Recovery

Parts 17-22

by Jojo

 



 

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.

 

 

 

 

Part 17

 

The occupants of the study tensed when they heard the knock at the door.  Heath nonchalantly put his hand under his pillow as he turned on his side.  His fingers wrapped around the gun he had badgered Jarrod into providing.  If Harrington felt the net closing in, he could become more daring.  Desperate men often felt like they had nothing to lose.  Heath didn’t want to have to try to protect the women and Silas without a weapon close on hand.

 

His face broke out into a genuine smile when he heard Lara’s voice in the hallway.   He observed his mother relax in her chair at that wonderful sound also.  Lara bounded in the room looking well rested and more energetic than she had a right to.  She had gotten very little sleep over the past few days.  She had been trying to take care of Heath while striving hard not to neglect her other patients at the hospital.  Heath marveled at her stamina.

 

After greetings and introductions were made all around, Lara said brightly “From Jarrod’s note, I take it that good news has finally visited this household.  What has happened, Heath, darling?”

 

While Heath started to bring Lara up to date on the events that had occurred that evening, Victoria signaled to Sally May that they should leave the room.  Victoria suggested they partake of a light repast and let the young ones have some time alone.

 

“Heath, you still seemed troubled.  I thought you’d be relieved that Nick has finally been found.” Lara was concerned at the look of despair in her love’s blue eyes.

 

“I reckon I’m more glad that I can put into words that he is finally coming home.  But Lara, you being a doctor and all, don’t you think we should be a might uneasy over the drugs that Nick has been given?” Heath said hoping Lara would refute that concern.

 

Lara realized the man she loved was shrewder than she had given him credit for.  She had been aware of the dangers of the missing drugs but had not voiced her concerns.  She felt the family had enough to deal with without adding to the burden they carried.  “Darling, yes, there’s no doubt that Nick could be in for a very rough time here but we simply don’t know what, if anything was used.  Or how often for that matter.  The amount of dosage is a factor also.  I hesitate to speculate on his condition without having the chance to examine him.  There’s just too many variables that we just don’t know yet.”

 

In a quiet voice, Heath described some of his experiences after the war.  “Some of those men made it all the way through the war and survived their injuries, just to fight another battle against all the drugs they were given.  What I can’t seem to get outta my head is the fact that some of them lost the battle and died.  I don’t know if I could handle seeing Nick that way and then lose him.  Just don’t know if I could do that Lara.”

 

Lara was struck again at the strength of the bond between these two brothers.  And they had not even grown up together.  Heath had told her the whole story of how he had become a member of the Barkley family.  From the interaction between them, a stranger would not be able to guess that he had not always been a part of the Barkley clan.

 

“You listen to me Heath Barkley.  You can get through anything that comes your way.  You are not alone anymore and don’t you ever forget that.  There are the people that love you including myself that count on you just to be there.  Now we don’t know what condition Nick will be in when he arrives back here but there is one thing I do know.  I know that if he doesn’t make it, it won’t be because the people in this house haven’t given everything they have to give to pull him through.  Sometimes Heath – we can’t get guarantees but have to rely on faith.  You’ve got to have some faith in God, your family, your brother Nick but most of all in yourself.” Lara scolded gently as she wrapped her arms around him.

 

 


Adam was astounded as he saw Nick’s fist shoot out and Jarrod fly across the room.  Adam was just in time to catch his friend before he hit the wall.  Nick was sitting up in bed shooting daggers from his eyes at his brother.

 

“Are you alright Jarrod? What the hell happened here?” Adam asked concerned.

 

Jarrod had trouble focusing his thoughts.  His ears were still ringing from the blow he had taken.  One eye was already swelling shut and the other one was seeing double.  Had he heard correctly?  Was Nick angry with him for the amount of time it had taken him to rescue him?  Confusion at his brother’s outburst filled his head.

 

Adam saw that Jarrod was struggling to remain upright so he led him back into the kitchen to sit down on a chair.  Beth and Justin walked in moments later with the news that they did not find anyone in any of the other rooms of the lodge. 

 

“Beth – can you see if there’s any ice about?  If not, how about a cold cloth to put on this eye?  Justin can you watch our backs in case they try to double back and sneak up on us?  How did they manage to get out without us seeing them?  Once, we get this situation under control, I want to go over every inch of this place for clues and possible evidence against Harrington.” Adam stated authoritatively. 

 

 

Jerimiah had stood aside during all the commotion but now entered the room where Nick still using.  Mr. Nick looked terrible.  His eyes were all glazed over and red.   He looked so thin too not like the robust man he had first met.  Jerimiah approached the bed cautiously not wanting to agitate Nick further.

 

“Mr. Nick – we done all come to take you home.  Everyone be awaiting at Mr. Jarrod’s to see you.  Why don’t you let Jerimiah help you out to the wagon we brung out for you?” Jerimiah said in a cajoling tone.

 

“Damn right I’m going home.  You just keep that brother of mine away from me.  CAN YOU HEAR ME JARROD?  YOU STAY AWAY FROM ME OR I WON’T BE ANSWERABLE FOR MY ACTIONS?” Nick screamed at the top of his considerable voice. 

 

Jarrod’s chest tightened at his brother’s words.  Nick wanted nothing to do with him.  Why was he being so hostile?  He could hear Jerimiah trying to calm him down.  Jarrod looked at Adam with these questions in his only visible eye.

 

“Jarrod – did you get a good look at Nick before he knocked your lights out?  I mean, really look at him?  He is drugged out of his mind, my friend.  I recognize the signs from my time on the streets of China Town.  Don’t take this personally as I don’t think he really knows what’s going on.”

 

Not take it personally when your brother is screaming his head off that he doesn’t want you anywhere near him.  That certainly was a tall order.  He knew that Adam’s assessment of the situation was probably correct but it hurt nonetheless.   

 

After several minutes, Jerimiah came back into the kitchen.  “Mr. Jarrod – he done settled down some.  Want I should bring the wagon up front now?  I think we should get him to a doctor as soon as we can.  He sure don’t look good right now.”

 

“Yes, thank you Jerimiah.  That sounds like a good idea.” Jarrod said wearily.  He had a cold cloth pressed up against his face but the throbbing still had not abated.  At least his vision was starting to clear in his one good eye. 

 

“Jarrod – will you be alright here on your own while the rest of us search the house?  I’d really like to give a good going over before we leave.” Adam asked solicitously.

 

“Go ahead Adam.  I’m fine.  It isn’t the first time I’ve been on the receiving end of my brother’s fist.”  Jarrod said as he thought, but it is probably the first time since they were kids that Nick didn’t pull his punch.  I guess I should take heart that he still has enough strength in him to knock me off my feet. 

 

Jerimiah hesitantly opened the kitchen door when he returned.  He didn’t know how to say what he thought.  Mr. Jarrod had look plum upset by what Mr. Nick had done and he didn’t want to upset him anymore. “Mr. Jarrod – I is ready to take Mr. Nick out to the wagon now.  In the state he is in …..  I hate to say this sir ……. but it be probably for the best if he didn’t see you right now.  Don’t want to drop him if he starts fussing again.”

 

Jarrod turned his stricken face towards Jerimiah.  He could see the compassion in the other man’s eyes.  His own brother – his brother Nick would be upset just to see him.  Maybe it’s for the best, he sighed.  I don’t think I could look into those hate filled eyes again just yet anyway.  He nodded his assent as he rose to leave the room.  He decided to walk out front and double back to the rear door until Jerimiah had Nick settled in the wagon.

 

He dragged his weary body outside where he felt the relief of the cool night air.  He entered the rear door to find three guns drawn on him.  They had thought that Jeff and Susan had returned.  Adam signaled Jarrod to follow him into Jeff’s room.

 

“We’ve checked all the other rooms except this one.  So far nothing.  Justin – come give me a hand to turn over this mattress, will you?  Jarrod – why don’t you check the dresser.  Pull the drawers right out and check underneath.” Adam instructed.

 

“Adam – I’m going to go back to the room where Mr. Barkley’s brother was held.  I think we should pack up whatever drugs have been left behind.  It might help the doctor when we return.” Beth said.

 

Adam agreed and went back to work on the mattress.  Frustrated, he threw it up against the empty wall and started to pull up the small area rug.  Ten minutes later, they gave up.  There was nothing here that could implicate Harrington.  He wouldn’t have minded waiting around to see if his two accomplices showed up back here but he didn’t want to leave Jarrod open to an ambush on the way home.  He could see his friend had been dealt a heavy blow and not just physically.  Jarrod might not be as alert as he should be.    

 

Beth appeared with a large bundle in her arms.  “I took everything I could find in his room.  Jerimiah has him settled in the wagon now.  I’ll just put this in the wagon beside him and bring the horses around.”

 

“Justin – you had better go with her.  We still don’t know who’s out there.  It just seemed too easy for my liking.” Adam said. “I still can’t figure out how they got past us.  Justin swears he saw a figure at the window just moments before we arrived.  I’ve been looking for a trap door to a cellar or a passage to an attic but I haven’t been able to spot anything.  It’s like they disappeared into thin air.” He shook his head perplexed.

 

He put his arm around Jarrod’s shoulder and guided him out of the lodge.  “Jarrod, why don’t you and I lead the way and let Justin and Beth bring up the rear?”

 

“Sure – whatever you say Adam” Jarrod agreed forlornly.  That way my brother won’t be able to see me and get riled up again he thought bitterly. 

 

It was somber group that headed back to San Francisco.  Nick was pretty quiet also with only the occasional outburst.  He seemed to doze off after a couple of hours which had  Justin and Beth breathing a sigh of relief.

 

It was a very weary crew that arrived at the Jarrod’s home.  Jerimiah drove the wagon right to the front door.  He waited until the others had dismounted before he set the brake and jumped down himself. 

 

Adam asked if he needed any help carrying Nick in the house. “No sir, Mr. Adam.  He hardly weighs anything so thin he be now.  It’ll best if I just carrying him in by myself.  Mr. Jarrod – might be best if you go in first and warn the family that we is coming in though.  Just lead the way where you want me to lay him down.” Jerimiah coaxed Jarrod.

 

Jerimiah went to the back of the wagon to lift the still sleeping man out.  He carefully picked him up hoping he was not hurting him.  He shifted him into his arms so Nick’s weight was leaning against his large chest.  He walked slowly up the few stairs and went through the door.

 

He could hear Jarrod trying to explain the situation to the family and asked them to keep their voices down.  He saw Mr. Heath’s eye’s widen as he first took in Mr. Jarrod’s swollen face and the man he held in his arms.

 

“Nick – boy howdy Jarrod you found him.  Jerimiah – please bring him in.” Heath rejoiced.

 

Nick was starting to stir as he heard the voices around him.  Jerimiah tightened his grip and moved quickly throughout the crowd that had gathered around him.  Jarrod indicated that he should follow him up the stairs.  Just as Jerimiah had laid Nick down on the bed, he started shouting at Jarrod again.

 

Victoria was thunderstruck at Nick’s anger at Jarrod.  You could feel it pulsing throughout the room.  She saw the stricken expression on her eldest son’s face.  She immediately went to his side and laid a comforting hand on his arm.  Jarrod  looked down at the tiny woman on his arm and felt that he had let her down somehow.

 

“Jarrod, dear – what’s going on?  Why is Nick so angry?  How did you get hurt, son?  How is Nick?” she fired the questions at him.

 

“Mother – I honestly don’t know what’s going on.  He’s been ranting at me since he first laid eyes on me.  There was no fight at the lodge.  We couldn’t even find Jeff or Susan there.  It was Nick that did this damage.  Adam suspects that he’s heavily drugged and doesn’t realize what it going on.  Is Lara here?  It might be best if she examined him right away.”

 

Lara was already one step ahead of him.  She had her black bag in one hand and was using the other to gently push everyone out of her way. “There’s too many people in here.  I know you are anxious to have a reunion with him but if he is heavily drugged, it might just disturb him to the point where I won’t be able to examine him properly.   You can see how agitated he is now.  If you could wait outside, I might have a chance to calm him down. Just give me a few minutes, please.” Lara beseeched the worried family.

 

She saw the hesitation in their stance and their overwhelming need to be close to him.  With compassion for their plight, she gently ushered the family towards the door.  She looked at Heath’s pleading eyes and almost wavered but her professionalism won the day.  “Heath, sweetheart, I know you need to be near him but not right now.  The sooner I have I the opportunity to assess the situation – the sooner you can be with him.  Please just wait outside for a moment.”

 

Heath sadly nodded his agreement.  He saw his mother enfolded in Jarrod’s arms.  Jarrod looked like he had been in bar room brawl with the bruises on his face and swollen eye. No one moved as they listened to Lara gently calm her patient.  Each one was lost in their own thoughts.  Victoria rejoiced that both her sons were back.  She was worried about Nick’s condition though.  She was also concerned about Jarrod.  She asked Silas to bring her the liniment and some ice for Jarrod’s eye.   Audra stood stock still like a statue with her eyes wide with horror.  Jerimiah stood off to the side visually worried.  Sally May was the only one that seemed to be calm. 

 

Heath walked to her side and asked quietly, “Sally May – I have to ask – is he going to be alright?  Don’t know much about this gift stuff but can you tell if he is going to come out of this okay?”

 

Sally May patted his arm gently as she whispered her answer, “Mr. Heath – the one time I tried to look into Mr. Nick’s future, I saw that he would be put through some great trials.  Didn’t see exactly what they be, but only that he would be mightily tested.  The only comfort I can give is that the feeling I got was that he would overcome whatever befell him with his inner strength and the strength of the loved ones surrounding him.    Not saying this won’t be a rough ride, son, but I feel in my heart that Mr. Nick will triumph in the end.”

 

Well, he’d been on more than his share of rough rides in his past and was still in one piece.  He felt his spirits lift marginally at the thought.  Nick did have the just about the strongest will of anyone he had ever met.  He’d seen others win the battle against the demon the drugs put in them.  And none of them were anywhere near as stubborn as that brother of his.  Heath quietly murmured his thanks to Sally May and moved to Audra’s side.

 

He did not like the way she was looking right now.  As he walked over towards her, he gave her his most endearing lopsided grin.  There was no response.  He glanced over to where his mother and Jarrod were standing.  They were in deep conversation with one another and were not paying any attention to Audra.

 

“Hey there, little sister.  He’s home.  Where’s your beautiful smile?” Heath teased as he put his arm around her.  He frowned when there was still no reaction from her.  “Come now honey, I know we still got a right to worry.  I reckon it’s not going to be an easy ride from here but you know Nick, he never did like easy.”

 

“He went crazy and then he died.” Audra muttered.

 

“Sorry – Audra, I didn’t hear you.”

 

“He went crazy and then he died.” She yelled at him.

 

“Whoa now – who ya talking about?  Nick’s not dead.  He’s just in this room right here with Lara.” Heath soothed.

 

“You don’t understand - he went crazy and then he died.” She screamed as she grabbed his arms and started shaking.

 

Victoria and Jarrod looked at the scene before them with concern in their eyes.  Only Victoria understood her daughter’s fears.  She had sat up enough nights soothing Audra’s nightmares after that awful incident.  She hurried over to her daughter and turned her around to face her.

 

“Audra – listen to me.  I know what you are afraid of.  We are not going to let that happen to Nick.  Do you hear me?  WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN TO NICK.” She said forcefully as she tried to get through to the zombie like girl.

 

Audra started to cry, “Oh Mother – I saw Nick as Jerimiah carried him in.  He had the same wild look in his eyes that the young hand had just before his heart gave way.  Don’t you try to protect me.  He’s my brother too.  I have the right to know what’s happening to him not just some sugar coating that isn’t true.  It could happen to Nick and all of you know it.  You just don’t want to say it out loud.”  Audra looked around at the members of her family standing before her.  She saw the painful truth in their eyes.

 

Victoria said firmly, “Audra – that’s enough.  Yes, we do know that it’s possible that Nick will have to overcome a drug addiction.  We also know that is isn’t going to be easy.  But you have to pull yourself together dear.  He is going to need all the help he can get from us.  And we are going to be there for him with all we have to give.”

 

Audra nodded slowly with great fat tears rolling down her face.  She turned to Heath.  He opened in arms to her and she rushed into them, grateful for the comfort he offered.

 

Victoria’s eyes met the question in Jarrod’s.  She saw that Heath had everything under control again.  She returned to Jarrod’s side to explain why Audra was experiencing the fears she had.  Understanding dawned in his eyes.   

 

“So that’s why she’s been so quiet.  She’s been living in fear that even if we did manage to find Nick, he would die anyway.  We thought were we protecting her by not discussing our fears with her.  I guess it’s past time that I started treating my little sister as an adult not a child.  If we would have discussed our fears with her, it’s possible her concerns wouldn’t have escalated to this point.”

 

“Ah son, you are doing it again.  We had this conversation just a couple of months ago.  I know you feel it’s your duty to fill your father’s shoes in this family. But please sweetheart, remember your father wasn’t a perfect man either especially where the woman folk of this family were concerned.  He always said he would rather take on twenty angry miners than one upset female.” She smiled at the memory.

 

Jarrod returned her smile as he hugged her shoulders.  “Lovely lady – wise as ever.  I know you are correct, of course, but I have felt that my powers of observation have been diminished somewhat.”

 

“Well, son, you have been rather busy trying to find your brother and evidence to convict Clive Harrington, visit Heath at the hospital, and I could probably name a dozen more activities you were engaged in.  All for the good of this family.  If you missed observing a few minor details, we can all stand accused as well.” Victoria stopped as she Lara opened the door.

 

“Let’s move the down the hall a bit, shall we?  I have given him a sleeping draught.  I don’t want to wake him up.   The good news first.   In some respects, he has been well taken care of.  It appears that whoever was caring for him, knew what they were doing.  His back is almost completely healed.  A suave has been applied regularly so the wounds have healed without puckering and itching.  The casts on his legs are still intact and don’t look any worse for wear.  He is quite a bit thinner than the last time I saw him but he does not look malnourished.  It’s possible that his appetite faded due to the lack of activity.” Lara paused as she looked at their anxious faces.

 

“Lara, dear, please continue.  We need to hear the bad news as well.” Victoria said firmly. 

 

“His arms are covered with needle marks.  It’s hard to say what he has been given though.  After examining him, I could swear that it was not morphine that was causing the behavior we witnessed.  A combination of drugs could have been used.  I didn’t want to give him anything at all but he needed to calm down.  His heart was beating too fast for my comfort.  Now, I am not expert in these matters, but my father is.  He spent quite a bit of time during and after the war, treating soldiers who had become addicted to morphine.  His experience right now would be invaluable.  Jarrod, could you go to my home and rouse him?  Don’t worry – the household is used to someone knocking at the door at all hours.”

 

“Lara – that reminds me.  Beth packed a bundle of drugs from the room where Nick was being kept.  I don’t know if they were brought in or not.” Jarrod said.

 

“I’ll go get them Mr. Jarrod.  No need for you to trouble yourself.  If you give me directions, I could get the lady doctor’s father for you too, iffen you want.” Jerimiah said helpfully.

 

Lara intervened before Jarrod could answer. “Jerimiah – please bring me that bundle.  Jarrod, I’d rather you went for my father.  You could describe the situation he will be facing when he arrives.  It will save us time.”

 

Yeah and then I won’t be here to disturb my brother either, thought Jarrod.  He nodded his agreement and started down the stairs.  Silas handed him the ice pack his mother had requested.   Jarrod couldn’t even feel the pain in his eye anymore.  The pain in heart had taken over.  The hatred in his brother’s eyes was haunting him.  Nick had been angry with him before, really angry, but nothing like this.  The only other time he had seen his brother with that look in eyes was when he had spotted Risley being escorted from that prison.  Nick had confessed later that he had never come closer to killing someone out of anger than he did just before Jarrod arrived.  He couldn’t fathom why it was being directed at him now.

 

 


Part 18

 

All of a sudden, Jarrod heard gun shots and raced back up the stairs. The shots were coming from the room Nick was in.

 

 “What’s going on?” he asked.

 

Heath raised his hand to get everyone to be quiet and stand back.  He walked stealthily with his back to the wall until he reached the door.  His hand slowly turned the knob.  When he heard the click, he pushed the door open and fell to the floor.  He twisted around so he could see in the room.

 

There on the floor in the far corner was Nick with a gun in his shaking hand.

 

“Jarrod – please go get my father.  Go as fast as you can.  I don’t understand it.  There’s no way he should be awake with the amount of the dosage I gave him.  He must have built up quite a resistance to it.  Jarrod – please – you have to leave now.” Lara implored as she saw him hesitate.

 

“Son, we’ll be fine.  Please do as Lara says.  We’ll be very careful.” Victoria added her voice to Lara’s.

 

“Heath – promise me you won’t do anything foolhardy.” Jarrod said worried that his youngest brother would not be cautious.

 

“Wasn’t planning on it.  I’m counting the shots, Jarrod.  Once I’m sure the gun is empty, I’ll go in.” Heath drawled back.

 

Jarrod finally gave in and left.  He realized that he was not alone.  Jerimiah was following behind him.  “Jerimiah – if you are coming with me, then walk up here beside me.  There’s no need to trail behind me like that.”

 

“Just trying to watch your back Mr. Jarrod.  Miz Barkley don’t want anyone leaving the house alone right now.” Jerimiah explained.

 

Back at the house, silence reigned.  Heath had counted five bullets so far.  He had not heard any reloading done so that left one more shot.  The plaster on the ceiling rained down on him when the final shot came.  He waited a moment longer then heard the sound of bullets falling on the floor.  He chanced another glance.  Nick was fumbling with a handful of bullets trying to reload.

 

Before he could stop her, Audra went sailing into the room.  “Hey big brother.  What’s all the shooting about?  You’re scaring me.”

 

Nick looked up and tried to focus his eyes.  “Audra – that you little sister?”

 

“Sure is, big brother.  I’m right here.  Can I sit beside you?  I’m frightened and need you to protect me.”

 

“I’ll protect you all right.  You just come sit by me.  See if anyone can get past me to hurt you.  Nope – no one gonna hurt my little sister.” Nick said as he continued to fumble with the gun chamber.

 

Heath started to follow Audra when he felt a hand on his arm detaining him.  Victoria shook her head and pulled him back in the hallway. 

 

“Give her a minute to calm him down.  She took the right approach by asking him to protect her.  He won’t harm her.  He might get agitated again if we all rush in at once.” Victoria whispered.  Although this wild eyed man little resembled her son, she knew that deep down the protective instinct he had would not allow him to do injury to his beloved sister.  She also felt that her daughter needed to do this for Nick.

 

Audra often got pushed to the sidelines with the strong personalities the rest of the family members had.  She only asserted herself when she felt very strongly about something.  Her brothers tended to treat her with amused indulgence and rarely took her seriously.  Because she knew they loved her, Audra did not often take exception to their treatment of her.   She had a very kind heart and would never intentionally hurt anyone. But Victoria knew there was more strength in her daughter than she usually showed the world.

 

The subject of her thoughts was trying to figure out a way to get the gun away from her brother.  “Big brother – will you put your arm around me, please?  I’d feel so much better if you did.” She said as she scooted closer to him.

 

It worked.  Nick put his arm around her and pulled her close to him as if trying to shield her from the unseen danger only he could see.

 

“Nick – remember when I asked you to teach me how to shoot?  You wouldn’t even let me near a target until you had shown me how to clean and load a gun.  You taught me how to check that the gun was working properly before I took a shot.  I remember I was getting so impatient with you.  It seemed like it was taking you forever to explain everything when all I wanted to do was shoot with it.  Do you remember that Nick?”

 

Nick had paused in his task of reloading the gun when she started talking.  He gave her a shaky smile and nodded his head at her questions.

 

“Do you remember how you made me load and empty that stupid gun?  I don’t know how many times you made me do it before you were satisfied that I knew what I was doing.  Why don’t you give me that gun and those bullets and let me show you how well you taught me?” she asked as casually as she could.

 

Nick looked down at the gun in his hand.  He couldn’t remember why he had it in the first place.  Well - if his little sister wanted to show off to him that she knew how to load a gun, he certainly wouldn’t stand in her way.  With shaking hands he first handed her the gun and then tried to pick up the scattered bullets.

 

“Here Nick – just put those bullets in my lap.  Let me help you pick them up.  Pesky things seem to rolling all over don’t they, Big Brother?”  Audra said conversationally.

 

Once she had all the bullets and gun in her lap, she covered them with her skirt.  She wanted to distract Nick so he forgot all about them.  “Isn’t this nice?  It’s been along time since I had you all to myself like this.  Remember when I was little and we used to go up to the attic – just the two of us.  It was our special place wasn’t it , Nick?  Of course, it was the only place you’d play my games with me.  It would never do that the manly twelve year old Nick Barkley got caught playing with his little sister.  But I never minded.  At least you did spend time with me.  Remember ………….”

 

Audra continued talking in a soft voice of the memories they shared during their childhood.  Nick looked bemusedly at her.  He didn’t really understand all of what she was chattering about.  He did understand she was reminiscing about the happy times they had shared together as children.  He could hear the love in her voice and that was enough for him.  He gave a big sigh as he started to relax.

 

Audra felt her brother’s relaxation.  She looked up at Heath and nodded her head.  As Heath came slowly into the room, she started to prepare Nick for the new arrival.

 

“Hey Big Brother – look who came to join us?  It’s our brother, Heath.  You know he’s probably feeling left out.  He hasn’t seen you in awhile either.” Audra crooned gently as she felt Nick tense up again.

 

Nick shook his head sadly at his little sister.  “Fooled you too, hasn’t he?  He appears all the time to me, even talks sometimes, but just disappears when I try and touch him.” He said almost nonchalantly.  Then a notion struck him and he started to get agitated again.

 

“He’s dead - isn’t he?  That’s why he keeps vanishing like that.  You’re trying to keep the truth from me AREN’T YOU?  HE’S DEAD AND NOBODY WANTS TO TELL ME.” He started shouting.

 

Heath had stopped in his tracks at Nick’s words.  He was overwhelmed with despair at the thought of his brother suffering so.  He knew what it would do to him if he thought Nick was dead and his spirit kept appearing before him.  He pushed the thought aside as the first order of business was to get Nick to calm down again.

 

“Well now Big Brother – I got me another scar while you was gone but I’m still here on this earth.  Who’s gonna keep you in line if I not around?  Besides somebody’s got to get some work done around at the ranch with you spending all this time lolling about in bed.” Heath tried teasing gently.

 

Nick’s face was a mask of confusion.  He looked hopeful for a moment then a crestfallen expression crossed his face.  ‘See Audra – told you.  It even talks to me.  Could you hear him too?  Don’t pay him no nevermind.  He’s just gonna disappear right away anyways.  I kept hoping Heath come and get me out of that place.  Knew he’d have to be either dead or in a bad way to agree with Jarrod about it.  Heath would never send me away like that.” He said as he displayed all the hopelessness he had experienced.

 

Audra tried to smile as tears poured down her face.  “No Nick – he’s really here.  Heath’s not dead.  He was hurt but he’s going to be just fine.  Heath – come here.  Show our Big Brother just how wrong he is.”

 

Heath knelt down in front of Nick.  He put his hand on his shoulder and said, “I’m right here Nick.   I promise you that I’m not going anywhere.”  He wondered at Nick’s rambling about Jarrod sending him away. 

 

Nick felt the warmth from his brother’s hand on his shoulder.  He was overwhelmed with a feeling of relief.  “Hhhheath  - you’re not dead.  You’re rrreally here.” he stammered as reached out tentatively towards Heath.

 

Heath grabbed his hand in his and placed it on his own shoulder.  His heart was breaking at the expression of wonder on his brother’s face.  This was the first chance he had to get a really good look at Nick.  What he saw made his stomach drop down to his toes. 

 

It was his eyes that really shocked him.  Mother always said that Heath didn’t have to say a word because his eyes said it all for him.  But he had always thought that Nick was the one who didn’t need to say a word – though he usually did.  He could almost smote a body dead with those eyes when he was angry, the way they shot fire at a person.  When he was happy, they fairly danced off his face.  But now, this timid, unsure, scared look he was wearing was one that he had never seen before.

 

He pulled himself together as he saw that Nick was waiting for a reply.  “Easy Nick.  You’re not imagining me now.  I’m right here and don’t figure to go anywhere anytime soon, ya hear.  I reckon you’re stuck with me brother.”

 

Nick’s eyes welled up with tears as emotion overcame him.  He fought to bring himself under control.  He couldn’t start blubbering like a baby even in front of his siblings. 

 

“You’re really here.  I’m really not imagining it this time.  Oh God – Heath.  You don’t know.  You just don’t know what it was like.” He shuddered as he fought for control again.

 

Suddenly, he grabbed Heath’s shirt front as he said forcefully, “Heath – get me back to the ranch.  Get me outta here.  It’s all I been wanting for weeks but Jarrod wouldn’t listen.  I’m just draining away here.  I know I can count on you.  You won’t let me down.”  He sent a pleading look towards his brother. 

 

There he goes again about Jarrod, thought Heath.  I got to find out why he thinks it’s all Jarrod’s doing that he was kidnapped.  It was the case he was working on that started this whole mess but it was not like Nick to blame Jarrod like this.  The draining away part – now that he understood.  Nick was his soul mate in that respect.  Needed to be outdoors – not cooped up indoors in some bed.

 

“Well now Big Brother – I’d like nothing better than to have you back at the ranch.  I promise you that I’ll get you back there just as soon as I can.  Be better if Lara can check you out first though. You know Mother is going to insist on it.” Heath replied as he turned back to nod at Victoria.

 

“It looks like my children have decided to have a picnic and forgot to invite me.” Victoria said as she sat down on the floor beside her son.  “And I heard that last part, Heath.  I AM going to insist that Lara examines you Nicholas before we leave, son.”

 

Nick squinted at the tiny woman at his side.  She looked the same as always.  Whatever had ailed her didn’t seem to have laid her low for very long.  “Mmmother – are you really alright now?  That seizure – it didn’t leave any permanent damage, did it?” he asked worriedly, reaching out to touch her face.

 

Seizure?  She looked at her other children and saw the question in their eyes also.  “Son – I’m just fine.  I haven’t been ill at all.  Not unless you can call being worried sick about you being ill.  Can you tell us what happened to you?  Do you know who was responsible for this?”

 

“Yeah – I KNOW.  I KNOW that my mother had a seizure and needed complete rest and I KNOW that my DEAR BROTHER JARROD shipped me off with some strangers so as not to be a NUISANCE to the family.  I KNOW that he wrote me to behave myself or I’d have to wait even longer to go home.  I KNOW  that every time Jeff went to talk to him – HE WAS TOO BUSY.  I KNOW THAT HE DOESN’T GIVE A DAMN.  That’s what I KNOW.” Nick fairly screamed out his frustrations to his stunned family. 

 

The anger was building inside him again.  He started to shake uncontrollably until Heath grabbed him by both his shoulders.

 

“Nick – listen to me.  Nick look at me.  You were kidnapped.  They been feeding you a line with a whole bunch of drugs.” Heath desperately tried to get his attention.  “NICK – please listen to what I gotta say.  You were kidnapped.  Jarrod didn’t send you anywhere.  He’s been spending every waking moment trying to find you.  He’s been as worried about you as all the rest of us.”

 

But Nick couldn’t hear him with the roaring in his ears.  His skin felt like it was crawling with vermin.  He tried to rub them off but he couldn’t stop them.  The pain behind his eyes started building again.  He couldn’t see or hear any of pleas his family were making to him.

 

Lara had walked quietly into the room once Victoria had gotten settled on the floor.  When she saw that Nick was not reacting to their voices, she asked them to stop.  She took put her hand on his neck to check his pulse, careful to stay away from his moving hands.  It was too high again.  She didn’t want to give him anything else until her father arrived. 

 

Think Lara.  What did a doctor usually do with a patient that was in a state of hysteria?  She had to bring him back to a state of awareness.  Everyone was shocked when she raised her hand and slapped him across the face as hard as she could and yelled his name. 

 

Nick shook his head at the blow.  His eyes focused again on the people around him.  “That woman of yours packs quite a wallop, brother.  You’re going to have to watch your step around her.” He sighed as he rubbed his face.

 

Confusion set in as he tried to remember why he was sitting on the floor with his family all around him.  Why did that lady doctor hit him?  Did he insult her?  “Sorry – Dr. Lara – didn’t mean to hurt your feelings?” He didn’t want Heath upset with him because he’d offended his lady.

 

“No – Nick, I’m the one who’s sorry but I didn’t know any other way of getting your attention.” Lara said softly as she glanced at Heath.

 

“Hmmm – you got it now.  Why are we all on the floor?  What’s going on here?” Nick asked.

 

“Well now, Big Brother, you started it and we just wanted to keep you company.  Want some help up to the bed?  My legs are getting a mite stiff sitting here.” Heath drawled.

 

“Damn casts.  Never felt so helpless in my life.  Bring them crutches over and I’ll manage.”

 

Heath hurried over to where a pair of crutches stood and handed them to Nick.  He awkwardly tried to rise to his feet.  Heath and Victoria immediately lent a hand until he was upright.  They walked on either side of him until he reached the bed.  Audra scooped up the gun and bullets and handed them to Silas to dispose of.  She sped back to the bed.

 

“Don’t want to be back in bed.  Lara – can you tell them that I’m okay to travel?  I want to go straight to the train station and go home.  I’ve had enough of people poking and prodding at me.  I’m fine.  I just need to be back at the ranch.  That’s where I belong.” Nick pleaded.

 

“Soon – Nick.  But first we have to make sure you are really fit to make the trip.  You don’t want to have to come back right away, do you?” Lara cajoled as she heard the front door close.  Thank God her father was here.  “Now – just give me a minute and we’ll get this over with – okay?”

 

She raced out of the room to confer with her father before he examined Nick himself.  “Father – am I glad to see you.  I really need your help with this one.  I just don’t have the experience in this area.” Lara exclaimed.  She proceeded to share her observations with her father.

 

Jarrod stood to one side quietly.  He hated to interrupt but he had to know the outcome of the gun incident.  “Lara – did Heath manage to get the gun away from him?  Is everyone alright?” he finally asked.

 

“Sorry Jarrod – with all that’s happened I forgot you left before you knew the resolution to that one. “  She described the quick thinking his sister displayed while Nick was trying to reload the gun.    She also included what had occurred after so her father would get an idea of what they were dealing with.

 

“Father – I’ve never seen anything like it.  He keeps floating in and out of reality.  I think there’s more at work here than a morphine addiction.”

 

“Lara, dear, I trust your instincts.  Let’s have a look at him – shall we?” Gerald said.

 

Jarrod followed the two doctors up the stairs.  At last some answers, he thought.  The kidnappers must have told Nick that he had made all the arrangements for his care at that lodge.  Then to further the validity of their story, they had him write that note for Nick to read.  Taken in this new context, that note seemed like Jarrod was scolding him to cooperate or else he would have to stay there longer. 

 

Between the drugs he had been given and the story they had fed him, it was no wonder that Nick was upset with him.  How was he going to repair the damage that had been done?  Would Nick realize that it was all an elaborate hoax once the drugs wore off?  Would Nick even live though the withdrawal?  Would his brother die believing that he had sent him off and forgotten about him?  Jarrod, tired beyond belief, could not think of any positive answers to the questions that haunted him.  It took everything he had left in him just to put one foot in front of the other.  He felt a hundred years old as he slowly climbed the stairs.

 

 


Part 19

 

“Lara – let me take a look at what drugs they brought back with them first.” Gerald Collins requested.

 

“Here they are Father.  There is something here that I don’t recognize.” She said as she handed him a container.

 

Gerald poured the substance in his hand.  He crushed some between his finger and lightly sniffed the powder.  “Hmmmm.  I’m not totally sure but I remember some of the soldiers had a plant they crushed into a powder that they traded from the Kiowa for it’s euphoric properties.  I’m guessing from your observations that this could be the same powder.  It was called peyote and sometimes made the soldiers hallucinate.  This on top of the morphine and sleeping powders could be a deadly combination for this young man.  Let’s have a look at him – shall we?”

 

Gerald briefly acknowledged Victoria and Audra with a smile.  Heath, he ignored totally.  He reached for Nick’s wrist to take his pulse.  Nick pulled his hand away and glowered at the doctor.

 

“Who are you?  What are you doing here?  What’s going on now?” Nick fired rapidly.

 

“Young man – settle down now.  I am Lara’s father.  I am also a doctor.  Your mother requested I consult with Lara on your health.  Now just cooperate and let me examine you.” Gerald said with firm authority.

 

“Another doctor?  What for?  I’m fine.  I just want to go home.” Nick said obstinately.

 

“I’ll be the judge on whether or not you are fine, Mr. Barkley  not you.  You are only unnecessarily prolonging this procedure.  Cooperate and if you are fine, you will be on your way before you know it.  Now it’s up to you whether I take your pulse now or later.” Gerald said in the same gruff voice.

 

Nick gave a sigh of resignation and held his arm out.  Gerald took his pulse quickly before he changed his mind.  He leaned over to look closely into his eyes.  He didn’t like what he saw.  He reached into in pocket for a pencil and asked Nick to follow it closely while he moved it around.  He saw the response time was slow and jerky. 

 

Nick became fascinated with the movement of the pencil.  He was soon absorbed in the trails of colors it left behind.  When Gerald stopped, Nick grabbed the pencil out of his hand and began to move it in front of his face himself.

 

Gerald nodded slowly at his daughter.  He was almost positive now that Nick had something more than morphine and sleeping potions in his system.  “What do you see Mr. Barkley?”

 

“Colors – like a rainbow.  You know kinda see through, shimmering colors.  Why is it so cold in here?  Maybe someone should get a fire going in that fireplace or something.  I’m always so cold.  Can’t seem to get warmed up.” Nick said as his teeth started to chatter.

 

“Victoria – can you please arrange for a tub full of very warm water, please?  We need to bring his body temperature up.  His skin is very cold and we don’t want him to go into shock.”  Gerald requested.

 

“I’ll tend to that right away, Miz Barkley.” Silas spoke up quickly.

 

“Make sure it’s warm but not too hot.  We will need some hot water on standby though.  Lara – how long have these casts been on now?”

 

“Almost five weeks – Father.  He was due to come in next week to have them removed and start therapy.” Lara replied.

 

“Well – I think they are going to have to come off a little early.  We need to get his whole body warm and they are just an unnecessary  encumbrance right now.  We’ll just let them soften up in the water.  It’ll be easier to remove them that way.  Victoria – do you have some long rolls of cloth we can wrap them in after?  We still need to stabilize his legs to some extent.”

 

“Mother – I’ll start ripping up some sheets.  Doctor – what’s wrong with my brother?” Audra asked concerned.

 

“Miss Barkley, your brother is suffering from a combination of the drugs that were administered to him.  I believe that a substance called peyote was used along with morphine and sleeping potions.  I examined the contents of the vials that were removed from the lodge where he was kept.  What amounts or how often these drugs were used, I can only guess at.  From my daughter’s observations though, I would say that he has a high content of all of them in his system.  The tricky part will be to wean him off without giving him too much or too little.  We don’t want him to go into shock.  The first sign of that is the cold skin and rapid heart beat which he does have at the moment.” Gerald explained patiently to the obviously distraught girl.

 

Peyote, thought Heath.  He’d heard about that when he was down in Mexico.  The locals there like to use it from time to time.  Mixed it with tequila.  Could change a person to a raving lunatic if he took too much.  He wanted to rip out Clive Harrington’s heart with his bare hands.  His brother must have gone through hell – all because that vermin wanted to distract Jarrod and keep his loan shark operation intact.

 

It never failed to amaze Heath what lengths people would go to for the almighty dollar.  He could never understand why when one had so much, all they wanted was more.  How much could a body use anyway?  Even when he was so broke that he didn’t have a nickel to his name, he would have never considered hurting somebody just for a few dollars. He’d even thrown in a few good poker hands when he saw his opponent couldn’t afford to lose to him.  He couldn’t live with his conscience if a family went hungry because a man was foolish enough to sit at the table with him betting more than he should.  He tuned back into what Lara’s father was saying.

 

“Victoria while we have him in the bath, I’d like you to have any unnecessary furniture removed from this room.  Ideally, I’d like to see just the bed and maybe one chair.  Also if you have a spare mattress, please have it placed in front of the fireplace.  A fire wouldn’t come amiss either.  Let’s see what have I missed?  Oh yes, we will probably need some basins or pails on hand.  Vomiting is another way the body rids itself of poisons.” He finished as he saw Silas return to the room.

 

Silas informed that everything was ready in the bathroom just like the doctor ordered.  Heath came forward with Nick’s crutches but was blocked by Jerimiah.

 

“Let me – Mr. Heath.  It’d be a mite easier to get Mr. Nick in and out of the tub if I just lifts him.  Hey Mr. Nick – it’s me again.  You gonna have a nice warm bath now.  You just be easy and let Jerimiah take you there.”

 

“Jerimiah – what you doing here?  Why aren’t you at the winery?  Is there anyone at the ranch doing any work?” Nick grumbled having completely forgotten his earlier conversation with Jerimiah.

 

“Well now Mr. Nick – I figures you needs me more here than at the winery.  Mr. Heath here shouldn’t be doing any lifting right now.  Best for you all, if I help you out here for a spell.” Jerimiah explained patiently as he lifted Nick into his strong arms.

 

“Heath?  What’s happened now Little Brother?  Wait a minute – I remember now.  Jeff said you got gored by a bull.  Said you were just fine.  Don’t you know better than to put yourself in front of a bull yet boy?  I keep telling you to be careful but do you listen? Noooo not you.  Always getting hurt ……………………..”  Nick rambled on as Jerimiah carried into the bathroom.

 

Gerald, Lara, Heath and Silas followed in his stead.  Heath and Silas removed his pajama bottoms while still in Jerimiah’s arms.  Unfortunately, just as Jerimiah was lowering him into the tub, Nick noticed Lara standing there.  He started to struggle and managed to get almost everyone wet.

 

“Heath – for God’s sakes, I’m naked!  Get your lady friend out of here!” Nick blasted.

 

“Mr. Barkley – Lara is not here in the capacity of your brother’s lady friend.  She is here as a doctor.  She probably knows more about the male anatomy than you do.” Gerald said witheringly.

 

“Well, she doesn’t know about my male anattttt….my male ananttt…..my male parts.  At least give me a towel.” he howled.

 

Heath was handing him a towel before he even finished speaking.  He knew that as formidable as Dr. Collins seemed, he was no match for Nick when that stubborn look had set in.  And it was there in spades right now. 

 

“Thanks – that’s better.  Why do I need all these people around just to take a bath for anyway?  Can’t I just have some time alone with my brother?  You’ll hear me when I’m ready to come out.  I tell you brother – doctors – always poking and prodding at you.  Don’t give a man a minute to himself.” Nick complained.

 

Heath looked at Lara while he said softly, “The people in the nearest house will probably hear him when he wants to get out or starts getting agitated again.  Can we have a few minutes alone?”

 

Who could resist those beseeching blue eyes, thought Lara.  “Father – what if we wait out in the hallway for awhile?  It will take at least fifteen minutes for the plaster to soften up enough for removal.  Heath, darling, please do not hesitate to call us if the circumstances change.”

 

Gerald shot Heath a disapproving glance but did move out into the hallway with his daughter.  Jerimiah and Silas went down the hall to help get the room prepared for Nick.

 

Nick looked over at his brother with his eyebrows raised.  “Heath darling?  Just how serious are you and the lady doctor, Little Brother?”

 

Heath produced his lopsided grin and answered, “Could be very serious Big Brother.  We haven’t had much time to spend together lately with all that’s been going on.  But I sure would like to.” He hesitated before sharing, “She fills a hole like no other I’ve met before.  Just seems right, is all.”

 

Nick felt a gladness in him that Heath had finally found someone worthy of him.  That lady doctor seemed like a straight arrow to him.  His brother had certainly had his share of women that turned him upside down.  Be handy to have a doctor that close to him too as he trouble always seemed to find his little brother.  “Better mind your manners around her.  She packs quite a punch for a little lady.  I can’t seem to remember why she hit me though.  Do I need to do a better apology?  Don’t want you to get into trouble with your lady.”

 

“Rest easy Nick.  It wasn’t anything you said or done.  The kidnappers gave you some powerful drugs.  You was kinda lost in the grip of something and it was the only way she knew how to bring you back.” he explained.

 

“Kidnappers?  What kidnappers are you talking about?  I wasn’t with any kidnappers.  Jeff and that pesky nurse Montgomery, Susan were the only two people I saw.  And they were hired by my dear brother, Jarrod, to take care of me.”

 

“No – Nick.  They weren’t hired by Jarrod.  They were hired by a man by the name of Clive Harrington.  He wanted some leverage against Jarrod and used you to get it.  It’s a real long tale but it boils down to this.  We went to pick you up from the hospital to find you gone.  Nobody knew where you were.  We been looking for you since then.  Jarrod finally got a break last night and went out to fetch you home.” Heath said as he tried to gauge how much of this his brother was taking in.

 

“Didn’t act like no kidnappers.  Are you sure that Jarrod didn’t hire them behind your back?  He could have made up the whole story just so you’d keep your nose out of his business.  I got a note from him.  I swear it was his handwriting.”

 

“Nick – I know Jarrod did not hire those people.  A message was sent to the Stockton telegraph office, telling Jarrod what to write in that note.  He thought it was to tell you to cooperate with your kidnappers.  He didn’t want you to get hurt.  I also know that the man who knifed me was not Jarrod’s doing.”

 

Nick interrupted quickly, “Knifed you?  What happened?  Are you okay?”

 

“I’m fine now.  I was meeting Jarrod at the train station and got a warning to back off from the questions I’d been asking.  Sliced me up some at the same time.  The only involvement Jarrod had in this whole mess is the fact that this Harrington is the one who is guilty of the crime that Jarrod’s client is standing trial for.  Listen, Nick, he’s been burning the candle at both ends trying to solve this case so he could find you.”

 

Nick frowned in confusion.  Kidnapped?  He had such a hard time believing that.  How could a person be kidnapped and not know it?  But Heath wouldn’t lie to him, that just wasn’t his way.  He would just not say anything at all instead of lie.  He sighed deeply, “Little Brother, I don’t know what to think anymore.  Haven’t been able to for awhile now.  Everything just gets jumbled in my head til it hurts.  No, I just don’t know what to think now.”

 

“Best let it sit a spell with you, Big Brother.  Those drugs they gave you are probably stopping you from thinking clearly.  That Harrington has a lot to answer for.” Heath said with a stony countenance.  “Jarrod would never send you away from the family.”

 

Nick couldn’t stamp down the feeling of anger that occurred every time Jarrod’s name was mentioned.  He couldn’t seem to control it at all.  It just rose to the surface without any warning.  He didn’t want to be angry with him so why couldn’t he just believe Heath and let it go?

 

He felt incredibly weary all of a sudden.  The light was hurting his eyes and making his head pound again.  He wanted nothing more than to close his eyes and sleep.  He was almost scared to though.  He might wake up back at the lodge and this was all nothing but another dream.  It was so hard to tell the dreams from reality.  He couldn’t figure out why he was so tired all the time either.  It wasn’t like he was doing anything other than lying in bed.  Though he tried to fight it, his eyes became too heavy to keep open and closed against his will.

 

 


Heath watched as his brother slipped into a light sleep.  He was finally home.  Not back at the ranch yet, but that was the next stop.  He heard the door creak when it opened and looked up to see Lara and her father re-enter the room.  He saw Jarrod standing in the hallway with a look of utter defeat on his face.

 

Heath said very quietly, “He’s resting now.  He almost seemed like his old self there for a minute.  Then he got all confused again.  He was holding his head like it hurt real bad before he drifted off.  I’m just going to talk to my other brother for a minute.  Be right back.”

 

As Heath approached Jarrod, he put his hand out and squeezed his shoulder to comfort him.  “Jarrod – he honestly didn’t know he was kidnapped.  Jeff and Nurse Montgomery – uh Susan – Nick called her, told him that they were hired by you to take care of him.  Now it sounds like Jeff kept telling Nick that he was in touch with you and didn’t have time to deal with it as you were too busy.  That note really stuck in head too.  Kept feeding him those drugs so he couldn’t think real clear neither.  Still can’t.  He was talking right fine one minute and then he got all confused again.  Don’t worry brother.  Once all them drugs are outta him, he’ll accept the truth.  He knows it deep down anyway.”

 

Jarrod sighed heavily as he replied, “I know you are probably correct and he will recognize the truth eventually.  But ahhhh Heath – you didn’t see how he looked at me.  I can’t seem to erase that image from my mind.  Also there were some repairs needed in our relationship before this whole mess occurred.  I wonder if that is possible now.”

 

“Jarrod – you’re just dog tired.  Why don’t you try to get you some sleep now?  You’re……….”

 

“Where’s HEATH?  I knew it.  I just knew it.  I was imagining the whole thing again, wasn’t I?  HE’S DEAD ISN’T HE?” Nick screamed.

 

Heath ran back into the room to calm his brother down.  “Boy howdy Nick, if I was dead, you sure would have woke me up with all that hollering.   Just calm down now, I’m right here.”

 

“Heathhhhh” Nick said shakily wanting more than anything to believe him. 

 

Heath realized that his brother needed his physical contact before he would truly know for sure whether or not he was really there.  “Here let me help you sit up proper now.  You’re gonna dunk yourself if you keep thrashing about like a fish on a hook.” He bantered as he put his arms under Nick’s armpits and lifted him to a sitting position.

 

“You really are here.  Thought I dreamed it again.  Scared I was losing my mind too.  Been worried about that for awhile.  Can’t seem to concentrate.  Nothing stays – everything just keeps slipping away.  Who the hell are you?” Nick said as he noticed Gerald standing beside Dr. Lara.

 

“I am Dr. Collins – Lara’s father.  Your family thought you might be more comfortable in certain situations having a male doctor around as well.” He said thinking back to the earlier scene with the towel.   He knew it would only confuse the patient more if he told him that they had already met.  “Now I just want to feel the plaster on these casts.  If they have softened up enough, we will be able to remove them for you.”

 

“That’s about the first thing I heard you doctors say that I agree with.  Best get to it then.”  Nick replied happily.  Those weights would finally be off his legs and he wouldn’t have to feel so damned helpless anymore.

 

Gerald nodded to his daughter to indicate they were ready.  Lara took a sharp edged metal instrument from her bag that Heath thought looked much like the wire cutters he used back at the ranch.

 

Working together as a team, Lara started cutting at the top of the cast.  Gerald was right behind her, pulling the cast as far apart as it would go.  In no time, they had the first cast off.  They immediately started on the other leg until that one was also removed. Each doctor took a separate leg and unwrapped the bindings that were in place under the casts.   

 

Heath kept quietly talking to Nick trying to keep him distracted from what Lara and her father were doing.  It seemed to be working too until they started massaging the leg muscles.  Nick tried to jerk his legs away from them.

 

“Mr. Barkley, I know that this is uncomfortable but it has to be done.  Your muscles have been resting a long time.  They need to be coaxed into waking up again.  Your legs will have to be massaged at least five or six times a day for a few days before I want you trying to put your full weight on your legs.” Gerald explained again using his most authoritative voice. 

 

He knew from experience that this was not the time to use his best bedside manner.  Nick would need to feel that he had someone in charge to turn to if the situation disintegrated badly.  From the behavior he had observed so far, the rapid, uncontrolled mood changes ranging from confusion to rage, it looked like it would head in that direction. And in the not too distance future, if he was not mistaken.

 

 


Part 20

 

As Audra came walking down the hall with more sheets, she saw Jarrod standing outside the bathroom.  He looked so tired and worn out.  Her tender heart went out to him.  She went up to him and put her arm around his waist.

 

“Hey there Big Brother.  You’ve been up for almost forty-eight hours straight now.  Don’t you think it’s about time you got a little rest?” she coaxed gently.

 

“Not yet Audra.  What if Nick wants to see me?  Heath told me his mood can change by the minute.” He said wearily.

 

“Then we’ll come and get you.  You’ll just be down the hall.   Come on now, you need some sleep.  The rest of us napped off and on all night.  You didn’t.  It’s your turn now.”

 

“Maybe later.  I should be working on this case.  Do you know we still haven’t got any hard evidence against Harrington?  We all know what he did but I don’t have one shred of proof to present to the court to even get my client off.  I owe it to Nick to make sure Harrington gets the punishment he deserves.”

 

Audra gently tugged on his arm as she led him in the direction to his room.  “And if anyone can do it, it will be you Big Brother.  I have every faith in you.  But you need to sleep now.  An hour or two won’t make very much difference, now will it?  And you’ll be more alert if you do.  Come on and lie down on the top of your bed.  You don’t even have to take your boots off.”  She continued as she led him up to his bed.  “There you go and you will be able to get up at a moment’s notice.” 

 

She sat on the side of the bed beside him.  Audra lovingly moved the hair off his forehead as he finally closed his eyes.  She was about to leave when he put his hand in hers.

 

“Audra, honey, I didn’t tell you how brave I thought you were earlier.   I am so proud of you but you could have gotten hurt.  You should have let Heath handle it but you did do it wonderfully.  Mother told me how your quick thinking distracted him.” Jarrod mumbled tiredly.

 

“Oh Jarrod – I wasn’t brave at all.  I might not know a lot about these drugs but I do know my brother, Nick.  He’s spent my whole life trying to protect me from harm and I don’t care what drug they gave him, it’s just not in him to physically hurt me.  So you see, I wasn’t so very brave after all.” she smiled sweetly at him.

 

Ah such innocent optimism, Jarrod thought.  He hoped that life would treat her in a way that she wouldn't lose those qualities.  “Well sweetheart, I am going to disagree with you on that one.  I am standing by my previous statements, dear sister.”

 

“Oh Jarrod – I am just about the luckiest girl alive to have three such wonderful brothers, aren’t I?  Now if this wonderful brother would just close his eyes and rest……” she chattered on quietly waiting until she saw he was really asleep this time.

 

She bent down and tenderly kissed his forehead.  “Yes, I am the luckiest girl in the world.” she said as looked down at her beloved brother. 

 

 


Victoria paused in her task of making bandages to see her daughter walk in with another armload of sheets.  “Thank you dear.  I think once we finish with those, we will have enough.”

 

“Oh Mother – I finally got Jarrod to lay down and rest.” She proceeded to tell her mother of the conversation she just had with her brother.

 

Victoria felt a surge of relief that her eldest was now getting the much needed rest he deserved.  She knew the feelings of guilt that were plaguing her son.  She hoped that Adam would be able to find enough evidence today that would put Clive Harrington away for a long, long time.  Adam and a few of his men were heading back to the lodge to do a more thorough search in the daylight.  She prayed that their efforts would be rewarded.

 

Her musings were interrupted when Silas came into the room.  He informed them that the doctors were ready to bring Nick back to his bed.  “Miz Barkley, the doctor asked for a jug of water and some glasses.  Where should I put them with all the furniture gone?  Should I bring back a small table?” he fussed. 

 

“Don’t worry Silas.  I’ll ask Gerald what he requires.  Audra – let’s clear off the bed.  We can move the bandages onto the chair for now.” Victoria said.

 

Gerald strode into the room followed by Jerimiah carrying Nick.  Heath and Lara brought up the rear.  Victoria brushed the hair from her son’s eyes and caressed the side of his face.  His face had a little color now from the heat of his bath.  Those bloodshot eyes looking at her in confusion burned deeply into her heart.  Oh, son, she thought, you’ve been through so much already.  How I wish you could be spared any more torment!

 

Knowing Silas was waiting for an answer to his question, she quietly asked Gerald what he needed.  She listened with half an ear as she continued to try to comfort her son.  She saw the instant when panic hit him again and spoke soothingly to him.

 

“HHHEATH!! Where’s Heath?  I’m not dreaming again – am I?  That boy disappears faster than a whiff of smoke.”

 

Heath moved closer to the bed and replied, “Right here Nick.  I told you I’m not going anywhere without you.  Well – not until we get you back to the ranch anyhow. You have my word on it, brother.”

 

His word on it, thought Nick.  He don’t give that lightly.  Maybe the dreaming is stopped now and I can relax some. He don’t seem to be disappearing no more.  He gave a big sigh as he tried to sort it all out in his mind.

 

When Gerald observed that Nick was calm and absorbed in his own thoughts, he signaled his daughter with a handful of bandages.  He wanted to get Nick’s legs wrapped before he became agitated again.  He also wanted to clear the room of as many people as he could.  It would only heightened the patient’s confusion to have too much around him to try to absorb.  He looked at distaste at Heath.  Well, he would have to stay as his presence was a calming influence.  The big fellow too might come in handy.  Gerald didn’t like to use restraints unless it became absolutely necessary.  He found that it usually only served to increase the patient’s agitation and sometimes pushed them over the edge.

 

“Victoria – I think it would be best to have the fewest distractions that we can manage.  I know your mother’s instinct begs to be assisting us but my dear, it really is best if only Lara, Jerimiah is it? and Heath stay in the room right now.” Gerald tried to explain as gently as possible.

 

Leave? Victoria thought.  How can I leave him now?  How can we get him through this if we are not allowed in the room with him?  “Gerald – we will follow your instructions to letter but I want to be near my son.  He needs us.” she pleaded.

 

“Yes, Victoria, he does need you.  But not right now.  He is drifting between reality and what he believes is reality.  He looks at you and wonders what you are doing here when you are supposed to be seriously ill.  It just adds to his confusion.  You will make it a lot easier on him if there is less he has to try to figure out.  Believe me, you are going to be needed to lend a hand but just not right now.  Please trust me on this, my dear.  I wouldn’t ask it of you if I didn’t know that it is really for the best.”

 

Victoria was visibly torn.  She wanted what was best for her son but to have to step aside right now was tearing her apart.  She saw the compassion in Gerald’s eyes as he saw her struggle.  Gerald – well she supposed she had to put her trust in him.   His calm assurance of the situation spoke volumes about his experience in these matters.  She had to do what was best for Nick now not for herself.  With quiet dignity, she nodded her agreement and gently steered her daughter out of the room with her.

 

Gerald immediately got down to business.  “Young man, please sit on the side of the bed where your brother can see you.  Keep doing what you were doing in the bathroom.  Talk to him and touch his arm from time to time while Lara and I finish wrapping his legs.  Jerimiah, I believe you’ve been up all night.  Why don’t you lie down on the mattress by the fireplace for now and get some rest?  I will wake you if we need you.” he instructed. 

 

Lara and her father worked quickly and efficiently together.  When they were done, Gerald moved over to the other side of the bed to check Nick’s pulse and temperature again.  He took his daughter to the far side of the room to discuss the situation.

 

“I believe the effects of the peyote are starting to wear off.  As we do not know what dosage or how often the other drugs were given to him, I cannot predict how severe the withdrawal process will be.  We will have to wait and watch now.  I’ll be able to recognize when further action is required.”

“What do you have in mind, Father?”

 

“He is in the first stage now as I term it.  He is jumpy, nervous and very agitated.  He will also probably experience blinding headaches.  I will then give him a very small dosage of morphine.  It will relieve him to some extent but it will not erase all the symptoms.  Then we start again.  Each time reducing the amount of morphine until we feel that his heart rate will not go too high without it.  There is usually vomiting and a low fever that can escalate.  We have to watch that.  Hallucinations are not uncommon either.  This is not an exact science dear, like setting a broken bone.  We have to keep closely monitoring him.” Gerald explained.

 

Lara was relieved that her father was there.  She felt out of her depth on this one and she knew how important Nick was to Heath.  “Father – I’m also worried about Heath.  He isn’t fully recovered from that knife wound.  This might be too much for him.”

 

“I know dear, but as you can see, he cannot leave his brother’s side just yet.  I don’t think you could persuade him to leave in any case.  We will all have to try to take turns resting when we can.  Why don’t you go for a quick nap now?  I’ll send Jerimiah if I need you.”

 

Lara nodded at the wisdom of her father’s request.  She went over to Heath and laid a hand on his shoulder.  “Heath, darling, I’m going to freshen up and rest for a bit.  My father has everything under control right now.  How are you doing?  You are not fully recuperated either, so please, don’t overdo it.”

 

“I’m fine Lara.  All I’ve been doing the last couple of days is sleeping off and on.  What did your father say to you?  Is Nick going to be alright?” he asked worriedly.

 

She hated to not be able to reassure him as repeated her father’s words.  “Take heart that my father is one of the most experienced physicians in this area.  And your brother is one of the strongest men I have ever met.  With that combination working in our favor, I am hopeful that Nick will fully recover.” She bent down and kissed his cheek tenderly before leaving the room.

 

As Heath was sitting on the side of the bed, Gerald made himself comfortable in the only chair.  He watched closely to see if there were any changes in the patient.  Satisfied that he had done all he could for the moment, he closed his eyes to rest also.

 

Heath watched as Nick drifted in and out of sleep.  He wasn’t resting comfortably as he would twitch and wake up before he went into a deep slumber.  As time passed, the twitches became more frequent.  His headache was getting worse too.  When he opened his eyes, he moaned and quickly them closed against the light.

 

“Dr. Collins” Heath said softly. “He don’t seem too comfortable now.  I think his head hurts something awful.

 

He was right.  Nick was in a world wrapped with pain.  His head felt like it was in a vise that kept squeezing harder whenever he moved.  He kept trying to keep the bile rising in his throat down with every wave of pain that hit. 

 

Gerald rose and took Nick’s pulse.  He then opened an eyelid to examine his eyes.  Nick let out a loud moan and tried to move his head.  “No – Nick – don’t move if you can help it.  I know it hurts like a son of a gun.  Do you feel like you have to throw up son?”

 

“Tttttrying not to.” Nick moaned.

 

“Young man, will you get the basin please?  Now Nick, I know how much it hurts but it would relieve some of the pressure if you do vomit.  We have a basin right here for you.” He said as lifted Nick to a sitting position.

 

The movement brought the desired results.  When he was done, Gerald wiped his mouth and put a cold cloth on his forehead.  He went to his black bag and carefully measured out a small dose of morphine.  As he came towards the bed, Nick opened his eyes.

 

“NO” he screamed. “No more needles.  Get away from me with that.”

 

“Now Nick, I am going to just give you a little bit to ease that headache.  You are going to need it son."

 

“NO, I don’t.  Can handle the pain.  No more needles.”

 

Gerald hid the needle in his hand and indicated to Heath to distract Nick.  Heath began to talk to his brother while Gerald moved to the other side of the bed.  He quickly injected Nick before he could stop him.

 

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOO.  I told you – no more needles.  Heath tell him.  Don’t want anymore drugs.  Don’t need them.  Can’t think straight anymore.” He bellowed as he grabbed Gerald’s lapels. “Why doesn’t anyone listen to me?  I just want to go home.  No more drugs.  I don’t need them.  I can handle the pain just fine without them.  Just get me on that train for Stockton.”

 

“Mr. Barkley – unhand me at once.” Gerald spoke in his firmest voice. As Nick’s hold loosened, he stepped back slightly from the bed.  “I completely agree that you have been given too many drugs.  The headache and vomiting are symptoms of your body’s withdrawal from these same drugs.  I promise you that I will only dispense the smallest amount possible so that your body does not go into shock.”

 

Heath spoke soothingly, “Nick – Dr. Collins knows what he’s about.  I trust him and you should too.  I want my big brother back at the ranch just as much as you want to be there.  He’s gonna help us do just that.”

 

“Why can’t we just go now?  I’ll be just fine.  Don’t need no more doctors.” Nick said stubbornly.

 

“Soon Nick.  Be real soon and we’ll be racing through the North meadow again.  You should see Aeries and Apollo now.  They gonna be the finest you ever bred let me tell you.  Now Danny said to tell you……………………..” Heath continued to distract his brother.

 

He kept the conversation going until he saw Nick start to doze off again.  And so it went for the next couple of hours.  Nick started to get more uneasy and began tossing and turning restlessly.  He began shivering and Gerald ordered another warm bath.

 

This bath was more eventful than the previous one.  Nick wouldn’t cooperate and managed to get everyone soaked from head to foot.  He was shaking violently as Jerimiah tried to keep him in the warm water.  Gerald finally gave him another dose of morphine so they could get him back to the room.

 

The effects didn’t last long and the cycle began again.  Nick started screaming and slapping his hands up and down his arms.  He told Heath to get them off of him.  Having no idea what he thought was on him, Heath gently pretended to remove the offending items.  He held the basin when Nick vomited.  He soothed, wiped his brow and kept a calm demeanor while his brother struggled throughout the day and into the night.

While Lara and Gerald had taken some breaks, Heath had not.  He didn’t want to leave the room any longer than it took to relieve himself in the bathroom.  Nick needed him and he was going to be there for him.  His anger at Clive Harrington had increased beyond measure.  He hoped Adam had him behind bars when this was all over or he would have Heath there because he would kill him with his bare hands if he ever got anywhere near Harrington.

 

Nick’s fever was rising now and his grip on reality had faded.  Gerald knew that it was now time to let Victoria and Audra start helping.  They couldn’t let this fever get out of control.  He sent Jerimiah to fetch them.  He saw Heath sway slightly as he stood at the basin wringing out a clean cloth.  Gerald knew he must be dog tired but the young man wouldn’t hear of leaving even for an hour or two.

 

He hated to admit it but the quiet strength that had radiated from that young man throughout the night had impressed him.  His patience and compassion towards his brother seemed limitless.  He could almost understand what his daughter saw in this man.

 

 


Jarrod sat in his favorite chair in his study swirling a glass of brandy.  He was alone with his thoughts as his mother and sister had just left the room with Jerimiah. He heard a knock at the door and wearily rose to his feet to answer it.

 

“Adam – I was beginning to get worried.  I did not think you’d be gone that long.  Wait a minute – you are using the front door!  Come in and tell me what happened.”

 

“Jarrod – my friend, we have more than enough to arrest Mr. Clive Harrington.  I have a warrant for his arrest right here in my pocket.  I thought you might want to be there when we brought him in.”

 

“I certainly do Adam.  But what did you find?”

 

“Come on Jarrod – I’ll tell you on the way.” Adam urged.

 

“Just let me leave a note.  I don’t want the family searching for me when I’ve left the house.  Everyone is upstairs with Nick.”   Jarrod quickly penned a message and left it in the front hall. “Okay, let’s have it.  What evidence did you find?”

 

“Well my friend, we actually had two pieces of luck come our way.  First of all, when we went back to the lodge, I noticed the mattress I had moved over to that empty wall was now on the floor.  When we moved it back on the bed, I found a note.  It was written by Susan Montgomery.  Apparently, she owed Jeff Carter some kind of debt and agreed to take care of Nick only under duress.  She said she would never have allowed any harm to come to him.  She also said that although Jeff would not tell her any of the details of their employment, he let the name Harrington slip once.  She did not have a first name.  She also wanted to apologize to Nick for her part in this affair.” Adam reported.

 

“It almost sounds like she was a basically good person caught in a bad situation” Jarrod mused.

 

“Well, I think our second break is the same situation.  There was an attempted ambush on your double, Jarrod.  None of my men were hurt but all Harrington’s men were killed outright but one.  He talked before he died.  He asked my man to make sure Harrington kept his promise to look after his ten year old sister.  Apparently, the man was into Harrington for a goodly sum of money.  The debt was to be paid off and then some if he carried out Harrington’s instructions. Before you say it, Justin and Beth have located the girl and moved her over to St. Joseph’s orphanage.  I presented the evidence to Judge Tupper and here we are.” Adam finished waving the warrant in triumph.

 

Adam instructed three of his men cover the back of the house.  He asked two of the men to stay out front and for two to come in the house with him and Jarrod.  He knocked loudly and waited for the door to be opened.

 

The housekeeper, who had obviously retired for the evening, opened the door looking very annoyed.

 

‘Who that be?  Waking the house at all hours like this.  Where your manners be young man?” she scolded.

 

“I am sorry to disturb you madam but I have urgent business with Mr. Harrington.  Could you please tell him that Constable Adam Morgan is here to see him?” Adam said politely.

 

“Well I never. Disturbing a body while they are sleeping like this.  Can’t this wait until morning Constable?  This is a respectable household.” the housekeeper continued to argue.

 

“No ma’am, it cannot.  If you will not convey my message to Mr. Harrington, then I will have to give it to him myself.” Adam said firmly.

 

“I won’t be having you disturb the rest of the family.  Just wait here.” she said indicating the foyer as she climbed the staircase.

 

A few minutes later, she came down the stairs alone.  Suddenly a gunshot was heard coming from somewhere on the main floor.  “He wasn’t upstairs in his bed.  That sounded like it came from his study.”

 

The men hurried after her racing form with their guns drawn.  There was no need.  Clive Harrington was no longer a threat to anyone.  He had taken his gun and shot himself in the head.

 

‘Noooooooooo!” cried Jarrod.  That miserable coward took the easy way out.  Jarrod wanted his day in court.  He wanted his brother to be there to hear Jarrod get Harrington to confess to the kidnapping.  He wanted his brother to believe him without a shadow of a doubt that he had nothing to do with Nick’s confinement.  Would his brother ever truly believe him now?  Or would he always have a question in the back of his mind on whether or not he could really trust his brother?

 

 


Part 21

 

Heath stood off in a corner as he watched his mother and sister applying cold cloths to his brother.  They sure had plenty of experience fighting fevers with all the injuries he and his brothers managed between them.  He heard Victoria instructing Silas to fill the tub again.  This time with cool water.  It seemed that her voice was coming from very far away.

 

Lara looked over at Heath and saw that he was almost asleep on his feet.  Stubborn man!  He should have had at least a few hours of uninterrupted sleep over the past couple of days.  But he wouldn’t hear of it.  Well, he was going to listen to her now.

 

“Heath, darling, you need some sleep.  You are not going to do anyone, least of all Nick, any good if you collapse from exhaustion.  He is in a delirium right now and doesn’t recognize anyone.   He won’t know if you are there or not so it’s an opportune time for you to get some rest. We are keeping the fever under control and it should break soon.”

 

“Then I’ll sleep when it breaks.  I’m fine Lara.  Best see to your patient.” Heath said stubbornly.

 

“You are not FINE Heath.  You are the most mule headed man it has been my misfortune to meet.  Now you lie down here by the fire if you must, but you are going to lie down.  I’m warning you that if you don’t, I will personally get great pleasure from sticking a needle into that thick hide of yours and forcing you to get some rest.  Do I make myself clear?” Lara said as her voice rose.

 

“Boy Howdy Lara – Nick said I’d better watch out for your right hook but he should’ve warned me about that temper instead.” he grinned endearingly at her.  When he saw he wasn't getting anywhere, he sighed and gave in.  “ Promise me you’ll wake me if there’s any change.  For better or worse, Lara, I mean it, please wake me.  I need to know.”

 

“You have my promise.  I know how worried you are darling.  But you won’t be much good to him if I have to admit you back into the hospital.  You are still recovering yourself and I don’t care how stubborn you are, your body will give out eventually.  Now lie down and get some sleep.” Lara said sternly.

 

Heath knew she was right.  He hugged her gently as he nodded his agreement.  He went to lie down on the mattress by the fire as he didn’t want to leave the room if he didn’t have to.  He laid down but kept watching the activity at Nick’s bedside until he couldn’t fight his heavy eyelids anymore.

 

Audra smiled at Lara as she returned to assist the Barkley woman.  “Good for you Lara.  We’ve all tried to get him to get some sleep but he’s as stubborn as the rest of my brothers.  Nick and Heath especially don’t have a lick of sense when it comes to taking care of themselves.  If you ask them how they are, the standard response is ‘just fine’ even when they are far from fine.  But I guess you been getting a lot of experience these last couple of months with that, haven’t you Lara?  Oh well, I for one am very glad that you have been there for them.”

 

“Audra – I am the one that’s glad.  Happy I should say.  Heath makes me feel … I don’t know … a completeness that I never felt before.  Even with all the turmoil that been in our lives, I’ve never been happier.” Lara glowed as she spoke.

 

Audra felt a twinge of envy.  Stop that she told herself.  But how she wanted what she saw between Heath and Lara.  One day, she thought as she reminded herself what Nick had written her.  Yes, one day she would find her perfect life mate just as Heath had.  She smiled at Lara as she said, “I’m very happy for you both.  You’ve seen us at our worst here but let me tell you, you’ll never find a better man than my brother, Heath.  He’s very special to all of us.”

 

Yes, thought Lara, special is exactly the right word to describe him.  Now she had to get to work to save this brother who meant so much to her very special man.

 

The fever finally wore itself out leaving Nick very weak.  He barely had the strength to hold his head up as Jerimiah lifted him up when he had to vomit.  At least his heartbeat had slowed down, thought Gerald.  But it could also mean, it was worn out.  He gestured Victoria to come outside the room with him.

 

“Victoria dear, I think that all that can be done has been done.  I was hoping to see him drop into a natural healing sleep before now.  I’m sorry, my dear, there’s not much else that I can do for him now.  His body will either rally and start recovering or he will fade if the damage has been too extensive.” Gerald said compassionately as he took her hand.

 

Victoria was so angry she could barely speak.  “Fade? Are you telling me he could still die after all he has been through and made it this far?  Is that what you’re telling me Gerald?  Because if you are, I don’t believe that for a minute.  You don’t know my son very well or me for that matter if that’s what you believe.  We Barkleys fight – we don’t give up.  Nick isn’t going to just fade away as you put it.  He’ll fight back with every bit of strength he has in him.  And we’ll be right by his side fighting with him.” 

 

He watched in admiration as she walked back into the room in what he could only call a royal snit.  Gerald saw his daughter shoot him a perplexed look as she saw that Victoria was visibly trying to get her anger under control.  He indicated that she should join him in the hallway.

 

“Whatever did you say to Mrs. Barkley, Father?  She looked like an avenging angel when she came back into the room.” Lara asked.

 

“Lara, dear, I only told her the truth.  That we have done all we can for now and the rest is really out of our hands.  He could go either way at this point.  I tried to explain that we just don’t know how much damage has been done to his body.  She wouldn’t hear a word of that.  Victoria is one determined lady and if I was a betting man, I think I would place my wager on her.” Gerald said wryly.

 

“Oh dear, it’s come to that has it Father?  I hate to wake Heath but I did promise him that I would.  Although I tend to agree with you about Mrs. Barkley, I know he would never forgive me if the worst did happen and he didn’t have a chance to say a proper good bye to his brother, You must have noticed that feelings run deep in this family.”

 

“I know it’s not really the appropriate time my dear, but I have to ask.  Just how deep are your feelings running?”

 

“I don’t think they could ever go any deeper, Father.  I know you had ambitions for me to become a top surgeon at the hospital, I’ve lately realized that it was your dream not mine.   Now Heath hasn’t asked me to marry him but I’m hoping he will.  I am actually looking forward to setting up a private practice in Stockton.  I’ve always wanted to specialize in women’s medicine.  This could be my chance, Father.  Please be happy for me.  Remember how you told me that you knew the minute you met Mother that she was that special someone for you?  Well, that’s how it was for me with Heath.  He’s my special someone.” Lara glowed as she spoke.

 

Gerald realized the uselessness of trying to oppose his daughter on this.  He knew there wasn't a person in the world that could have talked him out of marrying his wife.  And he also knew that he would lose her if she was asked to choose between his wishes and Heath.  He finally smiled gently and said, “Well now, you better go wake up Heath.  We wouldn’t want your special someone angry at you, now would we?”

 

 


When Jarrod arrived home, he went straight to the kitchen in search of a cup of coffee.  He needed something warm to ward off the chill invading his body.  A dollop of brandy wouldn’t come amiss either, he thought.  The smells emanating from the kitchen were heady indeed, he thought.  He immediately found the source when he saw Sally May pulling a loaf of bread from the oven.

 

“Sally May, my dear, you are supposed to be our guest.  We are indebted to you for coming to our aid.  There’s no need for you to be working in the kitchen.”

 

“Oh Mr. Jarrod, there’s every need.  I don’t wanna be doing any intruding on the family and Sally May ain’t used to sitting around doing nothing.  Especially when doing nothing means you have more time to worry.  Nope, I’d sooner be busy.  I know no one is eating much but I find baking soothing.  Gonna bake a batch of my cookies in the morning for that brother of yours.  Yes, sir, that Mr. Nick sure do like my cookies.”  Sally May stopped talking as she saw the tortured expression on Jarrod’s face.

 

“You okay Mr. Jarrod?  You’ve gots to have hope.  Your brother be one of the strongest willed people I  ever done met.  You’ll see, he gonna be eating these cookies in no time at all.  Soon everything be back to the way it was.”

 

“I hope you are right that he will recover, Sally May.  But I have my doubts on whether everything will get back to the way it was.” Jarrod said sadly.

 

“May be that you are right there.  May be that things shouldn’t stay the same.  May be that things could be better than they were before.  You’re not believing that once Mr. Nick has rid himself of those drugs that he still gonna believe that you had anything to do with this mess, are you Mr. Jarrod?”

 

“There is that possibility, Sally May.  You didn’t see the hatred in his eyes and I can’t seem to stop seeing it.” Jarrod confessed reluctantly.

 

Sally May stood arms akimbo and shook her head.  “Mr. Jarrod, I know it’s not my place to butt in here but are you outta your mind?  He don’t hate you, why that Mr. Nick loves you and thinks the world of you.  He done tole me that in more than words.  Whatever drugs them villains gave our Mr. Nick, you can believe that no matter what, deep down in his soul he remembers his feelings for his brother.  He needs you as much as you need him.  Especially at a time like this.  Now you go on,  git.  You go spend some time with that brother of yours and you’ll see.” Sally May gently shoved the grateful man out of the kitchen. 

 

Audra had come in search of Jarrod and had heard the last portion of the conversation.  “See Jarrod – she’s just telling you the same thing I did.   Once those drugs are no longer fogging his thinking, well, the Nick I know wouldn’t believe a word of those lies he was told.” She said as she hooked her arm through his.

 

Jarrod gave her a weak smile as he said, “Honey, thank you for your kind words and I believe you are correct.  I have been wallowing in self pity, have I not?  It’s time for some positive thoughts instead.  Were you looking for me for something in particular, dear sister?  Has there been any change?”

 

Audra felt terrible.  She hoped what she had to say wouldn’t change his mind about being positive.  “Oh Jarrod, Mother asked me to get you.  She wants you to come and be with Nick now. His fever has broken and he’s very weak.  Doctor Collins told her that there’s nothing more he can do.  He said that Nick will either pull through or he won’t and she’s hopping mad.”

 

Jarrod almost smiled at the image of his mother hopping mad.  He could just picture her giving Gerald a piece of her mind when he told her there was nothing more that could be done for her son.  Victoria Barkley didn’t know the meaning of giving up.  Well, he was his mother’s son and he wouldn’t either. 

 

“Lead on sister, dear.  We shouldn’t keep Mother waiting or we might incur her wrath also and we don’t want to experience that now, do we?” He smiled gently at Audra.

 

Audra sighed with relief.   “No we don’t brother dear.  Mother has asked Jerimiah to move Nick into her room.  She doesn’t want him to catch a chill on that wet mattress in his old room.”

 

Jarrod stopped outside his mother’s room for a moment to fortify himself.  He did not want her worrying about him when her attention should be on Nick.  It was harder than he thought as he saw his usually robust brother lying there so pale and still.   He was taken aback at how thin and frail Nick looked.  These past couple of months had certainly taken a toll on him.

 

He walked over to his mother and put his arm around her.  Victoria looked lovingly into his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief that the guilt seemed to be gone.  It was replaced by the same determination that shone from hers. 

  

“Lara, do you have an eye dropper I can use?  I want to start Nick on some chicken broth.  He needs some sustenance and that method worked so well when he was in the coma.” Victoria asked.

 

After Lara handed the eye dropper to Victoria, she went to stand beside Heath.  “Did you manage to get some rest, darling?  I hated to wake you but I knew you would want to be near him if the worst does happen.” She patted his arm affectionately.

 

“Yeah,  I did get me some sleep and I do feel better for it.  You were right then.  And you were right to wake me, Lara.  It’s just so hard to see him like this, especially after all he’s been through.  This kinda thing usually happens to me not him.  He gets knocked down and he’s always back on his feet in no time at all.  If this is what the family goes through every time I get hurt, it’s no wonder Mother is always after to me to be careful.” Heath shook his head sadly.

 

“Just how often do you get hurt, Heath darling?  It seems to mentioned an awful lot.” Lara asked concerned.

 

“I reckon I have had more than my fair share of injuries.  Been a time or two when it’s been me in this situation, I guess.  I honestly haven’t been keeping track of it all.” Heath replied.

 

Audra interrupted with, “Lara, let’s just say that we are glad we are going to have a doctor in the family.  Dr. Merar says we Barkley’s keep him in business all by ourselves.”

 

Heath  shrugged innocently at the look Lara gave him.  He realized he had another pair of eagle eyes that would be watching out for him.  He found that he didn’t mind the way he used to.  He was getting real used to this family business when he never thought he would.  He remembered how stifled he felt when he first came to live at the ranch.  He was used to looking out for himself not having someone watch over him all the time.  Him and Nick had come to words over it many a time.  Now with all that had happened recently, he realized it was a two way deal.

 

He sat down at Nick’s side and took his hand.  He watched Victoria gently coax the eye dropper between Nick’s lips while murmuring her encouragement to him.  Audra was busy fussing with the blankets and adding her cheerful chatter to the unconscious man.  Jarrod stood on the sidelines, obviously not knowing what to do with himself. 

 

“Jarrod, just come and sit a spell.  You know, you haven’t told us what happened at Harrington’s yet.  Did Adam arrest him?” Heath asked.

 

Jarrod came over and sat in the chair beside Heath.  He quietly recounted the events that had occurred that evening.  “I was so angry that we got cheated by that sorry excuse for a man but upon reflection, I think it was for the best.  If he would have gone to court, this episode would have to been relived over and over again for all of us.  This way once Nick recovers, we can precede with our lives and put it behind us.”  If we can, he thought as he looked over at Nick.

 

“Yes dear, I think you are right.  And this way, we don’t have to worry about the safety of the family.  Even with him in jail, he still had contacts on the outside world that might have been a cause for concern.  Yes, I think it might have worked out all for the best.” Victoria concurred with her son,

 

She was relieved that she did not have to worry about Harrington harming anyone else in her family.  She sat down and took Nick’s other hand now that he had taken some of the broth.  She wanted to see if it would settle in his stomach before she gave him anymore.  He was too weak to continue vomiting as he had been throughout the past few days.

 

Heath’s first reaction had been identical to Jarrod’s.  He felt cheated that Harrington had gotten off so easy.  As he listened to Jarrod’s and then Victoria’s feelings on the matter, he had to agree with them.  Maybe it was for the best.  He sure didn’t want Harrington’s goons trying to silence Nick or Jarrod so they couldn’t testify against him. 

 

Desultory conversation took place after that.  Each member of the family was lost in their own thoughts.  Lara kept checking Nick’s pulse and temperature periodically.  There was no change but he did seem to be sleeping naturally now.

 

Victoria had a slight smile on her face which prompted her daughter to ask her what she was thinking.

 

“Oh I was just remembering how badly Nick wanted to be the white knight and have a white horse to ride.  He kept pestering Tom to buy a white horse as we didn’t have one at the ranch at the time.  Tom, of course, kept trying to tell him that Merry would have to do for now as he was too young to ride a full grown horse on his own.  Next thing I knew, I heard Tom hollering out at the stables.  Nick had gotten a can of whitewash and was in the process of painting Merry white when Tom caught him.  It’s a good thing he only got as far as painting one leg by the time he was discovered.  Poor Nick was devastated when he found out he could have made Merry quite sick if he had managed to paint the whole pony.  Tom made him take the pony down to the creek and soak his leg until he had all the paint off.  I don’t know what punishment was worse for him – the fact that he could have injured that pony or that he was barred from riding him for two weeks.  He sure kept us on our toes.” She reminisced fondly.

 

“Yes, Brother Nick never let a little thing like nature stand in his way.  Do you remember the time he talked Audra into letting him dye her hair with ink?” Jarrod smiled at the memory.

 

“Oh yes, I don’t think he could sit for a week after that one.” Victoria added.

 

Heath asked curiously, “Why did he want to change Audra’s hair color?”

 

“Well, he was very disappointed that Audra was not the little brother that he had hoped for and to top it off, she was blond like Tom and not dark haired like the rest of us.  So he told her that she would look more like his sister if she had dark hair.  It’s a good thing that he did not pour the ink over her head.  He had just started dipping her pigtails in the ink well when I discovered what he was up to.  He just couldn’t understand why I was so upset.  He was actually mad at me for stopping him.  He stood there with that stubborn look on his face and argued with me until Tom intervened.  Tom was more angry at the what he felt was Nick’s disrespect than his actual deed.  We had a good laugh over it later but of course, I made sure the ink was out of his reach after that.”

 

“Well it certainly does sound like he kept you on your toes, Mrs. Barkley.” Lara smiled.

 

Heath looked fondly at Lara as he said, “He still does Lara.  Once that man gets an idea in his head, it takes a stick of dynamite to change his mind.  Why once he……”

 

“If all you people are going to do is sit there and insult me, could you at least do it in another room so I could get some sleep?” Nick interrupted hoarsely.

 

“Nick, darling, you’re awake!  How’s your stomach feeling?  Do you think you take some more of this broth?” Victoria rejoiced at his clear eyes.

 

“Stomachs okay.  Doesn’t feel so jumpy anymore.  I’m so tired.  Just want to sleep.”

 

“I know dear but we have to get some nourishment into you.  You need to have something,”

 

“Water – so thirsty.”

 

Heath held his head up as Victoria brought a glass of water to his lips.  He drank thirstily but soon indicated he had had enough.  He closed his eyes again as if the effort was almost too much for him. 

 

“Sssssssssso tired.” He mumbled as he fell into a deep sleep.

 

“I think he might have just turned the corner.  He is in a natural healing sleep now and we should let him get all the rest he needs.  His pulse is strong.  His breathing is not as labored as it was and there’s no indication that his fever will return.  I suggest that you take turns sitting with him in case he needs something but otherwise, it might be best to just let him rest quietly.” Lara stated.

 

“I’d like to sit with him first Mother, if you don’t mind.  Why don’t the rest of you get some sleep and I’ll wake you if there’s any change?” Jarrod spoke up quickly.

 

Victoria wanted to stay too.  But she took one look at her eldest son’s pleading eyes and knew that Jarrod needed some time alone with his brother.  He had been kept away from the sick room since he had brought Nick back so he wouldn’t agitate him.  She realized how much it had cost Jarrod to do that.   She hugged him warmly.

 

“Yes, sweetheart, I understand.” She replied as she silently communicated her love and concern for him.  Victoria went back to Nick where she fussed with the blankets for a moment before placing a kiss on his forehead.

 

Lara shepherded the reluctant group outside the room leaving Jarrod by himself.  She paused a moment and said, “Jarrod, I’ll be in the next room if you need me.  Don’t hesitate to wake me up if he starts having any difficulty breathing or his fever starts to rise again.”

 

Jarrod nodded his agreement as he sat down in the chair his mother had just vacated.  He took his brother’s hand in his.  Even when Nick was battered and in that coma, he didn’t look as bad as this.  It was if he had been robbed of his vitality that made up such a large part of his personality.  He wished there were a way he could transmit some of his own strength to Nick.

 

He checked his forehead regularly and was relieved that the fever did not seem to be coming back.  Nick appeared to be in a deep sleep without any pain disturbing him.  Jarrod became lost in his own thoughts and started to drift asleep.  He laid his head down on the bed beside their entwined hands.

 

 


Part 22

 

Nick struggled back to awareness.  He felt a bone deep tiredness throughout his whole body that he fought back.  He slowly opened his eyes to see Jarrod with his head down beside him.  His face was bruised black and blue from what he could see.  Nick felt the now familiar wave of anger overcome him and involuntarily clenched his hand.

 

Jarrod was startled awake at the pressure he felt in his hand.  He looked up to see Nick silently watching him with a frown on his face.  Jarrod felt the despair he had pushed aside rising inside him again.  His brother still believed that he was responsible for this whole dreadful experience.

 

Nick was aghast at the torment he saw in his brother’s eyes.  He felt his anger slipping away as confusion set in.  Was he dying?  Was that why Jarrod looked like that?  He hadn’t seen that kind of anguish on his brother’s face since Beth had been murdered. 

 

“You look like you got caught in a middle of a stampede.  What the hell has been going on?” Nick blustered.

 

“It’s a long story, Nick.  Do you want some water?  Can I get you anything else?” Jarrod asked solicitously.

 

“Mmmm, water sounds good.”

 

After he had his drink of water, he impatiently asked again, “Jarrod, I need to know.  Everything has been so confused like.  Thought I was losing my mind there for awhile.  Tell me the truth about what’s been going on.  Don’t leave nothing out either.”

 

Jarrod was relieved that his brother was asking so calmly and not with an accusatory attitude.  He sat back down and held his hand again as he related the events as he knew them from the time Nick had disappeared from the hospital.

 

For once in his life, Nick listened without interrupting.  It took all his strength just to focus on what Jarrod was saying.  He had some questions but he could wait until later to ask them.  He finally arrived at the events of the previous night when Harrington had shot himself and looked pleading at Nick.

 

“You do believe me don’t you, Nick?  You have to believe I would never arrange for you to be sent away from the family like that.  Never!” Jarrod exclaimed.

 

“Had trouble believing it but my mind couldn’t make sense of nothing,  Seemed like I was in a fog and dreaming half the time.  Didn’t want to believe it until I saw that note you wrote me.  Knew it was your handwriting.”

 

“I believe that was all part of Harrington’s plan.  I don’t think he had plans to kill you.   Adam and I concluded that he just wanted me distracted, at first by your disappearance and then by your hatred when you returned.  I don’t think he believed I would connect your disappearance with my case.”

 

“Don’t know you too well, did he, counselor?  But that damn Jeff was so convincing.  Him and Susan acted the same way they did in the hospital.  Never felt threatened but just so damn helpless with these legs of mine.  Frustrated me to no end.”

 

“Yes, I can imagine.  We were very worried about that.  We didn’t know if you would try to make an attempt to escape.  It never entered our minds that you wouldn’t know that you were being held against your will.  I had visions of you trying to saddle a horse and ride off in your condition.”

 

“Hmm,  you know I think I did do that.  Not sure though.  Like I said, didn’t know what was real or not anymore.  Thought I saw Heath and then Sally May.  Thought I had lost my mind and you were going to put me in one of those places for crazy people.  Never been so scared in my life, Pappy.” He shuddered as he relived those terrifying moments.

 

Pappy!  He called me Pappy, Jarrod rejoiced.  He had to make certain that there was no doubt in Nick’s mind though.  “Nick, you do believe me now, don’t you?  You have to know that I would never, ever treat you in such a manner.  I know we don’t talk like we used to but you have to know that I love you, brother.  You have to know that.”

 

Nick couldn’t believe the anguish he saw on Jarrod’s face.  “Yeah, I guess I do.  You know the same goes for me no matter what our differences in opinion amount to.” He answered quickly trying to control the tears that threatened.  He squeezed Jarrod’s hand in an effort to communicate his feelings.

 

“Brother Nick – while you were in the coma, I reviewed our relationship of late and came to the conclusion that we need to spend some time together away from everything.  You know, some place with no distractions.  Maybe go up to the cabin to do some fishing.  I think we need to do that from time to time, brother.  What do you think?”

 

“Sounds right fine to me.  Now take me home Pappy.  Take me home.”  Nick replied sleepily

 

Heath and Lara had come to relieve Jarrod but stopped in the hallway when they heard the conversation taking place.  Heath put his arm around Lara and hugged her as he listened to his two brothers making their peace with one another.  He placed a kiss on Lara’s forehead and drew her fully into his embrace.

 

They drew apart and walked slowly down the hall.  Heath turned Lara to face him as he said, “Lara, I know we ain’t had a proper courtship with all that’s been going on here but I know how I feel about you. And that’s not gonna change over time so I hope you know that too.  What I am trying to say ……  Oh Lara …..  I’m not very good with words …..but I would be honored if you would agree to become my wife.” He stumbled through the words but his eyes conveyed all the feelings he was trying to communicate to her.

 

Lara melted at his words.  “Oh Heath, I would love to be your wife.  But….”

 

“But what Lara?  You don’t want to give up your position at the hospital?  Is that it?” he asked nervously.

 

“Heath, let me finish.  I want to marry you but you have to realize what you are in for also.  I am not going to be a typical rancher’s wife.  You do understand that, don’t you?  I want to set up my own practice in Stockton specializing in women’s medicine.  If we build our own house, we will need to hire a housekeeper.  I am not exactly the cooking – cleaning type, you know.  Can you be happy with that kind of situation, darling?” Lara asked anxiously.

 

Heath’s heart started beating again.  His breath had caught in his throat when he thought she was going to turn him down.  He shakily gather him in his arms again and murmured, “Lara, sweetheart, I wouldn’t try and change a thing about you.  I know that you are a healer.  Seems to me that you wouldn’t be happy unless you were able to do that.  We can work out all the rest.  How do you feel about having children?”

 

“Oh Heath, darling, I would love to have your children.  Being a doctor doesn’t mean I can’t be a mother also.  So in answer to your original question, yes, I will marry you.”

Heath lowered his head and placed his lips firmly on hers to seal their love.  He felt all was right in his world again.  His thoughts disappeared as he deepened the kiss to the point where thinking was impossible.

 

 

A few weeks later, Nick was sitting on the patio trying to get some fresh air.  He had been cooped up for so long, he was starting to go stir crazy.  He wasn’t up to ranch work yet but he had come a long way from where he was a few weeks ago.  He smiled as he saw his mother coming out with a tray of lemonade.

 

“How are you feeling, son?”

 

“Almost good as new, Mother.    Ahhhh……What was that for?” Nick yelped as his mother smacked him across the top of his head.

 

“I’ve been waiting a long time to do that.  You have no idea how angry, no idea whatsoever, how angry I’ve been.  Nicholas Jonathon Barkley, if you ever have one of your dreams and don’t tell us about it, I’ll….I’ll…I don’t what I’ll do but it won’t be pleasant.  A lot of the pain and suffering you endured could have been avoided if you just trusted us enough.” Victoria said her in most withering voice.

 

“But Mother….”

 

“Don’t but mother me.  If we had known that something was wrong in the hospital, we could have taken some precautions to ensure your safety.”

 

“But Mother….”

 

“Let me finish Nicholas.  And with the incident that put you in the hospital in the first place, why you never should have traveled to town on your own.”

 

“But Mother…..”

 

“I am not finished Nicholas.  BE QUIET.  I know you think you are protecting us by not making us worry but the end result was far worse than a little worrying would have done us.  Am I making myself clear on this? 

 

“Yes Mother, but these dreams weren’t sitting right comfortable with me then.  Sally May has helped me some to come to terms with this ‘gift’ of mine.  Don’t know if I’ll ever be easy about it but I won’t try to ignore it no more, that I can promise you, Mother.” He said as he tried to look repentant. 

 

“I don’t believe you understand the point I am trying to make here, Nicholas.  I’m glad you now won’t be ignoring these warnings and have accepted the fact that these dreams are premonitions that should be heeded.  These warnings should be shared.  You have always said the family is the most important thing in this world to you but you don’t trust us enough to share your true self with us.  That’s what it all boils down to in the end, son.  You need to trust us.” Victoria sighed heavily wondering is any of this was actually getting through that thick skull of his.

 

Lara and Heath had been going to join Nick and Victoria on the patio until they heard the conversation.  Heath took Lara’s hand in his and they ran giggling back into the house.

 

“Whew, your mother is not someone I’d like to cross.  She was really giving it to him wasn’t she?” Lara giggled again.

 

“Yeah, Mother is a sight to behold when she has her back up about something.  Been holding that in for a spell too by the sounds of things.” Heath agreed.

 

“Maybe if you add your voice to hers, he’ll start to share his concerns more often.”

 

“Probably tell me something like the pot calling the kettle black and he’d be right too.  I never had much luck in the trusting folk before I came here, Lara.  It’s been a mite hard for me to learn that lesson myself.  I’m getting better at it though.  Learning every day that you just gotta put your trust in the people you love especially if you want theirs.” He said solemnly as he pulled her into his arms.   

 

 



Epilogue

 

The cowboy sat tall in saddle on the ridge overlooking the valley.  His hazel eyes scanning restlessly.   Heath and Lara were due back today from their honeymoon.  Heath had wanted to wait until Nick was fully recovered before they were married.  He didn’t want to leave the ranch before Nick was ready to take over again.  That was fine with Lara as she wanted the time to plan a big wedding in San Francisco.  Mother and Audra had practically moved in with Jarrod during those last couple of months. 

 

Nick smiled as he remembered how uncomfortable his brother was with all the pomp and fancy clothes.  But he forgot all that when he saw his lovely bride walk down the aisle towards him.  Lara was radiant with her love for Heath shining out of her eyes.  Finally his brother had a woman worthy of him.  She was going to keep him hopping though with her opening up that new practice of hers.  Imagine – having a practice just for women.  That should set the tongues wagging for awhile.  Well, if anyone could make it work, it was Lara.  That was one determined lady.

 

Jarrod had busy in the city also.  He had been meeting with political advisors and was planning on putting his hat in the ring for governor.  He would making that announcement in a couple of weeks.  But not before Nick and him went up to the cabin for a week.  They planned to do nothing but fish and spend some time together away from both of their everyday lives.

 

But first they had to get through the big shindig Mother had planned for this weekend.  She didn’t get to throw the wedding for Heath and Lara but she was going to make up for it with this wedding celebration as she was calling it.  Gerald was even going to be there.  Now that he thought about it, Gerald was around quite a bit.  His mother and him seemed to be thick as thieves lately.  He wondered if he should keep an eye on that.

 

Audra was seeing that Lance Calder from the Triple C Ranch.  Humph – well, he was okay but he best keep his hands off his little sister or he would not be using them ever again.  Yep, he’d better keep an even closer eye on that situation.

 

He’d finally talked Sally May into moving into a small cabin on the ranch.  At least he could keep better care of her there.  And now the smells coming out his kitchen were a treat.  She insisted on helping Silas with the cooking and baking to earn her keep.  Nick figured he got the best of the bargain as she kept him well supplied with those chocolate cookies of hers.

 

Jerimiah and Mario were off to Italy to bring home some new grape cuttings.  Jerimiah was thrilled to be included in this trip.  He’d been studying all the books on winemaking he could before he left.  He was going to be a mighty fine vintner one of these days.

 

As for himself, well, he was just taking one day at a time.  All he knew was that he was back where he belonged and that’s where he was gonna stay.  There was nothing like the feeling of accomplishment at the end of the day that equaled what he experienced at the end of each and every day here on his land.  He might be sore and tired but it was a good sore and tired not like those days when he was recovering.   Nope, nothing could take the place of this ranch for him.

 

His eyes squinted to see the rider in the distance.  He didn’t have to see to know for sure that it was his brother.  He felt that in his heart before he could see it with his eyes.  His whispered “Heath” was lost in the wind as he set his horse in motion to welcome his brother home where he belonged.

 

 

 

The End