Chapter One

A/N If you don't care for stories that don't stick with cannon, don't read this story. It's most definitely set in an AU-as some major facts have been changed. One of them being Tom is alive.

The night wind blew through the recently built camp. The three men sitting around the campfire were grateful it was a gentle wind that held no coldness. That-the coldness-would come soon enough. Silence had reigned among the three gentlemen since they'd left their home and headed in a northeast direction. The oldest of the three had gray sprinkled throughout his once dark brown hair; his beard held the same appearance. As he looked at the other two, the older gentleman couldn't help but sigh. The conversation he, his wife and his two sons had had in the study of their home had not been an easy one. Only, like it or not, it had been a very necessary discussion. The motivation behind the confessions he and his wife had made to their two sons, and one of the reasons for their journey now, lay in the telegram that was held in his wallet. It held less than fifteen words, but turned his and his family's lives upside down. He took his wallet out from the pocket inside his jacket and took out the telegram. Unfolding it, Tom read the words one more time.

I lied to you and your wife. You have a son. Leah

After receiving the telegram, Tom and Victoria had had a rather lengthy conversation. It hadn't been all that hard to figure out why, when the two of them had returned to Strawberry, Leah had denied anything had come of her and Tom's affair. Admitting anything, would have opened the door to the possibility of his insisting on taking the child. It would never have happened…as he and Victoria had already agreed that, if a child had been conceived, they'd simply give Leah financial support and allow her to raise her child. Sure, they'd told the young woman that only-due to everything that had happened to Leah in her life, he and Victoria figured she had good reason not to believe them. Only question he, Victoria and their children had was….why now? Why send such a telegram so many years after the fact?

"Can't sleep?" Nick's question brought his father out of the man's thoughts, and Tom shook his head.

"No, and I can see you can't either." He replied once Nick threw some wood on the fire and sat down.

Nick shrugged his shoulders. "Too many things running through my mind."

Tom didn't have to ask his son to elaborate-the memory of Nick's tirade back on the ranch was still very fresh in his mind. "You've got every right to be angry with me only, so help me, what your mother and I told you was the solid truth. I NEVER cheated on your mother before OR after my affair with Leah Sawyers. Anyone else claiming different is lying through their teeth." He was surprised when Nick broke out in a grin and started chuckling.

"And just what is so funny?" Tom frowned. He didn't like being confused, and he was puzzled by his son's reaction.

"You don't have to tell me that. Miss Belle over at the gentleman's club, along with a few of her girls, have told me – basically-the same thing. I mean, no, they couldn't mention the one affair only the part of how faithful you are to Mother…." Nick's grin remained on his face. "Yeah, they've backed that one up."

Tom become even more confused. "Why would they do such a thing?"

Nick's grin disappeared just a little as he confessed he'd seen what he thought was Tom flirting with one of the girls 'last year'. That is, he'd seen his father rubbing the girl's back in the corner of the gentleman's club. "She and Miss Belle were quick to set me straight. "They said the girl's back started having some spasms and that, while Miss Belle went to get some back cream she kept in her room, you were trying to get the spasms to stop." He started chuckling again, "They both asked, rather adamantly, how Mother got you walk such a straight line. The young woman said no female in the place could turn your head…and that they'd tried to on numerous occasions."

Tom's frown was replaced with a wide smile. "I'd come close to losing the best woman I'd ever met the day I slipped up and had the affair with Leah. I wasn't, nor will I, ever take such a risk again." He then sighed as he stretched his legs. "I just hope we're not making a mistake adding this," He held the telegram up, " to the list of reasons we have for going to Strawberry. I mean, the son Leah mentions…he's a grown man by now. I would think if he wanted to know us, he'd have come to the ranch and made us feel as if a cannonball had hit our home. I'm wondering if he knows." Tom quickly added Nick was not to take his words to mean that he, Tom, did not want to meet his son or that he wished to deny him to anyone. "I would never have denied being the boy's father." He looked away from Nick and looked at his other, sleeping son and added, "To anyone."

Nick knew his tirade had been the loudest voice-wise only no one had to tell him his brother was having a hard time with the revelation as well. In fact, he dared say the two of them would normally be in the opposite places. That is, he'd be sleeping and his brother would be talking to his father. Only fact is, his brother had just arrived home from a long trip when their father and mother had received the telegram…and the gentleman was flat out tired. "I would have said you made a mistake forty-eight hours ago." Nick had to grin when his father raised one eyebrow. "Okay, I DID say you were making a mistake. Only," he shrugged his shoulders again. "You're not. I've had time to calm down. You and Mother, the rest of us, we need to know."

Tom nodded and stood up. "Guess we best try to get some sleep; morning will come early as it is."

Nick agreed and headed for his bedroll, though it would be another thirty minutes before he fell asleep.