Rivals and Mothers

by dcat

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.

Tom Barkley walked to the bottom of the staircase and called upwards, “Nick and Heath, you two better get a move on, you’re both gonna be late for school this morning, now hurry on.”

Heath was the first one out of his room. His seven year old body was already full of rough and tumble as he shut the door to his room behind him and slung the strap filled with three books and a writing slate over his shoulder. His shirt tail still hung outside of his trousers and his hair was still a sight. He jumped down the last two steps before coming to land right at his father’s feet.

“You better take a look in a mirror young man,” Tom said sternly to him. “Set your books over on the table and go back and try again.”

Heath tried to look at himself to see what his father was possibly talking about, but without looking in a mirror, he’d never be able to tell for sure. Back up the stairs he went, nearly bumping into Nick, who finally was on his way down.

“Good morning, Father,” Twelve year old Nick greeted Tom as he rushed down the stairs. “May I grab a piece of toast before I leave?”

“If there’s any left, you may,” Tom said as Nick dropped his book strap right next to Heath’s. “And grab a piece for your brother too,” Tom called out after him. He barely saw Nick nod as he hurried into the dining room.

“Good morning Mother,” Nick said, as he walked up to her and gave her a kiss and a hug.

“Good morning Nick, you two are going to be late again aren’t you?” she asked him.

Nick had already sauntered over to the buffet table and grabbed a handful of toast slices and was wrapping them in a napkin. “Not too much Mother, anyways, it’s just school.”

Tom Barkley stood in the doorway now and heard the latest comment. “Just school Nick?” he questioned.

“Aw, you know what I mean Father,” Nick tried to explain.

“No, I don’t think I do know what you mean, why don’t you tell me what school means?” Tom continued.

“I know it’s important, but I’m just gonna end up running the ranch someday,” Nick started. “’Sides, I’m the smartest one in the whole school now.”

“And that’s all the more reason that you need to make school your top priority young man. It takes brains to run this ranch, years of learning and experience and school is the place that you get a lot of that,” Tom said. “You’ve got a good start, you need to continue on.”

“But you never went to this much school Father,” Nick reasoned.

“That’s because I didn’t have the opportunity like you do. Someday boy, you’ll thank me for this education you’re getting.”

Just then, Heath squirted into the room and over to the buffet table too. He swiped a piece of toast and proceeded over to the table. When he saw everyone staring at him, he stopped and looked straight at Tom and said. “I fixed my shirt and combed my hair, is there something else that I missed?”

“That’s everything son, except for manners,” Tom said, giving the boy a smile.

“I’m sorry,” he said, dropping his head and giving what his father said some serious thought. Heath set his toast on a plate on the table and looked at everyone and politely said, “Good morning everyone.” He then pulled out the heavy chair and sat down.

“Good morning Heath,” Victoria said giving him a smile as well. She so wished he’d take the example of the other children and give her a hug and kiss every morning, but she also knew he wasn’t comfortable in doing that quite yet. She knew he even avoided calling Tom, Father, so that he wouldn’t have to call her Mother. And she certainly didn’t want to force him into doing so, not yet anyway, it was still too soon. The memories of his own mother still filled his mind and heart. She felt the best thing would be to give the boy time and space and hope that someday he’d come around. She knew she could never replace his own mother, she didn’t want to, but she did want to shower him with as much love as she gave to her own children. She just needed to come up with a way to make a seven year old see that she wasn’t a replacement.

“I think we’re going to have to roust the two of you out of bed earlier, you’re going to just barely make it to school in time,” Tom was saying. “I had Ciego saddle up your horses this morning, so you can hop on and get going. And don’t be dawdling along the way either, you hear me?”

“Yes sir,” Nick said.

Heath nodded, as his mouth was full of toast.

“Alright, finish up then and move,” Tom said, as he walked over to Victoria and gave her a kiss. “I’ll be up in Sky Meadow most of the day. You boys be good,” he said to Nick and Heath. And with that, he left.

Nick stood up, “let’s go Heath. Goodbye Mother.”

“Goodbye Nick, Goodbye Heath, have a good day at school,” Victoria said to them.

Heath stood up and pushed his chair in and looked over to her for but a split second. She knew he wanted to say something, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak. He dropped his head and quietly said, “Bye.”

And off he scooted chasing after Nick.

Nick was already outside, sitting atop his horse when Heath came running out.

“Let’s go, you heard Father,” Nick shouted.

“I forgot my books,” Heath called back and turned back to go into the house. Victoria stood in the doorway, holding his book strap. “Thank you,” he said, giving her a lopsided smile.

“Your welcome,” she smiled back.

He grabbed the books and ran to his horse. Nick reached over and helped lift him high enough so he could scramble onto the horses back. Both boys waved at Victoria as they headed for town.

Children dashed about the school yard as the Barkley brothers rode up and dismounted. Miss Weber, the new teacher, had just come onto the walk up porch of the one room schoolhouse and was standing poised to ring the bell. Most of the children saw her and began to slow down and head toward the schoolhouse and then she began to ring the bell.

“Good morning children,” she said, as the boys and girls walked inside.

Both Nick and Heath greeted her with a smile and a hello, which she returned to them also.

As the children filed in, they saw a new pupil sitting in what was normally Nick Barkley’s seat. They took there own spots but all heads watched Nick for what his reaction would be. They already knew how volatile the twelve year old could be. Miss Weber followed in behind all the children.

Heath stood next to Nick, who was frozen in his spot, he looked up at his big brother and then back to Miss Weber for some kind of explanation. None came.

“Heath Barkley, go on and take your seat,” she said, giving Heath a little push. Heath wanted to stay close to Nick, but here he was being forced to sit down. Nick stayed put and kept his eyes fixed on the new stranger.

Heath spun around in his seat and also stared at the new boy. He was surprised to see him grinning at everyone. From the looks of him, he was probably a few inches taller and a few pounds heavier than Nick, which made him the biggest kid in the whole school. And he had green eyes and sandy colored hair. Heath glanced around and could see that the girls were already taking a shine to him.

“Nick, why don’t you sit next to Peter,” Miss Weber was saying, as if it were no big deal at all to have someone else sitting in your usual spot. Heath was aghast, and as much as he wanted to protest the injustice he witnessed, he remained quiet, remembering to mind his manners.

Heath looked at Nick when she spoke. He knew that Nick would be thinking that he’d been demoted somehow. That’s how Heath saw it anyway. It was one row in front of where this new kid sat. And Nick had always had his own seat, now he had to share with Peter of all people. What surprised him even more was Nick’s reaction.

“Sure Miss Weber,” was Nick’s simple response. Heath even saw him smile. Heath’s mouth dropped wide open in shock. Maybe he didn’t know his brother as well as he thought he did.

“Class, let’s all turn around please and get started this morning,” Miss Weber demanded politely.

Heath was the last one to turn around. He waited until Nick nodded at him and motioned for him to do so. Heath gave him a smile, but Nick wanted nothing to do with being happy and Heath could hardly blame him.

“Well, I’m sure you all can tell we have a new student with us this morning,” Miss Weber continued. “Patrick, please come up front and introduce yourself.”

The green-eyed, sandy haired boy that took Nick’s prized spot stood and walked slowly and pronounced up to the front of the room. He certainly was full of himself.

“Go ahead, Patrick, tell us about yourself,” Miss Weber said.

Patrick conjured up a grin just as big and broad as anyone had ever seen, “My name’s Patrick Tankston, I’m thirteen. My family just moved here from Santa Fe. That’s in New Mexico, in case some of you don’t know that yet. We got a ranch just west of town. I aim to make it my own someday.”

There was no doubt in Heath’s young mind that Patrick Tankston was no one to mess with. His smile may fool some people, like Miss Weber, but Heath could tell that he was tough and smart and probably every bit as volatile as his brother Nick. And the way he walked up and down the aisle was something to behold. He walked like he owned the whole wide world. Even Nick didn’t do that.

“Thank you Patrick,” Miss Weber said. Patrick turned and gave her another fancy grin and went back to his seat, passing by the other children. Heath couldn’t help but grin back at the new boy and as Patrick passed him, he tousled Heath’s hair.

Heath turned again and watched him take Nick’s old seat. As he went to face forward, he saw Nick sitting with his head down.

Nick and Heath rode straight home after school, even though Heath had wanted to stay and play with some of his friends, he obeyed his older brother when he called out to him and told him it was time to leave.

It was a quick and quiet ride home, even though Heath was bursting with much to say. He sensed that Nick didn’t feel too much like talking, so he kept his excitement to himself.

Both boys dismounted in front of the house and tied their horses to the hitch. As they grabbed their books out of the saddlebags, Jarrod stepped onto the porch and shouted ‘hello’ to both of them.

“Jarrod!” Heath called out as he dropped his books onto the dusty ground and quickly scampered up the step into the arms of his oldest brother. “Welcome home,” Heath said as he wrapped his arms around him. Jarrod had been gone for nearly a week. He’d been to San Francisco to look over something he called college. Heath didn’t entirely understand it all, he was just happy to see Jarrod back home.

Jarrod bent down to a knee to return the hug to his newest brother. “Hi there Heath, how have you been? Did you miss me?”

“Yep I did. I’m fine Jarrod, I’m glad you’re home. “How was San Francisco?” Heath asked him.

“Foggy and cold,” Jarrod admitted to him with a grin. Heath laughed. “How was school today?” Jarrod asked, not realizing the can of worms he was opening up.

“It was,” Heath paused trying to figure out the best way to tell Jarrod, “there’s a,” he paused again, trying to contain his excitement.

Jarrod could sense the animation in his little blonde brother as he looked over to Nick past Heath, to see Nick checking over the gear on his horse. Nick acted as if he wasn’t interested in the slightest over whatever Heath was going to tell him, yet, he didn’t move away either. Jarrod knew right away that something had happened, something Nick was trying to show complete disinterest in. Heath looked over to Nick as well and decided not to say anything.

“It was ok,” was all the seven year old would say, his enthusiasm gone.

Jarrod stared into the blue eyes, which were so much like his own, “So why don’t I believe that? What happened at school?” He gave Heath a little shake.

Heath glanced over at Nick again who had turned around and faced both of them. “Go ahead, tell him whatever you want, I don’t care,” Nick said sullenly. He grabbed his books and walked into the house.

Jarrod was perplexed and he stood up and grabbed Nick’s arm as he walked by. “Nick, what’s going on? Was there some trouble?”

Nick glared at his arm touching his own and then gave him an angry stare. “No, there wasn’t any trouble, why does everyone assume there’s always trouble?”

Jarrod let go of his arm. “I’m not assuming that Nick, I’m just asking.”

“I got homework to do,” Nick said, walking into the house.

Jarrod watched him walk inside and shook his head. Then he turned his attention back to Heath. “So, what happened?”

Heath still didn’t want to say. He wanted to remain loyal to Nick. He saw his books lying on the ground and went over and picked them up and shook off the dust. “I got homework too,” he said, heading for the door.

Jarrod was too quick, “Oh no you don’t,” he said, grabbing him and keeping him from running away. “Start talking.”

“Nothing happened Jarrod, it was just a typical day, that’s all, no trouble either, no fighting, that sort of surprised me,” Heath let slip out.

“Whatta ya mean? No fighting? Are there fights every day?”

Heath shook his head no, “Nope, but we all thought there’d be one today,” he said.

“Who’s we?” Jarrod asked him.

“All of us, all the kids,” Heath said.

“And why did you think that?”

“Because of Tank,” said Heath.

Jarrod hadn’t heard that name before. “Who is Tank?”

“He’s the new kid. He just started this morning. His real name is Patrick, but he told us all at lunch time to call him Tank. The only one who calls him Patrick is Miss Weber and I bet if Tank told her to call him Tank, she would.”

Jarrod was intrigued by what Heath was telling him.

“So who was this Tank character going to fight?”

Heath got wide-eyed and he looked Jarrod straight on. “Well, Nick o’ course,” he said as if it was the silliest question he’d ever heard.

“Did Tank do something to provoke Nick?”

“No.”

“Then why would Nick want to fight him?”

“Cuz you can tell by the way Tank walks and talks that he took Nick’s spot,” Heath explained.

Jarrod was a bit confused, “And just what do you mean by Nick’s spot?”

“You know, his spot,” Heath tried to describe.

“You mean his seat?”

The little blonde took a deep breath, “that’s part of it, but he took his whole spot too. Jeez, Jarrod, I thought you’d know all about spot’s, you went to school yourself once,” Heath said. “See Nick had the top spot, no one ever messed around with him or challenged him or nothin’, at least since I’ve been here, no one has. But when Tank showed up today, he didn’t even challenge Nick, he just took it. He just took the spot.”

Jarrod was finally getting it. “And you all thought that Nick would fight to get his ‘spot’ back?”

Heath nodded the affirmative. “Yep, wouldn’t you?”

“I suppose I would,” Jarrod added, “And why do you suppose Nick didn’t?” Jarrod was trying to understand the whole situation and gain some insight, before he’d go off and talk with Nick.

The little boy thought about it real hard for a second. “I reckon it’s cuz Tank never challenged him for the ‘spot’ to begin with, either that or Nick’s plottin’ out what he’s gonna do.”

Jarrod still had some confusion. “So this Tank character, named Patrick,” he started, but Heath interrupted him, by holding out his finger and shaking it at Jarrod.

“Just Tank,” he explained.

“So Tank got Nick’s seat in the schoolhouse?” Jarrod started again.

“Yep, Miss Weber told him he could sit there, before we even went inside. When we came inside, there he was. It was right then that everyone realized Nick didn’t have the ‘spot’ anymore.”

“And Nick didn’t get any say in the matter?” Jarrod continued.

“Nope, Miss Weber told Nick to take another seat.”

“And that’s how it started?” Jarrod asked.

“Pretty much. By the time Tank walked to the front of the class to tell us who he was, well, everyone knew he had the spot. He’s bigger than Nick, he’s thirteen and he smiles all the time and at lunch time he gave all of the little kids flying rides.”

“Oh my,” Jarrod said, grinning at Heath’s description. “Including you?”

Heath nodded the affirmative. “Even Nick never did that,” he admitted. Then he leaned in and whispered, “And you should see how he walks.”

“How’s that?” Jarrod chuckled, wanting to know.

Heath dropped his books with a thud on the porch and he imitated as best he could the confident swagger that Tank had.

Jarrod shrugged his head to the side, impressed by the little boys story-telling. Now he knew exactly why Nick was in the doldrums. He had a new rival.

Heath grabbed his book strap and dashed into the house, bumping into Victoria as he did. He stopped dead in his tracks, when he realized what he’d done. “Iiii, uh, I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking,” he said, unable to make eye contact with her, he kept his hand hanging low.

“That’s alright Heath, there’s no harm done,” She said reaching down and giving him the tiniest of hugs.

He pulled away quickly. “I’ve got homework to do, I’m sorry about bumping into you,” he repeated. He started to head up the stairs.

Jarrod had followed Heath into the foyer and watched the whole minor event right in front of him. It was as if Heath turned into another child right before their eyes. He was sure his mother noticed it too.

Victoria called out after him, “Heath, Silas has some cookies and milk in the kitchen. Nick’s in there too.”

Heath stopped right there on the stairs and turned around. “Even after I bumped into you?” he asked, puzzled, he thought he’d be punished for the transgression.

“Yes, it was an accident right?” she questioned.

“Yes ma’am,” he said.

“Then run along, I bet the cookies are still warm from the oven.”

He took his books with him and scampered off toward the kitchen, leaving Victoria in the foyer with Jarrod.

Jarrod didn’t know whether to say something to her about what he just saw, or about the school situation and Nick. Victoria saw the concerned look on his face.

“Jarrod? What is it? What’s the problem?”

He opted to talk about her and Heath first. He wanted to talk with Nick about the other situation first. “I thought Heath would be getting over the ‘new’ part of things by now.” He didn’t quite know how to put it to his mother without hurting her feelings.

“I think he is, look how he is with you and Nick dear,” she said, “it’s just going to take time, that’s all. Every day it gets better.”

“That didn’t look much better Mother,” Jarrod said.

Victoria waved him off, “Don’t be so dramatic Jarrod, save it for the courtroom, when you pass the bar.”

“Mother, he’s a totally different child around both you and father, especially you. We all notice it.”

She walked into the sitting room and Jarrod followed. “And what do you expect from him? He’s just a little boy who just saw his own mother die right before his eyes. Do you think he should just fall into my arms and pretend that I am his mother and completely forget about her?”

“Well, no, but,” Jarrod said and she interrupted him.

“Exactly, and I’ll not force myself on a seven year old. He’s already seen too much in his young life as it is. I’m willing to give it time. And I’m confident that he’ll come around some day.”

Jarrod walked over to her and put a soft kiss on the top of her head. “I hope he realizes someday soon just how special you really are, lovely lady.” He could tell she was smiling as he said the words. “Now, do you think those two brothers of mine have left any cookies for me?”

“Why don’t you go find out?” she said.

Jarrod headed for the kitchen and stopped just shy of the doorway to eavesdrop on the conversation that Nick and Heath were having. He knew it wasn’t polite, but he was surprised when Heath told him of Nick’s reaction to the new boy in school. He wanted to hear what Nick had to say about it and he was sure the two of them would be talking about Tank. And sure enough they were.

“Well, everyone thought you were gonna fight him Nick,” Heath was saying.

“And what good would that have done?” Nick said.

“But he took your spot?”

“So.”

“It was your spot,” Heath tried to make sense out of it and Nick wasn’t helping. “You should get your spot back.”

“Listen, I never cared about any old spot in the first place. Why is it such a big deal to you?” Nick said.

“Cuz it was yours Nick.”

“Maybe there’s no such thing as a spot, maybe it’s all inside your tiny, pea-brained head,” Nick offered, thumping Heath on the side of his head, with his index finger.

Heath shook his head no. “There’s all kinds of spots for all kinds of people.”

“Well, I don’t care, so drop it, will ya?” Nick even gave him a slight push.

Heath wasn’t ready to give in, “Everybody fights for the spots they have, I don’t know why you didn’t. Why didn’t ya Nick?”

Nick was tired of all his yammering. “Just shut up about spots will ya? Go do your homework somewhere else, leave me be.”

Heath stood there, frustrated in every way that a seven year old can be. His world was tipping on its axis and he hadn’t a clue as to how to stop it.

And then Jarrod walked in. “I hope you two saved me some cookies,” he said.

Heath grinned at Jarrod, right now that was just about the only stability he could rely on. He thought maybe Jarrod could help straighten out Nick with spots and such, though he remembered that Jarrod didn’t recall too much about spots outside on the porch.

Jarrod pulled up a chair across the table from Nick and snatched a cookie off the plate. “I hear there’s a new kid in school,” he said straight to Nick.

Nick turned and glared at Heath, who started to cower away closer to Jarrod.

“I suppose you blabbed all about ‘spots’ too?” Nick said fixing his eyes on the little blonde.

Heath took a deep breath and didn’t dare speak. He looked over at Jarrod and tried to understand why he’d just come right out with it like he did. Nick must have been right about his brain being the size of a pea, because none of it was making any sense to him at all.

“We’d have all found out about it soon enough Nick, there’s no need to take it out on Heath,” Jarrod was saying.

“Did you tell everyone in this house?” he nearly shouted at Heath.

Heath shook his head, his eyes as huge as saucers for fear of what Nick would do to him if he thought he told everyone, “No Nick, only Jarrod, I swear.”

Jarrod decided it was time to save Heath and told him to run along. “Heath, grab yourself another cookie and go up to your room to do your homework, alright? I’ll come up later and check it for you.”

Heath tentatively reached in and grabbed another cookie and took his books on up the back stairs.

Nick turned his mad stare on Jarrod. “It’s them quiet ones that make the most noise, I swear,” Nick said, referring to the mild-mannered Heath. “He never shuts up when he should. He told you the whole thing didn’t he?” Nick cursed under his breath.

“He told me his version, why don’t you tell me yours?”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“I could beat it out of you,” Jarrod teased.

“Get in line,” Nick lamented.

“Whoa, this Tank fella sure has you all worked up,” Jarrod said with a chuckle, much to the chagrin of Nick.

“It’s not funny either,” Nick added.

“Not if you don’t think so,” Jarrod held up his hands in defense.

“And his name is Patrick,” Nick said, trying to make the new kid sound less threatening.

“Is Tank, er, I mean Patrick some sort of threat?”

“No, that’s just the thing Jarrod. He was all smiling and grinning and being nice to all the kids.”

“So you didn’t feel the need to tangle with him?”

“Nope,” Nick said.

“But if he took your spot,” Jarrod began.

Nick stood up, “You know you sound just like Heath now. All this talk about spots, there is no spot, there never was a spot. The spot is just in everyone’s head. I don’t see a reason to start a fight with someone, because the teacher gave him my seat or because he was nice to all the kids at lunchtime. Is that a problem? Am I missing something here?”

“Maybe you can be friends with him?” Jarrod said.

Nick let out a heavy breath, rolled his eyes at Jarrod and picked up his books. “I’m going up to my room to do my homework.”

A few days passed by and by now everyone in the household knew all about the infamous Tank. Nick still sulked around most of the time, doing his chores and homework and not much of anything else. He insisted to everyone that Tank posed no threat or was causing him any problems. Still, the whole family could see that this new schoolmate was having some kind of effect on both Heath and Nick.

Heath studied Nick intensely, trying to make some sense of the whole thing for himself. He wanted to stick with Nick, but he also had to keep his distance, because Nick was like a firecracker, he just needed a spark and he could be set off.

Nothing new had happened at school. Tank still sat in the back row by himself and he had the undying attention of just about everyone at school, that is except for Heath, who continued to give his allegiance to his new brother. But Nick wasn’t making things easy, his alienation of Heath served only to drive the little boy over to Tank’s side. Tank was well mannered, well spoken, smart, funny and well, his size made him command attention from everyone, even Miss Weber. He wasn’t rude or demanding, but there was just something about him that people were both fearful and in awe of.

As the boys rode to school one morning, Heath had thought long and hard on what he figured had to be Nick’s plan regarding Tank.

“Nick, can I ask you something?”

“As long as it doesn’t have nothing to do with spots,” Nick replied in an aggravated tone.

“No it doesn’t have nothun’ to do with spots.”

“Go ahead then,” Nick said.

“You’re plottin’ aren’t ya?” Heath asked.

“Plotting what?”

“Plotting something for Tank. That’s what I came up with, cuz, well, you’ve been kinda keeping to yourself lately, so I’m thinking it’s cuz you’re plottin’ to do something to get your,” Heath stopped because he was going to use the word spot, “You’re plottin’ to get back at him right?

“I’m not plottin’ anything,” he said. “What makes you think I’m plottin’?”

Heath shrugged his shoulders and didn’t answer.

“Quit dwaddling and get your horse moving or we’ll be late,” Nick added, hoping to change the subject.

Heath was perplexed as ever. Nick hadn’t done anything yet and he wasn’t plotting anything and yet he was acting so weird. None of this was making any sense at all to him. His young mind reasoned that if someone took your spot, well you tried to do whatever you could to get it back.

Heath couldn’t let go of the topic, he rephrased his question. “So, you’re just thinking?” He offered up another reason to Nick. “Thinking of all the things you could do to him? Cuz there’s lots of ways you could get it back.”

“Are you talking about spots again?” Nick asked in disgust.

“I just thought you were thinking then,” Heath said timidly.

“No, I’m not thinking, I’m not plottin’ and I’m not worried about spots. What’s it gonna take to make you understand that?” Nick shouted at him. “I don’t give two hoots about Patrick Tankston, or whatever he wants to call himself.

It scared Heath’s horse and he scooted off to the side of the road they were on, but he quickly quieted and righted the horse. “Geez, you don’t have to yell and he calls himself Tank.”

Nick just threw him a look for mentioning his nickname. “Why is it so important to you anyway? It’s not important to me.”

Heath didn’t respond.

“Well?” Nick said loudly. He watched Heath closely and the little blonde didn’t have anything to say. He just looked confused. “So we can drop this now and forget about it right?”

Heath nodded. “Sure Nick.”

Nick kicked his horse to move ahead a little which was alright with Heath, he kept his distance and continued to ponder about Nick, plottin’, thinkin’ and spots. The thing that made Heath think that Nick had something on his mind with regards to Tank, was that he hadn’t spoken to Tank since he arrived. And in Heath’s mind, if you weren’t planning on plottin’ something, you’d try to make friends with that person. Or maybe Nick’s plan was so secretive that he didn’t want to tell Heath any of it. Yeah, that had to be it, Heath thought, Nick had the ultimate plan for Tank and everyone would be so surprised by it that Nick might even go down in history for being the best plotter ever!

Tank was already in the schoolyard playing with the other arriving kids. It was a crude version of baseball they were playing. When he saw them riding up, he called out to them and the other children, “alright, the Barkley’s are here, now we can choose up sides.”

Nick and Heath dismounted and tied their horses up. Heath was so excited, he could hardly contain himself. Knowing that Nick was concocting some sort of surprise plot, was just about the best. He’d follow Nick to the very ends of the earth, he was so smart.

“Hey you Barkley’s come on, we’re choosing up sides,” Tank hollered over to them.

Nick grabbed his books and his lunch and started to walk toward the schoolhouse.

Peter shouted at him, “Nick, come on, we got enough for a real game now.”

Nick walked past the group and said to Peter, “No thanks, I’ve got some studying to do, maybe another time.”

Heath stood by his horse and watched the whole thing, he was excited about the game and wanted to play, but he knew that he should show his support to Nick. He grabbed his things and started to chase off behind Nick. It wasn’t so hard to play along, since he didn’t know what or when to expect Nick’s plot to happen, but he wanted to be ready, right by his side, when it did.

“Come on Heath,” Tank yelled, “just cuz Nick don’t want to play, doesn’t mean you can’t.”

Heath looked back at him and waved him off and continued to follow Nick.

“Oh come on Heath, we need at least one of ya,” Tank shouted again.

Nick stopped midstream and Heath, who still was looking backwards at the school gang, bumped right into Nick. “Look, if you want to play, go and play, I really have studying to do. Quit thinking so much.”

Heath studied Nick’s face long and hard for any kind of sign. “Really? You don’t mind?”

“Why would I mind?”

“Come on Heath,” the kids screamed.

“Well, I’d like to play then, are you sure it’s ok?”

“Yeah, go on now, I’ll even sit on the stoop and watch ya play ok?” Nick said, giving him a push. “Give me your stuff,” he said. And Heath handed over his books and lunch and went running over to get into the game. The only thing he could think was that Nick wasn’t ready to launch any kind of attack yet. He knew Nick wouldn’t put him the middle of something. He’d just wait it out and have fun in the meantime. And Tank was fun to be around and nice to the kids.

Heath was on Tank’s team and they easily won, and the most eventful thing was that Heath got up to bat three times and struck out every time. Nick would glance up from his books to watch Heath, who he knew was trying hard to impress Nick, but he just wasn’t making contact with the ball.

When the game ended as the school bell started to ring, all the children started to dash inside. Nick waited for Heath, to hand him his things and he said to him.

“Hey you played good out in the field, I saw the catches you made. How ‘bout at recess I show you how I hit?” Nick offered.

Heath grabbed his books and said, “That’s ok Nick, thanks, but Tank said he’d show me how he hits them home runs. They go farther than yours.” And Heath dashed up the stairs into the school.

Coming up behind him was Tank, who patted Nick on the back and said, “You got a swell little brother there Barkley. We just gotta teach him how to hit.”

Nick let Tank past and stood there until Miss Weber came to the doorway and told him to come inside. Heath didn’t see the look on Nick’s face.

That afternoon in the classroom, Miss Weber decided to have an impromptu spelling bee. Everyone could be in it, and all the children anxiously lined up around the edges of the room. Heath got up and stood next to Nick. The spelling bee’s they’d had before always came down to Nick against Amanda Wiley and Nick beat her all but one time. Today would be different.

One by one, the smaller children took to their seats after misspelling various words. Heath was happy, he’d actually stayed in longer than a boy who was in the grade above him. Nick smiled at him at he took his seat and Heath grinned that his brother had seen him do so well.

The bee wore on. The last two standing contestants were Nick and Tank and even when the time for school to end came and went, they still were locked in battle, neither one of them missing a word or a letter. Miss Weber wanted to call it a draw but all the children insisted that the spelling bee continue, they wanted to see who would win. Nick and Tank both agreed to continue as well.

They also ended up on opposite sides of the room, staring down at each other from across the sea of desks and students. Heath watched anxiously perched on the edge of his seat. Tank just smiled, it didn’t seem like he ever let anything pressure him while Nick wore the look of battle on his face. He wasn’t afraid or scared, just focused on the goal.

Back and forth the battle raged, across

Continent

Theorem

Vincible

Knell

Fistulous

Congregation

Authentic

As well as about two dozen other words.

It was Nick’s turn and the word was OBEISANCE.

Nick asked Miss Weber to give him the meaning of the word.

“Obeisance means ‘a movement of the body made in token of respect or submission.’” Miss Weber gave him the definition.

Nick pursed his lips and went over the spelling in his head. When he was ready to spell the word he looked straight across the room, right into the eyes and smiling face of Tank. “Obeisance, O B A Y S A N C E, Obeisance” he said.

“No, I’m sorry Nick, that’s incorrect,” Miss Weber said, she looked over to Tank, “Patrick the word is Obeisance.”

Tank didn’t even take time to breathe. “Obeisance, O B E I S A N C E, Obeisance.” He grinned all the more. Nick tipped his head ever so slightly at Tank.

“That’s correct Patrick, you’re the winner for today. Very good job boys, both of you, in fact all of you children, I’m proud of each and every one of you. Class is dismissed, I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

All the children stood up and quickly began to exit or some of them headed over to Tank to give him their congratulations. Nick went to his desk and grabbed his books and began to leave. Heath quickly gathered up his stuff too and followed Nick out.

Once outside, Heath ran over to Nick. “That was a mighty fine bee today Nick.”

“Yeah, whatever,” he replied.

“At least you didn’t have to face Amanda, I know you don’t like that.”

“Yep,” Nick conceded.

“I beat Toby Webster,” he said, hoping for some praise from Nick.

“Yeah, that was good, you’ve been studying.”

“And you helped me too, you showed me your secret spelling tricks, remember?” Heath said as he started to realize that Nick didn’t want to talk about spelling. He was most likely upset that Tank had won and Heath didn’t even want to approach that subject. “When we get home do you want to show me how to hit?” Heath changed the subject, he could sense that Nick was getting irritated with all the talk of school.

“I thought Tank was gonna show you?” he asked.

“He did, but I still didn’t hit any better. I was hoping you could show me how you do it, you always get hits.”

“But Tank hits homers,” Nick offered. “That’s what you said before.”

“I figure I gotta learn how to hit first and worry about homers later. All he kept saying was hit it harder, swing it harder. It really wasn’t helping at all. I think you’re a better teacher, you helped me with my spelling right?”

Nick gave him a bit of a smile. “Yeah, I’ll show ya, let’s get going, we got chores to do first.”

Just then, Tank came swaggering out of the schoolhouse. “Hey Barkley!” Both Nick and Heath looked over at him. “Nick!” Tank added.

“Yeah?” Nick answered.

“That was a swell spelling bee. I thought you was gonna win for sure. I just got lucky that’s all. Next time it’ll be you!” The big grin was still plastered on his face.

Nick thought about what Tank had just said, “Yeah, it was a good bee, congratulations,” he nodded at Tank.

Heath studied Nick the whole time, still convinced he was plotting, he just had to be, he knew his brother would never give in so easily, he knew he wouldn’t.

When they arrived at home, Nick’s chore was to muck out the stalls, while Heath was to carry in plenty of wood for the fireplaces. They both got started on their respective tasks right away.

Heath went about his work with his mind set clearly on doing the assigned job. He was quiet and moved quickly and efficiently carrying in the wood to each of the fireplace areas in the large house.

Victoria watched him work and chuckled to herself how serious he was about his work. He almost made her dizzy how hard and fast he worked.

“Heath, you don’t have to go so fast, I don’t want you to hurt yourself,” she said, reaching out to grab his arm to slow him down from his next ‘wood run.’

He looked at her with wide eyes and a bit of fear. “I’m sorry,” he paused, “that’s how my mama taught me to work,” he said.

She dropped her hand from his arm, knowing she had said the wrong thing. “She taught you very well Heath, but you don’t have to race to get it done. Do you understand?”

The little boy scrunched up his face and shook his head. He thought he’d just explained to her that it was how his mama taught him to work. His mama wouldn’t teach him the wrong way, but how could he explain it to her. Besides the sooner he got done with his work, the sooner Nick could help him with his hitting. “But,” he started to say.

“Ah, uh, no buts young man, you’re a very good worker and you’ll be a fine rancher some day, but you’re main job right now is to be a good little boy,” she gave him a smile.

“If I’m a good worker, aren’t I a good little boy?” he asked.

She laughed at his logic, which didn’t sit to well with him, he thought she was laughing at him. He didn’t understand what she was saying. “Yes dear, you are a great worker and a good little boy, I just mean I want you to not take everything so seriously.”

He stood stoically and tried to make sense of what she was trying to explain. “Well, Nick’s gonna show me how to hit like he does,” he said.

“Hit?” Victoria questioned. She thought at first he meant fighting. Tom entered the room they were in and laughed, and just before Victoria was going to say no, he spoke.

“They’re playing some new game at school, right Heath?” Tom asked the blonde boy.

“Yes sir,” he said.

“You use a stick and try to hit a ball with it, Vic, that’s what he means. I saw the children playing it in the schoolyard,” Tom explained.

“Nick’s really good at it,” Heath boasted. “And I’m not. He promised to help me, like he did with spelling, and I did really good at it today.”

“The spelling or the hitting?” Victoria asked.

“Spelling. I beat Toby Webster and he’s a whole grade ahead of me.”

“How did Nick do?” Tom asked.

“Tank beat him to win the whole thing, but Nick did real well, school ran over because no one wanted the bee to end,” Heath explained.

“This Tank is pretty talented,” Tom added.

Heath nodded, “he is, but I think Nick’s better and I think Nick will get his spot back.”

“His spot?” Victoria questioned.

“Yeah, you know, something you got that no one can ever have,” Heath explained.

Tom glanced over to Victoria who understood it more than little Heath would ever know. He saw the wheels spinning in her head. “You run along then and tell Nick that he can show you, I’ll have some men finish up both of your chores,” Tom said.

Heath grinned and ran outside, before his father changed his mind, or before she tried to explain something to him that he already knew.

Tom turned and gave Victoria a kiss. “I’m glad to see the two of them getting along.”

“I wish I could say the same,” Victoria started, “it just seems like I always say the wrong thing to him.”

“I heard,” Tom admitted.

“I can’t very well contradict what his mother taught him Tom,” she started. “And I know I’ll never have ‘the spot,” she added using Heath’s terminology.

“I know, it’s not going to be easy, but I think you’re on the right track,” Tom said.

“He works like a full grown man. You should have seen him huffing and puffing as he was bringing in the wood. I think he’s missed out on being a little boy,” she said sadly.

“He’s only seven darling, he’s still got a long time to be a little boy,” Tom laughed at her.

“And how long will it take for him to not see me as a replacement for his mother?” she asked him, changing into a serious tone. “I don’t want her spot, I’d like my own.”

He took a step closer to her and wrapped her into a hug. “I can’t give you that answer, but I know deep in my heart that some day it will happen, he’ll see how very important you are to him and he’ll return all the love you’ve given him and more. It’ll happen Vic, I know that. You just keep loving him, that’s all it takes.”

“I wish I could be so sure, it just seems like he continues to fight it, he can’t or won’t admit that he even likes me,” she said, putting her head on Tom’s shoulder.

She felt Tom take a deep breath, he held her even closer. “I don’t have some magic remedy here, but I do know you, and I know you won’t ever quit on him,” he paused. “I love you Victoria Barkley, you know that right? I’m amazed you even considered taking him into our home, when you could have just as easily tossed us both out.” The silence hung between them. “He’s my son right? And I know that he’ll come around, it’s in his blood,” he teased.

Victoria pulled away from him and gave him another quick kiss on the lips. “I’ve got dinner to tend to and you need to finish up the boys chores. If only you worked as hard as Heath,” she teased right back.

“I’ll get right on it,” Tom said.

Days passed, and more of the same types of things were happening both at school with Nick and at home with Heath. Heath remained confused by the whole ordeal, surely by now Nick would have tried to do something, but nothing had happened. And as much as Tank wanted to be friends with Nick, Nick kept his distance, taking a wait and see approach to this new classmate.

It was on a Saturday when Tank came riding up to the Barkley ranch. Heath was busy painting a stretch of fence that ran around the front of the property, while Nick was helping Tom and Jarrod out in the corral with some horses.

“Hiya Heath,” Tank shouted out. Heath stopped his painting and gave Tank a smile. His greeting was loud enough to be heard by Nick, who stopped working and looked over at where the voice was coming from.

Jarrod and Tom stopped in their tracks too. Tom asked Jarrod who the boy was and Jarrod quietly said that it was the ‘infamous Tank.’

“Hi Tank, whatcha doing here?” Heath asked with a smile.

“I came to see if you and your brother wanted to go have some fun. My pa gave me the day off, we’ll see if Peter and Mike can come with too,” Tank said.

“I gotta paint this fence,” Heath said, “but maybe when I get done, I can meet up with you? I don’t think it’ll take me too much longer.” He had a big portion of it already done since he’d been working on it since 7am

“Ok, how ‘bout we meet at the Pine Creek Bridge? I’ll go see about Pete and Mike or I’ll just do some fishing of my own till you get there.”

“Ok, if it’s ok with my Pa,” Heath said.

Tank gave him a nod and led his horse over by where Nick stood. “Whatta ya say Nick, can you come too?”

“I don’t think so, I’ll be working with these horses most of the day. We need to get them ready to sell,” Nick responded, he gestured back to the horses.

Tank pursed his lips, “are you sure?” he asked again, nearly begging, “Looks like you got plenty of help,” he added referring to Jarrod and Tom.

Tom and Jarrod stood by watching, knowing how sensitive of a subject this was for Nick, so they didn’t speak out, they would leave it up to Nick to decide.

“Maybe another time, Patrick,” Nick said with a sly grin, using his given name, rather than his preferred nickname. “I want to do this, but thanks for asking.”

“Yeah, ok, well, if anything changes, just ride over with Heath alright?” Tank said, dejectedly.

Tank rode off and as he passed Heath he said, “I’ll see you soon, Heath.”

Heath waved his paintbrush at him and said, “See you later Tank.” And he went back to finishing up the fence he was working on.

Jarrod and Tom stood still and just waited for some response from Nick, but none came. Nick went about back to his work with the horses.

Jarrod couldn’t stand it any longer. “Nick, if you want to go with your friends, we can handle this,” he offered.

“Did you bother to listen to what I told Tankston?” Nick said.

“Now Nick, there’s no need for that kind of tone with your brother, he was just asking you that’s all,” Tom stepped in.

“You’re mighty sensitive when it comes to Tank, aren’t you little brother,” Jarrod said, jostling Nick’s full head of hair. Jarrod wasn’t above boyish playfulness yet.

Nick pushed him away and both of them got a tiny look of anger on their faces, “Stop it, just let it be, will ya?” Nick shouted.

“Alright, that’s enough both of you,” Tom said, as their minor rough housing was spooking the horses.

“Maybe you do need to go play with your friends, blow off some steam,” Jarrod continued.

Nick tossed an angry look his way, “The subject’s closed Jarrod, I want to do this, I promised you and Father that I’d help all day today. And a man doesn’t break his promise, right Pa?” Nick asked.

“Yes son, that’s correct, but you’ve been working hard here on the ranch and in the classroom and you didn’t know your friend was going to come by, so if you want to go, I think Jarrod and I can manage,” Tom said.

That wasn’t exactly the answer Nick wanted to hear. He thought his father would be proud of the fact that he turned down boyish fun for man’s work. He stuck to his stubborn guns. “No really, I would rather do this.”

“Suit yourself, son, then let’s get to it,” Tom said and the three of them went back to working with the horses.

It was about an hour later when Heath finished up his painting project and cleaned up the paint and brush he’d been using by putting everything away in its place in the barn. When he walked out of the barn, he stopped by the horse trough and pumped up some water and proceeded to give himself a liberal washing. Tom watched him from the corral and chuckled to himself. Heath was like a little man when it came to work. The job wasn’t completely through until you gave yourself a good wash down at the trough.

Once the wash was through, he turned from little man back to boy as he sprinted over to the corral. He stood on the outside of the fence and peered through the slats as his father and brothers worked the horses.

When it looked like they were taking a short break, he called out to his father. “Pa, is it ok if I saddle up my horse and go meet up with my school friends?”

Tom asked him about the painting project, even though he’d been keeping an eye on the boy all along, “did you finish all your painting?”

“Yes sir,” Heath said.

“Did you put everything away?” Tom continued.

“Yep, and I washed up too!” he added.

“I suppose you can go then, just make sure you’re home for supper,” Tom said.

Heath grinned from ear to ear, “I will, I promise.” He started to dash off to saddle his horse, but then he suddenly stopped and ran back to the corral. “Nick, do you want to come too?” he asked one more time.

Everyone waited for Nick’s answer. “No, I don’t want to go, I want to work, now beat it will ya?” Tom and Jarrod quickly went back to the horses, while Heath stood by the fence.

“We’ll be by the Pine Creek bridge if you change your mind, ok?” he called out as he turned and ran off to the barn to get his horse.

Nick walked over the horses, “let’s get to this, while we still have daylight.”

Tom thought to himself….’another little man.’

Tank was there along with Pete and Mike when Heath rode up to the Pine Creek bridge. He waved to them as they sat along the banks of the river and they called out to him.

He slid off his horse and left him to graze along side the other boys’ horses and ran off to greet his classmates where they sat.

“Hi guys,” he said as he dropped down in the tall grass beside them. “Whatcha been doin’?”

“Geez, Heath, what took you so long?” Mike asked.

“Yeah and where’s Nick?” Pete added.

“Nick’s not coming and I had work to finish, didn’t you tell them Tank?” Heath said.

“Yeah I told ‘em, but I said that maybe you’d get Nick to change his mind,” Tank added.

“I tried to get him to come, but he said he wanted finish working the horses,” Heath said. “But we can still have fun, what do you guys want to do?” he asked enthusiastically.

“I thought Nick was coming,” Pete said dejectedly.

“Yeah, no offense Heath, but how much do you know about chasing wild horses?” Mike asked.

“Is that what we’re gonna do?” a wide-eyed Heath asked. “I ain’t never done that before.”

“Thinking about it,” Tank said, “but we could really use Nick, Pete and Mike said that Nick’s done it before. We was counting on his experience.”

Heath felt like a fifth wheel, he suddenly got the impression that the only reason he was there was because the other boys wanted Nick to be there. “He never told me about it, if he did,” Heath admitted, not knowing a lot about what Nick had done prior to him coming to live there. Pete and Mike probably did know more.

“Well, you’re his brother, you ought to know,” Tank said laughing. “Did you just fall out of the sky or something?” Tank obviously didn’t know that Heath had just come to live with the Barkley’s. Pete and Mike both laughed.

Heath stood up, “No, I didn’t just fall out of the sky and no I don’t know everything that Nick’s ever done in his life. And you’re not the smartest person either Patrick Tankston,” he ran over to his horse and started to check his gear before he mounted up to leave.

When Heath was out of ear shot, Pete started to explain. “Heath only came to live with the Barkley’s a little while back Tank. He has the same daddy as Nick and the others but he has a different mama.”

“Yeah, my pa says he’s a bastard,” Mike added with a boyish giggle.

“I didn’t know, no one told me,” Tank started, “why didn’t anyone tell me?”

Both boys shrugged. “If Nick ain’t coming, I’m leaving,” Pete said.

“Me too,” Mike added. Both boys got up and prepared to leave as well.

“Wait guys,” Tank said.

“Nah, we’re going, come on Mike,” Pete said.

Tank stood up and followed them over to the group of horses. Heath was just getting ready to mount up.

“Heath wait,” Tank said.

“What?” Heath said.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that how it sounded,” Tank said sincerely.

The two other boys were in the saddle and they started to leave, waving goodbye to Tank and Heath.

“I’m gonna go home too Tank,” Heath said. “I don’t feel much like playing anymore.”

“Don’t go, I said I was sorry, I didn’t know,” Tank tried to explain again.

“Now you do, you can say the word too and make fun of me some more. Go ahead, I don’t even care anymore, I already heard it so many times, it don’t even matter. I heard Mike say it. They all think it’s funny,” Heath said angrily.

“I don’t think it’s funny and I won’t call you that,” Tank said. “I promise.”

“Really?”

“Yeah really,” Tank said. “I’m one too,” he added.

Heath didn’t know what to say, the first thing he thought of was to see if Tank was serious. “You’re just making fun of me now.” He stayed put in the saddle. “That’s happened to me too, my mama said I just have to learn who to trust, so I don’t get hurt like that again.”

“No, I ain’t funnin’ ya, Heath, you can trust me, I got a brand new ma right before we moved here to California.”

Heath watched him closely and looked at him through narrow eyes for any sign of trickery and he didn’t budge from the seat of his saddle.

“I’m telling you the truth Heath. “I had a different mama and daddy down in New Mexico. And I always thought my real daddy was my uncle, see they was brothers.”

Heath still wasn’t sure whether to believe his story or not.

“I ain’t never met anyone like me before till now,” Tank continued. “I’d really like just to be your friend.”

“And you ain’t funnin’ me?”

“No Heath, would YOU lie about it if you didn’t have to?” Tank asked.

“No I guess not,” Heath reasoned. “Not knowing how it makes me feel to be like this.”

Tank nodded. “Me either, that’s why I’m telling you the truth.”

Heath took a deep breath and jumped down from the horse. “Pinky swear?” he said, holding out his pinky finger.

Tank took hold of it and both of them swore. They went back toward the river and sat down to do some fishing.

“I like my pa a lot,” Tank started. “I mean, I liked him when I thought he was my uncle too, but he’s a good pa. What about you?”

“I haven’t known him very long, I never even knew I had a pa, but I’d have to say I like him so far. He doesn’t beat me like my uncle did,” Heath explained. “But I never had to stay with him so much, my mama wouldn’t let me.”

“Your pa lets you go to school instead of working all day, that’s good,” Tank added.

“You too,” Heath said with a grin. “What happened to your mama?”

“She didn’t want me no more I guess,” Tank said.

“Your own mama?” Heath asked, wide-eyed once again.

“I guess that’s what she said to my pa, my real pa and now her and my uncle live in Denver,” Tank explained.

“My mama died, that’s how come I got to come be with my real pa,” Heath said. “But now you have a ma and a pa?”

“Yep, but my new mama, she hates me.”

Heath gave him a puzzled look.

Tank saw the questioning gaze in his eyes and provided him with the answer. “Cuz I ain’t hers, I heard her say that to my pa. She told him she’d never ever love me, no matter what.”

“She don’t even like you?” Heath asked.

Tank shook his head no. “Nope, not ever, she just makes me do chores all the time or sends me off somewhere where she don’t have to look at me. She had her own little boy, but he died,” Tank paused, “how does your mama treat you?” he asked.

Heath thought about it long and hard. “I ain’t never heard her say anything like that to my pa, but come to think of it, they always seem to send me off doing something whenever I start to hang around them too much. But one time she just had me go to the kitchen to have some milk and cookies, so that wasn’t too bad.”

“My ma did that too. They were good cookies and I told her so, but it just made her sad and she started crying. I tried to ask why and she said it was cuz she was thinking of her little boy,” Tank said.

The two boys were silent for a long time after that. Finally Heath spoke up and asked, “Tank, have you ever heard of spots?”

It was just after sunset when the huge front door of the Barkley house slowly opened. Heath Barkley peered in through the crack he created and didn’t see or hear anyone, so he opened the door several more inches and slid inside, closing it again, just as quietly and quickly as he had opened it.

There were only a few lamps lit and the house was beginning to show signs of darkness and shadows. It didn’t appear to be anyone around. He listened for Nick’s and Jarrod’s voices playing chess or checkers but didn’t hear anything. Even the Audra and Eugene weren’t crying or fussing.

Heath eyed up the grand, flowing staircase and figured he could creep up it without anyone hearing him.

Just as his seven year old mind was putting his plan to work, he heard a voice.

“Heath? Is that you?” It was Victoria. She made her way toward the foyer. She could make out his tiny form standing near the front door.

“Yes ma’am,” he said, standing straight as a soldier.

She had gone back into the sitting room and grabbed a lamp off of a table and made her way back to the foyer where Heath stood.

She walked closer and set the lamp on the nearby table and took a good look at him.

“My goodness, you’re soaking wet, what happened?”

“I, uh, I fell,” he said, stuttering.

“You fell? Did you get hurt, are you alright?” Her first instinct was to mother him. But he took a sudden step backward away from her. “Heath, what is it? Where have you been all this time?”

“I told you I fell,” he answered again, committing himself to the blunt response.

“Where?” she asked.

“In the river,” he said quickly.

His answers were short and to the point. She got a little suspicious. She gave him a puzzled look, but she decided not to push the subject right at the moment. “Let’s get you out of those wet clothes right away, before you catch cold.” She held out her hand for him to take.

“Where is everyone?” he asked, not budging from where he stood, dripping on the floor. She could see him shiver under the damp, heavy clothes.

“Your father and brothers are out looking for you, you missed dinner,” she said, still holding out her hand. She didn’t understand why he was acting so peculiar. “Are you hungry?” she asked him, changing the subject for a moment.

He shook his head no.

“Well, come on, let’s go find some dry clothes for you,” she said once again.

He darted around her outstretched hand and scampered up the staircase in front of her. She had a hard time keeping up with him and he ended up reaching his room first. He went in and closed the door hard behind him.

When she got to the door, she knocked. “Heath, what is it, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he shouted back, “I can change myself,” he added, his voice muffled through the walls.

She smiled to herself, ‘it must be his modesty,’ she thought, that must be it. He’s embarrassed that he fell in the river in the first place, he’s just being brave and mature. Of course he’s old enough to change into and out of his own clothes. “I’ll just wait out here till you’re finished,” she said, “we’ll take the wet clothes downstairs and hang them out to dry.”

There was no response on the other side of the door. She could hear him opening and closing drawers so he must have been changing. Finally the door opened bit by bit and again, he slid his way through the tiny crack he made, closing the door behind him. Heath held the wet clothes in his hands.

“I’m sorry that I fell,” he said.

“It’s ok, let’s take them downstairs,” she said and again, he quickly darted down the back stairs and she followed behind. She tried to reach out to give him a motherly rub on his back, but he dashed away too fast.

While they were outside, she saw Ciego and asked him to go find Tom and the boys and let them know that Heath was safe and sound at home. After they had hung the clothes out on the line outside they went back into the house. “You’re sure you’re not hungry Heath?” Victoria began, “we had beef roast tonight and I bet there’s enough left over for a sandwich.” Maybe offering him some food would make him feel a little better.

“No thank you,” he said politely. “Can I just go to bed?”

She studied him from head to toe as he kept his head and eyes cast downward, so as not to look at her.

“Heath, come here a minute,” she said, in a kind, motherly tone. He was acting overly standoffish toward her and she couldn’t make sense of it.

He didn’t move.

“Heath, look at me,” she asked, again, softly and gently.

She could see that he was struggling with the request, finally he raised his head and kind of twisted it so that he was looking at her out of the corner of his eyes.

“Now come over here,” she said again, this time in a more demanding tone. She saw him set his jaw, but he took the three steps he had to do to stand right in front of her.

She reached out her hand and felt his forehead to see if he had a fever and felt none. “I just want to make sure that you’re not hurt or sick. Does your tummy hurt? Or your head?”

He nodded no.

“Heath did someone push you in the water?” she finally asked bluntly. “Tell me what happened.”

“No ma’am, no one pushed me, I told you I fell, that’s all,” he repeated. “I just want to go to bed,” he added, dropping his head again. “I’m not hungry and I’m sorry about the clothes and for being late.” He turned around and started to head up the back stairs.

She had one more question for him, it was the next step, she’d ask the same thing to any of her children. “Heath?” she called out and he stopped on the third step but didn’t turn to face her. “Are you telling me the truth?”

The blonde spun around and looked at her from across the room, tears poured out of his blue eyes and down his cheeks, “I may not be yours, but I ain’t no liar,” and he raced up the stairs and she heard the door to his room slam shut. She decided to wait for Tom to come home before she proceeded. She’d spend the time wondering what had happened to him.

Ciego rode out and found them. “Meester Tom,” the Spanish vaquero called out to him. “Heathilito is at the house, he’s muy bien,” he said riding up along side Tom.

“He’s fine? Are you sure?” Tom asked.

“Si, senor,” Ciego continued, “he was all wet from head to toe, but he was bien and Senora Barkley was taking good care of him.”

“All wet?” Tom said.

“Yes, I don’t know why or how senor, she just sent me to tell you the little nino, he was at home,” Ciego said.

“Alright, thanks Ciego,” Tom said, “let’s go home boys.”

“Pa?” Nick asked.

“Yes, what is it Nick?”

“As long as Heath’s at home, can I go check on the other boys? Make sure they’re alright too?”

Tom gave him a smile, it was good for him to see that Nick did care about his friends. “Sure son, and Jarrod, why don’t you continue to ride here along the river, and make sure no one else is wet from head to toe.”

“Yes, Pa,” Jarrod said.

“And don’t either one of you be gone for too long, it’s getting dark awful fast,” Tom added.

The boys rode off in different directions and Tom headed for home with Ciego.

Tom came back home with Ciego and Ciego took his horse along with his own to put them up for the night, while Tom rushed up to the house to see about Heath.

“Victoria,” he called out, entering the house.

“Yes dear, I’m in here,” she said, calling from the sitting room. Tom followed the sound of her voice and saw her sitting, doing some sewing.

“Where is he? How is he?” he said, coming up and sitting down on the edge of the chair next to hers.

“He’s fine, he’s upstairs, asleep,” she said, continuing her work.

“Ciego said he was wet from head to toe, what happened?”

“He said he fell in the river,” she replied.

“And?” Tom questioned her.

“And that’s all I could get out of him,” she said, setting down her sewing. “I could tell he had more to say, but I don’t know Tom, he was either petrified to tell me or,” she paused, “he was lying.”

“Well, did you ask him?”

She nodded, “yes, I asked him if he was telling me the truth and he started to cry and then he ran off upstairs. I just didn’t have the heart to continue to badger him. He had tears streaming down his cheeks and he told me, ‘I know I’m not one of yours, but that he wasn’t a liar.’ Oh Tom, it just broke my heart. I just can’t seem to get through to him.”

Tom shook his head. He felt just as badly for the child as for his own wife. “I’m sorry Vic, I wish I could figure out a way to get through to him for both your sakes.”

She waved him off, holding back her own emotion, “I know you do Tom,” she nearly whispered, trying to hold back the tears. She composed herself a bit more, “This was different Tom, he was, oh, I don’t know how to say this, but he seemed like he was afraid of me. It was different than how it’s been between us.”

“He’s got no reason to be afraid of you,” he replied.

“I know, that’s what made the whole thing seem so odd.”

“Did you say something that he might think of as threatening?” Tom asked.

She dropped her head, “No Tom, why would I do that?” She paused, the tears coming out of her own eyes, “Tom, I’m trying to treat him just like he was my own, I swear, you must know that. I really do love him.”

Tom went over to her and took her into his arms and gave her a soft kiss, “I know Vic, I know you love him and that’s why I love you so much. You could have thrown us both out of here, but you didn’t. I know how much he means to you” He gave her another kiss and hugged her even closer. She stopped crying. “I didn’t mean it like that, I’m just trying to think like a seven year old would, was there anything you said that he might interpret the wrong way?”

“I don’t think so Tom, there’s nothing I can recall.”

They both sat their in silent contemplation for several minutes. “By golly, he’s certainly going to tell me the truth,” Tom said slapping his knees and standing up. “I want to know what the devil went on and he’s going to tell me right now. I’m his father and I’m not going to put up with this foolishness any longer.”

Victoria stood up too, and set down the sewing on the table, she latched on to Tom’s arm with her own, “Tom, not now, he’s sleeping, leave him be. We’ll get the truth tomorrow, when we’re all thinking clearly.”

“You mean, when he’s had all night long to think of a story to tell us?” Tom said. “He’s quite the storyteller.”

She gave him a condescending smile, “I think we’ll both be able to see through that, he’s only seven and we’ve seen two older versions already try to pull that on us, remember?”

He couldn’t help but smile and let out a chuckle. “You’re absolutely right, what was it with Jarrod? Oh yeah, said he wanted to be like Ben Franklin and invent stuff, instead he nearly burned down the barn.”

“And don’t forget Nick,” Victoria began, “he read about the 49’er’s looking for gold in San Francisco and thought for sure there’d be some more right out in my vegetable garden.”

“The only thing he didn’t destroy was the cabbage,” Tom said.

“Oh my, there were so many holes, I lost count.”

They both laughed together. “We still have to go through this with two more too, you realize that don’t you?” Tom added.

“We’ll get to the bottom of this Tom, just let him sleep, he probably was exhausted.”

“He wasn’t sick or anything was he?” Tom asked her.

“No, no bumps or bruises, cuts, scrapes or broken bones, I checked him over as best I could, as much as he would let me, and I asked him if his head or tummy hurt and he said no.”

“I’ll go up and check and make sure he’s sleeping.” He started to go up the stairs.

“Tom?” she said suspiciously.

“I won’t wake him up, I just want to check on him, that’s all, I promise,” he said, holding up his hands in defense.

“Alright, would you mind checking on Audra and Eugene too, while you’re up there?” she asked, sitting back down.

“Sure,” he answered.

He padded up the stairs and looked in on baby Eugene first. He walked in and checked the baby and carefully took the boy’s tiny hand and gave it a kiss. He was sleeping peacefully. Next he checked on golden-haired Audra, she looked like a tiny princess as he peered in on her, she was sleeping too, just like a doll. He walked over and reached down and kissed her soft cheek.

Then he went into Heath’s room. The boy was asleep, but it certainly appeared that he hadn’t been sleeping soundly. His blanket was twisted and juxtaposed every which way and even though he was sleeping, he was tossing and turning. Tom carefully walked over to the bed and took the blanket and straightened it out as he laid it on top of the sleeping child. In his sleep, Heath grabbed onto the edges and turned himself onto to his side and began to sleep a little more restfully. Tom ran his hand gently over the boys head and reached down and gave him a tender kiss on the side of his forehead. He stood up and watched the little boy closely and wondered what had happened and what it was going to take for him to let Victoria into his heart.

He went back down the stairs and saw that Victoria had gone back to her sewing.

“They’re all tucked in,” he said, “and sleeping.”

“But?” There was something in his voice that she heard, telling her that something wasn’t quite right.

“But what?” he feigned knowing what she was talking about.

“Just tell me Tom,” she said.

“The two little ones are just fine, Heath’s, well, he’s not sleeping peacefully, he’s tossing and turning something fierce,” he explained.

“Which isn’t unusual given the days event,” she said.

“I should wake him up and get this over with right now,” Tom said.

“No, I’ll check on him again in a little bit,” she answered.

“Aren’t Jarrod and Nick back yet?” he asked looking around.

“I am,” Jarrod said, coming through the front door and hearing his name mentioned.

“Where’s your brother?” Victoria asked.

“Well, he was going to check on Mike, Pete and Tank. There was nothing along the river Pa,” Jarrod added. “How’s Heath?”

“He’ll be fine,” Tom answered.

“Good, I’m sure Nick will be along shortly, he just had a little more ground to cover, that’s all, but it looks like everything’s ok.”

Tom and Victoria just nodded, but some doubts remained in the back of their minds.

Nick had been to both Mike’s and Pete’s and they both told him the same story. They had left the Pine Creek bridge early on in the afternoon after Nick didn’t show up to chase after wild horses. Heath was going to leave too, but Tank had wanted to talk to him. Both boys told Nick that they had told Tank about Heath coming to live with the Barkley’s, something that Tank didn’t know and how he’d made a comment about not knowing Nick and about him just falling out of the sky. Pete told him that Mike had used the word bastard. Nick started putting two and two together. Tank’s true colors were starting to show.

Nick made a bee-line for Tanks house. As he rode, all sorts of thoughts and ideas went through his head. At the top of the list was; what had Tank said and done to his little brother. He was going to find out if he had to beat it out of him. He knew how mean people could be to Heath, he’d seen it since he had arrived. He’d seen it on the ranch as well as in town and in school. His parents had taught him not to let their words and looks and outright ignorance get to him, but this was going too far. What had Tank done to him? Push him off the bridge? Every bad thought continued to run through Nick’s head. A fiery smile came to his face as he thought of claiming back his own ‘spot’ and in defense of his little brother right here and now. Tank was going to learn not to mess with the Barkley’s. The only downside was that Heath wouldn’t be there to see it, but he’d be sure to tell him all about it. Yeah, that would cheer his little brother up.

Tank was outside chopping wood when Nick rode up at a full gallop. Tank stopped what he was doing and watched Nick come charging toward him as he dismounted. He waved to him as he got nearer.

“Howdy Nick, you’re out kinda late?” Tank asked.

“What did you do to him Patrick?” Nick shouted.

“What?” Tank stood holding the axe. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You heard me, what did you do to him and what did you say to him?” Nick stood with his hands on his hips.

“Who?” Tank asked.

“Heath, he came home soaking wet,” Nick said. “I know something happened between the two of you.”

Tank took the axe and flung it into a piece of wood and looked back over at Nick. “What makes you think I had anything to do with it?”

“Knock it off Patrick, I already went and talked to Mike and Pete. I know what they told me. Did you make fun of him cuz he’s only half a Barkley?” Nick walked over and took the axe out of his hand and chopped it hard into the cutting stump.

“No Nick,” Tank said. “All we did was talk and then we fished a little.” Tank stood there fidgeting. He was afraid of what Nick might do to him.

“You’re lying to me Patrick,” Nick said. “I can tell. He’s just a little kid, why don’t you take on someone your own size?” Nick took a step closer. “And it’s not his fault he’s got a different mother, it’s my daddy’s fault, so if you want to pick on someone, try him, not a seven year old.”

“I don’t want to pick on anyone Nick, honest.” Tank took a step back, but Nick continued to get right up into his face. “I didn’t do anything to Heath, I swear. I didn’t make fun of him, all we did was talk and fish, I swear to heaven.”

“How’d all his clothes get wet then? You push him in? You’re twice as big as he is, maybe you picked him up and threw him in?”

“Nick, I’d never do that, you gotta believe me,” Tank pleaded. Nick had made him backtrack all the way to the wall of the barn. Now there was nowhere for him to go. “This is about your spot isn’t it?” Tank finally asked.

That stopped Nick cold. Maybe that was a part of it, but he’d never admit to it. “Who told you that?”

“Heath, who do you think? He told me that I took your spot and you were gonna take it back someday. He didn’t know when or how, but he knew you’d do it,” Tank paused. “I don’t want your spot Nick, I never did, I just wanted to be your friend. I didn’t know.”

“Yeah, well, this isn’t about some stupid spot, it’s about you hurting my little brother,” Nick said. “I don’t care about spots, I care about him.”

“Why won’t you believe me?” Tank asked.

“I want you to tell me the truth.” Nick reached out and pushed Tank against the barn wall and reared back his right arm, and cocked it ready to strike him with it. “Are you going to tell me or do I have to make you tell me?”

“DO I?” Nick shouted.

Tank cowered, he didn’t want to get hit, but he was prepared to take his silence with him as he waited for Nick to start busting into him.

Just then a woman came out of the house. “Patrick, is that you? What’s going on out there?”

Nick eased up on his hold as the woman came closer.

“Are you in some sort of trouble? Who is this boy and what’s he doing here?” She had an endless barrage of questions for him and didn’t give him an opportunity to answer any of them. In her hands, she carried something. When she was standing right next to both of them, she threw what she had in her hands right at Patrick.

They were wet clothes.

“Does his being here have something to do with these wet clothes?” The woman was in a rage, even Nick was afraid of what she might do.

“No ma’am,” Patrick finally said.

“I’ve had it with you, you no good bastard, as soon as your father comes home, I’ll make sure he tans you but good. Coming home soaking wet, ruining these clothes and now fighting. You can just take care of those clothes yourself. I’m not your slave. I’m not even your mother, I never asked to be and I never want to be,” the woman barked at him.

Now it was Nick’s turn to take a few steps back. The woman was frightening to him. And then a man came riding up. “What in the Sam Hill is going on here now?” He said, riding right up to the threesome. “Emma, what are you shouting about?” He began to dismount.

Patrick eyed up the horse and made a break for it. He shimmied up into the saddle and started to ride.

“Patrick, get back here,” the man shouted.

Nick stood and watched the man and the woman.

“And just who are you?” the man finally asked him, after Patrick was too far off in the distance.

Nick spied his horse and made a dash for him as well.

As he rode off, he looked back to see the man and woman were both screaming at one another.

He had to find Patrick.

Nick rode hard and finally caught up to Patrick. “Patrick, slow down, it’s just me, Nick, I promise I won’t hit ya,” Nick said, riding along beside him.

“Get away from me Nick, go on home,” Patrick shouted right back at him. “Just leave me be.”

“No, I ain’t going home, now you better pull up and talk to me or I’m gonna jump off my horse and tackle you to the ground,” Nick shouted back.

“Why can’t you just leave me be, I told you I didn’t do nothing to your brother and I don’t want your spot,” Patrick said, nearly in tears.

“Look, I’m sorry, I won’t hurt ya, just stop ok, no one is following us, it’s just you and me ok?”

Patrick began to pull his horse to a stop and Nick followed suit.

“Would you just call me Tank,” Patrick said, still sitting in the saddle. “She’s the only one besides my pa who calls me Patrick and I hate it.”

Nick grinned at him. “Ok Tank. Come on, let’s go sit under that tree, I’ve got some jerky and some water in my canteen. Are you thirsty?”

“Maybe a little,” Tank answered. “Why you being so nice to me all of a sudden?”

“Cuz I believe ya,” Nick said.

Back at the Barkley ranch, Tom began to pace back and forth. The sky was completely dark and his second oldest boy was no where to be seen.

“Where the devil could he be?” Tom asked into the darkness off the veranda.

“Want me to go find him Pa?” Jarrod asked from the sitting room.

“And then have two of you wandering out in the darkness, I don’t think so,” Tom answered. “I’m getting tired of missing children today.”

Victoria stood up and went and stood behind Tom, “why don’t you both go look for him. You’re not going to stop worrying until you find him, so go,” she said.

“Are you going to be alright here?” Tom asked.

“I’ll be fine, go find Nick.

“Alright Jarrod, let’s go look for him,” Tom said.

Jarrod sprung up from the chair and gave his mother a kiss goodbye. “We’ll find him too and everyone will be safe and sound before too long, I promise,” he said.

She watched them fetch their jackets and take off in the cool night air to find Nick.

Before too long she heard some noise coming from upstairs and she went to investigate. Carrying a lamp as she walked up the stairs, she could tell it was a voice and that it belonged to Heath. Sure enough as she approached his door she could hear him clear as day.

“No, don’t hurt me, you can’t make me, I want my mama,” he was shouting and screaming over and over. She quickly opened the door to see what was going on. The light from the lamp began to illuminate the dark room and she could see him, lying in bed, tossing and turning under the blanket having some awful kind of nightmare.

“Heath,” she called out to him softly, hoping to arouse him from the bad dream he was having.

“Mama, mama, no, I don’t want to stay there, I want to be with you,” he shouted, “Please don’t make me, she hates me mama,” he cried.

Victoria realized she had to wake him up from this nightmare and get this whole thing solved right there and now. Her heart ached to see him so tormented.

She walked closer to the bed and set the lamp on the nightstand. She looked again and saw the little boy struggling through the dream, his blonde hair sweaty and matted to his forehead, his bedding and clothes in shambles around him.

“Heath,” she said again, “wake up, you’re having a dream,” she said, this time a little louder, she sat down on his bed.

“Mama?” he questioned, still sleeping fitfully.

She’d never referred to herself yet as his mother, but seeing him lying there like this, she decided that she needed to identify herself that way, in order to wake him. “Yes, honey, it’s Mama, wake up now, you’re having a bad dream.”

The little boy shot up to a sitting position and took a deep breath and latched onto her without seeing who she really was.

“Mama?” he called out again.

“Shhhhh,” Victoria soothed the back of his head and held him tightly in her arms. “Everything’s ok now, you just had a bad dream.”

His warm little body pressed tightly against hers, she could feel his heart beating faster than a galloping horse, his breath deep and exhausting. She continued to try to sooth him.

When he finally came to realize he was fully awake and Victoria was Victoria and not his own mother, he pushed her away and scooted away from her as fast as he could.

“You’re not my mama,” he shouted.

“Heath, you were having a bad dream, that’s all,” she started.

“No, I want my mama, not you,” he started to cry.

Of course Tom had to be gone and she was on her own with this. She took a deep breath and tried to figure out the best way to approach this situation.

“Heath, you know your mother is gone,” she said. “You live here now, with your father and me.”

“I don’t want to,” he answered, pulling up his legs and wrapping his arms around them tightly.

“Well, you really don’t have a choice, your father wants you to be here with him,” she explained.

“But you don’t,” he said, keeping his eyes completely focused on her.

“Whatever gave you that idea Heath? Of course I want you to be here.”

“No you don’t, none of you do.”

“We all do Heath, your father and I, and your brothers and sister, we all want you to live with us,” she said.

“I don’t mean them, I mean you, and other people like you, Tank told me,” he said cryptically.

Victoria couldn’t make any sense of what he was telling her, but her instincts told her that it had something to do with today. “Honey, tell me what happened today,” she began.

“You think I’m a liar,” Heath said, wiping the tears off his face with the back of his hand.

“No, I don’t think you’re a liar, but I don’t think you told me the whole truth, did you?”

Under the star filled sky, the two boys sat, sharing a canteen of water and some beef jerky.

“Was that your Ma?” Nick asked Tank.

“NO,” he shouted, “She ain’t my Ma, she’s my step ma and she hates me.”

“Why?”

Tank took a deep breath, “See I didn’t know about Heath, just belonging to your daddy, me and him, we got that in common. That man was my daddy and she’s just my step ma.”

“So when Pete and Mike told you,” Nick began.

“That’s when I told Heath, that him and me, we was alike and Pete and Mike took off.”

“How’d you both end up getting wet?” Nick asked.

“Tank is just like me. He’s got a daddy and his real mama is gone, now he’s got a step ma,” Heath began. “He told me, but I didn’t believe him at first, I thought he was teasing me, like all the kids do, but he said he wasn’t lying to me and I started to believe him, cuz you don’t make up being born a bastard,” he said straight out.

Victoria listened intently to what he was saying, sorry that in just seven short years, he had seen and heard things that he should never have had to.

“Pete and Mike left, they wanted Nick to be there and since Nick didn’t come, they just left. So Tank and I went fishing.”

“We decided to go fishing, just him and me, and he started to talk about spots,” Tank said with a laugh.

Nick shook his head, “once he gets something in his head, he don’t let go of it,” he added.

“But what he said about ‘em, made all kinds of sense,” Tank said.

“Like what?” Nick wanted to know.

“Like you can’t ever get a spot back once it’s gone,” Tank said sadly.

Nick didn’t believe it, “that ain’t true,” he said.

“Sure it is Nick, think about school, I got your spot now,” Tank started.

“But I could get it back,” Nick said defensively, “If I wanted to,” he added, forever the tough guy.

“Yeah, you could, but it won’t be the same exact spot, that one’s gone forever,” Tank said sadly, “cuz of me.”

Nick could hear his sadness and he tried to make him feel better, “Yeah, well I don’t believe in spots anyway.”

“Yes you do, we all do, they might be called something else, but we all got thousands of ‘em.”

“Tank said his step ma won’t ever have a spot for him, and he won’t have one for her either,” Heath continued. “Cuz she hates him for just being born, most folks feel that way about bastards.”

“Heath, do you think that’s how I feel about you?” Victoria asked him.

He looked her straight in the eye, “It’s ok, you wouldn’t be the first.

“He’s a pretty smart little kid,” Tank told Nick.

“You’re telling me, he’s like that 900 year old guy from the bible, Methuselah, way too wise,” Nick answered. “So how’d you go from spots to getting all wet?”

“After we talked about spots, we started talking about our pa’s and our step ma’s,” Tank said, “and what it was like to be,” he paused, “you know.” Nick nodded his understanding. “Yep, it’s just like that, you can see the look right away, that’s why I don’t tell anyone. And it’s real easy cuz of just moving into town. No one asks those kinds of questions. I reckon for your brother it was a lot harder.”

“We look out for him,” Nick said protectively.

Tank nodded. “He said your ma, she treats him stand-offish, different from how she treats the rest of you.”

“He told you that?” Nick said shocked. He couldn’t see how Heath would get that impression, he thought his mother went overboard in making him feel welcome. But before he could say anything else, Tank kept talking.

“Yeah, and then I told him about my step ma,” Tank continued. “She told this morning before I left to come over to your house that she wished I’d die, so she wouldn’t ever have to look at me again.”

“Do you feel like that about me?” Heath asked Victoria bluntly.

Now it was Victoria’s turn to cry, her eyes began to well up with tears. “Oh, Heath, no, how could you ever think that about me? No, I don’t want you to die or go away, I love you honey, just like Jarrod and Nick and Audra and Eugene.” She reached out for him and he quickly avoided her grasp.

“But you don’t treat me the same,” he said.

“What do you mean Heath, help me understand, how do I treat you? How is it different?”

“You just do, I can see it and Tank can see it in his step ma’s eyes too,” Heath said defiantly.

Victoria decided that he needed to continue to tell her what happened, maybe if she heard the whole story she’d be able to make more sense of it. “Heath, tell me how you got wet, was it because of fishing?”

He shook his head no and at first he wouldn’t say. She continued to encourage him to tell her.

“Heath, you can tell me, nothing will happen to you, I promise, just tell me how you got all wet,” she insisted.

“We talked for a long time and the sun got pretty hot and I fell asleep,” he began.

“So I looked over and Heath was sleeping, cuz the fish just weren’t biting,” Tank said. “And I stood up and stretched, cuz I had been sitting in the same place too long and I walked over to the bridge and started to go across it. I got about half way across and I turned around and could see that Heath was still sleeping in the grass. I sat down on the bridge and just watched the river. The current was running real strong and it just had a hold on me. I could hear it tripping and splashing over the rocks, and the wind started to pick up.”

“I felt the wind blow and I woke up and didn’t see Tank and I stood up and I saw him on the bridge and he,” Heath paused thinking back to what he saw.

“What did he do Heath?” Victoria asked him.

“He fell in,” he said, staring out into nowhere.

“I’m not so sure I fell in, that’s what I told Heath, but I think I jumped in Nick,” Tank said, looking him square in the eye. “If she wanted me dead, then that’s what I was going to give her.”

“He fell?” Victoria repeated.

Heath nodded. “I ran over to the other side of the bridge, cuz the water was moving that way and I jumped in after him. I didn’t fall in, I lied to you,” he said.

“Heath did you jump in like Tank?” Victoria asked, frightened of what his answer would be.

“I jumped in to save him,” he answered truthfully, his seven year old mind didn’t quite connect what Tank had actually done, or at least he wasn’t letting his mind see that was a possibility.

A look of relief washed over Victoria’s face and she wanted to reach out and take him in her arms but she held back.

Heath watched her closely and saw the look, and felt her hold back. “That’s it, that’s how you treat me different,” he said staring right at her.

“You jumped?” Nick asked.

Tank looked at him with sad eyes and verified what Nick had just heard. “I jumped in to die and he jumped in to save me,” Tank told Nick. “I even tried to push him away and to tell him to leave me be, but he had such a hold on me that I couldn’t shake him off. I finally gave into him and we both made our way over to the shore. It was starting to get late by then and he knew he was supposed to be at home, but he didn’t want to leave me alone like that. He told me to come home with him. He kept asking me if I was ok and he even offered to run away with me, if that’s what I wanted to do. I told him I couldn’t run away, I couldn’t leave my Pa and he said he didn’t want to leave his either. Neither one of us knew what to do.”

Nick wasn’t sure what to say, “Do you want to come home with me now?” Nick asked him.

Tank shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know where to go anymore.”

“Then come back to the ranch with me and we’ll figure it out,” Nick repeated his offer.

“Do you really think that? Heath, I don’t mean to treat you any differently,” Victoria started.

“But you do, you just did, and I think you always will, cuz of who I am,” he said. “I’m not yours.”

“No Heath, that’s not true. Can you tell me how I treat you different, I don’t understand and I need you to help me?”

“You just did it before, I could tell, you want to do one thing, but something makes you stop and then you don’t do it, you always do that and you’re always way too nice to me and you let me get away with bumping into you and all that,” he explained. “My mama didn’t never let me get away with anything like that.”

“Is that what you think? Heath, I guess I act that way because I want you to get to know me, just like I want to get to know you, that’s all,” she said, doing her best to explain the situation to him. “I don’t mean to treat you differently because you have another mother.”

Heath still didn’t quite understand. “You can’t have her spot, that’s what you want and you can’t ever have it,” he said. “It’s her spot and it’ll always be her spot. I told that to Tank too and he agreed, but he really wants to have the spot, but his step ma won’t give him any spot, that’s why he did what he did,” he said sadly.

“Heath, I don’t want you to feel the way Tank does, because I don’t feel how his step mother feels,” she said.

“But you want my mama’s spot. Don’t you know that you can’t ever have someone else’s spot? Once they lay claim to ‘em, they’re theirs, that’s all there is to it.”

He still didn’t quite get it. “Your mother’s spot? Heath, I don’t want your mother’s spot,” she said to him.

“You want me to be just like the others and I’m not like them,” he said. “It’s the same thing, I can’t have their spot, and you can’t have her spot. Tank said that his step ma just wants him to take the spot of her own baby. His step ma wants him to be someone else.”

“Oh Heath, it’s not like that at all,” Victoria was starting to get upset with his explanation, she had to put an end to this way he was thinking once and for all. The two of them needed a fresh start. He left her feeling exasperated. “Heath Barkley, I think you and I need to think all this through and start over,” she said. “Come over here,” she said to him, patting the spot on the bed where she wanted him to sit.

He still wasn’t quite sure of what to make of her or her hard to understand ideas, so he stayed put, refusing to go sit next to her.

“I said come over here,” she said, not willing to take no for an answer. He knew from the tone of her voice and the look in her eyes that he better do like she was requesting. He slid over closer to her and she took him into her arms as any mother would. He tried to resist being in her grasp, but she wouldn’t allow it. “I do not want your mother’s spot and I don’t want you to be just like your brothers and sister. I want you to have your own spot and I want to have my own spot. Brand new spots in each others hearts. Do you know that our hearts are so big, we can have an endless number of spots? He shook his head no. “Well, that’s the truth and I never want to take the spot you have right here inside that belongs to your mother,” she said, pointing to his heart, she nearly tickled him, “and I don’t want you to take a spot that’s already someone else’s in my heart. I want you to make a new spot. Do you understand?”

He sat quietly, not moving around, playing ever so slightly with his hands in his lap.

“Did you hear what I said?” She asked him again. She could feel him nod his head up and down to indicate yes. “So, how do you think we do this?”

“I think we just started,” he answered, tilting his head up and looking at her with his big blue eyes. She couldn’t help but smile at him and wrap him up in a big hug and placed a tender kiss on the top of his head.

The little blonde still had more to say, “So my spot for my mother won’t ever go away?”

“No sweetheart, it will always be there, no one can take it away, ever.”

His small hand reached out and he started to make a fist, but he extended out his tiniest finger toward her and said, “Pinky swear?”

She held out her own hand and returned the boyish gesture. As she did, she felt him relax against her body for the very first time. “I bet you’re hungry aren’t you?” she asked him.

He nodded and said, “But I lied to you, I don’t deserve no supper tonight.”

“How ‘bout if we make an exception just this once?” she asked him.

“Ok, my mama used to do that sometimes,” he said. “But she called ‘em ‘do overs.’”

“Let’s go see what we can find in the kitchen.” She stood up and held out her hand and this time he latched onto it without hesitation.

“I can’t wait to tell Tank what I learned about spots tonight,” he said as they went down the back stairs. “I think you’re pretty smart.”

“I feel the same way about you Heath,” she answered him.

Nick and Tank started riding for the ranch and as they did, they met up with Tom and Jarrod on the road.

“Where have you two been?” Tom asked.

“We were just out talking Pa,” Nick said, looking over to Tank, “Pa, this is Tank,” he said.

Tom tipped his hat to the boy. “Does it have something to do with Heath being all wet?” Tom questioned.

“Sort of,” Nick started, as Tank interrupted.

“I’m sorry about that sir, it was my fault,” Tank interjected.

“No it wasn’t,” Nick said, first looking at Tank and then turning back towards his father, “It was an accident.” Nick continued. “Pa, can Tank sleep over at our house tonight?” He left it at that and Tom could tell by the look in his eyes that he wasn’t going to get the full story out of either of them right at the moment.

Trusting the judgment of his son, he replied, “Yes, he can. Jarrod, you ride over to Tank’s house and let his folks know where he’s at, will ya?” Tom said to Jarrod. “Tell them, he’ll be just fine and I’ll ride on over to their place tomorrow and explain.”

“Sure Pa, I’m on my way,” Jarrod said riding off toward the Tankston ranch.

Tom looked at both of the boys still there, he saw the look of worry on both their faces. “Don’t worry fella’s, we’ll get everything straightened out, I promise.”

Nick knew he could count on his father and that everything would work out and the three of them made off for the ranch.

They entered the house and Tom told the two boys to head upstairs to bed right away and they followed his instruction. He walked around the house, turning out the lamps and looking for Victoria, and she was nowhere to be found.

He made his way up the stairs and started to check in on his children. Audra and Gene still slept soundly and Nick and Tank were just about to sack out. Tom wished them pleasant dreams.

When he came to Heath’s room, he slowly opened the door and a small ray of lamp light still burned. He barely could make out who was in the shadows, but as he stepped in, the sight he saw brought a happy smile to his face. There, wrapped safely in Victoria’s arms, was Heath and they both had fallen asleep.

Tom went over and gently shook his wife to wake her up. Between the two of them, they scooted Heath further into bed and under the covers and Victoria followed Tom down to their own bedroom. As they were walking down the hall, Victoria began to converse with him.

“We need to have a talk,” she started.

“Let me guess, about Heath and Tank?” he replied.

She was surprised he ‘knew.’ “How on earth did you figure that out?”

“Well, Tank is sleeping over in Nick’s room tonight, and all I know is that he had something to do with Heath getting wet,” Tom said, opening the door to their bedroom.

“What else do you know,” Victoria said, as she entered the room. They both walked over to the small sitting area and sat down next to each other on the sati.

“That’s about it, but the look on Nick’s face when we found him, told me just to bring Tank home with us,” Tom continued. “What happened today?”

“Well, I’m certainly glad you brought him here, the thought of that child anywhere else but here right now scares me to death,” Victoria said, as Tom really started to wonder what happened.

“Did he hurt Heath?” Tom asked, worried that the boy he brought home might cause some trouble in his own house.

“No, no, nothing like that at all,” then she paused, “he did try to hurt himself,” she added.

Tom gave her a puzzled look. “What do you mean?”

“He jumped off the bridge into the river and tried to kill himself,” she said.

“Oh that’s crazy, he’s the same age as Nick, why would he do that? Who told you that Heath?” Tom asked.

“Yes he did Tom and I have every reason to believe him,” she explained.

Tom got the worried look again, “He didn’t try to follow him did he?”

“No, he jumped in to save him,” she told him, bringing a shy smile to Tom’s face.

“He saved him? Really?”

“Well, I think Tank realized he was making a mistake, but Heath can be pretty persistent,” she said.

“Why in the world would Tank want to kill himself,” Tom was now starting to put all the pieces of the puzzle together.

Victoria relayed the whole story to him so that it all came together and made sense to him. “We’ll have to both ride over in the morning and talk with Tankston. Maybe Padre DeLao will come with us, sounds like the Tankston’s could use some help.”

“Maybe Dr. Merar too,” Victoria added.

Tom nodded his acknowledgement. “What about you and Heath?”

“Heath and I are starting over,” she said with a smile.

“Sounds like that boy was a bit of a revelation today,” he reached out and put his arm around her, “to more than one person.”

“Indeed he was. We talked about a lot of things and I think we’ve found a way to begin again. Tom, he’s seen and heard so much in his short life, things that he shouldn’t have had to see or hear ever, let alone so young,” Victoria said.

“I know, but I think he’ll be fine, he’s got such a big heart, Leah did a fine job with him to this point and now it’s our turn. I don’t think he realizes what a lucky boy he really is,” Tom added.

“Oh, I don’t know about that, I think he does realize it Tom, but he also knows the other side,” she said.

He kissed her forehead, “As always, you’re right as usual,” he paused, “we better get to bed, tomorrow is going to be another long day.”

Tom and Victoria rode into town early and met with Padre DeLao and Dr. Merar and both men agreed to ride out to the Tankston home to speak with Emma and Chad Tankston. They left Tank at the ranch, not wanting to upset him or have him involved for the time being. Jarrod was keeping watch over the all of the children, along with help from Silas.

The four of them rode up in the wagon. Emma was outside hanging out wash and Chad was working a horse in a nearby corral. He stopped what he was doing and walked over to them.

“You Barkley?” he asked.

“Yes, I am,” Tom said, holding out his hand in friendship, “Tom Barkley.”

Tankston all but ignored it. “You got some nerve, where’s Patrick?” he asked bluntly. “Where’s my boy?” he repeated.

“Mr. Tankston, that’s what we’d like to talk to you about, if we could,” Tom continued.

“What exactly is going on here? Is he ok? Did your kid do something to him?” Chad said. All the while Emma ignored everything that was happening.

Dr. Merar finally stepped in, “Mr. Tankston, I’m Dr. Howard Merar, Patrick is just fine, but as Mr. Barkley said, we’d like to talk with you and your wife if we could, please, it’s very important.”

Chad reluctantly agreed and called his wife over and everyone made their introductions. Chad invited everyone into the house and they began to relate yesterday’s happenings to the Tankston’s.

“Is that true Emma? Did you really say those things to my son?” Chad asked in disbelief.

Emma sat quietly and started to cry, “Yes Chad I did, I know it’s horrible but I miss Danny so much, I don’t know why he’s gone and why Patrick is here, it’s just not fair. He’s not mine.”

Victoria saw her tears and went immediately to her side. “Emma, I know what you’re feeling, believe me I do, more than anyone else in this room, but you can’t do this to Patrick. He’s just a child. He needs your love.”

The woman continued to weep uncontrollably. Chad finally came over and sought to console his own wife. But she couldn’t stop crying. He took her into one of the bedrooms and Dr. Merar followed him. They both came out together.

“We’ve given her something to let her get some rest,” Dr. Merar said. “There are several hospitals that specialize in this sort of illness, it’s a new field, but there is a place in San Francisco,” Howard continued. “I think you should consider taking your wife their,” he said to Chad. “For her sake, and for the sake of your son,” Howard said.

“I didn’t realize it was so bad, I didn’t know she was saying those things to Patrick, why didn’t he tell me?” he asked to no one in particular.

“Doctor’s and scientists are just starting to study this, whether it’s something in her mind or if its some physical reaction to loosing a baby, well, no one knows for sure yet. But these specialists in San Francisco ought to be able to help you and her and even Patrick,” Dr. Merar said. “I’ll be glad to send a telegraph for you today, if you’d like.”

Chad nodded. The sadness wore on his face.

“And we’ll be glad to help in anyway we can too,” Victoria added. “I can’t imagine the loss of a child,” she said to Chad. Tom stepped closer to her and put his arm around her.

“We’ll all help, if you let us,” Tom added, “You’re not alone.”

A grateful smile passed over Chad’s face.

Several months later, Emma Tankston returned from San Francisco. Chad and Patrick were there to meet her at the train station.

When they got situated into the wagon, the first thing Emma asked was to ride out to the Barkley Ranch. Chad agreed and headed out that way.

They started up the road and as they passed the fancy gate, Heath, who was out playing on the grass with Audra and Eugene, noticed them driving up and he dashed over to the edge of the path and began to wave at them.

“Hi Tank,” he shouted.

Tank waved back at him.

Heath went back and picked up baby Eugene and grabbed hold of Audra by the hand and he quickly headed for the house. As he entered he shouted for all he was worth.

Tom came out of the study and said, “Honestly Heath, you’re beginning to sound more like your brother Nick everyday. Why are you yelling so loud?”

“Guess who’s here?” he said, handing Gene to him.

“Who?” he asked.

“Tank and his Pa AND his Ma,” he said.

“Heath are you sure?”

“Yeah Pa, I saw it, they’re coming in right now,” he said happily. “I haven’t seen Tank since school let out,” he added.

“Listen Heath, your mother is out in the garden, why don’t you run back there and tell her too, while I greet our visitors.” Tom started to head for the door.

“Sure Pa,” he said, running through the house, full of excitement.

As he hit the back stairs he smashed right into Nick, who was heading inside.

“Hey, watch it, why don’t you look where you’re going?” Nick said.

“I’m sorry Nick, guess who’s here?” He didn’t even wait for Nick to guess, “Tank and his Pa and Ma.”

“Tank’s here?” Nick wanted him to confirm it.

“Yeah, just now, they rode up,” Heath said, “I gotta go tell Ma,” he added. He scampered off to find Victoria in the garden.

Nick stood there for a second in shock. It was the first time he’d heard Heath call her Ma, ever. He quickly turned his attention to Tank’s arrival.

He met his father at the front door and greeted his newest friend. “Hi Tank, geez it’s good to see ya again, I missed ya,” Nick said, putting his arm around his friend. “Pa, can we go saddle up some horses and take a ride?”

“As long as you saddle one up for Heath and take him along too,” Tom said, ushering Chad and Emma into the sitting room.

Tank and Nick looked at one another suspiciously. “We were planning on taking him with Pa,” Nick said, “You didn’t need to ask.”

“Go ahead boys,” Tom said to them.

The two of them headed toward the barn.

Meanwhile out in the garden, Victoria was busy pruning flowers. Heath ran out as fast as he could and stopped just short of the beautifully landscaped area. He stood on the edge for a moment and spotted her inside. He carefully walked in the manicured area and softly said, “Mother?”

A smile lit up her face instantly as she recognized his voice, saying the one word she longed to hear him speak. She turned slowly and saw him standing behind her with his hand folded behind his back. “Yes, Heath, what is it?”

“Tank’s here with his Pa AND his Ma,” he started, “Pa says you should come to the house.” He stood there for another moment before moving and added, “and this time I didn’t run in your garden, just like you asked me to do,” he added, wanting her to know that he had followed her instructions.

“Yes, Heath, I saw that, thank you,” she said, picking up the small gardening tools she was using.

He started to turn to leave but he stopped and stared at some of the flowers.

“Heath, what is it?” she saw that he had stopped.

“My favorites are the daisies and the roses,” he said, leaning over to smell the fragrance.

“Shall we pick some and give them to Tank’s mother?” Victoria asked.

Heath smiled and nodded. He had no idea the meaning behind the two types of flowers he had chosen, but the significance wasn’t lost on Victoria. She remembered in reading about flower gardening that daisies signified innocence and roses signified love. She barely heard him talking as those thoughts were running through her mind.

“Mother?” he said, knowing she hadn’t heard him.

“I’m sorry Heath, what is it?”

“Can we take daisies and roses when we go to Strawberry next month?” he asked her.

“Yes we can and you know what else?” she started, he looked at her wondering, “We’ll take some cuttings with us too and plant them, so they’ll bloom all summer long.”

He smiled and replied, “I know just the spot.”

The End