"Nick, I'm serious. I'm not abandoning Heath." Jarrod continued to look out the window. "This job he has will get him enough money to make it to Mexico. He said that he has a ranch where he can work. 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?"
Chapter 37
A curse word could be heard from the blonde, who the brothers thought was sleeping. Jarrod turned abruptly to stare at Heath.
"What is he talking about, Heath?" Jarrod's voice shook as he asked the question. "Tell me. Tell me now."
"Nothing. He ain't talking about nothing." Heath pushed up to a sitting position. "Loudmouth just spews off at the mouth without making much sense at all."
Nick growled but realized to argue with the blonde gunman would only be adding to his obivious slip of tongue.
"I want to know!" Jarrod's voice raised angrily. "What do you mean that Heath claimed to kill Cass? Did he kill him or not! OR did I?"
"I shot him." Heath looked up to peer at Jarrod. He calmly repeated. "I shot Cass Hyatt."
Eugene stared with wide eyes. "I saw him shoot Cass Hyatt, Jarrod." The boy was only trying to help but wasn't so sure of what he saw.
Nick hit his fist into the palm of his hand and began to pace. "Listen to the boy, Jarrod."
"Which boy, Nick?" Jarrod's voice lowered as his eyes became moist with tears. "Because from where I stand, Heath is about as much of a boy as Eugene."
"Both of 'em." Nick answered in a strained whisper.
"I ain't no boy." Heath interjected with an irritated tone. "Now, stop all the thoughts you're having and let it go."
"Let it go." Jarrod felt weak in the knees as he thought of the implication of Nick's earlier words. He slumped onto the sofa next to Heath. He looked at his blonde brother. "Just how am I supposed to let it go when my little brother may be protecting me and could be hung? Tell me, Heath. How am I supposed to let my little brother hang when I love him as I do?"
Heath gulped at Jarrod's words. He brushed a hand over his now moist eyes. Worried that he was showing too much emotion, Heath jumped to his feet.
"I shot him!" Heath stated again. This time he pretended to be angry. "Ya'll turned me away two years ago, Jarrod. Why in the ## would I put my life on the line for the likes of you Barkleys?"
"It is too late to use that excuse, Heath. Not after all you've done for us. Protecting Nick from Hickson, standing guard over us as we buried Beth, not to mention taking care of Evan Miles for Audra." Jarrod rubbed his temples as he spoke. "We may have rejected you, Heath. But you have been a brother to us despite our ignorance. Heath, don't you see that you have so much to live for. I can't let you do this for me."
Heath chuckled as he rolled his eyes. "I shot him. I swear to that, Jarrod. This needs dropped. I ain't sayin' nothing else on the subject and neither is loudmouth."
"Quit calling me loudmouth." Nick practically yelled.
"I sure can't call you anything else that fits better." Heath rubbed his chest slightly. "Listen, we got to keep our heads on straight. I figure you being Barkleys can back us Thomsons financially in this poker game. That way we have more folk on our side. I hear tell the gambler has a few hired men to protect him in case more than one is willing to challenge him."
"Sounds good." Nick rubbed his chin pondering Heath's way of changing the subject.
Jarrod blinked as he realized his brothers weren't willing to speak about Nick's slip up. He would argue with them but he needed to wrap his head around the implications of his loud brother's words.
"Jarrod, we need your help with the mess of the gold and steam boat on the River Monarch. Mr. Deland is willing to testify the truth but we fear him dying before hand. I know that is awful but the old man's heart is bad. Melanie is worried as we all are. They are staying at the ranch for now."
Jarrod sighed out as he answered. At least he could help his family even if he didn't know how to help the stubborn blonde brother of his. "Get Phil Archer to come to the ranch. Bring along a lawyer for Deland. Make a deal with Archer. I'll draw up the papers before you leave here. Have Deland's lawyer to check them over. Make sure everyone signs that paper."
Eugene fiddled with a small statue on the edge of Barbara's desk. He swallowed as he looked at Jarrod. "I can't believe you fooled us like you did Jarrod with your looks and voice. You even held a gun to my head."
"It wasn't loaded if that helps any." Jarrod let himself chuckle at the irony of his words. Then he stood up. He looked at his brothers. He stopped at Heath. "I think I need a drink."
Nick and Heath were relieved when Jarrod accepted their words of Heath shooting Cass Hyatt. The men went back to talking about Heath's current job and how they could help. Nick figured the sooner the job was over, the sooner Jarrod could come back home. Especially since the old man Deland would fix the problem with the accusation against Tom Barkley.
Later, the three younger brothers left out of the back office. They looked around for Jarrod but didn't see him anywhere.
"Lupe." Heath spoke to the beautiful saloon girl. "Where'd Thomas go?"
"Upstairs with Barbara." Lupe wrapped her arms around Heath's neck. "Sounds like a good idea. You don't have to keep him company tonight, Heath. Thomas is a big boy." She purred as she allowed her hands to travel over Heath's chest. "You know my bed is waiting for you to join me."
"Reckon I better head to the cabin, Lupe." He nodded to Nick and Eugene. "One of them may take you on."
Lupe pouted. "Neither can hold a light to you."
Nick harrumphed and Eugene gulped nervously. Lupe grabbed Eugene's arm. "Come on, fella. But you ain't free like Heath though. Even if you're his friend."
Eugene practically fell over himself as Lupe pulled him upstairs. Heath looked at Nick. "Seems both our brothers are busy. Why don't you come to the cabin? I'm sure Allie Kay has made a real fine meal."
"Why not." Nick followed Heath out of the saloon.
Meanwhile...
Jarrod felt guilt overwhelming him as he buttoned his shirt. Barbara glanced up from the bed. She could see the thoughts playing in the man's head. Barbara clutched the sheet covering her nakedness to her. She bit her lip as she stared at the man who moved her beyond words. She had never been with a man she wanted in her bed before. Barbara thought about this must be what Lupe felt when she was with Heath. Barbara had doubted Lupe's feelings for Heath. Now, she wondered if the young saloon girl was in love. Although Barbara had given up the life of being used by men, she realized that Thomas Thomson and Heath Thomson weren't customers. She was sure that both brothers were lovers and magnificent ones.
"How long has she been dead, Thomas?" Barbara ventured to ask.
Jarrod knew his grief was obvious to Barbara. However, he didn't know how she knew. "Over six months."
He sat down on the bed as he let the guilt burden him more. Both for feeling like he had cheated on Beth and that Heath may be taking blame for something he didn't do.
"Then don't feel guilty. The first time with a woman after must be tough. You're not cheating on her. She would understand that you are a virile, handsome man." Barbara's voice lilted as she scooted up behind Jarrod. Her hot breath teased Jarrod's ear. "Thomas, make love to me again. Make me feel like the woman that I am. Once with you isn't quite enough. Let go of your worries for one night. Be the man who can be happy again."
"Barbara, I need to tell you something." Jarrod sighed as he allowed Barbara to remove his shirt. "I enjoy you very much."
"I do you as well." Barbara bit her lip again as she studied over the handsome man in her bed. He was the best lover she had ever had.
"But I can't give you anymore than physical." Jarrod hated telling the woman that. She had been used by men long enough. "I don't want to be one of the men who have used you."
"You may have used me, Thomas Thomson." Barbara purred in Jarrod's ear. "However, I don't see how it is considered using me when I want you as much as I do. Maybe I'm using you."
Jarrod chuckled lightly. "I see."
The couple enjoyed the intimacy. Jarrod allowed the guilt of betraying Beth to dissipate. He hoped and prayed his beloved wife would really feel as Barbara claimed. For just one night, he wanted to forget Beth's death, Cass Hyatt's murder, and claiming to be Thomas Thomson. He wanted to make love to a woman withouth guilt and allow himself to get lost in the moment of passion.
As they lay in the afterglow of being together, Jarrod traced his fingers over Barbara's bareback. "Heath is claiming to have killed a man for me. I think I killed a man and Heath is willing to hang for me." Jarrod admitted softly.
"Oh, Thomas. That boy loves his brother. I hear doubt in your voice." Barbara allowed her fingers to twirl on Jarrod's chest. "However, I can see you claiming the same for him."
Jarrod wrapped his arms around Barbara tightly. "I do love my little brother immensely. However, I think Heath is the one showing that love and protecting me in this one."