Back at the table, Jeff said to Nick, "That your brother's type?"
"Jeff, what's your problem?" Nick demanded. "We're in a saloon, for crying out loud. What's he supposed to do?"
"He just looks mighty slick," Jeff said.
Nick just shook his head. "Girls seem to like him. He likes them. So?"
"My sister should see him now," he said. Heath and Alice were sitting at a table across the room, talking and laughing. "That would cure her."
"What's that about your sister?" asked Nick. He was confused. He didn't think Heath had even met Jeff's sister.
"She won't shut up about him," Jeff said. "I want to know what he did."
"What he did?" Nick was bewildered. "When did he even meet her?" Cal and Buddy looked on with interest.
"At the dance last month at the McLeod's house."
Nick thought back. Heath had only danced with a few girls, and those were girls who had approached him and hinted at wanting a dance. He had hung back and been very shy. He'd nursed a drink most of the evening. He'd danced with Audra a couple of times, which had made her happy. He hadn't disappeared with any girl, at any point in the evening. Nick remembered thinking that Heath wasn't going to be the slightest competition with him with girls.
"I don't recall him doing anything," Nick said. He started to get irritated. "What are you accusing him of? He barely talked to or danced with any girls. I was wondering what his problem was. I don't think he even knows who your sister is."
"Simmer down, Nick," Jeff said. "I had no idea you were so protective about your little brother." He smirked. The way he said it chapped Nick's hide. "Maybe he's more in his element here." He jerked his head in Heath's direction. Alice was sitting very close to him, giggling at everything he said.
Nick took a swig of whiskey. He wondered why he felt like belting Jeff in the mouth. He had been scornful of Heath himself since the beginning, he reminded himself. He remembered that he had said something about Heath to a handful of friends after Heath first arrived, something he was now ashamed of.
Jeff had been in that group. He had made a comment that while he didn't doubt they shared the same father, maybe Heath was there for some easy money and might take off. His cheeks burned with shame just thinking about it now. He had spent more time with Heath, and while Heath didn't say much – he thought again of Jarrod's words as to why he didn't – he had learned far more about his younger brother's character.
Heath was incredibly honest, the type who would turn around and ride all the way back to town if he'd been given a nickel too much in change. He seemed, if anything, uneasy with the Barkley money. He had hardly spent anything. He worked so hard that Nick could hardly believe it.
Nick had learned more about how poor Heath had been growing up, how hard he had always worked. He knew now this young brother of his always contributed vastly more than he took. He also remembered being stunned just the other day when Heath was mentioning something just in passing about how he had learned some Spanish as a kid.
Nick had asked him how, and he had said "The Mexican kids were allowed to play with me. Their parents didn't care who I was." Nick had thought for a while about what Heath could have meant – allowed to play with him?
But Heath offered no explanation, just went on with what they had been talking about, the Spanish-speaking agricultural laborers on the ranch; he could talk to them if needed. But it stuck in Nick's mind, and he had wondered more about his brother's life before they knew him. He had begun to understand that it had been mostly a bleak and lonely existence.
Jarrod had said to him once, "Nick, the only thing he really cares about is being part of the family. He's never had that. He's not here for money. He hasn't said a word about it. He looked shocked when I gave him his personal account. I had to convince him to take it. He said he could live a lifetime on a tenth of it. But what he wants desperately is to fit in here – I can see that. Without us, he's completely alone in the world."
Nick was having the rare experience of being at a loss for words. He didn't like it. He'd bring Heath back over here, maybe show Jeff a thing or two.
"Hey, Heath?" he yelled.
Heath looked in his direction, giving him a look that said What? Can't you see I'm busy?
He said something to Alice, who giggled again, then he got up and strolled over.
"What's up, Nick?" he asked.
"Does that girl laugh at everything you say?"
"Pretty much," Heath said dryly.
"Why is she still laughing?"
"I told her that one of this group was my brother. She asked me which one. I told her the loud one. She said there are lots of loud men in here. I said she'd still know which one anyway."
Nick laughed. "Boy, you are really something," he said. "Jeff here says his sister wants to get to know you better. Maybe wants you to come call on her or something." The annoyed look Jeff gave him amused him.
Heath immediately put on his poker face. He wondered if Nick was trying to embarrass him. Since when did the daughters of Stockton's elite think he was good enough for them? Sure, maybe they smiled and even flirted. Girls always had with him. But when it came to courting, Heath highly doubted that his attentions would be welcome with most of their parents. He sensed Jeff's condescension as keenly as he could spot prey when he was hunting.
"You know Jeff's sister, Amanda?"
"No, Nick, I don't think so."
"Dark hair, pretty blue eyes, a good bit shorter than Audra? You met her at the dance at the McLeod place."
Heath gave him a blank look.
"Well, apparently she finds you very charming."
"I don't see how," Heath said. "As you pointed out to me, Nick, I didn't do enough socializing."
"You seem social enough here," Jeff said. "Maybe you're more comfortable with saloon girls."
Heath laughed. What a jackass, he thought. He felt that Nick understood next to nothing about him, so it certainly didn't surprise him a friend of his was like this. Heath was so used to this type of attitude that he just didn't care.
"Well, I reckon I am," he drawled. "I might just go see what time Alice gets off work." He pushed his chair back and stood up.
"Since you're such the big poker player, want to play?" Jeff asked.
"No thanks," said Heath. He headed over to talk to Alice again. This was so typical of Nick, to have this kind of friend. He wished he had stayed home. But then again, the way Alice was eyeing him, maybe this night would be more fun than he thought.