Fragile Psyche

by Christy

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 1

“Heath? Heath where are you Boy? If we don’t get a move on, Mother and Audra will be renting a carriage on their own and coming home. Heath!” Nick Barkley’s bellow reached to the very rafters of the family mansion, much less poor Heath’s pounding ears.

“Nick, I ain’t deaf,” Heath hollered back coming out of his room and leaping down the stairs at a fast clip. Dressed in his usual tan pants, blue shirt and vest; he was putting on his gun belt as he came to a halt in the foyer. From the library, Jarrod Barkley came out to meet his brothers. The lawyer glared at the two men as he joined them.

“Don’t you two ever simply talk?” he demanded. “Mother’s right. Someday all that yelling is going to shatter the windows.”

“Not hardly,” Nick snapped.

“Well I’m glad you’re leaving. Maybe I can actually get some work done. Silas is getting dinner ready. I have to admit, it will be good to have Mother and Audra home. Go gentle with Audra Boys. She’s been through hell I’m sure.”

“That telegram still sends shivers down my spine,” Heath added, thinking of the note they had received a week ago now.

“No kidding,” Nick agreed. “Let’s go Little Brother. If we get to town early, you can buy me a beer.”

“Ah, Nick? Don’t you still owe me $5.00 from our last poker game?”

“Me? I won fair and square,” Nick bellowed starting out the front door.

“Big Brother, you couldn’t even dream of win…” Heath returned with a chuckle, slamming the door behind him. Jarrod shook his head, unable to keep a sardonic grin from his face. Heath was probably the best thing that had ever happened to their family. He had brought a sense of peace and joy to the family that had been missing since Tom Barkley’s death. The boy’s sense of humor and infectious laugh always gave the oldest Barkley son a feeling of joy. Walking back to the library where he had been working on some briefs, and legal papers, he took out the telegram that had come for his mother regarding Audra and the Miller family.

“Mrs. Barkley. Stop. Miller Family murdered by robbers. Stop. Audra safe. Stop. Come at once. Stop.” That was all the telegram said, but it had caused their hearts to falter in fear for the blond sister and daughter they cherished, as well as horror for the Miller family. Victoria had left immediately. Nick and Heath had been out on round up when the telegram came and Jarrod had been mired down by a complicated case so she had gone alone. Jarrod wanted only to see his sister, hug her close and never let her out of his sight again. With a sigh he put the telegram down, quickly losing track of the time as he resumed his work.

On the road to town, Nick talked incessantly about the ranch while Heath drove the surrey. Heath had learned long ago when to block his brother out and when to respond with a phrase of some sort. He was enjoying the afternoon. After living a few years with the Barkley’s he found he relished his down time with any member of his new family. He too was worried about his sister. How would she be affected by her best friend’s death? He had watched men die during the war and after. Death always left its mark on a man. Audra was a delicate flower when it came to her emotions. He could only imagine how traumatized she would have been. Still she was a wildcat when she had to be. Certainly she would be all right. He loved her more than he realized. Like Jarrod, he too wanted only to hug her and make sure she was safe.

“Boy, you listening to me?” Nick roared as they neared Stockton. Heath nodded absently. Nick fell silent. He knew what Heath was thinking of, and it wasn’t his chatter. He didn’t know what Jarrod and Heath were worried about. Audra had been through a great deal in her lifetime. She always came through with an innocent smile and a teasing joke for her brothers. Still, his brothers might be right. Audra adored Elaine and the two girls had often conspired to drive Nick crazy until Elaine moved away. His sister was sure to be sad. He’d buy her flowers and a necklace to help her cope with her loss. She’d be fine. Nick Barkley wouldn’t hear of any other possibility.

The ride to town had taken longer than the brothers expected, or else the stagecoach was early. Either way, the stage rushed past them, reaching the depot before the brothers got there. The driver was helping Victoria and Audra and the other passengers out of the stagecoach when Heath put the brake on the surrey. Nick was by his mother’s side first. Heath followed absently bumping into his brother as Nick opened his arms in greeting.

“Mother! Audra! It’s about time you got home. The place has been lonely with just men chattering away in it.”

“Chattering?” Heath teased. “Mother, you have to know only Nick does that. He leaves me and…” Heath’s voice trailed off as Nick hugged his mother and Audra started to wonder away. She hadn’t even acknowledged her brothers. A stab of fear hit the young man. He called out to her.

“Audra?” When his sister didn’t answer, Heath started after her. Victoria grabbed his arm.

“Heath, no!” Heath stood by his older brother while the mother quickly took Audra by the arm, talking to her and bringing her back to the group. Heath and Nick looked at each other, their hearts simultaneously thumping in anguish at the emptiness in their little sister’s eyes.

“Audra?” Heath asked again. He lifted her chin as Victoria had done when she first saw her daughter. He too was met by the girl’s shocked soul. Gently he drew her into a hug, tears streaming down his face. Nick pulled his mother into his arms again. Victoria leaned against him. When he stepped back he saw that Victoria was holding back her own tears.

“Should we go see Dr. Merar?” Nick wondered.

“It’s no use. She’s been checked by the doctor,” Victoria informed them sadly as they walked towards the surrey, Victoria holding her daughter’s hand.

“She’s in shock?” Heath asked, still shaking from the embrace that Audra didn’t return. Her impulsive hugs had been something he looked forward too ever since she gave him her first hug. He helped his adored sister into the surrey while Nick assisted Victoria. The two boys climbed up as Victoria spoke.

“She’s been through a terrible experience. She won’t speak. I don’t even know what she hears, except when I give her directions. Half the time I have to show her what I want.” Victoria’s voice was filled with her anguish. She put her arm around the girl, but Audra was unresponsive. Nick cringed as Heath focused his thoughts on driving.

“Audra, the new foal is just waiting for you,” Nick told her. “You’ve been waiting a long time for this one, remember?” Her silence conveyed a thousand words to the three of them. Nick leaned over, patting his mother’s knee. She nodded, keeping her thoughts to herself. Turning around, Nick didn’t ask further questions. Instead the family remained quiet the rest of the way home. There was nothing else to say, at least for right now, nothing else to say in the face of the heartbreak that was threatening them all.

At home, Jarrod heard the horses coming into the yard through the open doors that led out to the porch. He threw down his pencil and hurried outside to meet his family. Nick helped Audra and Victoria down while Heath took the surrey to the barn to unhitch the horses. Jarrod stopped short at the serious appearance of his brothers and mother and Audra’s unusually hushed movements. He’d expected Audra to jump off the surrey and run into his arms for a hug. Instead she stood by her mother, not moving, and most amazingly not talking. He pulled his mother into his arms in a strong embrace.

“Oh, Jarrod. I’m so glad to be home,” Victoria breathed. “I didn’t think we’d ever get here.”

“You’re home,” Jarrod intoned. “No matter what’s wrong, we’re here.” Jarrod didn’t need a doctor or his mother to tell him something was terribly amiss with his sister. “Why don’t you take a hot bath while Nick and I take care of Audra?”

“No,” Victoria answered sharply. “She doesn’t know what’s going on. She doesn’t even know where she is. Until I’m certain she’s not afraid, I’ll take care of her.”

“Mother, you can’t do everything for her,” Nick put in. “We’re her brothers.”

“She doesn’t respond. She doesn’t know anything except what I tell her,” Victoria protested. “Don’t you understand?” On the edge of hysteria, Victoria hadn’t meant what she said. Even more distressing was Audra’s reaction…which was absolutely none.

“Mother, let us help you,” Jarrod instructed. Wearily Victoria finally gave in. She allowed her sons to help them into the house with their bags. She insisted on taking Audra upstairs, and helping her with a bath. Nick and Jarrod took their bags upstairs. When they came downstairs, they found Heath in the parlor, pouring each of them a drink.

“I didn’t figure I had to ask tonight,” the blond cowboy said handing each of his brothers a glass. Nick leaned against the empty fireplace. Jarrod sat down on the red settee. Heath sat across from him. Not a word was said. The men simply sipped at their drinks. Finally after a half hour, Victoria came downstairs. Nick put his drink down and instantly hugged his mother again. Jarrod and Heath did the same, both of them drawing her down on the seat next to Heath.

“You look exhausted,” Nick commented sharply. “That must have been some trip.” Victoria nodded.

“Mother, would you like a sherry?” Jarrod asked.

“Something stronger I think,” Victoria replied. Jarrod complied bringing his mother a brandy from the trolley. The boys waited till she had taken a large gulp. Her gray eyes were still moist, but she didn’t cry.

“Mother, what happened to her?” Nick finally demanded, unable to keep the question inside any longer. “She…she’s like a stranger.”

“Its far worse than that, Nick,” Victoria told her son, composing herself so as not to upset her sons any more than necessary, yet still impart the seriousness of the situation.

“Start from the beginning, Mother. Perhaps that’s for the best,” Jarrod instructed. Heath put his arm around his mother. She smiled gratefully at him. She bit her lip as she often did when dealing with difficult emotions. Again Heath squeezed his mother’s shoulder so she could continue.

“When I got to Highridge, Wilber Hamit, the man who had sent us the telegram met me. We went to the cemetery first. Oh it was dreadful seeing Elaine and her parents buried there. I felt so guilty because all I could think of was that Audra was alive while they were…oh God.” Victoria took another deep breath. Nick came to kneel in front of his mother. He put his hand on her knee while Jarrod leaned forward to listen and provide support.

“He said two men had broken into the Millers, looking for money. They tortured them, they…knifed Elaine and then shot them all.” None of her sons spoke of the incredulous horror that was on their minds. Victoria continued.

“Audra was hiding in the attic which is why she wasn’t hurt. I don’t know how they missed her, but they did. I was so glad, so glad.”

“Of course you were, Mother,” Jarrod encouraged. She nodded as to affirm her own emotions.

“When we got to Mr. Hamit’s, Audra was at the kitchen table. I…I ran to her, hugging her, talking to her. She didn’t hear me.” Victoria’s gray eyes took on a distant confusion as she spoke. The boys didn’t move a muscle. She shook her head as if disbelieving her own words. “She didn’t answer me. She didn’t speak. She barely moved. It was as if she were all alone in the room. Mrs. Hamit was angry with her husband because he hadn’t told me the entire truth. She did. They speculated that Audra saw the entire attack. She’s been in shock ever since. Seeing her like that…I couldn’t wire you. I couldn’t tell you unless it was in person. You have to believe me. I didn’t know what else to do except bring her home.” Victoria finished the story with tears falling down her aristocratic cheeks, her agony related to Audra’s condition evident.

“Mother, you did the best you could. There was no easy way to tell us how gravely Audra was truly affected. We knew. In our own way, we knew this wouldn’t be easy for her,” Heath told his mother. Victoria went on speaking as if she hadn’t heard the comforting words.

“One of the men on the coach told me he thought that a woman as beautiful as Audra must have a beautiful voice. I told him she did, but will anyone ever hear her voice again? Oh, God, Oh Heath.” Victoria buried her face in her golden son’s broad chest as Nick continued to kneel in front of her. Jarrod came to sit on the marble table. The four family members clung to each other in their mutual distress. Finally Victoria collected herself. She sat up, dabbing at her tears with her handkerchief which she took out of her pocket.

“Mother, what can we do?” Nick asked, always ready for action. “What can we do to bring her back?” Victoria shook her head sadly.

“The doctor in Highridge said we can’t force her. I did try on the way here, but it only distanced her further. Now I can barely reach her. He said…” Victoria’s cracked voice only added more daggers to stab her sons’ hearts. “He said the longer she doesn’t respond, the more likely she’ll never recover.”

“No!” Nick cried standing up. “I won’t accept that.”

“Nick,” Heath cried. He stood up, putting his hand on his brother’s shoulder. Jarrod took his mother’s hand in his.

“Perhaps we should just treat her as we always do,” he suggested. “Love her, tease her, hug her. No matter if she doesn’t respond. Audra is in there. One way or another, we have to bring her back.”

“I don’t know, Jarrod.” Victoria’s indecisiveness wasn’t something her children were used to dealing with. She always knew what was necessary to protect her children. “On the stage, I talked to her, I read to her, and I tried to get her to answer me, but she just stared. Sometimes it seems as though those men killed her spirit and there’s only a shell left.” Again Nick knelt at his mother’s feet.

“Mother, you can’t give up. You’ve never given up on Heath or Jarrod or me when we were injured. Audra’s hurt. This is no different even though it affects her mind. You heal us with your love and your determination. We can’t do any less for Audra.” Heath and Jarrod exchanged amazed glances.

“By God, I think the boy’s right,” Jarrod grinned. “Nick, remind me not to scold you the next time you yell. You’ve actually got some good ideas in that harebrained head of yours.” The laughter that ensued upon that remark seemed to clear the air. Victoria wiped away her tears again and stood up.

“You’re right of course, Nick. I guess I couldn’t see past the forest for the trees. She is hurt, and we have to be patient. It’ll take time but she’ll come back to us. At least we have hope.”

“That’s the ticket, Lovely Lady,” Jarrod told her.

“Now, it’s your turn to go upstairs and take a hot bath,” Nick said. “And don’t tell me you took one because I can see you’re still as exhausted as when you arrived home. You let your sons help you with our sister. She’s going to talk again, Mother. You can count on it, and everyone, everyone who ever meets Audra Rose Barkley will know that she has the sweetest kindest voice you’ve heard.” The family took hands and said a silent prayer. Victoria hugged each of her sons, then walked upstairs, her heart lightened considerably by the hope her sons gave her. She knew, even as she stopped to check on her sleeping daughter, that she was truly one of the most blessed women on earth. She only hoped the fragile hope she held within her heart for Audra’s recovery would blossom soon so once again she could hear her daughter’s sweet voice and feel her girl’s love again.

Chapter 2

Her blue eyes were still empty. Heath Barkley couldn’t help the stab of sorrow he felt at the sight of his sister sitting on the verandah of the Barkley mansion leafing through a picture book that had belonged to her when she was a little girl. Books and the horses seemed to keep her attention. At the same time, she could sit for hours on the verandah, looking at nothing. Three days had passed since Victoria had brought her daughter home. None of the brothers could get past the change in their sister. The cloud around her didn’t seem close to dissipating. The young men felt helpless to do anything to help her.

“Heath?” Victoria asked putting her hand on his broad shoulder. Unconsciously his arm went around the matriarch’s slender waist drawing her close in comfort.

“Good Morning, Mother,” he greeted, still watching his sister.

“She knows you care, Heath,” Victoria said in her impulsive manner. Heath nodded in his own quiet way.

“She’s lost,” he finally commented. “I can almost feel her trying to come back, but there’s no direction. I’ve felt like that, so terrified you can’t face the future, and can’t put away the past.” His melodious voice gave his mother pause for thought.

“I never thought of it that way,” she commented. “You know her so well.”

“She opens herself up,” Heath commented. “Audra’s an open book, but when you least expect it, she does something that takes us all by surprise. She’s a great deal like someone else I know, a very special lady.” The hidden compliment caused Victoria to lean her head against Heath’s chest for a minute. There was no need for thanks, not with her golden son. Their mutual understanding was enough.

“Mother, I had a thought. The round up is over, and the boys could handle the ranch without Nick or me…”

“You’re not going to go anywhere are you?” Victoria interrupted, surprised at herself. She usually didn’t jump to conclusions, but this was a vulnerable time for the family and she didn’t want the boys to be away.

“No, no,” Heath assured her. “I thought maybe if the whole family went up to the lodge, worked with Audra together, we could help her. There’s so much activity here. At the lodge it would just be us.” Victoria mused a little.

“In case you’re wondering I’ve already talked to Jarrod and Nick. They think it’s a good idea.” Victoria’s brilliant smile met her son’s gaze.

“You read my mind.”

“Nick is working on a schedule for the men and Jarrod is cleaning up loose ends in town,” Heath hinted. Victoria broke into a silvery laughter.

“You boys are conspirators,” she pretended to scold.
Heath bent down and kissed his mother lightly on the cheek.

“We love you too,” he told her with his silly lopsided grin.

“Go sit with your sister. I’ll get Silas to help me start the preparations. We should be able to leave in the morning.”

“You know if Sis and I leave this afternoon, we can have a night under the stars, just the two of us.” The two were walking over to Audra. Victoria shook her head.

“I don’t know about that, Heath. It would just be the two of you.”

“Mother, you know I would never let anything hurt Audra.”

“Oh, Heath of course I do. It’s just we don’t know what she’s thinking or even what might set her off.” Victoria shook her head. “I’m being silly. Let’s go inside and we can get all the things you’ll need. The rest of us can come up in the morning.” Heath hugged his mother, his hand touching Audra’s. The girl looked up, her gentle gaze touching the empathetic man as no other could. Victoria enjoyed the impulsiveness of the hug. Heath didn’t show him emotions always, but this time it was clear that having time with his sister was very important to him. She took Audra’s hand and followed her son into the house. She only hoped they didn’t run into any troubles on the way. Having one child fighting off a traumatic event was enough for any mother.

* * * * * * * *

“Don’t you empty out that stream of fish up there Little Brother,” Nick scolded his brother. “In fact I think I should come up with you right now.”

“Now, Brother Nick, I think Heath deserves some time alone with our little lady, don’t you Mother?” Jarrod teased.

“I think it’s the other way around,” Victoria chimed in. “Audra’s the lucky one to have such a handsome young man escorting her into the wild.” Her sentence hung in the air waiting for a typical Audra response, which did not come. Audra sat on the seat of the small covered wagon they had decided to take, her attention riveted on something ahead of her that no one else could comprehend because she could not tell them what she saw. There were supplies inside the wagon and two pallets for Heath and Audra. They’d decided that if Audra was sleeping in the wagon with Heath, then he would be able to tell if she decided to get up and by chance wonder away. It was a good safety precaution. Jarrod spoke up to fill the air.

“Perhaps it’s that they are lucky to have each other, Mother.”

“I’d agree with that, Jarrod,” Heath answered. “Now if you all are done yammering, maybe Sis and I can be on our way?”

“Yammering? We are not yammering. We’re saying good bye, Boy and if you don’t know that by now and where are you going?” Nick yelled as Heath slapped the reins on the two horses drawing the wagon.

“Good bye, Everyone. See you tomorrow!” he called out. “I’ll say hello to them fish for ya, Nick. I know they don’t have anything to worry about when you’re around.” Nick’s laughter joined Heath’s as the horses clomped down the driveway. Jarrod turned back to the house. Nick slipped his arm around his mother’s shoulder as they followed Jarrod.

“Mother, what did we do before Heath came?” the dark cowboy wondered out loud. Victoria shook her head.

“I’m sure I don’t know, Nick.”

“You were right. Audra is lucky to have him, as a brother, as a friend, just as himself. He’s pretty special.”

“Yes, he is, Nick,” Victoria agreed. “But then all my children are special.” Nick grinned and kissed his mother as Heath had done. Then with a whoop and a holler, he raced up the stairs to start packing. Jarrod came running out of the library where he had just gone, laughing as he realized where the noise came from.

“That boy is never going to be quiet, is he?” he guffawed. Victoria, her heart full with her sons, and aching for her daughter shook her head again.

“No, he’ll never learn to simmer down. Would you have him any other way?” Jarrod’s answer was in kind.

“Not in a million years, Mother. Not in a million years.”

* * * * * * * *

“You know, Audra, I’ve never enjoyed so much peace and quiet.” Heath told his sister that night. They were still about 3 hours from the cabin. After driving for several hours with Heath pointing out the wild life they saw along the way, or commenting on the trees and plants they saw or complaining a little about the barely serviceable road, they had arrived at a campsite that was often used by the family on their way up to the cabin. It was close to a little creek for water, and far enough off the road to avoid strangers as if many came up this way anyhow, Heath thought. Audra seemed content to sit where she was. Heath had taken her twice into the woods and let her go to the bathroom. She seemed to understand his directions well enough, so he knew she could hear. She never answered his questions though. That was disheartening to the cowboy.

She was sitting by the roaring fire. Heath kept a close eye on her as he let a rabbit he had snared cook over the hot flames. He hadn’t wanted to give his sister his baked beans, knowing that she needed decent nourishment. He spoke gently wishing in vain that he could reach her. No matter what he said, his words seemed to fall on empty ears. Still he didn’t lose patience. He couldn’t. Taking her down to the creek after they had eaten, he told her to clean off her plate. He showed her what he was doing with his. To his delight, she copied him exactly. They did the same with the cups they had used for drinking coffee and the utensils and coffee pot. Walking back to the campfire, Heath took the dishes from his sister and packed them. He figured they could eat beef jerky in the morning and the cold meat that was left over. They sat down by the fire again. Heath positioned himself next to his sister, telling her about the stars. He pointed her chin up so she could look but she put her head down again. Heath swallowed his disappointment and went on with his own little story.

“Ya know, I’ve never really told you about the nights I spent under the stars with my mother, Audra. We couldn’t do a lot cause we didn’t have any money, but on warm summer nights we would take bedrolls outside and sleep on the ground. Maybe that’s why I like to sleep under the stars so much. We’d try and figure out which stars were which. I only ever could find the Big Dipper till I started reading about the stars in one of Jarrod’s books. I think my Mama would be real glad I was with you tonight. She always did want a daughter, and she would have treated you just like her own little girl if she could have known you. I bet we could have got into some kind of mischief when were little. Don’t know who we would have driven crazy more, Mama or our mother.” He slipped his hand into hers, squeezing it lightly. Was he mistaken or did she squeeze in return?

“Audra?” His hand on her chin lifted her face to his. His heart plummeted. There was no change in her appearance, only a bit of fatigue evident on her angelic face.

“Sis, you need to get to bed. We’ll have a busy day tomorrow. I’m going to take you fishing. Boy howdy you’ll have a good time, probably try and throw me in the stream too just like that big brother of ours,” he exclaimed a little too jovially. A sudden snap of a twig made Heath spin around on his feet. Audra stood behind him, unmoving. Uncinching his gun belt, he fingered his gun, listening astutely. While he didn’t hear anything further, he knew they were on borrowed time. In a second, he had pushed Audra down under the wagon. Next he put out the flames of the fire. Another snap told him whoever was out there was getting closer. He secured the horses, and then hid behind a tree. Two men walked into the camp. Their images made Heath’s blood run cold. Both men brandished rifles. He couldn’t see their faces in the dark, but something in his gut told him they weren’t to be trusted. Neither of the men spoke which further confirmed that they were looking for something. As they got close to the wagon, Heath pondered what to do. If they found Audra, he had no doubt they would hurt her. Still he didn’t make his presence known.

“Okay, we know you’re here. Come on out and we won’t hurt you or the girl,” one of the men said. Heath didn’t move. One of the men got into the wagon. Heath waited, ready to pounce when it was necessary. The man got out and walked over to his partner.

“Fire’s out just recently. They have to be here somewhere.”

“Be quiet. Look carefully in the bushes. If nothing else, we’ll wait till morning. They can’t stay hidden in the daylight.” Heath was able to keep himself hidden easily. His footsteps were as soft as an Indian. He backed up keeping himself out of sight, hoping that Audra would remain as silent as she had been for the last three days. He had to get her away from the men. He could take them on and probably kill them both, but he couldn’t kill them in cold blood. He wasn’t that kind of man, though he was certain now those two men would shoot him and his sister without a thought. Who were they, he wondered? Had they followed him and Audra or were they in the area by chance? Heath wasn’t really buying the later. He figured the men were after him, probably followed them from the ranch. What better place to plan an ambush. He had to get Audra and get her to safety. If he waited till the men fell asleep, he was fairly certain he could get his sister and the horses and make good their escape. He watched the men sit around the cold campfire. They didn’t light another one. He was so intent on the men, and trying to see Audra under the wagon, Heath didn’t hear the snapping of yet another twig until it was too late. Heath Barkley’s heart pounded in warning as he spun his body around firing his weapon automatically at the very same second another shot rang through the air…

Chapter 3

Under the night skies that were usually so comforting to Heath Barkley, his broad hand clutched his right chest in a vain attempt to stop the blood spilling over his long fingers. Looking down in shock, the red hot bullet burning a hole of agony in his brain, Heath barely felt his knees touch the ground as his body gave into the assaulting metal. His last thought as his face slammed into the dirt was for Audra who he prayed had heard the shots and run for cover. The two men from the camp, barreling towards the sound of the simultaneous shots might have heard his strangled cry as he fell.

“Nick.”

“Bobby,” one of the men cried. He knelt beside his friend. The man lay on his back, one bullet through the center of his brain. Clearly he was dead. The other man turned Heath over. The listless body was heavy, but moved without protest. Heath’s color was poor, his eyes closed, his breathing undetectable. He appeared dead, his left hand by his side, his right still holding the gun his brother Jarrod had given him. Just for good measure a vicious kick was delivered to his ribs. The sound of Heath’s ribs breaking under the heavy boot could be heard with a sickening crack. No reaction was elicited from the body. The tall man with dishwater blond hair, cruel blue eyes and a wretchedly handsome face kicked the body one more time then turned to his partner who stood up.

“He’s had it, Tom. Damn it, where is that girl?”

“He killed Bobby. That girl is gonna pay when I get my hands on her. Too bad he’s dead. I’d like to show him what for.” Tom said. Both men were clean shaven, their clothes disheveled a bit by the dusty roads, but they were basically clean, their intent set on determined faces.

“Daylight will come soon enough. There’s not far she can go. Let’s get some shut eye and then we’ll look for her first light.” The two men walked away from the campsite, but came back shortly with their horses, saddlebags and bed rolls. They built up the fire again, but still didn’t look under the wagon. Their voices talked quietly for a while until all was silent under the starry night sky, except for the occasional hoot owl.

* * * * * * * *

Back at the ranch, Nick Barkley had been asleep for about an hour when he literally sat straight up in bed. The soft hearted bluff rancher, his black hair falling across his forehead leaned forward as a piercing hot poker in his chest took his breath away for an eternal second. His cry came out just as Heath’s voice reached him, calling for his help. Nick yelled, unable to stop himself.

“Heath! Heath!” Time stood still in the inky darkness of the room until the door was thrown open. Jarrod Barkley rushed inside, his mother floating in behind him. Jarrod was dressed in a nightshirt and pants. His mother had hastily pulled a white robe over her nightgown. She turned up the light by Nick’s bedside while Jarrod sat in front of his brother. Nick was staring at the wall in front of his bed. At first he didn’t even acknowledge his brother’s presence. It was as if he were in shock, like Audra. The thought sent shivers down the lawyer’s spine.

“Nick! Nick, answer me!” Jarrod’s hands were on the man’s shoulders, shaking him slightly. Victoria stood nearby, waiting.

“Jarrod?” Nick’s confusion was evident. He looked around the room, turning a little red at realizing the ruckus he had caused. “Mother, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“No need to apologize, Sweetheart. What’s wrong? You were calling for Heath.” Nick screwed his forehead trying to sort his thoughts. Finally he remembered. He thought he would be sick as he realized that something was very wrong.

“Heath,” he muttered, throwing off the blankets. “I have to get to him.”

“He’s on his way to the lodge, Nick,” Victoria objected. “We’ll be up there tomorrow.” Nick stood up. His hazel eyes, filled with worry and fear rested on his mother.

“I have to go to him, Mother. He’s hurt. He’s…he’s been shot, I’m sure of it.”

“Dear God,” Victoria exclaimed, her hand going to her mouth. “We’ll start out immediately.”

“Mother, you can’t. You don’t know what’s going on up there. Let Jarrod and I take some of the men and go. When it’s safe, we’ll…” Nick’s voice faltered at the look on his mother’s face. He turned helplessly to his brother. Jarrod tried to talk some sense into Victoria.

“Mother, Nick’s right. If Heath is hurt, then it’s possible someone ambushed them. We don’t know what we’ll find up there.” Victoria stood her ground.

“Don’t you understand,” she said softly. “I feel it too. They’re both in danger. Even though Audra can’t talk, I can sense that they both are afraid. I have to go with you. We’re wasting time.” Nick rolled his eyes, throwing his hands up in the air.

“You’re outvoted Nick. Mother comes,” Jarrod told him, hugging his mother. “Let’s go get dressed, Lovely Lady.” The two disappeared from Nick’s room. Taking his pants out of the closet, Nick pulled them on, and hurried to finish dressing. Heath seemed to be screaming out to him. He couldn’t get to his brother fast enough.

“Hold on, Heath. Hold on, Audra. We’re coming. We’re coming. Just hold on.”

* * * * * * * *

The mountain air was definitely chilly in the night. Heath lay where he had fallen, his life blood seeping down to the ground beneath him. His body should have been shivering as he drew ragged breaths in his unconscious state. In the wee morning hours, the man felt himself coming back to a harsh reality. Even hazy, he knew not to move until he was certain danger had passed. He let his mind grabble with what had happened until he realized he was not alone. His sister lay beside him, her body close to his unwittingly keeping him warm. Mentally the man thanked God that she was safe. Tentatively he moved his arms and legs. Could he get up? Turning, bracing his thoughts against the numbing pain, he saw that Audra was awake. He put his finger to his lips, not sure if she would understand. Using the nearby tree, the cowboy pulled himself to his feet fighting off waves of dizziness and nausea. Audra stood by him, making no move to help. Taking a risk, he let himself lean on her, putting his arm around her neck. He whispered with an urgent tone in her ear.

“The horses, Sis. We have to get to the horses.” She remained standing where she was just waiting. The young man would have given anything for her to work with him to try to help him. Thankfully, she didn’t protest as Heath made the painstaking trip over to the horses, careful to walk around the camp, still leaning on her. She didn’t flinch at the added weight. Each step took strength that Heath sorely needed. All four horses were now tethered near each other. Leaning against one of the horses, Heath didn’t bother to saddle them. There was no time nor could he have lifted a saddle in any case. He helped Audra up on one horse. Two of the horses, he slapped as quietly as he could so they would run away which they did to his satisfaction. Under the light of the fire, he could see the two men sleeping, certain they had killed him probably and not worried about finding one girl. Taking the fourth horse for himself, Heath found his chest and broken ribs wouldn’t allow him to mount the way he normally did. His heart trembled in fear. If he couldn’t ride, he knew he couldn’t walk. His thoughts were all for Audra. He might be able to defend himself, but he couldn’t let anything happen to his sister. He was about to slap the horse on the rump to send it down the road towards home when he saw a stump he could climb on. Leading the horse over to the fallen tree, he climbed up, gingerly pulling himself on the animal’s bare back. Never in his life had he ever felt so much pain, while fighting to stay alert. He patted Audra’s hand, indicating she should follow him. Her silence was killing her brother. Still she followed him. Heath had to get her to the lodge. Somehow, somehow, he had to.

Three hours later, Heath and Audra were still fifteen miles from the lodge. For the second time, Heath was losing his grip on his horse’s mane. There was no way he could stay on the animal, no matter what. The first time he fell off, he felt as if his entire body was on fire, the impact on the ground taking his breath away. At the same time he was cold as ice, shivering while his body tried to make up for the lack of circulation in his system. Audra knelt beside him.

“Sis,” he gasped. “Go, go.” She didn’t move. Defeated, Heath fought to help her. With what strength he had, he stood up, using Audra to lean on yet again. Getting to the horse was no easy objective. Finally he was standing by the animal’s side. His mind was foggy, his pain threshold reaching its limit. Audra stood beside him. He managed to show her how to cup her hands together so he could remount. While he clung to the horse, situating himself, Audra stood waiting again.

“Sis, get up,” he ordered, half sitting, half lying on the horse. She did as she was told. Together they rode another few miles until Heath knew he couldn’t hold on. He could barely see, wasn’t even sure if they were going in the right direction. Before he could fall, he allowed himself to slide off the animal. He sank down, totally oblivious to the world around him. His gun belt was still on. He still had his weapon, he thought, but it wasn’t much use if he couldn’t open his eyes. Getting down off her mount, Audra left him where he was. She sat down next to Heath, her hand going through his hair again. This time Heath couldn’t respond. He couldn’t even move.

“Sis,” he tried to say. He felt her next to him, her soft hand beckoning to his need to help her, to get help for both of them. Why couldn’t he get up again? The sun was warming his cold body. Trembling, he knew he was getting sicker as a wave of nausea came over him. He couldn’t stop the vomit that ended up covering his already blood covered shirt. He tugged on Audra’s blouse.

“Sis…get some water,” he begged. But there was no water, Heath knew. They had left it behind in the wagon. She started to get up as if she could find it. He grabbed her hand pulling her down.

“No. No. Stay,” he begged desperate now. It was getting harder to breathe, harder to feel anything except the cold and the pain and his sister’s hand brushing through his hair. He drifted off, forgetting the men who had shot him, forgetting everything as he gratefully let the pain recede.

A laugh woke him, a callous, heartless laugh that made him turn stone cold. Just as he came around, his gun was picked up and thrown away into the brush. Heath was helpless. Forcing himself to focus, he saw that Audra was being held by one man, her eyes blank, even more distant than he had seen them in the past. He knew vaguely that any progress she had made was gone as the men roughly tossed her back and forth between them, their laughter pounding in his head like a drum sounding the end, the end of the world as he knew it. He moved a little, just a little. The explosion of pain in his chest told him he could not help his sister. With all hope gone, Heath cried for the man he needed most.

“Nick!”

Chapter 4

She had felt peaceful for a long time now. Her existence was filled with butterflies, horses, and picture books, all harmless objects to her fragile psyche. Soft, kind caring voices penetrated her thoughts, urging her to dress, to eat, to drink, sometimes even to listen though she wasn’t sure exactly what she was hearing. Allowing herself to hear or to think, brought about instant numbness. She felt nothing when the lady with the white hair stood in front of her, her small hands on the slender shoulders, talking in a harsh tone. Her world didn’t cope with words she didn’t want to listen to. The tranquility was all she cared about now.

The man with the lopsided grin, kind sapphire eyes and gentle face spoke in a smooth, reassuring tone while they rode away from all the people at the big house. She was glad to get away. Too many people. Too many men staring at her had started to make her uncomfortable. Sitting on the seat with someone who didn’t hurt her, who didn’t frighten her let her relax in her reality. He was quiet sometimes, not loud like the big dark-haired man who had said goodbye to her and kissed her check. Still even he was gentle with her. She wasn’t afraid of him, not really afraid of any of the people in the big house. Still this was much better, riding and letting the wind blow in her face. When they stopped for the night, she let nothing penetrate her world. He was taking care of her. That was all that mattered until she realized he was in need, a need she couldn’t identify. He didn’t smile anymore. He grunted and groaned still trying to help her. She started to wonder after they were riding on the horses, started to think maybe, just maybe she could help him. Each time he fell, she stayed by his side. Blankness still occupied most of her soul. She didn’t think. She only reacted.

“Sis, get some water,” he had begged while lying on the ground. She started to get up. Water. Where would water be? Everyone gave her what she needed. Through the delicacy of her reality, she remembered he gave her drinks of water with the canteen. There was no canteen. His hand in hers, reaching up and pulling her down made her listen to him.

“Just stay, Sis,” he implored, his blue eyes bright with an emotion she didn’t understand. She did as he asked, brushing his hair with her hand while sitting next to him. When he closed his eyes, she thought he was sleeping. Lying down beside him, she let her head rest on his left shoulder. The smell of blood and vomit didn’t penetrate her senses. She only knew this man was her protector. She could not leave him, not for anything. She fell asleep while time ticked by with inevitable progress.

Her psyche froze when a rough hand pulled her out of a sound sleep. She couldn’t look. She couldn’t feel. Inside she fought to fight off the images that invaded her façade of reality. Her body was thrown to the ground, her lip bleeding after a vicious slap. The men, the men were hurting her, pushing her between them, touching her where she didn’t want them to. Was that her heart beating so hard she could feel it? The thumping was scaring her. What did they want from her? Fighting to maintain her tranquil state, the battle was escalating within. The blanket of softness surrounding her was slipping away as she was held unbearably tight in a man’s arms, his hands pulling at her skirt, a knife suddenly at her throat. Elaine, she cried to herself. The knife that had tortured her friend. The same knife was sliding down her arm causing a line of redness to appear. Still she did not feel the pain. The cruel laughter was penetrating her space. No! No! She didn’t want to let go of the safe haven her psyche occupied. He threw her to the ground, sitting on top of her slashing open her blouse. Her eyes blanked out in pure terror, her scream finally wrenching itself from the very depths of her soul. It echoed in the air, her eyes now fixed on the man lifting the knife ready to plunge it between her chemise covered breasts. She screamed again just as the golden protector threw the monster off her, his cry of rage mixing with the sound of a gunshot. She rolled over, lying still, silent tears coursing down her cheek as the fragile hold to insanity gave way to a reality she had tried to shut out in vain.

“Heath,” she mumbled, sitting up. Another man was standing over Heath’s prone body. She screamed louder, ready to run to push the murderer off her brother. Standing she screamed his name.

“HEATH!” The gun had been aimed at her brother’s head. Her cry allowed the man to point the gun at her. She closed her eyes, waiting for the bullet that would end her suffering, the terror and guilt she felt that Elaine and her parents died while she watched them, helpless to save them. The shot fired but no bullet came. In amazement she opened her eyes, her legs growing weak in shock. She fell, the ground meeting her as her head spun in a dizzy fashion. Small arms were suddenly around her, hugging her, holding her. Who was it? Who was it? She fought to maintain control of her touch with reality. Still the words would not come.

“Audra? Audra, oh Sweetheart,” Victoria Barkley’s voice implored. She was holding onto her with all the love and maternal protection that could be mustered. Audra could feel her mother’s love. It surrounded her just as the blanket of softness had. Her blue eyes focused on the white haired lady holding her close.

“Mother?” Her voice was hoarse, uncertain, frightened.

“I’m here, Sweetheart.”

“Oh, Mother!” The tears came, real tears, real horror at all that had transpired. Her psyche let in the people who loved her, but her fear was still there. The girl accepted that her best friend had been murdered and that she too would have died a violent death if the killers had found her in her attic hiding place. She looked around suddenly, wildly as if the monsters that had hunted her down were still there.

“Mother, they want to kill us. They killed Elaine. Mother, we have to get out of here. Heath…HEATH!” Her scream escalated her hysteria as she screamed again and again.

“Audra! Audra, look, they’re dead, Sweetheart. They’re not going to hurt you or Heath anymore. Audra!” The mother’s voice wasn’t reaching her. She heard it, but she still fought to flee from her terror. Her screams for her brother continued. The slap to her face at first didn’t matter. A second slap made her look again at the dead men lying in the road, at her brothers bent over Heath, and the three horses that had brought her family to her. She could stop screaming now. Collapsing into Victoria’s embrace, she let her mother comfort her, let her rock her back and forth until the image of Elaine’s bloody corpse receded from Audra’s mind, and her psyche came back to her. She wondered even as her little mother helped her to stand how long she could hold on to that bridge of sanity.

* * * * * * * *

“HEATH!” Audra’s screech was music to her brothers’ ears. Nick had seen Heath; in a valiant effort practically leap off the ground at the man abusing his sister. Atop Coco, the dark cowboy raised his .45 caliber weapon and aimed waiting for Heath to get out of the way. Heath successfully pulled Audra’s assailant to the ground but now the man was about to drive his knife into Heath who lay prone unable to move. Nick’s bullet entered the man’s left chest, and he fell dead next to his potential victim. Jarrod had caught the second man as he was about to complete his murdering intent on Audra. He too aimed from Jingo’s saddled back. The man fell, rolling away from Audra. He shot at something, whether it was Jarrod, Nick or Victoria, no one knew, but Jarrod fired again, killing the man once and for all. While Victoria hurried to Audra, Nick and Jarrod rushed to Heath’s side. Their hearts sank simultaneously at the sight that greeted them. It was clear to them Heath was hanging on by a thread.

“Heath,” Nick moaned. “Heath, answer me.”

“He’s bleeding to death, Nick,” Jarrod told his brother. “Get the bandages and supplies Mother brought. I hope that wagon with the doctor gets here soon. We’re not going to be able to move him otherwise.”

“What the hell happened?” Nick shouted, hurrying to do his brother’s bidding. Jarrod ripped open Heath’s blood soaked shirt to assess the damage. He cringed at the huge black and blue bruise on Heath’s side where he had been kicked. From the size of the bruise, the lawyer could guess there were broken ribs there, but his main concern was the bullet hole and blood in the upper right chest just below the shoulder blade. The bleeding appeared to have started again. He didn’t want to think about how much blood the boy had already lost. He couldn’t afford to lose more. He put his hand on Heath’s chest hoping pressure would stop some of the bleeding.

“Heath!” he exclaimed again. “Heath, wake up.” His response was a barely audible moan of pain. Victoria came over to them with her arm still around her daughter. Audra appeared shell-shocked, barely cognizant of the world around her, her body still trembling. At the same time, she was aware of him and Heath, Jarrod realized when he looked at the women briefly. Victoria let her child go when the girl knelt down next to her brother.

“Oh, God. I’m so sorry, Heath. I’m so sorry.” Jarrod was confused by his sister’s apology. What had Audra done? Nick came back with the bandages which Victoria immediately took.

“Get me some water, Nick. I need to clean the wound first. What have they done to him?”

“They shot him and beat him, all because he was defending me,” Audra sobbed, crying again. Jarrod hugged her close, wiping the tears away.

“Audra, he was defending both of you,” he comforted. “We don’t even know who those men were or what they wanted.” Audra leaned over Heath. Victoria was on the other side, holding a dry dressing over the chest wound. Nick came back as Audra spoke the terrifying words that clarified the entire nightmare.

“They were the men who killed…Elaine.”

“Oh, Audra,” Victoria sighed, her heart going out to her daughter. She poured some of the water from the canteen on another dressing, washing the wound as carefully as she could. She turned to her second son again.

“Give me the whiskey bottle.” Nick handed her the small bottle they used for medicinal purposes. Heath’s groan ate at the dark cowboy’s heart when Victoria sterilized the wound. She put a clean dressing on it and taped it firmly to try and apply some pressure so it wouldn’t start bleeding again. They took off his shirt, turning him over on his side and putting a warm blanket under him. Victoria did the same cleansing procedure she had done to his front to the exit wound on his back. The wound wouldn’t have been fatal if they had gotten to him in time. Now he would be fighting blood loss and possible infection, Victoria told herself. Why, why hadn’t they thought that the men who attacked the Millers might come after Audra? Somehow the idea had never occurred to them. It was pure foolishness on their part, the mother concluded in despair. Tears fell down her face as Heath started to come around.

“Nick!” Heath cried softly. “Sis.” They had put him back on the blanket, covering him with several more they had brought with them. Nick rolled one blanket up, placing it gently under Heath’s head.

“We’re here, Heath. Audra’s safe. You saved her life, Little Brother,” Nick assured him. Heath didn’t seem to see or hear.

“Cold,” he mumbled. “So cold. So dark.” Victoria gasped. Jarrod and Audra were holding on to each other for dear life.

“Heath, please,” Audra begged. “Please wake up.” His sapphire eyes flickered for a moment or two, but then closed again.

“Getting warmer,” Heath mumbled. “Beautifully…warm.” Those words reassured Victoria, but in Nick they signaled disaster. Nick could feel his brother was not headed in the right direction.

“Heath! Where are you going, Little Brother. Come back here. Heath!” Heath’s shallow breathing slowed.

“Nick…so warm…” Heath breathed. “Let me go.”

“No! Not on your life, Boy,” Nick Barkley thundered. “You’re not going anywhere but up to the lodge to do some fishing, you hear me, Boy? Audra still needs you. Mother, Jarrod and I need you. Heath, you are not going anywhere.” Nick’s holler might have fallen on deaf ears. Nick didn’t know how much pain Heath had been in nor how long. The cowboy was worn out. He was too tired to keep on fighting. His breathing changed again, coming in short gasps. The family didn’t know what to do. They didn’t hear the wagon with the doctor from Summit’s Pass arriving. All they saw, all they heard was Heath’s last breath as he opened his eyes one more time to look at his family and then gave into the shadow of death that had been plaguing him all night long.

“No! Heath,” Nick hollered again. He pulled his brother’s body into his trembling arms his body shaking in denial. “Heath, don’t leave us. Heath!” Victoria bowed her head into her hands. Audra sobbed anew in Jarrod’s arms while Jarrod the logical lawyer with the heart of an angel buried his head in his sister’s blond hair believing he had just lost the brother who had been with them such a little while. It made no sense, but there it was. Audra had been brought back to them with her lovely voice and her fragile psyche intact. She was back…at the cost of their brother, Heath’s life.

Chapter 5

“No! HEATH!” Both Audra and Nick Barkley’s cries screamed through the air simultaneously. Audra fought to maintain her fragile hold on her sanity. She fell into her mother’s arms in hysterical sobs. For Nick the torture at seeing Heath sleeping in death cut far deeper. Time was standing still. Seconds were hours to as he gathered the lifeless body of his younger brother, his partner, his best friend in his strong, trembling arms. Hugging the blond head to his chest, Nick rocked back and forth trying to assuage the pain that was shattering his heart. The dark rancher’s face lifted upward in his agony as he beseeched God for a miracle. Nearby his mother comforted her daughter while her own tears fell. Jarrod’s hand rested on Heath’s back while the other rubbed Nick’s. His eyes were dry…and grief stricken. Through the fog that surrounded the sorrowful family, a voice broke through but none truly thought a miracle would occur to save the blond cowboy they loved so much.

“Mrs. Barkley, Nick, I brought the doctor,” Clem Watkins, one of the Barkley hands called out. The doctor knelt down on the ground, his black bag next to him. Two other Barkley hands waited to see if they were needed.

“Put him down, Son,” the older man ordered. “Do it now!” Nick felt Jarrod’s hand on his shoulder. He gently laid Heath down on the blanket, supporting the head until it rested on the rolled up makeshift pillow. Nick could barely control the anguish that threatened to overflow. He barely felt Jarrod’s arm around him he was shaking so hard. At the same time, he could sense the torment the rest of his family was suffering along with him, believing Heath was gone from them forever. The doctor leaned down listening to Heath’s chest. He placed his hand on Heath’s neck searching for a pulse. He looked at Nick.

“How long since he stopped breathing?”

“I don’t know, a minute, two?”

“It’s been about two minutes, Doctor,” Victoria confirmed. A fleeting second of hope flashed across the blue of Audra Barkley’s horror stricken eyes.

“Doctor, please,” she begged. “Please do something. Do something.” She fell against her mother again but managed to stop crying. She was amazed at the man’s quick action. Without hesitation the doctor lifted his hand high in the air, making a fist. He brought the round flat part of his hand down on Heath’s chest with a tremendous thump, so hard, his body was lifted off the ground a half inch. He searched again for a pulse. Finding none, he repeated the procedure three more times. Each thump on the chest echoed in the family’s hearts as if they felt the pain that Heath didn’t. His lips were blue and his body was obviously unresponsive to the brutality of the treatment he was receiving. Nick held his breath believing his hope for Heath was futile. He’d never seen anyone try to save a life in such a violent manner. Again the doctor put his hand to Heath’s neck. Next he put his hand on the broad chest, covered now by a blanket. He sat back on his knees, his face grimly set. Slowly he let his eyes meet each member of the family. They waited collectively for him to speak.

“Well, Folks, that was close, as close as I ever want to get,” he sighed.

“You mean…” Nick asked. Victoria left her daughter, bending down by her son. Her hand touched Heath’s blond hair, the caressing gesture bringing her comfort. Her gray eyes were locked on the doctor with the hope that there had indeed been a miracle performed on her son.

“I mean, he’s alive, but barely. We need to get him somewhere where we can take care of him. He’s got a high fever. We need to bring that down and God knows what else.”

“Thank God,” Victoria breathed. Jarrod and Audra hugged in relief. Nick simply took a deep breath, letting out the air he was holding.

“Clem, come on over here and help me with my brother. We can take him up to the lodge. We’re closest to it, unless you’d like to go back to town, Doc?” The dark rancher was quickly getting a hold of himself. Taking charge in an emergency of this sort was something he was accustomed to and could deal with as long as his brother didn’t die on him.

“How far is the lodge and how rough is the trip?”

“The lodge is about an hour by wagon. It’s not too bad,” Jarrod informed him.

“Well town is three hours away, so I’m guessing we should get moving to this lodge,” the doctor decided. “Move him carefully. You don’t want to jar him any more than necessary.” Nick, Jarrod and Clem worked with the doctor to get Heath into the wagon that was drawn close. Victoria spread the blankets on the wagon bed so they could make her son as comfortable as possible. When he was settled, Clem was sent back to town to get the sheriff. Two more men went to get the wagon which had been left behind by Heath and Audra. Audra couldn’t tell them where it was, but they all knew it had to be down the trail somewhere. The family had missed it in the dark as they rode up to the lodge. Jarrod drove the wagon with Audra leaning her head against his shoulder, her arm hastily dressed by her mother with a bandage where it had been cut. Victoria, the doctor and Nick were transported in the wagon tending to Heath. The horses were tied to the wagon to follow. The doctor spoke loud enough for all to hear.

“I’m Dr. Lockart in case you all didn’t know. I been working in these parts for thirty years. This young man is sure lucky you all came when you did.”

“We’re the lucky ones, Dr. Lockart,” Victoria assured him. “He’s very special to us.” Her eyes wandered to the beautiful daughter who was still quiet, but resting so easily. She hoped and prayed that what had started in Highridge with a visit between best girlfriends, could now be put in the past. Holding Heath’s hand, she rubbed his forehead with her other one. Dr. Lockart was right, she concluded. The blond was very hot. The wound untended apparently all night was obviously infected, despite their ministrations. Nick held Heath’s left hand, squeezing it tightly as if his grasp would wake his brother. The ride to the lodge seemed to take forever. The wooden structure came into view rather suddenly. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief that they had finally arrived.

“Jarrod, Nick, take your brother to the master bedroom. Audra and I can share her room. You boys can have the third bedroom,” Victoria ordered. “Then bring out a few of the cots we keep in the barn. I’m sure Dr. Lockart will be tired after seeing to Heath. We can use the other one to take turns staying with him.” Nick and Jarrod rushed eagerly to do their mother’s bidding. Jarrod helped Audra down off the wagon. She fell into her mother’s arms while her brothers gently took Heath into the lodge.

“Oh, Mother, I’m so sorry,” she apologized. “I didn’t mean to upset you so much. I can’t help thinking this is all my fault.” Victoria brushed a few errant strands of blond hair away from the angelic face that finally reflected the normal innocent essence of Audra Barkley. Her smile was meant to soothe the girl’s troubled spirit.

“Sweetheart, it was nothing you could have prevented. What happened is over and done with. It’s nothing to do with you.”

“I should have helped Elaine. I wanted to…” Audra’s voice drifted off. Victoria saw the blue eyes retreating again. Her own mind, fragile in its own way from the shocks of the last week, quickly made her take action. Gently she shook Audra back to reality.

“Sweetheart, if you had tried to help Elaine, you would have been killed, do you understand? That would have broken my heart and destroyed your brothers.”

“But Heath. He almost died because those men wanted to kill me. I’m sure it was so I couldn’t testify against them.” The girl went on, frankly getting on Victoria’s nerves. Why, oh why, she asked herself, were her children so willing to hurt over something they could not fix. She had to smile at the insanity of her own question. Her children’s deep sense of right and wrong was born into them. To Victoria, that sense must have come from her husband because Heath carried the same trait, and obviously had since childhood. She couldn’t take credit for the fine, even exceptional young man he had been when he came to her. Oh, the family’s love and encouragement, their support and care had helped Heath blossom into the man he was now, but he was formed into the man they loved long before he came to the ranch. She shook her head at her daughter, kissing her on the cheek.

“Audra, all three of your brothers would give their lives for you. Would you honestly expect Heath to do any less than he did?” The frank manner of the question didn’t surprise Audra. She could read the truth in her mother’s statement. She squeezed the soft hand that had caressed her and made her special all her life.

“In other words, I’m being silly?” Victoria led her daughter into the lodge as she finished the conversation.

“Not silly, my darling, just a trifle too remorseful.” She hugged the girl close with her arm. “But I promise, Sweetheart, you can be as remorseful as you want as long as you never leave us like that again.” Audra’s return embrace was so beautiful. No further words were necessary between the women. The knowledge that they were together again…and hopefully nothing would ever truly separate mother from daughter again was enough.

* * * * * * * *

Early the next morning, Nick was sitting by his brother’s side. The dark rancher hadn’t moved all day or all night unless it was to use the outhouse. Jarrod and Victoria took turns sitting with him. Once, Victoria had tried to get her son to go to bed. His terse response made her raise her eyebrows enough so that she didn’t press her point. She and Nick took turns rubbing Heath down with cold water from the well outside. It kept them busy through the long hours of darkness that seemed to permeate their hearts and souls.

“Mother, is the doc sure Heath can beat this?” Nick finally asked around four in the morning. Heath was tossing a bit, the heat from his forehead radiating so that Nick felt warm.

“He thought he could,” Victoria mused wiping Heath’s arms with the cool cloth. “He hasn’t been awake to get water into him. Maybe that would help.” Nick squeezed Heath’s hand hard.

“Heath,” he called to his brother. “Come on, Little Brother. You fought to save Audra’s life. You are not going to give up now, are you? You’re not going to do that to us again.” Tears fell down Nick’s strong face. Victoria’s heart was caught in a fragile moment of time. Nick cried so seldom. She reached across Heath’s body to touch her son’s hand. She realized Nick was right. The heat was radiating off her youngest son. It was truly wrenching to watch them both suffer so much.

“Nick, don’t do this to yourself,” she encouraged him. “You have to hope.”

“I know, Mother. It’s just…when he stopped breathing, I saw all the empty days ahead without him. I can’t imagine my life without him in it. He’s given us all he has, his heart, his soul, and his love. That couldn’t have been easy for him.”

“No, I’m sure it wasn’t. You always wanted a little brother, Nick. I’m so proud of your love for him.”

“How I feel is nothing compared to what he brings to us. How often I wish he had grown up with us. I wish he knew that.” Victoria looked down at Heath, gasping when she realized his blue eyes were open.

“Heath!” she cried in excitement. “Oh, Thank God, you’re awake.”

“Thirsty,” the young cowboy said. Nick practically fell over himself pouring his brother a cup of water. Together, he and Victoria lifted the man up enough so he could drink. Some of it fell on his nightshirt, but he drank eagerly. Nick laid him back down, but was gratified when Heath moved himself a little to get positioned a tad bit more comfortably.

“Hot,” he mumbled. “Hot.”

“You’ve got a fever, Boy. It has to break.”

“Thanks…Nick.”

“For what?” Nick demanded in confusion. He was sitting on the bed again, staring at Heath as if he were out of his mind.

“Your wish…and for saving us.”

“Hell, Boy, you saved Audra yourself. You’re the hero, not me or Jarrod.” Heath’s eyes were already closing again.

“Heath? You’re not going to die on us are ya?” Nick yelled, waking Dr. Lockart from a sound sleep. When Heath didn’t answer, Nick yelled again.

“Heath, you better answer me, Boy or there’s going to be hell to pay.” Heath opened those sapphire eyes, a little bit of twinkle shining through. He shook his head.

“Wouldn’t want…to…get…ya…riled, Nick. Sleep.” The eyes closed again. Heath’s breathing was a little fast but regular. Dr. Lockart hurried over to the bed. Nick stood up as Jarrod and Audra raced into the room, also roused by Nick’s cry. They stood arm in arm by their second brother. Victoria took the cool cloths that were now warm and dipped them in the icy water. Dr. Lockart felt Heath’s skin. It was warm and diaphoretic. Heath had gone in just a few minutes from being very hot to cooler and sweating. The fever was breaking right in front of them. He didn’t say anything for about fifteen minute. Victoria continued to change the cool cloths on Heath’s forehead, arms and chest. She too saw the sweat that was soaking Heath’s nightshirt. After several minutes, she took his hand in hers, kissing it lightly. She held the hand until it was almost cool to the touch. She looked up at the doctor.

“It’s broken, isn’t it?” she asked the man.

”What’s broken?” Nick exclaimed, his voice only slightly lower than before.

“The fever,” Victoria breathed. “The fever. Oh, Doctor, is he going to be all right?” Dr. Lockart leaned over checking Heath’s eyes. The cowboy moaned and moved his hand to push him away.

“Tired,” he groaned. The doctor smiled.

“Sorry, Heath. Just checking.” He turned to the family, nodding.

“I think we’ve beat it. I think this cowboy is going to be just fine.” Nick’s whoop and holler filled the room. He danced his laughing sister around the room. The family members all hugged each other as Heath’s voice raised a little bit.

“Hey! Can’t a man get some rest?” Before anyone could reply, Heath closed his eyes, apparently falling asleep again.

“That’s it, Little Brother,” Nick said. “You go to sleep, cause when you wake up, I’m going to give you what for.”

“Nick, why?” Audra asked with concern. “He saved my life.” Nick’s twinkle in his hazel eyes instantly put Audra at ease, but she was still puzzled by the comment. Jarrod waited for his brother’s reply in curiosity while Victoria rolled her eyes. She had a feeling she knew what was coming.

“That boy is going to pay for letting me believe he was dead. I think he took off ten years of my life. I felt like an old man. Can’t even get a good night’s sleep without him calling out to me for help from the middle of nowhere. He owes me big time and I guarantee you, he’s going to pay.”

“Nick,” Victoria tried to chastise without success. Audra’s giggle reached her brother’s ear. Nick had barely been able to talk to her since they reached the lodge. While Dr. Lockart initially care for Heath with Jarrod and Nick’s help, Victoria made sure her daughter ate and had a hot bath, then went to bed. Now she stood before him in her robe and nightgown, her golden hair hanging haphazardly over slender shoulders. Walking over to her, he pulled the young woman into his arms, hugging her, relishing her return of the brotherly embrace.

“Audra, we missed you, Little Sister.” Audra let her head rest on Nick’s shoulder for a minute. He stroked her soft hair. Stepping back, her blue eyes, the same color as Heath’s and their father’s met his hazel ones in adoration.

“I missed you too, Nick. It was so lonely where I was. I just couldn’t come back. Oh, it’s too hard to explain, but I never want to go there again.” Nick touched her chin so she was looking up at him.

“We won’t ever let you go there again, Little Sister, I promise.” Audra threw herself into her brother’s arms. He picked her up swirling around with her in his arms. Their laughter rang through the room. In the bed, Heath sat up on his elbows. He stared at Nick and Audra twirling around and laughing. A lopsided grin broke out on his face to the delight of the family surrounding him.

“Boy Howdy,” the blond brother and son exclaimed before giving up the ghost and falling back on the bed again. “What a racket. Nick…lemme sleep.”

“Only for a little while, Heath,” Nick answered. “Then you and me got unfinished business.”

“Yeah,” Heath’s tired voice came, his hooded eyes glinting with his own sparkle. “Guess we got us a lifetime to finish that business Big Brother…”

“And then some, Heath,” Victoria told her son kissing his hand again. “And then some.”

Epilogue

Ten days later.

A warm breeze sauntered through the trees. Sitting on a blanket, watching her brothers fish, Audra Barkley giggled as Nick and Heath argued by the river. Jarrod interrupted them with an aggravated sigh.

“If you two aren’t quieter, we’re not going to have any dinner. You’ll have to go hunting to make sure we don’t starve tonight,” he scolded.

“Oh, heck, Jarrod. This here dunderhead thinks we should use different bait. I think we’re doing just fine.”

“Oh, caught any fish lately?” Heath teased, looking back at his mother and sister and winking.

“Not in the last few hours, but we’ve caught fish every evening for the past week. What do you think Mother’s been cooking?”

“Well you’ve just been lucky. Now if you use bread soaked in honey, I bet you’d catch more fish than ever.”

“Not on your life. I’m sticking with the tried and true,” Nick retorted with finality. He sat down on the edge of the river, casting his line out into the cold water. The water was fairly calm today, with the whisper of the wind causing tiny ripples to lap over each other. Jarrod sighed, hoping his brothers would be quiet now, but consciously waiting for the bantering to continue. It was a treat to listen to them. He kept one eye on his line and another on his brothers, on alert in case they tried something he would need to intervene in.

“Mother, why do you suppose they tease each other so?” Audra asked with fondness. Victoria’s gray eyes crinkled with her mirth.

“That’s simple, Sweetheart. They love each other. Their teasing is a way to show how much they care.”

“True. I’m so glad Heath is here. I’m going to have a word with him before he gets caught up in fishing.” She leaned over and kissed her mother impulsively. Dressed in a pair of slacks, and shirt, she walked up behind her brothers with a glint of mischief in her own blue eyes.

“Heath?” she asked her voice soft and placid. Heath, standing near Nick, turned around.

“Yeah, Sis?”

“I just wanted to thank-you again for saving me. You were so brave, and I was so afraid.” Heath’s lopsided grin brought instant sunshine to his sister.

“Never mind, Sis. I guess that’s my specialty, helping little sisters in distress.”

“You’ve only got sister,” she reminded him with a giggle.

“Oh, yeah. Well then you’re quite welcome, Sis.”

“Would you two be quiet?” Jarrod rolled his eyes. Audra whispered in Heath’s ear. Victoria caught the glint of impishness in her son’s eyes as he faced her. Before she could stop them, her two youngest children had walked over to Nick about fifteen feet away. With a stealthy glance at each other, the two moved as one, both pushing Nick into the river. They were laughing as Nick came up, blustering in the water.

“You two are in so much trouble,” he thundered. Jarrod looked back at his mother who stood, giving a slight nod. In second the mother and son had acted as one, pushing Heath and Audra into the water. Audra’s scream rang through the air. Unlike Nick, the brother and sister came up laughing. Jarrod picked his mother up in his arms.

“Jarrod Barkley, don’t you dare,” Victoria screeched. Ever the gentleman, Jarrod put his mother down. Nick pulled himself up the bank. He held out a hand to Jarrod.

“Come on, Pappy, give me a hand.” Still laughing, Jarrod held out his hand and pulled on Nick. The bronzed cowboy didn’t waste time as he yanked on Jarrod’s arm. Heath and Audra collapsed in helpless laughter, waist deep in the water as Jarrod joined his siblings. When all four were standing, splashing each other with water, Victoria scolded them with a pointed finger.

“All right, Children, now that you’ve scared the fish away, what are we going to have for supper?”

“Anything,” Nick answered with a wicked grin. “As long as Audra doesn’t cook.” He swept the girl up in his arms as he had the night Heath’s fever broke. Her brothers surrounded her with their own wet dance in the water while Audra’s laughter mixed with theirs. Victoria Barkley’s heart overflowed with joy at the sight of her offspring gallivanting without a care in the world in the water. Her youngest son and daughter had come through two traumatic events. Audra’s fragile psyche had been restored, perhaps stronger than ever, and Heath found that his family connection with Nick was stronger than ever. Her children were bonded beyond anything that could be explained in the true world. That connection was as much a mystery as the mind…and maybe in the end that was the way it was meant to be. Victoria didn’t care, as long as her children were never lost to her again. She had been given two miracles as far as she was concerned, and in her mother’s mind this warm summer day, her cup truly ran over.

THE END