The weekend arrived and the whole family turned out to cheer Audra on. Carl gave her a kiss and reminded her that it was the mare's first show and not to expect too much. Victoria and Jarrod gave her a few words of encouragement then followed Carl as he led them to their seats.

Nick and Heath had volunteered to get the mare ready for the show and by the time the little mare entered the ring, you could almost see yourself in her deep cinnamon coat. She didn't have a hair out of place and the blanket across her rump was snowy white. Both brother's were well pleased with themselves when Audra came back with two first, and one third place ribbon.The smile on her face stretched from ear to ear and she jumped down as she reached them and enveloped them in a hug before planting a big kiss on their cheeks.

"Wasn't she wonderful? I never thought we had a chance." She gave them another hug, "oh you two are the best brother's a girl could have, we wouldn't have won if you hadn't of trained her so well. You made her the best looking horse out there too."

Nick puffed out his chest and put his hands on his hips as he nudged Heath's arm. "Well she had to win, she had the best lookin' rider didn't she?"

Audra blushed at her brother's compliment as she stroked the mares neck.

"Nick's right, ya made a pretty pair." Heath reached out and cupped her cheek, "ya spent a lot of time workin' with her yourself sis and a horse is only as good as it's rider. I'm mighty proud of ya."

She put her hand up to cover his and hold it against her cheek for a moment longer as her eyes told him how much his words meant to her.

Victoria, Jarrod and Carl joined them and added their congratulations as Carl swept his wife off her feet , twirled her around a few times, then set her down to give her a kiss. He put his arm around her waist and looked down at her, a frown on his handsome face. "Well now Audra, I suppose you'll be wantin' to go to shows every weekend and won't have any time to spare for your poor old husband anymore?"

She looked at him with a worried expression, "oh Carl no, I'll always have time for..."

His deep blue eyes were laughing at her and she slapped his chest in exasperation. "Oh you, you're as bad as my brother's for teasing me."

"Why thank you darlin'", Carl nodded towards Nick and Heath, who were standing there with big grins on their faces. "I've had the best teachers ya know."

The two brothers tipped their hats in acknowledgement and their mother took Jarrod's arm and started towards their waiting buggy. "That's enough now, it's getting late and Silas will be waiting supper." Jarrod handed her into the buggy and she turned to her daughter with a gentle reminder. "We'll go ahead while you thank the Anderson's for their hospitality and a very pleasant day."

"I will Mother."

The foursome waved as their mother and Jarrod went by them and drove out the gate and down the lane. It had been a wonderful day, a day full of fun and laughter, with the whole family together.

It was late Saturday afternoon, a week after the horse show when the front door burst open and two dusty cowboys dropped their hats and gunbelts on the table in the foyer. They poked their heads into the living room and threw a quick hello to their mother and brother before they ran up the stairs taking the steps two at a time. Victoria looked up from her book at the sound of bedroom doors slamming shut. She sighed, shook her head and went back to her reading.

Jarrod, comfortably ensconced on the sofa enjoying a leisurely afternoon, sat forward and his brows lowered in a frown as he slapped his newspaper down on the coffee table and asked, "what are those two up to now?"

Victoria put down her book and gave him a thoughtful glance, "you know Jarrod, I find it much easier if I don't ask."

He stared at her for a moment then picked up his paper and snapped it open again, "well let me tell you something Mother, those two are up to no good, you mark my words."

An hour later, Nick and Heath, freshly bathed and shaved came pounding down the stairs as quickly as they had gone up. They weren't halfway down when Nick's bellow had Victoria jumping and Jarrod throwing down his paper in exasperation.

"MOTHER?... MOTHER??"

She got up and made her way to the foyer where the two were buckling on their gunbelts. "Stop shouting Nick, I'm right here. Now where are you two going, it's almost suppertime."

Heath picked up his hat and handed Nick's to him. "We won't be home for supper Mother, we're going to town for the poker game at Annie's."

Jarrod had wandered out to see what was going on, and the suspicious lawyer in him made him question their motives as he stopped in front of them and crossed his arms.

"Why are you leaving so early? It's only five o'clock and that game won't start until at least eight."

Nick waved his hat at him, "yeah that's so brother Jarrod, but we saw somethin' in Wilson's yesterday when we were there picking up supplies and we wanted to use the sock money to buy it."

Heath took over the explanation before Jarrod could ask another question. "And seein's how the sock money is here, we couldn't get the thing we wanted yesterday so we have to go today and get it before Wilson's closes at six, see?"

Victoria looked at them in confusion, "but you both have plenty of money on you, why didn't you just buy what you wanted at the time?"

Both men opened their mouths to explain when Jarrod held up his hand. "Never mind, I'll explain your sock story to her after you leave. Now hadn't you better be on your way?" He herded them towards the door, relieved that he was going to be able to enjoy a quiet evening at home for a change.

They turned at the door and gave their mother a kiss on the cheek. "Bye Mother, don't wait up for us, we might be pretty late."

She hugged them and returned their kiss, "you two have a good time and tell Mr. Wilson that I'll be in on Monday to pick up that dress material he ordered for me."

Heath nodded and pushed Nick out the door, "we'll do that Mother, see ya."

The two walked out of Wilson's just before six with Heath carrying a large round box. They stood on the sidewalk and looked at each other with evil grins.

Nick tapped the top of the box with a black gloved finger and chuckled. "Oh, this is going to be so goooood."

Heath nodded in agreement and went over to slip the carrying string over his saddlehorn. The two then made their way to Annie's to shoot the breeze with Harry for awhile and get something to eat before the poker game started. They got home a little after one and crept quietly in the kitchen door and up the back stairs with their purchase just in case anyone was still waiting up for them and wanted to know what it was.

They were already at the table Sunday morning when their mother and Jarrod came in and sat down to breakfast. They both looked up with bleary eyes and greeted them as Silas poured the coffee.

"Morning Mother, Jarrod."

Victoria shook out her napkin and eyed them as they drained their coffee cups quickly and held them out to Silas to refill.

"Good morning boys, I see you're not going to church today." They were both wearing their everyday clothes and neither one had bothered to shave yet, a clear sign that the task required too much effort and more energy than they had at the moment.

Nick rested his elbows on the table while he yawned and sipped his coffee, "we're a little tired today Mother, think we'll just stay home and rest up a bit."

Jarrod raised his eyebrows, "would this tiredness have anything to do with the late hour you two wandered in at last night brother Nick?"

"We weren't that late Jarrod."

Heath nodded in agreement, his eyes half closed and Jarrod's blue eyes twinkled as he watched both men blanch and wave away Silas's attempt to put sausage and eggs on their empty plates.

"I beg to differ Nicholas, because it just so happens that I went to bed at midnight and you two weren't back yet."

Nick looked at him with narrowed eyes, "you keeping tabs on us now brother Jarrod?"

Victoria cut in before the conversation could turn into an argument, "all right, that's enough both of you. You two boys stay home and rest and we'll go without you." She looked down the table at her eldest son, "we should leave soon Jarrod. The new Reverend is going to be there today and I'd like to meet him before the service starts. You finish your breakfast while I go get ready."

Heath put his hand on her arm as she started to rise, "wait Mother, me and Nick here bought ya somethin' to wear to church today. That's what we picked up at Wilson's yesterday. We knew ya were meetin' the new Reverend and we wanted you to be the finest lookin' lady there." He looked at Nick and gestured with his head, "go get it Nick, it's on my bed."

Nick pushed back his chair and patted his brother's back, "I'll be right back. We sure do hope ya like it Mother, 'cause we used our sock money to buy it for ya."

As he left the room, Victoria looked at her youngest son in surprise and asked, "why would you buy me something with your sock money Heath? The way Jarrod explained it to me, you and Nick save up to buy something you really want for yourselves."

Heath shook his head, "oh no Mother, we use it for something we really want, but it doesn't have to be for us."

"Oh ... I see."

She didn't see at all and was about to question him further when Nick came back into the room carrying the round box and set it down in front of her before settling back into his seat beside Heath. The two bumped knees under the table as they watched their mother's face.

Victoria looked at the box then at the two smiling faces watching her.

"It's a hat box."

They both nodded and Heath reached out and nudged it a bit closer to her, "that's what it is all right Mother. It took three weeks of our savin's to buy it for ya, but when we saw it in Wilson's the other day, we knew we had to get it for ya." His drawl deepened, "you'll look mighty fine in it when ya meet the new Reverend today, won't she Nick?"

"She'll be the prettiest woman in Stockton, never mind church." Nick nodded at the box, "try it on Mother, we want to see what it looks like. Heath here thought it might not be to your liking."

Victoria started to take the lid off as she reassured them, "I'm sure I will love anything my son's were thoughtful enough to buy for me."

Jarrod watched the proceedings with interest from the other end of the table as she got the lid off and reached in to lift the contents out gingerly.

"Why it's ... it's lovely."

Nick crossed his arms on the table and leaned against Heath's shoulder to get a closer look. "It's kinda fancy, but Heath thought it would look nice with that new dress you're gonna' wear today."

Heath nodded enthusiastically and his blue eyes opened wide as he gave her his most innocent smile. Jarrod raised his eyebrows and looked from the hat to Heath's sweet angelic face and thought, 'butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.' He mentally shrugged, 'well at least it's not me this time'.

Victoria could do little but stare at the concoction in her hands. It was a straw sun hat covered in large gaudy colored flowers with three purple ostrich plumes streaming from the back of it. As if that wasn't bad enough, affixed to the front and nestled in amongst the flowers was a bright red bird with beady little eyes that looked frighteningly real.

Nick's booming voice startled her out of her stupor, "WELL, try it on Mother, me and Heath here want to see how it looks."

She shook her head and the excuse she uttered sounded false even to her ears, "I need a mirror to put it on properly Nick. I'll just take it up with me and try it on in my room. I already have a hat that goes with my dress, but maybe I can wear this one when we go for a picnic ... or something."

She started to put the hat back in the box when she caught Heath's disappointed look and guilty feelings had her lifting it out again. "Well, I suppose I can try it on here." She was relieved when both her sons faces brightened with pleasure as she put it on.

Nick turned his snicker into a cough and Heath dropped his hand below the table to squeeze the black clad leg hard as his brother valiantly tried to hold back his laughter. Heath, being a much better poker player, gazed at the ugliest hat he'd ever seen and his face was all seriousness as he looked at his mother and spoke sincerely.

"It's beautiful Mother. I know ya already got a hat, but me and Nick here would be mighty proud if ya would wear our hat today. We got it for ya special."

She took the hat off and gave them a tentative smile. "All right boys, I guess it doesn't matter which hat I wear. I'll be happy to wear it today."

She calmly put it back in the box and stood up, "if you'll excuse me I had better go finish getting ready. Can you boys bring the buggy around, I'll be down in a few minutes."

They chorused out, "yes Mother" and she picked up the hat box with great dignity and left the room in a rustle of skirts. When they were sure she was out of earshot, they collapsed against each other in laughter, chests heaving as they tried to catch their breath.

Jarrod sat back and waited until they were done. He was having trouble trying to contain his own laughter but as the oldest and obviously more mature son, he felt he should be loyal to his mother and not encourage them anymore.

He cleared his throat to get their attention and waved his hand at them. "You're not actually going to make Mother wear that hat to church are you?"

They started laughing again as they got up and headed for the door. Nick turned back before they left. "We'll bring the buggy around Jarrod."

Victoria sat on the vanity chair in front of her mirror and adjusted the hat one more time. No matter what she did, it was still an eyesore. She took it off and examined it closely and thought about what to do with it. 'Maybe if I take some of the flowers off it'll help, or pull the feathers out. No, I can't do that, they'll know I changed it and be hurt. Heath looked so disappointed when I said I wasn't going to wear it today. They're such good young men and they spent their sock money to buy this hat for me so I'll just have to wear it the way it is. This might be the last present Heath gives me, so I'll wear it and cherish it ... no matter how ugly it is!'

She stood up, left her room and made her way to the staircase. Nick, Heath and Jarrod were gathered in the foyer and watched her come down, her head held up regally. The effect was ruined though by the bird on the front of the hat bobbing back and forth drunkenly.

She stopped in front of them and pulled on her gloves. "I'm ready Jarrod, we'd better be going."

She took his arm and walked to the door that Heath was holding open for them and Nick came over and stood beside him, a big grin on his face.

They waited until they were almost out the door before Heath asked quietly, "you're not actually going to wear that ugly thing to church are ya Mother?"

She stopped in her tracks and turned to see both boys looking at her as if she'd lost her mind. "You mean to say you bought this on purpose and were going to have me wear it to meet the new Reverend?"

Nick put his hands on his hips and scowled at her. "Oh for cryin' out loud Mother. We wouldn't have let ya off this ranch wearin' that hat. That has got to be the ugliest hat we've ever laid eyes on."

Heath nodded and added, "yeah Mother, if we let ya ride around this ranch in that, it mighta' caused a cattle stampede."

She shook her head, "so you two were playing a joke on your poor mother." She gave them a stern look, "Why? And before you answer, don't forget you're not so big that I can't take my wooden spoon to the both of you."

Nick and Heath looked at each other with mock fear before turning to the tiny woman in front of them. Nick's fists went to his hips and he frowned at her. "Poor mother my eye. Does the name, 'Madelines Fashion Shop' ring a bell? It took us awhile, but we finally figured out a way to repay ya for embarrassin' us by making us go into that, 'women's underwear shop'.And don't think we don't know ya sent us there on purpose."

"I didn't ..." They raised their eyebrows and she decided to back down gracefully. "Well never mind, we have to go or we'll be late."

As she started out the door Jarrod coughed gently and pointed at her head.

"Oh yes, I have to change my hat. I'll be right out Jarrod."

She picked up her skirts and hurried up the stairs as Heath called after her, "bring the hat down with ya Mother. Nick and I'll burn it."

When Victoria and Jarrod returned from church, they found Nick and Heath playing a spirited game of checkers in the living room. She smiled as she listened to them argue back and forth, they couldn't even play a simple game of checkers without competing over it.

She came over and stood beside Heath, absentmindedly rubbing his shoulder as she watched them for a few moments. He looked up and smiled at her and she took note of how tired and pale he looked. Despite the late hour he had come in at the night before, he'd been home all day and shouldn't look so worn out.

"How was the new Reverend?"

His question jerked her thoughts back to the present, "oh, he's a fine speaker, he'll do well I think." She squeezed his shoulder and turned to leave, "I'll just go up and change before I make you boys lunch."

Heath got up and followed her out of the room. He stopped her at the bottom of the stairs and gave her a hug. "I'm sorry we teased you Mother."

She returned his embrace tightly and smiled up at him. "Don't be silly Heath, you and Nick tease your brother and sister all the time. I was feeling quite left out actually and the fact is that Jarrod and I laughed about that hat all the way to town."

He kissed her cheek, "are you sure? Because I would never want to hurt you Mother."

The blue eyes looked at her seriously and she reached up to stroke his cheek and assure him truthfully, "I'm sure Heath." She dropped her hand and started up the stairs, "now I'd better go change before your brother starts yelling that he's starving."

"Bring the hat down Mother, I'll get rid of it." She stopped and looked down at him. His handsome face was full of laughter and he looked so much like his father right then that her heart ached.

"I think I'll keep it Heath."

She hurried up the stairs and he went back to the game and finished a grumpy Nick off by jumping his last three checkers.

Victoria went over to her bed and looked down at the gawdy hat sitting there. There was a time when Heath would never have considered doing something like this and it made her happy to know how much a part of the family he had become over the years. She picked the hat up and held it to her chest gently. Even though it was done in fun, her son's had given it to her and she would keep it always. In the years to come, she would take it out when she was feeling sad and hold it with a loving smile and remember a handsome young man with laughing blue eyes and a crooked grin who had brought so much joy and happiness to this house and brightened their lives for a brief moment in time ... her son.

Spring roundup and branding were finished and the plowing had commenced as the final bit of frost finally gave up its hold on the fertile ground. It was heading towards the third week of April and the weather was improving every day. Though still a little cool until just after sunrise, by mid-morning there was a warm freshening breeze that combined with the heat of the sun to dry out the wet fields.

Heath hadn't had another attack since the one just after Easter when suddenly he had two in less than a week. The first one was mild. He had been out on the range with Nick, checking and repairing fences that had been damaged through the winter months. They had been stringing wire up on the north pasture when the first one occurred. He dropped the hammer he had been using to secure the wire in place and sat down, his back propped against the fencepost as Nick helped him get out a pill and slip it under his tongue.This time it was little more than a brief tightening in his chest and he recovered quickly. He rested for a few minutes then, after assuring Nick he was fine, they spent the rest of the day just checking the fences and leaving the repairs for another day.

Four days later they were riding up near Sky Meadow looking for downed fence and straying cattle when Heath pulled his horse to a stop and sat there rubbing his chest. Nick had been talking a mile a minute, his head turned away to watch for broken fence and it had taken him a moment to notice his brother was no longer riding beside him. He wheeled around and went racing back when he saw Heath slowly dismounting and sinking to his knees as he tried to get his pills out of his shirt pocket.

Nick was coming to know how severe the attacks were by the look on Heath's face. The clenched jaw, pale features and shaking hands told him this one was much worse than the one a few days before. He jumped off his horse and knelt in front of Heath, taking the small bottle from his fumbling fingers and picking out a pill. He had to pinch Heath's lip hard to get him to open his mouth and he quickly pushed the pill in when the clenched teeth finally opened a bit.

He helped him over to a nearby tree and sat down beside him as he put his arm around the tense shoulders and murmured quietly, "it's all right Heath, just relax, the pain'll be gone soon. Shhhhh now, just relax, it's gonna' be alright."

Heath closed his eyes and nodded as he pressed his face into the crook of Nick's neck and clutched the front of his brother's shirt. Minutes ticked by and the pain wasn't lessening like it had the other times so Nick got out another pill and cajoled Heath into opening his mouth again to take it. The small groans of pain and tenseness gripping Heath's whole body made Nick unconsciously start to rub his other hand up and down Heath's arm and rock him gently as he continued to speak to him in a low, soothing voice.

"Ya know Heath, this is starting to become a habit. Do ya wanta' know what I think?" He felt the small nod against his neck as the panting breath's finally slowed a bit. Nick tried to keep his voice steady, he knew he had to stay calm, he couldn't expect Heath to relax if he was panicking himself.

"I think you're just tryin' to get out of goin' to the lodge this year, that's what I think. I think you're afraid that with that new fishin' rod of mine, I just might get that trophy fish I been after for the last five years AND, when I do, you and Jarrod will lose the yearly bet for catching the biggest fish."

'Stay calm, stay calm, don't let him know you're upset'.

"I think ya just don't want to admit that Nick Barkley is the best fisherman in the family. THAT'S what I think!"

He glanced down to see a small smile tugging at Heath's mouth as he took an unsteady breath and whispered, "I want to go Nick. Can we go for a couple of days?" He released the grip he had on Nick's shirt and put his arm around his brother's waist and relaxed against him as the pain started to recede, "just the three of us?"

Nick heard the desperation in the soft-spoken words and he nodded and pressed his lips to the blond head as he blinked back tears, "sure we can go Heath, sure we can ... just the three of us."

His quiet voice was becoming slurred with weariness as Heath settled more comfortably against his brother's shoulder and murmured, "thanks Nick ... havta' go soon."

As he drifted off to sleep, Nick was content to just sit and hold him close. He laid his cheek against the blond hair and took a shuddering breath as he looked out across the meadow.

Wild flowers were dancing in the light breeze that bent the new grass and sent it swaying back and forth in rolling green waves. Birds sang in the treetops and bee's hummed as they zipped from flower to flower, pollinating as they went. The sun shone down through the tree they were sitting under and dappled the ground around them in ever changing patterns as the wind fluttered through the leaves in the branches above them.

It was like something out of a painting. But, as he held his heart in his arms, Nick looked upon the scene before him and was hard pressed to see the beauty in it. He squeezed his eyes shut and tightened his hold as he started to gently rock again.

....Continued