Chapter Four
A/N As you read this chapter, I want you to know….Shaun Callahan is NOT a Handy Randam type character. He doesn't go looking for fights, nor does he start them on purpose etc. (Can't stand that Handy character)
Shaun, who had insisted-for Catalina's sake; the child had clung to her father the entire time they'd visited and had practically been sitting on Nick's lap during supper, that he would not sleep in the house, now sat on the porch that was connected to the bunkhouse. He could have used the chair that sat against the outside of the building, but he preferred to sit on the edge with his boots touching the ground. He could see Heath bidding his brother goodnight. However, when Heath-who was heading for the stable-was close enough that Shaun would not have to yell to get his attention, the Barkley's visitor called out to him. "Do you have a few minutes?"
Heath, who had been leery of leaving Nick's home with their visitor still around anyway, nodded, walked over to the bunkhouse and sat on the right side of the porch. When Shaun offered him a cigarette, Heath thanked the gentleman and accepted.
Only when both their cigarettes were lit did Shaun look at Heath, a tired smile was upon his face. "It's not just Catalina who is uneasy with my being here, or are you going to tell me I'm wrong?"
Heath was shocked. Sure, what Shaun said was true, but-as far as Heath knew-he had said and done nothing that would be considered anything but polite. Due to the surprise he'd felt, it took the blonde haired cowboy a few moments to shrug his shoulders and admit he couldn't deny what Shaun had just said. "How did you know?"
Shaun chuckled as he removed the cigarette from his lips and blew out some smoke. "I was causing trouble when you were still in diapers, developed the knack of reading people pretty well." He sighed and caused Heath to stiffen when he said, "I didn't lie to Nick and Maria when I said I came to see them and visit. However, there's more to my visit than that. I was going to tell Nick during supper only; after the wee one's reaction to me, I couldn't. I mean, that child wouldn't have let go of her father. There was no way I could talk to him and Maria in private."
"What other reason do you have?" Heath tapped his cigarette against the porch, allowing the ashes to fall to the ground.
"I was in the Modesto saloon at the same time as a couple of ranchers from Stockton were, heard the waitress call them by the names JR Morton and Zack Morton." Shaun replied. He wasn't surprised when Heath stiffened even more. Though, Heath simply waited for him to continue.
"They were talking about the fact that they had just purchased some land that lies next to the west side of this ranch. That is, the only thing that separates the two places is a public road-even if it's a back road." He looked at Heath as if to ask if he needed to spell it out.
Heath groaned. The Mortons had tried more than once to get the Barkleys to sell a few hundred acres on that side of the ranch. Each and every time Nick and Maria, along with the rest of the family, had given the Mortons a solid NO for an answer. "What are they planning?" Heath asked slowly.
"Said something about how there had been a mistake made with the boundaries, it was hard to hear with all the noise." Shaun shrugged his shoulders. "But, to be honest, the one brother didn't seem all that eager to 'find a legal way to get the land'. That is, he seemed to think they should move fences first…and then wait for a legal fight. Guess he thinks it would be okay to get-as he said- 'free use of land for a couple of months'." Shaun jutted his chin outwards, in the direction of the house. "That child in there sensed I was bringing bad news along with me, no way anyone can say anything to convince me different. As did you,"
After hearing what Shaun had to say, Heath agreed wholeheartedly when it came to Catalina -especially since he'd see the same thing time and time again. That is, he'd known young children who seemed to have the knack of knowing things ahead of time. Now, with what Mr. Callahan had just revealed, Heath found the place inside of him where the leeriness he had towards Shaun had been fill with great concern. He trusted the Mortons as far as he could throw them…and then some.
"We're going to have to tell Nick sooner or later." Heath stood up and looked at the now lightless house. "I'll bring Jarrod over first thing in the morning; he's alone for a few weeks as well. His stepsons are grown and married, and his wife went to visit them. He would have gone with her, but he had a case he was wrapping up."
"Good idea to have him here as well," Shaun stood up, dropped his cigarette onto the ground and ground it into the dirt. The last thing he wanted was to start a fire and hurt-or worse-kill anyone. "You know; maybe, it's a good thing that young child reacted the way she did. If she hadn't, I'd have told Nick everything without you or your brother around. And," he again rubbed his chin. "We both know how stupid that would have been."
"Yea, bless his heart, Nick reacts too quickly most of the time." Heath gave Shaun a lopsided grin as he excused himself and headed for the barn. It was late and, after what he'd just learned, he needed to stop and talk to Jarrod before he headed home. After all, he didn't want to miss telling Jarrod everything, and missing him was a high possibility if he waited until morning.
Shaun watched as Heath walked away and then looked upwards. He could see the stars scattered from one end of the blackened sky to the other. The half-moon was still giving plenty of light. He could hear what sounded like a choir of crickets singing. If it weren't for the trouble he just knew was coming, and what he feared might be the results, it would have been the perfect evening. As it was, he turned around and disappeared into the bunkhouse.
