THE DAY THAT CHANGED

THE BARKLEYS’ LIVES FOREVER
Part 2

by Janet

Disclaimer: The characters and situations of the TV program "Big Valley" are the creations of Four Star/Republic Pictures and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended by the author. The ideas expressed in this story are copyrighted to the author.

Chapter Nine

Tom made a hard decision. He looked over at Murphy.

“Let’s get them back to the ranch,” he said as he looked at both boys. “They’ll die soon if we don’t. They may even die along the way but I have to take them home. I have to try to save their lives. I knew something bad had happened. Why did I have to let them come out here? Why? Why?”

“But how?” Murphy asked. “They won’t be able to ride a horse. Calm down Tom. You need to stay calm to get help for Jarrod and Nick.”

“We’ll make litters out of their blankets,” he answered looking for some good size, sturdy limbs to use to hold the blankets in place. “You’re right. I’m sorry for getting upset.”

“You have a right to be upset,” Murphy said looking over at Tom. “You realize that one or both of them will die.”

“Yes,” he replied starting to go to work. “But I have to try to save them. They are after all my sons.”

Over the next hour, Tom and Murphy worked.

“I wish we could get this done sooner,” he said as he worked. “I’m very worried about the boys. Those cuts and scratches could become infected or they could just bleed to death.”

“We’ll have them at the ranch soon,” Murphy replied trying to sound positive even though he doubted that either one of them would live.

The amount of damage that had been done to their bodies was enough to kill. And he was sure they both were low on blood. Tom noticed his expression.

“You’re thinking the same thing I am,” he said looking at Murphy. “I don’t know either whether they’re going to make it. They are so badly injured. I’ve seen a lot of men who have tangled with cats but this is so much worse. There isn’t a place on either one of my boys that isn’t cut, clawed or bitten. In a way, I hope they don’t make it because they are going to be in a great deal of pain if they somehow survive. But I don’t want to lose them either.”

“Tom,” Murphy replied looking up from his work, “they are young and healthy. I’m sure they’re going to be all right.”

“No,” he told Murphy. “I’m afraid that they have lost too much blood and they have been attacked so thoroughly. I just hate to tell their mother.”

“You have to,” Murphy said. “She has to know Tom.”

“Yes,” he replied nodding. “But she’s going to be devastated. Those boys are her life. Without them she will be lost and for that matter so will I.”

Periodically, they would check the boys to see if they were still alive. Somehow they survived. When everything was finished, Tom and Murphy laid the boys on the litters and headed for the ranch.

Victoria was becoming even more upset and worried as time went on. Tom should have been back before now so she knew something was very wrong. She stood looking out the window toward the barn hoping that she would see them ride up. But all she saw was the hands.

“Mrs. Barkley,” Silas said as he walked into the room, “Mr. Nick and Mr. Jarrod will be all right. They are smart and won’t do anything to jeopardize their lives.”

She turned to look at the black man she had come to love and trust as a member of the family trying to smile. She knew that Silas thought the world of the boys. He would spend some of his evenings playing games with them while she and Tom went out.

“Thank you Silas,” she said trying to sound positive. “I just wish I knew what had happened. This not knowing is making me crazy.”

They both heard the horses and they both looked out the window. She gasped as she caught sight of her two sons. She tore out the door at a run and finally came to a stop as Tom and Murphy stopped the horses. She just looked at her sons.

“Tom,” she cried, “what happened? Are they...”

“They were attacked by some kind of large cat,” he answered as he climbed down from his horse. “They are alive but barely. We found them in the woods instead of at their camp. I guess they must have run out of wood and went looking for some when they were attacked.”

Victoria came apart at the seams. She cried trying to hold them but becoming covered in blood herself.

“Tom,” she cried, “why? I don’t understand. They’re only boys. They have their whole lives in front of them. Why did this have to happen to them? Why?”

“I don’t know,” he said trying to be calm. “We have to see how bad they’re hurt. We need to send for the doctor and get them inside.”

“They are covered in blood,” she cried. “Their little bodies are ripped open. Why! Why!"

Tom gently held her in his arms trying to comfort her.

“We have to be strong for them,” he said looking at her. “We can’t let them know how we feel. If they survive, they are going to need us.”

“You’re right of course,” she replied wiping the tears from her eyes. “We have to be strong.”

Murphy eased off the other horse and left for Stockton and the doctor. Tom pulled her away from him.

“We need to get them into the house,” he said looking down at his two boys. “I’ll take Jarrod.

One of the hands had walked up to see what all the commotion was.

“Riley, you take Nick,” he said as he tried to get the boys moved. “And Silas will you see that Victoria makes it inside.”

“Yes sir,” Silas replied walking beside Victoria who wouldn’t leave her sons.

Riley, a fairly new hand on the ranch walked over to the two horses. Looking down he could see just how bad the two were. They were very pale, cut, clawed, chewed, and so still. He gently picked Nick up carrying him into the house.

“Mr. Barkley,” Silas said as he led Victoria into the house, “put them in my room. It will be easier for the doctor.”

“Thank you Silas,” he replied carrying Jarrod to the older man’s downstairs room.

Laying the two boys on the bed, Tom began the tedious job of removing their shredded clothes. After a few minutes, Victoria recovered enough to help him. Once they were able to get a good look at their sons, they realized just how close they had come to perishing.

“Tom,” she said trying not to cry, “I can’t believe this could happen. What did it?”

“Some kind of cat,” he replied shaking his head. “I tell you, I don’t see how either one of them lived through this. There’s not a place on either one of their bodies that’s not been attacked. I’m so glad they’re unconscious.”

“Will they make it?” she asked fearing the worst.

“I don’t honestly know,” he answered. “It doesn’t look too good right now.”

She nodded as she continued to look at her little boys.

The doctor walked in and went straight to his patients. He just shook his head as he worked.

“I need as many bandages as you can find,” he said looking up. “Shred some sheets if you have too. They’re going to have to be sterilized. Those cuts, claw marks and torn flesh will get infected if they are treated.”

Victoria went in search of bandages. Tom looked over at the doctor.

“Will they live?” he asked as soon as his wife left the room.

“I don’t know,” the doctor answered. “I’ve not finished examining them yet. But I can tell you this much. They are both very low on blood. It looks like Jarrod has a bad laceration on his neck and side. Nick has one on his leg. But with all the damage, it’s hard to be sure.”

Tom nodded and realized that he might lose both his sons. Victoria returned with a large amount of bandages. She handed them to the doctor.

“He doesn’t know yet,” Tom said looking at her.

“Why Tom why?” she asked trying not to cry. “They’re only boys.”

“I know,” Tom answered. “I blame myself for this. I’m the one who told them they could go. I guess I won’t have to worry about punishing Jarrod. He may not live long enough for me to punish him. It doesn’t matter anyway. I only want my sons to live. Please God let my boys live.”

Tom couldn’t contain his own tears any longer. They flowed freely down his face as he watched the doctor work to save Jarrod and Nick’s lives. Victoria held onto him upset as well. All they could do was watch and wait.

Chapter Ten

The doctor worked as hard as he could to wash, sterilize, medicate and wrap the numerous cuts on the two boys’ bodies. Tom and Victoria kept a vigil beside the bed.

“Tom,” he said as he looked up, “do you have the animal that did this?”

“What?” Tom replied not understanding what the doctor meant. “I never saw it. All we found was the boys. Why? Do you think it was....”

He couldn’t finish his question because it dawned on him what the doctor was going to say.

“There’s another problem we have to deal with,” he told them. “The animal could also have been rapid.”

“I was afraid you were going to say that,” Tom said shaking his head. “I don’t know if we can find it. No one has even seen it.”

That sentence shocked both Tom and Victoria as they realized that their two sons could die a very horrible death because of the possibility of that animal being rapid.

“You have to find that animal,” he said pulling them out of their thoughts. “I have to know. In the mean time I’ll try to repair the damage.”

“How bad are they hurt?” she asked needing to know.

“Jarrod has cuts over eighty percent of his body,” he answered continuing to work. “He has a very bad laceration across his neck and on his left side. Nick has a bad cut on his left leg. I have to know about that cat.”

“I’ll send out some men to that area to see if they can find it,” Tom said walking to the door. “But I’m staying here. I don’t want to leave in case they...”

Again he couldn’t finish his thought.

“I need donors,” he replied looking at Tom. “They have both lost a great deal of blood. If they don’t get more, most likely they will die.”

“I’ll talk to the hands,” Tom told the doctor as he left the room.

Victoria stood there watching the doctor fight to save her sons. She remembered the day that both of them were born and the joy she and Tom shared.

“Tom,” she said looking up at him from a chair in the living room of Wally and Jenny Miles home, “it’s a boy. You have a son. I hope you are happy.”

Tom stood there looking at the small life in his wife’s arms. He smiled.

“He’s so handsome,” he said smiling. “I am so happy that we have a son. I have someone to leave this ranch too.”

“What are we going to name him?” she asked looking at her husband. “I always thought that Thomas would be a nice name. And it would be part of his father.”

“He needs a name all his own,” he answered looking at the baby. “A name which fits him.”

“Do you have any ideas?” she asked hopefully.

“I do and don’t ask me where it came from because I’m not sure,” he answered smiling. “How about Jarrod Thomas Barkley?”

“Jarrod,” she said thinking about the name. “It’s different. But I like it. Jarrod Thomas Barkley it will be.”

Looking down at her son, she smiled.

“Your name is Jarrod,” she said smiling. “You’re going to be rancher someday just like your father.”

Coming back to the present, she looked down at Jarrod. She prayed that he would make it. Then she thought about the day Nick was born.

“Tom,” she said smiling, “listen to the lungs this boy has. I believe you have your rancher.”

“I totally agree,” he replied smiling too. “With that voice he will keep the men in line. I just wish Jarrod could see him.”

“He will when he is better,” she told him. “Pneumonia has been hard on him but he’s a fighter Tom. He may not show any interest in the ranch but he is a fighter.”

“What are we going to call him?” he asked wondering.

“I had thought of a name a few weeks ago,” she answered as she remembered the day that he had kicked so hard. “I thought that Nicholas Jonathan Barkley would fit him.”

“Nicholas Jonathan,” he said nodding. “I like it and we can call him Nick for short.”

It was hard now for Victoria to look down at what was left of her two sons after that animal was through with them. She knew that if they survived it would be hard on them. The pain they would have to endure would be devastating.

As Tom walked out toward the barn and the bunkhouse, several of the hands stopped. Tom got all of the men together.

“I need you to help me with something very important,” he said as he looked at his hands. “My two sons were viciously attacked last night by some kind of cat. The doctor needs to know if it is rapid. I need some men to trail that cat.”

“You don’t have to ask boss,” one of the hands replied. “We’ll do anything we can for you and those boys. Just tell us where to look.”

Murphy can take a half dozen up to where the boys were attacked,” he told them. “But there is something else. I need blood donors. The boys are low in blood and without a transfusion, they will most likely die.”

“You’ve got that too,” another hand said looking at the other men.

By the time Tom walked back into Silas’ bedroom, there were a half dozen men following behind him. Victoria looked up from her vigil with her sons.

“Thank you for coming,” she said as they walked into the room. “I’ll never forget what you’re doing for my boys.”

“No need to thank us Mrs. Barkley,” Deavers said as he stood close to the doctor and the boys. “I think the world of those two boys. So do most of the men in the bunkhouse. If we can help them, we will.”

“Roll up your sleeves,” the doctor replied as he started the transfusions to both Jarrod and Nick. “What about the cat?”

“I have a dozen men out looking for any sign of that cat,” he told the doctor as he worked. “If it’s still around here, the men will find it.”

“Good,” the doctor said continuing to work.

Chapter Eleven

Tom and Victoria would not leave their two sons. The doctor had all the wounds cleaned, medicated and wrapped. All they could do was wait to see if their sons would recover or not. The transfusions were complete but they still did not know if the animal was rapid.

“Doc,” he asked as he looked up at Dr. Merrar, “do they have any chance of recovering from this? Their small bodies were so torn up by that cat or whatever it was. Will they make it or not?”

“I still can’t answer that Tom,” the doctor answered. “I’ve cleaned up the wounds, sewed up the deepest ones, given them medicine to help but they are still unconscious. I won’t lie to you. It doesn’t look good for either one of them but I have seen miracles and right now they need a miracle.”

Tom didn’t respond but just nodded his head. Then he stood up from the chair he had been sitting in and slowly walked over to the bed. He knelt down beside of Jarrod and took Jarrod’s small hand in his. Then he looked skyward.

“Lord,” he said as he prayed for a miracle, “I’m not much on praying but I desperately need your help. My two boys are hurt real bad and they might not make it. I was hoping that you could help them to heal. I want them to know they are not alone in this struggle. We’re here with them. Please give me my boys back. I should have protected them from this but I was trying to let them experience new things. If I had known about the animal I wouldn’t have allowed them to leave. Jarrod wrote the nicest essay yesterday about how he wanted forgiveness for what he had done. I am telling you right now, I forgive you son. I love you and Nick with all my heart. Please come back to me. I promise to be a good father. I promise.”

Tom became silent as the tears flowed down his face onto the bed. Victoria silently rose from her chair, going over to kneel next to her husband.

“All we ask is that you spare our sons,” she said as she prayed. “We’ve tried to be the best parents we could be to them. It’s hard with you lose one child but two is terrible. I hope you will help them heal. Or at least let them know that we are here with them and we will always be here.”

Tom and Victoria continued to kneel beside of the bed and pray for a miracle that would save their sons.

“We got it,” Murphy said as he walked into the room where the family and the doctor were. “It’s a cougar and a huge one at that. I’ve never seen one that huge. It took us forever to get it cornered where we could shoot it. It was real slippery.”

“Where is it?” the doctor asked as he looked toward Murphy. “I need to see it.”

“Outside in the wagon,” Murphy answered looking down at the two motionless boys. “It don’t look to be rapid but you’ll need to look for yourself doc. How are the boys?”

“No change,” he answered looking at Murphy. “But they are still alive and we’re praying for a miracle.”

“I know they will be all right Tom,” Murphy said smiling. “I’ll tell the men. They all wanted me to tell you they are thinking about the boys.”

“We appreciate that,” she replied nodding. “And I wanted to thank you for going with Tom to find them.”

“Take care of everything for me,” he told Murphy.

“I will,” Murphy said heading out the door with the doctor right behind him.

“I’ll be back as soon as I see that animal,” the doctor replied walking out.

Tom and Victoria didn’t move. They were thankful the animal wasn’t rapid if Murphy had been right in his assessment, but all they wanted right now was for their boys to wake up. Then they heard a small sound. Looking at the bed, they realized that Nick was trying to wake up.

“Nick,” he said as he rushed to Nick’s side, “I’m here son. You’re going to be all right.”

Nick moaned before he opened his eyes looking at his father.

“Where am I?” Nick asked as he tried to move.

“Stay still son,” he answered as he gently held his son down. “You were attacked by a cougar.”

“I remember now,” Nick said as he grunted from the pain coming from his many injuries. “It was terrible father. Jarrod had gone out into the woods with a lantern to get some more sticks for the fire. I heard this awful cry and then Jarrod cried for help. When I found him, this animal was on top of him. He finally stopped moving and the thing came after me.”

“Don’t try to talk,” he replied smiling. “Just rest.”

“Jarrod,” Nick told him becoming very agitated. “Where is Jarrod?”

“He’s right beside of you,” he said pointing at Jarrod. “He’s still unconscious.”

Nick turned his head where he could see Jarrod. He started to cry as he looked at all the bandages.

“I should have gone with him,” Nick said still crying. “I could have protected him. But I was too scared.”

“Sweetheart,” she replied coming to his side, “no one blames you. You tried to help Jarrod.”

“Jarrod’s going to die isn’t he?” Nick asked still very upset. “I know he is. I can’t go on without him. I love him.”

“Son,” he answered looking at Nick’s tormented face, “you need to rest.”

“No!” Nick cried reaching for his brother. “I need Jarrod! Please Jarrod. I don’t want you to die.”

Nick reached out with his hand, taking hold of his brother’s hand. He clutched it tightly and wouldn’t let go.

“It’s all right sweetheart,” she said running her hand through his hair. “You just rest.”

“Mother,” Nick replied trying to sit up but being held down by Tom, “you don’t understand. It’s my fault that Jarrod was hurt. I shouldn’t have asked him to keep a promise he made six years ago. I was selfish.”

“No son,” he told Nick, “you’re not selfish. This was something neither one of you knew about. I should have stopped you from going in the first place.”

Nick felt something squeeze his hand. He stopped talking, looking at Jarrod. Then he smiled.

“What are you smiling about?” he asked completely dumbfounded.

“Jarrod heard me,” Nick answered looking at his father. “He squeezed my hand.”

“Are you sure Nick?” she asked needing to know. “Could you have been mistaken?”

“I’m sure mother,” Nick answered. “He’s alive and is going to be fine.”

“That’s right Nick,” Jarrod said very low. “I am going to be fine.”

Tom and Victoria looked at their oldest son. His eyes were barely open but he was smiling just a bit. They were so happy and so relieved.

“Son,” he said as he went around to Jarrod’s side of the bed, “you need to stay quiet so you can heal. You’ve been hurt very badly.”

“I know,” Jarrod replied very softly. “I tried to fight it off but it was too strong. I knew I was going to die. But all I could think of was Nick.”

“I’m going to be fine too,” Nick told him.

“Both of you need to rest,” she said smiling at both her sons. “Do I need to get something from the doctor to make you rest?”

“No,” they both replied at the same time.

“Good,” she told them as they closed their eyes.

“Thank God,” he said looking up. “My boys are going to be all right.”

“They sure are,” she replied smiling.

Chapter Twelve

The doctor walked back into the room and he saw both parents smiling.

“I take it they woke up,” he said looking at his two patients. “Were they in any pain?”

“They sure did,” Tom replied smiling even wider. “They’re going to be all right. Yes they were both hurting but they’ve gone back to sleep.”

“And the cat wasn’t rapid,” he told them. “However, I don’t want them to get up for a few days until those cuts can heal. They may start to bleed again. I’m glad they’ve gone back to sleep. They need plenty of rest. Those bandages need to be changed daily. The cuts need to be sterilized.”

“I’ll take care of that,” she said looking over at her boys. “Tom will help me. It’s just wonderful to know that my two boys are going to be all right. I was so scared.”

“I sure will,” Tom replied. “I was too. I didn’t know what I would have done if they had both died.”

“I’ll leave some pain medicine with you also,” he told them handing Victoria a bottle of dark liquid. “Give them one spoonful every four hours as needed to help with the pain. I also want you to start them on food and drink. I’ll be by tomorrow to examine them.”

“All right doc,” Tom said walking the doctor out. “I don’t know how to thank you for saving my boys.”

“It wasn’t all my doing Tom,” he replied looking at a relieved Tom. “Someone else had a hand in it too.”

“Yes,” Tom told him realizing what he meant. “I guess that prayer really helped.”

“It sure must have,” he said smiling at Tom. “You are very fortunate Tom. Both or either one of them could have died from that cat.”

“I do doc,” Tom replied nodding. “I’m just glad that Murphy and I found them as quickly as we did. We brought them back to the ranch very quickly. But we did have to build two litters to carry them on. I didn’t think they were going to survive that long. It was very hard seeing them with all that blood on them and knowing that they could die at any minute.”

“I know you did,” he told Tom. “That’s probably what helped save their lives. I also understand how hard it was on you to see your sons almost dead. But those two are tough and they have Barkley blood running through their veins.”

The doctor left the house and Tom went back to his sons.

“Nick,” she said as he walked inside, “you have to stay in bed.”

“But mother,” Nick replied as he continued to fight his mother, “I need to save Jarrod. He’s lying in the woods.”

“No sweetheart,” she told him continuing to hold him down. “Your brother is lying right beside of you.”

Nick looked over and saw Jarrod lying there asleep. He relaxed.

“It seemed so real,” Nick said as he looked up at his mother. “I guess I was just dreaming.”

“Son,” he replied as he walked over to the bed, “Murphy and I rescued you and Jarrod this morning. We found both of you lying in the woods.”

“I remember hearing Jarrod scream,” Nick told him. “I didn’t stop to think about the animal I had heard cry being out there. I just picked up the light and tried to find Jarrod. When I did finally locate him, the animal was on top of him and he was trying to fight. But I could tell he was losing. That animal was huge and Jarrod was bloody all over the front of his clothes. I tried to run but it reacted too fast and I was a goner.”

“You were brave to try to help your brother,” he said smiling at Nick. “Especially after the altercation at breakfast.”

“I love Jarrod,” Nick replied trying not to cry. “After what had happened to him at school, I didn’t want him to feel bad. He was so mad at himself. He said that he should have told those two boys to leave him alone instead of being pushed.”

“We know how your brother is,” she told him. “He just made a mistake and it cost him dearly. For the second time in his life, Jarrod made a mistake in judgement. And he got caught.”

“It wasn’t his fault,” Nick cried trying to make them understand. “You should have seen and heard what those boys did and said to Jarrod. First, they tripped him for no reason other than that they could. Then they told me I didn’t deserve a brother like him. Someone who wouldn’t stand up for himself. That’s when Jarrod got up and stood up to them. They called him names and kept picking on him. I tried to help but it was too late. Mrs. Needles walked in and caught Jarrod with his fist reared back. They did it to him on purpose.”

“Son,” he said looking over at Jarrod, “I didn’t know everything that happened to Jarrod. He told us about the tripping and about the name-calling. But he didn’t say anything about not being a deserving brother.”

“He didn’t want to hurt you,” Nick replied. “He didn’t want you to be the parents of a boy who was picked on all the time because he wouldn’t stand up for himself.”

“Oh Tom,” she told her husband, “what have we done? He didn’t deserve to be punished so severely. He’s a good boy.”

“I know that now,” he said shaking his head. “How are we going to make this up to him? I wish I had known the facts before I punished that boy.”

“Right now,” she replied looking over at Jarrod, “we need to get him well. And then we can worry about fixing this.”

“True,” he told her. “Nick, you are a wonderful son and brother. You continue to be that.”

“I will,” Nick said smiling. “I’m kinda tired.”

“You got back to sleep,” she replied smiling.

Nick closed his eyes and went to sleep. Victoria and Tom looked at each other.

Chapter Thirteen

Jarrod didn’t wake up again for the rest of the day. Nick would wake up calling for Jarrod so Tom and Victoria knew he was still dreaming of his horror at the hands of the cat.

“Tom,” she said as she sat beside of the bed, “I’m worried about Jarrod. He hasn’t awakened yet and I’m afraid there’s something wrong with him.”

“He’s just sleeping,” he replied looking at her from where he was standing on the other side of the bed. “At least I hope that’s all he’s doing.”

“You’re just as worried as I am,” she told him. “Do you think we need to send for the doctor?”

“Not just yet,” he said looking at his son. “Let’s give him some time. He was mauled by that cat.”

“You’re right,” she replied. “I just think about the fact of what he and Nick went through together last night. Tom, they were almost killed. Thank God they both survived.”

“I understand how you feel,” he told her trying to smile. “Let’s give him until morning and then we can get the doctor if he still doesn’t wake up.”

“Whatever you think is best,” she said looking over at the boys.

The next morning, Nick opened his eyes. He was still in pain but he was more alert. He looked over at Jarrod.

“He doesn’t look good mother,” he said as he looked at his brother. “I have a feeling he’s not going to wake up again. I’m going to lose Jarrod.”

Victoria and Tom both went to Jarrod’s side. They could tell he was burning up with a fever.

“I’m going for the doc,” he said as he looked down at his oldest son. “He’s burning up. The sweat is pouring off his face.”

“I know Tom,” she replied shaking her head. “I’ll stay with him.”

Tom left the room. Victoria looked at Jarrod.

“Mother,” he said as he looked up at his mother, “I know Jarrod is going to die. Please make him better.”

“I can’t sweetheart,” she replied trying to make him calm down. “But hopefully the doctor can. It’s out of my hands. But if you want to help him, you could say a prayer.”

“All right,” he told her. “I’ll try. I’m not much for praying but in this instance I know I should.”

Nick looked at Jarrod again and then looked heavenward.

“Lord,” he said very quietly, “I know I’ve not been going to church as much of late but I was hoping to ask you a really big favor. I know you can heal people. I know that you can also take people to live with you. Please don’t take Jarrod. He’s all I have in the world. I’ll be lost without him. I know I’ve not been the best behaved boy but I’m not asking you to save Jarrod because I’m selfish. No. I’m asking you to save Jarrod because I need him desperately. He’s my teacher as well as my best friend and brother. Please.”

Nick began to cry as he looked at his brother covered in sweat. He knew that Jarrod was burning up with a fever and he wanted so much to make Jarrod better. He reached over and grasped Jarrod’s hot and sticky hand. He held onto it in the hope that he could give Jarrod some of his strength.

“I know it’s hard,” she said as she looked down at her sons. “It’s hard for your father and me to watch you suffer and hurt. But if it’s the good Lord’s decision to take Jarrod to live with him, we need to be strong. I know you’re going to miss him.”

“Mother,” he replied looking up at her, “I don’t think I can go on without him.”

“You may have to,” she told him.

Tom and the doctor walked in and the doctor went right to Jarrod. He began to examine the young man. Nick watched intently as the doctor worked.

“Any change?” Tom asked as he came to stand beside of his wife.

“None,” she answered. “In fact, he’s even hotter now than he was. Tom, I don’t think he’s going to survive. He’s going to die.”

Tom looked down at his son and knew in his heart the same thing. He began to cry as he thought about not having Jarrod around any longer.

“I have to make amends,” he said as he went to the bed.

The doctor worked around Tom as he kneeled down beside of his son.

“Jarrod,” he said as he looked into his son’s hot face, “I have to ask for your forgiveness. I was wrong in punishing you so severely yesterday. I want you to know that I’m no longer angry with you. You were caught in a situation that there was no easy way out of. You reacted the only way you could. I shouldn’t have embarrassed you at the school in front of the whole town. You didn’t deserve that. You’re a fine young man and I’m proud to have you for a son.”

Tom stood up and went to stand beside of his wife.

“I hope he heard me,” he said as he stopped beside of her.

“I’m sure he did,” she replied nodding.

The doctor finally looked up.

“Jarrod is a very sick boy,” he said as he looked at Tom and Victoria. “He’s got a very bad infection in the deep wound in his side. I’ve given him something to help cut down on the infection but it’s up to him and the Lord. There’s nothing more that I can do.”

So the family waited to see if a miracle could happen.

Chapter Fourteen

Jarrod continued to run a very high fever for the next couple of days. Frankly, Tom and Victoria were amazed that he was still alive.

“Tom,” she said as they continued to stay by their oldest son’s bedside, “I’m frankly amazed that Jarrod is still alive after running this high fever for the last couple of days. He could have some kind of damage inside because of this.”

“I’m shocked myself,” he replied as he took his eyes from his son long enough to look at his wife. “But I also don’t want to lose him. I wish we could hope for a miracle but I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

“I wish for one too,” she told him. “He’s so still and his face is so hot to touch. His hair is almost matted down on his head due to the heat from inside his body. I think we should prepare for the worst.”

“I agree,” he said nodding.

Then Tom got an idea. He quickly knelt down beside of Jarrod and took his hand in his.

“There isn’t anything more we can do father,” he said as he looked into his son’s redden and sweaty face. But maybe you can help. You helped twice before. I’m begging you to help Jarrod to begin to heal. I know right now he would rather die but I believe he has something important to do with his life. A destiny if you will. Please father I’m begging you. Help Jarrod.”

Tom laid his head on the bed beside of his son. Victoria looked at her husband trying to figure out to whom he was talking to. Then it dawned on her. Tom had been talking to the one man that Jarrod trusted; the one man who had helped him through a very difficult time in his young life. Tom was asking his own father for help. She remembered one of the times that Charles Barkley had saved Jarrod’s life but she didn’t know there had been another.

“Tom,” she said as she watched him, “I don’t remember but one time that Charles helped Jarrod. It was right after his death when Jarrod tried to take his own life.”

“It was when Jarrod and I went to see that author, the stage was held up and he was shot,” he replied not looking up. “That outlaw looked at Jarrod, told him to run as fast as he could and then for no reason just shot him. He was near death then but father brought him back to me. I hope he can bring him back to us now.”

Jarrod was standing in a field of beautiful flowers. There were the most beautiful flowers he had ever seen. Then he saw a man in the distance walking toward him. He knew that walk and that face.

“Grandfather,” he asked not understanding, “what are you doing in my dream?”

“I was asked by your father to help save your life,” Charles answered as he came to a stop in front of Jarrod. “Your family needs you desperately. You also have a destiny to fulfill. So you need to fight to live Jarrod. You have so much to do in your lifetime.”

“I’m not sure I can,” he said looking at his grandfather’s face. “I hurt all the time and everything I do is wrong.”

“Listen to me,” Charles replied, “you are going to overcome this and you will be stronger because of it. Just trust me son.”

“All right,” he told his grandfather. “I’ll trust you and I’ll try to fight to survive.”

“Good boy,” Charles said smiling. “You better go. Your family needs you.”

Jarrod struggled against the pain and heat coming from his body as he tried to open his eyes. When he finally succeeded, he almost wished he hadn’t as the injuries all hit him at one time.

“Father,” he croaked weakly as he continued to struggle to open his eyes. “Mother.”

“Son,” Tom said lifting his head to look at his son, “I’m so glad you’ve woken up again. We were so worried about you. We were afraid you weren’t going to make it but I’m so glad we were wrong.”

“I know father,” he replied very slowly. “I have a lot to do in my lifetime so I can’t leave here right now. You should know that. I’m going to try to heal.”

“I’m so relieved that you are going to try,” Tom told him smiling.

Silently, Tom looked heavenward knowing that his father had indeed helped to save his son’s life for a third time. He mouthed thank you father.

Chapter Fifteen

Both Tom and Victoria were relieved when Jarrod had opened his eyes but the doctor’s news still wasn’t that good.

“He’s still burning up because of the infection,” he said as he looked up at the parents. “Just because he woke up briefly doesn’t mean he’s going to get better. I have to stop this infection.”

“Doc,” Tom replied looking at Jarrod, “you should know by now how stubborn that boy is. He won’t give up and he’s going to get better. I know it. I have the miracle that I prayed for. Jarrod is going to heal.”

“I’m glad you’re so positive,” he told Tom. “I want you to know that even if they both were to wake up right now, it’s still going to be a long hard road for them. Their bodies are covered with wounds that will take a long time to heal. And for another thing, they are going to be in enormous pain too.”

“We know that,” Tom said nodding. “But the fact that they are both fighting is enough for me and their mother.”

“Tom’s right,” she replied. “I know they were both nearly killed but they will heal in time and time is what they are going to have.”

“It’s going to take several weeks before either one of them is ready to move around a whole lot,” he told them. “Nick is already progressing nicely but Jarrod is still in pretty rough shape.”

“But they will heal,” Tom said smiling. “And that’s all that matters.”

The doctor dressed all of the wounds on both of the boys before returning to town. He was still amazed at how positive Tom was but he decided that if Tom believed his sons would heal then who was he to argue about it.

“I’ll be by tomorrow to see how they are,” he said as he packed up his small black bag. “Don’t and I repeat don’t let either one of them move too much. They could pull those stitches lose and open up the wounds again.”

“We will,” she replied nodding.

The doctor left. Tom turned to his wife.

“I know this is going to be hard on you but I need to check with Murphy about the ranch,” he said glancing at his sons. “I’ve let things go now and I need to get back to business.”

“That’s all right Tom,” she replied smiling. “You go on. I’ll call you if I should need you. They’ll probably sleep for the rest of the afternoon.”

“All right,” he told her and headed out the door.

Victoria sat down in a chair, picked up a book and started to read. She would glance over at the bed every so often but both Jarrod and Nick were sleeping.

Tom walked out to the barn and ran into Murphy.

“How’s Jarrod and Nick?” he asked as Tom stopped in front of him. “We’ve all been worried sick about those two. It’s just not fair what happened to them. They didn’t deserve it.”

“They’re going to be fine,” Tom answered nodding. “The doc said it would just take some time.”

“I agree,” he said nodding. “The way they were cut up it’s just a miracle that they lived.”

“You said it,” Tom agreed. “What’s been happening since I’ve been with the boys?”

Murphy filled Tom in on everything that had happened in the last couple of days.

Chapter Sixteen

A week later Nick was able to sit up in bed. Jarrod was still confined to lying down because of the severity of the cut along the side of his neck and the cut in his side. But he was awake and alert.

“You two keep this up and you’re going to eat me out of house and home,” she said as she watched Nick eat his lunch and helped to feed Jarrod.

He was propped up on pillows but he was still too weak to do much for himself. He had a hard time raising his right arm very high because it pulled so much on those stitches.

“I’ll just be glad to get out of this bed,” Nick said smiling. “I’m going crazy starring at these same four walls.”

“You will listen to the doctor young man,” she replied looking right at him.

“Yes mother,” Nick told her sheepishly.

“Mother,” Jarrod said looking up at her, “I know just how lucky I am to even be here right now. But I have to tell you something. I was terrified that night when I heard that cry in the woods. I saw two eyes following me and I didn’t realize until it was too late that I was the intended victim.”

“That’s understandable,” she replied smiling at him. “You went through a very traumatic experience. It will take time for you to get over the worst of it. But you will stop remembering it all the time. I promise.”

“I hope so,” he told her. “Sometimes at night I wake up scared to death.”

“I know what you mean Jarrod,” Nick said nodding. “I do too. It’s like it’s happening all over again.”

“I agree with you Nick,” he replied looking over at Nick. “I hope to be able to return to school Monday.”

“I don’t know about that,” she told them. “You both are still recovering from your injuries and the doctor said you two would be confined to the house for at least a week if not longer.”

“A week!” Nick screamed. “I can’t stay inside for a whole week. I have to be outside in the fresh air.”

“Nicholas Barkley,” she said as she looked at her younger son, “you will do exactly what the doctor says and no back talk. Is that understood?”

“Yes mother,” Nick replied lowering his head. “I’m sorry.”

“Mother,” he asked looking up, “could you see that Mrs. Needles gets my essay? And would you apologize to her again for me? Tell her that I’ve learned my lesson and from now on I will conduct myself with dignity in her classroom.”

“I sure will,” she answered. “Speaking of what happened last week, I want you to know that your father and I had a long talk and we’ve decided to let you off the hook so to speak.”

“I don’t understand,” he said looking at her questioningly.

“We finally learned all that happened that day in the schoolhouse and have decided that you weren’t to blame for standing up to those two boys. Nick told us everything that was said.”

Jarrod looked over at Nick.

“I thought they should know the whole story,” Nick said nodding at his brother.

“You told them about the insults,” he replied not too happy.

“Yes,” Nick told him. “You had a very good reason for getting mad. If I had been in your place, I would have knocked their blocks off.”

“I suppose,” he said shaking his head. “Mother, I’m sorry I didn’t think. I let them push me and I shouldn’t have. I know better.”

“That’s all right Jarrod,” she replied smiling. “It’s all over with now.”

“I hope father isn’t still angry,” he told her.

“No,” she said looking at the door. “He’s very proud of you. In fact, he’s very proud of both of you.”

The two boys smiled and went back to eating.

After working with the men all day, Tom came in late that evening. He went straight to his two sons.

“How’s my boys this evening?” he asked with a smile on his face.

“We’re getting better,” Jarrod answered looking up at his father.

“They’ve eaten very well today,” she said smiling at her husband. “Nick’s ready to get out of the bed but I won’t let him.”

“Son,” he replied looking at Nick, “you’re going to have to give yourself time to heal. That cat really did a number on you and Jarrod. We’re just amazed that you both survived that vicious attack.”

“I know father,” Nick told him. “So am I. At least I get out of school for a few days.”

“That’s not funny Nick,” she said scolding him.

“I know but it’s the truth,” Nick replied.

“Mother,” Jarrod told her, “I would like to lie down flat.”

“Son,” he asked looking at Jarrod, “what’s wrong?”

“I’m not feeling very well,” Jarrod answered.

Victoria helped him scoot down in the bed and he cried out with pain from his side. She looked under his nightshirt noticing blood on the bandage. She turned to her husband.

“Go get the doctor Tom,” she said as she looked over at Tom. “He’s bleeding through the bandage.”

“All right,” he replied heading out the door.

She could tell Jarrod was in a lot of discomfort. She tried to make him as comfortable as possible.

“How long have you been in pain?” she asked covering him up and trying to keep him as calm as she could.

“Just a little while,” he answered gritting his teeth. “I didn’t want to complain.”

“You need to tell us when something is bothering you,” she said smiling at him. “If we don’t know, you could become very ill.”

“I’ll remember,” he replied. “I sure wish he would hurry.”

Chapter Seventeen

The doctor followed by Tom arrived a short time later. He went straight to Jarrod and looked at the wound in his side.

“Luckily,” he said as he looked up, “it’s not too bad. It’s just opened up again. I’ll have to sew it up again.”

Jarrod cringed when he heard the news. Victoria seeing him cringe went to him and took his hand in hers.

“I’ll be right here with you honey,” she said holding his hand. “You’re not alone.”

“Thanks mother,” he replied trying to smile. “It’s not that I’m scared but it’s not very pleasant.”

The doctor quickly sewed up the wound and Jarrod grunted with pain. When he was finished he gave Jarrod some medicine and the boy fell asleep.

“He’s going to be fine,” he said looking at Tom and Victoria. “Just keep him still for a couple of days until that wound heals.”

“All right doctor,” she replied nodding. “I’m glad.”

“Doc,” Nick asked looking at the doctor, “when can I get out of here?”

“When I tell you,” he answered looking stern. “Your leg needs a few more days before you can put weight on it.”

“But...” Nick started to say.

“No buts Nick,” she said shaking a finger at him. “You will do what the doctor says.”

“Yes mother,” Nick replied nodding lying his head back against the pillows. “But I’m tired of staring at the ceiling all the time.”

“Try to keep a rein on him,” he told them. “He needs a few more days.”

“We will,” Tom said looking at his sons. “Don’t you worry about that.”

“Good,” he replied picking up his bag. “I’ll come by at the end of the week to check everything.”

“The end of the week!” Nick cried. “I can’t stay in bed that long.”

“The end of the week,” he said sternly.

“Oh all right,” Nick replied but he wasn’t a happy boy.

After the doctor left, Tom looked at his younger son.

“You have to be patient Nick,” he said shaking his head. “You almost died for crying out loud. You just can’t get up like nothing happened.”

“I know,” Nick replied realizing his father was right. “But it’s not going to be easy.”

“Life seldom is,” she told him.

Jarrod slept the rest of the night. When he finally opened his eyes early the next morning, he was hungry.

“Mother,” he asked as he looked over at her, “is there anything to eat?”

“I’ll have Silas prepare you and Nick a tray,” she answered getting up and leaving the room.

Nick looked over at Jarrod smiling.

“Since when are you so hungry?” he asked. “It’s not like you do any hard work other than sticking your face in some book. If you worked hard all day I could understand you being hungry.”

“I’m hungry because I’ve been hurt and I need to get stronger,” Jarrod shot back. “So what if I don’t get out and get dirty. It doesn’t mean I won’t and I can’t. It simply means that I prefer to do other things like reading to better myself.”

“I didn’t mean anything by the question,” he said looking at Jarrod. “I only wanted to make sure you were all right.”

“I am,” Jarrod replied smiling. “I didn’t mean to jump on you. You are not the one I should be taking this anger out on. I should be taking it out on those two boys at school who started this whole thing.”

“You didn’t,” he told his brother. “Don’t worry about those two. They’ll get what they deserve and what they deserve is a fat lip. We’ll both get out of here someday. I hope.”

“We sure will,” Jarrod said laughing. “And thanks. I hope I’m around to see it.”

“You probably will be,” Nick replied also smiling.

Jarrod and Nick both ate a good breakfast and then went to sleep after Victoria gave them their medicine.

Tom came in at lunchtime and went straight to see his sons.

“How’s the boys?” he asked as he walked in.

“They’re both still asleep,” she answered looking over at the bed and her two sleeping sons. Jarrod’s looking a little paler today but maybe it’s coming from his side. I’ve been keeping a close eye on him but he’s not complained about it.”

“You’re right he does,” he said studying his oldest son. “Maybe I should get the doc.”

“I don’t think so,” she replied shaking her head. “Let’s give him a little longer. It’s probably coming from all he’s been through.”

“Maybe you’re right,” he told her. “I’m still very angry with myself over that incident at the school. I shouldn’t have belittled him in front of the whole town. He didn’t deserve that.”

“What’s done is done Tom and nothing is going to change that,” she said looking at him. “What’s more, you need to stop blaming yourself. You acted just like you were supposed to when a child misbehaves. You punished Jarrod.”

“I didn’t have to be so hard on him,” he replied shaking his head. “I didn’t have to tell him that I was so disappointed in him. I didn’t have to...”

“I understand that,” she told him interrupting. “We need to concentrate on getting both of them up on their feet. It’s going to be a long hard road for them trying to mend from what happened out there that night. Something that shouldn’t have happened in the first place.”

“All right,” he said reading himself for her wrath. “I know how you feel about that. You blame me. That’s fine. But don’t take that blame out on those two.”

“I’m not,” she replied angrily. “I’m only pointing out that none of this had to happen if you had just put your foot down that morning at breakfast instead of giving in to them. Tom, do you realize that we almost lost both of our sons? Do you know how that makes me feel? I’m a mother for crying out loud and I came within a blink of an eye of losing not one child but two of them. I don’t think I could have recovered from that.”

“I understand,” he told her pulling her to him hugging her tightly. “But we didn’t lose them. They are going to be fine.”

But inside Tom was just as angry with himself as his wife was.

Chapter Eighteen

Another week passed and Nick was finally allowed to get up. However, he wasn’t allowed to do anything but sit mostly because he still walked with a very noticeable limp.

“Mother,” he said as he sat in the chair with his clothes on for the first time, “I can go out to the barn and do my chores. I won’t hurt my leg I promise.”

“No Nick,” she replied very firmly. “The doctor said that you could get up but he didn’t say anything about you moving about and especially about you doing chores. That will wait until he says so.”

“Oh all right,” he told her but he wasn’t happy and she could tell it.

Jarrod, however, was still confined to bed. He could now sit up but his side was still very tender and the doctor didn’t want to take any chances.

“Nick,” Jarrod said looking at his brother, “quit complaining. Just be happy you’re still alive and able to walk. There will be plenty of time for chores when we are both well. In the meantime just relax and enjoy it.”

“I am Jarrod,” he replied looking at his brother. “I wish you were able to be up too.”

“I will be soon,” Jarrod told him smiling. “It won’t take that long. At least I hope it won’t. I’m not too happy about returning to school though. I don’t want to see Willy and Phil.”

“Nick,” she said looking at her younger son, “you and Jarrod will be fine. But according to the doctor, neither one of you is going to be bouncing back quickly. Do you realize how close your father and I came to losing you? I don’t want to take any chances with your health at this stage. I’m not going to let either one of you do anything that I think will be too much. Is that clear?”

“Yes mother,” both boys replied.

“We do realize how close we came to dying,” Jarrod told her. “I for one am not going to do anything to jeopardize what has already been done to save my life. And for another, I’m not in that big of a hurry to return to school. I don’t want to run into Willy or Phil.”

“What’s the matter Jarrod?” Nick asked looking at his brother. “You’re not scared are you?”

“Of course I am,” Jarrod answered getting upset. “Why shouldn’t I be? They are both taller and larger than I am. I wouldn’t stand a chance alone against them. And I haven’t forgotten about the beating they promised me. I don’t think I’m up to that at this point.”

“Who says you have to stand up to them alone?” Nick asked. “You’ve got friends.”

“I thought I did,” Jarrod answered still showing his anger. “But after the other day when I was the only one who stood up to them, I’m not so sure any more. Mother, before you say anything let me finish. I’m not saying that I was right in standing up to them. I’m saying that I am afraid of their wrath. You don’t know what it’s like having to deal with their harassment all the time. They don’t leave you alone. They keep at it until you’re so angry you do something stupid. I don’t want that to happen to me.”

“Honey,” she said sitting on the bed beside of him, “I know it wasn’t easy what happened to you. But you have to realize that because you are a Barkley, people are going to try to take advantage of you. What those two boys did was uncalled for but look where they come from. The Millers have lived in this valley almost as long as we have but they haven’t turned their hand over to help a single person in this valley. And Willy is just like them. And the Porters, well, they are just plain mean. Phil won’t ever change and you have to accept that. You hold your head up and go on to school. You know how much Mrs. Needles loves teaching you. You learn all you can from her.”

“I’ll try mother,” Jarrod replied smiling. “I really will. I do want to make something out of myself. I don’t know what yet but I do and I need an education to do that.”

“I know you will,” she told him. “Now it’s time for both of you to have your naps.”

“Oh mother,” Nick said trying to get out of it. “I’m not a baby anymore.”

“I mean it Nicholas,” she replied looking at him with a stern expression. “I didn’t say you were but you need to rest to gain your strength.”

“All right,” Nick told her heading for his room. “I’ll lay down on my own bed if you don’t mind.”

“Just as long as you rest,” she said as she watched him leave and turned back to Jarrod. “Let me help you scoot down in the bed.”

With his mother’s help, Jarrod was able to slide down and he closed his eyes. She sat with him because she was still worried about him. She knew that his wound in his side was still bothering him even though he was trying to hide the pain on his face. She decided to talk to Tom about it when he came in.

Chapter Nineteen

When Tom walked into Silas’ room, Victoria looked up.

“Where in the world have you been?” she asked as she stood up to greet him. “I thought you were going to spend the night on the range.”

“There are a group of hands in night camp with Sam,” he answered as he kissed her. “But I figured I better get back here to check on the boys.”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” she said as she glanced over at Jarrod to see if he was still asleep.

“What’s wrong?” he asked sensing that something wasn’t right.

“It’s Jarrod Tom,” she answered. “I’m very worried about him. I think his side is hurting but he won’t say anything. I can see the pain on his face. If I try to ask him about it, he changes the subject.”

“Let me try,” he said as he moved over to sit on the bed. “Jarrod. Jarrod, wake up son.”

Jarrod stirred and as he tried to move a groan escaped. Tom caught it right away.

“Son,” he asked looking at Jarrod, “is your side hurting?”

Jarrod wouldn’t look at him because he knew that if he did, Tom would see the pain etched on his face.

“I want an honest answer,” he said continuing to worry about the wellbeing of his oldest son. “We can’t help you if you don’t tell us what’s bothering you.”

Jarrod finally looked up at Tom and Tom could see the pain on his face.

“How long has it been hurting son?” he asked trying to gain as much information as he could.

“Since right after lunch,” Jarrod answered. “I thought if I was real quiet it would stop but it hasn’t. In fact, it’s gotten a lot worse. I’m sorry about not being honest. I didn’t want to be a bother. I know how much mother has had to do since Nick and I were hurt and I didn’t want her to do any more.”

“All right,” he said standing up. “I’m going to ride into Stockton and get Doc Merar. You rest while I’m gone.”

Turing to look at Victoria, he motioned for her to stay with Jarrod. She nodded in answer and went to the bed sitting down beside of Jarrod. She placed her hand on his forehead.

“Tom,” she said before he could leave, “tell the doctor that Jarrod’s running another fever.”

“I will,” he replied and left.

“Mother,” Jarrod asked looking up at her with an expression of worry on his face, “am I going to die?”

“Of course not,” she answered smiling at him. “You’ve just picked up an infection probably in your side again. The doctor will give you something for it and you’ll be fine. Don’t you worry about me. I’m a strong woman and I can handle a lot. Remember I came here to this valley with your father and had to help him. It wasn’t easy but we survived and so will you. It will just take time.”

“What if I’m not fine?” Jarrod asked. “What if I never get better?”

“Honey,” she answered, “worrying about it isn’t going to help. Just rest until the doctor gets here. He will fix you up. I know he will.”

Jarrod didn’t say anymore. He just laid his head back and prayed that this wouldn’t turn out to be too bad.

The doctor walked in a short time later and went straight to Jarrod. He examined him thoroughly. Then he looked up at Tom and Victoria.

“Jarrod’s fever is a little over 101,” he said as he continued to work. “He has an infection again in that side. I’m going to clean it out again and sew it up once again. Hopefully, that will stop the infections.”

“Am I going to be all right?” Jarrod asked looking at the doctor.

“Sure you are,” he answered smiling as he worked. “You just have a very deep sore here and it’s taking time for it to completely heal. It’s possible that when that cat attacked you, dirt got into the wound. It’s not anything I haven’t seen before. I do want you to stay in bed until this clears up. It shouldn’t be longer than maybe another week.”

“All right,” Jarrod said laying his head back and gritting his teeth as the doctor worked.

It took the doctor a couple of hours before he stood up.

“That does it,” he said as he looked down at Jarrod. “I want you to take a spoonful of this medicine to help you rest.”

He gave Jarrod the medicine and then turned to Tom and Victoria.

“I might as well look in on Nick while I’m here,” he said as he picked up his bag.

“He’s in his room,” Tom replied leading the way.

Victoria walked over sitting down on the bed and looked at her son.

“Feeling a little better?” she asked very softly.

Jarrod nodded and his eyes eased closed. She covered him up and brushed a piece of brown hair off his forehead.

“You rest,” she said rising. “I’ll be here when you wake up and you can have anything you want for dinner. You are going to be fine. I promise.”

When Tom and the doctor entered Nick’s room, Tom pulled up short. He turned to look at the doctor.

“I knew it,” he said as he turned toward the door.

“You knew what?” the doctor asked not understanding.

“I should have kept a closer eye on that boy,” he answered. “He’s sneaked out of his room and is probably in the barn where I told him not to go. I don’t know what I’m going to do with that boy.”

“He doesn’t need to be doing much with his leg,” the doctor said shaking his head. “It’s not completely healed and he could damage it if he’s not careful.”

“Come on,” he replied heading out to the barn.

Chapter Twenty

Nick was in the barn trying to do his chores. He knew he shouldn’t be doing something his father told him not to do but he was so tired of staying inside that he longed for the smell of manure. As he walked, he began to limp more. He finally had to sit down on a hay bail to rest his aching leg.

“Nicholas Barkley!” Tom shouted as he and the doctor walked inside the barn. “What are you doing? Didn’t you hear me tell you to let your chores go until you were better?”

“Yes,” he said as he looked up to see his father standing in front of him with his hands on his hips and looking very angry. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t stand being cooped up any longer.”

“What have you got to say for yourself?” Tom asked looking with disappointment at Nick.

“I just flat got tired of the house,” he answered continuing to rub his leg. “I had to get out even if it was for only a few minutes.”

“Something wrong with your leg Nick?” the doctor asked as he came around Tom.

“It’s started to hurt and I’m limping more,” he answered looking at his leg lying on the hay bail.

“Let me have a look,” the doctor said as he knelt down beside of Nick.

“Nick,” Tom replied as the doctor worked, “I tell you not to do something and it’s like you defy me just to see what you can get by with. I don’t know what to do with you anymore. I thought Jarrod could help you but you don’t even listen to him.”

“I’m sorry father,” he told his father. “I didn’t mean to make you so mad. I guess I didn’t have Jarrod to tell me not to do it. I know I should know better but I don’t know.”

“You’re lucky we still have Jarrod at all,” Tom said shaking his head.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked very concerned about his brother. “Has something happened to Jarrod?”

“Yes,” Tom answered sitting down beside of Nick. “Jarrod’s a pretty sick boy again. He has another infection in his side and he’s running a fever.”

“For that matter so is Nick,” the doctor said interrupting Tom. “He’s picked up an infection in this leg. I’m going to have to do the same thing to Nick’s leg that I did to Jarrod’s side. We might as well get him in the house and in bed with Jarrod.”

Tom picked Nick up carrying him into the house. When he walked into Silas’ room, Victoria looked up with concern.

“What’s wrong with Nick?” she asked coming to her feet.

“I found him in the barn with his leg up,” he answered laying Nick down beside of Jarrod who was still asleep. “He’s picked up an infection just like Jarrod.”

The doctor went to work on Nick’s leg. He also cried out with pain as the doctor worked.

“There,” he said as he stood up. “I’m all done. Here, take this medicine.”

He gave Nick a spoonful of medicine and before long Nick was asleep too.

“Keep him in bed too,” he said as he packed up his bag. “I’ll let you know when they can get up. I mean it Tom. I’ll let you know. They don’t need to be up running around as injured as they both are.”

“Is there anything to worry about?” she asked very worried.

“No,” he answered. “I just don’t want them getting any germs while they are both running fevers.”

“All right,” she said nodding.

“They should be able to get up in a few days,” he replied as he headed toward the door. “I’ll come back at the end of the week to see how they are.”

He left and Tom looked at his wife.

“I don’t know what got into him,” he said shaking his head. “He was in the barn instead of where I told him to be.”

“He didn’t do anything to hurt himself did he?” she asked.

“No,” he answered shaking his head. “He’s very lucky.”

Chapter Twenty-one

Late that afternoon both boys opened their eyes. Jarrod was very surprised to see Nick lying beside of him.

“What are you doing here?” he asked very confused. “I thought you were up and moving around. How did you wind up back in bed?”

“I was but father caught me in the barn and then the doctor told him to put me back to bed,” Nick answered looking over at Jarrod. “I know I’m in big trouble.”

“You certainly are young man,” Tom said as he walked into view of his two sons. “But it can wait until you’re feeling better. I don’t want to hurt you right now.”

“I’m sorry father,” Nick replied feeling very guilty. “I know I disobeyed you.”

“You did and you are now paying the price for it,” Tom told him. “Do you realize that you could have done serious damage to your leg? You could have caused it to never heal. But I want you to realize that you will be punished.”

“I know that,” Nick said nodding. “I guess I never stopped to think about what could happen.”

“That’s your problem Nick,” Jarrod told him. “You don’t realize that for every act there is a consequence that goes with it. You went to the barn and ended up back in bed. I’m not fussing but I’m just telling you that you have to stop jumping into situations without looking at them from every angle.”

“I know that now Jarrod,” Nick said nodding. “Thanks for reminding me.”

“Any time,” Jarrod told him.

“You will be confined to your room for a whole week except for meals and chores,” Tom replied looking at Nick. “Just like I was going to give Jarrod.”

“I’ll take it father,” Nick told him nodding. “I’ll not say a word.”

“Nick,” Jarrod said looking over at his younger brother, “I think you will have some company if you want it. I don’t want you to have to spend a week all alone so I’m going to spend it with you if you want me to. I can read to you if you want or we can just talk or not do anything.”

“Really?” Nick asked. “That would be great.”

“I think that would be a very nice gesture,” she said smiling. “Don’t you Tom?”

“Yes I do,” he replied nodding. “It will give you two a chance to learn how to work together on this ranch and get along without that infernal arguing.”

“Then it’s a deal,” he told Nick.

“Yes it’s a deal,” Nick said smiling.

“Now that that’s settled,” she replied turning to her sons, “let me get you two something to eat.”

“I’m starved,” Nick told her.

“You’re always starved,” he said laughing and then having to catch his breath from a stab of pain in his side. “I guess I could eat something too mother.”

“Jarrod is something wrong honey?” she asked looking closely at her oldest son.

He didn’t say anything but just looked at her.

“Come on son,” Tom said as he looked at his oldest son. “If something is bothering you tell us so we can help.”

“Well,” he replied. “I just wanted to know if I’m still a part of this ranch sir.”

“Why in the world would you ask something like that?” Tom asked completely baffled. “You know you are.”

“I’m not that sure any longer,” he answered. “While I was up at my favorite spot, I had a lot of time to think. I’m not cut out to help Nick here at the ranch. I want to pursue a life in the city. Perhaps San Francisco or Sacramento.”

“I can understand that,” Tom said nodding at his son. “But you will always be a part of this ranch. You are my son and that will never change. I know you want to pursue a career and I’m all for that. In fact, in the long run it may be helpful to Nick here at the ranch.”

“I don’t understand,” he replied shaking his head. “How can that help Nick here?”

“Let me give you a for instance,” Tom told him. “Say you decide to become a doctor, you can treat the hands and Nick free of charge. You know how much one or more of the hands are getting hurt being thrown from horses they are trying to break. Say if you decide to become a banker, you can handle all the accounts and keep up with the money so Nick won’t spend it like it’s going out of style.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Nick remarked. “I know about how much it takes to run a ranch I think.”

“I’m just using that as a for instance to help Jarrod understand something son,” Tom told him. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“I see what you mean,” he said understanding. “What about law?”

“Where in the world did that come from?” Nick asked shaking his head. “What do you know about the law?”

“Not much at this point but I have been thinking about pursuing a career in law,” he answered looking at Tom. “I would be willing to do all the legal affairs for the ranch sir if I decide that’s what I truly want to pursue when I start college. I’ve not really decided anything definitely as of yet.”

“All right,” Tom said smiling. “I think that can be arranged and I also think you would make a great attorney at law.”

“Thanks father,” he replied also smiling. “That means a lot.

Chapter Twenty-two

Three weeks later, both Jarrod and Nick were almost completely healed from their ordeal with the cat. Nick served his one week punishment in his room and Jarrod stayed with him, reading to him and talking. The two boys became even closer than they already were.

“You know Victoria,” he said as he looked over at his wife, “we have two wonderful sons in Jarrod and Nick as well as Eugene. I think this ranch is going to be in very capable hands.”

“I totally agree,” she replied smiling at her husband.

Mrs. Needles was indeed impressed with Jarrod’s essay and held onto it for years afterward to use if another predicament came up like the one with Jarrod. Willy and Phil tried their best to goad Jarrod into a fight when he returned to school but he stood his ground and thanks to Nick he had the help of every student there. The two boys decided it would be best if they left Jarrod alone.

“Nick,” he said as he looked at his younger brother, “thanks for helping me with those two. I didn’t think I could do it by myself.”

“I knew that and decided that the rest of the kids probably felt the same way,” Nick replied smiling. “And I was right.”

THE END