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A 30 Minute Roundup
“Getting Things to Work” by Nicolegesq
The three brothers sat on Jarrod’s porch, watching the sunset, the clatter of the cleanup in the kitchen reaching their ears. Nick sat back contentedly. “The ladies outdid themselves again. Nothing quite like Sunday dinner.”
The other two men nodded
easily. “So Heath,” Jarrod began, “you
didn’t tell us. How was the trip to
“Trip went fine.”
“How’re all the kids?” Nick asked.
“Everybody’s doing real well. Leah looked great. Michael said the hospital is booming. They’re going to try to get out to the ranch next month. But I’ll tell you, when Stephen walked across that stage, I thought they were going to bust.”
“Graduating from college is a big accomplishment. They have every right to be proud.”
“Don’t I know it. Kinda wished Cathy had been there. She always set such a store by education, her being the teacher and all.” The two brothers watched the wistfulness come across their younger brother. It had been the most unlikely pairing Heath, the rancher with the limited education and the questioned background and Cathy, the schoolteacher who had to fight a morals clause just to be able to let Heath court her. But they hadn’t needed long to court, marrying within weeks after they first met.
The older brothers exchanged quick glances and Jarrod leaned forward in his chair, placing a wrinkled hand on his brother’s leg, the muscles not nearly as firm as they had once been. “I’m sure Cathy was there, Heath.”
The youngest of the original Barkley brothers gave his older brother a lopsided grin, the crows feet in the corners of his eyes reflecting the happiness he’d experienced in his adult years. “I think so, too, Jarrod.” He sat back to drink a sip of his lemonade. “But someone else was at the graduation.”
“Who?” Nick asked, the head of hair still full, though now completely white, the black having long ago given way to the years.
Heath cleared his throat. “Don’t know that you’ll rightly remember her. Maria Montera. Didn’t live around here long.”
“Maria Montera?” Nick’s sure voice boomed. “You mean that gal with no sense? As I recall, she chose you over me, then chose her father over you!”
Jarrod looked up, his own memories not as clear. “Montera? Don Alfredo’s daughter?”
“That’s her,” Heath answered, his own voice soft.
Nick exchanged a sharp glance with Jarrod. “So where’d you see her and what’d she want?”
“Like I said, Nick, she was at
the graduation. She had a granddaughter
graduating. She’s living with her son in
“What about her father?”
“Her father’d have to be close to one hundred years old, Nick. Her father’s long dead.”
“So, she still pretty?”
Heath’s grin returned. “I thought she was. Still had a real pretty smile. I was thinking I might call on her when I visit the kids next time. But . . .” Suddenly, his face darkened.
“But what, Heath?” Jarrod asked. “Surely you can’t be worried about what her family would think now?”
“And if her family objects this time for some cockeyed reason and she listens to ‘em, then you’re better off without her. Why she’d be lucky – ”
“Thanks, Nick, it’s not that, it’s just . . .”
“What then?”
“Well, Cathy’s been gone a few years now, and Nick, I ain’t as young as I used to be.” He looked down to his lap, brushing his hand in the air a few inches above his pants. “What if I can’t get this to work?”
Jarrod and Nick both stared at their brother, then at each other and, as if on cue, both broke off into gales of laughter. “You feel pretty sure about this relationship, do you Heath?” asked Jarrod.
“Well, if the truth be told, back when we were kids there was this one time, maybe a couple of times when we were so close . . . I just, I’m not counting on anything, but I want to be prepared.”
Jarrod glanced around the porch, making sure none of the children or grandchildren were within earshot. “That time Susan was sick, Heath, well it was quite some time that we couldn’t be together as we might have wanted. Don’t worry, it comes back. Just need to get lots of practice.”
Just then, the sound of the screen door slamming caused the three men to look up and the grins broadened as Jarrod’s granddaughter walked out carrying the dark haired, hazel eyed dynamo. “He wanted you, Uncle Nick,” she stated calmly, setting the toddler in Nick’s lap, stopping to kiss Jarrod on the cheek before returning to the house.
Heath looked over to his older brother and Nick chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Well, as for me, when Becky died, I was younger, of course. Best as I recall, it didn’t take me long to remember everything I needed to. Now, it was a little more difficult coming back after Emily’s death seeing as I was so much older. Course, might ‘a helped that Veronica’s a few years younger than I am.” The small child cuddled into his father’s embrace and Nick beamed a grin at his younger brother. “Don’t forget, you come from Barkley stock. Make sure you give yourself a little time and you shouldn’t have any problems at all.” He adjusted the child in his lap. “No better proof that a man can come back then this, is there?”
Heath smiled as he watched Nick with his son, certain of one thing, that they were all Barkleys through and through. And if Jarrod and Nick could do it, so could he. Sitting on the porch, the three brothers shared an easy smile, the bounds of brotherhood stronger than ever with the years.