I do NOT own The Big Valley, nor do I own any of the original Barkley characters. Thanks again to my Beta Reader, for all the time she spent helping me this story. And, yes, once again, the memories are from 'The Palms of Glory'.

Against the Crooked Sky

Chapter Twenty-Five

Heath threw another handful of wood on the campfire and sat down. Paul lay sleeping nearby while Nick sat staring into the fire. Heath didn't have to ask what he was thinking. "You did it once; you can do it again." Heath took a sip of his coffee and looked at his brother. He wasn't surprised when Nick looked his way with a puzzled looked upon his face.

"What do you mean, I did it once?" Nick never liked being confused; he liked it even less now. They'd been traveling for what seemed forever, but they were making good time. They weren't all that far from the Nevada/Arizona border.

"Controlled yourself, you did it for Audra's sake; you can do it for Jarrod's." Heath knew it was the idea of losing his temper and what the consequences that could follow for their oldest brother, if he were still alive, that worried Nick. Nick was terrified, and he was not a man to be scared easily or just for anyone.

Nick bent his elbows and rested his head in the palms of his hands. For a moment he did not speak. He'd wrestled with everything from fear for Jarrod's life to downright anger that the man had allowed himself to 'fall for such a thing'. The only way Nick had gotten past that part was to tell himself that at least the man responsible for it was dead and so were the men who had been sent after him. "We have to take him home," Nick said as lowered his hands and looked at Heath, "One way or the other he needs to be with us."

One way or the other, Heath sighed. He knew that was Nick's way of saying dead or alive, Jarrod didn't belong in Arizona. "He will be." Heath put down his cup and leaned back against a rock, his mind on Jarrod. "What's your name?" "Heath." "I was on that train this afternoon..." "Hire him on Nick." "To what! We're full!" "Well, Heath did me a little favor this afternoon. Hire him on." Heath couldn't help but shake his head just slightly.

"What's wrong?" Nick had been watching Heath and knew his brother's mind was elsewhere, but the slight shaking of the head worried him.

"Nothing much," Heath answered as he set his cup down, "Just wondering what would have happened if he hadn't told you to hire me that first day I rode up to the ranch." Personally, he knew he would have dealt with it, but hated any alternative ideas he'd had come to him.

Nick gave him a smile and answered, "Maybe, saved ourselves some furniture and black eyes, but I wouldn't change that day if I could." The comment, and the sincerity with which it was spoken, earned Nick one of Heath's lopsided grins. "I'll do my best to control myself even if it kills me."

"Don't go that far," Heath stretched his legs, "I have to have someone to put the blame on when things go wrong." That earned him a playful slap from his brother. He didn't care though and let out a laugh, as did Nick.

Their laughter only got worse when Paul opened his eyes and rolled over. "Don't you two know what time it is! We have a long ride ahead of us tomorrow. I for one would like to be awake when I'm in the saddle!"

"You old codger! We weren't being that loud." Nick stood up and headed for his bedroll only to find Heath laughing harder than ever. Paul had rolled back over onto his other side and was muttering.

"You're always loud." Paul pulled the blanket up and over his head. Heath continued to chuckle softly as he too headed for his bedroll. Yep, Nick was loud, but Heath's chuckling stopped for a moment. He hoped his loud mouth brother would be able to find it in himself to control himself yet one more time, if for no other reason than to keep Jarrod, and themselves, alive.

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Jarrod lay awake for two reasons. His shoulder was hurting again, and he couldn't shake the feeling his brothers were on their way to find him. The thought Paul had not been successful in getting them to see it was not a good time for them to be down in this area both flattered and terrified him. Wasn't it bad enough he'd about died; did they really have to take that huge of a risk? What would his mother do if something happened to him and his brothers before they could get back to California?

When Gentle Wind stirred, he turned his head and sighed. Laughing with her, talking with her, even having a bit of a squabble with her, felt so natural. It still amazed him she'd accept him as her husband and had given herself to him on more than once occasion. If only her father would hurry up and get back from hunting. The sooner he talked to the man the better. As she lay curled up next to him, some of her hair lay on top of him; he brushed her hair behind her ear and brushed her cheek with his hand. What would they say about her? Would they be able to accept the fact he'd fallen in love with Gentle Wind? Would they accept her as a sister in law; that is, would they accept it if her father consented to it? What if the love they shared produced a child? These and a thousand other questions raced through Jarrod's mind before he finally fell asleep.