Alternative Ending to The Man From Nowhere 2 or 2

*The town Libby mentions in this chapter is fictional as far as I know.

Previously:"Fine." 'Dakota' said as he handed the rifle back to Libby. "I'll have their pistols, you can take this and go inside…just in case." After she'd taken the gun from him, he bent over and picked up the pistols that had been tossed to the ground. As he did so, his eyes fell upon the eagle on the pistol closest to him. Automatically, he stood straight up-his eyes never leaving the eagle.

Nick and Heath stood up as Jarrod picked up the pistol and reacted the way he did. "He looked at us as if we were strangers." Heath turned his head and looked at Nick. "Now, he's looking at my gun as if he's been hit by lightning. I don't think he knows us. I think he's the Dakota that Libby Mathews mentioned. At least, I assume that's who she is."

"Amnesia." Nick spoke the word slowly as he thought on a former comrade and his bout with the problem. "That would explain a lot of things. Though, I don't see why we can't tell him who he is." Nick started to take a step forward only to have Heath reach out and take a hold of his arm.

"If that's the case, if he has amnesia and there's been men making trouble for the Mathews, he's more likely to accept us for who we are if we let him come to us." Heath kept his eyes on Jarrod, hoping the fact that the pistol was actually forcing his brother's memory to come back.

Nick still wanted to tell Jarrod who he was, but had to admit Heath had a point. That being the case, he forced himself to stay standing where he was. Though, it was one of the hardest things he'd ever done. By the time Jarrod started walking towards them, Nick was ready to climb the wall.

"Where did you get this?" Jarrod held up the pistol, making sure the eagle was showing. His eyes held a look of a man who knew what he was looking at, but didn't. It tore at his brothers' hearts.

"You gave it to me." Heath replied. "You had it made special for me in San Francisco."

Hoping to help Jarrod's memory to return, Nick added, "You gave it to him for his last birthday, just before you left. Remember? "There was a plea in the last word Nick spoke.

"Don't you remember, Jarrod?" Heath asked the question realizing Jarrod did indeed have amnesia only, like Nick, he could see the look of a man who had lost himself and was desperately trying to get memories that, in his gut, he knew he had.

Jarrod felt himself shaking ever so slightly as the fog he'd lived in for a solid week started to lift. He looked at the eagle again and found himself dropping it to the ground, and then looked at Nick. His voice wavered as he looked at the dark haired rancher. "Nick?" Nick was so overwhelmed all he could do was smile a little and nod. Jarrod turned to the blonde haired cowboy before him. Again, a name came rushing at him. "Heath?" Like Nick, Heath found himself unable to speak. All he could do was nod.

Jarrod felt his legs drop out from under him; he dropped to his knees and began sobbing and crying out Nick's name. It undid both his brothers as they rushed to kneel down and embrace Jarrod.

~oOo~

"Come with us," Libby stood in front of the house looking at her mother-in-law. "Jarrod received a reply to the telegram he sent; he's secured Danny and me a place to live in *Martinsdale. I'll be teaching at the small school they have. No need for you to stay here alone." Martinsdale was a small town forty miles from Rockville, and Jarrod had a friend on the town's schoolboard.

Still holding onto the hope Libby was wrong and that her son would return, the elderly Mrs. Mathews shook her head. "Jed Cameron offered to let me stay here; he and his wife even offered to help me with what I need food and clothes wise-as long as I help them where I can. I'm staying."

Libby wanted to argue with her mother-in-law, but knew it was useless. The woman was as stubborn as they came. "Come on, Ma!" We're ready to go!" Danny, who sat on the buckboard of their wagon holding the reins in his hands, called out.

"If you ever change your mind, just tell Jed. He's also agreed to help you get to Martinsdale if you want to join us." Libby gave the woman a hug, and then turned and walked to the wagon where Jarrod was waiting to help her up. After helping her, Jarrod mounted the horse she'd insisted he'd keep-in exchange for all he'd done and, if she was to be honest, as restitution for what she'd allowed herself to do before his brothers showed up. Soon Jarrod, his brothers, Libby and Danny were on their way.

Epilogue

"Jarrod!" Audra and Victoria both ran out of the house and took turns embracing Jarrod after he'd dismounted his horse. Their embraces were the strongest they had ever been-as they'd learned of his bout with amnesia when Nick and Heath had sent a telegram, one sent before they departed Rockville and heading to Martinsdale to help Libby and Danny get settled in. "It's good to have you home!"

Jarrod's heart flowed with gratitude. It was good to be a man who know who he was, a man with a home and family, a man who knew his own name. "It's good to be home." He replied as he returned their firm embraces with ones of his own.