by Lindabrit
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.
This story links to the second writing round robin story
that we did, a long time ago. It involves the visit to the Barkley ranch of a
young woman called Lily. The story is called The Lily Letters, as it is
told in the form of letters from Lily to her sister Violet back East. In turn,
Lily becomes romantically involved with all three of the older Barkley
brothers, her third liaison being with Heath. I wrote that bit and I had Heath
mysteriously disappearing from the ranch after their encounter, much to Lily's
disgust. This explains where and why he went. The story also uses a character
from my story True Nature of Courage.
Heath and Eugene
Part 1
It was the first visit home that Dr Eugene Barkley had made
in over a year. His heart quickened with gladness as he alighted from the San
Francisco train in his home town of Stockton. He had intended to spend
Christmas at the Barkley mansion, but inevitably a difficult case had cropped
up at the infirmary where Gene worked with his long-time mentor and friend Dr
Philip Sangster. He had sent his apologies to the family and did not doubt that
he was forgiven for his non-appearance, but all the same it was wonderful to be
making his long awaited visit at last.
Even though he hadn't been home in far too long, Gene was not totally cut off
from the family, he lived in his brother Jarrod's San Francisco lodgings, so
whenever the lawyer was in San Francisco, the two brothers saw plenty of each
other. Occasionally Victoria Barkley and her daughter Audra would make the trip
to the big city to go shopping or the rancher brothers Nick and Heath would
come on business, each such trip was a chance for Gene to see his family and he
relished their visits.
Gene knew that Jarrod was still in San Francisco and likely to be detained
there by his latest case for a further two weeks, so he didn't call at Jarrod's
Stockton office as he would otherwise have done, just hired himself a horse
from the livery stable and headed out of Stockton on the beaten road that led
to the Barkley ranch.
It was a pleasant afternoon and it was good to breathe some fresh air after the
tedium of the train journey. The young doctor was tired and he felt his jaded
spirit lift with the sunshine and the anticipation of a warm welcome at home.
When he trotted into the compound outside the Barkley barn and glanced through
the white gate to the elegant white-pillared mansion that was his childhood
home, Gene's face split into an enormous grin, soon he would be amongst his
much-loved family, he could barely wait until he had exchanged greetings with
Ciego and handed over his horse to the smiling stable-hand.
When he opened the big front door of the mansion Eugene was immediately
conscious of the unusual quiet within. This was almost always a bustling house
and the opening of the front door rarely failed to bring one or more members of
the family into the foyer to greet the arrival. For a long moment, as Gene set
down his valise and shrugged himself out of his coat, the silence persisted and
then there was a bustle of movement from the direction of the kitchen.
Silas the houseman came slowly into the foyer, his face beaming as he beheld
the youngest Barkley, "why Doctor Barkley," said the old man delightedly,
holding out his hand, "what a surprise, it's wonderful to have you
home!"
Gene smiled affectionately at the old man who had always been so good to him,
"Silas, you look well, I hope you are?" The two men shook hands.
"Oh I'm fine, just fine, except for that little twinge in my shoulder that
I get sometimes."
"I'll take a look at it tomorrow," smiled Gene. He glanced around the
quiet downstairs of the house, "so where is everyone Silas?"
The houseman shook his head sadly, "oh gee, there ain't nobody home, it's
a real shame."
Eugene Barkley blinked, "what, no-one? Not one of the family?"
"No Sir, your Mama and Miss Audra are in Denver, Mr Nick's down in Sonora
buying horses and Mr Heath's at the logging camp. Mr Jarrod's still in the city
but I guess you already knew that huh?"
"Yeah, I knew that," acknowledged Gene, he felt as though someone had
withdrawn a proffered treat at the last minute, how absurd to have traveled all
the way home only to find not a single member of the family in residence.
Silas smiled sympathetically, "are you hungry Doctor Gene?"
"I'm starved!"
"I'll fix you something right away."
Gene grinned at his old friend, "er...Silas, can I please eat in the
kitchen with you?" He looked years younger all at once and Silas beamed at
him.
"Of course you can, it'll be just like old times!"
By the following morning, Eugene had formulated a plan of action. He had come
home to visit with his family and he aimed to do it, at least with one of them
anyway. He had no desire to join the ladies in a frenzy of shopping in Denver
and Nick would be hard to pin down in Sonora. Gene was familiar with the
traditional routine of these stock buying trips. Two days buying the stock and
at least twice that long playing poker with like-minded ranchers. His brother
Heath though was altogether more reachable.
Heath was up at the Barkley logging camp and had been vague about the exact
date of his return, but the camp was barely two days ride from the ranch and
there was only one obvious route Heath would take. Gene could set off for the
camp and be re-united with his brother there and if Heath were headed home,
then they would meet on the way.
Gene told Silas his plans as they breakfasted together in the Barkley kitchen
and the old man smiled his approval, "that's a fine idea, I'll pack you a
real fine picnic to last you on the trip."
Gene protested, "I can fend for myself on the trail you know, I may be a
doctor but I haven't forgotten how to look after myself."
Silas smiled seraphically, "don't you want a nice picnic Doctor
Gene?"
Gene grinned back, "well of course I do. Before I go, I'll take a look at
that aching shoulder of yours, I have some ointment I think can help."
The young doctor set off for the logging camp during the morning and felt that
familiar lifting of the spirits that he always experienced when he was in this
place. He loved this country and saw it all too seldom now because of his
dedication to his work, which chained him to the hospital in the city most of
the time. Gene was glad he had decided to take the trip up to the camp, he had
lost a patient just prior to his vacation and the death was rather on his mind.
He knew it was foolish to blame himself, especially when he had done all that
he possibly could to save the man, but he felt a sense of failure all the same
and it had oppressed him, despite his efforts not to dwell on the matter.
Philip Sangster had sensed his young friend's feelings and had insisted upon
the break from work. Gene had resisted but eventually gave in, recognizing his
own weariness and the need to restore the tone of his mind. The healing process
had begun as soon as he found himself in the valley again for he loved the home
of his childhood and the company of his tightly knit, ebullient and lively family
was all that was needed to complete the cure. Gene smiled to himself, he was on
his way to rendezvous with the quietest member of that family, but a reunion
with his amiable and relaxed brother would serve very well to banish the sense
of loneliness and disappointment he had felt when he arrived at the ranch to
find the whole family were elsewhere.
Gene enjoyed a long morning's ride in the bright, clear weather and eventually
realized that it was some way past lunchtime and that he was very hungry. He
stopped in a sheltered spot beside the small creek and unpacked a formidably
large lunch, thoughtfully provided by Silas. Gene ate his fill and refreshed
himself with a long drink of cool water, re-filling his canteen from the creek.
He had eaten too much and was feeling very drowsy so he decided to take a short
nap before resuming his journey. Stretching himself comfortably on the springy
grass and closing his eyes, Gene told himself he would doze for an hour or so
and then be on his way. But the weary young doctor had under-estimated his
tiredness and as he settled himself comfortably, hat over his face, he could
feel all the tension and depression draining from his body. His stomach was
comfortably full and for the first time in many days his mind was at rest and
in less than two minutes, Gene was deeply and dreamlessly asleep.
The warm afternoon sun lingered into the early evening and still Gene slept on,
undisturbed by any of the natural sounds around him. He was still fast asleep
as the dusk fell at last and a quiet rider approached the grassy bank beside
the creek. The horseman sat looking down at the sleeping figure for a moment
then he slid noiselessly from his mount and stealthily approached the supine
figure in the grass. With a slow, carefully silent movement, the stranger
lifted the hat covering the sleeping doctor's face. Well now, thought the
stranger, what have we here?
The first pebble almost missed, brushing the slumbering
Eugene's hat as lightly as a butterfly wing as the little stone flew on to
knock harmlessly against a nearby tree trunk. The second was more accurate,
deftly spinning the sleeping man's hat off his face. The third was aimed with
deadly precision, stinging the young doctor on the nose and rousing him from
his prolonged rest. The fourth hit his forehead hard enough to make him sit up,
rubbing his nose and uttering a resentful "hey!"
Gene blinked uncomprehendingly, where in hades was he? Oh yes, he remembered,
he had fallen asleep after eating too much lunch and had intended to doze for
an hour or so. He could tell at a glance that the hour was now late, for it was
almost full dark. He looked for his horse and was relieved to see him still
tethered to the tree branch. His gaze swept the line of his sight, his
saddlebags were where he had left them, but there were changes to the area too.
It was a proper camp now, with a small but serviceable fire going and a pot of
coffee bubbling to the boil. Another pebble bounced off Eugene's cheek and he
struggled to his feet, gasping with pain as his long cramped limbs reacted to
the sudden movement. He peered into the gathering gloom but couldn't see a sign
of anyone. He raised his voice and said "hey!" again. The next pebble
came spinning his way and this time he managed to dodge it, laughing slightly.
He had seen the direction it came from and launched himself at the clump of
bushes to his left.
Gene's body collided with the bush and he grabbed through the branches to seize
hold of his unseen assailant. The other man gave way under the onslaught and
the two of them came rolling free of the bushes and into the clearing beside
the camp fire. Heath Barkley used his powerful arms to shove his younger
brother off him and warded off a hail of retaliatory blows.
"Now you cut that out Eugene Barkley! Ain't you got any respect for your
elders?"
"What a way to wake up an over-worked doctor," grumbled Gene, rubbing
his nose where one of the pebbles had caught him.
Heath grinned as he sat up and he slapped his younger brother's back,
"good to see you Doc, how're things with you?"
"Oh fine Heath, just fine," said Gene with a little too much
heartiness.
Heath's thoughtful eyes rested on Gene for a moment but he didn't question him
any further just smiled and said, "well I'm mighty glad to see you, were
you on your way up to the camp?"
"Yeah, I came home to find the house deserted except for dear old Silas
and I sure didn't want to join the ladies shopping in Denver, or go hunting
through every poker game in Texas for Nick so here I am."
Heath laughed, "tell me Little Brother, have you taken up mind-
reading?"
"I don't think so, why?"
"Well, I kind of hatched an idea on the way home today, I thought I might
take a trip up to the hunting lodge for a week or so, care to join me?"
Eugene's tired spirit seemed to revive within him, "Heath, I would like
nothing more than to do that," he replied with simple sincerity.
The two brothers sat companionably together bathed in the warmth of the camp
fire and they polished off the rest of the substantial picnic Silas had packed
for Eugene. They talked easily, but Heath silently noted that any time the talk
got around to Gene's work in the hospital the young doctor immediately changed
the subject. It confirmed Heath's suspicions that all was not well there. He
had thought Eugene a little too overly cheerful when he had been asked how he
was. He had said he was fine, but the dark rings beneath his blue eyes and the
shadow lurking in them said differently.
The rancher smiled into the gathering gloom, if older brother Nick were here he
would detect Gene's reticence too and lose no time in extracting the problem
from the boy he had helped to raise, forcing the truth from him if necessary.
Heath was prepared to wait it out until Gene felt able to unburden himself, he
was sure that the young doctor would do so when he felt ready. In the meantime,
a trip to the hunting lodge seemed like it might be just the thing, certainly
the idea had been well received by Eugene.
The blond rancher thought of Nick again and suppressed a snort of amusement.
Heath had told Gene he was on his way to the hunting lodge, but that had been a
lie. He had felt Gene's weariness and pain and known instinctively that the
trip would help him, so he had issued the invitation. In truth however, he and
Nick were extremely busy and had agreed to meet back at the ranch no later than
tomorrow to pursue the punishing schedule they had set themselves.
Heath could almost hear Nick's bellow of rage at his continued absence, no
matter, it wouldn't be the first time he had played hooky when he should have
been working and it sure wouldn't be the last. Heath liked to think that he
worked hard enough the rest of the time to justify his occasional unauthorized
vacations. Besides, there was definitely something up with his younger brother,
the doctor was bright and breezy whenever he felt Heath's eyes upon him, but
whenever he let his guard down, he sat in sombre, sorrowful silence, his face
and his mind far away.
Despite his long afternoon doze, it was clear that Gene was still very tired
and since Heath had been in the saddle for a day and a half, he too was about
ready to turn in. The two men made themselves comfortable beside the remains of
the fire and soon, Gene's deep and regular breathing betrayed that he was again
sound asleep.
Heath lay wakeful for some time, laying on his back, body comfortably
stretched, arms behind his head. It was a beautiful night, the stars made a
rich panoply across the sky and Heath let their beauty sink into his senses. He
had always been a child of nature, reveling in the natural wonder of sunrises,
sunsets, and the majestic landscapes of the West.
There had been many times in his younger life that Heath had been treated
badly, there had been much suffering and times when it had seemed that he had
little or nothing to live for. Always he had survived, reaching into his own
inner resources of courage and strength to triumph over his difficulties.
Throughout those dark and difficult days, Heath had always been able to derive
comfort and solace from the contemplation of Nature's beauty. It wasn't him
that needed solace this time, but Heath was hopeful that the trip to the lodge
would help to heal his younger brother's hurts. Certainly it had worked on
their last trip to the lodge together. Heath lay at his ease, eyes on the
starry vista, remembering that first trip and what had led to it.
Heath smiled to himself in the darkness, I challenged him,
the stiff- necked little runt! Not before time either. From the minute I
arrived at the Barkley ranch he was on my tail, pouring his resentment all over
me. I don't think he missed a single opportunity to take a cheap shot at me.
Every time I turned around he was there, spitting poison, his hate was so
strong it was almost something you could reach out and touch and that night he
confronted me just once too often.
I remember grabbing him by the shirt front and slamming him up against the barn
wall. I was tempted to beat some respect into his pompous little college ass,
but I held back. I badly wanted to be on good terms with every member of my new
family and when it came to proving myself to a tough guy like Nick, well maybe
I didn't resent it the same, but Gene was just a kid and I wasn't about to jump
through hoops for him!
So I challenged Gene, I said all right, you want to hate me? Well you can't!
You can't because you don't know me little boy and I will not ALLOW you to hate
me just because you think you should. So you get to know me you little
loudmouth, you find out who and what I am and THEN you can decide if you hate
me or not. You should understand something too Eugene, if, when you've got to know
me, you decide that you DO hate me, then that's fine! I can live without your
approval, but you make that decision based on what you know about me, not what
you think my mother did to your family, you got that?
For a minute he just stared at me, he didn't say a word, all his anger seemed
to drain away and suddenly he looked a lot younger than eighteen. He spoke to
me more quietly, he wanted to know how he was supposed to get to know me when
he never got a chance to get anywhere near me. That threw me a little, but when
I thought for a second, I had to admit that he had a point.
Nick and I were almost inseparable in those days, it had started out as a
fierce rivalry, our whole beings were focused on one thing, the same thing,
each determined to prove that we were the better man. Things changed after the
trail drive, Nick got shot up and had to hand running things over to me. I had
to deal with his old commanding officer's attempt to recruit the Barkley hands
for some crazy foreign war, all that on top of the chanciest trail drive the
Barkleys had ever attempted. It wasn't just a Barkley herd either, the hopes
and prosperity of a good few other ranchers were riding on the outcome too.
Well I did it and I did it well, when I came home I was walking on air and just
about bubbling over with excitement, I couldn't wait to see the family's faces.
They gave me all the credit I deserved, even Nick and it changed things for me
and him. From that day, he shared his power with me, oh he'd been doing that in
theory since the day I was accepted into the family, but now it was different.
Now we truly were equals, in his eyes as well as in mine and a brotherly
friendship took it's first faltering steps, a friendship that has been tested
and tried by many things over the past few years. Tested and tried and never
found wanting, for now we are two halves of the same coin, I am part of him as
he is of me, I can't imagine ever living anywhere else or working anywhere
other than alongside my brother and best friend Nick.
I realized from Gene's sad and bitter words that he was acutely aware of my
deepening relationship with Nick, the big brother he had idolized from birth. I
began to understand for the first time, just how much Gene felt he had lost
through my arrival. I refused to be down-hearted though, I felt instinctively
that if I could help this troubled young man get to know me then he might come
to realize that he hadn't so much lost Nick as gained me.
An idea occurred to me and that was when I challenged him. I said all right,
it's obvious that you and I need some time alone together, so are you man
enough to come with me to the hunting lodge? Just you and me college boy, for a
week. That should give you all the chance you need to get to know me, so how
about it? He was so surprised that he just gaped at me and didn't say a word,
but I could see in his eyes that he'd do it. He wasn't about to let me get away
with my challenge, I had asked if he was man enough and I could see he was
growing more determined by the second, determined to show me what he was made
of.
We left that same night, Gene raided the kitchen and stole everything edible
that was portable enough to carry, how he did it without waking Silas, I
couldn't imagine. Later, I learned from Silas that he did hear us, but he let
Gene take the food anyway. I sometimes think old Silas is the wisest man I
know, he knew how badly Gene and I needed to sort out our differences and he
didn't put any obstacles in our way.
I saddled the horses and we both collected what spare clothing we wanted and
our rifles. We slipped quietly away without anyone spotting us and headed for
the hunting lodge, which was still on our own land, but quite a distance from
the mansion. I told Eugene that I had left a note for Mother telling her where
we had gone and that there was no need to worry. I had also told her that we
needed to be left alone, I didn't share this part of the note with Gene. I knew
Mother would understand my meaning and would ensure that Nick didn't come after
us. If I was to succeed in reaching an understanding with the youngest Barkley,
I knew it had to be done on our own.
I had come to a bleak conclusion too, bleak for me at any rate, I had decided
that my getting upon good terms with Gene was going to determine whether I
stayed here or not. I had begun to love this valley, I had been warmly welcomed
into the Barkley clan by my eldest brother, a man I respected the hell out of,
and by my new sister too. From the day of my inclusion into the family, sweet,
loving Audra had let me know in every way she could, that she loved me as a
brother. I don't think she had the least idea of how important her attitude was
to me, she helped me feel at home in a world very different to all that I was
used to.
As to Victoria Barkley, that wonderful lady, so like my own beloved mother, I
have no words to describe how gracious her conduct towards me has always been.
She was, in my eyes, the person least likely to accept me into her family, but
she let me know, right from the start, that she loved and accepted me fully. In
a very short space of time, I realized that she cared for me as an individual,
not just because I was her husband's son. To my own amazement, I gradually
understood that I loved her very much and that I would do anything for her.
She was the reason for my decision, I loved my life here now and every new day
working with Nick was a new affirmation of our shared enjoyment of our
partnership. Nick liked having me there and I was fulfilled and contented by my
new life. Eugene's persisting hostility was the one rub, but it was a problem
that would, I felt poison everything else in time if it went on. Worst of all,
it would make Victoria Barkley, the lady I now called ‘Mother' unhappy. Rather
than let that happen, I was prepared to ride away from my heritage, though I
knew it would take every ounce of my courage to do it.
We rode up to the lodge through the night and in complete silence. To describe
Gene's attitude as hostile was to put the kindest interpretation possible on
it. I had done many difficult things in my life, but it was becoming clear to
me that getting upon good terms with my younger brother was going to be one of
the trickiest tasks I had ever had to accomplish. I had already made my
irrevocable decision that unless I succeeded in winning Eugene over I had no
future here and as we rode that night, I thought long and deeply about the
coming week with my younger brother.
I decided to impose some rules upon myself, rules that I would under no
circumstances break. I was acutely aware that adhering to these rules was going
to make my task all the harder, nevertheless I wasn't prepared to approach this
matter any other way. Firstly, I wasn't going to tell Eugene that I would not
be staying in the family unless he accepted me fully. I didn't think it was
fair to put that responsibility on a kid his age and I didn't want the kind of
grudging acceptance that might ensue from a decision made under that pressure.
Secondly, I wasn't going to make any special effort whatsoever to endear myself
to Gene, he was going to have to get to know the real me, only if I acted
completely normally could I have any confidence in his ultimate decision.
Lastly, I was going to be completely honest with the youngest Barkley, I knew
that, like Nick, Eugene had a serious case of hero worship for his father, for
our father. Well, I was not about to pretend that I did too! I had already
moderated my hatred toward the man I held responsible for ruining my mother
Leah's life but I still veered between anger and sorrow and scarcely understood
my true feelings towards the father I had never known. So I would not be
pretending to have warmer feelings for Tom Barkley than I actually did, again,
Gene was going to have to accept the real me, if he did accept me at all.
We spent a week at the hunting lodge and I stuck rigidly to my secret and
self-imposed rules, letting my suspicious and hostile younger brother make up
his own mind about me. His silent and morose demeanour lasted for the first
couple of days and then he seemed to unfreeze a little. Truth to tell I think
his curiosity got the better of him, he had become interested in who I was and
realized that his curiosity must remain unsatisfied until he tried to
communicate with me.
So we began to talk, tentatively at first, but soon with greater ease and we
talked constantly, as we rode, fished, hunted, chopped wood and cooked
together. I found out a good deal about Gene during these long, uninterrupted
conversations. He told me about his studies, his hopes and fears for the future
and his relationships with his other brothers. He plainly adored both of them
but was clearly in awe of Jarrod's scholarship and standing, he was obviously
finding Counselor Barkley a hard act to follow at college and was beset by
fears that he wasn't going to measure up to Jarrod. I said what little I could
to reassure him and even drew a laugh from him when I asked him to imagine how
intimidated I was by Jarrod's level of education.
I had already grasped that Gene was very close to Nick, although I had needed a
little time to understand the depth of their attachment, because Nick hid it
quite well. He seemed to be on Gene's case most of the time and ordered him
about constantly. Gene told me how kind Nick had been to him after the death of
Tom Barkley and I began to understand how threatened Gene must have felt by my
growing closeness with Nick. Gene told me about the day of Tom Barkley's murder
and I learned that he had been with his father and had been close enough to him
when the killing was done to be spattered with Tom's blood. I didn't find it
difficult to imagine what a profound effect such an experience must have had on
the boy.
I've never been one for talking about myself much, I guess over the years,
there haven't been that many people who actually wanted to know about me, so I
don't find confiding at all easy. I knew I'd have to talk about myself though,
otherwise how could I expect my little brother to get to know me? I let him ask
me anything he wanted and as a result I told him about my mother Leah and the
two other women who had helped to raise me.
I told him about the poverty-stricken nature of my early boyhood and some of
the many ways I had managed to earn some money to help my mother. I also told
him a little about my suffering at the hands of my uncle and aunt, though I
didn't dwell on this unhappy period of my life very long. I told Gene about
some of the different jobs I had undertaken in my past and he was keenly
interested in my days as a fisherman out of San Francisco and my days as a
deputy sheriff too.
I knew I had won when we sat one evening peaceably fishing in the creek that
ran through the meadow at the back of the lodge. My little brother turned to me
and in a low, sincere tone, he told me he had been a fool. I was quick to say
that I understood and it was true, I did understand his initial hostility much
better now. I extended my hand and suggested we made a whole new start to our
relationship. Gene's eyes were wet as he grasped my hand and so were mine as we
shook on it. My heart was full, I had stuck to my self-imposed rules and I had
won, my new life was now secure and I was so happy I wanted to dance and sing.
As we rode home, Gene apologized to me for taking me away from the ranch and
probably getting me in trouble with Nick, but I told him honestly that he had
done both of us a great big favour. He was puzzled so I explained that he had
saved himself from a painful confrontation with Nick. My older brother had told
me that he was getting mightily fed up of the way Gene was treating me and was
close to straightening him out about it! Gene laughed and said he had assuredly
saved himself from a beating then!
He wanted to know how he had done me a favour and I told him frankly that I had
rather gotten in over my head with our fair lady visitor Miss Lily. My escape
to the lodge would no doubt have angered the lady and hopefully she would have
turned her admiring eyes in another direction during my sudden absence from
home. By the time we arrived back at
the ranch, my relationship with Gene was everything I hoped it could become and
I looked forward eagerly to forging a firm, loving friendship with the boy.
Slowly, Heath's thoughts returned to the present and he rolled over onto his
side and contemplated his sleeping brother, he smiled at the young doctor. In
the five years since he had arrived at the ranch, he and Gene had learned to
know and to love one another, their relationship now was as strong as though
they had grown up together from birth.
Gene had told Heath that he liked the nature of their relationship, as it
differed from his relationship with Nick and Jarrod. Heath had never had to be
his mentor like the other two, so they could simply be friends. It made it
easier for Gene to confide in Heath at times and Heath relished this role in
his brother's life.
His blue eyes clouded as he contemplated his sleeping brother, he hoped that
this trip to the hunting lodge would yield the same result as their first, for
it was plain to Heath that something was weighing very heavily on Gene's mind.
Heath settled down to sleep, vowing to get to the bottom of Gene's problem in
the next few days.
It was only a half-day ride to the hunting lodge and so Gene
and Heath spent the morning doing a little hunting, consequently, it was late
afternoon when they at last reached the lodge. As they crested the slight rise
before the long slope leading down to the lodge, they halted their horses,
staring in surprise at the chimney of the lodge, from which a welcoming coil of
smoke arose.
"What the devil..." began Heath, then a slow smile curved his lips,
"there could really only be one person already in residence at the lodge.
The two brothers rode down the long slope and as they approached the lodge, the
door opened and a tall figure emerged onto the front stoop and stood leaning
against the door frame with folded arms. As Heath and Gene pulled up their
horses and Nick Barkley came forward to greet them.
"Well you two idle good-for-nothings sure took your time," grinned
the dark haired rancher.
Heath's lop-sided smile answered him, "well we're kind of on vacation, so
we figured we'd take things slow and gentle, who's running the ranch?"
"Well certainly not you," retorted Nick, eyes alight with laughter.
He turned to his youngest brother, "hey Doc, how's life?"
Gene had dismounted and readily walked into Nick's welcoming arms returning the
hug warmly.
"I'm fine Nick, all the better for being here."
Over Gene's shoulder, Nick's hazel gaze met Heath's blue and the fair-haired
rancher nodded slightly. He wasn't surprised that Nick had caught the overly
cheerful note in Gene's voice, just as he himself had done.
Nick was teasing his baby brother now, "well usual rules apply, youngest
gets to bed down the horses, Heath and I will be indoors drinking coffee when
you're done."
Gene took the ribbing in good part and led his own and Heath's horses to the
side barn, to the right of the lodge. Nick and Heath shook hands briefly and
went indoors. In the short time that Nick had been there, he had chopped wood
and made up a handsome fire against the gathering chill of evening. There was
coffee on the stove together with what smelled like a big pot of stew, gently
bubbling. The table was set for three and there was fresh baked bread ready
sliced and piled on a platter in the centre of the table, adding it's aroma to
the welcoming cheer of the lodge.
Heath's appreciative gaze swept the room and he turned to Nick with a grin,
"no need to ask if you were expecting us Big Brother!"
Nick returned the grin but sobered again almost at once. "Well I arrived
home yesterday, not long after he left and Silas seemed to think he was down in
the mouth about something."
"He is, but he's not talking about it yet, did he say anything to
Silas?"
"No, but the old man knew something wasn't right."
Heath nodded, "so did I, that's why I suggested coming here. I know you
and I have a ton of work on hand..."
Nick waved away the apology, "it's fine, just fine, this was a good idea.
I guessed it's what you'd do, so I decided to join the party. You don't mind do
you?"
"No, of course not, but I think we have to let him come to telling us
what's up in his own time Nick, so don't drag it out of him huh?"
"All right kid gloves it is," agreed Nick.
Heath went into the kitchen area and sniffed appreciatively at the big stew
pot. "I see you didn't come empty-handed Nick!"
"Nope," said Nick smugly, "Silas donated the stew and he's given
me three of the biggest steaks you ever saw for tomorrow's breakfast too. A
couple of loaves of his delicious bread and bacon and eggs and a dozen other
things. I did good huh?"
"You sure did."
The two brothers helped themselves to coffee and sat on the two slightly
battered armchairs that flanked the bright fire.
Heath said, "what about the schedule?"
Nick shrugged, "it's our ranch and it's our schedule, I guess we have the
right to change it if we want. Mac can make a start with the boys, you and I
deserve a break. Well...I do anyway."
Heath laughed and stretched his booted feet towards the fire. He drained his
coffee and set the cup down on the little table at his elbow. "Did you
bring anything else to drink besides coffee Nick?"
His older brother laughed and stood up, "as it happens a few bottles of
Jarrod's best booze did tumble into my saddlebags as I left the house."
Nick went to the drinks cabinet in the corner of the room and poured three
glasses of whisky, he returned to the fire and handed one to his brother, set
Eugene's down on the table and sat down again and sipped at his own drink.
Heath drank some of the fiery spirit in his glass and his eyes widened
slightly.
"Nick, isn't this the scotch Jarrod had imported from Scotland, the stuff
he paid a fortune for?"
Nick flashed him a wolfish grin, "yeah, when he gets home and finds out,
we should be able to hear him yell from here!"
Heath laughed and Nick joined in. Gene came in to find them doubled over with
amusement, he sat on the settee facing the warm fire, "what's so
funny?"
Heath passed his younger brother a glass, "Nick liberated Counselor
Barkley's imported Scotch and brought it up here with him."
Gene drank appreciatively, "that sure is smooth, anyone for a
refill?"
The brothers ate the delicious stew with relish and polished off the whole loaf
of bread with it. Nick had brought apples and peaches too and the men finished
their repast with the fruit. They settled again in front of the fire and made
further inroads into their ill-gotten booze. Both Nick and Heath were
surreptitiously watching their younger brother and each listened carefully to
anything Doctor Barkley actually said, trying to read between the lines and get
some sort of inkling into what was troubling him. When they turned in that
night, the two older brothers were no nearer pinpointing the source of the shadow
in Gene's eyes and each hoped that they could get to the heart of the matter in
the coming days.
Next morning, Heath was up first and he cleaned out the fire-grate and relaid
the fire. He went out to the wood store and stripping off his shirt he chopped
more wood and brought it back to the lodge. He washed his hands and set the
table for breakfast, then put a pot of coffee on to boil. He had just taken the
three fat steaks out of the coldstore when Nick Barkley's deep gravelly voice
stopped him in his tracks.
"Hold it Heath! Don't you DARE to cook those steaks!"
Heath looked up innocently, the meat still in his hands, "I thought you
said we were having these for breakfast."
"We are," confirmed Nick, taking the steaks from his brother and
advancing upon the stove. "And I'm cooking them! Do you really think I
brought these beauties all the way from the ranch to watch you reduce them to
ashes?"
Wisely judging that this was a rhetorical question, Heath grinned but didn't
reply. It was a strange fact about Heath Barkley, that you could put him out in
the wilderness with nothing but a hunting knife and he would infallibly hunt up
and cook something edible for as many people as it was necessary for him to
feed. Conversely, if you placed him in a kitchen with a serviceable stove, a
set of pans and some fat juicy steaks like these and he would produce a charred
and unrecognisable mess.
Eugene was up and dressed now and he came into the kitchen area, yawning and
scratching his head. His eyes lit up when he saw the steaks that Nick had
placed in the big frying pan.
"Is that breakfast?" he asked hopefully and Nick nodded. Gene's eyes
indicated Heath, "you're not going to let him cook are you?"
Nick laughed and turned triumphant eyes on Heath, "relax Eugene, I am in
charge of these little beauties and breakfast will be coming right up!"
Nick was as good as his word and in no time at all he laid plates in front of
his brothers. Each bore a large beef steak, cooked to perfection and topped
with two fried eggs. They sacrificed the second of the four loaves Nick had
filched from Silas and devoured the whole of it, washing down the gargantuan
repast with a gallon of coffee.
It was pleasing to see Gene tucking in with a will and he did so, wiping the
last bit of bread around his plate to mop up the last of his egg yolk. He set
his knife and fork down with a sigh of satisfaction and smiled at Nick,
"my compliments to the chef Nick."
Nick grinned, "well we'd better get fishing today if we expect breakfast
tomorrow, We've got stew to last tonight and then we're fending for
ourselves." Nick winked at Heath, "tell you what, we'll have us a
little competition today, each man gets to eat what he catches for breakfast
tomorrow, how about it?"
Heath hid a grin, but Eugene said firmly, "absolutely not! That means
Heath gets a substantial breakfast and you get enough for ten men and I starve!
You can't treat your baby brother that way and I'm going to tell Mother if you
do."
Nick laughed and clipped the young doctor round the ear, "all right Kid,
get your gear together and we'll head out for the creek. It's high time I gave
you another fishing lesson!"
The three brothers spent a peaceful and relaxing day fishing and eating the
remnants of the food Nick had stolen from Silas for their lunch. Both Nick and
Heath took covert stock of their younger brother from time to time and though
he would talk and laugh when addressed, at other times he was lost in his own
thoughts. From his sombre expression and quiet demeanour it was clear that he
was far from happy.
They didn't leave the creek until dusk and headed back to the lodge on foot,
all three men were pleasantly tired and looking forward to their supper. As
they neared the lodge, Heath's sharp eyes spotted the smoke from the chimney.
He turned to Nick, "you didn't light the fire did you?"
"Of course not! What would be the point when we were going to be out
fishing all day?"
The three brothers quickened their pace and reached the lodge within a few
minutes, they stepped onto the front stoop and Nick led the way as they burst
through the door and into the lodge, to see who the occupant was this time.
Not unexpectedly, the man stretched at his ease in one of
the armchairs beside the cosy fire was the eldest of the four assembled Barkley
brothers, the attorney Jarrod. He had a glass of his own precious Scotch in his
hand and he raised this, somewhat sardonically to his three brothers, before
draining the glass and setting it down on the side table.
"Afternoon Gentlemen," he said lightly as he got up and came forward
to greet his brothers.
Nick Barkley took the hand held out to him shaking it briefly, before saying,
"well now, what brings the big city suit out here Jarrod?"
"I fancied a drink," retorted Jarrod and raised a laugh from his two
rancher brothers, although Eugene regarded him more sombrely.
Heath shook hands in his turn, "good to see you Jarrod, how come your case
got finished early?"
Jarrod's smile was dazzling, "a falling out amongst thieves, my client
decided his best interests lay in cutting a deal with the prosecutor, so I
found myself out of work."
His youngest brother made no attempt to shake the hand that Jarrod held out to
him, his eyes were stormy and his mouth a thin, unsmiling line.
"You're here because of me, aren't you Jarrod?"
The lawyer met his brother's hard challenging stare, his own eyes warm and
gentle, "Philip Sangster came to see me," he admitted.
Gene turned angrily away, "he had no right!"
Nick looked between Jarrod and Eugene and opened his mouth to ask a question,
but Heath touched his arm and shook his head. Nick relaxed slightly, Heath was
right, they didn't know enough yet to get in the middle of anything.
Jarrod spoke to Eugene's back, "Philip was concerned about you, he wanted
to speak to you but you wouldn't discuss the matter so he came to me. I hope
you know that Philip considers himself your friend as well as your boss."
The young doctor wheeled round to face Jarrod, "a friend? So he refuses to
accept my decision and goes running to my big brother, some friend!"
Jarrod spoke sharply, "Philip Sangster is a good man! He came to me
because he doesn't want to see you ruin your future, is that such a
crime?"
Gene's Barkley temper erupted, "Dammit Jarrod, I'm not a child any more!
I'm entitled to make my own decisions."
Jarrod beat down his own spurt of temper and spoke more evenly, "no,
you're not a child any more, but you're not very old either, Philip wants to
help you and so do your brothers, if we can."
"Well you can't," snapped Eugene unsmilingly, "I've made my
decision and I don't have anything to add." He turned and headed for the door,
"I'll feed the horses."
Nick was on Jarrod before the door had closed behind Doctor Barkley, "so,
what's going on with that boy?"
"Jarrod sighed, "I know some of it Nick, I came here hoping to find
out the rest, clearly you both thought he was in trouble too."
Nick nodded grimly, "Silas told me things weren't right with Gene, so I
decided to follow him, I figured Heath might invite him to the lodge so I beat
them to it, I was waiting when they got here."
Jarrod glanced at Heath, "did you manage to get anything out of him on the
trail Heath?"
"Not a thing, he wouldn't even admit there was anything wrong. He just
said he was tired and needed a rest."
The three men had been standing in an anxious semi-circle but now they moved to
the seats around the fire and Nick replenished their glasses, hazel eyes
gleaming with triumph as he passed Jarrod his.
The lawyer's vivid blue eyes twinkled as he said firmly, "I'm putting my
Scotch in the safe from now on!"
"Charity begins at home," said Heath virtuously, sipping the fine
spirit with relish.
Nick's frown brought them all back to the matter in hand, "so tell us what
you know Jarrod, I take it something happened at the hospital?"
The lawyer nodded, "You know Eugene's mentor at the Infirmary, my friend
Doctor Philip Sangster? Well apparently Philip has or rather had a patient
there, a young man, suffering from a rare and very serious illness affecting
one of his lungs. Philip was treating him with some fairly experimental
procedures, an operation, followed by intensive after-care and some pretty
advanced drugs. Gene assisted with the surgery and was helping Philip to care
for the patient afterwards and for a while it looked as though the outcome was
promising. The treatment was more successful than Philip had hoped and the
patient looked set for a near-miraculous recovery. Then, very suddenly, he
deteriorated and died, it was all over in a few hours. These things happen of
course and though Philip felt the loss he was philosophical about it but he
tells me Gene took it very badly, he described him as over-whelmed by grief, he
said he was almost distraught."
Nick was inclined to be defensive of his youngest brother. "Well he's
young, hasn't been qualified for more than a couple of years, it's natural he'd
take losing the patient harder than an experienced man, don't you think?"
"Jarrod nodded, "maybe Nick, I don't know, but it isn't as though it
was Gene's fault, so why should he blame himself? The death was unfortunate
after the patient fought so hard to live, but there was no question of hospital
error and besides, The dead man was Philip's patient, Gene only ever assisted
him."
Heath had been listening intently, absorbing all that Jarrod had said, now he
leaned forward frowning.
"Jarrod, did Gene happen to know this patient, maybe that's why he took
the death so hard?"
The lawyer shook his head, "I wondered the same thing myself Heath, so I
asked Philip, he told me he has an absolute rule that no member of his staff is
allowed to treat any patient that they know, he's very strict about it."
Nick said, "yeah maybe that's so, but Gene may have gotten to know the
young man while he was treating him, they could have become friends easily
enough."
Jarrod concurred, "I think they probably did Nick, they were much the same
age and Philip tells me Gene spent a lot of time with him."
Heath was still deep in thought, "Jarrod you said the word blame before,
Gene blames himself, if the death wasn't his fault, why should that be?"
"I wish I knew Heath."
Nick said testily, "wait a minute, back up, how do you know Gene blames
himself?"
The lawyer produced a letter from his vest pocket and held it up, "how do
I know Gene blames himself? I know because the evidence says so. This is the
reason Philip came to see me, it's Gene's letter of resignation from the
hospital."
"Gene has resigned from the hospital?" Nick's
voice rose on each word.
"Has Dr Sangster accepted the resignation Jarrod?" asked Heath
anxiously.
"No, he brought me the letter in the hope that I could talk Gene out of
resigning, but judging by his attitude I don't imagine that's going to be an
easy task."
Nick sprang up, prowling restlessly, as he always did when he was upset,
"well he's not resigning without explaining to me why he needs to!"
Jarrod fixed a slightly exasperated gaze on Nick, "for the love of heaven
Nick, don't go steaming into him! If we're to stand any chance of getting to
the bottom of this, we need to be patient."
Nick wasn't convinced, "Well I for one am not about to stand by while
Eugene throws his career away. You know how hard he's worked to qualify as a
doctor and according to everyone who comes in contact with him he's a damned
good one!"
"I'm well aware of that Nick," snapped Jarrod coming to his feet and
confronting the irate rancher, "all I'm saying is that we need to give
Gene time to come to terms with his feelings and let him tell us in his own
way!"
The two brothers were almost nose to nose now, familiar poses, for deeply as
they loved one another, they frequently disagreed and were never afraid to face
one another down when necessary.
Nick jerked his head in Heath's direction, "that's what Heath keeps
saying, give him time, take it slowly, be patient!"
Jarrod glared at Nick, "believe it or believe it not, there actually are
other ways of getting the truth out of someone without ripping it out of
them!"
Unobtrusively, Heath Barkley slid out of the front door and headed for the side
barn. He could hear the argument continuing in the lodge, a dispute in which he
had not intervened, knowing from past experience that it would be useless to do
so. He found Gene finishing his self-appointed task of feeding the horses and
stood arms folded, propping up the wall until Gene turned to face him.
"Pappy and the old Bear fighting about me?"
"Yep."
Gene let out a long, slow sigh, "I guess I'm going to have to explain
myself at some point aren't I?"
Heath smiled gently, "well if you could manage it before we have to set
any broken bones it would be appreciated."
The two brothers returned to the lodge and found Nick and Jarrod seated again,
preserving a frosty silence.
Heath's slightly amused blue gaze traveled from the lawyer to the rancher and
back again and he said softly, "Gene thinks maybe he should explain
himself to us."
Nick jabbed a finger at his youngest brother, "there's no maybe about it
little Brother!"
Gene had to smile, holding up his hands in mock-surrender, "all right
Nick, all right, I know when I'm licked, but can we please eat first, I'm
starved?"
The meal was a pleasant one, there was no constraint now between Jarrod and
Nick, they argued too regularly to let it spoil their friendship in any way and
even Doctor Barkley seemed more relaxed now that his troubles were out in the
open to some extent. It was a rare event these days for all four brothers to be
in one another's company and they each took pleasure in being in that familiar
fellowship once again.
When they had eaten their fill, the four men settled themselves in the old but
comfortable chairs and settee around the bright fire and prepared to make
further inroads on Jarrod's Scotch whisky. He was past protesting about it now
and accepted a generous measure from Nick with a polite, if slightly ironic
thanks.
Heath sat on one end of the settee, at right angles to the chair Nick sat in,
there was a low table between the two ranchers and they were engaged in
cleaning guns. Gene sat at the other end of the settee at right angles to
Jarrod's chair and he sat forward, arms resting on his knees, hands clasped
before him, as he stared into the hypnotic dancing of the flames of the fire.
Jarrod sat relaxed in his chair, willing to wait for Gene to take the
initiative. His gaze swept over his three brothers. Heath, who had quietly slid
from the lodge as Jarrod and Nick argued and who had somehow induced Gene to
confide. Nick, seemingly absorbed in his joint task of gun cleaning with Heath,
but in reality worried sick about his youngest brother and eager to get to the
bottom of the mystery.
Gene himself, tense and unhappy, such a bitter thing for Jarrod to see, when
all had seemed set fair for the youngest Barkley's future. Jarrod had become
guardian to Eugene on the death of their father, when Gene was a traumatized
twelve year old boy. A boy who had been sitting right next to Tom Barkley at
the moment the assassin struck, sitting so near to him that he had been
liberally spattered with his beloved father's blood.
It had taken many years to exorcise the demons of his father's death from
Gene's psyche, a process not truly completed until he was a troubled student
and it had all surfaced in the desperately reckless way he tried to forget the
nightmares that haunted him still. He had gambled, drunk to excess and
committed many foolish acts of defiant mischief. Through it all, Jarrod and the
rest of the Barkleys had never lost faith in the youngest of their clan and
together they had helped the essentially decent and honourable young man that
Gene really was to emerge from the black tunnel of his personal unhappiness.
Eugene had bravely returned to college and reinvented his life, triumphing in
his medical studies just as Jarrod had in law. He was without doubt a gifted
young doctor and Jarrod saw his duty plain, he must persuade the youngest
Barkley not to throw his future career away. Jarrod looked at Gene's clasped
hands, they were the hands of a surgeon, the fingers were long and sensitive,
like Tom Barkley's.
Gene switched his gaze from the fire to his hands, a fierce tremor ran through
his body, would these hands ever hold a scalpel again? He flickered glances at
the hands of his three brothers, they all three had fine, well-shaped hands,
Like Father, but his own, they were gifted hands, he knew that. Knew it without
a trace of vanity, he had a gift for healing and medicine was his very life. Oh
how he wished he hadn't lied to Philip Sangster! Gene forced himself to meet
Jarrod's gaze and he looked into the lawyer's vivid eyes, reading only warmth
and compassion in his oldest brother's expression.
Gene had let Jarrod down many times during his troubled youth, but he had put
his youthful follies behind him and knew that he had since made Jarrod very
proud. Now he must again disappoint his adored older brother and he didn't want
to, but he was a Barkley and he had given his word so now he must tell his
brothers what he had done.
Gene glanced at Nick and Heath, the two men were placidly cleaning gun
components, but the young doctor knew that they were really just as tense as he
was. He was grateful for their pretended absorption in another task, it meant
he didn't have to speak to an audience of three, he could just talk to Jarrod,
while the two ranchers silently listened. Miserable as he was, Gene had to hide
a smile, how had Heath prevailed upon Nick to adopt this course of action? Left
to himself, he would have virtually dragged the details from his youngest
brother, Gene was glad he hadn't tried to do so. It was going to be hard enough
this way.
Forcing a faint rueful smile to his lips, he turned to Jarrod and asked softly,
"how much did Philip tell you."
"He told me his patient suffered from a lung disease that was so severe he
had to operate and remove the infected lung. He then treated the patient with a
complicated therapy of drugs and other procedures. I also know that you both
assisted at the operation and took a large part in the day to day treatment of
the patient. Philip said he responded very well to begin with, much better than
either of you hoped in fact. Then, sadly, after a very brave effort to survive,
the patient took a turn for the worse and slipped away."
The lawyer stopped as a tremor of grief swept his brother, he watched with
concern as Eugene gripped his hands harder together and mastered the wave of
grief, breathing deeply. Nick and Heath looked briefly at their distressed
younger brother and then at each other, surely this level of grief went beyond
what a doctor would normally feel at the loss of a patient? Even one with whom
he had built up some kind of rapport?
When he felt Eugene had gathered himself again, Jarrod continued.
"After the patient died, Philip was worried about you, he couldn't
understand why you were taking it so hard, he tried to talk to you about it but
you shut him out. Then you gave him your resignation and walked out, refusing
to explain yourself in any way. Those are the only facts that I know,
everything else is supposition on my part."
Doctor Barkley's strained blue eyes, so like his brother Heath's in colour and
expression, searched the lawyer's concerned face. He smiled ruefully at Jarrod.
"And what have you been supposing Counselor?"
Jarrod said softly, "I imagine that you got pretty close to your patient
during his fight for life, perhaps thought of him as a friend? I gather he was
a young man pretty much your own age. I thought maybe you held yourself
responsible for his death, even though Philip Sangster definitely doesn't. He
made it clear to me that he was the doctor in charge and any responsibility
rests with him. He also told me that both of you did everything you possibly
could and that the death was no-one's fault, but I wondered if you saw it that
way too."
Gene nodded, "yes, I do see it that way, we weren't to blame for his death,
either of us, Philip was right about that."
Jarrod spread puzzled hands, "then I confess myself at a loss to know why
this particular death has upset you so terribly, to the point where you stand
on the brink of losing your job."
Gene's head came up, "I'm not on the brink of losing my job, I have lost
it, I resigned."
Jarrod reached into his vest pocket and handed the letter to Gene. "Philip
isn't willing to accept that letter, not without the full story, he asked me to
give it back to you. He badly wants you to re- consider and stay at the
Infirmary with him. He told me to tell you that he thinks you are the finest
young doctor he has ever taught, he predicts a brilliant future for you, a
future of which he wants to be a part. He wants you to think your decision over
and then go to see him. Whatever conclusion you come to then, he'll accept, but
he feels in his gut that you haven't told him the whole story and he thinks you
owe him that."
Gene's head was bent and his voice was so low, his brothers hardly heard him,
"he's right, I do owe him that, and a lot more besides."
Gene raised his head from contemplation of the fire and met Jarrod's eyes
unflinchingly, "Philip didn't tell you our patient's name did he?"
Jarrod shook his head, "no."
Gene's gaze did not waver, his expression was an odd mixture of sorrow and
defiance, "the patient's name was Laurence Birkett."
Jarrod sighed deeply and reached out to drop a comforting hand on the young
doctor's shoulder, he squeezed hard, "I'm sorry Gene, it must have broken
your heart watching your best friend suffer and die like that, especially when
it seemed as though he was actually going to make it."
There were tears rolling down Gene's face, "he fought so hard
Jarrod," he said brokenly, "he was impossibly brave and so patient
through all his suffering, he was a hero. I did everything, everything I
possibly could to keep him alive and he died anyway!"
Nick moved quietly from his chair and slid onto the settee beside his little
brother, he drew the young doctor's unresisting body into his arms and held him
close.
Gene tried to control his sobs but failed, he clung to Nick as the paroxysm of
weeping engulfed him and made a feeble attempt to tell Nick he was sorry.
"Now that'll be enough of that," ordered Nick in his gentlest voice,
"just you cry your fill, Laurie was your friend and he deserves your
tears, any man who's never cried is a man who's never cared!" He continued
to cradle his brother until the tide of grief and despair had passed completely.
Heath was looking a question at Jarrod and the lawyer said quietly, "Laurence
Birkett was at college with Gene, they were best friends from their school days
and got into most of their scrapes together too. Laurie once saved Gene's life,
pulled him from a frozen lake when he went through the ice. It happened near
Laurie's home when they were children, he was never strong after that, always
having trouble with his lungs."
Heath nodded his understanding, the whole matter was falling into place now.
Gene's distress was completely explained by the fact that he had lost his
dearest friend and what Jarrod had just said shed further light on the matter.
Clearly, Gene was haunted by that childhood rescue, had it perhaps triggered
the illness that had struck young Laurence down?
Jarrod was pursuing the same thought, he watched as Nick slowly slackened his
embrace on his brother and pushed Eugene gently back against the cushions of
the settee, handing him a handkerchief to dry his eyes. Heath slid
unobtrusively to the drinks cabinet and returned with four glasses, handing one
to each of his brothers. The blond rancher embraced the other three with his
smile, he raised his own glass, "here's to Laurence," he said
quietly. The four men touched glass and said "to Laurence," in
unison. All four drank and Heath took the glasses for refilling again.
Jarrod looked earnestly at Gene, "are you all right to go on talking about
this?"
"I guess so, not that there's much to talk about now."
Nick gripped his shoulder, "sure there is! You can't throw your career
away over this, I knew your friend Laurie, he was a nice kid, I don't believe
he'd want you to resign, I'm certain of that!" Nick looked to Jarrod for
support and the lawyer nodded briefly and took up the argument.
"Gene, may I ask you a question please?"
Doctor Barkley looked at the lawyer and gave a shaky laugh, "I've never
known anyone able to stop you asking questions big Brother! Go ahead Jarrod,
I'll answer if I can."
The lawyer said quietly, "I was thinking back to the time Laurie saved
your life and his physical weaknesses afterwards, is there any chance his lung
disease was in any way related to his rescue of you?"
Gene shook his head, "no chance at all," he said firmly. "The
disease that killed Laurie was a malignancy, unrelated to his tendency to catch
pneumonia if he so much as sneezed."
Jarrod felt a surge of relief, the knowledge that he had played any part in
bringing his final illness upon his best friend, might well have broken Gene's
spirit. But if that wasn't the case then it begged another question.
"Then I'm not sure I understand why you've resigned, I thought maybe it
had something to do with Laurie's illness, that you felt responsible for it in
some way."
"I don't understand why you've resigned either," declared Nick.
"I think I do," said Heath quietly and the eyes of his three brothers
swiveled towards him. "Jarrod told us Dr Sangster has a rule about not
treating a friend, is that it Gene?"
Dr Barkley dipped his head, "it's a cardinal rule, he's emphasised it to
me over and over, I...I had to lie to him...about Laurie."
Jarrod asked, "didn't he suspect anything? I gather you spent a lot of
time with Laurie."
"Yes, I did," came the low-voiced answer, "I spent every moment
I could with Laurie and I think Philip did wonder if we'd met before, he
certainly asked me more than once if I knew Laurie and I lied to him every time
he asked me."
Jarrod said carefully, "perhaps if you had explained, after Laurie died,
Philip might have pardoned the offence, he's a man who knows the value of
friendship I'd say."
Gene's head came up and his determined Barkley chin jutted, "I've had
nothing but encouragement and kindness from Philip Sangster, I've abused his
trust and I'm willing to pay the penalty, I always knew I would have to."
Jarrod countered, "but despite that, you fulfilled what you saw as your
obligation to your dearest friend."
"Yes," agreed Gene firmly, "yes, I did, I couldn't have done
anything else and lived with myself."
Jarrod considered the matter in silence for a moment then he said, "all
right, perhaps you're right in resigning, I guess only you and Philip can
answer that, but one thing I do know and that is that you owe Philip Sangster a
say in this. At least explain yourself to him and face the music. If he wants
your resignation then he'll accept this letter, but I say that's a decision you
can't make alone, he has a right to decide your future too."
Jarrod picked up the letter from the table, proffering it to Eugene, the
lawyer's eyes were stern.
"Will you take this letter and give it to Philip Sangster yourself and
give him the truth too?"
Gene looked into the face of the man he respected above all others, "yes
Sir, I will," he said quietly.
The weather continued to smile on the impromptu vacation and the four brothers
spent a couple of blissfully peaceful days hunting and fishing. Then the
quartet rode home together to the ranch, all of them reveling in the company of
one another, drawing strength from their fellowship and their mutual regard. A
day or two later, Jarrod and Gene left for San Francisco and Nick and Heath
turned their attention, a little belatedly, to the mountain of work awaiting
their attention on the ranch.
Two days later the two rancher brothers rode into Stockton to turn over to the
Sheriff a couple of rustlers they had caught in the act of trying to make off
with some Barkley cattle. That done, Nick and Heath voted themselves a cold
beer and made for the nearest saloon. They were just embarking on their second
glass of beer when top hand Ace Rogers came in. He handed a telegram to Nick.
"I just came in to town for the mail and this was at the telegraph office
Boss."
"Thanks Ace, tell the barkeep to give you a beer on us."
Nick tore open the wire and read it swiftly, his face splitting into a huge
grin as he did so. He looked up and said to Heath, "it's from Jarrod, it
seems that Doctor Barkley stills works for Philip Sangster!"
Heath returned the grin, "that's great, I had a feeling Philip would
understand, he and Jarrod are pretty good friends aren't they?"
"Yes I believe so," concurred Nick.
Further elucidation came a few days later, in the form of a letter from Eugene
himself. The rancher brothers read it together and both men re-read the final
paragraph more than once.
Gene had written:
Philip was very understanding, he said that if Laurie had been his own best
friend he would have felt just the same. I had worried that he wouldn't feel
able to trust me again but he has told me not to be so hard on myself. He told
me he only made the rule to spare his staff the kind of pain that I've been
through with Laurie. I'm so grateful to him and to all three of my brothers
too. Without your love and support I would have made the biggest mistake of my
life, as it is, I'm back here doing the work that means so much to me and I can
never thank you all enough.
Your Loving Brother
Eugene.