Where Ever Thou Goest

A/N This is the third story that is set in the AU where Heath has Leah and Bryon.

Chapter One

Twenty-four year old Liberty Carter Barnhurst was feeding her chickens when she saw the riders off in the distance. One was sitting tall in the saddle and, from she could see, was a cowboy. Her eyebrows turned down though, the other rider was bent over in the saddle as if he was hurt. "Cynthia!" Liberty called for her twenty year old sister who had lived with her for the past five years, ever since their parents and Liberty's husband of two years had been killed in a freak stagecoach accident.

Cynthia, who had been in the kitchen preparing to cook, hurried out the front door to see what her older sister was yelling about. One look at the approaching strangers and she knew. She started down the steps, while Liberty opened the door to the chicken coop and stepped out. By the time the strangers reached the house, the women were standing side by side.

"Hello," Cynthia spoke up before her sister could, once the blonde haired cowboy stopped the horses, "May we help you, sir?" She looked at the dark haired gentleman who was dressed rather nicely, too nice for a cowboy.

"Name's Heath, Heath Barkley, this is my brother Jarrod." Heath answered as he looked at his brother. "We were on our way home after dealing with some mine business when a rattler spooked his horse. I was able to shoot the rattler, but not before his horse threw him. I think he's got at least one broken rib."

"From the feel of it," Jarrod smiled the best he could, considering the pain he was in he figured the ladies would understand why the smile did not stretch from one side of his face to the other. "I'd say maybe two or three."

"Bring him inside." Cynthia nodded toward the house behind her. "Town's five miles down the road. You're better off lettin' him rest here while ya go fetch the doctor."

Heath didn't like the idea of leaving Jarrod, only he didn't see where he had a choice. Jarrod definitely needed to lie down. Sensing his hesitation, Cynthia smiled and said, "I promise, we'll take good care of him."

"I'll make sure that promise is kept." Liberty said as she gazed upon the injured gentleman. There was something familiar about him, and that intrigued her, especially since she only knew the name Barkley because of the mine they owned six miles in the direction they had just come from. However, she was pretty sure she'd never met any of them.

Cynthia hid the surprise she felt when her sister assured the gentleman they'd watch over his brother. True, Liberty had never turned her back on anyone in need; even offered the help at times, but, she'd never made it a point to confirm the help would be given.

After Heath dismounted, he wrapped his one arm behind Jarrod, who was holding an arm across his chest, and held onto the man's upper arm, while Liberty quickly flew up the front steps and opened the door. Meanwhile, Cynthia took the horse Jarrod had been riding and led the animal to the barn.

Once inside, Heath looked around. The living room come kitchen was one huge room, while a door sat off to his left and then another straight ahead of him; south of the kitchen. The table and chairs were surprisingly nice looking, as was the couch that set against the west wall. Heath was a bit surprised as that was something he had not expected. The house from the outside looked to be rather poor. Liberty gestured towards the chair on the other side of the kitchen. "It's a small room, but it has large enough for a bed and a dresser." Heath nodded as he and the woman helped Jarrod across the room and onto the bed.

"You know, I still don't know your name." Heath said as they laid Jarrod down on the bed.

Liberty smiled and gave him her name, along with her sister who had just entered the house. "Now, go get the doctor. The sooner you bring him back, the sooner your brother will have the medical help he needs."

Heath couldn't help but grin. She reminded him of a mother hen as she started working on making sure Jarrod was as comfortable as possible. He might have said something, but she was right. He needed to get the doctor.

Heath stepped out of the room and looked at Cynthia, who was once again working on preparing some food. "What part of town is the doctor's office at?"

Cynthia thought for a moment and then answered, "A few blocks from the livery stable, on the south end of town." She paused and then asked, "Do you want me to save ya somethin' to eat?" It was close to lunch time. She figured he'd be hungry by the time he rode into town and then back again.

Heath nodded. "If you don't mind," he then hurried out the door, jumped onto his horse and pushed the horse as hard as he could.

Cynthia, who had followed him outside, watched until he disappeared out of sight and then went back inside. She was rather embarrassed when Liberty stepped out of the room and chastised her for not coming right back in, as she retrieved some pain medicine out of one of the cabinets. "What do you want? For someone to come along, get the wrong idea and start talking?"

Cynthia shrugged her shoulders as she worked. "Let them talk, ain't doin' nothin' wrong."

Liberty cringed. She swore her sister used improper English just to annoy the living daylights out of her. Though, she said nothing for two simple facts. Cynthia wasn't going to change the way she spoke and two, their unexpected guest was in too much pain. The poor man needed some relief. That being the case, Liberty left her sister and walked back into the room where Jarrod lay.

"Here, sir," Liberty poured some of the medicine into a spoon she'd grabbed on the way in, set the bottle down and then lifted Jarrod's head just enough to give him the medicine.

"Thank you," Jarrod said as she laid the medicine down, "please, call me, Jarrod. Unless," he quickly added not knowing if that was improper in her eyes, as they'd just met, "it makes you uncomfortable."

Liberty's smile grew. "Mother and Father always said to call people by the name they preferred. So, Jarrod it is, only, if that's the case, just call me Liberty. Widow Barnhurst makes me sound so old."

Jarrod smiled as he closed his eyes, trying to deal with the pain until the medicine set in. "Liberty it is." Soon, in spite of fighting it, Jarrod found himself falling into a deep sleep as he waited for Heath to return.