Texas Trouble

Chapters 27-38

by catgirl63

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.

Chapter 27

Nick and Jarrod winced at Heath’s cold anger, his voice again sending the family back in time to the voice of the man no longer with them. His tone, his inflection matched the cold fury Thomas Barkley could conjure up and it startled them for a moment, before both brothers moved as if to protect the blonde from two intruders.

“Heath!” demanded Nate angrily, the reception from his friend hardening his eyes, the tone of repulsion mixed with fury frightening him. “It’s not how it looked!”

“GET OUT!” hissed Heath, his jaw clenched tightly, the muscle spasming from anger, if he could see color, red would have been all he saw.

His mind seeing only the scene in the hotel at Garwood, the realization of what the siblings been up to reaching up and choking him. The darkness became suffocating and he felt one of his brothers by his side, his hands touched the mass of brother, his fingers touching the back and he moved around towards the staircase. He needed to escape the suddenly claustrophobic area of his home, the wound of betrayal festering within him.

Victoria and Audra watched in confusion, the reaction of Heath to his friends taking them completely by surprise. Victoria saw the unconscious move of her other sons and realized the two men were privy to what caused the anger and fury in Heath. Nick felt Heath touching his back and followed when his brother walked around him to the staircase, both stopping at the command from the petite woman who ruled the mansion.

“HEATH!” called Victoria firmly, her words stopping his move towards the grand staircase, his feet wouldn’t disobey the mother’s tone. Standing rigidly, tall and unwavering, the blonde heard the swishing of material and waited for her approach.

Taking hold of the hand clenched into a fist, Victoria studied the son before her, his anger almost pushing her physically backwards. Whatever happened to cause this response in her son, the silver haired lady knew it had to be bad and she frowned before stating. “Heath, I don’t know what happened and am hurt you haven’t said anything.”

“Mother.” whispered Heath, shifting on his feet, his confusion at her unexpected words throwing him for a moment. “It doesn’t affect you, it’s between me and them.”

“You’re wrong, Heath. What affects you affects us, all of us. We’re a family and when one of us hurts, we all hurt.” explained Victoria, her hand reaching up to touch his cheek.

“The Jacksons have come a long way to speak with you, Heath. At least show them a bit of courtesy for the trip they’ve endured. Please, son. Your anger may be justified but at least confront the situation while they are here. Take this opportunity and then if all is not well, they will leave willingly.”

Gray eyes met gray eyes and Nate nodded, holding onto Cassidy’s hand, his eyes looked with pleading towards Jarrod and Nick. The two brothers unsure of the look they received from the marshal, not sure of what was going on, not sure if their assumptions of anger towards Nate were correct or wrong. The two men were as confused as Audra and their eyes turned towards Heath and their Mother.

“Heath?” inquired Victoria after a minute when her words went unresponded.

“Fine, Mother. I’ll do as you ask then I want them off this ranch!” growled Heath moving past his mother to the study. Victoria motioned for Nate and Cassidy to follow, Nick and Jarrod rushed past not allowing their mother to stop them, closing the study door behind them.

Heath stood in front of the fireplace, hands crossed over his chest. Nate and his sister moved to stand close to the blonde, stopping when Nick growled from behind them, “Close enough Jackson.”

“Heath, you have to listen.” urged Cassidy, her hand squeezing her brother’s before she moved forward casting a look of daring to the man she assumed was Nick, before reaching up to touch the muscular arm, gasping when Heath pulled away and moved to the side.

“Don’t touch me.” hissed Heath before sneering cruelly. “Just say what ya’ want then go back where you belong.”

Pulling herself up to her full five feet-seven inch stature, Cassidy’s face turned crimson with embarrassment, uncomfortable having this conversation in front of his brothers, jumping when the blonde shouted, “JUST SAY WHATEVER EXCUSE YOU AND YOUR BROTHER HAVE CONJURED UP!”

“FINE!” screamed Cassidy angrily, moving to stand in front of him, not seeing Jarrod place a hand on Nick’s arm when he moved forward. Jarrod shook his head and whispered in Nick’s ear. “Heath needs to do this, Nick. Let him.”

“Heath, you’re wrong.” stated Cassidy more calmly, her eyes only for the man in front of her, all others faded into the background, it was just him and her in the room.

“Is that it?” retorted Heath sensing her closeness, her perfume still had the ability to stir up desire in him and he swallowed the lump in his throat, moving again.

Her stomach fluttered from his nearness, turning to nausea when he moved away from her again, her fingers wound into the material of her skirt and she moved forward again. “Heath, what gives you the right to be judge and jury? You’re basing your assumption on circumstantial evidence and you’re wrong. What happened at the hotel wasn’t how it looked, how I know it seemed.”

Reaching up to squeeze his temples, Heath took a deep breath and whispered, “I know what I saw, what happened. I can’t understand how you expect me to think otherwise. You said you’d do anything to help Nate.”

The conversation started, Nate smiled and turned to the brothers behind him, his gray eyes filled with happiness and love. Nick and Jarrod stared at the marshal who waved them to follow him with his hand, winking as he quietly opened the door and the men followed after a moment of hesitation.

Cassidy reached over and touched his face, sighing when he jerked his head away from her touch, “Heath, I didn’t mean it like that. Not in the way you probably thought. Think back, Heath. Think back to the time in the room, what happened before I said that?”

“We were kissing.” whispered Heath, his voice low and quiet, the scene playing out in his mind like it had in his dreams so many times in the past weeks.

“Yes, then we parted and you asked why I was there. I answered while I was wondering how it’d feel to be in your arms and kissing me again. I was hoping you’d forget all about proper behavior. I wasn’t offering myself in the manner you think, Heath. I was having improper thoughts and that was the look you saw in my eyes.”

“What?” stammered Heath, his heart quickening in his chest, his eyes reliving the burning look in her sienna eyes, his mind seeing the scene as if he were watching from above.

“Nate was at the hotel to see you because you’d ridden off after he got angry at your questions about Mark. He came to town to answer your questions. He was there to see you and he didn’t know I was in your room or even in town.” assured Cassidy, her breath quickening at the feel of the muscular arm beneath her hand.

“It was wrong of me to place you in that position in the hotel. I was out of my depths but I so wanted to have you hold me in your arms. I wanted you to kiss me, I wanted to know if you felt the same desire for me. I’m sorry, it’s all my fault..”

“Cassidy?” whispered Heath, his body trembling at the feel of her hand on his arm. “I thought, I was so sure..”

Cassidy stroked his cheek, her eyes burning with tears, “I’m sorry for causing you to think such things, Heath. I’d never hurt you like that, ever!”

Reaching over, Heath brought her hand to his lips and kissed her palm, his touch making her knees weak. “I should have known you and Nate’d never betray me, never do what I thought. I couldn’t get the desire in your eyes out of my mind, the way your lips were parted and then when you offered your help. Can you forgive me for doubting you? For thinking such terrible things?”

“It was all a misunderstanding Heath, fueled by the heat of the moment.” whispered Cassidy, moving closer to the man who’d captured her heart. “Let’s promise to never jump to conclusions again.”

“Deal.” smiled Heath with relief, his hand squeezing hers.

“Hmmm, perhaps we should seal the deal somehow.” suggested Cassidy breathless from his fingers entwined in hers. “A drink perhaps?”

Releasing her hand, Heath ran his fingers up her arm to the back of her neck, his breath shaky at the touch of her soft skin, pulling her closer and lowering his mouth slightly, whispering softly, “A kiss perhaps?”

Lightly grazing her lips with his, he moved his hand behind her back and their mouths moved together, the skin on skin touch, sending a rush through both of their bodies. Parting her lips, his tongue moved inside from her invitation, savoring in the warm of her mouth. His tongue moved over her teeth and teased hers before retreating. The warmth of their bodies rose and she moaned from pleasure before Heath broke off the kiss. Their breaths quick and warm on each other’s face as they embraced, the past doubts and anger faded, leaving only a warmer emotion in its place.

“I love you, Heath. I always have.” whispered Cassidy, her voice husky from excitement, her fingers holding onto his neck.

“I love you too, Cassidy. I….” whispered Heath, any further words stopped from her kiss.

Capturing his lips, Cassidy returned the sensual kiss she received, her tongue moving past his teeth and seeking the warmth of his mouth, the moan of desire rose from deep within him and her tongue teased his, welcoming the passions being woken in them.

The door of the study opened and quietly closed, Nick turned around and happily whispered while ushering everyone away from the door, “I don’t think they’re ready for dinner quite yet.”

Chapter 28

Releasing his mouth, Cassidy laid her head on the broad shoulder, both trying to catch their breath from the released passions. Heath breathed in the sight of her perfume and lightly stroked the soft hair.

“Cass, we have to talk.” sighed Heath before tightening his hold around her for a moment, welcoming the feel of her womanly body against him.

Placing a kiss on her hair, he pulled back and ran his fingers down her arm, taking hold of the smaller hand leading her to the divan and setting her down. Feeling behind him, Heath sat on the coffee table and held her hand, his face frowning as he searched for the words.

“Heath?” whispered Cassidy, afraid of the silence in him, the way he seemed to be searching and the frown gracing his handsome face.

“Cass, my eyes could be permanently damaged.” informed Heath. “I won’t know til next week, til I see the doctors in San Francisco. I thought you should know so you can make a choice. I don’t want you to hold hope my sight’ll come back cause it may not.”

Moving forward on the divan, she sat on the edge, caressed his cheek and placed a lingering kiss on his willing lips. “I already know, Heath. Marshal Thane told us when he came to the ranch.”

“You know I could be blind? That I may never see again?” repeated Heath, his surprise clear in his voice. “You know and you still came to California?”

“Heath, I wouldn’t care if you couldn’t see, walk, talk or speak. You’re the man I love and it’s the person inside that matters, not the outside. I’d have gone to the ends of the earth to see you again, to tell you how much you mean to me.” assured Cassidy squeezing his hand with hers. “The real question is does it matter to you. Can you live with it?”

Putting his elbows on his knees, Heath held her hand up to his lips and placed a kiss on it, before holding her hand to his cheek, his hesitation clear as he searched his thoughts and nodded after a few minutes.

“It’s not what I’d choose but sometimes life doesn’t leave you a choice. Being without sight will be one of the hardest things to live with but there are lots of people that live with it every day. What makes me so special to think I deserve more than them? I’m not and if this is my future, then, this is what I have to learn to function with.” stated Heath firmly. “These past weeks have been difficult but I’m still here. Though I’m sure Nick wanted to throttle me a few times.”

Laughing Cassidy shook her head, “Yes, I can see what you mean when you say he’s like a mother bear protecting her den. You should have seen his face when I moved towards you after he told us we were close enough.”

“Yeah? What’d it look like?” questioned Heath curiously.

“He was confused, angry and worried. He was angry I ignored him, worried about you and confused as to what to do about it since I’m a woman.” giggled Cassidy, amusement sparkling her sienna eyes. “If it’d been Natty, I’m sure he’d have pounced on him like a bear and tore him limb from limb!”

Chuckling, Heath nodded, “That sounds like my big brother, Nicholas Jonathan Barkley. Ever the protector and I’m a lucky man to have him by my side. To have the whole family’s support has been a godsend. I’d have been lost without them.”

“They all seem so wonderful, Heath. We arrived shortly before you returned home but your Mother and Audra were so kind and gracious.” smiled Cassidy. “Of course, you and Nate had described everyone to me, but I’m honored to have finally met your family.

“I learned of your dad’s illness before I left Garwood, Cass. How are your parents?” inquired Heath.

Eyes filling with tears, Cassidy squeezed his hand and sadness trembled her words, “Marshal Thane came to the house to tell Nate, he was cleared of all charges. Father had passed the day before and Mother may sell the ranch. She wants to move back to Virginia where the rest of her family lives.”

“Oh, Cass, I’m so sorry.” whispered Heath, his ears picking up her sniffles, his arms wrapping her in a hug, the tears spilling out against his shirt. “Your dad was a good man.”

Gathering herself together, Cassidy sighed and took a hankie out of her handbag, drying her eyes and taking a shaky breath. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think I had any tears left in me.”

Reaching up and running his thumb over her cheek, Heath shook his head, “Don’t apologize for missing him, Cass. It’ll be a hurt that’s always with you but in time, I promise, it will get better.”

“I know.” whispered Cassidy sadly.

A knock on the door stopped any further conversation, Nick stepped into the room with Nate following close behind. “We okay or should I still get the hell off this ranch?”

Turning crimson, Heath released his hold on Cassidy and stood up, pulling her up by the hand at the same time and walking them to the location of the male voice.

“Nate, I owe you an apology..”

“No, you don’t Heath.” corrected Nate quickly. “This whole thing started that day on the hill. You came to Texas to help clear my name and I was an ass, wanting to protect Mark. If you hadn’t left Garwood, you’d never have been in the bank at Eagle Lake when the tornado struck. If you’d stayed in Garwood, you wouldn’t have been injured.”

“You don’t know that for certain, Nate.” retorted Heath. “If I’d stayed in Garwood, I wouldn’t have found the evidence I did and Thane wouldn’t have been able to clear your name. Things worked out this way for a reason. Don’t blame yourself for what Mother Nature did. You and I had no control over it.”

Gray eyes lowered and blinked to fight the moisture in them, his fear of Heath’s reaction to his arrival in Stockton had caused the marshal several sleepless nights. “I didn’t want to see it, but you were right about Mark, Heath. He was involved with the whole thing.”

Nick and Cassidy stood beside each other, taking a backseat to the two old friends, watching Heath run his hand over his hair before his shoulders sagged with the information and he shook his head.

“I was hoping I was wrong, Nate. I would’ve given anything to be wrong about Mark.” admitted Heath. “What about Yates?”

“He’s in the county jail awaiting trial. Mark was still on the run when we left to come here.” informed Nate. “I’m sure Thane’s probably caught up to him by now.”

Shaking his head, Heath stepped forward and held out his hand, “Sorry to hear about your dad, Nate.”

Taking the hand in his, Nate pulled his friend into a hug, whispering in his ear. “Thanks, buddy. It’s sure good to see you.”

“Can we eat now?” exclaimed Nick loudly, wiping at his eyes and scowling at the siblings looking at him curiously. “What?”

Heath smiled at the picture Cassidy described of Nick and walked over to him. “Com’n mama bear, let’s get some dinner.”

“Mama bear!” snapped Nick. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Cassidy moved over and slipped her hand onto Heath’s arm, his chuckle and her giggle were overrode by the demanding voice of Nick as he followed the couple from the room with Nate smirking.

“HEY! What’s so funny?”

Chapter 29

Nate heard the door of the bedroom next to his open and close, soft footfalls made their way past in the hallway. Pulling on his shirt, pants and socks, he slowly opened his door and turned left, squinting to see in the low light by the hallway lamps. Reaching the staircase, he saw the shadowy figure turn to the left towards the study.

Smiling, the marshal silently crept down the stairs, his cloth wrapped feet whispering over the fabric, stepping lightly onto the wooden flooring and he followed the same path as the shadowy figure. The door to the study was open and he entered, the darkness leaving him at a disadvantage but the familiar glowing red ash on the table beside one of the chairs winked and he made his way towards the beacon.

Keen hearing alerted the blonde and he calmly stated, a second too late, “Nate, watch out…”

“OUCH!” groaned Nate, hopping on one foot and jumping around, hitting the table again which bruised his toes, before running a match across his jeans to light the wick of a lamp. “Dammit, Heath next time light a lamp!”

Chuckling, Heath shook his head and inhaled on his cigarette, “Why? I don’t need them to see in the dark.”

Slapping his forehead, Nate sat in the chair beside the blonde and smirked, “Yeah, sorry about that. I forgot.”

“Nate, there was a time when I’d have never heard you sneaking behind me. You’re getting old!” teased Heath with a lop sided grin.

Snorting, the brown haired man protested, “I’m as old as Nick!”

“You just proved my point.” smirked Heath enjoying the word battle, a respite to the long nights of laying in bed wondering. “Your bones are creaking, old man!”

“You are impossible. I just don’t know what Cass sees in you.” sighed Nate in exasperation. “There’s no accounting for the taste of women!”

Chuckling softly, Heath smiled, “Yeah, lucky for me.”

Gray eyes filled with tenderness at the adoring tone in the blonde’s words and he reached over the squeeze his forearm, “Lucky for her too, Heath.”

Nate watched the strong hand feel the ashtray and smash the end of the cigarette into the circular dish, long fingers held over the dish to ensure no heat was generated before Heath placed it back on the table.

“I noticed you haven’t been sleeping too much lately, Heath.” suggested Nate watching the man beside him, everyone in the mansion anxious for the trip in the morning.

“If you’re noticing that, you must be getting as much sleep as me.” said Heath, leaning his chin on his hand for a moment before glancing upwards over the fireplace, remembering the last time he had midnight reflections in this very room. Nate’s gray eyes followed and he took in the oil portrait above the mantle.

“What are you thinking?” asked Nate quietly, his words causing his friend to take a deep breath and lean back in his chair.

“I’m thinking my sight’s not coming back.” admitted Heath quietly.

Turning in his chair, Nate hesitated before questioning, “You sound like you’re sure, Heath. The doctors aren’t even sure. You said so yourself.”

Heath responded in a low voice, “Nate, if my sight was coming back, I’d think I would see something when my bandages are changed. There’s nothing. The eye drops are put in and nothing changes. It’s still dark. The only thing getting worse is my headaches.”

“Your head hurts cause you’re not sleeping or eating right.” admonished Nate. “You need your strength to keep fighting.”

Flashing a grin, Heath queried, “Maybe we should call you mama bear stead of Nick?”

“No, you can reserve that for Nick. Thanks though.” chided Nate before frowning. “Have you talked to Cass about it?”

“Yep. Every day since you arrived.” stated Heath. “I want her to be prepared as much as I want to prepare myself.”

Running a hand over his face, Nate looked up to the ceiling, his words coming out after several minutes of hesitation, several minutes of not wanting to hear the answer. “What are you gonna do, Heath if you can’t see? What are you considering?”

“Well, Mother firmly told me no decision would be made until after we return from San Francisco.” informed Heath, his memory of that particular conversation turning the corners of his mouth up at the formidable petite woman. “Her and grandfather said they’d hire a tutor to teach me at the ranch. This way I could stay here and not leave to go to a school.”

“It sounds like a good plan.” agreed Nate slowly. “That what you want?”

Standing suddenly and moving around the furniture effortlessly, Heath made his way to the fireplace, his right hand reaching up to hold onto the mantle. The stance familiar to his friend who had seen it so many times over the years, so many times when the blonde’s mind was whirling and he needed to stop, line up his thoughts and let them out of the gate, one by one.

Several minutes passed before Heath loosened his hold and turned, “I can’t remember a time when I haven’t worked. I’ve worked since I was six years old. First the mine, the livery, odd jobs around town. A marksman in the war, a ranchhand, a deputy then a marshal and now a rancher. Worked to survive, worked to help my mama, lots of times worked to keep myself sane after Carterson and when mama was murdered. I’ve always worked, always had to earn my keep. These last few weeks have almost driven me out of my mind! Not being able to do my fair share, having to relearn how to dress, eat without making a mess, memorize a room to be able to walk around the furniture. All those jobs and now, I gotta learn a new trade all over again!”

“I know, Heath. You need to be able to contribute, to shoulder your part.” acknowledged Nate softly. “That’s a part of you as a person. You love responsibility, you love work, you love the manual labor, the feel of your body after you know you’ve put in a hard but a good day. You’ve always been that way. Ever since I’ve known you.”

Sighing loudly, Heath walked over and plopped on the divan, running his hand through his hair. “I just don’t know what type of works out there for me, but I know it’s not going to be the ranch. A blind man can’t work around horses, cattle, can’t string wire, can’t rebuild a dam, can’t dig a well, can’t put up hay. A person needs to see to be able to do those things. I can’t!”

Sitting forward in his chair, Nate knew the truth behind the words, he knew the thought put into the admission. “Have you talked to Nick or the family?”

Shaking his head negatively, Heath rubbed his temples, “No, only grandfather and Cassidy. I was hoping by now I’d be seeing some light or shapes each time the wrappings come off but nothing. Not even a pinhole of light.”

“Heath, you gotta tell them what you need to make you a whole person.” urged Nate. “If you don’t you’ll drive yourself crazy and wind up filled with resentment.”

Nodding, the blonde stated, “I know. Grandfather and Cass said the same thing. I’m just so afraid of hurting them, Nate. They’ve been through so much lately. I hate to put anything more on their shoulders.”

“Heath, it’s not what they’ll want to hear but they love ya’! They only want what's best for you.” assured Nate before reaching across the table and tousling the blonde’s hair. “They love ya’ even though you’re crazier than a loon!”

A lop-sided grin flashed and Heath slapped the hand on his hair, “At least I’m not an old man like you!”

“Do you think I’m too old to court Audra?” inquired Nate with a wide smile.

“I told you to stay away from my sister!” growled Heath standing.

“Hey, you’re courting my sister!” protested Nate walking to the door by his friend’s side. “This doesn’t sound fair to me!”

“The only reason I’m courting her is cause her brother’s a pushover.” retorted Heath with a smile.

“Pushover? Some days, I’d like to push you over a cliff!” snarled Nate quietly before the men climbed the staircase to their rooms.

Entering their respective dwellings both lay on their beds, waiting for sleep to come, both knowing the morning would be here quicker than they could blink and the departure to San Francisco was scheduled for nine o’clock.

Chapter 30

Knocking on the bedroom door, Nick waited and opened it a crack when no response was received from the inside. Peeking in, he saw the bed made and no brother in sight. Turning and taking the back stairs, he arrived in the kitchen, smiling at Silas who nodded at the Barkley son.

“Mr. Nick, yas up awful early t’day.” smiled Silas knowing who the large man was looking for.

“Not as early as Heath though, Silas. Have you seen him?” asked Nick, sipping from the cup of coffee the older man handed him.

“Mr. Heath’s out ta the barn. Don’t seem like ta boy sleeps lately.” said Silas, shaking his head.

“Thanks, Silas.” called Nick on his way out the door.

Large steps made their way across the expansive yard to the barn, the distance reached in double time. Entering the barn, Nick headed directly for Charger’s stall, his spurs announcing his arrival to the man whispering to the stallion.

“Kinda early for you, ain’t it, Nick?” inquired Heath with a grin.

Leaning on the stall door, Nick suggested, “Thought maybe you’d like to take a ride before we have to head into town and catch the train.”

Pleasure lit up the blonde’s face, his smile shining in the shadowy darkness of the barn. “I like that idea, big brother!”

Saddling Coco, Nick led him out of the stall, stopping to check the saddle on Charger then clapping the younger man on the back. “It okay, Nick?”

“Perfect.” smiled Nick, walking beside him as they lead the horses out of the barn. Hazel eyes kept a keen eye on the blonde as he mounted before he put a foot in the stirrup and climbed up.

Keeping the mounts to a cantor, the men didn’t speak but kept their thoughts to themselves. The day ahead was weighing heavily on their minds, the day when an altering of the future they had planned over the past three years finally arrived. Sighing to himself, Nick felt dread creep up into his soul, his eyes studied the man beside him, the blonde’s well trained horse keeping by his own mount’s side.

Heath sighed to himself, the conversation the night before with Nate kept the blonde awake most of the night. He’d headed to the barn early and sought out a pair of ears to rehearse the conversation he planned on having with the man by his side. The day was here and he felt the cold fingers of dread seeping up his spine.

Reaching a hill, Nick reined Coco to a stop, Charger slowing and halting. Nick climbed down and waited for Heath’s boots to hit the ground before he took the horses and tied them to a bush. Walking back, he led the blonde to a space under the lone tree, the spot had become a favorite of theirs since Heath took his place in their family.

The higher advantage point gave them a view of the ranch house, the buildings and corrals. It gave the men an impressive view of the area as far as their eyes could see. This was the Barkley ranch. The ranch they both called home.

“Feels like it’s gonna be warm today.” stated Heath pushing his hat back up on his forehead.

“Probably hotter than the blazes.” agreed Nick, his eyes sweeping the expansive ranch built by his parents, struggle after struggle, success followed from each venture, the carefully tended Thomas Barkley legacy. The ranch, the wealth, the future their father left in their hands lay before him and he turned suddenly, his words choking out.

“I’d trade everything, all of it, Heath. The ranch, every animal, every tree in the orchard, every piece of furniture, every nail…if it’d help you see again.”

Swallowing the surging emotions in him, Heath reached over fumbling for his brother’s hand, his own voice cracking from the explosion of love within him. “Thanks, Nick. I want nothing more than to see but I don’t think it’s gonna be.”

Hazel eyes filled with tears, the salty droplets falling off the black lashes and Nick wrapped an arm over the broad shoulders, squeezing the blonde with his one armed hug. “Yeah, it’s what I expect also since you can’t see anything when we change your bandages.”

“How’d you know that?” whispered Heath, not able to strengthen his voice from the turmoil in him, surprised at the admission from the man who’d always been there, always ready to stand by his side.

“I asked Dr. Merar when I was in town last time.” admitted Nick before clearing his throat. “Actually, I may have cornered him and, uh...”

“NICK!” exclaimed Heath, “What did you do?”

“I didn’t touch him or anything, I just left a hole in his wall.” sighed Nick, remembering the anger, the questions, the demands he’d made of the family physician. His eyes filled with embarrassment and he ran a hand over his face. “I had this horrible feeling you couldn’t see when we changed your bandages. I was so damn mad and he was in the line of fire.”

Groaning out loud, Heath squeezed his temples before shaking his head, “Nick, it’s my fault. I kept waiting to see something, anything. It never happened. I should’ve told you and the family when the darkness stayed the same each time. I’m sorry, Nick.”

“It’s not your fault.” countered Nick. “I didn’t want to ask you cause it’s been so hard on you. I didn’t want to be the cause of you losing hope.”

Nudging the larger man with his shoulder, Heath chided, “What a pair, huh?”

Wiping his face, Nick sighed, “Yeah, we sure are. A pair I don’t wanna break up, little brother. This place won’t be the same for me, not without you.”

“Nick.” whispered Heath, words rehearsed ran from his mind, stampeding away from the loud thundering of his heart in his chest. “I ain’t never heard of a blind cowboy, Nick.”

“You could be the first.” suggested Nick, his voice hopeful, his stomach lurching into his throat from the truth he knew was right before him.

“If I could, Nick, you know I would.” replied Heath softly, reaching over and squeezing the leg beside him. “Mother and Grandfather want to hire a tutor, but Nick, I need to learn a new trade. I can’t run the ranch with you. I can’t work in Jarrod’s law office. I can’t marshal. I have to find what I can do, how I can spend my days. I need to do something, anything to feel useful. Besides if I do want to get settle down and perhaps get married one day, I have to be able to earn a living.”

“Heath, we’ve got money. You have more than me cause you never spend any.” stated Nick, studying the profile of the man sitting beside him.

“I know, Nick but I’ll be half a person if I can’t contribute.” sighed Heath. “I need to work, for myself more than anything.”

Silence fell on the hill, the words of reality lingered in the air, not a surprise to either of them, the unspoken thoughts from the two different men were the same. Both had come to the same conclusion separately, both had seen the future, separate from each other. Both knew it but neither welcomed it, either would have given all they had to prevent the future.

“I know, Heath.” whispered Nick, his admission sending new moisture from his eyes and thickening his words. “What am I gonna do without you?”

Reaching up, Heath felt the strong shoulder beside him and give it a squeeze. “You’ll do what you have to, Nick. You have responsibilities, you have a lot of people depending on you for a living, companies depending on our produce, our horses, our cattle. You will take it one day at a time.”

Patting the hand on his shoulder, Nick couldn’t find his voice to respond, he couldn’t find the words.

“Promise me something, Nick.”

“Anything.” stated the dark haired man quickly.

“When I leave, don’t take it out on the men and fix the wall at doc’s. You might need him to patch you up since I won’t be here to protect your sorry ass.” smirked Heath, laughing as he was grabbed in a headlock, the larger man effortlessly moving his smaller frame.

“Still a smart ass!”

Wrapping his arms around the larger man, Heath whispered, “I love ya’ Nick. I’ll always be your brother.”

Holding on tightly, Nick nodded, “I love ya’ too Heath.”

Walking over to the horses, Nick waited and mounted after Heath climbed into the saddle, the men turning their mounts for the barn. Heath felt a release of the worries inside him after the talk with his big brother and wondered if the rest of the family sensed the same future.

Turning his head to ask Nick, Heath gasped and clutched at his head, the sudden searing pain swaying him in the saddle and his body fell to the left, off the seventeen hands high horse when Nick’s frantic grab with his gloved hand at the blue shirt missed.

Chapter 31

Jumping down before Coco stopped, Nick stumbled and fell on his knees in his rush to reach his brother’s side. Pushing himself up, he ran to the side of the blonde whose body was writhing on the ground. Heath’s hand fixed in a vise grip on his head, moaning loudly, his body rolling in the grasslands, the agony reached in and tore the lionhearted in two.

“Nicckkk. Niicckk.” moaned Heath, his face quickly losing color, jaws clenched, the muscles straining from the power used to keep his mandibles closed against the stabbing in his head. Nick grabbed the uninjured wrist trying to tear his brother’s hand from his head, the other wrist striking him, the casted arm flailing and pushing his large hand away in pain.

“Dammit Heath, what is it? WHAT’S WRONG?” screamed Nick, fear screeching his words, strong hands grabbed the agony filled man by the shoulders.

The California sun rising in its glory, the rays reaching down and spreading warmth on the lands below it, touching the men on the ground couldn’t take the coldness out of the dark haired man’s body when the blonde went limp in his arms after a final gasp of pain.

The screaming of his brother’s name filled the air, the horses’ ears twitched forward, their legs shied from the one word shattering the area, a hawk in the lone tree turned on a branch, its keen eyes seeking the origin of the soul piercing sound, the prairie dogs stopped their twittering, standing on their back feet with their heads up, their front paws held as if in prayer, a rabbit bounded back into its hole and silence rained down upon the meadowlands.

Silas looked at the clock on the cupboard, shaking his head at the time, the sounds of movement about the mansion filling the older man with sadness. It appeared no one in the grand house slept too well including himself. Sending a prayer upwards, the ebony man, gray haired and small in stature, asked for a light to guide the young man’s journey to the people who needed him most, back to his family whose very souls were crumbling with the realization and fear of this new day which had just dawned.

“Morn’g, Mrs. Barkley.” greeted Silas quietly, the lack of sleep showing on the lady’s fine features.

“Morning, Silas.” smiled Victoria slightly, the smile not quite reaching her gray eyes. “Have you seen Heath? He’s not in his room.”

“Yes’m, Mrs. Barkley. He and Mr. Nick went out ta ride this morn’g.” informed Silas, studying the woman before reaching over and squeezing one of her small hands. “Ya’s got ta have faith, ma’am. He’s still here, he’s still livin’. Have faith, be thankful.”

Grateful for the offering of strength and the reminder of what was true, Victoria placed her hand over the dark one, her smile genuine, the appreciation showing in her eyes. “You’re absolutely right, Silas. We could have lost him entirely, but we didn’t. We only lost his sight, not the boy we love and will love for so many years to come.”

White teeth flashed in the dark face and dark eyes sparkled, “Heath’s a good man, one of ta best I’d ev’r known. Like his fath’r.”

“He is in so many ways.” agreed Victoria, reaching up and wiping at the two tears which escaped. “Thank you, Silas.”

Nodding, the dark hand was withdrawn and the moment passed between the two old friends. Victoria used the preparation of food for her family and guests while standing beside the man who’d stood by and helped those around him in his quiet way, to gather her thoughts and reach deep inside her for the reserves of strength needed to face the day.

Cassidy sat on the chair, her eyes studying her face while she brushed the blonde locks to a shine, using two clips to pin the sides up and back, the length falling on her shoulders. Envisioning her blonde suitor, Cassidy blushed and sent a prayer upwards, thankful the man she’d love since she first glimpsed him with her preteen eyes had forgiven her, forgiven her moment of youth, forgiven her moment of impropriety.

Taking one last look at her reflection, she frowned at her thoughts. He couldn’t see so why go to so much trouble. Shaking her head and reprimanding herself, the young girl knew Heath was able to see with more than just his eyes. He used his inner being, he used his hands, his fingers. Closing her eyes, she smiled remembering when he walked her to the bedroom last night.

Hands held together, the couple glided up the staircase, turning and stopping in front of the guest door. Reaching down, his large hand felt for the knob and turned it, pushing the door open before standing aside. Moving into the doorway, Cassidy turned and took his hand in hers.

“What are you thinking, Heath? You’ve been quiet all night.”

Sighing, Heath lifted her hand, placing a kiss on her knuckle. “I’m worried about the family, Cass. I’m worried about when they realize I can’t see. What that will do to them.”

Sienna eyes filled with tears and her heart fluttered in her chest. The man before her was the same as the teenager she’d known. Always worrying about others, never about himself. Reaching up she placed a hand on his cheek, her caress light and tender. “You amaze me, Heath and always have. Hardly ever think of yourself. Your family is strong and with your help, it will get better with time. It’s not going to be easy.”

Smiling slightly, Heath whispered, “I’m not a martyr, Cass. I think of myself lots. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t want to do this.”

Running his fingers lightly up her bare arm, Cassidy shivered from the feather light touch on her skin. His fingers found her shoulder, ran up her neck and under her chin. Tilting her head upwards, his mouth lowered, his lips touching her cheek before moving to her lips. Her hands lay flat against his broad chest, her body moving forward from his other arm which wrapped around her.

Light and tender, their lips merged and then separated. Her hand moved slowly to the back of his head, his lips captured hers again, seeking her sweetness. The gentleness of his lips moving against hers fueled the intensity which followed. Parting her lips with invitation, his tongue answered and she felt it enter, moving over her teeth. His hold tightened and she felt lightheaded from his kiss, his tongue searching her mouth before retreating. Holding his neck firmer, her tongue followed his and she sought the taste of him, the moistness of his mouth, her tongue teasing his. The longings stirred up in both bodies, the passion aroused from the touching of lips once again left both wanting more as their mouths separated and arms wrapped firmly around each other.

A kiss on the forehead and breathless statements of their mutual love were spoken before she closed the door and he made his way down the hallway back to the grand staircase. The smiles on their faces, twins in its glory, twins in the future both hoped they’d share together.

Looking one last time in the mirror, Cassidy smiled from her memories and took a deep breath. Resolving to be a pillar for the man she loved and the family he loved. Opening the door, she smiled at the sight of her grumpy sibling, his face sporting dark circles, his humor lacking today.

“Natty, you look horrible.” teased Cassidy kissing her brother’s cheek.

“I don’t look that bad!” countered Nate taking his sister’s arm and walking her down the hallway.

“Why are you limping?” asked Cassidy worried.

Shaking his head, Nate smirked, “I was trying to sneak up on Heath last night and ran into some furniture in the dark.”

Giggling, Cassidy squeezed his arm and smiled, “He has an advantage over you now, Nate. Especially at night.”

Nodding, Nate smirked, “I’ve always thought Heath had eyes in the back of his head. Now, I’m sure he does.”

The thought of the blonde warmed the siblings’ hearts, they arrived in the foyer and entered the dining room, greeting the other members of the family sitting around the table, their faces all reflecting lack of sleep.

Silas entered several times with food in silver containers, lining the bounty, the familiar morning ritual comforting in a way and heart breaking in another. Jarrod’s blue eyes filled with trepidation moved to the empty chair on his right, wondering if after today, the chair would stay empty and for how long. Glancing up, his eyes met his mother’s and they locked their gazes. No words were spoken, their feelings open for each to see.

“MOTHER!”

Rushing out of the dining room, all stopped at the sight of Nick holding the limp blonde in his arms, tears streaking his face and time stood still.

Chapter 32

The sight which stunned the group of people into staring at the two brothers for a moment cleared and they moved forward in one motion as if attached by a string.

“What happened?” asked Jarrod.

Shock clearly reflected on the strong man’s face and Nick stammered, “Duke’s gone for the doctor. Heath grabbed his head and fell off Charger."

Obeying their mother’s order of bringing her blonde son upstairs, Jarrod and Nick carried the unaware man between them up the grand staircase, Audra and the siblings following quickly behind. Entering the room, they carefully lowered Heath onto the bed in an up raised position from the pillows their mother piled up against the head board.

No head wound was visible on the blonde head which rolled to the side after she released her fingers from the strong chin. Victoria moved next to her son, whose stammering words were rushing out of his mouth and not making any sense.

“Nicholas! Calm down and tell me what happened exactly.” commanded Victoria grabbing her trembling son’s face in her hands, the hazel eyes were wide with fear, wet with tears.

“Take a deep breath now. Com’n sweetheart. Tell Mother what happened.”

Taking several deep breaths, Nick closed his eyes and tried to get past the vision of Heath writhing in pain on the ground. Finding a small moment of calm, the hazel eyes opened to look into the gray eyes of his mother.

“We were riding and Heath cried out in pain before grabbing his head. I tried to catch him but I missed and he fell off Charger.” whispered Nick, swallowing rapidly to fight down the bile rising into his throat, his colorless face matching his brother’s.

“Mother, it was awful. He was rolling around on the ground holding his head. I tried to move his hand but he wouldn’t let go. He kept saying my name and moaning. There was so much pain.”

Eyes filled with tears and concern around the room, the hazel eyes refilled with tears and Victoria blinked her own to stop the flowing which wanted to start. Taking hold of his hand, she urged him to continue, keeping her eyes locked on his, the fear in them scaring her as never before.

“All of a sudden, he gasped and went limp. I..I..think he was…he was…dead for a minute…it seemed…longer...much longer before his chest started moving.” whispered Nick running a hand through his wild hair, shaking his head to clear the vision which shivered his body. “I..I got him on Charger and came home as fast as I could.”

“Has he woken at all since? Nick?” questioned Victoria receiving a negative shake of his head when Nick couldn’t find his voice again, the fear constricting his voice box. Sitting heavily in the chair by the bed, his hands held his head and Jarrod squeezed his shoulder with an unsteady hand.

“Cassidy, would you bring me the blanket from the closet?” asked Victoria wanting to keep her unconscious son warm, not knowing if he was in shock or what exactly happened to cause the such pain in his head. Two sets of female hands opened the soft blanket and spread it over the blonde, tucking it in and encasing his body.

Nate knelt down by Nick and placed a hand on his jeaned knee, looking upwards at Jarrod before saying quietly, “Nick, lets wait downstairs for the doctor with Jarrod.”

“No.” mumbled Nick shaking his head. “I’m not leaving him.”

Victoria caught Jarrod’s eyes and motioned with her head, the eldest son taking a deep breath and nodding before adding his pleading to Nate’s, his words low and soothing. “Com’n Nick. Let’s get a drink to calm your nerves before Heath wakes up.”

“What if he doesn’t wake?” whispered Nick in anguish, wondering what he could’ve done differently. “We shouldn’t have gone out. What if riding caused this? What if…?”

“No more what if’s, Nick.” snarled Nate firmly causing hazel eyes to meet his before the marshal asked quietly. “When Heath wakes up, you don’t want him to find you like this, do you? You know how that boy worries over everybody around him.”

The truth of the words had the desired effect and Nick added, “Worse than a dog over a bone.”

Patting the strong back before helping him to his feet, Nate glanced at Jarrod before smirking, “More like an old maid over her prospects of a date, Nick.”

Snorting, Nick smiled slightly and walked to the bed, his hand tousling the blonde hair and he whispered in the closest ear, his words only for his brother. Looking over, he widened his smile at the blonde who held firmly onto the other blonde’s fingers which poked out from the cast, her other hand tight on his forearm. Cassidy returned the warm smile and sighed.

“We’ll take good care of him, Nick.” assured the girl.

“I know you will.” agreed Nick quietly, placing a kiss on his mother’s cheek before letting the other men to lead him from the room, his shoulders slumping after the door closed and walked the hallway down to the main level of the house, gratefully accepting the shot of courage handed to him by Pappy.

Nate watched Nick and Jarrod, the brothers of his friend and he could sense the fear around both men. The marshal felt an urge to relieve the faces in the room of worry and fear, take away the deep scowls and furrowed brows. Smiling to himself, Nate walked over to a chair and sat down, clearing his throat.

“Hey, Nick?”

“What?” mumbled Nick, nursing the glass between his hands, not looking up only wanting to be left with his dark thoughts. Jarrod glanced over and saw the sparkle in the gray eyes of the lawman, his curiosity aroused and he took a seat in a chair.

“Nick?”

“WHAT?” snapped Nick looking up with irritation at the man kept speaking his name.

“Did Heath ever tell you bout the time he posed as an owner and ran a house of gentlemanly needs, shall we say?” inquired Nate innocently, watching both men’s jaws drop open in shock.

“A WHAT?” roared Nick in disbelief.

“A brothel, Nick.” stated Jarrod.

“I know what he means, Jarrod.” retorted Nick with a roll of his eyes before taking a seat on the coffee table. “No, little brother never said anything about that particular assignment. He doesn’t talk about his past cases much. Matter of fact all he ever says about when he was a marshal is the work was dangerous and lonely.”

Chuckling, Nate winked, “Not that time.”

Sitting forward in his chair, gray eyes lit up with amusement and the anticipation on the faces of the two brothers was well worth the wrath Heath would dish out when he found out about his telling the little tale of truth.

“When Larkin told him what his assignment was, your brother looked like he had a beet instead of a head on his shoulders. He turned so red.” chortled Nate, his eyes filling with tears remembering the sight.

"Heath was the same height, build and hair color as the owner. Hell, he practically begged Larkin to let him infiltrate the gang of killers we were after instead of pretending to be Gaylord Fleshton. He said it’d be safer!”

“Fleshton.” chuckled Nick and Jarrod, despite the anguish of the day, the laughter coming from Nate was contagious as he relived the harrowing tale of their younger brother’s month in the cathouse surrounded by women hungering after his good looks and muscular body all in the name of justice.

The moment of levity ceased at the arrival of the family physician who waved to the men and bounded up the stairs, taking two at a time. The men looked at each other before rushing up the same stairs, their steps ringing out through the mansion.

Chapter 33

Greeting the physician, Victoria raised an eyebrow at the sound of three men’s running feet, their steps slowing significantly at the petite woman standing in the hallway, hands on her hips. Smiling sheepishly, the men followed her meekly into the room, standing off to the side watching the medicine man’s movements.

Opening his bag, Howard listened as Nick relieved the events of the morning, the healer not missing the strain in the rancher’s voice.

“What side of his head was he holding, Nick?” asked Howard glancing over to the dark haired man.

“His right.” informed Nick, tapping his fingers against his jeans, needing to move some part of his body from the anxiety gripping him. Jarrod and Nate stood on either side, both reaching up to take hold of one of the broad shoulders, their touches calming him slightly.

Audra stood beside Cassidy who sat on the other side of the bed, her hand running up and down Heath’s left arm, the movement an unconscious gesture from the young woman who scrutinized every move the doctor made.

Victoria stood beside the bed further down from Howard, waiting to offer any assistance, aware of the breaths being held in the room. Sitting beside the blanketed legs of her son, the silver haired lady placed a hand on his leg, seeking to keep in contact with him, sending her mother’s touch to his unaware mind.

Examining Heath’s head for a wound and not seeing any, Howard took out his scissors and cut the bandages holding the patches in place over his eyes. Lighting a candle, he moved to close one of the curtains while Audra closed the other. The late morning sun’s rays and light were denied further entry into the room.

Opening an eyelid, the candle moved back and forth. The procedure repeated as the dark eyes of the healer studied the effects. Placing the candle on the bedside table, he picked up Heath’s wrist and took his pulse, the shimmering from the candle shining on the face of his pocket watch. Taking out his u shaped stethoscope, he calmly listened to the beating of the strong heart, the thumping in the broad chest.

Putting his stethoscope away, the white shirted man sat beside the blonde, reached for the candle and once again opened each eye lid, watching the reaction before blowing out the candle and opening the curtain. Several pairs of eyes in the room blinked from the relighting of the room and Howard put his instruments away.

Taking a file out of his bag, he studied them before turning his eyes back to the blonde. Taking out a needle, he touched the tip to Heath’s fingertip, nodding at the unaware flinching of the blonde. Moving to his boots and stripping one of his feet bare, he performed the same test on a toe, nodding when the foot moved away from the prick of pain. Putting the pin back in its container, he replaced it in his bag and once again studied the blonde’s head.

“Howard?” whispered Victoria, not able to stay quiet anymore, needing to know what her old friend thought.

“Yes, Victoria?” asked the physician absentmindedly, his eyes once again glancing over the papers.

“What do you think it is? A stroke or something?” questioned the Barkley matriarch, her question low and fearful. Jarrod moved to stand by his mother, his large hands on her small shaking shoulders. Reaching up she held on tightly to one of her eldest son’s hands.

“I don’t believe so.” smiled Howard, the first emotion he’d shown outwardly on his face before he looked at Nick. “Nick, did the hospital tell you anything about Heath’s concussion?”

“They mentioned he had one but they only talked about the effect of the glass in his eyes.” admitted Nick thinking back. “Marshal Thane did say Heath was pretty incoherent for about two days though.”

Nodding, Howard sat in the chair by the bed and took Victoria’s hand in his. “Victoria, when I first examined Heath after he came back from Texas, he had no pupillary responses at all to stimuli.”

“Meaning?” urged Victoria holding onto the hope rising up in her.

“When light is put to his pupil and moved away, there was no reaction. Your pupils contract and dilate with the changes of light. Heath’s eyes had no pupillary responses at all.” stated Howard quietly, moving his eyes around the room, seeing a mixture of hope mixed in with fear. “Just now, his pupils reacted to the changes of light and darkness. Albeit slowly but they reacted nonetheless.”

Cries of disbelief filled the room and Howard shook his head, holding up his hand to stop the voices. “Victoria, sometimes when a person has a concussion, blindness can be an after effect. The brain is an area of medicine which is not fully researched and still is quite an unknown frontier. What we do know is blindness is sometimes caused by a blow to the head. We surmise swelling in the brain somehow affects the optic nerve and causes the blindness.”

“Are you saying Heath’s lack of sight may be from his concussion and not from the glass in his eyes?” queried Jarrod.

“It is quite possible.” suggested Howard.

“Possible? How can we know for certain?” demanded Nick suddenly, in the same tone of voice used in the physician’s office the day he punched a wall in anger.

Raising an eyebrow, the physician smiled at the rancher who turned slightly red, “Ah, sorry doc.”

“It’s a good question, Nick. Sometimes being a physician requires gathering information and drawing a conclusion. Here are our clues: No pupil reaction before. Headaches which have become worse. A concussion which based on Thane’s description was more than just a mild concussion. Most likely it was between a regular concussion and a severe one. The sight of the blow to the head is on the same side of the sudden burst of pain Heath experienced this morning. His involuntary movement to pain suggests Heath did NOT suffer a stroke of any kind. Now, he has pupillary reactions to stimuli.” explained Howard calmly, ticking the clues off on his fingers.

“I think the doctors at the hospital in Houston were so concerned with the damage to his eyes, they overlooked the possibility of the blindness being caused a blow to his head. Now, we won’t be one hundred percent sure until Heath wakes up.” warned Howard.

“He may see when he wakes up?” asked Cassidy, holding onto Audra’s hand.

Aware every eye in the room was on him and no breaths were being taken, Howard sighed, “I think it is a strong possibility based on his pupil’s reactions to light and dark. I will caution you though, if Heath is able to see when he wakes up, I cannot promise he will see as he did before. His sight could be blurry, fuzzy, or distorted. The glass embedded in his eyes could have done internal damage and again, we won’t know til he wakes up.”

Nodding their understanding, the family sighed and allowed the renewed hope to flow through their bodies.

“When will he wake?” asked Audra, her voice loud with anxiousness, her cheeks blushing when the brown haired man sent a smile her way.

“That is up to Heath.” stated Howard, glancing towards Nick. “All we can do is wait and try to wait patiently.”

“Sure doc.” agreed Nick quickly, shifting nervously on his feet and smiling slightly at the family friend.

Chapter 34

Late morning melded quietly into early afternoon then into early evening. No response from the blonde was heard other than his even breaths. Howard returned back to the ranch after visiting two housebound patients, leaving word with his wife Helen as to his whereabouts in case his skills were needed.

Hiriam arrived at the ranch after notifying the physicians in San Francisco of the missed appointment by wire. The older man’s hopes were flying high as everyone else in the mansion. He wasn’t sure if his grandson could hear him but the former sailor talked to him anyway. Telling stories of his time at sea, lighthearted stories which put a smile on the beautiful faces of the blondes who waited in the room for Heath to wake. Cassidy, Audra and Hiriam reluctantly left the room when their shift came to an end at Victoria’s assistance.

Howard hid his smile at the efforts of the two men in the room as he examined Heath again. Nick was practically sitting on his hands to keep them from slapping against his leg. Nate felt the need to hold onto Nick’s shoulders as if to keep him in the chair, prevent him from bounding to his feet and pacing the room or perhaps this was how the lawman chose to rein in his impatience.

‘Patience is the virtue of kings’ thought the physician with a sigh. ‘Not the virtue of brothers or friends.’

Unable to contain himself any longer, Nick asked quietly, “Doc, can’t we wake him with smelling salts instead of waiting?”

“I’m reluctant to use them, Nick. Heath’s body is taking the time it needs to rejuvenate itself with rest. While the waiting is hard on all of us, it is the best thing for Heath.” explained Howard gently.

Nodding, Nick sighed loudly, “Well, whatever’s best for Heath is okay with me. He’d better wake up soon though if he knows what’s good for him!”

Nate chuckled at the rolling eyes of the family physician and smacked Nick on the back of the head, smirking at the growling bear who turned on him, “Heath sure pegged you right when he calls you twit brain!”

“Shut up, Jackson!” retorted Nick with a scowl. “Why don’t you go play in the corral with the wild mustangs?”

Nate flashed a wink at Howard before shrugging, “Sure thing, Nick. Sounds like fun.”

Nate sauntered out of the room, his voice heard in the room, “Good even’g, Miss Audra. Nick insisted I take a walk to the corrals, I’d love to have the pleasure of your company.”

“It’s a beautiful night outside, Nate. I’d love to take a walk.”

Nick snorted and moved his chair closer to the bed, leaning over and speaking, “Nate’s taking Audra out on a walk, little brother. He’s your friend and I’m gonna hold you personally responsible.”

Nick watched the blonde face, relaxed and free of wrappings for any response, leaning on the arm of the chair in frustration when nothing changed. Howard stood up and left the room, seeking to find a cup of coffee to bring back to the room, knowing his patient was in good hands with the man whose callused hands were as soft as melted butter when it came to those he loved.

Nick closed the door and moved to sit on the bed, shifting a few times to get comfortable, moving the bed with the weight of his body and scowling when Heath didn’t wake. Tousling the hair, he waited for the handslap and received none. Picking up the uninjured hand, he squeezed it gently, asking Heath to squeeze his and growled when the blonde didn’t respond.

Sighing loudly, his hand ran through his unruly hair, sending it in all directions and he slumped back into a chair, turning up the light and grabbing a book from the bedside table.

‘Blackstone’s Book of Law?’

Nick scowled, “No wonder you can’t wake up if Jarrod’s been reading this to you! I’d keep right on sleeping too!”

Opening the book, Nick put the black covered book on his leg and ran his hazel eyes over the words, seeking to pass the time and finding his eyes becoming drowsy instead from the legal jargon. Waking suddenly when his head bobbed forward, he jumped up and the book slammed to the floor, the noise loud in the quiet room. Hazel eyes widened with surprise when Heath startled in his bed from the noise and Nick quickly moved to the bed, sitting by his brother’s side, hands on either side of the blonde so he could lean in closer.

“Heath? Heath?” repeated Nick, watching the eyes moving beneath their lids and the blonde head move slowly.

“What?” whispered Heath, his voice croaking out, his throat dry as the dessert.

“Open your eyes!” ordered Nick anxiously, reaching up and holding his hand onto a tanned cheek. “Com’n, you can do it!”

Reaching up with his hand, Heath rubbed his face, not sure why he felt like he’d moved a mountain. His body lacked energy and he fought to respond to Nick’s voice, not sure why his older brother’s words were laced with nervousness and he felt his hand grabbed.

“COM’N, TRY!” demanded Nick loudly, watching a scowl spread across the blonde’s face.

“Dammit, Nick, what in the hell is…” snapped Heath, finding the strength to open his eyelids, mouth left hanging open after the effort, sapphire eyes were wide with disbelief.

Nick held his face in his hands and questioned rapidly, “Can you see? Heath?”

“Nick! You’re fuzzy!” sobbed Heath finding himself drawn up to his brother’s chest with strong arms and encased against him while tears of thankfulness flowed down each strong face.

Chapter 35

Holding Heath by the shoulders and studying the sapphire eyes, Nick whooped loudly, his excitement couldn’t be contained, his happiness shaking the timbers on the mansion. Neither man cared about the wetness on their cheeks, the grins shined on their faces and Nick again wrapped his arms around the younger man before placing a quick kiss on the blonde head and jumping up from the bed, flinging open the door and shouting.

“HEY EVERYBODY…MY BROTHER SAYS I’M FUZZY!”

Nick’s loud calls brought the sound of scampering feet to the blonde whose shaky hand wiped the tears off his face. Nick swiped a hand across his eyes and moved back to the bed.

Heath frowned against the pain in his head, trying to recall what happened and growled as the others entered the dimly light room, “Nick, did you push me off Charger?”

“WHAT?” shouted Nick in confusion, his loudness causing Heath to wince and the others to chuckle. “YOU FELL OFF YOURSELF!”

Heath cried out suddenly when the room filled with bright light from the physician turning the light to its full strength, the rays sent shooting, sharp pains through his head, his hand shielded his eyes from the source of the pain.

“Turn…it..down..turn..it..down.” stammered Heath in anguish, his face losing color from the pain while turning his head away from the offending light, groaning loudly.

Holding his head with his hand, he shuddered and clenched his jaw tightly. Everyone in the room stood around the bed, watching Howard turn down the light and pull at the strong hand clasped onto the groaning blonde’s head, shielding the sapphire eyes they longed to see.

“Heath, the light is down.” assured Howard calmly, holding onto his wrist. “Com’n son, let me examine you. I know it hurts, Heath trust me.”

Keeping his eyes closed, Heath slowly lowered his hand and took a shaky breath, his body shaking from the assault endured by the pain. Howard squeezed his shoulder and ordered the blonde to open his eyes. A collective gasp of relief spread through the room at the opening of the eyelids with Heath blinking several times.

“Heath, look at me and tell me what you see.” stated Howard, his face looming over his patient, blocking out all others.

Looking upwards, Heath rubbed his temple and replied, “I can see you, doc but you’re not clear. It’s not all dark like before. I know it’s you but it’s like when you’re in a fog and everything’s weird. You know what you’re looking at but it’s fuzzy and not…uh…”

“Distinctive?” offered Howard.

“Yeah, that’s it.” agreed Heath with a shaky sigh. “My head hurts like maybe Nick did push me off Charger.”

“I DIDN’T!” protested Nick vehemently, rolling his eyes at the lop-sided grin on the blonde’s face, before threatening. “You’re lucky there’s women in this room, boy.”

Everyone chuckled at the familiar teasing while Howard patted the shoulder of the blonde. “Heath, it’s gonna hurt like the devil but I have to examine your eyes. With a light. I need to see how your pupils are reacting.”

“Doc, can’t you wait a while or give him something for the pain first?” asked Nick, seeking to prevent his younger brother from more pain, stopping his questions at the hand his mother placed on his arm.

“I can’t have laudanum affecting the examination, Nick.” responded Howard, placing a hand on Heath’s arm, the blonde’s groan of displeasure filled the room. “It’s necessary, Heath.”

Heath sighed loudly, “Okay, doc but I wanna see everyone first.”

Smiling, Howard nodded and stood back from the bed, “For a brief moment, Heath. After he’s seen you, please leave the room and wait downstairs, except for you, Jarrod.”

One by one the family stepped forward to the bed allowing the blonde their first glimpse of him since he’d left for Texas. Nick tousled a hand over the blonde hair and frowned with displeasure at the physician before leaving the room with Howard following.

Audra stepped forward, her eyes spilling out tears when his hand reached up and caressed her face, his eyes studying the fuzzy features intently. “Hi, Sis.”

“Hi, big brother.” smiled Audra before placing a kiss on his cheek. “I’ll see you in a few minutes, okay?”

Nodding, Heath received another kiss before she stood after squeezing his hand and moved to the door. Hiriam stepped forward wrapping his grandson in a hug,

“Grandfather.” whispered Heath holding the other man in his arms. “Nice to see you.”

“It’s nice to see you, too.” smiled Hiriam softly. “Do what Dr. Merar says now, Heath.”

“Okay.” sighed Heath, holding on to the older man a little longer before allowing him to leave.

Nate moved forward and smirked, “Bout time buddy, I don’t know how you keep Nick in line. Whoa, he’s a trial on the nerves.”

Heath clasped the extended hand and winked, “Lot’s of experience, Nate.”

“I’ll go keep him company til later, okay?” grinned Nate patting the strong shoulder before standing.

Victoria moved forward and held her son’s face in her hands, placing a kiss on his forehead.

“Mother.” whispered Heath, his voice choking with emotion.

“Hi sweetheart.” smiled Victoria, her tears spilling out onto her silky cheeks, his fingers feeling the wetness on her face.

“Don’t cry, Mother.” worried Heath with a frown. “I’m fine.”

“I know, Heath.” assured Victoria placing a kiss on his cheek. “I’ll be back when Howard is finished.”

“Okay.” grinned Heath, closing his eyes when her fingers ran through his hair before she left the room.

Jarrod walked over and sat on the bed, taking hold of the strong hand and squeezing it between his. “Brother Heath.”

“Pappy.” sighed Heath with a smile. “Good to see you.”

“You too.” smiled Jarrod before standing and bending over to whisper. “I’ll close the door behind me and give you two a few minutes alone.”

Heath grinned, “Thanks, Jarrod.”

Winking at Cassidy as he moved past her, Jarrod closed the door and Heath held out his hand, watching her form take shape as she neared. Putting her hand in his, sienna eyes blinked against the tears and she was pulled down to a seat on the bed. Neither spoke, his fingers outlining her face, wishing he could see the depths of her eyes. Shivering at his light touch on her skin, Cassidy stared into the sapphire orbs, the emotions burning there for her to see sending a tingle through her.

“Hi there.” whispered Heath, his voice husky with emotion, his fingers brushing through her hair.

“Hi, yourself.” whispered Cassidy, her voice breathless from his gentle touch.

Moving his hand to the back of her neck, he pulled her slowly towards him. Stopping before their faces touched, he placed a kiss on the corner of her mouth, his lips brushing across her lips to kiss the other corner. Seeking her lips, he slowly increased the pressure, causing hers to part and he flicked his tongue inside, the moistness of her mouth greeting him. Enjoying the kiss between them, Heath pulled back and studied her face. Caressing his cheek after he released her mouth, she teased his bottom lip with her lips, before capturing his mouth and her tongue moved past his teeth and touched his. Desire filled him and he moaned quietly, their tongues moving against each other’s before regretfully they moved apart.

Foreheads touching, Heath sighed, “Guess we’re not going to the big city, Cass.”

Laughing quietly, Cassidy wrapped her arms around him and whispered, “That’s fine with me, Heath. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” whispered Heath holding her tight and placing a kiss on her hair. “You’d best let Jarrod and Dr. Merar back in before they break down the door.”

“I’ll see you when they’ve finished.” promised Cassidy, placing a tender kiss on his lips before walking to the door, allowing Jarrod and the physician entry before she left and closed it behind her.

Chapter 36

Walking to the bed, Howard sat beside Heath and Jarrod stood waiting on the other side, watching the physician.

“Heath, describe to me when the light hit your eyes.” stated Howard quietly.

“It shot pain through my head, almost as if I was stabbed in my eyes.” replied Heath, tensing up from the pain he knew he was about to endure. “The pain was shooting through my head, making me nauseous and dizzy.”

Nodding, Howard took the pulse of the blonde noting it was racing and sighed, “Heath, you have to calm yourself. Take some deep breaths.”

Taking several deep breaths, Heath’s eyes were wide with anticipation and Jarrod clamped a hand on his shoulder, offering softly. “I’m right here, Heath. You’re not alone.”

Howard watched Heath’s eyes close and he shuddered before opening his lids, several deep breaths later, his pulse had slowed significantly. Handing a basin to Jarrod, Howard looked over to the eldest son and nodded before lighting a candle.

“Jarrod, you’ll have to hold Heath’s arms. Heath, you must keep your eyes open and your head still, it is very important we complete this examination. We need to know this information. Do you think you’ll be able to hold your head still?” inquired Howard softly.

“I’ll try, doc.” whispered Heath, his voice unsure and Howard hesitated before going to the door, calling Nick up.

“What’s the matter?” asked Nick, concerned when he ran into the room.

“Nick, we’re going to need you too.” sighed Howard, leaning over Heath. “I’d rather subject you to this only once, Heath. Nick, you need to hold Heath’s head, don’t let him turn at all. I promise to be as quick as I can.”

Nodding, Heath took a deep breath and readied himself. Jarrod laid over Heath’s lower body and took firm hold of the strong wrists holding using his body weight to hold his brother’s arms and legs down onto the bed.

Nick swallowed the lump in his throat and pushed the pillows off the bed with his body when he scooted behind the blonde, pulling him to his chest. Wrapping his left arm under Heath’s chin, his right wound around his forehead and Nick placed a kiss on the top of the blonde hair. “It’ll be over soon, little brother.”

Taking a deep breath, Heath let it out slowly, closing his eyes before reopening them and whispering. “Let’s get it done.”

Holding the left eyelid open, Howard moved the candle in front of the blonde’s eye and the response was immediate. Heath’s body arched and strained against the strong hands of his brothers, the pain making him shake and his eyes water. The light penetrating into his orbs from the lids held open by the physician, pain blinding the blonde from inside his head.

Nick tightened his hold, his brother’s curses and cries of pain searing his heart. Hazel eyes met the light blue eyes of Jarrod and Nick knew the look of sickness on his oldest brother’s face probably matched his own. The tension in Heath left as the pain became too much for him and he only wanted the darkness to find him.

“Done!” exclaimed Howard and the brothers’ released their hold. Howard quickly turned Heath onto his left side with one hand, the blonde losing the contents of his stomach immediately.

Nick held his head over the basin and Jarrod ran his hand over the broad back, the heaving continued and when it passed, Jarrod wiped the colorless face with a wet cloth after Nick turned Heath over and pulled him up to recline back against the pillows the physician piled against the headboard.

Heath was barely aware, the light assaulted his head and the piercing stabs of pain were unbearable, his body felt as if it were wavering back and forth. The sound of his name being called reached through the roaring in his ears and the tunnel he was in. Several minutes passed before Howard’s calls were rewarded with a weak voice.

“Doc?”

Howard smiled and squeezed the blonde’s shoulder. “Yes, Heath. Can you open your eyes?”

“No.” protested Heath weakly, reaching up and shielding his eyes with a trembling hand. “No more.”

“The light is gone, Heath.” assured Howard firmly. “Just open your eyes once more and look at me, then you can rest. I promise.”

Sitting by the smaller man’s head, Nick ran a hand over the blonde hair and whispered, “Com’n Heath. Open your eyes for doc.”

Jarrod squeezed Heath’s arm and added his own voice to the pleading of the other two, sighing in relief when his younger brother’s eyelids slowly opened.

“I know it was hard, Heath.” said Howard quietly staring into the sapphire eyes. “I’m going to have a pair of no light glasses sent up from San Francisco. Your pupils are slow at reacting to the light causing the pain in the back of your head. It will correct itself but until it does, you won’t be able to be in bright light. These glasses are special and will help you keep most of the light out of your eyes.”

“How long?” whispered Heath squeezing his temples against the pain.

“How long?” repeated Howard moving from the bed and pouring a dose of laudanum. “I would surmise at least a week, perhaps less. Here, this will help with the pain.”

Administering the pain killer, Jarrod held a glass of water to his pale brother’s mouth and Heath gratefully took a sip of the cool liquid.

“Thanks.” sighed Heath closing his eyes and waiting for the pain to subside, feeling his brothers by his side.

Nick and Jarrod waited til the breaths of their brother indicated he was resting. Nick rubbed his face and looked over at Jarrod.

“That pain was excruciating.” groaned Nick with a shake of his head before looking at the family physician. “Are you sure Heath’s eyes will be okay?”

“Once Heath’s pupils’ react normally he won’t have the pain from bright lights, Nick.” answered Howard. “As to the fuzziness in his sight, we will have to wait and see if it clears up. Time will tell.”

“Thanks, Dr. Merar.” said Jarrod walking the physician to the door. “I’ll come downstairs with you.”

Nick sat by the bed and ran his hand through his hair, leaning into the petite body of his mother when she appeared by his side. “It was awful, Mother.”

Taming his unruly dark hair with her small hand, Victoria sighed, “It’s hard to watch someone you love in pain, Nick. I know Heath appreciates you and Jarrod being with him.”

Looking up, Nick smiled and nodded. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, Mother.”

Glancing down at her son, Victoria placed a kiss on his forehead and caressed his chiseled face, her gray eyes showing sadness. “Nate and Cassidy received a wire from Texas. They have to head back in the morning. Their mother passed away from a heart attack.”

Chapter 37

Sitting in a chair and staring out the window into the night, Heath sighed and laid his head back. Four days had crept by, four long days of sadness, four long days of wondering, four long days of unwanted thoughts.

Awakening from his medicinal slumber, sapphire eyes opened after his ears had caught the faint muffled sound of sniffling from his bedside. An almost irrational fear gripped his body, a fear his subconscious still harbored after three years of ranching instead of marshaling. A fear his past would come back and harm those around him, the family who opened their hearts to him.

When he opened his eyes, the form at his bedside shedding tears was more distinctive than before. While not crystal sharp, he could tell it was not his mother or sister, but Cassidy who was trying to hide the sounds of her heart in torment.

Her cries wouldn’t be contained and he’d wrapped her in his arms, seeking to offer what solace he could at a time of darkness in a child’s life. A child full grown was always a child to a parent. One loss shortly after another was devastating and stunning.

As a teenager, angry and bitter, he’d experienced the relationship between Naomi and Ned Jackson first hand and always marveled at the connection the two seemed to have. Raised without a father, the teenager often sat on the porch, listening to the couple laugh and live together. The Jacksons were the first married couple he’d ever known whose love was complete and whole, their strengths and weaknesses as individuals made the couple a force to be reckoned as they walked down the path together, hand in hand.

The teenager never experienced anything similar to the married couples in Strawberry. Growing up he’d often thought marriage was a sentence of torture, a sentence of a lackluster future. The ghost town of his raising had few married couples and his closest example of a joined man and woman were his aunt and uncle.

Heath smiled to himself, knowing the now departed Jacksons had unknowingly sparked a light of compassion, caring and decency deep within the battle scarred teenager. The light they uncovered was coaxed to a flame by the guidance of Frank Sawyer. Life would have taken a very different turn for him had that flame never been started. If it had remained hidden and the Jacksons hadn’t welcomed him in, Heath felt sure he’d have ended up on the end of a noose.

Too fast with a gun, deadly accuracy and a hair trigger temper would have been the angry young man’s undoing and would have laid a path strewn with jagged rocks and pitfalls, instead of the brick path he’d been given the chance to choose.

Leaning forward in his chair, Heath held his head in his hands and took several deep breaths to fight back the tears. The world had lost two wonderful people, two people who showered their fellow man with compassion and caring. The loss within him sent tears to his eyes and twisted his heart. He knew partially the extent of Cassidy and Nate’s pain, he knew what it was like to lose one parent but couldn’t fathom losing another shortly after the first.

Standing, he held onto the windowsill, head bowed and took several deep breaths. He knew it was grieve he felt for Cassidy and Nate, but he also felt confined and nervous. Confined to the house til today when Dr. Merar showed up with the strange looking eye wear. The dark lenses and dark double hinged side pieces were designed to stop the infiltration of light into the eyes. It would reduce the light significantly but not wholly. He’d been so fearful of subjecting his eyes to light and feeling the pain, it had taken the physician and his brothers a half-hour to coax him into trying the eye pieces.

The first tentative step into full light had been taken with great trepidation. The family friend had been correct, the glasses did cut a significant amount of light off from his eyes and he’d spent two hours outside before the headache built up and sleep was the only way to find a measure of relief. Realizing if he used the Ayscough glasses, named for the inventor James Ayscough, in the early morning and late afternoons, he could traverse outside with a minimal amount of pain. The noontime hours and the early afternoon when the sun was at its strongest, would have to spent indoors for the time being.

Nick stood in the doorway, hazel eyes watching the man leaning, hands held to the window frame. The past four days he knew had been hard on Heath with the death of Mrs. Jackson, the departure of Cassidy and Nate, the waiting for his sight to return to a semblance of where it was before.

Knocking on the door, Nick was greeted by Heath moving away from the window and waving him in. “Hey, Nick. Kinda late for you, ain’t it?”

Nick took a seat in one of the chairs while Heath sat in another. “I was catching up on some paperwork downstairs.”

Heath winked, “Boy howdy, I can’t say I’ll be happy to do paperwork again! I hope you finished it all.”

“I’m leaving the rest for you.” grinned Nick at the scowl on the blonde’s face before asking, “How ya’ doing, little brother?”

“Fine.” replied Heath, his eyes moving from the hazel eyes.

“It’s a wonder to me how you got to be such a good poker player! You can’t look me in the eye and tell one little white lie.” snorted Nick, his words turning the blonde’s cheeks crimson in the soft moonlight streaming into the window.

“Complaining about it won’t change anything, Nick.” sighed Heath with a shrug.

“Heath, you are as irritating as Jarrod with your way of looking at stuff!” chastised Nick waving a finger at the blonde. “Sometimes talking makes you feel better about things. Did you ever think of that? Now, how are you doing?”

Meeting the hazel eyes, Heath asked quietly, “Nick, have you ever realized life is one big circle?”

Puzzled, Nick laid his arms on the small round table and thought about the question. “Makes sense, I guess. You’re born and that’s the beginning where you learn and grow on a daily basis. When you die, you’ve hopefully learned lots of things on the way and are done growing. They say for every death there’s a baby born. The circle of life.”

“Yeah.” whispered Heath, his frown darkening on his face, his fingers tapping on the table. “I’ve been thinking my life is one big circle at least as far as the women I’m associated with.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” inquired Nick, waiting for the reason of the deep thinking the blonde had been doing the past days.

“First, Melinda’s mother is murdered and she leaves. Now, Cassidy’s mother dies and she leaves.” sighed Heath before growling at himself. “Those are two very different situations but dammit, I can’t get the thought outta my head.”

“Heath, Cass is coming back. She said so herself.” assured Nick softly, reaching over and squeezing the back of his neck. “Your mind is too damn busy lately cause you got too much time on your hands, is all. I swear you’re part worry wart!”

“I can’t help worry. Mark’s still on the run.” scowled Heath. “He’s always been jealous of Nate. He never had good reason to be..it was his own fault the way he is. He was given the same opportunities as Nate but he took the easy way to get what he wanted. The wrong way, the criminal way. Mark was always the rotten apple in the barrel. I’d feel better knowing he was anywhere but Texas right now.”

“He’d be stupid to stay where he’s well known.” scoffed Nick. “You told me yourself everyone in Garwood knows the Jackson family. He couldn’t step foot in the town without someone recognizing him.”

“I still don’t like it.” mumbled Heath before smirking. “If I wasn’t part vampire, I could go out in the daylight and head to Texas to watch Nate’s back!”

Chuckling, Nick winked, “Maybe I should make sure we have some garlic in the kitchen to ward you off at night and keep a stake by my bed.”

Laughing for the first time in four days, Heath smiled and shook his head. “Go on, get out of here. This is a working ranch, big brother!”

Chapter 38

“Hey dracula, you coming?” called Nick from the bottom of the staircase three days later, his voice raising the eyes of his petite mother to the heavens, seeking patience as she walked into the foyer while Audra and Jarrod shared a chuckle in the dining room.

“Nick, must you shout?” sighed Victoria, hands on her hips.

“Sorry, Mother.” apologized her son with a slight smile before he gestured upwards. “Just trying to get Heath moving. Be nice if HE’D HURRY!”

Sighing in exasperation, Victoria glanced up to the second floor at the slamming of a door and quick footsteps. Heath came bounding down the stairs carrying his dark lensed glasses and his hat.

“Aren’t you two joining us for breakfast?”

“Morn’g Mother, we ate earlier with Silas.” drawled Heath placing a kiss on her cheek and winking before turning to his brother. “Are you finally ready Nick?”

“ME?” retorted Nick. “You’re the one holding up the show, boy!”

“Where are you boys off to so early? The sun’s barely risen.” inquired Victoria with a smile watching her sons strap their guns on their waist.

Pointing to Nick with his thumb, Heath smirked, “Bad enough we fix fences now we have ta fix a wall at Doc’s cause of my big brother.”

“A wall because of Nick?” puzzled Victoria while hiding a smile at the low grumbling.

“Ah, it’s a long story, Mother.” said Nick with a glare at the smiling blonde beside him. “Com’n Count, let’s go.”

Placing a kiss on his mother’s cheek, Nick pulled his chuckling brother out into the early morning light and the brothers entered the barn, emerging ten minutes later and riding out of the ranch yard in the bare light of the morning.

Victoria walked back into the dining room and smiled at her other two children eating their breakfast. “Nick and Heath won’t be joining us this morning.”

Putting her cup on the table, Audra smiled at her mother, “Heath’s sure relaxed since he got the wire, isn’t he, Mother.”

Victoria held her cup in her hands and nodded, “It did take a weight of worry off his shoulders. Having Nate’s brother finally arrested was a relief.”

Jarrod sighed, “I can’t believe the man had the audacity to return to his old stomping grounds.”

“Jarrod, he heard of his mother’s funeral and wanted to attend. Perhaps there was some good in him after all.” surmised Victoria thoughtfully.

“Perhaps but how must Nate feel having to arrest his own brother?” wondered Jarrod, crystal blue eyes filled with concern. “No matter how Nate works it in his mind, Mark is still his brother.”

The dining room was quiet with their thoughts of the brown haired man with laughing eyes and a quick smile. Audra smiled to herself and glanced upwards into her mother’s knowing eyes, blushing slightly before picking up a fork to finish her breakfast.

Jarrod caught the look between the two females and hid a grin, the whole family was privy to knowing of the two letters Audra received from Texas from the lawman. Heath merely frowned when he’d found out, sapphire eyes filled with questions unspoken lit up when he received two letters also.

“Mother, is Dr. Merar going to speak with Heath today?” inquired Jarrod suddenly receiving an affirmative nod.

“Yes, he is.” stated Victoria. “Though Howard thinks it’s a good sign Heath can venture out longer and use those dark glasses for a shorter period, we’d both feel better if he did see a specialist in San Francisco.”

“He’s not going to agree, Mother.” replied Audra with a shake of her blonde mane. “I think he’s almost as stubborn as Nick and Jarrod.”

“Hey! I’m not sure if I like that observation.” grinned Jarrod with a wink to his sister, “Since you’re so cute, I’ll let you get away with it.”

“Heath will be going to see a specialist, besides, we certainly can’t have Nick keep calling his brother Count Dracula!” exclaimed Victoria with a rolling of her eyes. “When they were at the orphanage yesterday, Nick frightened one of the little ones with that story about who the infamous Count was. I’m sure it was not the kind of story Sister Margaret was hoping Nick would tell the children to keep them amused.”

“No, I’m sure it’s not.” replied Jarrod, trying to stop his laughter from bubbling out recalling the telling of the event by Heath who couldn’t keep the tears of laughter from spilling out. “Heath said he’d never seen a nun chase a cowboy before.”

“Jarrod!” chastised Victoria, gray eyes filled with amusement and Audra giggling.

“Oh, Mother, those two can be just like little kids.” snickered Audra, squeezing her mother’s hand. “I’ve often thought if they’d grown up together, you and Father would’ve had to tie them to a chair to make them sit still and keep out of trouble.”

“Remember when Nick dared Heath to match Hiriam up with Agnes Whittaker on a dinner date?” smiled Jarrod.

“Dared? No, I think it was a bet.” corrected Victoria, leaning her chin on her hands and shaking her head. “Poor Hiriam. Agnes must be near close to 100. I could’ve sworn Heath knew Agnes was the mother and Agnesia was the spinster daughter. How Heath ever turned it around, I have no idea.”

“Hiriam was sure a good sport about it. He said he’d never felt so young in all his life.” choked out Jarrod, blue eyes sparkling.

“I remember Hiriam was very gracious when he thanked his embarrassed grandson and then said he’d find his own dates in the future.” smiled Victoria, covering her mouth trying to hold her giggles in.

Laughing at the mental picture, the three family members knew the two rancher brothers had the ability to goad each other into the wildest of dares seemingly to make up for the missed years of childhood. Each one saying a quick prayer, thankful the return of the blonde’s sight meant many more years of brotherly teasing on the ranch they both loved.

Continued…