In her basement prison Heatherleah Thomson waited and listened. She had been sleeping, when the sound of an approaching horse woke her. As far as she could tell it was as a lone horse, the hoof beats stopped, then started again as the rider left the property not even brothering to enter the house. Now she heard more hoof beats, it sounded like two or maybe even three horses. Rising slowly she made her way over to where Mark had shown her the gun w as. As well as stocking the hiding places with food and drinking water, McAdams had the foresight to leave a gun handy, just in case. Making sure it was loaded Heather pointed it toward the trap door and waited.

The brothers dismounted close to were the bodies’ lay. Kneeling beside one of the male figures Jarrod turned it over. He recognized McAdams

“Shot once in the chest” He looked up at Nick and Heath “It’s McAdams”

Heath knelt by the lone female figure. “ Laura McAdams” He confirmed. “Also shot once in the chest. A real lady, I worked for them for a while just before Heather had her accident, always had a hello and a kind word, took good care of Heather too”

“When did you last see them?”

“When I dropped Heather off after Mama’s burial, just before I headed to the ranch”

“Did they have any children?”

“One son but he was killed in the war, they treated Heather like she was their own”

Heath leapt to his feet and quickly disappeared around the side of the house. Neither Jarrod nor Nick made any sort of move to follow him, as both knew where he was going and what he was looking for. They also knew that eventually they would receive some sort of sign that he’d found what he was looking for. Heathers body.

After a quick circuit of the house Heath returned to where he’d left his brothers.

“Anything?” Nick almost hated asking the question, for fear of hearing the answer he didn’t want to here.

“Nothing”

“What about inside the house?”

“We can try”

The McAdams house was a large almost Spanish Villa looking type dwelling, two stories and very large. The first thing that struck the brothers as they entered was that nothing much had been disturbed. The entrance hall was clean, neat and tidy, and most important of all there were no bloodstains.

“We’ll do a room to room search,” Jarrod suggested.

“Before we go, one thing” Heath said “Heather once told me that this place is full of priest holes and trap doors, so check every wall carefully”

His brothers nodded and each took a different section of the ground floor.

By chance it was Nick who ended up in the study. Where every other room was neat and tidy the study was a mess. The desk and chairs were overturned and thrown in all directions, the paintings that once hung around the walls were scattered all over the floor. But there was no safe to speak of, so whoever did this didn’t find what they were looking for.

As Heath suggested Nick worked his way along each of the walls in the study, tapping and listening for a hollow sound indicating a hollow panel or hidden room. He ended up in front of the magnificent fireplace. “Yeah right Heath priest holes and trap doors my…” The sentence began to form in his head and got no further as his hand came to rest of the left hand horse head. It moved slightly, catching him by surprise. Carefully he examined it, pushing it then pulling it. As he pulled it a section of floor under a rug started to creak and move. Reaching for a lamp, Nick lit it and pulled the rug away from the opening and put a foot on the first step. One of his spurs jingled.

Down below in the basement Heather looked up. The trap door creaked, and the rug came away flooding the stair area with light. She moved behind a pile of boxes in the shadows, resting the gun on the top box. From the top of the stairs came the sound of a spur jingling. She aimed for the opening and waited.

From where he was Nick heard the click of the gun and knew he was in danger. He had three options, 1 retreat back into the study and wait for Jarrod and Heath. 2 Continue on and hope that the gun holder was a lousy shot. Or 3 Leap from the second or third step, roll and hopefully come up behind the person down there and disarm them. He chose option three, there was enough light from the study to tell him that the fall was not a long one so there would be no chance of breaking anything like an arm or leg.

From behind the boxes where she was hiding Heather saw a body leap from the steps and into the darkest spot of the already dark basement. Then she lost sight of it. Yet she could feel the presence of another, it felt familiar. Since they were born she and Heath had been able to sense each other, to exchange words without speaking, not many but enough to let the other know they were all right and in no danger. It felt like her twin and yet she was sure it wasn’t. Weird.

As he rolled Nick caught sight of the gun barrel briefly, it was resting on a pile of boxes to his right. Treading carefully and drawing his own gun he moved toward the pile.

Meanwhile Heath and Jarrod had completed searching their rooms and met up outside the study.

“Any joy?” Jarrod asked

“Nope” Was the short reply

You were right about the priest hole etc” Jarrod continued “Of the three rooms I searched each had something either a hole or trap door”

Heath just nodded

“Come on now” Jarrod tried to cheer his despondent sibling up “ There’s still hope, we haven’t found any evidence of a body nor that anything bad even happened in the house”

As Jarrod uttered those words they both turned into the study and saw the mess. Heath noticed the untidy rug and tugged Jarrod’s arm Jarrod nodded his understanding and together they made their way over to the opening in the floor.

“Drop it” Nick ordered the shadowy figure he could barely see against the boxes.

“Not until you do” A defiant female voice responded and swung the gun barrel she was holding toward him.

That was the last thing Nick had expected when he finally located the gun bearer. He wasn’t sure what he expected, mostly likely a member of the gang left behind to watch the place and all it’s loot. But not a female. Hoping against hope he asked “Heatherleah?”

“Who are you?” The tone was still defiant

Before Nick could answer Heaths voice floated down the stairs.

“Hey Nick you down there?”

“Heath” Both voices answered simultaneously. Nick in a confirming tone and Heather in a questioning tone.

Heath couldn’t believe his ears when he hear Heathers voice coming up from below, he was sure he had lost her. But no he’d definitely heard her voice.

“Baby-girl” He called knowing that if it was his twin she’d respond to the nickname he used since they could speak.

A wolfish grin crept across Nicks face, as his mind stored that name for future reference.

“Blusher!!!” Heather exclaimed needling Heath with the nickname she’d used also since they were children “Not in front of strangers”

The grin on Nicks face grew wider.

Upstairs Jarrod also wore a grin as he listened to the exchange between the twins. Heath had rushed down stairs to be with his twin leaving Jarrod alone.

Resting the lamp he had carried down Heath looked at the girl who he hadn’t seen for four months She looked stronger since the last time he’d seen her. She was standing resting against the boxes but none the less standing. Carefully and slowly she took the four or five steps into his arms, it was the first time he’d seen her walking for eighteen months, he was so proud and pleased.

“Oh baby-girl I thought I’d lost you,” He murmured

For her part Heather felt the strength and love in her twins embrace. The hours of fear and loneliness melted away. It felt right.

Nick and Jarrod moved back into the shadows, knowing that this was a moment for their twin brother and sister to share alone. But neither the less feeling joy that the separated pair where for the moment together and whole. They smiled to each other.

From within Heaths arms Heather looked toward Nick and Jarrod then back up to Heath

“Don’t worry they’re with me” He answered the question in her eyes. “Lets get you upstairs and I’ll introduce you to them properly”

Once everybody was safely up in the study and the trap door shut Heath began the introductions.

“ Heather, these are our older brothers Jarrod and Nick Barkley” Heath indicated first to Jarrod, then Nick. “Nick, Jarrod, this is my twin Heatherleah or Heather.

Jarrod smiled and moved forward. Yes he could now see that Heather was indeed Heaths twin She was a mixture of both Heath and Audra. Reddish/blonde hair and eyes like Heath described, blue/green, and that same half smile that Heath had.

“Hello little sister, it’s a pleasure to finally met you, yet I wish it was under better circumstances” He held out his hands, and was pleasantly surprised when Heather took them.

“Hello Jarrod” Heather returned the greeting. So this was the brother Heath told her was the eldest. Dark brown hair, piercing blue eyes, “You ‘re our lawyer brother?”

“Yes, I see your twin has told you about us”

“Just a little” Heather began to relax.

“Well little sister, that’s more then what he told us about you” Nick began. Heathers eyes immedialty flashed deep green,anger. Nick quickly noted the colour change and continue. “But I understand his reasons why” The eyes returned to a more friendlier green/blue “Welcome” With that Nick gave Heather a bear hug, nearly squeezing the breath out of he. “Baby-girl” He added playfully.

The second Nick took her in his arms Heather felt the same presence that she felt earlier in the basement. So this was the mind that felt so much like Heaths, although they both didn’t know it yet, this brother and her twin were more alike then they knew.

“And it’s good to met you too Nick” Heather smiled “Heaths told me about you too”

“And just what has he told you?”

“That’s for me to know and you never to know”

When the laughter and teasing had subsided Heather turned to her brothers and seriously asked “ Mark and Laura?”

The brothers all bowed their heads as Heath replied, “ I’m sorry honey…”

“How?” Was the strained question

Heath gathered his twin in his arms. “Once in the chest, both of them and two hands”

“Pedro and Miguel”

Heather buried her face into her brother’s shirt and cried. Cried long and hard.

After that events happened fast. The Sheriff came out and took down what little she as able to tell him, mainly about Mr Barons, how he’d come to the property to buy horses, she managed to draw a rough sketch of his face. Robbins laid it beside the wanted poster of the leader of the raiders plaguing the area. They were a close match.

“Are you certain?” Robbins asked for about the tenth time.

“Yes” Heather replied adamantly “That is definitely Barons, the sideburns and beard maybe gone, but I’d know those black eyes anywhere”

“Well if nothing else we can update the wanted information”

“What!?” Nick exclaimed “IS that all you’re gonna do?”

“Mr Barkley do you really think Barons would be stupid enough to stay in the area after he’d made off with that many horses?”

“He’s right Nick” Jarrod agreed, “Barons would have to be a fool to hang around knowing that those horses could be identified”

After Heather had finished having her cry, Nick and Jarrod had taken a quick turn around the paddocks closest to the house, but had not found a single sign of any horses. Barons and his gang had taken the lot. Even more disturbing they had come across a paddock of dead horses, each one killed with a single shot to the head.

“The old ones” Heather broke down again. Then going on to explain that McAdams had kept a special paddock aside for the horses that had been retired from ranch work, these horses lived in a well grassed area with plenty of trees and running water. They were the horses that the children from the local orphanage rode when they came out to the ranch “They took all of the others? They didn’t leave any behind?”

“Not a one” Nick confirmed, his hatred of Barons growing by the second. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on the man who had caused his sister so much pain.

“And I can identify each one of those horses” Heather confirmed

“How?” Robbins asked

“Just know that I can” Was the only answer he got

Sensing that he’d get no further answers Robbins took his leave. Travelling back to town with him were the doctor, the undertaker and the bodies of Mark and Laura McAdams along with their three ranch hands, the deputy having brought Carlos’s body in from the south paddocks. They would be buried in the Gault cemetery the next day.

“Just how can you identify those horses?” Heath asked his sister when Robbins had gone

“Each horse had number tattooed in the left ear.” Heather explained, reaching across to one of the many ledgers on the study table “In here is a list of all the numbers and a description of each horse, colour, height, and any unusual markings or physical features.” She tapped the book “ All recorded in here”

The brothers then bundled their sister up and headed for town. Booking into the best hotel for the night. While Nick and Heath were seeing to the rooms and getting settled Jarrod went to the telegraph office and sent a wire to Victoria and Audra telling them of the slight change in plans, that all four of them would be home in time for dinner not lunch as first planned.

The McAdams family lawyer turned up next, Heather not having the strength to face him alone asked Jarrod to sit in with her. After the introductions were made Jarrod spoke first

“As you can understand Mr Higgs, Miss Thomson is rather tired, so can I ask that we make this as short as possible?”

“Certainly Mr Barkley, there are only three points I need to discuss” The elderly lawyer began “First as per Mr McAdams wishes the funerals of both Mrs McAdams and himself will in the morning, at ten o’clock”

Heather nodded, she already new that Mark wanted to be buried as quickly as possible after he died

“Second, It was Mr McAdams wish that the house be given over to the Sisters of Charity Orphanage as their new home. With you Miss Thomson continuing to live in one wing set aside for you and overseeing the horse breeding side of things”

Heather took a deep breath before saying “ If things had’ve turned out differently Mr Higgs I would gladly honoured Marks request to stay on and manage the business, but after what’s happened I cann’t, there are just too many memories here, I have to get away to try to forget what happened. Please tell Mother Catherine the house, all of it is the orphanage’s” She paused and reached for Jarrod’s hand “ I’m leaving to be with my family, if they’ll have me”

The smile that broke across Jarrod’s face was all the answer she needed, that and the squeeze he gave her hand.

“And the third point?”

“Yes” The old man continued “As trustee of the estate, I have authorized the payment of a reward for the capture of this ‘Mr Barons’ and the party may also keep any of the stolen horses found at the time as part of the reward, Silverfire Lady will be the only exception as Mr McAdams told me she’s yours” With that the lawyer bid Heather good bye and good luck, shook Jarrods hand and left.

Jarrod’s smile was still a mile wide when he again turned to Heather.

“Welcome home little sister”

“Are you sure?” Heather began

“Baby-girl” Jarrod began hoping that the familiar nickname would put Heather more at ease “That was the whole point of this trip, finding you and asking if you wanted to come with us. You don’t mind that I use that nickname do you?”

“No” Heather laughed and relaxed

“You know that apart from Nick and myself you also have a step-mother and a sister dying to know you?”

Heather nodded “And I’m just as anxious to know them”

“Well as a first step to knowing your family how about you give your eldest brother a big hug?”

Heather put her arms around Jarrod and felt his arms encircle her. The bonding process had begun.

THE NEXT DAY

Just about the whole town of Gault turned out for the funeral of Mark and Laura McAdams, All the main businesses in town were closed, other ranch owners and their families came and the children of the orphanage old enough to understand were there as well. Jarrod, Nick and Heath stayed close to their sister, not so much for protection but just to support her.

Once the funeral was over and Heather had said her goodbyes to the people she knew they boarded the early afternoon train heading south for Stockton, the plan was to arrive in Stockton a little after two-thirty pm. With her went everything in the world she owned, one suitcase of clothes and things, her paints sketch book and a few finished works and of course the ledger containing the information on the stolen horses.

“So please tell me about the ranch” Heather asked when the four of them had found their seats.

Nick rubbed his hands he was in his element. “Well its over 30 thousand acres, we run cattle, horses, we have a peach orchard as well as an orange grove, and the vineyard, we make and sell our own wine” Nick was proud of the ranch and it showed.

“And you manage all of this?”

“With a little help from Blusher over there” Nick grinned toward Heath.

“A little help, I like that” Heath rose to the bait “Why if I wasn’t there hardly any work would get done”

“Then of course there’s also our timber business” Nick ignored the look Heath was giving him and turned his attention back to Heather. “And there maybe other projects coming up soon, that’s the working side of the ranch” He nodded toward the parcel containing the drawing material” There’s also quite a few spots where you and that drawing pad of yours will have a good time, in fact tomorrow I’ll take you to one or two of them”

“Nick don’t forget that little matter of horses that need breakin” Heath reminded him. “Then there’s the pumps that need seeing too, the peach orchard fence needs fixing and don’t forget the branding iron needs repair after somebody threw it all over the paddock in a fit of peak”

“Jarrod’ll lend a hand”

“Thank-you brother Nick, but I’ve got to prepare for a trail next week, as much as I’d like to help” Jarrod bowed out gracefully.

Heather sat back and watched as her brothers continued their bickering over the work and just who’d do it. Looking at the three of them together her mind wondered what it would have been like if both she and Heath had known their brothers as children, if they’d grown up together. It may have been only four months since Heath had found them, but even in that short time he’d managed to fit in, the three of them had already formed a bond. It was already strong between Nick and Heath, though she sensed it would in time become even stronger.

“See what I mean about the work getting done?” Heath asked.

“Hey you two have been together all your lives, I’d just like a chance to get to know my sister” Nick protested.

Heath lowered his head, and his face fall. The look went unnoticed by Nick, but both Jarrod and Heather picked it up.

“Nick.” Jarrod began to reprimand his brother.

‘Just because we were born together, doesn’t mean we’ve always been together” Heather snapped at Nick “For the last twelve or so years we’ve been apart more then together”

Sensing there was more to it then that but not wishing to push it Nick let the subject drop.

There was silence among the group for a few moments, and then Jarrod raised a matter that had been nagging at him ever since their meeting with Mr Higgs the previous day.

“Heather, Heath has told us about the accident and your back, about you not being able to ride”

“True” Heather replied.

“Then what did Mr Higgs mean when he said Silverfire Lady was yours?”

“Silverfire Lady is mine. She’s my trap pony.” Heather explained “When I was finally able to sit up again after the fall Mark arranged for a trap so I could still get around the ranch, he hand picked, trained and then gave Silverfire Lady or Fire as I call her to me” Any further discussion was stopped by the conductor calling Stockton as the next stop.

“That’s us” Jarrod got up and offered Heather his arm. “Nick and Heath will bring the bags, let’s go. I hope one of our hands managed to bring the wagon into town like I asked.” He grinned wickedly at Nick and Heath, both of whom glared back at him.

As Jarrod led her to the wagon Heather looked around, Stockton was a much bigger town then Gault, there were quite a few people just at the station alone. Once on the main street she noticed the number of stores, two general stores, a large bank, an assurors office, the town hall, the records office, a library, two ladies dress shops and assorted other buildings that she hoped to see later. Off in the distance she spotted what looked like smoke stacks, a waterfront with paddleboats.

“Good” Jarrod said spotting the Barkley wagon. “Looks like they did manage after all, as soon as Nick and Heath get here with the horses we’ll be on our way” He helped Heather onto the wagon seat.

Nick and Heath reappeared on Coco and Charger. Heath led Jingo to the back of the wagon and tied him there. The bags were loaded and Jarrod pointed the horses for home.

It was only a half hour journey out to the ranch and Jarrod made the most of the opportunity.

“So Heather, you seem to know a little about us and yet we know very little about you” He opened with “Tell us something about yourself” Getting information out of Heath was like trying to get blood from a stone, Jarrod wondered if it would be the same with his twin.

“There’s not really a lot tell” Heather replied “I’m the same age as Heath, I enjoy working with horses, I used to like riding, in my spare time I like to draw and paint and I am hopeless with any form of sewing needle”

“How did you end up in Gault?”

“One of my former employers moved there about four years ago, when after a year there they decided to move back east they gave me the choice to move with them or find another job. At the time Laura McAdams needed a personal maid and I got the job”

“And as Mr McAdams assistant?”

“Mark was wonderful and knowledgeable with horses, but try to organize anything and he was out of his depth, he had ideas but just didn’t have the ability to handle the book and record keeping side of things, one day he came in with the idea that eventually became the ear tattooing records, but he just couldn’t figure out the best way, anyhow Laura and I were doing something in one of the living rooms he spouts out this idea and asked for suggestions has to how to set it out, well we all tossed a few things around, I said something and before you know we were working on it together and that was that”

“Laura McAdams lost her personal maid”

“Yes”

“About the nick-names you and Heath have for each other, ‘Blusher’ I understand. But why..?”

...Continued