Chapter Twenty Six

Brydie stood in the entrance way that separated the living room from the kitchen; the entrance stood in the northwest corner of the living room. It was almost eight at night and, most of the time, she'd have been getting ready to go to bed. As it was, she was doing all she could to control her excitement. The week before, she and Norah had moved the table that sat near the window to the northeast corner. The two women had then moved the couch so it sat in front of the window instead. They had did it with the idea that leaving the north wall free of any type of furniture would give Heath a place to-eventually-practice walking. Now she'd come out of the kitchen to see Heath pulling himself out of his chair and making his way down the side of the room; his hands were pressed and sliding against the wall as he did so. Only when he turned his head to look at her did she speak.

"I knew you'd be walkin' soon!" She started beaming, unable to hide her excitement any longer.

"Feel like a chilllld," Heath complained as he continued to steady himself with the living room wall. It took a few more minutes, but soon he was standing in the left hand corner. "Do I get a rewwward aftttterwarrrrds?" Heath chuckled as he stopped to catch his breath and rest; the whole time he kept his eyes on his wife-sending subtle, unspoken messages.

After all the teasing they'd been doing that morning Brydie had to bite her tongue to keep from saying anything sarcastic. Instead, she smiled. "Ye be gettin' the hang of it. As far as any reward goes," She turned to go into the kitchen, "What did ye have in mind?" She chuckled and disappeared into the kitchen before her husband could answer.

Heath growled as he painstakingly started making his way back to his chair. "That woman sure know how to push a man's button." Heath thought to himself even as he thought of what he was going to insist on being given once he could move around without holding onto a blasted wall or some piece of furniture.

~oOo~

It was completely dark and almost nine-thirty at night whenJarrod arrived home. He'd been working in his office the majority of the time. He was surprised to see Nick exiting the house and Ciego leading Coco towards the dark haired rancher. What on earth was going on? It was too late for Nick to be going for a ride. Sure, helping McColl, Barrett or one of the other hands with some necessary work, but riding?

"Where are you going?" Jarrod asked as he climbed out of the surrey he'd driven into town and watched Ciego helping Nick into the saddle and the removing the braces around the rancher's legs. After all, he couldn't bend his legs as he need to or give his horse the cues he needed if he had them on.
"Over to Heath's." Nick answered as Jarrod walked up to him.

If it weren't for the more than concerned look in Nick's eyes and in the his brother's voice, Jarrod would have asked if the hot tempered rancher what on earth he thought he was doing. As it was, Jarrod asked cautiously, "What's wrong? What's happened? And just how did you plan on getting around once you are there?" Jarrod asked as he looked at Nick's braceless legs.

After the way the family had brushed Nick off when he tried to tell them Heath was alive, the rancher almost told Jarrod not to worry about it. As it was, with the way things were, Nick felt all he could do was tell Jarrod the truth and hoped he believed him. "I can't prove it only I've been getting the strongest impressions that something isn't, or won't, be alright over there. I didn't know where you were, so I was going over there alone even if I was clueless as to what I was going to do once I got there."

'Sounds fine to me, but we've got to tell life no other excitement is to take place…not for me, not for you, not for anyone- even just a little…until after we're married' Jarrod inwardly sighed as he recalled Norah's words when he'd asked to move up their wedding day. 'So much for that idea' Jarrod thought as the last few months ran through his mind. He hadn't listened the first time only he wasn't going to make that mistake again…especially since the closer he'd gotten to the ranch, the more Jarrod had felt something was coming-even it was only a little excitement. In between that feeling and what Nick had just said, Jarrod wasn't going to argue. "Get out of the saddle and have Ciego help you into the surrey." Jarrod looked at his brother. "I'll put this briefcase on the foyer table and grab my gun and my holster. Afterwards, we can take the surrey over to Heath's." Jarrod started for the door only to be shocked to see Jenny opening the door and carrying the two items.

"I was by the window; I saw you talking with Nick." Jenny said as she handed Jarrod his gun and holster and then took his briefcase; her own fear and concern showing.

"Thanks, I appreciate it." Jarrod climbed back into the surrey after putting his holster on and sliding his pistol into place. Moment later, they were racing away from the house and hoping that whatever they would be in time to help in whatever matter was going on.

(Twenty minutes after Nick and Jarrod have left the main house)

"I'm still not sure about this." Marcus looked up at the myriad of sparkling stars that hung in the blackened sky. He and Anthony were on top of a hill looking down at Heath and Brydie's home. If it wasn't for the many stars and the half-moon that hung in the sky, the residence would probably be extremely hard to see. A part of him still wanted to be with their friends who were-as far as Marcus knew-in the process of rustling some of the cattle. It might have been different if he hadn't continued to be plagued by the feeling he and Anthony just might be making a mistake.

Disgusted at his cousin's indecisiveness, Anthony threw up his hands. "I told you before; there's nothing to worry about! Heath Barkley is in no condition to fight either one of us, and he has no help besides his wife!" He wanted to get down to the house, get this 'little chore' over with and the leave with all the spoils he could get his hands on.

"You told me there was more." Marcus leaned forward in his saddle. "If you don't tell me now, I am pulling out."

Anthony finally admitted where his eyes had wandered too; he wasn't surprised when Marcus started cursing.

"A woman! This is over a blasted woman! Are you crazy!" Marcus leaned forward, anger shooting out of his eyes.

"Not only the woman!" Anthony spat back. "Don't forget how much money is supposed to be in that safe! It will still be easy! You break into the safe; I'll grab the woman and we'll get out of there." He started his horse towards the house and then added, wanting to make sure he didn't lose his cousin's help, he added, "stop complaining and I'll share the woman with you for tonight."

Marcus still felt like they were making a mistake only he let his own lust overrule his thinking and he hurried to join his cousin.