Bitter Winds
This story takes place about a year and a half after a Haunting Past which of course took place almost thirteen years after A Haunted Child. Anna, Heath and their six children are the main characters. Sean the oldest is now 13, Mary is 11, Liam and James our redheaded twins are now 9 1/2, Thomas the pint sized Heath look-a-like is now 6, and baby Jenny is 2 1/2.
Part One
The raw winter wind racing in off the coast had finally snaked its way down into the valley. It's bitter fingers pried their way into cracks and crevices and froze everything they touched. The cold mist that fell continuously from the dark low hanging clouds slowly saturated the ground and everything it touched, chilling both man and beast to the bone.
Winding the barbed wire around the fence post and securing it, Heath placed the rest of the roll in the back of his wagon under the tarp and turned back to inspect his work. Walking through the almost ankle deep mud he pulled the collar of his coat up as the wind began to pick up once again. Shivering as the wind whipped through his now saturated winter coat he thought about his wife and family. He could picture Anna preparing dinner in their warm kitchen as Liam and James sat at the table finishing their school work. He knew Sean would be out in the barn tending to the animals with Thomas tagging along on his heels. Mary would be keeping Jenny occupied so Anna could cook; and the two were probably sitting in front of the fire in the living room playing with Jenny's dolls.
Chuckling to himself as he thought about his family he walked up to the new fence he'd spent the last three days constructing. "Should be finished with this tomorrow," he thought as he pulled on the taught wire. Looking up at the gray clouds he figured he'd better start back before the sky opened up any more than it all ready had.
Walking wearily back to the wagon, he found he had to climb up using his left leg first as his right hip was just to painful. Ever since Hicks dragged him behind the horse causing him to crash into the fence post dislocating his hip, it had never truly been the same again. Whenever the weather turned colder or a storm was brewing, it would begin to act up. The past week with all of this cold weather and rain his hip had been in constant thorn in his side.
With his hat pulled down to shield his eyes from the constant drizzle he started his journey home. The going was slow as the wagon trudged through the soggy wet fields. More than once Heath was forced to jump down and help push while his horse pulled to free it from the mud.
As darkness finally robbed him of any light, he crested the top of the hill behind his home and smiled. There bathed in a warm glow was his house and in it his family. As his spirits lightened the rain no longer seemed to bother him. The icy wind freezing his wet cloths to his skin suddenly seemed less harsh, less brutal. His weariness draining away some as he thought about the evening yet to come with his family.
Pulling the wagon into the barn he slowly and wearily climbed down out of it. As his feet hit the floor he could feel the cold water and mud squish between his toes inside his boots. As he turned to unhook his horse his right hip let him know all was not well. Walking slowly he led the horse into its stall before going back for his supplies in the wagon. Hearing the barn door open, Heath looked up as Sean entered wearing his rain slicker.
"Hi Papa, need any help?" His first born questioned as he jogged the short distance from the barn door to his father. "You sure are wet, not ta mention muddy," Sean added with a chuckle as he stepped in front of his father.
Looking down at his filthy clothes, Heath smiled as he looked back up at his son. "Don't reckon yer Ma's goanna let me sit at the supper table look' in like this do ya?" He asked jokingly.
"I don't think she'll even let you in the house," Sean replied laughing.
"I bet yer right," Heath replied before laughing himself. "Why don't you take care of Lancelot for me while I empty out the wagon." Heath added as he clapped his hand on his son's shoulder.
"Sure Pa," Sean replied readily.
Heath watched as his son made his way over to Lancelot's stall. Sean now stood up to his shoulders and was growing daily. The young boy who loved nothing more than to race across an open field on horseback was now slowly becoming a young man. Since the incident with Hick's, Sean had become even more focused in the goings on of the ranch. He'd even buckled down on his school work and no longer complained about going. He knew what he wanted to do in life and that was to one day own his own ranch with horses just like his father.
After he'd finished emptying out the back of the wagon, Heath tried to remove as much mud as he could from the bed and wheels before finally folding up the tarp and hanging it over one of the empty stalls. "You about finished?" He asked as he walked over towards his son.
"Think so, got most of the mud off him." Sean replied as he poked his head out from around Lancelot.
"Good, how about we go inside where it's warm." Heath suggested rubbing his cold hands together as Sean stepped out of the stall.
"Ah… you goanna change first?" Sean teased as a half smile so much like his fathers graced his face.
Quickly grabbing his son in a headlock, Heath rubbed the boys head with his knuckles. Letting go, both shared a good laugh before heading off towards the house. Trailing a little behind his father as they neared the back porch stairs Sean watched as his father had difficulty moving his right leg up the stairs. As visions of him lying in bed covered in bandages flooded his head Sean stopped in his tracks. It was all so clear again in his mind, his father's rattled breathing, the awful pain he went through as the doctors cleaned his wounds, but worst of all was the fact his father had come with in inches of death.
"You coming? Or would you prefer to stand out in the rain all night?" Heath joked as he turned around and saw his son staring straight ahead at the bottom of the stairs.
Brought back to the present by his father's voice, Sean bound up the stairs. "Sorry thought I heard something," he said as he looked down at his boots. "Probably just the wind."
"Come on then let's head in, I'm starving." Heath said as he clapped his son on the shoulder and smiled. Opening the back door he let the warm fragrant air of the kitchen wash over him before entering.
"Heath Barkley, not one more step!" Anna shouted as she stood near the oven holding a spoon in her hand. "Just look at you, you're covered in mud." She added as she walked over towards the table.
"Told ya Papa, not even in the house." Sean chuckled quietly as he elbowed his father.
"Anna…" Heath began before being cut off.
"Heath I mean it not one more step or else," Anna said as she placed her hands on her hips.
"Or else what?" Heath asked playfully as Thomas, Liam, and James entered the kitchen.
"Heath," Anna said as she saw the devilish look in her husbands eyes. "You wouldn't."
"Oh wouldn't I?" He said as he lunged forward and tried to grab his wife. Racing around to the other side of the kitchen table, Anna shook her finger at him. "Heath that's enough," she said as she tried her best to wipe the smile from her face. The playful quality in her husbands blue eyes was mesmerizing, he'd been so busy lately around the ranch she hadn't seen it much. But seeing it now made her heart flutter in her chest like a school girl with a crush on her teacher.
"All I want is a hug Anna," Heath stated with a smile as he danced around on the opposite side of the table.
Sean laughed as he watched his parents, his smile matched that of his three brothers standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
"Heath I have to finish cooking dinner before it burns," Anna said as she looked across the table at him.
"All right I give up," Heath said as he threw his hands up in the air and walked back over to the back door.
Moving back around to the opposite side of the table, Anna turned to face her three youngest sons. "James run upstairs and get your father a clean shirt and pair of pants please." Anna stated as she watched all three boys giggle.
"Sure Mama," James replied before covering his mouth with his hand and laughing.
Feeling a tap on her shoulder Anna knew immediately who was behind her. "Heath," she began before being silenced.
"Shhhh, just a kiss that's all I ask." Heath stated as Anna turned around to face him.
The smile on his face reached deep into her heart, the gleam in his eyes clearly showing the love he felt for her. Reaching her hands underneath his wet coat she placed her hands on his ribs and leaned forward.
Using his hands which were somewhat clean due to the fact he wore gloves all day, Heath gently cupped his wife's face and brought his lips to hers. Their kiss was brief and left them both wanting more, but knowing they had an audience both realized now was not the time nor place.
"Heath you're freezing," Anna stated as she pulled her hands away from his wet shirt. Taking his hands in her own, they felt like ice.
"I'm fine Anna, just a little wet and muddy. He replied as he looked down at his cloths and smiled.
"Liam, follow your brother up stairs and bring me down some towels out of the linen closet please." Anna asked as Liam walked over to her.
"Be right back," the fiery redhead replied before dashing up the back stairs.
"Heath come stand next to the stove, you two Sean." Anna stated as she took her husbands hand and led him across the kitchen. The slight limp in his walk was not unnoticed by her, the old injury stirring up both fears and emotions she'd long thought buried.
"I'm fine Mama, I'm not even wet." Sean replied as he took off his rain slicker and then his winter coat as he walked through the kitchen and out into the living room.
Taking her husbands extremely wet coat, Anna could see just how wet he really was underneath it. His light green shirt was plastered to his skin, no matter where she touched him he seemed extremely cold to her.
Holding his hands over the stove, Heath rubbed them together trying to warm them. The bone chilling cold he felt was finally being replaced by warmth. The warmth of not only the stove but of that of his family.
"Papa, you cold?" Thomas asked as he pulled on the side of his father's pant leg.
"Just a little Thomas, but I'm beginning to warm up." Heath replied as he continued to rub his hands together over the stove as he smiled at his son.
"I'm cold too," Thomas stated as he stepped up next to his father and rubbed his hands together over the stove too.
Heath had to chuckle as the small boy copied his every move. Looking up as two sets of feet pounded down the back stairs, Heath smiled as Liam and James came rushing into the kitchen.
"Here Papa," Liam stated as he handed his father some clean clothes.
"I brought a towel for you," James piped in as he handed it over to his father.
"Thank you boys," Heath replied as he ruffled the hair on each of their red heads.
"All right, why don't you two take Thomas into the living room for a bit while I get your father out of these wet clothes." Anna said as she placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
"Sure Mama," they said in unison as James grabbed Thomas hand and started walking towards the living room.
Looking back over his shoulder at his mother as James led him out of the kitchen, Thomas smiled as he heard her say, "I'll send your father in once he's changed."
Pulling over a chair from the kitchen table, Anna placed it next to her husband so he had a place to lay his clean clothes. Watching him as he began unbuttoning his shirt, she stepped up in front of him and took over the task. Looking up into his blue eyes as her fingers worked the buttons on his wet shirt her heart raced. The love she felt for the gentle man standing before her over whelmed her at times.
Dropping his wet shirt to the floor, her hands reached down and grasped the bottom of his long undershirt. Slowly easing it up over first his stomach and then his chest, she gently pulled it off over his head.
As he stood in front of her in just his pants and boots, Anna gently placed her hands on his cold chest. As she felt the hard muscles underneath the soft chest hairs, Heath reached forward and placed his hand under her chin. Lifting it up slightly he bent forward and kissed her. As their kiss deepened, Anna wrapped her arms around her husband and pulled him close.
Even as cold and wet as he was, Anna couldn't think of any place she'd rather be than right here in his arms. As their kiss concluded she reached down to undo the buttons on his pants.
"Better let me do that or dinner's goanna burn for sure." Heath stated as he cocked his eyebrow and smiled at his wife.
"Later then Mr. Barkley," Anna teased as she ran her hand over his bare chest once again before heading back to the stove.
Sitting down in the chair Heath bent over to pull of his muddy boots. Easily removing the left one he groaned slightly as pain shot through his hip while trying to remove the right one. Praying his wife hadn't heard him he continued to remove his boots and then his muddy socks and pants.
Drying his body off with the towel his son had provided him he quickly changed into his clean clothes. Walking over behind his wife he wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his cheek against hers. "I love you Anna," he whispered in her ear before kissing her cheek.
Turning in his arms she wrapped her arms around him, "I love you too," she replied before kissing him. "Now go and relax until dinner," she ordered as she swatted him on the butt and headed him off towards the living room.
Smiling he walked over to his pile of wet muddy clothes and picked them up. "Heath I'll do that love," Anna stated as she stopped stirring what she was cooking and walked over to him.
"Least I can do is pick up after myself," he replied with a smile as he carried the clothes towards the back door.
Reaching it first Anna opened it for him as he carried his things outside and placed them in the wash bin on the porch. Closing the door quickly as he came back inside, she was surprised at how cold it'd gotten. "It's freezing out there," she said as she rubbed her arms and walked back over to the stove.
"Think I'll go bring in some more wood off the porch. We may need it tonight." Heath stated as he walked past her and into the living room.
"Hi Papa!" Thomas shouted as he jumped up from the floor and ran over to Heath.
"Howdy Thomas," Heath replied as he picked up the small boy and held him. "Feel like grabbing some firewood with me?" He asked as the small boys face lit up.
"Sure Papa!" Thomas exclaimed happily as Heath put him down.
Racing over to the front door, the little boy sat down on the floor and pulled on his boots. Jumping up he grabbed his coat and hat and tried his best to put it on quickly. Helping his son button up the coat that was an exact miniature of his own Heath couldn't help but smile at the excitement on the boys face. Placing Thomas's hat down on his head, Heath opened the front door and let Thomas walk out in front of him.
"You need a coat Papa," Thomas stated as a blast of cold air met them.
"Sorry little guy it's soaked, I'll be fine don't you worry." Heath replied as he steered Thomas over towards the wood stacked up against the side of the house.
Holding out his arms Thomas smiled as his father placed two small logs on them. "I can carry more Papa," he said as he struggled to hold the ones he already had.
Grabbing an armload for himself Heath turned back and smiled. "Why don't you just take those for now, we can come out again later." Heath replied as he smiled and started for the door.
Once back inside the warmth of his home engulfed him once again. The bitter winds that just moments ago tore through his cotton shirt were now held at bay by the walls around him. Setting the wood down, Heath took the two logs from his son and thanked him. Bending down to tend to the fire his hip once again sent a shooting pain down his leg. Clenching his jaw and shutting his eyes tight he managed to stifle the moan that threatened to leak out.
As Sean sat finishing his home work on the couch, he saw the pain on his father's face as he bent down. His hatred of Hicks once again renewed as he watched his father still suffering from the near fatal encounter. Slamming his book closed he jumped up from the couch and ran upstairs to his room.
Closing his door he lay down on his bed in the dark room and stared up at the ceiling. His heart raced as he tried to quell the anger he still felt for the animal who hurt his father. The fact that Hicks was dead didn't seem to damper his feelings one bit. Why he still harbored this hatred he didn't know and that only angered him further. Hearing a knock on his door he quickly wiped the tears that had slipped from his eyes. "Come in," he said sitting up. As his father entered the room his heart sank, he didn't know how he could possibly keep his feelings from him.
"You feeling all right?" Heath asked as he crossed the room over to his sons dresser and lit the lamp.
"Fine Papa," Sean replied before looking down at the floor.
Sitting down on his son's bed, Heath knew his son was anything but fine. He'd seen the look of sadness then anger on his son's face before he'd fled the living room. He knew Sean had seen the pain on his own face as he bent down in front of the fire. "You know it only really bothers me when it's cold and damp outside." Heath said quietly as Sean looked up at him.
"I'm sorry Papa," Sean replied as he let his head drop.
"What for? None of what happened was your fault Sean." Heath said softly as he placed his hand on his son's shoulder.
Looking up at his father a tear ran down his cheek, "I can't seem to stop hating him for what he did to you." Sean said as more tears started. "I know it's wrong to hate."
Pulling his son up against him he held onto him as Sean wrapped his arms around his chest. "We can't change the past Sean nor can we let it consume us. What Hicks did to all of us is inexcusable. I'm afraid it's something we'll never be able to fully understand. But you shouldn't hate him son but rather feel sorry for him." Heath said as he tried to comfort Sean.
Sitting back up straight Sean couldn't believe what he'd just heard his father say. "Feel sorry for him… after what he did?" Sean questioned as his anger began to once again rise. "He almost killed you."
"But he didn't, he failed." Heath replied as he tried to extinguish the fire rising in his sons eyes. Placing his hands on Sean's upper arms he said, "feel sorry for him because he'll never know the love of a family. He'll never know what it feels like to have a child, or how it feels to watch that child grow into a wonderful young man. He'll never know what it's like to be so proud of that young man that it actually hurts. He'll never know what it's like to love someone as much as I love you, your brothers and sisters and your mother. That's why you should feel sorry for him, as long as you hold what matters most close to your heart his kind will never win."
Staring into his father's eyes he understood his message. The love he felt for the man sitting next to him overwhelmed him. How his father could so easily make him understand things from another perspective he would never understand. All he knew was that he'd do anything for him, he'd never let him down again. "Thanks Papa," Sean replied as he hugged Heath.
"Your welcome son," Heath said as he held his son and rubbed his back. "You up for a game of chess after supper?" Heath asked as he let his son go.
"Long as I get to be white," Sean replied with a smile.
"Deal," Heath said as he ruffled the boys hair and stood up from the bed. "You coming back down?"
"Yeah in a minute," Sean replied as he remained seated. After his father left the room he stood up and walked over to his dresser. Picking up the picture frame that sat on top he quietly stared at the picture of his family as his father's words ran through his head. Looking at the picture taken just before last Christmas, he couldn't help but smile. His father was right, the love of a family was something Hicks would never know. He would never know what it felt like to be loved by so many. He would never know what it felt like to have a father like his. To love and respect someone for who they are and who they let you be.
Touching the glass over his father's picture, he mumbled a quiet thank you. He couldn't imagine growing up with out the support and love of his parents, he imagined Hicks had none of that. He never knew what it felt like to be loved or to love someone other than himself.
As he realized how truly blessed he was he set the picture back down on his dresser. Turning down his lamp he walked over to the window and looked outside. "I do feel sorry for him, I do." He said quietly before turning and heading out of his room.
tbc...