Chapter 1 – Encounters

Part 1

When you're down and you're out
And you don't think you have a friend
When you're lost in the doubt
And you can't see what's around the bend

The blond man sat astride his small mare and rode towards what he hoped would be the turning point in his life. He had lost so much in the last year, his sister running away, his mother dying…no he had thought about it too long. The point was that he was not going to take it anymore. He was going to make his life be better; he was not going to lose anything again. No, sirree he was going to make absolutely sure he was going to be someone.

The man, Heath came to a narrow bridge and started across, just as another man, one with dark hair, started across. Here was the moment of opportunity to follow through with his newfound goal. The old Heath would have let the other man go ahead, giving up his right of way since he was the first on the bridge…not by much, but he was the first. The new Heath decided that someone who was of some importance would not let someone go before him. With the decision made Heath prepared himself to stay his ground and not give in.

"Good afternoon," the dark haired man greeted.

"Afternoon," Heath drawled back, he decided to use as few as words as possible.

The man motioned to Heath's horse, "Nice pony you have there."

Heath shifted in his saddle, "Yep, she's a runner."

"Indian?" Apparently the stranger liked short comments as well. Heath almost snorted at the passing idea that he might have found his match but he held himself back.

"Modoc."

"Yeah they breed them right up there."

This was it; Heath now knew exactly how to state his intentions with out demanding the other guy to move. "Except for one thing," He said with a very serious face.

The other man looked slightly taken aback at his comment and Heath could tell he was interested in his answer to the question both men knew he was going to ask next. "And what's that?"

"They don't know how to back up." Heath took a deep breath and decided to push up. "So if you'll just pull that croc head off this bridge…"

The other man straightened up slightly at his words and Heath detected a slight change in the man's demeanor. "Well, now," the man drawled. "I'd gladly do that for you boy, except for one thing.

Heath bristled at the use of that word, "boy." He hadn't been a boy in a long time, not since before he fought in the war. No, he had become a man a long time ago, circumstances had made certain of that. He swallowed hard and continued, "What's that?"

"This one is a Modoc too." The man replied.

Heath sighed inwardly; yep he just might have met his match. The bridge creaked, sending out an audible warning that there was too much weight on the bridge. Heath raced through his decisions and actions, what was he going to do next…Heath strengthened his resolve, no he was not going to back down.

Heath took his hat off and fanned his face, "Hot ain't it?"

The other man repressed a sigh but pressed on, "Yeah, you can really raise a sweat this time of year. That's a fine looking blow pipe you've got there." The man gestured to the rifle Heath carried with him.

"Mexican."

"That a fact?"

"Got the bite to blow the head off a grizzly."

The other man smirked slightly. "If you can get to it in time," He stated calmly.

"Don't need to, just think it. Eyeball of button I want to pop and pow."

The other man gestured to his pistol and said, "English."

Heath raised an eyebrow and stated calmly, "Do tell."

The other man straightened up and continued at Heath's invitation. "Core an apple at half a mile," he stated proudly.

Heath repressed a sigh; this was getting ridiculous, but if that's what the man wanted that's what the man got. "On a tree or fallen."

The other man smirked, "On horseback, in a hurricane."

Both men reached for their guns at the same time and pulled the trigger. The bridge collapsed and both men, as well as both horses fell into the creek. Heath and his mare climbed out on the creek bed opposite of the side he had ridden from. The other man and his horse climbed out on the opposite side. They looked each other smiled slightly, turned and continued on their way.

Just hold on
Don't turn around
Keep on walking
Don't lose heart
'Cause I am here, I am here
Wherever you are, wherever you are

Jarrod sighed inwardly as he sat on the train talking to Crown about the land disputes between the ranchers and the railroad. Crown was gloating in the fact that the governor had vetoed Jarrod's bill. Crown was convinced that the railroad would always win.

"The day of the spike and iron. Is that it?" Jarrod asked.

"No man can beat it." Came the assured reply.

Jarrod and Crown's attention was drawn to the rest of the passengers who were looking and shouting out the window at something; there was a young blond headed man racing the train.

"Well, there's one who's sure trying." Jarrod stated as he looked out the window of the moving train.

"Oh, not a chance." Crown replied as he too looked out the window.

"$50," Jarrod said.

"$100," came the reply

"$500."

"$750"

"$1,000," Jarrod stated calmly, inside he was hoping the young man would come though. They had followed the young man's progress by moving down the passenger car and were now standing on the small platform between cars.

"$1,250."

"$1,500." At that moment the man on horseback shot in front of the train and made it safely on the other side of the track. Jarrod smirked, 'If I ever see that man again, I will have to do something for him to thank him.' Turning to Crown he said smugly, "So, no man beats the iron, eh, Crown?"

Crown handed the money to Jarrod and said, "Well, sometimes, maybe for a while. But sooner or later, like all men, they die…and all they leave behind them in dust."

Crown turned to go back inside the passenger car without another word. Jarrod followed after scanning the landscape looking for the young man who was by now long gone. Something had happened in the last few minutes that Crown did not know, but he would soon find out. For in the past few minutes something had sparked deep in Jarrod, something that had died with the rancher's petition…hope.

When the rain is falling
And there's no silver lining
And you just can't seem to find the light
When you need a reason
To help you keep believing
Let my love be your blue sky

The dark haired woman entered the general store and spent a few minutes looking around. She didn't have much time, but she wanted to enjoy the few minutes she had. The bell twinkled once again and she looked toward the door half afraid that Curly was going to enter the door. She knew he would not come into town much less the store, not with a price on his head, but she looked anyway – just to make sure.

The dark haired woman, Heather saw another younger woman enter the store. The younger woman looked very similar to her although no one would confuse the two, one being a naïve and gentile young woman, the other a woman who had had to grow up way to quickly. Despite the two's very different backgrounds they were friends, not very close friends but friends just the same. Heather only saw Audra, for that was the younger girls name, occasionally – they did not run in the same circles.

"Hello Heather," Audra greeted with a smile. "Doing some shopping today?"

"Hello Audra, yes I was sent on a supply run." Heather replied with an easy smile.

Audra linked arms with Heather and pulled her over to the counter. "Melanie, do you have time to fill Heather's order?"

A young woman with dark hair walked over with a tight smile. She was around Heather's age but disliked the woman, well not the woman herself but the company she kept. In fact Melanie liked Heather - the person - quite well, but Heather - Corey's girlfriend - was a different matter. Heather was the girlfriend of a wanted man and most women of society ignored those women that fraternized with outlaws.

"Well we are a bit busy, can you leave it here Heather and I'll fill it as soon as I get the chance." Melanie asked coyly.

Heather frowned, "Well…"

Audra jumped in, "That'll be fine, we'll check back in an hour. We'd like it done by then." The younger woman promptly dragged Heather out of the store and toward the hotel. "We will grab some tea and wait for your order to be filled." She told Heather eagerly.

Heather sighed, "All right."

Audra beamed at her response and Heather tried to hide her laugh. Audra noticed and smirked; Heather decided not to hide her laugh.

Don't you know that I know
Life can be so hard it makes you wanna give up
But don't you know over the horizon
The sunny day you're looking for
Is waiting right here in my love

Heather walked quickly among the crowded streets of Stockton, she and Audra had been more than an hour late getting back to the store. If she did not get back to the hideout before Curly returned she was going to be in for it. She shifted the cardboard box she was carrying; it was loaded with flour, corn, and rice.

"Boy Howdy, this sure is heavy!" She thought to herself.

She must not have been paying attention to what she was doing because the next thing she knew she was on the ground looking up at a tall, raven-haired man –Jerrod Barkley. Jerrod offered her a hand up and Heather took it hesitantly. She was wary because she was sure he had found out about her and Audra's friendship. Their relationship was obviously not secret, but yet Audra refused to tell her brothers about it…certain they would over react.

Her fears that the eldest Barkley was there to order her away from his sister were soon proved to be wrong when he merely inquired if she was all right.

"I am so sorry, Mr. Barkley" Heather rushed out an apology ignoring his question. "I was not paying any attention."

"No, Miss Thomson, it is all my fault." Jarrod assured her. He did not tell her that it was indeed his fault as he had moved directly into her path.

He reached down and picked up the box and examined the content that had spilled out. As everything seemed to be in good condition despite the tumble he loaded everything back into the box. He offered to walk with her to her destination and carry the heavy box for her.

Heather flushed and stammered out a quick answer. If Curly caught her with Jarrod… "N-no t-thank y-you."

Jarrod gave her a knowing grin, "No, I don't think your boyfriend and his friends would like that to much, would they?"

Heather looked down at the ground unable to meet his eyes. He was right after all. Her eyes shot up to meet his when he said, "As long as you do not drag my sister into this mess with Billy Joe and Curly. You are safe from me."

Heather forced the words to form and come out, "You know about our friendship?"

Jarrod chuckled, "Yes, I do. I make it a point to keep track of my sister and whom she hangs out with."

"And as long as I don't bring her into the outlaw world, you are okay with our friendship?" Heather clarified.

Jarrod nodded. "Although I feel I must warn you, if my brother Nick finds out there will be trouble."

Heather winced, "I know. From what Audra has said, Nick Barkley is like my own brother – over-protective and hard-headed. You know what, though, I would not have changed a thing because it showed me my brother loved me."

Jarrod nodded and then handed her the box. Heather took it and smiled at him. "Thank you Mr. Barkley, for everything."

As Heather walked away, Jarrod watched her carefully. He observed, not for the first time, that although Heather's hair was dark like his and his two brothers she could pass for Audra's twin. "Have a nice day, Miss Thomson" He called after her, wondering at the observation. Little did he know that he was soon going to be understanding said observation and how much it was going to shake him and his family.