life in the process.

Nearing the five-mile mark from Stockton, Nick felt Heath go limp in his arms. He reined in his horse and shook him lightly to rouse him from his sleep. “Hey Heath! You’re still with me?” His answer came in the form of a faint moan. “Wanna stop for a spell?” He cocked his head sideways to read Heath’s expression. The puckered face was all he needed to see to know the boy needed a break.

Nick slid down his mount while keeping a hand on Heath’s waist to hold him in the saddle. Once his feet firmly on the ground he let the young man fall into his arms and carried him to a soft spot where he laid him on the ground. He returned to his horse to take a bedroll and the canteen. He then twisted open the lid on the container and held it to Heath’s lips. “Drink a few sips,” he asked, placing his hand in the back on the blond’s neck to assist him in drinking. Once the job done he eased his head back onto the bedroll. “Feel rotten, don’t you?”

“Some,” Heath breathed out. He swallowed hard and licked his parched lips. The constant battle to keeping his drooping eyelids open was wearing so thin that he felt like forfeiting and just allow darkness to draw its curtain on him. However Nick wouldn’t allow it. At first sign of sinking into the dark abyss, he would shake him back up to the light.

“Stay with me, Kid. We’re almost there. I figure about five more miles from Stockton.”

Heath forced his eyes open a slit to smile his gratitude at Nick but instead his face took on a terrorized expression when he caught sight of the cougar crouched on a flattened boulder poised ready to leap on them.

“Barkley, look out,” Heath managed to croak before he saw the cat lunge at them.

Nick barely had time to swirl on his heels that the ferocious beast dropped on him; his fangs tearing at the flesh as Nick struggled to push it off him. In a rush of adrenalin, Heath ignored his own searing pain to leap to his feet and grab a large rock that he crashed against the cat’s skull, killing it instantly. With one swift motion he shoved the limp carcass off Nick whose face was distorted in agony.

“Barkley it’s over. It’s dead. Lemme see the damage.”

“I’m okay,” Nick heaved out, trying to catch his breath.

“Sure ya are,” Heath replied sarcastically. “I seem to recall someone sayin’ the same when the shoe was on the other foot,” Heath teased as he carefully peeled up the remaining shreds of the bloodstained shirt.

“So you admit it?” Nick smiled triumphantly but Heath willingly chose to ignore his jubilation. “Thanks Heath. I owe you one.”

“That makes us even. Now will ya lemme go?”

“No deal.”

Heath grunted. “Do I gotta to kill ya to get rid of ya?”

“Maybe. You could have easily let that cat do the job but you didn’t. Why is that?”

Heath shrugged, not knowing how to answer that question. “I reckon I didn’t want it to get indigestion.”

“You know you’re not funny. Thanks just the same, Kid. Come on, let’s press on. Seems we both need a doctor now.” With Heath’s assistance Nick staggered to his feet. He stopped to clap the young blond on the back to show his utmost gratitude before, in turn, he helped Heath get into the saddle.

...Continued