A/N This will probably be the last glimpse into the present until the past is completely explained. I don't know why I chose to write this way but enjoyed doing so. I am using many BV characters but changing them to fit my AU. For instance, the gambler was not a gunfighter as well but I chose to make him one. I also liked the chemistry between Babarey Red and Jarrod so I changed her a little too. Thanks for the great responses. They are well appreciated. As some have questioned Heath's confused actions as how can he be dark or so forth and act this way or that...this dark Heath is due to no influence of the Barkleys, of being completely without someone to get him over the dark times of his past since he lost that with his mother. The Barkleys are a little darker without Heath as well thus Victoria's actions. The last line of the last chapter was to show that Heath is balancing on the edge and as mentioned by Kronos (review) he was more concerned about the money than his being wounded. That is exactly what I wanted to show is Heath doesn't care much for himself now that he lost his mother and thinks he has nothing to lose. He is a child of none.
Chapter Eight
Present…..
Jarrod Barkley rubbed his hand down the front of his beard. He was finally getting used to the hair on his face. He could handle the beard as long as it was neatly trimmed and cut close to his face. His hair was another thing. He had to admit that his long hair made him look very different from the Jarrod Barkley he once was. Heath had suggested Jarrod's new look. The pony tail at the back of his head caused Jarrod to feel uncivilized. However, Jarrod guessed no one would take him for a lawyer with his long hair not to mention the plain clothing. He wore faded jeans and a dark brown shirt with a light tan cow hide vest. All the clothing was well worn and faded. Jarrod didn't know how Heath wore such tight pants because he hated the tight jeans. At least he had lost a few pounds so they weren't quite as tight as they first were. Jarrod had to admit, he probably wouldn't be recognized by his own mother at this point. He had to give credit to his younger brother. The boy knew how to fit in and how to survive.
Jarrod glanced over to see his younger brother in the corner of the room. It didn't surprise him to see a gorgeous saloon girl straddling Heath's lap. She was a former acquaintance of Heath's. The girl was more than eager to get reaquainted with the blonde.
Jarrod chuckled at his little brother's prowess with woman. Nick would be so proud. His heart ached at the thoughts of his family. They thought he was dead. Truth was that Jarrod Barkey was dead. The less the family knew of his new existence the better for them.
Jarrod drew in a deep breath trying to think of now and not the past. Still, he thought of Nick again. Nick would also appreciate the looks of the girl. She was Mexican or at least half Mexican. Her large doe like eyes accentuated the small delicate features of her face. Her olive skin was not marred by age but was soft. Her hair was the deepest chocolate brown Jarrod have ever seen. She rivaled most any female in looks. Heath had found him a rare jewel in her. But not as rare as the girl who Heath was pushing away. He wished he could pull Pappy mode on Heath to make his younger brother see what was right in front of him.
Coming back from his thoughts for Heath's happiness, Jarrod glanced at his brother with the saloon girl once more. Jarrod figured Heath appreciated the girl's beauty but woud stay away from giving her his heart. Jarrod wasn't sure if the blonde gunfighter would ever allow anyone too deeply in his heart. That included himself.
He wondered if Heath even realized he was there because the blonde looked to be into the intense kissing. When Heath and the girl finally came up for air, Heath's slight nod allowed Jarrod to know he acknowledged his presence. In the short months the two had spent together, they had formed a strange bond of reading one another's actions and thoughts. Heath knew Jarrod and everything about him. Jarrod knew Heath more than Heath realized.
Take the saloon girls for instance, although Heath was always one to entertain the ladies, it was due to deeper reasons than Heath may not even realize himself. Jarrod came to this little trinket of knowledge one night while the two were sharing a camp fire. One of the few times Heath shared a part of himself with his older brother. Heath admitted in his low drawl that his mama loved him. However, he wondered if she really wanted him. Because he was sure she would've been married and had a lot more children if it weren't for raising him. Her bastard.
Therefore, Jarrod watched and listened after that. He realized the females were Heath's own way of feeling wanted. Jarrod had heard enough from others about Heath Thomson before the Barkleys turned him away. He wasn't a gunfighter or a womanizer then. He was a young man looking for a family. That was all Heath desired was to feel wanted by someone. Jarrod supposed he gave that to Heath a little now. Because Jarrod knew that the one thing in his life was good right now. That was having Heath as a brother. A cherished brother.
"Hello, Mr. Thomson." The woman, who kept the girls in line as well as the men who frequented her bar, addressed Jarrod. She was a gorgeous woman with strawberry blonde hair. She spoke with a tone that allowed Jarrod to know she respected him. "Can I get you anything?"
"You wouldn't happen to have a fine brandy back behind that bar. Would you, Barb?" Jarrod's eyes twinkled with nostalgia. It had been a while since he partook of anything that wasn't whiskey or beer.
"Can't say that I do, Thomas." Barb grinned as she poured Jarrod a shot of whiskey. "I'll give you the best whiskey I have in the house. It will cost you though. That brother of yours cuts into my profits every time he comes in here. The girls don't charge him. Boy is too pretty to be a ruffian as he is."
"Well, Miss Barbara, I can't control him. He's his own man. Besides, not his fault the girls take a liking to him." Jarrod winked as he took a sip of his whiskey.
"Like #%$ it ain't. He's a charmer just like his older brother." Barbara leaned on the bar watching over her customers. She had gotten herself away from ruthless men long ago. She bought her own bar where her girls were safe and could choose how to make a living and with whom. Barbara appreciated the gentleman and charmer the handsome man before her was. "I like you both, Thomas. I do. But that young fellow has a death wish or something. He was playing poker with a known gunman and a cheat."
"Just in case you haven't noticed, Barb, Heath doesn't have on twin holsters because he needs balance in his life. He can handle himself a lot better than I can." Jarrod tipped his hat as Barbara topped off his drink.
Jarrod felt a little apprehensive knowing Heath had been paid by some other gambler to rid the world of Spider Martinson. The man was a gun for hire and a gambler, who cheated. However, no one would challenge the man due to him pulling a gun on them if they did. Jarrod feared someday Heath would meet his match. He couldn't stand the thought of losing his beloved brother now that he had him.
Jarrod also had insight now to why Heath wanted to be in the profession he was in. The two gunmen ,who killed Leah Thomson, were bound to someday surface so Heath could get justice for his mother's murder. At one time, Jarrod Barkley wouldn't call Heath's ways of handling things justice. However, things changed. Thomas Thomson was very familiar to Heath's justice. Jarrod only wished that they would have welcomed Heath in the family so many months ago. Both their lives would be far different than they were now. Jarrod only wished that they would have welcomed Heath in the family so many months ago. Both their lives would be far different than they were now.
Heath would be Heath Barkley instead of Jarrod being Thomas Thomson.
"You still worry for him, Thomas. I can see it in your eyes. That young man may be used to surviving on his own." Barbara nodded to Heath. "But that doesn't stop you from loving your brother and worrying for him. I don't care to know what you two are up to. However, I can see you want to protect him more than that boy can fathom. He's got a rough exterior but something tells me that you'd be able to break through that. These girls don't love him. Heath don't love them either. These girls like feeling special. He does that for them. His great looks don't hurt either. But that boy looks to you for something he needs. I can see it in his eyes when he looks to you. I don't figure either one of you can make it in this world without each other. Keep that in mind when you and Heath do whatever it is your doing."
"Miss Barbara , I thank you for your words of wisdom. Heath means more to me than my own life right now. I guarantee that." Jarrod watched as Barbara nodded her understanding. She knew that Thomas Thomson would do whatever it took protect his little brother even at the risk of his own life.
Jarrod looked up when he heard the sweet plead from the saloon girl on Heath's lap. "Please, Heath. I miss you. Can't you stay with me all night? Your brother is old enough to take care of himself. He's older than you are."
Heath leaned over to kiss the girl passionately before reluctantly pulling away from her. "Can't tonight, Lupe. Glad I got to see you again though. It's been awhile. Besides, I spent last night with you." Heath had to pry Lupe's arms from around his neck. "Maybe tomorrow night."
Lupe pouted but agreed as she traced her fingers down the front of Heath's shirt. "I hope so, Heath. I miss you more than you know."
Barbara summoned Lupe over to help deliver some drinks to the other tables. She figured the Thomson brothers needed to take care of business. Thomas Thomson had been working his way into the big poker game coming up. Of course, Heath would be Thomas's partner at the game. Thomas was the money or investor so to speak.
Those two were a strange combination. Thomas may look like your everyday cowhand or drifter, but his sophistication and gentlemanly ways told her different. Heath was another story altogether. He was the sweetest gunfighter to grace the land as far as Barbara could tell. He was probably the most handsome gunfighter too. That was one thing Barbara had to say the Thomson brothers had in common, their good looks. Even if they didn't look like one another, they were both downright gorgeous.
She preferred the suave good looks of Thomas. Still most of the ladies seemed to think Heath was about as good looking as they came. Both of them could have their picks of the females. Heath seemed to pick out his fair share. Thomas seemed to stay away from the females. Barbara liked that fact. She knew she was starting to have feelings for the dark haired man. She also knew now was not the time to let those feeling show.
Barbara knew the look of grief on someone's face. She had surmised that Thomas had lost a wife somehow. She saw the golden band the man still sported on his ring finger. He was in mourning for his wife that much was obvious. But there was still something about Thomas that didn't quite fit in his brother Heath's world. Something that told her the brothers lived two very different lives from each other at one time.
"Well. Did you get me in?" Heath swigged back Jarrod's whiskey.
"Help yourself, brother Heath." Jarrod stated sarcastically.
"Quit being a smart ### and answer my #### question." Heath leaned his elbows on the bar. "Besides, I gave you all the money I had so you could look like the rich fella here."
"That you did." Jarrod grinned as he studied his younger brother. "I got you in. Heath, we can make money some other way."
"This is how I make a living, Thomas." Heath let Jarrod know he was no longer a Barkley if he wanted to survive in this world. His world. "It is how we survive now. I'm taking care of you all right. Ain't I?"
"Yes, little brother. You are." Jarrod sighed as he looked down at his smooth hands. "But I should be the one taking care of you. You're my little brother."
"Too late for that." Heath saw the sadness overshadow Jarrod's face. He regretted saying that to Jarrod. "Besides, big brother, you are taking care of me. We're a team now. We're taking care of each other. Ain't that what brothers do?"
"It is indeed, brother Heath." Jarrod grabbed the back of Heath's neck and squeezed. "It is indeed."
