Nick grasped the bars of his cell in a white knuckled grip as he heard Heath and Sheriff Madden walking down the cell block.

“I can’t understand it,” Sheriff Madden said. “Doc Merar stuck out this boy was crazy and based on his rants tonight, I’d have ta say I agree with ‘im.”

“Well he ain’t,” Heath said, following the sheriff down the hall. They reached Nick’s cell and Nick and Heath stared at each other.

“You believe me,” Nick stated simply.

“I believe ya,” Heath said. And he smiled as tears filled Nick’s hazel eyes.

Sheriff Madden unlocked the cell door and said, “I’m releasin’ ya in Mr. Barkley’s custody, based on Dr. Merar’s recommendation. But if you cause any more trouble, you’re gonna have ta deal with me, you got that boy?”

Nick’s temper flared automatically and he started to tell the sheriff off as he would anybody under those circumstances, but the pleading look in Heath’s eyes made him back down. Without using words, he knew that Heath was asking him, begging him to keep quiet. Nick knew that look so well and he obeyed it.

“Yes sir,” Nick said, with a mighty effort for his brother’s sake.

He saw Heath sigh with relief and he knew he’d done the right thing.

“Thanks sheriff,” Heath said.

“No problem Heath,” Sheriff Madden said, walking them to the front door. “But if he gives ya any trouble, you just let me know.”

“I’ll do that sheriff,” Heath said. He and Nick left the sheriff’s office and walked over to Charger.

“We’ll have ta ride double,” Heath said, vaulting up into the saddle. “I didn’t even think ta bring ya a horse.”

“It won’t be the first time we've rode double,” Nick said with a grunt as he took Heath’s arm and climbed up in the saddle behind him.

Heath looked back at him curiously at this remark, knowing that they had never rode together before, but he remained silent.

“Let’s go home,” Nick said softly. “I just want ta put all of this behind me.”

Taking the reins and steering Charger home, Heath said, “I’m afraid ya can’t do that Nick. We need ta talk about this and try ta get a few things straightened out.”

Sighing, Nick said, “Alright, but if ya think you’re gonna talk me out of what I know is true, you got another think comin’ boy.”

Over an hour later, they rode up to the Barkley mansion and Heath handed a weary Ceigo, Charger’s reins.

“Thanks Ciego,” Heath said as he and Nick dismounted the sturdy stallion

“You’re welcome, Señor Barkley,” Ceigo said, leading the stallion into the barn as Heath and Nick walked over to the front door which was promptly opened by Silas.

“They just went up to bed, Mr. Heath” Silas whispered softly, correctly interpreting Heath’s questioning look as to the whereabouts of his parents.

Heath nodded and put his finger to his lips, shushing Nick as they quietly made their way up the staircase and into the guess bedroom.

“What are we doin’ in here?” Nick asked.

“I want ta talk to ya,” Heath said again.

“And we couldn’t do that in my room?” Nick asked irritably. “I was hopin’ ta get some sleep in my own bed for a change!”

Ignoring him, Heath walked over and lit the oil lamp sitting on the bedside table, letting a soft glow illuminate the room.

“Nick, do you know where they were sendin’ ya tomorrow?” Heath asked, closing the door behind them.

“I know,” Nick said shakily. “Has this whole town gone crazy boy?” he asked. “Why is everybody actin’ like they don’t know me?

Walking over and lighting the potbelly stove, Heath said, “Because they don’t Nick. Now I don’t know what happened and I don’t know how all this came about, but they don’t know ya Nick. You keep sayin’ you’re from this valley and that ya know every body here, but nobody knows you. How do you explain that?”

“I can’t explain it!” Nick yelled angrily. “All I know is, my name is Nick Barkley, I live at the Barkley ranch, Victoria and Tom are my parents, Audra is my sister and you and Jarrod are my brothers!”

Heath looked at him sadly and wondered if he hadn’t made a mistake about his mental stability after all.

“What else?” Heath asked.

“What else?” Nick asked incredulously. “What more do you need?”

“Nick, I know you believe what you’re sayin’ but the problem is, nobody else believes it. Nobody had ever heard of ya ‘til I found ya lying out there on our property the other day."

“Now come on boy,” Nick said, trying not to show how uneasy the conversation was making him. “You really expect me ta believe you don’t know who I am?”

Heath shook his head and said, “No Nick, I don’t. And I don’t want ta see ya go to a sanitarium but if ya keep talkin’ the way ya are, that’s exactly where’ they’re gonna put ya.”

“But I’m a Barkley!” Nick shouted. “And I know everybody in this valley and they know me!”

He saw the lost look on Heath’s face and it brought him up short. Walking over to Heath, he took his brother by the arms and said, “Heath, it’s bad enough that everybody else here says they don’t know me or never even heard of me. But I swear boy, if you tell me that too, then you may as well go ahead and let them take me to that sanitarium, ‘cause I wouldn’t be able to bear it if you said you didn’t know me.”

Heath’s answer were the tears that pooled in his eyes and slowly ran down his face. That was Nick’s undoing as he released his brother, and in defeat, with slumped shoulders, he walked over to the window of the small cabin.

“I want to believe you Nick,” Heath said, his voice trembling with emotion. “I’d do anything ta make what you’re sayin’ true. But the people here won’t believe me any more than they believe you. Can you show me some kind of proof?” he asked. “Anything that would make people believe that you’re not crazy.”

“What kind of proof?” Nick asked dejectedly. “You don’t believe me anymore than the rest of them. If you don’t believe in me Heath, how can you expect me to believe in myself?”

“There’s got ta be somethin’ Nick,” Heath said. “There’s got ta be a way you can make people believe. Can ya tell me about those lights again? Where did they come from? What did they look like?”

Nick looked up to answer and his breath caught in his throat and his heart pounded in his chest as he broke out in a cold sweat. Staring out the window into the night sky, he pointed and said, “They looked just like those.”

Heath saw the color draining from Nick’s face and he hurried over to the window and stood beside him. Off in the distance, a circular light beamed and hovered over the south pasture. The light seemed to be throbbing and growing in intensity as the wind suddenly picked up and began to blow so hard that they could see tumble weeds, shrubs and dust blowing across the property.

“What’s happenin’?” Heath asked, spell bound by the spectacle before him.

“It’s the same as before,” Nick mumbled, the fear in his eyes matching that in his voice.

Heath looked over at him and saw that Nick’s eyes were as huge as saucers and his breathing was coming in short gasps as the blood drained from his face.

“Nick, what is it?” Heath asked, afraid for the man he’d grown so fond of.

“It’s happenin’ again,” Nick said, his voice trembling with fear.

“What is?” Heath asked. “What’s happenin’ again?”

“The lights!” Nick cried. “This is the same way it happened before!”

“The same way what happened?” Heath asked, placing his hand on Nick’s shoulder.

“We have ta get outta here Heath!” Nick yelled. “We have ta get out of here or they’re gonna take ya again!”

“What? Who’s gonna take me?” Heath asked. “What are ya talkin’ about?”

“The lights!” Nick shouted, turning to face him. “The lights are gonna take ya again! Don’t ya understand?!”

Heath looked into the wild, frightened, hazel eyes staring back at him and at that moment, he really believed Nick had gone mad.

“It’s just lightenin’ or somethin’,” Heath said, taking Nick by the arms and trying to calm him. “There must be a storm brewin’ somewhere.”

“That’s what we thought before!” Nick yelled. “We thought it was lightenin’ and then the lights started movin’! They got closer and closer and then they took you!”

“But that’s not possible, Nick,” Heath reasoned. “Just look and see for yourself……” Heath turned and looked out the window. His mouth dropped open as he saw the lights brightening in intensity and moving towards them at a speed he could never even have imagined. Suddenly, he felt himself being thrown to the floor and Nick threw himself down on top of him, knocking the wind out of him.

“Stay down!” Nick cried. “Just stay down and they won’t take ya this time!”

Nick’s belief that the lights were going to take him was so strong that Heath found himself believing it even though the sane part of his mind knew that it was impossible.

Heath covered his head as the guest bedroom was suddenly engulfed in a light so bright, it looked as if the sun were shining directly inside the room. They could feel the entire Barkley mansion trembling and shaking on its very foundations and they heard a series of crashes throughout the house as glass shattered and furniture was overturned.

“NO!” Nick shouted, doing his best to cover Heath with his body and protect him from the lights. “NO! You can’t have him this time! Please don’t take him!” Nick cried. “Please don’t take my brother away from me!”

The lights brightened with such force and intensity that even with their eyes squeezed tightly shut, both Nick and Heath cringed as the blinding rays breeched their eyelids. The light was so bright that no shapes or images could be made out in the room and Nick, who had been lying atop of Heath, suddenly felt himself fall to the floor as the light diminished and he opened his eyes and looked around.

“Heath?" he said fretfully, as he looked around for his missing brother. “Heath! Where are you!” he shouted, sitting up on his knees. Victoria, Jarrod and Audra burst into the room and looked at the wild eyed, panic-stricken man, sitting in the middle of the floor. Rushing over to him, they asked, “Nick, what is it? What’s the matter?”

“He…..he’s gone!” Nick said in bewilderment, looking wildly around the room. “The lights took ‘im! He’s gone!”

Jarrod, Victoria and Audra looked at each other curiously and then looked back at Nick. “What lights?” Jarrod asked. “Who’s gone?”

Nick reached out and grabbed Jarrod by the shoulders. “Heath!” Nick shouted, his voice cracking in terror. “Heath is gone! The lights took ‘im!”

“What are you talking about?” Jarrod asked in confusion. “What lights? And who the devil is Heath?”

Nick looked up at his older brother in confusion. “What do you mean ‘Who the devil is Heath?’ Your brother Heath! The lights took ‘im just like they took ‘im the first time!”

Jarrod, Victoria and Audra looked at each other in confusion. “Are you all right son?” Victoria asked, placing her hand on Nick’s forehead to see if he had a fever.

“Of course I’m alright!” Nick said, pushing her hand away and jumping up and running over to the window. He looked up at the sky, which was clear blue and absent of any clouds or wind.

“We have ta find him!” Nick yelled as he turned from the window and headed for the door. “We have ta find ‘im before it’s too late!”

They watched him run from the room and listened as he bounded down the stairs.

“What is he talking about?” Audra asked, looking from Jarrod to Victoria.

“I don’t know,” Victoria said worriedly, as the three of them hurried from the room and followed Nick down the stairs. “And I’m not so sure he knows either.”

“Heath!” Nick yelled, cupping his hands around his mouth, as he ran from the front door and into the front yard. “Heath! Where are you?”

Jarrod ran up to Nick, grabbing him by the shoulder. “Nick, what do you think you’re doing?” Jarrod demanded as the men working the Barkley ranch looked on in confusion.

“What do you think I’m doing!” Nick yelled. “I’m trying to find my brother!”

Victoria gasped in shock as she approached her distraught son. “He’s right here Nick,” Victoria said, gesturing to Jarrod.

“Not Jarrod, Mother!” Nick yelled in exasperation. “I’m trying ta find Heath!”

“Who’s Heath?” Audra asked.

“He’s your brother!” Nick yelled at her angrily, bringing tears to her eyes.

“That’s enough Nick!” Jarrod yelled. “Now I suggest you stop this nonsense and get inside before you make even more of a spectacle of yourself than you already have!”

“You get inside, Jarrod!” Nick snapped, pushing Jarrod’s hand from his shoulder. “I’m gonna find Heath! And if you were any kind of brother, you’d help me instead of fighting me on this!”

They watched as Nick stomped over to the barn to saddle his horse. Sighing in frustration, Jarrod followed him over to the barn.

“Where are you going Jarrod?” Victoria called after him.

“I’m going with him, Mother,” Jarrod said, angrily.

“But Jarrod, he’s not well. I don’t think it’s a good idea to indulge him…”

“You want me to leave him alone in the state he’s in?” Jarrod challenged.

Victoria took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “No, I don’t Jarrod,” she said. “Go with your brother.”

Heath moaned in agony as he reached up and rubbed his aching head. “What happened?” he asked groggily as he looked up at Nick who was standing over him.

“Just take it easy boy,” Nick said softly, as he pushed Heath back down on the mattress. “For a minute there, we didn’t think you were gonna make it.”

Heath looked around the room and his eyes strayed over to the opened window where a soft breeze blew the white, lace curtains back and forth.

“The storm passed,” Heath said, wearily. “The lights…..they’re gone.”

Nick looked at him curiously. “Drink this,” he said, raising Heath’s blond head and giving him a drink of water.

Heath drank a little bit of water from the glass as he continued to stare out the window. So transfixed was his gaze on the sky, that Nick turned to see what he was looking at.

“What is it?” Nick asked as he lowered Heath’s head back down on the pillows.

“The lights,” Heath said again. “They didn’t take ya this time.”

“Lights?” Nick asked. “What lights?”

“The ones from the south pasture,” Heath said, pulling his gaze from the window and looking up at Nick. “We got away from them this time.”

“You all right boy?” Nick asked worriedly.

“Nick, don’t cha remember?” Heath asked. “Don’t cha remember the lights comin’ from the south pasture and takin’ ya?”

“I think that knock you took on the head did more damage than we thought,” Nick said, reaching over and touching the small lump on the side of Heath’s head.

“They were here, Nick,” Heath said desperately. “When you went ta free that calf, I rode up just as they took ya, don’t cha remember?”

“Just take it easy, little brother,” Nick said taking note of the fear in his brother’s blue eyes. “It was just a dream, that’s all,” he said softly. “There were no lights and nobody took me anywhere. I’ve been here with ya the whole time.”

Heath looked around wildly, trying to figure out what was going on and why Nick didn’t remember. “It wasn’t a dream, Nick!” he yelled, reaching up and grabbing Nick by the shoulders. “It was real! All of it! It really happened! I reached out to ya just as the lights came and you…….” his words trailed off.

“I what?” Nick asked softly.

Heath let his hands drop to his sides on the bed as he turned and stared blankly out the window. “You, disappeared,” he said quietly, realizing how the words sounded even to his own ears.

Nick looked down at him compassionately. He knew that a blow to the head as hard as the one Heath had sustained could sometimes cause delusions and he attributed Heath’s ramblings about lights and disappearances to that. They had already sent for Dr. Merar and he was sure that once Heath had been seen by the doctor and got some rest, he would be his old self again. But still….Nick couldn’t shake the feeling that Heath believed everything he was saying and that to Heath, it wasn’t a dream. Something told him that as impossible as it sounded, something had happened out there on the south pasture and he couldn’t help but wonder what it was.

Walking over to the window, he looked across the Barkley property over to the south pasture. The area had been cultivated and fenced in in preparation for the large herd of Herefords Nick and Heath were going to pick up in Modesto in a few days. They weren’t looking forward to the cattle drive and had even been thinking of following their neighbor’s lead and start transporting cattle by way of the railroad. It was a costly venture but it would cut their time away from the ranch in half. Nick took a deep breath and sighed as he turned and looked back at his brother. Traveling with Heath was the only thing that made the cattle drives bearable for Nick, and if his brother wasn’t able to travel with him this time, he didn’t know how he was going to get through it.

“You don’t believe me, do ya?” Heath asked softly, unable to look up at his brother.

Nick walked over and stood at the foot of the bed, leaning down and gripping the railing as he looked at his brother. “That’s the problem, Heath,” Nick said quietly as Heath turned and looked at him. “I do believe ya.”

Heath searched his brother’s eyes to see if Nick really meant what he were saying or if he were just humoring him, trying to make him feel better. Nick’s hazel gaze was unwavering and Heath knew then that his brother meant what he was saying.

“What are we gonna do Nick?” Heath asked. “How are we gonna get anybody ta believe this really happened and how are we gonna stop it from happenin’ again?”

Nick ran his hand over his face and walked over and sat in the chair beside Heath’s bed. “I don’t think we can,” Nick said. “I don’t think we can stop it, or get anybody ta believe us. Whatever happened Heath, we have ta figure it out for ourselves.”

“But what was it Nick? Where did those lights come from?”

“I’m not sure,” Nick said thoughtfully. He was quiet for a moment and then he asked, “You said you saw those lights in the south pasture?”

“Yeah,” Heath said.

“Then I suggest we try there,” Nick told him. “If the lights first appeared there, maybe they’ll appear in the same place again.”

“We could camp out there tonight and wait for them,” Heath suggested hopefully.

“Not we, little brother. Me,” Nick said sternly.

“Aw now Nick, if you think I’m gonna let ya do this alone…..”

“That’s the only way I’ll agree to this,” Nick said.

“But Nick!” Heath protested.

“Now look, I’m already in trouble with Mother for lettin’ ya get hurt out there in the first place. If you think I’m gonna risk her wrath twice in one day, then you’ve got another think comin’! Now I’ll head down to the south pasture and keep a look out. If I see anything, I’ll come for ya. In the meantime, you just rest up here until you’re able to stand up without fallin’ down on your face.”

The brothers glared at each other, neither willing to back down. Finally, Heath sighed and said, “Alright Nick, you win. But you come and get me if you see anything out there, ya hear?”

“I hear ya little brother,” Nick said, relieved that Heath was willing to do things his way. Standing, Nick stretched his long frame and rubbed his back.

“I’ll have Silas rustle me up a couple of sandwiches ta take with me while I’m on watch.”

“Tell ‘im ta rustle a couple of ‘em up here while you’re at it,” Heath said.

Smiling, Nick said, “I’ll do that. You get some rest.”

“I’ll try,” Heath said.

Nick walked over to the door and was stopped by Heath, who called over to him.

Turning, he saw concern in Heath’s blue eyes but he also saw something else there that unnerved him. He saw fear.

“Be careful, Nick,” Heath said.

“I will,” Nick promised. “I’ll see ya in a few hours.”

Heath nodded and watched his brother close the door behind him. Suddenly, he had the strangest feeling that he would never see Nick again and terror raced through his body. He threw the covers back and swung his legs over the side of the bed. His head swam and he fought down the nausea that assailed him. When his head finally cleared he stood on weak legs and suddenly, the room began to spin. He cried out and tried to grab the nightstand for support as the darkness immediately closed in on him and he pitched forward, falling to the floor in a heap.

“Nick,” he moaned, reaching for the door just as the blackness consumed him.

Nick looked up at the sky as he bit into one of the three roast beef sandwiches Silas had prepared for him. He had chosen a spot under one of the largest trees on the property and from there, he could see the entire south pasture and if he looked over his left shoulder, he could also see the window of Heath’s bedroom. He finished his sandwich and stretched his long legs out in front of him, crossing them at the ankles.

“Well, if anything’s gonna happen boy, it’d better hurry up ‘cause I’m gettin’ tired of sittin’ here."

A strong breeze blew across the valley and Nick stirred suddenly, cursing himself for having dozed off. He looked around quickly and saw the dust picking up in the strong wind as leaves and tumbleweeds blew across the pasture.

“What the devil….” Nick said, coming to his feet.

The winds grew stronger and Nick saw a movement out the corner of his eye. His gun was out of its holster with lightening speed as he turned toward the movement and stared at it. His mouth dropped open as he saw the lights off in the distance, approaching him. He stood dumbfounded, rooted to the spot and unable to move as the lights bore down on him with such speed and intensity that he didn’t even have time to cry out as they descended upon him.

“NO! Don't take him!” Heath cried out, suddenly awaking in his bed as Victoria, Jarrod and Audra ran over to him. They had been keeping vigil over him ever since Silas brought some sandwiches up to his room earlier and found him unconscious on the floor.

“It’s alright Heath,” Victoria said soothingly as Jarrod gently pushed him down on the bed. “You’re alright son.”

“Mother?” Heath said, coming out of a deep, troubled sleep and looking up into her worried eyes.

“Yes son, I’m here. We’re all here.”

Heath looked around. “What happened?”

“You passed out,” Jarrod told him. “Silas found you lying on the floor up here. See what happens when you try to get out of bed before the doctor gives his ok?” Jarrod said with a smile.

Heath raised his hand to his aching head and rubbed it. “I don’t remember….” he said groggily as he sank back on the pillows.

“It’s alright son,” Victoria assured him as she placed a cool, damp cloth to his forehead. “The best thing now is for you to get as much rest as you can,” she said, reaching for a spoon and the bottle of laudanum on his bedside table.

“But I….I can’t remember what happened….” Heath said, his brow furrowing as he tried to bring forth the images that eluded his mind.

“Just rest,” Victoria told him. “We’ll talk about it in the morning.”

Heath fought to stay conscious but the laudanum Victoria forced down his throat was fast working against him and soon, he found it an impossible task just to keep his eyes open.

“I need ta……remember…..” he moaned just as he slipped back into a deep sleep.

“Need to remember what?” Audra asked, looking from Jarrod to Victoria. “What was he talking about?”

“It's just delirium,” Jarrod assured her. “He’ll be alright once he’s had a good night’s sleep.”

“I hope so,” Victoria said worriedly as Audra nodded her head skeptically.

“You should get some rest too, Mother,” Jarrod told her.

“I will,” Victoria said, taking her seat beside Heath’s bed again. “I just want to sit with him for a while longer. You and Audra go on to bed now. I won’t be long.”

“You sure?” Jarrod asked.

“Yes, I’m sure,” she said, accepting goodnight kisses from both of them as they left the room and closed the door softly behind them. Victoria settled back in her chair and watched her son as he slept.

‘I need ta remember….’ Heath had said. “Remember what, son?” Victoria asked aloud. “What is it that you so desperately need to remember?”

No answer was forthcoming as she watched over her son as he slept through the night. It was almost sunrise before she rose and went to her own bed.

As was his daily routine, Heath rose early and rode out to the south pasture where he watched the sun rise. Ever since he’d recovered, he was compelled to ride over to the south pasture everyday and watch the light of the sun as it shined brightly down on the Barkley ranch. Something drew him there, something that he couldn’t explain to his family or to himself but he knew that he had to be there everyday to watch the sun come up. When the sun was at it’s brightest as it rose over the horizon, fleeting images would pass with lightening speed through Heath’s mind. He could almost remember something, somebody, before the images would dissolve and leave him frustrated. He could almost see a face gazing down lovingly at him but he couldn’t make out the features and he didn't know whose face it was, yet he knew it was the face of someone who loved him. ‘Why can’t I remember you?’ he ask himself over and over.

Heath walked into the study one day where Jarrod was sitting with his feet propped up on the table as he read through the Stockton Eagle.

Heath smiled and poured them both drinks. Handing Jarrod his glass, Heath sipped from his own glass and asked, “Jarrod, do we know anybody named Nick?”

Jarrod thought about it for a moment before answering. “Nick, who?” he asked, curiously.

Heath sighed and said, “I don’t know. The name just keeps poppin’ into my head and I keep thinkin’ I can see his face but whenever I try ta concentrate on it, it disappears.”

“Hmm…..” Jarrod said thoughtfully. “Nope, can’t say as I know anybody by the name of Nick, Heath. Maybe it was in a dream you had,” he suggested.

“Maybe so,” Heath said as he walked over to the French doors and looked across the Barkley landscape. His eyes were immediately drawn to the south pasture and to the sky above it.

“Why can’t I remember?” he asked himself quietly. “Why can’t I remember what happened?”

“Remember what?” Jarrod asked, his keen ears picking up on his brother’s words.

Heath sighed with regret and said, “I don‘t know Jarrod. I just don’t know. But there’s somethin’ out there that’s…..” he blushed as he considered his words. “It’s like it’s callin’ ta me Jarrod. Everyday when that sun rises over the south pasture and it’s lighted up so pretty and bright out there, I feel like I can almost remember him.”

“Remember who?” Jarrod asked standing and walking over beside his baby brother as he looked over at the south pasture.

“I don’t remember Jarrod,” Heath said, sorrowfully. “I just can’t remember who he was. I just wish ta God that I could.”