...Continued
Adam looked back over his shoulder; the men were gaining on them. He knew they were in trouble, they couldn’t outrun them like this and there was no place to hide. The boy was trembling in his hands as Adam searched the tree line for a spot to take cover when a shot rang out. He felt a searing pain envelope his lower left back and side. “God it hurts to breath,” he whispered as the blackness overcame him.
Jessie heard the shot and felt the man go limp against his back. “No, No!” he screamed as they went tumbling off the horse together. He hit the ground hard on his left side, blinding pain screamed up at him as his left collarbone broke with a thick cracking sound. As he lay on the ground cradling his left arm he heard them approaching. He tried to open his eyes but they wouldn’t obey, everything seemed to be getting further and further away from him. Just before he blacked out he felt someone grab his shirt lifting him up, “Welcome back Boy!” A shudder pasted through Jessie’s body as he listened to Matt’s evil greeting before the blackness over took him.
He awoke in a world of pain, it felt as though someone was turning a knife around and around inside his shoulder. He realized his hands were once again tied and that he was back under the wagon tarp. The wagon was moving, but how long had he been in here he wondered. Tears started falling down his cheeks, “they had him, and he didn’t get away after all. But where was the man who had tried to help him, what was his name again…Adam, yes it was Adam.” Jessie felt he knew the answer to his own question; they would have killed him that he was sure of.
The wagon’s motion came to a stop and Jessie heard footsteps approaching the rear of the wagon.
“Leave him be for now Matt,” called Hank. “He’s not going any where for a while,” he laughed.
“I guess I could use a drink before the fun begins,” joked Matt.
“Come on, I’m buying, or should I say the Barkley’s are buying!” joked Hank, “Jarrod Barkley that is. This is one shipment of whiskey that’ll never be delivered.”
“Oh how I enjoy stealing from the rich, they sure do have good taste in whiskey,” laughed Marcus as he joined Matt and Hank.
“Matt did you have to cut up that boy’s suit so bad, I was hoping to get me a new suit.” Laughed Dan.
“And just what would you want with a suit! Even with that fancy suit you couldn’t pass for a gentleman,” added Henry.
“At least I’d have a better chance picking up women with the suit than I would if I hung around you,” Dan said pointing at Henry. “You could wash up in the creek every once and a while, maybe that way the women wouldn’t smell ya before you even enter the saloon!” Dan laughed.
“I may smell but at least I aren’t as butt ugly as you!” Henry snapped at Dan as he walked away from the group towards the cabin slapping is butt check.
“You guys sound like a bunch of babbling old women, let’s go drink some of this fine whiskey,” commanded Hank as he strode off towards the cabin.
Jessie could hear them walking away from the wagon, maybe things wouldn’t be as bad as he had feared. But deep down inside he knew that was just wishful thinking, they had liquor, and that spelled only one thing in Jessie’s mind, trouble. Things could turn ugly fast when those men were drinking and he knew that first hand.
Jessie awoke to the sound of horses riding up next to the wagon, “how long have I been asleep,” he wondered. He ached all over and his entire left arm felt as if it were on fire, but the rest of him was so cold.
“Come on Sam, let’s get in there and get some of that whiskey before those drunks drink it all.”
“I’m right behind you Dave,” replied Sam as he walked up towards the cabin.
Entering the cabin Dave and Sam found the rest of the gang sitting around the table playing cards. There were four or five empty whiskey bottles littered around on the floor.
“So what did you boys find out,” questioned Hank.
“We waited just outside of Emerald like you said for about four hours, we didn’t see any activity at all,” replied Same. “Doesn’t look like we’ll have any trouble.”
“Good, I don’t need any more trouble.” Replied Hank.
“Did you find the boy Hank?” asked Dave.
“Yeah, him and another play toy for Matt,” laughed Marcus sipping his whiskey.
Dave looked at him a little puzzled by the remark. “The boy made it out to the road and found himself a ride,” Hank remarked to Dave, “But they didn’t get far.”
“What’d ya do with them?” asked Dave as he looked around the cabin.
“The boy’s out in the back of the wagon and the fellow’s tied up out back……….waiting,” smiled Hank as he winked towards Matt.
“Yeah waiting for me to teach them a thing or two, about pain that is,” laughed Matt as he ran his fingers up and down his knife.
“Almost makes me feel sorry for them…almost,” choked out Marcus through bits of laughter.
“Come on boys, let’s go get reacquainted with our guests,” snickered Matt as he walked towards the door.
“Remember what we talked about Matt,” Hank warned. “I wanna keep that boy alive, but make sure he never pulls this little stunt again.”
“No problem boss,” Matt smiled, “I’m going to enjoy this!”
They were coming; Jessie heard them, him, laughing as they walked out of the cabin. He couldn’t help himself as he started to tremble, he was coming… the tarp was pulled back roughly and Jessie saw him, Matt, staring down at him with those cold black eyes. Even though night had fallen, with the full moon he could see quite clearly. The moon seemed to be reflected in Matt’s eyes, making them appear as though they could swallow him hole.
Matt grabbed his legs and pulled him towards the back of the wagon, Jessie let out a sharp cry as the motion caused intense pain in his injured shoulder. He felt his legs come over the edge of the wagon; Matt grabbed his right arm and sat him up. Jessie felt sick to his stomach as the pain from his shoulder increased with each movement.
“Get on your feet boy!” shouted Matt as he pulled Jessie from the wagon. “You got a friend waiting for you.”
As Jessie was pulled to his feet in front of Matt, he lost the battle that was raging in his stomach and threw up all over Matt’s boots.
“You little bastard!” shouted Matt as he punched Jessie in the face causing him to topple over backwards in the dirt. “I’m going to kill you!” he shouted as he started to kick the boy.
“Cut it out Matt, you remember what Hank said,” Marcus spoke as he pushed Matt away from the boy. “Besides you can’t have any fun with him if he’s dead.”
“Oh I’m going to have fun with him alright!” Matt replied angrily as he dragged the boy’s unconscious body by the arm towards the back of the cabin.
He could hear screaming, but who was screaming and where was it coming from? He had to open his eyes but it was so hard, everything hurt. It was an effort just to even breath but he had to see what was happening, he had to help if he could. The moment he opened his eyes he wished he was blind; there hanging by his wrists from a tree was Adam. Adam was the one screaming, Matt was using his knife on him, carefully pealing his skin off. There was blood everywhere, “how could someone lose that much blood and still be alive,” he wondered. Now he heard someone else screaming too, it took him a moment to realize the other voice was his own.
Hearing the boy scream Hank walked over and grabbed the boy by the hair. “See what you did!” he spat in Jessie’s face. “You killed him! Your stupidity cost that man his life!”
“No, no, no…you…Matt…killed…. him,” he wept.
He brought the boy up closer to his face, “Not us boy, you! If you hadn’t disobeyed me that man would still be alive now! You see boy it’s all your fault! You killed him! You killed him!”
Hank could see the blank expression on the boys bruised and battered face, they had won, the boy was now theirs to use his will broken.
Jessie stared back at Hank, “it was my fault, all my fault! He’s going to die because of me, because of what I did! He tried to help me and now he’s going to die! How could I have been so stupid! It’s all my fault! It should be me and not him! I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sor”… It was too much for him to take and the world started to spin before his eyes, as the blackness over took him all he heard were Adam’s screams.
Tears rolled down his cheeks as he remembered that awful day, that was the day he realized there was no way to get away from these awful men.
They had been traveling most of the day before Jessie felt the wagon come to a stop.
“Come on boy, get things set there’s some hungry, hot and tired men out here,” Hank stated as he pulled the wagon’s tarp back.
Jessie got down and began the familiar process of setting up the camp for the men. “How many times have I done this now,” he wondered. He knew he needed to speed things up a little but his body was sore from riding cramped up in the back of the wagon all day and it just wouldn’t move as fast as he would like it to.
Matt looked over at the boy damn he was slow! So what if Hank felt they needed him to cook and clean for them, he was sick of the kid. “I know how to make him move a little faster,” snickered Matt.
Jessie heard someone coming up behind him, turning around he found himself staring directly into Matt’s dead eyes. He immediately dropped his eyes to the ground, he knew if he looked into those eyes he would go insane, just like the man behind them.
“Your awful slow today boy, I think you’re in need of a little motivation,” snickered Matt eying the boys down caste gaze. Grabbing his chin he forced the boy to look up at him, “what’s the matter boy, cat got your tongue?” He didn’t need to hear and answer from the boy; he saw everything he needed to see in his eyes. The boy was terrified of him, he laughed out loud at the boy and shoved him in the chest.
Jessie fell backwards in the dirt biting his tongue; he quickly got back on his feet and continued setting up the camp tears falling down his face. “If I get back to work, maybe he’ll leave me alone,” thought Jessie.
“Oh this is fun!” thought Matt as he unsheathed his knife. He walked up behind the boy and poked him in the back with the tip of his knife. “Let’s go boy, faster!” he laughed as he continued to taunt and poke Jessie with his knife.
Jessie was really scared; Matt was poking him in the back with the dreaded knife and forcing him around the camp. He knew Matt wasn’t sticking the knife in very deep but Jessie could feel the blood running down his back. He was beginning to wonder, to hope, that Matt would take things to far this time when he heard Hank yell at Matt.
“Damn it Matt!” Yelled Hank as he walked towards them. “How many times do I have to tell you to leave the boy alone!”
“I was just trying to get him to move a little faster is all.”
The puncture wounds weren’t very deep but he didn’t think the boy would be sleeping on his back any time soon. “What’s the matter with you boy, you know how Matt is why did you go and anger him?”
Jessie looked down at the ground, there was no way to answer Hank, it didn’t matter what ever he did Matt would still torture him he enjoyed it.
“Well hurry up and finish then stay out a Matt’s sight,” Hank barked as he walked away.
Jessie was numb; he had actually hoped Matt would end it all for him a few moments ago. He actually wished Matt had killed him, “my God” he thought, “I’m so sorry I just miss them so much and I just can’t find any other way out God. Please help me…
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Heath Barkley sat by the fire stirring a pot of his famous beans. “Boy Howdy!” He thought, “This sure has been one long trip.” Nick and Heath had departed the comforts of the ranch almost three weeks ago on a cattle-buying trip. The trip had started out just fine, the weather had been pleasant and the boys were both in good spirits, the string of stagecoach robberies the area had been experiencing had stopped for a while, and both brothers loved being out on the trail together. But it seemed to Heath that the moment they entered Bakersfield things started to change and they weren’t for the better.
“Come on Heath, I need you there to help me take a look at the cattle.” Nick Barkley spoke as he patted his younger brother on the shoulder.
“Since when do you need my help picking out cattle?” his younger brother grinned up at him. “I’m the one who knows about horses, remember,” He added as he walked off towards the house smiling.
“You don’t expect me to make this big of a decision without discussing it with someone first do you?” Nick stated as he walked along side his brother. “Besides this is as much my ranch as it is yours.”
“I know that Nick, you also know I trust your judgment completely. You don’t have to ask my permission.”
“All right, all right, let’s just say I wanted to take a road trip with my little brother here,” Nick joked as he put his arm around Heaths shoulder.
“Now that’s more like it,” joked Heath as the two walked into the house together.
“Good evening Mr. Nick, evening Mr. Heath,” greeted Silas as they walked in the front door. “Super will be on the table shortly, he added as he took their hats.
“Thanks Silas, we’ll be down just as soon as we clean off all this dust,” Heath replied as he swatted at the dust on his shirt.
“First dibs on the tub little brother!” Nick yelled as he pushed past Heath and ran up the stairs.
“I swear that boy will never grow up Mr. Heath,” Silas shook his head and smiled, “he’s been running up those stairs since he was a little boy always trying to get ahead of somebody.”
“Its Ok Silas its kind a nice seeing some of the things I missed out on growing up in Strawberry. Makes me feel like I was actually here sometimes, I can just picture him chasing Jarrod or Audra up those very stairs.”
Silas watched as Heath walked up the stairs to his room, that boy was something special; it was nice seeing him finally at ease with his new family. Silas hoped that with time more and more of his past would become just that, part of the past. The boy was slowly letting his past lose its hold on the present, and for that Silas was thankful.
During dinner that evening Nick told the family about his and Heath’s up coming trip to Bakersfield to look at a small herd of cattle for sale at the Lockford’s Cattle Ranch.
“Now what’s so special about this herd of cattle that has you going all the way to Bakersfield might I ask, brother Nick,” inquired Jarrod while cutting away at his steak.
“Well if you really want to know, big brother, these are Texas Longhorn Cattle. I’ve been meaning to take a look at them to see if they'd make a good addition to our stock,” replied Nick looking at his brother waiting for his next remark.
“And what benefit would there be in doing just that?” asked Jarrod as he smiled and winked at Heath.
Heath could see Nick becoming more and more agitated with his older brother. Jarrod loved teasing Nick just as much as Heath did, and poor Nick never stood a chance against either one of them.
“Well since you’re giving me the third degree, these cattle are a little larger than our own cattle and travel better too,” replied Nick staring at his brother as if daring him to say something negative about them.
“Won’t these cattle eat more food Nick, since they’re bigger and all?” chimed in Heath smiling at Jarrod.
“What! Now you too!” yelled Nick pounding his fist on the table.
“Well it would only make sense that they would need more grain, Nick, good question Heath,” Jarrod remarked holding back his laughter.
Audra sat back and watched the banter taking place between her brothers, once again Heath and Jarrod had Nick just where they wanted him. It amazed Audra at the ease in which her two older brothers could rile Nick and she wanted to join in. After all hadn’t Nick teased her for years, she was only more than happy to have the chance to repay him.
“You know Nick, with the cost of grain rising every year do you think bringing bigger cattle onto the ranch is wise?” she asked in her best sweet and innocent voice while pinching her leg trying not to laugh at the expression on his face.
“Since when do you know anything about feed prices young lady!” bellowed Nick throwing his napkin down on the table as he pushed his chair back and stood up.
That was all Jarrod, Heath, and Audra could take, all three burst out laughing at their poor brother. Nick sat back down in a huff and stared at his siblings, but then even he had to smile and shake his head.
“Well maybe now we can enjoy what’s left of our dinner in peace,” replied Victoria as she smiled at her children. This caused all four of the siblings to laugh once again.
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The next morning saw the pair off on their trip. Jarrod had work to do in Stockton for a few weeks so he agreed to keep an eye on things around the ranch for them until their return. The boys felt better knowing that Jarrod would be around the ranch to help look after Audra and mother.
As they rode through the countryside each brother was lost in a world of his own thoughts. Nick was thinking about what a fine addition to the ranch the new cattle would be. He had wanted to expand the cattle business for some time now and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to him. With Heath’s help the ranch had really begun to grow, funny Nick thought, it was hard to remember a time when Heath hadn’t been there with them.
Nick couldn’t think of a better man to share the duties of the ranch with, Heath loved the ranch just as much as Nick did. The pair seemed to compliment one another quite well, Nick was as out spoken as he was hot tempered but he was a born leader and the ranch hands would do anything for him. Heath on the other hand was quiet and reflective; he always thought things through before taking action or speaking. He was also the best horse trainer Nick had ever seen, why Heath was more at home with horses than he was with people.
Heath was riding along daydreaming about Anna Holden, seems he had been daydreaming about her a lot lately. Audra had introduced Heath to Anna at a fundraiser for the orphanage three months ago, seems Anna had just moved to the area from Boston after finishing college. Audra really didn’t think Heath would be interested in Anna since she was from the east and really knew nothing about the west, she was hoping Jarrod might find Anna intriguing maybe enough to marry one day.
Being a gentleman Heath asked her to dance, he was a little nervous at first afraid she might be another one of his sisters chatty friends and he would spend the rest of the evening listening to her babble on and on about her shoes, her hair ribbons, or some other nonsense. But that wasn’t the case at all, Anna had directed her questions at Heath by asking him his likes and dislikes. Heath was amazed, this woman never seemed to talk about herself at all and she seemed genuinely interested in his answers to her questions. She never dug to deep with her questions but kept them mainly directed towards the ranch and some of the activities that he enjoyed. This intrigued Heath; he felt at ease with this woman, it was the first time in a long time he’d felt this way. He definitely wanted to get to know Miss Anna Holden a little better.
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The brothers took their time traveling down to Bakersfield, neither one had been away from the ranch for a while now and it felt good getting away for a little time together. Nick loved taking trips with his little brother it was on such trips that he had learned so much about Heath’s hard childhood. Heath had begun to open up more and more about his life before coming to live with them, but Nick felt there was still more that he was holding back. He was secretly hoping that Heath might open up once again to him on this trip, the more Heath opened up the better Nick hoped he would feel. The change in Heath over the last two years had been remarkable, oh he was still tight lipped and that frustrated Nick at times but the boy was finally starting to feel that he belonged really belonged. And now there was a woman in his life, Heath never talked about her much but then again Heath never talked much anyhow.
Nick had watched his brother talk to the young woman quite a few times, he could tell by the way Heath carried himself that he was falling for the pretty young gal. Nick also thought the young woman was falling for her brother too, she had such a sparkle in her eyes when she was around Heath. They’d make a great couple he thought as he looked over at his brother riding next to him on Charger.
“How about stopping and catching us some supper,” asked Nick as he started to pull back on CoCo’s reins.
“I thought you wanted to make it into Bakersfield tonight?” replied Heath as he brought Charger to a halt.
“We’ll get there first thing in the morning, no hurry really. I just wanted to spend another night out under the stars, looks like it’s going to be a warm one too,” replied Nick as he jumped down off his horse.
“It sure has been getting warmer these last few days. I’d rather spend the night out here instead of some stuffy hotel room too,” Heath said smiling at his brother. “I’ll tend to the horses and you get the fishing equipment ready, I’ll meet you by the creek in a few minutes.” With that said Heath led the horses over to a clump of trees by the side of the road and began unsaddling them.
Heath finished unsaddling the horses and gave them a quick brushing and rub down; leaving the horses to munch on the soft grass he began looking for Nick. It didn’t take him long at all to spot his brother, Heath watched as Nick ran and jumped around in the tall grass chasing something. Heath smiled to himself and thought, “that brother of mine may just be the biggest kid I’ve ever seen,” he laughed.
Looking up Nick noticed his little brother watching him and laughing, “What are you laughing at, boy?” he questioned.
“Oh nothing Nick, I was just standing here thinking that your just about the biggest darn kid I’ve ever seen is all?” replied Heath laughing even harder.
“I suppose you think your really funny now don’t you little brother!” Nick shouted back. “Now why don’t you get over here and help me catch some of these crickets to use as bait, I would like to eat sometime tonight.” He added as he resumed his chase.
Laughing and shaking his head Heath walked through the tall grass towards Nick. Once they’d captured quite a few crickets the pair made their way to the edge of the creek. Casting their lines in the water Heath reminded Nick that he should keep his voice down while fishing so as to not scare away the fish.
“I know that!” shouted Nick as he looked at his brother sternly.
“See what I mean, you probably just scared all the fish in a half mile radius away,” chuckled Heath.
“Well maybe I should just shove you in the water so you can check for yourself now,” shouted Nick as he stepped towards his little brother.
Retreating backwards a little, Heath gave Nick his lopsided grin and replied, “Take it easy big brother, I was just teasing you. Come on let’s catch some fish.”
The brothers settled down and soon had a string of bass waiting to be cleaned. “Your call big brother, you up to cleaning the fish or starting the fire,” Heath asked.
“I’ll take the fire,” Nick replied as he started gathering up some rocks from the side of the creek bed. “I’ll leave you with the smelly job. Make sure you remember to wash up when you’re done, I don’t want you stinking up the hole camp!” he smiled as he walked up towards the clearing.
The brothers ate their dinner together in piece watching the setting sun paint the surrounding landscape and sky in a multitude of vibrant colors. The air was warm and both brothers were in fine spirits as they relaxed in the soft glow of the setting sun.
“Heath, I’m not trying to put you on the spot here, but I was wondering how you were getting along with Anna Holden.” Nick questioned his brother carefully, trying to pry some information out of him without offending him or silencing him further.
Heath looked at Nick and then back at the setting sun, for a moment Nick didn’t think his brother was going to talk. But then Heath began to talk in a low voice,
“I suppose you could say things are going along just fine,” replied Heath quietly while looking at the setting sun.
“I enjoy Anna’s company and I believe she enjoys mine but that’s really as far as it’s gone.”
“Where do you want it to go Heath?” asked Nick, hoping that his little brother would someday marry this girl. Nick hadn’t seen his brother this happy since Maria. Anna was very different from Maria and for that Nick was grateful, Anna was much more caring and compassionate, very much like Heath. Anna seemed to brighten a room when she entered; her soft Irish accent was always a treat to hear. Whenever she became excited or retold a childhood story her accent stood out, the same thing always happened to Heath in those situations, but his was a soft southern drawl.
...Continued
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