Chapter Four

Except from Ch 3: "I have to keep this appointment with my clients or I'd join you' had been his exact words to McColl.

~oOo~

The sun was beating down something fierce, as Nick wheeled himself down the ramp that had been built outside the house and onto one of the two "sidewalks" Jarrod, McColl and some of the men who worked for the Barkleys had laid outside. One led to the barn, and one to the main corral. That way Nick could get around outside. With his mind on the trip Brydie, Jarrod, and the children were taking, Nick almost missed seeing Duke McColl and Barrett approaching him from the south. As it was, he turned his chair to face the men and then rested his elbow, lower arms, and hands on the arms of the chair.

"Aren't you two supposed to be helping with the branding this morning?" Nick, who was once again handing out the daily jobs for the men-among other things-asked as the two long time employees stopped in front of him. The fact that both men were more than nervous could be seen in the way they hooked their thumbs over the pockets in their pants and shifted their weight.

"We would be." McColl, more experienced in talking to Nick even when he, the foreman, was nervous, kept his eyes on Nick. "Only before Jarrod left he gave us an assignment, or I should say he made a request of us."

Nick's eyes filled with confusion, as he tilted his head ever so slightly. "Oh?" The tone in his voice changed and the confusion was filled with curiosity. Just what had his elder brother asked of the men that was making them so nervous?

"He…He wanted Barrett and I to take a few men and go back to where we found you." McColl stiffened as he said the words, unsure of how Nick would react.

Nick sucked in his breath. Since Brydie had told him everything, Nick couldn't help but think he knew what was coming. Only…what on earth would his mother say? "And mother?" He looked from McColl to Barrett and then back to McColl; still, it was Barrett who spoke up first.

"He…he didn't want anything said to your mother, didn't want to add to her burden." Barrett shifted his feet and rubbed he back of his neck.

"He said if we did, somehow, manage to move the boulders and found…" Now it was McColl who was fidgeting.

Nick took pity on the man and, sitting up as straight as he could, said, "If you've found out Brydie and I were wrong, that you simply replace the rocks, put up a headstone or cross, and say another prayer over the grave." His voice was flat, but his heart was racing. Jarrod would want Heath's final resting placed disturbed as little as possible and respect shown at all times.

Yes, sir." McColl said as Barret nodded.

For the first time Nick feared that, as strongly as he felt Heath was alive, he might be proven wrong. He had to steady himself before snapping, "Get out of here, take whoever you need with you. Any work we need done can wait a couple of days!" He turned his chair forward and looked towards the barn. He was going to have to keep himself awfully busy.

"What about your mother?" McColl glanced towards the house; he could see Victoria pruning some rose bushes.

"I'll take care of her if she sees you riding away and asks any questions." Jenny surprised Nick, their foreman and Barrett as she walked up to her husband, McColl and Barret. She positioned herself so all their men could see her, without Nick having to turn his head or chair around yet again, and spoke. "You just do as you were told."

"Yes, ma'am!" McColl and Barrett answered simultaneously, and then hurried towards the barn.

"You don't believe me." Nick looked up at his wife, who was now standing in front his chair.

Jenny felt her heart go out to her husband. She remembered the day her father had died and how badly she'd wanted to change things. She also knew of the bond Nick shared with his brothers. It left her to wonder, and wonder a lot. "I think you need proof one way or the other, and" she said as she shrugged her shoulders and admitted, "maybe, we all do." She then leaned over and kissed Nick before excusing herself, saying she'd only come out to gather the eggs for Silas.

Nick waited for a few moments before heading for the barn once more.

~oOo~

It was noon when Jarrod, his children and their Aunt Brydie rolled into Harlin. The town wasn't very big, only his children's eyes were. They were looking at each and every building they passed, pointing to each and making comments. Of course, if someone asked him what they were saying, he wouldn't have been able to tell them anything for one simple reason…the siblings were talking so fast it was as if they were talking their own language.

When the boarding house came into view, Jarrod stopped the wagon and, pulling out his wallet, handed his sister-in-law some money. "Get us a couple of rooms, please; tell them that one of the rooms will need to have two beds or at least bed and a couch in it." He pointed down the street, in the direction of the livery stable, "I'll get the wagon and horses taken care of and then join you." He then climbed down off the wagon, so as to help his sister-in-law down and help his children out of the back of the wagon.

"Thank you, it shouldn't be a problem." Brydie stood up and preceded to climb out of the wagon. Soon Thomas and Charity were each holding one of her hands as she walked the open gate that stood in front of the boarding house while Jarrod was driving the wagon down the street. As Brydie led the children up the stairs, she sent yet another prayer upward, asking for aid in her search for the husband she just knew was simply missing.