His eyes settle on the distant figure carefully carrying the boy he loves like a son over to the blanket that has been freshly laid upon the ground by the matriarch of the family. He watches with admiration as Victoria gently places another folded blanket under Heath's head as they settle him on his left side. He can see her running her fingers through the blonde locks as she whispers in the boy's ear, words he can only assume are soothing words of comfort, asking the blonde to trust in her, in his new family. It is a sight that warms his heart. Heath deserves some peace after all of the battles he has suffered throughout his young life.
Unaware of the smile spreading across his face he turns back toward Lee, who is standing guard next to the now bound villains. It didn't take long for him and Victoria to secure their three prisoners who were each crippled by their newly acquired injuries. The bullet that stayed true and hollowed through Matt's shoulder only tore through muscle and even though the spineless man cried like a baby, Jim is certain he will live at least long enough to be hung. Clay's broken nose was nice and swollen leaving the young man dazed, but fully aware of the gun at his temple daring him to put up a fight as the lawman bound his wrists. And then, of course, there is Martha. He looks over at the oddly quiet maniac and can't help but smile as he walks over and double checks the binding wrapped securely around Martha's jaw and head. What's that old saying, something about never poking the mama bear when her cubs are near. He shakes his head chuckling, thinking about the broken jaw Martha sustained in her fight with Mrs. Victoria Barkley. Nick's just a cub compared to her! A testament to the power of a mother's love, he thinks before turning back to look over to where Heath is lying. He sees that Gene has arrived with their horses and is getting the medical supplies out of Nick's saddlebags.
"Ya know," Lee starts, walking over to the larger man, "I can watch these three if ya want to go over and check on Heath for yourself."
"I'm that obvious huh?" Jim laughs as Lee nods at him. "Thanks," he says before turning and heading over to the huddled group.
Four heads turn towards him and without question Gene stands up and moves to the backside of Heath next to Audra, letting the lawman bend down in front of the blonde's legs. He looks down at Heath whose eyes are closed and takes in the deep bruising, swollen features, and raspy breathing. The thin film of sweat covering the shaky figure screams of fever, infection, and he can barely control his fury when he sees the oozing bloody lacerations on the boy's back. Taking in a deep breath, he doesn't even notice as his hands instinctively ball into fists or his legs begin to rise until a hand on his shoulder brings him back to the present and he looks up into the fiery hazel eyes of Nick Barkley. He can see the camaraderie burning back at him. They would avenge Heath, together they would make sure those who did this pay.
"Hey, Heath boy," Jim quietly calls trying to conceal the crack in his voice as the rage burns within him. "What are you doing scaring the tar out of me like that?" he tries to joke as he reaches down and places his hand on the boy's knee, giving it a gentle pat, and is rewarded with a small crooked smile.
"Jim," Heath whispers, the small smile remaining. The comfort he feels in this man's presence is clear to all of them and surprisingly for the Barkleys they no longer feel a pang of jealousy but instead, it brings them a sense of peace. They are glad Heath has had men like Jim and Frank in his life, to help him, to guide him.
"You just hold tight, son and let your family help you," he says as he looks up to meet their eyes. Looking back at him in an array of hazel, browns, and blues is the determination they each feel. Even Mrs. Barkley, he can see has taken this blond boy into her heart. He smiles at them and gives them each a silent thank you.
"I'm going to get the wagon ready," he chokes out, full of emotion, looking back at Heath. "We'll get you over to the doc so he can fix you up," he finishes as he stands and sees the one blue eye watching him. He smiles down at the boy just as he feels the all too familiar feeling of metal tearing through his chest, lifting him off the ground, and slamming into the compact dirt below him.
Watching in horror as Jim is picked up and propelled backward landing hard against the ground, the small group, except for Heath, all turn to look for where the deadly projectile came from. Heath instinctively lunges forward trying to reach his fallen friend but falls short as the infection ravaging his right side refuses to be denied and sends excruciating waves of mind-numbing pain through him. Gasping, falling back onto his left side, he reaches out toward Jim, trying to call his name but only faint whispers are able to break through the darkness threatening him just as the echo of the shot finally reaches them along with the familiar voice it is accompanied by.
"I got a better idea, lawman!" Buddy yells. "How about you just die!"
Jumping up with their guns drawn, Nick and Gene quickly turn to meet Buddy head on only to have their breath catch as they see the shield he has protecting him. Jarrod is positioned directly in front of their old friend, his hands are tied behind his back and his mouth is gagged. Buddy's left arm is wrapped around his shoulder with a small blade in the left hand positioned at his throat. With his right hand, Buddy is keeping his colt pointed directly at Jarrod's temple. Keeping their guns steady, the two men watch as Buddy pushes Jarrod closer to them.
"I'd hold your fire if you want your brother to continue living!" Buddy ridicules. "And that includes you." He points the gun toward Lee and presses the knife deeper into Jarrod's neck causing a small trickle of blood to form. Lee holds steady watching for a sign from Nick as to what he would like for him to do.
"Come on," he shouts at Lee, "I have no problem putting a bullet in you. Now drop it!"
Nick nods in confirmation to his loyal hand and Lee drops the gun to the ground.
Victoria watches as the scene unfolds and holds in her own gasp as she looks around Gene to see her oldest son in Buddy's grasp. Taking in a calming breath, she looks back to the unmoving Jim and then glances down at Heath, who is staring absently at the fallen man, a lost look in his eye. Taking his hand in her own, she squeezes gently just as Buddy starts to call out his demands.
"Now that that is taken care of," he pauses as he hears Nick growl, bringing a smile to his face, "if everyone else would please toss their weapons to the side. Including you, Audra, you can lower that rifle to the ground. Don't think I have forgotten how well you can shoot."
Audra looks to Nick and Gene who aren't moving and remains steadfast like her brothers, holding the rifle firmly in her hand.
"I see," Buddy pushes Jarrod closer. "Maybe if I kill the bastard you all seem to be so attached to all of the sudden that will help to convince you I'm serious!" He points his gun in their direction cocking it back, causing both brothers to react by dropping their guns to the ground, followed soon after by Audra.
"Buddy," Victoria calls out. Gently lying Heath's hand back down, she rises up and stares at her godson. This boy, who she helped raise, who she loves as if he were her own son is now the cause of all of their pain. "Whatever trouble you have found yourself in, let us help you."
"Help me?" he scoffs, "You think I need help! You sound just like my father!"
"I know this isn't you." She takes a step toward him. "We are your family. Now please, whatever has happened we will help you. You don't have to do this."
For a second Buddy looks down and the knife slightly lowers from Jarrod's neck giving them all room to pause and to hope their mother may have been able to get through to this man, who was once like a brother to them. But it is only for a second.
"You're right, Aunt Victoria," Buddy smiles and licks his lips before tightening his grip on Jarrod. "I don't have to do this. I want to do this. This is exactly who I am. How did you think I was making money back east? I've been doing exactly this for the last four years." He stops and laughs at the look of horror on their faces.
"I guess I'm not surprised you didn't know, my father did try to do a good job covering for me. Like poor little Miss Molly. If my father had just let me kill her then she wouldn't have been locked away. As a matter of fact," he glances down at Heath, "if it wasn't for that I never would have enlisted the help of the Simmons. That was all my father's fault. You should all be glad I killed him."
"You killed your father?" Audra cries out in disbelief.
"I sure did," he states proudly, relishing the memory. "I sat right in front of him and watched the light vanish from his eyes. I literally watched his soul seep from his body. It's a beautiful thing, death."
He looks out over the family that once called him one of their own and can see the disgust looking back at him. A disgust that satisfies his desires and makes the prospect of killing them so much more inviting.
"Now shall we continue? Please kick your guns away from you," he calls out and watches as they oblige before he turns to Gene. "Gene, be a good friend and help your hand untie those three." He waves his gun over to where the Simmons are sitting and then watches as Gene first checks with Nick before walking over and helping Lee untie their three prisoners.
No one dares to move as Gene and Lee make quick work of the ropes tied around the Simmons and Clay's hands. With their hands-free, the group slowly rises to their feet and look to Buddy for direction as they stand fearful of the repercussions for their actions.
"Well, tie them up," Buddy yells at the three and points towards the Barkleys. "Thanks to you we haven't got all day. Now hurry up!"
Grabbing some rope and wearing a smile of revenge, Clay and Martha grab Lee and Gene and push them toward the others hoping to pacify their leader into not killing them for their selfish action. Matt follows slowly behind the other two, gripping his arm tightly, whimpering along the way. As they approach the other group, they push Gene and Lee on to their knees and are met with the enraged glare of Nick whose anger is tipping over to the point he is barely able to stop himself from ripping them apart with his bare hands. Martha sneers back, giggling, with drool dripping down her chin as she roughly grabs hold of Victoria, forcing her in front of Heath where she begins tying her hands together. Clay does the same to Audra, leaving the Barkleys lined up and on their knees in front of the very still and very quiet Heath.
With all of their hands tightly tied behind their backs, Buddy pushes Jarrod down in front of the group and removes the gag from his mouth, which causes Jarrod to cough and spit a few times into the ground beside him. Placing the knife back into a holster attached to his belt, Buddy reaches into his vest pocket and pulls out a plain envelope that he waves in front of the family for dramatic effect before opening it and pulling out what Jarrod instantly recognizes as a legal document of some kind.
"I'm sure you are all curious as to why you have found…," he pauses and looks back toward the whimpering Matt who is standing behind him. Glaring at the pathetic man until he stops, he turns back to face the family and starts again. "Why you have found yourself in this predicament and as one might suspect it is your wealth and influence that have landed you here. As a courtesy to our family's connection…" he stops again as this causes Nick to laugh. Walking over to stand directly in front of the proud man, he grabs his chin and forces him to look at him, "Yes, a courtesy. Make no mistake, no one else in my profession would have bothered to allow any of you to live. As it is I hold in my hand a way for Aunt Victoria and Audra to walk away. All you boys have to do is sign it."
