Chapters
11-18 and Epilogue
by Catlee
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 11
Fisher stood by the window of
the darkened hotel room and moved the curtains a few inches so that he could
peer into the alley below. He knew it wouldn’t be long before the deputies
changed shift. He stepped away from the window and checked his watch before
walking to the bed and picking up his packed saddlebags and rifle.
Fisher returned to his spot by
the window and waited for the new deputy to make an appearance at the far end
of the alley. Spying movement he waited a few more seconds and then smiled. "The
law in this town ain’t much but they sure are punctual," he thought to
himself as he quickly glanced around the room before slipping quietly out the
door and heading for the back stairs.
Reaching the bottom of the
stairs he cracked open the backdoor enough to confirm that the lantern hanging
over the stoop hadn’t been lit yet, which meant that the door was now shrouded
in the evening shadows. Fisher listened for the passing footsteps of the deputy
as he continued on past the hotel to the far corner where the man he was to
relieve was waiting.
Fisher opened the door wider and
listened to the murmured conversation of the two deputies twenty feet away.
While he couldn’t think of too many complimentary things to say about
Stockton’s law enforcement officials the same couldn’t be said for the builder
of the hotel. For some reason that only the builder knew the backdoor had been
set back in an alcove which effectively formed a small covered porch. It also
meant that Fisher could open the door undetected. Checking his watch again in
the light of the dimly lit stairwell he realized he had only minutes before the
nightman was around to light the lantern. Taking a deep breath he stepped
through doorway quickly and sunk to his knees where the deepest shadows were.
Peering cautiously around the corner
he checked that the two deputies were still at the end of the hotel. He
couldn’t help but smile when he realized that the new deputy had his back to
the door and was blocking the view of the other deputy who stood facing him.
Looking quickly towards the far end of the alley and not seeing anybody Fisher
left the shadows of the porch. Crouching low and keeping to the deep shadows he
inched his way along the hotel wall until he reached the cover of a number of
abandoned packing crates.
Hearing footsteps coming up
behind him, Fisher slumped to his knees behind the crates and watched as the
off duty deputy made his way back down the alley and turned the corner onto the
street. Making sure he kept the crates between himself and the remaining
deputy, Fisher silently continued his crab like escape down the alley.
Sighing with something akin to
relief Fisher finally reached the back door of one of Stockton’s numerous
saloons undetected. Aware that he couldn’t just stand up and cross the alley he
was in for the open mouth of the one directly opposite him without arousing
suspicion, he elected to slip quietly through the back door of the saloon.
As luck would have it the back
room at the saloon was empty of people. Spying several bar aprons hanging on
the wall an idea came to him. Placing his hat and saddlebags in an empty
whiskey crate he donned one of the aprons. Picking up the crate in one hand he
grabbed his rifle and a broom in passing then laying the rifle along the brooms
handle so it pointed to the ground he boldly opened the saloon door and stepped
out into the alley. Without bothering to look right or left he stepped across
the alley and into the beckoning mouth of the one opposite unaware of the man
who stepped around the corner of the alley he was just leaving.
Thirty minutes later Fisher was
riding his newly acquired horse across the open range headed for Bear Lookout.
As the miles fell behind him and no sign of pursuit was forth coming he began
to relax. Several hours later Fisher found himself making camp in a small rocky
clearing. There was no point in riding any further in the darkness.
* * * * * * * *
As Nick and Jarrod readied their
horses for departure, Fisher saddled his own and continued his journey towards
the Simpson ranch and Bear Lookout.
* * * * * * * *
Two hours later Fisher rode into
the Simpson yard and dismounted. Stepping onto the porch with his gun drawn he
kicked open the front door and entered the house. Signs of recent occupation
littered the floor but it was what he found in the fireplace that claimed his
interest. From the signs a number of people had camped here recently and
obviously one of them had been injured as indicated by the remnants of several
bloody bandages lying scattered among the embers and un-burnt logs.
Leaving the house he walked
across the yard to the barn. No need to kick this door open, as it already
stood ajar. The smell of manure confirmed his suspicions, as did the bloody hay
in one of the stalls. "I wonder whose blood that is. Maybe the girls!
Pity really I would have liked a piece of her before we got rid of her."
Hurrying back to his horse he
mounted and galloped towards Bear Lookout. Where was Crawford he wondered? If
he had killed the girl then all of Stockton would already know about it. You
didn’t keep something like that a secret. And if he had been caught the Sheriff
would have brought in his body. It was unlikely that either the sheriff or the
Barkley’s would have worried about burying it.
No, as far as he could figure
one of two things had happened. Crawford had killed the girl, hid the body and
made good his escape or he had been caught and was been held somewhere.
As Fisher rode he contemplated
the two possibilities. Indeed it was conceivable that he had actually killed the
girl and then high tailed it for safer range but unlikely for two very
different reasons.
Firstly if the Barkley’s were
still looking for the girl and her brother this range would be swarming with
ranch hands and posse’s and it wasn’t; and secondly Crawford was no fool. He
was well aware as to what his likely fate would be if he tried to run out or
double cross the boss. They were all well aware of the long arm of the
underworld that their boss associated with.
That left the alternative that
Crawford had being caught before he killed the girl and was being held
somewhere and he had a pretty good idea where that somewhere was.
Fisher sighed as he realized the
futility of continuing on to Bear Lookout but not even he was prepared to ride
back to Stockton and face Williams without all the facts. Which brought up more
questions. What had happened to Harper, Mills, the blond cowboy and Harrison?
He was almost certain Harper and
Mills were dead. He knew there was little chance of them making good their escape
from the lookout after Barkley killed Harrison. That was why Williams had
picked it in the first place. With only one track leading up to the lookout
anybody caught up there would be buzzard bait, especially by the time
Harrison’s marshals were finished. There wouldn’t be a sole alive to tell who
was behind the attacks.
Fisher stopped at the base of
Bear Lookout and let his gaze wandered to the top. Kicking his horse into
motion again he followed the track to the top curious as to what he would find.
Dismounting he tied the reins to a small sapling before walking around the
lookout. His eyes picked up one large bloodstain twenty feet from the rock and
a second stain smeared on the rock itself. The sight of those stains made him
smile. They had to belong to the cowboy. The rock offered the best vantage
point to cover the trail below while at the same time offering good cover to
the shooter. Any good sharpshooter would know that and the cowboy was one of
the best.
Fisher continued his survey of
the lookout. He walked along the edge until he came to a spot where footprints
and scuff marks indicated that a man had fallen over the edge. Fisher moved as
close as he dared to the edge and peered over studying the trail below before
returning to his horse and re-mounting.
The signs at least looked
favourable for Williams. Barkley was injured and probably severely considering
the amount of blood. Again he was disinclined to believe that he was dead or
the town would know about. You couldn’t keep one dead Barkley let alone two a
secret in a town like Stockton for long.
It appeared either Mills or
Harper had somehow fallen over the edge and the other one was more than likely
dead as well considering the sizeable amount of blood pooled on the ground.
Well it looked like two witnesses and possibly a third were dead or close to
it. So that still just left Crawford and the girl.
Reaching the base of the lookout
Fisher rode around it and searched the ground until he found what he was
looking for. More blood stains and drag marks left by boot heels. Yes sir, he
thought, the number of witness to take care of was quickly dwindling.
Fisher stood in the middle of
the trail to consider his options. Despite all the blood he still had no
conclusive evidence that anybody was actually dead and he knew Williams
wouldn’t accept anything other than conclusive evidence.
Following the drag marks this
time, Fisher realized they ended beside wagon wheel marks. Obviously the body
had been placed in the wagon. "Might as well see where the wagon’s
headed," he mused as he remounted his horse and followed the easy to
read trail back the way he had just come.
* * * * * * * *
"Nick you really don’t
expect to find Fisher or Williams out here do you?" Jarrod asked in an attempt
to break the stony silence of the morning’s ride.
"No I don’t," was the
short, curt growled reply before Nick sighed and turned to look at the brother
beside him.
"I’m sorry Jarrod, but I
just can’t sit around and wait for them to come to us. I gotta do something and
you never know we might just get lucky."
"You know Nick, you still
haven’t said what you intend to do when we catch up with Fisher and
Williams."
Nick stopped his horse and
looked out across the range.
"Is that a question or a
statement Counselor?"
Jarrod pulled up beside his
brother and studied the other’s set face.
"I guess it is a bit of
both."
"I’ll tell you Jarrod, I
know what I’d LIKE to do to the mongrels, but what I actually do, well I guess
that will have to depend on how the cards fall. All I know is that I’m not
going to let them get away with what they’ve done."
Without waiting for a response
from Jarrod, Nick kicked Coco into a fast lope and headed across the range.
Jarrod let out his own exasperated sigh and followed. Keeping a tight rein on
his brother’s volatile temper wasn’t going to be easy.
Without the need to follow
defined trails or keep pace with a wagon the two brothers’ cut more than an
hour and a half off the trip to the Simpson ranch. Even so it had still taken
them nearly three hours to reach their destination.
"Dammit," growled Nick
as he rode up to the porch steps and looked at the open front door.
Jarrod who had been scrutinizing
the yard and surrounding trees swung around quickly at Nick’s words.
"Nick, what’s the
matter," he asked drawing his gun from his holster.
"Looks like we’re too late
again," he spat out as he dismounted and stomped up the steps disappearing
into the house only to return a minute later.
"Someone’s been here, stirred
up the fireplace a bit by the looks of it but there’s no sign of them having
stayed for long. No prizes for guessing who it was."
"Nick you don’t know that
for sure. It could have been a drifter passing through."
"Come off it Jarrod,"
Nick roared, "you don’t really believe that do you? We both know it was
Fisher. Which means he’s got to be around here somewhere."
Nick stopped speaking and both
brothers surveyed the deep foliage of the trees that bordered the yard and
barn. Satisfied that they were alone Nick continued his thoughts.
"I knew I was right.
Williams is running scared and sent Fisher out to see what was happening."
Nick leapt lightly onto the
Coco’s back.
"Come on Jarrod, if he was
here I bet he’s ridden on to Bear Lookout. There’s only one trail up there. If
we hurry we may still be able to catch him."
The two brothers rode from the
yard unaware of the rider that watched their departure from the safety of the
trees before he turned his horse and headed in the direction of the Barkley
ranch.
Chapter 12
It was the white-hot stabbing
pain in his hand that finally brought Heath Barkley back to consciousness.
Somebody was doing something to his hand and it hurt like hell. Moaning softly
he tried to pull his hand away from the raw agony that was engulfing him but
his efforts were thwarted by a firm grip on his upper arms.
Forcing his sleep laden eyes to
open he blinked several times to focus on his surroundings. The only thing he
recognized was his room. With confused eyes that barely obeyed his orders he
looked at the two men leaning over him. He knew they were strangers although
one of the voices seemed vaguely familiar to him but he couldn’t remember why.
"Easy son, don’t try and
move your hand all right. I know it hurts but I need to clean the wound."
Heath wanted to speak, to ask
these men who they were and where his family was but his mouth was so parched
that all he could do was nod at the speaker.
"If you promise to lie still
and not move Heath, I’ll go and tell Victoria you’re awake. You gave us all
quite a scare young man and I know she is anxious to see you awake."
Heath nodded again and watched
as the man quickly left the room in search of his mother. His mother, oh how he
longed to see her face and Nick’s. Where was Nick he wondered? Always in the
past when he was hurt it would be Nick’s face that he would wake up to. Heath
became agitated at the thought that Nick might be hurt and tried to sit up
sending waves of pain crashing through his battered body.
"Please son you must lie
still," the man tending his hand said.
"Heath."
At the sound of her voice he
stopped his struggling and sank back against the pillows that supported him.
His blue eyes sort out and found her gray ones as she smiled at him and glided
into the room, stopping beside his bed. He tried to reach out and touch her but
his body refused to obey his orders.
"It’s all right sweetheart,
Dr Jeffries will be finished soon. I know it hurts but you must keep
still," she whispered as she ran her fingers through his hair.
Heath licked his lips and tried
to speak but Victoria placed her fingers over his dry lips to quiet his
strangled voice.
"Jim can you get me a cup
of water please?" Victoria asked not taking her eyes off Heath.
Heath watched as the man walked
to the dresser, poured a cup of water and returned to the bed. After handing
the cup to his mother he lent down and gently lifted his head so that he could
drink the water offered to him.
"Only a couple of sips
Victoria. Remember he hasn’t eaten anything for three days." Dr Jeffries
cautioned quietly.
They needn’t have worried
thought Heath. He couldn’t manage more than a couple of sips anyway. Heath
closed his eyes and sighed as the cool water slipped down his throat.
"The hand is looking good
Victoria, I should be able to set it tomorrow. I still need to check his
shoulder but I’ll let him rest for a few minutes before I do that."
"Thank you Stanley."
Heath kept his eyes closed as he
listened to the conversation between his mother and the doctor. He still wasn’t
sure who these men were or why his body felt as though he had been run over by
a herd of wild horses. He furrowed his brow in an effort to recall the events
of the past few days.
"Heath are you all
right," Victoria asked worriedly as she saw his brow furrow.
Heath opened his eyes and
offered her a weak lop-sided smile and then looked at the two men standing
silently by his bed.
"Who?" he rasped out.
"I’m sorry darling, this is
Senator James Harrison and Doctor Jeffries."
Heath looked at the man his
mother referred to as Senator Harrison and wondered why the name seemed so
familiar to him.
"Nick?"
Victoria smiled at that single
word question. She had wondered how long it would be before her blond son asked
after his dark haired brother.
"He and Jarrod rode out
early this morning to look for Ed Fisher."
Heath’s eyes widened as the name
brought back a flood of memories and events of the past few days. He wondered
just how long he had been here for. He was sure he had already had this
conversation with his brother’s sometime ago but had to ask the question
anyway.
"Audra?"
The one word was a strangled
gasp as he struggled to sit up again causing his side to erupt in agony and a
coughing fit when he couldn’t get his breath.
"She’s fine Heath, she’s
sleeping at the moment. She sat with you most of the night," replied
Victoria gently pushing her weakening son back against the pillows as he gasped
for breath. "Now lie still and let Doctor Jeffries check your shoulder and
then you can go back to sleep. We’ll talk later darling."
Heath didn’t have any energy
left to argue with his mother even if he had wanted to so he acquiesced to her
suggestion and lay back against the pillows with his eyes closed. His left hand
gripped the bed sheets tightly as the doctor changed the dressing on his
shoulder but he laid still and made no sound. A gently tap on his face made him
open his eyes again. He looked at the smiling face of the doctor who was
holding a spoon in front of him with some brown liquid on it.
"Here son, take this and
get some more sleep. When you wake up next we can try some oatmeal."
Heath looked at the spoon in
disgust and shook his head. "Don’t need it," he said defiantly.
Victoria rolled her eyes in
exasperation at the stubbornness of her son.
"Heath Barkley, you know
DARN well you need that medicine." She admonished sternly with her hands
on her hips. "Even a blind man can see you are in pain. There is nothing
that needs to be said now that can’t be said later." Victoria sat on the
edge of his bed and took his hand in hers. "Please Heath take the medicine
and go back to sleep. I promised Nick we’d look after you and you don’t want us
to break our promise do you?"
Heath didn’t say anything. He
just stared wide-eyed at his mother and opened his mouth to accept the foul
tasting liquid and then the mouthful of water to wash it down with. He went to
sleep with a smile on his face and the knowledge that they were all safe.
* * * * * * * *
Fisher remained hidden in the
trees behind the barn until he was certain that the two Barkley brothers were
well and truly gone before he ventured into the yard. The tracks he had been
following led back here and he was almost certain now that they would lead
directly to the Barkley ranch. Checking to make sure that he was not being
followed he headed across the range not bothering to follow the tracks. All he
wanted to do now was get to the ranch and find somewhere to settle in before the
brothers realized they were on a wild goose chase and rode back to ranch
themselves.
* * * * * * * *
Nick and Jarrod rode in silence
towards Bear Lookout. Nick was still fuming at their bad luck at missing Fisher
yet again. Despite Jarrod’s suggestion that it may have only been a drifter
Nick KNEW it was Fisher poking around the Simpson ranch. Damn the man and
Williams. Ever since this thing had started they had been one step behind the
snakes. Well now it was time for a reversal of roles. No longer were they going
to be one step behind. From now on the Barkley’s were going to deal the cards
and call the plays and be the ones to watch those snakes wriggle and squirm.
* * * * * * * *
Ed Fisher rode into a tree lined
covered draw a mile from the Barkley ranch house and dismounted satisfied that
he was unlikely to be detected by any of the ranch hands that afternoon.
Unsaddling the horse and tying it securely to a tree branch he settled in for
the remainder of the day. He knew it would be useless trying to traverse the
open ground between the draw and the out buildings in the daylight. What he had
planned for the evening’s entertainment would be better executed under the
cover of darkness.
The sound of horses approaching awoke
him from his light sleep and he watched as two dark riders rode out of the
setting sun towards the ranch buildings. Their bodies and those of their horses
forming long thin shadows on the undulating ground ahead of them. It wasn’t
until the two riders drew level with the draw that Fisher realized it was the
two Barkley brothers. Fisher held his breath and hoped his horse wouldn’t give
away his position by whinnying to the passing horses. He should have realized
the possibility and tied the horse further down the draw. He sighed in relief
as the riders continued on towards the house oblivious to the man watching
them.
"I sure hope the boy’s
awake when we get back Jarrod," he heard the loud mouthed Barkley say. His
brother’s reply was lost in the sound of the horse’s hooves and the lengthening
distance.
So the blond cowboy was still
alive, which probably meant that the girl was as well. Fisher thought back to
his conversation yesterday with Williams that led to his being out here in the
first place and the solution that was put forth.
"Well Fisher, any news
yet?"
"Nothing boss. The sheriff
hasn’t returned yet and there still isn’t any sign of Harrison or the
Barkley’s. Mills, Harper and Crawford haven’t shown up either."
"I don’t like it Fisher.
Something must have gone wrong."
"Well boss if Harrison
hasn’t arrived yet don’t you think that means that Barkley got him. If Harper
and Mills killed the bastard they may be on the run from the Marshal’s and
Barkley’s family."
"Possibly Fisher but then
where is Crawford? Damn it Fisher I need to know what is happening. Ride back
out there and see what you can find out."
"Ok boss. What do you want
me to do if I come across any of them?"
Williams stood by the window of
the hotel room and peered from behind the curtains down into the busy Stockton
street. "Kill them of course. I can’t take chances on somebody finding out
I was behind the killing."
"Kill them!" That was
easier said than done. Getting into the Barkley house wasn’t going to be easy.
What he was going to need was a diversion of some sort. Maybe his sojourn to
the ranch tonight would offer some inspiration.
* * * * * * * *
"Mother, Audra, we’re
home," Nick’s booming voice announced from the front door.
"Be quite Nick," Jarrod
hissed behind him. "Heath’s probably sleeping and lord knows he needs
it."
"Nicholas please listen to
your brother and keep your voice down," said Victoria from the study door.
"Sorry Mother," Nick
whispered as he strode across the foyer, his spurs jangling quietly and took
his mother in his arms. "How’s the boy doing? Did he wake up at all
today?" Nick released his mother and stepped back so he could study her
face.
Victoria smiled and patted his
arm. "Why don’t we go into the study and I’ll tell you there," she
replied allowing Jarrod to sweep her into his arms for a firm hug.
Nick didn’t like the sound of
that, he was sure something was wrong although his mother didn’t seem upset at
all. He acknowledged the two men already seated in the parlour, "Jim,
Stanley," before returning his gaze to his mother. "Well
Mother?" he asked impatiently. "Is Heath all right?"
Victoria smiled reassuringly at
her son. Sometimes he was so easy to read and this was one of those times. The
strain and worry he had been under the last few days was evident in the drawn
features of his face but it was eyes that showed the true pain that he felt at
his youngest brother’s injuries.
"Heath’s fine Nick. He was
awake a couple of hours ago for about ten minutes. Stanley said he should be
able to set his hand tomorrow. There is no more sign of infection in his hand
or his shoulder."
Nick didn’t have to say
anything. The grin that split across his face was worth a hundred words to
those watching. Still Nick turned to Stanley Jeffries for confirmation.
"Yes Nick," Stanley
Jeffries nodded. "Your brother will be fine with plenty of rest. He is
still very weak from the loss of blood and lack of food but we should be able
to start remedying that the next time he wakes up."
Nick strode over to the doctor
and held out his hand. "Thanks doc, you don’t know how much what you’ve
done for my little brother means to me."
"Oh, I think I do Nick and
it was my pleasure to be able to help such an upstanding young man as your
brother."
"Well gentleman, Mother I
believe a toast may be in order," said Jarrod offering a refill of all the
glasses.
"To our little brother, may
he stay out of trouble in future!"
"I believe Jarrod, that is
like asking Nicholas to keep his voice down. Impossible." Replied Victoria
lightly. She like her sons knew that a great weight had been lifted from their
shoulders with Stanley’s words.
"Nick, Jarrod, you’re
back," said Audra entering the room. "Did you find that man?"
Nick and Jarrod shared a despairing
glance that wasn’t missed by the other occupants of the room. An air of
uneasiness at what the brother’s had to say replaced the light-hearted feeling
of moments ago. Jarrod walked over and took his sister’s hands and led her to
the couch beside his mother. Victoria raised an eyebrow as she watched her
middle son.
"Nick I think you had
better tell us what happened out there today."
Nick took a deep breath and
looked at his mother.
"That’s just the problem
Mother, nothing happened. When we got to the Simpson Ranch somebody had already
been there, snooping around. The door was kicked in and it looked like the
fireplace had been disturbed. Then after we reached Bear Lookout we found fresh
horse droppings not more than two hours old but we didn’t see hide nor hair of
anybody," he growled.
"And you think this person
was Fisher, Nick? It could have been a stranger passing through you know."
"Not you too Jim. Jarrod’s
already tried that one. Don’t you think it’s a bit of a coincidence that a
stranger just happens to be riding through Bear Lookout AND the Simpson Ranch
so soon after Audra and Heath are held hostage out there. No Jim, it was
Fisher. I know it."
"Well where is he
Nick?" Audra asked with a slight tremor in her voice.
"I wish I knew Sis,"
he replied quietly. "Until we find him I don’t want you to leave this
house Audra and that goes for you too Jim. I’m not taking anymore chances with
your lives. Is that understood?"
"Yes Nick," replied
Audra.
"Jim?"
"I understand your concern
Nick but I’m not used to hiding when the going gets tough."
Nick moved from his place by the
hearth to stand in front of the Senator and glared at him menacingly.
"This isn’t tough going
Jim, Josiah Williams wants you dead and I’m not going to let the sacrifices
Heath made to keep you alive come to nothing. You owe it to my brother to
survive this."
Jim Harrison met Nick’s stare
without flinching.
"I can assure you Nick I
have no intention of doing anything to undermine your brother’s sacrifices for my
life. I value my life and your brother’s too highly for that. I will stay in
the house as you request until this man Fisher is caught but I will make you a
promise. I intend to be there when Josiah Williams is finally taken down and I
don’t expect YOU to stop me. Do you understand me?"
The two men glared at one
another for another minute before Nick allowed a small smile to flicker across
his face.
"Glad to have you with us
Senator," he said holding out his hand which the other man took without
hesitation.
"Mother I’m going to sit
with Heath for a while. Can you ask Silas to bring me up a tray please."
"Of course darling. I’ll
have Silas put a bowl of oatmeal on the tray for Heath too incase he wakes
up."
"Thanks Mother," he
said bending down to kiss the top of her head in passing. "Oatmeal ha? I’m
sure little brother is going to love that."
They all noticed the slight
spring in his step as he left the room and headed towards the grand staircase.
Nick took the stairs two at a time in his eagerness to reach his brother’s
room. His heart sang. His little brother was going to be all right.
Chapter 13
As the long fingers of darkness
slowly crept across the range Fisher made his preparations for his visit to the
ranch. After his initial worry that his horse would betray his presence to any
of the returning ranch crews passing the draw he had moved the animal further
back.
For the past hour he had been
watching the crews returning to the bunkhouse from the day’s assignments but it
had been a good twenty minutes since the last crew had ridden by.
Now was the time for Fisher to
make his move. He wanted to reach the buildings and get an idea of the
whereabouts of all the sleeping quarters and who was about and in so doing
discover the whereabouts of his missing men. He knew he was taking a chance on
being discovered but he thought that if he used the half-light of the darkening
sky and the shadows like he had in Stockton the evening before he should remain
undetected.
He had no intention of using his
gun unless it was absolutely necessary but he checked its chambers anyway,
satisfied that it was fully loaded. Next he checked that his two bone handled
knives rested snuggly in their sheaths and were securely attached to his belt.
They were his weapons of choice for the evening’s work.
With his weapons in order he
re-saddled his horse and made sure it was securely tied to a tree. The last
thing he needed was for it to get loose when he may need it for a fast getaway.
Satisfied with his preparations for
the coming job, he walked to the end of the draw and stopped to listen for the
sounds of anymore returning hands. When the only sounds he heard were the
muffled noises coming from the ranch buildings he took a deep breath and
stepped out of the end of the draw and looked to the lights of the bunkhouse
shining in the growing darkness like beacons. While the darkening landscape
effectively covered his movements it also made traversing the ground difficult.
Several times he stumbled into potholes or caught the toe of his boot on the
un-even range, which caused him to slow his pace considerably. By the time
Fisher had reached the safety of the trees behind the barn he was breathing
heavily. In the seclusion of the trees he rested a few minutes, gathering his
breath and steadying his pounding heart.
Using all the skills that he had
learnt as an army scout and guide he moved silently from the safety of the
trees to the back wall of the barn. From there he crept along its length to the
corner and peered around cautiously. The sound of the chow bell being rung
brought a smile to his lips. With all the men eating it would make his job of
scouting the area easier. The sound of a door opening at the other end of the
barn drew Fisher's attention away from the bunkhouse.
"I’ll be back in a few
minutes with a couple of plates of food Pete, then I had better go up to the
house and see what the Barkley’s and the Senator have planned for
tomorrow."
Fisher smiled gleefully when he
saw the Marshal’s badge pinned to the speakers vest as the man stepped away
from the door. "So the Senator’s still alive too. Williams won’t be
happy to hear that. I wonder who they’re holding in there? Thought Fisher
as he stepped further back in to the shadows of the barn and watched the Marshal
walk over to the bunkhouse. Several minutes later he returned with two plates
of food that he delivered to the occupants of the room.
"Martin will relieve you an
hour for the night watch Pete," Fisher heard the Marshal say before he
closed the door and headed across the yard to the white mansion.
Fisher hunkered down on his
heels in the shadows of the barn and made his plans.
A sudden shaft of light coming
from the bunkhouse’s open door alerted Fisher to possible unwanted company. He
edged back to the corner of the barn and watched the man walk across the yard
and knock on the door of the makeshift jail. The light of the lantern caught
the badge on the man’s chest making it flash in the darkness. Several minutes
after the deputy entered the room another man left and headed across to the
bunkhouse.
Fisher waited another five
minutes before making his move. He didn’t want to leave it any longer in case
the deputy inside became suspicious of who was knocking on the door. Keeping to
the shadows as much as possible he crept along the barn wall. Checking to make
sure he was still unobserved he pulled one if his knives from its sheath and
knocked on the door.
"What didya forget this
time Pete?" Fisher heard the deputy ask as he unlocked the door.
Not giving the deputy a chance
to raise the alarm Fisher lunged through the door sinking his knife into the
man’s belly. The deputies strangled cry was cut off as the knife was cruelly
ripped from his stomach and slashed across his exposed throat.
Letting the deputy fall to the
floor in a bloody heap, Fisher kicked the door shut and turned the key in the
lock. Turning back into the room Fisher allowed his eyes to adjust to the dim
lamplight that threw dark shadows into the corners.
Up against the far wall had been
set up a cot and on the cot lay the sleeping form of Crawford. Fisher bent down
and dragged the dead body of the deputy over to the corner behind the door and
then stepped up to the cot fingering his bloody knife as he went.
"Oh how easy it would be to
just slit his throat right now," he thought but first he needed
to know what had happened to the others then he would send Crawford to the land
of nod permanently.
Fisher reached out and gently shook
the sleeping man awake smiling at the startled look on the other man’s face.
"Evening Crawford."
Crawford pushed himself up on
his elbows and winced when a sudden stab of pain raced up and down his leg. He
looked quickly around the room but could only see Fisher standing in front of
him.
"What are you doing here
Fisher? Where’s the deputy?"
"The deputies taking a
permanent nap in the corner over there and I’m here to rescue you," Fisher
replied with what he hoped was a re-assuring smile on his face.
"Well in that case what are
we waiting for? Help me up and lets get outta here."
"Not so fast Crawford, just
lie back and relax for a while. We’ll let all the hands turn in for the night
before we leave."
Crawford laid back on the cot
and eyed Fisher suspiciously.
"What if the other deputy
or the Marshal comes back?"
"Then I’ll take care of
them like I did that one," replied Fisher pointing to the corner.
"You planning on killing
all the ranch hands and the Barkley’s as well?"
"No just the marshal’s for
the time being. Say do you know what happened to those two blond Barkley’s,
Harper and Mills?"
"Harper and Mills are dead.
The bastard got both of them up on Bear Lookout. They shot him up pretty good
though so I ain’t sure if he’s dead or not. I know he was pretty bad off when
they got back to the Simpson place. That damn girl did this to me, " he
said pointing at his heavily bandaged leg. "She got a knife from somewhere
and stuck me with it when I went in to finish her off. Her other brothers arrived
shortly after. They left me hog-tied in the barn and rode onto Bear
Lookout."
"So it was your blood in
the barn. What did they do with Harper and Mills bodies? I didn’t see any sign
of fresh graves at the lookout?"
"They brought them back to Simpson’s
ranch. The sheriff wanted to take them and me in but that loud mouthed Barkley
wouldn’t let him. Said it might make Williams run. He wanted you and him to
sweat some wondering what had happened. I guess the bodies were buried
somewhere around the ranch, cause they never brought them here.
"He wanted to see me sweat
did he? Well I might just have to see what I can do to make him sweat instead.
How did you all get back here if the bastard was as bad as you said?"
"Harrison had a doctor
travelling with him. They came back in his wagon. The doc worked on Barkley all
night."
"I take it Harrison is
still alive as well?"
"Yep alive and kicking. He
and the doc are staying up at that fancy house."
"The boss isn’t going to
like this one little bit. How the hell did everything go so wrong? I told
Williams this was a bad idea from the start. He should have let me take care of
Harrison in the first place."
"What are you going to do
now Fisher?"
"Take care of business of
course. Don’t worry Crawford you’ll be out of here soon. Why don’t you get a
couple of hours sleep while we’re waiting."
Fisher settled into the
deputies’ chair and thought through everything that Crawford had said. "Damn,"
he thought. Things were getting too complicated. So far the only ones dead
were their own men. Still he hoped to rectify that soon enough.
The sound of steady snoring
coming from the cot brought a smile of pure evil to Fisher’s face. Rising
quietly from the chair he walked over to the cot and stood staring down at
Crawford. In one swift movement he clamped his hand over the unsuspecting man’s
mouth and drove his knife deep into the other’s chest. Crawford’s eyes flew
open and his body bucked twice before lying still.
Fisher pulled the blanket up to
Crawford’s neck and closed the lids of the unseeing eyes, not because it was
the right thing to do but because it would look like the man was sleeping
should anybody come snooping. Fisher wiped his bloody blade on the blanket and
then settled in to wait.
* * * * * * * *
Nick stepped out onto the front
porch and breathed in the fresh crisp air of the new day. Breakfast wouldn’t be
ready for another hour so he thought he’d use the time and speak to both Duke
and Marshal Johnson. He stepped off the porch and headed across the yard to the
corrals.
Half way across he stopped and
sighed heavily, casting a wistful glance at his younger brother’s window.
Watching the sunrise just wasn’t the same without his little brother beside him.
He couldn’t even remember when he first started enjoying the sunrises. They
seemed to have just grown on him over the months like his little blond brother.
"Hurry up and get better
boy," he whispered, "it ain’t nearly as much fun watching the sunrise
without you."
Nick stood silently watching his
brother’s window for a few moments as if hoping the blond would suddenly appear
in its frame demanding to know why he was going to watch the sunrise without
him. Shaking his head sadly Nick turned from the window knowing it would be a
long while before his brother would be joining him again and continued his solo
trek across the yard.
The squeak of a door drew Nick’s
attention towards the barn. His eyes narrowed as he came to a stop and stared
at what should have been a locked door.
"What the hell," he
growled as he took off at a run for the feed room door that was now gently
swinging back and forwards.
Nick stopped beside the barn
wall and with his gun drawn peered cautiously around the corner of the door.
What he saw made his heart stop. Without further hesitation Nick kicked the
door in and barreled into the dimly lit room.
The deputy Pete, lay face up on
the floor, the front of his chest covered in blood and his throat slashed from
ear to ear. Blood splattered the table and walls. Nick moved from the dead
deputy to the prisoner lying on the bed, keeping a wary look out for a possible
trap. When the man didn’t move, Nick kicked him in the side and then grabbed
the blanket, pulling it back to reveal the dried blood on the shirt.
"God dammit," he
roared as he moved back towards the door.
A low moan from the corner
snapped Nick’s head around. He hurried over to the crumpled form of a man and
gently rolled him over.
"Marshal Johnson, who did
this?" he growled as his eyes took in the deep stomach wound that was
seeping blood at an alarming rate.
The marshal gripped Nick’s arm
tightly and gasped out "Fisher."
Nick’s eyes narrowed and his
face took on a thunderous look but he didn’t say anything at the marshal’s
admission.
"Hold on marshal, I’ll get
Doc Jeffries."
Nick jumped to his feet and ran
to the fire bell ringing it loudly. Men began pouring from the bunkhouse at its
sound running towards the barn. Nick yelled at the first man he saw, to run to
the house and get the doctor fast.
"Nick, what is it?"
asked a breathless Duke as he reached his boss.
"The deputy and Crawford
are both dead and Marshal Johnson’s in a bad way," he growled as the hands
gathered around.
Nick scanned the faces but couldn’t
see the man he was after.
"Duke, where’s the other
deputy?"
"I don’t know Nick, he
didn’t come in this morning when Pete went to relieve him."
"Nick what is it? What’s
wrong?" called Jarrod as he and the doctor ran up followed by the rest of
the family and the Senator.
"Fisher."
The one word sent a chill down
all their backs.
"Doc, Marshal Johnson’s in
a real bad way. The others are all dead."
"I’ll see what I can
do," Stanley replied as he entered the room closely followed by the
Barkley brothers, Duke and Senator Harrison.
Nick turned at the door and put
his hands on his mother’s shoulders to stop her entering.
"Stay here Mother, Audra,
it’s no place for a lady in there, even you Mother," he said quietly
before he entered the feed room.
Doctor Jeffries looked up from
where he was examining the Marshal and shook his head.
"I’m sorry Nick, there was
nothing I could have done even if I’d been here when it happened."
"Thanks anyway
Doctor," he replied as he looked around the room.
"Here’s the other Deputy
Nick. Looks like he’s been dead for hours," called Duke from behind the
door.
"Great, this is just great.
One man and he kills a Marshal, two deputies and a prisoner and right under our
own damn noses," Nick thundered. "Duke get the men mounted. We’re
going to scour the range until we find him. He can’t be more than an hour ahead
of us."
"I’d say more like ten to
fifteen minutes Nick. The Marshal couldn’t have lasted more that that with this
type of wound," informed Doctor Jeffries.
Jarrod grabbed Nick’s arm as he
stormed past.
"Nick we can’t all ride
out, what about Heath, Audra and Jim or have you forgotten about them?"
"NO I HAVEN’T JARROD,"
Nick roared back.
"Nick, Jarrod, if I
may," interjected Jim Harrison quietly. "Your family and I will be
fine in the house with out you. I don’t think even Fisher is stupid enough to
hang around now that we have discovered the bodies. Take the men and hunt him
down. The good doctor and I both know how to use a gun to good effect."
Nick let out a breath and shook
the Senator’s hand. "Thanks Jim," he said before striding from the
room followed by the others.
"Mother, you and Audra go
back to the house with Jim and Stanley. Make sure you have plenty of loaded
guns. We’ll be back as soon as we can."
Victoria held onto her son’s
arm.
"I know you have to do this
Nick, but please do it the right way. I don’t want Jarrod to have to defend you
on a murder charge."
"Don’t worry Mother, what
ever I’m feeling, I promise I won’t do anything stupid. Besides my conscience
is riding with me," he said looking pointedly at Jarrod.
"Take care both of you and
don’t worry, we’ll keep your brother safe," she said softly giving each of
them a kiss as they passed.
"Joe, Sam, ride into town and
tell Fred Madden what’s happened and then come back here and stand guard
outside the house."
"Sure thing Nick. We’ll be
back as quick as we can," said Joe as they wheeled their horses and raced
from the yard.
Nick watched the two ride off
before he mounted his own horse and offered his mother and sister a weak smile.
Before riding out of the yard he turned to look at his brother’s bedroom window
once more.
Victoria and Audra stood arm in
arm and watched the two brothers thunder out of the yard followed by the hands.
"Ladies, if you
please," said Jim Harrison as he took Victoria’s arm and Stanley offered
his own arm to Audra, "we did promise Nick and Jarrod to keep both of you
and Heath safe until they return."
"Thank you Jim, but I’m
sure it won’t be necessary," replied Victoria as they made their way back
to the house.
Chapter 14
Fisher cracked open the feed
room door and peered out. He couldn’t believe how easy it had been for him to
take care of the deputy and marshal. By the time anyone discovered their fate
the next part of his plan would be in place. Seeing no one around he stepped
out of the feed room and pulled the door shut behind him unaware that the latch
was broken.
Fisher had only just started
working his way through the trees behind the barn when he heard the fire alarm
been raised.
"Damn," he
thought, "That was sooner than I had expected, however…"
Using the commotion of the men
in front of the barn as a diversion Fisher quickly made his way to the back of
the house. Opening the kitchen door carefully he listened for movement within
before slipping quietly inside. He glanced at the backstairs in passing and
opened the door that led to the front of the house. He could hear movement
coming from a room to the right of the hallway and footsteps coming towards
him. Closing the door quickly he hurried back to the stairs and ascended them
to the landing where he waited for any sign of pursuit. He heard the sound of
footsteps and muttering in the kitchen but nothing following him. Breathing a
sigh of relief he continued carefully up the stairs to the second floor and
stepped out into the hallway. He slowly made his way along checking each door
as he went. His eyes lit up when he finally found what he was looking for.
Fisher stepped into the room and
walked up to the bed in which the blond Barkley lay sleeping propped up on a
mound of pillows. He studied the pale face, heavily bandaged chest, shoulder
and hand and listened to the slightly laboured breathing.
"Boy am I going to have
some fun with you, after I finish off that pretty little sister of yours and
the good Senator that is. I might even have to do something with your mother as
well as the doctor. Hell I will have to do something about them. Can’t leave
any witnesses now can I? But don’t worry I’ll make sure you know exactly what I
did and how you failed to save them before your end comes." Fisher sneered
as he continued to look down at the blond.
Fisher turned and walked from
the room with out a backward glance.
"Not if I’ve got anything
to do with it Fisher," Heath whispered as he watched the man walk from the
room. "You just made your last mistake."
* * * * * * * *
The sound of the fire alarm and
raised voices filtered into Heath’s room waking him from his drug induced
sleep. He couldn’t smell smoke and wondered why Nick had rung the alarm. He
knew it was his brother because even from up here in his bedroom he could hear
him yelling. He tried to push himself up but the pain in his chest and shoulder
drove him back into the pillows and he lay still with his eyes closed willing
the pain to subside.
The sound of retreating
hoofbeats and then his bedroom door opening alerted Heath to a presence coming
towards his bed. He was just about to open his eyes when he heard a voice that
sent a chill down his spine. Lying perfectly still with his eyes closed and
breathing heavily he waited although his mind was screaming at him to take some
sought of action. When the man turned away from the bed and walked back to the door
Heath opened his eyes a crack to watch his departure relieved and surprised
that he was still alive.
This time he had no choice, he
had to get out of bed. Easing himself up on his good arm, he waited for the
spinning of the room and the pounding in his head to stop. Taking a few shallow
breaths he gently eased his body to the side of the bed and gingerly lowered
his legs over the side. He knew he didn’t have much time but he also knew he
couldn’t rush his early escape from his sick bed either. After steadying his
shaky nerves for a few minutes he pushed himself up to a sitting position and
gasped out loud as daggers of pain coursed through his body. Willing the rising
nausea to stay at bay he eased his body to the edge of the bed and planted both
feet firmly on the floor.
Reaching out with his left hand
he gripped the foot of his bed and pulled himself painfully to his feet,
stifling his cries as much as possible. At least he mused his brothers had had
enough sense to put a pair of sleeping pants on him when they brought him home.
He doubted he would have been able to pull a pair of pants on in his present
condition. He was bare chested save for the bandages that covered his ribs,
shoulder and hand and the black sling that his injured arm rested in. "Well
I guess half dressed is better than nothing. Sure would hate to die with my
pants off though. No man should die like that," he muttered under his
breath. Gripping the bed end tightly he waited for the room to stop gyrating
wildly before he took his first cautious step towards his gun belt which was
lying on top of the dresser and ultimately his destiny.
The couple of minutes it took
him to shuffle slowly across the room to the dresser seemed like an eternity to
him and he was sweating profusely by the time he had reached his desired
destination. He pulled his gun from its holster and checked that it was fully
loaded. He had to smile at the fresh smell of oil permeating from the gun.
Obviously Nick had being keeping himself busy while he played mother hen the
past few days. Heath looked at his gunbelt but dismissed the thought as fast as
it formed. Looking down at his broken hand resting in the sling he knew he had
no hope of getting the belt around his hips. Instead he slipped the gun into
the sling, leaving his good arm free to assist his slow progress down the
stairs. Turning slowly towards the door he gritted his teeth as a wave of pain
rolled over him. Closing his eyes and breathing slowly he leant against the
dresser and waited for the pain to subside fearful that at any moment he might
collapse in an unconscious heap on the floor.
Regaining some semblance of
stability he began the long painful shuffle to the bedroom door. He knew he
could shoot well enough at close quarters with his left hand to be sure of
hitting his target, it was just going to be a case of whether or not he could
stay on his feet long enough to accomplish what he was setting out to do. For
everybody’s sakes he had too. It was funny how one never thought about time or
distance until one was faced with an insurmountable challenge. His normal two
or three strides across his bedroom were rapidly turn into a mountain climb
with out a rope. His right ankle was starting to pain him as well now and
although he had noticed that it was bandaged he didn’t know why. At long last
he reached the door and sagged against its frame willing his jelly legs to hold
up his weight.
Quieting his breathing he
listened intently through the door for any sounds of movement in the hallway
outside his room. Satisfied that no one was lurking in the near vicinity he
opened the door a crack and peered out. He heard the front door open and his
mother’s voice as she and the others returned from the yard. He could only hear
snatches of conversation as they moved to the study but he did recognize his
sister’s voice and that of Jim Harrison who seemed to have spent as much time
sitting by his bed as had Nick. If he didn’t know better he would have sworn
they were competing to see who could sit up the longest. Either one or the
other was always there when he woke up. Or at least they had been until half
and hour ago. Remembering Fisher brought a scowl to his face. The man was
somewhere between his family and him and he was the only one aware of the man’s
presence in the house. Fleetingly he wondered where his two brothers were but
then figured they would have left with the men to search for the man currently
ensconced in the house.
Ignoring the flaring pain in his
side Heath took a deep breath and stepped out into the empty hallway and
shuffled slowly towards the stairs. Much to his relief he could hear the sounds
of banging in the kitchen indicating that Silas was still alive and well, which
meant that Fisher had to be somewhere below and to the front of the house,
probably the parlour. Heath hurriedly stepped back as he caught sight of a
movement below and clamped his jaw shut so as not to cry out in pain. He
watched as Fisher scurried across the foyer towards the closed study door. He
knew he had to hurry now. He couldn’t take the chance that Silas would stumble
onto Fisher either.
Heath limped back out into the
hallway and made his slow painful way down the staircase. Just as he reached
the bottom of the stairs Silas walked through the door from the kitchen and
almost dropped the plate of eggs he was carrying at the sight of Heath standing
on the stairs. Before he could open his mouth to protest at Heath’s appearance,
Heath shook his head and motioned with his finger to his lips to be quiet.
Silas’ eyes widened in fear but he nodded his headed in understanding. Heath
checked for any sign of Fisher before motioning Silas to come forward quietly.
"Silas you and Ciego get
horses and find Nick. Tell him Fisher’s in the house. Hurry," Heath
whispered through gritted teeth.
"No sir Mr Heath I stays
here and help you."
"You can’t Silas. Go now
and find Nick. Please."
Silas studied his young friend’s
face, seeing not only the pain lines around the eyes and the sweaty brow but
also the determination to handle the situation himself.
"All right Mr Heath, I goes
and find Mr Nick. Be back in no time at all. You be careful Mr Heath, you hear
me?"
"I’ll be fine Silas, just
hurry."
Silas hurried back towards the
kitchen but turned at the door and watched as Heath swayed slightly and grabbed
onto the banister to stop himself from falling. Shaking his head at the Barkley
stubbornness he hurried back into the kitchen and placed the platter of eggs
back on the table before racing across to the barn. Minutes later he and Ciego
were headed across the range at a fast gallop in different directions. Neither
o them had any idea where the two brothers were; they just hoped to come across
some of the men so they could pass on his message and then return to the house
to help the young blond.
* * * * * * * *
After leaving Heath’s room
Fisher stepped out into the hallway and followed its length to the grand
staircase that swept up from the foyer in a graceful curve. Reaching the top of
the stairs he stopped and listened to the sound’s below.
The only sounds he heard were
those of someone moving from the kitchen to a room below and to the right which
was hidden from his line of sight. When no voices drifted up to him he surmised
that the rest of the family and their guests were still outside in the yard.
Taking a deep breath he moved
cautiously down the staircase keeping close to the wall. Half way down he heard
footsteps coming from the unseen room to his right. He froze in place and
waited but the footsteps moved towards the back of the house and then he heard
the outer kitchen door slam shut.
Letting out the breath he had
been holding he continued on to the ground level and stood contemplating his
next move. The sound of voices approaching the heavy oak door shocked Fisher
into movement and headed into the parlour where he stood partially hidden by
the long drapes. He no longer had a view of foyer and had to rely on his
hearing to determine where the Barkley’s and their guests went after they
entered the house.
Fisher stood still with his hand
resting on his gun and his breath firmly trapped in his throat.
"Breakfast should be ready
soon Jim. Shall we wait in the parlour?"
"I think under the
circumstances Victoria we should do as Nick asked. Why don’t we go into the study
and load several of those guns while we wait."
"Yes I suppose your are
right although I’m sure Nicholas is being overly cautious."
"Victoria in my…"
The rest of the conversation was
lost to Fisher as the door to the study was closed behind the retreating backs
of the speakers. Letting out the breath he was holding Fisher moved from his
hiding place and stepped quietly to the archway that was the opening to the
parlour. Peering carefully around the corner and not seeing anyone he darted
quickly across the foyer floor and stopped beside the study door. He knew he
had to act fast before Harrison managed to get his hands on a loaded gun. There
was no way that he would be able to open the study door unobserved so he opted
for the next best solution. Using the element of surprise as his weapon he
thrust the door opened and stepped into the room brandishing his gun and
grabbing the nearest body to him. Three pairs of startled eyes turned at the
sound of the door crashing open and Audra’s surprised scream as she felt an arm
snake around her neck.
"Stand still Harrison or
the girl gets it now. That goes for you too Mrs Barkley," hissed Fisher as
he pressed the barrel of his gun into Audra’s temple effectively stopping all
movement in the study.
"Good, now you two,"
pointing at Harrison and the doctor, "sit in those chairs and you Mrs
Barkley get that cord," indicating the cord holding the drapes back from
the windows, "and tie them up and be quick about it."
Victoria stared at Fisher with
steely gray eyes for several seconds before moving to do as requested.
"I’ll do as you ask, just
don’t hurt my daughter."
"Oh don’t worry Mrs
Barkley, I don’t intend on hurting her. I promise she won’t feel anything when
she dies. Of course I won’t promise the same for Harrison over there."
Audra sucked in her breath and
cried "Mother" before Fisher’s arm tightened around her throat.
"Don’t worry darling,
everything will be all right," Victoria offered reassuringly as she tied
Jim Harrison and the doctor securely to the chairs.
"Good, now sit down there
Mrs Barkley. Come on girl start moving and get those pieces of cord," said
Fisher as he and Audra edged their way over to the other set of drapes and
removed the cords. "Now tie up your mother and do it properly."
Fisher watched satisfied as his
orders were obeyed. How easy was this he thought. By the time those other two
Barkley’s returned there wouldn’t be anything left of their family.
"Sit down here Miss
Barkley," he ordered as he roughly pushed her into the remaining chair and
deftly tied her hands to the back of the chair.
Fisher walked around the study
surveying his morning’s work aware that four pairs of eyes were closely
following his every move.
"Why are you doing
this," asked Victoria
"That’s easy Mrs Barkley,
the good Senator Williams doesn’t like to leave loose ends and you see your
daughter and the bastard upstairs and the Senator here are all loose ends and I
guess by association you and him are also loose ends."
"What have you done to my
brother," Audra cried out unable to keep the fear from her voice.
"Nothing yet missy. I’m
keeping him for last. It’s going to give me great pleasure to watch the look on
his face when I tell him how I killed all of you. I might even drag him down here
so he can see for himself that his efforts to save Harrison were all for
nothing. I wonder how he’ll feel when he realizes that he’s caused the deaths
of his mother and the doctor as well. I take it you are the doctor."
Fisher asked pressing the gun into Stanley Jeffries throat.
"I am."
The chair Victoria was sitting
in faced the open door of the study and she had been watching it
surreptitiously in the hope of warning Silas not to enter, if in deed he was
still alive she thought. A movement caught her eye as she was about to look
away from the door and her eyes widened in shock at the sight of Heath
staggering to the study door. He saw her looking at him and quickly shook his
head. She nodded perceptibly and returned her attention to Fisher.
"You can’t really hope to
get away with this Fisher. My sons will track you down to the ends of the earth
if they have too."
"Oh I’m sure they’ll try
Mrs Barkley but they won’t have any luck. You see Senator Williams has shall we
say lots of helpful people who know just how to make a person disappear without
trace." As Fisher spoke he walked around so he was standing in front of
Audra. "Such a waste of a pretty girl," he said as he absently
twirled a length of her long blond hair around his finger. "Pity we haven’t
got a bit more time to get to know one another better."
Audra turned her head away from
Fisher and looked at her mother who seemed to be looking intently at the door.
She saw her mother nod at the door and then turn back to the occupants in the
room. She just caught her mother’s fleeting smile before it disappeared again.
"I wouldn’t waste my time
on you if you were the only man in Stockton," Audra replied imperiously
which only earned her a slap across the face for her efforts.
"Get your filthy hands off
my sister," growled Heath as he stood swaying in the doorway gun aimed at
Fisher’s back.
The smile on Fisher’s face
disappeared to be replaced by a look of terror as he quickly spun around
raising his gun to face this unexpected threat to his plans.
"I thought you were…"
"Think again," replied
Heath as he fired his gun as soon as his sister was out of the line of fire.
The stunned look on Fisher’s
face turned to shock and then agony as he felt the bullets enter his body and fling
him back across the room. His gun dropped from nerveless fingers as he groped
ineffectually at the spreading stain of blood across his chest.
All eyes were fixed on the blond
cowboy as he took one faltering step into the study before his eyes rolled back
into his head and he succumbed to the blackness that had been threatening him
since he gained his feet, collapsing in a heap on the floor.
"HEATH" Audra screamed
as she struggled to get free of the rope that bound her to the chair.
Chapter 15
The brothers and their men rode
from the ranch yard in a stony silence. No body was fool enough to open their
mouths and bring down the wrath of Nick Barkley on his head. Their boss was
mad, or perhaps a better description was enraged. This man Fisher that they
were now looking for was making all of them look like fools and none of them
liked that thought very much.
Duke McCall rode amongst the men
and watched their expressions as the morning’s events settled in to their
minds. He was sure some of them had already realized that it could just as
easily have been some of them lying dead in the feed room instead of the
marshal and his deputies. That one man could wreak so much damage and under
their very noses was almost inconceivable. Leaving the men behind him Duke
moved up to ride beside the two brothers. He had known these two men for over
twenty years. He had helped raise them from little tikes into what they were
today but he had never seen them like this before. He well understood their
rage. After all this man they were hunting and his boss had very nearly taken
the lives of their two youngest siblings not to mention a duly elected state
Senator and had indeed succeeded in killing a witness and three law officers in
their own barn. He studied their dark set features and shook his head. None of
them including the two men beside him had any idea where they were going. Right
now they seemed to be riding blindly to nowhere.
"Nick do you no where we’re
going or are we just riding blindly across the range?" Duke asked
tentatively.
Nick turned and glared at the
foreman beside him, before sighing heavily and reining his horse to a halt,
closely followed by the remainder of the riders. Nick removed his black hat
from his head and wiped his sweaty brow with a shirtsleeve before settling the
hat back in position.
"I’m sorry Duke, guess
you’re right we are acting blindly but I want to get this snake so bad I can
taste it. Got any suggestions?
"I think we should split up
into groups of three or four and spread out across the range. We’re not going
to catch him riding as a bunch."
"Duke has a point Nick,
we’re not going to catch him this way. He could have gone in any direction and
we’re only riding in one at the moment." Jarrod replied as neutrally as
possible, trying to ensure that Nick’s temper stayed at bay.
"All right I hear you. Boys
split up into groups of four and be careful. This guy doesn’t care who he
kills. I don’t want any of you taking chances. Do you understand? But if you
have to shoot, shoot to kill."
A chorus, of "Yes Nick,
sure thing boss," greeted Nick’s ears.
"Ok boys spread out and
find the snake. Ah Duke, you want to ride with Jarrod and me?"
"Of course I do. Somebody
has to keep you two in line."
The three men sat on their
horses and watched as the men rode away in-groups to search different areas of
the range. They knew none of the men were fool hardy and Nick’s warning would
be heeded.
"Let’s hope we find him
soon," Nick growled. "I don’t like the idea of being away from home
for too long."
"We’ll find him Nick. The
boys won’t stop until his caught. You know that."
"I hope your right
Duke," replied Nick as he kicked his horse into motion again.
"Nick are we heading where
I think we are," Jarrod asked curiously. "Don’t you think Fisher would
work out that would be the first place we’d look."
"I don’t know Jarrod. Can
YOU think of a better place to start looking?"
"I guess not."
* * * * * * * *
Joe and Sam pushed their horses
to the limit on their ride into Stockton. They pulled the two lathered and
heaving horses to a halt in front of Fred Maddens office. Dismounting quickly
they raced breathlessly into the office only to find the front room and the
cells behind empty.
"I wonder where the sheriff
is?" Joe muttered.
"I dunno but Nick sure
ain’t going to like it if we can’t find him."
"Who won’t like it if you
can’t find me?" asked Fred Madden as he walked through the door and saw
the two Barkley cowhands. "Don’t tell me. I can guess. Nick won’t like it.
Well you found me so what can I do for you boys?"
"Nick said for you to come
to the ranch immediately. The marshal and his deputies and that prisoner they
were guarding are all dead. The marshal said it was Fisher before he
died."
"What?" yelled Fred in
a fair imitation of Nick’s booming voice. "Where’s Nick now although I can
probably guess."
"He and Jarrod headed out
with the men to hunt Fisher down. Sorry sheriff but we promised Nick we’d head
right back to the ranch and guard the house."
"That’s all right boys, but
those horses of yours aren’t going to make it to the town outskirts. Why don’t
you go and get fresh horses at the livery and by the time you’re ready to ride
Doc Merar and I will be ready to accompany you."
"Yes sir sheriff but we
better hurry. Nick won’t like it if we dally."
Fred Madden watched the two men
leave his office and then he strode over to the rifle cabinet and took down his
winchester. "Damn," he thought. "This whole thing was
swiftly turning into a nightmare. Just how much worse could it get?"
he wondered as walked from the room in search of one of his deputies and the
doctor.
* * * * * * * *
Silas raced across the range not
really sure where he was going only knowing that his young friend, Mr Heath
needed help real bad.
"Where you be Mr
Nick," he called to the heavens.
"Please lord you keeps Mr
Heath and the family safe for me while I’s finds Mr Nick and Mr Jarrod."
Silas rode on ignoring the tears
that rolled down his face. Despite the tears he smiled as he remembered his
friends coming into the family and the trials that betook the family as they
all came to terms with Mr Tom’s indiscretion. Especially the way Mr Tom’s two
youngest boys would agree to disagree on every point in a discussion more often
than not coming to blows. He had lost count of the number of times he had had
to patch up the two brothers after one of their many differences got a little
out of hand. Yet as the months wore on the two forged and unbreakable bond that
now teetered on the brink of permanent disintegration.
"Please Mr Tom you looks
after your son, he be a good boy. You be mighty proud of him if only you knew
him. He deserves a whole lot better than the pain and grief he’s had to endure
so far in his life."
Silas blinked away his tears and
spied three figures in the distance. "Praise the lord," he cried as
he urged the horse to greater efforts. He still wasn’t sure who the riders were
but it didn’t matter. Help was at hand.
As Silas drew closer he
recognized the black vest and tan coat of two of the riders. "Thank you
lord," he shouted in the horse’s ear.
"Mr Nick, Mr Jarrod,"
he shouted as loudly as his lungs would allow, waving one arm wildly in the
air.
All three riders turned at the
sound of a fast moving horse coming up behind.
"What the hell,"
growled Nick before his eyes widened in surprise and he spurred his horse back
towards the approaching figure. "That’s Silas."
Jarrod and Duke had also
recognized the rider and all three rode to meet him with heavy hearts. The fact
that he was riding out on the range and at such a speed could only mean one
thing.
"Silas what’s the
matter?" Nick yelled as he quickly closed the gap.
"Mr Nick, Mr Nick,"
Silas gasped out as he tried to take in great gulps of air and speak at the
same time. Mr Heath …done sent me… I’s didn’t want to come…but…he insisted.
Fisher be at the…house…he done tied up your mother and Miss Audra and the
Senator and the doctor." Silas stopped talking and gratefully accepted the
canteen thrust into his hands.
"Where’s Heath Silas?"
"He come down the stairs. I
thinks he was going after that man. He told me and Ciego to look for you Mr
Nick."
"That damn fool boy, when I
get my hands on him, I’ll…"
"You’ll what Nick?"
"Cuff him over the ear or
maybe paddle his backside Pappy. Come on Jarrod we haven’t got a minute to
spare. Duke you follow with Silas."
"Be careful boys and gods
speed," Duke whispered as he and Silas watched the brothers spur their
horse into a run and race across the range in the direction of the house, before
following at a much slower pace.
* * * * * * * *
"So now Howard you know as
much as I do." Said Fred Madden as he, the doctor and the two Barkley
hands rode towards the Barkley ranch. "The Barkley’s didn’t ask you to
come out and treat Heath because Dr Jeffries was already there and my
understanding is that they wanted as few people as possible to know who was at
the ranch."
"Humph!" Howard
responded. "What did they think I was going to do, run and tell
Williams," he muttered under his breath but just loud enough for Fred to
hear.
"Of course not Howard. They
were trying to protect you. And considering what has happened to the marshal
and his deputies it was a good thing too. You’re this town’s only physician
Howard. They couldn’t take the chance on Fisher or Williams kidnapping you for
information and they knew you couldn’t stay at the ranch indefinitely."
Further conversation was halted
as they rode into the ranch yard.
"That’s strange, I wonder
where Ciego is," Sam commented as they pulled up by the corrals.
Fred looked around the yard and
saw what Sam meant. Usually you couldn’t dismount before Ciego appeared to take
the horse.
"Go and check the barn
boys, and keep your guns handy," Fred ordered quietly. "Howard stay
here."
Howard Merar watched as the two
hands walked cautiously to the barn and Fred headed towards the house. He was
relieved to see the two men return unharmed.
"Nobody’s there
sheriff."
"All right boys, go around
to the kitchen door and wait until you here me knock before you enter and be
careful. We don’t know what if anything is going on in the house but be ready
to shoot if you have too."
"Yes sheriff," they
both replied before moving around the side and towards the back of the house
and the kitchen door.
Fred gave the men a couple of
minutes to get into position and then knocked loudly on the heavy front door.
Ignoring common courtesy Fred opened the front door and stepped into the foyer
calling out "Victoria," in a loud voice as the two hands appeared in the
kitchen doorway.
* * * * * * * *
"Victoria can you tell how
Heath is?" Stan Jeffries asked worriedly.
"I don’t know Stanley, he
seems to have passed out. His shoulder is bleeding again but I can’t see any
other injuries. His breathing is very laboured though," she replied never
taking her eyes off her injured son lying mere feet from her although tied as
she was it could have been miles.
"I can hear his breathing.
I hope it’s only as a result of the way he is lying and nothing more serious.
Try calling to him Victoria, see if you can rouse him enough to maybe lean back
against the settee."
"Are you sure Stanley, he
could do more damage if he tries to move."
"I know Victoria but he
can’t breathe properly as he is. He needs to sit up more."
"Heath, Heath darling can
you hear me. Wake up for mother Heath."
They all waited quietly praying
that the blond would respond to his mother’s voice but he still made no
movement or sound."
"Please big brother, wake
up for me. I need you Heath," sobbed Audra.
A slight moan was her only
response.
"Heath, I SAID wake up
now." Victoria tried using a sterner voice. If only Nick was here she
thought. His booming voice could always be relied upon to get a response from
blond on the floor.
"It’s no use Stanley, he’s
out cold. Oh where is Silas?"
* * * * * * * *
"Fred in here, the study,
please hurry," Victoria called back.
Fred and the hands dashed across
the foyer and stopped in shock at what they saw in the study. Not wasting any time,
Fred knelt quickly beside Heath as he ordered Sam to get Howard and Joe to
untie the others.
"Untie the doctor first
please Joe," Victoria requested, "Heath needs help."
"Yes Mrs Barkley," Joe
replied as he hurried to do as requested.
"Joe is the other one
dead?"
Joe looked over to where Fisher
lay with unseeing eyes.
"Sure is sheriff. Heath got
him but good."
From her seat Victoria watched
with some amusement, although she conceded to herself that the situation was
far from funny, as the two doctors reached Heath’s side at the same time.
"Doctor Jeffries, I
presume."
"At your service
Doctor…er"
"Merar, Howard Merar."
"Stanley Jeffries."
The two doctors bent over their
patient
"Shoulder wound has opened
up again."
"We need to sit him up so
he can breathe easier."
"Jim come here and ease in
behind him please," asked Stanley as he and Howard continued their
examination.
"Victoria how did Heath get
down here?"
"He must have walked down
here Howard. Except for Silas we were all in here when Fisher broke in."
Howard shook his head. Was there
no ending to this boy’s foolhardiness he wondered, although he surmised that he
had no doubt saved his families lives by his actions.
"Fool boy," he
muttered under his breath. "Where is Silas, Victoria."
"I don’t know Howard. Joe,
Sam have either of you seen Silas."
"No Mrs Barkley."
Fred who had been studying the
body of Fisher looked up. "Boys I think you had better check the rest of
the house before we move Heath back upstairs."
"Ok sheriff, Come on
Joe," Sam said as he headed out the door and towards the stairs.
Victoria watched the two hands
leave and then turned her attention back to her son and the doctors.
"Stanley, Howard how is
he."
Stanley looked towards Howard who
nodded his head before he spoke.
"Well Victoria he certainly
hasn’t helped his cause by getting out of bed but he doesn’t seemed to have
sustained any further injuries. He has opened up the shoulder wound again, but
it’s not bleeding too badly and set back those healing ribs but as far as we
can tell he hasn’t punctured a lung. The extreme loss of blood he suffered
originally is causing his present condition Victoria. He’s not replenishing the
blood as quickly as we’d like. When the hands get…"
"MOTHER."
* * * * * * * *
Nick and Jarrod raced across the
range both their thoughts running along the same lines. "If only we had
stopped to think before riding out. We should have guessed Fisher would try
something like this and we played straight into his hands. God please let them
all be alright."
With heavy hearts the two
brothers galloped into the ranch yard and flung themselves from their horses
not even noticing the doctor’s buggy standing to the side. They had eyes only
for the open front door. Jarrod put a steadying hand on Nick’s shoulder.
"Easy Nick."
"Easy be damned," he
said as he charged through the front door.
"MOTHER,"
* * * * * * * *
That one booming word was like
music to Victoria’s ears.
"Nick, in the study,"
she called back in relief.
Nick didn’t stop his charge
across the foyer he just changed direction slightly and headed towards the
study door with Jarrod on his heels. Neither brother was sure of what to expect
but they certainly weren’t prepared to find two doctors working over their
comatose brother or the dead body against the wall.
"Oh Nick, thank god you’re
here," Victoria said as she crumpled into his strong arms.
"Jarrod," Audra cried
as she threw herself into her brother’s arms.
"It’s all right Sis, we’re
here now," Jarrod replied soothingly as he looked over his sister’s head
at his pale brother on the floor.
"Mother, what happened, is
Heath all right?" Nick asked not taking his eyes off his brother either.
"Fisher didn’t shoot him again did he?" he growled.
"No, Nick, Heath managed to
get from his room down here and shot Fisher before he could hurt any of us.
Then he passed out."
"Doctor’s?’ Nick asked
quietly.
"He should be all right
Nick, but we need to get him back to bed. If you and Jarrod will help us."
Nick and Jarrod both disengaged
themselves from their mother and sister’s arms and squatted beside their
brother.
"He’s so pale
Stanley," said Jarrod looking at the almost white complexion of his youngest
brother.
"That’s because of the
previous blood loss Jarrod. His body isn’t replenishing it as fast as we would
like and after this morning, well…"
"Then we give him more
blood," said Nick. "He hasn’t got this far to die now. You hear me
boy?"
"Niiiccckkk."
"Well hello little brother,
how you doing?" Nick asked quietly as he gripped his brother’s left hand.
"Tired, so tired," he
whispered with his eyes still closed.
"Don’t worry Heath, you’ll feel
better soon. Doc’s going to give you some more of MY blood, ain’t that right
doc?"
"Yes, well it certainly
can’t hurt, that’s for sure."
"Just what I need,"
Heath mumbled but this time he managed to get his lids open enough to peer out
from under them and offer a weak a lop-sided grin.
"Fisher?"
"He’s dead Heath, you got
him before he could hurt anyone else."
Heath nodded and then sagged
back against Jim Harrison who was still supporting him.
"Come on boys, lets get him
upstairs and settled. Then we will look at that transfusion," Howard said
quietly.
As Nick and Jarrod prepared to
lift their brother from the floor, Fred put in a cautionary word.
"I think we should wait
until Sam and Joe finish checking upstairs first. Just to be on the safe side."
"Oh my," stated
Victoria, "I almost forgot Silas. Where is he?" she asked worriedly.
"Rights here Miz
Barkley," he said stepping through the study door closely followed by Duke
and the two hands who had been checking the house for other possible intruders.
The smile on Silas’ face quickly faded as he saw his young friend lying so
still on the floor.
"Mr Heath."
Chapter 16
"Well doc?" Nick asked
anxiously as Doctor Merar disconnected the transfusion tube from his arm.
"His pulse is stronger Nick
and there is more colour in his cheeks. He’s going to be fine. He’ll sleep for
a good few hours now. Stanley gave him enough laudanum to put a horse to sleep
and sleep is exactly what he needs."
There was really no need for
Nick to speak, the smile on his face and those of the family standing around
Heath’s bed said it all. It was just the news they had being waiting for. At
least this part of the nightmare they had all being living for the past week
was thankfully over.
"Thanks doc, " Nick
said not caring that tears were running down his cheeks as he watched his
brother sleeping peacefully in the bed beside him.
"You know Nick, you really
should go and lie down yourself. That’s the second lot of blood you’ve given
this boy in a few days."
"I’m staying right here
doc."
Both Howard and Stanley sighed
in exasperation and tried to hide their smiles as the Barkley stubbornness
reared its head yet again.
"Well at least eat
something and drink the glass of juice Silas brought up Nick."
"Yeah sure doc, whatever
you say. What are you going to do now?"
"The infection in his hand
has cleared up nicely so we’ll set it now while he’s asleep. He should be a lot
more comfortable after we do it."
"He’ll be able to use it
again won’t he?"
"Yes Nick, once the bones heal
he’ll be fine, it’s a clean break."
"Good," Nick replied
as he closed his eyes and leant his head back against the top of the chair he
was sitting in. Grins spread around the room as a few minutes later soft
snoring could be heard from the chair.
"Come on everybody lets
leave them to their slumber," Victoria said as she moved quietly towards
the door followed by Jarrod, Audra and Jim.
"We’ll be down in a few
minutes Victoria, as soon as we finish up here."
* * * * * * * *
It was several hours later when
a sleepy Nick joined the rest of the family, Fred Madden, the two doctors and
the Senator in the dining room for an impromptu lunch party.
"I thought you would have
been back in town by now Fred," Nick commented as he took his seat at the
table.
"How’s Heath, Nick?"
"Sleeping like a baby
Sis," Nick replied before turning back to Fred.
"Fred you were
saying?"
"Figured I’d wait around
here and talk to you before I headed back. After all we don’t want to arouse
Williams suspicions too much. Speaking of which Williams is back on the
campaign trail again. He was roaming around town pointing out to anybody who’d
listened that Jim here was unreliable and making promises he couldn't
keep."
"Was he now? Well I think
it’s about time we paid the good Senator Williams a visit. Don’t you agree
Jarrod, Jim?"
"Depends on what you have
in mind brother Nick."
"A show of force. All of us
are going to ride into town after lunch and pay the Senator that visit he’s
been looking forward to."
"What about Heath, Nick.
He’s in no condition to be going anywhere," Victoria stated firmly.
"Of course he’s not coming
with us. I don’t want that boy anywhere near Williams."
"I think Brother Nick, Heath
may have something to say about that and don’t forget this concerns him as much
if not more than the rest of us."
"I know that Jarrod but
this is one of those times when our little brother is just going to have to let
his big brothers fight his battle for him. I’ll leave Silas and Duke with him
while we’re gone."
"I’ll stay too Nick,"
said Stanley Jeffries. "There is no need for two doctors in town and I’m
sure Howard is anxious to get back to his surgery. Besides I wouldn’t want to
step on any toes."
"You won’t be stepping on
my toes Stanley, it has been a pleasure working with you but you are correct. I
do want to get back to town."
Well that’s settled then. We
head for Stockton after lunch, now lets eat I’m starving." Nick yelled
with his usual gusto.
"Nick," everybody
yelled back, "don’t shout in the house."
Nick just grinned and took a
mouthful of food as laughter erupted around the table for the first time in
days.
* * * * * * * *
Senator Josiah Williams stood on
the steps of the hotel and surveyed the faces of the crowd surrounding him.
"I ask you again," he
paused to catch the crowds attention, "How can you possibly vote for a man
who can’t even keep a simple promise like appearing here to speak to you the
good people of Stockton." He smiled ingratiatingly at the faces around him
as he heard a murmur of agreement ripple through the crowd.
"No folks," he
continued, "you fine people of Stockton require a Senator that you can
rely on. One who will be there for you at all times. One who you can rely on to
listen to you. Someone who understands the needs of the common man and can
represent you faithfully in the government. Someone like me, your friend and
compatriot Josiah Williams."
Williams stopped speaking
expecting to hear a chorus of cheers and claps but was disappointed to discover
that the crowd’s attention had been diverted in a completely different
direction. His florid complexion lost all its colour as he looked up and saw
what had caught the crowd’s eye.
Sitting regally in the buggy
proclaiming the Barkley Ranch was Victoria Barkley expertly handling the reins
and looking neither right nor left as she drove down Stockton’s main street.
Beside her sat he daughter Audra and sitting behind the two women was Senator
Jim Harrison.
Riding to the right of Audra was
her brother Nick who couldn’t resist the urge to throw a cold calculating glare
at Williams in passing. To the left of the buggy rode Jarrod Barkley, oldest
son of Victoria and Stockton’s most prominent Attorney at Law.
Behind the first buggy Doctor
Howard Merar was driving a second buggy. This buggy was followed by Sheriff
Fred Madden who in turn was leading five horses each carrying a tarp wrapped
cargo over its saddle. To all those watching it was plainly evident as to what
the cargo’s contained.
A ripple ran through the crowd
as they realized one member of the family was missing. The youngest and newest
member of the Barkley clan, Heath Barkley. None of the watching crowd however
for one minute thought that one of the horses held his tarp wrapped body. Most
of those present knew the Barkley family would never allow one of their own to
suffer such and indignity even in death.
The procession stopped in front
of the Cattleman’s Hotel. The two brothers dismounted and helped their mother
and sister from the buggy and up the steps to the sidewalk followed by the
Senator.
Howard Merar doffed his hat to
the family and continued down the street to his surgery only to be lost from
sight as he turned the corner by the small white picket fence.
Fred Madden stopped long enough
to say that he would deliver the bodies to the undertaker before returning.
The crowd began to buzz with
questions. Who were the tarp covered bodies? Why were the Barkley’s out in
force? Where was the blond Barkley Heath? "Did the bodies have anything to
do with his absence?
So engrossed was the crowd in
the sudden appearance of the towns most prominent family and their entourage
that no one noticed the sudden disappearance of Senator Josiah Williams from
the steps of the hotel. No one that was except for Nick Barkley.
"The snakes on the
move," he growled ominously as Jarrod reached his side.
"Easy Nick, Fred will be
back soon. Williams isn’t going anywhere."
"What like Fisher didn’t go
anywhere." Nick growled again.
"Jarrod’s right Nick, now
come inside and sit down. If it will make you feel any better we can get a
table by the window and then you can watch the hotel." Victoria spoke with
authority and Nick knew there wasn’t going to be any arguing the point.
Grudgingly Nick allowed himself
to be led into the Cattleman’s Hotel but immediately he took up a position by
the window with his eyes glued to the hotel across the street.
"Nick how does chicken
broth sound?" Jarrod asked guilelessly trying to lighten the mood.
"Yeah what ever Jarrod,
anything will do," Nick replied not taking his eyes off the street.
Audra and Jim burst out laughing
at his reply and even Victoria was hard pressed not to join in.
"What’s so d… funny,"
he grumbled as he looked at the faces around him.
"Nick," Audra giggled,
"Jarrod just asked you if you wanted chicken broth and you said yes."
Nick glared at his older brother
in disgust and then joined in as the absurdity of the situation dawned on him.
"All right now that you’ve
all had your laugh can we get serious please. Oh and Jarrod don’t change your
day job. You aren’t very funny."
"So what do we do now Nick?
I’m sure Williams will have worked out at least who some of the bodies are especially
as Fisher hasn’t made a reappearance," Jim asked.
"We wait for Fred and he’d
better be quick about it and then we pay Senator Williams that visit.
* * * * * * * *
Josiah Williams made a hasty
retreat to his hotel room as the Barkley procession made its way along Main
Street. He bolted his door with shaky hands and moved across the unlit room to
the window and surreptitiously moved the curtain enough to view the happenings
in the street below.
His usual florid complexion was
still pale and he could feel the sweat trickling down his neck making his shirt
stick to his back under the heavy wool jacket he wore.
"Damn," he swore
as he watched the two Barkley women being escorted into the Cattleman’s Hotel
along with Senator Harrison. "How could those fools Fisher hired have
been so stupid. Not only had they failed to ensure the death of the Senator now
sitting in the hotel opposite but they had also allowed the blond cowboy and
his sister to escape."
Josiah Williams was under no illusions
that the blond was alive if not entirely well. Had there been any other outcome
they would have been battering down the door looking for blood long before now
instead of sitting calmly in the dinning room across the street.
Of all the cursed luck he
thought as he watched Nick Barkley take a seat by the window and stare across
the street. Fisher was a fool not to have told him that Heath Thomson and Heath
Barkley were one and the same person. Of course that fact wasn’t really the
problem. No one would miss a bastard, not even the Barkley’s. In fact they
would probably be glad to get rid of the blight on Tom’s good name. The problem
was they kidnapped the girl as well. A no-account bastard was one thing but the
daughter and sister of one of the most prominent ranching families in the state
was another matter all together.
The moment he saw Audra Barkley
sitting with the blond cowboy he should have ordered their immediate deaths and
abandoned his plans to assassinate the Senator but his ambitions of becoming
Governor had blinded his judgment. Now it was too late. He shook his head in
bewilderment. How could he have ever thought that he would be able to get away
with the kidnapping and killing of two Barkley’s?
The re-appearance of the town’s
sheriff lent urgency to Williams’ actions. Dropping the curtain back into place
he grabbed the case sitting on the chair and threw it on the bed. Snatching
clothes and papers he threw them haphazardly into the case. Satisfied that he
had packed everything of importance he slammed shut the lid and then took a
minute to check out the window again.
He pulled a stained silk
handkerchief from his breast pocket and mopped the sweat from his brow, blinked
several times and peered out the window again. No, he wasn’t mistaken Nick
Barkley was no longer sitting by the window. In fact the table he and his
family had been seated at was now unoccupied.
Williams picked up the case and
rushed across the room fumbling with the bolt in his haste to open the door.
Taking a deep breath to steady his shattered nerves, he patted his right sleeve
and then opened the door. Stepping out into the empty corridor he turned
towards the main staircase and then thought better of it. Instead he headed for
the narrow backstairs that led down to the alley that ran along the back of the
hotel. By the time he had made his way down the two flights of stairs his
overweight body was wheezing in protest at the lack of oxygen. Putting down his
case he pulled out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his florid face
again.
"Going somewhere?"
Chapter 17
The sudden words accompanied by
the click of a hammer being drawn back froze Williams to the spot. He peered
into the shadows and swallowed hard as Nick Barkley stepped forward from his
hiding place under the stairs.
"Nick! Nick Barkley is that
you?" Williams asked jovially thrusting forward his hand and smiling
ingratiatingly. "It’s certainly being a long time, good to see you again.
How is your dear mother?"
Nick looked at the proffered
hand and glared in disgust.
"Why don’t you ask her
yourself. She’s waiting for you out front. In fact the whole families waiting
for you, well everybody except Heath that is." Nick growled menacingly.
Williams let his hand drop to
his side. "Heath? I don’t think I know him."
"Oh I’m sure you do, after
all you did try to kill him."
"I really don’t know what
you’re talking about Nick."
"Is that right?"
"Yes well, I’d love to stop
and chat but I am really in a bit of a hurry you see and…"
"I’m sure it’s nothing that
can’t wait, now move," Nick said through gritted teeth and then waved his
gun in the desired direction for added emphasis.
"Er, yes, all right, if you
insist."
"Oh I do, I do."
Nick moved back slightly and
allowed Williams to pass him in the narrow hallway then gave him a shove
towards the door leading to the hotel foyer. Williams opened the door thinking
that if he could slam it shut in Nick’s face he could get away but Sheriff
Madden was standing on the other side smiling pleasantly.
"Afternoon Senator, I
believe Mrs Barkley is waiting for you in the private dining room."
Fred grinned at the look of
defeat on Williams’ face and then led the way across the foyer followed by
Williams and finally Nick. Fred opened the door and then stepped back allowing
Williams and Nick access to the room before stepping in and closing the door
behind him.
Josiah Williams stepped through
the door oozing all the confidence he could muster and walked up to Victoria
who was sitting in one of the high backed dining chairs that had been removed
from the table and placed by the unlit fireplace.
"Victoria," Williams
said offering her his hand, "How wonderful to see you again. You look well
Victoria."
"I’m glad you think so
Josiah, but I am sorry to say that I don’t find any pleasure in seeing
you," she replied coldly ignoring the offered hand.
Williams looked around the room.
Audra stood beside her brother Jarrod, one of his arms tenderly encircling her
waist as she trembled slightly under Williams’ gaze. Nick was still leaning
against the dining room door a sneer on his face as he watched his mother
intently. Sheriff Madden stood off to the side quietly surveying the scene in
front of him. Jim Harrison stood by the hotel window gazing out into the street
with his back to the room. Williams felt the sweat trickle down his brow,
running into his eyes and took out the now wet silk handkerchief and slowly
mopped his brow.
"Victoria, I don’t
understand. Whatever is the matter?"
Victoria stood and took a step
towards Williams, her eyes flashing dangerously. Immediately Nick stepped away
from the door and moved closer to the Senator as well.
"Don’t play the fool with
me Josiah. You know very well what I am talking about."
"I, I…" Williams
blustered under her withering gaze unable to bring his eyes to bare on the tiny
woman who stood before him.
"You what Josiah? Please do
not tell me you are going to deny any knowledge of what has happened to my
daughter and son over the past week."
"Victoria I really have
know idea what you are talking about." Williams replied regaining some of
his confidence.
"Why you lying…"
"Nicholas, that will be
enough." Victoria stated firmly glaring warningly at her middle son before
returning her steely gaze back to the Senator.
"So you are going to deny
any knowledge of the kidnapping of Audra and Heath, the attempted murder of
Senator Harrison and the murder of three law officers and a witness?"
"Yes I am. You have no
proof."
"How could you?" cried
Audra, "you were a friend of our family. I saw you at the Simpson ranch
when you came in to speak to Heath."
"I’m sorry Audra, but you
must be mistaken, it was dark after all. I don’t even know where this Simpson
Ranch is."
"Liar," she screamed,
"I know it was you. I spoke to you in that room. You said that we wouldn’t
have to worry about Heath’s injuries for too much longer because we’d be
dead." She turned into Jarrod’s chest sobbing uncontrollably as he put his
arms around her and held her close as his cold blue eyes rested on Williams.
"I believe it is your word
against mine Audra and who is going to be believe a hysterical girl sitting in
a dark room over a prominent Senator such as myself. I don’t see that blond
brother of yours around but then nobody would believe a no account bastard
anyway."
"I thought you said you
didn’t know Heath so how come you know he has blond hair," Nick growled
from behind Williams. "And Heath isn’t a no account bastard he’s my
brother and more man than you’ll ever be." Nick yelled the vein on the
side of neck throbbing madly as his temper rose but he kept his distance.
Jarrod stepped forward with his
hands behind his back and studied the man before him. "How did you know
the room was dark Senator Williams? Jarrod asked in his best court room voice
and then continued before Williams could speak. "You couldn’t have unless
you were there and YOU were there weren’t you Senator?"
Williams’ eyes darted around the
room looking for an escape route that wasn’t forth coming. He licked his lips
nervously as beads of perspiration ran down his brow and into his eyes
unhindered.
"I’m waiting for an answer
Senator. You DO have an answer for us don’t you?"
The room was quiet as Williams
fidgeted on the spot unable to find the words to extradite himself from his
present predicament.
"Well sheriff?"
"I think I’ve heard enough
Jarrod. With what Audra and Jim have already told me and the evidence I have
collected I have enough to arrest the Senator on and then of course there will
also be Heath’s testimony when he is up to giving it." Fred stepped
forward from where he had been leaning against the wall. "Senator Josiah
Williams I am placing you under arrest for the kidnapping and attempted murder
of Audra and Heath Barkley, the attempted murder of Senator James Harrison, and
an accessory to the murders of Marshall Johnson and Deputies Pete Donald and
Martin Davis and also the murder of Jack Crawford."
"What," roared
Williams, "this is preposterous. I won’t stand for it. Victoria please! I’m
your friend. Tom would never stand for this."
"Don’t you dare bring my
husband into this Josiah." Victoria said staring with disdain at the man
before her. "The moment you even considered kidnapping MY son you ceased
to be a friend of this family. Thomas would have been disgusted to hear what
you thought of our son. Nicholas is correct Josiah, Heath is more man than you
ever have been or will be. You above all people should know Josiah that an act
against one Barkley is an act against the entire family. You will find no
sympathy amongst us. Your blind ambitions have led you to this position and now
you must bare the consequences of your actions. There will be a public trial
and my daughter and son will testify and you will pay for your actions. Jarrod will
see to that." Victoria looked sadly at Williams and shook her head.
"What happened to you Josiah, the man I remember was kind and caring. You
never cared about the pomp and ceremony of office. You were a hands on man
happy to get down and dirty with the rest of us. To turn over the land, dig
post-holes; fight Indians, drought and flood. I just don’t understand."
Victoria turned away from Williams and smiled encouragingly at her daughter.
Williams saw his chance and
seized it with open arms.
"I’m sorry Victoria,"
he said as he lunged forward with surprising speed grabbing the diminutive
silver haired matriarch of the Barkley family around the waist with his left
hand as he pressed his right arm hard against his side. A small derringer
pistol sprang forward from its releasing mechanism into his right hand.
"MOTHER," Audra
screamed as Williams pressed the gun to Victoria’s temple. "Move back all
of you," he demanded resting his finger lightly on the trigger.
Nick, Jarrod and Fred stood
still hands inches away from their guns as Williams began edging backwards
towards the door with Victoria firmly held by his vice like grip around her
waist. Jim was the only one to move. Turning slowly he allowed his right hand
to drop from under his jacket to his side as he faced into the room for the
first time since Williams had appeared. He watched the proceedings with a
seemingly detached air of un-interest.
"Move to where I can see
you Nick," Williams growled as he pressed the gun firmly to Victoria’s
head. "You wouldn’t want anything to happen to your mother now would
you?" he sneered
"I swear Williams, I’m
going to hunt you down like the rabid dog you are and kill you for this."
Nick ground out between gritted teeth, his face a black mask of fury as he remained
in the same position.
Victoria looked from her
daughter to her oldest son and then across to Jim Harrison who moved his right
arm imperceptibly uncovering the tip of the object held in his hand. Victoria
smiled slightly at him and then turned her attention back to her children.
"Do as he says Nicholas.
I’m sure Josiah has no intentions of hurting me, after all I am his insurance
of escaping alive. Isn’t that right Josiah?"
Williams licked his lips again.
He really didn’t want to hurt Victoria. She was a fine woman, a strong
self-willed, self-reliant woman. The type of woman he would have dearly loved
to have called his wife.
"Yes that’s right Victoria,
I promise not to hurt you. I just want to get out of here," he said taking
another step backwards and dragging Victoria with him.
This was what she was waiting
for. She didn’t move her feet, instead allowing Williams to pull her backwards
so that she lost her balance and fell against him causing his grip to loosen
and the gun to move away from her head. She quickly brought up her own right
hand and knocked Williams gun hand further away. His involuntary releasing of
his trigger finger coincided with the louder boom of Jim Harrison’s gun gripped
tightly in his right hand. Williams’ bullet buried itself harmlessly in the
back wall of the dining room before the gun clattered from his nerveless
fingers to lay on the floor. Williams looked down in surprise at his chest, the
front of which was rapidly turning red and then up to Harrison. He tried to speak
but only a gurgle could be heard as blood bubbled from his mouth and his legs
collapsed under his weight and he crumpled to the dining room floor.
Nick was the first to react as
an unsettling stillness settled over the room. Ignoring the man on the floor he
sprang forward and took his mother into his arms holding her tight as he felt
her shuddering body begin to crumple in his arms.
"Mother?" he asked
urgently, gently lifting her chin with one black gloved hand and staring into
her grey eyes.
Victoria visibly regained
control of her emotions and drew in a deep breath before smiling weakly and
assuring her family gathered around her that she was fine. Ignoring Fred who
was checking Williams for any sign of a pulse Victoria glided quietly across
the room to stand before James Harrison who offered his own weak smile in
return.
"James, thank you,"
Victoria said taking his proffered hand in hers. "Are you all right?"
she asked with some concern.
James looked down into the
worried grey eyes and offered another weak smile. "Yes, fine Victoria, but
I should be asking you that instead. After all Williams was holding you as his
hostage."
"I’m fine James, he didn’t
hurt me at all but how can I ever thank you?"
"Believe me Victoria there
is no need to thank me. The sacrifices you and your family have already made
for me can never be repaid." Turning to the sheriff he continued.
"Fred if you don’t need us I believe we should take these lovely ladies
over to the Cattleman’s Hotel. I don’t believe this is the proper environment
for them," he said looking pointedly at the body of the Senator lying on
the floor.
"Yes that will be fine Jim.
There will have to be an inquest but it will only be a formality. I’ll stop by
the hotel or if you prefer the ranch in the morning with the details."
"The ranch will be fine
thanks Fred. I think we should head back there before our little brother
discovers what were doing also. If we’re away too long he might start
worrying," replied Jarrod wrapping his arm around Audra’s shoulders.
"Now what?" growled
Nick when he heard a knock on the dining room door. Striding over he opened it
to admit Howard Merar and then had to push back a sea of on lookers all eager
to see what was going on behind the closed door.
"Howard?"
"I was informed you were
all in here and there were shots fired so I thought I had better come and see
if my services were required."
"They are doc, but not for
the living," replied Fred pointing to the body on the floor.
Howard knelt beside the body and
made a cursory examination officially pronouncing the Senator dead. He stood up
and allowed his eyes to check over the other occupants of the room and in
particular one dark haired rancher who had a penchant for getting injured in
fights and then ignoring those injuries. Thank god the other one isn’t here he
mused. Satisfied that there were no other injuries he nodded to the family and
turned back to Fred.
"I’ll write up my report
and have it for you in the morning Fred. Victoria, Audra, boys I’ll see you
tomorrow at the ranch when I check on Heath."
Nick opened the door to allow
Howard to leave and then growled at the crowd still hovering around the door
and in the foyer.
"Mother, Audra you
ready?"
Jarrod led Audra to the door as
James offered his arm to Victoria. Nick opened the door and stepped out into
the foyer glaring menacingly at anybody who dared to look at them. James and
Jarrod led the women across the foyer and out onto the boardwalk and waited for
Nick to join them.
"Where too Mother?"
Nick asked as he closed the hotel door behind him effectively drowning out the
voices from within.
"Home Nick, let’s just go
home and be with your brother."
Chapter 18
"Ya did ha? Didn’t ya think
I might ta liked to be there too?" asked an annoyed Heath who was lying propped
up by pillows with his broken hand resting on a pillow on his stomach the white
cast blending in nicely with the pillow it rested on.
"Come on Heath you were in
no condition to come with us and you know it. Hell you weren’t even awake when
we left. Doc Jeffries doped you up real well." Nick replied trying to keep
the frustration out of his voice.
"And I wonder whose idea
that was," Heath grumbled glaring at his brother.
"Now wait a minute boy,
incase you’ve forgotten you were the one lying on the floor in the study
unconscious when we got back here this morning." Nick yelled unable to
keep his voice from rising at his brother’s obstinacy.
"Yeah well somebody had to
do something about Fisher and there wasn’t exactly anybody else around to take
care of him."
Nick took a deep breath and
mentally counted to ten before replying. He knew his actions were partly to
blame for the morning’s events. After all he was the one who decided they
should all ride out and leave the house and his brother unprotected. It was
only his brother’s sheer will power and courage that had averted a tragedy that
the family wouldn’t have recovered from.
"Look Heath, I’m sorry. I
shouldn’t have ridden off this morning and taken all the men with me. I know
that. I endangered your life as well as Mother, Audra and Jim’s but I was
damned if I was going to let you come face to face with Williams again. You
protected Audra and Jim at Simpson’s ranch and Bear Lookout and then again this
morning. It was my turn to look after you."
Nick stopped speaking and looked
at Heath who was watching him intently. At least his colour looked a whole lot
better than it had this morning, Nick thought and he was more alert too. Nick
sighed.
"Sometimes little brother,
you just have to lie back and let your big brothers fight your battles for you
and this was one of those times. You’d done enough and I figured it was time
for Jarrod and me to take over. That’s what families do Heath and you are apart
of this family. Why is it so hard for you to accept help?"
Heath sighed and closed his eyes
letting his aching body sink further into the pillows that supported him. He
couldn’t really argue with Nick, he knew he was in no condition to be going
anywhere and especially after his little excursion down the stairs that
morning. Still he had wanted to be a part, hell he needed to be a part of the
final decision making process.
"Aw hell Nick," he
said opening his eyes and offering Nick one of his lop-sided smiles, "I
guess ya right. I probably wouldn’t have been much use to ya even if I was
there and I do appreciate the help big brother, believe me I know I wouldn’t
have got this far without it but I still would have liked the chance ta have
decided for myself. Can you understand that Nick? All my life I’ve only ever
had myself to rely on and that’s not something I can change over night or even
over months." Heath stopped speaking and raised one eyebrow before
continuing. "I guess it’s something you’ll just have ta keep reminding me
of."
The worried look on Nick’s face
disappeared to be replaced by a grin as Heath’s words registered in his mind.
"Oh don’t you worry none about that boy. That is something I will gladly
keep reminding you of. Which reminds me…"
"Ah huh, here it comes,
knew this was a bad idea."
"I promised Mother to make
sure you ate some of Silas broth and then took your medicine like a good
boy." Nick continued ignoring Heath’s interruption. "So little
brother, why don’t you lie back, open your mouth and let your big brother help
you."
"I can eat the broth myself
Nick, now if it was a steak it might be different." He replied eyeing the
bowl of broth Nick retrieved from the tray in disgust. "God am I sick of
broth."
"Don’t worry Heath, doc
says you should be able to eat something solid tomorrow. He just wants you to
take it easy is all, no point making yourself any sicker than you already are.
Remember you haven’t exactly been sitting at the dining table for the last few
days."
"Tell me about it. I’ve had
enough of lying around in bed to last me a lifetime."
"Yeah, well you better get
used to it little brother because I don’t think Mother is going to let you out
of it any time soon. Not after this mornings stunt anyway. Come on Heath,
finish the broth, take some medicine and get some sleep. You’ll feel better in
the morning."
Nick sat quietly in the chair
and watched as his brother drifted back to sleep, satisfied that he had
fulfilled his mothers orders and his brother had eaten and taken his medicine.
Standing up he walked to the door only to stop when his brother spoke again.
"Nick, is it really
over?"
Nick turned back to the bed in
surprise.
"Yes Heath, it’s really
over. Williams is dead and can’t hurt any of us again."
Heath nodded and closed his
eyes.
"Nick."
"Yeah."
"Thanks."
"Anytime little brother,
anytime."
* * * * * * * *
"Well Nick, how is
he?" Jarrod asked as Nick joined them in the study and accepted the
whiskey his brother handed to him. "I thought I heard you yelling
earlier."
"Yeah well that boy can be so
exasperating at times, but I got through to him. He sure wasn’t happy about us
leaving him behind. I think he figured it was his job to handle Williams as
well but I set him straight on that fact."
"Yes I can imagine you
would Nicholas," said Victoria with a twinkle in her eye.
"Well somebody had to.
Anyway Mother he ate the broth and had his medicine even though he wasn’t happy
about either and is sleeping now."
"Thank you Nick, I knew if
anybody could make Heath understanding our decision it would be you."
Jarrod picked up the bottle of
fine malt whiskey he had opened and refilled Jim’s glass as well as his own and
Nick’s.
"Well Jim, what are your
plans now that this business is finally over?"
Jim Harrison took a sip of his
whiskey and looked at the faces around him.
"Well as soon as the
inquest is over I will be hitting the campaign trail again. We still have eight
weeks before the elections and there is plenty of work to be done." He
stopped speaking again and studied the liquid in his glass swirling it gently
before looking up again. "I don’t know how to thank all of you and
especially Heath for what you have done for me. I must say at first I was
surprised and perplexed as to why Heath would risk his own life to save a
complete stranger but after staying here and watching all of you I can
understand where he gets his values from. He is a most remarkable young man and
you are a remarkable family."
"Thank you Jim."
Victoria said graciously. "Yes Heath is a remarkable young man.
Considering all the hardships his life has bestowed upon him his compassion
towards his fellow man is amazing. Have you had a chance to speak with him
yet?"
"No, but I would like to
before I leave. Hopefully I will get that chance in the morning. Well if you
will excuse me I think I might turn in. It has been a rather eventful
day."
"Yeah I second that. Think
I’ll turn in too Mother, that is after I check on the boy." Nick said with
a grin as he kissed his mother and sister good night.
"Well lovely ladies, may I
escort you too your rooms," Jarrod asked offering an arm to his mother and
sister.
* * * * * * * *
A knock on his bedroom door
roused Heath from the light nap he had been enjoying since breakfast.
"Come in," he called sleepily
as he tried to pull himself further up onto the pillows, wincing as a stab of
pain shot through his chest and shoulder.
"Here, let me help,"
said Jim Harrison as he hurried across the room and gently eased the blond
higher up on the mound of pillows.
"Thanks Senator,"
"I think we know one
another well enough for you to call me Jim, Heath."
"We do ha? I’d say you know
me a bit better than I know you. Most of the time you were just a blurry face
to me, at least you didn’t yell as loud as Nick."
"No, well I must say your
brother is certainly loud."
"Loud ain’t the half of
it." Heath eyed the senator speculatively wondering what he was doing
here.
Jim saw his look and smiled
reassuringly. "It’s all right Heath, I only came in to say goodbye and thank
you for what you did for me. To be honest I really don’t know what to say to a
man, a complete stranger who risked his own life to save mine."
Heath fidgeted nervously in the
bed.
"No need to say anything
Jim. I did what I had to. Besides if it hadn’t been for you and the doc I don’t
reckon I’d have made it back here in the fist place so I guess I should be the
one thanking you and not just for me. Nick told me what you did in the hotel
yesterday."
"I’m glad we could be of
service but if it hadn’t been for me none of you would have needed our help in
the first place. I can’t help feeling in some way responsible for what happened
to you and Audra and Victoria. After all it was because Williams wanted me out
of the way that the two of you were kidnapped to start with. I never imagined
that my running for office would put people’s lives at risk. I always thought
that I was doing something good for the state but this."
"Jim if it hadn’t been you it
would have been somebody else and maybe the outcome would have been different.
Williams was prepared to do anything to get what he wanted and nothing short of
a bullet was ever going to stop him."
"Yes I suppose your right.
I just can’t understand what could drive a man to do what he did."
"Ambition and power make
some people do funny things Jim. Some people, like you, use it for good and ta
make life better for those around them but others like Williams let it control
them until they are completely blinded by the power and their own greed and
importance." Heath looked squarely at the senator with unflinching blue
eyes. "Just promise me you’ll never abuse the power Jim and remember where
you came from. How you started out in life. Otherwise all of this will have
been for nothing."
Jim held out his hand to the
young blond cowboy in the bed and smiled broadly. "That is one promise I
have no intentions of ever breaking Heath, be rest assured of that. Your
sacrifices and those of your family mean more to me than you will ever no and I
hope in time I will be able to live up to your expectations of me. Now I do
believe I made your mother a promise before I came up and that was to make sure
you took your medicine and got some more sleep."
Heath shook the proffered hand
but eyed the medicine with distaste. "Don’t suppose you’d just tell her I
had it would you? He asked hopefully. "Sorry Heath, you know I can’t do
that and besides that would be breaking a promise to your mother and you
wouldn’t want me to do that would you?"
"I guess not," he
replied grimacing in disgust as he swallowed the medicine and then the glass of
water.
"Take care of yourself
Heath and thank you."
Heath settled back into the
pillows and watched the Senator leaving his room from under hooded eyes. "Now
there was a man worth knowing," he thought as the medicine took
effect and he drifted back to sleep.
Epilogue
The afternoon sun was sitting
just above the treetops as Jarrod rode into the yard and glanced over to the
corrals and the crowd gathered around them. Dismounting he handed the reins of
his horse to Ciego and indicated the men.
"What’s going on over there
Ciego?"
"Senor Heath is going to
work the stallion, you know the one that hurt him all those weeks ago, Senor
Jarrod."
"Heath, I didn’t think he
was up to bronc busting just yet. Thanks Ciego."
Jarrod walked over to the
corrals and found Nick leaning against the gate watching their blond brother as
he climbed through the corral railings.
"Nick is he supposed to be
in there?"
Nick turned and smiled at his
older brother. "Jarrod we weren’t expecting you home for a few more
days," he said quietly not wanting to distract either his brother or the
wild stallion that stood snorting in the centre of the corral. "Are Mother
and Audra with you?"
"No they have stayed on in
San Francisco for a few more days. Jim has invited them to the Governors Ball
on the weekend and you know Mother and Audra, they just couldn’t give up the
chance to do some more shopping. In fact we’re all invited but you haven’t
answered my question yet. Is Heath supposed to be in there?"
"Doc gave him the all clear
this morning to start light duties again now that the plaster is off and you
know the boy. He just couldn’t wait to get back to it."
"And you both call this
light duties. I don’t think this is quite what Howard had in mind Nick."
"Don’t worry Jarrod, it’s
not like he’s going to ride him today. He’s saving that for tomorrow. Today is
just to get reacquainted."
For the next twenty minutes
Nick, Jarrod and the assembled hands watched in a mesmerized silence as the
blond quietly worked the stallion in the corral. At the end of the session
Heath turned his back on the stallion and began walking back to his brothers a
look of pure joy on his face and his blues eyes dancing. Nobody was surprised
when the stallion tossed his head and began to follow. Heath stopped and waited
for the horse to catch up before turning and giving it a final pat on the neck.
Satisfied the horse moved away and Heath continued his journey to the corral
railings.
"Jarrod, welcome
home," Heath said offering his hand.
"Thanks Heath. I must say
it’s good to see you up and about again. That was some show you just put
on."
"Yeah well I’ll tell you
Jarrod it’s good to be up and around again. I finally feel like I’m alive if
you know what I mean. Say did Mother and Audra come back with you?"
"No, they are staying with
Jim for a few more days. He has invited all of us to the Governor’s Ball this
weekend."
"And let me guess they
stayed on to shop."
"Correct little brother,
when have you ever known them to give up an excuse to go shopping."
"How’s Jim settling in
Jarrod," Nick asked as the three brothers made their way to the front
door.
"Like he was born to it. I don’t
think the state of California could have done any better than electing Jim as
its new state Governor. He already has several proposals before congress and is
working on several more. I don’t think congress knows what’s hit them
yet."
"As long as he looks after
the state he’ll have my vote." Nick looked at Heath.
"Well little brother I
think you have done enough work for the week. We wouldn’t want to get the doc
riled at us so what say we go and pack some bags and head to San Francisco for
a few days. I sure could use a break seeing as I’ve been doing ALL the work
while you’ve been lying around taking it easy."
"Gee Nick I didn’t know ya
was working. I just thought you were riding out each morning and sleeping under
the trees. Sure didn’t look like you was raising a sweat out there."
"Sweat, I’ll show you sweat
boy, first thing Monday morning."
Jarrod stood by the open front
door and smiled as he watched his two younger brothers walking up the stairs
and listened to their good-natured bantering. What a cherished sight he thought
as he watched his two younger brothers disappear down the hallway leading to
their bedrooms.
The family had been lucky this
time, very lucky, not to have lost the blond cowboy from their midst.