Nick threw the rifle on the work table and out of frustration whacked it with a mallet. Much to his shock the rifle discharged. Then he heard a sound he never expected; the sickening thud of a body hitting the ground.
"Heath!"Nick ran to the door and knelt down beside him. He lifted his upper body and cradled him in his arms. "Heath, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it."
Jarrod appeared in the doorway having heard the explosion. "What happened?"
Nick looked at his older brother in disbelief. "I shot him."
"I'll send for the doctor." Jarrod hurried off.
By the time the doctor arrived two hands had helped Nick get Heath to his room. Now came the hard part...waiting.
Nick leaned against Heath's bedroom door trying to be as close as possible to what was going on inside. Dr. Merar had thrown him out with the words, "I can't work with you breathing down my neck. Now, unless you can remove this bullet..."
"I should be in there." Nick's heart was aching to be by Heath's side.
"You won't do Heath any good by getting in the doctor's way," Jarrod told him.
"I didn't do him any good by losing my temper with that rifle. Damn that thing. I hope Heath can forgive me."
"Heath knows it was an accident." Jarrod tried to reassure his guilt-ridden sibling. "Nick, he's going to be okay."
Nick looked Jarrod in the eye. "He's got to be okay. I haven't even gotten to tell him I love him yet."
"You haven't?" Jarrod reacted with surprise and concern. "That's not like you. Why haven't you?"
"I don't know. I just haven't. I guess I've been scared."
"You?" Jarrod's eyes widened. "Nick Barkley. I've never known you to be scared to say that."
"Have you told him?" Nick asked figuring Jarrod's answer to be 'no' therefore forcing him to drop the cross-examination.
"As a matter of fact I have."
Now it was Nick's turn to be surprised. "When?" he demanded.
"Most recently on his birthday last week."
"How come I didn't know about it?'
"Well, I didn't make an announcement." Jarrod's voice offered a hint of sarcasm. "Besides you were busy arguing with Gene about his share of Heath's present."
"Did he like it?"
"He loved the present."
Nick's jaw clenched. Sometimes talking to Jarrod could be like talking to...well talking to him. "I mean how did he take hearing it?"
"I'm still alive to tell about it."
"How'd you do it?"
The slight sarcastic tone remained when Jarrod responded. "If you must know. I put my arms around him, said 'I love you, Heath', and kissed his cheek. Just like I do with you. I treat him just as I do my other brothers. That's what you should do. Treat him the same as you would me or Gene."
"It's a different situation."
"How?" Nick had no answer. "Do you remember what I taught you years ago? Never be afraid..."
"...to show your heart," Nick finished, nodding. "You said I should never be afraid to tell someone how I feel about them...especially a brother..."
"Heath's your brother."
"As usual, lawyer, you win."
Jarrod laid a hand on Nick's cheek. "I'm not trying to win." He slid his hand to rest on Nick's shoulder. "You know, if this happened for a reason..." He didn't get a chance to finish. The door to Heath's room opened and Dr. Merar stepped into the hall while being shoved aside by Nick who had pulled away from Jarrod the moment he had heard the doorknob. He was so impatient to get to Heath he didn't hear Dr. Merar tell Jarrod, "He's going to be fine. The bullet missed anything vital. I gave him something so he wouldn't feel my poking and prodding. He should wake up in a few minutes.."
"Thank you for coming," Jarrod told him and offered to walk him to the door.
Inside Heath's room Nick sat on the bed facing him. He gazed regretfully at his brother not knowing that he was only mildly sedated. Unbidden the tears began to fall. "This is all my fault," he said to Heath's sleeping form "I should have gotten rid of the rifle. I didn't because father had given it to me." He took a deep breath and shuddered. "But he gave me something even more precious...you. Brothers aren't suppose to hurt each other. I just pray you can forgive me." Nick laid his head on Heath's chest and sobbed. He didn't notice Heath's hand travel up and come to rest on the back of his head.
Heath stroked Nick's hair. "Boy Howdy, Nick, you sure do know how to overreact."
Nick sat upright and looked at Heath through tear-filled eyes.
"There's nothing to forgive," Heath continued. "You're my brother." There was a pause. "Nick, I love you." When Nick remained uncharacteristically speechless Heath said, "I hope you're going to tell me you love me too. 'Cause that's what I'd like to hear about now."
Nick's heart was overrun with love and joy. Treat him as you would Jarrod or Gene his heart told him. He took hold of Heath's arms, kissed his cheek, then his lips.
Though uncomfortable with Nick's second gesture Heath smiled. "I guess that says it all."
Nick ran his hand over Heath's hair. "I love you." he said quietly.
Never again when it came to Heath was Nick afraid to show his heart.