Coming Back, Part 1

by dcat

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.

It was the sixth day of the drive. They’d finally be home before the day ended. It hadn’t been a particularly long drive, nor did they have a large herd they were driving. In fact, only Nick, Heath and a reluctant Jarrod had made the journey. Nick had found out about the herd through the friend of a friend. It was a new breed line and it had shown remarkable progress through its first two breeding sessions. These particular cattle were bred to withstand a hotter and dryer fattening up season, needing only a bare minimum of grazing pasture. Nick had the perfect spot for them in the west pasture and since the herd was relatively small and the price was right, he decided to give them a try. Both Heath and Jarrod thought the risk involved was minimal and Heath eagerly agreed to ride with Nick and drive them back, anxious to see this ‘wonder’ breed. Jarrod, on the other hand, had to be talked into making the ride with his brothers. He was between cases, and though he enjoyed his free time and like to spend some of it working on the ranch that carried his name as well, he wasn’t really relishing a six-day cattle drive. Day by day, prior to the trip they continued to ‘talk’ him into coming along. Neither Nick or Heath knew if their ultimate promise to him was the final convincing that Jarrod needed, Nick promised that all he’d have to do was ride up front and lead the way, leaving Nick and Heath to do all the work behind or Heath promising that he’d make something besides beans for the entire trip, Jarrod agreed to ride along in the end, happy to spend some time with his brothers.

They woke up to a light, cold drizzle on day six, all three of them soaked to the skin before they’d even had their morning coffee.

“I knew I should have never let the two of you talk me into this,” Jarrod began.

“We’ll be home before the day ends and then you can sleep tight in that soft bed you love so much,” Nick jawed back at him.

“It’s just a little rain Jarrod, at least you won’t need a bath,” Heath reasoned, always trying to find the bright side of something.

Jarrod gave him a smile and three brothers began to break up camp.

“There’s no sense trying to start a fire, we might as well get ‘em moving right away,” Nick said.

“Jerky for breakfast,” Jarrod moaned, “almost as bad as Heath’s beans.”

“Just for that, I’m gonna rustle some up tonight for dinner at home, and serve you up a big plate of them,” Heath teased back.

“Don’t you dare, I’ve got a hankering for some of Silas’ baked ham. I even put in my request before we left,” the lawyer stated.

“This is exactly the reason, lawyers don’t make good ranchers,” Nick explained to Heath. We’re surrounded by all this beef and all he can think of a stinking pig.”

All three of them enjoyed a laugh.

Each man committed to the tasks at hand, working in silence, knowing exactly what had to be done, in order to finish up the last part of this journey.

As they saddled their horses, Jarrod walked over to Heath. “I’ll bet you’ll be glad to get back home.”

The blond haired cowboy showed a hint of a smile, knowing that his brother meant the new girl he had been seeing, Emily Matthews. “Well, if we get home soon enough today, I might just ride into town to see her.”

“You just better take it slowly with that one,” Jarrod began, “she’s pretty special.”

“You’re telling me? I never thought I’d ever talk with a Senator, let alone ask one if I could take his daughter out on a date,” Heath smiled.

“It’s not hard seeing that she likes you a lot,” Nick butted in. “You two are the talk of the town.”

“I know, I’ve heard all the rumblings, funny thing is she could have picked any man in Stockton and I’ll never know why she picked me?”

“Why don’t you ask her?” Nick blurted out.

“She ‘picked’ you,” Jarrod emphasized the pick, “Because you’re a gentleman.”

“And you didn’t chase after her like the rest of her suitors. Some gals just don’t like that,” Nick added. Heath stopped what he was doing and thought about the nice things his brothers were saying about him. It had been quite a year for him, first finding his family, now the beginning of a romance. He never would have thought he’d have the finest brothers and sister anyone could ask for. Nick snapped him out of his trip down memory lane, by thrusting his bedroll into his chest. “Don’t forget this, Romeo. Let’s get a move on before this rain gets any worse.”

Heath grabbed the bedroll and tied it on securely to Charger.

Each of them put on their slicker and they mounted up and began to move the cattle toward home.

By mid-morning the light drizzle had turned to heavy rain. It was slow going. The cattle obviously had an affinity toward any kind of moisture. They plodded along like snails and it was all the three of them could do just to keep the cattle moving. They found their way to a stand of densely populated trees and drove the cattle under the temporary cover. They dismounted and took a short break from the continuous downpour.

“Boy howdy, this rain is something else,” Heath began as he took off his hat and let the built up water pour off his brim.

“I haven’t seen it rain this hard for this long for years,” Jarrod added.

“That’s just cuz you’re sitting inside that fancy office most of the time,” Nick said, also dumping his hat. “We’re not making good time at all, we need to get these cattle moving. I’ve never seen such slow-pokes in all my life.”

“Maybe it ain’t the cattle, maybe it’s the drovers?” Heath said flashing a grin.

“Speak for yourself, little brother,” Nick added, “and maybe for Pappy there too.”

“Nick, even the horses are slow moving through this, it’s just so muddy,” Jarrod said.

“Should we wait this out a bit?” Heath questioned.

“No, I just as soon keep them moving,” Nick answered.

“Maybe it’ll let up some,” Heath offered.

Nick started to get riled up, he hated being disagreed with, especially when it came to cattle. “Look, if you two cry babies would just get on your horses and start driving these mangy beasts, like you’re supposed to do, instead of standing around here watching the rain fall, maybe we’d all be home for your dinner,” he looked at Jarrod, “and your date,” he said to Heath.

Heath and Jarrod listened to his tirade and glanced over at one another. Heath decided to challenge Nick first and so to Jarrod he said, “Wonder what his reason is to get back so quick?”

Jarrod shrugged his shoulders and said, “Must be a good one for him to try to put the blame on us.”

Nick postured as he watched the good nature ribbing occur. “Listen you two, you don’t need to know my reasons, lets just get moving, alright?”

The rain didn’t let up at all, in fact it only seemed to get worse as the day wore on. The ground was so muddy that it seemed to look like they were driving the cattle through a continuous pond, rather than open grazing land. Jarrod rode the point, Nick worked the middle section and Heath’s job was to make sure none of the cattle got stuck or drifted off too far. After a while, he kept his rope handy, because every few hundred yards or so, a baby steer would get caught up in some deep mud and Heath had to drag them out and catch them back up to the rest of the herd. It got to be so bad that Nick starting drifting back and giving Heath a hand.

Nearing half past two in the afternoon, they came upon the familiar valley they called home, even though they still were on the southern edge of it, it would only be 2 or 3 hours till they’d be at home. A sense of relief and accomplishment was written on each of their faces, until the sky opened up even more and began to rain even harder and thunder and lightening began to kick up, along with sustaining winds. The sky was so dark out that it seemed to be the middle of the night.

They kept the herd as tightly packed in as they could, hoping this particular storm would blow eastward in a hurry. What they wouldn’t do to settle for the steady downpour of earlier right at the moment. Their shouts and calls to each other and to the cattle proved fruitless. The thunder seemed to echo and reverberate throughout the whole valley making it impossible to hear and the blowing, driving windy rain, made it impossible to see.

Approaching the Pine River, Heath rode over to Nick and shouted, “Nick, let’s wait and see if this storm runs its course before we take these cattle across.”

Nick could barely understand a word he was saying in the driving rain, “WHAT?” he screamed back.

Heath took his hand and pulled up Nick’s horse and made him listen, “I said, let’s wait till the storm passes before we take them across.”

Nick waved him off, “You scared of some thunder and lightening?”

“No, I ain’t scared, but when’s the last time Jarrod drove point?” Heath argued with his stubborn brother.

Nick couldn’t argue with that. “Ok, you made your point, I’ll take point, you stay back here and I’ll have Jarrod keep ‘em together.”

Heath nodded, he still thought it’d be best to wait, but there was no use in arguing with Nick.

Nick rode ahead and sent Jarrod back. As they approached the river, the storm intensified.

* * * * * * * * * *

Nick led the way, imploring the cattle to follow his lead and the slow trek made its way into the swollen river. His voice, hoarse from the constant strain of yelling and the rain itself, yet he continued to scream and holler, waving his hat and pushing the cattle to track forward, urging them to follow.

Jarrod was next into the river, following Nick’s lead, whooping and hollering, waving his hat, heartily persuading the cattle to get across the swift river. This battle of wills with stubborn cattle was just as ornery as any suspect he’d face in court. He never did cotton to weather elements and this one was brutally nasty.

Heath stood on the far bank, yelling for the all the cattle to follow, making sure every last one of them dove into the chilly water and came up on the other side. He watched his two oldest brothers expertly perform their cow poking duties. He always knew that Nick was a born leader, able to make anything or anyone follow his example. Nick didn’t know the meaning of the word fear, something that was coursing through Heath’s veins right at the moment. There was something he didn’t like about this storm. It didn’t want to seem to let up, it just kept getting worse and worse as the day progressed. But Nick took on any challenge head on and usually always came out ahead, he wasn’t about to let a little rainstorm keep him from getting home. Heath’s focus shifted to Jarrod, who was equally calm and collected in this weather-laded element. Though he was surprised at first, by his eldest brother’s ranching abilities, the more he thought about it, he chalked it up to Jarrod’s calm and calculated demeanor in the courtroom. He was impressed that Jarrod was equally adept in moving these cattle. He’d be sure to let Jarrod know later how much he’d admired him.

On the outside, Heath showed no fear, but he knew that it was coursing through his veins on the inside. He could feel it. But he couldn’t let it show to his horse or to the cattle who were counting on him to help get them across. A cowboy had to be that way. One wrong move could mean disaster. His eyes scanned back and forth, from one brother to the other, and across the herd. The wind and rain nearly blinded him, but he kept watching and listening as best he could for any sign of trouble.

All the cattle had made it into the icy waters of the river. The current moved swiftly and steadily as Heath finally pushed Charger into the water. Charger tried to balk at the temperature, but Heath calmly assured him and moved slowly and deeper into the flowing river. He looked ahead and saw that Nick had made it across and stood atop the rise on the other side. He still was working furiously to get all the cattle up onto somewhat dryer land. Jarrod still worked in the river, moving cautiously from side to side, never letting an animal stray too far from the pack.

And Heath pushed them all to get across as well. He could feel the river surge against his leg and against Charger. The horse held steady. A bolt of lightening lit up the sky and two of the smaller cattle broke away and started heading back toward the initial shore. Heath looked up and saw Nick screaming and waving and even though he couldn’t make out his brother’s words, he knew Nick wanted him to go after the errant cattle. Jarrod had seen them break free and knew his job was to keep the rest of the cattle from following. He hastily urged Jingo to keep the cattle in line.

Heath directed Charger backwards to head off the cattle. As he approached the two offenders, he yelled at them and used his rope to guide them back toward the rest. They started to follow, one a little faster. It quickly caught up to the rest of the herd, while the other one, the smallest of the bunch, continued to dawdle, fearful of the raging river underneath.

Jarrod was driving them up the bank and Nick came down to give Jarrod a hand, they both rode up to the top of the opposite bank and anxiously watched their youngest brother bring up the rear. They watched the stubborn little cow nearly get washed downriver. It obviously couldn’t touch ground any longer and was beginning to float down the river.

Nick shouted to Heath to let it go, one little cow wasn’t worth the expended effort in torrential storm, but Heath couldn’t hear him yelling and at the moment he wasn’t looking at his brothers for any instructions, he knew what the job was at hand for him and that’s what he focused on.

He saw the little cow get swept downriver and decided to try to rope it and try to drag it across. He carefully maneuvered Charger to the best position possible and tried to hook the little cow’s head. Three tries and no luck. They had drifted farther downstream and he glanced back just to check to make sure that all the rest had made it across. They had. He saw his brothers waiting on the bank and saw Nick waving at him. He waved back, not realizing that Nick was trying to tell him to forget the little cow he pursued. While looking back toward them, an enormous clap of thunder rolled & shattered in the valley, along with another crackling bolt of lightening. Charger, spooked by the noise, the rain and the clap of lightening, reared up, sending an unsuspecting Heath backwards, trying to hold on for dear life. He couldn’t regain his balance, and the horse began to fear the worst. Charger reared again, Heath tried to hang on, but with the rain pounding and the wind blowing, he felt himself slipping off the saddle, out of the stirrups and the reigns slipping out of his hands.

CRASH, into the icy river he went, smacking down on his back and the back of his head. The coldness of the water overtook him and shock of the fall brought him too suddenly. He quickly realized he was underwater and he fought to get himself upright as quickly as he could. The cold water enveloped all around him and as he felt himself fighting to reach for air. He realized that his right foot was still in the stirrup and that Charger was partially down in the water, also fighting to get up. His leg was partially trapped by the horse. He could tell the horse was bucking and gnawing it’s way to the surface, not realizing his rider was fighting for the same thing. He felt the undertow of the current pulling him and the horse along the bottom of the riverbed. He quickly tried to think of what to do and began to struggle and try to kick his boot off, hopefully freeing his foot, so that he could float to the surface and hope that Nick and Jarrod would help him get to shore.

Nick and Jarrod were paralyzed on the bank as they saw the bolt of lightening flash so close to their brother, it was almost as if he’d gotten struck. It lit up the sky like a firework, eerie though it was. When it struck, it looked like it was bright sunlight, when in fact it was the just the hot, white energy from the bolt of lightening. And then in an instant, they saw Heath had tumbled off Charger and they had waited, holding their breath to see him resurface. He didn’t and neither did the horse, though they could tell where Charger was, the huge animal was struggling to get up.

Nick kicked Coco into action right back into the water, going after his brother and the last spot he’d seen him at. Jarrod still in shock from what he’d witnessed, mumbled, “Oh dear God,” and then followed his brother into the water to rescue Heath.

Heath felt his energy and breath fading fast. With one last pull on his trapped leg, he felt his foot come free from the boot and he tugged it out from under his trusted horse. Charger felt the weight that was keeping him down, disappear and he suddenly made his way upright and began to drag himself to shore.

Nick and Jarrod saw the horse come up, with the boot hanging from the stirrup. Heath still had to be underwater, nearby.

Heath had exhausted so much energy in trying to free himself from the stirrup and he’d been underwater for several minutes that he began to succumb to the cold, dark depths and it was becoming impossible for him to even let himself float to the surface, he had no air left to expend.

Nick and Jarrod reached the area and Nick dismounted, the water depth almost up to his armpits. He handed the reigns of Coco to Jarrod and began to dive under, searching for his missing brother. The murky depths provided no easy glimpse of anything. His hands reaching and grabbing at old branches and river debris. Nick kept resurfacing and diving as Jarrod scanned the area for any type of sign that Heath was nearby.

Blackness engulfed Heath and he felt his body finally beginning to float.

* * * * * * * * * *

Nick continued his frantic search for Heath. Each time he surfaced empty handed, Jarrod could see the terror and fear in his brother’s face intensify. Jarrod finally climbed down off his own horse and joined in on the search.

“He’s gotta be around here,” Nick shouted as he dove under once again.

Jarrod scanned the surface for any kind of sign, just as he was about to dive, he spotted Heath’s body bob up to the surface. He half swam, half ran down to his brother’s lifeless body. Nick came up for a mouthful of air and looked around.

“Over here Nick, quick,” Jarrod shouted.

Nick stumbled and swam his way toward both of them. Jarrod reached Heath first and he quickly lifted his head above water and held him securely until Nick reached them as well.

Nick took one look as his unconscious brother and wanted to be sick. Even in the pouring rain and darkness of the storm, he could tell his brother was blue, and he wondered if he was already dead from drowning.

“Let’s get him on land, help me Nick,” Jarrod shouted, snapping his younger brother to attention. Nick had zoned out from the shock himself, but Jarrod’s pleading shout jolted Nick back to reality.

Nick swiftly grabbed his brothers legs while Jarrod had his upper body securely wrapped in his arms and they quickly but carefully made their way to the riverbank. When they made it up the bank and onto land, they gently laid him on the ground.

“We gotta get him to a doctor quick,” Nick shouted.

Jarrod ignored Nick for a moment, instead checking over Heath. He put his hand to his chest and leaned down to see if he could tell if Heath was breathing or not.

“I’ll get the horses,” Nick shouted and went back into the river to retrieve the stranded horses. He wasn’t thinking clearly, the sight of his brother had shocked him deeply.

“Nick wait!” Jarrod yelled, but Nick had his own ideas. He let him go and went back to his other brother.

Jarrod couldn’t feel a breath and he knew by looking at his brother’s blue skin that he needed to breath right away. He quickly looked to the heavens for God’s intercession and turned his brother on his side and began to smack the middle of his back, hoping it would shake out any water and encourage his brother to breathe.

“Come on Heath, please,” he begged to the unconscious form. “Don’t do this, we’re almost home, come on now, breathe,” he screamed.

Nick had gathered the horses and was back on the riverbank, standing over Jarrod watching him try to pound the life back into their brother.

Jarrod felt his presence and saw him out of the corner of his eye and yelled to him. “Don’t just stand there Nick, help me.”

Nick was still frozen, “He needs a doctor Jarrod, let’s ride.”

“Nick, if we put him on a horse right now, he’ll die for sure, he’s not breathing, now get over here and help me.” Nick didn’t move. “Nick,” Jarrod screamed, “getting him to a doctor will be too late. Help me, let’s get him to breathe.”

Something finally clicked in for Nick and he quickly went to his brother’s side. “What should I do?”

“Let’s put him on his back, you raise his arms and I’ll try pressing down on his stomach to try to get the water out of him,” Jarrod explained. “I saw this in San Francisco when a man fell off the dock.”

Nick carefully followed his brother’s commands and after a few minutes, they rolled him onto his side again and Jarrod began to smack Heath in the middle of the back again.

“Heath, please, breathe,” Nick shouted, watching Heath’s face closely for any sign that his breathing would return. He was still blue.

Finally, after 5 slaps, Heath gasped for air as water came spitting out of his mouth. Then it stopped again and Jarrod gave him another slap, “Come on brother, you can do it, keep taking those breaths.”

Another gasp came and out came a mouthful of water.

“Keep him on his side, just like this,” Jarrod said, “so he doesn’t swallow that water back down.”

Nick held Heath’s head in his hands, keeping it steady and not allowing it any movement.

Dirty, cold river water poured out of the blonde cowboy’s mouth, as he continued to choke and gasp for every breath.

“That’s a boy, keep working, keep breathing,” Jarrod said, now gently taping his way on his brother’s back, wanting to get all the river water out of him.

“Is he gonna be alright?” Nick asked, still watching Heath and seeing the color start to come back into his face.

“Now, he’s gonna need that doctor,” Jarrod said. “I don’t know how long he was under there.”

The two of them huddled around Heath, shielding him from the endless rain, both exhausted from the whole scene that had transpired. They’d lost all track of time and place and they sat in shocked silence, watching their unconscious brother take every labored breath.

“How are we gonna do this?” a stunned Nick finally asked his older brother. “In this rain, only two horses, no shelter between here and the house?” The normally inventive and creative man was not thinking clearly. He stared at Heath and watched him take every breath.

Jarrod knew from looking at Nick’s face that he’d have to stay focused and come up with a plan. “I’ll ride double with him and you lead us on in, I think it’ll be ok if he sits up and I’ll hold him close, as long as he keeps breathing, he’ll be ok.”

Nick took his eyes off Heath for a split second and looked at Jarrod and nodded his understanding.

“Do you think you can do that?” Jarrod asked him.

“I have to do it, there’s no can in the equation Jarrod,” Nick said, “You just keep making sure he’s taking air. We’ll get him there nice and easy and as quick as possible. You hear that Heath, we’re gonna get you home boy, safe and sound, just hang on.”

Even though Nick and Jarrod were exhausted themselves, they forgot their own needs and focused on that of their younger brother. Carefully they got him into the saddle of Jingo and Jarrod quickly mounted behind him, wrapping his arms tightly around his brother. He felt relieved when he felt Heath’s chest rising and falling as he held him close.

Nick mounted Coco and grabbed the reigns of Jingo and began to ride toward the house.

The thunderstorm had moved off toward the east and though it kept raining steadily, little by little the sky began to brighten up a bit. They watched the wrath of the passed storm as they made their way through the familiar valley.

Jarrod could feel his brother’s cold, damp body next to his own. What he’d give for a bright, hot sun right at the moment to warm them both up. He knew it was more important to keep Heath warm and dry, but they had nothing to use to provide that comfort for him.

“Everything ok back there?” Nick turned back and asked Jarrod as he looked at the sleeping form of his younger brother.

“Yeah, so far, so good, I just wish this rain would let up or even stop. I don’t think I’ll ever complain about another drought for the rest of my life,” Jarrod said.

“We should be home in another hour,” Nick said, “unless you want to detour over to the line shack?” Nick, the thinker, was finally kicking back in.

“I think it’s best if we get him back to the ranch and send for the doctor Nick,” Jarrod explained.

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right,” Nick said quietly, turning back to watch the trail, his attention and thoughts remained with his younger brother.

Flashback…..

The last time the two of them had been in the Pine River so long, was on the third day that Heath had come to the Barkley’s. The first day they’d met, Heath and Nick had a standoff on the bridge that connected the main road to Stockton, with the ranch. The old, rickety bridge didn’t stand up under the pressure of two Modoc ponies and two riders who were about to find out just how much alike they really were.

And so on that third day, Heath made up his mind to go fix that bridge, saying that he didn’t want his horse to break his leg, but mainly it would give him something to do all day, so as not to have to spend too much time around this new found family.

Nick wouldn’t have anything to do with that. He decided after the breakfast fiasco, that he’d ride out and make sure this so-called brother did the job right. As the ranch foreman and older brother, that was his duty, he reasoned to himself.

The two of them couldn’t work side by side in those early days to save their lives. They couldn’t even share a steak at the breakfast table without Jarrod playing peacemaker with a knife. But stubborn Nick and immovable object Heath were destined to have this play of wills acted out until they could agreeably come upon some sort of truce or acceptance of each other.

Each one started working on opposite sides of the bridge. First it was to see who could work the fastest, then it became, who would screw up first and finally when they had gotten to a point where the two ends would join together, all hell broke loose and the two of them found themselves throwing punches, swimming and fighting, cursing and wrestling up and down the shores, back and forth and ultimately back on the bridge, where once again, it gave out underneath both of them, dropping them into the water below.

On day four they went back again, each deciding that working together would be the only way the bridge would ever get back to working order. By the end of that day, they both rode their Modoc’s across and they headed for home. Each of them smiling

Nick turned back again, as he remembered that early day. Jarrod nodded to him that everything was still ok and Nick kept leading them home. “Just hang in there little brother, this river won’t get the best of either one of us,” Nick muttered to himself.

Jarrod watched Nick somberly look back at him and check on the condition of Heath and started to remember another time when it was Nick who was sick and it was Jarrod who had then cared for him in the same way he was now caring for Heath.

Flashback……..

It was just a few weeks after their father had been killed. Their mother, in her grief, had gone to stay with her sister and brother-in-law, leaving the children in the care of neighbors.

No one really understood how Tom Barkley’s death affected Nick. They all knew that Nick worshipped Tom, but beyond that, Nick kept his feelings hidden. He didn’t let on how much he ached for his father. Somehow the only one who knew was Jarrod.

Nick stopped eating and worked from before sun-up till sundown, alone every day. No one saw him. They all figured the young man needed this time to heal in his own way.

A week of this went by, when finally one morning Jarrod got up and followed Nick, only to see him collapse from exhaustion and near starvation a few hours later. He brought his brother home that day, holding him close to himself, riding double and staying with him night and day by his bedside nursing him back to health. The two of them never talked about it again.

Jarrod secured his arms around this newest brother in the same way and whispered in his ear, “we’re gonna make Heath, just you wait and see, I’ve been through this kind of thing before. You just hang on and let your Pappy take care of you too.”

Nick pulled up and looked back toward Jarrod and Heath. The house was up ahead.

* * * * * * * * * *

Nick dismounted quickly and threw open the front door with a loud thud. He screamed, “Eugene, get out here now, quick, we need your help.”

Naturally Victoria and Audra followed the loud ramblings of Nick. They were entirely too use to his bellowing voice by now to put too much concern in how the tone sounded. They calmly walked to the foyer.

Gene, however, raced outside, knowing not to waste time when Nick called. He’d known Nick long enough and well enough to know that when he called, you came a runnin’. Down the steps leading from his bedroom, he ran.

Nick had gone back outside into the pouring rain to Jarrod, Heath and Jingo. Jarrod still cradled Heath close. Nick stood there by his side for a second and said softly to Jarrod, “We’re home Pappy, you can let go of him for right now, lets get him out of this rain and inside the house.”

Jarrod didn’t flinch and he kept looking straight ahead, rain still beating down on them both. He held him close, hearing and feeling for himself every breath that Heath painfully took. Eugene came running out of the house into the downpour and saw Jarrod and Heath riding double. He could see that Heath was injured.

“Nick, what happened?” he said, coming right up beside him, eagerly waiting for Jarrod to pass Heath down to him and Nick. He was quickly soaked to the skin.

Nick still looked at Jarrod and all but ignored Eugene. “Jarrod, come on, we made it, we’re here, let’s get him inside.” He reached up his arms to take Heath from his grasp and pulled Jarrod’s left arm from Heath’s body. Feeling the contact with his brother broken, Jarrod snapped out of the catatonic state he was in. Tears filled his blue eyes, as he helped ease his brother down out of the saddle into his waiting brothers’ arms. He whispered in his ear, “we’re home Heath, we made it, you’re gonna be alright.”

By now, Victoria was standing in the doorway, out of the pouring rain, but clearly seeing that something horrible had happened to three of her sons. She saw Heath’s unconscious body being taken from the horse. She hoped that he still was alive. She couldn’t tell for sure. Audra came up behind her, “What’s Nick hollering for now Mother? Did he bring the herd here?” she asked, speaking without seeing what was unfolding right outside the door.

Victoria raised her hands over her mouth. She wanted to cry out. Audra saw this and looked outside amidst the downpour to see Heath being held onto by Nick and Eugene. “Oh, no, Heath, what’s happened?” she cried out. “What’s happened Mother?”

“I don’t know, Audra, I don’t know, I pray to God that everything will be alright,” Victoria said.

Nick and Gene slid Heath carefully down into their waiting arms. Nick cradled his head against his chest and quickly, Jarrod dismounted and helped. Nick took a moment and made sure his brother was still breathing. “You hang in there now boy, you hear me, we’ll get the doctor to take a look and fix you right back up,” he said into Heath’s ear as he waited for Jarrod to help carry Heath inside. Nick and Jarrod took him under the shoulders and Eugene picked up his feet and they made their way into the house.

“Let’s get him upstairs right away,” Nick said, Jarrod agreed and they continued to carry him up the stairs to his room.

“Mother, get all the blankets you can, and hurry,” Jarrod said, looking back to his worried mother. He gave he no reassurance.

Victoria took Audra by the hand and they proceeded to gather up the blankets.

Up in Heath’s room, Nick began to head straight for the bed, so that they could set Heath down on it, but Jarrod stopped him, “Let’s just set him in the chair for a minute and get these wet clothes off him first, and try to dry him off, no sense in putting him in bed all wet.

Nick nodded and said, “Yeah, you’re right.” So they set him down gently in a nearby chair.

Even though the two eldest Barkley’s appeared to be working together, they each weren’t thinking clearly, it was good for each of them to know they could rely on each other right at the moment.

Gene backed away for a moment and watched his two oldest brothers work furiously to help Heath. His mind swirled with possibilities of what had happened. He dare not ask, he knew full well that Nick and Jarrod weren’t going to take any time to talk with him when Heath was lying there wounded in some way. He looked from brother to brother to brother. Heath looked like he was moments away from death’s door. Gene remembered how his father had looked in his coffin and the grim reminder was now in front of him in the form of Heath. He saw fear and worry line the faces of Jarrod and Nick, looks he’d never seen on either of them before this stormy day.

“I’ll get a good fire going in here,” he stammered, as he scanned the room for some way he could be helpful. He quickly grabbed a few logs nearby and started it going, watching it carefully, and making sure it would burn hot and heat up the room quickly.

Nick and Jarrod all but ignored him until Jarrod called out to him. “Gene, grab some towels from the bathroom, bring them in here for us and then have one of the men ride into town for Doc Merar. And tell them to hurry.”

Gene nodded and stepped out of the room trepidaciously, almost running in to Audra who was coming in with an armful load of blankets.

“Gene, did they tell you what happened?” she asked.

He nodded that they hadn’t. “No, but I’ve never seen the two of them look like they do right now, I can’t describe it,” he shook his head, “they look scared,” he added somberly. “Where’s Mother?”

“Down the hall getting more blankets,” she said, trying to peer into the room.

“You should wait a minute, Sis, they’re taking off his wet clothes. I gotta get them some towels. Don’t go in there yet.” He didn’t want her to see Heath looking so close to death. He hurried down the hall toward the bathroom.

Audra stood and waited, she started to cry. She wanted to help, but she didn’t know what to do. She wanted to know what happened, but Gene had scared her too, by describing Jarrod and Nick. She could hear the two of them talking to each other and to Heath.

“He’s freezing cold, Jarrod,” Nick said, trying to rub some warmth into the lifeless body of his brother.

“I know,” Jarrod said angrily, he didn’t need Nick to point out the obvious. “Let’s pull this chair over near the fireplace, maybe it’ll help dry him off and warm him up at the same time.

Together they slid the chair across the floor directly in front of the roaring fire that Gene had built. As they positioned the chair, Gene came back into the room with the towels and the stack of blankets that Audra had been holding.

“I’ll go send for the doc,” he said, giving the towels to Jarrod. He set the blankets on the bed. “The blankets are over on the bed,” he added, “when you’re ready for them.” He paused, waiting to hear some kind of reply, but none came. Jarrod and Nick were too focused on Heath. “Is there anything else you need right away?” he asked bluntly.

“No, that’s it for now,” Jarrod said, “get that doctor out here quick.”

“I’m on it,” Gene said, leaving the room.

Audra still stood outside the door crying softly. “Gene, is Heath going to die?”

“I don’t know Audra, but he’s real bad, he’s still not awake.”

Victoria hurried down the hall with more blankets and was about to enter the room when Eugene stopped her. “Mother, they’re changing him into dry clothes,” he began. Again, he wanted to keep his sister and mother out of the room. He didn’t think they could bear seeing Heath so lifeless. She heard the words he said, but went inside the room anyway. Nothing was keeping her out.

“I’m gonna go send one of the men to get the doctor. I’ll be right back,” Gene said to Audra. “Keep the faith sis, ok?” he said, squeezing her shoulder. She nodded as the tears still streamed down her face.

Victoria watched closely as Nick and Jarrod continued to dry off and warm up Heath. He was pale and ashen and aside from the deep, labored breaths of air that he gasped for, you wouldn’t think he was alive. His body was still and unmoving, unconscious as the older boys worked to get him warmed up. Victoria didn’t even know what to say as she stood there and watched them work tirelessly. She heard Jarrod murmur that they needed to warm him up fast. Jarrod and Nick didn’t even acknowledge her presence as they concentrated on their brother.

She turned and walked back out by Audra. “Let’s go have Silas start fixing up some hot water bottles. I think Heath will need all that we can make.” Audra willingly followed her.

“Mother, did they say anything?”

“No dear, they didn’t.”

“What could have happened?” she asked.

“We’ll know soon enough, now we just need to focus our efforts on doing what’s best for Heath.”

The two women went off toward the kitchen.

Nick reached back to the bed and grabbed several blankets and began to wrap them around Heath, who was now dry, but still cold, from the near drowning. “He’s still breathing hard Jarrod,” Nick commented.

“At least he’s still breathing,” Jarrod looked into his younger brother’s face with some anger.

Nick looked perplexed for a minute and then let the confusion drift away. They all just needed to do what was best for Heath. “Let’s get him into the bed.”

“Yeah, I suppose he is dry enough now,” Jarrod said. Eugene had bounded back up the stairs and was now standing in the doorway of the room.

“I’ll help,” he offered, coming over as the three of them lifted the dead weight of Heath up off the chair and onto the bed.

They began to cover him up with the blankets, tucking him gently. Gene hovered over Heath, while both Nick and Jarrod stepped back and watched him from a distance. Both exhausted from the ordeal itself and from the energy they had expended, Jarrod actually collapsed on the floor, dropping his head into his hands and crying outwardly. Nick backed himself into a corner in the room and saw Jarrod slump to the floor, he shook his head in disbelief to the whole days’ occurrence, wishing he could merely wipe it from his memory. All he saw was his brother’s blue face in the water. It haunted him.

* * * * * * * * * *

While Jarrod and Nick took a few minutes to rest and regain their composure, Eugene stayed close to Heath making sure the blankets and the fire continued to warm up his body temperature. He really wanted to know what had happened, but until Jarrod and Nick felt like talking, he knew that would be a moot subject. Instead he focused on his sleeping brother. He leaned down close to his brother’s ear and talked to him in a calm, soothing voice. “I don’t know what happened out there just yet brother Heath, but I know that Nick and Jarrod did everything they could to keep you safe and to get you back home just as quickly as they could. The doctor’s gonna be here any minute and we’re all nearby, thinking about you and how much we know that you’re gonna pull through this. You’re young, and strong and nothing can keep you down for long. You just listen to us, you hear me? You’re gonna be alright.” Gene grabbed another blanket and wrapped it around him, rubbing his arms and legs to help warm him up. And just as suddenly as he had begun to rub his arms and legs, he stopped. He stood silently for a second and watched Heath’s body closely. “Nick? Jarrod?” he called out to his older brothers. “He’s not breathing, he stopped breathing,” he cried out.

Nick sprang back to life, followed immediately by Jarrod. Nick began to peal back the layers of blankets, throwing them aimlessly to the floor. Jarrod put his head close to Heath’s mouth once again and confirmed that he had stopped breathing.

“Nick, let’s get him on his side again, there must be more water in his lungs,” Jarrod cried out.

Both Gene and Nick turned Heath on his side, while Jarrod went to work sending sharp slaps echoing on his back.

“Come on Heath, breath, darn you,” Jarrod said, slapping him hard.

Gene watched Heath’s face closely and saw him begin to tighten up his facial muscles in the form of a cough. “I think it’s working Jarrod,” Gene called out. More river water came flowing out of his mouth. And the hacking, wheezing breathing returned to their brother once more. Jarrod continued to give him a couple of more good whacks just to help facilitate any more murky river water that might be stuck inside Heath. Confident that this latest trial had passed, the boys eased Heath comfortably back onto the bed.

“I think maybe if we prop him up a bit, he might breathe a little easier,” Gene suggested, “I read that in a medical text.”

“Nick, go grab some extra pillows,” Jarrod ordered and Nick quickly obeyed without giving the order taker a thought. Jarrod finally shed his rain slicker and tossed it off into a corner in the room. He went back to Heath’s side and made sure that he continued to breathe.

Nick promptly came back with about six pillows and together they propped Heath up and began to wrap him up with the strewn blankets again.

“Heath drowned?” Gene finally questioned as they placed the final blanket on their brother. “Where? How long was he under?” His young, knowledge seeking mind was spinning. Now he wanted to know the whole story.

“In the Pine River,” Nick blurted out. “We don’t know how long he was under. And he didn’t drown, we got him out.” Nick started reliving the harrowing moments in his mind. He didn’t want to think about it, he wished he could drown out the memory.

Just then Victoria and Audra came into the room and they heard Nick begin to tell of the incident. They carried several hot water bottles that Jarrod quickly took from them and began to place them around Heath’s body, tucking them securely under the layers of blankets.

“How did it happen?” Victoria asked.

“It was an accident Mother,” Nick started to explain. “Does it really matter?” he was agitated and he didn’t feel like discussing the horror they’d been through.

She gave him a stern look for his rudeness.

“I’m sorry Mother, it was an accident, it all happened so fast,” Nick said, now pulling off his own rain slicker. He knew better than to speak to her in such a tone, but he just couldn’t bear to relive the whole traumatic experience. It was too near to him. Certainly his mother would understand that.

Jarrod watched Nick closely and realized that he and Nick were still in shock themselves over the whole incident. It was too hard to talk about. The memory was still right at the forefront of their minds. They recalled every vivid detail with agony and terror. And now, they had just brought Heath back to life again. It wasn’t the time or the place to talk about it.

“Mother, can we explain later?” Jarrod tried to intervene on both their behalf’s.

“But Jarrod, we need to know so that we can try to help,” she pleaded.

He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. “Mother, please, try to understand, we just can’t tell you right now. It’s too close.” He kissed the top of her head and hoped that she’d comprehend.

He felt her nod and let her go from his embrace.

Audra stood shell-shocked. She stared at Heath and listened to everything that was being said. She didn’t know what to say or what to do. Her beloved confidant, brother, so close in age and understanding, lay there haggardly gasping for each breath. In that moment, she ached to give her own life for his.

The room was silent.

Heath Barkley now drifted aimlessly, cold-water blackness enveloped around him. He didn’t know this place, it was entirely new to him. He couldn’t see, but he thought he could hear voices far off in the distance. They sounded familiar. They sounded like his family, he couldn’t tell for sure, but the darkness was everywhere and it was becoming almost peaceful now.

As they stood around and watched, suddenly Heath began to shiver and tremble from the cold that racked his unconscious body. He coughed and wretched up some more muck and Jarrod first jumped to his aid, followed by Nick. Audra cried out, “Oh please do something, help him.” Victoria scooped Audra up into her arms and held her close as Gene joined Nick and Jarrod in continuing to rub Heath arms and legs, vigorously working their own body heat into his, willing him to warm up.

“Oh Mother, it’s just horrible,” Audra said, scampering out of Victoria’s embrace and out of the room.

“Mother, you better have Silas make up some more of those hot water bottles and keep them coming,” Jarrod called out to Victoria as she headed off to see about Audra.

“Where the devil is that doctor?” Nick called out to no one in particular.

“Nick, just concentrate on this, he’ll get here,” Jarrod tried to assure him.

“Concentrate? How do you know we’re even doing the right thing? You’re not a doctor, you don’t even have a clue.” He shouted, all the while rubbing Heath’s right side. Doing that was better than doing nothing. He hated seeing Heath lying there like this.

“Well, if we’d have followed your plan back at the river, we’d have brought home a dead brother, wouldn’t we?” Jarrod shouted back, not holding back or backing down from Nick.

Gene listened to them scream and shout at one another and knew that it wasn’t doing Heath any good, or Nick and Jarrod any good either, but he was powerless to stop them when they collided like this. He kept his focus on Heath.

“Are you blaming me for all this?” Nick screamed.

“I’m not blaming anyone, I’m just trying to do what’s best for Heath. You just don’t get it do you?”

Nick glared at Jarrod, “I’ve never seen anyone in this shape before Jarrod, I just want to be sure, we’re doing the right thing.”

“So do I, Nick, believe me so do I,” Jarrod said.

“Nick, Jarrod,” Gene started, “Look, his eyes are opening,” Gene grinned and continued to closely watch Heath. His shivering subsided and he had stopped coughing.

Heath opened his heavy lidded eyes slowly as the three of them continued to keep warming him up. Their arguing subsided and the room was quiet.

“Maybe you two should keep on yelling, that seemed to work,” Gene said as Heath continued to try to wake up.

He coughed again and spit up some more water and without moving his head, only his eyes he looked from Jarrod to Nick and just as slowly closed his eyes again, struggling to find a deep breath to take that would fill his lungs up with air. Just as quickly he slipped back into unconsciousness.

The brothers sat back and watched him carefully for a few minutes when Victoria arrived back in the room, armed with more hot water bottles and leading Dr. Merar.

Howard swiftly made his way to the bed and began to examine Heath. “You’re mother say’s he nearly drowned?” Dr. Merar asked to no one in particular.

“That’s right Doc,” Nick said, “but we pulled him out and got him breathing again as quickly as we could.”

“So he actually stopped breathing?”

Jarrod and Nick looked at each other and Jarrod replied, “Yeah, he did.”

“Do you know how long he was under?” Doc questioned.

“No, we don’t,” Jarrod said.

Then Doctor Merar asked the most chilling question, “was he blue?”

Jarrod and Nick stared at each other, their eyes showing all the fear and pain they carried. “Yeah, he was,” Nick said softly.

Doctor Merar didn’t respond to this new bit of information. He was busy listening to Heath’s heart and lungs with the stethoscope. “Still has a lot of fluid in there. It might be a long night. Victoria, can you have Silas make us up some coffee? I think we’re gonna need it.”

* * * * * * * * * *

The night was incredibly long for the entire family and for Doctor Merar too. Heath had two more spells complete with bouts of extreme coughing and then suddenly he would stop breathing. It was exhausting for all of them but so much more taxing on Nick and Jarrod who continued to suffer right along with their younger brother. Much as Victoria wished that Jarrod and Nick would get some rest, they politely put off her suggestions, remaining by his side throughout the long night.

By the time the sun was set to rise, Heath’s breathing had eased a bit, and the wheezy, congested sound had all but left his sleeping body. His eyes remained closed throughout the long night. He made no purposeful movements, and his peaceful sleep was somewhat of a relief after the long day and night before. The day outside was still gray, still drizzling, it had started just like the day before.

After a quiet breakfast, not shared by Nick or Jarrod, who chose to eat in Heath’s room, Doctor Merar went back upstairs to check on his patient. He listened carefully to the blond cowboy’s heart and lungs and checked over his head, his eyes, pupils, and his ears. The only thing he could find out of the ordinary, besides his wet-sounding lungs, was a small lump on the back of his head, where he had obviously fallen and bumped it. There were no outward signs of injury other than that.

“So what’s that mean Doc?” Nick asked.

“What it means Nick is that we need to give his body and mind a chance to heal on the inside,” Doctor Merar explained.

“What do you mean by his mind?” Jarrod inquired, his curiosity peaked by the odd comment, he lifted his gaze from Heath to the doctor as the comment left his mouth.

“Jarrod, we don’t know how long he was underwater and we don’t know how long he stopped breathing for. I can’t give you a more definite answer. No one knows how this might affect a person.”

“But he will be alright?” Victoria now asked, listening carefully and taking in the whole explanation laid out for her. They all wanted to ask, they all wanted to believe it.

“He’s young and he’s strong and he’s made it this far, so I’d say there is hope for a meaningful recovery.”

“Hope?” Nick asked angrily. “What does that mean? HOPE.” He nearly spit out.

“Nick, please,” Victoria begged him to keep his anger and his tone to a minimum. There was no use getting upset with Doctor Merar, he was doing all he could.

And after the long, sleepless and draining night, Howard Merar wasn’t going to back down to Nick Barkley and he wasn’t going to sugar coat his answer to any of them either. His promise to his patients had always been honesty, whether the news was good or bad. These people were all adults and they had to understand what might happen. Drownings were not something that just started happening yesterday. “I’ve seen countless cases of near-drownings. Sometimes the person comes back, good as ever and sometimes, well sometimes, the outcome isn’t all that good. And I have no way of telling right now which side Heath will fall on. Until he comes to, there’s not much more I can do.”

“So we just wait?” Nick asked impatiently.

“Yes, we wait, and we pray,” Victoria said, butting in before Doctor Merar could even answer. “All of us, with everything we have.”

Several days passed and Heath developed a bout of pneumonia from the poison river water that had invaded his lungs. His fever soared and the family continued to keep an around the clock vigil by his side. Never was he alone, and never did a moment of sleep come to whoever sat by his side. He never stirred, other than to cough or to gasp for breath. Doctor Merar made his daily journeys out to the ranch to check on him.

Nick and Jarrod both neglected their daily work routines to stick close to home and to Heath’s bedside.

“I really think we ought to get another doctor to come out here and see him,” Nick told Jarrod one afternoon as they were about to change ‘shifts.’

“Nick, I told you I’ve wired several doctor’s in San Francisco and they all said the same thing, we have to wait. Time is our only ally right now.”

“Time,” Nick spat, “Maybe we should take him to San Francisco ourselves or maybe even back East.”

“He has pneumonia Nick, a trip like that would make him even sicker. We have to just let this run its course and hope for the best. Just like Doctor Merar said.”

“Waiting and hoping and praying, what good is it? It’s certainly not doing him any good is it?” Nick angrily stormed out of the room.

Jarrod sat down at Heath’s bedside and watched him for any sign that would show that he was coming back to them. There was nothing, just the even sounds of his breathing. For now, Jarrod was content with that. He took hold of his hand in his own and began to speak to him. “Your brother Nick is getting impatient with you,” he started and gave a little chuckle, “I know, Nick and impatient go together,” he stopped and watched his sleeping brother. “But Heath, I don’t know what to tell him anymore, I know you’re still in there Heath, I know you can hear me, all the doctor’s I’ve spoken with have said that talking to you is important. I guess you must still be really tired and sick on the inside. I know you have to let your body heal up. I just keep seeing you fall off Charger into that raging river and us standing there on the bank. We should have waited to cross. I know you wanted to. I saw you talking with Nick and you let him run the show. I wish I would have said something,” his voice started to break, “I just want you to know that we’re all here thinking of you and we want you to come back. We love you Heath, come back.” He watched and waited and hoped and prayed for any reaction and none came.

Dr. Merar came later that day and after checking over Heath, he had dinner with the family. Nick started in on him all over again. “Shouldn’t we be seeing some kind of improvement by now Doc?”

“Nick, I can’t give you the answer you want, God knows I wish I could, but I can’t,” the doctor said. “I’ve told you that countless times.”

“Nick, please,” Mother begged him again.

“It’s the same thing day in and day out. I just don’t get it. He’s a doctor for crying out loud, he should be able to help him in some way. This can’t be the first time this have ever happened.” Nick got louder and louder.

“Nick, he is doing something, we’re all doing something,” Gene tried to interject.

Nick waved him off. “I know, I know, we’re just supposed to sit around here and watch him just lay there. How do we even know we did the right thing by pulling him out of that river?”

Jarrod had kept unusually quiet during Nick’s outbursts, but he’d finally set off a nerve in the lawyer, “Are you saying we should have left him there Nick?” His blue eyes turned to an icy stare. “Left him to die for sure?”

Nick hated being challenged by anyone and he’d only back down from Jarrod and now sometimes Heath, but this time he wasn’t backing down to his big brother. “I’m saying what good did it do us to bring him here? That’s not Heath up there lying in that bed. What kind of a life is this?”

“Nicholas, that’s not up to you to decide,” Victoria said solemnly. “You both did exactly the right thing.

“I’m just not so sure about it Mother, that’s all I’m saying,” Nick said, the defiance still in his tone.

“Maybe Nick’s right,” Jarrod added sadly, thinking of his newest brother.

“Well, you can’t just let him die,” Audra cried out, “You can’t.” Tears started flowing down her eyes. She didn’t want to believe what Nick and Jarrod were suggesting.

Victoria had enough of the outburst. “Nick and Jarrod that will be enough. This kind of talk is only upsetting all of us. Look at your sister.” Victoria got up and went and stood behind Audra, placing her hands on her sobbing shoulders. “Dr. Merar said we have to give it time, the doctors that Jarrod wired all agreed and I’m telling you both right here and now, that’s what we’re going to do. It’s in God’s hands right now. We’ll pray and and hope that he sends Heath back to us.”

Nick threw his napkin down on the table and left the house. As he made his way out to the corral, one of the men came up to him and tried to engage him in some conversation about the ranch.

“That herd you and your brothers bought sure looks real promising Nick,” Pete Stully began.

“And how would you even know that Pete?” Nick abruptly asked.

“Well, I helped bring ‘em into the pasture the other day after that rainstorm. It’s a wonder they made it through.” Pete tried to explain.

Nick couldn’t believe his ears, he knew Pete Stully wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer, but to make such an insensitive comment sent Nick through the roof. “Listen here Pete Stully, I don’t want you anywhere near that beef,” Nick said, “or anyone else for that matter. Do you hear me? Tell everyone to stay away from them.”

“But someone’s gotta tend to ‘em Nick.”

Nick grabbed him by the shirt and brought his face right next to his own. “I said, leave them alone, they’re mine and I don’t care if they die or not. I don’t want anyone touching ‘em but me, is that clear?” Nick pushed him away.

“Yes sir,” Pete said, cowling away from a very agitated Nick.

Jarrod had followed Nick outside and witnessed the whole episode.

Nick stalked off and saddled up Coco and headed for the west pasture to see this herd himself. He pushed Coco harder than he’d been pushed in quite awhile. He’d made the normal 30-minute ride in just a shade under 20 minutes. The cattle were scattered up a low rolling hill, munching away at the grass growing under them. He spotted Jim Peters, one of his hands and rode over to him.

Jim saw Nick approaching and rode up to greet him, “Evening Nick.”

“Jim.” Nick’s eyes scanned the herd. “Listen, I’ll watch ‘em, you can head back in and get a good night’s rest.”

Jim was a little shocked, he knew that Heath was in bad shape and that Nick wasn’t doing much work around the ranch. He sat dumbfounded for a moment.

“Did you hear me? I said git,” Nick shouted.

“Yes sir, I’ll see you tomorrow Nick,” Jim said, kicking his mount and heading back to the ranch.

Between the herd and the ranch, Jim met up with Jarrod, who obviously was riding out after Nick.

“Everything alright, Mr. Barkley?” Jim pulled up and questioned Jarrod.

“Have you seen Nick?”

“Yeah, he’s up with the new herd, about a mile back, he said he’d watch ‘em tonight, sent me back to get a good night’s rest.” Jim pointed. “Can’t miss ‘em,” he paused, “How’s Heath doing sir?”

“About the same Jim, thanks for asking, now if you’ll excuse me,” Jarrod said, tipping his hat to the young cowhand, he rode off toward Nick.

Jarrod rode hard to catch up to Nick, he needed to talk to him, he needed to try and get through to him and his stubborn head.

Nick had dismounted and he watched the unsuspecting cattle continue their nightly graze. He went to Coco and pulled his shotgun out of the holster and quietly walked toward a large number of them. He talked to them in a soft, low voice. “You rotten, crummy, blasted animals. Why didn’t I listen to him, why do I always have to be right? I don’t care how much I paid for you or if you’re the best cattle this side of the divide, nothings worth the price of his life. You hear me, NOTHING.” He pulled up and aimed his shotgun and started killing off the herd one by one.

Jarrod heard the rifle and kicked Jingo all the harder. He saw Nick killing the cattle and rode right up to him and jumped off onto Nick to prevent him from killing any more.

They wrestled around and Jarrod finally kicked the shotgun out of Nick’s hands and he shouted. “ENOUGH, that’s enough Nick.”

“Jarrod, just leave me alone, let me do this,” Nick said, trying to kick Jarrod off.

“No, I’m not going to let you do this, this is crazy. How is it helping Heath?”

“Every time I see them or hear someone talk about them, I’ll be reminded. I just have to get rid of them. Don’t you understand?”

Jarrod shook his head no, “The only think I understand is that our brother needs us at home right now. Killing a herd of cattle isn’t going to make you forget what happened Nick. Neither one of us is ever going to forget.”

“I have to do something, I can’t just watch him like that,” Nick said. “I can’t Jarrod.”

“You have to, we both have to, we have to see it through. Heath wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“It’s too hard,” Nick cried.

Jarrod was getting fed up with his attitude. He stood up and picked up the rifle and threw it at Nick. “Then you go ahead Nick, finish what you started here, and when you get home, Heath will still be there. It’s not going to get any easier.”

Jarrod mounted up and rode home.

* * * * * * * * * *

It was later that night when Jarrod, who was sitting up with Heath, heard Nick ride in. Part of him wondered what had happened out in the pasture and part of him really didn’t care anymore. What Nick did and how Nick was going to handle this was ultimately up to him. Jarrod could talk to him till for a month of Sundays, and nothing would steer Nick from the course he was on.

Nick came up the stairs and entered Heath’s room.

“I’m here Jarrod, you can get some sleep now, I’ll sit with him.”

Jarrod stood up from the chair he was sitting in and started to walk out without saying anything. The silence between them was frozen.

“Jarrod?” Nick asked.

Already at the doorway, Jarrod turned back to face him, “Yeah Nick?”

“Can you send Jim back out to the herd, have him take another man with him and do what needs to be done.”

“Sure Nick.”

“And Jarrod?”

“Yeah Nick?”

“Thanks.”

“Your welcome Nick, goodnight.”

Nick took the familiar chair at Heath’s bedside. He sat with his arms propped up on his knees, searching and scanning for any sign from Heath. The quietness of the night enveloped him. He’d heard the rest of the family talking with Heath, time and time again, but he’d never seriously done it himself. Maybe, he thought, sitting back in the chair, maybe that’s what Heath needs, maybe he needs to hear me talk to him.

Nick stood up and paced around the room, almost searching the walls for what to say or how to even start. His eyes came back to the quiet figure lying before him. What would Heath like to hear about, the ranch? Some pretty new girl in town? What he had for dinner? All these crazy, stupid ideas swirled in his head. He wondered what the others talked to him about. He’d never stood by the door and listened, he thought that was rude. It was a private time between each of them and he’d never think to invade on their personal moment.

He continued to walk around the bed, watching Heath and thinking, how to start, what to say; all of it pounding in his head. It was nearly midnight. Everyone in the house was asleep, no one would hear him, it was time to do it now, and it’d be a good time to have a talk with his brother. And he really wanted Heath to talk back.

He cleared his throat and began in a rather subdued tone for Nick and stumbling for the right words, “Hi there Heath, it’s me Nick, it’s my watch right now, till about four, when Silas will come in and sit with you awhile.” He watched for any reaction. Nothing. “Don’t you think it’s about time you woke up from this nap of yours? I know you’re not one for too many words, but this is getting a bit ridiculous.” Still nothing from the blonde cowboy.

“Hmmm, ok then,” he mumbled, “listen here, we’re all getting tired of this,” he waved his arm to add emphasis, “you lying around day in and day out, you know I told you this when you came here, that this is a working ranch and I expect you to pull your weight around here. And you’re not pulling your weight right now.” Looking to Heath again, and nothing. The ‘what I say goes approach’ didn’t hold much water with an unconscious man.

“So what is it exactly that everyone comes in here and talks about with you anyway?” Nick said out loud, changing his whole approach. “Naw, now wait a minute, let me see if I can figure it out for myself, no help from you.” He smiled. He picked up the bible on the nightstand next to Heath’s bed. “I reckon Mother comes in here and reads some of this to you. There’s a reason why they call it the good book and I know when Mother reads out of it, it really becomes something special. She used to read out of it to me when I was just a kid. Broke my leg one time, guess I was about ten, jumped out of a tree, I think there was a cute little pigtailed girl involved,” he smiled, thinking of the memory, “anyway, I can’t remember the whole thing anymore, but I know I had to stay in bed for weeks and Mother, she’d come up and read to me right out of this same book. I wasn’t really interested in all that sermonizing and stuff on Sundays, but the stories she read to me, she made them so real, full of adventure, like the story of Joseph, and Noah and the ark, and David and Goliath, those were my favorites. Did your mother read those to you too?” He glanced at Heath. “I suppose she did. If there’s anyone you need to wake up for it’s our Mother, you mean so much to her.”

“So, the bible is Mother’s. That brings us to Audra. Our little sister, ain’t she something? I would say she comes up here and talks for hours on end. Bob so and so this and Steve so and so that, and on and on about all her suitors. And somehow that leads right into her clothes and how she needs to go buy this and that and the other thing. And then it’s all about some buying trip she just has to go on. What is it exactly about girls? You know, Father absolutely loved her to death, spoiled her rotten and let her get away with everything. That’s what me and Jarrod thought. She had every animal as a pet, right her in this house, something Jarrod and I could never do, and every time he went on a trip, he’d come home with a new doll just for her. I tell ya Heath, Jarrod and I would drop our jaws every time Father would say, ‘Audra, sweetie, come here, Poppa has something for ya,’” Nick chuckled to himself. “And since he died, well, we both spoil her the same way. There’s just something about girls,” he paused, “at least something about that particular girl.”

“I think you and Audra have a pretty special brother, sister thing going. Maybe it’s cuz you’re so close in age or that you resemble each other the most, or maybe you just share something way down special. My guess is that you talk about some real important things. And I’m glad that you both can confide in each other like that. I bet she wishes you’d wake up and talk back to her real soon.”

Nick sauntered back over to the chair and sat down, he leaned back and took a deep breath.

“Next up would be Eugene. Can’t say that I know all that much about that younger brother of ours, he changes his mind on things about as often as the sun sets and rises. One day he’s a doctor, the next day he’s a lawyer, or a musician or a poet or a businessman or a scientist. He’s such a smart kid, my bet is that he accomplishes them all one day. Maybe he’ll even be president. I suppose when he comes in here he goes on and on about the latest something or another. What I want to know is where he stores up all that stuff? He’s such a little runt.” He checked over to see Heath, who still slept soundly.

“I know what Silas does, now understand that I don’t mean to eavesdrop, but honestly Heath, it’s so beautiful that he sings to you, those old slavery songs. His heart just pours through and it’s really something special to hear. You told me that Hannah used to sing you those songs too, so Silas, I think he’s got the right idea.”

“And then we come to big brother Jarrod. Sometimes I think the two of you kind of like ganging up on me, so I’m figuring he tells you about me, so that just maybe the two of you can plot something. The thing about Jarrod, well, he’s just so goll darn smart. He thinks everything through. It really makes me mad sometimes. I’d like to bust his logic right in the mouth,” for added measure, Nick took his fist and punched his other hand with it. “And it’s no use arguing with him, and the really funny thing there is that people think I’m stubborn. HA, they ought to live with Jarrod Barkley for a week. I swear he created it.” He paused and said, “You and Jarrod just enjoy learning about each other and about the world.”

Nick sat up a little bit straighter and shook his head. All that talking and no reaction whatsoever. He stood and started pacing again.

“Did he tell you what I did this evening? I started killing those cattle we drove here. I don’t know what I was thinking. What a blasted, stupid thing, I know, I can hear you saying the same thing, calling me a fool and the like, good thing he stopped me. He’s good for doing that, and you are too. This whole family keeps me in line and since you’re a part of this family, I need you to come back here and keep me in line. And other stuff too. For crying out loud, you’re my brother, I know, it took me the longest to figure that one out, but I did and I’m not ready to give that up yet. So you gotta start listening to what we’re all saying, cuz it’s the same thing.” He stopped and turned his back to Heath, slightly embarrassed to say what he was about to say. Nick Barkley didn’t often let the exact words come to the surface, even though his actions spoke loud and clear. And he cleared his throat again. “Well, you know, we, uh, well, we love ya Heath. I hope you heard that. Maybe that’s what you needed to hear, you gotta help me here. Give me some kind of sign. Please Heath, just show me something.”

He turned around slowly and as he looked down at his brother, he couldn’t believe his eyes, Heath’s baby blues were wide open and he was staring back at him. Nick blinked and quickly came around to the side of the bed. Heath didn’t move his head, but his eyes followed Nick’s movement.

“Heath?” Nick cried out. “Heath, you’re back! MOTHER, JARROD, AUDRA, EUGENE, SILAS, COME IN HERE QUICK, HEEEEEEEEEEEE’S BACK!”

This was one time Nick’s booming voice was music to the family’s ears!

* * * * * * * * * *

All at once, everyone was there, in the room, happy to see that Heath had awoken from his unconscious state. They gathered around his bedside and began to engage him in conversation. He began to slowly move his head around to follow all the sound he was hearing.

“How do you feel boy?”

“You’ve been asleep for a long time Heath.”

“You must be starving, I know I would be?”

“We missed you so much.”

And all around again, continuous sound. It began to frighten him. Mother noticed it right away from the look of alarm and panic in his eyes. “Sshh, everyone,” she called out calmly. Nick had sat down on the bed and now she placed her hand on his shoulder imploring him to rise up so that she could take his place to be near to Heath. Nick quickly rose up and helped his mother get settled on the bed. She turned back to Eugene and said, “Gene, I want you to ride into town quickly and get Dr. Merar. The rest of you, I think maybe you should give Heath and I a few moments.”

“But Mother,” Nick butted in and pointed toward Heath, “we’re just happy that he’s back, we want him to know that.”

She turned back to Heath, his eyes still showed the fear, almost an emptiness about them too. It scared her. “He knows, Nick, but please, just a few minutes.”

Eugene interrupted. “I’ll ride fast.” He realized there was more going on here. He could sense something wasn’t right. He quickly exited the room.

Jarrod also began to pick up on it and grabbed Nick by the shoulder, “Come on Nick, let’s give them a few minutes, we can come right back, whatta say? Come on.” Nick followed reluctantly.

That left Audra. She stood at the foot of the bed, watching him closely and carefully. She wanted to run to Heath’s side and give him a sweet, welcome back kiss, but she held back because of what she started to see in his eyes. “Take all the time you need Mother, we’ll be waiting,” she said softly. She gave Heath the warmest smile she could. Victoria watched his face carefully when Audra spoke and his mouth fell open just a bit, as if he wanted to say something.

Victoria watched Audra leave the room, closing the door ever so quietly. Silence filled the room and when she turned her attention back to Heath, the panicked look had left his eyes. His eyes now watched her closely. She wondered why he hadn’t said anything. She told herself she needed to be strong for whatever was about to happen. They’d come this far already and she would not let any of them turn back.

Courageously she put a smile on her face as she watched him watch her. It was one of the hardest things she’d ever had to do. She began to talk to him a soothing, calm voice, much like a new mother would speak to her infant.

“Heath, darling, we’re so glad you’re back,” she began quietly. “You’ve been asleep for quite a few days.” Watching him closely with steady eye-to-eye contact, she saw the fearful look return to his eyes. She took her hand and gently ran it from his forehead back through the hair on the top of his head, “there, there, Heath, shhh, there’s nothing to be frightened of, you’re going to be fine.” As she made this physical contact with him, she felt his head slightly pull back in a minute effort to avoid her touch. Slowly she removed her hand from coming into direct contact with him.

She was at a loss for what to do. She didn’t want to leave him now that he was awake, and yet, she sensed that Heath’s injury was far more reaching now that he had come to. Silence again blared throughout the bedroom and as she looked at him once again, he stared right at her and the calmness in his eyes had returned.

She decided to get up from the bed and move to the chair next to his bed. And as he had with Nick shortly before, his eyes followed her, and now, he ever so slightly turned his head toward her as well.

She saw the bible sitting on the nightstand where she had left it and she gradually reached for it and brought it to her lap. She opened it up and started to read to herself. Every now and again, she’d glance over at Heath, who continued to watch her. She stopped her reading and stared back at him. She thought she saw something in his eyes, something telling her to go ahead and read out loud to him. And so, again, in that new mother to an infant voice, she began, “Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life….”

Downstairs Nick paced the sitting room, back and forth. Jarrod appeared calm, though he sat and stared into the fireplace, while Audra sat nervously, unable to sew or read. None of them spoke until Silas came in with some coffee.

“Thanks, Silas,” Nick said, taking the tray from the older gentleman and setting it down on a nearby table.

“Your welcome, Mr. Nick, can I get any thing else for y’all?”

“No thank you Silas, the coffee is perfect,” Jarrod said, turning in his chair to thank him.

Nick kept himself busy by pouring out three cups and handing them to his brother and sister. “What the devil is going on up there?” he finally blurted out. The silence was killing him.

Audra spoke up before Jarrod could. “Something’s still wrong Nick. Couldn’t you feel it? Couldn’t you see it in his eyes? I don’t know, maybe Dr. Merar will be able to help. Until he gets here, we just need to wait and pray, like we’ve been doing. The prayers have been working, haven’t they Jarrod?” she innocently asked her oldest brother.

“Yes the have honey, you’re absolutely right,” he stood up and walked over to her and gave her shoulders a loving squeeze and a kiss on her cheek.

They drank their coffee in an awkward, reflective silence.

Gene was right, he was quick about bringing Dr. Merar back to the house. And when the two of them arrived, Dr. Merar quickly bounded up the stairs to Heath’s room where Victoria still sat reading the bible to him. Dr. Merar went about his normal routine, checking Heath’s breathing, eyes and any other outward signs of injury. The panicked look returned to Heath’s eyes, even though Victoria stayed near him the whole time and told him to focus on her. As the examination proceeded, she innocently went to pick up his hand and place it in her own. Heath’s normal reaction was always to give her tiny hand a special squeeze. This time there was nothing. His hand didn’t move at all. It scared her something fierce, though she kept her feeling hidden from Heath. Dr. Merar had noticed it too though. A concerned look spread across his face.

The two of them also attempted to engage Heath in conversation, but Heath did not reciprocate.

Dr. Merar motioned for Victoria to exit the room and follow him. Once they were in the hall, she called to Silas to come and sit with Heath, while the family would have a discussion with the doctor.

Down the stairs they came to the sitting room to update the rest of the family.

“Well, how is he Doc?” Nick started.

“Not good Nick,” Howard began.

“Whatta mean not good? He’s conscious for heavens sake, that’s gotta be good,” Nick voice started to rise. A quick look from Victoria kept it lower right away.

“Let’s hear what the man has to say Nick,” Jarrod said.

“I’m very concerned. He hasn’t spoken, he appears almost fearful or frightened by people he should recognize and his lack of muscle movement is also disturbing,” Dr. Merar said.

“Can you fix it, can you help him?” Nick bluntly asked.

Dr. Merar walked up to Jarrod, “Jarrod, I think you may want to get one of the San Francisco specialists out here now, as quick as you can.”

* * * * * * * * * *

“Now just what the devil is that supposed to mean? You’re a doctor, you’ve got to be able to help him,” Nick said with an agitated voice. “There must be something you can do.”

Dr. Merar turned away from Jarrod to face Nick, “Nick, I’m simply a small town doctor, I can stitch someone up, mend a broken bone, even bring someone back from a deadly bout of pneumonia, but your brother has some sort of brain injury and I just don’t have all the answers. Doctors are just beginning to study the brain and everything associated with it. All I’m doing is suggesting you find one of those experts and bring them here to help Heath. I’ll do everything I possibly can, but I don’t have the answers you’re looking for. Lord knows I want to, but I don’t think I can,” Howard let his head drop to his chest, rather than seeing the family’s obvious dejection.

“Jarrod, there are several brain injury doctors at Berkley. Perhaps one of my professors would be kind enough to introduce me,” Gene stepped forward.

“That’s a wonderful idea Eugene,” Victoria said.

“Yes, Gene, that would be terrific,” Jarrod added.

“I’ll go pack a bag and leave on the next train. I’ll wire you when I arrive.” He dashed up the stairs and prepared for his trip.

“Howard, what should we do in the meantime?” Jarrod asked. “Can you give us any help while we wait to hear from Gene?”

“I’ve got a new book on it in my office in town. I’ll bring it out with me in the morning. I’m sure it has some ideas we can put to use right away.”

“What about the rest of tonight?” Nick asked folding his arms. “What do we do now? How do we handle all of this and what’s the best thing for Heath?”

“Stay calm, try to be quiet around him, don’t alarm him, don’t ask him questions, encourage him to sleep. The rest can only help,” Dr. Merar said.

“I don’t believe this is happening,” Nick said, walking over to the liquor table to pour himself a drink.

Dr. Merar followed him. “I wish I could tell you more Nick, I wish I could do more, but I honestly just don’t know, the human brain is a very complex thing, there’s even a school of thought now that implies the brain can mend, just like a broken bone, we have that kind of hope for Heath.” Dr. Merar tried to offer some comfort to Nick.

“So, you’re saying that his brain is damaged?” Nick asked.

“In a way, yes Nick. Like I told you before, we don’t know what long-term effects a near drowning will have. It might affect his speech, it might be like amnesia, and it might even change his whole personality. The good thing is that he’s come out of the coma, that’s a very positive sign. It’s going to take time and patience and,” Nick interrupted him and spoke the rest of the sentence.

“I know, prayers.”

“I’ll come out again, first thing in the morning, try to get some rest, all of you, the days ahead will be very trying.”

Another blow had been dealt to the Barkley’s. They silently looked at each other and wondered what would happen next.

“I’ll go on back up there and finish up my watch,” Nick began, “the rest of you can go back to bed.”

“Nick, remember what Dr. Merar said,” Victoria started.

“I know Mother, calm and quiet, and I won’t ask him any questions. I’ll just go up there and let him know that I’m here and that he can count on me,” Nick said, “It’ll be ok, we’ve gotten out of tighter jams than this.” He gave her a smile and walked over to her and gave her a kiss as well and then went up the bounding staircase to sit with his brother.

Nick slowed down, as he was about to enter Heath’s room. Silas was with him while the rest of the family was downstairs. He stood just outside the door and didn’t hear a sound. Slowly he opened the door and saw Silas sitting in the chair besides Heath’s bed. The closer he got, he saw that Heath was still awake, his head turned slightly to see the caring, older man. He looked fairly content, not worried or panicked, as he had been earlier. Nick looked down and saw that Silas had Heath’s hand carefully tucked between his own and he slowly and gently caressed his hand to show that he cared and that everything would be all right.

Nick nodded to Silas, who began to stand up and as he did, he carefully slipped Heath’s hand into Nick’s strong ones and Nick instantly picked up on the touch therapy he was able to provide for his brother.

“Just keep goin’ like that Mr. Nick, he seems to like it and it’s keeping him calm,” Silas softly said.

“Just like this?” Nick asked.

“Yep, that’s all, just let him know you’re here, that’s all, Mr. Heath needs right now, he’ll be just fine,” Silas added, as he left the room.

Nick turned his attention to Heath, whose gaze was now fixed on him. Nick took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. And in the softest, quietest voice he could muster he said, “Just rest easy now boy, big brother Nick is right here and everything’s gonna be fine.”

Audra found them both sleeping when she came into the room at 7am to relieve Nick from his duties. Shaking him on the shoulder sweetly, she tried to arouse Nick who stole a few extra moments of sleep before he opened one eye and peered into his sister’s sparkling blue eyes.

“It’s 7am, Silas has some breakfast downstairs for you,” she said to him in a hushed tone.

“Morning Sis,” Nick whispered back.

“How’s he doing?”

“Well, we must have both conked out at some point, don’t know the exact time, but we seemed to be locked in a stare down for quite a while,” Nick explained.

“That’s nothing new for you two,” Audra said with a bit of a laugh in her throat. Nick warmly smiled at her in return. “Remember that first breakfast?” She began to recall, “If looks could kill, you two would have been dead years ago.” As she spoke the words, her playful mood began to change, when she realized what she had implied.

Nick saw it right away, “Hey now, it’s just an expression, and you were absolutely correct about us then, we were like a couple of rams buttin’ heads. It must have been quite funny to the rest of you.”

Her smile returned, “It was very funny. That time it was over a steak, two days later it was over who would get their horse out of the barn first, and the very next day after that you went at it over who would break ‘Lightening Bolt’ and you both practically broke your necks.”

“And that wasn’t from the ride either, it was just to get to the stall first,” Nick finished the memory.

“You know, I have a hard time remembering when Heath wasn’t around,” Audra said. “It’s almost like he’s always been here.”

“We both wasted a lot of time staring each other down there at first,” Nick said thinking back.

“Don’t think of it as wasted time Nick, think of it as time well spent. You learned from it and so did Heath. You found out you could count on each other, you found someone who would help you run this ranch, you found another brother,” Audra reasoned.

Nick gave a bit of a smirk and paused for a moment in reflection, “I found even more than that. He’s the best friend I’ve ever had.”

Audra leaned in to give Nick a kiss, “I bet Heath feels the same way.”

Nick cleared his throat, to bring the emotional conversation to an end. “I think I’ll go grab some breakfast.”

“We’ll be fine,” Audra said, taking a seat in the familiar chair by Heath’s bedside.

Nick started to walk out the door, but stopped and walked back toward her. He reached down and took her two hands and placed Heath’s hand in between and showed her how to softly massage it. “He seems to like this,” he said in a whisper.

Audra smiled and gently did as her brother had showed her. Both Audra and Nick glanced at Heath and saw that he had awakened again.

* * * * * * * * *

Nick stopped back in the room after he finished his morning breakfast. Audra sat quietly with Heath, still holding his hand as Nick had showed her, her brother eyes, focused on her face. “How’s he doing?” Nick asked her quietly.

“He seems pretty peaceful,” she said in a quiet tone.

“Has he said anything?”

Audra shook her head no. “I’m not sure if he recognizes us.”

“Well, Doc said he could have some kind of amnesia,” Nick added.

“Nick, do you think he’s hungry? It’s been days since he’s had anything at all to eat.”

“I don’t know Sis, but maybe we should wait till Dr. Merar comes back. Maybe he’s got some more ideas.”

“I just wish I could do something,” she said looking directly at Heath. “I wish there was some way to reach him.”

“We’ll find it, we’ll get him back,” Nick said.

Dr. Merar came back to the house about 10am and brought the book on brain injury with him. Jarrod got hold of it immediately and started in on reading it cover to cover. The doctor went upstairs to check on Heath’s condition. Dr. Merar had studied the book as well as soon as he returned to the office. He still didn’t have all the answers, but now he had found some direction. This time he began to thoroughly check Heath’s reflexes to check for any signs of paralysis or permanent injury from the near drowning. All of them seemed to be in good working order. Heath remained awake throughout the entire examination. The scared and panicked look quickly returned to his face, though the doctor tried to remain as quiet and unobtrusive as possible. The examination began to be too much to the patient and Heath began to cry out as an infant would, making rather unnatural sounds that an adult would not make. Dr. Merar finished his examination as rapidly as he could, so as not to frighten him. He didn’t hurt Heath in anyway, but any kind of stimuli was clearly upsetting to him. There was one last thing Dr. Merar wanted to try and that was to ask Heath a direct question, to gauge how his grasp of understanding and communicating.

“Heath, are you hungry?” He asked sitting beside him on the bed. There was no response from Heath, aside from the now usual stare. There was a terrified look in the cowboy’s blue eyes.

“Squeeze my hand if you want something to eat.” Dr. Merar continued. He picked up Heath’s hand and held it in his own. Heath did not physically respond. And again, Heath let out a guttural moan to let the doctor know that he did not welcome the touch or what he was being asked to do.

Dr. Merar stood up from the bed and called Silas into the room to sit with him while he again went downstairs to talk with the family. When he entered the sitting room, his mood was very somber.

“What is it Howard?” Victoria asked right away. “Has something happened?”

Howard Merar took a moment to compose himself and then he began to speak to them. “Heath is unable to communicate right now. That doesn’t mean it’s permanent, but he’s not able to answer a simple question and he doesn’t seem to be able to understand a simple statement that requires him to demonstrate a physical ability.”

“So there is some kind of brain injury?” Jarrod interjected. He’d already devoured the first chapter and a half of the book.

Nick hung his head in a defeated look and Audra and Victoria clung to each other.

“Yes, it would seem to indicate that Jarrod,” Doctor Merar replied. “We need to find out now how to reach him and reverse the damage or mend the injury. I still think that the fact that he has survived so far and has come out of the coma is a very good sign.”

“So just how do we do that?” Nick chimed in. “How do mend an injured brain?”

“Well, first we hope that Eugene is able to convince one of the doctors at Berkley to help us, to teach us what we need to do to be able to help Heath,” Dr. Merar answered.

“What about the book?” Jarrod raised it, “does it give us any suggestions that might help in the interim?”

“I haven’t read it from cover to cover, but I’ll leave it here for you to have. There are some suggestions. For example, Heath’s reflexes are all working fine, and one of the suggestions in the book is to continue to make sure his muscles stay strong.”

“But it seems like he can’t move,” Audra said.

“In his mind he can’t move Audra, but his body still can and we have to stimulate his body until his mind begins to heal and relearn these things,” Jarrod said, already understanding the concept.

“That’s right Jarrod,” Dr. Merar smiled.

“So we move them for him?” Nick was pleased by the idea he had.

“Yes, that’s the idea the book had. He’s going to need a lot of care, he can’t continue to lie in bed, we must began to help him use his brain again, like Jarrod said, relearn things. And that’s where an expert in this field can help, the more ideas we can use to help him recover, the better off he’ll be.”

“Can we start this right away?” Victoria asked.

“I don’t see why not, his lungs have cleared up nicely and he has no other signs of injury,” he paused, “and I think the sooner you start, the sooner we can have Heath Barkley back as we know him.”

“Thanks Doc,” Nick said, somewhat relieved to be getting some good news for a change.

“I’ll stop back later this evening to see how you’re doing. For now, my advice is to read the book, start slowly, watch how he responds and don’t push him too hard right now. Be patient. Remember he has to mend his brain, things we take for granted, and he may have to relearn. And right now, we just don’t know what he remembers and what he doesn’t remember.”

With that the Doctor left and the family remained in the sitting room, reading through the book and starting to think through the information they were hearing.

Up in the bedroom Silas quietly was picking up and lightly straightening up. He kept an eye on Heath, who had calmed down from the exam, but who still was wide-awake.

Heath could see now, different things, the dark, murky water that had seemed to surround him for so long was gone. The muffled noise of water filling up his ears was now crisp, clear and loud. The things he saw were vibrant and bright, but he didn’t know what he was looking at, what exactly did vibrant and bright mean? He didn’t understand the sounds, and he couldn’t communicate in any way. What did it mean to communicate? He couldn’t put names to faces, for he didn’t know what a face was. He couldn’t make a sound because he did not know how to or even what a sound was. Had he known these things before? He had no memory, he didn’t know what a memory was.

He was aware of everything, but did not understand any of it. The panic returned.

* * * * * * * * *

Jarrod read and re-read the book several times, it was filled with many generalities and unfortunately not many specifics. The doctor who had written the book hinted that decades from now, maybe there would be more understanding into the workings of the brain. The Barkley’s didn’t have decades to wait, the time was now and they needed to begin to try to make a breakthrough to their brother.

They decided, as Dr. Merar had suggested, to take things slowly. Knowing that Heath showed outward signs of fear and panic, they needed to find a way to reach him and show to him their compassion and concern. Silas had innocently discovered the handholding and so it was carried forth by all the Barkley’s going forward. Victoria suggested that the family continue to ‘branch’ out from there, working their ‘healing’ touches further along up his arm, so that he would begin to ‘learn’ that human touch was important.

Another order of business was to try to get Heath to eat. Over a week now had passed since the accident and though he had been in a coma, he now needed some kind of sustenance to help build up his physical strength again. This would prove to be one of the first hurdles the Barkley’s would have to overcome. The book they had, provided no guidance in this area whatsoever and their initial attempts at ‘feeding’ Heath proved to be torturous for all concerned. He wouldn’t even take any water.

It was an arduous undertaking that first required someone to prop him up, since he had been lying prone all this time and knowing that he panicked with anyone’s touch, it would prove to be trying for the whole family.

Nick and Jarrod decided they would lift him while Audra could prop up the pillows behind him, so that he would ultimately be placed in more of an upright position. The trick was to do so, with the least amount of physical contact and in the shortest amount of time. Plotting things out ahead of time would prove to be an important factor in Heath’s recovery.

Jarrod and Nick each took one side of Heath’s bed and Audra scooted herself behind Nick, ready to quickly prop up the pillows. Mother stood nearby to her as well, ready to hand her additional pillows.

On the count of three Nick and Jarrod, with amazing care and gentleness, lifted him up from the bed. He let out a cry of fright, not of pain, as they held him securely in their arms. Jarrod tentatively rubbed his back in a circular motion hoping it would calm him, while Nick whispered, “just relax boy, we’ve got ya, we’re gonna take real good care of you. You’re doing just fine, Heath, just relax, let your brothers do all the work.”

Nick and Jarrod could both feel Heath begin to shake from the fear as Audra quickly had the pillows in place. Catching each other’s gaze, they eased him back in unison onto the waiting pillows.

Step one had been fairly successful. Before they attempted to give him water, they decided to let him rest and Victoria took the chair beside him in and took his hand in hers to help calm him back down. They hoped by that afternoon they could try to get him to drink some water.

About 11am, a rider came out from Stockton with a telegram from Eugene. Jarrod greeted the rider at the door and brought the telegram into the sitting room where Nick and Audra sat.

“Is that from Gene?” Nick asked, seeing Jarrod enter with the paper.

“I hope so,” Jarrod said, opening it up and starting to read. “Yes, it is. This is what it says,” he began to read the words to them. “Dear Family, I have been introduced to Dr. Paul Baker, he has studied with both Dr. Pierre Paul Broca and Dr. Carl Wernicke, noted brain researchers from Europe. Dr. Baker has agreed to return to Stockton with me and is very happy to share his knowledge with us and with Heath. We should arrive in two days, in the interim, Dr. Baker suggests minimal, yet comforting physical contact. Gene.”

“So we’re on the right track so far,” Nick said proudly.

“This definitely makes it seem so,” Jarrod added, rereading the telegram.

“I’m so happy that Gene was able to find someone willing to help,” Audra said with a smile. “I think that’s all that Heath will need.”

“Audra, this isn’t going to be a magic cure, this is going to take a lot of time and effort on all our parts,” Jarrod said trying to explain the severity of things to her.

“But a specialist in this kind of injury surely will be able to help,” she countered.

“Audra, you’ve heard Dr. Merar and you’ve heard Jarrod read from the book. This is all new. These doctors now are just starting to understand how brains work. Jarrod is right, we have to brace ourselves for what the future might hold in store,” Nick explained.

She thought about what they both were saying and eyed both of them up. “I know, I just want to believe that Heath will be ok.”

“We all want to believe that, sis,” Nick said.

Later that afternoon, they began to formulate a plan to give Heath some water to drink. He had fallen to sleep and woken up rested and content.

Their first plan of action was a demonstration. They’d show him how to drink down some water. They decided to take it one step further and one of them would hold the glass while another would sip it down. They continued to rethink, revise and refine every action they would demonstrate for him, down to the tiniest detail they could think of. All the while, Victoria would hold his hand and gently soothe him.

The boys began their demonstration. Over and over they repeated it until Heath turned away from watching them. They decided they were ready to try. Jarrod attempted it first, placing the glass near Heath’s lips, without actually having them touching. Heath’s lips parted and Jarrod smiled at his younger brother. “That’s right Heath, that’s very good.”

Carefully he set the glass against his lips and ever so slightly he trickled some water into Heath’s mouth. Heath instantly began to cough and spit the water back out. The terror had taken over again. They proceeded to calm him down and try again. Several hours passed and they continued to get the same result.

Nick and Jarrod were completely frustrated. Heath was willing to try and try again. He obviously craved some kind of nourishment, but they realized they needed to somehow teach him to swallow.

They took their frustration outside. Their anger wasn’t directed at the other, it was merely an outlet they both needed to take for the moment. They walked outside of the house out to the stable area and began to let off some steam.

“So how are we supposed to do this now Jarrod? The boy needs to eat, otherwise he’s liable to starve to death before we can even start to help him.”

“Don’t you think I know that Nick? Standing around and shouting at each other isn’t going to put food in his stomach is it?”

“I’m not mad at you Jarrod, I just need to yell,” Nick shouted. “We take all this stuff for granted. You’re hungry, you eat.”

“We need to think it through Nick, that’s all, there’s got to be a way to teach him.”

“But how Jarrod, we’ve demonstrated it for him how many times up there? He seems to understand, he tries, but he just can’t do it. His mind isn’t telling his body how to do it.”

“So we have to think even more critically Nick, break it down even more, don’t you see?”

“NO Jarrod, I don’t see,” Nick shouted. “We can’t make his brain move his body. The way I see it, he’s gotta do that himself. And maybe he just can’t.”

“Well, I’m not going to believe that,” Jarrod replied angrily. “I think there is a way and I intend to find it.”

Nick gave him a patented glare and backed off. “Well, you’re not gonna do it alone. Let’s figure this out together.”

They started to walk back toward the house and Audra came running out to them, carrying something in her hands. “I think I’ve got it,” she said happily approaching them.

“What? What have you got figured out?” Jarrod asked her as she stopped right in front of them.

“Just this,” she held out the object for them to see.

“Oh come on!” Nick said bemused by what he saw.

Jarrod grinned from ear to ear. “That just might be the ticket, little sister.” He grabbed the object from her. “How on earth did you come up with this?”

“Well, this is how we all learn to drink right?” She said with a smile. “I thought if we have to start all over from the beginning, then maybe this would work.”

They tucked their arms around her and walked back inside.

Victoria still sat with Heath and the three siblings entered the room with their latest idea. Audra moved forward and sat on the bed beside him. She took the babies bottle filled with water and held it to his lips. At first he didn’t know what to do, but somehow, instinctively he began to suck at it and the cool liquid made its first journey down his throat. They had done it. One small hurdle had been knocked over. Smiles and love filled the room.

* * * * * * * * *

Finding that simple solution had given the family a great deal of satisfaction. And Heath obviously needed the nourishment. His face had become drawn and it was obvious that he had lost weight. Over the next day and a half, they were able to give him milk and several different kinds of broths, as long as they weren’t hot. They learned that he didn’t care too much for any liquid that was hot. Heath instantly took to it as any hungry person would. For the interim, it would suffice until Dr. Baker arrived with more ideas.

The touch therapy was also beginning to make a difference in the young cowboy’s life. In just a few days, he had become more accepting and tolerant of his family’s compassion. Victoria and Audra were now able to give him tender kisses on his cheeks and he no longer tensed up when someone merely touched him. He was still unable to ‘touch’ them in return.

Communication also remained a huge problem. He began to make more sounds and his outbursts of crying for no apparent reason, were becoming more frequent.

By the time Eugene arrived with Dr. Baker, the family, although anxious and happy for his arrival, was worn out and somewhat depressed themselves.

Gene came home with a positive outlook, only to find his family exhausted and dejected. “Mother? We’re here,” he called out as he led Dr. Baker into the family home.

Jarrod came down the stairs and greeted Gene. “Welcome home Gene,” he said, giving his youngest sibling a brotherly embrace.

“Jarrod, this is Dr. Paul Baker, he’s known all around the world as the American brain doctor,” Gene proudly made the introduction. “Paul, this is my oldest brother Jarrod.”

“Then you must be the lawyer?” Paul held out his hand for a shake.

“That I am,” Jarrod said with a friendly smile. “On behalf of my family, may I say how pleased we are that you would come here to help us.”

“My pleasure,” Paul Baker, brushed off the kind words. “I trust that you won’t mind if I write up your brother’s case for future medical journals. Gene and I spoke about it when he first told me about your brother’s accident and then again briefly on the train out, I think the case could be a wonderful tool for future generations.”

“You’re going to write this up as research?” Jarrod questioned, giving a quick glance to Gene.

“Yes, I plan to, unless you and your family object. Gene didn’t seem to have a problem with it.”

Eugene glanced at Jarrod. He felt bad that he neglected to mention it in the telegram. But Dr. Baker was willing to come to the ranch personally to work with Heath. He really didn’t think the family would object at all.

“Gene didn’t mention the research part,” Jarrod said.

“Dr. Baker assured me he wouldn’t use our names or Heath’s name at all, no one will know it’s our family, it will be completely anonymous,” Gene began to explain, “Jarrod, Paul is a wonderful doctor, you should see the work he’s doing at Berkley. It’s astonishing. He’s making inroads with people who are in worse shape than Heath. I think he can make all the difference in the world to Heath. I think Heath would want that. And I think we need to give him an opportunity to work with Heath. I think he can bring Heath back.” Gene was passionate about Dr. Baker’s abilities. Jarrod could hear it in his voice and see it in his eyes.

“I promise, I’ll not use any of your real names. When the project is successfully completed, it will simply be ‘Research Project number 107.’ You have my word on that.” Paul again held out his hand for Jarrod to shake.

Jarrod took a deep breath and shook his hand again. “I like that you said successfully. You’ve got the job doctor.”

“Please, call me Paul, I’m not one for formalities.”

“Paul it is. I imagine you’d like to freshen up and rest for a bit. I know that train ride can be rather tedious.”

“I’ll show him to the guest room,” Gene butted in. “Follow me Paul.”

Paul gave Jarrod a nod and went upstairs after Gene.

Jarrod watched for a minute. Paul Baker was tall, rather thin and had long, sandy brown hair that hung down, getting in his eyes. He often used his hands to comb it back out of his sight. He certainly didn’t look like a world-renowned doctor, rather, he looked like a poor, undernourished, bookish, classmate of Eugene. But there was something in his deep, dark brown eyes that gave him a solid reassurance that he could and would be a tremendous help to Heath. After all these years, Jarrod’s intuition about people was usually correct.

Nick came in from outside and saw Jarrod standing near the foot of the stairs. “You must have met him?” he said. “Doesn’t look much like a doctor does he?”

Jarrod grinned, “Is it the long hair or the youthfulness you object to Brother Nick?” Appearances were always first on the mind of Nick Barkley.

Nick snorted a laugh. “I’d say both,” he paused and added, “but I got a feeling from shaking his hand that he just might be able to do what he’s claiming he can do.”

“I get the same feeling.”

‘Well then two Barkley’s can’t possibly be wrong now can we?”

“I hope not, brother, I certainly hope not.”

After Dr. Baker had his rest, he immediately went in to begin his assessment of his patient. The family anxiously awaited his findings downstairs. Paul Baker performed many of the same ‘tests’ that Dr. Merar had done, but also included several new ones as well. After spending nearly an hour with Heath, he went downstairs to discuss his findings with the rest of the family.

“What do you think Paul?” Nick started.

“I think your brother’s injury is not as severe as I thought it was when Eugene told me about it. That being said, I must warn you, he has had some extensive damage done, but it’s my estimation that between 90 and 98% of it can be effectively regenerated.”

“What does that mean Paul?” Audra asked, her voice full of hope. She studied the doctor’s every word and move. Audra observed and listened intently, not wanting to miss anything or misunderstand anything.

“With the knowledge I have gained through my own work and that of my mentors Dr.’s Broca and Wernicke, we can bring your brother back to being nearly the same as you remember him to be.”

“So there is between a ten and two percent chance he won’t recover?” Victoria asked wanting to be sure she understood what he was saying.

“No, Mrs. Barkley, he will recover. I assure you of that. There may be however, some subtle changes. His own memory may not be fully developed, he may not remember certain things that have happened to him in his own lifetime. His personality may not be exactly the same. And on a more humorous level, his tastes in food may change dramatically. All of these things, as well as some others are located in the area of the brain, which I feel has the most damage. That’s what I meant by the percentile.”

Victoria nodded her understanding.

“Paul, what do we do now? How can we start to help him recover?” Gene asked.

“I know the book you’ve been reading as well as what Dr. Merar has suggested, that you move along slowly. I take the opposite approach. Heath has no other injuries that would impede him from moving at a faster pace. The sooner we get him on his feet, re-teach him to communicate and generally engage his brain in everyday functions, the better off he will be. I’ve used this approach on nearly all my prior patients. It’s been 100% successful.”

“Well, you can count me in on that,” a jubilant Nick busted out. “I’ll start working with that boy right now.”

Paul smiled at him. “I like that enthusiasm Nick, but we’ll start tomorrow. Tonight I’d like to prepare the regiment that I’d suggest we all try to follow. Given all your involvement already, I’d like to continue having you all be a part of his rehabilitation. They nodded their support. “If you’ll excuse me then, I’ll get to work. I’ll see you all at breakfast.”

Sighs of relief and a wave of excitement filled the room. Getting Heath back was what they all had hoped and prayed for and now it was really going to begin. They celebrated with a toast. The mood was light and happy. Victoria took a moment and walked out onto the veranda. The night was warm. Jarrod noticed she had gone out and so he sauntered out after her.

“Mother? Is everything alright?”

She turned and gave him a smile, as he leaned in and gave her a kiss. “Everything’s fine. We all have a reason to be happy.”

“But?” he sensed something in his mother’s mood.

“But nothing Jarrod, you’re reading into things that have no meaning.”

“That’s what we lawyers are famous for,” he teased. “Now, what is it?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Now come on Mother, I’ve known you 32 years, you can’t fool me. Is it Dr. Baker?”

“Not at all, Eugene showed me his credentials. He has a very impressive background. I’m certain he’ll help.”

“Then what could possibly be troubling you?”

She took a few steps away from him and stooped down just a bit to sniff at the fragrance of a blooming rose.

“Mother?”

She turned back to face him. “How might he be changed? Jarrod, we’ve only known him for such a short time now and there may be things now that we’ll never know about him. It doesn’t scare me, it saddens me.” Her voice cracked with emotion.

He went over and put his arms around her and placed a tender kiss at the top of her head. “But he’ll be back Mother, that’s what matters most. Heath will be back.”

* * * * * * * * *

The regimen that Dr. Baker created for Heath was intense and it left him with little time for anything but the exhaustive therapy. It began to take a toll on everyone, especially Heath. He became easily agitated and overly emotional. Dr. Baker kept assuring the family that this was the best way to go about Heath’s rehabilitation. They all began to question it, except for Audra who worked with Heath religiously for hours on end. She would simply not give up.

The family questioned the therapy because they saw no results. Weeks passed and Heath wasn’t communicating any better, he still was unable to eat and he still had not demonstrated that he was able to control his body and his muscles in any purposeful movements.

It was an agonizing time for all of them.

And then it was on a Tuesday evening, very late, well after midnight, Audra couldn’t sleep so she decided to relieve Jarrod from his nightly ritual of sitting with Heath till the wee hours of the morning. She entered the room like a mouse and offered to sit with him, so that Jarrod could get a decent night’s sleep.

“Are you sure honey? It’s so late and I’m really quite used to this now,” Jarrod asked her.

“Yes, I’m sure Jarrod. You look so tired and I can’t sleep anyway. It’s such a pleasant evening with the cool breeze coming in. I just feel like being useful in some way,” she explained.

“Well, if you put it that way, I guess I should just take you up on the lovely offer, it’s a fine night for sleeping, not too hot, not too cold,” he began.

And she finished, “just right, papa bear, now go, get some sleep, we’ll be fine, won’t we Heath?” She said, giving her blonde brother a familiar smile. His expression never changed, though he stared at her.

“He’s not too talkative tonight,” Jarrod said, reaching down and giving Heath a protective, loving squeeze on his arm. “But we’ll get there soon enough, won’t we brother?”

No reply came.

“Jarrod, is he awake this late very often?” Audra asked as Jarrod began to leave.

“Yes, come to think of it, he is awake this late quite a lot, why?”

“Well, Heath always seems to go to bed early. I always thought he just went straight to bed to get his sleep. Do you think he would just come up here to be alone, but really was still awake?”

“That’s hard for me to answer, I really don’t know Audra.”

She turned back and watched Heath. His eyes followed her closely.

“Good night Audra, and thanks.”

“Good night Jarrod,” she said, her eyes never leaving Heath.

She sat down on the bed right beside him and took his hand in her own. She began to flex it and work the fingers, wrist and arm as Dr. Baker had demonstrated to all of them. And she began to talk to him.

“I think since you’re awake that I will do the exercises with you,” she began. Her touch was gentle and light.

“It’s a beautiful night outside. Clear and cool, not hot like it’s been. We’ve got your window open, can you feel the breeze come in?” He turned his head ever so slightly toward the window. Audra saw it right away and thought that he had understood what she said. “Oh Heath, you know, don’t you? You understand what I just said. The breeze, coming in the window, you can feel it right?” This time she asked it more directly, but his eyes were back, locked in on her and his head made no movement at all. Maybe she had just imagined it or wanted it to be so much that she read more into it than was truly there.

She dismissed it and kept talking to him and working with him. “I didn’t know you stayed awake so late. All this time and I thought you went to bed early, or was it because you just didn’t want to play checkers with me?” She giggled. “You always beat me anyway, you’re that good of a player. But I like that you never just let me win. Nick does that all the time and it makes me crazy. Jarrod use to too, when I was much smaller, now he never wants to play. I don’t like it when they just give me whatever it is they think I want. That’s why it’s been so special to have you here Heath, you treat me as an equal and you expect the same from me. I can’t wait till you can talk again and we can take the buggy out for a picnic or maybe even go horseback riding. You got so mad that one time when you and Charger lost, but you didn’t make any excuses and I know you didn’t let me win. It was all very genuine when you congratulated me on the race and I had to make you promise that you wouldn’t tell Mother. She doesn’t think a young lady ought to be doing such things.”

Audra stood up and went to the other side of the bed and took his right hand into hers and began to do the same things she had done on the left side.

“I think what I like best Heath, is how you complete the circle of the Barkley brothers. It’s like there was always a missing piece for me. Jarrod, he’s so smart and he spoils me so much. Nick always seems to tolerate and tease me and Gene is playful, but when you came, you were someone I could talk to, who listened to every thing I said and just understood it and never judged me. It’s as if I knew you’d someday appear and fill that spot and you did.”

She choked up as she spoke the words and a tiny tear slipped down out of her pretty blue eyes.

“I’m sorry Heath, I didn’t mean to cry. I just miss you.”

Audra started to stand up so that she could compose herself and continue on with Heath’s therapy. As she did, his right hand grasped at her arm and held her weakly. She let herself drop back onto the bed and her mouth opened in shock. “Heath?” she questioned. “You do understand don’t you?”

His grasp around her arm weakened, but he slowly pulled his arm back and when he felt his hand near her hand, he closed his fingers around hers and gently squeezed.

The expression on his face never changed, but Audra’s tears quickly turned to tears of happiness.

“JARROD, NICK, MOTHER, EUGENE,” she called out. “Come quick, Heath is squeezing my hand.”

Continued…