The thought of staying snug was sorely tempting for the young twenty-year old, but the day ahead promised his first Christmas with his new family and nothing in the world was going to make him miss that. Raising himself up on his elbows his vision first went to the window to see what kind of day it was. Then sweeping his eyes across the familiarity of his room his eyes passed over the stocking at the end of the bed and then quickly returned to it. His left eyebrow quirked upwards with curiosity and he shuffled down to the end of the bed to retrieve the stocking from where it hung. Truth be told he felt a bit old to be getting a stocking. He shuffled back to the centre of the bed, spilling homemade chocolates onto his bed . Popping one into his mouth and savouring its delicious taste his head turned to where the door opened and Nick walked in, resplendent in his new robe, a Christmas gift from his mother and one which she had co-erced Heath into help choosing, even asking him to try it on. This he had done with much embarassment in the gentlemen's outfitters they had gone to in San Francisco. Of course, Victoria had her reasons. A similar one awaited Heath downstairs, less fussy than Nick's and more suited to his quieter character.

Victoria and Jarrod followed a few moments later, Victoria bending down to warmly kiss Heath and Nick and receive their kisses in return. Christmas greetings were barely exchanged when an excited Audra ran into the room, carrying her own stocking and expressing girlish delight at the necklace she had found, a gift from Nick who she duly thanked with a volley of kisses on his cheek.

“But I thought we were going to open our presents downstairs?" Heath inquired, clearly puzzled. He realized, embarrassingly, that he was in his long johns and scrambled for added cover from his sheets.

“Stop fussin’ like a bashful groom on your wedding night, you’re decent enough,” Nick dismissed indicating to his brother to move over so he could find a place on the bed where he could rest his long legs and feet. He then began to inspect his own stocking for his own selection of presents, hoping he'd dropped enough hints about what he wanted.

“You got one too, Nick?” Heath inquired, puzzled at the picture of a grown man delving into a Christmas stocking.

"And why not?"

“But you’re...well, you're twenty-six!” Heath, stated unhelpfully, earning a swift “watch it, kid” look from his brother, whose uncombed hair flopped over his face despite his efforts to push it back.

“Ah yes, but you see, Heath, Nick is really only five at heart,” Jarrod pronounced, “Humour him. This is his favourite day of the year, and as you see he is once more a child.”

“Remember that when you want my signature on that contract tomorrow, lawyer."

Nick looked at Heath. "So aren’t you going to look in your stocking?” He was impatient for Heath to open his presents knowing that Jarrod had placed a special present in there for their youngest and still very new brother.

Heath looked around the room and at all the expectant faces staring him. He received an encouraging nod from his step-mother. Still feeling a little self-conscious he began opening the small parcels inside, discarding their wrapping and smiling broadly when he discovered a pouch of his favourite tobacco from Nick and other things that he liked. Then to his utter consternation he found a timepiece which he had longingly admired when he was in San Francisco with Jarrod. His jaw dropped open and he looked at Jarrod, for only Jarrod knew how much Heath had wanted the timepiece. Never in this world did he imagine he would find it in a Christmas stocking at the end of his bed. “But Jarrod...I....can’t accept...” He spluttered offering up the timepiece to return it. "It's far too expensive!"

“Nonsense,” Jarrod said jovially and closing Heath fingers around the timepiece as confirmation of ownership, “I bought it especially for you. It would please me if you read the inscription on the back.”

Heath, sitting cross-legged under the covers with his long johns open part way down his chest forgot his modesty in front of his mother and sister and turned the timepiece over. Carefully, he read the words to himself, then under the encouragement and inquisitiveness of Nick read it out loud.

“To my dearest brother, Heath

With love and affection

Pappy December, 1872

Heath’s voice choked on the last word. ‘Pappy’ was Nick’s name for Jarrod which he used to acknowledge the paternal role Jarrod filled for the family since Tom Barkley’s death. Even the independent Nick needed that part of Jarrod sometimes. Heath had never called Jarrod "Pappy", sensing he would be encroaching on something Jarrod and Nick shared- after all they had been brothers all their lives, Heath has only been their brother for less than a year.

Nick, suspecting the reason for his brother’s caution, gave him a friendly kick of encouragement. It was all Heath needed and he reached up to hug Jarrod and thank him properly. “Thanks, Pappy,” he said, his voice full of emotion. Jarrod returned the hug in full and patted Heath on the back. Standing upright the warmth of Heath’s embrace remained with him and he knew his eyes had teared up a little. Clearing his usually reliable voice which failed him for a moment, he said, “Well, what say we all return to our own rooms, get dressed, and have breakfast before going to church.”

“Sounds good to me,” Nick agreed, giving Heath a friendly cuff on the back of the head and clutching his stocking. Heath brushed off his brother’s playful gesture and accepted an uninhibited kiss from Audra and a gentler, no less affectionate one from his mother. Yes, life was good.

After breakfast, the Barkleys headed for Christmas morning service in town. With good voice they sang along with the carols and exchanged Christmas greetings with their fellow parishioners. After the service they rode back to the ranch and gathered in the Parlor to open the presents under the tree.

Heath loved it all. The jokes, the banter, the exchanging of gifts. He’d thought long and hard over what presents to give to his family and watched tentatively as they opened them, hoping he had made the right choices. There was no need to worry, each of them appreciated his gift, more so because it was obvious they came from his heart, and they valued that above anything.

Nick ruffled Heath’s hair. Heath quickly smoothed it down again. “Now for my present to Heath,” Nick announced, “sit there while I bring it in.”

Everyone was curious, quizzical looks were exchanged between Jarrod and his mother, for neither had been told what it was. Before long, Nick returned carrying a box which he gently placed on the carpet in front of Heath. Suddenly, the box moved, startling everyone in the room. “Err...think you better open it,” Nick encouraged, thinking the box might just open of its own accord. Heath lifted the lid and up popped a chocolate coloured Labrador puppy, his feet scrambling up the sides of the box to get out. Heath eagerly picked it up, cradling the puppy to his chest from where it licked his face till it was wet all over.

“What’s his name?” Heath asked, as excited as the puppy.

“That’s up to you!” Nick replied, clearly delighted that his choice of gift had been just right for Heath. They had working dogs on the ranch but this dog would be Heath’s alone, to spoil and train as he liked.

Heath laughed at the excited puppy in his arms. It was obvious they would become firm friends. “I’m going to call him Jasper."

“Welcome to the family, Jasper,” Jarrod toasted and the family raised their glasses to the two newest Barkley additions to the family.

Later, after a much enjoyed lunch and long walk around the ranch she and Tom had built together, Victoria returned to the house. As she was passing the study her progress was paused by the sound of Heath talking. Peering in through the open door she saw Heath lying on the sofa talking to the puppy who was lying in a basket on the floor. In unobserved moments the twenty-year old Heath offered glimpses of the young boy he had been. Victoria listened, feeling as though she was sharing the moment with an unseen Leah Thomson, Heath’s real mother.

“You’re going to love living here, Jasper." Heath continued, "The Barkleys are real good folk. Mrs Barkley, well, she took me in when she didn’t have to, me being her husband’s bas.... err...son an’ all. And now she’s my mother, just like my own Mama was, so you see I got me two mothers now. Kinda makes me feel special. And Nick, well I got to warn you about Nick. Sounds kinda funny saying this to a dog an’ all, but with Nick you just got to know that his bark is worst than his bite. He’s got a mighty big heart and there’s no one better to look out for you than Nick. He’s fun too. Just you wait, you and me are going to have lots of fun with Nick. Only don’t get sensitive about what he calls you. Why he calls me ‘kid’ all the time and ruffles my hair like I was a ten-year old, but you get use to it so you don’t really mind. Now Audra, well she’ll probably spoil you rotten, but remember you’re a dog. Don’t go accepting any pink ribbons from her or any such fripperies, and a word of caution now, act nicely about her food but don’t eat it, not unless you want a belly-ache for a week. I love my sister but a cook she ain’t. Last but not least there is Jarrod. He’s my oldest brother and he’s special because he’s kind of like a father to me as well. I never knew I needed a father until I came here. I’d lost my mother and that was hurting me something fierce, you know like a pain hurts when you want to remember. It’s easier now. I can remember Mama and it not hurt as much. Jarrod, well he...he’s like a brother and a father all wrapped into one and I think that takes a special kind of skill, don’t you? Ya see, I knows that if I have any problem I can go to Jarrod and he will show me how to deal with it and support me too. Oh yes, you’ll like Jarrod.”

Heath yawned and settled himself on the sofa, pulling a coverlet over him for warmth. The puppy nuzzled Heath’s fingers and Heath laughed sleepily. “Yep, you’re going to enjoy being a Barkley, Jasper. Just like me.”

Victoria, clutched her throat, moved by the feelings that Heath had just shared with his new friend. Quiet by nature, it was often hard to get Heath to share his feelings and thoughts with the family, and yet here he had just shared them freely with his new puppy. Far from feeling that she was eavesdropping she felt privileged to have overheard the exchange.

Stepping away from the door she made to go up the stairs. She met Audra coming down. “Look what I found for Jasper!” Audra exclaimed, holding a pink ribbon aloft. Ever the diplomat, Victoria steered her daughter back upstairs. “Somehow I think your brother would appreciate it if we found Jasper something else to wear.”

“You think so, Mother?”

“I know so, Audra.” Victoria replied authoratively.