In the Beginning

Summer 1876

So many things had happened so fast, all culminating in the fight at the Sample farm. Jarrod, Nick and Eugene Barkley stood watching the railroad's army of men riding away. They had stood their ground with their neighbors, but so many men lay dead, including the local sheriff Harry Lyman, and including Frank Sample.

Nick took a look at Jarrod's arm. He'd been wounded, his left arm bleeding, but it looked like the bullet went straight through without hitting any major artery. Jarrod was looking out at the carnage, and then he looked off to his left.

That boy, that Heath who had come to them only a day or two earlier and claimed to be their father's illegitimate son, was sitting alone on a crate, trying to roll a cigarette. He was shaking too hard to do it. Jarrod wandered over to him, stood beside him, and simply handed him a cigar.

The boy could have taken the money Jarrod had offered him to leave and been gone before this fight started, but he didn't. He dove in when there was absolutely no reason for him to. The Barkleys had already rejected him – Jarrod had rejected him – but now, seeing him ride in here and put his life at risk with the rest of them, Jarrod found his mind changing. Maybe it was just the blood loss –

Jarrod began to crumple. Heath got up fast and helped him sit down on the crate he vacated. Silently, he looked at Jarrod's arm and saw it was bleeding too much. Heath took a clean bandana out of his back pocket and quickly wrapped it around Jarrod's arm wound, atop his shirt, trying to stop the bleeding.

Heath looked up toward Nick and Eugene for help. Eugene came over with a canteen of water. Jarrod took it from him and took a drink. Tilting his head back to drink made him dizzy – Heath steadied him. All of this was happening without any words between the men.

Nick came over then, and he said, "We need to get you home, get that wound properly tended to."

Heath said, "I'll take him."

Nick eyed him suspiciously. He still didn't believe this kid's story – but he was tending to Jarrod like he cared what happened to the man.

"Go get his horse, Gene," Nick said and Eugene went around in back of the house to where the horses had been tethered. Nick said, "Eugene and I will stay here and try to help clean up this – " He didn't know the right word to describe it.

Jarrod nodded and looked out again over the front yard of the Sample house. Mrs. Sample was still crying over the body of her husband. What had the Samples gained from this? Saving their ranch? Without Sample, it was all lost anyway.

Eugene came with Jarrod's horse, and he held it still while Nick helped his older brother up into the saddle. Heath's horse was already nearby. He mounted up, and without another word, he and Jarrod rode out of the battle zone and home to the Barkley mansion.

When they arrived, Jarrod was a bit woozy still. Heath helped him down and kept a good hold on the back of his belt as he helped him into the house.

Victoria and Audra were ready for what they knew might be happening out at the Sample farm. They waited in the parlor with the household medical supplies all laid out on every available space. Heath helped Jarrod to a chair, and as soon as he sat down, his mother was helping him get his injured arm out of his shirt and undershirt.

"How are Nick and Eugene?" Victoria asked as she began to clean the wound.

"They're fine," Jarrod said. "They're helping with things at the Sample's. Sample is dead. So is the sheriff."

Victoria sighed heavily.

"Do this as quickly as you can," Jarrod said. "I have to get into town to the court and get injunctions on the other properties. The court will be open when I get there."

"Silas?!" Victoria called, and their houseman came in from the kitchen. "Do you have any broth ready?"

"Yes, ma'am, it's all ready," Silas said.

"Get some for Jarrod, please."

Silas took off back to the kitchen.

"I don't have a lot of time, Mother," Jarrod said.

"You have time to get some nourishment back in you or you might not make it to town. Heath?"

Heath was surprised to hear his name. He had just been standing nearby, not sure whether he should stay or leave. Did he belong here while this woman was tending to her son?

"Heath, will you go with Jarrod into town?" Victoria asked, and she looked up at him.

Heath couldn't refuse those eyes. He nodded.

"You'd better get something to eat, too," Victoria said.

Heath smiled a lop-sided, sheepish grin. "I had an apple."

Victoria smiled. It was a secret joke between the two of them – he had been here a few hours ago, planning to ride away, and he had raided the bowl of apples before he went.

Victoria finished bandaging Jarrod's arm, and Heath helped him get back into his undershirt and shirt.

"Do you want clean clothes to go to court?" Audra asked.

"No," Jarrod said. "Better the judge should see my bloody arm. That'll do more for getting me those injunctions than all my arguing."

Audra handed her mother a sling, and once Jarrod was back in his clothes, Victoria helped him get into the sling. Silas appeared with a cup of broth that Jarrod downed like a cup of coffee. Then he got up.

Heath automatically steadied him.

But Jarrod was feeling stronger now. He gave Heath a gentle slap on the arm. "Thank you, Brother Heath," he said quietly.

Heath shivered all over. He called me Brother Heath.

"Now," Jarrod continued, "if you'll just help me get back on my horse and come to court with me, let's see if we can stop any more bloodshed, at least for today."

They went back outside, Victoria and Audra watching them go, noting particularly what Jarrod had said to Heath. "Mother," Audra said, "do you want him to stay?"

Victoria thought about it. "Yes – although I don't really know why. I do want him to stay."

XXXXXXX

Jarrod and Heath returned before lunch was on the table. Jarrod was all relief and smiles and said right away, "We got temporary restraining orders."

"Is that good?" Audra asked.

"Not as good as an injunction, but just because it's temporary," Jarrod said. "The judge wants to hear both sides, so they'll serve the railroad and there'll be a hearing on the injunction in a week. We have a terrific chance, in my opinion. Are Nick and Eugene back yet?"

"Not yet," Victoria said, and looked worried.

"You don't think there was more trouble at one of the other ranches, do you?" Audra asked.

Jarrod shook his head. "Not likely. The railroad lost too many men this morning. Heath, my good man, let's get us some lunch. My head's beginning to spin again."

Jarrod led the way, Victoria and Audra staying behind in the living room, expecting Nick and Eugene at any time. Heath silently followed Jarrod into the dining room, where Silas was setting out stew and biscuits. This was Heath's first time in that room, and for a moment he was stunned. The large table, the fine sideboards, the crystal and the china.

Jarrod went to the sideboard where the food was set up and picked up a plate. It was awkward for him with only one arm working, but he managed to get his plate full. Heath just followed along, and Jarrod acted as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

They sat down together at the table, just the two of them. Jarrod's injured arm became a handicap when he tried to butter a biscuit. Heath jumped in. "Here, let me do that."

"Thanks," Jarrod said, watching this young man butter the biscuit for him and hand it back to him. Their eyes met, awkwardly for Heath, but not for Jarrod. He smiled. "Heath, you helped me out a lot this morning."

"You needed it," Heath said.

"But you didn't have to do it. You didn't have to come out to Sample's farm. Why did you?"

Heath hesitated. He remembered why he did it – because of the words Victoria Barkley had said to him when he was ready to ride away forever. But he said, "It seemed like the right thing to do."

Jarrod put his fork down for a moment. "Heath, I'm not Nick. I don't yell very much – except at Nick. I save my confrontations for the courtroom. Tell me the truth. Why did you stay?"

Heath was still not comfortable enough with this man to be that sincere with him. But he reached for another truth. "Because I am a Barkley son. I needed to stand with my brothers. It wasn't because I had to prove anything. It was just the right thing to do."

Jarrod understood. "You know we want you to stay, don't you?"

"I don't know if Nick does," Heath said.

"Nick does have a hard head," Jarrod said and began eating again. "There will be some yelling."

"And how are you gonna feel when he says he wants me to leave? Are you still gonna want me to stay?"

Jarrod looked up at him and said, "Yes. If you want to stay, I'll fight for you, even against Nick."

Heath heaved a sigh. "Well, let's just see how things go when Nick gets here, what your mother and your sister and your brother think. I'll make up my mind when they make up theirs. But – I thank you for what you think, Mr. Barkley."

"Jarrod," Jarrod said quickly. "My name is Jarrod, and that doesn't change, no matter what."

Heath nodded. "Jarrod."