Three days passed and Heath’s condition remained touch and go. Victoria tended to him during the days and kept a vigil at nights.

It was nearing eleven o’clock at night when Victoria went to the kitchen to get a pitcher of fresh cold water. She heard mooing sounds coming from outside. She peered through the window and much to her dismay dozens of stray cows were roaming about in the backyard.

She whizzed over to the bunkhouse to wake Ciego.

The constant lowing and shouting outside disturbed Heath’s peaceful sleep. Annoyed by the noise, he gruellingly hoisted himself out of bed and scuffed up to the window. Down below he saw Victoria and Ciego running to round up the loose cattle.

“Oh no!”

Inhaling deeply to avoid passing out, Heath went to the closet to pick out a pair of trousers. He sat at the bottom of the bed and struggled to put them on.

His wheezing increased and the room started spinning. His legs could barely stand his body weight but the stubborn man was determined to go down and lend a hand. He shook the dizziness away and wobbled downstairs.

Audra had also heard the racket and went down to help.

All three had nearly succeeded in corralling all of the animals when Heath showed up.

“Heath!” Audra shouted.

“Oh my God!”

Victoria rushed to him. “Heath get back into bed at once!”

“I want to help.”

Victoria and Audra both seized an arm but despite his illness, Heath was stronger than them and he kept walking, dragging them along with him.

Suddenly, he felt a smarting twinge pop in his head. He grabbed it in agony before he slumped unconscious into his mother’s arms.

“Heath! Heath! Answer me, son!” Victoria was frantic. “Ciego hurry, get the doctor.”

“Right away Mrs. Barkley.”

Victoria sat on the ground and cradled Heath in her arms. She continued to talk to him, hoping to elicit some response.

All through the night, Dr. Merar, Victoria and Audra took turns at Heath’s bedside, spreading cold compresses on several part of his fever-ridden body. His heart was racing and his breathing was highly irregular. All invoked the might of God to spare Heath’s young life and grant him a reprieve for his good deeds.

A glimmer of hope dawned when Heath’s strained eyes began flickering.

At this time, all three were present in the room and they all gathered around the bed, struggling along with Heath.

“Go on, Heath. Come on, come back to us,” Dr. Merar goaded.

Stark horror struck Heath. His eyes bulged out and he started puffing and panting. He turned to Dr. Merar sitting on the edge of the bed and with his right hand, nervously fumbled his way up to his face as though he was blind. He clung to his hand, squeezing it tightly. He trembled like a leaf, gasping for air. He tried to speak, repeatedly mouthing the words but no sound would come out.

‘Calm, down...calm down. We’re here. We’re all here with you. Don’t be afraid,” Dr Merar appeased.

“What’s happening to him?” Audra queried hysterically.

“Heath, look at me! Look at me! Do you know who I am?”

Heath nodded twice.

“That’s good. Calm down now. Easy. Don’t try to talk.”

Dr. Merar took Heath’s left hand, which was all curled up and flaccid. “Heath, can you squeeze my other hand? Come on, do it for me. Squeeze my hand.”

Heath strained to move his fingers but they wouldn’t respond to his command.

“Come on, squeeze it.”

Heath shook his head in despair. “Ca...can’.....can,t...fe....fe....fee......feel....em,” he sputtered, gagging as if ready to vomit.

“Doctor, what is it?” Audra reiterated, more frightened than before.

Dr. Merar turned to the two women standing on a knife-edge. “I’m afraid he suffered a stroke.”

“Oh, God!” Audra shrieked, slapping both hands over her mouth, tears gushing to her eyes.

Victoria strived to maintain her poise. “ Howard, that can’t be. He’s only twenty-six years old.”

“I know. The right hemisphere of his brain was affected, which explains the paralysis on his left side. It’s also the centre of speech, that’s why he can’t speak properly.”

“Is that a permanent condition?”

“Don’t know. The brain is a highly intricate organ, one we know so little about.”

Heath began whimpering. Victoria sat by him, holding his hand and stroking his hair. “It’s okay. I’m here,” she mollified, aching along with Heath.

He started drooling. Victoria wiped the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief and forced a smile.

As days passed, Heath’s condition improved. His respiration was now regular, his lungs less congested and his eyes had regained their sparkle. Both Victoria and Audra were instrumental in helping him gain confidence in beating the odds by constantly providing tender loving care and daily speech therapy.

Early one afternoon, Jarrod and Nick returned from their productive trip to San Francisco.

Nick looked around the premises, somewhat troubled by the eerie stillness. “What’s going on around here?”

“What do you mean?” asked Jarrod as he was unloading the suitcases off the wagon.

“Take a look around. It’s like a ghost town.”

“What’s so unusual about that? Everyone’s at work.”

“Yeah, guess it’s a good sign.”

Nick grabbed a suitcase and followed Jarrod inside the house.

“Mother, we’re back,” Nick shouted at the bottom of the stairs with his typical gruff voice.

Victoria hurried out of the living room and beckoned Nick to tone down. “Shhhhh...you’ll wake your brother.”

“Brother? As in Brother Heath? He’s sleeping????”

“Yes.”

“It’s the middle of the day!”

“He’s been sick.”

“Sick?”

“A flu epidemic swept across the valley while you were away. Several hands fell ill and when Heath tried to substitute for them, he....”

“Got sick,” an annoyed Nick interjected, his temper flaring. “Told him I’d strangle him if I so much found him laid up on my return.”

Nick started for the stairs when Victoria seized him by the arm.

“Nick, don’t!”

Jarrod stepped forward, sensing his mother’s concern. “Mother, what is it?”

Victoria paused as she mustered the courage to tell her sons the horrible news.” Your brother suffered a stroke.”

Both Nick’s and Jarrod’s faces dropped to the floor.

“My God, is he....?”

“He’s paralysed on his left side and he...he has trouble speaking.”

Nick shot upstairs like an arrow to Heath’s room where Audra was sitting by him. She stood and rushed to Nick’s arms.

“Nick!”

“How is he?”

“He’s making a bit of progress but not nearly enough.”

Nick sat on the bed next to Heath. The slight vibration awoke the young brother. His eyes lit up upon seeing Nick by his side.

“Ni...Nic......Nick,” Heath sputtered, letting out a small cough. “Sor....sor....sorrrrry.”

“For what?”

“Wo....wor...wor...wok...n...not...don...don...done.”

“Give me a break!” a dewy-eyed Nick chastised, taking a deep breath to mask his emotions.

“Wa....wat....wat...”

“What is it?”

“I think he wants water,” Audra interpreted. “I’ll get him some fresh water from downstairs.”

“No, let me. I’ll do it,” Nick said, practically yanking the pitcher out of Audra’s hands. “I’ll be right back”

In the hallway, Nick stopped. On the brink of emotional collapse, he inhaled deeply, doubling up in pain. One or two yelps filtered out between breaths. He was raging inside, ready to slam his fist through the wall. He was tortured with remorse at the thought of having let his poor brother alone in this time of crisis. He didn’t have the heart to face him again.

The third morning, Dr. Merar arrived an hour before breakfast time to check on Heath’s condition. Victoria greeted him at the front door informing him that her son had had a restless night but that he’d finally managed to find sleep early this morning.

Both headed up the stairs to Heath’s room where Audra was already helping Heath with his speech. She was teaching him how to articulate his name properly when the two showed up at the door.

“Very good, Heath,” Merar commended as he neared the bed to check on the patient’s pulse. “Your mother tells me you’ve had a sleepless night. Any pain?”

“No, I…I’m fine.”

“Your speech has improved.”

Heath winked at Audra. “That’s be…be…because I hav…have a great tea…teac…teacher.”

Shyly, Audra bowed her head.

Merar took Heath’s left hand and held it up, pressing his fingers firmly against the palm to keep it open. “Okay Heath, I want you to make a fist. Squeeze my hand as hard as you can.”

All eyes were riveted on Heath’s hand. Eyebrows creased, teeth ground as they watched for the slightest movement. They struggled along with Heath until…relief. The fingers showed signs of motion.

“That’s it…you’re doing fine,” Merar encouraged.

“I …I can…can’t, “ Heath huffed and puffed.

“Yes you can. You’re halfway there, son. Come on…one more try.”

Heath’s eyes rolled back in his head and he abandoned the struggle. “Too tired.”

Merar rested Heath’s hand on his chest. “Okay, we’ll try again later. You rest now.”

Heath acknowledged with a weak nod and a barely audible moan.

Dr. Merar got up and addressed the two concerned women. “I’m not satisfied with his progress. Medically speaking we should see more movement in his paralysed limbs. He gives up too easily. Can’t understand why. I’ve always known him to be a fighter. His speech is better, though”

“We’ve followed your advice. Forcing him to talk and articulate, “ Audra explained.

“That’s good. You both did a splendid job of it.”

“What is it, Howard?” Victoria asked worriedly.

“ I wish I knew. It’s like…he’s giving up.”

Nick entered the house, removing his hat and slapping it against his leg to remove the dust. He headed to the dining room where Jarrod was already settled at the table.

“Where are Mother and Audra?”

“They’re upstairs with Heath and Dr. Merar?”

“The doctor’s here?”

“Mother invited him to join us for breakfast.”

“Good, good”. Nick sat down beside Jarrod and grabbed a hot biscuit. “I’m famished. Wish they’d hurry.”

“Why not go tell ‘em,” Jarrod suggested, knowing Nick would refuse as he has for the past three days whenever someone asked him to go visit with his crippled brother.

“No need. I’m sure they’ll be right down soon, “Nick stuttered, fidgeting on his chair.

“Something wrong, Nick? “ Jarrod asked, picking up on Nick’s edginess.

“Why do you ask?”

“You’re squirming.”

“I’m not!”

“Look at you! You start wiggling whenever we mention Heath. Do you realize you haven’t been up to see him for nearly three days?”

“I have,” Nick snorted, defending himself.

“When?”

“Last night, just before I went to bed. I checked on him but he was sleeping.”

“You went to bed at around midnight. Mother and I were in Heath’s room because he was not feeling well. We didn’t see your head pop in the door. “

Nick remained silent.

“Nick, what is really the matter? Why won’t you see Heath?” Jarrod continued.

“Because,” Nick paused, taking in a deep breath. He stared at Jarrod with dewy eyes. “Because I can’t, Jarrod. I just can’t bear to see him that way.”

“He’s getting better.”

“Not fast enough,” Audra cut into the conversation as she walked into the room. “Nick, Heath is asking for you.”

“Yeah, well I’ll go up after breakfast.”

“We’ll hold breakfast for you, Nicolas. Go and see your brother. He needs you,” Victoria insisted.

Tension mounted with each request. Nick felt cornered, tightening the leash on his feelings to inhibit them. He had mastered the art of bridling his emotions in times of critical junctures, but the mass appeal from his family throttled him. He stood, thrusting his chair aside and glared at Victoria. “I said, not now!” he lashed out, storming out of the house.

“What’s the matter with Nick?” A stunned Merar asked.

“Heath’s condition terrifies him. He’s scared to face him,” Jarrod explained.”

“Are you saying that Nick hasn’t been up to see his brother since…?”

“We got back,” Jarrod continued.

“Now that makes sense,” Merar mumbled.

“What does?”

“I could be wrong but Heath’s lack of progress may be directly linked to Nick’s refusal to see him. I know those two brothers are very close. Heath might feel guilty for something he said or done to Nick that make him want to keep his distances. Has he said anything?”

Victoria tried to recall. “No, not to me. Heath keeps pretty much to himself.”

“I strongly urge you to find out. Because if Nick is the cause, we’ll easily be able to handle the problem.”

“I’ll go talk to him.” Victoria headed out of the house and to the stables where Nick was seeking comfort by Coco.

Victoria inched inside the barn and listened to Nick pouring his heart out to his horse. “You understand me, don’t you boy?” He began petting the animal. “I love that brother of mine so much, I would give up my life for him, but…” Nick’s voice tailed off as he sniffed back a tear, “I’m responsible for this whole mess. I should have been here to help him out. Instead I was gallivanting about in San Francisco while he was stuck at home grinding away, doing the job of ten men. “ Tears came rushing to his eyes. “Why? Why didn’t he slow down?”

Victoria slowly approached Nick. “Because he wanted you to be proud of him. Heath has always looked up to you, Nicolas. You gave him a job to do and he didn’t want to let you down.”

“Damn him!” Nick cursed.

She held both of Nick’s hands. “Right now, he needs you. He needs to hear you say that you’ll be there for him no matter what. That you don’t hate him for what he has become.”

“I can’t, Mother. If I go up there, I’m afraid I’ll lose it completely,” Nick said with a quavering voice.

“Dr. Merar says that Heath is not making enough progress and thinks it might be related to the fact that you won’t see him.”

Nick frowned and stared at Victoria. “That can’t be.”

“Let us find out. Go to him, Nicolas, “she begged, squeezing both his hands.

Nick gulped and nodded. Victoria released one hand and both headed to the house.

Nick tiptoed inside Heath’s bedroom, craning his neck to see if his brother was sleeping before padding up to the bed. Heath winked his eyes open and focused on Nick smiling at him.

“Hey little brother. Long time no see.”

“Nick!” Heath exclaimed in elation. “I’m glad to see you.”

“Same here.”

“I thought…thought you were ma…mad at me for sumthin’ I’d s…said or did?”

Dr. Merar and Victoria stood by the door, watching.

“Mad at you? I’m mad at myself.”

“Wh…why?”

“For leaving you alone while this epidemic was spreading.”

“You di…didn’t know it would go this far, I s…sure didn’t.”

Heath reached for Nick’s hand with his left hand. In the background, Dr. Merar reacted to the gesture that Heath had trouble making less than an hour earlier. Nick took Heath’s hand and felt it squeeze his own.

“You don…don’t hate me?” Heath asked Nick with a hint of concern.

Nick swallowed the lump in his throat. He goggled upwards, biting his upper lip to mask his emotions. “Sometime I swear you say the stupidest things Heath Barkley.”

Dr. Merar smiled at Victoria and nodded. She knew that her blue-eyed son was on the road to recovery.