Heath, Jarrod, Nick and Audra are in the parlor waiting for the doctor who is upstairs with Victoria tending to Allison. Jarrod and Audra are attempting a game of chess to pass the time, but neither one is particularly interested in the game. "It's your move Audra," Jarrod prompts.
"Sorry Jarrod," Audra replies with a faraway look in her eyes. "I thought I heard something." Jarrod squeezes her knee in reassurance and Audra tries to focus again on the game.
"What could be taking so long?" Heath asks pacing and looking repeatedly over at the stairs. Nick pours a whiskey and hands it to Heath. "Here, drink this before you wear a hole in mother's rug. It'll calm your nerves."
Heath takes the glass and shoots it back. Nick puts his hand on Heath's shoulder to show his support and says, "Well, whatever it is, we're here for her." Heath nods in appreciation of Nick's words. Nick might be a bull headed, brackish thunderbolt, but when it comes to his family and those they care about, he is all soft.
A door closes upstairs and the voices of Victoria and the Doctor can be heard in solemn discussion. When they reach the top of the stairs, Jarrod, Nick, Heath and Audra hurry to meet them. "Mother, Doctor." Jarrod addresses them covering the distance to the stairs in no time with his long strides.
Victoria looks tired but manages a weak smile as she takes Jarrod's hands.
"Well," says Heath anxiously, "is she going to be alright?"
"Maybe we should talk in the parlor." Victoria suggests knowing the news will be hard to deliver. The family walks into the parlor and waits expectantly for the doctor to speak.
"I'm afraid it's not good news." Dr. Merar begins. "I should really discuss the lady's condition with her husband first. Is he here?"
"Her husband is dead." Heath says definitively. "I helped bury him on a trail outside Sonora four days ago. So anything you need to say, you'd better say to us now." Victoria expects such bluntness from Nick, but not from Heath. Normally, she would chastise Heath for such a cold response, but she knows he is just concerned for Allison and decides to bite her tongue.
"Oh, goodness." Replies Dr. Merar shocked at Heath's statement. "I didn't realize the particulars of her situation. I'm sorry I don't have better news then."
"Just tell us what happened Doc!" Asks Nick impatiently. The doctor looks at Victoria who nods her head as if to give her consent to talk about Allison's condition before the rest of the family.
"Allison had a miscarriage." The doctor speaks plainly but the words hang over everyone in the room. "Near as I can tell, she must have been at least three months or so along. I've certainly administered to other women under similar circumstances only this one proved somewhat difficult. She lost a considerable amount of blood. She's alive, but extremely weak and still unconscious. The next few days will be critical and she'll require round the clock care. If the bleeding starts up again... well, she may not survive." Finishes Dr. Merar somberly.
"I left your mother with specific instructions for the young woman's care. I'll stop by tomorrow morning and check on her." Victoria thanks the doctor for coming and assures him that Allison will have the best of care and that they will contact him directly should anything change.
"I'll see you out Doc," says Jarrod and walks him to the door.
"Oh, Mother, there must be something we can do!" Pleads a frightened Audra.
"I'm afraid there is nothing we can do Audra, but wait and pray."
Nick turns to Heath who is taking the Doctor's news hard. "Heath, did you know she was with child?"
Heath's face lights up with rage and his eyes bore straight into Nick. "No, Nick! I didn't know!" he says with disgust that Nick even asked. Overcome with emotion, Heath storms out of the room and slams the front door behind him.
"Heath!" Nick shouts and starts after him, but Victoria grabs his arm and says, "Let him go, Nick."
Heath walks hurriedly to the stable. He opens the door to Charger's stall and expertly swings up onto his bare back. He kicks the horse hard leaving the yard at a full gallop. He doesn't know where he is going, he just knows he can't be there.
After riding hard for what seems like an hour, he finally pulls up Charger and slows to a trot at the end of the Barkley land. It is fully dark now and the stars shine bright in a clear sky. Heath dismounts, tethers Charger at a grove of trees, and prepares to camp out for the night.
He stares up at the sky. Did he miss something on the trail that might have clued him in? Why didn't she say anything? Maybe it was too personal to share with someone she'd only just met. Heath thinks back over the journey to the ranch and all the things he might have done differently if he had known. Damn it, he swears under his breath.