Nick opened the door and stood for a moment watching Silas talking quietly to Heath as he helped him take a sip of water.

"Oh Mr. Heath, I knows y'all's just funnin' with me now." He put the glass on the night table and pulled the covers up higher against the chill in the room.

Heath looked at the elderly servant, the serious expression on his face belied by the twinkle in his eyes. "I'm tellin' ya Silas, that cook of the Anderson's has her eye on you. Don't think I didn't notice the way she sashayed around ya when she came to help serve at the weddin'." Heath winked as Silas stared at him, "and don't think I don't see how often ya offer to go to the Anderson's to pick up or deliver things for Mother."

Silas laughed out loud and slapped his thighs, "oh Mr. Heath, that woman's got to be as big as a bear and twice as mean. Don't y'all go hitchin' poor ol' Silas up with her now, ya hear?"

The jangle of spurs had both men turning to see Nick crossing the room smiling. "Why now Silas, I think you two'd make a perfect pair. We could hire her to do the cooking so ya could take it a little easier. Sorta retired like."

Silas shook his grey head violently as he stood up and made his way to the door. "Ol' Silas don't need to be retirin' Mr. Nick. No sir, an' I don'ts need that big ol' woman messin' 'round in my kitchen! No sir. All ready got one person in this here house yellin' all da time, don't need no mo'!" The mumbling continued as he left and closed the door.

Nick sank into the chair by the bed and reached over to pick up the bottle of pills from the night table. He leaned forward, forearms on his knees, head down as he turned the bottle over in his hands and let out a weary sigh.

Heath rolled onto his side and put a hand on his brother's knee."I'm sorry Nick. I shoulda' told ya. It's just..." He shrugged and bit his lip and Nick looked up and met his eyes. Heath could see he had been crying again and it hurt to know he was causing his family so much pain.

"I know Heath. You knew I wouldn't of let ya outa' the house if ya had of told me." At Heath's nod he gave him a small smile and put the bottle back on the table. "I was pretty mad at ya for awhile today Heath, but Mother explained why ya did it and once I thought about it, I knew she was right." He leaned closer and held his brother's eyes seriously, "just don't ever do that again. You tell me next time, ya hear me Heath?"

"I hear ya Nick." He squeezed Nick's knee and withdrew his hand to pillow it under his cheek as Nick pulled the blankets up over the bare shoulder and rubbed it through the blankets.

"So, how ya feelin' now?"

"I'm fine, just a little tired is all." He dropped his eyes, but not before Nick had seen the lie in them. Heath had never lied to him. He got up from the chair, sat on the side of the bed and gently pulled on Heath's shoulder until he rolled over onto his back again, his eyes downcast.

Nick placed a hand on each side of him and tried to get Heath to look at him. "Hey little brother, do ya trust me?" Heath wrapped his fingers around Nick's forearm and nodded, "then talk to me."

Heath lifted his eyes to search his brother's face and he took a long shuddering breath. "I...I'm...scared Nick, I don't wanta' die."

Nick swallowed the lump that had suddenly formed in his throat as he saw the fear in Heath's eyes. He had never known Heath to be afraid of anything, his brother had told him that he had been afraid so many times in his life that he learned to ignore it. He reached forward and rubbed his hand up and down Heath's arm in a comforting gesture.

"I know ya are Heath. I am too and just between you and me, I've never been so scared in my life as I was today." He picked up Heath's hand and rubbed his thumb over the callused palm, "I thought I was gonna' lose ya out there and that terrifies me Heath, not knowin' if I'll always be around when ya need me."

Blue eyes held hazel as Heath sought to still his brother's fears. "You will be there for me Nick, I know ya will. You've always been by my side, you're 'one man in a thousand' and I couldn't ask for more."

Nick looked at him questionably, "that's what ya had written on my watch, what does it mean?"

Heath threw him a lop-sided grin and said, "ask Jarrod, he'll be able to tell ya."

Nick moved off the bed and sat in the chair again, "I will, now you close those eyes and get some sleep before Audra and Jarrod get here and start makin' a fuss over ya."

Nick sat and watched Heath drift off to sleep and his heart ached as he thought, 'how many times did he go through this alone with no one to help him, be there for him?' He remembered the times Heath had come down in the morning, pale and tired or excused himself in the middle of checkers or card games, saying he had something to do. Nick vowed then and there he would always be there for his brother, he would be strong enough.

Jarrod had come home early when Doctor Merar stopped by his office after he got back from the ranch and told him what had happened. He had come through the door with barely a hello to his mother before running up the stairs and taking the chair on the other side of the bed. Heath was asleep and Jarrod looked across at Nick and mouthed, 'how is he'? His stomach dropped when Nick just shook his head and kept watching the steady rise and fall of Heath's chest with fear in his eyes.

Audra and Carl arrived about five o'clock and Victoria told them what had happened. Audra spent an hour pulling herself together before going upstairs to sit with Heath and keep him company while the rest of the family had supper. She came down just after eight and fell into her mother's arms weeping as she realized how close she had come to losing her brother that day. They left for home just before ten with the promise that someone would sent word immediately if anything should happen.

Nick came into the library to find Jarrod nursing a whiskey as he sat behind his desk and stared out into the darkness beyond the French doors. He poured one for himself and took a seat on the other side of the desk.

Jarrod turned his chair around and raised his eyebrows at the look on his brother's face. He could always tell by the scowl on Nick's face when he wanted to ask something but wasn't sure how to go about it.

"What can I do for you Nick?"

Nick waved his hand through the air, "I just wanted to know somethin' and Heath told me to ask you."

Jarrod sat back and sipped his drink, "Ok Nick, what do you want to know?"

Nick shifted in his seat and looked across the desk with a frown, "It's just something Heath said and I want to know what it means is all."

"Ok, what was it he said?"

Nick pulled his watch out and thumbed open the lid. He stared at it for awhile before reluctantly handing it over to Jarrod who read it with a lump in his throat.

"'Till the weeks second Sunday' means till forever Nick." He gently closed the lid and handed it back to his brother.

Nick put the watch back in the pocket of his leather vest and waved his hand again, "I know that Jarrod, I want to know what 'one man in a thousand' means."

Jarrod got up and went over to the bookshelves, "it's a poem by Rudyard Kipling Nick. I have it here somewhere if you want to read it."

He handed the book to Nick who nodded and stood up, "I'll just take it to my room and maybe read it later. Thanks Jarrod." He stopped at the door and turned back , "I'm gonna' stay with Heath tonight so you and Mother can go to bed, I'll call ya if I need anything. Goodnight."

Jarrod didn't argue, he knew Nick was scared to death and wouldn't leave Heath alone tonight.

"Goodnight Nick."

Nick told his mother he would be in to relieve her at eleven and went to his room where he laid on his bed, opened the book and started reading...

THE THOUSANDTH MAN

Rudyard Kipling

One man in a thousand, Solomon says,
Will stick more close than a brother.
And it's worth while seeking him half your days
If you find him before the other.
Nine hundred and ninety-nine depend
On what the world sees in you,
But the Thousandth Man will stand your friend
With the whole round world agin you.

'Tis neither promise nor prayer nor show
Will settle the finding for 'ee.
Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em go
By your looks, or your acts, or your glory.
But if he finds you and you find him,
The rest of the world don't matter;
For the Thousandth Man will sink or swim
With you in any water.

You can use his purse with no more talk
Than he uses yours for his spendings
And laugh and meet in your daily walk
As though there had been no lendings.
Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em call
For silver and gold in their dealings;
But the Thousandth Man he's worth 'em all,
Because you can show him your feelings.
His wrong's your wrong, and his right's your right,
In season or out of season.
Stand up and back it in all men's sight--
With that for your only reason!
Nine hundred and ninety-nine can't bide
The shame or mocking or laughter,
But the Thousandth Man will stand by your side
To the gallows-foot--and after!

Nick closed the book, rolled onto his back and took out his watch to read the inscription he knew by heart...

To Nick, my best friend and brother.
'One man in a thousand'
I will always be by your side
'till the weeks second Sunday'
Love, Heath

...and his tears fell silently as he clutched the treasured memento to his heart.

Heath stayed inside and rested the next couple of days but was in the barn saddling his horse the day after that when Nick came in and stood there eyeing him with a scowl on his face and fists planted firmly on his hips.

"Where do ya think you're goin'?"

Heath tightened his cinch and turned to face his brother, "goin' to work Nick." He took his stirrup off the saddle horn and backed his horse out of his stall and into the aisle.

Nick opened his mouth to argue, then threw his hands in the air as Heath tugged his hat lower and glared at him, his mouth set in a stubborn line. He wanted Heath with him so he could watch over him but at the same time he didn't want him wearing himself out.

Apparently a compromise was in order. "That's fine Heath," he stepped closer until they were nearly toe to toe and Nick poked him in the shoulder with every point he made, "you can go, but the only work you're gonna' be doin' is watchin' us from the back of your horse."

He stepped even closer and their hat brims touched as he narrowed his eyes and growled, "because if you so much as touch that lasso, I'm gonna' use it to hog tie ya and you'll find yourself back home in bed so fast it'll make your head spin."

His fists went back to his hips and his voice rose, "AM I MAKING MYSELF CLEAR?"

Heath had been prepared for a fight. He thought Nick would refuse to let him go at all and he would have a big argument on his hands. Well, he figured something was better than nothing, so he decided to back down gracefully.

He ran his reins through his hands a few times and nodded, "just watch, I can do that Nick."

"Hrrrrrrumph, yeah right, and I'm a trained bear." Nick went over and jerked his saddle off the saw horse and carried it over to the grey mares stall, grumbling the whole time. As he smoothed out his saddle blanket, he glanced over and the scowl dropped from his face at the lop-sided grin and happy look in Heath's eyes as he watched him.

'Mother was right,' he thought, 'he doesn't ask much of me, just this time together and I can give him that. I want him to be happy, I want him near me. I want to keep that fear out of his eyes.'

Jarrod had started coming home at noon to join his mother, Nick and Heath for lunch telling them he could work on his current case just as easily at home as in town. Victoria knew he did it because he wanted to spend as much time with Heath as he could.

Silas poured the coffee as everyone laughed at Heath's account of Nick being dragged through cow patties that morning by a stubborn steer that didn't want to be branded. Nick, being as stubborn as the steer, wouldn't let go of the rope until he hit the forth patty. He had come home in a foul mood and soaked the smell away for an hour in the tub. Heath let out another chuckle and shook his head as he thought about the mornings entertainment.

Nick had finally had enough and he turned a glare on him and barked out, "IT WASN'T THAT FUNNY HEATH!"

Heath assumed his best poker face and looked at him solemnly. "Not if you don't think so Nick."

Nick jerked a thumb at him and viciously cut a piece of steak, "ya coulda' helped me out ya know Heath."

The blue eyes opened wide at this statement, "you told me I was only allowed to sit and watch and if I even thought about helpin' out, ya would..."

Nick waved a hand at him, "all right Heath, all right."

They ate in silence for a minute or so before Heath added conversationally, "ya shoulda' let go of the rope." His only answer was the banging of cutlery and another nasty glare directed his way.

Victoria and Jarrod hid their smiles behind their coffee cups as Heath continued to try and keep a straight face.Jarrod put down his cup and addressed his scowling brother as Nick stabbed a piece of beef and started to lift it to his mouth.

"You'll never guess who came by my office this morning Nick."

"Who?" He put the food in his mouth and started to cut another piece.

"Layle Johnson."

Victoria and Heath raised their eyebrows and exchanged a glance as Nick paused a moment before resuming cutting his meat.

"Ohhhhh..."

"Yes." Jarrod watched as Nick kept his head down to hide the flush that had come to his cheeks, "she's a widow now. Her husband was killed trying to bring in one of the Dalton Gang. Johnson was a bounty hunter as you no doubt recall."

"I remember."

Victoria held out her cup as Heath refilled it and asked, "what did she want Jarrod?"

"Well, it seems that Ed Dalton was killed in the gunfight and Mrs. Johnson was entitled to the five thousand dollar reward money as Johnson's wife. She wants to rent that farm they had before and came to me to handle the details."

Nick continued to eat in silence as his stomach churned. He didn't want her here, she had lied to him before by not telling him she was married. He had been in love with her then and still felt the hurt she had caused him when she decided to stay with her husband. Nick was almost certain that she had been in love with him too, but she wouldn't break her marriage vows. He had understood her reasons but it had taken him a long time to get over her and he wished she would have stayed away.

"She said to tell you Sir Lancelot has grown up to be quite handsome." Jarrod looked at Nick with a quizzical expression, "who or what is Sir Lancelot Nick?"

Nick threw his napkin on the table, pushed his chair back and quickly left the room as Jarrod looked at his mother and brother in confusion.

"What's wrong with him?"

Victoria sighed and put down her cup, "I believe he was in love with her Jarrod. As a matter of fact, I think Layle Johnson is the only woman Nick has ever really cared enough about to want to spend his life with. I quite liked her myself, I just wish she hadn't lied to him."

Heath added his thoughts, "yep, he had it bad for her. He gave her one of those collie pup's of Lucy's as a present. That's Sir Lancelot."

Jarrod nodded in understanding and excused himself to catch up on some paperwork in the library as Heath sipped his coffee and ran a few ideas through his head. Hmmmm ... from the way Nick had just acted, he wasn't as over Layle as he had so staunchly claimed to Heath at the time. Nick had growled and stomped around in a bad mood for weeks after she left and Heath had tried to get him to talk about it, but Nick had said he hadn't cared that much for her and Heath had eventually let the matter drop.

He got up, gave his mother a kiss and wandered out to sit in the sun on the front porch as he made plans. It hurt him to know Nick was going to be alone, Mother had the house, her friends and charities to keep her busy, Jarrod had his thriving practice and Audra had a husband and new household, but Nick...Nick wouldn't have anything except the ranch, and Heath didn't think that would be enough. Nick didn't have time to make close friends with anyone and Heath knew when he was gone, Nick would be pretty much alone again. Heath nodded to himself, he would talk to Mother and Jarrod and enlist their aid.

Spring was in full bloom in the valley as the grass turned green and flowers struggled up through the remnants of frost still in the ground. Mornings were still cool and the ground was covered in dew that was gradually burnt off by the warmth of the rising sun. The roundup and branding were almost finished and most of the new crop of calves were on the ground now cavorting in play at their mother's sides. The cacophony of sound created by the bawling of hundreds of steers was incredible and the men took to using hand signals to communicate.

Nick and Heath rode out every day and, while Nick wouldn't let him throw steers anymore, he did allow Heath to rope them while Jesse and Slim took them down and did the branding.

Nick rode his grey mare up alongside Heath's big bay as his brother flipped his lasso off a young heifer Jesse had just finished branding. She staggered to her feet and went bawling back to the safety of the herd as Nick took the canteen his brother offered and quenched his thirst. Saddle leather creaked as Heath leaned back and squinted at the horse and rider approaching them at a slow lope.

"Why looky there Nick, I do believe it's brother Jarrod come to check up on us."

Nick handed him back the canteen and crossed his forearms on his saddlehorn as he watched his brother approach.

"Why I do believe you're right brother Heath." Nick glanced over and raised his eyebrows."Now I wonder what could of made our big brother come out from behind his desk today?"

They knew Jarrod's thriving law practise rarely left him time to help out anymore and it had been many months since he had done any ranch work to speak of, he had even stopped going with them on the fall cattle drive.

He slowed his horse and swung in beside Nick who looked him up and down and frowned. Jarrod was wearing his working clothes and that usually meant he planned to play rancher for a few hours. While ranching was Nick and Heath's life, to Jarrod it was nothing more than a pleasant diversion. Something to do when he needed a break from his chosen profession.

Jarrod pushed his hat back a bit and looked at them with a twinkle in his eyes. "Hello boys, beautiful day isn't it?"

Nick grunted and cut to the chase, "what are ya doin' out here councilor?"

The eldest Barkley son nodded at the herd, "oh I decided it was such a nice day that I would leave the office early and give you two a hand."

"Ohhhhhhh...." Nick tugged his hat lower and frowned at him and Heath shrugged and spread his hands.

"What do ya have in mind to do big brother?"

Jarrod tilted his head and considered the question, "well Heath, I thought I might give you some help with the branding."

Nick glanced at Heath and smirked. The fancy lawyer was going to get his lily-white hands dirty and brand steers was he? They read each others mind and both looked over at their older brother with a speculative gleam in their eyes...time to add to the sock! While they were all hard, sinewy muscle with work roughened, callused hands and wind-burned faces, Jarrod was simply a lawyer who happened to live on a ranch. His hands were soft without blemish and he didn't possess the strength that came from the hard physical labour his brothers put in day after day.

Heath hooked his leg around his saddle horn and rested his forearm on his thigh as he watched Jesse brand another steer. Steve had taken over the roping while Heath took a little break and Slim was throwing them for Jesse.

"Hmmmmm ... that'd be mighty fine Jarrod, but what we need is someone to rope 'em. Steve's doin' it right now but we need him to get back to roundin' up the strays in the hills. Think ya can take over for him here? I know ya haven't done any ropin' for quite awhile, so if ya don't feel up to it..."

He knew that was guaranteed to get his brother's back up and he smiled to himself as Jarrod picked up his lasso and shook it out.

"I can do it Heath, I'm not that out of practise."

Heath had hooked him and Nick reeled him in, "I betcha' five dollars ya don't get a rope on one of 'em first try."

Jarrod pulled his hat down firmly and his chin set stubbornly as he nudged his horse towards the milling herd and called back to them, "you're on Nick, and make it ten. Get out your wallet, I'll expect payment in a very few minutes."

As he left, Nick reached over and slapped Heath on the back, "'betcha a dollar it takes him at least three tries to rope one."

Heath narrowed his eyes and ran his reins through his fingers thoughtfully as he watched Jarrod chase after a young heifer that veered off and the lasso dropped over nothing but open air.

He shook his head and sighed. "No bet."

Jarrod came back after about fifteen minutes, dusty, dirty and irritated to find Nick with his hand out and a huge grin on his face. He pulled his pocketbook out and slapped ten dollars into his brothers black gloved hand.

Nick slipped the money into his shirt pocket and nodded at Heath. "Go show him how it's done Heath."

The blond cowboy unhooked his leg from the saddlehorn, shook out his lasso and loped off towards the herd with an easy grace. He circled around, deftly cut out the steer he wanted and, with a quick flick of the wrist, lightly dropped the rope over it's head.

Nick glanced at Jarrod with a look of immense satisfaction and waved his hand, "now that's how a REAL cowboy does it brother Jarrod."

The terse reply Jarrod had been about to make was swept away when he saw the look in Nicks hazel eyes as he watched Heath lead the steer over to be branded. It took him a moment to figure out what it was, but then he realized ... it was pride.

....Continued