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.  The ideas expressed in this story are copywrited by the author.

 

 

 

A Debt too High-by Nutterone

 

~ ~ one ~ ~

 

“Nick, talk to me.”

 

“I can’t, Jarrod.  I just can’t explain it.”

 

“He’s going to be fine.”

 

“I don’t know.  I just don’t know.”

“Nick, this isn’t like you.  Since when do you give up on Heath?”

 

“I can’t explain it.  He was just so…”

 

“So, what?”

 

“So, calm.”

 

“Calm?  Nick, he’s pretty busted up.  He was only half conscious.”

 

“No, he was lucid, but so calm.  Like he was ready to…”

 

Jarrod grabbed his younger brother’s shoulders and forced him to look him in the eyes.  “Everything happened so fast.  You are imagining it.”

 

Nick looked away and his face fell, “I hope you’re right, Pappy.  I hope you’re right.”

 

“Sharpy don’t give up.  That’s why I asked him to help.”  The strong voice disturbed the brother’s conversation and drew attention to his presence.

 

Nick’s anger flared up and he grabbed the older man’s arm.  “You better pray he doesn’t or you’ll regret the day you got him involved in this mess.”

 

~ two months prior  ~

 

“Heath, are you gonna share those potatoes?”

 

“They are mighty good, Nick.  I may just keep them all for myself.”

 

“You would.  Knock it off and hand ‘em over.”

 

“Nicholas.  That is no way to behave at the table.”  Victoria assumed the tone of voice reserved for Nick’s childhood antics. 

 

“Yah. Nicholas.  Is that any way to behave?”  Heath was feeling relaxed and carefree and the jab fell out.

 

Nick was speechless at the double rebuke, and Audra held her napkin across her face to hide her giggles.  She couldn’t stop the shaking of her shoulders and it only increased when Heath winked at her.

 

“Heath, your behavior is no better.  Please pass your brother the potatoes.”

 

He promptly complied with his stepmother’s wishes and handed Nick the bowl.

 

“’Bout time.”

 

Just as Nick was about to place a heaping spoonful on his plate, Jarrod breezed in.

 

“Sorry, everyone.  I got hung up on this trial.  I’m glad you didn’t wait.”  He kissed his mother on the cheek and moved toward his chair. 

 

“Didn’t wait?  We could have been done an hour ago if mother hadn’t insisted we wait.  I’m starved.”  Nick abruptly scraped the remaining potatoes onto his plate, as if to prove a point.

 

Without missing a beat, Jarrod scooped up his brother’s plate and took it to his own place.  “Thanks, Little Brother.  I’m starved.”

 

The laughter resounded around the table.

 

Nick’s grumblings were halted by Silas’ arrival with an additional bowl of potatoes.  “I had set these aside for Mr. Jarrod.  Looks like we need them now.”

 

“Thanks, Silas.”

 

“You’re sure welcome, Mr. Nick.”

 

“So, what is the latest news of the Barkley clan?”  Jarrod eyed the large mound on his plate with trepidation.

 

“Sally Hendricks is waiting not-so-patiently for a certain dark-haired brother of mine to ask her to the social next week.”

 

All eyes looked to Nick who was preoccupied with the roast beef on his plate.  He sensed the family’s gaze and looked up like a cat with the canary.  “What?  Huh?”

 

“Do you intend to ask the fair Sally to the social or not?”  Jarrod had noted the playful mood of the family and was enjoying the atmosphere himself.

 

“Well, I certainly don’t see how it is anyone else’s business who I ask to the social.”

 

“Well, I sure wish you’d decide.”

 

“And just why does it matter to you, Heath?”

 

“Well, if you aren’t gonna take her…”

 

“What?  You think YOU might take her?”

 

“Well…”

 

“No WAY!  I will ask her when I am good and ready.”

 

“Nick!  That’s the problem.  It is taking you forever to get good and ready, meanwhile, there are other suitors waiting.”  Audra’s frustration was evident.

 

Victoria was enjoying the banter of her family, but decided to change the subject and conversation flowed freely from one topic to another.  When the last morsel had been eaten and the dishes cleared, the family gathered in the study.  As was their custom, the men played billiards and the woman flipped through magazines or worked on their stitching. 

 

Jarrod has just made a less then stellar shot and arched his back to stretch, when he suddenly remembered the telegram in his pocket.  “Heath, I’m sorry.  Billy handed this to me as I was heading out of town.  It came for you this morning.  They would have delivered it earlier, but Karl was out of the office for the morning, and Billy hadn’t recognized the name.”

 

Heath took the telegram and noted the name, Heath Thomson.  He opened it and scanned its contents.  The family watched him for a sign, but received none. 

 

“Well?  Who’s it from?”  Nick not only wanted to know about the contents of a telegram addressed to his former name, but a part of him, wanted the game he was winning, to continue.

 

“It looks like I gotta make a trip.”

 

“Where?”  Jarrod’s curiosity was also peaked.

 

Heath remained evasive.  “I should only be gone a couple days.”

 

“That’s not an answer, Heath.”  Nick was now only aware of Heath’s imminent departure.

 

“I’ll be heading out first thing in the morning, so I guess I’ll go get ready.”

 

“Heath!”

 

Nick’s ire was interrupted by his mother’s calm voice.  “Heath, please wire us if you’ll be gone longer.”

 

“Yes, Mother.  I will.  Good Night, Everyone.”  He went to Victoria’s side and kissed her cheek.  She offered him a knowing smile and he smiled back. 

 

When Heath had left, Nick began. “Am I the only one who is interested in Heath’s destination?”

 

“Nicholas, if he wanted us to know where he was going, he would have told us.”

 

“So you can just sit there and wonder?”

 

“Yes, if that’s what Heath needs.”

 

“Nick, it was obviously from an old friend.  Perhaps he thinks it better we not be involved.”  Jarrod was as confounded as his brother, but attempted to justify Heath’s reaction. 

 

“IF that BOY has learned one thing in all this time, he had better have learned that we FACE things as a family!  We don’t keep secrets!”

 

Victoria stood to face her son.  “We don’t ever keep secrets, Nick?”

 

Nick immediately recognized his error and calmed down.  “I’m sorry, Mother.  I’m just worried about him.”

 

“I know, Dear.  But he’s more then capable of taking care of himself.  If he needs us, he’ll ask.”

 

Heath was up early and had Charger saddled and ready to go, as the family was just beginning to come down to breakfast.  He had not slept much the night before, partly due to his impending trip and partly due to the way he had treated his family.  He knew they only wanted to know where he was going.  He hadn’t quite figured out why he had been reluctant to share anything with them. 

 

“Morning!”  He forced a smile to his face.

 

“Morning” Sounded from all sides of the table.  Victoria noticed that Heath wasn’t sitting.

 

“Aren’t you going to have some breakfast before you leave, Dear?”

 

“I already ate.  I just wanted to say good-bye.”  He hesitated a moment. “The wire was from an old frie… acquaintance.  He just needs to talk.  I really should be back in a few days.”

 

“That’s fine.  Enjoy your visit.”

 

“Ya, well.  I’m off.”

 

Heath turned and left the room.  Nick held his breath and debated a few seconds, then followed after Heath.

 

“Heath!  Heath!  Wait a minute.”

 

He watched Heath shrug and then eventually pause. “Nick, I gotta get going.”

 

“I know.  I know.  I just…  Well…”

 

“Nick?”

 

Nick took a deep breath.  “If you need me, I mean, us, you’ll wire, right?”

 

A smile formed on Heath’s lips.  He found himself wondering how he ever got along without this family, this powerful love and devotion.  “I will.  I promise.”

 

Eager to end the tense moment, Nick chided him.  “You better be quick.  This is a working ranch and your little vacation is gonna set us back.”

 

He laughed at his brother’s typical remark.  “I appreciate it, Big Brother.  I’ll be as quick as I can.”

 

~ ~ two ~ ~

 

Heath found himself glad he was on a train.  He was lost in his thoughts and memories throughout his journey.  Charger was settled in the rear, while his master faded in and out.  His first reaction to Hank’s request was to accept.  The farther he traveled, the more he regretted his hasty decision.  He struggled to decide if he truly owed Hank anything.  It had been a long time ago.  It was another lifetime for him.  Sure, those days would never leave him, but he wasn’t sure he needed to go digging things up now.  The adage, ‘let sleeping dogs lie’, made a huge amount of sense to him now.  He had no desire to bring back the cold sweats and nightmares.  He had no idea why he felt certain, this meeting with Hank would inspire such renewed unease in his soul. 

 

His first night on the train was exactly as he expected.  He hardly slept.  Each time he closed his eyes; images from his time at Carterson Prison plagued his dreams.  He gave up on sleep and sat quietly by the window.  He chided himself for the set up.  He knew his problems had to be self-fulfilling prophecy.  As the sun’s rays began to light the sky, he checked on Charger.  He knew he would have another complete day on the iron horse.  He looked longingly out the window.

 

He forced his brain to make mental lists of the work he was missing.  Once he had listed every conceivable chore on the ranch, he began running new lists, such as books he wanted to read and cities he might someday visit.  Just when he thought he had cleared his brain, he began to make lists of people he wanted to one-day see again.  Hank Culvertson was not on the list, and yet here he was, giving up his family and the work he loved, to meet with Hank.

 

The second night went even worse.  In addition to the images he had seen the night before, now cold sweats rocked his body and he could feel the physical pain from the wounds that had once been inflicted on his young body.  Many faces drifted through his mind, faces of prisoners like himself, the all too familiar face of Matt Bentell and of course, the guards.  He had never been sure who was worse, Bentell or the various guards who took great pleasure in carrying out his orders.

 

His body, starved after two nights, finally caved into an uneasy sleep.  Morning’s light came quickly and he traveled onward.  He had crossed out of California and into Oregon and in an hour or so, he arrived at his destination, Henley.  The town was of moderate size and seemed to be growing.  It reminded him vaguely of Stockton, but he didn’t get feelings of home.  He located the hotel he had been informed of and tethered Charger to the post in front.  He checked in at the desk under the name Heath Thomson and went to his room to clean up.  After a quick bath, he stretched out on the bed and dozed off.

 

In short time, the anticipated knock came at his door.  He rolled onto his side and pushed his legs over the edge and little by little walked to the door.  His stomach churned with dread at what stood on the other side of the thick oak portal.  He unlocked the door and pulled it slowly open.  He recognized the face, but said nothing.

 

“Sharpy!  I wasn’t sure you would come.”

 

“I wasn’t sure I was either.”

 

“How ya been?  You look good.”

 

“Enough small talk.  What do you need?”

 

Hank Culvertson chuckled.  “You haven’t changed a bit, Sharpy, not one bit, still as stubborn as always.”

 

“You’re wrong.  I’ve changed a lot.  If you’re going to stand there and waste my time, I’ll leave now.”

 

“How about some lunch?  Then I will explain what I need from you.”

 

“Fine, let’s go.”

 

They made their way down to the small restaurant and said nothing as the waitress came and took their orders.  Heath’s mood had grown very somber and sullen.  Hank read the man’s mood and struggled with how to begin.

 

“I had sent telegrams to many places with instructions to forward them until one reached you.  I was only planning on waiting another couple days before I went home.”

 

“You’re not from here?”

 

“Nope, up in Washington territory.  I got me a small lumber camp.”  He paused to read Heath’s face again, hoping his news would change it.  No change registered.  “More importantly, I got me a daughter.  I didn’t think it was possible, but Clara gave birth ten years ago.  She’s the one great thing I ever done in my life.”

 

“Good you know what your priorities are.”  He paused and took a deep breath.  “So, why am I here?”

 

“You always did get right to the point, didn’t ya.”

 

“Hank, I got a good life now.  The past is behind me and here you are dragging it all up again.  I prefer we do this so we an both get on and be done with our affiliation.”

 

“Affiliation, huh?  That’s what you describe us as?”

 

“You didn’t think we were friends?”

 

“I…” 

 

Heath cut him off. “What is it you want from me?”

 

Hank hadn’t expected a warm embrace, but this frigid behavior shook him up. He cleared his throat, and began.

 

 

“As I said, I got me a small lumber operation up near Wenatchee.  I got six men who work for me.”

 

“I got a job, don’t need another.”

 

“A local big guy wants my land.”

 

“I don’t do that anymore.”

 

“No.  I admit, I want your talents, but not like you think.  I am confident I can handle Windsor, but the problem is, he’s got an inside man and I can’t figure who it is.”

 

“What makes you think one of your men is responsible?”

“Too many coincidences.  Damage to things that only an insider could have gotten to, but I don’t know who.”

 

“So you want me to hire on?”

 

“Yes.  Two of my men are out with injuries.”

 

“Do they know where you are right now?”

 

“Yes.  No one locally will work for me, because of Windsor.  I had to travel to find employees.”

 

“Will we have a past?”

 

“No.  I think its better that no one know I know you.”

 

“You don’t know me.”

 

“I did.”

 

“That was a long time ago.  I was a different man then.”

 

“You were a boy, Sharpy.  A boy.  I was a different man then, too.”

 

“You figure I owe you?”

 

“I wouldn’t put it in those words.  Listen, Sharpy.  I need your help.  Will you do it?”

 

“You’re askin’ a lot.”

 

“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think you were the boy to do it.”

 

“I ain’t a boy.”

 

“Sorry, old habits.”

 

“I don’t…”

 

Hank cut him off.  “Please think about it.  Take the night.  I’m riding out in the morning at around 9am.  If you’re ready, join me.  If not, I’ll never contact you again.  All I ask is that you think about it.  I do think you owe me that much.”

 

Heath was quiet for a long time, considering Hank’s words.  “Alright.”

 

Heath whittled away the day by wandering through the town, checking various shops and saloons.  He was making every attempt to keep his mind off the decision he had to make.  He continually asked himself the same questions.  Did he owe anything to Hank Culvertson?  What would his family think?  He had no idea how long this was going to take.  He hated to think of Nick’s reaction to his absence.  He’d pay for a long time after he got home.  He’d be mucking sinkholes for months when Nick got through with him.  After a bland dinner, he bought a bottle and went to his room. 

 

It wasn’t as if he expected the alcohol to clarify his thoughts.  His hope is that it would muddle the memories.  Hank Culvertson had been a part of the worst moments of Heath’s life.  Memories that he knew he would never forget, the scars were a daily remembrance, but he hoped they would remain in his past.  Now, this man was dragging them all forward again.  It filled him with dread. 

 

In addition to the dread, he was filled with anger as well.  He wasn’t angry with Culvertson.  He was angry with himself.  He cursed his own soft will.  How could it be, that this man had the ability to stir these horrible memories and yet he still found himself feeling obliged?  He had paid his debt years ago.  Hadn’t he?  He slammed the drink and felt the liquid burn its way down his throat.  It matched the bitterness in his soul.

 

~ ~ three ~ ~

 

As much as it confounded him, he stopped at the telegraph office and wired the family about his absence before meeting Culvertson on the road leading north out of town.  He would never be able to put into words why he was succumbing to the request, but he knew he had to.

 

Hank Culvertson’s smile was huge as Heath approached.  “I knew you’d come.  Thanks!”  He couldn’t hear Heath’s mumbled response.

 

They rode in silence for most of the day and made camp by a stream, late in the evening.  They went about their duties automatically.  After a meal of beans was eaten and cleaned up, they sat nursing lukewarm coffees. 

 

“It’s gonna be a long trip if you stay this quiet.  I mean, you was always quiet, but…”

 

“I got nothin’ to say.”

 

“Nothin’?  Whatcha been doin’ since Carterson?”

 

Heath thought to himself for a minute.  It was only going to make things worse if he kept this attitude.  “A whole lot of things.”

 

“You were in Stockton, right?”

 

“Ya.”

 

“How long you been there?”

 

“Couple years.”

 

“Am I gonna have to pry every word from your mouth?”

 

“What is it you want from me?  I’m coming, aren’t I?”

 

“Boy howdy, I didn’t realize you hated me so much.  Just why are you here?”

 

Heath flinched at the man’s expression.  He had all but forgotten that he had learned the expression from Hank.  “I don’t know.”  He paused.  “Look, I got a life now, a good one.  It took me a long time to get here and I got no desire to go traipsing through the past.”

 

“You married?”

 

“Not yet.”

 

“How’s your mother?”

 

“She’s dead.”

 

“I’m sorry to hear that.  You placed a lot of stock in her.”

 

“She deserved a better life.”

 

“One like you have now?”

 

“Sure.”

 

“Just what are you doing now?”

 

Heath took a deep breath and released it slowly.  He waited a moment and then replied.  “I found my father’s family and they took me in.  We got a ranch.”

 

“No kidding.  You found out who your pappy was and they took you in?”

 

“It wasn’t as easy as you make it sound, but yes.”

 

“What does your pa say about your experiences?”

 

“He doesn’t know.  He died six years before I came.”

 

“That stinks.  You wanted nothing more then to bring some peace to your life and you’ll never get it.”

 

“I got plenty of peace now, plenty.”

 

Heath longed to change the subject, so he asked Hank about his family.

 

Hank chuckled.  “Said enough, huh.  Well, I don’t mind saying, I got no problem talking about my girls.  Clara, she’s as beautiful as ever.  I hate leaving her.  I wouldn’t have survived Carterson without her.  When all was said and done, I went home to her.  It had been hard.  My pay had hardly ever made it to her.  She’d struggled.  We loaded up whatever we could and headed west.  For years, we drifted, doing odd jobs in even odder towns.  The problem was, I wasn’t getting any younger.  Hell, I was old during the war and those times didn’t help.  So, we settled down and saved every penny to buy this land up in Washington.”

 

“So, what about your daughter?”  Heath couldn’t help but notice the gleam in the older man’s eyes at the mention of his daughter.

 

“She was a big surprise, a blessing.  Clara was already in her 30’s.  It had been so many years.  We didn’t think it was possible that she would ever conceive a child.  She’s the spitting image of her mother.  Her laugh and giggle are enough to warm even the hardest heart.  You’ll see.” 

 

“What’s her name?”

 

“Well…  um…”

 

“She does have a name?”

 

“Yes, I just ain’t sure how you’re gonna like it.”

 

“Alright, I bite.  Why wouldn’t I like it?”

 

“I named her Leah.”

 

Heath was stunned.  “Why?”

 

“She was our little miracle.  I just kept remembering how proud you were of your ma.  The way you talked, she was an amazing woman and it just stuck with me.  I hope you’re not angry.”

 

Heath thought a moment.  “No.  I didn’t know you were listening.”

 

“I was.”

 

Heath was awake most of the night.  He didn’t feel like risking more then a light sleep with Hank nearby.  The next morning, they rode on, again, in silence.  At the end of the second day, they split up.  Heath had directions and in a few days, he would follow them to the camp.

 

He spent the next few days camped out by a large pine tree near a stream.  It had been a long time since he had worked at a lumber camp.  Sure, he had supervised at the Barkley camp under Matt Bentell, but the physical labor of logging was different from ranching.  He knew his body would rediscover lost muscles. 

 

The air here was chillier.  He sat near the burbling stream and dropped a line in the water to catch dinner.  As the time wore on, he slouched down further on the bank and soon was snoozing. 

 

“Hey, Sharpy, wake up.”

 

He turned to the voice agonizingly slow.  It was too hard to move. “wwwhhhaaatt?”

 

“I brung ya some extra bread and a potato.  You ain’t gonna survive this bout without some extra nourishment.  Take it.  And make sure you eat the whole thing.  NO sharing.  You need this more then them.”

 

“ttthhhaankkksss”  His whole body shivered at the effort it took to stay awake, much less talk. 

 

“Now, you be sure to eat that…” A noise startled them both and Hank hunched down to avoid being seen.  He lowered his voice even more.  “I gotta go.  Take care of yourself.”

 

He had rolled back over and nibbled on the treasured gift.  His body was aflame and his stomach churned at the relative richness of the morsels it received.  His fevered brain could almost feel his strength growing with each bite he managed to get down his parched throat. 

 

He sputtered the precious morsels from his mouth at the sharp kick to his back. 

 

“Thought you was going to enjoy the treat Thomson?  We ain’t about to let good food get wasted on a corpse like you.”

 

He was too weak to fight the hands that grabbed the food from his hands.  He bit his lip and held his tongue, less they start in on his already too weak body.

 

The stirring on his line brought him from his dream.  He let out a small sigh of relief and went about pulling in the fish that had finally taken the bait.

 

He saddled up early and arrived in Wenatchee in a few days.  He wandered about the town, getting to know what it had to offer.  He debated sending another wire home, but opted not to risk his hand too early.  He stopped in the saloon and ordered a shot of whiskey.

 

“Here ya go, Stranger.  If ya don’t mind my askin’ what bring you here?”

 

He was your typical small town barkeep and Heath couldn’t help but smile at the consistency.  “”Lookin’ for work.  Know of anybody hiring?”

 

“Whatcha do?”

 

“Just about anything.”

 

“Undertaker’s been searching for an assistant.”

 

Heath chuckled.  “Well, I done a lot of things, but that ain’t one of ‘em.  I don’t suppose there’s anything else.”

 

“There is, but I wouldn’t send you there.  You seem like a decent chap.”

 

“Well, I appreciate the concern, but what else might there be.”

 

“Man named Culvertson is always hiring for his logging camp.”

 

It was finally the information he had been searching for and he pressed for more.  “Why is he always looking for workers?  Why shouldn’t I go to him?  He bad?”

 

“No, I guess he’s not such a bad man, but he’s cursed.”

 

“Cursed?”  Heath couldn’t hide the surprise in his voice.

 

“Lots of bad accidents out there.  I wouldn’t send my worst enemy to him.”

 

“Sounds kinda serious like.  He pay decent?”

 

“I suppose he pays as good as anyone.  He ought to pay more for the risk involved.

 

“Man can’t be blamed for accidents.”

 

“I suppose not, but if ya decide to head out there, keep your head low.”

 

“Alright, I will.  Thanks kindly for the advice.”  He flipped a coin on the counter and left.

 

~ ~ four ~ ~

 

He rode into the yard and dismounted.  A little girl, he assumed Leah, came running out of the house.

 

“Hi!  Who are you?  Are you here to see my daddy?  Do you need a job?  We need workers.  We cut lots of trees and that takes lots of men.  Are you hungry?  Ma made rabbit stew for dinner.  Do ya like rabbit stew?  I can’t think about it.  I like it, but bunnies are cute.  Do you think bunnies are cute?”

 

Leah continued to ramble off questions and statements without pause and was only stopped by her mother, who also exited the house.

 

“Leah, quit bothering the gentleman.  Go feed the chickens please.”

 

“But, Momma, I was…”

 

“NOW, Leah.”

 

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Please forgive her, she gets a bit excited to see visitors.  I’m Clara Culvertson.  Can I help you?”

 

“I’m Heath.  I heard that you might be hiring.”  He eyed Clara up and down.  Hank hadn’t lied.  Despite her age, she was a beautiful woman.  Age was settling on her well.  He suspected having a child later in life was keeping her youthful. 

 

“Well, my husband, Hank, does the hiring.  He should be here shortly, would you mind waiting?”

 

“No, Ma’am.  That’s right nice of ya.”

 

“I just made some fresh coffee.  Would you like a cup?”

 

“If its no trouble.”

 

“None at all.  Nothing’s too little for a man willing to work.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

He waited on the porch and observed the area.  He wanted to know as much as possible.

 

“Here you are.”  She handed him a cup and he thanked her.

“Your Leah has a lot of spirit.”

 

“Yes, she does.  I am not sure how we keep up with her.”

 

“Oh, my goodness.  I’m sorry, Mr. eh, I don’t know your last name.”

 

Heath thought for a moment.  His mind instinctively knew not to use Barkley, but he wasn’t sure he should use Thomson either.  Hank hadn’t said whether anyone from Carterson would be aware of him.  He decided to use another.  “Heath, Heath Edwards.  Why are you sorry?”  He was nervous.  Did she know something?

 

She laughed.  “Did you need cream or sugar?”

 

He chuckled in release.  “No, I’m fine, thanks.”

 

He continued to scan the yard.  There was a barn and behind it, what appeared to be a bunkhouse.  It wasn’t large and seemed a bit shabby.  As a matter of fact, upon closer examination, all the buildings verged on the shabby side.  Within minutes a wagon pulled into the yard and several men jumped out.  Heath immediately picked out Hank and waited patiently for his arrival.  He needed to be sure he didn’t give anything away in these first moments. 

 

“Darling, a man is here, Heath Edwards, looking for work.”  She had run over to greet him and kissed his cheek.

 

“Fine, Darling.  Let me just clean up a bit and I’ll be right there.  The men are pretty hungry.  I hope you made a lot.”  He leaned in and kissed her cheek and she blushed.

 

“You know I did.  Now, hurry along.”

 

“Yes, ma’am!”

 

Heath watched Hank move to the trough and clean up.  He also watched as Leah snuck up behind him and threw her little arms around her father’s waist in as big a hug as she could.  Heath’s heart couldn’t help but be warmed as the older man swung round and scooped the girl into his arms and tickled her as he threatened to drop her into the water.  Her giggles mixed with screams of delight and it seemed to anyone watching, that the two forgot there was anyone else present in the world.

 

The moment ended and Hank sent Leah in to help her mother as he approached Heath, waiting on the porch.  They were both careful to maintain pretenses.

 

“My wife tells me you are looking for work.  What’s your name?”

 

“Edwards, Heath Edwards.  I am looking for work.”

 

“You ever logged before?”

”It’s been a while, but I reckon I can give you a good days work.”

 

“I got a small operation.  Pays only $13 a month, but my wife is an excellent cook, you’ll never go hungry and the beds are soft.”

 

“Sounds reasonable.”  Heath couldn’t help but balk at the pay.  Every ranch in Stockton paid better then this.

 

“Head on over to the bunkhouse and the men will show you a bunk.  Dinner’s in thirty minutes.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

The two men shook hands and Heath settled Charger in the barn and then headed to the bunkhouse.  He had just enough time to drop off his bedroll before dinner.  He wasn’t sure where the meal was served, the house didn’t seem big enough, but he figured he could follow the lead of the other men.  He opened the door and entered.  Six sets of eyes stared at his entrance.

 

“Howdy.  Name’s Heath.  Mr. Culvertson just hired me.  He said you could show me where to bed down?”  It seemed like forever until someone spoke. 

 

“That was mighty fast hiring.”  He was a red haired man with a scowl.

 

“Shows ya just how desperate he is.”  This time a blond across the room timed in.

 

“Now stop that. You two stop your jabberin’ and welcome the man.  Hi, my name’s Kyle Black and this here is Tom Wilkins.  Those two over there are John Smith and Carl Williams.  The red head is Liam McCleary and the blond is Matt Wetters.  Any of those last two bunks is open.  You say your name is Heath?  Heath what?”

 

Heath held out his hand to each man as he passed.  “Heath Edwards.”

 

“Where ya from?”  Kyle was definitely the friendliest of the group.

 

“All over the place.”

 

McCleary again confronted him.  “So, you’re a drifter?”

 

“Well, I don’t know as I would go as far as to call myself a drifter, but ya, I don’t spent too long in one place.”

 

“What’s too long?”

 

Heath could tell he was being tested.  “Usually no more then three or four years.”

 

Just then the door opened.  Leah entered first carrying a platter filled with plates, utensils and cups.  Clara and Hank followed closely behind carrying a large caldron and baskets full of bread.  The men all quickly filled in at spots around the long table that filled the middle of the room and everyone quickly helped set things up.  With practiced rhythm everyone was soon helping themselves to delicious and plentiful portions of rabbit stew and just about the best bread Heath had ever had. 

 

The conversation flowed freely.  They discussed their days and asked polite questions of Heath.  Heath couldn’t help but get the overwhelming feeling of family from the room.  He had never seen or felt anything quite like it.   He saw clearly how Hank could have difficulty deciding who might betray him.  His first instinct had been McCleary or Wetters.  Looking at the two men now, he felt as if they were merely protective of the Culvertsons.

 

It was the men who moved the dishes to the sink at the far end of the room and they also washed the dishes.  Heath took part and helped.  Leah entertained them all throughout and soon the evening had flown by and it was time for everyone to turn in.  The Culvertsons bid good night and the men settled in to their own business and gradually the individual lanterns went out. 

 

Heath was surprised to find the predawn rays streaming in the window across from his bunk.  He must have been tired, for he had slept straight through the night.  Soon all the men were up and breakfast was brought in.  The chatting and conversation of last night was gone and the men quickly ate and loaded up for the day’s work.

 

The addition of Heath recreated an even number of workers, including Hank, so everyone partnered up.  Heath was assigned to work with Tom Wilkins for the day.  Their assignment was to scout out the trees that would be next to be felled.  Hank said it would give Heath a chance to get to know the area.  Tom was quiet, but seemed serious about his work.  They scouted for several hours and then sat down in a clearing on a ridge to

Eat the sack lunches they had brought with them.

 

“So, the barkeep in town said this outfit was cursed.  That true?”  The family feeling last night had caused Heath to miss his own family and work and he longed to rush things along.

 

“Humph.  Ain’t nothing but a strain of bad luck.  People like to blow things out of proportions.”

 

“What cause do they have to blow it up?”

 

“You know people.  Most love a good scandal.”

 

“What scandal do they think is here?”

 

“You ask a lot of questions.”

 

“Do I?  I’m sorry.  It just seems pretty normal around here, so I can’t figure out why it’s got the reputation.”

 

“Stupid accidents, that’s all.”

 

“So, you’re not afraid to work here?”

 

“Nope.  But I do keep a close eye out, we all do.  Besides, I think it’s over.”

 

“What makes you say that?”

 

“Nothing’s happened for several weeks.”

 

They finished lunch and went back to join the others.  By afternoon Heath’s back ached from the swing of the axe.  Hank must have sensed his discomfort and moved him to saw detail with John Smith a short time later.  The two men worked in silence to section off the large pine tree.  During a water break, Heath was transported back in time to earlier days in far away lumber camps.  He watched Carl Williams seem t scamper up a tree to the highest sections and work to top it off.  The feeling was the same, men working hard, the sound of axes and saws and the occasional shout and subsequent thunder of a falling tree.  The air was always thick with the scent of fresh lumber and saw dust.  Although he knew ranching was in his blood, indeed, his life, he enjoyed the life of the lumberjack.

 

Hank fired a shot to indicate the end of the day and the men drifted in from their various work locations.  The ride home was silent and the same course as the night before with dinner and conversation.  Heath debated bringing up the topic of a flume.  It had proved very effective for the Barkley lumber interests, but he recalled the need for capital investment and decided it wasn’t an option for Culvertson.  He kept pretty quiet through the evening, more interested in keeping a probing eye on all in the room.

 

Heath was just drifting off to sleep, when he sensed a presence near his bed.  He was too late.  He felt the hand clamp down on his mouth and could see only the bright light of a lamp.  The voice he heard was quiet, but intense.  There was no mistaking the Irish brogue. 

 

“Who sent you?”

The hand loosened just enough for Heath to whisper.  “No one”

 

“I don’t believe you.”

 

“It’s true.  I needed a job.”

 

He was pulled from the bunk by another set of arms and forced out of the bunkhouse and into the barn.  He was roughly shoved toward the stall where Charger fidgeted.

 

“If you aren’t here for any other reason then a job, why is it you have such a nice saddle and horse?”

 

Heath could see the faces of Liam and Matt now.  He almost confided in them.  If they were working for Windsor, it didn’t reason that they would come after him.  Perhaps he should trust them.  He didn’t.  “I won the horse and saddle in a poker game.”

 

“You’re a good poker player, huh?  I don’t believe you.  I don’t believe a word you say.”

 

“I got no way to prove anything to you.”

 

Liam moved in close and Heath tensed up.  “Let me make this perfectly clear.  We care a great deal about this family and we won’t stand for anyone hurting them.  If I find any proof that you are here to hurt them, I’ll kill you myself!”  He pushed Heath violently back into the stall and the two men turned and left.  Heath lay there processing this turn of events, before venturing back to his bunk.

 

~ Stockton  ~

 

“Nicholas, sit down!”

 

“I can’t!”

 

“Brother Nick, it won’t do any good. Heath is going to come home, when he’s ready.”

 

“I don’t understand how you three can be so calm about this!”

 

“What would you have us do?  We don’t even know where he is.”

 

“Mother, you can’t convince me that you aren’t worried about him.”

 

“I am always worried about all my children.  It’s a mother’s prerogative.”

 

Jarrod couldn’t hide his chuckle and grin, which received a glare from his younger brother.  He was glad Audra had gone to San Francisco with friends.  He was sure she would have sided with Nick.  He knew trouble would brew when he brought home the wire from Heath.  As was Heath’s habit, it said very little.

 

“More to the visit then expected.

May be gone longer then I expected.

I’ll wire again.

Heath.”

 

Nick reread the wire and his brow furrowed even more.  “There is something wrong.”

 

His mother’s calm demeanor didn’t fool him.  “He says no such thing.  Nick, you act as if you don’t trust your brother.”

 

“Why should I?  He’s still new and stubborn about this brother thing.  He is probably off doing something we wouldn’t approve of, or something we could help with and he WON’T TELL US!  All he has to do is tell us what he’s doing, but he didn’t did he!”

 

Nick had made his point and Jarrod and Victoria were quiet.  When finally Victoria spoke, her voice was quiet.  “We have to have faith that he is fine and trust that he knows what’s best.  That is what families do.”

 

“What families do is share troubles, Mother.”

 

“I know that, but Heath had a life that we were not a part of and he has never been comfortable sharing that with us.”

 

Nick was quiet and obviously frustrated.  “He needs us.  I know it.”

 

Jarrod placed a hand on his younger brother’s troubled shoulder.  “We have to trust that when he really needs us, he’ll contact us.”

 

“Just as long as we’re not too late.”

 

  ~ ~ five ~ ~

 

The following morning, Leah disrupted the breakfast routine.

 

“Papa!  Papa!”  She ran into the bunkhouse in search of her father, who was handing out work assignments.

 

“Princess, what is it?”  He grabbed her shoulders to calm her down.

 

“The horses are gone.”

 

“What?  What horses?”

 

“All of ‘em, except Charger and Molly.”

 

The men ran out and found to their astonishment, an empty barn, exactly as Leah had described.  The only two remaining horses were Molly, the old mare that Leah was learning to ride and Charger. 

 

“Spread out and find those horses.”  Hank was obviously distressed and the men followed his orders and went out in search of the animals.

 

Heath was troubled and held back.  He had been in the barn and nothing was amiss.  For that many horses to be moved, without anyone noticing, had to be well orchestrated.  He hadn’t heard anyone stir after he returned to his bunk.  They would definitely be behind, assuming they could retrieve the animals.  During dinner the night before, Hank had told the men about the new contract he had obtained.  The only difficulty was that they had a short amount of time in which to fill it.  The large draft horses were necessary.

 

Throughout the morning, the men searched and eventually, by lunchtime, they all returned and all the horses were accounted for.  The animals were uninjured, but the men were tired.  As they waited for the lunch that Clara was preparing, the men’s tempers were dry tinder and Leah provided the match.

 

“Papa, why did the horses run away?”

 

Liam McCleary answered before Hank got a chance.  “They didn’t run away, Little One.  Someone had to let them out.”

 

“Who’d do that, Uncle Liam?”

 

“Princess, why don’t you run in and help your mother?”

 

“Okay, Papa.”  She moved away, then paused and ran back to her father and hugged him.  “I’m sorry about the horses, Papa.”

 

Hank kissed her forehead.  “I know you are Leah.  Now, go help your Mother.”

 

As soon as Leah was out of earshot, Liam began.  “It’s obvious Hank.”

 

“What’s obvious?”

 

Heath braced himself for what was inevitably coming.

 

“He did it.”  Liam pointed directly at Heath.

 

“What?”  Heath exclaimed loudly.  “Careful with those accusations.”

 

Hank looked at both men.  “Why do you say he did it?”

 

“Matt and I caught him out in the barn last night.  He said he was checking his horse, so we left him.  It’s obvious it was him.”

 

“You’re lying.  You dragged me out there.”

 

Liam debated whether he should push his original story.  “Well, maybe, but we left you alone and I figure you were just angry enough...”

 

“You dragged him out?”  Hank was shocked. 

 

“We just wanted to let him know the rules around here.”

 

“Rules?  What rules?  I make the rules around here.”

 

“Why would I come here and make trouble on my second night?  I’m not that stupid.”

 

Kyle interrupted them all.  “S’alright.  We got the horses back and soon we’ll have some lunch and then get a half-day’s work in.  No need to take anyone’s head off.”

 

At that moment, the tension was broken by Leah’s arrival with a tray of sandwiches.  They ate in silence and then loaded up the wagons and headed up the mountain.

 

Hank assigned Kyle and Heath to move logs down the trail in the wagons. 

 

“Thanks for the backup earlier.”

 

Kyle halted the team and turned to Heath.  “I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt.  But don’t kid yourself.  You’re the new kid.  You got a long way to go before you earn anyone’s full trust.”

 

“So, if that’s the case, so how do I earn trust?”

 

“Who says you ever will.”  With that, he clamped up and flicked the animals into motion.

 

The remainder of the day was tense and the tension continued for several days.  With no further mishaps, the tension eventually receded.  Long days of physical labor gave way to mostly quiet nights of sleep.  Memories still welled up, but he managed to keep from crying out.

 

“Sharpy, I don’t get it.  I get you the extra food, why is it you’re not getting better.  You givin’ it to others?  I told you not to.  That food is for you.  I need your help to get outta here.  When I get out, things will get better for you.  They’ll forget about that little escape attempt.” 

 

Heath’s eyes were glazed over and Culvertson wasn’t sure leaving him here with the others was going to help.  He wasn’t even sure Heath understood the words he was speaking.  Hank realized that Heath probably couldn’t control the food.  He figured he better try and stick closer to make sure it got into him. 

 

Heath had been part of the escape attempt, but hadn’t made it out of the tunnel.  His punishment had been the whipping post, followed by quality time in the sweatbox.  Hank was aware of the boy’s success as a sharp shooter from the moment he was brought into the camp.  He was popular with the prisoners due to his quiet strength.  They constantly buzzed about the boy with the determination to survive despite the circumstances.  He had even managed to help others in the midst of this hell.  Hank Culvertson needed his help and he intended to make sure Heath Thomson survived to that end, even if it cost a few others their lives.

 

Heath was on limb duty.  He quickly became one with the axe and plowed through the limbs on fallen trees.  The morning had dawned cold and gloomy.  Everyone seemed to have adopted the same mood.  When Hank finally fired the ending signal, the men gathered at the wagon. 

 

“Where’s Kyle?”  Hank scanned the tree line in search of his friend.

 

“I ain’t seen him since lunch.”

 

“Let’s split up and search.”

 

It was Hank himself who found Kyle.  He shouted for the rest of the men and they quickly honed in on his voice.  Heath was one of the last to arrive.  He found Hank cradling the lifeless body of Kyle Black in his arms, an axe protruding from his chest.

 

Through vacant eyes and with trembling voice, Hank spoke.  “He must have fallen on his axe.”  He paused.  “Someone help me get him to the wagon.”

 

All the men rushed forward to help and they carried him carefully and transported him home.  As Hank ushered Leah and Clara into the house to explain, the other men moved Kyle to the barn and began to prepare him for burial.  John and Carl set about building a coffin, while the others wrapped him in his blankets.  Tom rode to town to fetch the doctor and the sheriff.  

 

Later that evening, the men scattered.  A few went to town to drink their sorrows and a few just wandered into private spots in the woods.  Hank and Heath met up on the porch.

 

“I can’t see how I have helped, Hank.”

 

“You don’t have any ideas?”

 

“Honestly Hank, these men seem pretty loyal to you.  Maybe it was Kyle and one of the other men decided to handle him.”

 

“You think one of my men would kill another?”

 

“They threatened me.”

 

“What?  When?”

 

“Liam and Matt made it quite clear that if I hurt anyone here, I’d die.”

 

Despite the circumstances, a small smile formed on Hank’s face.  “I told you I couldn’t figure it out.”

 

“Maybe it’s time I go check things out in town.  I assume we won’t be working tomorrow.”

 

“No.  We need a couple days.”

 

“Good.  I’ll head into town and check around.”

 

The Dream woke him often that night.  It was the same scene, over and over again.

“It had to be you.  No one else could have let those horses out.  Oh, God, NO!”

 

~ ~ six ~ ~

 

Heath didn’t head directly to town the next day; instead he rode over to an even smaller neighboring town to send another wire.  He knew this was going to take some time and his family would worry. After taking care of that business, he rode into Wenatchee and went back to the original saloon.

 

“Stranger.  I bet your regretting taking the job out at Culvertson’s now, ain’t ya?”  It was the same barkeep.

 

“Sad thing about Black, but a job’s a job.  What’s the buzz around town?”  Due to the early hour, Heath sipped the proffered whiskey slowly.

 

“Not much more then the usual.  The place is cursed.”

 

“So you don’t think anyone is behind it?”

 

“Behind it?”

 

“You know.  Anyone interested in the land or trying to hurt the Culvertsons?”

 

“Not that I know of…  Can’t think of anyone who’d want the land.  There is plenty of land available around town.”

 

This information confused Heath.  Hank had been sure it was sabotage in an attempt to get his land.  “I heard tell of a man named Windsor.  Who’s that?”

“Dave Windsor?  He’s only the lifeblood of this town.  Why do you ask?”

 

“Heard his name mentioned.  Lifeblood, huh?  He pretty powerful?”

 

“Powerful, well I suppose.  Heck, you can’t meet a finer man.”

 

Heath sensed that he was being eyed suspiciously, so he redirected the conversation.  “Is this Windsor man in a position for hiring?”

 

It worked.  “Windsor don’t normally need to hire anyone, but I suppose you could try.  I thought you weren’t interested in a new job.”

 

Heath chuckled.  “I always got to keep my options open.  Where can I find this Windsor fellow?”

 

“He’s got an office at the end of the street.  He’s usually in during the morning.”

 

Again Heath flipped the man a coin larger then necessary and thanked him.  He strode down the sidewalk in the direction of Windsor’s office and stopped just short of it to observe the comings and goings.  After twenty minutes or so of observation, he moved in.

As he moved toward the door, it opened for him and an average sized man greeted him.

 

“I was wondering if you were ever going to come in.”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

“I’ve been watching you watch my window for twenty minutes now.  Is there something you need?”

 

Heath chuckled nervously.  “Well, I…  I was wondering if you were doing any hiring.”

 

“Hiring?  So you watch my office before deciding?”

 

“I like to know what kind of man I might be working with.”

 

“You new to town?”

 

If Windsor had an inside man, Heath figured he would know who he was.  If he did, he was doing a great job either covering or testing.  “No.  I been working out at Culvertsons for a week or so.”

 

“Bad business about Black.  A shame.  That got you spooked?”

 

“No, I just like to keep my options open.  Find what else what might be available.  I got no extreme loyalties to anything except making sure there is silver in my pocket.”  Heath hoped that Windsor might try and recruit him for his plans against Hank.  But he made no move.

 

“Well, I’m not hiring at this time.  But if something comes up, I’ll let you know.”

 

Heath was disappointed, but didn’t show it.  The barkeep was right.  Dave Windsor appeared to be a decent man.  He wasn’t sure why Hank suspected him and made a note to talk to Hank about it.  “I’d appreciate that.  Thanks for your time.”

 

“No problem.  My door is always open.  Good day!”

 

None of the events were making sense to Heath. He had expected to sense the presence of evil in this town, but he found none.  The closest thing to evil had been Liam and Matt, but they were nothing more then protective bears.  They reminded him of Nick.  After scouting the town a bit more and continuing to come up empty handed, he decided on a ride to clear his thoughts.  He and Charger headed out.

 

This mystery was getting more and more difficult.  Heath had hoped that the ride would clear his mind, but it didn’t.  He had only one idea, but he hesitated to act on it.  He knew he needed Jarrod’s help, but he knew he risked bringing the wrath of Nick along as well.  If he went to Jarrod and not Nick, there would be trouble.  He knew he needed Jarrod’s Pinkerton connections to get more information on these people.  Maybe there was some past connection that he was missing.  Feeling he had no other option, he rode back to the telegraph office and wired Jarrod.

 

~ Stockton  ~

 

Young Billy brought the wire to Jarrod’s office as soon as it arrived.  Jarrod read it and longed to find out more but honored the request first.  He found Billy still waiting in his outer office.

 

“Master William, why are you waiting?”

 

“I just had a feeling you were going to send a reply, so I waited.”

 

“You are a smart young man.  I am indeed sending a reply and would appreciate it if you would take care of this business for me.  And for your insight, here’s something extra for you.”  He handed Billy several extra coins and a huge grin came to the boys face. 

 

“Thank you, Sir.  I’ll get right on this.”

 

“You see that you do.”

 

Jarrod instinctively knew that he shouldn’t say anything to the family, and yet he also feared what would happen if they found out Heath had contacted him.  Heath hadn’t officially hired him, so attorney client confidentiality did not apply, but he knew Nick would demand to be apart of the project.  For now, he would keep quiet.

 

After settling Charger, Heath was on his way to the bunkhouse and stopped at the site before him.  Leah had fallen down in the middle of the yard and was crying.  He moved toward her side, but Clara got there first.  She held her daughter who let loose with a torrent of tears.  It was obvious to Heath that the tears came from more then the fall.  After a few minutes and a tight hug, Leah got up and went into the house.  Heath helped Clara up and they sat on the porch.

 

“Would you like something to drink, Heath?”

 

“No, thanks.”  He paused a moment.  “How are you doing?”

 

“Kyle was a good man.  He deserved better.  All our men are good.  It just isn’t right.”

 

“Do you believe it is just bad luck?”

 

She took a deep breath.  “I know who you are.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Heath.  It’s a rare name.  Hank was gone for several weeks and shortly after he returns, you show up?  Is your name really Thomson?”

 

“Did he tell you?”

 

“No, he doesn’t want me to worry.  Have you found anything out?”

 

“No.  Not really.  But you didn’t answer my question.”

 

“Hank worries a lot.  He hasn’t slept well since the war.  I suspect you know a little something about that too.”

 

“I might.  He thinks someone is behind all this.”

 

“I know.”

 

“But you don’t agree with him?”

“I just don’t know who would want us gone.”

 

“Maybe someone from your past?”

 

“Mine?  Not hardly.  You’re the only one from his past here right now.  Thank you.  It means a lot that you’re here.  He talks about you all the time.”

 

Heath blushed at the attention and she continued.

 

“Hank won’t say much about Carterson, but of course, I have read what everyone else has.  It couldn’t have been easy.  It’s no wonder the nightmares still plague you.”

 

“They typically don’t.  The past is the past.  I won’t let it rule my present or future.”

 

“I wish Hank could feel that way.”

 

“He seems to have put it behind him.”

 

“He puts up a good front.”

 

Just then several of the men returned and their talk stopped.  Heath was left with even more to think about, but he wouldn’t have the time until later that evening.

 

~ ~ seven ~ ~

 

A few more weeks passed.  They were busy.  Being short a man left them all working extra to fill the contract.  Heath wondered if the deal hadn’t been a bit too ambitious, but worked anyway.  There had been a few more accidents, but nothing out of the ordinary for the business.  He always kept a wary eye out and waited anxiously for information from Jarrod.  He knew it wouldn’t come overnight, but he became increasingly more impatient.  His mind was divided between the work at hand and solving the problem so he could go home.  He was beginning to think it was simple bad luck, but he didn’t know how to convince Hank of it.

 

“HEATH!”  Hank was running at him in a panic.

 

“What is it, Hank?”

 

“Is that horse of yours as fast as he looks?”

 

“Sure.”

 

“Ride for the doctor.  Matt’s lost his arm.”

 

Heath grabbed one of the workhorses and rode as quick as he could back to the barn where he switched off to Charger.  It seemed to take forever, but he brought the doctor back with him.  To save a man’s life when his arm was severed required fast action, he only hoped that the men on the mountain had acted quickly. 

 

Heath escorted the doctor into the guest bedroom where Matt Wetters lay.  He was white as a sheet and one could see that his breathing was raspy.  He was close to death.  Heath’s instinct told him he wouldn’t make it.  The doctor moved close and began to examine him.  Matt’s glossy eyes opened briefly and he searched out Hank’s face. 

 

His voice was slow and quiet.  “Wwwhhhyy mmmeee, Hhhaaannnkkk?”

 

Hank had seen enough death to know the end was near and moved closer to comfort the dying man.  “I don’t know, Matt.  Hang on.  You fight this.  It’s not your time.”

 

Matt began to gasp loudly and then became suddenly still.  The doctor moved his stethoscope to the man’s chest and shook his head slowly.  “I’m sorry.”

 

Liam had been holding Leah in the outer room.  Everyone could hear her pathetic cries of no.  Liam and Matt had been good friends and Liam simply held the precious little girl in his arms, clinging to her for comfort.  Inside the room, Clara fell into her husband’s strong arms and they held each other for comfort.  Tom, John and Carl slowly backed out of the room and left the house. 

 

The same procedure was followed for Matt’s death.  Heath took advantage of the time off to ride again for a wire.  There was a message waiting for him at the office, informing him that the information would arrive by messenger within the week.

 

He was relieved to know help was on its way.  It lifted his mood ever so slightly.  As he rode into the yard, he noticed Clara, alone on the porch. She was thumbing through a catalog and didn’t notice his arrival.

 

“Got yourself a new wish book?”

 

She was startled.  “Oh, Heath.  Heavens, you startled me.  I didn’t hear you ride in.”

 

“You were pretty caught up in that catalog.”

 

“I was trying to take my mind off everything.  Hank took Leah off for a ride.”

 

“Sounds like a good idea.  Got any good wishes?”

 

She chuckled lightly.  “If wishes were gold, I would be rich.”

 

“Whatcha wishing for?”

 

“All this to be over…”

 

He noticed that she seemed to regret the choice of words.  “It’s been rough on you.”

 

“I never thought I would find myself in the middle of the woods.  A farmer’s wife, maybe…  I always kinda hoped we could have a small store in town.  My daddy was a storekeep.”

 

“So, this was Hank’s dream?”

 

“I don’t know if it was his dream, but he’s happy here.”

 

“He is…  but are you?”

 

“I’m his wife, Heath.  His dreams are my dreams.”

 

“Have you ever shared your dreams with him?”

 

She was silent for a minute, as if she wanted to share something.  “I do.  I dog ear the pages with trinkets that I wish for in this catalog.  That way he always knows what to get me.”

 

Heath left her and after seeing to Charger, he entered the bunkhouse, but was immediately slammed up against the wall.  Liam pinned him there.

 

“Stay away from her!”

 

“What?  I reckon you better explain yourself.”

 

“I don’t need to.  I been working for Clara for over 12 years and if I tell ya to stay away, you better do it.  You understand?”

 

“Understood.”

 

~ Stockton ~

 

“Brother Nick, how are things on the ranch?”

 

Nick finished pouring he and Jarrod before dinner drinks and handed him one.  “Fine, why do you ask?”

 

“Could you spare a couple days?”

 

Nick’s curiosity was piqued.  “For the right reason, why?  Wanna go hunt down that little brother of ours?”

 

“No need to hunt.  I know where he is.”

 

“YOU WHAT?” 

 

“Nicholas, must you shout.  Give Jarrod a chance to explain.” 

 

Nick would always cringe at a reprimand from his mother, no matter how old he was.  “How do you know where he is?”

 

“He wired me requesting help.  I told him a messenger would deliver it within a week.”

 

“And I get to be the messenger?”

 

“We both do, Brother Dear.  We both do.”

 

“When will you both leave?”

 

Jarrod leaned in and kissed his mother’s cheek.  “Tomorrow morning, if Nick can arrange it.”

 

“Oh, I’ll arrange it.  Don’t you worry.  I’ll arrange it.”

 

Role Call was a terrifying moment for everyone in Carterson.  If you were ambulatory and could stand for the period of search, you breathed a deep sigh of relief, all along saying good-bye to those who would now die. 

 

Hank Culvertson worried because he didn’t see Sharpy in the ranks.  He risked a search of the rows of men and sucked in a deep breath.  “Damn it!”  His worry was interrupted by the command to be part of the patrol.  He hated moving corpses, much less identifying those that would become corpses.

 

Sharpy was curled onto his side and very still.  Hank approached with one other man, who kicked at the boy.  All around them random gun shots could be heard.

 

“Looks like the kid finally lost is battle.  He was one tough sucker.”

 

Hank bent over and checked more closely and found a pulse.  “Wait.  He’s still alive.”

 

The other man bent over and found the weak pulse.  “Maybe, but not for long.  He’s not worth saving.  Besides, I stand a better chance in the pool.”  He summoned a third man over, who held a gun and the man took aim at the boy’s head.  Heath groggily turned his head upward and knew what was happening.  He let out a slow breath and re-closed his eyes, waiting for the sound of the bullet and the crunch of bone as it pierced his skull.

 

“No, wait.  Save the bullet.  You’re right.  He’s not gonna live long anyway.”

 

Heath slowly opened his eyes again, surprised that he could and wondering what might be prolonging his agony.  He saw Hank holding his hand on the gun. 

 

“You got a different date on the pool, don’t ya Culvertson?”

 

“Ya, something like that.”

 

“What the hell, it just prolongs his agony.”

 

Heath woke up in a cold sweat.  His desire to solve the attacks and get home was growing daily.  Hank Culvertson may be a good man now, but Heath was beginning to live in his past and that was not a healthy place to be.  He changed his thinking and considered the day’s events.  He hadn’t figured Liam for the guilty party, but several things wouldn’t leave his mind.  Hank’s initial statement,“I didn’t think it was possible, but Clara gave birth ten years ago.”  And Liam’s statement from today, “I been working for Clara for over 12 years and if I tell ya to stay away, you better do it.”  If Liam was in love with Clara, and had been for some time, maybe he had finally decided to make a move.

 

 

~ ~ eight ~ ~

 

Heath had left Jarrod rather bizarre instructions for leaving the reports.  He was sure the messenger would demand extra pay when he got the instructions for delivery.  Jarrod had said he would arrive within a week and Heath immediately began checking the spot for the delivery.  He had chosen a remote spot near some distinctive boulders to get the packages.  He still didn’t want to reveal himself and could not come up with a good reason to be receiving a package.

 

Clara insisted that Hank attend church on Sunday mornings, so despite the need to be working, he complied with his wife’s wishes and the remaining men lounged in the bunkhouse.  As soon as the family had left for town, John Smith and Carl Williams began packing up their things.  Liam confronted them.

 

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

 

“We’re getting out of here.  This place is a death trap.”

 

“You can’t do this to them.  It ain’t their fault.  They need you now more then ever.  They’ll lose everything.”

 

“So will we if we stay.  This place is death and if you don’t want to end up like Kyle and Matt, you’d leave too.”

 

They finished their packing and left the bunkhouse.  Liam looked at Heath.  “You goin’ too?”

 

“Me?  I got nowhere else to go.”

 

“I’m still watchin’ you.  We had accidents before, but the deaths didn’t start until YOU got here.”

 

“Well, if it makes you feel any better.  I’m watching you.  I don’t reckon to be the next victim.”

 

Tom Wilkins had been watching all the exchanges quietly.  “So neither of you believe these are accidents?  You think someone is trying to kill us?”

 

Both men were silent.

 

Heath took the opportunity to ride out to the rock formation under the guise of exercising Charger.  As he approached, something didn’t seem quite right and he slowed.  He sensed a presence.  He stopped Charger and walked him closer.  He examined the rocks.

 

“Reckon our little brother missed us at all, Jarrod?”

 

Heath spun around at the familiar voice and a huge smile lit his face.  The three men greeted each other warmly.

 

Heath’s perplexed and slightly angered looked worried the older Barkley brothers.  “I asked for a messenger, not you two.”

 

“What?  You don’t want to see us?  You haven’t missed us?”  Nick feigned indignation.  He knew if he were in Heath’s shoes, he’d be angry too.

 

“I simply wanted to make sure these reports got to you and Nick wanted a vacation.”

 

Heath growled as he accepted the portfolio from Jarrod. 

 

“Come on over to our little fire and have a cup of coffee.  Maybe you can shed some light on what you’re doing here.”

 

“I don’t have all day.  I need to get back to work.”

 

“This Culvertson has his men working on a Sunday?  And some of our men think we are tough…”  Nick was trying his best to loosen his brother’s tongue.  He already suspected a battle.

 

As they shared coffee, Heath skimmed the files. 

 

“Heath, are you finding what you want in those?”  Jarrod’s lawyer sense was raised.

 

“Have you read them?”

 

“Yes.  Anything you are looking for?”

 

“Heath, why don’t you tell us why you are here helping this guy?  I mean, it was only supposed to be a couple of days.”  Nick was frustrated at his brother’s silence.

 

“Hank helped me out back in Carterson.  I owe him.”

 

Jarrod detected the strange tone in Heath’s voice and pried him further.  “Just what did he do for you?”

 

“I guess…  He saved my life.”

 

“You guess?  Meaning your not sure?”  Nick’s hazel eyes were flashing. 

 

“It’s a long story.”

 

“So start talkin’.”

 

“Nick, Heath said he doesn’t have a lot of time.”

 

“What difference does it make?  I’m here and I need to help him.”

 

“So, Culvertson thinks someone is sabotaging his business?”

 

“Ya.  But I can’t figure who.”

 

“You say Culvertson was in Carterson?”

 

“He was there.”

 

“This man, Dave Windsor.  There isn’t anything special about him, he seems to check out, but…”

 

“But what?”  Both Nick and Heath chimed in together.

 

“He did have a brother who died in Carterson.”

 

“So he could have a grudge against him.”

 

Heath was quiet.  “Lots of people have grudges from Carterson.”

 

Nick grew immediately more concerned.  “I don’t like this.  You need to let him solve his own problems.”

“Why?”

 

“Because!”

 

“I said, why?”

 

Jarrod tensed as he prepared to step into the growing tension between his younger brothers.

 

“Because you deserve to put that damn place behind you!  Every time you get some peace in your life, someone comes along and drags that time up.  You deserve better.”

 

“You think I deserve to have my past disappear?  Is that what you want, Brother?”

 

“No, I…”

 

“I didn’t invite you here.  I know how you don’t like my past coming along and interfering with your life Nick!”  Heath’s body shook with inner rage.

 

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

 

Jarrod attempted to be a calmer voice.  “Heath, we’re just concerned.  We want to help.”

 

“I asked for your help.  You did it.  Now you can go.”

 

“Heath, we can help.  Let us help.”

 

“This deals with my past, no need for you to get involved.”

 

Nick stood up abruptly and towered over Heath.  “Your past is our past.  What is it gonna take to convince you of that?”

 

For a split second, Heath’s face showed defeat.  His initial response was quiet and barely audible.  “This hell is all my own.” 

 

“What?”

 

“I said, this is mine.  Stay out!”

 

“Heath, what exactly is the story with Culvertson?”

 

“Thanks for the help.  I gotta go.”  Heath stood and tried to leave, but Nick stopped him.  “Don’t do this Nick.  For once, just let it be, please?”  He brushed past Nick and Jarrod.  Jarrod reached out and grabbed his arm and held him.

 

“Heath, I have an idea.  We can help and try and speed things up.”

 

Heath took a deep breath and rotated his head to alleviate the tension that had built up.  “How?”

 

“We can go at this from another angle.  We are always on the look out for good investments.  Perhaps we are touring, looking for good lumber contracts?”

 

“Jarrod, that’s a great idea.  Then we can get to know this Windsor guy.”

 

They waited for Heath’s response. 

 

“He’d never let you that close.”

 

“He might let something slip if we plant the right hints.”

 

“You can’t be obvious.”

 

“We won’t.  We can do this Heath.”

 

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to give it a couple days.”

 

“Consider it done!”

 

Heath left his brothers, trusting them to make the necessary arrangements.  He rode bit and then stopped to read the files.  As Jarrod had said, there was nothing in them that helped.  He had hoped to find out that Liam McCleary had been a Finnian, or some other subversive.  But nothing showed up.  Even Windsor was clean.  The only thing they had to go on was the connection to Carterson.  Perhaps he knew the truth about Hank and wanted revenge.

 

“Take the shot, Sharpy.  Life will be better for this whole damned world, if you take this one shot.  It could very well be the most important shot of your life.  TAKE IT!”

 

Heath’s heart was racing as he woke up.  He struggled to the door and gulped in the fresh air.  He didn’t know how much more of this he could take.  He hoped Jarrod and Nick had success.  He wanted to go home.

 

He expected Jarrod and Nick to keep to town, so when Nick came riding into the yard the following morning, Heath was stunned.  He rode Coco and used his own saddle, but he didn’t look like Nick.  He was dressed in blue trousers and a simple tan shirt; even the black hat was gone.  Heath did a double take.

 

He started for Nick at the same time as Hank, but Hank was closer and reached Nick first.

 

“I heard on the trail that you might be looking for help.”

 

“Who’d you hear that from?”

 

“I met up with a couple of guys, said they used to work here.  I figure if they were leaving, then someone else might be needed to fill in.”

 

“They didn’t say anything else?”

 

“Nope, should they have?”

 

“What’s your name?”

 

Nick eyed Heath, standing behind Hank, before he spoke.  “Nick, Nick Thompson.”

Heath’s eyes flared for a second, but he quickly recovered.

 

“Well, Thompson, you’re right.  I can use the help.  You got lumber experience?  You seem more a cowboy.”

 

“You name the job, I can do it.”

 

“Settle your horse in the barn and throw your stuff in the bunkhouse.  We were just about to head out for the day.  Be quick.”

 

Nick lead Coco to the barn and hank turned to Heath, who was still stunned.

 

“Looks like our luck might finally be changing.”

 

“Ya, maybe.”

“You know him?”

Heath thought it better that Hank stay unaware.  “No.”

 

“So, why the concern?”

 

“I just don’t know that it’s wise to bring a stranger into the mix at this point.  How do we know he ain’t workin’ for Windsor?”

 

Hank thought a moment.  “You’re right.  I guess I wasn’t thinkin’ too clearly.  You think I should get rid of him?”

 

“Maybe, let him work with me today and then we can decide.”

 

“Sounds like a plan.”  Hank hesitated.  “Say, Heath, you got any other leads you ain’t telling me about?”

 

“No.  I can’t figure anything.”

 

“I appreciate you staying around.  I know what this must be costing you.”

 

“Just means I need to work harder to figure out what is going on.”

 

~ ~ nine ~ ~

 

Jarrod waited in David Windsor’s outer office for several minutes before the door opened and he was ushered into the main room.  A middle-aged man of average build slightly graying hair offered his hand. 

 

“Jarrod Barkley.  I’ve heard of you.  What brings you to our little town so far away from Stockton?”

 

“Well, part vacation from my brothers and part business.”

 

“What part is which?”

 

“My youngest brother has been out of commission for a while and my other brother has been pressuring me to help out on the ranch.  I decided it was high time I explore some new timber options.  I hear you are the man to see in town.”

 

“Well, I’m honored you came to me.  There are several timber camps in the area that could interest you.”

 

“Let’s talk.”

 

Heath and Nick worked together as they always had.  They kept conversation to a minimum.  The natural rhythm took over and the two toiled away.  Lunch was the first opportunity they had to talk alone.

 

“What are you doing here, Nick?”

 

“Working.”

 

“You’re supposed to be with Jarrod.”

 

“We thought this was a better plan.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because it was obvious that you wanted to help Hank and he needed more men.  The sooner we solve this, the better for all of us.”

 

“That the only reason?”

 

“No.”

 

“And the other reason is…”

 

“Someone’s gotta keep an eye on you.”  He leaned in a ruffled Heath’s hair and Heath swatted his hand away. 

 

“None of that now!”

 

Deep down, Heath knew it was the first moment of happiness he had felt since arriving.  He had needed it.  He suspected that Nick knew as much.  He wondered if he would ever learn this brother thing as well as Jarrod and Nick seemed to.  He hoped he would.  He continued to work on it.

 

A few days passed and Nick and Heath kept up appearances.  They no longer worked with each other in order to make contact with the two other remaining men.  They worked longer hours then normal in their rush to fill the order.  They rolled into the yard after dark and started out again at sunrise.  Clara and Leah did their best to support the hard-working men.  They all enjoyed the mealtime visits from Leah.  She had the magical innocence of childhood to lift their spirits. 

 

They were just finishing their lunch break, when two riders approached.  Nick and Heath immediately recognized Jarrod and Nick assumed the other was Windsor.  The riders approached Hank and all the men moved a bit closer.

 

“Hank, this is Jarrod Barkley from California.”

 

“Jarrod, this is Hank Culvertson, owner of this operation.”

 

The two men shook hands.  Hank started.  “Its nice to meet you, Mr. Barkley.  What brings you to Wenatchee?”

 

“Well, my family is always interested in new lumber ventures.”

 

“You need some lumber?”

 

“More like investments in camps.  We have had great success with some of our California camps and are looking to expand.”

 

Hank thought for a moment and then asked why they were visiting his camp.  Windsor answered.

 

“Well, I thought maybe with all the trouble you’ve been having, you might be interested in selling out.”

 

“WHAT?  Why would you think such a thing?  Windsor put you up to this, Mr. Barkley?”

 

Jarrod was stunned at the vehemence of the man’s response.  “No, I…”

 

Hank turned to Windsor.   “I knew you were up to no good, but bringing in someone like Barkley is…”

 

“How dare you imply I am doing or have done anything wrong!  Just what are you accusing me of Hank?”  Windsor was now equally angry.

 

“You think no one would think twice about your timing?  Two good men die and you show up with an offer to buy…”

 

“Gentlemen, Gentlemen!  I am not sure what I have stepped in the middle of, but perhaps we should sit down and discuss this as gentlemen.”

 

“I got nothing to say to this murderer.”  Hank made a critical mistake and turned away from the visitors.

 

Windsor had had enough and pulled Hank’s arm back and then fired a left hook.  Hank staggered and then charged at the man.  Nick and Heath ran forward to pull Hank off and Jarrod pulled Windsor backward.  The two men struggled against the constraints, but distance eased the fight.

 

Windsor screamed at Culvertson.  “You better have proof to back up that accusation or you’ll find yourself out of business.  That’s nothing but slander!”

 

“My proof is buried six feet under.  Care to join ‘em?”

 

“Now you threaten me and in front of Witnesses?  You’re a bigger idiot then I ever imagined.  You’re through now Culvertson.  THROUGH!”  He grabbed Jarrod’s arm and they both mounted and rode off.

 

Hank shook himself free from Nick and Heath and stormed into the woods to cool off.

 

“That didn’t go well.”

 

“Ya think?”

 

Nothing came of the encounter, although Hank increased the number of guns that were stored in the wagon.  The men didn’t generally wear weapons, as it increased the risk of accident.  Nick always felt a bit off not wearing his gun belt, especially in this situation. 

 

Sunday came and after bidding the family goodbye, Heath headed out and Nick followed shortly thereafter.  They met Jarrod at the same outcropping of rocks.

 

“So, Jarrod, have you got anything for us?”

 

“I wish.  Other then showing me the properties around town, he didn’t even mention Culvertson until we rode in.”

 

“And what has he said since then?”

 

“I managed to talk him out of preferring charges against him.”

 

“No easy task.”

 

“Yes, it did require my finer skills.  Um, Heath.  I haven’t seen a shred of evidence to indicate that Windsor or anyone else is behind this.  Are you sure Hank isn’t a bit paranoid.  Perhaps these are just tragic accidents?”

 

“I don’t know anymore, Jarrod.  I just don’t know.”

 

“Well, I do.  Let’s pack up and head home.  There is nothing here.”  Nick was already rising.

 

“You go on ahead.”  Heath wanted to, but felt he couldn’t leave.

 

“We can all go, Heath.”

 

“No.  I told Hank I’d help and I will.”

 

“Damn it all, what does he have on you little brother?”

 

Heath was stunned.  He had never thought about it that way.  “No… Nothing.”

 

“Heath.  Perhaps Nick is right.  Maybe if you told us about what happened with Hank in Carterson, we would better understand why you have to stay.”

 

“No…  It doesn’t matter.  You two head home.  I’ll be back when I can.”

 

“Nope.  That’s not good enough Heath.”

 

“It’s all you’re gonna get.”

 

“You’ve shared other experiences Heath, why not this one?  What happened?”

 

“I.   I…  It doesn’t matter.  Isn’t it enough that I told him I would help?”

 

“No.”

 

“You two head home.  I’ll get this sorted out and then follow.”  Heath moved to pass Nick, but Nick grabbed his arm.

 

“I don’t think so.”

 

“Let go of me, Nick.  This is none of your affair.”

 

“You’re my brother and that makes it my affair.  Now it’s obvious something happened and you feel indebted to him, but maybe you shouldn’t be.”

 

“Nick’s right, Heath.  Maybe you need another perspective.”  Jarrod was holding his breath at the tension between the three.

 

“Don’t you see?  If I get this debt over with, I can finally get on with my life.”

 

“Get on with you life?  Just what have you been doing all these years?  Heath what could have possibly happened to cause you to act this way?”

 

“This just isn’t you.”

 

Heath turned back to his brothers and anger flared in his face.  “You’re WRONG!  This is me.  This is what I am capable of and you can’t change that.  Now LEAVE!”  He emphasized his point with a fierce shove to Nick’s chest.  He left his stunned brother’s in his wake as he rode off.

 

Nick looked stricken at Jarrod.  “What did he mean by this is what he is capable of?”

 

“I don’t know, but we need to get him out of here.”

 

“We can’t just take him.”

 

“No, but we can get to the bottom of this situation, and soon.”

 

“Agreed.”

 

~ ~ ten ~ ~

 

Heath funneled his anger into his work that afternoon.  He worked alone, as no one wanted to be near him.  He radiated anger and hostility.  Not only did Clara insist on church, but also insisted that the men break from work at 5pm.  When they did so, Heath quickly cleaned up and saddled Charger.  Leah stopped him before he rode out.

 

“Where ya goin’, Heath?”

 

“Gotta go to town, Tidbit.  You be good.”  He hoped she would stop, but she didn’t.

 

“What’s in town on a Sunday.  The stores is closed.”

 

“Not everything is closed.  Now run along.”

 

During the conversation, Hank approached the two.  He sent Leah scurrying with a playful swat to her bottom.

 

“Only saloons open in town, Heath.”

 

“I know.”

 

“Look, I understand the need to blow off steam, but I need you.  I can’t afford to have you hung over or worse, thrown into jail.  I think we can finish this contract tomorrow if we push.  Please, can you wait another night?  Then I’ll even buy!  Heath, if I lose this contract, I’ll lose everything.”

 

Heath was angry at the manipulation, but acceded to his request.  Dinner, as they had become, was quiet and Heath turned in early.  Nick kept trying to get him alone, but Heath resisted.

 

“Damn it all.  Hank, he’s still hanging on.  Don’t ya think the only decent thing to do is put him out of his misery?”

 

Heath’s young, bloodshot eyes, looked up at the two men with agony and fear.  It was happening all over again.

 

“Nah.  This one’s tough and too darn ornery.”

 

“So, you say let him off twice?  I don’t know if we can justify that.”

 

“It’ll be fine.  Let him go.”

 

His body rocked in his small cot.

 

“No.  Please.  I don’t want to take the shot.”

 

“Take it, Sharpy.  Take it now and life will be better.  I promise.”

 

 

“NO!  I won’t take it!”  The scream woke everyone in the bunkhouse and Nick immediately ran to his brother’s side.

 

“Heath, wake up!”  He slapped his cheeks, hoping to draw him from the hell he was in.

Heath sat up sharply and took several deep breaths.  He pushed Nick’s caring arms away and pushed his legs over the edge of the bed, ignoring the concerned men around him.  He walked to the door in his stocking feet and collapsed outside at the water trough.  He continued the deep breaths and splashed the cold water from the trough on his face.  His mind swam.  The experience had nearly killed him and now it was threatening to do the same now.  It was as if the past had reached out its death grip to reclaim what it had lost before.  He hadn’t noticed Nick’s approach. Nick handed him a bottle of Irish whiskey.

 

“Liam thought you might need this.”

 

Heath couldn’t meet Nick’s eyes.  “Thanks.”  He took a long drink and several more deep breaths to steady his nerves.

 

“You still won’t tell me what happened?”

 

“I gambled with the devil a long time ago and I lost.  He’s come to claim his prize.”

 

“What nonsense is that?”

 

“Just what I said.  I sold my soul to the devil and he’s come to claim it.”

 

“And Hank is the devil?”

 

“Maybe.”  It was quiet.  It was the first bad word Heath had said against Hank and it rattled Nick.

 

“It ain’t worth it, Heath.  Let’s go.  We’ll get out of here right now.”

 

Heath was quiet again.  Nick knew he was considering it.  He was close to a victory.

 

“If I go, the devil wins.  I gotta keep trying.”  Heath took another long swig of the whiskey and pulled himself together.  “We’ll finish the contract tomorrow.  It’ll be a long day.  We need sleep.”

 

The next morning, Heath pretended nothing had happened.  Nick caught up with him by the corral.  Heath was watching Hank play tag with Leah.  They were both laughing and giggling.  It was a mesmerizing scene.

 

“Last night you referred to him as the devil.”

 

Heath didn’t acknowledge Nick.  “No I didn’t.  Watch him.  That’s no devil.  That’s a happy man.”

 

“You deserve that happiness, Heath.”

 

“Maybe.”

 

As predicted, they completed the work for the contract late afternoon.  Hank rewarded his four men with a trip into town.  He bought the first couple rounds and the celebration was well underway, as the group began to break off.  Liam and Tom were entertaining a few of the ladies at a table in the corner.  Nick saw Jarrod playing poker with a couple strangers at another table and decided to join him.  He knew they couldn’t openly talk, but he needed a change and they could both keep an eye on Heath.

 

This left Heath and Hank at their original table.  They poured themselves a few more drinks before any conversation began.

 

“I think it’s time for me to go, Hank.”

 

“What?  We haven’t gotten to the bottom of this yet.  Please.”

 

“Look, Hank.  You got the contract filled.  I can’t find any other evidence.  I want to go home.”

 

“But…”

 

“No buts, Hank.  I’ve paid my debt.”

 

“You think these last months work have been worth the price of your life?”

 

“That’s not fair, Hank.”

 

“I’m sorry.  It’s the drink.  You’re right.  Maybe I am just jinxed.”

 

“I’ll leave in the morning.”

 

“Ok.”

 

Heath and Nick were both saddling up the next morning when Hank found them. 

 

“You’re both heading out?”

 

“Yes.  Look, Hank.  I probably should have told you sooner.  Nick here is my brother.  He came to help.”

 

“Wow.  I know you said you’d found a family.  Must be pretty close for him to come help.”  He offered Nick his hand.  Nick reluctantly shook it.  He didn’t trust Hank in the slightest.   “Nice to officially meet you Nick Thomson.”

 

“Barkley, Nick Barkley.  Heath is a Barkley now.”  He added the last bit for both their benefits.

 

“Barkley, so the other guy, he’s a brother too?”

“’fraid so.”

 

Hank chuckled.  “You’re a lucky man, Heath.  And you too, Nick.”

 

“I know.”  Both brothers again answered in chorus and all the men laughed.

 

Just then, Liam approached the group.  “You ready to head back up, Boss?”

 

“Ya, just a second.  I owe these two men some money.”

 

Nick replied.  “Don’t worry about it.  Buy Clara a nice new dress.”

 

Heath had other thoughts.  “Where you headed up to?”

 

Hank smiled.  “I did the books wrong.  We got two more wagonloads to come down.  No worry.  Liam and I will handle it.  It shouldn’t take more then a couple days.  The trees are down, they just need loading.”

 

Nick didn’t seem to care.  “Good luck then.” 

 

But Heath had other thoughts.  “Two of you can’t load two wagons.”

 

“It’s ok, Heath.  We’ll manage.”

 

“Hank, the least we can do is help with the last two wagons.”

 

“Heath.  Jarrod will be waiting for us.”

 

“Good idea, Nick.  Go get Jarrod and bring him up.  He can help.”

 

Hank was astonished.  “Really?  That would be a huge help.”

 

“Heath?”

 

“Go on, Nick.  Get Jarrod.”

 

“Heath,” the irritation evident in his voice.

 

“Fine, Nick.  Don’t help.  I said I would stay until the contract was filled.”

 

Nick saw that there was no arguing, so he left to get Jarrod.  He couldn’t wait to see Jarrod’s reaction to the idea of working lumber all day.  It would almost be worth it.

 

~ ~ eleven ~ ~ 

 

Jarrod’s reaction was worth it.  He grumbled the whole time as he changed into work clothes.

 

“So, we’re logging for the day?”

 

“You betcha, Big Brother.”

 

“Just today, right?”

 

“If I have any say in the matter.”

 

At the top of the mountain, the three men had managed to load one wagon already.  Using a pulley system had increased their productivity.  The long longs were divided between two wagons.  The rear wagon had no drivers seat, it was used to support the weight only.   Thick lengths of rope were used to stabilize the loads.

 

“Liam.  How’s about you stay up here and wait for Heath’s brothers and we’ll head down the back slope with the wagon?”

 

“Sounds good, Boss.  Take it easy on that trail.  It’s been tough lately and that wagon is loaded pretty full.”

 

“Will do.  Heath, you want to drive or ride?”

 

Heath chuckled.  “I’ll ride.”

 

On the way up to the site, Nick and Jarrod were discussing the situation at hand.  Nick told Jarrod all about what had happened in the previous nights.

 

“Hm…”

 

“What?  Hm?”

 

“What?”

 

“You said, Hm. What’s on your mind, Big Brother?”

 

“It’s just…  I keep wondering what might have happened between Heath and Hank to have scared Heath like this.  It’s odd for him to talk about deals with the devil.”

 

“I know.  I been wondering the same thing.  I keep hoping that maybe once we get him away, he’ll open up.”

 

“What if?” 

 

Jarrod stopping mid question annoyed Nick.  “What?  What if?”

 

Jarrod took a deep breath.  “What if Hank is behind everything?”

 

“No way, Jarrod.  I’ve been working with the guy.  He’s no murderer.  He’d have to be the most cold blooded murderer in the world to work like that.”

 

“I guess you’re right.  I just have a hard time believing in such incredible bad luck.  I’m too practical.”

 

“I know.  But, like I said, I been here enough to know, Hank may not be perfect, but he’s not a cold blooded killer.”

 

The path down the other side of the mountain was indeed treacherous and very slow, but necessary.  Once they got the load down, a different crew of men would take over floating them down the river.  It typically took two men.  One man concentrated on handling the horses, while the other climbed onto the load in the rear wagon and watched for trouble spots. 

 

Heath’s legs were clamped around the top log.  His arms were all but useless with the rocking motion of the journey.  Bumps were the worst.  His body would fly up and he found himself holding on for dear life.  The last thing you wanted to do was fall off and get under the wheels of a wagon that weighed tons.

 

Nick and Jarrod arrived at the worksite to find only Liam.  He told them how the other men had started off.  The men applied the same effort and soon had another wagon loaded.  Since there was no work to be done alone and Jarrod was not too experienced, all three men drove this wagon down.

 

When they came to a relatively flat section of road, both men relaxed a little.  This section followed along a deep hillside and was quite narrow.

 

“Ya know, Heath.  I hate to see ya go.  It’s been good having you here.”

 

“Thanks, Hank, but I miss the ranch.”

 

“So, you did make yourself a wonderful life.  The only thing you’re missing is a wife and children.”

 

Heath smiled to himself.  He’d watched Liam with Clara and Leah and had found himself longing for that life. He knew of a certain schoolmarm at home who was about to have an increase in visits from him.  He found himself hoping Lynn would welcome his attentions.  “I suspect you’re right.”

 

“It’s a dirty little secret we share, Sharpy.”

 

Heath’s happy thoughts instantly vanished.  “It’s over, Hank.”

 

“Is it?  I dream about it every night.  Don’t you?  I saw you the other night.  Does your brother know?  He’s a lawyer.  What does he say?”

 

“They don’t know.  No one knows.  I’ve never told anyone about that night.”

 

“That’s good, Sharpy.  Real good.”

 

“Hank.  It was war.  We did what we had to do.”

 

“Is that what you’ve told yourself all these years?”  Hank began to laugh, a sickening, and psychotic laugh.

 

“Hank.  If you want to talk about what happened, let’s pull over.”

 

Hank instead, spurred the reins and trotted the horses faster.  The lurch caused Heath to slip to one side and he struggled to right himself.

 

Hank took his eyes off the road ahead of him and turned to Heath.  The reins were carelessly in one hand and a knife was in the other.

 

“They gave me a medal.  Did you know that?  They gave me, a guard at Carterson, a medal.”

 

“No.  Hank, watch the road.  You’ll kill us both.”

 

“Not both of us, Sharpy.  Just you.”  With those words, he sliced at the thick ropes holding the logs to the wagon.  He couldn’t get them all, but he loosened enough to create a potentially deadly situation for Heath.

 

“NO!”  Heath scrambled to determine what to do.  He needed to jump, but Hank had obviously planned it for the most dangerous section of road.

 

Hank continued to lean back and slice at ropes.  Heath could feel the logs shifting beneath him and the bile rose in his throat.  “No, Hank!  STOP!”

 

As if his words finally penetrated the haze of Hank’s mind, he did stop the wagon. 

 

“Heath?”  His eyes were lost.  He didn’t seem to know what he had been doing.

 

“Hank, put the knife down and get off the wagon.”

 

Hank looked down at the knife in his hand and at the severed ropes.  “Oh, God, not again!  Heath!  Help me?  Why does this keep happening?”

 

“I will, Hank.  Just do what I ask.”  Heath moved slowly forward on the logs.  They shifted with each movement he made and he slowed his pace.  He looked up to see the confused expression on Hank’s face vanish to one of pure evil.

 

“I don’t need to kill us both.  Just you.  You’re the only witness.  You have to die.”  He flicked the reins hard and lurched the wagon into motion.  It was too much for the topmost logs and remaining ropes.  The entire back end, with Heath, began to fall. 

 

Perhaps the only small miracle was the strength of the remaining ropes.    Only several of the top logs followed Heath over the edge.  The rest remained on the road.  Tumbling down the side of the hill out of control.  Hank watched as Heath’s body was tossed and torn.  His body smashed through smaller trees, bushes and on the rocks.  The sick glee in Hank’s eyes faded to panic and he tried to make his way after the man.  He was on his way down to the spot when he had last seen Heath and he stopped to scan the area.  He saw Heath trapped under one of the large logs and started toward him.  Then he stopped.  He climbed back up the hill and unhitched one of the horses.  He climbed up bareback and turned the horse back up the hill.  He needed help.

 

He met the second wagon and quickly told them about Heath’s ‘accident’ and they rushed to save the fallen man.  When they reached the spot, all the men climbed down to Heath.

Nick reached him first.  He jumped the tree covering Heath’s midsection and lower body and nervously placed his fingers on his brother’s bloody neck.

 

“Come on, Heath.  Be here.  Hold on.  You ain’t going like this.”  Despite his confident words, he fully expected to find his brother dead. 

 

There it was, like a light in your home window on the darkest, stormiest night of the year, a weak pulse.

 

He looked up with relief and met Jarrod’s eyes.  No words were necessary.

 

“Jarrod, we need help and fast.  We gotta bring the doctor here before we move him.  Plus we’ll need more men to remove this tree.”

 

Liam was already going back up the hill.  He turned and shouted over his shoulder.  “I’ll take the shortcut to town and get the doctor.”  They all knew that crush wounds were often made worse when the crushing object was removed.

 

Hank turned to Jarrod.  “Do you know the way back home?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You go get a wagon and alert my wife.  I’ll ride over to a neighboring camp and get some more men.”

 

“Agreed.”  Jarrod looked at Nick who was cradling his brother and attempting to stop the flow of blood from the gashes in his head.  He watched as Nick whispered words of encouragement and love in his brother’s unconscious ear.  “Nick, will you be ok?”

 

Nick slowly looked up.  “Ya, but hurry Jarrod.  He’s…”

 

“I will, Nick.”

 

Hank and Jarrod turned and climbed up the embankment, leaving Nick alone with his brother.

 

~ ~ twelve ~ ~ 

 

“Nick, talk to me.”

 

“I can’t, Jarrod.  I just can’t explain it.”

 

“He’s going to be fine.”

 

“I don’t know.  I just don’t know.”

“Nick, this isn’t like you.  Since when do you give up on Heath?”

 

“I can’t explain it.  He was just so…”

 

“So, what?”

 

“So, calm.”

 

“Calm?  Nick, he’s pretty busted up.  He was only half conscious, if that.”

 

“No, he was lucid, but so calm.  Like he was ready to…”

 

Jarrod grabbed his younger brother’s shoulders and forced him to look him in the eyes.  “Everything happened so fast.  You’re imagining it.”

 

Nick looked away and his face fell, “I hope you’re right, Pappy.  I hope you’re right.”

 

“Sharpy don’t give up.  That’s why I asked him to help.”  The strong voice disturbed the brother’s conversation and drew attention to his presence.

 

Nick’s anger flared up and he grabbed the older man’s arm.  “You better pray he doesn’t or you’ll regret the day you got him involved in this mess.”

 

Jarrod pulled Nick off of Hank and moved him into a corner. 

 

“Nick, this isn’t helping Heath.”

 

“Damn it, Jarrod.  I just feel so helpless.” 

 

“We all do.  All we can do it wait until the doctor is finished.”

 

Nick turned to the wall and picked at a piece of paint.  His mind flooded back many hours ago, when he held his brother in his arms. 

 

He had jabbered encouraging words nonstop.  He was rewarded with a slight moan.  Nick gently tapped Heath’s cheek to rouse him.

 

“Come on, Heath.  Open them baby blues.  Show me your twinkle.”

 

At first Nick thought it was nothing more then a coughing sputter, but then he realized Heath had spoken his name.  “I’m here, Little Brother.  Hold on.”

 

“Deeevvviiilll gooottt hhiiiss waaayy.”

 

“No, Heath.  The devil did not get his way.  You’re gonna win this battle.”

 

“ssssss’alllrright.  I’m reaaaddyyy.”  He took a gasping breath.  “Loovveee yoouuu alllll…” It was all he could muster and he fell into oblivion again.  Nick hurriedly checked his pulse and breathed a sigh of relief to find his brother still fighting.

 

He shivered at the memory and noted that he had managed to chip a sizable hole in the paint.  “When is that doctor gonna tell us something?”  He wished he could go change clothes again.  He needed to do something.  Jarrod had sent him to change as soon as they reached the house.  He was drenched in Heath’s blood and it frightened them all.

 

“When he can, Nick.  When he can.”  Jarrod thought and then continued.  “Nick, we should wire mother and Audra.”

 

“Not yet.  Wait until we have more news.”

 

“We might be wasting precious time, Nick.”

 

“A few more hours won’t make a difference.  It will merely save them a trip home with a coffin.”

 

Leah had been waiting out on the porch with Liam, but she ventured in the room unnoticed.

 

“Papa?”

 

Her voice startled everyone.

 

“Yes, Princess?”

 

“Heath’s not gonna die too, is he?”

 

“I don’t know, Honey.  I just don’t know.”

 

Large tears welled in her eyes as she attempted to maintain a brave stance.  “Can I get you some coffee?”

 

All three men looked at the little girl and nodded.  They were all jealous of her ability to occupy her mind.  She turned to the kitchen but came quickly back, sobbing.

 

“What’s wrong, Honey?  Did you hurt yourself?”  Again, all eyes were on her.

 

Between sobs, she managed to choke out, that she didn’t know how to make the coffee.  Nick and Jarrod couldn’t help but smile at her efforts. 

 

“How’s about you bring us some water instead?”

 

She immediately smiled and hugged her father.  Then she backed away and cried out.  “I can do that!”

 

The door opened and the doctor came out.  All three men held their breath.

 

“How is he?”

 

“It is completely beyond me how, but he is alive.”

 

The collective breath was released.

 

“Is he out of danger?”

 

“No.  I wish and I can’t stress that enough.  We may not wish he had survived.”

 

“WHAT!  How can you say such a thing?”  Nick was livid at the doctor’s insinuation.

 

“Mr. Barkley, he is critically injured.  Both legs are broken in several places and his right arm as well.”

 

“Considering what he went through, that sounds reasonable.  It seems to me we are missing something?”

 

“There was also extensive internal damage, 6 broken ribs, and a ruptured spleen.  A kidney was nicked, but I think it will heal on its own and…”

 

“And WHAT?  Don’t pull punches here, Doc.  We can’t help him until we understand how to.”

 

“He has two skull fractures and it is strongly possible that his back is broken, near the neck.”

 

Jarrod’s mind was whirring.  “Near the neck, you mean…”

 

“Mean what?”

 

“If it is as I fear, he won’t ever have the use of his legs or arms.”

 

“Is what you fear??”

 

“There is a tremendous amount of swelling on his back and no movement or reflex in his extremities.  He didn’t even feel the pain from examination.”

 

Nick sank into the chair behind him.  He knew Heath would never want to live that way.  Even if he recovered enough, the minute he discovered his condition, he’d give up and there would be no way for anyone to save him.

 

“It will be a slow and agonizing death.  Eventually, his organs will just begin shutting down, because they won’t receive the right signals.”

 

The room was silent.

 

Jarrod finished a note and handed it to Hank.  “Please ask Liam to wire this to our family.  They need to be here.”

 

“Sure thing.”

 

There was silence for what seemed like forever, only to be broken by Nick’s quiet whisper.  “Can we see him?”

”Certainly.”

 

Nick and Jarrod entered the room and Clara moved from Heath’s side to make room for them.  They took places, on either side of him.  Nick couldn’t take his eyes off the beaten and battered body of his younger brother.  His ashen head was swabbed in bandages, but there were no pillows under it.  His arm was in a cast.  Both legs were in casts as well and propped on pillows.  The blankets were pulled up to his chest and hid the bandages that protected the surgical incisions.  He knew in that moment, that Heath was already aware of the damage and that explained his words.  His heart felt like it was being crushed within his chest.

 

~ ~ thirteen ~ ~ 

 

Days passed and Heath wandered in a state of delirium, never any consciousness.  Audra and Victoria arrived on the third day, helping with shifts at Heath’s side.  No one was saying much.  Work at the camp by Hank and Liam had all but stopped.  The men assumed beds in the bunkhouse when necessary and left the woman to use the beds in the house.  No one rested much or for very long.  They did their best to keep Heath going.  There was always someone talking to him and holding his hand.  Nick figured they would annoy him enough that he’d have to wake up and holler at ‘em.  But as of yet, he hadn’t.

 

The story of the accident had been told and retold by Hank nearly a hundred times.  Everyone assumed if they heard it one more time, it might eventually make sense.  Hank was racked with grief over the accident.  “I should’ve just given up.”

 

On the sixth evening, Jarrod was on Heath’s right and Victoria on his left.  Hank entered just as mother and brother noted a slight moan from Heath.  They were busy encouraging him to wake up, not noticing Hank enter.  Heath’s eyes were in motion under his lids and his mouth was twitching, as if he was trying.   

 

“That’s it, Sharpy.  Open them eyes for your ma.”

 

Jarrod couldn’t believe it.  The instant Hank’s words were spoken; Heath’s eyes began to furiously flick back and forth, as if panicked.  His head ever so slightly shook back and forth.  It was hardly perceptible to anyone not paying close attention.  Jarrod looked up at Hank, who was oblivious to the reaction he had just caused.  Heath slid back in darkness and Jarrod stood as if to stretch.  Jarrod couldn’t shake the nagging thought that all was not right with Hank and Heath’s reaction all but proved it to him.  He needed to work this through.

 

He found Nick, pulling him outside by the barn.  He explained what had just happened.  “Where’s the wagon?”

 

“What wagon?”

 

“The one Heath and Hank were on.”

 

“I dunno.  I suppose it is still on the road.  I think both of ‘em are.  Liam went and got the horses, but left the wagons.”

 

“We have to get out there.”

 

“Why?”

 

“I’ve got a hunch; this wasn’t an accident.”

 

“I’ll saddle the horses.”

 

Nick and Jarrod were gone for a long time.  They reached the wagon and found the evidence they needed and headed to town to get the sheriff.  They asked the sheriff to wait outside.  Neither wanted Hank to be arrested in front of his wife, much less his daughter. 

 

Clara was apparently sitting with Heath, and the rest were seated at the table, picking at food, when the two men entered.

 

Nick spotted Leah.  “Leah, Jarrod and I need to talk to the adults.  You think you could go sit with Heath?  You can let us know if he wakes up.”

 

“Sure, Nick.  I can do that.”  She replaced her mother and the remaining adults finally spoke. 

 

“Nick.  Jarrod.  Where have you been?”  Victoria didn’t know a third man was waiting outside.

 

“We had to check some details of Hank’s story.”

 

“What details?”  Hank was nervous.  Sweat began to gather on his brow.

 

Jarrod was taking control of the situation.  “You said that the ropes came lose and Heath fell off with the top logs?”

 

“Yes.  I’ve told you a million times.”

 

“Then how do you explain these ropes?”  Nick pulled the ropes from behind his back and shoved them in Hank’s face.  “They’re cut!”

 

“So, someone sabotaged us again?”  Hank was fidgeting.

 

“By YOU!”  Nick was enraged.

 

Jarrod attempted to stop his impatient brother.  “How is it you managed to be the one who found the other men?”  He didn’t allow Hank an opportunity to answer.  He used a legal technique designed to get the rest of the room doubting.  A judge would have never allowed it.  “Heath said that Matt asked you, Why him?  Why did you have to kill them?  What truth had they stumbled upon?”

 

“What are you saying?”  Clara was near the fire and obviously confused.

 

Nick strode forward and pulled a knife from Hank’s boot.   “Did you use this?”  Hank leapt backward.

 

“Hank?  What are they talking about?”  Clara’s scared voice seemed to change Hank.  His face turned from confused worry, to cold evil.  His eyes seemed to darken. 

 

Liam spoke next.  “You killed them?  You did it.”  His anger was obvious.

 

“Prove it.”  He laughed.  It frightened them all.  “You can’t prove nothin’.  You’re just making waves to get rid of me like everyone else.  It’s the way of the world.  You get rid of those that stand in your way.  You’re falling for it.  This has all been set up by Windsor.”  He turned and looked at Clara.  “It’s all Windsor, Honey.  Jarrod spent a whole week with him.  He’s in on it.”

 

She whimpered.  “But Heath?”

 

Nick jumped at her lead.  “Are you saying that Jarrod would injure his own brother?”

 

“I’m saying that you got power and you know how to keep it.”

 

Jarrod spoke again.  “We may not have enough evidence to convict you right now, but we have enough to lock you up.  You need to come with us.”  Both Nick and Jarrod slowly moved in on him.  “The sheriff is waiting outside.”

 

Again, Hank’s whole body seemed to transform.  Victoria had seen many reactions from men in her life, but never the total body evolutions that seemed to be possessing Hank.  Possessed seemed the best word to describe it.  Hank backed away from the advancing men, moving closer to his wife.  He cowered behind her at first. 

“Please, move from behind your wife and come easily.”

 

“No… You can’t.  You can’t take me in.  I can’t do it.  You can’t lock me up.  I don’t know why it happens.”  His pleading was almost childish.

 

Audra surprised them all with her insight.  “He was a prisoner in Carterson.  Jails must terrify him.”

 

Clara was shocked at her husband.  She didn’t even recognize him.  At Audra’s comment, without thinking, she said.  “He was a guard.”

 

Jarrod’s voice was loudest.  “A guard?  You mean he wasn’t a prisoner?”

 

Her voice trembling, Clara answered.  “No, he was a guard.”  She turned and looked knowingly at him.  “You need help, Darling.  This can’t go on.”

 

He shoved her in the direction of Nick and pushed his way past Jarrod.  “You would betray me, too?” 

 

“No.  Stop.  Let them help you, Hank!”

 

Nick righted Clara as Victoria moved to her side.  The sheriff heard the commotion inside and assumed that he might be needed.  He expected Culvertson to make a break for it and thought he was ready.  The door burst open and somehow in the middle of his breakdown, Hank remembered that a sheriff waited outside.  He turned and ran directly at the man.  He fired a shot just as Hank’s large hand reached out and jarred his gun.  It missed and the large lumberman bowled the man over.  The gunshot had startled everyone inside.  Jarrod and Nick were following closely behind.  They knew they couldn’t let Hank get into the woods.  He knew them far too well.  He could easily hide out.   

 

Nick reached him first and dived at his legs.  He managed to bring the mad man down, but was rewarded by a sharp kick to the shoulder.  Jarrod tried next.  He moved in and grabbed Hank’s arm and pulled it behind his head.  Hank fought him.  Nick recovered and attempted to assist his brother, but Hank was like a wounded animal and fought wildly.

 

While everyone focused on the battle outside, no one noticed the small ten-year old slip out the door.  “Papa?”  No one noticed her, so she screamed louder.  “PAPA!”

 

The small voice of a pure love reverberated in his sickened brain and he suddenly ceased.

 

“Princess?”

 

Nick and Jarrod let up, but stayed close.  The devoted daughter ran to her father’s arms.

“Papa, what’s wrong?”

 

His mind was working now more clearly then it had in years and he hugged his daughter closer.  “Papa has a problem, Honey.  Nick and Jarrod were trying to help me.”

 

“Are you gonna be alright?”

 

“Yes, Honey.  We’re all gonna be fine.  You go back in the house.”

 

Audra came and took the little girl from him.  As they reached the porch, Leah began to kick and thrash.  Audra lost her grip.  Leah flew from her arms and ran back to her father.  “I love you, Papa.  I love you.”

 

“I love you too, Princess.  More then you will ever know!”  He hugged her again and then sent her back to Audra.

 

He was shackled and taken to town by Liam and the sheriff.  Audra sat with Heath and the rest of the family sat stunned around the table.  Clara and Leah were lying down in the other room.

 

Nick was stirring his coffee absentmindedly.  “That partially explains why Heath was so ready to help him.  He was a guard who helped him at Carterson.”

 

“Not thoroughly.  He still has a lot of explaining to do.”

 

“Maybe Hank can shed some light?”

 

“I doubt it.  Did you see him?  I think he’s insane.  I doubt if he even realizes that he did it.”

 

“That damn prison has fouled up way too many lives.”

 

“That’s an understatement, Nick.”

 

The long night wore on.  Clara and Leah never came out of their room.  As usual, one or two Barkley’s were always at Heath’s side.  Nick now sat with his head resting next to Heath’s good arm and Jarrod and Audra had fallen asleep with their heads on the table.  The sun had been up for some time now, but Victoria had hesitated to move about too much.  She didn’t want to wake anyone.  The desire for coffee and lengthening day motivated her to start brewing some.

 

Although she moved as quietly as possible, it wasn’t long before a knock at the door, disturbed them all.  Victoria opened it, as Jarrod and Audra stirred and Clara came out of the bedroom.  She welcomed in the sheriff.

 

“I’m sorry to be back so soon, but I got bad news.”

 

“What is it, Sheriff?  How is my husband?”

 

“I’m afraid that’s why I’m here.  He tore apart his blanket and hung himself last night in the cell.  He’s dead.”

 

Clara screamed and then collapsed.  Nick moved her to her bed and Victoria and Audra tended to the Culvertson women.

 

While Jarrod sat with Heath, Nick made them some breakfast.  He brought his brother a plate.  “Thanks.”

 

“You’re welcome.  Any change?”

 

“No.  Did you expect one?”

 

“I kinda hope he realizes that Culvertson is dead and he’s now free.”

 

“Maybe he does.”

 

“Let’s hope.”

 

~ ~ fourteen (end) ~ ~ 

 

It was the tickle on his hand that woke Nick from a sound sleep at Heath’s side.  He slapped at the tickle and heard a moan.  His head immediately jerked up.

 

“Heath?”

 

“nnnniii”

 

Nick screamed with delight.  “Come on, Heath.  You’ve been sleepin’ long enough.  Wake up ya lazy, Cur!  Come on…  Pop those eyes open.”  He stopped long enough to see that the family had gathered.  “Everyone’s here Heath.  Reward them with your baby blues.”

 

The whole family held their breath as one eye slowly opened, followed by a second. A huge and disorienting cheer went through the room.  Heath’s face grimaced and he closed his eyes again. 

 

Victoria stroked his face.  “That’s alright, Darling.  You gave us enough.  You rest now.”

 

In the days that followed, Heath was conscious more and more, but said little.  His few words were slurred and unrecognizable.  The doctor said it was normal and would go away with healing.  The good news was the movement that was present in both his legs and arms.  It seemed the paralysis would be temporary.

 

After two more weeks, Heath was cautious transported by wagon to the nearest train station and loaded into the Barkley private car.  He was drugged throughout the entire trip and woke to find himself in his own bed.

 

Jarrod was at his side reading, when Heath woke.  “Morning, Little Brother.”

 

“dddrreeeaammm?”

 

“Did you dream?  No, unfortunately it was no dream.”

 

“hhhhaaannnnkkkk?”

 

“He’s dead, Heath.”

 

“Wwwhhhooo??”

 

“Hank?”  Jarrod was uncertain of Heath’s reaction. 

 

Heath’s eyes rolled back in his head and he let out a sigh and went back to sleep.  It was some time before he would recall the time with Hank Culvertson.

 

~ six weeks later ~  

 

Nick had wheeled Heath’s chair out to the veranda and the three brothers were enjoying the cool evening air.  The ladies had already gone to bed, after Victoria admonished them not to keep Heath up too long, he was still far too weak for much excitement. 

 

“I got a letter from Sheriff Affron.  Clara and Leah are doing fine.  Liam is running the camp and they’ve managed to hire on some workers.”  Jarrod inhaled deeply on his cigar. “She knew he husband was plagued by dreams, but she never dreamed he had the other problems.” 

 

“That’s good.  They deserve happiness.  He loved them.  They were his life.”  Heath grew quiet.  Bits of his memory had come back, but Nick and Jarrod had filled in what pieces they could. 

 

“Heath?”

 

“Ya, Nick.”

 

“Whatever Culvertson had over you, it’s gone now.”

 

“No.  Not really.”

 

“Will you tell us?”

 

“I can’t.”

 

“Why not?”

 

There was a long pause.  “I’m scared.”

 

That was a huge admission from Heath.  Neither brother had ever known him to be so openly frightened.  “Scared of what?”

 

“I’ve never told anyone.”

 

“We’re listening.”

 

“Jarrod, if I tell you.  I suspect I’ll need your services after.”

 

“Why?”

 

Heath was again quiet a long time.  “I murdered an innocent man and his wife.”

 

Both Nick and Jarrod were stunned.  Jarrod recovered first.

 

“I’m afraid we’ll need more then that.”

 

Heath took a deep breath.  “Hank was the guard who registered me in the camp.  He found out I had been a sharpshooter.”

 

“Hence the reason he called you ‘Sharpy’?”

 

“Yes.  I could tell he was keeping an eye on me.  Every once in a while, I would get extra rations or a newer, less vermin infested blanket.  When I got sick, he…”

 

“He what?”

 

“He saved me twice.”

 

“How did he do it?”

 

“When they had a role call, if you couldn’t make it, the guards came in and investigated.  Prisoners were used to haul away the corpses and take care of the dying.”

 

“I don’t suppose you mean they were taken to the hospital.”

 

“What did it mean?”

 

Heath took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  “A bullet to the head.”

 

“I see.  And Hank spared you?”

 

“Twice.  Twice I watched a monster hold the gun at my head and pull the trigger and twice, Hank stopped him.  He was taking a great risk.  Someone would eventually question the concern he was showing me.”  Heath’s breaths became more rapid as the memories threatened to overwhelm him.

 

“Take it easy.  Take your time, Little Brother.”

 

“One night, he came to me.  It seems he had seen a list that placed him next in line for a prime promotion.  The time was right.  It seems the man’s wife was visiting and he received a furlough.  Hank snuck me out of the camp and hauled me up a hill overlooking the main road.  We lay there all night waiting.  Finally, a buggy came along.  Hank had a scope and identified the man.  He gave me a rifle and…”

 

“You shot.”

 

“It’s what I was trained to do.  I sold my soul.”

 

Jarrod hated to do it, but he had to.  “And the wife?”

 

“She was an accident.  She moved at the precise second.  The first bullet hit her.  I fired again and hit him.  I’ll never forget how he cried out and held his wife.  He died with her in his arms.”

 

They were all quiet, too tapped out from the information to say anything.

 

“He forced you to do it, Heath.  It wasn’t murder.”

 

“He promised me a better life.  I was weak.  I was half dead.  I could have resisted.  There was nothing worse he could have done to me.”

 

“I don’t know, Heath.  You were beaten, starved, whipped, and stuck in a damn box.  I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t have done anything for a little relief.”  Nick’s sarcasm wasn’t lost on any of them.

 

“Jarrod.  There’s no statute of limitations on murder.  I need to pay for my crime.”

 

“You can’t mean that, Heath?”

 

“The guilt… It eats at me.”

 

“It was that guilt which made you obsessed with helping Hank, wasn’t it?”

 

“It was a bond between us.  It disgusted me, but I knew I had to do it.  I couldn’t risk the truth hurting this family.”

 

Nick slapped Heath behind the head, not hard, but enough. 

 

“Hey, whatcha do that for?”

 

“There ain’t nothing this family won’t do for ya!”

 

“I know. I do.  So that’s why I gotta ask you to help me settle this.”

 

“We will, Heath.  We will.”

 

~ ~ Epilogue ~ ~

 

They waited outside the judge’s office.  No one spoke.  Finally, an assistant called them in. 

 

Judge Harold Franks expected Heath Barkley and his brother, Jarrod.  He wasn’t prepared for the rest of the family.  Heath was getting around with heavy use of a cane.  The support and love of his family was evident.

 

“Mr. Barkley, I have extensively reviewed the situation and have made my ruling.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

“Due to the rioting that tore through the prison after its surrender, many documents were lost.  So, we checked with the local sheriff.  He also had no files on a double murder in the area.”

 

“But I did it.”

 

The judge banged his gavel.  “Mr. Barkley, kindly control your client’s damaging outbursts.”

 

“Yes, sir.”  Jarrod stared at Heath.

 

“I have your complete statement.  I must admit, I appreciate your honesty.  It obviously isn’t an easy thing for you to live with, but barring any paperwork or direct witnesses, we have no case.  I have also seen your medical records.  You were too ill to be in your right mind.  He was a guard.  He was controlling you.  I have conferred with a district attorney and he agrees.  The war was a terrible time and many awful things happened.  It drives even the best of men to extreme behavior.  I suspect you have punished yourself enough.  Now, get on with your life.”

 

The family let out a collective breath.

 

“Thank you, Sir.”

 

“No, thank you.  I admire your desire for justice.”

 

“It was too little too late.”

 

“Do you think spending your life in prison, or worse, dead, would have served the cause of justice better?  Have you contributed nothing better to the world?  If you have not paid your debt, you had better start.”

 

“I’ll do my best.”

“That’s all anyone can ask.”