Chapter Two
Heath felt a cool breeze blow over his face, and he slowly opened his eyes. His eyes focused on the rocks around him and the ground beneath him. What…he started to ask only to have the fight at Sample's farm, and his subsequent injuries, come back to him full force. Of course, even if he could forget the fight, he'd be hard pressed to forget the injuries as he struggled to sit up against the rocks. Pain shot through his leg and up his injured arm as he did so. He could see blood upon the ground.
After he'd managed to sit up, Heath looked around and got the shock of his life as he saw a gray haired gentleman who looked to be in his late fifties sitting on one of the boulders watching him. "Who are you? If the Barkleys sent you to find me, you can just leave." Heath growled angrily.
A slow, sad, somewhat resigned smile appeared on the stranger's face. He knew of the anger inside the blonde haired cowboy and knew the cause. But, telling Heath that would do no good at the moment, as he would not listen and the gentleman knew it. He hesitated to say anything, knowing full well what Heath's reaction would be. Finally, he took a deep breath and said, "Victoria and the others don't know I'm here. However," he shrugged his shoulders and said, "I know for a fact they're looking for you. That is, two of your half-brothers are."
Heath felt shock waves roll over him. With the exception of the gentleman who had helped him at Sample's farm, no one else would be in a position to know what Heath had told the Barkleys. Had the gentleman at Sample's farm spread the news that fast? "If they're looking for me, they're wasting their time! And, you're wasting yours too!" Heath went to stand only to have immense pain roll through his injured leg and he had to grab onto the rock to remain standing; the stranger remained where he was.
"If all you're going to do is sit there, I'd just as soon as you leave." Heath barked. He was shocked to see genuine compassion appear in the man's face, but more so to hear the man's reply.
"I am more than willing to leave and get you some help, but I can't unless you let me. It's not within my power to do so." The gentleman stretched his legs and folded his arms. "And, hate it as much as you want to, I'm not turning my back on you either."
Not within his power? Heath was confused. He knew many people who forced their 'help' onto another human being. He was getting away from this place, and the stranger. He'd head to the nearest town that wasn't Stockton and, hopefully, find a doctor. Heath looked around only to realize Gal was nowhere to be seen. Naturally, he blamed the stranger. "What have you done with my horse?" He glared at the man sitting on the rock.
An amused chuckle escaped the stranger's lips. "I have done nothing to your animal. She wandered away while you were out." The man answered as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"And you just watched her leave?" Heath stared at the gentleman, confusion on his face as he managed to make his way to another boulder, one that set as far away from the stranger as he could get-without being seen by anyone traveling on the road below.
"Your horse has a very high chance of being found by those looking for you." The man answered bluntly. "I told you I can't get you help unless you let me. However, that horse's appearance will tell others you are in the vicinity. Besides, I had to stay here with you."
"Why!" Heath shouted angrily, his eyes blazing with fire as he clasped his left hand over his right arm; his whole arm ached like crazy. It might not be so bad only his leg was hurting just as bad. "No one is holding a rifle to your head! No one asked you to find me or to help me. Did they?" He spat the last few words out.
Another sad smile appeared upon the man's face as he shrugged his shoulders. "Not to my face, they didn't," he then stood up, his face taking on a more serious look. "Look, it won't do either one of us any good to argue with the other one. You are hurt; you need help. Your injuries are not life threatening," he paused and then added, "yet. Only, if you don't get help soon, you will lose more blood and those wounds will get infected; you could die. Is that what you really want? Deep down inside, as angry as you are, do you really want to die? What good would come of that? Let me get you some help." Then, in an almost desperate effort to give Heath something to live for, the man said quietly, "What would that do to your mother who went through hell for you?"
In spite of his injuries Heath lunged at the stranger. "I don't want your help, and you don't know anything about my mother! Leave her out of this!" He swung his good fist at the man's jaw only to find himself flat on his back; the pain in his injured leg had risen drastically and caused him to fall…which only caused the pain in his arm to go up as well.
The stranger knelt beside Heath, who would have gotten up only, when he had lunged at the man he'd pulled a muscle in his back. Now the pain in his back, along with his arm and leg, he was feeling was at making it impossible for him to move. For a moment silence was the only thing that could be heard. That is, until the gentleman shook his head. "I know more than you think, boy. Now, as I said before, I'm not going anywhere for the moment." He finished speaking and then sat on the ground a few feet away from Heath.
It made Heath angrier than ever. The man's actions were making no sense. If the stranger was so bent on not leaving, why did he not force his help on Heath as well? Heath swore and looked away, waiting for the pain he was feeling to lessen just enough to make it so he could move.