MEMORIES

by Leona (Heathisforme)

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.

They sat on the porch hand in hand. Thinking about the past, present, and future as the sun made its daily trek across the morning sky.

"Its been a wonderful life, hasn’t it Heath?" Janine looked at the blue-eyed cowboy whose hair, which was once blond, but now was grey. She couldn’t help thinking how lucky she was, having this man for her husband.

"Yes it has, Janey." They looked longingly at each other, each remembering the day they met.

Janine’s Story:

It was a beautiful summer day and Janine was riding her Appaloosa with abandonment. She was running away from Gary MacGraw. He was an abusive, controlling man who wouldn’t let Janine go anywhere or do anything without him.

Janine met Gary when she was 15 years old and decided right then and there that was the man she was going to marry. He was a handsome man with dark hair and eyes and was 10 years her senior. That made her parents very angry the night she announced she was getting married. Her parents told her if she married that she was not a part of the family anymore. No inheritance, no nothing. But she didn’t care, she was getting married.

After 10 years of marriage she realized her parents had been right. But there was nothing she could do about it now. She hadn’t heard from her parents in so long. She had been thinking this when she got into Stockton. Without thinking, she trotted her horse over to the saloon and tied him up to the hitching post.

"I could use a drink right about now" she had thought. "After all it’s not the first time I’ve been in a saloon." She was thinking of all the times she had to drag her cheating, drunken husband home only to endure a beating for it.

She pushed her hat down over her eyes as if to shield who she really was. It's not proper for a lady to be in a saloon. She moseyed up to the counter and said "Beer, please" to the bartender. He got her the beer and she turned around to observe the scene in front of her. There were men of various shapes, sizes and occupations, playing poker, smoking cigars and drinking. There were saloon girls dressed in their brightly colored, low-cut dresses hoping to go upstairs with one of these winning cowboys. She observed the room quietly, taking in the scene, while she drank her beer. She had finished her beer and went to order another when she happened to glance beside her. There was somebody standing beside her who took her breath away.

"Another beer please" she said and pushed her money towards the bartender.

"I’ll have a beer too and buy the lady one as well," drawled the blond hair, blue-eyed cowboy.

"I have money. I can buy my own drinks…Thank ya very much SIR." She threw the money at the bartender and moved away from this man who continued to take her breath away. She looked at the swinging doors of the saloon and there stood Gary, scanning the room looking for something … someone. Oh no! she thought to herself. How am I goin’ to get out of here with out his seein’ me? She tried to think of a plan. Finally she decided to turn around and talk to the cowboy who was watching her intently as Janine stood watching the door.

"Hi Cowboy" she said to him a little hesitantly, "I’m sorry about the attitude earlier, I was just havin’ a bad day." She admitted.

"That’s all right," he said in that wonderful drawl of his. "Can I buy you a beer now?"

"No thanks. I have to leave now and was wonderin’ if ya could do me a favour?" She was hesitant in asking the cowboy this last favour, not wanting to invite trouble for either of them.

"What can I do for ya?"

"Can ya walk me just outside to my horse?"

"Sure can!" And with that they walked outside to where her horse, Titan, was hitched to the post.

"Thank ya very much … Mr … Mr … ?" She was embarrassed, she hadn’t even asked for his name.

"It’s Heath Barkley, Ma’am." He watched her light onto her horse.

"I am not "ma’am". My name’s Janine."

He chuckled at that "Yes ma’am … errrrr…I mean Janine…You must call me Heath then"

"All right then Heath. Thanks for your help. If you’re goin’ back into that saloon, please don’t tell anyone I was there. I don’t want ya gettin’ hurt on account of me"

"Don’t worry ma’am … I mean Janine … I won’t tell anyone."

"Thank ya very much Mr Barkley…I mean Heath" She blushed slightly at saying his name. What a wonderful name, she thought to herself. Out loud, she said "Bye Heath. Hope to talk to ya again sometime soon."

She rode away on Titan, without looking back.

Heath’s Story:

Heath was taking the buckboard into town for some much needed supplies. It had been a tough week, fixing fences, breaking horses and rounding up the cattle. But it was all good hard work, something he was used to. Taking time to go into town was a relaxing time for him and he was not going to rush it by any means. He was thinking about how much his life had changed since he had come to find his heritage. He wanted a name and all the benefits due to him since he was born. He was born out of wedlock, a bastard, really, as most people, himself included, called him. And he hated the stigma of that word. It was hard to swallow that kind of childhood, tauntings, and stares of everyone in the small town of Strawberry. His mother, he smiled slightly at the thought, taught him to be proud and to stand up for what he believed in. Heath worked hard since he was 6 years old when he started working in the mines as an explosive setter. A rough job but he survived it. He thought of all the trials and tribulations he had to survive to get to where he was now. His aunt and uncle who beat him unmercifully at just the thought of his birth. Carterson, a hellhole prison, he shook his head at that thought.

"Enough of that," he said out loud to himself. He happened to glance up and there, ahead of him was a woman, riding without any cares, as fast as she could. He rode towards Stockton, chuckling to himself, as he watched the woman ride. He arrived in Stockton in front of the train depot, picking up supplies that came off the train, then drove over to the feed store to pick up feed for the week. When he was done, he decided to stop at the saloon for a quick beer and head home. Home, what a wonderful word, he thought to himself.

He jumped off the wagon and headed into the saloon when he saw her standing there. He didn’t know what to think. A woman like her in the saloon? Oh well…to each their own, he thought, then out loud he said: "I’ll have a beer and buy the lady one as well."

"I have money. I can buy my own drinks…Thank you very much SIR"

Boy howdy, she’s a little spitfire, he grinned to himself as he watched her walk away from him. He couldn’t keep his eyes off of her. There was just something about her that he liked. Then he saw her stiffen with fright as she watched the swinging doors and a large man came in looking for something or someone. He watched as she turned around and walked closer to him.

"Hi Cowboy" she said to him a little hesitantly, "I am sorry about the attitude earlier, I was just havin’ a bad day." She looked a little guilty and a so scared that Heath wanted to protect this little runt of a girl. She had the most beautiful emerald eyes and strawberry blonde hair.

"That’s all right" he drawled. "Can I buy ya a beer now?"

"No thanks. I have to leave now and was wonderin’ if ya could do me a favour?"

"What can I do for ya?"

"Can ya walk me just outside to my horse?"

"Sure can!" And with that they walked outside to where her horse, Titan, was hitched to the post. "Thank you very much … Mr … Mr …?" She had hung her head, looking very much like a little child who was about to get into trouble.

"It’s Heath Barkley, Ma’am." He watched her light onto her horse.

"I am not ‘ma’am’. My name is Janine."

He chuckled at that…"Yes ma’am … errrrr…I mean Janine…You must call me Heath then."

"All right then Heath. Thanks for your help. If you’re goin’ back into that saloon, please don’t tell anyone I was there. I don’t want you gettin’ hurt on account of me"

"Don’t worry ma’am … I mean Janine … I won’t tell anyone."

"Thank ya very much Mr Barkley…I mean Heath" she said "Bye Heath. Hope to talk to you again sometime soon." Heath sighed to himself, hoping that they would meet again very soon. He turned and walked to his buckboard and went home.

Heath and Janine sat reminiscing about their meeting when their eyes met and they grinned at each other. It was a very special day for them for it was their 50^th Wedding Anniversary. The family had planned a big party for them that night. Today was all theirs to do what they wanted. So they decided to spend it together, just doing the things they liked to do. Reminiscing was high on the list of things to do.

Janine’s Story:

She had no where to go. She decided to ride home and bear the punishment she knew was coming. She would go see Jarrod Barkley in the morning to see how to file for a divorce. She had quite enough of this marriage and of Gary MacGraw. She rode to the barn and unsaddled Titan. Taking her time, she looked around and saw that Gary’s horse, Champion, was in his stall. Shaking, she sauntered into the house, trying to be quiet in case he was sleeping. She opened the door and there he was, sitting at the table waiting for her to come in. "WHERE HAVE YA BEEN?" he asked menacingly.

"I went for a ride" she was getting a little scared because he was slapping the whip against his hand as he was talking to her.

"YA DIDN’T JUST GO FOR A RIDE. I SAW YA AT THE SALOON WITH THAT COWBOY!" He lunged at her and she managed to jump out of the way.

"I was at the saloon BUT I was not with that cowboy!" she screamed at him. He wasn’t listening. He lunged at her again and caught her this time.

Janine was crying and screaming " PLEASE DON’T HURT ME! PLEASE GARY! I WON’T DO IT AGAIN! I PROMISE!" He took the whip and raised it above his head. Janine managed to get away from him and cowered in the corner trying hard to stay away from him. She was sobbing so hard she couldn’t see the whip as it came crashing down on her again and again. He pulled her up by the hair and started punching her in the stomach. Janine could not take much more. She slid down the wall and tried to hide her face and hold her stomach at the same time when he decided to punch her in the face. He punched her over and over again till his anger was spent.

Then he spit at her and said "TAKE THAT WHORE! NOW NO ONE WILL LOOK AT YA AGAIN!!!" He got up and walked to their bedroom dragging her with him so that he could take her forcefully before he fell asleep.

Afterwards, when she was sure he was asleep, she got up and packed a few of her things and decided to leave. She had no idea where she was going but she had to escape this hell before he killed her. He had almost succeeded. She practically crawled out of the house, out to the barn, and saddled Titan. By the time she had reached Stockton, it was almost daylight. She stopped for a minute to get her bearings. She was so tired and hurt all over. She should go to the doctor and make sure nothing was broken. Then off to the sheriff’s office to make a complaint. She put a smile on her face as she now knew what she was going to do. After that it would be time to go to see a lawyer about getting a divorce.

She got to Jarrod’s office just after 9 am. She walked in the outer office where already his secretary was hard at work. "Yes may I help you?" she asked, looking over her glasses.

"I - I - I’d like to see Mr. Barkley, if I can, please?"

"Just a minute…Can I have your name? I will see if he is available to see you"

"Janine MacGraw, ma’am" The secretary got up and walked into the inner office and closed the door. Janine sat down on the sofa and tried to get comfortable while she waited. A few minutes later, the door opened and the dark short haired secretary waved her in.

"You can go in now, Mrs MacGraw" Janine got up and walked into the office trying not to look too much in pain. Jarrod got up from his chair and beckoned for Janine to sit down in one of the comfortable chairs in front of his desk

"What can I do for you, Mrs McGraw?"

"I - I - I would like to file for a divorce and am not sure how to go about it. Can ya help me?" She looked at the floor, tears flooding her eyes. This was a lot harder then she thought.

"Well…I see…and why do you want a divorce?" Jarrod asked gently taken aback at this beautiful girl who was obviously in so much pain.

"Look at me Mr Barkley. My husband did this to me and I don’t want to live like this anymore." She almost let loose the tears that were threatening to spill over. "I went to the sheriff’s and filed a complaint. Then came here to see how I can obtain a divorce. I don’t have much money to pay ya but I plan to get a job and pay ya a little bit each month if that is okay with ya."

" That is fine with me. Let’s not discuss fees yet. Let me look into the legalities of this and get back to you."

"Okay", she said and she got up to leave the room

"Wait a minute Mrs McGraw. Do you have a place to stay?" He looked at her inquisitively.

"No I don’t." she admitted. I was thinking of going to the hotel to stay but I am scared that he will find me."

"Well how would you like to go home with me?" Jarrod asked hesitantly. This must be the girl that Heath was talking about last night at supper, he thought to himself.

"No thanks. Mr Barkley. I don’t want to intrude on your family"

"Nonsense" Jarrod said, "my family won’t mind a bit."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I’m sure", Jarrod replied, "and you’ll be safe there, no one will hurt you. You can be rest assured of that." Janine looked at him, thanking him with her eyes.

"Shall we go now?" he asked before she changed her mind.

"Sure, why not". She was not sure this was a good idea, but at least now she had a place to stay for a little while.

Heath’s Story:

Heath could not get Janine McGraw out of his mind. The beautiful woman was in trouble and he did not know how to help her. Oh he knew that she was married, that was hard to miss but still he couldn’t help but see the fear in her eyes when that man walked into the saloon. That man must have been her husband. He dug another fence post hole absentmindedly.

I hope nothin’s happened to her, he thought to himself as he dug another hole. He stopped for a minute and looked at the sky. The sun was beginning to set.

Well it must be time to quit pretty soon. I’ll have to finish the fence tomorrow, he thought as he put a post in the hole and hammered it in with the large sledge hammer. He stamped the dirt around the hole to make sure that the pole wasn’t going to fall over and then he put the other one in. He got some planks and started hammering them to the poles. When he was done that, he stopped wiped his sweaty brow and decided to call it a day. The sun was getting lower in the sky and he decided he had better head for home so he wouldn’t miss one of Silas’ special suppers.

Boy howdy, I sure am eating good since I came here. No more empty stomach for me, wonderin’ where my next meal is coming from, he grinned to himself. He put on his light blue work shirt and buttoned it up. Without a second thought he leapt up on Charger and raced on home.

When he finally reached the ranch house. Mansion really, he thought to himself. He rode to the barn and unsaddled Charger. There was a strange horse in the barn. An Appaloosa and it looked vaguely familiar but he couldn’t place where he had seen it before. As he curried Charger, he thought about Janine and then it dawned on him. "That’s HER horse!" he exclaimed to himself. "What’s she doin’ here?" he mused. He curried the horse a little faster and led him to his stall. He walked quickly to the house, his heart beating fast. "Boy howdy, Heath, ya only met the gal once…slow down Boy" he told himself sternly. Then he grinned. He opened the door and there she was, the woman he had been thinking about all day!

She slowly turned around from talking to Jarrod and his mother. When she finally faced him, he was shocked. She had two black eyes, swollen lips, her arms were bruised around the wrists and she just looked plain scared. There was defiance in those eyes. Eyes that told him not to ask. He wanted to take this woman into his strong arms and tell her that no one will ever touch her again. He could feel the anger swelling up in him. How could anyone do this to their betrothed? What kind of monster was this husband of hers?

"Howdy" he nodded his head towards her. He was not sure what to say to her.

"Howdy … Heath" she replied and turned back to her conversation with Jarrod and Victoria.

"Well I’m goin’ to go get cleaned up and be back down in time for dinner", he said to no one in particular.

"Okay, sweetheart, we can wait dinner for you. Nick has gone to town early today for his dinner date, so we will eat when ever you are ready."

"Thanks Mother" and with that he went up the stairs to enjoy his bath and gather his thoughts. When he finally came down, a half hour later, he felt refreshed and a little bit more relaxed.

Heath and Janine strolled around their forty acres that Victoria had given them for a wedding present fifty years ago. They stopped and looked at the house Heath and his brothers built for Janine. What a beautiful house it was. A large, two story house made of hand hewn logs with a wrap around porch. He had put in large windows facing the east so that they could watch the sunrise together before they started the day. It was their special time. In the evening they sat on the porch swing watching the sun go down and reliving the events of the day. They were so happy together.

The property took on a life of its own after a few years. Heath and Janine worked hard trying to make a dream come true all the while working on the main ranch. They had bought, broke and sold horses. Heath still loved horses and his ranch but now at eighty, he had to turn the ranch over to his sons.

They had an orchard of apples, peaches and plums. Janine made a profitable earning off these fruit and at seventy five she still oversaw this part of the ranch. Again they thought about those early days together and both sighed at the long life they endured together, full of happiness and hardships.

Janine’s Story:

She woke up the next morning feeling a lot more relaxed then she had in days. "Things’ll be better now" she told herself. She realized it was just becoming daylight and went to the window to look at the sunrise.

A new start to a new day and a new life, she thought. She stood watching the sun welcome the day not realizing that Heath was greeting the morning the same way just below her window. Janine moved away from the window and decided to go see about breakfast. She had to get dressed first, so she looked to see what she would wear. She did not bring many clothes with her, but she found a nice, serviceable light blue dress that she decided would have to do. After all, she wasn’t quality like these people.

By the time she got dressed, she was feeling quite famished. She opened the door to her room and made her way to the top of the stairs. Gingerly, she went down the stairs, feeling the pain as she went. She made her way to the dining room, where the Barkleys were all ready setting down to eat a hearty breakfast. Heath smiled at her and beckoned to an empty seat next to him. Smiling gratefully, she sat down and began to eat the food that was set before her. She looked around the table and everyone was doing the same.

Audra spoke up first, "Good morning Janine. I trust you slept well."

"Yes I did, despite the pain I feel, I slept very well. Thanks for asking."

"Heath, we need to see about the fence on the North Ridge. The cattle have broken through it again." Nick looked at Heath, waiting for him to answer. "HEATH!!!!! Did ya even hear what I said?" Nick was waiting impatiently for him to answer.

"What? Did ya say something?" Heath teased his brother and everyone chuckled at him. "oh yeah, Nick, I heard every word ya said. How could I’ve not?"

"Now, now, boys. Finish your breakfast" admonished Victoria. Heath smiled at Janine who was busily eating her food.

Jarrod chose to enter the dining room at this point and said good morning to all, giving his mother a kiss on the cheek. As he sat at the table, he said to Janine, " I took the liberty of inviting your husband here to discuss your case with you."

"YOU DID WHAT????" She looked at Jarrod incredulously.

"I think you heard me Janine." He was taken aback at her attitude. Then he realized what he had done. Inviting her husband here…What a dumb thing to do…Of course she won’t want to see him…He beat her up for Pete’s sake…What was I thinking? Out loud he said quietly, "It’ll be all right. I won’t let him touch you." Janine was seething.

"How dare ya invite him here!!!!! I NEVER WANT TO SEE THAT MAN AGAIN!" She was aware that she had risen her voice but was unable to stop it and that infernal shaking that happened whenever the subject of her husband was brought up.

"Janine, calm down." Heath tried to settle her down but found that he was unable to. "If it makes ya feel better, I’ll stay with you while you talk to him, okay?"

Janine looked at him with fear ridden eyes." "Okay Heath, I guess maybe I had better talk to him and get this over and done with." She turned to Jarrod, "You’ll stay in the room too, right?" she asked hopefully.

"Yes Janine, between Heath and me, we won’t let him hurt you"

She sighed and looked at them both and said very quietly, "I’m scared" Heath looked over to Jarrod and their eyes met. They were both thinking the same thing , hoping nothing was going to go wrong.

Heath’s story:

Heath couldn’t believe that Jarrod had invited that man to this house. Janine was shouting that she never wanted to see him again and was shaking so bad that no matter what he or Jarrod said, she just wouldn’t calm down. Finally he said that he would be in the room as well as he listened to HIS story.

How can a man do this to a woman. A woman who was his wife. I’d like to get him by himself and show him a thing or two … Heath was so angry that a man could make a woman so afraid of another human being. He got to thinking that maybe Jarrod was right. They had to listen to both sides of the story and find out the truth. Not that she wasn’t telling the truth, the fear in her eyes, the physical cuts and bruises, the faint scars from other beatings told the story. He only hoped he could hold himself back when he met the man face to face.

Janine got up and went to the other room, trying to calm herself down then walked into Jarrod’s office. A few minutes later, Heath and Jarrod joined her. Try as she might she couldn’t get herself to calm down. Heath wanted to take this frightened woman into his arms and just hold her till she calmed down, but he was scared of frightening her further. "Janine, please sit down. Mr McGraw’ll be here in just a few minutes" Janine just kept pacing and shaking. "Janine, please sit down,"

Heath got up and took her hand. "Please Janine…Ya not going to be any good to anyone if ya don’t calm down, at least a little" Heath pleaded with his eyes and she listened.

"You’re right Heath. I’ll try" She tried to calm down for his sake. Heath kept holding her hand, it seemed to have a calming effect on her. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. In walked Gary, so confident of himself, he wanted nothing than to take his wife home and make her listen to reason. No wife of his runs away and gets away with it! Heath watched Gary’s every move. Jarrod invited the man to sit down.

Gary sat down indignantly and snorted "Don’t know why I’m here, Mr Barkley. Or why my wife’s here. Let me take her home with me and I promise ya she won’t cause you any more trouble." Heath almost leaped at the man but got a disapproving look from Jarrod.

"No you won’t Mr MacGraw. She has filed for divorce and you are here to sign the papers"

"WHAT?" Gary leaped out of his chair, swinging at Janine and whoever else was in the way. Heath could not stand it anymore. He leaped at the man, knocking him down. He was about to punch this man when Jarrod said quietly to the man,

"Now you are going to listen to your wife or am I going to have let my brother finish you off?" Gary looked a little bewildered at just what happened. He wasn’t used to people catching him off guard like that. Janine, in the meantime, had gotten out of her chair, and was cowering in the corner. "WELL?" Jarrod stared at the man with stern eyes warning him he had better do as he says.

"Okay, but will ya call your brother off? He’s hurting me!" Gary whined.

"Heath let him go" Heath reluctantly let him go but his eyes told him that he wasn’t through with this man yet.

Heath walked over to Janine who was still cowering in the corner, and helped her up. "Come on, Janine, I told ya I wasn’t goin’ to let anything happen to ya" He looked at Janine who gratefully put her hand in his big callused one and walked over to face her husband.

Janine’s story:

Janine was so scared. She had never been so scared in all her life. She did not know what to expect. Here were two men ready to protect her from her husband. She put all of her trust in Heath and he hadn’t let her down. She walked up to her husband and almost spit in his face. She was still shaking, but her voice was calm as she spoke. "Hello Gary"

"Janine" he managed to spit out.

"I suppose you’re wonderin’ why you’re here," she looked at him now, not knowing how he was going to react.

"Well yeah, I was kinda wonderin’ why."

"Look at me Gary." She stood in front of him, defying his every authority that the marriage granted him. "GARY LOOK AT ME!" Heath and Jarrod stood back listening to the exchange, not wanting to get involved, but ready to protect her if Gary decided to strike out.

Gary looked at her for the very first time and gasped. "I-I-I did that to ya?" He could not believe he could inflict so much pain on someone who was supposed to be his wife.

"Yes Gary…For the last 9 years. I’ve no idea why I have stayed with you this long, but I am TIRED of livin’ in fear of you. We loved each other once. Oh I know, I was only 15. But I did love you. Then you started goin’ out for days at a time, drinkin’ and seein’ other woman. I forgave you for I believed that is what a wife is supposed to do. I was in the family way 4 times and I lost every baby from the beatin’s you gave me" Janine’s eyes filled up with tears when she was speaking but she wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of letting them fall. "ya didn’t know did ya?" she asked him when he kept staring at her with his mouth open. For once he was speechless. "Yes I knew about the saloon girls, the young girls that you have been seein’ since we’ve been married. I don’t know where I failed you Gary. And in spite of all this, I still care. But I don’t want to be married to you any more. Jarrod called ya here to sign some papers for us to have a legal divorce." Janine waited for Gary to say something, anything. "Gary, aren’t ya going to say something?"

"I have treated ya so badly. I don’t know what to say. I’m so sorry."

"IT’S TOO LATE FOR SORRY NOW," shouted Janine. "I’m sorry our life together has to end this way but its the best way. You almost killed me, Gary, and I want to get out before you do." She could not hold the tears back anymore.

Gary got up and looked at Jarrod. "What can I do to make it up to her? To show her that I’m really sorry for what has happened?"

"Sign the papers and leave her alone." Gary looked at Janine, who was crying and holding onto that cowboy’s hand. His heart broke at the sight of them together. "I really lost something special! I’m so stupid. Okay, Lawyer, let me see those papers. Its the least I can do for her." He picked up the quill pen and dipped it into the ink. He signed the paper with flourish and once again looked at Janine. He put his hand on her shoulder and looked so like a little boy who was so sorry for what he had done. Hopefully time would heal these wounds and he vowed to not to drink or get violent again.

Janine looked at him and said "Thank you Gary. And whatever else happens, We did care for each other once. I only wish the best for you and hopefully you’ll find someone that cares for you very much and that you care for her. Take care Gary." Gary turned then walked out the door, never looking back.

Janine sighed inwardly as she thought of these first days with her beloved Heath. She loved him the first moment that she laid her eyes on him. She never regretted the decision of marrying Heath Barkley. She put her hand out and Heath took it willingly. He looked at her the same way as he did when they first met. Fifty years of being married to this wonderful woman, knowing her, loving her, had not changed his feelings one bit. He was happier now then ever before.

Heath’s story:

He stood there, holding her hand, while she cried. She turned and hugged him all the while thanking him for being there for her. Heath held her firmly , not wanting to let her go, but he knew he had to eventually. Finally she stopped weeping and she pulled away from him. She smiled at him. What a beautiful smile, he thought to himself.

Jarrod cleared and his throat and said "um hm. He signed the papers Janine, in about six months you will no longer be married but divorced."

Heath couldn’t help smiling to himself. "Six months to win her affection," he thought. Janine let go of Heath and went to Jarrod, hugging him and thanking him as well. Then she turned and went out the door. Heath watched her as she left.

Then Jarrod spoke to Heath, "Well…I guess time will tell what will happen with her. She has a lot of decisions to make in the next few months. It won’t be easy for her."

"I know" said Heath, "but, boy howdy, I’m going to see what I can do to make it a little easier for her."

Jarrod grinned to himself and thought, I know you will little brother. I know you will. Heath turned and followed Janine out the door.

He found her outside talking to the gray stallion that he had just gentle broke. He walked over to her and stood beside her for a while before he said anything. "That’s one mighty fine horse, wouldn’t ya say, Janey?"

"He’s beautiful Heath. If he were mine, I’d call him Graystoke," She grinned up at him. "I bet that he is a fast one too"

Heath nodded his approval of the name. "How’d you like to go for a ride on him sometime?" He asked her.

"Oh I’d love it" she said enthusiastically. She turned and faced him, saying, "You know that I’m not ready for a serious relationship, right?"

"Yep", he said, "But I’m willing to wait until you are."

"It may take a long time you know. He hurt me pretty bad"

"I know" he said, "but I’d never ever hurt you. I just wanted to tell you that"

"I know that Heath. All I need right now is a friend and someone that’ll be here when I need it."

"You call and I’ll come running my pretty," he said truthfully. All the tension was gone from this morning, they both chuckled at that last statement. They turned back towards the house, walking hand in hand.

Janine’s story:

Janine was so happy in the last few months since she signed the divorce papers that she was now ready to have some fun. She had moved from the Barkleys’ to a house in town, started working as a serving girl at the Cattlemen’s restaurant. Gary had sold their property and split the money with her so she really didn’t have to work. He left town with his mistress and of that Janine was glad. She could start her new life now. She was so happy that she could do what she wanted and when she wanted and no one could tell her differently. She was thinking these thoughts when she saw Heath driving the buckboard into town.

"He must be getting supplies" she thought to herself and she quickened her step to meet up with him. "HEY HEATH" she shouted, not caring who heard her. He stopped and turned to see who was yelling at him. He grinned when he saw that it was his beloved Janine.

"Hey Janey. How’s it goin’?" he drawled, "I haven’t seen ya in quite a spell"

She grinned and said to him,

"I’m enjoyin’ my freedom, Mr Barkley and I was wonderin’ if you’d like to come to dinner sometime soon?" She asked hopefully.

Heath just looked at her and said "I was hopin’ you were going to ask me. I most certainly would like to. Name the time, and date and I’ll be there."

Janine grinned, "How ’bout Saturday around six?"

"Boy howdy, that sounds fine. I’ll be there. Do ya need a ride somewhere?"

"No thanks Heath. I’m just going to the store to pick up some sewing notions and then going right home"

"Okay then, I’ll see you Saturday. " With that he rode off to the train depot to pick up supplies. Janine smiled in spite of herself. " Everythin’ is goin’ to be all right" she thought.

Many years have passed since those early days and they never really thought about it till now. The children, now adults, had planned a great celebration for them and they must get ready. She squeezed Heath’s hand and whispered that they must get ready now. It was getting late and they had done nothing but walk around their property and reminisced. "What a nice way to spend our anniversary" she thought.

The celebration went well. Their children planned a simple get together, knowing that their parents did not like big fancy parties. They had invited all the right people, Audra with her husband Fred, their three children, Douglas, Harry and Vicki, their respective spouses and ten grandchildren. Nick and his wife, Chelsea and their four kids, Paul, Thomas, Sandra and Holly, their spouses and eight grandchildren. Jarrod’s wife, Jenny and their two girls, Catherine and Elizabeth plus their husbands and three grandchildren.

Heath really missed his big brother but he loved having his family there. Jarrod had passed away several years ago in San Francisco from a heart attack. The only other person missing was Victoria. Her presence was still felt at the big house where Nick and Chelsea lived.

Heath’s and Janine’s children, Leah, Rachel, David, Nicholas and Freddy, their spouses and their ten grandchildren were very proud of their heritage. The boys looked after the little property and over the years they expanded and grew bigger then ever before. Janine looked over at Heath and knew what he was thinking. He was very proud of their family. They both could feel the love in the room.

THE END