"Doc," Heath went busting into the doctor's office. "Doc."
"Heath," Merar stood from his desk, surprised to see the young man. "What's wrong my boy?"
"Mother," Heath managed, trying hard to catch his breath. "She was shot. You need to come," Heath was heaving."
"My God," the doctor's eyes grew wide. "I'll get my bag and head out. You get Fred and tell him to meet us there too and catch up."
Heath shook his head and headed out. Merar grabbed his bag and went out back. He had been prepared to make some rounds anyway and already had his horse saddled. He had merely forgotten to finish some paperwork and decided to delay a few minutes. He knew Victoria was lucky. He had planned on heading in the opposite direction.
"Fred," Heath burst into the sheriff's office the same way he had the doctor's. Only now he was out of breath from running rather than riding.
"Heath, what's going on," Fred frowned.
"Mother was shot," Heath managed. "Got Doc. You need to come."
"What," Fred jumped up, grabbed his hat and followed Heath out. "I've got to get my horse."
"I will see you there," Heath was running again. "Got to get Jarrod."
"That boy better slow down a might," Fred muttered. "He is gonna need to breathe again before tomorrow."
"Jarrod," Heath threw open the door of Jarrod's office.
"Heath," Jarrod jumped up when he saw his brother. "What is it."
"Mother. Ranch. Now," Heath clutched his stomach and struggled for air.
"Breathe Heath," there was a fear in Jarrod's voice as he crossed the room. Heath's demeanor and his breathing were enough to let Jarrod know that whatever the trouble was, it was bad.
"No time," Heath heaved. "Go on, I'll catch up."
"No," Jarrod grabbed his hat and patted his brother's shoulder. "I'm not going without you. Besides, you haven't told me what happened yet."
Heath shook his head as oxygen finally started to reach his lungs again. "No, go now." He paused and took another long breath. "She's been shot," he finally managed.
"What," it took everything in Jarrod not to bolt from the office at that very moment. "What do you mean? By who? Why?"
"Jarrod," Heath straightened himself up and his breathing was nearly normalized. "Come on, I'll explain on the way."
Jarrod went to the livery stable and saddled Jingo while Heath went back to Merar's office and mounted Charger. Heath met Jarrod at the livery stable and they started toward the ranch at a trot.
"Now," Jarrod glanced at Heath when they had gotten away from the noises of town. "What happened?"
"Nick was telling Peters to hit the road. Fired him for showing up drunk again," Heath explained, his breathing finally starting to normalize. "I was out in the pasture behind the barn checking the fence posts and waiting until he finished. I couldn't hear what was going on, but Nick asked me to wait because then we were going to ride through the East end and check the watering holes out in that section together."
"Ok," Jarrod prodded him to continue.
"Mother had been out riding. I saw her ride up but didn't think much of it. I'm not sure exactly how it happened. I heard mother yell to Nick and then I heard two shots. I went running as fast as I could. I called to Nick and he called back and told me Mother had been shot. When I got to them, they were in front of the barn and Peters was dead."
"Heath," Jarrod's voice was serious and almost hollow. "Heath, how bad is it?"
"I don't know," Heath shook his head. "She was conscious. She was talking. That's all I know for sure. Now, let's go," Heath spurred Charger to a gallop.
Jarrod followed suit and soon, the ranch was coming into view. Jarrod pushed Jingo as hard as he dared and watched as the ranch grew closer and closer. He was filled with fear for his mother and a deep-seated hatred for Peters. He had been coming there for years to work at harvest time, he had been good to the Barkleys and they had been good to him too. Peters had always liked Victoria and Jarrod could not fathom why he would do it; why would he shoot Victoria over a disagreement with Nick? He had just lost the love of his life three months ago, he couldn't lose his mother too. "Please," he prayed. "Please let her be alright."
When Jarrod and Heath got there, Fred was in the corral with Nick and Merar had just disappeared through the front door of the house.
"Nick," Jarrod called as he dismounted Jingo. "Nick, how is she?"
"She will be fine," Nick tried to sound certain. "Audra is with her and Doc just went in. Go on up if you want," Nick nodded toward the house.
Jarrod looked at the house and then to Fred. "Do you need me here for now Fred."
"No," Fred shook his head. "I will wait until you come back down. See your mother."
"Thanks," Jarrod took off at a sprint for the house.
"I better get these horses taken care of," Heath said as he pulled Jingo and Charger toward the watering trough.
"I'll give you a hand,' Fred offered.
"That's alright Fred," Heath smiled. "It will give me something to do."
"I understand," Fred nodded as Heath waited for the horses to have their fill of water and absently brushed at Charger's mane. "I'm glad you are able to form complete sentences again."
Heath gave a half-hearted grin. "By the time I made it to Jarrod's it was one word at a time."
"What are you talking about," Nick frowned and was clearly impatient to get things over with.
"That brother of yours," Fred turned back to Nick. "He ran from Merar's place to mine. He was so out of breath, I'm surprised he is still up right."
"I feel bad for Charger," Nick tried to joke. "He must have ridden that poor horse half to death."
"He can take it," Heath permitted himself a chuckle and led the horses into the barn.
"Sheriff," Nick started when Heath disappeared. "We really don't…"
"I know," Fred put up his hand and interrupted. "I am sure Jarrod doesn't need to be here too, but let's just wait anyway. It will make him feel better and me too."
"Why you," Nick was fully prepared to go on defense.
"Because," Fred shook his head. "If the public prosecutor decides to overrule me just to make a point, then Jarrod has been here the whole time. The guy is dying to make a name for himself and I don't want him picking on you to do it. Jarrod has always been able to talk more sense to him."
"Ah," Nick answered disgustedly. "You don't really think he will do that over this do you?"
"No," Fred shook his head. "But I'm not taking any chances either."
"I suppose," Nick sighed and leaned against the fence, watching the house for any sign of his brother.
Meanwhile, Heath was in the barn unsaddling the horses. He took care of Charger first and made sure he had plenty of feed in his bucket. "You did good boy," he patted the horses neck and nuzzled his mane. "You did good." Next, he pulled Jingo into his stall and unsaddled him. When he threw the saddle over the side of the stall he saw Misty Girl right where she belonged. He suddenly realized what must have happened. Mother must have been coming out of the barn and saw Peters about to shoot Nick. It explained how it must have happened; she had warned Nick and Peters had shot her instead. Mother had said she didn't think he meant to do it. Had she simply startled him? Nick was right, it didn't matter, all that mattered now was that Mother was ok.