* I want to thank all the ones I've chatted with for encouraging me to sit down and write this story. It is based on an actual event that took place in my own life three years ago. While I did write poetry at the time to help deal with it I never really sat down and 'got it all out'. Thanks to my Beta Reader too—though all mistakes are still my own. Any songs I use in this story I got off a site that has songs that are in PUBLIC DOMAIN.
ALWAYS IN MY HEART
CHAPTER TEN
SCENE EIGHTEEN
Gene lay sleeping as Nick and Heath sat around the campfire talking. Due to one thing or the other the round up was taking a day longer than planned. They were glad their brother was sleeping as it gave them time to talk without having to worry about upsetting him or anything.
"I know he wanted to finish the round up," Nick threw some more wood on the fire. He did not try to keep the anger out of his voice. He was angry, not with Heath nor with Gene; he was just flat out angry at life and the cruel blow it had dealt his brother, "but one of us has to take him back. He's only growing weaker. We'll be lucky if we don't wind up on the same horse as him as it is."
Heath sighed. He knew Nick spoke the truth; he just hated the thought of what it would do to Gene. As he thought on it he sat straight up and asked, "What would that hurt?" he looked over at Gene, "I mean, we were able to bring him along in the first place because we've got plenty of help. He could ride with me; Charger can handle. We can ride in the rear."
Nick began to argue, but the thought of Gene's strong desire to finish the round up with them pressed itself upon his mind. "No," he sighed, "I'll carry him if it comes down to it."
0000
Gene sat in the saddle and leaned against Nick. It had indeed came down to 'it'. Nick had been carrying him like that for the past two days. "Guess I should have listened to Mother and Pappy only it sure felt good to be around the campfires. Sorry, if I'm a burden."
Nick fought back the tears that wanted to come. "Don't worry 'bout it," his rough voice betrayed his emotions, "We'll be home by tonight. Maybe we can build ourselves another fire and sit around singing songs; if the animals don't attack us for hurting their hearing that is."
Nick was taken aback when Gene started reciting a song he hadn't heard in ages. The one that Jarrod said Amanda had sung at the social.
"I cannot sing the old songs,
I sung long years ago.
For heart and voice would fail me
And foolish tears would flow;
For bygone hours come o'er my heart,
With each familiar strain.
I cannot sing the old songs,
Or dream those dreams again.
I cannot sing the old songs,
Or dream those dreams again.
I cannot sing the old songs,
Their charm is sad and deep,
Their melodies would waken,
Old sorrows from their sleep
And tho' all unforgotten still,
And sadly sweet they be,
I cannot sing the old songs,
They are too dear to me.
I cannot sing the old songs,
They are too dear to me.
By the time Gene had finished the second verse Heath had ridden back and joined his brothers. When he did not continue the brothers looked down and stopped abruptly in their tracks. One word was all they said, but it could be heard all over California, "GENE!"
Heath did not fight the tears that came and, he noticed, neither did Nick.
CLOSING SCENE
The wind blew gently through the wooded area. The birds had stopped their singing as if they knew the group that had gathered was hurting. Thomas Barkley no longer lay alone. Tears streamed down Victoria's face and down the faces of the rest of her family and their friends.
With Jarrod's prodding Amanda took a step forward and began singing; when she came the third verse , the one Gene had been unable to finish, she sang louder.
I cannot sing the old songs,
For visions come again,
Of golden dreams departed,
And years of weary pain,
Perhaps when earthly fetters shall
Have set my spirit free,
My voice may know the old songs,
For all eternity.
My voice may know the old songs,
For all eternity."
One by one the group dispersed until all that remained was Victoria and her family. "Come on, mother," Jarrod put his hand on his mother's shoulder, "It's time to go home."
"Take care of him, Tom. The two of you are always in my heart." Victoria whispered as she turned and followed Jarrod.
DEDICATED TO ALL THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE DIED TOO YOUNG…INCLUDING MY DAUGHTER WHO WE LOST IN 2007. MAY SHE REST IN PEACE.