Chapter 4

When Steve and Heath arrived back in Stockton, they found Nancy Tyler had joined Suzanne and her Aunt Louise. Knowing that Nancy and Suzanne were friends – and potential sisters-in-law – Mrs. Carlisle sent for her and had her go to Suzanne's home, just in case something serious was going on there.

Suzanne was settling down by the time Steve and Heath got there, but Heath still went straight to her and took her into his arms without even a word. Suzanne broke into tears as soon as his arms were around her.

"It'll be all right," Heath said. "You're not gonna have to do anything you don't want to."

"Heath, I don't know what I want! I mean, I want to stay here, but what if I don't go and something happens to him? It would be my fault."

"No," Steve said quickly. "It would not be your fault. You just put that out of your mind. I know my brother – if he can't get himself back together after losing your mother, it's HIS fault, not yours."

"But if I could help him – "

"Suzanne, he'd want you to take care of him forever. He'd want you ruling the roost and do for him just like your mother did so that he didn't have to make any decisions. You can't do that, sweetheart."

"Your uncle's right," Heath said. "You're a grown woman. You're entitled to have a life of your own, not one saddled to your father. That's not the way things are meant to be."

"But he's in trouble – " Suzanne said.

"If he is, he got himself into it, and he'll have to get himself out of it," Steve said.

"Why don't I try to find him and talk to him?" Heath asked. "Once he sees you've started to build a life here in Stockton with me, he might change his mind."

Suzanne looked up into his eyes. This was most solid commitment Heath had ever made out loud – and more solid than any she had ever made. "You mean that?"

"Every word," Heath said. "We've started something together. I want it. I don't want him taking you away from me."

Suzanne let her forehead fall against his chest.

"I don't know where he might be, Heath," Steve said.

"I can check around," Heath said. "I'll talk to him, and if I can't get through to him, maybe I'll have my brother Jarrod read the law to him. He can't treat you like property, Suzanne. He doesn't own you."

Suzanne nodded but did not look up until Heath lifted her chin and kissed her forehead.

"What does he look like?" Heath asked.

"A lot like me, my height and build," Steve said. "He's wearing a dark shirt and pants and a brown jacket. Hasn't shaved lately. Beard's a little gray."

"Give me a little time to find him and talk to him," Heath said. "I'll come back when I have, and in the meantime, I think it's best you stay here, just in case."

"I'll go talk to Mrs. Carlisle," Nancy said, touching Suzanne's arm and giving her a smile. "I'll let her know what's going on."

Suzanne nodded. She knew there was no way she could give up what she had here – her aunt and uncle, Heath, Nancy, all of the Barkleys. This move to Stockton was the best thing that had ever happened to her. She would not give it up.

Heath kissed her forehead one more time and went out. He heaved a big sigh. He knew what he was going to do, but the first step was going to have to be finding Dan Pearson.

XXXXX

Heath tried the saloons first – thinking Pearson might head for something to drink. He found the man at the bar at the first saloon he tried – but oddly enough, the man was drinking milk, not anything alcoholic. Maybe this wasn't the right guy, but Heath stepped up next to him and asked, "Are you Dan Pearson?"

Dan Pearson looked over. "Who's asking?"

"I'm Heath Barkley."

Pearson straightened up. "You've been courting my daughter."

"If you're Dan Pearson, yeah, I have been," Heath said. "I'd like to talk to you."

"Talk away."

"I love your daughter. I don't aim to let her go easy."

"They talked to you, did they?"

Heath nodded. "Suzanne's a grown woman. You can't make her do anything she doesn't want to do."

"She's my daughter and she's unmarried," Pearson said. "She has to do what I say."

"She's not property, Mr. Pearson. She's a woman building a life of her own after you sent her away."

"I did what I thought was right then, and I intend to do it now."

"Is that a threat?"

Pearson straightened even more. He had an inch or so of height over Heath, but Heath had 20 years less in age. Pearson said, "I won't do anything illegal, but I'll get her to come home with me. You'll see."

"I won't let her go if she doesn't want to."

"She'll want to. If she doesn't, I'll get her legal."

"I don't think you can get her legal. My brother Jarrod's a lawyer. He'd tell you that."

"Listen, boy – I don't need to hear from anybody legal who's kin to you. I'll find me a real lawyer."

"You're free to, but you're gonna pay them money for the same thing Jarrod would tell you. And if you're worried him being my brother would sway him, well, I can tell you there's been more than one time he's sided with the law and against me."

"I'm supposed to believe that, am I?"

Heath thought about something else. "Your wife died and left you adrift. I know – Suzanne told me."

"What would you know about how that is?"

"Nothing. I only know it can cut a man in two. Maybe you're still in two. Maybe Suzanne can help you, but you got to do the work yourself. She can't fix you. She can't be your wife."

Pearson finally turned back to his glass of milk. "Get outta here."

"My brother Jarrod lives at a place called The Grove, on the road that heads to the Barkley ranch. Take the main road to the other end of town. He'll give you sound advice. Or you can find a lawyer in town and pay good money to be told the same thing. Up to you. But Suzanne's not going with you if she doesn't want to."

Pearson sipped his milk without comment and without looking at Heath anymore. Heath left the saloon, stopped outside and considered something – and then decided he'd better go see the sheriff.

He found Sheriff Madden in his office, about ready to go out. "Heath!" Fred Madden said. "I didn't know you were in town."

"Bit of an emergency," Heath said. "You got a minute?"

"Sure," the sheriff said. "What do you need?"

"I've been seeing Suzanne Pearson, Steve Pearson's niece. Her father sent her here a while back. He lost his wife and he couldn't handle Suzanne being with him. He went off the deep end, couldn't handle himself."

Sheriff Madden had seen it in many men before – thinking of Jarrod Barkley in particular. He nodded.

"Well, he's turned up here, wants her back."

"She's of age, isn't she?"

"Yeah, and she doesn't want to go with him, but he has it in his head that since she's not married, he can make her do whatever he wants."

"Somebody better set him straight on that."

"I tried. Didn't work. I suggested he go see Jarrod, but I don't know if he will or not. And I don't know if he's gonna try to take Suzanne against her will."

"What's he look like?"

"Like Steve with a bit of a beard, wearing dark clothes and a brown jacket. He's at the saloon across the street right now."

"I'll have a look and I'll keep an eye on him, but I won't talk to him unless he pulls something."

"That's good enough, Fred," Heath said. "Thanks."

The sheriff gave him a nod as Heath left.

Heath headed back up to the Pearson home and filled them all in on his talk with Dan Pearson and the sheriff. Suzanne still looked distraught, but Heath gathered her into his arms again. "You got a lot of people looking out for you, Suzanne. You won't get bullied into anything."

"Heath's right, honey," Steve said. "We'll make sure you get to make your own decisions on this."

Suzanne nodded. "I know what I want. I want to stay here."

"Then you will," Heath said.

He kissed her again. "I need to get back out to the herd," he said. "I'll be back this evening. Don't worry. Everything's going to be all right."

Suzanne nodded. "Be careful," she said.

Heath smiled. "Always."