Destiny’s Stormy Path

Chapters 1-18

by Catgirl

Disclaimer: The characters and situations of the TV program "Big Valley" are the creations of Four Star/Republic Pictures and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended by the author. The ideas expressed in this story are copyrighted to the author.

Rolling his eyes upwards at the female voice shattering the silence of the world around them, Heath silently asked again why hadn’t he rented a horse and rode the long trail home instead of taking the stagecoach….why did he have to be stuck out in the middle of nowhere with…with… that woman…with her!

Chapter 1

Squinting his eyes and trying to ignore the throbbing in his head, the blond couldn’t recall all the events of last night. Between the beer and whiskey chasers with his friends the Cartwright brothers, he was surprised to find he even had a head on his shoulders when he struggled to open his eyes this morning. It had been a hell of a good night from the shadowy remnants he could filter through the orchestra playing in his head.

He vaguely remembered Hoss supporting him as the large man dragged him up the hotel stairs to his room. He seemed to recall Little Joe singing from the bottom of the stairs…some song with lyrics…he was sure his father would have disapproved of. Lucky for them, their pa was out of town and Adam had been left in charge. Normally reserved and contemplative, it was the eldest Cartwright son who suggested the outing before their friend Heath would head back to Stockton.

Grimacing when he finally was able to roll over and push himself to a sitting position on the side of the bed, Heath held his head in his hands waiting for the orchestra to quiet to a lower volume. He waited until the rumbling in his stomach calmed and he could be sure it wouldn’t raise up into his throat.

Moaning and slowly shuffling across the room in his stocking feet, he filled the basin with water and spent the next ten minutes dousing his head, clearing it slightly of the liquor cobwebs. Changing from the clothes he passed out in, the blond packed his remaining items and belted on his gun. Running his blood shot eyes around the room in a final glance, he cautiously ventured outside his quiet abode and into the noisy real world.

Fate was definitely not on his side he had determined later. If he had known the train would have broken down and who would be accompanying him on the stagecoach, he would have ignored his desires to return home to the family he found and stayed at the Ponderosa several more days. If he had only known.

He hoped he would have the stage all to himself when he settled into the empty compartment. Sighing with relief at the chance to rest his weary body, he leaned his shoulder against the side and pulled his hat low over his eyes. He felt the stage shift in position from someone climbing inside who settled down after murmuring a quiet thank you to someone else. Heath didn’t even have the strength or desire at the moment to lift the brim of his hat to view his fellow traveler. All he wanted was sleep to help alleviate the thumping behind his eyes. When the stage lurched forward after a crack of the whip, he lifted his head up enough to determine there was no one sitting across from him. Stretching out his legs, he crossed his arms over his chest and was sawing a whole forest of lumber in no time at all.

Opening her book, Madison steadied herself after the stage lurched forward, her emerald eyes filling with irritation as she lost her balance for a moment and the book dropped onto the stage floor. Bending to recover her novel, she watched as the man huddled in the corner of the stage stretched out his legs, propping his feet on the seat beside her.

Madison fought the desire to hit the tan boots with her book and force the barbarian who was now snoring loud enough to overcome the noises of the moving coach to remove his footwear from her seat. Shaking her head in disgust, the small woman huffed to herself and opened to the page earmarked. She tried to read but found the motion of the stage and her eyes trying to keep on a straight line were causing her to become nauseous. Unable to overcome the motion sickness, she snapped the book closed and saw the added noise had no effect on her snoring fellow traveler.

Clenching the leather bound edition in her hand, she wondered again why in god’s name had she ever agreed to come out west. Why didn’t she simply remain back east after she graduated from the ladies finishing school? Why had she agreed to go back to Stockton which was once her home at her father’s request?

She hadn’t been west in almost fifteen years and when she stepped off the train in Virginia City, she’d been appalled at how far in time she was thrown back. The place was utter chaos and the men openly leered at her. She’d been jostled several times by those who couldn’t walk and talk at the same time on the boardwalk. One of the citizens of the other sex had even knocked her down when he ran into her. If he’d been looking forward instead of over his shoulder, she wouldn’t have ended up on her bottom. He was lucky he only ended up with a lashing from her sharp tongue. His manners were horribly disgusting and utterly uncouth.

When she walked off the train, she had stepped back into the caveman era and wouldn’t have been surprised if one of those….creatures….had simply knocked her on the head and dragged her off to a cave to have his way with her. It was simply an uncivilized place!

After gaining control of the disgust and anger inside of her, she took a deep breath and allowed the rocking of the stagecoach to coax her eyes closed. Despite the thunderous noise coming from the man who hadn’t even shifted in his sleep, Madison rested in her own corner of the contraption.

She was startled from her sleep in confusion at the sound of gunshots. Emerald eyes darted in fear and they rested upon the face of the man who woke as quickly as her.

“YOU!” shouted both in anger and disbelief at the other before a bullet coming into the coach ended with a thud in the wall beside her.

“GET DOWN!” snarled Heath pulling her off the seat and pushing her to the floor, her fashionable dress ripping in the process. Taking out his gun, he watched the body of the driver rolling off to the side and he felt the coach careening out of control. Feeling the shifting of the coach onto its side too much as it tried to make a corner, Heath covered the small woman on the floor with his body as he stared into the wide emerald eyes beneath him.

Opening her mouth to order the muscular buffoon to get off her, she found her voice silenced when the world shifted upside down and he shielded her with himself.

Chapter 2

Heath wasn’t sure when the rolling of the stage ended for he was momentarily stunned when his head glanced off the wooden frame. He saw stars before the blackness cut off her screams which were threatening to shatter his eardrums. The next thing he felt was a coldness against the back of his neck after he groaned and he didn’t need to see it with his glazed blue eyes to know the coldness was from a barrel of a gun.

“Easy now mister.” Dictated a voice which became clearer as his fog lifted. “Get up real slow like.”

He saw her small boots off to the side while he struggled to get his hands under him and force himself to his feet. Shakily he climbed upwards and ran the back of his hand across his face to free his right eye of the trickle of blood from somewhere. The orchestra had resumed playing in a loud crescendo in his head and he squeezed his temples from the pain before forcing himself to look.

He sighed in defeat at the man who was holding his gun belt and pistol with the eagle emblazoned grip on him while another was dragging a strong box over which had been thrown from the boot of the stage.

“Do something.” Whispered Madison angrily holding the corner of her dress up which ripped in the foray.

Turning to stare at her in disbelief, Heath gaped open mouthed at her and snapped, “What the….what do you expect me to do?”

“I don’t know…shoot them or something!” retorted the girl loudly, her deep red hair was haphazardly hanging about her face, the locks escaping from their holder.

“With what? My finger!” snarled the blond angrily, his temperament increasing with every thud inside his head, their bickering at each other had caught the two highwaymen’s attention.

“Shut up you two!” ordered the tall man watching the couple with irritation.

“Don’t you tell me to shut up!” declared Madison, her voice rising with her indignation as she stood up and her chin raised defiantly. “You…you…criminal!”

Arching his eyebrows and smirking, the taller man motioned for Heath to move nearer to her with his pistol as he walked sideways to where his partner was working on the lock.

“No way!” replied Heath with a negative shake of his pounding head before jabbing towards the girl with his thumb. “This is way too close for comfort now!”

Gasping at the tone in the blond’s voice, Madison’s eyes narrowed and their emerald color turned darker. “What exactly does that mean?”

“It means I reckon you could sour milk just by walking by it.” Retorted the normally gentle calm man, causing her face to redden in embarrassment and anger before unleashing a string of stammered furious words.

“SHUT UP!” shouted both men staring with incredulity at the two passengers of the stage after a shot in the air stopped her burst of words.

Snapping her mouth closed, Madison bit back the fear which rose at the suddenly discharged weapon and trembled. Finding the rifle on the ground which was thrown free of the stage when it turned over, the accomplice to the tall one smashed it against a rock. Heath’s shoulders sank and his stomach plummeted downward when one of the men took out the bags from the strong box before cutting the horses loose from the stage.

“Dammit.” Whispered Heath to himself, not liking the gleam in the eyes of the men as they stared at the two passengers before them.

“No, don’t do it. Com’n!” Stated Heath to the men his hands held outward in surrender.

Madison cringed at the laughter of the two men who calmly mounted and turned away taking the string of horses from the stage with them. Her cheeks burned from the blond’s final shouted words to the backs of the departing men.

“Don’t leave me here….with her! HAVE A HEART! HEY!!!”

Chapter 3

Taking in a deep breath, Heath looked up to the sky before releasing his exhalation in a long sigh after his eyes could no longer see the departing criminals. Raising his left hand to again squeeze his temples, he brought his fingers away from his forehead and saw the blood on their tips. He turned on his heel and walked past the red head who stood staring in the direction the men had fled. The torn piece of her dress was being held up by her right hand and she moved her eyes from the horizon at the sounds behind her.

“Hey!” called Heath waving at her to come over to where he stood above her now opened trunk. “This yours?”

“Don’t you dare touch my things or else!” threatened Madison, the sight of the ruffian standing over her strewn possessions had her feet moving.

Heath couldn’t understand why since their first unfortunate meeting the red head got under his skin without much of an effort on her part. She only had to look at him and he found himself a totally opposite person than who he normally was. His narrowed eyes glared at her as she made a beeline to him and stopped on the other side of the trunk.

“Do you got a mirror in all this….stuff?” asked Heath gesturing to her personal items and unmentionables laying on the ground.

“We certainly don’t have time for you to shave!” snorted Madison angrily. “In case you haven’t noticed…WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE!”

Heath reached up and squeezed his temples after she had leaned forward to shout the last part of her message only inches from his face, causing his headache to increase.

“It’s none of your business if I feel like shaving girlie…..” snarled the blond as he removed his hand.

“I am not a…girlie…I am a lady!” countered Madison shaking the index finger on her right hand at the blond. “I’ll have you know I have attended the top ladies finishing school in this country….”

“Obviously you didn’t graduate!” snapped Heath in annoyance before hastily averting his eyes from the view of the creamy white skin he was granted when she moved her hand.

“I was the top graduate!” declared Madison proudly becoming confused at why he kept looking away from her.

Looking down, Madison’s face paled when she realized in her agitation she had removed her hand holding the torn material in place and she gasped before spinning around. “Oh good heavens! Oh my! Oh good heavens! What would the ladies think of this? Oh my!”

“For the love of….just put something else on!.” Growled Heath when her gasped exclamations kept coming

“You could have told me!” shrieked Madison grabbing another dress from where it had been thrown on the ground and quickly hurried to the other side of the coach away from his view.

“Do you have a mirror or not?” shouted Heath throwing his hands in the air when she yelled back and demanded to know why he cared about shaving now when he should have taken care of it before he boarded the stage.

“I’m a top graduate.” Muttered Heath mimicking a feminine voice before snorting. “Yeah, that’ll be real helpful!”

Examining the strewn contents of the damaged stagecoach in the area, Heath walked over to the body he saw laying further away. Kneeling on one knee beside the driver, the blond sighed and shut the lids on the unseeing eyes. Resting his arm on his upturned knee, Heath frowned at the lack of weapons on the man, obviously the two causing all this ruckus had stripped the driver clean for there wasn’t even a piece of lint in the man’s pockets.

Away from the irritation disguised in a female body, he mentally went over the map in his head and decided he didn’t like what he was seeing. Glancing up at the sun and estimating how many hours passed since the stage had taken off, he placed them at approximately on the western side of Lake Tahoe. As far as he was aware the nearest town was Pollock Station, at least a good sixty to seventy miles away. Unless they ran into someone traveling in the same area, it looked like they’d have to walk to Pollock Station.

‘Seventy miles with her? Great! Just great!’ thought Heath resting his head on his forearm for a moment before pushing himself up and begrudgingly walking back to where she was repacking her trunk.

“What are you doing?” asked Heath as he stood above her watching.

“I’m repacking my things.” Replied Madison. “I’m not going to leave my dresses laying on the ground, they’ll get ruined.”

“Do you have a mirror?” asked Heath waiting til she looked up in disbelief before gesturing to his head where a small trickle of blood was still flowing. “Unless you care to take care of this before we head out?”

“You’re bleeding!” exclaimed Madison suddenly. “Why didn’t you say something!”

“I thought it was kinda obvious.” suggested Heath sarcastically. “Can’t say I see people walking around all the time like this.”

“Sit here.” Ordered Madison closing the lid on her trunk.

Heath took a seat as she turned to lift her skirt and tore a strip from her petticoat.

Dabbing at the cut first, she held the cloth to his head for several minutes before peeking underneath to examine the injury. Satisfied it was no longer bleeding, she wiped the trickle of blood from the side of his face before tying a clean strip around his head.

“It’s not too bad but may need a stitch or two.” Informed Madison receiving a nod before suddenly realizing what he’d said earlier. “What do you mean before we head out?”

“What? It’s just what I said.” Replied Heath in confusion before stepping past her and picking up two blankets from the ground, placing them in a pile. “We got a long walk to the next town.”

“A LONG WALK!” repeated the red head grabbing his arm and snapping. “ARE YOU CRAZY?”

“Well, miss top graduate….we can’t wait here for the next trolley car or handsome cab to come by that we can rent! There’s a whole lot of not really much between us and the next town so we’d best get a move on.” Informed Heath pulling himself free from her grasp before looking back at her and gesturing to the trunk beside her. “Since we’re walking, I suggest you pack only what you can carry.”

“What?” shouted Madison with a stomp of her foot. “You mean you’re not going to help me with my things?”

“Hmmm….let’s see…near as I can recall the last time I looked in a mirror unless something’s changed, I didn’t see packhorse written on my forehead.” Grinned Heath into her emerald eyes before turning and walking away.

“I was right! You are a Neanderthal!” retorted Madison at his wide back. “First you run over me in Virginia City and now, you’re going to walk me to death! What kind of gentleman are you? HEY! I’M TALKING TO YOU!”

“Is a case of laryngitis to much to ask for, I wonder.” Mumbled Heath as he rummaged through the items spread across the trail.

Chapter 4

Picking up his tipped over valise, Heath pulled out the rest of its contents and set them in front of him. Selecting a pair of pants, blue shirt, a pair of socks and underwear from the pile, the blond placed them to the side before pushing the rest of his clothes aside to scan the non-material items left before him.

Blue eyes smiled at the faces in the picture framed in wood looking at him before he turned it over and took off the back. Sliding out the picture, he reached into his pants and then realized his wallet was gone. Scowling at the two men who must have taken it while he was out of it for those few minutes, he folded the picture carefully to avoid creasing his family’s faces. Tucking his hand into the pocket of his tan pants, he found his pocket knife was also gone. Lifting his pant to the top of his boot, he smiled at the top of the hilt he saw peeking out from the hidden slot sewn into the leather.

‘Damn good thing they didn’t take my boots’ thought Heath with a shake of his head at the small bit of good in this otherwise bad situation.

Pushing down his pant leg, he reached into the valise and pulled on the top thin wood plate in the bottom of the bag. Satisfied when he saw the white envelope hidden between the two wood slats in the bottom of the valise, he placed his clothes inside. Standing as he put the photograph in the pocket under his vest, he glanced over to see the red headed girl sitting and staring into her trunk, absently reaching up and swiping at the back of her eyes.

“Boy howdy, please tell me she’s not crying.” Groaned Heath to a beetle crawling on the hard packed dirt before muttering and rubbing his hands over his face. “I hate it when girls cry. Why does she have to be a water spout?”

Madison trembled with anger and wiped at the tears springing into her eyes. The red head couldn’t believe HE was asking her to decide between her life’s possessions what to take and what to leave behind. This whole day had become almost surreal to the young lady. It was almost as if she felt disconnected from her body and not wanting to deal with their forced reality.

Blinking against the tears pooling again and dripping over her lashes, she hastily wiped a hand across her face again. She so disliked her body’s ability to generate the droplets when she was so filled with frustration or anger….it became an outlet of release she frowned upon.

Madison wasn’t sure how long he’d been standing above her looking down but she realized it with a fright and snapped at the strange look on his face, “What!”

“Do you need some help?” offered Heath quietly, confused at the growing yearning he felt to take the shimmering droplets from her eyes as he stood watching.

Staring openmouthed at him for a moment, Madison’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, “Why are you offering?”

“Listen lady…uh…” stated the blond before frowning, “What’s your name?”

“My name?” repeated Madison, surprise making her words squeak out at the unexpected question.

Lowering himself to his haunches so she wouldn’t have to continue staring up at him, Heath nodded, “Yeah, your name. It’d be easier than calling you lady. I’m Heath.”

“Uh…it’s Madison.” Supplied the red head uneasily before pulling her eyes away to look into the trunk wondering why he hadn’t given his last name. An idea of perhaps he was hiding from the law sprung up in her head and she looked at him from the corner of her eye. Suddenly the area around them seemed as remote as the furthest corner of the earth and she swallowed nervously. What if…what if he…he was too large for her to escape….

“Madison, do you need some help?” asked Heath again reaching over to touch her forearm when she didn’t respond.

Letting out a scream of fear, Madison jumped away from him and shouted, “Stay away from me! Don’t you dare touch me! You just stay back!”

Turning red from the neck up, Heath’s eyes burned and he sprang up to his feet, “Listen lady, you don’t have to worry any about that! Only a CRAZY man would go down that trail!”

“YOU…YOU…BARBARIAN!” screamed Madison finding herself surprisingly hurt at the insinuation in his angry words.

“Gee, I thought I was a Neanderthal! Thanks for the raise up in society’s level!” retorted Heath sarcastically. Stiff backed, the blond stomped heavily as he walked away four feet before suddenly turning to face her again. “I’m leaving in fifteen minutes…with or without you!”

Chapter 5

“Of all the….!” snapped Madison to herself after the blond laid down his final words before turning his back to her again and striding over to the stagecoach.

Her emerald eyes glittered angrily as she watched him use the wheel of the overturned coach to pull himself upwards. The flame in her slowly lowered to a flicker as she turned her eyes back to her trunk, the mementos of her past fifteen years of life were in the crate of wood and she sighed in frustration. Lowering herself in front of the trunk, her hand reached out only to pause and she frowned….she had no idea what to take and what to leave behind.

Glancing to the overturned coach, she saw Heath lowering himself in and became irritated at letting his words get to her. Setting her mind on the task at hand, she pulled out one of her less glamorous dresses before pushing it aside in favor of a riding skirt and blouse she’d purchased before leaving Baltimore. Delving in with all the fortitude of striving to make the best out of a bad situation as taught by the teachers at the ladies finishing school, Madison took things out of her trunk setting them in a pile. Repeating the mantra of Miss Wilson’s favorite saying ‘a rose is as strong as an oak’, she jumped at the voice suddenly speaking above her.

“Madison...”

“Just wait!” retorted the red headed girl quickly, flustered he had approached without even a whisper of sound. “I’m almost done! Don’t leave yet!”

Dropping the valise beside her and feeling a tinge of guilt for her fear he’d leave her alone, Heath hunched down and frowned at the large pile she’d obviously taken from the trunk. “Do you have a valise or something to carry anything in?”

Shaking her head negatively, Madison stammered, “I only brought the trunk and my handbag.”

Opening his bag, Heath offered, “You can put your things in here but not all that is going to fit. You’ll have to take out only the things that are necessary.”

“But…but..” stuttered the young woman her hands clutching one of the books she’d brought out to her chest. “What’s going to happen to all my things? I don’t have anything else. This trunk has all my life in it.”

Madison watched with surprise at the pain filling the blue eyes of the blond before he looked down and took in a deep breath. Lifting his head, she wondered if perhaps she’d only imagined seeing the emotion in his eyes since now they were clear as the water on the calm seas.

“If I thought someone would come by today, tomorrow or the next day I’d say we wait and you wouldn’t have to leave your things behind.” Informed Heath with a shake of his head before gesturing around the area. “This area of Nevada has barely any animals living here let alone people, Madison. We can’t wait here for someone who’s not coming….we have to go to them.”

“You act as if we’re the last people on earth.” Replied the red head, her eyes filled with despair of losing all she had.

“Listen…” said Heath brusquely before stopping at the flame rising in the emerald orbs and deciding to try a different approach. Smiling tenderly, the blond continued in a soft voice, “Madison, I’ve lived here all my life and know what I’m talking about. I know it’s….hard…for you to leave some of your stuff behind….what if I promise we’ll come back for them later…after we get to a town or farm?”

Madison stared at the face of the man kneeling by the trunk mesmerized by how his features changed with a smile and the soft tone of his voice tingled the very bottom of her stomach with butterfly wings. Tilting her head slightly and hardly breathing, she watched his eyes blink suddenly as if in confusion and she realized he was probably waiting for her to speak.

“I…um…I…do you think they’ll be safe?” stuttered Madison pulling her eyes away from his and looking down at the book in her hands. “I mean…anyone could come upon the trunk and…and…steal it.”

Dragging his eyes from the head of red hair that lowered, Heath swallowed and stood up. Clearing his throat to mask his sudden nervous feeling, the blond took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair. Rubbing the back of his neck, he scowled at the way he’d been taken by his strange desire to get lost in the depths of her green eyes.

“We…I could drag the trunk over by the stagecoach.” Offered Heath catching her attention. “If we set it up against the boot, it’ll be kind of hidden until we can come back for it.”

“I guess that might work.” Agreed Madison grudgingly before asking. “Are you sure we can’t just stay here? At least for today?”

“No, I’m afraid not.” Said Heath with a smile of regret. “The sooner we start out, the sooner we’ll get help.”

“Don’t you mean the sooner you’ll be rid of me?” quipped Madison intending the question to be a joke but her tone was harsher than she intended and it cut to the quick.

“I never said that!” snapped the blond his hackles bristling at the sudden change from purring to scratching in the red headed girl, wondering if perhaps there was no way to approach her without being left with scars. Slapping his hat back on his head, Heath repeated, “Pack only what’s necessary!”

Leaving her sitting by the trunk fuming at herself over destroying the peace of the moment, Madison glared at Heath when he loudly directed her to hurry up as he walked to the blankets he set aside and picked them up. Narrowing her eyes and clamping her mouth into a thin line, the emerald eyes glowed and a sly smile lifted her lips.

Chapter 6

Removing his hat with one hand, Heath ran the sleeve of his arm across his forehead and glanced toward the girl struggling to keep pace with him. She looked a sight with the droplets of sweat rolling down her face under the lacey parasol she used to shield herself from the rays of the sun. Setting the valise onto the ground, he rubbed at the moisture on his sweatband, his eyes crinkling against the glare of the afternoon light.

Stopping beside the man waiting with irritation in his eyes, Madison ignored him and let out a sigh of tiredness. Reaching up and closing her eyes, she brushed her wet locks of hair from her face unaware he had unconsciously stared at the beads of perspiration on her upper lip for a minute before recovering.

“Madison, you’d feel cooler….” Said Heath only finding his words were stopped by a fierce scowl of disapproval.

“I will not do as you suggest!” retorted the emerald eyed witch with disdain. “A lady should be allowed to keep some of her dignity!”

“For heaven’s sake girl!” snapped Heath pointing a finger in the air towards her. “Don’t you think it’s more important not to get sick out here in the middle of nowhere? It’s not like I’m suggesting you prance around in your…uh….well…uh….you know!”

Letting out a squeal of disbelief and throwing back her shoulders, Madison thrust her chin into the air and brushed past Heath. Staring at the rigid back of the young woman covered in the heavy dress, Heath took a moment to close his eyes and clench his fists tightly.

“Why do you even bother?” he asked himself out loud before snorting, “Cause you’re a fool, Heath Barkley….a fool!”

Bending down and picking up the valise, he started out after the red head, shaking his head. Suddenly even more stronger than before he found himself wishing he was anywhere else in the earth except right behind the red head whose hips moved the bustle of her dress in a manner he found he couldn’t keep his eyes off.

“You are a barbarian!” mumbled Heath increasing his steps so he could walk beside her and not behind where the swaying of her body kept his eyes captivated.

Madison knew the blond man was right but her stubborn cantankerous being wouldn’t allow him the satisfaction of taking his sound advice. The strongest heat of the day had passed and she struggled to keep up, knowing soon they’d stop for night and she could rest. Tomorrow she would dress without her heavy and confining undergarments so she would feel cooler. But today, she’d suffer through and show him ‘a rose is as strong as an oak’ or ox, she thought with a lifting of her lips. Twirling the handle of her parasol, she smiled to herself amused at her own private little conversation.

Heath glanced over and frowned at the smile hovering around her lips. She was twirling the parasol shielding her from the sun as if they were simply taking a stroll in a city park. For a moment, he wanted to ask if she was delirious at the way she was smiling but then realized the quiet was a nice haven compared to the biting comments she’d made over the past few hours.

Madison let out a cry of surprise and lost hold of her parasol to stop herself from hitting the ground when she stumbled. To her surprise, she found her downward progress stopped by strong hands which stayed holding onto her upper arms. Her small hands had found their way to lay palms down on his chest and she felt the strong beat of his heart.

Looking up she couldn’t help but be drawn to the clear eyes looking at her with….something which made them shimmer in his face. She could have sworn hours passed but it was only mere seconds. Heath blinked and swallowed before taking a step back, dropping his hold on her slim arms. Wiping his hands nervously together, he flashed a lop sided grin and reached down for her parasol.

“You okay?” questioned Heath softly, holding out the handle of the ladies’ umbrella towards her waiting as her small hand reached out to take it.

“Uh…yes…thank you.” Answered Madison with a shy smile and looking down demurely before sighing. “I think my legs are getting tired.”

“Well…it’s been a long day.” Suggested Heath offhandedly before picking up the valise and pointing to a stand of trees in the distance. “Those trees are as far as we’ll go today. You can rest soon while I rustle us up some supper.”

Madison nodded and was overtaken at the tingle of her skin when he shifted the valise to his right hand to clasp her arm with his left. He shortened his stride to stay in step with her and she swallowed at the feeling his touch was causing her. Frowning, she wondered if this was the mystery of what happened between a man and a woman.

‘Why didn’t we learn about that at the finishing school?’ thought Madison, her frown not lost on the man by her side.

Heath let out the breath he wasn’t aware he’d been holding by her nearness and released his hold on her arm at the dark frown on her face. He felt a sense of loss and confusion by his severance of his touch. Madison kept her eyes straight ahead, her slightly opened mouth panting for the air which seemed to be eluding her at the loss of his hand on her arm. She was almost giddy when they reached the stand of trees so she could rest, convincing herself her strange feelings were due to exhaustion and nothing else.

Helping Madison to find a seat on a log, Heath lifted up his pant leg and pulled out the knife hidden in his boot. Looking up, he cringed at the fury in the emerald eyes at the weapon.

“You had a weapon this whole time!” shouted Madison taking the knife from his hand with a quickness he wouldn’t have thought possible. Studying it, she tossed it to the ground and jumped for him as he was righting himself. Heath found himself bowled over by the petite woman who caught him unaware and he was fending himself off from her small fists.

“You could have stopped them! You didn’t do anything!” screamed Madison in frustration, her tangent of words not stopping or her fighting even as he rolled them over and pinned her onto the ground. Writhing under his body, she couldn’t silence her shouts and her efforts to dislodge him.

“Stop it!” hissed Heath. “STOP!”

His voice had no effect on her for she was like a wildcat on locoweed beneath him. He knew she was mad and didn’t understand that even if he had a knife, it was no match against two men armed with pistols.

Ordering her to stop and not having any luck, he did the only thing he could….he captured her mouth to stop her furious screams of accusation.

Chapter 7

The soft lips under his lost their stiffness from the anger coursing through her body, becoming pliable and responsive. Lost in the savor of her taste, Heath heard a soft moan break through the cloud he found himself riding on. Suddenly realizing what he was doing, the blond released her mouth and pushed his upper body off her heaving form, his words stammering out of his mouth.

“Uh….I’m sorry…no I’m not…yes…I am…” apologized the blond in confusion, the taste of her mouth still reeling his head and spiraling his thoughts in circles. “I…didn’t…I shouldn’t….”

Madison’s chest heaved and she fought for the air taken from her by the sensation of their meeting mouths. She stared upwards into the blue eyes clouded with confusion and her eyes narrowed when she saw the regret in his face. Swinging with her small clenched fist, she smiled in satisfaction when the barbarian’s face exploded in pain.

“HEY!”

Heath pushed himself over to the side, his left hand reaching up to cover his eye which was bursting with pain. Staring at her from his right eye, Heath held out his right hand when she pushed herself up and moved towards him with a dark scowl on his face. “Hold it now! Madison….I’m sorry for….”

“For what?” retorted Madison as her hands brushed angrily at her dress trying to rub out the wrinkles. “Kissing me or letting me know you had a weapon the whole time!”

Pushing himself up and staring at her, Heath took a breath and let it out slowly, “I’m sorry for getting carried away…..I couldn’t help it…I mean…I lost my head for a moment….I don’t know why I did it…certainly ain’t cause we get along or anything like that….”

Glaring at the young man who was not as assured as he seemed the entire day, Madison clenched her hands as he continued rambling and dabbing at his rapidly swelling left eye with the sleeve of his forearm. The emerald eyes simmered as her mind suddenly questioned the reason for her anger. Was it because he ended the moment or because he was trying to explain it away?

Heath took a breath and shook his head unsure of what the hell came over him, acknowledging the shot to the eye he received was deserved from his lack of gentlemanly behavior. Keeping her in his view, he shuffled a wide circle around her and knelt down to get his knife, uncertain if she’d leap like before and try to close his other eye.

“I’ll get some firewood.” Muttered Heath stepping back a few feet before turning to enter the trees around them.

Madison watched the broad back disappear into the trees, her eyes suddenly captivated on the back pockets of his jeans while her hand slowly raised to her still tingling lips. She could feel her heart still wildly thumping in her chest and she took in several breaths to try to stop the shiver of excitement running through her.

“Good heavens.” Whispered Madison to herself, wrapping her arms around her chest and taking a seat on the log behind her.

Sitting still, the young woman brushed back the tears forming in her eyes at the remembrance of regret which spread across his face as she stared up at him. The feel of his body pinning her down and his hands on her wrists hadn’t frightened her….if anything….it caused feelings inside she didn’t understand. Intuitively she knew the feelings were natural and yet, she was taken by surprise at the power of them rippling through her as she had lost herself in the passion of the kiss.

Heath exited the trees with an armful of wood, dropping it onto the ground and keeping his eyes away from the girl who sat on the deadfall. Busying himself with building a fire, he noticed his fingers shaking after he pulled out a match from his inner vest pocket. Taking a breath, he struggled to force down the longing awakened in his body from the feel of her under him and her responsive lips. Scowling at himself, he turned his attention to the matter at hand and coaxed the small flicker into a flame. Satisfied, he looked up and swallowed at her eyes intently upon him before he dropped his gaze and broke some sticks to add them to the small flame.

“There’s a stream a little ways away.” Offered Heath quietly. “I’ll try to catch us some fish.”

Madison blinked when she heard his voice, unaware she’d been staring at him with eyes glazed from the foreign feelings raging in her veins. Her mind registered the idea of a stream and she nodded after he said her name when she didn’t respond the first time.

Pushing himself up to his feet, Heath stopped when her soft voice reached him, “Can I come with you and wash up?”

“Uh…sure.” Said Heath after clearing his throat, tensing as she neared and trying to force the primal urges in him down. “Let me get the bag. We can change and we could…um…wash these clothes. Course we don’t have any soap but we can get some of the dirt out of them.”

Madison smiled tenderly while the blond got the valise and lead the way to the stream, green eyes drawn once again to the backside view he presented before she shook herself and forced her eyes upward.

Leaving the girl with the valise, Heath worked his way upstream around a corner where his eye wouldn’t be able to stray to where she was washing. Cutting off a willow branch, he sat on a rock and pulled out the strips of leather he’d taken from the bench seat in the stage. Digging his hand into a pocket, he studied the piece of metal in his hand from the broken pin of the stage. Using a stone to bend the pin to fashion a hook, he turned it and pounded the other end over before tying the leather strip to it. Leaving his fishing line on the bank, he lifted a rock under a massive tree, picking up the worms underneath for bait.

Whistling off tune, Heath sat on the bank with his line in the water and looked over in surprise when he heard her coming through the trees. He called out when she shouted his name and pulled in his line.

“I’m done.” Announced the red head her eyes widening at the fish hanging on the willow branch. “You caught all those?”

“Yep.” Grinned Heath. “After I wash, I’ll cook ‘em up for dinner. They’re mighty tasty.”

“I bet.” Smiled Madison, her emerald eyes sparkling in anticipation of a meal. “What can I do?”

“You want to clean them?” suggested Heath, chuckling at the look of disgust spreading across her face. “I’ll take care of it. Why don’t you just carry them back to the fire and I’ll be there in a bit?”

Hesitating for a moment, Madison reached out and took hold of the branch with a nervous smile before turning and walking into the trees. Heath resumed his whistling as he walked down stream and after a quick glance into the woods to ensure she wasn’t around, decided to take a quick dip while he washed his clothes. The cold water on his body felt invigorating and he dunked his head several times before scrubbing his shirt and pants in hopes of removing some of the day’s dust. Feeling immensely better at having a clean body, Heath tossed his wet clothes onto a rock and grabbed the blanket Madison had used to dry herself. Wrapping it around his waist, he knelt down and opened the valise, his hand pushing aside the women’s garments.

Madison’s eyes opened with realization about the time a fury filled shout split the woods around her.

“WHERE THE HELL ARE MY CLOTHES?”

“MMMMAAAAADDDDDIIIIIISSSSSSOOOOONNNNN!!!!”

Chapter 8

Madison jumped to her feet at the sound of him coming through the woods bursting into their small campsite with blue eye flashing. The firelight flickered and glistened off the beads of water on the fine hairs on his chest. Madison licked her lips and her hand flew to her throat nervously while he simply glared at her clutching the blanket around his waist.

“What did you do?” asked Heath in a low voice that sent shivers up her spine and caused her to anxiously step back to place the log between them.

0“I….uh….I.”

“Yes?” prodded Heath taking a step closer, his eye intently watching her every move as if he were a predator seeking his prey in the falling shadows of the fast approaching dusk.

“I forgot to put your clothes back in.” suggested Madison, her words squeaking out of her dry mouth.

“Forgot, did you?” growled the blond, the muscle in his jaw clenching and pulsating at the anger tightening his entire frame. “Is that so?”

“Yes, I did.” stuttered Madison unable to keep her eyes locked on his muscular body while she tried to spin her lie. “I needed more room in the bag…women need more things.”

“If you forgot why weren’t they laying on the ground by the valise when I picked it up?” asked Heath firmly moving another step closer.

“Silly me…I set them on top of my things in the trunk and must have shut them inside…and…forgot to put them in.” said Madison her eyes darting around as the scowl on his face deepened. “I’m….well…I’m terribly…sorry.”

“Not as sorry as you’re gonna be.” Stated Heath softly.

“Don’t you dare!” threatened Madison, stepping to the side as he slowly advanced, his long stride steadily overtaking her shorter frantic movements. “Okay….I shouldn’t have done it! I was mad!”

“What am I supposed to wear now?” snapped Heath uncaring of the tears springing to her eyes as she trembled from fear of him.

Madison shrugged and opened her mouth while she ran her eyes down his chest and over the blanket hanging just short of his tan boots. Taking in a shaky breath at the half naked man before her, Madison shook her head negatively when she had no answer, her red locks falling into her eyes.

Heath fixed one last stony glare at her before turning and stomping from the campsite back to the stream. Tucking the end of the blanket in, he grabbed his wet garments and mumbled under his breath as he stalked over to grab the valise in his other hand. Madison stood nervously wringing her hands from the edge of the trees waiting to see if he was going to do anything drastic.

Staring at the bag in his hand, Heath contemplated throwing the rest of her clothes in the stream until a measure of calm was restored to him. Leaning back his head and looking into the gathering darkness in the sky, Heath spoke to himself, “Why did I take the stage? Why didn’t I wait for the train to be fixed?”

Madison swallowed the lump of guilt for what she’d done and stepped out from the trees. “Heath, I really am sorry. It was an awful thing to do.”

Startled by her voice, the blond turned and dropped the valise to grab at the blanket around his waist which came loose from the sharp movement. Floundering as he grabbed for the coarse material, Heath gaped in horror at her loud gasp of disbelief before he recovered and moved his wet clothes in front of his bare lower half.

“Madison, get out of here!” snapped Heath, the moonlight showing the red coursing upwards towards his face.

The wide emerald eyes blinked before she slowly moved backwards. Her mouth was left hanging open at the flash of white skin she’d seen in the fading light and the shadow of his anatomy. Heath clutched his clothes in front of him with an iron grip and he held his breath as she slowly backed away before turning and escaping back to the campfire. Hanging his head for a moment, the blond rancher groaned and wondered what the family at home would have thought if they’d known he unwittingly flashed an innocent young woman.

“Boy howdy, bet her finishing school didn’t say anything about stuff like this.” Mumbled Heath reaching down and grabbing the blanket.

Holding his damp clothes in front of him, he made his way to a bush where he quickly rewrapped the blanket around his waist. Taking his wet clothes to the valise, he grabbed his gun belt and tightened it around his waist, pulling the blanket up to hang over its edge. Tucking on it, he nodded with satisfaction when the material didn’t budge before gathering the bag and his clothes.

Madison sat on the deadfall, her hands clutched in her lap when he came back to the fire. She averted her eyes from the broad chest and watched his hands prop his clothes up on some branches he stuck in the ground. Pulling his knife out of his boot, he picked up the fish and ignored her as he calmly walked back to the stream returning ten minutes later where he cooked their dinner over the open fire.

“Heath, why don’t you put your shirt on?” suggested Madison in a whisper, increasingly uncomfortable with the feelings his bare chest stirred up inside her.

“I can’t.” stated Heath not bothering to look at her as he continued speaking. “It’s gonna get cool tonight and the last thing I need is to sleep in a damp shirt. Unless, of course, you’re hoping I catch a chill or maybe pneumonia.”

“No of course not!” hissed Madison horrified he’d think she would want any physical harm to come to him. “It’s just that….you’re…well…half…not fully dressed…and…”

Heath snapped, “Whose fault is that!”

“I said I was sorry.” shot Madison right back. “I really am!”

“Maybe you are and maybe you’re not!” quipped Heath before scowling at her. “You should have thought about that before you FORGOT my stuff in your trunk. If it makes you uncomfortable, don’t look!”

“Fine!” replied Madison shifting on the log so her back was to him.

Reaching up, Heath tenderly felt his blackened eye with the tips of his fingers. The blond could honestly say he’d never been slapped….punched…by a woman before. Looking over at the back of the redheaded wildcat, Heath felt pity rising up for the man in the future who unwisely tried to claim her as his own.

Chapter 9

His internal clock said it was time to get up. Whether his night’s sleep was restful or not, he slowly opened his eye and followed it’s demand just as he had every other day of his life. Biting back a groan, Heath‘s body felt the aftereffects of the stagecoach’s unexpected side to side tumble. His muscles were screaming from tightening up over the course of the past hours while night swept by.

Heath realized the adrenaline pushing him yesterday….and the unexpected source of anger, frustration and shock….was the driving force which took most of his attention….thus….giving him a focus. Being a man of many rough tumbles and suchlike in his life, he should have known today would be the day they’d feel the accident on every inch of them.

His left eye stung when he tried to open its lid and he wisely decided he could do with only one eye for the moment. Tenderly he reached up and tried to estimate how that half of his face must look. He’d have never believe such a tiny thing had so much power in a right cross to cause the swelling that she did.

Looking across the now dead fire at the dormant professional boxer hidden inside his traveling companion, he saw her lying wrapped in the second blanket, a twin to the one wrapped around his waist, her eyes closed and asleep. Her face relaxed and her red hair was laying loose. Squinting in the early morning light, the blond smirked.

‘Wouldn’t have surprised me if she did have two horns like I dreamed.” Thought Heath as he reached up to scratch his chest, casually wondering if his clothes were dry when suddenly he became aware of why even in the cool of the morning, he was snug as a bug in a rug.

Running his fingers over the material he felt covering his body, he pushed up on his elbow and stared at the two dresses covering him. The rich deep material of the gowns was exquisite to his touch, the dresses were heavy from the several layers of the full skirt and it took a minute for his shocked mind to process the evidence covering him.

Looking across the cold ring of fire, Madison nearly snickered out loud at the puzzlement on the blond’s face as he stared at her dresses covering him. She could see the wheels in his mind working, trying to decide why she’d cover him with the belongings she apparently felt yesterday couldn’t be left behind.

Deciding to take pity on the man who she had wronged yesterday out of her anger, she informed him quietly, “It got cold last night and I didn’t want you to become ill because of me.”

“Uh…thanks.” Replied Heath throwing her a quick grin which set her heart to thump wildly.

Shifting on the ground, Madison suddenly gasped and cried out, her eyes filling with tears. Throwing back the dresses, Heath was by her side in a minute and leaning over her, his hands on either side of her shoulders.

“What is it?” questioned the blond seeing the pain in her eyes.

“My whole body…” hissed the red head, emerald eyes filling with confusion and pain.

Reaching up and brushing back the locks from her eyes, Heath nodded. “It was a long day yesterday, Madison….you’re only now feeling the soreness from the stagecoach accident.”

“I feel like I don’t have any arms or legs.” Moaned the girl, her eyes transfixed on the broad muscular chest above her before trailing down over his lean stomach to the blanket covering his lower half.

“You’ll hurt but we need to get you moving to loosen up your muscles.” Informed Heath bringing her eyes back up to his face when he spoke. “I’ll get dressed. You stay here and don’t try to move til I get back.”

“Okay.” Agreed Madison with a slight smile, her cheek burning from where he had absently rubbed it with his thumb while his voice was so soothing to her ears.

Unaware of the eyes watching as his well toned body rippled under his every move, Heath stood up and walked over to his clothes still propped up on branches. Rolling his head to alleviate the stiffness in his neck and upper shoulders, he didn’t know the movement of his muscles caused Madison to absently wet her lips with the tip of her pink tongue.

Taking the garments off their natural hangers, the blond cast a grin over his shoulder before leaving, “Don’t move now.”

“I won’t.” assured Madison enjoying the sudden warmth which spread throughout her body after he walked away into the trees.

“Whoa!” exclaimed the male voice from the cover of the foliage around them.

“What’s wrong?” called Madison suddenly worried.

“Nothing. They’re just a little cold.” Answered Heath as he hissed his breath at the coldness running over his warm skin, scolding himself for letting his startled word escape at the rising warmth in his body by his inability to keep his fingers from touching the silkiness of her cheek.

Shivering against the cool material, Heath ran a hand through his hair and picked up the discarded blanket. Making his way back to the campsite, he smiled and knelt down beside her, reaching to help her to a sitting position. The pain in her body caused her to moan and lean into him. She felt the beating of his heart against her cheek while his hand absently rubbed circles on her back.

“I know it hurts like the devil right now.” Reassured Heath as she trembled against him. “It’ll get better once we get moving.”

“Promise?” whispered Madison leaning her head back and studying the face near hers as her fists entwined in his shirt.

Staring into the depths of the wide emerald eyes, Heath saw her white teeth through her slightly parted lips and could feel her heaving breasts against his chest. He swallowed convulsively at the sudden touch of her fingers over the growth of whiskers on this face. Unable to move and entranced by the unexpected touch, he found he lacked any semblance of strength to stop the small hand from pulling his head closer.

Unsure but only knowing she needed to feel the touch of his lips on hers, Madison’s fingers entwined themselves in his blond hair to lower his mouth closer. The tip of her tongue darted out to touch his lips and she heard his quick intake of breath before she captured his bottom lip between hers. Sucking on it and letting the stirring in her body guide her on, she heard a moan rising from the depths of his broad chest when she pushed her way into the mouth which openly willingly for her. Seeking out his tongue, neither was aware they shifted to lay side by side on the ground while lost in the taste of each other.

The small hand running down his back broke the spell and Heath suddenly pulled his mouth from hers, scrambling away and heaving for air. Madison looked bewildered at the removal of his lips and stared at the man who was shaking his head in denial.

“No…we…you….uh…this can’t be happening.” Protested Heath in an angry tone, holding up his hand when her mouth opened. “Madison….get ready…we have to get going.”

Green eyes flared with pain at the man who disappeared into the trees, heading towards the stream. Looking around the campsite in puzzlement, she felt the stinging salty droplets dripping down her lashes. She knew Heath had enjoyed the kiss as much as she from the sounds he made and wondered what she’d done wrong while she climbed to her feet on legs made of liquid.

Kneeling beside the cool stream, Heath liberally doused his head with water and washed his face. The blond tired to numb the prickly sensation on his lips and will away the evidence of his arousal. He could still taste her sweetness and shuddered at the innocent intoxication which was Madison. He was well aware he’d never been in this position before and wasn’t sure he liked the feeling of losing control due to a single touch.

“I’ll be lucky if I’m not strung up when we get back.” Mumbled Heath to himself, his fingers lightly touching the bottom lip she had sucked on and he felt the stirring deep inside him.

“Boy howdy, I’m in serious trouble.”

Chapter 10

The tears she shed after he left and walked to the river had dried. As she stuffed her dresses which covered him while he slept into the valise, Madison felt a stirring inside her. The stirring was different than before, it was a cascading of seething emotions at the wound opened up from his rejection. His actions were a blight on her inner self and cutting deep into her young heart.

Heath had spent the last twenty minutes away from the red headed young girl. Sitting on a rock on the shoreline of the stream, he held his head in his hands. The longer it took the remembrance of the taste of her to depart from his mouth….the firmer his conviction was to ensure the young girl, newly graduated from the ladies finishing school, remain unadulterated. The longer he sat and introspected the past hours spent with Madison, the surlier he became at the change her nearness caused in him.

He may have been born a bastard but he certainly wouldn’t allow this female to stoke his animalistic urges and have him act like one. He was a man who respected women. He was, after all, a gentleman.

He could tell she wasn’t experienced in the ways of…relations and he decided it was up to him to ensure her virtue remained intact….well as intact as it could be the remainder of their time together.

‘Two kisses was all it had been…uh…and maybe her seeing too much last night on the shoreline….but no more!’ reasoned Heath silently as he ran his fingers roughly through his hair.

Feeling decidedly better on having been able to force his primal self back deep down where it lived, Heath clenched his jaw and took in a deep breath. Throwing back his shoulders, the man who survived mine cave-ins, the cruelties of war as a teenager and his sister’s cooking came to a resolution and would follow it through with conviction.

“When forced an enemy do not give an inch. Hold your ground and launch counter defenses. “ stated Heath to a large bullfrog watching from a safe distance, his round beady eyes blinking once as if in agreement.

“I can do that.” Assured the blond to the croaking amphibian. “I’ll just think of her as a sister like Audra and if that don’t work I can always pretend she’s a nun.”

“Piece of cake.” Said Heath to himself, suddenly looking around and shaking his head in disgust. “For pete’s sake, now she’s got you talking to frogs!”

Nodding once to himself, the blond stood and turned back towards the campsite, his rigid spine signifying his firm conviction. Entering the small area, he found her sitting on the deadfall. The two blankets were folded and set on the valise.

“Are you ready?” asked Heath pleasantly.

Madison stood on her feet before brushing past him with her eyes kept forward and carrying her parasol. Arching an eyebrow at the firm set to her face, Heath sighed with relief then retrieved the blankets and valise.

‘She’s not speaking to me!’ cheered his inner voice loudly. ’That’ll make it much easier. Thank the stars!’

While she didn’t like walking the dusty trail which seemed never ending, Madison used the presented opportunity to cool her fiery temper. She had come to realize she had been in the wrong and as much as it chagrined her to admit it….he had only acted like a gentleman by putting a halt to it.

She was out of her depths and floundering in a sea of strangeness.

She may be a young woman but she had no practical knowledge of…relations. It wasn’t as if she’d never spent time with men. She had been escorted to many dances and socials back east. Yet, those handsome escorts she thought were exciting and thrilling had never stirred anything inside of her with their chastely kisses. Nor had a single a touch of their fingers on her face caused such a burning on her skin. Nothing back east or at the finishing school had prepared her for the past hours spent with the man beside her.

Madison bit the inside of her cheek then clamped her lips together firmer. Never a person to keep her thoughts quiet, she was finding it exceedingly difficult not to scream at his ability to let her silent treatment roll off his back.

‘He hasn’t said one thing or even asked if I was okay. He hasn’t even noticed I didn’t wear my heavy petticoats like he suggested yesterday.’ Thought Madison angrily.

‘At least he could have the decency to gloat and say I told you so!’

The desolation of the area of Nevada was apparent all around as they walked down the stage coach road. Heath saw no recent tracks of horses or wagons. There was no sign of civilization on the trail and as the hours passed, he found himself becoming more agitated from the stony wall of silence on his left.

He was a man accustomed to periods of quiet and solitude. He enjoyed the openness of the outdoors where the sky could make you feel small from its great expanse overhead. There were many a time he sat by a campfire late at night with flames hungrily eating at the wood which created the only source of light around. Plenty were the times he had only his horse for company and conversation. Sure, he’d been alone plenty and enjoyed the quiet over the years.

She hadn’t spoken a single word since they’d headed out that morning. Taking a quick glance at the sun, Heath estimated that was over five hours ago. The only sound was their boots in the dirt and the occasional bird by the wayside. She hadn’t even let out a sigh of annoyance at the day’s heat or honed her use of biting words on him.

‘Then why?’ wondered Heath to himself. ‘Why am I letting her silence drive me crazy? Why can’t I just enjoy it?’

‘She hasn’t done one thing except walk and twirl that damn parasol!’

Chapter 11

Try as hard as he might, Heath couldn’t work his mind around to thinking of the redhead like a sister or a nun doing the savior’s work. From the rock where he sat on his side of the trail after they’d stopped to rest, he studied her under the brim of his hat. Ten feet separated them and his eye watched her intently, his hands holding onto the rough surface beneath him with a fierce grip.

Her tiny fingers brushed lightly over the folds of her skirt before her hand stopped and rested on her leg. The blue eye watched as the tips of her fingers methodically drummed on the top of her skirt covered leg. Heath was startled at the sudden urge to cross the expanse between them to delicately nibble on the silky skin.

Swallowing at the growing desire slowly chipping away at his early morning’s promise to keep her virtue intact, the blond pried his eye away and clenched it tightly closed. Quickly bringing the gray eyes of his step mother into his mind, he imagined what she would say at his temptation.

First the surprise then the disapproval he ‘saw’ in the tiny Barkley’s matriarch’s eyes became the calming force to the storm inside him. Heath felt like he had broken through the vicious winds and rain of the hurricane to reach the eye of tranquility. Taking a deep breath of new found relief, he opened his eyelid slowly and decided he needed to test his newest counter offensive.

Raising his head an inch at a time, he brought his face up and allowed his eye to fall on the young woman across the trail. The blond literally groaned with disapproval at his inability to overlay his step mother’s face over the one across the way.

Madison looked up at the groan from across the trail, her fingers stopped tapping on the eye staring at her with a possessiveness before they filled with disapproval. Frowning at the changing in the face of the blond, she took in a shaky breath and forced herself to look away with her chin tilted upward.

Clenching her jaws together tightly, she struggled to force down the rising anger at the hurt his eyes caused inside. The fluttering of her heart at the look of possessiveness was swiftly ended by the return of his displeasure with her presence. His revulsion could be felt in waves across the open space between them.

Heath watched as the green eyes flashed after a frown spread across her slightly sun burned face. The rise of her chin when she turned her face sideways afforded him a view of her neck and he sucked in his breath. He could almost feel the taste of the white skin on his lips and he suddenly stood up, barking needlessly as he stalked off.

“Let’s go!”

The shouted command startled her and Madison gaped openly at the broad back in confusion. Pushing herself upwards, she bit her bottom lip at the pain in her foot before taking in a breath and starting after him. Determination overrode the thoughts wondering what she’d done by simply sitting on a rock out of his way.

Brushing a lock of her hair away, she found herself starting to limp and made the choice to walk behind him. She was tired and her body hurt immensely. The last thing she needed was a confrontation if he thought she was responsible for slowing them up.

Heath muttered to himself, angry at his inability to keep his thoughts pure as driven snow where the young woman was concerned. He was starting to become frightened at how she was able to overtake his whole being without doing a darn thing. Loss of control was a hard thing for him to handle. He liked control, it gave a sense of safety to his insecure self.

He wasn’t sure how long he had scolded himself before he realized she wasn’t beside him as she had been all morning. Well…not really beside him for at least five feet had separated them always. Glancing back over his shoulder, he stopped and worry filled his eye at the sight of her limping, struggling to keep up.

“What’s wrong?” asked Heath dropping the valise to rush back the six feet. Stopping in front of her, he took a hold of her upper arms and studied her tear streaked face.

“Nothing!” spat the red head pushing to shove him out of her way, frustrated at being unable to move the mountain of a man. “Leave me alone!”

“No, tell me what’s wrong.” commanded Heath firmly, his hands holding her upper arms and his face softening. “I’m sorry for yelling earlier. It was uncalled for.”

Letting her eyes fall from the handsome tanned face, Madison sniffed and shook her head back and forth, her words tumbling out from her flushed face, “All I’ve done is make your life miserable since we’ve met. I don’t mean to be such an awful person. I guess I can’t help it.”

“No, it’s not you, Madison. It’s me. Believe me.” Reassured Heath ashamed at the pain he knew he had caused her from his lack of control before gesturing to her foot. “Let me look at it, okay?”

Fighting the tears in her eyes at the tenderness in his voice and the feel of his fingers lifting her chin, Madison nodded and swallowed the giddiness rising up when he effortlessly lifted her in his muscular arms to carry her to a deadfall lying off the trail.

Chapter 12

Carrying the young girl who weighed no more than a bag of potatoes, Heath swallowed nervously when she lay her head against his shoulder. Madison’s right arm had snuck itself upward to wrap around his neck and her left hand reached across his chest to hold onto her right. The blond had a fleeting thought of how natural it seemed to have her in his arms until his keen hearing caught the soft sigh after he picked her up and he forced his mind away from such thoughts.

He knew it would be so easy to drink of the nectar which was Madison. It would be so easy to encourage the blossoming feelings guiding her. Yes, it would be so easy but it wouldn’t be right. It would be akin to leading an innocent lamb to slaughter.

No, he needed to exhibit some level of control and a measure of self respect if he wanted to be able to look back on this event without shame or guilt in the years to come. For her own good and his morality, he needed to put all thoughts of her in that way out of his mind.

He unexpectedly wondered if what he were feeling was what drew Tom Barkley to his mama. She too had been young and innocent at the time they met. Perhaps he hadn’t been able to resist the allure of her and thus was the reason for his birth. Heath found himself hoping he didn’t have that much of his father in him. No, if anything, he needed the strength he saw in his mama throughout his life. He needed to be more Thomson than Barkley right now.

Reaching the destination of the fallen log, Heath carefully placed Madison on the wobbling deadfall then knelt before her. Pushing the hem of her skirt up to the top of her black boot, he kept his eye on the cording securing the footwear to her foot.

Madison leaned over and scooted the hem of her skirt up further to watch his fingers clumsily work the black cording. She couldn’t see his face for it was hidden by the tan Stetson he wore and he kept his head lowered.

Cursing inwardly at his fingers not wanting to cooperate with the simple task of untying, Heath fought to keep his eye away from the skin he knew was beckoning him from above her boot top. Finally his strong fingers worked the delicate knots and loosened the ties. Holding onto her calf, he had a second to experience the soft feel of skin beneath his palm before his other hand slowly removed the boot.

Madison had opted to forego her usual full length stockings in exchange for cotton socks. With gentleness she hadn’t thought could be possible from a man whose hands were roughened with calluses, she marveled at how he slowly removed the sock.

Looking up suddenly, Heath’s wide eye met the emerald ones framed by the red locks. “Did this happen yesterday when you stumbled?”

Lowering her eyes from the piercing gaze of blue, she shook her head and answered quietly, “No, it was today. My heel got caught in a hole or something.”

Inhaling a breath at the guilt washing over himself at walking ahead, Heath lowered his eye to study the rapidly swelling ankle and the skin mottled with bruises. Tenderly touching the ankle, he stopped at her hiss of breath and rested the injured limb on his upturned knee.

“Madison, your ankle is sprained at the least. It may even have a hairline break. Why didn’t you say something?” asked Heath taking off his hat and rubbing the back of his neck.

“I…um…I didn’t want to make you more angry.” Admitted the young woman, blinking back her tears at the pain in her foot and the hint of frustration in his voice. “I already made you miserable by not bringing your other clothes. I didn’t want to be the reason we have to stop.”

Heath looked up and took in a deep breath at the sorrowful eyes gazing at him. “You should have told me when it happened. Your well being is much more important than a set of clothes, Madison.”

“Are we in trouble now? Cause of my ankle?” inquired Madison her bit of happiness at his concern for her was drowned out by the frown furrowing his forehead.

“Well, it sure won’t help get us where we need to go.” Sighed Heath with a one shoulder shrug while he studied how far the bruises went around the slim ankle.

“I’m real sorry.” Whispered Madison truthfully.

Looking up at the low words, Heath smiled slightly, “Guess my forehead does say packhorse on it, huh?”

“You can’t carry me all the way, Heath.” Exclaimed Madison shaking her head negatively.

Pursing his lips at her declaration, the blue eye twinkled before he asked, “Do you want me to leave you here and go for help? I could be back in four to five days.”

“No!” stated Madison horrified at the idea before she saw the amusement in his eye and smiled in relief. “Definitely not!”

Letting out a chuckle, Heath gently lowered her ankle to the ground before standing. “I’m going to get the bag. We’ll have to get some material from one of your dresses or petticoats to wrap your ankle with. The next water we find, you can soak it.”

“Okay.” Agreed Madison with a shaky smile, calling out when he turned to go, “Heath?”

“Yeah?”

“I just want you to know I’m real sorry about your eye.”

Heath waved off her apology, “It’s not the first time I’ve had a shiner and I’m sure it won’t be the last.”

Holding her chin in her palm and resting her elbow on her leg, Madison’s emerald eyes glistened as she watched Heath walk back to the trail. She felt a quiver of excitement run down her spine remembering how the muscles in his back rippled and she silently thanked the indentation in the trail which turned her ankle.

Grabbing the bag, Heath turned and sighed happily to himself. The blond envisioned the hindrance of the sprained ankle would be a godsend by limiting the young girl’s mobility preventing any more sneak attacks on him. The throbbing pain of the sprain should occupy most of her attentions, thus taking her focus off him and what he stirred inside her.

Chapter 13

Smirking to himself when he heard a sigh of annoyance in his ear, Heath clamped his lips together to stop the laughter lingering in his throat. After putting her boot inside the valise, he’d caught the excited glimmer in the emerald eyes when he stated it was time to go. He could almost see the wheels in the girl woman’s mind churning in anticipation of being carried in his arms.

He caught the open dismay when he handed her the valise and turned to offer a piggyback ride. While perhaps not the most dignified way for a graduate of a ladies finishing school to be carried, he offered the explanation it would ultimately serve his back better. Inwardly he wanted to keep her hands busy by holding the valise heavy with clothes and blankets as well as stop him from imaging her in his arms.

The red head was small and Heath handled the extra weight with an ease due to his years of manual labor. He didn’t even have to feel the skin on her legs as the skirt covered the section he was holding. The blond silently congratulated himself on this solution which went along way to his resolution of keeping her virtue intact. No sense to court danger by having those green eyes where he could readily get lost in their depths.

Madison sighed and frowned as the blond walked, the heavy valise requiring both her hands to hold it. Somehow this was not how she pictured the remainder of the day’s walk would pass. She felt like a child getting a ride from an older brother. It was downright humiliating to be handled in such a manner and was embarrassing. She didn’t like this feeling of being treated like a child. She was a young woman and she wanted to be treated as such. Did he even think of her as a woman?

“Heath?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you think of me as a child?” asked Madison.

“Ah…no.” admitted Heath after a minute’s hesitation, warily answering as if stepping around a bear trap with sharp teeth in the jaws. “I reckon you’re a young girl.”

“A girl would be a child. I’m a woman, Heath.” Informed Madison softly into his ear, her breath hot and moist on the delicate tissue sent up a red flag in his mind.

Stopping suddenly, Heath released his hold on her legs and winced as the valise dropped on his foot when she let it go. Madison held onto his shoulders to steady herself on her uninjured foot. Taking hold of one of her hands off the top of his shoulder, he turned and helped her to sit on the ground. Looking up at the man who suddenly found the sweatband in his hat extremely interesting, she waited for the words to follow the dark scowl.

“Madison…” started Heath in a quiet voice before deciding perhaps gentle would not be the way to handle it and he spoke more firmer. “I’m sure you think of yourself as a woman because you’re a graduate from school and such…well…you’re still a girl in a lot of ways.”

“I was the top graduate at the Baltimore Ladies Finishing School, Heath.” Protested Madison. “I am not a girl! I am a young woman!”

“You are…innocent and young.” Retorted Heath forcefully.

“I am eighteen years old.” Declared the red head her hands clenched on the ground beside her. “There are girls who marry at fifteen, Heath. I am not that young!”

“You’re innocent as a child, Madison.” Replied Heath kneeling down by her. “You are feeling things that are natural but they’re for the wrong person. This is your first time out in the world and you’re feeling new things inside. I’m sure it’s confusing to you. That’s all it is.”

“We both liked the kisses. Why don’t you just admit it?” demanded the young woman.

“Madison, those were a mistake!” snapped Heath, his sharp tone causing her eyes to narrow in a fury at his renewed rejection. “It should never have happened. Can’t you understand that?”

“The only thing I understand is I love you!” shouted Madison suddenly positive that was what she’d been feeling as her high pitched words sending him reeling physically and mentally. “That’s what I know!”

Left open mouthed by the declaration, Heath could only stare at her in disbelief before shaking his head negatively and climbing to his feet. Finding his voice, the blond stammered and tried to get the red head to see reality, to try to get her to understand what she was feeling wasn’t love but simply good old fashioned lust.

“Madison, you don’t know what you’re feeling. It’s not love….it’s just…well…it’s not real love I can tell you that! When you grow up, you’ll know what I’m talking about and thank me.”

“WHEN I GROW UP?” screamed the red head. “OF ALL THE….”

Looking up suddenly at a familiar sound, Heath turned to run up the small hill of the trail and frantically waved his arms as Madison watched from where she sat. Emerald eyes burned intensely and her jaw quivered from the grinding of her teeth. The gauntlet was down and the red head knew as clear as the sky above her what she wanted.

“You may be older but you are sure dumb, Heath.” Hissed Madison watching a small wagon approach with the blond walking beside it after it crested the top of a hill. “I always get what I want!”

Chapter 14

Sitting with his shoulder against the window and his head watching the California scenery pass by, Heath was relieved the first wagon on its maiden journey for a young freight company happened along when it did. The two drivers agreed to play good Samaritan and give the stranded travelers a ride back to Virginia City, stopping on the way to pick up the items they’d left behind at the overturned stage.

After arriving and spending some time with the sheriff, Heath wired Jarrod back in Stockton for funds. The local minister and their wife happily agreed to put Madison up for the night and secure her transportation the next day.

Leaving the sheriff’s office to get a hotel room, Heath couldn’t find the words to say goodbye to the redhead. So, he opted for the safe method of simply nodding once, tipping his hat and left her staring at his back. The blond was genuinely afraid to say anything which could enhance the visions of love she somehow conjured up over the two of them. No, he was not going to encourage that whatsoever.

He hadn’t seen her at first when he got on the train. After the train left the station, he felt someone’s eyes on him and there she was. Sitting at the other end of the car, her eyes met his until the older woman sitting next to her caught her attention. He half expected the train to break down or be robbed and he’d be stuck with her again. Covering his hat with his eyes and crossing his arms, he fell asleep to the rocking of the car until the letting out of steam woke him.

Pushing his hat up, he smiled at the out buildings of Stockton passed by and he grabbed his valise, unable to keep his eyes from turning towards the end of the car. He caught a quick glimpse of her profile before he scowled at himself and jumped down before the train had come to a complete stop.

“Heath!” called Jarrod at the sight of his brother landing on the balls of his feet in the gravel by the tracks with bag in hand.

Waving at the call, Heath made short work of the distance between them and took the hand offered. “Jarrod, thanks for sending the money.”

Clapping the shoulder of the young man who only came to them four months earlier and was still skittish as a coyote around a porcupine, Jarrod smiled while studying the blond’s bandage on his forehead and his black eye, “No need to thank me, Heath. I’m just glad you’re alright. How does the other guy look?”

“Don’t ask.” Sighed Heath with a scowl as the two brothers walked away from the depot to the horses tied a little ways away. Reaching into his pocket, Heath thrust the envelope of white into his attorney brother’s hand, “Here’s the bank draft from the Cartwrights. Ben’s been wanting that section of land for quite a while and Adam said he was mighty grateful we thought of them first.”

“Not we, Heath. You.” Corrected Jarrod putting the envelope in his saddlebag before mounting and riding down the street beside his newest brother. “You’re the one who knew they would be anxious to purchase the land and I’m glad too. I would have hated for some speculator to try to see if they could get anything else out of that mine.”

Proud of the praise from his oldest brother, Heath agreed, “Yeah, speculators can really tear up the land trying to find what’s not there. At least Ben and the boys can use it for grazing. They’ll take good care of it.”

Negotiating their mounts through the busy streets of Stockton, Jarrod got the feeling the young man beside him was being evasive towards his questions. He caught Heath looking back over his shoulder twice and Jarrod turned to see what had captured his brother’s attention, unable to see anything out of the ordinary. Heath whipped his head back around and kept his eyes straight at the feel of Jarrod’s questioning eyes on him.

“So, what happened exactly?” asked Jarrod as they reached end of town.

“Nothing much.” Stated Heath with a shrug. “Stage coach robbery, left a foot….nothing too exciting.”

Arching an eyebrow at the nonchalant answer, Jarrod inwardly frowned and realized he’d have to accept whatever information Heath wanted to provide. Somehow, the first born instinctively sensed an undercurrent running through the blond and he knew if his quiet brother didn’t want to elaborate, he wouldn’t.

Even now four months later, the sight of the grand mansion could tighten his stomach in knots some days and other times he couldn’t believe he lived there. Today, he was grateful for the haven he would find inside and for the warmth of the family filling every corner of the home.

“I’ll take care of the horses, Jarrod.” Offered Heath not waiting for a reply before taking the reins from his brother’s hand. “See you in a little while.”

“Okay Heath but don’t be too long.” Informed Jarrod. “Mother has been very worried since we got the wire.”

Nodding, Heath didn’t reply any further before the interior of the barn swallowed him up. Taking the horses to their stalls, he began unsaddling Jingo when he heard a tingle of metal approaching.

“Nick.” Greeted Heath not looking up from where he was unbuckling the cinch.

“Just get in?” questioned Nick, opening the next stall and unsaddling the other horse, grooming the black coat with a curry brush.

“Yep.” Said Heath setting the saddle on the rail before rubbing down the equine and patting its shoulder before closing the stall door.

Whistling at the shiner, Nick reached up and gently used his fingers to turn the blond’s head to get a better look. “That’s a beaut!”

“Glad you approve.” Sighed Heath wryly, unsure if this was a good day or a bad day for them.

Nick released his hold on the blond’s chin and moved his hand to squeeze the back of Heath’s neck, “Happy to see you’re in one piece there, little brother. Did you get in any licks?”

Surprised at the genuine relief in Nick’s voice, Heath shook his head negatively and forced the face of her outta his mind when he recalled the reason he was sporting a black eye, “Not a one.”

Throwing an arm over the blond’s shoulder, Nick propelled him out of the barn and towards the house. “You may want to go in through the back door, Heath. One look at that shiner and the bandage on your forehead, Mother and Audra will be hovering around like vultures.”

Chuckling, Heath stopped and grinned at the twinkling hazel eyes. “Vultures, huh?”

“Trust me, sometimes it ain’t pretty.” Groaned Nick with a wink before opening the front door.

Standing back, Nick smirked as the younger man found himself surrounded within seconds by the two females ohing and ahing over his ordeal. Jarrod met Nick’s eyes across the room and motioned towards the stairs with his head. Nodding once, Nick pulled Heath who was turning crimson with all the fussing away from his mother and sister. The rancher suggested they at least let Heath clean up before they stood guard over him. Grateful for the reprieve, Heath flashed a quick grin before climbing the stairs, happy to be home with those who allowed him to be part of their family.

Nick and Audra went into the study while Jarrod watched his mother’s contemplative face. “Mother, is something wrong?”

“Hmmm…I’m not sure, Jarrod.” Admitted Victoria. “Heath seems…well…off for lack of a better word.”

“I’m sure he’s just tired, Mother.” Suggested Jarrod softly as he offered his arm to her.

“Perhaps. Perhaps.” Agreed Victoria in a low voice, trying to place her finger on the vibes she was getting from the blond and not succeeding.

Chapter 15

The formerly solid sections of wood slowly succumbed to the voracious burning tentacles of fire, breaking down and shifting on the iron grate. The crackling roaring fire to chase away the chill of the evening was now just whispering, subdued in color and warmth. He’d gone upstairs hours ago and yet, just like the nights previous the darkness brought forth a set of emerald eyes.

They beckoned to him, innocent and wide with yearning, framed by the dark red tresses of hair. The eyes wove into his dreams, promising of the innocent passion he could easily have tasted. Putting his trembling fingers to his lips, Heath could feel the softness of Madison’s and he could recall with vivid startling details, the taste of her warm breath.

“Do you want to talk about it?” queried the voice softly from behind him.

Pushing away from the desk he was leaning against at the unexpected question, Heath turned and saw Nick’s face in the glow from the dying fire in the hearth of the study. The blond’s eyes reflected his surprise at the larger man’s ability to enter his realm of unrest without notice and he growled, “How come you’re not this quiet during the day, Nick?”

“I have to make up for your lack of conversational skills.” retorted Nick with a wink, taking the forgotten tumbler from the blond’s hand and enjoying a swallow of the amber liquid.

“Why don’t you get your own?” scowled Heath leaning back against the desk and crossing his arms.

“I could but you weren’t drinking it anyway.” Shrugged Nick gesturing towards the low fire with the now half empty tumbler. “All you’ve been doing is staring into the fire. What’s so interesting in there?”

“Nothing.” Sighed the younger man absently reaching up to finger the reduced swelling of his shiner. “Just couldn’t sleep is all.”

“Uh, huh.” Mumbled Nick unconvinced by yet another feeling something wasn’t right in the blond’s world. “Are you thinking about the men who gave you the black eye?”

“It wasn’t a m….” replied Heath automatically before clearing his throat and fighting to keep the crimson he could feel wanting to creep up his neck down when the hazel eyes narrowed suddenly at his near misstep. “I…actually…was just thinking about…him.”

“Him?” repeated Nick, knowing his little brother was trying to throw him off in another direction and glanced to where Heath’s eyes raised before turning to the blond with trepidation. “You mean Father?”

Nodding once and trying to portray an air of nonchalant interest, Heath moved his hands to grip the edge of the desk beside him. “I…uh…I hope you don’t mind, Nick.”

“Mind?” repeated Nick in puzzlement before rolling his eyes. “Heath, he was your father too even though you didn’t know him. I just don’t recall you ever talking about him before.”

“Yeah, I know.” Admitted Heath looking sideways at the man on his right. “Tonight I was thinking about him and mama. Wondering what it was like when they met and…stuff like that. My mind was so busy thinking, I couldn’t shut it off to sleep.”

Looking at the blond’s profile while his blue eyes studied the portrait over the mantle, Nick found himself again with the feeling something was amiss. The past few days since Heath’s return had left each member of the family with questions and no answers. While the blond returned to working the ranch, he seemed to be going at it with an added fervor. Almost as if something was driving him to keep his hands busy so the devil wouldn’t have a playground in his mind.

“I thought your Aunt Rachel said your mother took father in when he was injured.” Suggested Nick. “You already know how they met, Heath. What else are you needing to know?”

Shaking his head negatively at the vision showing in his mind, a loud sigh was exhaled and Heath snorted, “Damned if I can figure it out.”

He could hear the hint of frustration and confusion in Heath’s voice and he squeezed the shoulder nearest him with a strong hand, “Morning will be here before we know it, Heath. We both need our sleep for all that dancing we’ll be doing tomorrow night.”

“I don’t feel much like socializing or having to deal with all the stares.” Divulged Heath with a tiny shake of his head. “It’d be better if I let this one pass.”

“Heath, you can’t let those jealous people get to you.” Grumbled Nick biting back a smile when his brother’s face scrunched up in confusion.

“What jealous people?” asked Heath unknowingly taking a nibble of the morsel left out there.

Meeting the puzzled blue eyes, Nick informed him matter-of-factly, “The ones that are jealous you get me for a brother.”

The laughter from the blond beside him filled the study and Nick grinned back, enjoying the first true moment of levity since Heath had returned from his Nevada trip. It felt good to laugh and chide the man beside him instead of letting his hurt over his father’s dented halo guide his actions.

“Boy howdy, here I thought they were just staring at the town’s bastard.” Smirked Heath, his shoulders shaking as he shook his head in amusement.

“Hell, that’s old news boy!” declared Nick before throwing back the remainder of the whiskey in the glass, setting the crystal on the desk. Laying an arm across Heath’s broad shoulders, Nick steered the younger man to the door of the study.

“There’s plenty around here who’d cut off their right arm just to say Nick Barkley is his brother! Who wouldn’t want such a handsome, dashing, brave man for a brother?”

Enjoying the respite from his torturous thoughts, Heath rolled his eyes and lowered his voice as he allowed Nick to lead him up the grand staircase. “Too bad you can’t get any of the women around here to think of you that way, Nick.”

“Hey!” protested Nick in a loud voice, grimacing as it echoed in the quiet hallway before whispering. “Listen you, I can have any pick of the women around here. I just like to spread myself out, you know, give each one a sampling of Nick Barkley.”

“Well that’s mighty charitable of you, big brother.” smirked Heath, his chuckle escaping at the cockiness of the man beside him. “I didn’t realize you were such a philanthropist!”

“I try my best.” Stated the hazel eyed man with a smile. “See you at breakfast?”

“I’ll be there.” Grinned Heath opening his door before stopping, “Nick?”

Looking at the man who spoke his name in a low whisper, Nick turned to his little brother with questioning eyes. “Yeah?”

“I am lucky to be the one to have you for a brother.” Announced Heath then escaping into his room and closing the door.

Nick swallowed the lump he found suddenly tightening his throat at the low honest whisper from the man who found them only months earlier. Raising a hand to brush at the sudden wetness in his eyes, he relished the warmth at the admission and smiled tenderly as entered his own room.

Closing the door with only a ghost of sound, Heath pulled off his shirt and lay on top of the bed with fingers linked behind his head. Taking in a breath at the reluctance to close his eyes in the sanctity of his own room, he realized he had to do something to get that girl out of his blood and his head.

A part of him wished he’d seen Madison get off the train at Stockton but he hadn’t caught a glimpse of her on the depot’s boardwalk. Then again, part of him was glad she hadn’t for if anything they were like fire and water, cattle and sheep. Two halves of two different coins and no matter what the tingling in the pit of his stomach or the longing in his nether regions suggested at the reminder of her….it was safer this way. It was safer she went down her trail and he went down his, never to intersect again.

Perhaps he would follow Nick’s way and take a sampling of what the women in Stockton had to offer. Perhaps that was the way to drive the vision of her creating the fire in his veins out of his head.

Chapter 16

Just like the mornings before, the blond rancher found himself wishing he’d never closed his eyes and let sleep find him. He’d woken from his dreams, drenched in sweat and the evidence of the exaggerated eroticism of his thoughts was still evident. Groaning at his inability to control his body which seemed to have been thrust back into his teenager years, Heath knew it would be so easy to relieve himself. He knew it would be easy to picture the green eyes of Madison which seemed to have an ability to haunt any fool who looked into them. His hand inched closer before it stopped and he sat up suddenly to swing his legs over the side of the bed.

No, he wouldn’t…couldn’t…give into even that one simple desire. He couldn’t give the memory of a girl he would never see again more of a foothold on him. Heath ignored the burning ache of his body and grabbed some clothes. Opening his bedroom door, he scanned the hallway and crossed quickly to the water closet, locking the door behind him. Bending over the claw footed tub, he turned the cold water on and stripped. Taking in a several breaths, Heath internally decided it was all or nothing.

Gritting his teeth, he quickly climbed in and sat in the half-filled tub, hissing and barely stopping the yelp when the coldness met with the hot skin of his heated body. Shivering almost immediately, he wrapped his arms around himself and only got out when the harsh contrast of temperatures did their job.

Wrapping himself in several towels, the blond sat on the commode, shaking and shuddering at the extreme method of cooling off. He didn’t need visual contact to know he no longer had an early morning problem while he watched the water drain out. Standing and picking up his shirt, he found his fingers were numb and stiff making his dressing awkward. Washing his face and running a comb through his blond hair, Heath looked in the mirror and studied the face gazing back.

“You better start thinking with something other than your…you know what…or do you want to have to start your day off with an ice bath? Yeah, I didn’t think so.” Muttered Heath to himself, shivering at the coldness still on his skin before cleaning up the area around the tub then leaving the room.

“Morning, little brother.” Greeted Nick with a stifled yawn at the man who exited the water closet.

“You look tired, Nick.” Said Heath, his voice loaded with a measure of guilt for his brother’s lack of sleep.

“No, just not awake yet.” Countered Nick reaching up and taking hold of the blond’s neck to reprimand him about the guilt he could hear in his words, yelping out instead. “Gees, you’re freezing! Wasn’t there any hot water this morning?”

Heath turned red and he could feel the tips of his ears burning. Opening his mouth, he closed it just as quickly, not really wanting to explain why he felt the need to take a bath of coldness at the start of his day.

Hazel eyes watched a flush of red spread up the blond’s face as quick as a bolt of lightning streaking across the sky. Nick wouldn’t have thought it possible for a man to turn such a color as fast as Heath had. By the time the red reached the tips of the ears, Nick fully knew the reason for the cold skin on his brother’s neck.

The older man sputtered and choked trying to hold back his amusement over the reason. Unsuccessful, his shoulders shook and the quiet hallway filled with deep laughter while Heath stood mortified and the flush on his cheeks deepened.

“Nick!” hissed Heath at the man who was struggling to contain his laughter over his early morning dilemma.

Nick felt guilty for the reddening on the younger man’s face and he nodded, wiping at the tears leaving his hazel eyes. Attempting to stop the chuckles, he took one look at the bright red under the tan and burst out again.

“It ain’t funny!” snapped Heath angrily, his eyes widening with horror at the sounds he heard coming from the other bedrooms.

“I’m….sorry…sorry.” stammered Nick taking deep breaths to try to stop himself, finding it didn’t work and he shook his head, using the wall to hold up his legs weak from laughter.

He chuckled and tried to call out to the younger man who bolted down the hallway before Jarrod even had time to ask what all the commotion disturbing his slumber was from his doorway.

“Nick, what the devil is going on?” grumbled Jarrod, his hair all askew and his face sporting a shadow of whiskers.

“Nothing…uh…nothing.” Replied Nick, clearing his throat and wiping his eyes, a few more chuckles escaping from deep inside before he found the strength to steady himself. “Sorry, Pappy.”

Jarrod frowned at the sight of Nick practically stumbling into the water closet on legs appearing to be weak. He had seen the back of Heath as he fled down the hallway, not stopping at Nick’s call between his chuckles. Shaking his head at the two ranchers who didn’t seem to want to explain their early morning hallway meeting, the attorney sighed and retreated into his room.

Heath murmured a subdued greeting as he entered the dining room, placing a kiss on his step mother’s raised cheek before repeating the gesture on his sister’s. Taking his seat across from Nick, he avoided the hazel eyes and nodded a greeting to Jarrod who sat watching him with interest.

Nick openly grinned at the younger man who studiously concentrated on his breakfast and ignored him. He felt bad for causing Heath such discomfort earlier in the hallway and yet, he heard the little devil on his shoulder whispering in his ear.

Audra prattled on about the summer social that evening, unaware none of her three handsome brothers were listening. Victoria smiled and nodded at her daughter before turning her eyes to the two men sitting opposite each other. She had been waken by the early uncontrollable laughter in the hallway and was curious as to the reason.

“So, Heath…” stated Nick, his voice stilling the hand holding the silver fork for a moment as he studied the lowered face of his little brother. “What’s the temperature like this morning? Cold? Is it gonna be…rising…throughout the day?”

The question appeared innocent to everyone else at the table and yet they watched it send a flush of red up the blond’s neck. Nick’s smirk and the glint in his hazel eyes died out when the toe of a tan boot found his shin under the table.

“Ouch!” howled Nick, reaching down and rubbing the bruised spot on his leg while Heath went on eating without verbally responding.

“I’m not sure brother Nick but I do believe you deserved that.” Smirked Jarrod raising his cup calmly and drinking of the black liquid inside, his blue eyes shifting between the two brothers seated on either side of him.

Victoria and Audra watched from their end of the table, unsure of what exactly was happening between the two brothers and wisely decided to enjoy the show in hopes of the reason being revealed. Much to their amusement each time Nick opened his mouth, he received another kick from under the table. Unfortunately, Heath hadn’t said a single word to allow the other three at the table to gleam any information as to what was going on.

“Alright…alright!” grumbled Nick pushing back his chair after the third sneak attack and rubbing the spot he was sure was black and blue. “Guy can’t even have a little fun.”

Standing, Heath bid everyone a good day before leaving the dining room with Nick limping behind and talking, his voice fading out as they heard the closing of the front door. “I’m sorry, Heath. Okay? Com’n, I was just funning….”

Chapter 17

The necessary chill from the cold bath Heath started his morning with stayed throughout the day. Nick’s attempts to get the brooding younger man to accept his repentance for the enjoyment he had gotten at his expense fell short. Steely silence and a glare were the only signs the blond gave to acknowledge he was even listening and Nick spent the day fretting over the extent of the damage he’d done to their wobbly relationship. Finally, Nick conceded nothing would be gained until Heath’s ruffled feathers were soothed and he was open to talking.

Not willing to acquiesce and grant his brother absolution from the great amusement he received at his expense, Heath spent his day just like the previous ones. Working like a madman on a quest to shut down the little voices in his head.

Only for Heath, it wasn’t so much the little voices driving him insane as it was the questions they were asking. Questions and a stark reality suddenly left him staring with a blank look….he hadn’t even asked Madison her last name or to where she was traveling. All he knew was she recently graduated from that finishing school.

As harsh as a winter spent in the rugged mountains of the Sierras could be, the truth was even worse. He was an idiot…a fool…a king’s jester! He was being systematically driven insane with her appearance poisoning his dreams and his mind. Hell, if the antidote to this poison was the girl herself….he had no idea where she could be found!

His mood and the scowl on his face darkened two degrees more. What if she continued to haunt him for the rest of his natural life? Tainting him for other women? What if his dreams unconscientiously built her up so much…no other woman would be able to tear the ‘dream’ down?

Just because he had a small taste of the honey that didn’t mean he had to go through life as if he jarred the hive and woke the angry bees inside? Surely fate wouldn’t be so cruel as to leave him hungering for another taste of the sweetness til he went to meet his maker?

When Heath hadn’t nailed his section of the board, Nick glanced over and almost groaned out loud at the thunderous scowl on the blond’s face. The hazel eyed rancher sure hoped it wasn’t his antics of this morning that put such a look there. Looking up at the sun, Nick decided to take one more crack at the silent wall between them.

“Heath, why don’t we call it a day?” suggested Nick setting his end of the board on the ground, calling out louder when he didn’t receive a response before walking over to wave a hand before the dazed blue eyes. “HEY! HEATH!”

“What?” snarled Heath slapping away the black glove appearing before his eyes.

“Why don’t we head back and get cleaned up for the social?” asked Nick tentatively. “Jarrod’s going to drive mother and Audra into town. We could hit town early and stop in at Harry’s. What do you say?”

Nodding, Heath gave his brother a small lop-sided grin of apology and sighed, “Sure, Nick, sounds good.”

“Great!” smiled Nick rushing to pick up the tools. “We might be able to get in a little poker before the dance. Hey, maybe even visit with a couple of Lottie’s girls!”

“As long as they ain’t boxers camouflaged as girls.” Muttered Heath to himself, unaware he was speaking loud enough for Nick to hear. “All I need is another shiner.”

Standing and gaping at the mumbling blond, Nick shook his head as if trying to decipher if he had any marbles rolling around loose. Taking an internal inventory, Nick realized everything seemed to be intact and he wasn’t hearing things.

“Are you saying a girl gave you that black eye?” queried Nick barely able to keep the incredulity out of his voice. “I thought it was the men who robbed the stage?”

Staring at Nick, Heath stammered, “I never said…no one knew…how did you…WHO TOLD YOU?”

“You just did!” countered Nick at the look of shock turning to embarrassment and then anger spreading across his little brother’s face. “Well, you were talking to yourself actually. I couldn’t help but over hear it!”

“Not one word about this to anyone, Nick! NOT ONE!” snapped Heath cursing the red he could feel warming his cheeks.

“Alright, Heath, don’t get your dander up.” Assured Nick placing his right hand over his heart before continuing, “How come you didn’t say anything?”

“Say what, Nick.” Retorted Heath in disbelief, his hand flying around as his words got more agitated. “Hey, I kissed a girl to shut her up so she’d stop screaming at me! Afterwards she punched me for taking liberties! Yeah….that’d go over real well, Nick. If her family don’t come after me with a shotgun when they hear about….uh….never mind….I’ll just be surprised is all!”

“NEVER MIND WHAT?” asked Nick loudly. “WHAT ELSE IS THERE?”

“Just never you mind, Nick Barkley!” stated Heath firmly. “Let’s just say it could’ve been a lot worse than it actually was. It was her fault I didn’t have any clothes!”

“NO CLOTHES!” repeated Nick. “WHERE WERE THEY?”

“I had some but they were wet.” Replied the blond in annoyance.

“For pete’s sake, you’re not making any sense here.” Groaned Nick in exasperation trying to breakdown what happened.

“That’s not my fault, it’s hers.” groaned Heath suddenly pacing back and forth while Nick’s confused eyes followed his every move.

“Boy howdy, she’s likes a tick hiding on a hound dog. She may be just a little thing but man she ain’t letting go for nothing! You could be standing in the middle of a twister and she wouldn’t let go! Nick, what am I gonna do?”

“What the hell are you asking me for?” retorted Nick angrily. “I’m still trying to figure out what happened to your clothes!”

“You don’t need to know what happened, okay?” stated the blond in frustration before pleading. “Just tell me how to get her outta my head!”

The beseeching look in the blue eyes tore at him and Nick held up a hand before asking, “Alright, Heath. What’s her name?”

“Madison.”

“Madison what?”

“I don’t know.”

Squeezing his temples at the thumping starting behind his eyes, Nick took in a deep breath and sighed. “Okay then. Uh, where does she live?”

“I don’t know.”

“Let me see if I follow you here…..you kissed some girl to stop her screaming. It’s her fault you only had wet clothes. You know her first name is Madison and you don’t know where she lives!”

“Yep.”

“I don’t know what you’re going to do but I’m going home and cleaning up.” Informed Nick with a look of irritation at the man who appeared to have gone crazy since he returned from Nevada.

“After that, I’m going to Harry’s and try to kill this headache you caused with some of his rotgut! Heath, you’d best come with me and after a few maybe everything will look better or hell, it might start making sense!”

Chapter 18

The exhilaration and enjoyment coming from the feel of the powerful horse effortlessly carrying him down the trail was a simple pleasure he reveled in since a boy. He could still remember his first ride on the back of an equine when he was only seven years old. The livery owner in Strawberry took him under his wing and nurtured his connection with the large animals. It was a memory he didn’t suppose would ever leave him though at the moment it was greatly diminished.

Heath reached up and adjusted the string tie Audra had fastened for him. If he didn’t know better, he could have sworn the thin strip of material was slowly cutting off his flow of oxygen. The blond scowled at himself and lowered his hand to fall onto his thigh. He knew it wasn’t the tie or the dark blue suit he wore making him uncomfortable.

It was embarrassment over his lack of control which caused him to somewhat confide in the man riding on his left. He couldn’t believe the memory of that girl worked him up into such a state to babble on like a lunatic. He wondered again for the hundredth time since they’d ridden back to the ranch if Nick thought he was a candidate for San Francisco’s insane asylum.

‘I can’t go on like this forever!’ thought Heath with a shake of his head before he sighed. ‘You’re gonna wind up in a loony bin from seeing green eyes all the time. You need a woman with brown eyes…or blue ones. Hell, at this point I wouldn’t care if she had glass eyes!’

Nick reached up to squeeze his temples. The pounding behind his eyes was still there and hadn’t vanished. Of course the displeasure in his mother’s gray eyes when he stated they were riding in before the rest of the family had only increased the tension. By the time he was finished sidestepping his mother’s inquisition, he could feel an increase in his discomfort. His head felt as if it were in a vise with the man on his right and the petite lady left behind on the ranch turning the handle.

‘I need a strong belt of booze to drown out the pain.’ Surmised Nick to himself.

Hazel eyes narrowed in thought and he found himself considering plying the normally taciturn younger man with drinks when they reached Harry’s. The more he pondered, the more Nick found the idea to have its merits.

Perhaps with some of Harry’s off brand liquor, he could get the details he needed from Heath to bring some order to the jumbled mess left in his mind. He had some questions he wanted answers to and little brother hadn’t been forthcoming with any information on the way back to the house. If anything the blond’s lips clamped up tighter than their big brother’s wallet.

Course there could be ramifications if he did what he wanted. Ramifications in the form of a certain Victoria Barkley. He could just see his mother if he brought an intoxicated Heath to the first Stockton social he was attending as a member of the Barkley family. Frowning, Nick wiped a hand across his eyes to clear the picture brought into his mind. Public gathering or not, he could imagine the scene wouldn’t be pretty.

Shivering even though the temperature of the day was still warm, Nick remembered the last time he’d been publicly dressed down by his mother at the tender age of seven. She’d caught him trying to sneak a look at the scantily dressed ladies who waved at him from the balcony of the saloon each time he was in town.

It was embarrassing and humiliating as a child….no…he couldn’t suffer that fate as an adult. It would be a hundred times worse!

‘Maybe only a few drinks. Just enough to loosen him up but not enough to go overboard.’ Thought Nick with a slight nod of his head. ‘I reckon three or four should do it.’

While Heath wallowed in the misery caused by fate and a stage coach disaster, Nick let a silly grin lighten up his chiseled features. The dark haired man felt certain soon he’d be pain free and the chaotic confusion left by his brother would disappear. Leading the way to the livery, Nick nodded to those he knew as they rode down the street while Heath was oblivious to those looking. Nick could feel his mouth fairly watering as they passed the saloon and he was eager for any crumb of information he might gather.

Dismounting and leading Coco into the livery’s darker interior, a swell of curiosity overtook the confusion inside his head. For some girl to take control of Heath’s every thought she must really be something. Unsaddling and currying his chocolate colored horse, Nick rubbed together his hands when his palms starting itching in anticipation as he waited for Heath to finish.

He just had to know more about this girl who was making a blithering idiot out of his new brother. What was it about this female that caused his gentleman brother to end up with such a fine looking shiner? How could a woman affect a man to such a degree? What bewitching quality did she possess and use on the unsuspecting opposite sex?

Nick frowned at the intensity of his rising curiosity and unending questions, ‘If I’m not careful, I’ll start acting like Heath is over this woman and hell I don’t even know her!’

Brushing his large hands over the dark blue suit coat to remove and speckles of dust, Heath glanced at Nick who stood with a frown deepening the lines of his face.

“You buying the first round?” teased the blond after he closed the stall door.

Shaken from his internal reverie, Nick grinned, “Sure, little brother! It’d be my pleasure.”

Unsure at the overenthusiastic response he received, Heath hesitated for a moment before following the dark haired man exiting the livery. The two brothers nodded cordially to the others they met on the boardwalk and quickly made their way through the swinging doors. Waving to Harry, Nick strolled up to the deserted bar and gestured to Heath coming up behind him.

“Whiskey for me and my brother, Harry!”

“Sure thing boyo!” smiled Harry reaching under the bar and in one fluid motion setting a bottle and two shot glasses before the two men. “You two look mighty dapper. Going to the social?”

“No we always dress this way to break some broncs or ride fence line, Harry. Course we’re going to the social!” Chided Nick taking one of the shot glasses.

“Might early boys.” Stated the robust bartender. “The thing don’t start for another two hours.”

Heath winked to the man he’d liked as soon as he met him one evening with Jarrod and shrugged, “Nick here was hoping one of Lottie’s girls was desperate tonight.”

“Desperate!” bellowed Nick after regaining his breath from choking on his whiskey and glaring at the smirking blond who had pounded on his back. “You’re more desperate than me. I’m not the one with woman problems!”

“I don’t have a woman problem.” Snapped Heath slamming the empty shot glass down hard upon the bar, his blue eyes sparking flames for the man who spoke of his dilemma in public. “I got a loud mouth brother problem!”

“It’s your fault I got this damn headache!” retorted Nick pointing to his head. “I’m not the one whose as touchy as a sore backed horse since that stage ride! Why couldn’t you have just taken the train?”

Slapping his hand on the bar, Heath growled, “Well Mr. I can see the future, why don’t you just turn back time and I’ll take the damn train!”

“Don’t get smart with me!” Snarled Nick pulling himself up to his full height and leaning nose to nose with the shorter man. “I’m just trying to help you get your mind off it! That’s why we’re here!”

“Maybe I don’t need a big brother’s help.” Taunted Heath sarcastically. “I was doing just fine all my life without one!”

“FINE!” shouted Nick, his voice making Harry cringe at the ringing on his ear drum.

“FINE!” shouted Heath turning on his heels and furiously stomping across the bar room to the door. Swinging it open the cry of pain in a female voice stopped him in his tracks and he stared openmouthed at the red head holding her eye on the boardwalk.

“YOU BARBARIAN!”

Continued...