Chapter 36Note: Estimated timeline for present. In my story, Heath was younger when he showed up than BV has him. He was twenty-one almost twenty-two years of age. It has been over two years since Heath was denied the Barkley heritage similar to the beginning of Palms of Glory only Heath wasn't invited home after he fought along side his brothers at Semple's farm. It has been approximately eight to ten months since Tori Beth's birth, Beth's death, and Cass Hyatt's murder. Heath and Jarrod have been on the run for six months. Five of those months Jarrod is thought to be dead and has became Thomas Thomson. Heath is now 24 years old."Neither do I." Nick growled out as he let the knowledge of the man claiming Heath as a brother be put aside for the time being. He didn't cotton to a gun being held against the side of Eugene's head."Then I suggest you release my brother or things could get a might bit ugly for you and this young fella." Jarrod could tell by Heath's smirk that the boy was about to bust out laughing at Jarrod's fake voice.Nick let loose of Heath's collar. Heath straightened his collar as he addressed the beautiful redheaded bar owner. "Barbara, do you think we can talk somewhere private like?"Barbara nodded to a room behind the bar. "Use my office, boys. Take your time but don't leave me a mess to clean up." She looked defiantly at Nick when she added. "Blood stains too easily. "
The door closed behind the four men. Nick turned around ready to give the stranger a beating he'd never forget. However, when Thomas Thomson pushed back his hat, Nick practically threw himself at Jarrod in a brotherly embrace. Eugene followed Nick's lead as the brothers reunited with their older brother.
Although both believed the body wasn't Jarrod's body, seeing him in person confirmed that. This caused their worry to be put to rest. Their oldest brother was alive and well. Seeing Jarrod after five months of his possible death had the brothers elated.
" ##$! Look at you, Jarrod." Nick bellowed as he gripped Jarrod by the shoulders. He laughed as he flipped Jarrod's pony tail. "You don't look like any fancy lawyer I ever saw before. I'd never have spotted you if I didn't see it with my own eyes. Not that your looks are that different. It is just nothing I'd expect is all." Nick sighed out relieved. "I knew you wasn't dead! I knew it."
"Might want to keep your voice down, Nick." Heath figured loudmouth couldn't be quiet even when it was utmost importance to keep the secret of Jarrod being alive. Heath sauntered over to a soft cushioned sofa before flopping on it. He placed his hat over his eyes."Thomas, you fill your brothers in on our comings and goings for the last few months. I'm going to catch a nap. Plum tuckered out from all the birthday celebrating lately."
Jarrod chuckled at his little brother's words. He knew exactly what type of gifts the saloon girls had offered the blonde gunman. Nick and Eugene were busy noticing Heath's word of YOUR brothers rather than OUR brothers. Seems the blonde gunman still didn't feel much like their family due to his earlier rejection two years ago.
Jarrod turned to his other brothers. "Sit down. I'll explain Heath's plans up to this point."
Eugene sat followed by Nick. The three brothers sat around Barbara's desk as Heath lounged on the sofa. As Jarrod told of his survival with his little brother, Nick and Eugene couldn't help but pick up the fondness that Jarrod now carried for Heath. It was much more than friendship or men in the game of mutual survival. It was obvious brotherhood.
"I have to admit. Heath's plan of you being dead worked." Eugene leaned his elbows on the table. "Mr. Archer is back to working on other cases with less notoriety. Well unless you count going after father's name for sealing gold. That seems to backfired on the Knights of the Golden Circle as they wanted your name ruined to add to father's reputation being ruined. Now, the district attorney wants to prove Tom Barkley did steal the gold. I guess if he can't get one of Barkley, he will go after the memory of another. He really thought he had you to rights, Jarrod. He'd never guess you were out here alive making a living as a con man and gambler."
"Especially not looking like that. The beard is different enough but that long hair. Might be as pretty as Audra's." Nick taunted with pure joy still echoing in his voice.
At the mention of family, Jarrod had a sadness overshadow his contenance.
"How is Tori Beth?" Jarrod eagerly asked. "Is she okay? How much has she grown?"
"She's great. Always giggling and happy." Nick tapped the table as he spoke. "Chubby little thing. I think she's gonna be a small one like Mother but she's chubby for now. She is taken to a bottle now that Dr. Merar said she is healthy enough. She has the prettiest golden hair you ever saw. It is real curly. She reminds me a lot of Audra except that lopsided grin. That is all our father."
Jarrod glanced over at his reclining brother. "That is all Heath too. I can imagine how much she looks like little brother there." The fondness still remained in his voice.
"You two got close. Huh?" Nick questioned as he noted Heath's chest rising and falling in a steady pattern of sleep.
"We help each other now. However, I have to admit that Heath has kept me alive. Without him, I'd never have survived on my own. He kept both Allie Kay and I alive. Being a Barkley was easy compared to the life I've been living. I took for granted the privileges that come with that name. Heath once told me something about singing a different tune when my stomach was growling with hunger. I've come to understand what he meant. It hasn't been easy. Especially when we were on the run with a posse and bounty hunters hot on our trail. Heath kept them at bay best he could. That meant hiding in places I never thought I could survive in like the mountains. He taught me a lot about survival. Heath taught me a lot about the kind of man I am as well. I have more flaws than I can count. I should've never turned him away. I may be his older brother but that boy has crossed more hills than I ever will. He's tough and a good strong man. I'm proud to call him brother."
"We shouldn't have sent him away. I agree." Nick admitted. Eugene nodded in agreement. Nick anxiously tapped the table again as he asked."What now, Jarrod? You're not planning on living as Thomas Thomson for the rest of your life. Are you?"
"No. I plan on facing the law as soon as I can get a fair trial." Jarrod stated as he rubbed his neck. It was a habit he had picked up somewhere during the last six months.
"I have a place you can hide out near the ranch. No one will be the wiser. I can even bring Tori Beth and the rest of the family to visit you every other week or so until you get that trial. We can head out tomorrow." Nick grinned widely. "It is a perfect place to hide you. Besides, you being thought dead will be perfect for my plan."
Jarrod peered deeply at Nick. He needed Nick to understand his next words without question. "I'm not leaving Heath."
"He can come too." Eugene perked up as he added his part.
"No. He can't, Eugene. Heath is still a wanted man. Men are still looking for him because he has a good size bounty on his head. Even if his wanted poster doesn't look much like him. Heath is still using his name because he makes a living with the name Heath Thomson." Jarrod stood up and made his way to the window to glance out of over the small town. "The only reason why he's not been caught yet is because he has a lot of friends in this town. Friends from before he was even a gunman. They keep their ears and eyes open for anyone new or looking for him. I'm surprised you found him."
"Well, we don't look like the law or bounty hunters. We look like ranchers. We have checked out different scenarios looking for a hired gun. Besides that, we were looking for a man we described as a fancy dresser, clean shaven and had expensive taste. You know. The Jarrod Barkley we thought you'd still look like." Nick chuckled as he stared at his brother, who was thinner, had beard and long hair and dressed more like Heath than the lawyer he was. "I can't wait for Mother and Audra to see you."
"Nick, I'm serious. I'm not abandoning Heath." Jarrod continued to look out the window. "If he can pull off this job, it will get him enough money to make it to Mexico. He said that he has a ranch where he can work in Mexico. I wasn't going with him. We talked about him sneaking me back to Stockton once the River Monarch mess is cleared up and I can get a hold of Nate Springer. I'm going along with his plan. He's my brother as much as you two are. Yes. I miss that daughter of mine immensely. But until I know that Heath is safe somewhere, I'm sticking with him. I know Tori Beth is well taken care of. Heath needs me to help him take care of this job and to help make sure he gets safe to Mexico. I owe him that much for all he's done for me."
"So you got your memory back." Thinking Jarrod meant he owed Heath for claiming the guilt of murdering Cass Hyatt, Nick pounded his fist in the palm of his hand. "Now you know that Heath claimed to kill Cass Hyatt to protect you."
"What?" Jarrod turned around sharply. "What did you say?"