Double Phenomena

Chapters 42-60

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 42

“No, I am quite sane, big brother but thanks for asking.” stated Heath before gesturing to his body and shaking his head as he glanced downward. “Look at me Nick, I’d show Gaylord the ropes but for the moment I’m incapacitated.”

“In more ways than one!” snapped Nick, glaring into the pleading sapphire eyes, letting out a mixture of a growl and a humpfed sound.

“I can’t show him how to ride til the doc clears me. I can’t take him out and make him…uh..show him how to fix fence posts or anything else Nate needs done around here.” suggested Heath, lowering his voice and whispering, “Com’n Nick. It’d only be for a week or two, three at the most.”

“THREE?” bellowed Nick turning red when the others in the yard stopped talking to stare at him. Mumbling to himself as he ran a hand the back of his neck, Nick groaned. “I just know I’m gonna regret this, I know it.”

“Gaylord’s harmless Nick.” added Heath quietly, smiling to his wife who caught his eye.

“Harmless! Have you looked closely at Nate?” hissed Nick, drawing the sapphire eyes to him and gestured to the group across the yard. “Looks to me like he’s lucky his head’s still attached. Harmless, huh?”

Taking a deep breath, Heath replied, “Trust me, Nick. Okay?”

Nick stared at the smaller man, his mind rushing backwards in time to the conversation in Hiriam’s kitchen, the day after Heath returned from his trip only to be thrown into a tail spin when he was pounced on by those he loved.

‘You’re my brothers and I love you but I will not allow myself to be accepting of such a lack of trust. It’ll take time but I’m willing to try to get it back’

The urge to deny his little brother’s request died within him and Nick nodded his agreement. The rancher was willing to spend however long was necessary with Fleshton just to prove to Heath he did trust him and always would.

“Alright but no more than three weeks.” said Nick grudgingly.

Clapping the larger man on the back, Heath smiled gratefully, “Thanks Nick, ‘preciate it. Don’t worry about the ranch, I’ll use a surrey to check on the crews if Duke needs me to.”

“It’s a good thing its slow right now. You just mind your p’s and q’s and follow doc’s orders.” suggested Nick as they walked back across the yard slowly. “Sooner you’re not gimping around, the sooner you can go back to work.”

Chuckling, Heath flashed a lop-sided grin and nodded, “For you, big brother I’ll promise to do my best.”

Nick left Heath beside Nate and walked over to get the surrey, driving back to the group and jumped down to help the ladies into the rig before climbing back up front beside Audra. After saying goodbye to his fiancée the former marshal smirked at Nick, laughing out loud as he stepped back from the surrey, waving to the departing group. Nick shook his head and mumbled to himself on the way home, wondering what the hell he’d just gotten himself into.

Heath stretched out his bruised leg, shifting on the benchseat and trying to find a comfortable spot while attempting to keep up with his wife and sister’s wedding conversation. Looking out across the countryside, the blond’s mind wandered back to the time when he’d posed as Gaylord Fleshton. Searching his remembrances of the dark time, trying to ferret out the reason of Gaylord’s distrust of Jack Larkin.

Scowling to himself, Heath couldn’t find any clue, any reason. It had to have occurred during those three weeks when he was laid up from the gunshot wound and Fanny was a mere shell of herself, both of them locked away from the world and trying to survive.

Audra turned to talk to Nick giving Cassidy a moment to study the profile of her husband, his handsome face marred by a deep frown and his eyes not in the present. Reaching over she put her hand behind him and lightly ran it over his back, the tension knots in his muscles could be felt through his chambray shirt.

Turning to look at his wife, Heath smiled and leaned his cheek against her blonde head but not before her sharp eyes had seen the toll the excursion of the day had taken on him. His face was drawn not only from his thoughts but also due to his dwindling strength of his recovering body.

Pulling the surrey up to the house, Nick jumped down and reached up to help Audra, watching as Heath stiffly climbed down before holding his wife’s hand as she stepped off.

“I’ll take care of the horses, little brother.” offered Nick, leading the animals to the barn and not waiting for a response.

Entering the mansion, Audra and Cassidy rushed up the grand staircase seeking out the Barkley matriarch. Heath smiled at the excited women before seeing Jarrod’s hat on the table. Moving towards the study, he stopped when his oldest brother walked out of the room and in the foyer.

“Did ya’ get a wire, Jarrod?” questioned Heath.

Shaking his head, Jarrod replied, “No word yet, Heath. I had Mr. Foster resend it again. I’ll check tomorrow when I go into the office.”

“Dammit.” whispered the blond.

“I’m sure we’ll hear something soon, little brother.” implied Jarrod softly. “Maybe he’s out of town.”

“Yeah, I guess he could be.” admitted Heath with a small grin. “Nate proposed today.”

“He did!” exclaimed Jarrod with a broad smile. “Where’s our sister now?”

Gesturing with his head, Heath drawled, “Upstairs letting Mother know she’s practically got the whole ceremony decided on already.”

Laughing, Jarrod placed an arm over his brother’s shoulders and walked him slowly to the staircase, “Brother Heath, Audra’s had her wedding planned since Tommy Smith proposed to her at the tender age of five. She was just missing the groom.”

Chuckling, the blond nodded. “I think I’ll head upstairs and clean up before dinner, counselor. Oh, everything go okay with Faith and Angeline? Is the shop all set?”

“She’ll be open for her first day of business tomorrow and Angeline loved the doll you and Cass left her at the house. She named it Heather.” smirked Jarrod, his eyes twinkling at the blush spreading across the tired face.

“Great.” mumbled Heath shaking his head and climbing the staircase, the first born’s laughter following him. Opening the door to their bedroom, Heath stifled a yawn, the day was more tiring than he thought it would be.

“Hon.” said Cassidy, walking in the open door and closing it behind her, pulling him to the bed, taking off his shirt. “Lay down on your side and I’ll give you a gentle massage, it’ll make your back feel better.”

Arching an eyebrow as she sat him on the bed, Heath pulled his wife to a seat beside him and whispered in a husky voice. “Why don’t you lay down with me? Plenty of time til dinner.”

Rolling her eyes, Cassidy pushed him on his uninjured side, lifting his head and placing it on a pillow. Frowning at the disappointment in his face, she leaned forward and placed a lingering kiss on his face, her fingers caressing his cheek for a moment.

“Close your eyes, hon.” ordered Cassidy softly as her hands moved over his battered body, smiling when his even breaths filled the room and he gave into the sleep he needed, whispering to herself. “Never too tired, huh my husband?”

Chapter 43

Waking in his bedroom, Heath felt the arm of his wife laid over his stomach in her sleep. He’d fallen asleep on top of the quilt and she was under the blankets. Glancing out the window, he scowled when he saw it was dark. He’d slept straight through dinner and past the time he wanted to spend talking with Nick.

Gently picking up her arm, he struggled to get out of bed without waking her, his stitches and bruised leg making it near impossible. Cassidy felt him stirring and murmured, “Heath?”

“Shhh, darlin’. Go back to sleep.” whispered Heath, placing a kiss on her hand before laying it on the bed. “I’ll be right back.”

“’kay.” sighed Cass, her eyes not opening and she snuggled down into the covers. Heath smiled at the sight of his wife, knowing she wouldn’t remember talking to him in the morning.

Slipping into his shirt, he closed the heavy door quietly behind him. The floor of the mansion was quiet, the only sound was the whisper of his feet on the runner in the hallway. Stopping outside the door of his brother, Heath entered, stealthily making his way to the bed and turning up the bedside lamp, causing the snoring to stop and drowsy hazel eyes to blink against the harsh light infiltrating the room.

“Heath, what the hell?” growled Nick, holding up a hand to shield his eyes. “What time is it?”

“Bout two in the morning.” said Heath sitting on the bed, covering the mouth which threatened to erupt in outrage. “Quiet, Nick! Everyone else is asleep.”

Snarling at the blond sitting on his bed, Nick pushed himself up to lean against his headboard wiping a hand across his sleep ladened eyes. “What’s so all fire important it couldn’t wait til morning?”

“I was gonna talk to you earlier but I fell asleep.” sighed Heath, turning his eyes away from the hazel orbs to look out at the darkness for a moment. “Nick, I got a bad feelin’ today at Nate’s. Like someone was watching.”

The lingering remnants of sleep were washed away and Nick snapped, “Why didn’t you say something? We could’ve looked around.”

“Nate knows. I told him while you were getting the surrey.” admitted Heath. “He hasn’t seen tracks around the ranch. If it were Craven, I’m guessing he’d have made a move while it was only the three of them there.”

“Is that why you want me to go over there?” questioned Nick in a low voice.

“No, I’m telling you so you can be alert and on guard.” stated Heath with a shake of his head. “Gaylord needs to learn to ride, just in case anything happens and he has to get himself and Fanny outta there. That’s why I want you to go Nick. I’d do it myself but I can’t. Hell, it took everything outta me today just from the ride over and back.”

“So, this is not some stupid test to see if I trust you?” suggested Nick.

Puzzled, Heath scoffed, “Where’d you get that idea, twit brain?”

“I don’t know, it popped in my head today when you said ‘trust me’.” sighed Nick, his words not clearing the confusion in the sapphire eyes so he added, “I was remembering the conversation we had at Hiriam’s.”

“Oh, actually I hadn’t thought about that for weeks.” admitted the blond remembering the talk. “Nick, I only said that cause I know Gaylord really is harmless. I didn’t want you to be thinking he was a bad omen or a jinx like Nate suggested. That’s why I said trust me not cause of what happened before.”

Letting out a sigh of relief, Nick nodded, “Well, that’s good. I was worried all night about it.”

“Sorry.” apologized Heath sincerely. “I hope it didn’t ruin your evening.”

Waving off the apology, Nick smirked, “Nah, it just gave Jarrod a chance to win at pool for once.”

Chuckling, Heath patted the shoulder closest to him. “Just do me a favor and stay close to the ranch buildings at Nate’s tomorrow. We may need to bring Gaylord and Fanny here if someone is watching Nate’s.”

“I will.” assured Nick with a grin.

Pushing himself up and moving away, Heath stopped and turned to look back at his dark haired brother. “Nate’s gonna ride out when you get there tomorrow like he’s off to do work on the range. Then he’ll doubleback and watch from the hills, try to pick up a sign or two. Hopefully I’m just being jumpy like an old maid.”

“Sounds like you two have everything under control. Don’t worry, little brother.” winked Nick shooing the blond towards the door with his hand. “Go on, git. Picturing you as an old maid will probably give me nightmares and I was in the middle of such a good dream too, smart ass.”

Smirking, Heath smiled and limped to the door, closing it behind him. Making his way back to his own room, he entered and stripped off his clothes. Slipping under the covers, he laid on his back looking up at the ceiling and wondering again where Craven could be hiding. His sleep was long in coming from his tormented thoughts.

“I’ll see you later, Nick.” said Nate, pulling himself up into the saddle and waving to the dark haired man before nudging his horse out of the yard.

The smile on the brown haired man’s face disappeared as soon as his back was to the brother of his friend. The lightness replaced with seriousness and he headed down the trail away from his small home. He sure hoped Heath’s instincts were wrong when he felt watched yesterday. He’d spent a night keeping watch, catching minimal sleep by catnapping.

Nick sighed and watched the former lawman ride away, before he climbed the steps to knock on the door, casually glancing around the area he could see surrounding the site. When the door opened and Fanciful answered, he quickly took off his hat and grinned.

“Morning, Miss Fleshton.”

Returning the smile, Fanny stepped back and allowed the large man entry into the small cabin, “Morning to you, Mr. Barkley. Lovely day, isn’t it?”

“Yes, ma’am.” agreed Nick with a nod, standing by the door and holding his hat. “Is your brother ready?”

“I’m here, Mr. Barkley.” replied Gaylord with a nervous smile.

The tall dark haired man oozed with power and strength, his confidence clear in his sure movements, his swagger. The brothel manager wasn’t sure who he was more wary of, his double with eyes which could turn to an icy cold in seconds or his brother standing right here, the wholly mammoth…no more like the human volcano.

“Well, let’s get started then.” stated Nick bowing slightly to Fancy and leaving her sighing to herself at his smile.

Gaylord’s shorter legs moved quickly to stay beside the rancher who headed straight to the barn and entered. Nick had to admit to himself, he felt calmer and happier after gazing into the chocolate eyes of Fanciful than when he left the ranch this morning.

Stopping and turning suddenly, Nick stated, “I forgot to ask exactly what you know about ranching or riding, Fleshton.”

Shifting on his feet, Gaylord pointed into the stall and sighed, “I know that’s a horse, that’s a saddle, a blanket, a harness but I’ll be damned if I can figure out how to get it to stay in place.”

Leaning on the stall door, Nick stared at the blond and shook his head, “You’ve never ridden before. Ever? Not even once?”

“Never had a need to. I grew up in a city and always lived in one. There’s always handsome cabs in the city to take you everywhere. There’s stage coaches and trains to take you cross country.” explained the younger man with a shrug before gesturing around with his hand.

“This is not my element, Mr. Barkley. Now, get me in the big city and I can tell you where every element skirting the edges of the law are, what they’re doing, who in the public eye is paying privately for which girl and who is on the take. Those are the things I need to know in my line of business. They don’t much care if you can ride a horse or not, I’m afraid.”

“No, I guess not.” said Nick with a chuckle, opening the door and leading out a mare. “Fleshton meet Daisy.”

“Daisy?” cringed the blond. “A flower?”

“Well, we can’t start you out on a horse called Killer or Demon now, can we?” asked Nick tying the horse to the post and smirking as he pointed. “This is the front end and that is the backside of Daisy.”

Gaylord retorted, “That I DO know.”

Chuckling despite his early morning grumblings about spending time with the man beside him, Nick was joined in laughter by the blond before he started in on the lesson. Picking up each piece of equipment and going over its purpose, taking time to make sure the man who looked like his brother understood before going on. Patiently saddling the mare, Nick could feel the blond scrutinizing his every move, paying close attention.

“Ready to saddle her yourself?” questioned Nick after standing back. “I’ll take everything off and you can show me if you learned anything.”

The brothel manager hesitated before stating, “Do you think maybe Fancy should learn this too? I mean, well, what if something were to happen and she needed to get away, uh, to safety? She’d be helpless.”

“Yeah, that might be a good idea.” admitted Nick with a nod. “Good thinking, Fleshton.”

“Can’t you call me Gaylord or Lord?” hinted Gaylord with a sigh. “I don’t like being called by my last name.”

“And I don’t like either of those.” said Nick with an apologetic smile. “Do you have a middle name or a nickname?”

“No, but my father used to call me Greg.” suggested Gaylord after a moment. “Is that better?”

“Yep and you can call me Mr. Barkley.” grinned Nick at the mouth which dropped open. “Just pulling your chain, call me Nick.”

Gaylord nodded, “Nick it is then.”

“Alright Greg lets get Daisy unsaddled then you can have a try. After that we’ll see if Fanc…uh…Miss Fleshton is ready for lessons.”

“Sure, I’ll get her.” offered Gaylord walking to the door, rushing back inside and exclaiming, “Jackson’s coming with somebody.”

Chapter 44

Leaning against the door of the barn and watching Nick ride off, Heath let out a sigh and shook his head. His face scowled at his mind which couldn’t provide an answer to the mystery looming over their heads. Since his early morning waking of his brother, he had lain awake searching the plastered ceiling of their bedroom for an answer, a clue or even a hint of what Craven was seeking. His inability to rest had him dressing, kissing his wife in her sleep and starting the day of work two hours earlier than normal.

“Marshal Boss, I’d sure hate to be on the receiving end of what’s causing that face.” suggested Scotty standing on the other side of the doorway and studying the former marshal.

Heath shook the scowl off his face and smirked, “Being on this side ain’t too good either, Scotty.”

Smiling, Scotty nodded and asked hopefully, “Since Nick’s riding somewhere, does that mean you’re back to working boss?”

“You almost sound like you missed me, Scotty. Has big brother been a little temperamental lately?” teased Heath.

Rolling his eyes and sighing, Scotty retorted, “Only as surly as a grizzly with a tooth ache.”

Heath pursed his lips in thought before agreeing with a small nod, “I always thought he was part bear too. In the fall, I keep waiting for him to fatten up for hibernation.”

Busting out in a loud laugh, Scotty winked, “If he starts to do that, I’m finding a new place to work.”

Chuckling, Heath smiled and clapped the hand on the back, “You wouldn’t be the only one, Scotty and I’d be right behind you. I’ll be back in a bit and then we’ll get started for the north ridge.”

Smirking, Scotty watched the blond former marshal limp his way to the mansion, the men would be happy to have him back working with them. Both bosses were well respected and the crew were always amazed at the depths of feeling each man held for the other. If one was hurting, the other hurt just as much, almost as if their hearts and souls were joined by an invisible thread. It was strange how those two men, forceful and aggressive in their own ways, both louder than life in different ways, could offset the other and balance each other out.

Climbing the staircase, Heath opened his door and smiled at his wife, sitting on the small vanity bench and running a brush through her hair. Sienna eyes caught his in the mirror as he bent and wrapped his arms around her, his face by hers reflecting in the oval glass.

“Good morning, hon.” smiled Cassidy. “Where have you been?”

“Mornin’ darlin’, I was seeing Nick off. He’s going over to Nate’s.” explained Heath studying his wife in the reflection before releasing her and kneeling down, reaching up to hold his hand against her face. “You look tired, Cass. Are you okay?”

The texture of the work roughened palm against her cheek felt as soft as silk and Cass closed her eyes, relishing in the contrast, murmuring quietly, “I must have slept so hard I didn’t get any rest. I don’t remember waking at all last night. I feel fine though, Heath.”

“Mother says you, her and Audra are heading into town to the dressmakers. Maybe you should stay home and rest. Ya’ could be coming down with somethin’.” worried Heath.

Taking his face in her hands, she smiled and placed a lingering kiss on his lips before teasing, “You’re just afraid I’ll buy out the whole shop, aren’t you?”

Brushing her hair behind her ear, Heath drawled, “Well, you found out my greatest fear, darlin’. I can never pull the wool over your eyes.”

Giggling, Cassidy shook her head and outlined his lips with her fingertip, sienna eyes flashing with amusement, “I’m anxious to see what Faith has in her store but today is for Audra. Now, tomorrow another’s day and you know how I like to shop, hon.”

Capturing her hand, Heath placed a kiss on the tip of each of her fingers before kissing her palm, his eyes glistening as his hand moved up her arm and found the back of her neck, pulling her to his chest. Running her hands up his arms and resting them on his shoulders, she felt her heart quicken in anticipation of her husband’s kiss as his mouth lowered and teased hers.

Melting from the joining of their lips, Cassidy leaned further into Heath just as his injured leg gave out from his weight, crumpling beneath and pulling them over to tumble onto the floor. The breath in his lungs were whooshed out of him when his wife landed on his chest and his back hit the hardwood floor, her falling body flipping the bench over and her boot catching the vanity causing it to bang loudly against the wall.

Trying to catch his breath and chuckle at the same time while ignoring the stab of pain, Heath gasped for air as a fist pounded on their bedroom door. Cassidy giggled at the sound of Jarrod calling, trying to push herself off her husband fighting for his breath.

“Hey, you two alright in there?”

“Yeah, Pappy, we’re fine.” called Heath after catching his breath and chuckling at his wife lying on the floor holding a hand over her mouth to stop her laughter. Pushing himself up onto his elbow, he smirked and leaned over his wife, capturing her mouth, stifling her giggles.

Breaking off the kiss, Heath smiled into the sienna eyes filled with desire, “Darlin’ if we don’t get downstairs for breakfast, I’m gonna lock the door for the rest of the day.”

Sighing with contentment, Cassidy frowned in deep thought and wondered out loud, “Hmmm, behind closed doors with my husband or shopping? Hmm, which to choose?”

Lifting an eyebrow at the mused choices, Heath growled, “I don’t think I like how long it’s taking you to decide, wife. That’s not good for my ego!”

Laughing, the blonde pulled her husband’s face to hers and left him hungry after her deep kiss, purring in his ear, “So many choices but so little time, hon. Guess, I’ll have to settle for breakfast for now.”

Pushing himself up to his knees, Heath flashed a lop-sided grin and helped his wife to her knees, before she helped him to his feet. Rubbing his hand over his bruised leg, he waved off her concern which took the laughter out of her eyes.

“Heath, maybe you should stay home?” suggested Cassidy, straightening the bench and quickly pinning her hair up.

“Nah, it’s getting better, Cass.” replied Heath with a sly smile, “I think it was just the extra weight on it that caused it to buckle.”

Opening her mouth, Cassidy’s eyes widened in disbelief before she shrieked angrily, “DID YOU JUST SAY I WAS FAT?”

Chapter 45

Nick watched Nate riding beside someone, his face scowling as they neared and he thrust his hands onto his lean hips, barking angrily, “Larkin! Where in the hell have you been and why haven’t you answered our wires?”

Smiling at the loud growling from the irate man, Nate dismounted and stood beside his horse, watching Jack Larkin try to calm the other man. “Calm down Nick…”

“Don’t you tell me to calm down! Heath’s been going outta his mind wondering why you haven’t wired back.” retorted Nick, poking the lawman in the chest. “You better have a damn good reason for leaving him hanging like that.”

Pushing down the finger jabbing his chest, Jack snapped, “Nick, we got Craven’s men!”

“WHAT?” exclaimed Nick, his anger dissipating at the news and a smile broke across his face. “When? Where?”

Holding up a hand to stop the questions, Jack calmly stated, “Over to Modesto. I didn’t wire cause I didn’t know. The wire was just forwarded to me yesterday. We had gotten word, Craven and his men were hiding in the hills outside Modesto. It took us almost two weeks to find them but we did.”

“That’s great!” shouted Nick loudly overriding the Fleshton siblings sighing with relief.

“Craven wasn’t there.” informed Nate with a scowl. “He’s still roaming around.”

“Dammit.” muttered Nick apologizing quickly, “Sorry, Miss Fleshton.”

“That’s okay, Mr. Barkley.” whispered Fancy, tightly holding her brother’s hand before asking, “Marshal Larkin, do you know why Craven’s after my brother?”

Nodding, Jack answered, “When Heath was posing as your brother, apparently Craven left forty thousand dollars in the safe at the brothel’s office after he had you and Heath stashed away. When he was arrested, we found the money in the safe but it disappeared before it made it’s way to be listed as evidence. The money was from a robbery Craven pulled and we launched an investigation but it was never found.”

All eyes turned to the brothel manager and he stammered at the frowned looks, “I DIDN’T TAKE IT, I SWEAR!”

“Craven apparently thinks you did, Fleshton.” suggested Larkin. “Only you, Craven and Heath had access to the safe.”

“I tell you, it wasn’t me!” pleaded Gaylord emphatically, staring at the large rancher beside him. “Nick, I swear I had no idea! Larkin…how could I…you had me locked away in another town for pete’s sake! Rotting there while you put my sister in harm’s way, you piece of….”

“Settle down, Greg. We’ll get to the bottom of it.” ordered Nick placing a large hand on the smaller man’s shoulder, waiting for his brother’s double to take several deep breaths against the anger rising in him at the accusation. “How come Heath never knew about this missing money?”

“We didn’t tell him because even today he’s still under a cloud of suspicion as being the marshal who stole the money.” stated Larkin, not moving his eyes from the hazel orbs which hardened in fury at the vile accusation leveled at his brother.

“Are you out of your mind!” snapped Nick furiously. “Heath would never do that! What the hell’s the matter with you, Larkin? What kind of friend are you to my brother?”

Scotty frowned at the marshal boss whose teasing disposition since the time they spent at the barn door had soured immensely, his mood now surly and touchy. Slamming the post into the hole needlessly several times, Heath scowled and once again wondered how the loving mood behind the closed door of their bedroom had changed in the flicker of an eye.

The flash of anger and hurt in the eyes of his wife left him stammering out an apology, not even sure how his innocent words caused the assumption in her mind. His attempts at soothing the gap somehow opened between them went unheeded as she fled into their watercloset and locked the door, her sobs could be heard through the wood as he pleaded with her, his forehead on the plank and his mind filled with confusion.

The confusion was overtaken with anger when she refused to unlock the door, no matter how much he professed his apologies against whatever injustice she had conjured up over his words. In a moment he wished he could take back, his fist pounded on the door loudly, ordering her to obey his demand as her husband.

The demand spoken in haste had him cowering back at the outright indignation in her teary eyes when her fingers fumbled with the lock on the door and it was flung open. Her reddened eyes avoiding his as she raised her chin in the air and strutted by, not acknowledging the pleas automatically leaving his mouth.

Left alone in the room, the former lawman sank down onto the bed, staring in disbelief at the open door, unable to understand what caused the whirlwind of the last few minutes. Deciding the lack of his presence at the moment would surely calm the fire filling his wife’s veins, the blond gathered Scotty and Tim, heading out to the north ridge after directing Duke where to place the other crews. He’d figure out later how to get into the good graces of his wife, not sure if he was ready for another mystery turning his world upside down right now.

Timmy and Scotty worked together making sure they kept two or three posts in between themselves and their disgruntled employer. Stealing glances at the blond, neither man could remember the last time they’d seen him in such a state and found themselves comparing the marshal boss to his dark haired brother, both men wondering if perhaps they’d been premature in their sense of relief at having the blond back working with by their sides. The cloud hovering over Nick seemed to have been moved over directly above Heath, closing off the light and replacing it with darkness.

“Scotty!” called Heath from further up the line after glancing back and frowning at the distance between him and the two able bodied men.

Swallowing a lump rising in his throat at a possible looming confrontation, Scotty hollered back as he kept on working and winced slightly at Tim who kept his head down and his nose to the grindstone, “Yeah boss?”

Letting out a sigh of frustration at the desire to head to Nate’s, Heath wiped the sweat from his forehead and limped closer to the men. The hands were steadily working, stretching the wire and nailing it in place. On a ranch this size it seemed the job of mending fences was a never ending cycle. A chore groaned at by most of the ranch crew but to a person who needed time to think and ponder, it was a welcome diversion of solitude.

Heath neared the men and felt the apprehension rise in the air around them. Stopping for a moment, he realized he’d let his frustration over this morning’s strange event with his wife interfere with his work and now, he could heard himself barking orders after he’d left the mansion.

Taking a breath, Heath took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair, smirking apologetically to the men in front of him and drawling, “Bet you boys almost wish Nick were here instead, huh?”

“Ah, no boss.” stammered Scotty ashamed his employer could read their hesitation over his mood.

“Why’d you think that, Marshal boss?” asked Tim suddenly, the man not having spoken a word since they left the ranch.

Rolling his eyes, Heath suggested, “Maybe cause I’ve been a grouchy jackass all morning, Tim.”

Turning crimson, Tim bit back a grin and said tentatively, “Well, not too grouchy boss.”

Scotty groaned and shook his head, glaring at his saddle partner, silently warning him to close his yap. Heath chuckled and replaced his hat, squeezing Scotty’s shoulder and grinning, “Scotty, Tim’s right so ya’ can stop looking like ya’ swallowed your chaw of tobacco. Sorry about this morning, I got a lot on my mind.”

“It’s okay, boss.” assured both men quickly, relieved the blond appeared to understand their misgivings over his brooding, irritable mood.

“Scotty, you and Tim finish up here. I’m gonna borrow Tiger and head over to Nate’s.” commanded Heath.

“Boss, you’re not supposed to ride!” protested Scotty, both men shuffling their feet at the blond’s suggestion. “Mrs. Barkley and Mrs. Thomson will have both our hides! After they’re done with us, we won’t have any left!”

The sapphire eyes sparkled before the blond untied the black and mounted slowly. Looking down at the men, he sighed, “Well, I can’t take the wagon to Nate’s without going around the ridge and I’m not relishing adding a few hours onto getting over there when I can ride straight as the crow flies.”

“But boss what about…” stuttered Tim.

Heath felt guilty for making the men shake in their boots at the prospect of having to possibly advise his Mother or his wife of his sudden disregarding of the rules. Reaching into his pocket, he motioned Tim over and thrust a couple bills in his hands. “After you finish here, head to town and I’ll meet you at the saloon. First three are on me and don’t worry, this way no one will be the wiser. Sides you guys work your butts off all the time for me and Nick, consider this afternoon, well, a small vacation.”

“I don’t know.” hesitated Scotty, nervously clearing his throat.

“I promise to ride easy, boys.” suggested Heath turning the black’s head, turning him north. “It’ll be a few hours, is all and Nick’s at Jackson’s ranch. If I hurt myself anymore, he’ll be there ready to tan my hide hisself. You won’t have to worry about the ladies once he gets a hold of me.”

Chuckling despite their reluctance, both men watched the blond nudge the black, keeping his back in sight til they couldn’t see it any more. Scotty let out a loud sigh and muttered, “We’re gonna need more than three rounds to not feel the wrath of the Barkley ladies, Tim when they find out.”

Chapter 46

Cassidy absently listened to Audra chatting away to Victoria as she sat in the front of the surrey beside Jarrod who offered to drive them to town. Her mind was on her out of control emotions that morning and the way she had shrieked angrily at her husband over his innocent remark.

Jarrod glanced over at his sister-in-law concerned at her somber mood and her red eyes when she came to the breakfast table. His blond brother hadn’t joined them as was his ritual and his departure from the mansion was signified by the not so quiet closing of the front door. Thinking back over the past eight months, the attorney couldn’t recall a time, other than the appearance of Gaylord Fleshton, which the fair haired couple had argued or had a marital spat.

“Cass, are you okay?” whispered Jarrod, his words turning his sister-in-law’s face towards him.

Smiling slightly, Cassidy nodded and sighed, “I’m fine, Jarrod. I’m just thinking.”

Not altogether convinced, Jarrod frowned when she turned her face away to scan the countryside. The remainder of the journey to town went by slowly and the oldest son realized he couldn’t interfere with his younger brother and his wife’s relationship. It was not his place or really his business, however, he couldn’t help but be concerned by the tiredness on her face.

Stopping the surrey in front of his office, Jarrod climbed down and helped Audra than Cassidy from the rig. His sister grabbing onto Cassidy’s arm, her excitement bubbling over as she babbled on constantly, not realizing her blonde counterpart wasn’t paying close attention.

Helping his mother from the surrey, Jarrod suggested in a low voice, “Mother, I’m worried about Cassidy. She doesn’t seem herself.”

Nodding, the matriarch glanced over to the two girls and sighed, “I believe her and Heath may have had a bit of a disagreement this morning.”

“She looks tired too.” added Jarrod. “Perhaps she’s not feeling well.”

Smiling at her first born’s caring disposition, Victoria patted his arm and kissed his cheek, “I’ll see if I can get her away from Audra. Maybe she’ll feel better talking about it.”

“Why don’t I take Audra down to Mrs. Johnson’s shop?” suggested Jarrod, his face lighting up in anticipation of seeing the widow again. “She can look at what Faith has in her store and have her favorites picked out before you two get there.”

Gray eyes sparkled as much as her son’s blue eyes and she teased, “Are you sure you can afford to take the extra time from your day, son?”

Bowing slightly, Jarrod smiled widely, “No sacrifice is too great for the lovely ladies of my family, Mother.”

Prying Audra away from his mother and sister-in-law’s side proved more difficult than Jarrod first anticipated. The blonde girl pouted a bit and then acquiesced at a pointed look from her mother before allowing her oldest brother to lead her away.

Victoria lead Cassidy to the restaurant ordering tea and toast for both of them before the older woman reached over and squeezed her daughter-in-law’s hand, offering quietly. “Cassidy, do you want to talk about what’s got you so upset?”

Trying to conjure up a smile, the blonde gave up and sighed loudly, her eyes filling with tears unexpectedly. “Oh, Mother, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I snapped at Heath for no reason today all cause he hinted..that..well…”

“He hinted what dear?” prodded Victoria gently, studying the sienna eyes filled with confusion and regret.

“I know I’ve gained a few pounds.” said Cassidy, biting back a sob rising up and babbled on. “He said his leg gave out cause of my extra weight. I’ve heard it’s not unusual to gain weight after someone marries. I mean what’s a few pounds really, it’s not the end of the world but it just upset me so.”

Raising an eyebrow at the emotional girl sharing her table, Victoria tilted her head and felt her breath catch in her throat for a moment, her gray eyes lighting up with hope.

“Honey, you’ve been looking a little tired lately. I’d feel better if you’d come me with to see Howard.” suggested Victoria.

Wiping the tears off her cheek with shaky fingers, Cassidy shook her head and stared into her cup, “I’m okay, Mother. I know I’m a little tired but that’s no excuse for how angry I got this morning. Heath must think I’ve gone crazy and probably thinks I need to visit the looney bin or something.”

Pulling her daughter-in-law’s face towards her by holding her chin, Victoria smiled into the moist sienna eyes, “It won’t take very long, sweetheart. Will you do it for me? Please?”

Unable to deny this woman who treated her like a daughter, Cassidy nodded her agreement and sighed, “Okay, Mother. I think I just need to go to bed sooner at night but if it’d make you feel better we can see Dr. Merar.”

Paying for the untouched tea and toast, Victoria couldn’t keep the wide smile off her face as they walked down the boardwalk and entered the office of Howard Merar. Listening to Victoria’s concerns over Cassidy’s tiredness and emotional state, Howard’s eyes lit up before he escorted the blonde back to the examining room.

Helen Merar sat beside Victoria, holding her old friend’s hand while both ladies waited in anticipation of what they suspected was the cause. Fifteen minutes later, Cassidy returned to the waiting room, smiling and rushing into her mother-in-law’s arms and crying uncontrollably. Howard wrapped an arm around his wife’s waist, the couple’s happiness for the wife of their blond friend sparkled in their eyes.

Chapter 47

Clenching his jaw firmer against the protest of his ribs, leg and sutures, Heath sat in the saddle, taking in low hissing breaths and clenching his hand onto the saddlehorn. Closing his sapphire eyes for a moment, he grimaced against the tongue lashing he could hear in his head, the words of those who loved him would be angry for the foolhardy stunt he pulled today.

“Must be getting’ old iffen can’t ride hurtin’ a bit.” mumbled the former lawman, his low conversation to himself twitching the horse’s ears and the equine shook his head in agreement when he added. “Must be my soft livin’, eh Tiger?”

Smirking despite the pain filling his eyes, Heath took in a gulp of air and nudged the horse into a walk, trying to concentrate on the lavish abundance of scenery provided by the beauty of the land, running through a list of endless ranch chores in his head to drown out the pain his body was experiencing. Topping a small hill just short of five miles from his friend’s ranch, the strong hand pulled back on the reins and stared.

Squinting his eyes and focusing, the mouth of the blond dropped open and he raised a hand to wipe the incredulous look off his face. Shaking his head slightly almost as if he hoped the image was a mirage which could be discarded with the movement, he cursed a steady stream, his discontent filling the air before he let out a low groan and reluctantly headed toward the lone figure walking in the meadow.

“Could this day get any worse!” snapped the blond, his words clipped and loaded with the agitation filling his being.

Guiding the small black down the low lying hill, the former marshal kept the lone figure in view, his eyes watching from under the brim of his hat, stealing glances while he steered the animal around the natural obstacles. The sound of stones tumbling down the side of the hill announced his arrival to the figure who stopped and stared, then waved frantically at the rider coming closer.

“Gaylord!” shouted Eva Harrison, running to the horse and stopping suddenly, her face falling with the weight of great disappointment at the man she now recognized and her sigh of disdain reached his ears as he slowly dismounted. “Oh, it’s only you.”

Biting back a scathing reply, the blond let out a shaky breath and turned to face the woman dressed in a riding outfit, the shirt barely keep her voluptuous mounds contained, the buttons straining against the hold. Several wisps of her brown hair had fallen from its clips and were being teased by the gentle breeze, her green eyes were filled with a hopeless look.

“Person with no horse shouldn’t be choosy, Mrs. Harrison.” hissed Heath feeling a moment of shame from growling at the woman who was irritating but nonetheless a woman.

“I had a horse but he ran off. I was taking a rest and a snake scared him!” snapped the widow, reaching up to angrily brush the hair away from her face, raising her chin defiantly. “I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, Mr. Thomson. You can just…just…go about your day!”

“Boy howdy as tempting as the idea is I can’t, Mrs. Harrison, no matter how much it appeals to me.” sighed Heath unwrapping the canteen and handing it to the woman who licked her lips in anticipation.

Leaning against the saddle and wiping a hand across his sweaty forehead, the former marshal waited til the widow quenched her thirst and handed back the metal container. Taking it and twisting the cap on, Heath frowned as he replaced the canteen on the saddle.

“What are ya’ doing out here, ma’am?” puzzled the blond. “Are you lost?”

A pink blush spread across her cheeks and the brown haired woman let out a nervous laugh. “I was on my way back to Jackson’s ranch. I’ve been trying to see if Gaylord would ever be alone but somebody’s always with him.”

Surprised at the information, the sapphire eyes narrowed in the tanned face and he questioned, “Were you there yesterday? Watching the ranch?”

“For a little while, yes I was. I checked the livery and no horses had been taken that night, then I spoke with Mr. Foster at the depot and he hadn’t sold Gaylord a train ticket or a ticket on the stage, well, I knew something was weird! Those are the only three ways out of town and I knew he wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye, so I realized he had to be close to town, maybe on one of the ranches. It took a while to figure out which one, but I did!” admitted the widow proudly, lifting her eyes from the ground and accusing, “I don’t understand why you’re keeping him from me! He didn’t do anything illegal! You’re treating him like a prisoner...a common criminal!”

“Listen lady, you got no idea what’s happening!” retorted Heath angrily. “It’s for his own good!”

“His own good!” shrieked the widow in dismay. “Holding him against his will is for his own good! Not letting the poor man leave if he wanted to! HOW CAN THAT BE FOR HIS OWN GOOD? THAT’S LIKE KIDNAPPING! THAT’S A CRIME! HE COULD HAVE YOU ARRESTED AND…..”

Taking the brunt force of the woman’s unbridled anger, Heath clenched his hands into fists and icily stared into the flashing green eyes, fighting the urge to shake the widow in front of him to stop her tirade, her mouth not stopping and her voice rising with each word.

“SHUT UP!” shouted Heath suddenly, the loud command bringing tears to her eyes and the anger in his eyes sending her hand to fly upwards to her throat, making her step back in fear.

The fear in her green eyes had him squeezing his temples and fighting the rising temper inside. Taking several breaths to gather himself, the former lawman sighed loudly and wondered just how it was today all his problems seemed to revolve around the opposite sex.

Taking off his hat and rubbing the back of his neck, the blond out another sigh and shook his head slightly while tapping the tan hat against his leg, “Mrs. Harrison, I’m sorry for yelling. That wasn’t…right.”

Swallowing the lump in her throat from the temper the man was trying to rein in, Eva offered quietly, “No, I…I’m sorry…I’ve had…a bad morning.”

Smiling slightly, Heath put back on his hat and nodded, “Yeah, me too. It’s been a humdinger already.”

Smiling back, the widow let out a sigh and frowned, “I’m surprised Dr. Merar said it was okay for you to ride so soon, Mr. Thomson.”

Rolling his eyes, Heath studied the sky for a few minutes and replied, “Is my health the only thing the town has to talk about?”

Shrugging the widow said hesitantly, “Anything you or your family does is news. Probably always will be.”

Studying the woman for a moment, Heath nodded in agreement, “Yeah, suppose so, ma’am. How about if we get over to Jackson’s so you can see your beau?”

The green eyes flared with happiness and she clasped her hands together, her smile of anticipation clear for the world to see. “Can we? That would be wonderful. I’ve missed him so much.”

“Why didn’t you just come down to the ranch yesterday afternoon when you were there? Woulda saved yourself today’s trouble.” asked Heath mounting and clenching his jaw when he reached down to help the woman climb up behind him.

“I wasn’t there yesterday afternoon, Mr. Thomson, just for an hour or two in the morning. Anyway from afar, Mr. Jackson sure looked grumpy and I wasn’t about to have to deal with that!” said Eva trying to lightly hold onto his slim waist as he nudged the horse forward. “I had to go to Mrs. Mcleary’s afternoon tea yesterday. When you’re invited, you do NOT turn down her invitation no matter how dreadful it is to spend time there.”

Tilting his head, the former marshal absently listened to the woman behind him ramble on about the gossip around Stockton, his mind wandering across the miles to the ranch they were headed to, hoping the tingling in the pit of his stomach was from listening to his present company and not from a feeling of dread rising within him.

Stopping and taking a breather in the trees below the ridge they’d be climbing over, Heath shook his head and mumbled at her question, “Just contemplating the best way up, ma’am. We may have to walk part of the way. I don’t think Tiger can carry us both over that steep part up there.”

The tightness of the muscle in his jaw told the woman of the pain he was in and she sat quietly, studying the grove around her before looking up at the ridge hovering over them. Patting the shoulder in front of her lightly, she waited til he turned his head and smiled.

“I need to…you…know.” said the widow blushing slightly at the mouth which opened and snapped closed, his face turning crimson before he nodded.

“Sure, Mrs. Harrison.” stammered Heath, helping her slide off the side of the black before he dismounted slowly, running his hands over the neck of the small horse and sighing to himself. “I sure don’t know how I get myself into these things, Tiger.”

When fifteen minutes passed, the former marshal shifted on his feet and scowled when the widow didn’t reappear from the forest. Hesitating for only another minute, he realized he’d best make sure she hadn’t been devoured by one of the forest inhabitants. Walking to the area where she entered the lush forest growth, he cleared his throat and called out.

“Ma’am? Mrs. Harrison?”

His calls went unanswered and the former marshal reached down and pulled his gun from the holster. His pained body forgotten when he realized the sounds of the forest had stilled to a deathly silence.

Jarrod stopped for the ladies in the family outside Faith’s store. After waving to the lovely redheaded woman, the attorney caught the twinkling of his mother’s and Cassidy’s eyes. Their looks had him smiling in puzzlement as he helped them into the surrey. Starting the rig down the street, Jarrod waved to the two Barkley hands riding towards them in a wagon.

All in the surrey watched as the two men sitting on the benchseat turned a shade of green when they stopped beside the wagon, their eyes falling away from the four pairs of Barkley eyes.

“Scotty. Tim.” said Jarrod before asking, “Why do you two look like you got caught with your hand in the cookie jar? Remember, I’m a lawyer boys and I’ll know if you’re not telling all.”

Swallowing convulsively, both men began stammering at the same time, their eyes nervous and darting around as their lips spilled the beans on their blond boss.

“HE WHAT?” exclaimed Cassidy and Victoria while Audra shook her head in dismay at the oblivious return of stubbornness to her blond brother.

Flinching slightly at the female shrieks stinging his ears, Jarrod sighed heavily as he flicked the reins and asked, “Mother, I gather we’ll be making a detour before we head home?”

The angry silence of the women in the surrey filled the air and Jarrod felt sorry for the wrath his little brother was going to soon feel from the ladies in his life.

Chapter 48

As the former blond marshal turned rancher was just becoming aware of the lone figure walking in the meadow…a set of narrowed eyes watched the approaching of the men on horseback, sitting back in the trees and wishing he were close enough to hear the heated conversation below between the tenacious captain of the marshals and the Barkley son.

Taking a moment as the silent scene in the yard played out, the watcher pondered on how to get his quarry alone, deciding for now the best solution would perhaps be to lay low, let them become relaxed and settled back into a routine. Once that happened, he could strike without warning. Smiling to himself, the man followed the tree line and made a wide circle around the ranch, heading for the ridge which stretched most of the way to Modesto.

“Heath is my friend and I’m also a captain of the United States Marshal service!” snapped Larkin stepping nose to nose with the furious rancher, then adding in a low voice, “I always knew it wasn’t Heath but I have to follow orders given from above, Nick. Same as everybody else. Now, if you’re done bellowing maybe we can figure out where Craven might be!”

Barely restraining himself from throttling the man before him, Nick growled under his breath, “Heath’s my brother, a partner on our ranch and not your marshal, don’t forget that Larkin!”

“It’s always been crystal clear, Barkley!” acknowledged Jack aware the large rancher was forever wary of him stealing the blond back into the life of a marshal and wondering if there would be a time when this man before him didn’t get under his skin before he stepped back.

Nate let out a long shaky breath at the two bulls who stepped apart, for a moment he’d been afraid he’d have to break up the two bristling against each other. Gaylord and Fancy stood by, gaping at the territorial battle between the two men over the former blond marshal.

Not taking his eyes away from the lawman, Nick asked suddenly, “Greg, are you sure no one else knew the combination to your safe? Maybe when you were giving it out someone else over heard?”

“I guess it’s possible Nick. There was lots of marshals around at that time all sorts of comings and goings, heck, I don’t know. All I know is it wasn’t ME!” stated Gaylord firmly, his shoulders sagging with his inability to help solve the mystery clouding their every move.

Nick glanced sideways at his brother’s double, the look of absolute helplessness tore at the big man’s heart and he reached over to clap the blond on the back, “Don’t get your trousers in a knot, Greg. Anything you or Miss Fleshton can remember could be the key to all this.”

Smirking, Gaylord turned red and nodded, trying to think back to that time so long ago, becoming increasingly frustrated when nothing came to mind. Fancy shook her head and sighed when the hazel eyes found hers, unable to come up with anything either.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Barkley.” apologized the raven haired woman. “I was...uh...out of the picture for most of that time.”

Smiling, Nick reached across and squeezed her hand, losing himself in the dark eyes. “Thank you for trying, Miss Fleshton.”

Jack Larkin watched the trio and shook his head, wondering what the heck had been happening since he’d last been to Stockton. The marshal was reluctant to leave without knowing Craven’s whereabouts but he needed to get to town and let the Sheriff know.

“I have to get to town and talk to Sheriff Maden. I’ll send some wires to the neighboring towns so they can watch for Craven.” stated Larkin pulling himself into the saddle and glancing down. “Hopefully Craven’ll be smart and run while he can but I doubt it, so watch yourselves.”

“We will Jack.” assured Nate while the others nodded, relaying they’d heed his warning as they watched the captain of the marshals ride out towards Stockton. Running a hand through his hair, Nick scowled and let out a large groan.

“There’s gotta be something we’re missing!”

“Probably but what Nick?” frowned Nate.

“I know!” exclaimed Fancy suddenly. “Why don’t we make a list of everything we know. Nate, we could put down all the marshals who were there and what their assignment was. Maybe that’d help.”

Nate nodded several times and declared loudly, “I’m game! I’d do most anything about now to get this whole blasted business settled. Cause I’m telling ya’ right now, there ain’t no way I’m watching Fleshton on my honeymoon!”

Laughing, Nick slapped the former marshal on the back before suggesting they head to the cabin and make a list over coffee. Gaylord and Nate led the way with the brothel owner assuring the former marshal he had no desires to join him and his fiancée on their honeymoon either.

Nick stopped and smiled, “That’s a wonderful idea, Miss Fleshton.”

Blushing slightly, the raven haired woman smiled shyly and murmured, “Thank you, Mr. Barkley.”

“Nick. Please call me Nick.” stated the dark haired rancher, his hazel eyes sparkling in his tanned face.

Swallowing at the hand he extended, Fancy tentatively reached out and sighed when he captured her hand in his two before responding, “Please call me Fancy…Nick.”

“Shall we, Fancy?” suggested Nick placing her hand in his arm, his stomach fluttering at the thought of the woman next to him.

Keeping his gun held in a ready position, the blond head tilted, listening for any clue as to where the widow woman was, his eyes scanning the forest around him, the thick underbrush and tress making it difficult. Glancing over an area, he shifted his eyes back at a piece of cloth dangling from a bush five feet away.

Not letting his eyes focus in one area, the blond walked as silently as his bruised leg would allow while his eyes roamed over the forest. The gentle breeze in the open area on the grasslands was nonexistent in the woods, the sweat trickled down his temples leaving lines in the dust on his face.

Reaching forward with his left hand, he froze at the unmistakable sound, his ears pinpointing the clicking of a hammer on a pistol on his left side. His mind quickly debated the chances of pivoting on his injured leg and firing across his body.

“Throw it away.” ordered the cold voice, one the blond knew instantly. “Marshal, I know you’ve already considered shooting across your body, perhaps you’d best look over here before you do anything rash.”

Releasing the filthy hand from over her mouth, Craven yanked on the brown hair of the woman in front of him, her cry of pain filling the forest. Holding her by the throat, the barrel of the gun was pressed into her forehead.

Heath turned slowly, his eyes narrowing at the sheer panic in the crying eyes of Eva Harrison, her body trembling uncontrollably and the barrel of the pistol tight against her head. The only part of Craven visible was his left arm reaching up to keep a chokehold on her throat, his right arm holding the pistol to her head and the bare minimum of his head which peeked out around the widow, one eye watching him.

“I’ll kill her before you can pull the trigger, Marshal.” stated Craven nonchalantly, as if the standoff was an everyday occurrence, not wanting to give the dangerous lawman any chance. “You know I will. NOW THROW IT IN THE BUSHES!”

Left with no choice, the blond tossed his pistol away, his eyes turned cold with anger and he snapped, “Now, let her go.”

“Get down on your knees.”

“Craven, you don’t need her. You got me just leave her be.” said Heath, lowering himself to his knees and clenching his jaw at the protesting leg. “She’s new around here. It’ll take her a couple days to walk outta here. Take me and let’s go finish whatever business you think is left undone from long ago.”

“Link your hands on top of your head and close your eyes.” said Craven as he slowly worked his way around in a circle, keeping Eva Harrison tight to his body and the barrel to her head. “DO IT!”

“Dammit, Craven.” snapped Heath raising his hands and closing his eyes, trying to listen to the whisper of sounds on the pine covered forest floor to determine where the fugitive was. “Ike, let her go!”

“Oh, don’t worry about her, Marshal. I plan on letting her go sometime!” declared Craven, suddenly pushing the woman forward out of his way and hitting the blond marshal on the back of his head, knocking him unconscious, his body falling forward onto the forest floor.

Eva screamed and crawled over to the blond, her hands turning him and calling his name, her fingers covered with blood from the gash opened his head. “Heath! Heath!”

Pulling her away from his prisoner, Craven stared into the frightened green eyes and reached out to grab a fistful of hair while he delivered his message. “Get on the marshal’s horse and ride up that path to Jackson’s. You can tell his brother, this one’s as good as dead. NOW GIT!”

Scampering to her knees, running and falling to the ground, she stumbled back up on her feet, Eva Harrison fled the area, the laughter following as she scurried away like a frightened rabbit. Branches slapped her face, stinging her skin and tore at her blouse, her chest heaved with sobs of fear and gasps of air. Reaching the small black, she cried hysterically as she tried to mount, finally successful after several tries before she let the horse have its head up the path.

Craven smiled as he watched the woman riding the black hard up the ridge. Walking back to the unaware blond whose feet and hands were now tied, he took out his knife and ran it lightly over the marshal’s neck.

“You’re lucky I need you as bait, Marshal.” smirked Craven dragging the blond further into the forest as he laughed. “They say when a door is shut, a window’s opened. You and that woman happened along at the right time. I really should thank you for that.”

Chapter 49

Sitting around the table in the small house, frustration was running high and tension was filling the room. For the past three hours, the four talked, writing down every detail recalled, small and large, to no avail.

Scowling and resting his cheek on his fist, Nick stared at the list in front of him, the names of marshals listed with Nate jotting beside the names their whereabouts based on his last knowledge of them.

Even though the rancher was well aware the deceased Dan Nichols was a marshal who hid his bad intentions behind the good the badge represented, he wondered if Larkin and his superiors had just been looking for an easy scapegoat at that time.

Nate leaned forward and stated, “Honestly, I don’t think it was a marshal. All these men have never had even a drop of mud on their names. Hell, some of these guys don’t have a nickel saved up. If they stole forty thousand dollars, they’d have waited a few years and then disappeared. It’s easy to get lost in a big city if you’re determined. Why do a dangerous job like marshalling if you’ve got all that money stashed!”

Shaking his head, the former marshal sighed to himself, trying to remember everything which happened before. Standing to get another cup of coffee, he slammed the metal pot on the stove, startling everyone at the table.

“Gaylord, the safe in the office…” said Nate stopping and seeming to search the air for his next words.

“Yeah?” answered the blond staring into the gray eyes of the former lawman who leaned on the table, the other two at the table watching him and the blond.

“Whose was it?” asked Nate.

“The safe?” queried Gaylord.

“Yes, yes the safe.” nodded Nate quickly.

“Well, it was mine.” replied the blond confused as to where the brown haired man was going with his questions. “I owned the building, therefore, I got the safe.”

“AH HA!” exclaimed Nate banging his hand on the table and grinning. “THAT’S IT!”

“Nate can you elaborate for those of us who have no idea what you’re saying.” growled Nick, feeling a tension headache from the past few hours.

Staring at the grinning former marshal, understanding spread across the face of Gaylord before he jumped up and stammered, “My god! You’re right, Jackson, he did come back. I’d forgotten all about it! I never had a chance to change the lock on the safe cause Larkin’s men pulled me from the train. He said he wanted to take a peek at the old place before he went to Nevada. I can’t pinpoint exactly when but it was definitely after Craven was taken into custody. I didn’t think much about it at the time cause I was preoccupied taking care of Fancy and Heath!”

“It was the lunger’s safe before yours.” said Nate sitting down and crossing his arms, gloating openly.

“Lunger?” repeated Nick several times before he snapped his fingers. “The previous owner! Heath told us a lunger sold the business to Gaylord..uh..Greg.”

Fancy gasped and shrieked, “Taylor Jones! That was his name! It sure makes sense cause he would be the unknown person who knew the combination.”

“Yeah but we’d have to prove it!” said Nick with a frown. “We’d have to get it into the papers after the guy was arrested so Craven could read it and then maybe he’d leave the Fleshtons alone.”

“Nick, we don’t have to prove it. The marshals do.” explained Nate with a smile. “I don’t see nothing wrong with a small article getting somehow on the front page about the possibilities of the marshal service reopening the investigation into the theft. Perhaps there could be even a hint the law was looking at people who owned the building before the crime.”

The hazel eyes sparkled at the suggestion and he suggested, “Jarrod would say that could be considered libelous.”

“It could be an anonymous person saying it.” smirked Nate going to the window and peering out at the sound of a horse. Turning back to the table, he lifted an eyebrow at the dark haired rancher. “Nick, the family's here and they don’t look none too happy.”

Jumping up and stalking to the door, Nick suddenly felt his heart flop in his chest at the looks of simmering anger on the faces of his mother and sister-in-law before rushing over and helping the ladies of their family from the surrey.

“Mother is something wrong?” questioned Nick, swallowing a lump of dread at the flash in her gray eyes.

“Nick, is your brother here?”

“Heath?” stated Nick his voice raising slightly with his surprise at the question, “No, he’s with Tim and Scotty.”

Shaking his head negatively, Jarrod sighed, “Apparently our little brother was on his way here on horseback. He borrowed Tiger from Scotty over two hours ago.”

Nick pursed his lips and smirked back at the brown eyed man who was groaning at the news, “Ha, I win Nate! I told you there was no way Heath was gonna stay off a horse for another week. Pay up the ten dollars!”

Jarrod and Cassidy rolled their eyes at the two men who bet on a brother and friend. Audra bit the inside of her cheek at the flash of indignation spreading across their mother’s face while she moved slightly away, getting out of the line of fire.

“Wait a minute!” exclaimed Nick turning back to Jarrod, his eyes filled with concern. “He shoulda been here by now if he left over two hours ago.”

The faces previously filled with a simmering anger towards their disobedient blond member now were filled with worry over the truth in Nick’s statement.

Cassidy suggested, “Maybe his horse threw a shoe? With his leg, it could certainly take longer if he had to walk.”

“Don’t worry Cass. We’ll find him for you.” offered Nick then adding with a wink. “Just don’t hurt little brother too much when you try to knock some sense into him later.”

“I’m not promising nothing.” replied Cassidy, unable to keep the smile off her face, grateful for the arm the Barkley matriarch slipped around her waist.

The ranch yard filled with chuckles for a moment while the Nick and Nate went to get their horses. Turning to head into the house, the group stopped at the screams reaching their ears. All heads turned as the black horse, its coat lathered with sweat ran into the yard with the Widow Harrison clinging to the reins, unable to stop the frantic animal. Jumping into the saddle, Nick spurred Coco into a gallop quickly overtaking the panicked equine and reached over, grabbing the hysterical woman by the waist pulling her from the saddle.

The appearance of Eva Harrison shook the big man as he set her in front of him, feeling the trembling of the hysterical woman. Turning Coco back to the ranch yard, he lowered her to the waiting arms of Jarrod and Nate who placed her on the ground, wrapping the blanket Audra retrieved from the house around her.

“Eva!” stammered Gaylord, kneeling beside her and taking hold of her scratched and battered face, her body wracking with sobs, her eyes filled with terror. “Eva, it’s me. Shhhh…calm down now...honey. What happened, Eva?”

“He…he…” stuttered the woman, her teeth chattering and her body shaking, unable to get the words out coherently.

“I think she’s in shock.” said Victoria, taking the canteen handed to her and wetting a cloth, wiping the woman’s face. “Nate, do you have any whiskey?”

Nate ran to the house while Gaylord tried to coax the frightened woman as he held her in his arms, his sapphire eyes glancing up into the questioning hazel orbs for a moment before asking, “What is it, Nick?”

“That’s Tiger she was riding.” informed Nick firmly. “We need to know how she got the horse Heath was riding. What happened to Heath?”

The name resonated in her mind and Eva suddenly blinked, her gasp of fear followed by a scream, “Heath! Oh no! He grabbed me…he hit Heath...his head…knocked him out!”

“Who Eva?” demanded Gaylord, cupping her cheek with his palm. “Tell us who did it?”

“Heath called him Craven! Said to tell his brother he’s good as dead!” sobbed the widow woman, clutching onto his shirt and crying.

Chapter 50

Dragging the former marshal over the terrain of the forest floor, Craven grunted from the dead weight of the unconscious man. Dropping the upper body he held under the arms, the lifeless eyes in the cruel face studied the pale man lying on the ground while he wiped the sweat off his face.

Smiling suddenly, the eyes glistened with his desire for a slow death of the former lawman who helped send him to prison. Leaving his bait where he was, he wound his way back through the trees and to his horse, grabbing the rope from his saddle before retracing his steps.

Fancy’s eyes filled with terror and she gasped at the spoken name, taking two steps away, her hands trembling. Gaylord held tightly onto the sobbing widow snapping up his head at the frightened sound from his sister.

“Fancy!” called the brothel owner worried and unable to get to his distraught sister, the woman in his arms keeping him immobile. “Sis, come here.”

“Jarrod stay with Fancy.” stated Nick, not looking to see if his older brother followed his wish before dropping down beside his mother and capturing the darker sapphire eyes with his, then leaning closer he asked as calmly as his rampaging heart would allow, “Where did it happen? Can you tell me? Where’s Heath?”

“Ridge…by...the…trail.” sobbed Eva, unable to stop the trembling in her body or the gasps shaking her lungs. “Heath’s…hurt…cause…Craven…grabbed…me….I…I’m…sorry.”

“Mrs. Harrison, it wasn’t your fault.” assured Victoria after Nick shot up to his feet and strode to the barn where Coco was tied with Nate following on his heels. “Mr. Fleshton, let’s get Mrs. Harrison into the house.”

Jarrod stood beside Fancy, his arm around her waist and the other around Cassidy. Audra clutched her sister-in-law’s hand in hers, concerned at the shiver which ran through her body and the eyes which hadn’t left the two men going to their horses.

“Ladies, Mother will need your help inside. Go on, I’ll be right there.” suggested Jarrod turning the women towards the house and watching them follow the blond carrying the crying widow.

Jogging over to Nick, Jarrod placed a hand on Coco’s saddle and cautioned, “Nick, it’s more than likely a trap to draw most everyone from the ranch. A better chance for Craven to get at Fleshton.”

“I know, Jarrod.” stated the dark haired man with a scowl. “The worst thing about it is we figure the guy who sold the business to Greg is the one who stole the money. Craven’s doing all this to get to the wrong person!”

“When did you figure that out?” asked Jarrod, his forehead wrinkling with puzzlement.

Nate walked Daisy out of the barn and mounted, watching as Nick did the same before looking down at Jarrod. “Ask Fancy and Greg, they’ll tell you. Get everyone in Nate’s wagon and take them to the ranch. You’ll be able to protect them better over there.”

“Alright, Nick.” agreed the first born with a quick nod. “When we get home, I’ll send one of the men in town for the sheriff and doctor.”

Turning Coco’s head, Nick frowned, “Pappy don’t wait to head to the ranch, go now.”

“Don’t worry about us here. You just bring little brother home.” replied the attorney starting the process of unhitching the horses from the surrey as the two men galloped out of the yard.

Within minutes of harnessing the horses to the wagon, Cassidy slapped the reins and started towards the Barkley ranch. Sitting on the bench seat beside his sister-in-law, Jarrod’s grip on the rifle was firm and his eyes studied the landscape as they pushed on to safety.

Slowing before they reached the ridge, the two men struggled over the weight of the life on their shoulders and fought to maintain a steady gait up the trail while keeping watch for the lowlife who could be hiding in wait.

Neither noticed the stickiness of the humid air causing their shirts to stick to their backs or the perspiration dripping off their faces. Faces honed by wind and outdoor living were impassive and rigid, only the eyes in their sockets were constantly moving, seeking and prying into each shadow, each clump of bush as they rode.

Reaching the top of the ridge, Nate took the lead while Nick rode with his rifle across his lap, the weapon ready to send a welcome to the scum who’d terrorized two women and taken his brother.

Nate stopped and studied the tracks in the trail where Heath and the widow had stopped, the hoof prints where Tiger had been tied to the tree were clearly distinctive. Casting around in a circle, the brown haired former lawman concentrated only on finding the path to take. Unconcerned with watching for the wanted man, knowing he had two sets of eagle sharp hazel eyes keeping watch over his back while he remained focused.

“Here, Nick.” said Nate quietly, pulling his rifle out of its scabbard and following the boots through the dust on the trail until they reached the grassy and pine needle covered forest. Walking slowly, the men ventured deeper into the forested area, listening for any sound of their missing friend and brother.

Putting a hand on Nate’s arm, Nick scowled and listened before whispering, “You hear that?”

Closing his eyes, Nate concentrated, then swore loudly, running towards the noise with Nick on his heels. Jumping over a deadfall and passing a large bush, both men felt a rush of adrenaline at the sight of Heath, his face red from the taunt rope around his neck, his feet and hands tied.

The slack in the rope had disappeared when the dizziness from the head wound left him unsteady and his right leg buckled, lowering his body and pulling the rope tight. Struggling against the choking off of his supply of oxygen, the blond felt the woven strands of hemp biting into his muscular neck and his ears roared with the ocean sounds of death.

He could hear the waves rushing to shore crashing and beating upon the rocks. The darkness stealthily stole in from the outer edges, advancing quickly as the beginning scenes of his life flashed before his eyes.

Chapter 51

Large arms wrapped around the fading blond and raised his oxygen depleted form to return slack to the ring of death encircling the vein distended neck.

“CUT IT OFF!” screamed Nick.

Sheer terror erupting at the sight of his little brother’s closeness to the celestial open spaces left Nick unable to tear his eyes from the rope. Hazel eyes burned into the brown cord used as a tool in their daily lives. A commonplace item often found hanging on their saddles and held as they rode herd, used to rescue straying calves from holes of mud with a quicksand consistency. The instrument of a cowboy had been turned into an article of destruction.

Slicing through the rope, Nate frantically slipped his fingers between the cord and the ravaged neck, pulling it over the lolling head of his friend. The dark crimson across Heath’s face was a sharp contrast to the whiteness around his mouth. Cutting the bindings on Heath’s arms, he knelt and freed his ankles, the blond’s limbs dangling while he was crushed against his brother’s body.

“Nick, lay him on the ground.” said Nate taking hold of the broad shoulders to lower his brother-in-law before stilling at the stark panic on the face of the dark haired man who didn’t move. “NICK!”

Hazel eyes didn’t lift from the burn around the muscled neck, the fear frightening to the former marshal to witness in this solid rock of a man. Blinking back the tears in his gray eyes brought forth by the look in the hazel eyes, Nate lifted his leg and kicked the shin of the closest black jeaned leg.

“OUCH!” snapped Nick wincing at the unexpected burst in his shin. “WHAT THE HELL’S THE MATTER WITH YOU, JACKSON!”

“Nick, you gotta put Heath down so we can look at him better.” explained Nate, his calm exterior given away by the quiver in his words. “You’re practically breakin’ him in two.”

Slowly, Nick gently knelt and released his unconscious brother onto the bed of pine needles. Bending over and feeling a pulse, hazel eyes watched the changing colors in the face Nate turned before he lifted a large trembling hand to the ring tattooed in the neck.

Moving away the blood dried blond hair, Nate examined the gash on the back of Heath’s head, relieved it wasn’t clear to the bone. Looking up, he met the hazel eyes and informed the waiting man, “Not too bad. A few stitches and other than having one heck of a headache he should be okay. I’ll get the canteen and be right back.”

Nate jumped up and grabbed his rifle, running through the woods to the spot where they’d left the horses. Nick wiped a hand across his face, holding it over his mouth and fighting to keep his nausea at bay, the sickness rising up from the thought of what they’d almost lost.

Putting his hands on his knees, the large man sat back on his heels and felt his body spasm from the panic and the graphic image he couldn’t get out of his mind. Reaching down he lifted Heath into his chest, resting his cheek on the top of the blond head and closed his eyes.

Listening carefully, he relished the sounds of breaths and raised a hand to caress the cheek facing away from his chest. For the moment all was forgotten except for the feel of warmth beneath his fingers. No one else existed in this place of tall redwood trees and bushes bursting with flowers and berries. There was only two men, two brothers in the world where the inhabitants lived in nests, burrows or dens. It was only two souls rejoining and rejoicing at the future which had been prevented from being stolen away.

The flashing images disappeared and darkness took their place, he could hear faint sounds over the roaring ocean in his ears. The roaring lowered in intensity and he could hear a distance echo of voices.

He felt a powerful surge of security envelop the area all around and he reached for the blanket warming his body. Sapphire eyes moved slowly and his confused mind slowly filtered through the information shoved into his brain when his lids opened. His hand slowly moved up and clutched onto the black shirt his face was resting against.

A hand reached up to clutch a fistful of his black shirt and looking down into half opened eyes, Nick’s eyes filled with the joy he couldn’t keep contained in his heart and it overfilled onto his cheeks.

“You’re in big trouble when we get home, little brother.” said Nick.

Smiling into the sapphire eyes looking at him, Nick frowned when the opened mouth of his brother wouldn’t produce sound. A hand reached up towards the scraped part of the neck and Nick pulled it back down with a firm negative shake of his head.

“Leave it be, Heath. We’ll get doc to look at it. You’ll be fine, boy.”

Feet rushing through the woods and stomping loudly sent a flicker of panic into the eyes of the blond who began struggling against the broad chest of his brother.

“NICK!” shouted Nate, his lungs bursting as he ran back through the woods, lunging into the area where the brothers knelt and bending over to catch his breath. “Horses…gone!”

Chapter 52

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN GONE?” demanded Nick angrily staring up at the brown haired rancher.

“IT MEANS EXACTLY THAT! THEY’RE NOT WHERE WE LEFT ‘EM” snapped Nate with a wave of his arm, causing Nick’s lips to thin out in anger before his soon to be brother-in-law shook his head. “While we were busy getting to Heath, Craven left us afoot!”

Blustering against the confliction inside him, Nick sliced the air over his head and hissed, “I’ve had it up to here with that jailbird! No good murdering skunk! I’d like a chance at a piece of him!”

“Wouldn’t we all.” retorted Nate before grimacing. “I sure ain’t happy about havin’ a long walk in this heat.”

“One of us just has to go and get a wagon for Heath.”

“My ranch is closer.” suggested Nate in agreement. “You had Jarrod leave the surrey when he took my wagon. That’d work just as well.”

“Sure it would.” replied Nick. “You gonna go?”

“Yeah, I guess.” mumbled Nate feeling as if he got the short end of the stick in the plan.

Opening his mouth and unable to issue a sound, the former marshal couldn’t raise the attention of the two men with him, caught up in making their plans. Frustrated at his inability to communicate, Heath pushed himself out of his brother’s arms and forced himself to his knees, his eyes closed against the kettledrum playing in his head and the fire in his neck.

Nick was taken by surprise from the push and fell back onto the seat of his pants, stopping the angry words from leaving at the sight of his brother struggling against his body’s revolt at the movement. Nate caught Nick’s eyes and gestured him to Heath while he whispered he would keep watch in case Craven returned unexpectedly.

Nodding, the large man moved over to the deep breathing smaller man and put an arm across his shoulders. Heath felt the strong arm of support and slowly opened his eyes turning his head to meet the hazel eyes.

“You okay?” whispered Nick, his face filled with worry and his voice hushed to keep his voice from adding to the pain in the sapphire eyes.

Opening his mouth to try to speak, Heath coughed when his swollen neck protested and he leaned into the body of his brother who steadied him with his arms. After the bout ended, the blond smacked a hand in frustration against his leg, his eyes shifting between anger and panic before he turned his face away trying to control the turbulent fear in himself.

“Jarrod’s taking them to the ranch.” said Nick, turning the blond’s face to his and meeting his eyes. “He’ll take good care of them.”

Nodding slightly at Nick’s attempts at reassurance, the former lawman pointed to both of them and with a hand, moved his index and middle fingers, back and forth. Staring at the fingers, Nick shook his head and snorted, “You can’t even walk across the yard, Heath! Ain’t no way you’re up to trying to reach the ranch!”

Clamping his mouth shut and clenching his jaw, sapphire burned into hazel while he grabbed a fistful of Nick’s shirt and again repeated his gesture. Covering the fist holding his shirt with his hand, Nick shook his head again and snapped. “Forget it!”

Looking upwards for a few minutes, agitated at his lack of getting his point across, the blond suddenly reached into his pocket and brought out his small notebook. Slapping the pockets of his shirt and pants, he got out his pencil and jotted, thrusting the paper into the broad chest.

Twit brain! Walk til meet the ranch crew!

“Whose twit brained now, little brother? The damn crew ain’t no where near here.” snorted Nick shoving the book back at the blond.

Nick, we gotta go now! Craven’s dangerous!

“I know he is, Heath but you’re in no condition. We have no canteen for water and the last thing you need is to get sunstroke on top of everything else!” explained Nick calmly as if he were speaking to a child.

At least try! Just a little way!

“Yeah right!” scoffed Nick shaking his head negatively, “There is no little way with you. It’s always all or nothing. We’re gonna have to trust big brother to get everyone to the ranch, Heath. Course if you’d stayed off a horse like you were supposed to…”

Writing, Heath turned the book over and revealed the word to his brother. Reading the single word, Nick raised an eyebrow and smirked, “I don’t care what you call me, you’re not walking!”

Scowling the blond shrugged off the arm over his shoulders and glared at his brother who reached over and squeezed the closest shoulder.

“Heath, trust goes both ways you know.” suggested Nick quietly. “Jarrod may be a lawyer but he’s also part wildcat when it comes to family. Trust him to keep them safe, little brother. He won’t put them in harm’s way. Okay?”

Letting out a shaky sigh, Heath grimaced as he tried to swallow the lump rising in his throat from his brother’s tender words. Nodding, he leaned into the larger man and wrote again.

Creek half mile. Not too far.

“Good idea, you need some water in you.” agreed Nick before calling Nate over. The two men lifting the blond to his feet and holding him while he regained his bearings. Placing one of Heath’s arms over each of their shoulders, the two men slowly started off with the injured man between them to the nearest water source.

Nick thought back on his words spoken to his blond brother, his words had calmed the panic and fear in the sapphire eyes but not his own inner turmoil. Reaching the creek, all three drank and Nate cleaned Heath’s injuries. Nick kept watch over the two old friends, wishing he had a bird’s eye view of the ranch and surrounding area. The thought of Craven getting his hands on any more of his family or the Fleshton’s darkened the tan face in fury.

Keeping guard against the unknown whereabouts of the escaped convict, Nick promised in his mind. Craven would get what he deserved in the end or his name wasn’t Nicholas Jonathan Barkley.

Chapter 53

Craven heard the anguish cries of the former marshal’s name and smiled as he calmly untied the two horses, held onto their reins and mounted his own horse. He hadn’t been one hundred percent certain who would appear to attempt to rescue the blond but he had reasoned it would’ve more than likely been Jackson or Thomson’s rancher brother. He hadn’t figured on his good luck at having both men show up. With both of those men out of the way, he made his way up the ridge and over, heading towards the ranch where Gaylord Fleshton was hiding out.

For several minutes, Heath stared into the tanned face across from him, his mouth hanging open in disbelief with sapphire eyes wide in his pale face at the information his former peer relayed to him. Forty thousand dollars was a lot of reasons for Craven’s latching on with his fangs and holding on for dear life as they tried to shake him off.

Nate waved his hand in front of his friend causing the lids on the eyes to blink before the blond reached up to take a swipe at the offending hand. The former marshal chuckled at the scowl of irritation spreading across Heath’s face.

Snickering, Nate winked, “Seem a might disagreeable today brother-in-law. Wait til you get home and see how cross your wife’s gonna be with you.”

Shaking his head and closing his eyes when the automatic gesture reminded him of the gash Craven left there, Heath took in a shaky breath. Opening his eyes, he looked past the concerned gray eyes of Nate to the sight of Nick on the far side of the creek sitting with his rifle across his knees.

The blond pushed himself upwards and found Nate by his side ready to lend a hand if necessary. His sapphire eyes full of worry for the other members of his family and the Fleshton siblings while he limped his way to his dark haired brother.

Nick stared out into the woods, keeping his eyes constantly moving while his thoughts tormented his mind. Where was Craven? Did he go after Jarrod and the others? Should they try walking to one of the ranches? Did Craven make good on his plans?

Wiping a forearm across his forehead, he let out a deep sigh and shifted on the rock trying to keep the reminder of the terror in Fancy’s face at the thought of the escaped convict out of his mind. The anger at the terror in Fancy’s eyes overtook the protectiveness rising from within him. How a man could do that to a woman was beyond him and sickened the large man.

Hearing the splashing of water, he turned and frowned as Heath made his way closer with Nate beside him. He should’ve known his little brother wouldn’t stand for staying put if he wasn’t tied down. The stubbornness and sometimes pure cussedness sure ran as deep in the blond as it did in all of Tom Barkley’s children.

Reaching down, he helped Heath up the small slope his breath catching in his throat at the worry in the sapphire eyes. Glancing quickly at Nate who shrugged, Nick looked at the paper Heath pushed in his hand.

For 40,000 he’d kill them all. We have to go!

“Alright Heath but you’ll stop and rest when we say so. Got it?” demanded Nick loudly increasing the slight headache in the blond head.

Pencil moved across paper and Heath smirked as Nick rolled his eyes after reading.

Ain’t deaf twit brain.

“No, you’re just a smart ass little brother.” winked Nick squeezing the blond’s shoulder before standing and gesturing to the creek. “Let’s drink before we go cause by the time we get to the next watering hole, we’ll be mighty thirsty.”

Taking time to drink fully, Nick looked over at Nate and suggested, “Maybe we can find blondie here a branch to use as a walking stick of some sorts, Nate. You wanna see what you can rustle up?”

“Sure, be right back.” said Nate heading into the stand of trees to find a thick branch.

Nick glanced over to Heath, the grin on his face fading as the blond tenderly fingered the dark cloth circling the unseen rope burn around his neck and stared out with unseeing guilt ridden eyes. Reaching over, Nick pulled down his hand and shook his head at his little brother when he met his eyes.

“Don’t beat yourself up about it. Cass still has a husband and I still got a brother. You couldn’t stop Craven from grabbing the widow when she was…uh...you know… indisposed.” suggested Nick softly, knowing he’d struck a nerve when the blond’s face reddened and he looked away.

Clenching his hands, Nick fought the desire to reach over and shake the blond beside him and try to rattle some sense into the smaller man. The guilt the blond was able to lay on himself often amazed his family members and left them shaking their heads in disbelief. Nick didn’t know if that particular trait would ever be changed in his brother and often he’d find himself worrying over the blond’s ability to self torment himself.

“Heath.” said Nick waiting til the now composed face turned to his before continuing. “Are you sure you’re up to it?”

Nodding slightly, Heath met the hazel eyes and flashed a lop-sided grin for the brotherly concern and love he saw in their depths. Grabbing the back of Nick’s neck, the blond shook it slightly before moving his index and middle fingers again in the motion he’d done earlier, his eyes saying he was more than ready.

Nick winked. “Nate’s finding you a cane first then we’ll go old man.”

Rolling his eyes, Heath squeezed the hand that had found its way to his, thankful for all the man beside him offered and returned to him tenfold, no matter had happened in the past. Nate shouted and held up a thick branch, splashing his way across the small creek and stopping in front of the brothers.

Pushing himself to his feet, Heath smiled his thanks and took the branch while the other two watched his first steps with the natural cane. Glancing back he motioned with a hand for them to follow before turning and starting towards the south. Nate looked at Nick and rolled his eyes, the dark haired man smirking before they moved and fell into step on both sides of the blond.

Jarrod and Victoria sighed with relief when they recognized the rider approaching and Cassidy stopped the wagon. Gaylord frowned at the nearing marshal captain, his displeasure clear in his dark sapphire eyes while he held Eva by his side. The badge on the broad chest sending a flood of relief through the woman who’d been severely shaken by the violent act she’d seen.

“Jarrod, what’s going on?” asked Jack his eyes taking in the reins in the hands of Cassidy and Jarrod’s rifle ready to be used.

“Craven’s got Heath in the ridge separating our ranches. Nate and Nick went after him.” explained Jarrod. “We’re taking the Fleshtons to our ranch where there’s more people around.”

Jack placed his hand on the pommel of his saddle, the leather creaking as he shifted his weight and nodded. “Good thinking. I’ll ride along to make sure you get there in one piece. Can’t have too many eyes watching out for that snake.”

Victoria’s eyes puzzled at the nagging thought worrying her mind. Gaylord shifted slightly to keep his eyes on the marshal riding slightly ahead of the wagon. Fancy looked to the Barkley matriarch by her side and met the gray eyes before whispering for the older woman’s ears only.

“For a longtime friend of Heath’s, he doesn’t seem too concerned about him.”

Nodding slightly, Victoria whispered back trying to relieve herself as much as the raven haired girl, “Perhaps because he knows Nick and Nate will do whatever they can to find Heath and bring him home safely. He may feel it’s his responsibility to protect you and your brother first.”

“Yeah, maybe.” replied Fancy, muttering under her breath. “I still don’t like him.”

Victoria frowned and let her eyes wander over the Barkley land they had just crossed onto, worried about her sons and their friend. Audra saw the frown on her mother’s face and squeezed her hand before smiling slightly into the gray loving eyes, offering her silent support. Placing her hand over her daughter’s, Victoria smiled back forcing the worry from her eyes.

Jarrod felt the unease around him and glanced over, smiling tenderly at his sister-in-law. “I know the boys will find Heath, Cassidy and bring him home.”

“I know, Jarrod. I’m just worried about all three of them.” sighed Cassidy, her sienna eyes meeting his for a moment. “I’ll be glad when we get to the ranch and can send the men to the ridge for them.”

“Me, too.” admitted Jarrod, trying to keep the worry out of his voice wishing the distance to the ranch site would disappear as quickly as possible.

Chapter 54

In the light of dusk lowering to settle across the range, Nick lowered Heath to the ground and knelt in front of his little brother who couldn’t hide the pain flashing across his face. Nate swept a worried gaze over the brothers before once again moving away from their small group to keep up a protective watch.

The blond gently laid his head back and clenched his jaw, half-lidded eyes gazed into the concerned tanned face and he forced a lop-sided grin to raise the corner of his mouth. Shaking his head at his brother who would keep pushing til he dropped from exhaustion or death, Nick grunted and wiped his sleeve across his face.

“You must have gone through the line twice the day they were handing out stubbornness, boy.” muttered Nick reaching up tousle the blond hair, dripping with perspiration. “Or you’re plain ole crazy.”

The forced grin spread to a sly smile and Heath grabbed the hand which found its way to his cheek, holding the paw in his and squeezed. Pointing to himself then his brother, the blond raised a finger of his other hand to his head and twirled it around, winking to the smirking dark haired man.

Chuckling, Nick felt part of the afternoon’s tensions falling away with the relief of laughter and he snorted, “Oh no, I ain’t nowhere as looney as you, boy.”

The pale face leaning against one of the formations of the rock pile feigned sadness, his pallor increasing the forlorn countenance and Nick rolled his eyes, unable to keep the grin off his face from the puppy dog look.

“Well, come to think of it maybe we should consider it, leastways til Mother and Cassidy are over being mad.” frowned Nick, his teasing mood gone in an instant and replaced with worry for the unknowns hanging over the heads of them as they struggled to make it to the ranch with their injured member.

Lifting his head, Heath reached over and grabbed the back of the larger man’s neck, the worry and concern finally breaking through his own stubborn need and he stared into the hazel eyes. Releasing the muscular neck, he saw the eyes widen in surprise when he pushed Nick in the chest slightly and waved towards the ranch they knew was waiting in the distance.

“You sure, Heath?” asked Nick, not sure if he read the sapphire eyes correctly or if he only saw his own desire in them.

Rolling his eyes upwards, Heath’s lips thinned out in frustration at not being able to vocalize his thoughts. Waving again, Nick nodded and then winked, “Little brother, if you hadn’t used all that paper to cuss me out each time we stopped this’d be a hell of a lot easier.”

Smirking at his big brother who pivoted on his heels to see where Nate was, Heath reached out with his trembling left leg and pushed his brother hard with a boot on his backside before loosing the battle to keep his head forward and his eyes closed.

“Alright, gees.” growled Nick after falling forward onto his hands and knees from the unexpected rear attack and standing.

His bout of grumpiness faded at the pale relaxed face indicating the injured man had finally collapsed in exhaustion. Kneeling beside his sleeping brother, Nick cupped the cheek of the pale face in his palm and placed a kiss on the top of the wet head.

“Be back as quick as I can with a wagon, little brother.”

Standing, Nick waved Nate over and whispered in his ear. Nodding he understood, Nick helped carry his hurt brother through the opening in the rock, reclining the injured man against the chest of his friend who after looking for snakes took a seat under a small overhang.

Laying the blond head against Nate’s strong left shoulder, the only position which ensured air would be drawn in through the damaged neck without a struggle, Nick caught the gray eyes for a moment.

“I’ll keep watch over him like I was you, mama bear.” assured Nate with a wink and a grin.

Smiling and nodding, Nick stood and looked down at the two former lawman. “I know you will, Nate. I’ll be back shortly.”

“Yeah, just make sure you don’t stop for tea now, Nicholas.” retorted Nate receiving a grin of agreement from the larger man before he turned.

Nate let out a deep breath and watched the back of Nick disappear before he shifted his rifle from his side and across Heath’s lap. The steady breaths out of the blond was a relief and also a source of worry. Nate hoped it was only exhaustion from having trekked ten miles which was taking the strength out of his friend and not a fever which the blond was prone to in his weakened physical states.

Reaching up, the brown haired man wiped the worry from his face and brushed a hand across the forehead of the sleeping man, moving the sweat ridden bangs off the forehead of his friend before wiping his hand on his jeans.

Moving his hand back to his rifle, Nate leaned his head against the rock and sent a prayer upwards for the safety of those in the wagon, the man who was trying to reach the ranch on foot and the friend in his arms who he had always known would someday become his sister’s husband.

Most of the group traveling in the wagon hadn’t relaxed one iota during the trip, they hadn’t stopped their eyes from scanning the horizon and some hadn’t moved their eyes from the back of the marshal who had taken the point position.

Jarrod smiled gratefully when he saw Duke riding towards them with a few of the hands and Cassidy whispered her thanks to the almighty above while she watched the riders approaching before stopping the wagon.

“Duke, thank goodness.” said Jarrod jumping down from the rig and walking over to the foreman who dismounted, pumping his hand enthusiastically and clapping him on the shoulder before taking the reins from the older man’s hand.

“Jarrod, where you going with my horse?” asked Duke, confused and concerned at the sight of the tense faces in the wagon when he and the men came upon them on their way to Stockton. “What’s going on?”

“Craven’s got Heath at the ridge. Nate and Nick went after him.” said Jarrod, pointing to the wagon. “Make sure they get to the ranch safely and post a guard. Ted, you high tail it to town, bring back the sheriff and doc. Duke, after you deliver them to the ranch bring the wagon to the ridge.”

“Sure Jarrod.” said Duke waving the dust from Ted’s galloping horse away before climbing up, nodding to the female leader of the Barkley family sitting in the back and took the reins from Cassidy’s hands. “Maybe you’d best take Frank or Joe with you?”

“I’ll take Larkin.” stated Jarrod looking around for the captain of the marshals, frowning when the man was nowhere in sight, demanding loudly to the sky. “Where the devil is he?”

The eyes which had not left the back of the marshal previously had turned away at the sight of the group of men riding towards them. In the moment when their fear of unknown whereabouts of the escaped murderer was replaced with relief, the unwatched lawman had taken his leave.

Chapter 55

The blood curdling scream of frustration rang from the house of the deserted ranch and went unheard except by the horses who nervously shied, trying to escape the enraged noise. The sounds of glass breaking and wood crashing against the walls inside the shack made its way outside through the open door.

Red-faced with fury, the plans gone awry shattered though his mind and grabbing a kerosene lamp, he hurled it with all his strength against the far wall, the crystal of the hurricane lamp splintering into minute pieces

‘Forty thousand pieces’ thought Craven, lips curled into an evil sneer as the fire hissed its way from the corner and up the wall, hungrily licking at the freed accelerant.

Calmly turning his back on the released blue beast changing colors into red and orange, he strolled out the open door and untied the horses, pulling angrily on the reins when the plume of black smoke and the stench of destruction caused the animals to balk.

Moving the frightened beasts away from the shack made of kindling, the fuel for the fire, he let loose the two horses he’d brought from the ridge into the corral. Standing in the yard, he turned his head back and forth, seeing the lay of the ranches and the surrounding area in his mind.

What had seemed like an opportunity too good to pass up earlier was now coming back to laugh at him. He’d been certain with his plan to draw the brown haired former marshal away from his prey, he could handle the two Barkley men left behind to guard Fleshton and the women.

Sure, he’d heard Nick Barkley was a tough man to tangle with and the lawyer brother had been known to throw a punch or two but in his personal estimation they were nowhere near as deadly as the two former marshals.

Thomson and Jackson were both dead on shots, quick to temper and as fast with a blade as he was. Personal experience of his and some of his criminal associates proved those things beyond a shadow of a doubt. Both men had been trained extensively for their former professions and over the years picked up more pointers in the many battles they’d had while fighting for justice.

Catching sight of the surrey beside the barn, he walked over and smiled at the name painted on the side. Only one way a group of people could have left the ranch. A wagon and he had an idea of where they scurried off to.

Pulling himself into the saddle, Ike Craven turned his horse towards the trail leading around the ridge and spurred the horse cruelly sending the animal into a fullout run. Leaning low over the neck, he drove the animal on unsure if cutting across the range would get him to the group before they reached the Barkley ranch.

Suddenly slowing the animal and pulling up, he sat while the horse’s head hung down and sides heaved, a scowl crossed the face of the escaped murderer and he smiled, shaking his head at his own stupidity. Turning the horse to the west, he started for the ridge as the sun was lowering itself to hide under the horizon.

Nate sighed and laid his head back against the rock, his left side was numb from the weight of his sleeping friend. Trying to peer sideways at the man in his arms under the vague light offered by the rising whole moon, Nate found himself suddenly filling with dread.

What if he wasn’t asleep but unconscious? What if his head wound was worse than they though? What if the obstinate jackass fool didn’t tell them how bad off he really was? Cassidy would string him up alongside her husband!

Trying to stop the panic and dread, he took several quick deep breaths and found the exercise didn’t do anything for his mind kept sputtering the what if thoughts. Swallowing and laying the rifle across the once tan pants, he reached up and poked the blond’s shoulder lightly.

When no reaction, no change in the breath sounds was forthcoming, the brown eyes widened in his face and he took a shaky breath. Raising his hand again, he jabbed the shoulder again, hard and roughly, this time causing the man laying against his shoulder to startle and react without thinking.

Laying on the ground, Nate found the hands of his brother-in-law wrapped around his neck before Heath realized who was under his body. Looking around in confusion as he scooted off his peer to sit by his side watching as Nate crawled to his knees. Heath suddenly reached over and batted the back of the other man’s head while glaring angrily at him.

“Hey!” mumbled Nate rubbing his neck and grimacing. “I was just making sure you weren’t brain damaged is all. You seem to have some of your energy back, but for the love of pete waking you sometimes is worse than poking a rattler, I swear Heath. Remember that time down in Del Mar when we….”

Titling his head, Heath suddenly held a hand over his brother-in-law’s mouth while closing his eyes, trying to sort through the night sounds to distinguish the one which was out of place. Pulling the hand off his mouth, Nate quietly picked up his rifle and climbed to his feet, moving to the opening in the rocks and listened, catching the sound of faint hoofbeats carrying in the night air.

Kneeling in front of Heath and signaling, the blond motioned for his pistol. Sliding out the weapon, Nate handed it off before melding into the shadows of the larger rocks surrounding their hidden position.

Holding the rifle in his right hand, Nick groaned as the blisters from his long trek back to the ranch made themselves known by burning more. Looking up at the full moon, the dark haired rancher was glad for the coolness of the night air. The light of the moon shined enough for him to see as he made his way across the range he knew like the back of his hand. He’d kept up a steady pace since leaving the two former lawman behind in the rock formation, only stopping once to drink from the small creek and dunk his head before starting out again.

Throughout his beeline to the ranch, he hoped by a small miracle he’d run into one of the hands but knew to dwell on the wish was an exercise in futility. The only men working that section of the ranch had been Scotty and Tim. More than likely by now they were passed out in the corner of the saloon or in Fred’s jail cell. Smirking, Nick sighed knowing just how the two hands would want to do whatever they could to escape the wrath of any female in the Barkley family.

Stepping over a deadwood on the edge of a grove of trees, Nick stumbled and cursed loudly at the hole the edge of his boot caught. His mood was darkening as much as the night sky was the longer he walked and the worse his feet hurt. The light from the moon was being sporadically dimmed out by the scattered clouds crossing the path of its rays. Mentally judging the distance, he figured he was approximately a half hour from home.

Taking a deep breath and shaking off his weariness, the long legs moved to start striding when the dirt in front of him sprayed upwards and the report of a rifle rang out.

“LOOSE THE HOGLEG AND THE LONG GUN!” shouted the voice. “NEXT ONE WILL BE RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES!”

Unable to see the hidden assailant, Nick dropped the rifle and unbuckled his gunbelt, holding it by the buckle before dropping it onto the ground. Stepping back as requested and holding his hands shoulder high, hazel eyes narrowed at the unknown man keeping the end of his rifle pointed to his head.

“Who the hell are you? Get off my land!” growled Nick angrily, not really in a very sociable mood from the strenuous uncomfortable exercise of the day.

Chuckling at the angry man, Craven knelt and picked up the weapons throwing them further behind him. Nick glared at the scarred face in front of him, the jagged deep white mark running from the edge of the man’s flat nose to the beginning of his neck stood out under the pale moonlight. The black eyes stared back at the rancher and he lowered his gun slightly.

“I was hoping Jackson’d be with ya’.” smirked Craven. “Wanted to let ‘em know personally he don’t got a house anymore.”

“Craven.” hissed Nick, his fury lowering his voice and intensify the sneer as he said the name, his hazel eyes narrowing in hatred. “You low down miserable…”

“Uh huh…remember who has a gun and who doesn’t.” said Craven with a crooked grin, sizing up the man in front of him. “You and yourn have sure cause me a lot of grief and for what? Some sleezy pimp and his slut sister.”

The fury in the dark haired rancher spread across his face and he lunged forward, ducking down at the shot fired over his head, hissing as it flew by. Craven pursed his lips and smiled to himself.

“Tell you what, Barkley.” offered the criminal when the rancher was back on his feet. “I’m in a generous mood tonight. I’ll give you a chance at me.”

Surprise flew across Nick’s face and he only stared at the man, suspicious at what he was proposing. Craven chuckled and pulled out a six inch blade, moving it back and forth, the rays of the moon glistened off the metal drawing the hazel eyes to it.

“It won’t be much of a chance on your part but it’ll be the only offer I’m giving.” smiled Craven. “If you win that means I’m dead and you can take my horse instead of walking.”

“What if you win?” snarled Nick, clenching his hands against his legs. “What are you planning on doing? Trade me for Fleshton? Is that your plan?”

“Nope. This is puredee pleasure for me. I ain’t had a good fight in a long time, well exceptin’ for in prison when I got this cut on my face. Besides after burying two sons, I figure your family won’t be so gracious anymore and they’ll want Fleshton outta their lives.” shrugged Craven with a chuckle. “Then, it’ll be like taking candy from a baby.”

“I’m gonna rip out your black heart and feed it to the buzzards.” growled Nick.

Tossing his rifle to the side and holding the knife in his hand, Craven motioned with his fingers. “Come and try big man, I’ll show you what my father taught me. He was an expert with a blade. When I take care of Fleshton, I’m gonna make sure his sister remembers the fun we had before when we met. You’re kinda sweet on her aren’t you, Barkley? I was watching you two. She’s a wild one, you shoulda seen…..

A scream of fury left the dark haired man and he lunged.

Chapter 56

Frank glanced towards Joe both men concerned over the oldest Barkley son who had become like a man possessed since they left Duke with the wagon. Leaving the women and the double of their blond boss with the foreman, the men headed to the ridge, veering suddenly at the large black cloud coming from the vicinity of the Jackson ranch.

Jarrod’s heart leapt into his throat, his eyes wide with fear before he pushed Duke’s horse into a gallop with the two hands trying to keep up with his punishing pace. The anger and confusion over the unexplained disappearance of Heath’s former captain faded away like a retreating fog.

Precious time was spent reaching the ranch and upon their arrival all they could do was stand back and gape at the fully engulfed house whose sides were starting to crumble in on themselves, the falling wood sending a shower of sparks upwards into the air, the only sound was the crackling, popping and hissing as the solid natural resource was devoured.

Jarrod felt his stomach turn over and his back turned rigid when the clammy hands of a deep fright overtook him at the sight of Daisy and Coco in the corral. Stumbling over to the side of the barn, he heaved the contents of his stomach and fell to his knees leaning his head against the wall of the wooden structure. Dazed blue eyes seeing nothing stared out from the face no longer held any color.

Frank stood by the water trough, ready to extinguish any sparks which escaped the square patch of destruction. The older hand stared into the angry flames praying neither his boss or the family friend were in the house when the blaze started, silently willing the flames to go out so they could check, so they could be certain.

Joe swallowed the lump in his throat, his eyes not leaving the heaving and shaking form of Jarrod. His own stomach clenched and a pain raked deep in his gut, his hand reached up to shakily wipe across his face as he held on tightly to the bars of the corral with the other. The whinnying of Coco raised his eyes and he stared at the brown spotted horse before blinking several times and shouting.

“JARROD!”

The excitement in the shouts of his name broke into the shocked face and he slowly stood on legs threatening to give out from under him. Using the barn to support him, Jarrod painstakingly forced one foot in front of another until he stood by the corral.

“NO RIFLES!” exclaimed Joe with a wide grin. “THE SCABBARDS ARE EMPTY AND LOOK!”

Jarrod stared at the rope which hung from the round piece in the halter on Coco’s head, his mind sluggishly comprehending what the ranch hand was trying to point out.

Gasping, he rushed into the corral and saw close up what had Joe fairly jumping up and down in joy about. “A lead rope!”

“They were lead here!” said Joe quickly. “Nick wouldn’t let leave the ranch without a rifle and there’s no reason for him to put a lead rope on Coco. I bet they didn’t even ride the horses here at all. Someone else musta brought ‘em!”

“Craven.” snarled Jarrod, his blue eyes narrowing and darkening with a rage Joe had never seen in the eyes of the lawyer and he unconsciously stepped back. “Let’s go.”

“Where to?” asked Joe watching Jarrod untie the rope before leading Coco towards the gate of the corral before he rushed to follow with Daisy.

“The ridge.” said Jarrod, instructing Frank to keep watch of the fire before mounting and riding south to the ridge, the last known whereabouts of his two brothers and their friend.

Nate saw the rider in the moonlight and sighed loudly with relief, waving with his rifle from in front of the rocks several times before he received an acknowledgement. Moving back through the opening in the rocks, he cursed and knelt in front of Heath who was sweating, his eyes closed.

“Heath!” called Nate, watching the blond’s lips moving without a sound breaking the stillness of the night. Holding onto Heath’s shoulder, Nate shook him slightly until the sapphire eyes blinked and they looked at him.

“Jack’s here.” said Nate helping the blond onto his feet. “Com’n, we’ll use his horse to start for the ranch.”

Stopping by the rock formation, Jack watched the two men appear from the crack in the stones. “You two alright?”

“Yeah.” replied Nate hesitating and glancing over at Heath who suddenly looked up at his former boss. “Been better. Heath can’t talk cause of his throat.”

Jack moved his left foot out of the stirrup and held out an arm. “Climb up, I’ll take you to Nate’s ranch.”

Nate frowned and watched as Heath shook his head, bringing his eyes back into focus from where he’d slipped away again before glancing up and gesturing southward, moving closer to his former boss.

“No! Jackson’s ranch is closer, Heath.” ordered Jack with a firm shake of his head, before reaching down again with his hand. “The Fleshtons and the women are safe at your home. We’re going to Nate’s so you…”

Nate watched his mouth wide open as the blond pulled on the extended arm and threw his former boss over his head onto the ground. Jabbing one foot into the stirrup and taking hold of the horn, the blond’s adrenaline rush, fearful for the life of his brother propelled him upward into the seat as the horse galloped away.

Nick wiped the blood off the cut over his eyes and stared at the gloating knife wielding man, his hands clenching and unclenching, itching to wrap themselves around the neck across the way. Craven smirked and taunted the rancher before him.

Nick stumbled slightly as he warily circled to the right, his eyes not leaving the bruised face of the other man. While he’d been able to get his fists to connect a couple times, the murderer was able to leave several cuts on his body from the razor sharp instrument in his hands.

“Ready to die yet, Barkley?” sneered Craven. “My father once slit a man from his groin all the way to his chin in one swipe. He was a good teacher.”

The fury which engulfed him in the beginning of the struggle had drove him to make mistakes in the fight for life he was in. Suddenly as clear as if he were standing beside him at his shoulder, Nick heard the voice of his blond brother and he stopped moving. Tilting his head slightly, he could hear the chant in his mind.

“Knee, chest, throat. Knee, chest, throat.”

“Sorry big man, I’m getting tired of playing around.” sighed Craven with an evil smile. “One last lesson of my father’s before I put you out of your misery.”

Looking at the man approaching, Nick hung his head and swayed slightly. Craven stopped suddenly, his face scowling when the rancher suddenly smiled, his even white teeth easy to see in the moonlight.

“How about if I show you what my little brother taught me?” growled Nick, raising his hand and motioning the escapee forward with his fingers. “Come and git it you yellow livered snake!”

Rushing forward and slashing, Craven suddenly felt an explosion of pain in his leg when the man in front of him pivoted and the boot of his sweeping leg struck the side of his knee crumpling the extension upon itself. Grabbing down towards the suddenly swollen joint, Craven’s scream was cut off when a fist propelled from an arm straightening and shooting forward met with the bone of his chest, bouncing his heart within its cavity from the power behind it.

Falling backwards to the ground and rolling over, Craven slashed out with this knife to keep the larger man at bay while he struggled to his knees, his face a grey color from the blow to his chest. Nick dodged the blade and backhanded the vile face, jolting the scarred appendage to the side and sending the murderer onto the ground, dazed from the ringing in his head.

Jumping on top of the stunned man, Nick ignored the punches hitting his body as he bent the wrist of the hand holding the knife backward, the screams of the man beneath him echoed through the air before he dropped the blade. Catching the dark haired man on the side of the temple with a glancing blow from a rock his other hand found on the ground, Craven stunned him enough to push the big man to the side.

Moaning and shaking his head to clear it of the sudden dizziness, Nick reached out, frantically grabbing hold of the wobbly legs bringing Craven onto the ground for a second time. Kicking out with his feet to escape the man who’d turned the fight for life onto him, the criminal now sought only to get to his guns, needing to end the war he found himself losing.

Nick reached again for the other man but he scurried out of his grab and half staggered to the area where the metal of his guns on the ground glistened. Looking around, Nick grabbed the discarded knife and threw it a mere second before the sound of a shot rang out.

Chapter 57

Heading south from the ridge after carefully concluding his brothers and Nate were nowhere in the vicinity, Jarrod pushed on, focused only on finding his brothers. The light of the night faded in and out as the cottoning whiteness slowly slid across the black satin.

Becoming increasingly worried and frustrated, Jarrod pulled up with Joe beside him, stopping at the sight of the two figures walking in a southerly direction. Moving closer he recognized the voices and called out, stopping the men in their tracks and turning them sideways.

“Jarrod, thank god.” sighed Nate in relief.

“Nick? Heath?” demanded Jarrod tensely, the lack of his brothers with the brown haired man was an unexpected panic causing sight.

“Nick took off walking a few hours ago…”

Stepping closer to the oldest male Barkley child and not able yet to comprehend how he came to be walking instead of riding, Jack snapped angrily, “Heath pulled me off my horse and stole it!”

Joe let out a laugh and quickly sobered at he marshal captain’s venomous stare. Lowering his eyes, he bit the inside of his cheek to keep his amusement contained, remembering another time when the marshal boss had dislodged a fellow peer from top of his mount, efficiently stealing another’s horse.

Jarrod stared at the lawman and snapped, “Why didn’t you wait when Duke showed up? What was so damn important you rode off?”

Nate glanced up into the flashing blue eyes of the family attorney and caught the quick look of surprise across Jack’s face before he replied, “I was doing my job, Jarrod.”

“Really?” asked Jarrod sarcastically. “What was so almighty important you couldn’t ride with me to find my brothers? You knew Craven had Heath at the ridge!”

“My job is to find Craven NOT your brothers when they get themselves into fixes!” stated Larkin firmly. “Doing what I’m paid for by the government. Keeping this world a safer place for society as a whole not just a former marshal under my command!”

Nate jumped forward and stood beside the horse, stopping the dark haired man when he started to dismount, suggesting, “Whoa, Jarrod. We’ll find Nick and Heath. Now ain’t the time for this.”

Glaring down at the lawman on the ground, Jarrod hissed through his clenched teeth, his words frigid with ice, “Anything happens to my brothers, you won’t be safe anywhere in the world, Larkin!”

“Are you threatening me Barkley?” bellowed Jack incredulously.

“NO, HE”S NOT!” shouted Nate back. “He’s worried about his family, is all Jack. Settle down Jarrod. Nick and Heath’s more important right now.”

Jarrod felt the runaway emotions inside him spilling out and he took a deep breath at Nate’s warning. Nodding to the man who was to marry their sister, Jarrod turned from the marshal captain who’d been staring at him as if he’d never seen him before.

“Heath headed south like his tail was on fire.” said Nate looking up into the slightly calmer blue eyes.

“He say where he was going?” questioned Jarrod kicking his foot out of the stirrup and lowering an arm to Nate who pulled himself up behind the attorney.

“He can’t talk, Jarrod. Craven almost finished him off by slow hanging.” explained Nate and hurriedly adding at the sick look appearing on the other’s face, “But he’ll be fine!”

Joe reluctantly reached down and helped the still simmering lawman up behind him, then catching Jarrod’s eye, prompting him quietly. “Boss, the house.”

“Yeah, he could be at the house I guess.” said Nate with a shrug. “I don’t know.”

Shaking his head, Jarrod let out a sigh of displeasure at the news he had to deliver. “Nate, we left Frank at your place. When we got there the house was on fire and just burning itself out. I’m sorry we didn’t get there sooner to save it.”

“I bet it was that bastard Craven.” snarled Nate slapping his thigh as Jarrod started the horse towards the south. “I’d like to wring his arson lighting, murdering, yellow striped, flea ridden neck!”

“I’m so sorry, Nate.” apologized Jarrod again. “I was the one who tricked you into taking the Fleshtons to your ranch. If they weren’t hiding out there, you’d still have a house instead of a mound of ashes.”

Clapping the man in front of him on the back, Nate let out a chuckle, “Yeah, you sure did trick me that day, Jarrod, but I would’ve done it anyway. It’s not your fault. Besides Audra will like the adventure of having her own house built. Hurry up lawyer, I’m gonna need all the help of my future wife’s brothers to build it!”

He could picture it in his mind, the scene in the darkness of the night, taking place miles from where he’d been. His heart pounded as he galloped towards the familiar place in his head. He shivered at the feeling of death hovering like a thick curtain all around him.

His eyes darted around and he wanted to scream the name of his brother to the heavens, his mouth opened but no sound left. His throat felt constricted but no where near as severe as when Mia Liang’s body guard almost crushed his neck with his massive paws.

Approaching the other side of the grove from where he’d seen Nick in his mind, Heath slowed Jack’s horse to a walk and picked his way around the obstacles, relying on the horse’s senses to move in the darkest parts of the woods.

Stopping twenty yards from the edge, he slowly climbed down, tied the reins to a low bush and took the pistol from his holster. Limping towards the clearing, his tongue reached out to touch his dry lips as he struggled along. At the edge, he stood in the shadow of a medium sized tree and waited for the cloud to move from where it was hiding the moon.

Parting the dark soupiness with its rays of light, sapphire eyes widened and he rushed forward, falling onto his hands and knees in his frantic rush. Pushing himself up onto his uncooperative legs, he went first to the smaller lump laying on the ground, his pistol trained down on the man who stared upwards. Black eyes no longer saw the stars or the moon from the knife embedded in his neck and he judged the blade sliced into the jugular vein from the amount of red on Craven’s shirt.

Moving to the dark clothed man lying unmoving on the other side of the clearing, Heath dropped the gun and slide to the ground, picking up the heavier man’s upper body and holding him to his chest. His eyes filled with tears at the face stained with blood and his hand shakily moved to feel for a heartbeat in the neck through the lines of red. Silently crying and mouthing the name of the man in his arms, he rocked back and forth.

The waves increased on the ocean and he felt himself being thrown against the rock, the motion of the abyss turning his stomach as the rain fell on his face. The darkness of the hull he’d been in was slowly lighting as he made his way up the stairs, the steps moving with the pitching of the boat. Taking hold, he forced himself upwards and found the twinkling of the stars and he realized the sails fluttering in the way weren’t sails at all but locks, locks of unruly blond hair.

It was a stricken look on the face whose eyes were closed that caught his attention at first and then he felt the shudders of despair wracking the blond’s body. It took a moment to realize what would cause such a look of pure agony.

His head felt like it’d been run over by the iron wheels of a train and the rocking was sending his stomach into his throat. Forcing the nausea back down, he pushed his eyes open wider and tried to force a smile to curve his lips.

“Boy..lunch..be..on..ya…rock…any…more.”

Reaching up slowly with a hand, he held onto the nearest shoulder and stared into the watery sapphire eyes, his heart clenching at the tortured agony turning to pure love. The mouth was moving but nothing was leaving.

Moving his hand to the back of the blond’s neck, Nick whispered through his own tears, “I...heard…ya’…again…boy…always..hear.. ya’”

The blond head lowered and Heath laid his cheek on the top of the black hair when the hazel eyes closed, the hand fall back down and the darkness returned for his big brother. He clutched him to his chest and simply held on, not moving even when the sound of horses reached him, simply enjoying one of the many gifts he’d received over the past few years.

Jarrod jumped down and slid to a stop on his knees in the grassy clearing, his fingers feeling the beating of a pulse in Nick’s neck and he bit back a sob of gratefulness. Heath hadn’t moved and his arms were wrapped around Nick’s resting form. Nate appeared beside him as he tried to move Nick so they could examine him.

“Heath.” said Jarrod softly reaching over and brushing his fingers across the tear tracks on the pale cheek. The soft touch with a soothing voice found its way through the barrier of his protectiveness and love for the larger man. When the blond head lifted, Jarrod smiled into the sapphire eyes.

“Let’s go home, little brothers.”

Chapter 58

“Let’s go home, little brothers.”

Jarrod watched the lids on the sapphire eyes blink and a slight nod was the answer to his statement before the strong arms of his blond brother slowly relinquished the deathgrip he had on his partner in the ranch and in his soul.

Jumping from his horse, Joe watched the marshal captain walk over to the man who had a knife protruding from his neck before he quickly gathered some wood and coaxed a flame into burning. Jarrod smiled gratefully at the quick thinking hand who provided light for him to examine the furrow on the side of the head of dark hair.

Kneeling beside the man the crew affectionately called marshal boss, Joe leaned over and whispered into the man whose face was frantic with worry as he eyes didn’t leave his unconscious brother. “Nice to see you in one piece, boss. Don’t worry Nick’ll be roaring loud as thunder even with the whopper of a headache he’ll have later.”

The teasing barb from one of the men who on a daily basis gave to their bosses all of the strength and work inside them lifted the corner of the blond’s mouth and calmed the raging river of concern within him. He felt lighter as the described scene played in his mind and he suddenly sagged with the escape of adrenaline from his veins.

Joe felt it more than he heard it from the man beside him. It was a silent sigh of release from his blond boss who from his own brush with the grim reaper wasn’t up to his normal level of strength and power when he started the day.

The events of the unending day had the marshal boss running on pure cussedness and suddenly with the knowledge all was seemingly back to normal in his world again, the blond gave into the effects of his own battered being.

Nate appeared on the other side of his brother-in-law helping to move him back against a large deadfall before sending Joe off to get a wagon from the ranch. Shaking his head at his stubborn friend, Nate smiled into the sapphire eyes fighting to stay open, watching as the blond lost his battle.

Jarrod rested his palm against the cheek of Nick, his eyes willing the lids to open on the hazel orbs. The wound didn’t appear to be serious but one could never be certain the effects a lead projectile had when it met with your head. Glancing over, he sighed with relief when he saw Heath was resting with Nate by his side before he caught sight of Larkin wrapping the body of Ike Craven in a blanket.

Shaking his head at the renewed anger which rose inside him as he watched the marshal, Jarrod turned his thoughts back to those who were more important…his brothers. Walking back over, Nate quietly told the first son he’d sent the hand to get a wagon for the injured family members.

“Thanks Nate.” replied Jarrod unable to do anything further for his brothers other than see they were comfortable while they rested. “How’s Heath?”

Glancing to the blond whose head reclined back against the deadfall, Nate smirked, “Better than he will be after Cassidy and Mrs. Barkley get ahold of him I’m betting.”

Chuckling softly, Jarrod nodded in agreement, “If I was brother Heath, I’d think about sleeping for the next week or so til they’ve calmed down.”

The sound of the approaching wagon reached them long before its shape took place in the darkness of the night and no more conversations were held. Duke jumped down with Howard Merar beside him, the physician quickly examining the crease on the side of Nick’s head then rousing a sluggish Heath to examine his newest scraps.

“Heath you want some laudanum?” asked Howard receiving a scowl and a negative shake of the blond head for an answer before he gently pushed his friend’s hand away holding the dark bottle.

Howard winked at the clearly exhausted man and suggested with a grin, “It might be safer for you when you get back to the ranch if you’re knocked out.”

Rolling his eyes, Heath glared at the physician before struggling to his feet to lean against the deadfall, gesturing towards Nick before pointing at his own head.

“I’m sure he’s gonna be fine, Heath. Course when he wakes up and can answer some of my favorite questions only then will we know if any of his smarts escaped from the new opening on his head.” assured Howard with a tender smile as he squeezed the blond’s shoulder. “He’s tough and hardheaded, son. Don’t worry now.”

Nodding slightly, Heath watched Howard make his way back to Nick and oversaw the men placing the unaware man gently into the back of the wagon. Jarrod came over as his shaky brother stood on his trembling legs, grabbing his arm when he faltered and placed it over his shoulders.

Heath flashed a slight lop-sided grin for his big brother after the flash of pain disappeared from his face and weakly squeezed the shoulders supporting him as he tried to make his legs function the small distance to their transportation home. Settling his brother against Nate who placed the blond’s head back on his shoulder, Jarrod climbed in and knelt on the other side of Nick ready to help their family friend if needed.

The wagon lurched and the oldest brother watched Jack Larkin mount his retrieved horse and grab the reins of the other with the wrapped body of the escaped convict lashed to the saddle. Glancing once to the wagon heading south, the marshal turned to east towards Stockton. Shaking his head, Jarrod turned his attention back to his brothers in the wagon.

Jarrod and the others sighed with relief at the illuminated mansion nearing. Heath had not stirred once during the trip as the wagon rolled over the Barkley lands. Nick fought once to a higher level of consciousness to moan and turn his head slightly before stilling. Howard smiled his reassurance into the worried ocean color eyes of the lawyer, seeing the first born relax slightly.

Pulling up in front of the house, Duke jumped down and shouted orders to the men, the front door of the mansion burst open and the inhabitants flew out to surround the wagon. Jarrod jumped down and helped Frank and Joe carry Nick into the house with Fancy, Audra and his mother following.

Cassidy stood by the side of the wagon watching as Gaylord help Nate bring his disoriented double to the edge at the back. Moving to hold the door of the mansion, Cassidy watched as they put his arms over their shoulders and walk her husband to the house. Closing the door behind them, the brightness in the foyer caused Heath to blink and weakly struggle against the men holding him up.

“Knock it off, Heath!” growled Nate as they lead him to the staircase.

Looking around, the sapphire eyes filled with relief at the sight of his wife, unhurt and moving towards him. Smiling, Cassidy held onto his face with her hands and shook her head while blinking away the tears.

Nate and Gaylord smiled at each other while they watched the reunited couple, the love between them a glorious spectacle before the sienna eyes suddenly flashed. Lifting her hand, Cassidy’s lips thinned out and her hand poked into her husband’s chest lightly, causing him to straighten further with each motion and try to move back away from the female dynamo in front of him.

Nate and Gaylord backed up with the blond whose furious wife’s tirade could be heard up to the second floor of the mansion through the open door where the other members of the family were.

“LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, HEATH THOMSON. IF I EVER CATCH YOU DISOBEYING A DOCTOR’S ORDERS AGAIN…LIFTING A FINGER, EVEN ONE, WHEN HE SAYS NOT TO….YOU ARE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.”

Nate and Gaylord cringed back against the large oak door with her blond husband in between them, her anger intimidating and daunting to the three grown men. Standing right in front of her husband, sienna eyes flared into wide sapphire eyes, his blond head nodding several times in agreement.

“DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME? I WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS INCONSIDERATE BEHAVIOR AND IF YOU THINK I’M RAISING THIS CHILD ALONE BECAUSE YOU ARE TOO STUBBORN FOR YOUR OWN GOOD…THINK AGAIN MISTER! IF IT HAVE TO TIE YOU DOWN, I WILL… MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT! WE WILL BE DISCUSSING YOUR LITTLE STUNT THIS….”

Staring at his wife with his mouth open, Heath pushed against the hands holding his arms. Releasing their hold, Nate and Gaylord watched the large hand grab the offending index finger and his mouth open. Frustrated at not being able to speak, Cassidy saw the anxiety and wonder in her husband’s eyes before they shifted downward to the child growing in her womb under the folds of her dress then back to hers.

Nodding at his unvoiced question, her smile widened and she found herself pulled into her husband’s arms, his eyes brimming with tears as he pulled her down with him, sitting against the door of the mansion. Nate motioned to Gaylord with his head and the two men wandered into the parlor to give the couple a moment alone.

Pulling back, Cassidy took his face in her hands and her eyes filled with tears, “You scared me to death, Heath. I thought we lost you.”

Brushing the tears from her face with several kisses, Heath captured her lips and left her breathless with his lingering kiss before crossing his heart with his fingers. Her face beamed out her love and she caressed his cheek.

“Let’s get you upstairs and into bed.”

Taking her hand from his cheek, he placed a kiss in the palm and held it over his heart. Nate and Gaylord walked back over and helped the blond from the floor and up the stairs with his wife following. Caring him into the room shared with his wife, the two congratulated the expecting couple with Nate placing a kiss on Cassidy’s cheek before leaving with his friend’s double.

Cassidy returned to the bed and smiled at her husband who gazed at her with wonder when she took a spot by his side. Brushing her fingers through his hair, she smiled back before taking a breath and unwrapping the piece of cloth from his neck, the burned ring in his neck causing her to gasp.

Taking hold of her chin, Heath raised her eyes from the reminder of the near hanging and shook his head slightly. His thumb gently caressing her cheek and he pulled her into his chest, reclining back against the pillows of the bed, he stroked her hair trying to sooth her worry.

Howard entered the room and met the worried sapphire eyes over the blond girl’s head and smiled as he ushered Cassidy away from her husband. “Nick’s gonna be fine, Heath. Now let’s take a better look at you.”

Twenty minutes later Cassidy sat by her dozing husband, holding his hand and leaning against his injured being. The bandage around his neck covered the burn which the physician lathered with a salve before stitching up the gash in the back of his head. His throat was swollen but not constricted and his voice he assured them would return within a few days.

Gaylord smiled as he watched from the doorway of Nick’s room while his sister took over keeping a vigil by the bedside of the injured man, allowing the Barkley matriarch to sit with his beau, Eva. The brothel owner smiled with happiness when the dark head moved and the eyes moved under their lids. Fancy stood up and hovered over the bedside, smiling widely when the lids blinked and looked up at her.

Nick blinked and smiled into the dark chocolate eyes, his deep voice soft and tender as he took hold of her hand, “Hi there, Fancy Fleshton.”

Holding his hand in her two, she smiled and sighed with relief, “Hi there yourself, Nick Barkley.”

The smile on the former marshal’s double face faded and he silently moved from the doorway to leave the two people alone. Turning, he nearly bowled over Nate who’d just escorted his fiancée to her room. Smirking, Nate threw an arm over the blond’s shoulder and steered him down the hallway towards the kitchen, talking quietly into the brothel owner’s ear.

“You know Gaylord, she could do a lot worse.”

“Yes, I know Jackson.”

“Nick’s really a good guy under all those black clothes he wears. Course he’s also kinda loud but we all eventually get used to it. You have to or get ear plugs.”

“Jackson, I’ve met the man remember?”

“What say you and me have a chat about what’s really important in life…yours…mine…your sisters….”

Chapter 59

It’d only taken a few minutes to locate the man he sought. He couldn’t believe it’d been a week since Ike Craven met his predestined death by violence. An ending to the man who was only capable of harshness and brutality. A man who destroyed so much and so many during his rampage on this earth which was called his life.

Entering the study and moving forward quietly, Gaylord stopped and looked past the tall man standing in the open french doors who was gazing out into the flower garden outside. The sound of giggling floated in on the gentle breeze and he listened to a soft sigh leave the large man before he spoke.

“I always thought she was the most beautiful person in the world.”

Startled at the soft of the brothel owner’s voice, Nick jumped and turned quickly, grabbing onto the door jamb when the sudden movement sent his senses reeling. Reaching out and taking hold of the arm closest to him, Gaylord chuckled and shook his head while he steadied the dark haired rancher.

“Sorry, Nick. I didn’t mean to give you a scare.” apologized Gaylord while he lead the still recovering man to a chair.

When the moment of dizziness passed, Nick smirked and waved off the apology, “I’m okay til I move too quick, Greg. Nothing that won’t go away soon.”

“Heath said he was surprised the bullet was able to graze you.” suggested the blond with a grin. “He said something about a hard head thickly padded with a bullish mentality or something like that.”

Snorting, Nick scoffed, “’Mr. here I am trouble come find me’ smart ass brother is sure calling the kettle black.”

Smiling, Gaylord watched the hazel eyes fill with amusement from where he stood before he raised the dark sapphire eyes to look outside at his sister surrounded by her new friends. Pursing his lips, he moved around to sit on the chair next to the rancher who was watching him with puzzled eyes.

“They say it won’t be too far in the future that I’ll have to close up my businesses. Seems people are getting tired of having those things in towns where they’re raising their children and such. Much like the law is starting to get organized slowly across states, soon enough citizens will rally and laws against things deemed inappropriate will be passed.” informed Gaylord with a loud sigh.

“Ah, that won’t be for a long time, Greg.” replied Nick with a shrug of his shoulder. “Probably not even in your lifetime.”

“Yeah, well who knows what the future holds. Everything’s changing and settling down, Nick.” frowned the blond, his eyes studying the ceiling for several minutes.

“It’s funny I’ve owned brothels full of women and yet, I find I still don’t understand them one bit. How is they can be flighty as a butterfly one day and then steady as a rock the next? How come they’ll cry when you don’t notice a new dress they’re wearing but if you mention you’d like to see them try a new hairstyle, they almost scratch your eyes out because they think you’re trying to make them into something or someone they are not? Amazing creatures, don’t you think?”

“Hey, are you nervous about tomorrow?” teased Nick with a smile watching his brother’s double shift in his seat.

“Maybe just a tad.” admitted Gaylord sitting forward with his elbows on his knees. “Nick, I love Eva but I don’t know if I can make it last. What if she tires of me? What if she wakes up one day and comes to the realization that perhaps being married to a brothel owner isn’t the best life? I don’t know. The whole damn thing’s giving me nightmares.”

“She knows what she’s doing and the widow doesn’t care about your work. Otherwise she would’ve said no when you asked.” assured Nick. “I think you’re getting all worked up for nothing.”

Frowning, Gaylord let out a shaky sigh and nodded, “Yeah, maybe you’re right. Hey, you’re not gonna get dizzy and fall on me during the ceremony, are you?”

“No!” retorted Nick. “Of course not!”

“Just checking.” winked the blond with a grin. “I appreciate you agreeing to be my witness, Nick. Everyone in your family has been so nice to me and Fancy especially after all this trouble.”

“Heath was right about you Greg.” smiled Nick when he saw the question in the sapphire eyes. “He said you were a nice guy and harmless. My little brother’s a pretty good judge of people.”

Blushing slightly, Gaylord shook his head, “Heath’s always played it straight with me and treated me like a regular joe. He’s one of the best people I know and I hope you don’t mind but we talked some about you, Nick.”

“Me? What for?” asked Nick.

Standing and moving to the back of the chair and grabbing on with his hands, the sapphire eyes met hazel and the blond cleared his throat.

“I’ve always tried to keep Fancy away from the inner dealings of my business, the day-to-day stuff. Even though she’s a bit older than me and more times than not, she watched out for me. When our father died, she was just an adult and took it up on herself to finish raising me, helping me with the business, handling the investments. She’s always been there and always put me first, Nick. Always.” smiled Gaylord tenderly as he turned his head to look out the doors, his gaze falling upon the head of raven colored hair.

“I love her more than life itself Nick and would give everything I have to her if she needed it.” stated Gaylord with a quiver in his voice before he turned his eyes back and shook his head.

“She doesn’t need financial security, she already has it. She doesn’t need to watch over me anymore. She needs to have the opportunity to feel safe, to feel whole, to have the freedom to find that someone special in her own life.”

Nick felt his breath catch and he swallowed the lump of anticipation rising in his throat before whispering, “What are you saying, Greg?”

“Fancy’s going to move to Stockton and be a partner in Mrs. Johnson’s dress shop. It’s always been a dream of hers to be able to design clothes but she’s never had the chance. “informed the blond, smiling at the happiness in the hazel eyes at the unexpected news.

“You’re the only man other than your brother Heath that she has freely given her full trust to. She has good instincts and she’s a special person. She’s so much more deserving of happiness than anyone else I know. Will you keep an eye out for her, Nick? Can I count on you to make her happy?”

“For the rest of my life, if she’ll let me.” promised Nick with a smile, rising and taking the blond’s hand in his firm grip before clapping his shoulder. “You have my word, Greg.”

“Thanks, Nick.” smiled Greg, feeling his heart clench at the thought of how much he was going to miss his sister but thankful at her new found happiness in all the recent turmoil and strife. “Well, I’d best go see Heath. He wanted to talk to me about something, maybe about the arrangements he made for Eva and I to travel to London. I’m surprised he didn’t give us a trip to Timbuktu as a wedding present so people would stop mixing us up.”

Laughing, Nick clapped the blond on the back and winked, “He tried but he was overruled, Greg! We figured England was a safe enough distance!”

Chapter 60

Heath held onto Cassidy’s waist, his face smiling as he stood among the others and watched the ceremony taking place in the garden. The simplistic beauty of the moment causing his wife to break out into silent sobs. Her emotions were spiraling out of control and he drew her closer into his side, placing a kiss on her blond hair.

Victoria heard the soft sniffles and glanced over to her right, gray eyes filling with understanding of the uncontrollable crying from her daughter-in-law. Smiling sympathetically, she caught the sapphire eyes of her blond son, his arched eyebrow sent her small hand up to cover her mouth and stop the giggles which threatened to escape.

Chastising him for the misguided moment of amusement during the wedding ceremony with her eyes, the Barkley matriarch bit her lip and turned her face forward, trying to keep the smirk off her face while the ceremony was concluded and the newly joined couple kissed while joining their hands together for the first time as one.

Gaylord stood beside Eva smiling widely and regaining some of the color he’d lost from his nervousness of the nuptials, the couple gladly accepting the well wishes before Fancy and Nick whisked them away to the awaiting carriage at the front of the house.

Nick waited til the bride giddy from her special day drew her new sister-in-law into a large spontaneous hug. All prior bouts of tension gone between the two women as the wonder of the day wrapped itself around them.

Helping the bride into the carriage, Nick watched the emotional farewell between the two siblings whose physical appearances were as different as night and day but their hearts the same.

Gaylord didn’t stop his tears from falling as he pulled his big sister into a long embrace, his eyes shut to stop the pain of the coming separation from taking away his joy over his marriage. Pulling back, he dried her tears while she dried his, both laughing and shaking their heads at themselves.

“You’d best be going Gaylord or you’ll miss your train.” whispered Fancy, her lips trembling from the powerful sadness overwhelming her.

“I love ya’ Fancy.” said the blond placing a kiss on her cheek and whispering in her ear. “Don’t let Nick boss you around now. He’s a good man but you gotta make him toe the line.”

Giggling, the slender woman shook her head, “Gaylord, you’re terrible!”

Winking, he held his palm to her cheek and grinned, “I know, sis but little brothers can be incorrigible as much as they want. I love you.”

“I love you too. Now go.” ordered Fancy pushing him towards the surrey and standing beside Nick, waving as Ciego drove the couple towards Stockton.

Wiping her eyes, Fancy sighed and wrapped her arms across her chest watching til the surrey couldn’t be seen any more. Nick shifted slightly and cleared his throat. “You okay?”

Turning to look at the handsome man beside her, the chocolate eyes sparkled and she took the offered arm as they slowly walked back towards the garden. “I’ll be fine. It was a beautiful ceremony and I’m happy for them. It will seem strange not to see Gaylord every day.”

Nearing the corner of the house, Nick stopped and leaned closer to the raven haired woman, whispering, “Don’t worry one look at Heath and you’ll be able to picture your brother whenever you need to.”

Giggling, Fancy shook her head in mild reproach, “Your brother’s a good man but somehow I don’t know if he’d approve of that. They are after all two different people and we’re all happy to put this double phenomena stuff behind us.”

Smiling at the amusement in the chocolate eyes, Nick felt again his heart fill with protectiveness for the slender woman on his arm. He found his wakening moments consumed with desire to keep worry or fear out of her eyes and he reached over to run his fingers lightly over the hand tucked in the crook of his elbow.

“I’m glad you’re taking up residence in Stockton, Fancy.” whispered Nick, the intensity of his emotions making his voice husky.

The voice beside her sent goose bumps over her skin, his fingers caressing hers made it hard for her lungs to catch up with her breaths. Staring into the intensely sparkling hazel eyes, Fancy found her other hand entwining its fingers with his. The hazel eyes softened and a smile lifted the contours of his mouth as their hands fit perfectly together.

Suddenly feeling shy, the chocolate eyes slightly lowered as a soft pink glow spread across her cheeks, “I’m excited about it also. I’ve…hmmm…always wanted to design and create dresses for a living.”

Not releasing her hand, Nick smiled tenderly at the blush on her cheeks and suggested softly, “Guess we should be getting back before the family wonders where we are.”

“Yeah.” sighed Fancy. “I suppose with the ranch and everything back to normal now, you’ll be too busy to come to town much.”

Reaching up and lifting the lowered chin with his other hand, he found himself drawn into the depths of her eyes and promised, “You won’t get rid of me that easy, Miss Fleshton. Even if Heath thinks we need to work twenty hours a day, there’s still four left.”

Mesmerized by the tanned face of the man holding her hand, Fancy found her eyes studying every chiseled feature, his black hair falling down over his forehead and the curve of his lips as he slowly brought them closer to hers. Hesitating for a brief moment, Nick brushed his lips across hers, their eyes closing as one from the tender joining.

Rounding the corner of the house, Heath stopped and turned around retreating back to the gathered group and smirking as his raspy voice sounded, “They’re…uh…talking…they’ll be here shortly. Why don’t we go inside?”

Jarrod’s eyes narrowed at the smirk on his little brother’s face and he arched an eyebrow but allowed Faith and Angeline to lead him towards the french doors. Victoria took the offered arm of her future son-in-law who escorted her and his beautiful fiancee into the house.

Heath wrapped an arm around his wife and started to lead her into the house. Cassidy shook her head and smiled at her husband. “Talking, huh?”

“Yep, darling.” smiled Heath. “You’re not gonna start crying hon, are you?”

Rolling her eyes, Cassidy stopped and smacked her still recovering husband on the arm playfully, “This is all your fault Heath Thomson so you’d best get used to it now.”

Grinning into his wife’s sienna eyes, Heath pulled her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her, placing a soft kiss on her lips before whispering. “I hope it’s my fault at least six more times over in the future, darlin’.”

“Six more times?” exclaimed Cassidy, her eyes widening. “Are you crazy?”

“Only about you my wife.” replied Heath firmly, before brushing his lips across hers. “Why don’t we go up to our room and talk ourselves?”

The desire in the sapphire eyes sent a thrill through her and Cassidy smiled, “Ohhhh, a nap sounds so good right now.”

THE END (for now…)