Up ahead the horse Barons was riding was beginning to tire. The poor thing wasn’t used to carrying two riders and it was showing. After an initial bust of good speed the pace was getting slower and slower. In the distance they could see the party from the ranch getting closer and closer.

“You won’t make it,” Heather taunted her captor “My brothers will get you for this”

“Shut-up and let me think” Barons growled in response and gave her another backhander.

Heather felt the breeze blow across her stinging face and it was getting stronger. She looked around to get her bearings. Yes they were close to Meadows Creek with a bit of luck and a well-timed gust of wind there was just a chance.

The wind blew and a moaning sound could be heard. It was getting louder. The tired horse was suddenly very nervous and edgy. Its head flew up and its eyes were wild with fear. It reared up onto its hind legs, then dropped down again. “Come on boy just once more” Heather silently pleaded with it. The horse reared again, Heather pulled her elbow in close to her side, then as the horse fell back onto all fours, she drove it hard into Barons midriff.

The resulting actions were perfect. Barons released his hold on her, her back gave out on her just like she knew it would, she fell off the horse and slowly rolled down the embankment toward the creek.

The horse reared again for the third time and this time Barons was unseated. He landed flat on his back and lay there momentarily stunned. He was still like that when Nick’s party caught up to him.

From on top of Coco Nick surveyed the scene before him. One tired and scared horse. One stunned horse thief and no missing sister. He dismounted from Coco and headed to Barons.

He hauled the horse thief to his feet. “Alright listen and listen good WHERE is my sister?”

“Who knows loudmouth” Was the taunting reply “ Maybe she’s down there” He pointed to the creek bed “OR maybe I killed her and dumped the body back there somewhere”

That last remark was the straw that broke the camels back as far as Nick was concerned. His temper exploded. Punch after punch landed on Barons, his fury building.

“That was for my brother” A punch deep and hard into Barons midriff. “ And this is for my sister” A jaw shattering punch.

After the last onslaught Barons fell like a wet sack to the ground and didn’t rise.

“Tie him to his horse and head back to the ranch” Nick ordered his companions “ I’ll follow as soon as I find Miss Heather.”

Nick watched his companions leave, Barons was beginning to moan.

He began a search along the shoulder of the track looking for a sign as to where Heather may be.

“Come on” He pleaded to sky above “Please, a sign just one little sign, I can’t lose both of them in the one day, not when we’ve just gotten to know them and they’ve just been reunited”

He waited.

“HEATHER” Nick bellowed as loud as he could.

Somewhere below where Nick was standing Heather heard his call. She had come to rest against a large tree of sorts. Her face hurt from where Barons had hit her and the roll to near the bottom of the dip had left some nasty cuts to her arms and hands but she was alive.

“Nick” Her call in response to his.

Up above Nick almost couldn’t believe his ears.

“Nick” The call came again.

“Heather? Heather where are you?” He almost ran down the hill. Then he spotted her. “Hang on sis I’m coming”

He raced toward where she had come to a stop. Gently hold out his hands he helped his sister up.

Oh Baby-girl I was so scared” He held her tight to him “I thought he’d well..” He let the sentence go unfinished.

Although she wasn’t crying he could feel that she was shaking in his arms. When he looked down to her face he saw the marks Barons had left on her.

“Are you alright? What did he do to you?” This again was in almost a growling tone “And what about those?” He saw the cuts to her hands and arms.

“Nick I’m fine” She reassured him “ Yes he hit me once or twice, but other then that he never touched me and these I got on my way down here. Don’t worry they’ll heal in a few days.”

“HE HIT YOU” Nick at once thought that he hadn’t given Barons enough punishment. He defiantly wanted another go at Barons for this.

“Nick, let it go,” Heather could see in Nicks eyes what he wanted to do “ He’ll get what’s due to him” Her hand touched her cheek and felt the stickiness there. She looked at Nick’s shirt. “Nick what’s this are you alright?”

“It’s not mine” Was the quiet reply.

“Then who’s?” She at once answered her own question. “HEATH’s?”

All Nick could do was nod.

“How bad? He’s not..?” She couldn’t bring herself to say the last word.

“No” Nicks response came before she could complete the question “ When I left he was still alive, in fact he asked me to bring you home” He tried to give Heath’s twin hope.

The scene in the yard when Nick and Heather arrived back home was totally different to when Nick left to bring Heather home. It was totally deserted and silent. There was nobody around at all. The horses Barons had brought out to the ranch were in the spare corral. None of the hands were about anywhere.

Together, Nick and Heather entered the house via the kitchen. It too was deserted.

“MOTHER, JARROD, AUDRA?” Nick bellowed “WHERE IS EVERBODY?” This was the first time Heather had heard Nick bellow that loudly in the house and it caused her to jump slightly.

“Nicholas” Victoria reprimanded her loud son from the landing at the top of the stairs. “Not so loud Heath’s trying to rest” Then she spotted Heather standing beside Nick. “Heather, sweetheart thank God you’re safe” She raced down the staircase and quickly hugged her daughter. “ Are you alright? Your face and arms. What did that monster do to you?”

“ Mother I’m fine really I am” Heather hugged her mother back “ But Heath, what about Heath?”

“ He’s fine, awake but a little groggy and desperate to know if he’s twin is safe.” Victoria was able to report, “ Lets go up and see him and while we’re there I get out the liniment and clean those cuts.”

Victoria turned her attention to Nick. She could see the look of concern in he’s eyes.

“Nick stop worrying he’s just fine, the bullet exited with out doing any real damage, the wound itself was more messy then anything. Like I said he’s awake and asking for you.”

Wrapping one arm around Nick’s waist and the other around Heathers, Victoria led them to Heaths room.

Heather felt the presence of her twin before she saw him.

“I’m here and fine” Was the message her mind received Heather smiled.

“So am I” She returned.

Nick opened the door and ushered the two women in before him. Heath was sitting propped up in bed. Audra on one side, Jarrod on the other. Both of them left their seats and went to stand by their mother, allowing Nick and Heather to be by Heaths side.

“Baby-girl” He mumbled half asleep.

“Blusher” Heather returned.

The twins embraced.

Heaths hand went to his twins face.

“I’m fine” Was the reply to his unasked question.

“Nick” Heath mumbled also “What can I say? Thank-you”

Nick ruffled the blonde hair “ For my twin brother and sister, anything. I mean it. I’ll always be here for you. I want you both to know that”

The two brothers embraced. Then, knowing that both his older brother and twin sister were home and safe Heath fell asleep.

Jarrod and Audra were then reunited with Heather and together the siblings left the room, leaving Victoria and Heath alone.

A gentle breeze blew through the open window and once again Victoria was overwhelmed with the feeling of another presence in the room.

“ Hello again Victoria” Leah greeted.

“Hello Leah” Victoria returned the greeting warmly.

The ghost of Leah Thomson began to take shape next to the bed head. Her hand reached out and hovered just above the head of her sleeping son.

“Don’t worry Leah, he’ll be fine” Victoria reassured the birth mother of the two latest members of her family. “And so will Heather. I’ll see to it, they are and will always be welcome here.”

“I know Victoria thank-you. I know they’ll both be fine now. I know this because you have and will continue to surround them with love. You and their siblings” Leah looked straight at Victoria and gave her the most radiant smile Victoria had ever seen. “Thank-you for granting a mothers wish.”

THE EPILOGUE

Nick Barkley rose slightly in Coco’s saddle.

“Ready Heath?” He called to his younger brother.

From where Charger was standing just a little to the right of Coco Heath replied “ Ready Nick”

Nick looked beyond Heath to where Jarrod was atop Jingo “ Ready Jarrod?”

“When ever you are Brother Nick”

Nick looked to his left. To where Victoria was waiting on Autumn Mist “ Ready Mother?”

“Ready Nick” Victoria smiled to her second son.

Nick looked beyond Victoria and saw Audra bring Golden Girl into place.

“Ready Audra?”

Audra waved a gloved hand to her older brother “Ready Nick”

Nick turned sharply to look over his right shoulder. Heath made the same move but over his left shoulder.

“Ready Heather?”

“Coming Nick” Heather pulled on the reins stopping Silverfire Lady in line with the rest of the Barkley horses.

Both brothers looked with pride at their sister. She was seated on the front of a highly polished black pony-trap. Proudly on its side was painted the name “BARKLEY RANCH- STOCKTON” and burnt into the small wheel hubs was the Barkley brand. Between them Nick and Heath had designed and built the little carriage. Presenting to Heather the previous evening.

“Alright Barkley family” Nick commanded, “Let’s show our new brother and sister just how big this place is. BARKLEY’S RIDE”

As one the six horses took off.