A shadow fell over Heath as he continued to take in small breaths. The pain in his chest was horrific but he stubbornly ignored it and kept taking small breaths. He thought he heard his name but all sounds seemed far away as his ears filled with a roaring sound. His upper body was lifted and rested against someone. The relief was instant. He drew in bigger breaths and the warmth from the person holding him enveloped him.
Nick frantically raised his brother and sat behind him. He kept calling his name and encouraged him to breathe. McCabe opened Heath's shirt and felt around his ribs. "They're broken Nick!"
"Can't be! They were only cracked. You saw yourself when we strapped them." Nick exclaimed. He could feel his brother relax and breathe a little easier.
"I don't know what happened Nick, but they are definitely broken now." McCabe declared. "Maybe he tried to get up."
"Yeah maybe….get me some water." Nick looked down at his brother. "What happened Heath? I thought I told you to lay still and rest." He shook his head and frowned. Heath's lips were moving but no sound was coming out.
Heath looked up at his brother and tried to tell him about Watson but his struggles with breathing prevented him from talking. His frustration showed in his eyes and his breathing became laboured again. He could feel his brother tighten his embrace as if trying to give him some of his strength to fight and fight he did. Each breath was a victory.
"When this roundup is over…..you and me are going to go up to the lodge and do a little fishing…..and you are going to tell me every detail of your life. I want to know who Heath Thomas Barkley is….and when you've told me everything I'm going to tell you all about Nick Barkley and…..I'm going to tell you all about Tom Barkley and what he meant to me. Just you and me…and the fish of course. Yeah….that's what we're going to do."
For the first time in his life Heath felt himself surrender to another persons care, fully trusting that person to take care of him. His breathing calmed and his body relaxed as a peaceful tranquillity engulfed him. It was a good feeling; one which he hoped would last forever.
Nick and McCabe rewrapped Heath's ribs. Nick held onto his brother declining offers from a couple of the older hands to take over while he ate. Heath eventually drifted off to sleep. McCabe and Jim continued with looking after the herd while Nick concentrated on looking after Heath. Until he knew exactly what had happened he trusted no one with Heath other than McCabe.
Heath mumbled in his sleep and Nick heard words he had not heard since the war. He knew Heath was too young to have been involved in the war but also knew that if you had a needed skill the army overlooked age. One word stood out and sent shivers down Nick's spine. 'Raiders' He had heard that word used only amongst surviving prisoners of war. Some soldiers were executed for killing and steeling from fellow soldiers in the prisons. If Heath knew such a word then he was more than likely in a prison during the war at some time. These thoughts shook him. He had only personally known one person who had been a prisoner and the stories he had shared with him were horrifying. His friend having survived the horrors of war died from a bullet fired by an unknown person whilst out riding on his ranch.
Nick looked down at his brother and a wiped a cool cloth over his forehead. He could see Heath's face relax into the ministration. All of a sudden a protective urge overcame him as he realised how much he had come to love this man. He was his brother and he had treated him badly. "Heath we're going to get through this and we're going to start over. You hear! Things are going to be different this time little brother."
"And….we're…going to…to…to go…fishing." Nick strained to hear his brother's whisper. He smiled at the trusting blue eyes looking up at him.
"Yeah that's right….fishing." Nick joyfully told Heath.
"Promise?"
"It's a promise little brother. Here…have some water."
Heath gratefully took a drink and drifted contently off to sleep. Nick sighed with relief. With the aid of a flour sack he and McCabe settled Heath sitting up against the sack in his saddle. Satisfied Heath was comfortable they made plans for the rest of the roundup while Nick ate.
"Alright then we'll gather the herd here instead of further south. We'll just add a couple of days to the drive seeing we're starting further back." With their plans all agreed upon the men were sent in groups of four to various parts of the ranch to roundup the cattle. Nick made sure an experienced long time employed hand was with each group. He remained close to camp helping out with guarding the main herd and keeping an eye on Heath.
Heath slept most of the time, waking for short periods to only drink and eat small amounts of food. Very slowly Heath's breathing improved and with that came his voice. Cookie was giving Heath a drink when he asked, "Where's Nick? I need to tell him something."
"He's guarding the herd….should be back soon."
Heath nodded and relaxed. He was determined to stay awake. Nick needed to be told about Watson. He felt better and his chest although still very sore didn't hurt as much to breath. Heath watched Cookie prepare supper and smiled when he saw the skinned rabbits being roasted. Nick had obviously set up some snares around camp. He heard two voices approaching the camp. One he recognised instantly was Watson, the other he couldn't quite make out. He looked towards Cookie who was busy peeling some potatoes. At least he wasn't alone he thought.
Watson looked over towards Heath and sneered. He then looked over at Cookie and saw that he was not going anywhere soon. He had to do something to get Cookie away from the camp for just enough time for him to finish off Heath before he told his brother what had happened. He noticed the bucket of water next to Cookie's feet and devised a plan in his head. Very casually Watson strolled over towards Cookie and asked "What's for supper?"
Cookie looked up surprised at the question. "Isn't it obvious?" He pointed the knife he was using to peel the potatoes at the open fire that was cooking the rabbits.
"Yeah I suppose it is." Watson pretended to trip and as Cookie reached out to steady him Watson kicked over the bucket, emptying the water over the fire.
Cookie jumped up. "I'm sorry Cookie. Here you get some more water and I'll get the fire restarted." Cookie snatched the bucket and grumbled as he walked towards the stream.
"Of all the clumsiest cowboys….got to start over….wish they'd stay away from camp til chows on." Watson watched him disappear.
He approached Heath chuckling at his cleverness. He saw Heath tense as he got closer to his prey. "Stubborn cuss aren't you? I thought for sure you were going to die but that brother of yours made sure you didn't."
"Get away from me Watson."
"Huh! What are you gonna do? You couldn't do anything in that prison and you can't do anything now."
Heath looked around for something to use as a weapon but before he knew it a blanket was over his face smothering him. The force of the blanket was so strong he was sure he felt his nose break. Watson was straddled over him, his knees pinning Heaths arms to the ground. Heath was trapped and darkness was closing in.
Thoughts of fishing with his brother and unburdening the horrors of Caterson with his brother raced through his mind. Just when he was about to submit to the darkness the weight of Watson was gone. He could hear through the roaring in his ears a scuffle and words such as 'Stinking Skunk'.
The blanket was lifted from his face and Heath blinked against the light. "Easy Heath…just slow down your breathing…everything's ok now." Heath reached for his brother and felt his hand taken and held on to it tightly. His brother wiped the blood from his face.
"How is he?" Cookie asked.
"His nose is broken. I need some more water."
"Here." Cookie handed the bucket he had just filled to Nick.
Nick pinched the top of Heath's nose to stop the bleeding. It hurt like hell and Heath couldn't help but gasp when Nick applied more pressure. "I'm sorry Heath….I know it hurts but I need to stop the bleeding."
Heath's eyes were turning black and his nose was swelling. "Nick. Where's Watson?"
"Out cold." Nick nodded his head over to the side.
"Tie him up Nick before he wakes up. He's dangerous. I was going to tell you. He broke my ribs when he robbed me."
Nick could see Heath struggling to tell him about Watson. His breathing was coming in short bursts and his strength was draining away. "Just slow down Heath…you can tell me everything later."
"No!...I have to tell you now….please." Heath pleaded with his brother.
"Ok Heath…calm down….just take it slow." Nick reassured his brother.
"He….Watson….was in Caterson the same time as me…..He was part of a gang called Raiders."
"I've heard about them. A good friend of mine was in Andersonville and he told me about them."
"Watson killed my friend Banter….he was protecting me….I was real sick and he got me some fresh water….just a mouthful but Watson killed him before he was able to give it to me. I told some of the newer prisoners about him but they never caught him. He's a killer Nick."
"Ok, ok now calm down. We'll take him to the sheriff and we'll get Jarrod to find out how we can get him convicted for killing your friend. Now calm down. Big brother will take care of everything." Nick smiled at his brother but couldn't keep the anguish from his eyes. His brother couldn't have been more than a boy in that prison. He checked Heath's nose and was relieved to see that the bleeding had stopped.
Cookie had tied up Watson. He had the fires going and finished preparing supper. Nick cleaned Heath up and sat with him until he fell asleep. His ribs were fine, luckily Watson hadn't put any weight on Heath's chest. His arms were bruised and his face was swollen. Nick shook his head. Heath was a mess.
The hands returned and looked questionably at the tied up Watson. One look at Heath and they knew what had happened. Dan was standing around looking sheepishly at Heath. He asked Jim, "Have you heard of Caterson Prison?"
Jim looked at Dan startled. "Caterson! What would you want to know about that hellhole for? You wouldn't have been more than a boy. It was a Confederate Prison in New Mexico. Lot of Union soldiers died there. I heard it was as bad as Andersonville." Jim shook his head.
"The war…the civil war?"
"Yes." Jim answered. "Why do you ask?"
"Heath was in there. So was Watson. I heard Heath tell Mr Barkley that Watson was a Raider in the prison and that he killed his friend for a mouthful of water." Jim looked at Dan then looked over at Heath horrified.
"Are you sure…Heath wouldn't have been old enough….but then again a lot lied about their age." Jim shook his head again and looked at Heath with concern but Dan could see Jim also look on with added respect for Heath. Jim grabbed a couple of the hands and talked quietly to them. They too looked at Heath and had the same look of respect on their faces.
The mood in the camp changed dramatically. Nick realised that somehow word had got around about Heath and Watson and Caterson. There was a continuous stream of offers to help with Heath and no one complained about work assignments. All the hands busily went out of their way to make it easier for Nick to concentrate on Heath. Nick even felt a tiny bit sorry for Watson as he was continuously spat on and sneered at.
Heath was oblivious to it all as his eyes swelled shut from the broken nose. Nick knew he would need to get Heath to a doctor and turn Watson over to the sheriff. He sent a hand back to the ranch to bring back a wagon and the sheriff. It was going to be a long couple of days but with the hands change in attitudes towards Heath he knew his brother was safe. He just needed to convince Heath.