If there was one thing that Michelle and Betty Kaufman agreed on, it was that their cousin Jarrod had the most endearing personality.... most of the time. But when sick he would try the patience of what their Catholic friends called a saint.
Victoria had gone to Denver to join Audra and "process" recent events since the arrival of the cousin from the other side of the family. It had been difficult for her to hear that Betty's opinion of Tom Barkley was less than stellar.
Betty, herself had packed her bags and considered a hasty retreat to New York but the day after Victoria's departure Jarrod came down with a virus, complete with fever, aches and an annoying tendency to empty the contents of his stomach every hour on the hour. Annoying for Jarrod certainly. Annoying for Michelle because every time his stomach was about to release its cargo he called her name. Add to the mix the ingredient that by late evening Nick was showing symptoms as well. With fever and aches Nick had severe chest congestion and... laryngitis.
All night Michelle remained awake responding either to Jarrod's pathetic pleas or Nick's "ding, ding, ding". Michelle had to remember to tell Silas just how much she appreciated him finding Nick that bell... right before he left for his yearly visit with family. Talk about timing. To top it off she had to be clairvoyant as Nick stubbornly refused to use the paper and pencil Michelle gave him. Betty felt the least she could do was stick around and assist her cousin in taking care of "the children".
In the morning Heath went to Stockton for Dr. Merar before heading out to mend fence. The good doctor made his diagnoses and left Michelle with recipes for treatment, an elixir for Jarrod and a special salve for Nick.
Michelle took a cursory inventory of the cabinets in the kitchen and discovered that they were missing a key ingredient for the elixir. After preparing the salve for Nick she headed to Stockton.
Betty glanced at the clock. Her cousin's trip to town was taking longer than anticipated. And it was time for Nick's treatment. The doctor had left specific instructions that the treatments were to be done on time.
Nick lay in bed staring at the ceiling. It just wasn't fair! Why was he the one to lose his voice? Michelle had said it was because he used it so much. But what did she know anyway? Darn that cousin Betty. She must've put a curse on him when he wasn't looking. And where in blazes was his treatment? His paranoid thoughts were interrupted by his door opening.
"I know you were expecting Michelle but she had to go to town to get something for Jarrod's elixir," Betty explained as she entered with a tray that held the special salve. "And, no, " she continued to Nick's unspoken query. "This can't wait until she gets back."
Betty moved to the bedside and sat on the edge of the mattress. Nick gave a silent yet exaggerated grunt, indicating that in his opinion her heft was causing too much of a dip. Then much to his horror Betty reached over and began unfastening his nightshirt.
Frantically, Nick began ringing his bell. Someone would have to hear and come rescue him from a possible fate worse than death.
"No one else is in the house," Betty told him firmly as she snatched the bell from Nick's hand and set it out of reach.... way out of reach. "Except for Jarrod. And he's in no condition to come in here."
Nick attempted to back away but only managed to clunk his head on the headboard.
"Now, Nick," Betty tried to be soothing. "I don't like this any better than you do. But we can do this the easy way or the hard way...." Before she could finish Nick began to struggle with what little strength he had. Betty grasped his arms and leaned sideways limiting his leg movement. "I guess you're opting for the hard way," she sighed.
Between the fact that Nick was in a weakened state and Betty had her size and health, the resistance movement didn't last very long. The ornery Barkley brother succumbed to the ministrations of the louder Kaufman cousin. "Now see," Betty said as she began to smear salve on his chest. "If you hadn't fought me, I could be out of here by now."
Nick lay motionless, numb with shock. All he saw was that his worst nightmare had become a reality. He was being violated and was totally powerless to stop it. Nick's order of who he would accept help from if his mother was not there was quite specific: Michelle, Audra, Jarrod, Heath Silas.... Suffer. Betty was no where on the list.
Then like a rainbow during a storm Michelle appeared in the doorway. Nick's eyes lit up. He was about to be saved. But Michelle simply smiled in a tired sort of way and said, "Oh, I see you're in good hands." And then she was gone.
Betty finished with the treatment and went to the kitchen to wash the salve from her hands. There she found Michelle wearily stirring a pot of soup.
"You look exhausted, Chelle. Why don't you take a nap?"
Michelle threw her a look that said, "Are you kidding?" Just then Jarrod's pathetic wail drifted down the stairs. "That's why," she informed her cousin.
Betty steered Michelle to a chair. "I'll take care of it."
Michelle smiled a thank you and rested her head on the table pillowed by folded arms.
"Mich...." Jarrod began to call again. He stopped when Betty entered his room :"Where's Michelle?" he asked almost accusingly.
"Downstairs. What do you need?"
"Michelle," was his matter-of-fact answer.
"Jarrod, what is it you need?"
"Michelle," he said again.
Betty took a deep breath. "Jarrod, what is it that you wanted Michelle to do for you."
"Get her and I'll tell her."
Betty tried yet again. "Jarrod, I'll do whatever it is."
Jarrod became slightly testy. "If I wanted you to do it I would have called for you. I want Michelle."
At that Betty lost her famous temper, "Got in Himmel, you're driving me crazy."
Jarrod looked at her innocently. He didn't understand what her fuss was about. He was being perfectly logical. He wanted Michelle. What was so difficult to understand.
In the meantime Michelle had heard her cousin's high pitched squawk and literally flew up the stairs to find Betty in Jarrod's room raving in Yiddish. She didn't quite get everything but managed to make out the word *eyngeshparter.
"What is going on?"
Betty turned to her cousin. "He's all yours," she announced and fled the room.
Michelle folded her arms. "Jarrod, this has got to stop. You making me batty and lord knows what you've done to poor Betty."
"It's not my fault that she upsets so easily."
Michelle counted to ten in her head. "Jarrod, what did you want?"
"My pitcher is empty," he told her pathetically.
Michelle spoke through her teeth. "And Betty couldn't fill that for you."
Jarrod gave her his best puppy dog eyes. She sneered but snatched the pitcher and repeated her mantra all the way to the kitchen. "I love my cousin. I love my cousin. I love my cousin....."
Michelle exited Jarrod's room for what seemed like the thousandth time that day. The sound of snoring filtered down the hall indicating that her nursing assistant was asleep. Inhaling deeply as if to breathe in new resolve she descended the stairs leading to the kitchen. It was nearly time for Nick's bedtime treatment.
"Boy howdy, you look awful," her blonde cousin greeted her.
"I love you, too, Heath," she said with a tired sarcasm. She scooped salve from a large container to a smaller one.
Ding, ding, ding.
Michelle scooped a bit faster.
Ding, ding, ding.
"I'd better hurry before that bell wakes Betty," Michelle said. She deposited the salve on a tray.
Heath's hand stopped her. "I'll see to Nick. You sit down and eat something before you fall over." He nodded toward the table. "I made a tomato sandwich for you."
"Thanks, Heath."
Heath gave a lopsided grin as he took the tray and disappeared up the steps.
Nick was still ringing when Heath entered the room. Nick's nostrils flared when he saw him, the brother who'd abandoned him all day leaving him in the care of that monster Betty. Instantly, the bell sailed the distance between the bed and Heath, smacking the door inches from his head and landing at his feet.
"Now, Nick," Heath approached and sat on the bed. "I know it's been a rough day for you, not being able to speak..." He paused suppressing a grin. "Betty touching you." He proceeded to talk to his brother as if he were gentling a horse. "I'm sorry I wasn't here. But as you always say, this is a working ranch."
Nick glared at having his words thrown back to him.
"But just relax," he continued as he unbuttoned Nick's nightshirt and began applying salve, very tenderly. "Little brother's here now."
Nick softened as he felt Heath massaging the healing balm into his chest. Soon he drifted into sleep. Heath buttoned his brother's nightshirt and pressed a kiss to his forehead before standing and leaving the room. Moving quietly down the hall he opened the door to Jarrod's room. The oldest Barkley brother was on his side sound asleep. Heath made his way to the bed where he placed a hand to Jarrod's brow. He smiled when he felt it was cool. He leaned over and dropped a kiss to the man's temple. He and Nick both looked so peaceful in slumber it was hard to believe that earlier they had driven the female cousins straight up the wall.
The telegram from Victoria in Denver read: 'I hope Betty has not left for New York. Although, I do not agree with her assessment of her uncle how can I condemn her for defending my son?'
The End
*Yiddish for stubborn person