The next morning Heath awoke with a start from the same nightmare that plagued him ever since he had been shot. He looked around the hotel room that he found himself in. Nick was not there, but Jarrod sat at the table reading a paper. When Heath sat up Jarrod put his paper down and approached the bed. Heath's heart started to pound in his chest as his older brother came toward him. He took a couple of breaths to get his emotions under control.

"How are you feeling this fine morning?" Jarrod asked trying to act as if nothing was wrong.

"I am fine. We don't have to delay in this town on the count of me. I can travel." Heath answered without looking at Jarrod.

"Well the doctor thinks it is a good idea that you rest for a couple of days and we agree. The doctor also wants you to take two of these morning and night." Jarrod said as he held out two of the pills that the doctor had given him. "They are for pain and to help prevent infection."

Heath eyed the pills in Jarrod's hand suspiciously. "No thank you. I will pass on anything that doctor prescribes." Heath refused as he lay back down and turned his head to look out the window.

Jarrod wanted his brother to take the medicine, but he did not feel he should press the issue. He would get Nick to make sure Heath took the pills latter. He laid the pills on the nightstand by the bed and turned to go back to read his paper.

"If it had been Nick would you have remembered in time and not pulled the trigger?" Heath asked the question that had been gnawing at him since Nick had told him what had happened.

At Heath's question Jarrod turned back to the bed and looked into dark blue eyes searching desperately for answers.

"I don't know Heath. Maybe something about Nick would have triggered my memories sooner or maybe nothing would have. Even if it had been Nick who burst into that house instead of you, in my state of mind I probably would have shot him too. At the time I believed my life and Libby's was in danger so I reacted. If you think that because of what happened it means that my bond with Nick is stronger than my bond with you are dead wrong. I may not have known you all my life, but in the short time you have been with us you have become as important to me as Nick, Audra, Eugene or mother. I would not knowingly hurt any one of you. I would give my life to change what happened. If you can never forgive me I will understand." Jarrod told his younger brother.

Heath saw the raw pain and remorse etched on Jarrod's face. "It wasn't your fault Jarrod. You did not know what you were doing. That woman lied to us and to you. She put you in a situation that you should not have been put in. I am sorry I haven't told you this sooner, but I just could not face it until now." Heath said as he sat up and looked out the window.

"I could have killed you and I could not have lived with that." Jarrod said as he sat down on the edge of the bed and buried his face in his hands.

Heath turned and placed an arm around Jarrod's shoulders. "But you didn't kill me and we can both learn to live with that." The two brothers sat there holding onto one another, as they took their first step in repairing the shattered bond. They were still like this when Nick came back from checking on the horses.

"Is everything okay?" Nick asked. Jarrod nodded his head.

"I am more than okay for traveling. When can we leave?" Heath answered. He desperately needed to change the topic.

"Oh no, the only place you are going is back into that bed." Nick ordered.

At Heath's look of defiance Nick added. "The length of our stay here will be determined by how well you behave."

Heath meekly crawled back into the bed and covered himself up with the covers. When Nick saw the two pills sitting on the nightstand he picked them up and handed them to Heath. "That also means you will take your medicine without any argument."

Heath glared at his older brother as he picked the two pills out of Nick's hand. Jarrod poured a glass of water and gave it to his younger brother, who gladly took it to help wash pills down.

"Good now I will go downstairs and have the kitchen send up some oatmeal and orange juice for you." Nick said as he watched Heath swallow the pills.

"Not Oatmeal again, that is all I have been eating for the past three days. I want eggs, ham, toast and coffee." Heath complained.

"Fine, I will get a couple eggs, but I don't think you should be eating ham or toast yet." Nick replied as he left to get Heath his breakfast.

"Boy Howdy! That guy will make a great mother someday." Heath grumbled as Nick exited the room.

Jarrod burst out laughing as Heath's face broke out in a lop-sided grin. When Jarrod stopped laughing he suggested they play a game of cards, so they did. When Nick returned he joined in. They played cards while they waited for their breakfast.

They stayed in the little town for three days and three nights while the two older brothers forced Heath to rest. The morning of the fourth day they finally headed for home, much to the blond brother's relief. Heath wanted to ride Charger, but his brothers insisted he ride in the wagon. The blond cowboy reluctantly agreed, but refused to lie in the back. Against Nick's better judgment he allowed his blond brother to ride up front with him. They had not even gone a mile when the wagon wheel hit a rut and Heath cried out in pain as he clutched at his side. Nick stopped the wagon and forced his stubborn brother to lie down in the back of the wagon, for the remaining trip to Stockton.

When they drove into the town of Stockton Nick and Jarrod insisted that before they headed out to the ranch that they should get Dr. Meyers examine Heath.

"There is no need to bother the doctor. I am fine." Heath complained.

"Oh you are going to let Dr. Meyers examine you even if I have to sit on you." Nick snorted.

"Fine let’s get it over with." Heath said as he climbed out of the wagon. Then the three brothers walked up to the door of the doctor's office and knocked on the door. Dr. Meyer answered the door.

"Good afternoon Nick, Jarrod, Heath. The doctor greeted the three Barkley brothers. It is good to see you Jarrod. I know your family was worried about you when you were missing so long. What may I do for you boys today?"

"Jarrod here just recovered from amnesia and I think you should check him over just to make sure he is okay." Heath said before Nick or Jarrod could answer the doctor's question.

"Okay Jarrod." The doctor said turning toward the lawyer. "Just have a seat on the examining table.

"Jarrod is not the reason we are here Doctor. Heath is. We ran into a little trouble. He was shot in the stomach about ten days ago. We have been traveling for the last two days so we just want him checked over before we head home." Nick explained the real reason for the visit as he glared at his blond brother, who had a self-satisfied smirk on his face.

"Well I will check them both over. I will start with you Jarrod. Please have a seat." The doctor said as he gestured toward the examining table. Jarrod complied.

Dr. Meyer examined Jarrod and announced that the lawyer was in good health. Then he turned to his other patient.

"Heath, would you please remove your shirt and get on the examining table." He ordered.

Heath reluctantly did as he was instructed. The doctor carefully cut away the bandage to expose the wound. After he examined the blond Barkley the doctor re-bandaged the wound.

"The wound is healing nicely." The doctor informed the brothers as Heath put his shirt back on.

"Will I still have to stay in bed?" Heath asked as he glared at his two older brothers who stood behind the doctor.

"I don't see any reason why you should have to stay in bed, but you should take it easy for the next few days.

"Thanks Doc." Heath said as he jumped off the examining table and bolted for the door. Jarrod and Nick were right behind him. When the blond cowboy reached the wagon he untied Charger and mounted him.

"And what do you think you are doing?" Nick demanded.

"I am riding Charger the rest of the way home." Heath answered as his blue eyes shone with determination.

"If you want to hog tie me to that wagon you will have to catch me first." He shouted over his shoulder as he urged Charger in a gallop and raced out of town.

"The doctor said to take it easy you fool." Nick shouted at his retreating brother.

"Now you know how mother feels when you won't listen to what is best for you when you are sick or injured." Jarrod said as he placed a hand on his fuming brother's shoulder.

Nick laughed. "Yeah, I guess he is giving a bit of my own medicine isn't he. Well you can drive the wagon home. I am riding Cocoa." Nick untied Cocoa, jumped on his back and raced after Heath. Jarrod tied Jingo to the back of the wagon, climbed into the driver's seat and urged the horses to follow his two brothers.

When the brothers reached home they tended to the horses, then went to the house.

"Jarrod!" Audra squealed as she hugged her older brother that had been missing. "We were so worried. Why were you were gone so long?"

"I am home now Sis. I just had amnesia for a while, but Heath and Nick helped me remember." Jarrod said.

Jarrod glanced over to where his two brothers stood beside one another. He thought of the last few days. Of how close he had come to ending his young blond brother’s life and making it so Heath would never be standing at Nick's side again. He thought of the morning in the hotel room when Heath forgave him and how good it felt to be forgiven. Even though his younger brother had forgiven him, Jarrod wondered if their relationship would ever be as strong as it once was.

"Are you alright, sweetheart?" Victoria asked concerned by the dark look that crossed Jarrod's face.

Jarrod saw the concern on his sister and mother's faces. Concern that he felt he did not deserve. He wondered how the two women would look at him once they where told what had happened.

"Yes, I am fine." He answered as he hugged his mother.

"Well I am glad you are all home." Audra said as she ran over and threw her arms around Nick. Then she turned and threw her arms around her blond brother. Heath gasped out in pain when his sister pressed against his side as she hugged him. Audra pulled away and looked at him with concern.

"What's wrong?" Victoria asked her attention drawn to her blond son by his gasp.

"Nothing is wrong." Heath lied. But Victoria wasn't buying it. She could tell that he was fighting to control some pain.

"Heath Barkley, don't you lie to me. I can tell when there is something wrong." Victoria snapped.

"Oh, I just took a tumble off Charger a few days back. I am still a little stiff, but I will be okay." Heath lied again.

"Well maybe we better have the doctor check you over." Victoria said, not believing for one moment that Heath had fallen off Charger.

"Nick and Jarrod already made me see the doctor and he says I am fine. So you can quit worrying." Heath reassured his mother.

"Yeah, He hurt his pride more than anything." Nick added to the lie.

"You look tired. You should go up to bed and rest. I will have Silas bring you up your supper." Victoria said concerned by Heath's pale complexion.

"No! That won't be necessary. I assure you I am fine. I'll go to bed when it is time to go to bed." Heath stated as he walked over to the bar in the sitting room. He poured himself a shot of whiskey to kill the pain in his side as he admitted to himself that riding Charger home probably wasn't a smart move. He downed the drink in one gulp and poured himself another.

"Well pour me one boy. Or do you prefer drinking alone." Nick ordered. Heath poured Nick a drink and handed it to him. Then he poured a glass of wine for Jarrod and a glass of sherry for Victoria. They all sat in the sitting room and talked while they waited for Silas to announce that supper was ready.

Victoria watched her three sons. She could tell that Heath was favoring his side. She also noticed the concerned glances Jarrod and Nick kept throwing in his direction. It was almost like they were afraid that any minute their blond brother would vanish. She could tell that they were hiding something. What could have happened on their trip that they would want to keep from her and Audra? Heath had told her that he fallen off Charger. That could explain why he was in obvious pain, but it would not explain her other two son's behavior. Besides when he told her Charger threw him she could tell he was lying.

"Dinner is ready." Silas informed the family.

"Thank you Salis." Victoria said as the family all got up and went to the dinning room.

After supper Jarrod, Nick and Heath went to the billiard room to play pool.

"Why did you lie about what happened." Jarrod asked Heath thinking that Victoria and Audra were out of earshot.

"That is what I want to know." Victoria demanded as she entered the room. She had decided to confront her three sons about what had happened on their trip, so she went to corner them in the billiard room. She was about to enter the room when she heard Jarrod ask Heath the question. All three boys jumped at the sound of their mother's voice.

"Heath, I am waiting for an answer. Why did you lie to me? What happened on your trip?" Victoria demanded. Heath looked like an animal trapped in a cage with no escape.

"Nothing happened. We just found Jarrod and brought him home." Heath tried lying again.

"Heath Barkley, do you think I am a fool. You don't think I can't tell when you are lying to me. It is obvious that you are all trying to cover up something that happened on that trip. I want to know what happened." Victoria confronted her youngest son.

"It's in the past. Just let it be." Heath pleaded. He desperately wanted to protect his mother and sister from the horrors of what had happened. To spare them the emotional turmoil that he and his brothers where going through.

"Families don't keep secrets, Heath. I want the truth and I want it now." Victoria once again demanded.

"Some truths are best left buried." Heath snapped as he tried to walk out the door, but she stood in his way.

"I said I want the truth now!" Victoria ordered as she lost her patience with her young blond son.

"Mother, Leave him alone." Jarrod snapped as he stepped in between his mother and Heath.

Just then Audra entered the room. She had heard her mother ask her blond brother for the truth. She saw her oldest brother step protectively in front of Heath and yell at their mother. She saw the pained expression on all her brother's faces and she felt the tension in the room.

"What is wrong?" Audra demanded.

"Nothing is wrong." Heath snapped as he walked over to stare out the window.

'Why can't she just let it go?' He thought. Before coming to the ranch his life had been a hard one. Over the years he had been hurt by the cruel world many times. In order to survive he had learned to bury things that cause him pain. That is what he desperately wanted to do now, but she would not let him. Both Jarrod and Nick walked over and stood beside him.

"It's okay Heath I'll tell them. Thanks for trying to protect them." Nick whispered in Heath's ear.

"But they don't need to know. Just let it go," Heath pleaded again.

"Yes, Heath they need to know. They have a right to know." Jarrod replied as he placed a hand on the blond cowboy's shoulder. "You don't have to stay here if you don't want to. But they have to be told."

"No, I will stay." Heath croaked out as he shook his head and continued to stare out the window.

Victoria watched her three sons as they talked by the window. When Jarrod and Nick turned to face her she could clearly see the pain etched into each of the two boys' faces. Heath remained staring out the window with his back to her, but by the way he held his shoulders she could tell he was in emotional turmoil too. Victoria and Audra braced themselves to hear the worst, but nothing in their wildest imagination could prepare them for what they were about to hear.

Jarrod remained by the window near Heath as Nick walked over to Audra and Victoria. Nick placed a hand on their shoulders and led them to a seat. Then he told them of the events that led to Heath being shot and almost killed by his own brother. Audra bolted from her seat and rushed over to face Jarrod.

"Jarrod, how could you? You could have killed him. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you." Audra screamed as she pounded Jarrod in the chest with her fists. The guilt-ridden brother did not even try to deflect her assault. Heath came up behind her, grabbed her arms and pulled her into his chest. He held her in a tight embrace.

"It wasn't his fault, sweetheart. He didn't remember who I was. He thought I was there to kill him." Heath defended Jarrod as he held the sobbing Audra in his arms. "I am here, honey. I am still alive. Everything is going to be okay."

Oh God! Victoria closed her eyes and prayed as the realization of how close her family had come to total destruction hit her. What if Heath had died at his brother's hands, could have this family survived such a tragedy? As Victoria watched her young blond son holding Audra, she thanked God that they would never have to find that out. By what Heath said to Audra, Victoria knew that he did not blame Jarrod for what had happened, but she could tell that there was still awkwardness between the two brothers. She knew it would be a while before this was totally behind them. As awful as the truth was for her to hear she was glad she insisted they tell her. Now she could help her sons deal and come to terms with what had happened.

'Yes, families should never keep secrets no matter how painful the truth is.' Victoria thought.

Nick walked over and put his arms around his two blond siblings. Jarrod stood frozen by the window. Victoria walked over, threw her arms around her eldest son and held him tight.

Heath released his grip on Audra and broke away from Nick's embrace. He walked over to where Jarrod and Victoria were. "Why couldn't you just let it be? You didn't have to know. She didn't have to know." Heath seethed as he pointed at the emotionally distraught Aurda.

Victoria turned to face Heath as she still hung on to Jarrod with one arm. "Heath, a wound like this need to be tended to otherwise it will scab over and fester inside until it is a raging infection that will destroy the body. I know you've learned to push painful events in your life deep down inside of you, but that has never worked has it. Those hurts always found away back to surface and caused you more pain. This horrible incident affects the whole family and we need face it together if we are to weather the storm. I know it is hard, but it is worth it."

Heath's body began to shake as all the emotions he had been suppressing for the past few days overwhelmed him. He covered his face with his hands as he broke down and wept. Victoria reached out with her free arm, pulled him to her and embraced both of her wounded sons. Audra broke from Nick's arms, ran over to embrace the three some. Nick followed suit. When they finally broke apart Victoria insisted that Heath go to bed since he was still recovering.

In time the family put all this behind them, but Jarrod and Heath's relationship was never the same again. Their bond had been tested by fire. It was stretched to its limits, but did not break and because it survived it grew stronger and deeper than it had been before.