Full Circle
by Katlynn
Disclaimer: The characters and
situations of the TV program "
I heard 'em comin' before I saw 'em. There's no mistakin' the sound of those Barkley brothers. Ya' pretty much always hear 'em before ya' see 'em. Well I guess ya' really only hear Nick before ya' see 'em. Heath is more the quiet type unless he gets riled. But when I hear that stompin' and the sound of those spurs, I just naturally think of 'em together. So when I heard the stompin' on the wooden walkway out front, I knew the Barkley brothers were about to pay a visit to my saloon.
I barely noticed the man who walked in behind them except to see the hammer in his hand. My attention was more on Nick. It's really hard to miss him when he walks in but this time just seemed different than usual. For one thing, he was holdin' his jaw. And for another, he was groanin'. That's prob'ly what made me notice the hammer in the hand of the stranger. Couldn't help but wonder if Nick's mouth had gotten ahead'a his brain and his jaw had made the acquaintance of that hammer. But, on second thought, I figured it had to be someone's fist because Nick didn't give the man a second glance and if there's any one thing I can tell ya' about Nick Barkley, it's that a man who hit him in the jaw with a hammer wouldn't have calmly walked into a saloon right behind him. He'd be stretched out somewhere studyin' the inside of his eyelids.
The other thing that made it different than usual was the way Nick didn't even stop to see who else was in the place. He almost always gives a glance around the room and yells a greetin' to a few of the men inside but there was no greetin' this time. Nick headed straight for the bar and even I didn't get a greetin' before he tapped the bar and groaned, "Gimme a whiskey."
I poured Nick a shot and he gulped it down so fast that I barely took a breath between the time I filled that glass and he put it down empty. He pointed at it in that way that a bartender knows to mean 'gimme another' and I didn't waste any time doin' that.
Heath had tossed his hat on the bar and didn't say a word he just watched his brother down those shots, kinda tiltin' his head back a little each time Nick did, like he was tryin' to help the process. I hafta admit that I did kinda wonder why he was turnin' his back on the man with the hammer but then it all became clear when Heath finally said, "I'll have a beer I ain't got a toothache." And then the man with the hammer said, "I'll have the same."
As I turned away to get their drinks, I heard Heath ask his brother, "How does it feel?"
I guess Nick didn't think much'a the question or maybe it just hurt to talk and the whiskey hadn't kicked in yet because he just sorta hummed an answer and waved his hand. From the look on his face, though, I expect if anyone else had asked him that question, Nick mighta hauled off and slugged him and asked, "How does THAT feel?"
I've gotta tell ya', there use ta' be a time when Nick
MIGHTA hauled off and slugged his little brother for askin' the question. When Heath first showed up in
Personally, I think that Nick has mellowed a lot since Heath
showed up. After his daddy was murdered,
it musta seemed like the weight of the world was dropped on Nick's
shoulders. In most ranchin' families,
the sons ALL work alongside their father.
But the Barkleys were always different in that way. It was pretty clear from the time Jarrod was
a boy that he was goin' on to do somethin' other than ranchin'. Sure enough, he went on to study the law and
now I'm proud to say that I know one of the best lawyers in the entire state of
So with Jarrod and Eugene interested in somethin' other than ranchin' Nick was the lone Barkley son to work at his father's side day in and day out. And when Old Tom was killed well, that whole ranch became Nick's responsibility and, for a time, his fun-lovin' ways just seemed to disappear. Overnight, he went from bein' Tom Barkley's heir apparent and gettin' the respect of his daddy's peers because he was standin' at his side to havin' to prove to those same men that he was man enough to do the job his daddy had done. He didn't have time for the friends he'd grown up with he was too busy tryin' to be worthy of the legacy that had been left to him. After a while, it became clear that those same men who'd relied on Tom Barkley to lead them, were now lookin' to Nick Barkley to assume that role. They'd accepted him in his daddy's place.
Of course, to most that would seem like a win for Nick. But before his daddy died, I'd had the opportunity to see Nick on Saturday nights when he'd visit my establishment in the company of his friends. And I know that win came with a high price. In winnin' the respect of his daddy's peers, Nick lost that connection to his own group of friends and with it went the fun-lovin' nature that had defined him before Tom's untimely death.
Then along came Heath.
I didn't know Tom Barkley when he was Heath's age but from what I remember Tom lookin' like, it doesn't seem to me that Heath bears a strong physical resemblance. But there ARE things about the boy that bring an instant memory of his daddy. Tom had a way of lookin' at ya' with one eyebrow raised that said a whole lot more than any words could and there are times that Heath can give ya' that very same look. And Tom had a sort crooked grin that seems to come natural to the boy. But, more than anythin', it's his laugh that strikes me as brandin' him Tom Barkley's son. If I close my eyes and listen when I hear that laugh, I'd swear that Old Tom was standin' there right next to Nick again. And I'm guessin' that, in a way, Nick kinda feels that too.
Sure, they fought when Heath first showed up. I'da been real surprised to hear that they hadn't. But that ain't the way it is anymore. Now, no one says a word against one of them without incurrin' the wrath of both. It's as plain as the nose on your face, that Nick Barkley found the partner he needed, not only to run the Barkley Ranch but also to give him time to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Nick has come full circle. He knows how to have a good time again and most times that's in the company of a brother who gets away with a lot more than Nick'll let most men get away with.
Still, havin' said all that, I hafta tell ya' I was kinda surprised to hear Heath say to his brother, "Well, now that the whiskey's got it numb, why don't ya' go have it yanked. Ya' won't feel a thing."
Nick made a noise that sounded like a cross between a laugh and a groan and I didn't hafta to be lookin' at him to know that he was still givin' Heath that same look that said he was lucky to be his little brother 'cuz if he wasn't, he'd be flat on his back for the suggestion. I don't really think Heath needs that look to know how lucky he is. He seems to enjoy and embrace that role of 'little brother' and, from what I've seen, he plays the part to perfection. And, to the amazement of some but no real surprise to me, Nick lets him.
I can't say that I'm tellin' ya' all that because I saw it comin' but lookin' back at what happened next, I hafta say that I shoulda seen that look in Heath's eyes that said he was in the mood to put one over on his big brother and he knew Nick would let him get away with it. He was just waitin' for the right opportunity and he prob'ly knew Nick's defenses were down and that would make it easier. As I set the two mugs'a beer down in front of the younger Barkley and the stranger with the hammer, the stranger was unknowin'ly settin' the stage for Heath with his proclamation, "You gentlemen look in the prime of life and physical fortitude. How'd ya like to earn an easy five dollars?"
"Doin' what?" I heard Heath manage to ask just before the beer reached his mouth.
"Practicin' the manly art of self defense " was about all I heard before somethin' inside of me groaned. In my experience, the Barkley brothers didn't need a lot practicin'. They're already pretty good at defendin' themselves and each other.
The stranger was rollin' out a poster as he talked and I
heard Heath mention Jack Kilbain and Sam Driscoll as he read bits of it. I knew those names from some talk I'd heard
when some of the members of the Stockton Club stopped by my saloon for some
companionship, lets say. They'd said
they were gonna have a real professional fight right here in Stockton
but I
couldn't see as how they'd have much of an audience with a ticket price of
fifty dollars! There aren't many in
Stockton who've got a spare fifty dollars and those
that do surely have it because they've got the good sense not to waste their
money on watchin' two men fight. They
can see that for free on any Saturday night in at least one'a the saloons in
The stranger didn't look like he'd ever been in a fight in his life so when Heath asked him which of those two men he was, that's when I realized he was about to do somethin' that just sorta sneaks up on ya' and even after he's done it, ya' might not realize that it was anything more than happenstance. But I've had the chance to see him in action and I knew that, first, he didn't mistake that stranger for either one of them fighters and, second Nick Barkley was about to be conned into doin' somethin' that he prob'ly hadn't considered doin' before he walked up to my bar.
At Heath's question, the stranger proclaimed himself to be, "Terrance O'Rafferty, manager and trainer of the great Jack Kilbain, who once stepped into the ring with the immortal, John L. Sullivan."
I could tell by the way Heath said, "Really?" that he had no more of an idea who John L. Sullivan was than I did. But it kept O'Rafferty talkin' as he told anyone who wanted to listen about the 'fight of the century' that the Stockton Club was sponsorin'. He finally got back to his real reason for comin' into my saloon, which was to find a sparrin' partner for Jack Kilbain. That's when most in the saloon went back to what they were doin' before he started jawin' at them. Not even the promise of a gold piece to the first man who could go a full three rounds with this Kilbain fella got their interest.
I almost laughed out loud when O'Rafferty tried to entice them by sayin', "Surely there must be some among ya' who've done some fightin'."
He was standin' next to two of the best, I wanted to tell him! But I had the sense that I'd be steppin' on Heath's toes if I did that so I decided to wait and see what his response would be. He gave O'Rafferty time to question the manhood of those in the saloon before I saw him laugh slightly and then look over at his brother and say, "There ya' go, Nick ya' get your tooth knocked out earn five dollars and save a trip to the dentist."
Nick had a mouth full of whiskey that he swallowed with a cough before askin' his grinnin' brother, "Heath, when are ya' gonna learn you're not funny?"
Ya' know, I've heard Nick say that before. Then a few days later, when his brother isn't around, I've heard him tellin' someone what the boy said like it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard. It's clear that he takes a lot of pride in his little brother and equally as clear that he takes pride in his role as the 'big brother'.
I hafta say, it's one of the things I admire the most about
Nick Barkley. I don't know a lot about
Heath's life before he came to
So Nick's words didn't discourage Heath. He wasn't even distracted by the momentary diversion of a guy named Jonas, who tried to goad Nick into fightin' by accusin' him of always throwin' his weight around. It seems this fella had been fired by Nick for mistreatin' a horse and I'm guessin' that maybe he was hopin' to get some revenge by shamin' Nick into gettin' into the ring with Kilbain. But Heath reached out and grabbed at Nick's arm and O'Rafferty jumped in between 'em and that little diversion was over almost before it started.
Can't say I was sorry to see it end. I've got a wooden club behind the bar that I
didn't want to have to use to break up a fight.
But
even more
I just wanted to get back to what was happenin' right
in front'a me. And, no
sir, Heath didn't let me down.
When O'Rafferty suggested that they'd have to send to
Yep, that did it! "Well now why do ya' wanna do that?" Nick demanded in a way that only he can. "What do ya' wanna fight for? I used to box in the army! What do ya' get for it? Ya' get your brains knocked in while some yahoo watches!"
"It might be a shame to turn the man down," Heath
said just about as innocently as I figure he could. "People might think there ain't no pride here in
"PRIDE!" Nick exploded, as I'm pretty sure Heath wanted him to. I mean let's be honest about it Heath was takin' an awful long time to figure out where he was supposed to sign up and I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that he knew throwin' pride into the mix would get a reaction from his big brother.
Ya'd think that woulda been Heath's ace but he still had another card to play. He threw in the family name! I don't know how he managed to say it with a straight face! Bold as can be, he told Nick, "Besides the idea of a Barkley knockin' out the great Jack Kilbain that kinda tickles me."
I'm tellin' ya' Nick shoulda seen it! First, Heath's got a bit of a drawl that I'm guessin' he picked up from his mother and it gets a whole lot more pronounced when he's in a jokin' mood. Then, that eyebrow couldn'ta been raised any higher if he'd pushed it up with his finger! And, finally, Heath was lookin' at that ledger so long that he had to know right where he was supposed to sign. But still he took time to point it out as he asked, "Right here?"
THAT was the final straw! That was the one that made Nick reach for the ledger himself and say, "Now wait a minute. If anybody's gonna fight in this family, it's gonna be me, Nick Barkley!"
And then he signed his name in O'Rafferty's ledger and handed it back to him. I'm tellin' ya', ya' gotta admire a man who knows when to take his leave. O'Rafferty didn't waste any time tellin' Nick that he'd see him in twenty minutes at Brown's Warehouse. And then he rolled up his posters and left before Nick could change his mind.
Heath was standin' there lookin' down at his beer and I'm guessin' he was hopin' that Nick wouldn't notice that he was tryin' real hard not to start laughin'. He'd kinda turned away and given O'Rafferty a bit of a wave and seemed to have composed himself by the time he looked back at Nick. He gave me a wink and I smiled and nodded to let him know that I appreciated the finesse he'd displayed in gettin' his brother to sign that ledger. Then I looked over to see how Nick was takin' it.
There was a look on his face that I wasn't quite sure of. At first I thought he might have just realized what his brother had done to him but on reflection I've gotta say that I think Nick knew all along what Heath was tryin' to pull. And I think Nick let him do it, knowin' full well that he was gonna hafta end up in the ring with Jack Kilbain as part of the deal. I think it was just one of those things that Nick does to make up for all the years that Heath didn't have a big brother at his side. And, like I said, the way Nick embraces that role of big brother is one of the things I admire most about him.
The look on Nick's face changed and whatever else it mighta said, it was now clear from the slow smile that spread into a grin and erupted into a full laugh meant that the whiskey had done what he'd hoped it would and the toothache was gone. And if there was any doubt about that, Nick's words confirmed it.
At first it was sort of a whisper like maybe he was tryin' to convince himself. "It's gone "
And then the laugh erupted and it came out louder. "It's gone!"
He reached out with both hands and slapped my cheeks a few times, laughin' and again tellin' anyone who wanted to listen, "IT'S GONE!"
I had to close my eyes as those leather gloves that Nick doesn't ever seem to be without slapped against my cheeks. I heard him laughin' and I heard his brother finally able to laugh. But with my eyes closed, I woulda sworn that I was listenin' to Old Tom and his son once again, belly up to my bar.
Yep, things have come full circle for Nick Barkley. It couldn't happen to a nicer man!
THE END