Winter was just around the corner. The hard frosty grass crunched under foot and the air was damp and chilly.

On this sunny morning, Heath wandered outside the house with the support of a wooden cane. He doddered up to the horse paddock where the black stallion was grazing. He crossed his arms against the fence and leaned his head on them. He remained there, gazing at the majestic animal.

Victoria was still worrying about her son’s delicate physical condition and asked Nick to keep an eye on him. Equally concerned about Heath’s health, Nick put on his coat and joined his brother by the corral.

“Hey!”

“Hey, Nick.”

“It’s kind of nippy out here. You’re going to catch your death of cold.”

“I’m all right. I have a warm coat on.”

“You should be off your feet.”

“Doctor’s orders. I need to stretch out my legs at few times a day.”

They both stood next to each other, admiring the stallion.

“Fine animal, isn’t he?” Nick sighed.

“Yeah. Thanks for letting me have him. I’m really grateful.”

“You deserve him. He was a fiery bronco before you managed to bust him. I don’t know how you did it but look at him! Meek as a lamb a kid could ride him.”

“Can’t wait to ride him again.”

“How about now?”

“Can’t, Nick. I won’t hold in the saddle.”

“What if I tag along?”

“Would you?”

“Sure. Stay here...I’ll go get him.”

Nick climbed over the fence and carefully approached the stallion. He took him by the halter and steered him into the barn. Heath followed.

They both saddled the horse and Nick helped Heath hop in the saddle. He then attached a long rope to its bridle and mounted Coco.

“You tell me if I go too fast.”

“Okay.”

Holding the rope in one hand and Coco’s reins in the other, Nick kicked his horse and both jogtrotted away.

They followed an all too familiar path. Nick sensed that he had been around these parts before but couldn’t recall the exact moment.

“How are you doing back there,” Nick asked Heath.

“Just fine. It feels good to be back in the saddle, you have no idea.”

Nick pulled the reins as they arrived at the bottom of a small hill.

“I’ll be a Devil’s Uncle!” Nick said, astounded.

“What is it?” Heath quiered.

“You know that blue pasture you saw before you....”

“Yeah.” Heath followed Nick’s motion up the hill. “ Up there?”

“I wonder. It’s the same slope I pictured where I was out like a light.”

“Go check it out. I can’t make it up the hill. I’ll wait for you here.”

“What the heck! Don’t stray anywhere.”

“Promise.”

Nick spurred Coco up the hill. As he reached the top, he was bewildered to see that the field really did exist, exactly as he and Heath visualized it in their dream.”

He rode down to his brother.

“Well?” Heath asked excitedly.

“It’s there. Just as we both imagined it, except for the tombstone, which I’m glad to say is not part of the picture.”

A buggy was drawing near. At the helm was a young woman. She was accompanied by her 10 year-old boy. She halted the horse as she passed by Heath and Nick.

“Excuse me, can you tell me where I can find the Barkley Ranch?”

“Yes Ma’am. You just follow that road and about two miles up you’ll see a sign. You turn left and you’re there,” Nick obliged, pointing her in the right direction.

“Thank you.”

“Perhaps we can be of some help. I’m Nick Barkley and this here’s my brother, Heath.”

The woman turned to Heath, all shook up. “You’re Heath Barkley?”

“Yes Ma’am. Do we know each other?” Heath asked, creasing his brows.

“I’m Mrs. Harden...Mrs. Johnny Harden.”

Nick and Heath exchanged glances. Both were very uncomfortable. The name Harden hurled them back to their horrific ordeal.

“What do you want?” asked Nick coldly.

“First to apologize for what my husband did to you.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Ma’am.” Heath assured.

“Perhaps it was, in a way.” She turned to her son. This is my son, Erik.”

“Hi Erik.” Heath addressed the boy.

The lad bowed his head shyly, his gaze not averting from the Heath’s horse, over which he was in complete awe.

“We’re heading back to the ranch. You’re welcomed to follow us.” Nick said.

“Thank you.”

Back at the ranch, Nick helped Heath dismount the stallion and then assisted Mrs. Harden down the carriage.

Erik walked over to Heath’s horse. Before petting the animal, he asked Heath, “May I?”

“Go ahead,” the kind man invited with a smile.

“He’s nice.”

Heath couldn’t help but smiling at the boy’s fascination for his horse.

“It’s a beautiful property you have here,” remarked Mrs. Harden to Nick, glancing around the premises.

“Come inside. I’ll introduce you to our mother.” Nick said.

“Come on, Erik.”

“Mom, can I stay here?” begged the boy, petting the stallion.

“I’ll watch him,” Heath offered.

“I don’t want to inconvenience you, Mr. Barkley.”

“It’s no trouble at all.”

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” A concerned Nick asked.

“I’m fine, Nick. Stop fretting!” Heath replied.

Nick escorted Mrs. Harden inside the house. Victoria and Audra were in the living room, taking measurements on a dress Audra was wearing, standing on a small stool.

“It needs to be shortened a bit more,” Victoria commented as she proceeded to pin the borders of the dress.

“Hurry up, Mother! I’m getting cramps.” Audra complained.

Nick and Mrs. Harden turned the corner to the living room.

“Mother, this is Mrs. Harden. Johnny Harden’s wife.”

“Oh!” Victoria’s face dropped at the sound of the name.

“I get the same reaction from a lot of people.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“It’s okay. I understand, believe me.”

“This is my daughter, Audra.”

“Nice to meet you, Audra. By the way, call me Colleen.”

“I’m Victoria. Come in, make yourself comfortable.”

They walked over to the couch where the two women sat.

“I can’t stay long, but I wanted to drop by and apologize for my husband’s behaviour. I was told what he did to your family and I was surprised, though relieved to see that your son was doing well.”

“We came so close to losing him. It was a harrowing experience.”

“I can imagine. I feel a great part responsible for Johnny’s behaviour towards your family. When he learned of how his father was killed, he swore vengeance on the man who shot him, your husband. I kept telling him that it was self-defence, but he wouldn’t listen. And the more I tried to convince him, the more he became violent up to the point that he started beating me.”

“Oh, my God.”

“When I found out I was carrying his child, I just packed up and left, afraid he might kill me and the baby.”

“He didn’t know about the boy?” Nick asked.

“No. I managed to keep his existence a secret and Johnny never came looking for me. I was still legally married to him when he died, that’s why I need to go to Stockton to see the sheriff about his belongings.”

“My son will take you there in the morning. Tonight, you are welcomed to stay at the ranch.”

“Oh no, I don’t want to impose.”

“It’s no imposition. We have plenty of guest rooms. I’m sure you must be tired after your trip.”

“Indeed, it was a rather long ride from Salt Flats.”

“It’s settled then. You and your son are staying. How about a cup of coffee?”

“I’d love some.”

In the stables, Heath tethered the stallion in the aisle. Erik watched him as he began currycombing the animal.

“You want to do it?” Heath asked.

“Can I?”

“Sure.”

Heath gave Erik the comb and the boy started brushing the stallion’s shiny black coat.

“Go easy. Gentle strokes,” Heath instructed. A bit weary, he sat on a haystack and stretched his stiff legs.

“What’s his name?”

“I haven’t really thought of one yet.”

“He looks like an emperor...a black emperor.” Erik observed.

“Black Emperor. That’s suits him. Black Emperor is it!”

“I never had a horse of my own.”

“Never?”

“No. We could never afford one. Mom was alone to take care of me and could barely make ends meet. I wish I had a horse, a friend to talk to.”

Erik’s lament tickled at Heath’s sensitive bone. He gazed at the boy.

During the night, the house was quiet, except for the incessant tic-tac from the grand-father clock.

Erick tiptoed out of his room and went to the barn where he entered the box where the stallion was settled.

Heath had heard the footsteps in the hallway and followed Erik to the stables. He made sure not to be seen by the boy. He stood a few feet away from the stall and listened to Erik’s outpouring of emotions to the sympathetic horse. The words were so heartwrenching that it tore the blond man apart. A tear escaped the corner of his eye.

The next morning, Nick was getting the wagon ready to drive Mrs. Harden into town. He tied Coco to the back. He drove it to the front door just as Erik, Colleen and Victoria were coming out of the house.

“Thank you for your generous hospitality, Victoria.”

“It was my pleasure. Hope everything works out for you.”

“I think it will.”

“Come back and visit us soon.”

“I will.”

Nick assisted Mrs. Harden in the front seat. Erik was about to jump in the back of the wagon when Heath walked up to him with Black Emperor all saddled up.

“Hi Erik.”

“Hi Heath! Are you and Black Emperor coming with us?”

“I’m not, but he is.” Heath gave Erik the reins.

Erik’s eyes glistened with joy. “ You mean...?”

“He’s yours. I sense he’s really taken with you.”

“I like him too a lot.” Erik patted the horse’s head.

“You take good care of him, you hear?”

“I will. Thank you, Heath.” Erik threw himself into Heath’s arms and hugged him tight.

“You’re welcomed, son.”

Victoria and Colleen smiled at this compassionate display. Nick found himself wiping a teardrop running down on his cheek.

Heath helped Erik hop in the saddle. Nick flickered the team into a light trot and Erik followed on his new “friend”.

Victoria walked up to her son and clasped his head in her hands. “I’m so proud you’re my son,” she said, clenching him in a warm embrace.