Two days later Jarrod was in his office when he received the news that Matt Bentell was shot and killed in a little town over a hundred miles away. At least with it happening so far away from Stockton there was no way Heath could be accused of the murder.

Jarrod left for home as soon as he heard. He wasn't sure how his younger brother would react to the news, so he wanted to tell Heath about it before the blond heard it from someone else.

Jarrod found Heath in the barn with Nick stacking hay. When Jarrod told Heath of Bentell's death the blond man didn't say anything or respond in any way. He just went back to work stacking he hay as if nothing happened.

It had been almost two weeks since Jenny had moved off the Barkley ranch and Heath still refused to go talk to the girl. Nick was getting sick of watching his blond brother mop about like a puppy dog that lost his best friend. They had been riding the North pasture looking for strays and Heath's mood did not make good company.

"Will you just go talk to her?" Nick yelled at his blond brother in frustration.

"There is nothing talk about. It's over. She doesn't want anything to do with me. So just let it be." Heath snapped. There had been a couple of times he almost went to see her, but he had talked himself out of it.

"She is your wife. You should talk to her." Nick tried again.

"I am going to ask Jarrod to end the marriage. She has made clear she wants out." Heath informed his older brother. When Jenny had Misty, the horse he broke and gave her, sent back to the ranch in Heath's mind it confirmed that Jenny did not want anything to do with him.

"Before you do that I really think you should talk to her. Tell her how you feel. Then if she wants out end it. Nick pushed.

"I told you to drop it." Heath screamed as he turned Charger in the opposite direction that they were travelling. "I'll go look for strays that way."

He kicked Charger into a full gallop. He wanted to get as far away from Nick as possible. He was furious at his older brother. For the past two weeks all Nick did was hound him about going to talk to Jenny. Why couldn't he just mind his own business? Without realizing it he had headed Charger in the direction of the Morris' ranch. Another thing he did not realize was he was being followed.

Heath pulled Charger to a walk and started to search for stray cows. Maybe Nick was right he should go talk to Jenny and tell her that he planned to end the marriage. After all she should hear it from him. He turned Charger and rode to the gate that separated Barkley land from the Morris'. He opened the gate, rode through it then closed it behind him. He started to head toward the Morris' ranch house, but then changed his mind. As he turned Charger back toward the Barkley ranch, he heard a gun ring out as pain exploded in his right side and he fell hard to ground. He tried to get up, but the movement sent pain shooting through his body. As he lay on his right side, he saw a shadow fall over him. He looked up to see Mrs. Bentell standing over him holding a gun.

"You killed my husband." She hissed.

"I was no were near where you husband was killed." Heath gasped in pain as he defended himself.

"Maybe you didn't pull the trigger, but you let everyone know who he was. He didn't have a chance." She screamed. "My husband should have executed you and all the prisoners the day you tried to escape, but instead he showed you mercy.”

"I did not beg for his mercy and won't beg for yours. Just get it over with." Heath said through gritted teeth as he tried to control the pain and fear he felt.

Heath knew she planned on executing him and there was nothing he could do about it. He was lying on his gun and he couldn't move. As she raised the gun to aim it at him he closed his eyes and turned his face to the ground. Then he heard the gunfire.

Isaac Morris and his wife had been trying for almost two weeks to convince their stubborn daughter that she should talk to her husband, but she refused. They had hoped that maybe Heath would finally come and talk to the girl, but he never did. His wife had said that the two had to find their own way back together, but it looked like that was not going to happen. This saddened Isaac, because he knew that his daughter really loved the young Barkley. It broke his heart to see her so miserable.

Isaac, Steve and James were out riding the part of their land that boarded the Barkley ranch, looking for a couple of horses that escaped, when they heard a gunshot. They went to investigate. What they saw turned their hearts cold. Lying helplessly on the ground was Heath with a woman standing over him holding a gun. As they raced toward the terrifying scene, Mr. Morris and his sons each drew their guns and took aim. As the woman raised her gun and aimed it at the injured man, all three Morris men pulled their trigger and Mrs. Bentell fell.

Mr. Morris leaped from his horse and raced to the injured Barkley's side. The blond man was lying clutching his side. Isaac tried to roll Heath to his back, so he could get a look at the wound, but Heath resisted. "Its okay, Heath. You are safe. Let me take a look at your side"

Finally Heath relaxed and allowed Mr. Morris to roll him on to his back. Isaac took one look at the wound and knew it was bad. "Steve, go get the buckboard. James, go get the doctor and the sheriff. Have them met us at our place. Its closer and the less we move him the better."

After he finished giving orders to his sons he turned his attention back to the injured man. He could see the fear in the blue eyes. "It's okay, son. You will be okay."

"Tell Jenny I love her and that I am sorry I hurt her." Heath pleaded. He knew his wound was bad and he could feel his strenght draining from him. He couldn't die with out letting Jenny know he loved her.

"No, son that is something you will have to tell her. When you are better. You hear me? You fight boy or I will let her think you died hating her." Isaac yelled at the blond man in his arms. He ripped a sleeve off his shirt and pressed it against the injured man's wound.

"Oh God! It hurts." Heath gasped as a wave of pain racked his body.

"I know it does son. I am sorry, but I have to stop the bleeding." Isaac apologized for hurting him.

Just then Nick rode up. He dismounted and was at his blond brother's side in a flash. "My God, Heath what happened.

"Carterson wins after all, Nick." Heath gasped in pain.

"Don't you talk like that, Heath? You are not going to die." Nick rebuked his injured brother.

"Please, tell Jenny I love her." Heath begged his brother.

"Oh no you don't. I won't let anyone tell her that but you." Mr. Morris yelled at the man in his arms. "Don't you give up? I won't let my daughter lose another man she loves."

Mr. Morris felt Heath go limp in his arms. He felt for a pulse and was relieved to find one. "He just passed out." He informed the dark haired Barkley who sighed with relief.

"We got to get him home and get the doctor." Nick said.

"I've sent Steve for the buckboard and James for the doctor. I told James to have the doctor met us at our place, since it closer." Isaac informed him. While they waited for Steve to arrive Mr. Morris filled Nick in on what had happened.

Finally Steve arrived with the buckboard. He also had brought along Josh to help load the injured man into the wagon. Once they had Heath loaded Nick asked Josh to take Heath's horse and ride to the Barkley ranch to inform Victoria and Jarrod of what had happened. Then they headed to the Morris' house. When they arrived at the ranch house, they carefully carried the blond man into the house.

"Heath!" Jenny screamed when she saw the unconscious body of her husband being carried in by her father, brother and Nick. She tried to go to him, but her mother stopped her.

"Let them get him to a room Jenny and settled. You will do him more good by helping me get ready for the doctor. We need to boil some water to sterilized things." Ann started giving her daughter a bunch of stuff to do. Most of which had nothing to do with helping the injured man, but she wanted to keep her daughter busy.

Jenny watched as the doctor entered the house and went to the room where her blond husband was. She was terrified that Heath would die like Mark did.

"He is going to be okay isn't he Papa?" She asked her father when he came downstairs. Jenny hadn't called him Papa since she turned ten.

"I don't know, honey." He replied. How he wanted to tell her it was all going to be all right, but he did not know that and he wouldn't lie to her.

Jenny started to head to the stairs that led to the room where her injured husband lay fighting for his life, but her father stopped her.

"I got go to him. Let me go, he needs me." She screamed. Why wouldn't they let her go to him?

"Jenny, he needs the doctor. The doctor asked as all to wait down here. You would only get in the way." Morris said.

"He can't die Papa. He can't die. I couldn't bare to lose him too." She cried.

"That boy's a fighter. He has to be to have survived a place like Carterson." Isaac told his daughter with more confidence than he felt. Then he picked up his little girl in his arms and carried her over to the rocker. He sat down. He held her as he rocked her back and forth. How he wanted to take this pain away from her.

Just then Josh returned with Victoria and Jarrod. They asked how Heath was doing, but no one could tell them. They all waited for the doctor to come and tell them.

When the doctor arrived he had asked everyone, but Nick to wait downstairs. He examined his patient. Heath had lost a lot of blood, so the doctor had to risk a blood transfusion. Then he set to work on removing the bullet. When he finally removed the bullet he bandaged the wound. When he was finished he asked Nick to come with him downstairs, so he could tell everyone together.

"How is he?" Jarrod asked as the doctor walked into the living room where they all waited.

"I won’t lie to you. It's not good. He lost a lot of blood and the bullet passed very close to the appendix. Luckily the appendix didn't burst, but unfortunately I had to remove it along with the bullet. He is very weak." The doctor informed them.

"Will he be alright?" Victoria asked.

"I've done all I can the rest is up to him. Right now it could go either way. I wish I had better news, but I am sorry. I suggest you all pray." The doctor told them. "Unless I am needed elsewhere I will stay here."

Jenny broke from her father's arms and raced to the room with her husband. She walked over to him cupped his face in her hands and yelled. "You owe it to me to fight to live. You hear me fight to live. Like you told me to."

Then she lay down beside him and she refused to leave his side. She fell asleep curled up beside him.

Later that night Victoria entered the room and placed a blanket over her young daughter-in-law. She gently stroked the girl's cheek. Then she walked over and placed blanket on Nick who had fallen asleep in a chair in the corner of the room. He too refused to leave his brother's side.

As Victoria stood staring at her blond son's pale face she thought of the first day Heath arrived at the ranch. Of how hard he had fought to be accepted, especially by Nick. In the few short months Heath had been living at the ranch he had become a very important and loved member of her family. If he died there would be hole that could never be filled again.

Victoria thought of Heath's young wife. She could see how deeply her daughter-in-law loved him. The girl had lost one man she loved and it almost destroyed her could she survive the same tragedy again.

"Dear God! Please don't take him away from us. We all love and need him, especially Jenny. After all Jenny and Heath have been through they deserved to be happy. You gave him the strength he needed to fight and survive Carterson. Please give him the strength he needs to fight and survive this. Amen." Victoria prayed.

"Amen." Jarrod said as he entered the room to check on his injured brother and heard his mother's pray. He had been helping the Morris tell the sheriff what had happened.

"Any change?" Jarrod asked.

"No. Do you think we should wire Audra and Eugene and have them come home?" Victoria asked. Audra had gone to visit her brother Eugene and a friend of hers. The blonde girl was not expected home for at least another week. Eugene was busy with his studies at University and would not be coming home until spring break which was almost two months away.

"We probably should let them know. If he di." Jarrod started to say but the word caught in his throat. Then he continued. "Anyway they would want to know. I will wire them first thing in the morning."

"Did everything go alright with the Sheriff?" Victoria asked.

"Yes. It was clear that Mr. Morris, James and Steve had no choice, but to shoot her. If they hadn't Heath would be dead now." Jarrod stated as he stood watching his brother fight for his life. "God! I wish I never hired that man. Then none of this would have happened."

"Jarrod, this isn't your fault. You didn't know the man you hired was Matt Bentell." Victoria said as she put her arms around her oldest son's shoulders. "Blaming yourself isn't going to help Heath. I think both of us should try to get some sleep."

They each went to the guestrooms that Ann had prepared for them.

The next morning Nick awoke with a stiff neck from sleeping in the chair all night. He looked over at the still form of his blond brother lying in the bed with Jenny curled up beside him. He remembered with shame the first few weeks after Heath's arrival at the ranch. How cruel he had been to this brother then. He didn't want to accept the fact that his father was imperfect, so he refused to accept Heath. But no matter how hard Nick tried to hate this quiet man, he couldn't. Over the months since the blond man's arrival Nick grew to love and respect this brother. Now he could not imagine his life without Heath at his side, running the ranch.

Nick's thoughts where interrupted when the doctor entered the room followed by Jarrod. The doctor walked over to the bed of injured Barkley.

"Jenny, I need to examine Heath." The doctor said as he gently shook the girl to wake her up. He did not really like the idea of her lying next to the injured man, but when he had tried to remove her last night she had refused and the family insisted he leave her alone.

Jenny got up, but never let go of Heath's hand while the doctor examined him and redressed the wound. As soon as the doctor was finished examining her husband, she curled up beside him once again. Then she started to softly talk to the unconscious man.

"How is he?" Jarrod asked as soon as the doctor was finished his examination.

"I am afraid there is no change. But at least he isn't any worse. I have to go out to the Stevens place this morning to check on another patient. If there is any change at all have someone come and get me immediately." The doctor informed the two brothers. Then he left.

Nick got up from where he sat, walked over to the bed, took Heath's hand in his as he bent down and whispered in his injured brother's ear. "Don't you go giving up, boy. You fight. I have to go check on the ranch, but I will be back."

Then Nick and Jarrod left Heath's room and went downstairs where they found their mother with Ann in the kitchen making breakfast for everyone. They informed Victoria of what the doctor just told them.

After they finished their breakfast Jarrod left for town and Nick went to check on the running of the ranch.

Jarrod rode into Stockton. He had hoped by morning there would have been a change in his brother's condition, but Heath still showed no sign of improvement. At least his brother was still clinging to life.

Jarrod rode up to the telegraph office, dismounted and entered the building. He carefully worded the message he was sending to Eugene. Then he handed it to the telegraph clerk, who took it, read it and then sent it.

"I am sorry about your brother, Jarrod. My wife and I will pray for him and your family." The telegraph clerk said as Jarrod turned to leave.

"Thanks." Jarrod mumbled then left the telegraph office. He had just exited the office when the Sheriff approached him.

"Hi Jarrod, How is Heath doing?" The sheriff asked. Jarrod didn't say anything, but the pain etched on the young lawyer's face told the sheriff that Heath had not improved. "Come on I'll buy you a coffee. You look like you need someone to talk to."

The two men walked over to the Cattlemen's Hotel and picked a private table in the corner of the restaurant. The Sheriff ordered two cups of coffee from the waitress as soon as they sat down. After the waitress brought them their coffee he turned to his friend. "It's bad isn't it?"

"He has not regained consciousness and he is so pale. I am afraid we are going to lose him." Jarrod choked.

"He is a strong young man and a fighter. Don't worry he will pull through." The Sheriff tried to comfort him.

"Yeah! He is a fighter. He has had to fight all his life. He had to fight against those who judged him unworthy because of how he was born. He had to fight to help his mother raise him. He had to fight to survive Carterson. He even had to fight to be accepted by us. Now because of me he is lying in bed fighting for his life." Jarrod snapped. He still felt guilty that he had brought Matt Bentell into their lives.

"Now hold Jarrod. I don't see how you can blame yourself for any of this." The sheriff said

"If it wasn't for me hiring Matt Bentell and inviting him into our house none of this would have happened. Heath would be safe." Jarrod stated.

"Jarrod, how were you supposed to know that the man you hired was Bentell? He told you he was someone else." He sheriff tried to convince the guilt-ridden Barkley that he done nothing wrong.

"Maybe so, but when Heath told us who he was I should have fired him on the spot. I should have made him leave immediately. Then the press wouldn't have had time to get a picture and Bentell would still be alive. Then his wife wouldn't have tried to kill my brother out revenge. Instead I almost forced Heath to go with that man up to the lumber camp to protect him. To protect a man that tortured him and left him to die. If it hadn't been for Jenny I would have sent my brother with that man, because I believe that Bentell should not have pay for the rest of his life for what happened during the war. I was more concerned about Mr. Bentell's rights than my own brother feelings. Heath tried to tell us, but I wouldn’t listen." Jarrod unloaded his guilt to his friend.

"Jarrod, there is no way you can know for sure that things would have worked out differently if you fired Bentell the minute you knew who he was. Someone may have still recognized him and killed him. Mrs. Bentell may still have blamed Heath and came back to kill him. Blaming yourself isn't going change anything. Now all you can do is be strong for your family and help them through this." The Sheriff said.

"You are probably right. Thanks for listening. I really needed to talk to someone about this." Jarrod said as he took a sip of his coffee. The two friends talked while they finished their coffee then Jarrod excused himself and went to his office.

Eugene Barkley closed his books and picked them up as he headed for the door. He had promised that he would meet his sister, Audra for lunch at the campus cafeteria. His sister had come to town to visit a friend of hers. He was enjoying being able to spend time with her and catch up with everything that was happening back home at the ranch. He had just exited the classroom when a man approached him.

"You Eugene Barkley." The man asked.

"Yes." Eugene answered.

"There is a telegram for you." The man said as he handed the telegram to Eugene, who took it and gave the man a tip. Then he read the telegram.

"Bad news?" Ross, a classmate of Eugene asked when he saw the pain on his friend's face.

"My brother was shot. They don't know if he will pull through." Eugene said. "If you excuse me I have to go get my sister. We have a train to catch."

Eugene shoved the telegram in his pocket as he raced down the hall to the cafeteria where Audra was waiting for him. He knew that if the family felt it necessary to send a telegram that it had to be serious. He entered the cafeteria and found Audra talking to a group of young college men.

"If you will excuse us gentlemen my sister and I have something important to discuss." Eugene said as he grabbed Audra by the arm and pulled her from the room.

"Eugene that was rude." Audra pouted. She had been enjoying all the attention. "What about lunch?"

"There isn't time for lunch. We have to catch the next train back to Stockton." Eugene told her as they continued walk down the hall.

"Why? What happened?" Audra asked suddenly concerned.

"I'll tell you once we are on the train. It leaves at 1:00 so there isn't anytime to explain now." Eugene stated as they exited the school. He prayed they would make the train on time. If they missed it they would have to wait until tomorrow.

Eugene found a cab and ordered the driver to the train station. Once in the cab Audra asked again. "Eugene, you are scaring me. What happened? Why do we have to go home?"

"I received a telegram. Heath has been shot." Eugene informed her.

"He isn't dead is he?" She asked as terror filled her heart.

"No, but it's serious and he might not make it." Eugene informed her.

Just then the cab pulled up at the train station. Eugene helped his emotionally distraught sister out of the cab. Then he went and purchased their tickets. Then they boarded the train. Once they where seated he put his arms around his little sister and held her as she cried herself to sleep.

Between working at the hospital in Sacramento during the summer months and going to University Eugene had not been home much since Heath arrived at the ranch a little over six months ago. He had been home the day the blond drifter rode in claiming to be his father's bastard son, but left a week latter for Sacramento. Eugene had returned home a month latter when the town of Stockton decided to honor his father by erecting a statue of him in the center of town. That time Eugene only had a few days to try to get to know his quiet new brother before he had to return to his summer job in Sacramento.

As he watched the land race by he thought of his injured brother fighting for his life. Eugene realized that he did not even know this brother and now he feared he would never have the chance to.

Heath fought against the storm that raged around him. He was afraid, alone and the pain was unbearable. He had to find shelter so he ran until he fell exhausted unable to fight.

"Heath, Sweetheart." A gently voice called as the storm retreated and his pain vanished. He slowly got to his feet and looked around. He found himself in a clearing of a forest with his mother and Aunt Rachael standing beside him.

"Mamma! Aunt Rachael!" Heath shouted in joy and threw his arms around each woman. "Boy howdy, it’s been a long time. I missed you both so much."

Heath, Leah and Rachael stood in the clearing embracing one another until Heath pulled away. "You are both dead. How can you be here? Does this mean that I am dead?"

"No, sweetheart you are not dead. But you do have a choice to make." His mother told him. "You must choose which path you will take."

Leah pointed to a path. "This path will take you back to your family, but it is a long journey and it won't be easy. It is journey you will have to travel alone." Leah pointed to the other path. "This one is the one that will lead you to the Father. On this path your Aunt and I will accompany you."

Heath walked toward the first path. He saw the raging storm and felt the unbearable pain return. He retreated back into the clearing. He wanted to go back to his family, but he was tired of fighting. He needed to rest.

Heath turned back to his mother and Aunt Rachael who stood on the second path. As Heath took a step toward the second path a brilliant light appeared. He could feel peace and love radiating from the light welcoming him. Down this path he would find the rest he needed and he would be free of pain. He could be with his mother and Aunt Rachael again. He took another step toward the light as he reached out to take the hands of his mother and Aunt Rachael.

"You owe it to me fight to live. You hear me fight to live. Like you told me to." He heard Jenny's terror filled voice scream at him. Jenny had wanted to choose death over life once, but he convinced her that that even though death seemed easier than life she should fight to live. How could he now take the easy way out?

"I am sorry I can't go with you." Heath told his mother and Aunt Rachael as he dropped his hands to his side and backed away from them. "Jenny needs me. My family needs me. I must fight to live."

Leah smiled at her son. "That is the choice I prayed you would make. Once you start down that path remember to trust only your heart."

The light and the two women vanished. Heath found himself in the middle of the raging storm once again and the unbearable pain was back. He was cold, tried and afraid, but this time he wasn't alone. He could not see her, but he could feel Jenny's presence reaching out to him to guide him home. The wind was strong and he had to fight hard against it just to keep from losing ground.

That night Jenny awoke unable to sleep because she was extremely hot. She threw back her blanket and sat up to discover that the room was cold. She turned and felt the forehead of the blond man lying beside her. She felt the heat radiating from him.

"Nick!" She screamed at her brother-in-law who once again fell asleep in the chair in the corner of the room.

"What's wrong?" Nick asked as he awoke with a start and was at Heath's bedside in seconds.

"He's burning up." Jenny alarmed voice informed him.

Just then the doctor entered the room followed closely by Jarrod and Victoria who had all been awaken by Jenny's frantic scream. The doctor walked over to his patient and examined him.

"I was afraid of this." The doctor said. "We have to bring down this fever and now."

They began bathing the injured man with cold water to bring down the fever that racked his body. That night the fever rose dangerously high, but finally they managed to bring it down.

For the next three days Jenny remained at her husband side talking to him as she sponged him down to kept the fever under control. She refused to stop even when her mother and the doctor begged her go and get some rest. . She couldn't, she wouldn't leave Heath's side.

When Audra returned home with Eugene, she offered to tend to Heath while Jenny got some rest, but Jenny refused.

Heath fought hard against the storm. He was so tired and the pain was increasing, but he continued to struggle to gain ground.

"Heath!" His Aunt Rachael's voice beacon. He turned to find her standing beside him.

"Aunt Rachael, I am so tired. I don't know if I can go on." Heath yelled to be heard above the raging storm.

"You don't have to. All you have do is stop fighting and come with me." Rachael said.

Heath wanted to rest, to stop fighting, and to be free of this pain. He was about to walk toward his Aunt when he heard his brother's voice whisper to him to not give up and to fight.

"No, I must go this way." He said as he headed in the direction of Jenny's presence and Nick's voice.

As he continued to battle against the storm a lightning bolt struck a tree and set it on fire. Soon flames blocked his path. He retreated away from the flames.

"Heath, you can't go that way. The flames will burn you. Follow me and I will lead you home." His aunt tried again to get him to follow her.

Heath looked at his Aunt and back at the flames. He could feel Jenny's presence just beyond the flames and he had to reach her. He began walking threw the fire. He was so hot and the pain in his side was unbearable, but he continued on. Just when he believed he could stand it no more he was free of the burning forest. He found himself in hot-aired desert. He collapsed to his knees on the desert floor. He didn't know if he had the strength to continue.

"Heath, sweetheart. It's time you give up. You are tired and weak, please just come with me." He heard his mother's gentle voice. Heath looked up to see his mother standing beside his Aunt Rachael.

"I must continue." Heath said as he got to his feet and started to walk.

"No, you must stop fighting and come with me." His mother’s ordered confused him. His mother had told him that she had prayed he would choose this path, so why was she now trying to get him to give up and stop fighting. Then he remembered her telling him to only trust his heart and his heart told him to continue fighting for life.

"I can't go with you. I must fight to live." Heath told her.

"Heath! You must come with me now. You are my son and you will obey me." Leah screamed.

Slowly Heath turned to face her as the realization hit him. "You are not my mother. My mother would never order me to stop fighting." As he spoke the words Leah changed into Matt Bentell and his Aunt changed into Mrs. Bentell.

"You have passed all your test but one, boy." Bentell said as the desert vanished.

Heath found himself once again in Carterson. Heath looked around at the horrors of the prison camp. His heart started to race as the guards started walking toward him. He had to get out of here. He couldn’t let them catch him. He started to retreat back toward the direction he had come, but then he felt Jenny and his family. He heard their voices just beyond the gates of his private hell. He realized that the only way to reach them was to face his fears of this prison and walk through those gates.

"As you see, Boy. You can't escape this place. You may as well give up, because it will always win. Even you said if finally won." Bentell laughed

Heath turned to face Bentell. "I was wrong this place is my past. It can only win if I let it and I won't let it. You and this place are not real and can't hurt me anymore." With a renewed strength he turned, walked through the prison, past all the guards to the gates and to his freedom.

Heath awoke to find himself in a strange room surround by his family. "Where I am I? He gasped in pain as he frantically tried to sit up. He feared that this too was some kind of illusion.

"It's okay, Heath you are safe. You are at the Morris place. We brought you here after you were shot." Nick said as he gently pushed his brother back against the bed.

Heath lay back against the pillow and closed his eyes as the images of what had happened flashed through his mind. He remembered the shearing pain in his side just before he fell from Chargers back. He saw the insanity in Mrs. Bentells face as she lifted the gun to end his life, but luckily Mr. Morris, Steve and James stopped her. He remembered the fear he had that he was going to die without ever letting Jenny know he loved her. He opened his eyes and turned his head to look at his pretty little red headed wife sitting beside him on the edge of the bed.

"Jenny I love you and I am sorr." Heath started to apologize for hurting her, but she silenced him with a kiss.

"I love you too, Heath." Jenny said as she pulled away.

Everyone in the room cheered and clap with delight that these to stubborn people finally declared their love for one another, which caused Heath to turn a bright red.

"Will you do me the honor of marrying me?" Heath asked, doing his best to ignore the rest of his family in the room.

"We are already married, don't you remember." Jenny asked concerned at his lapse in memory.

"I mean will you remarry me? When we look back on our wedding day. I want to remember you walking down the aisle to me. I want to remember saying I do and meaning with my whole heart. The way it should have been. Not forced on us by your father and brothers." Heath explained.

"Of course I will remarry you." Jenny answered.

"I can help you plan the wedding." Audra squealed in delight.

"Audra, I think that all this wedding planning can wait until Jenny gets some sleep." The doctor said as he entered the room. He had just arrived back from delivering a baby and over heard Heath ask Jenny to remarry him. He gave them their little moment, but now he wanted to get the girl to finally get some rest before she collapse. He also wanted to examine Heath.

The doctor ordered everyone out of the room, so he could examine Heath. When he finished his examination he re-bandaged the wound. Then he gave the young man something to kill the pain and help him sleep.

The people of Stockton were surprised when they received invitations to attend the marriage of Heath Barkley and Jenny Morris, because they all knew that the couple was already married.

When the people of Stockton had first heard that Heath and Jenny had gotten married they believed it was a rushed marriage because the girl was pregnant. The gossips, which always loved a good scandal especially when it involved the Barkleys, watched the girl closely for the signs that she was with child. They were expecting to be invited to a baby shower by now not a wedding for the happy couple.

The Barkleys and Morris just told everyone that they had felt cheated out of a wedding when Heath and Jenny eloped, so Heath decided to have a proper wedding for the family sake.

On a beautiful day in May Heath and Jenny were remarried. Audra was Jenny's bridesmaid and Nick was Heath's best man. Jenny wore a beautiful white dress and the prettiest smile as she walked down the aisle to her awaiting husband. Neither hesitated a second when the minister asked them if they took one another as man and wife.

After the wedding reception Heath and Jenny left for the hotel in town. That night for the first time since they were married Heath took Jenny as his wife.

A year later, a very nervous Heath waited downstairs with his brothers as he waited impatiently for his child to be born.

"I should be with her." Heath said as he tried to head to the stairs that led to his and Jenny's room.

"Mother, Dr. Meyer and Mrs. Morris would just kick you out and you know it. She will be fine." Nick said as he grabbed Heath's arm to stop him from going upstairs.

Jarrod walked over and handed Heath a drink. "Here maybe this will calm you down. How about a game of pool to take your mind off things?"

Heath took the offered drink and agreed to play pool with his brothers. Heath had a hard time concentration on the game. He kept thinking of Jenny in pain upstairs. He wanted to go to her, but they would not allow him to. Nick of course was taking full advantage of his brother's distraction to win back some of the money he had lost to his blond brother.

Just as Heath was about to make his next shot he heard a baby cry, which caused his arm to jerk and he ripped the pool table felt with his cue stick.

Jarrod looked at the rip in the table. "I guess it's not a good idea to have an expecting father play pool.

Heath dropped the stick on the table and raced for the stairs. He had just reached the top of the stairs when Victoria exited his and Jenny's room.

"You have a daughter, Heath." Victoria informed him. "Jenny is waiting for you."

He entered the room and walked over to the edge of the bed. He looked down at his tired but very happy red headed wife, who cradled their daughter beside her.

"I love you Heath." Jenny said as she looked up and smiled at him. "Come meet you daughter."

Heath gently took the little child in his arms. "She is so beautiful. Just like her Mamma. I love you so much My Lady." He whispered as he bent over and kissed Jenny on the lips. "What shall we name her?"

"I always liked the name Tara." Jenny said.

"Welcome to our family, Tara Barkley." Heath said as he held his little girl in his arms.

Then the happy couple introduced their daughter to her two grandmothers, her grandfather, her nine uncles and Aunt.