The Double Phenomena

Chapter 13 - 22

by catgirl63

Disclaimer: The characters and situations of the TV program "Big Valley" are the creations of Four Star/Republic Pictures and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended by the author. The ideas expressed in this story are copyrighted to the author.

Chapter 13

“HEATH, I’M NOT LEAVING TIL WE TALK!”

The demand echoed through the small house, breaking apart the two pairs of lips. Rolling his eyes at the continued shouting and knocking, Heath tenderly held his wife’s face and placed another kiss on her lips.

“I’m gonna have to talk to Nicholas about interrupting married people.” growled Heath, moving to a sitting position and pulling his wife up beside him.

“Heath, we all were hurt by what we saw and then, we hurt you because we were hurt.” said Cassidy quietly, holding his hand between hers and gazing into his eyes. “I know it’s not easy but can you keep that in your mind when you talk to Nick and Jarrod?”

Not replying, Heath nodded after squeezing her hand and standing. Cassidy straightened her dress and hair as Heath rolled his head on his shoulders, straightening out the knots. The pounding of the wooden door made a sigh escape from the former lawman and he glanced backwards to his wife, ensuring she had adjusted her garments before pulling open the plank of wood, stepping to the side.

Nick’s fist met with thin air where the wood previously was, his downward motion sent him stumbling across the entry and into the home. Heath watched with aloofness as his brother regained his footing and Jarrod chuckled, waving to his sister-in-law who was walking towards them.

“It’s not funny, Jarrod!” snapped Nick, holding onto his pained ribs which received a jolt at his unceremonious entry.

“I think it is.” admitted Cassidy with a wink as she passed by the two men who were like brothers to her before stopping beside her husband. Taking hold of his arm, she gazed into his sapphire eyes and whispered, “I’m going to see how the rest of the family is fairing, Heath. I think you need to work this out alone with your brothers and you don’t need me here. This way you can cuss all you want at each other but please no more fist fights.”

“Alright, I won’t hit anyone.” sighed Heath casting a look over to his brothers before walking her out onto the porch.

Hesitating for a moment, she looked into his eyes and stated softly, “I should have trusted my gut instinct which said my eyes were playing a trick on me but I didn’t. What I didn’t trust was myself when it came to us and I was a fool. I hurt you and I’m sorry.”

Reaching up and caressing her cheek, Heath drawled, “Later we’ll talk some more, honey. We certainly have some fences to mend.”

“I love you.” whispered Cassidy reaching up and brushing her lips across his before turning away. Heath crossed his arms and watched his wife head towards the direction of the physician’s office before reentering the house.

Opening a cabinet in the kitchen, he found his grandfather’s medicinal brandy and pulled out three glasses. Sitting at the table, he poured three drinks and watched his brothers move across the room, advancing at his unspoken invitation, taking seats and lifting their drinks.

Jarrod glanced between his two brothers, neither wanting to look at the other. Nick’s earlier impatience seemingly departed in his brother’s presence while Heath studied the amber liquid in the glass, his eyes lost in past struggles, past times of togetherness with the men seated at the table with him.

The kitchen was filled with an awkward silence, the muscles in the bruised face of the blond tensing as he fought to control the emotions rising like the lava in a dormant volcano. The lava burst forth as he slammed the glass on the table, both dark haired men jumping at the sudden burst of anger as the blond jumped up and the chair fell backwards. His hands slicing through the air surrounding the stunned men and emphasizing his words.

“What makes you think you have the right to act as the judge and jury? You would’ve sentenced me to face the gallows without so much as a shred of evidence. Without solid proof!”

Shame reflected in the two sets of eyes, his words could not be denied for they as a family had acted in a manner unbefitting of the strong bonds they’d earned over the past years.

“You’re right, Heath. We jumped to an awful conclusion based on what we thought was the truth and we were in the wrong.” admitted Jarrod as Nick stood and ran his hands through his hair before starting to pace the small kitchen. “We don’t have the right to sit in judgment of you or anyone else.”

“We were wrong Heath but dammit, can’t you see how it must’ve looked to us from a distance? Can’t you see how our eyes played a trick on us? He could be your twin.” implored Nick grabbing onto the back of the chair, staring into the angry sapphire eyes.

“Nicholas!” snapped Heath leaning both hands on the table, purposely using his brother’s full name to irritate him.

“What Fleshton did is beside the point. Almost four years, I’ve made the ranch home and called you family. Four years and you’d throw it all away because you thought you saw something! You’d do that after all we’d been through together.”

Gripping the back of the chair, the knuckles on the large hands turned white with his power and Nick took in a shaky breath, his words torn with pain, “I know it was wrong and I don’t know what to do to make you understand how I regret everything. Heath, I don’t know how to make this right.”

“As a family there are times when we don’t agree with each other or don’t like what one of us is doing.” said Jarrod drawing the sapphire eyes to his.

“As a family, we should have taken a step back when it happened but we didn’t. We didn’t stop to think, we simply let the shock of what happened run all reason out of our heads. We didn’t stop to search within our hearts. If we had, we’d have realized you’re not capable of such an act of betrayal against your wife. We should’ve known this but we let our thoughts become sullied by the anger we felt when we thought you were hurting Cassidy.”

Taking a deep breath and shaking his head, the blond moved around the room, his movements akin to a cat as he fought to make his brothers understand. Stopping, he looked at both brothers, the deep regret clear in their eyes and the shame of their actions clear.

“Heath, we hurt you badly and we all know it.” sighed Nick, his shoulders slumping with the weight of his guilt, his hazel eyes tortured with the pain he’d caused on this man who was so special to each and everyone of them. “No matter what I thought, I want you to know that I never once thought you were acting the same way as our Father. Not once. All I knew was anger that you’d hurt your wife and your family by carrying on an affair in broad daylight.”

“That’s true, little brother.” agreed Jarrod, preferring to remain seated and leaning back in his chair while his younger brothers expelled their frustrations with pacing movements around the room. “I didn’t realize it until last night after Nick pointed out to me that our accusations sounded as if we were comparing you to him, comparing what our father did to your mother.”

Stiffening at the reminder, the blond stared into their eyes and stated, “He was a good father to you but to me, he was the man who sired me. He is the reason I was born and I feel only hatred for him. He was your father, a man you love and honor but to me, he was the invisible cause of nothing but grief and pain. Nothing more than that and he’ll never be more to me.”

“He wasn’t perfect, he was just a man, like you or me.” replied Nick letting out a deep breath before adding. “He made a mistake and out of it came a child, you, my little brother. You are more important than the cracked pedestal holding up the image of my father. You are different than our father and I know it. I know the anger you have inside and it still frightens me. I helped stir up that rage and I’m sorry, Heath.”

Standing, Jarrod walked around the table and placed a hand on the blond’s shoulder, his blue eyes full of sincerity and regret. “Please give us another chance, Heath. We were wrong and if we have to beg for your forgiveness, it would be a small price to pay to keep you beside us and let you know what you mean to us.”

Chapter 14

“Please give us another chance, Heath. We were wrong and if we have to beg for your forgiveness, it would be a small price to pay to keep you beside us and let you know what you mean to us.”

Jarrod and Nick watched, their breaths captured in their lungs as Heath moved away across the room to the couch. The blond took in a shaky breath as he picked up the quilt refolding it before placing it back in its spot. The minutes limped along while he restraightened the room, righting the areas messed up from his unexpected visit.

Jarrod held out his right arm, the limb becoming a barrier across his dark haired brother’s wide muscular chest and shook his head slightly. Nick’s hands clenched against his sides and he didn’t move past the invisible line his older brother laid in the air. His hazel eyes didn’t leave the blond who painstakingly replaced the contents of the room where they belonged before moving past the still men. Picking up the fallen chair, he grabbed the used glasses and placed the crystal in the sink.

His hands gripped onto the basin and he stared to the outside world through the small window. His heart contradicted his mind and he struggled within himself before turning, leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest.

Meeting their hopeful eyes with his own, he hesitated before stating firmly, “We’re brothers bound by the same man’s blood and nothing will change that. Our blood bond is a link based on fact, solid proof.”

“Heath, what are you saying?” questioned Nick, his nervousness, his fear of driving this man before them away squeaking his words. Unable to read the man before him whose sapphire eyes were without emotion, Jarrod took in a shaky breath when he felt the room spin slightly from his lack of oxygen caused by the holding of his breath.

“The old saying of ‘sticks and stones’ is not true. I’d rather you knocked me over the head with a stick stead of ripping me apart with your words.” hissed Heath, letting out a deep breath and shaking his head, dropping his gaze to his boots and fighting to keep his anger shoved down.

“Heath?” whispered Jarrod, unable to raise his voice above a hushed tone.

“I can understand how it must’ve looked to you that day.” offered Heath quietly before staring at the two brothers before him who were now wavering between puzzlement and hope.

“We are family but it doesn’t give you the right to run roughshod over me or anyone else. I can realize how your eyes tricked you but I don’t know if what we had before will ever be the same. I can’t say what I have with Cassidy will ever be the same either.”

Pushing himself away from the sink, the former marshal saw the wetness in the eyes of the men he called brothers and sighed, “As I told my wife, we have a lot of fences to mend. You’re my brothers and I love you but I will not allow myself to be accepting of such a lack of trust. It’ll take time but I’m willing to try to get it back.”

Unable to control his stampeding emotions, the dark haired rancher crossed the invisible line and strode across the room, pulling the blond into a mammoth sized hug. Heath closed his eyes, still upset but allowed himself to hear the whispered words in his ear from the man who felt he’d been given a second lease on life and on brotherhood.

Jarrod wiped his eyes and appeared beside the younger men, the three of them standing together as brothers while the anguish of the assumed betrayal of the past hours was forgotten for a brief moment of time.

Nate jerked open the door to the house when there was no answer to his knocks and glared at the three brothers, sensing a change in the air around the men to an atmosphere of an uneasy meeting in the middle.

“Why didn’t you answer the door?” growled the brown haired man from the entry, unsure if he should step inside or not.

“Sorry, Nate.” shrugged Nick. “We didn’t hear you.”

Nate nodded at the larger man’s words but kept his gray eyes on his brother-in-law and former peer. Jarrod and Nick glanced between the two men before patting their younger brother on the back and excusing themselves at the blond’s nod.

Watching the men leave, Nate met the blue eyes of the blond, calmly waiting in the doorway. The gray eyes didn’t flinch or lose their hold on the sapphire eyes as the blond moved closer til he was scarcely six inches from the chest of the former Texan.

Lifting his hand, Heath poked the chest of his brother-in-law and stated firmly, “I expect you’ll be bringing my wife’s belongings back to where they rightfully should be.”

A muscle twitched in the forehead of the brown haired man at the jab on the chest from his former colleague before he reached up and swatted the finger away. “Knock it off, Heath. Dammit! You know I don’t like that and it pisses me off.”

Lifting an eyebrow, Heath leaned forward, his eyes blazing with anger, “I didn’t exactly like my homecoming and since I told Cass I wouldn’t hit anyone else, you just lucked out.”

Snorting, Nate smirked, “You couldn’t take me anyway not on your best day, Thomson. You’re just lucky you made a promise to my sister.”

“Dream on, Jackson!” gruffed Heath before asking. “How’s Fleshton?”

“Still unconscious.” sighed Nate with a shake of his head. “Heath, I’m sorry. Never did it cross my mind that maybe he was the kissing bandit. Never!”

Backing away from the other man’s personal space, the blond looked up to the ceiling and frowned, “He surprised me too. I asked Fred to check and see if Fleshton’s got any outstanding warrants.”

“Heath, is everything okay between you and Cass now? What about the family?” worried Nate, unable to get the sound of his sister’s daily bursts of tears out of his mind and relieved when he knew it wasn’t his brother-in-law and old friend who was responsible.

“With time it will be.” replied Heath quietly, knowing the people who were his family made an error by passing judgment but still hurting from the sting of their accusation.

Accepting the underlying statement in the words, Nate nodded and shrugged, “Well, I reckon if I put tears in Audra’s eyes…well…you’d probably wanna shoot me just like I wanted to shoot you yesterday when Cass was crying. Punch me if it’d make you feel better but I’ll always be there to protect my sister, no matter if you want me to or not.”

“I know, Nate.” agreed the blond with a deep breath. “Life was sure easier when all I had to worry about was criminals and bullets.”

The older man clapped the blond on the back and winked, “I already moved Cass’ things back to the ranch and got you two a room at the Cattleman’s for tonight. I thought maybe you’d need some time to kiss and makeup.”

Heath rolled his eyes upwards and snapped, “Trying to get on my good side is not gonna work, Jackson.”

“Hmmm, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen your good side.” frowned Nate, the twinkle in his gray orbs sparkling.

“And I thought Nick was twitbrained.” growled Heath as the men made their way to the office of the town physician.

Chapter 15

“He didn’t break any laws so you can’t lock him up.” stated Nate as the two men exited the sheriff’s office and started down the boardwalk, the colors of the setting sun going unnoticed by the blond whose boots rang out from his agitation. “He’s clean as a whistle.”

“I heard what Fred said!” snapped Heath angrily. “Too bad I wasn’t a marshal, he could be thrown in jail for impersonating a lawman!”

Nate shook his head, “Heath, maybe Fleshton’s being here is just a coincidence. Did you consider that?”

Stopping suddenly the blond looked at his former peer as if he had two heads on his shoulders. “Are you crazy, Nate? What are the chances of that!”

Shrugging, the brown haired man sighed, “I know but it could happen. They say real life is stranger than fiction.”

“If I catch whoever wrote this, I’ll…hell…I don’t know but it must be one sick person!” growled the former marshal moving with his brother-in-law who was wishing he’d stayed at the ranch.

Opening the door to the doctor’s office, Heath stopped at the sight of Eva Harrison in the waiting room, her voluptuous bosom peeking out from the rounded collar of her dress, her hair held back with a clip, her face framed with two tendrils. His family sat or stood around the room, the air uncomfortable and thick from the presence of the other woman.

“You!” snarled Heath, his forward movement stopped by Nate’s grab onto his arm. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

All eyes turned to the beautiful widow, her green eyes meeting the upset sapphire eyes and not moving, her teeth white in the smile she flashed. “I’m terribly sorry, Heath. I really thought it was you. Though now when I compare you and your, uh, twin, I can see he’s not as foul tempered as you are. ”

Closing his eyes for a second and shaking his head, the blond opened them, groaning at the realization this was not a mirage and stared at the young woman, his voice incredulous and loud, “He’s not my twin and I’m not foul tempered!”

“You’re shouting at me.” protested the widow, her bottom lip quivering. “He didn’t do that. He was nothing but a gentleman and so very kind.”

The mouth of the former lawman dropped open at the pouting woman’s statement, his eyes widening on this face. Biting the inside of his cheek, Nick covered his mouth to hide a smile and Jarrod shifted on his chair glancing at his mother, sister and youngest brother doing their best to keep a straight face. Cassidy wore a frown of displeasure and kept the widow in her view, sitting on the edge of her chair ready to pounce if the trollop tried to move closer to her man.

“Mrs. Harrison, what are you doing here?” asked the lawman, wondering internally at his frustration of being compared with his double and finding himself coming up short.

“Mrs. Harrison heard about Mr. Fleshton’s injuries and came to see if she could help, honey.” informed Cassidy moving to her husband’s side and placing a hand on his arm. “We were waiting for you and Nate to come back before we went to dinner. Why don’t we head over to the restaurant.”

“That sounds like a wonderful idea, Cassidy.” said Victoria with a smile and rising from her seat, prompting her other children to move.

“Wait just a minute!” snapped Heath holding up a hand and shaking his head, lowering the family members back into their chairs with a quiet groan.

Glaring at the young widow, he growled, “Why in the he..uh..tarnation would you think you were kissing me? I hardly know you! I’ve only seen you once or twice!”

“I know but I guess I was a little bit flattered.” smiled the widow batting her eyes innocently, her face not showing the disappointment at finding out the man she held in her arms was not one of the members of the prominent family, one of the richest men in the state. “At the time, I thought perhaps things were lacking at home and you found me interesting.”

“Okay, time for dinner! Com’n Nate!” stated Nick quickly moving across the room and pushing the blond couple out the door, both their mouths left hanging open from the widow’s words. Keeping hold of both their arms, Nick cleared his throat and pulled them along the boardwalk, the tension in the couple able to part the air around them.

“Nick, I’m not hungry.” replied Heath pulling his arm out of the iron grip and stopping, looking back at the office building and seeing the rest of his family following their path.

“Heath, can we just go?” asked Cassidy, placing a hand on her husband’s chest, drawing his eyes to her and away from the area where the seductress stayed. “I’m not hungry either. Just tired.”

Placing his hand over the small one on his chest, Heath squeezed the slender fingers and nodded before glancing to the family gathered around them on the boardwalk. Victoria sighed to herself and added briefly when his eyes met hers.

“I believe Nate reserved you a room at the hotel, Heath. It has been a long day for everyone.” offered Victoria softly. “Will we see you tomorrow at the ranch?”

The world seemed to stop at the hesitation in the air before he bent down and placed a kiss on her silken cheek, “Yes, Mother. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Holding onto his arms for a moment, Victoria smiled and moved to give Cassidy a hug, waiting for the rest of the farewells to be said before she lead the rest of her brood to the restaurant and the couple crossed the street to the hotel.

Entering their room, Heath placed his gunbelt on the bedpost and took off his boots, while his wife changed into her nightdress. Throwing his clothes on the floor, he climbed under the covers, his exhaustion evident in his yawns before he laced his fingers behind his head and closed his eyes.

“Cass, am I foul tempered?” asked Heath suddenly with a deep sigh, feeling his wife scoot under the covers with him.

“No, you’re not honey.” assured Cassidy, blowing out the lamp before asking hesitantly. “Heath, do you think there’s something lacking in our marriage?”

Rolling onto his side, the blond grimaced for a moment at the twinge of pain before caressing her cheek and shaking his head, “There’s nothing wrong in our marriage. Well, except for the way we jump to bad conclusions, there’s nothing lacking. And we’re gonna work on that.”

“Yes we are and it’ll never happen again.” stated Cassidy emphatically, before asking shyly, “Are you tired?”

“I’m never that tired, darlin’” replied Heath, leaning over and brushing his lips across hers.

Chapter 16

Reaching over, Cassidy opened her eyes at the lack of physical contact with her hand, sienna eyes blinked away sleep and she glanced out the window at the early morning of the day. Seeing her husband’s belt and boots, she grabbed his shirt from the floor and put it on, quietly crossing the room to the private watercloset attached to the room. The door was ajar and she pushed it open, kneeling beside the tub and smiling at the relaxed face of her husband, his eyes closed as he lay in the steamy water before touching his arm.

“Heath.” said the blonde quietly, her touch startling him and he jumped, the water splashing upwards and drenching her. “Hey, mister!”

Chuckling, Heath sat up and brushed the wet strings of hair away from his wife’s face, “I thought you were sleeping, darlin’.”

Wiping her face with the towel, Cassidy smiled and shook her head, “Not any more. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Caressing her cheek, Heath answered, “No, I was sitting here thinkin’ and didn’t hear you come in.”

“What were you thinking about?” questioned Cassidy, leaning her arms on the side of the tub.

“How would you feel about your own house?” suggested Heath, leaning his head back and watching her face, his fingers running across the back of her neck.

“Heath, what brought this up? I thought you didn’t want to move out off the ranch.” replied Cassidy in surprise.

Shrugging, the former marshal sighed and looked up at the ceiling, “Wouldn’t you like to have your own house to take care of? To decorate how you like?”

Hesitating for a moment, Cassidy moved up onto her knees and took her husband’s hand in hers. “This is kind of sudden isn’t it, hon? You don’t want to live in the big house anymore?”

Pulling her hand to his lips and kissing her palm, he whispered, “We could have a big house of our own and not have to worry about whose around. A house with lots of rooms to…visit…whenever we wanted, any time of day.”

Blushing slightly, Cassidy took a shaky breath at the hunger in his eyes and sighed, “Does this have to do with what’s happened, Heath? I don’t know if this is the right time to make this kind of decision.”

“I know it’s a big decision and if you wanna sleep on it, that’s fine but will you consider it?”

“I’ll consider it if you can look me in the eye and tell me this has nothing to do with the past two days.” stated Cassidy quietly, watching as his sapphire eyes fell down from hers and he let out a frustrated breath.

“I love you, Heath and I’ll live where you want cause you’re my husband. You need to be sure you’re not wanting to live where it’d be easier for you…us…to not have to work on rebuilding what’s been damaged with your family.” explained the blonde girl, running her hand down his cheek and smiling tenderly as she touched his chest.

“Your heart will tell you the truth even though your mind doesn’t like it. I bet if you listen to it, you’ll find you like having everyone around. Even though it means sometimes our privacy may suffer, the joy you get from being surrounded by those you love shines in your eyes, Heath. I’d be afraid that light would go out if you make a rash decision right now.”

Reaching over and brushing her fingers through his blond hair, Cassidy sighed, “Let’s give it some time, okay? I don’t want to decide now.”

Leaning over, Heath tilted her chin up, kissing the corners of her full mouth and suddenly pulled her up and into the tub with him, her screech of surprise loud and he laughed as the water splashed onto the floor. “You were wet anyway, darlin’”

“Why you!” giggled Cassidy sitting up, the drenched material outlining the figure it hid and Heath slowly unbuttoned the shirt while he claimed her lips.

Two hours later, the couple entered the restaurant of the hotel and made their way to the table where the rest of the family sat. Greetings were exchanged and Heath held the chair out for his wife, looking up with a smile at the small voice.

“Hi, Mr. Thomson.”

All eyes of the family turned towards the owner of the voice and Heath waved. “Hi Angeline! I’ll be right back, darlin’.”

Walking over to the two females who were obviously mother and daughter, Heath smiled and stated, “If you’re not dining with anyone, you are more than welcome to join me and my family, Mrs. Johnson?”

“Please call me Faith. But we couldn’t intrude on your family time.” protested the petite redhead.

“It’d be our pleasure.” assured Heath with a grin and kneeling before the blue eyed child. “How are you this morning, Miss Angeline?”

“I’m fine.” said Angeline before asking, “Did you get in a fight?”

Remembering his bruises, Heath held up his thumb and index finger, “It was just a little misunderstanding.”

Standing he smiled, “Faith, my family would love to meet you and Angeline.”

Nodding, the young woman allowed herself to be escorted to the large table where all the eyes were on them as they crossed the room.

“Everyone, this is Faith Johnson and her daughter Angeline. We met Friday on the train from Everton.” stated Heath firmly meeting each pair of eyes briefly, his words causing several family members to shift in their seats. “This is my wife, Cassidy.”

“Nice to meet you Cassidy.” smiled the light redheaded girl nervously, sensing the mood around the table but pleased at the welcome in the sienna eyes of the blonde.

“You too, Faith.” replied Cassidy, smiling and shaking the extended hand before bending at the waist to hold out her hand to the small girl. “I’m pleased to meet you, Angeline. That’s a beautiful name.”

“Thank you.” whispered Angeline shyly.

Heath continued the introductions around the table, Nick stood tongue tied as he gazed into the beautiful green eyes of the newest citizen of Stockton, noting the absence of a ring on her left hand. Moving another table, chairs were added and seating arrangements shifted allowing the two visitors to be seated close to the other ladies.

“Cass, Angeline was telling me her mother is the bestest sewer and she will be opening a dress shop.” informed Heath, squeezing his wife’s hand under the table at her excitement of the news. The declaration from the former lawman turned the heads of the ladies in the family to the new dressmaker. The ladies discussing Faith’s designs and plans for the new store.

Picking up his coffee cup, Heath met the hazel eyes across the table which were studying him and he sighed, “What?”

Shaking his head, Nick frowned and whispered, “I’m sorry, Heath.”

“I know you are, Nick.” stated Heath quietly, any further words between them stopped by the arrival of the town deputy to the table.

Chapter 17

“Good morning, Billy.” smiled Victoria as the young man approached their table. “Would you like to join us for breakfast?”

Quickly taking off his hat and nodding to the ladies seated around the table, Billy cleared his throat nervously, “Morning, Mrs. Barkley. I’m afraid I can’t ma’am. I’m, uh, I’m here on business.”

All eyes on the table turned towards the young lawman who swallowed the lump in his throat before he looked at the former marshal. “Heath, you have to come with me.”

“Is Fleshton awake?” asked Heath, his eyes narrowing at the perspiration breaking out on the deputy’s face who twisted his hat nervously. “Billy, what is it?”

Nick and Jarrod looked at each other before leaning their arms on the table waiting for the deputy’s reply. Cassidy glanced around the table and placed a hand on her husband’s arm. Smiling and squeezing her hand, Heath pushed back his chair and stood, towering over the younger man, arms crossed over his chest, waiting for the younger man to speak.

“I’m here to place you under arrest.” blurted Billy, jumping as the table before him exploded into action and the former marshal stared at him in disbelief, his hands falling to his sides.

“WHAT?” shouted Nick jumping to his feet, the loudness of his voice causing Angeline to burst into tears and Faith to pull her into her arms, green eyes wide at the scene before her. Jarrod put a hand on Nick’s shoulder and censured his outburst. Gene and Audra stared at each other before looking back at the others.

“Billy, what exactly is the charge?” demanded Jarrod making his way around the table, blue eyes piercing into the nervous eyes of the lawman.

“Assault and Battery.” replied Billy nervously before quickly adding, “Mr. Archer filed the charges on behalf of Mr. Fleshton.”

“YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!” yelled Nick smashing his fist on the table sending the contents to jump and the women to gasp at the loud crashing.

“Nick, that’s enough!” urged Heath, reaching over and putting a hand over the clenched fist of his brother and whispering. “You’re scaring the ladies, especially Angeline, twit brain.”

Looking at the females gathered around the table, hazel eyes filled with apology and he offered a slight smile and nod, “I’m sorry ladies.”

Cassidy stood up and held onto her husband’s arm with her hands, sienna eyes filled with worry, “Heath?”

Placing a kiss on her forehead, Heath smiled and caressed her cheek before looking over her head at his mother and younger brother. “Honey, go with mother and the others back to the ranch.”

“NO!” stated Cassidy firmly. “I will not!”

“Cass, just do what I tell you!” replied Heath angrily before taking a shaky breath and holding her hand at the wounded look appearing in her eyes. “Please, Cass, you don’t need to step foot in a jail.”

His eyes beseeched her and she sighed before nodding, the frown on her face telling him she didn’t agree but would comply with his wish. Looking at her attorney brother-in-law, Cassidy suggested, “I’d like to have my husband home for dinner tonight, Jarrod Barkley.”

Jarrod nodded and smiled, “I’ll do my best, Mrs. Thomson.”

“Com’n Billy.” growled Heath stalking past the deputy, stopping at the hand which quickly grabbed his arm.

“Heath, I’ll need your gun.” suggested the deputy.

“Of course, Billy.” agreed Heath taking out his weapon and unloading it before placing it in the outstretched hand and winking, “Don’t worry, I’ll come along peacefully.”

Smirking, Billy shoved the extra gun into his waistband and nodded before walking beside the former marshal, “I’m real sorry about this, Heath.”

“You should be!” retorted Nick following on the heels of the two men.

Rolling his eyes upward at the growl behind them, Heath glanced over to the jittery deputy, “He’s just doing his job, Nick! It’s okay, Billy. At least, you’re not arresting me for stealing your horse.”

Chuckling, Billy held the door open and smiled at his prisoner who walked by him, the grin on his face fading at the scowls of anger on the faces of the men following. Heath glared at his protective brothers and shook his head at them before walking in step with the younger man again.

Pulling open the door to Fred’s office, Heath stepped in and stood before the desk, both brothers by his side as the charges were read and Phil Archer calmly took the angry stare of Nick Barkley in stride.

“Phil, I don’t see any reason for Heath to have to sit in a jail cell until Judge Harley gets here next week.” stated Jarrod calmly. “As you are aware, Heath is a prominent member of this community and can be released on his own merit. He is not a flight risk.”

Shaking his head, the beady eyes of the District Attorney glittered with a surge of power and he stated brusquely, “I’m afraid not, Jarrod. Heath Thomson, your brother, is a man with deadly skills, a volatile temper and rash judgment.”

“WAIT JUST A DAMN MINUTE!” shouted Nick, moving towards the weasly man and stopping when Fred grabbed his arms firmly.

“It seems to run in the family.” retorted Archer with disdain. “I will not grant him to be released on his own merit. He attacked a man in broad daylight, putting him in the hospital where he remains unconscious AND has made bodily threats against him while he is unable to defend himself.”

“Listen to me you little snake.” hissed Heath, his jaw clenching and having to be forcibly held back by Jarrod. “Do you know what that weasel did!”

Stepping back at the anger in the prisoner, Archer snapped, “It doesn’t matter, Mr. Thomson! As a former officer of the law, you know he did not break any laws and your attack was unjustified.”

“UNJUSTIFIED!” screamed Nick and Heath at the same time, the men holding them fighting to keep them away from the smiling district attorney.

“DAMMIT, STOP IT YOU TWO!” shouted Jarrod shaking Heath slightly. “NOW!!”

“Lock him up, Sheriff.” ordered Archer making sure he was well out of the way of the two men. Jarrod grabbed onto Nick and bodily forced him to stay away from the district attorney, hissing a warning to his brother as he dragged him back into the holding area.

“Sorry, Heath, I wish I could let you go home.” apologized Fred unlocking the cell door and holding it open, glancing at his prisoner. “Heath, you okay?”

Staring at the small room, Heath’s forehead broke out in a sweat and he nodded slowly. Nick pulled his arm out of Jarrod’s hold and moved in front of his blond brother, hazel eyes watching the cloudiness in the sapphire eyes.

“Heath, what is it?” asked Nick quietly, holding onto the back of his neck. “Hey, little brother?”

Jarrod watched the owner of the dazed sapphire eyes find the hazel eyes and whisper in a low tone after inhaling a shaky breath, “I, uh, nothing, it’s, uh, nothing.”

Stepping into the small cell, the sound of the door locking trembled the former lawman and he moved back into the corner, closing his eyes and taking deep breaths. Standing on the outside of the cell, Nick, Jarrod and Fred called out to the blond whose face was quickly paling and his body shaking uncontrollably.

“OPEN IT!” demanded Nick overriding the protests of the district attorney.

“DO NOT OPEN IT!” snapped Phil Archer, unable to take his eyes off the man who seemed to be disintegrating in the small enclosed space.

“SHUT UP PHIL!” shouted Jarrod, frantic at the panic on his strong brother’s face.

Nick rushed into the cell and took hold of his trembling brother, his hands on his shoulders and stared into his face, ordering him firmly. “Heath, look at me. Tell me what’s wrong!”

Several commands later, the lids opened on the sapphire eyes and Heath slowly slid to the floor, gasping for air in his brother’s hold. “Don’t….lock…keep…it…open…Carterson….Niiicckk.”

“This is not Carterson, Heath! HEATH!” repeated Nick over and over, the men outside the cell suddenly understanding the reason for the terrifying panic in the blond’s eyes. “OPEN THE DAMN DOOR, FRED!”

Chapter 18

Pushing Nick back and across the cell, Heath’s unsteady hands flew to his throat as if his unbuttoned shirt collar was strangling him. His gasping taking away his ability to draw in air, his mind tricking him into believing he was choking.

‘JESUS, OPEN THE DOOR!” shouted Jarrod watching Nick struggle with his brother who was becoming increasingly combative.

“DO NOT OPEN THAT DOOR SHERIFF OR I’LL HAVE YOUR BADGE!” threatened Archer, falling to the wooden floor when Howard grabbed his arm and yanked him away from the cell door with a force that took the others in the holding area by surprise.

“Fred, open the door!” ordered the physician, rushing into the cell and calling for Jarrod to help hold his brother down, before taking the blond’s face in his hands. “HEATH, BREATH! BREATH, DAMMIT!”

Jarrod and Nick used their weight to hold down their younger brother, unaware of the audience in the holding area. Taking out a bottle and a cloth, Howard held the soaked cloth to the agitated man’s face, the chloroform quickly taking the fight out of the former lawman, his body going lax under his brother’s hands.

“What the hell do you think you are doing, Dr. Merar?” snapped Archer from outside the cell.

“Nick. Jarrod. Let’s get Heath up onto the cot, I want to examine him.” said Howard ignoring the district attorney’s question for the moment.

“Dr. Merar…”

“Archer, if you say one more word you can try to find another doctor in this town to treat you!” retorted the physician glaring at the weasly man from within the cell. “If I was you, I’d shut my mouth and keep my opinions to myself.”

“You listen to me, Dr. Merar, this man is a prisoner and his cell door will be locked!” hissed Archer vehemently. “I don’t care what his problem is! He’s a menace to society in general!”

“YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A SELF RIGHTEOUS ASS. YOUR LACK OF HUMANITY IS DISGUSTING! YOU CAN REST ASSURED I’LL BE SPEAKING TO JUDGE HARLEY ABOUT THIS!” screamed Cassidy overriding the angry words from her brother-in-laws and stepping into the man’s face, sienna eyes filled with fury and her hands were clenched into fists. “NOW, GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE I FORGET I’M A LADY!”

The emotions crossing the face of the district attorney would have been a comedic relief if the family and friends in the holding area were not so concerned from the blond’s reaction. Glancing around at the other faces filled with anger and disgust for him, Archer turned on his heel and left the area, the sound of the door slamming his last word.

Entering the cell, Cassidy’s tears welled up at the sight of her strong husband and she welcomed the arm of Nick around her waist while they waited for Howard to complete his examination.

“Victoria, how’d you get here so fast?” whispered Fred, leaning against the cell bars.

“We saw Billy running down the street with Howard. As soon as she saw, Cassidy knew it had to do with Heath.” informed Victoria thankful for the arm of Gene holding her against him, his other around Audra.

“Scariest thing I’ve ever seen.” admitted Fred with a shake of his head.

“Doc, what do you think?” asked Nick quietly, his voice hushed and tentative as Cassidy moved to sit on the small cot by her husband and hold his hand.

“It was some type of panic attack, Nick.” informed Howard glancing over at the blonde girl on the cot. “Physically, he hasn’t done any damage to himself.”

“He can’t be in a cell that is locked, it’s too horrible for him.” answered Cassidy, looking at the sheriff. “Sheriff, if you leave the door open, Heath’s not going to try to escape. He can be in here but not if it’s locked….it takes him back to the prison…back to that time.”

“Have you seen this before, Cassidy?” prompted Jarrod quietly, kneeling beside the cot.

Nodding, the young girl sighed, “When he was staying with us, Heath and Nate were arrested for fighting. Heath was knocked out and when he woke up, Nate thought for sure he was having a heart attack or something. He couldn’t breathe, his chest felt like it was exploding and he passed out from not getting enough air. That’s when he first told us about Carterson.”

Rubbing his hands over his face, Nick scowled, “How come he never told us about this?”

“Oh, Nick sometimes you have the goofiest ideas.” chuckled Cassidy reaching over and squeezing the large man’s hand, her smile full of love for the protector of the family. “Would you have told someone you were afraid of a simple key turning a lock?”

Smirking, the dark head shook in denial before hazel eyes looked into the sienna ones, “Yeah, I see your point, Cassidy.”

“Howard, how long til Heath wakes up?” questioned Victoria after her old friend walked out of the cell with his black bag followed by Jarrod.

“Not for at least an hour, Victoria.” sighed Howard placing a hand on Fred’s shoulder. “I don’t care what Phil Archer says…this door is not to be locked or even closed. If he has any problems with that, you send him to me. Understood?”

“Sure, doc.” nodded Fred, allowing a small smile to escape. “I’ll take good care of Heath.”

“I know you will, Fred.” agreed Howard extending his good-byes and leaving the jail.

Fred motioned to Billy and the two lawman left the family alone in the holding area. Brushing her hand through her husband’s blond hair, Cassidy smiled at her mother-in-law when she felt a hand on her hair.

“Do you want to stay til Heath wakes up?” asked Victoria, already knowing what the answer would be.

“Yes I would, Mother.” nodded Cassidy, lowering her eyes to her unaware husband.

“Mother, I’ll stay and bring Cassidy home.” offered Nick, not wanting to leave til he spoke with his little brother. “Why don’t you all head home?”

“Alright but if anything happens, I want to know.” replied Victoria firmly, placing a kiss on their cheeks and bending down to place one on Heath’s forehead.

“Mother, where’s Mrs. Johnson and Angeline?” asked Nick.

“They went to their hotel room, Nick.” informed Victoria, smiling at the disappointment in the hazel eyes before leaving the jail with the rest of her family.

“Faith seems like a very nice person, Nick.” suggested Cassidy softly, smiling at the touch of crimson on the bruised face.

“I probably scared her off.” sighed Nick with a frown. “Banging the table and yelling like a crazy man.”

“I’ll make sure the next time I see her to let her know those are your good qualities.” teased Cassidy with a giggle.

“Hey now!” chided Nick unable to keep the smile off his face. “If you’re not careful, I’ll have to tell your husband on you.”

Laughing at each other, the two sets of brown eyes watched the blond, waiting for a glimpse of sapphire.

Chapter 19

Leaning against the bars of the cell and quietly speaking of life in general, Nick and Cassidy were alerted to the first signs of waking by the blond head slowly moving and the bruised face slowly scrunching from a flash of pain. Moaning softly, Heath’s hand slowly raised, rubbed his eyes and then was caught to be held by a small hand.

“Open your eyes, Heath.” instructed Cassidy, retaking her seat on the cot with Nick opting to stand behind his sister-in-law and look over her shoulder. “Com’n honey.”

His thoughts were fuzzy, his body felt as if he were floating from his lightheadedness and he had to find strength to slowly blink his eyes open, the two others in the small space smiled when dazed sapphire orbs looked at them before shifting around the room.

The panic which flashed for a moment in the pools of blue dissipated at the sight of the open cell door and confusion set in. Unable to recall exactly what happened, Heath groaned and looked at his wife and brother.

“Boy howdy, what did you two do?”

Surprise rose his voice and Nick blurted, “We didn’t do anything. What are you talking about?”

“Please don’t shout. I feel like someone squeezed my head in a vise.” moaned Heath holding his temples before looking into his wife’s sienna eyes. ”Cass, why are you in jail? You didn’t see Widow Harrison, did you?”

“Heath!” exclaimed Cassidy, shock dropping her mouth open. “I’m not in jail, you are!”

Nick shook his head and helped his little brother who was unsteadily pushing himself to a sitting position to lean against the wall, before smirking. “Little brother, even if your wife was in jail, I don’t believe they have co-ed cells. We’ve been waiting for you to wake up from your nap.”

Entwining her fingers with his, Heath closed his eyes and sighed in frustration, “I can’t seem to remember anything after Fred opened the door to the cell. What happened?”

Cassidy rubbed her husband’s arm while Nick filled in the missing blanks for the blond, his lips turning up at the mental picture of his wife berating Phil Archer, his chuckle a welcome noise to his brother’s ears.

“Boy howdy, darlin’, remind me to never get on that side of you.” teased Heath, opening his eyes and smiling at his wife.

“Just remember you’ve been warned and maybe you won’t have to see it.” replied Cassidy firmly, holding his hand to her cheek, unable to stop the smile in her eyes.

The look which passed between the couple before him had Nick smiling then looking down at his boots. His mind wondering if he’d ever find a woman capable of creating such emotion in him. Sighing to himself, he heard his name and his hazel eyes raised and met the sapphire lakes.

“Thanks, Nick.” whispered Heath with a small lop sided grin.

“It’s what brothers do for each other.” said Nick waving off the thanks before smiling widely, “I don’t think I’ll be ever able to look at Archer again without hearing Cassidy call him an ass.”

Chuckling at the red creeping up Cassidy’s face, Nick and Heath smiled at her, their admiration clear for the spitfire sharing the cell with them for the moment. His headache abated some and Heath stood up, helping his wife to her feet and placing a kiss on her lips.

“I love you hon but you’d best let Nick take you back to the ranch now.” stated Heath, caressing her cheek with his thumb. “I’ll be fine and home before you know it.”

Nodding, Cassidy wrapped her arms around her husband and hugged him tightly before leaving the two brothers alone. Watching her go, Heath sighed and met the worried hazel eyes of the larger man.

“If I’d known, I wouldn’t have let that damn Archer arrest you!” hissed Nick, his eyes remembering the helplessness he’d felt at the panic of his little brother.

Leaning against the open cell door, Heath bit his lip and hesitated before reaching out and taking hold of the dark clothed shoulder, “It’s not your fault, Nick. I could’ve said something but I figured I could handle it. Guess I was wrong.”

Rolling his eyes, Nick smirked, “Guess so, little brother.”

“Take care of Cassidy for me, okay?” asked Heath.

Smiling, Nick held the back of the blond’s neck and nodded, “Like she was my own wife.”

“Remember, she’s mine twit brain.” retorted the blond, smiling at the deep chuckle.

Nick walked through the open door, taking three steps before turning back and questioned, “You’ve called me twit brain twice today, Heath?”

“I thought that was your name.” teased Heath watching the hazel eyes fill with uncertainty before he pulled the larger man to him and whispered, “I still love ya’ Nick. Nothing will change that.”

Patting the back of his little brother, Nick sighed, “Damn right, boy!”

Releasing the larger man, Heath tapped the broad chest with his hand and growled, “Unless of course, you lose my wife or don’t get her back to the ranch in one piece.”

“I get your point, smart ass.” growled Nick with a wink and leaving his brother behind.

Laying back on the cot, Heath closed his eyes and fell back to sleep to chase away the remaining remnants of his headache.

Howard opened his office door at the knock and inwardly groaned at the district attorney standing there. Holding his door open, Howard gestured for the man to enter the waiting room.

“What can I do for you, Archer?” asked the physician, knowing full well the reason for the man being there.

“I understand Mr. Fleshton woke up.” stated Phil, his beady eyes flashing with triumph. “I just need his signature on this complaint against Thomson.”

“He was awake for a minute and then drifted off again.” informed Howard with a smile. “Helen went to get Fred since he wanted to talk to my patient as soon as he could.”

“Well, good then the sheriff can do his job like he’s supposed to.” snorted the legal man.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” questioned the physician. “Fred’s a good sheriff.”

“He’s only good when it’s not his fellow or former peer he puts in jail.” stated Archer calmly. “Thomson’s cell door should be locked just like any other law breaker!”

“As the town physician, I have instructed the sheriff it would be detrimental to his prisoner’s well-being to enforce that particular rule, Mr. Archer! You have no medical background and therefore, have no standing in this particular situation.” snapped Howard, his patience reaching its end. “If you want to question my authority, you take that up with Judge Harley or Judge Gaffney when he comes back from New York!”

Turning red from the brusquely stated reproach, the district attorney’s response was silenced by the arrival of Fred Maden through the door. Growling at the district attorney, Fred followed the medical man into the examination room and stood beside the gurney where two eyes of a darker sapphire color blinked open and looked at the three men in confusion.

“Mr. Fleshton, I am District Attorney Phil Archer.” announced the weasly man, ignoring the stares tossed his way. “I have a paper here I need you to sign.”

Howard looked at Fred who rolled his eyes and snorted, “Not now, Archer!”

“Sheriff, this man was attacked and accosted!” stated Phil angrily, “Thomson needs to stay in jail where he belongs.”

“What?” exclaimed the patient, his voice raspy and dry, gratefully drinking the water from the glass the doctor held to his mouth.

“Don’t get yourself worked up, Mr. Fleshton.” stated Howard with a smile before scowling at the district attorney. “Phil, my patient needs his rest.”

“It’ll only take a minute, doctor.” sneered Archer before looking back at the eyes showing more clarity. “Heath Thomson is in jail for attacking you at the saloon, Mr. Fleshton. If you’ll just sign this paper…”

“I AIN’T SIGNING NOTHING! YOU GET HIM OUT OF THERE NOW!” shouted Fleshton, his hand raising to hold onto his head which was suddenly pounding.

“I don’t think you understand the severity…” insisted Archer, finding the paper ripped from his hand and torn to shreds.

“Listen to me, Sheriff. I’m not pressing charges. NOT ONE!” stated Fleshton firmly, laying his head back onto the table and scowling. “Doc, are you sure Thomson didn’t hit me with a board or a brick? I don’t remember him hitting this hard.”

Chuckling, Howard patted his patient’s shoulder and glanced upward, noting the sheriff was no longer in the room and the district attorney looked sick, green as if he’d eaten too much locoweed before he walked out on legs stiff with shock.

“Here’s something for the pain. It’ll help you sleep.”

Taking the laudanum and closing his eyes, the blond drifted off to sleep after requesting to speak with the former marshal the next time he was awake and receiving the physician’s assurance he’d take care of it.

Chapter 20

Smiling widely as he flung the door to the jail open, Fred startled Billy who was dozing in the chair. Jumping to his feet, his young deputy smiled sheepishly and stifled a yawn.

“Sorry, Sheriff.”

Waving off the apology, Fred grinned, “Billy, good news. Com’n!”

Puzzled the young man dogged the heels of his boss and followed him into the holding area standing outside the cell and watching as he shook the sleeping prisoner’s shoulder.

“Heath, get up!” ordered Fred loudly, shaking the blond’s shoulder vigorously.

The blond sprang to his feet, sapphire eyes wide with a confused look of sleep at the two lawman. “What? What’s wrong, Fred?”

“Nothing, you can go.” stated Fred clapping the younger man on the back.

“What do you mean I can go?” questioned Heath wiping the sleep off his face. “Archer had me arrested.”

“Yeah but that Fleshton fellow said he ain’t pressing charges.” chuckled Fred. “I thought Archer was gonna have a stroke when Fleshton grabbed the paper out of his hands and ripped it to pieces.”

“WHAT!” exclaimed Heath with a grin which turned to a scowl and he shook his head. “Why’d he do that?”

“Who cares!” smirked Fred giving the former lawman a push to the open cell door. “Get outta my jail, I got work to do!”

Billy snickered at the expression on the blond’s face, the man torn between happiness at being free, grumpiness for the slight shove and reluctance to believe this unexpected event. Receiving a glare from the sapphire eyes, Billy wiped the smile off his face and followed the two men to the outer office.

“I don’t get it, Fred.” mumbled Heath with a frown as he reloaded his pistol before putting it back in his holster. “What’s he up to?”

“Maybe he feels bad about what he did, Heath?” suggested Billy with a shrug from his place against the wall. “After all, he did cause you a lot of….problems.”

“Why don’t you go ask him yourself?” said Fred sitting back in his chair. “If you think you can see him without ripping his head or limbs off, that is. I’d hate for you to be a regular visitor in our jail.”

Rolling his eyes, Heath nodded, “I believe I will do that on my way out of town and don’t worry, I won’t touch one hair on his head, Fred.”

“Your family already left for the ranch. Do you need a ride out there?” offered Billy.

“Nah, I’ll rent a horse at the livery.” grinned Heath, suddenly feeling infinitely better at being able to go home and spend the night in his wife’s arms. Looking outside at the darkening world, he smiled, “If I hurry, I can get home in time for dinner.”

Walking his former prisoner to the door, Fred stated, “Nothing else new either on Fleshton, Heath. The guy appears to have changed his spots and is on the up and up.”

Extending his hand, Heath growled, “Time will tell, Fred. Time will tell.”

Striding down the boardwalk, Heath headed to the office of Dr. Merar and opened the door, entering and finding the physician in the room with his patient.

“Evening, doc.” greeted Heath moving to stand by the bed. “He awake?”

Shaking his head, Howard sighed, “I gave him some laudanum, Heath but he did request to see you.”

Standing with his arms across his broad chest, Heath studied the sleeping man, the frown darkening his thoughts, his mind unable to understand the man’s seeming nice gesture.

“You okay, Heath? Any headache or nausea from the chloroform?” asked Howard, receiving a nod of denial.

“Earlier but I slept most of the day away and now my headache’s gone.” drawled Heath reaching up to rub the back of his neck. “Well, guess I can come back tomorrow and talk to him.”

“That’d probably be best.” agreed Howard walking the blond to the door. “I’ll let Mr. Fleshton know you’ll be in tomorrow.”

“Thanks, doc.” smiled Heath before walking the length of the street to the livery, the night rapidly descending on the valley and the first stars of the day glowing in the night sky.

Entering the darkened barn, the former lawman called out for the livery man and scowled at not hearing a response. Moving further inside, Heath fumbled for a match in his pocket to light the lantern he knew was on the nearby post and turned at the whisper of sound behind him, falling to the floor from the fist which struck his jaw. Rolling on the floor, the blond lunged to his feet, catching sight of the dark shape comings towards him.

Grabbing onto the approaching figure, he used the attacker’s momentum to send him flying past him, flipping the attacker onto his back on the hard barn floor. Pulling the figure up by the shirt, Heath placed two punches in the area of the stomach and heard the air whoosh out of the lungs.

Holding the sagging body against the nearest stall door, the former marshal shook the limp figure and barked loudly, “Com’n, you can have the cell I just left. Attempted murder, assault and battery, just basically being a low life will be the first set of charges!”

“Dammit! It’s not him!” blurted another voice from the shadows causing the former marshal to drop his hold on the man and reach for his gun in surprise, not seeing the unknown instrument swinging out, sending him falling to his knees with a stifled cry as the pain radiated up his leg.

Striking out with his left hand, he caught the groin of the nearing man and struggled to gain his footing as the man fell backwards, his leg collapsing upon itself as the air before him was broken by the moving object. Sensing the oncoming weapon, Heath fell onto his stomach and pulled his gun, rolling onto his side, he felt the crush of pain against his ribs from the body which lunged on top of him, grabbing for the weapon in his hand.

Gasping at the air leaving his lungs, he struggled with the bigger man, pulling the trigger as the weapon was pointed upwards, the discharge loud in the barn and ringing his ears. The man’s accomplices joined in the foray, quickly disarming the former lawman and jerking him to his feet after stunning the underdog with several punches to his body and face.

“Sorry marshal, I wasn’t planning on this.” stated the one man, holding up the dazed blond’s face as the other two kept him locked in place with his arms, then whispering, “But since you’re here, I may as well not waste this opportunity. Nice to see you after all these years.”

The sound of running feet reached his ears through the fog in his head as the blade of the knife entered his body and Heath cried out before they loosened his arms, letting him fall to the floor, barely hearing the name spoken by one of the departing shadows before he joined in the darkness around him.

Chapter 21

The sound of shots ringing through the quiet Sunday evening street from the area of the livery had Fred cursing loudly and taking off at a run with Billy following on his heels. The interior of the barn dark and the men entered cautiously.

“Light the lantern, Billy.” whispered Fred, his eyes scanning the interior searching for any discernable shapes in the darkness as he held his gun in his hand. Walking towards the post, Billy stumbled when his feet struck a malleable object on the ground.

“Sheriff, there’s someone lyin’ here.” exclaimed the young man quickly striking a match and lighting up the walkway of the livery.

“Get doc!” shouted Fred, shoving his gun in his holster and kneeling in the puddle from the blood leaking out from the body of his friend Heath.

The blond was lying on his stomach, his face pale under the harsh light of the lantern. Turning the unconscious man over, Fred took out his handkerchief and held it over the wound allowing the life giving liquid to escape. Studying the still face, Fred saw the fresh bruises and clenched his jaw in anger.

Talking to the blond as he held the cloth against his wound, Fred looked out the door and screamed when he saw his deputy coming with Dr. Merar. “HURRY, HE’S NOT BREATHING TOO GOOD!”

Placing his black bag down, Howard took out his stethoscope and swore, motioning for the stretcher. “Let’s get him to the office. Someone get the Barkleys! HURRY!”

Two of the onlookers stepped forward and helped put their injured citizen on the stretcher, quickly walking him down the street with the doctor holding the bloody cloth over the puncture wound.

Directing one of the others in the group to ride out to the Barkley ranch, Fred caught Billy’s arm and growled, “Stay with Heath. Don’t leave his side! I’m gonna see what I can find out around here. Someone may try to finish what they started.”

Nodding, the deputy ran after the small party heading down the street, holding the office door open and closing it behind, stepping to a corner of the examination room, fighting the fear and sickness rising up in him before he was sent from the room. Leaving and glancing back to the doctor and his wife, working in tandem, hands flying over the former lawman, cutting his clothes away and throwing the discarded material onto the floor, the condition of their young friend scaring the skilled couple.

“Helen, stay with Heath while I go talk to Cassidy and the family.” sighed Howard, taking the end of the stethoscope from his ears and stretching his back slightly. A small hand found its way to his back, making a circular pattern and he smiled slightly into his wife’s eyes.

“You did a fine job, Howard.” assured Helen quietly, reaching up and placing a kiss on his cheek. “You did more than your best.”

Looking away from her and back to the pale face on the bed, Howard let out a shaky breath and shook his head, “This boy likes to test my medical knowledge, dear. Not to mention, I think he’s responsible for every gray hair I have. I’m gonna have a serious talk with him.”

Helen smiled at his words, the back of her hand brushing against the cheek of the blond who was reclining at an angle, his breathing shallow but even, a welcome sound from the gasps he was previously fighting for.

“Go on, Howard. I’ll keep watch over him.” whispered Helen watching her exhausted husband leave the room before bending close to the blond’s ear. “Fight, Heath! You’re like the child we never had. Fight!”

Closing the door, Howard rubbed his hand over his eyes and nodded to Billy who was standing in the hallway between the two rooms, holding two men alike physically in so many ways. Taking a deep breath, the man who’d known the people in the waiting room, ate with them and enjoyed life with them waited a moment before reaching for the knob of the oak barrier.

Stepping through the door, the physician was not surprised when the waiting room burst into a flurry of activity, men jumping from their positions against the walls or doorway of the office and the women pushing themselves upwards, except for one. Nodding to everyone and meeting their inquiring gazes for a moment, Howard moved across the room and sat on the table in front of the blonde woman, her sienna eyes searching his as he reached over and took hold of her trembling hand.

“Is Heath alive?” whispered Cassidy, to her ears her own voice sounded like it came from the end of long tunnel.

“Yes, Heath is alive, Cassidy.” confirmed Howard, the sounds of relief fill the room and the sienna orbs filled with unshed tears.

“But?”

“Heath was beaten and stabbed in the abdomen. I’m not sure but it looks like he was hit with a board or a club on the lower part of his right leg. I don’t think it’s broken but the bone could be bruised and sometimes a bruised bone is more painful than an broken one.” stated Howard waiting til she nodded and squeezed his hand.

“As you know earlier this week his ribs were bruised and I wrapped them for two days. During the attack, he sustained another injury to his ribs. One of them fractured and the broken part pierced his left lung.”

Closing her eyes at the cries throughout the room, Cassidy held onto the older man’s hand with her two and her tears spilled out, trickling out of the corner of her eyes. A large hand squeezed her shoulder and she opened her lids, glancing upwards into the teary hazel eyes before turning back to Howard.

“And?” stammered the paling woman, struggling to keep control and focus on what the medicine man was saying.

“I was able to suture the hole in his lung and once we got the bleeding stopped from the knife wound, I also stitched it closed. He’s lost a lot of blood from the knife wound and from the lung puncture. He’s very weak and hasn’t woken yet at all, Cassidy.”

“Do you think there’s a chance…that…he…” whispered Cassidy, her eyes falling down, unable to complete the question.

Leaning forward, Howard raised her face and replied, “Time will tell, Cassidy. I think Heath has a very good chance just cause he’s stubborn as a mule and twice as ornery as his brother, Nick.”

Smiling through her tears at the growl from her brother-in-law, Cassidy nodded, “Please I want to be with him. Can we all see him?”

Looking around the room at the faces ravenous with need, Howard nodded and stood. “Victoria, your family is more than welcome to stay here if you want to. It will be a long night and even longer couple of days, I’m afraid.”

“Thank you, Howard.” smiled Victoria, wiping the tears from her face.

Standing and turning, Cassidy placed a kiss on Nick’s cheek and whispered, “Thank you, Nick. You come in after Mother, okay?”

“Tell my little brother, I’ll be there in a bit.” replied Nick reaching up to brush the tears off her cheek and winking. “He’ll be fine, Cass. Otherwise, he knows he’ll have both of us to deal with.”

Smiling, Cassidy nodded and held a hand out to the petite silver haired lady, “Let’s go see your son, Mother.”

Wiping her cheeks, Victoria took the hand of her daughter-in-law and nodded, the women gathering strength from each other as they disappeared behind the inner door. Still unsure of what occurred, the three brothers were trying to decide who would seek out Sheriff Maden when the door to the office opened and the man they were talking about appeared.

“Fred, did you find out what happened?” questioned Nick, his voice gruff from anger.

Shaking his head, Fred sighed, “Not yet but I’m betting it has something to do with Phil Archer.”

“Phil Archer?” repeated Jarrod puzzled at the connection.

“Heath could have snapped Archer in half like a twig if he wanted to.” snorted Nick.

“Nick’s right, Fred. Besides, I don’t think Phil is capable of attacking Heath.” stated Jarrod.

“Not anymore.” scowled Fred meeting the confused brothers’ eyes. “He’s dead at his house, his throat was slashed.”

Chapter 22

“WHAT?” shouted the Barkley family members gathered in the waiting room. Gene took hold of Audra’s hand and put his arm around her, the blonde girl shaken by the lawman’s announcement.

Sighing deeply, Fred pulled Jarrod and Nick to the side and whispered, “Jessica found him when she went for their ‘weekly’ meeting. He wasn’t dead that long cause he was still warm when she came to get me.”

Nick and Jarrod didn’t have to inquire as to who Jessica was. The saloon girl was well known for her friendliness and smile, her personality a source of brightness in an otherwise less than stellar profession. A favorite of the men who frequented the town’s drinking hole.

“Did she see anything?” questioned Jarrod.

“No. She said the door was wide open when she got to his house. She thought it was odd then figured Phil wanted to…well…pretend like he like to do sometimes, so she went on in.” stated Fred with a shake of his head. “I think she’s telling the truth. She’s pretty shaken up.”

“I can imagine.” snorted Nick, not personally liking the district attorney but liking the news of his murder even less. Catching his older brother’s eye, both men knew their younger brother was lucky he wasn’t the second murder of the night.

“How’s Heath?” asked the older lawman.

“Lucky he wasn’t victim number two tonight.” growled Nick, his fingers tapping his pant leg, his hazel eyes staring at the inner door blocking his view to the brother he hadn’t been able to see. “Damn lucky, I’d say.”

Placing a hand on the nearest shoulder of his brother, Jarrod squeezed and whispered, “Doc’s really worried, you can see it in his eyes. Heath lost a lot of blood from the knife wound and one of his ribs punctured his lung. He hasn’t woken yet. Mother and Cassidy just went in to see him.”

“When he wakes up, you give him my best.” smiled Fred putting on his hat and opening the door before looking back at the concerned family. “I’ve told Billy to stay close to Heath til I find out what happened. Just in case.”

Smiling gratefully, Jarrod nodded, “Thanks Fred. We’ll spell Billy from time to time also.”

“Appreciate that.” acknowledged Fred, nodding to Audra and Gene before leaving, the younger Barkleys moving across the room and grilling their older brothers about the discussion with the sheriff.

Entering the room, Cassidy held tightly to the hand of Victoria. Her throat constricting with unshed tears and her heart palpitating frantically as she glimpsed her still husband with Helen Merar by his side. Moving from the side of the bed, the older woman wrapped the young blonde in a hug and kissed her cheek.

“I know he’ll be just fine, honey.” assured Helen with a tender smile.

“Thank you, Helen.” whispered Cassidy, trying to smile through the wetness in her eyes.

Nodding to Victoria, Helen left the room after squeezing her husband’s hand, her own tears not spilling out til she closed the door behind her. Moving to the bed the women released each other’s hand and took a position on either side. Cassidy reached up and caressed the battered cheek of the man she loved, his features still under the bruises, the paleness of his face darkening the old and new marks, his chest wrapped in a large white bandage. Taking hold of his hand, she held it to her face and silently let her tears fall onto his split knuckles.

Closing her eyes, Cassidy fought to understand how he was so still today and last night he’d had an exhaustive supply of energy as they lain together, renewing their love between them and coming together in eternal bliss. Her soulmate, gentle and tender inside was a picture of masculinity on the outside.

A man trained in deadly skills and yet able to smile in support at her wish for a rose patterned spread to match the rose patterned draperies for their bedroom. Unbothered by her feminine touches in the room he shared with her. Often he’d bring home a small trinket for her to add to the room, rose colored material for the pillows she made which adorned their bed, a porcelain replica of a rose. All for his wife, the woman he loved simply because she liked it and it made her smile.

Victoria brushed her own tears away, the sight of fear and anguish on her daughter-in-law’s face almost too much to bear. Brushing her fingers lightly through his blond hair, she willed her son to open his eyes, to give her a chance to take away the anger she caused in him with her untrusting at what she thought he’d done.

He’d promised they’d talk yesterday but now she wondered if she’d ever hear his drawl again, see the sparkle in his eyes, see the love he held for his family, the love for his wife.

Opening her eyes and brushing away the salty droplets, Cassidy took a deep breath and leaned over her husband, calling his name as she squeezed his hand. Howard watched and held his breath, hoping for some response from the injured man at his wife’s calls and not seeing one.

The night wore on and Heath was still, his condition not changing and not worsening. His breathing still seemed labored however the physician explained it was due to the extensive blood loss and trauma. His body was fighting to regain what it lost, fighting to rebuild the supply of red liquid. Forcing sugar water down his throat to keep Heath hydrated was the only thing they could do other than wait, hope and pray.

The family members afraid to leave the physician’s office stayed in the waiting room, dozing and alternatively visiting with Cassidy as they encouraged their unconscious brother to waken.

Slumped in a chair in the waiting room, Nick’s long legs stuck out into the middle of the room and hazel eyes stared at the white washed ceiling, his thoughts only on the brother he was waiting to waken.

“Nick, you’re gonna have an awful cramp in your neck from sitting that way.” sighed Jarrod entering the waiting room from his trip to the office to instruct his secretary to cancel his appointments for the next two days.

“I don’t care. I got more important stuff to worry about.” snapped Nick angrily, his eyes closing for a minute before he pushed himself upward and ran his hand through his hair. “Sorry, Jarrod.”

Blue eyes filled with compassion glanced over his brother’s strong tanned face, the exhaustion in the chiseled lines clear to see.

“It’s okay, Nick.” assured Jarrod softly. “Gene and Audra are having a late breakfast at the hotel, why don’t you join them?”

Wiping his hands over his weary eyes, Nick declined, “Not til I know Heath’ll be okay.”

Clapping the strong back beside him, Jarrod took in a deep breath and queried, “Fred come by this morning?”

“Not yet.” replied Nick, sitting forward in the chair and holding his head in his hands, the toe of his boot tapping on the carpeted floor, his expansive energy needed to be released somehow. Jarrod watched his brother fidgeting and made a bet to himself, smiling when he hadn’t reached the count of twenty before Nick bounded from the chair and paced the waiting room.

“Nick, don’t pace the same path again or we’ll have to buy doc a new rug for his waiting room.” teased Jarrod, with a wink which upturned the corners of his scowling brother’s lips.

“Heath ain’t the only smart ass, that’s for sure.” grunted Nick, changing the path of his pacing, rolling his eyes at Jarrod’s soft chuckle.

Jarrod sat in a chair, keeping his feet out of the way of his pacing brother, his mind trying to come up with a reason for the murder of Phil Archer. Was it related to Heath or just an awful coincidence? Sighing deeply, the attorney shook his head and tried to clear his tired mind, tried to bring some clarity through the fog of exhaustion.

“DAMMIT!” bellowed Nick, his shout bringing Jarrod to his feet.

“What?” demanded Jarrod, noting the gleam of anger in the hazel eyes.

“It’s his fault! It has to be.” growled Nick pointing to the inner door.

“Nick, it’s not Heath’s fault someone jumped him!” retorted the older man.

“NOT HEATH!” shouted Nick before taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. “Think about it Pappy. Life was actually calm and boring these past months until what happened recently….”

“Gaylord Fleshton arrived.” interjected Jarrod firmly.

Looking into each other’s eyes, the two oldest sons turned as one and started for the inner door to the examining rooms.

To be continued…