Starry, Starry Night

Confused by the rapid change in Nick's attitude, a rarity occurred for the quick-witted, silver-tongued lawyer—he was at a loss for words.

When Jarrod only stared at him, Nick motioned to Gal's stall. "Heath didn't ride in on her. And if he's leaking blood like that … we don't have time to waste." Nick stood and chose action over thoughts—not ready to examine too closely the fact he experienced a gut reaction that, up to this point, he'd only had for his family. Striding to Coco's stall to saddle his horse, he said, "Are you going to just stand there, or are you going with me?"

Spurred into motion upon spying the blood-stained leather, Jarrod moved to Jingo's stall. "Coming with you," he said, gathering the blanket to put on the red sorrel. Then as a precaution, because the likelihood was high Heath would need doctoring, he said, "McColl, Mother said the doctor accepted the Meyerson's offer to stay the night after his buggy wheel broke. Send someone with an extra horse to fetch him."

"Right away." Hurrying out, Duke headed for the bunkhouse and didn't notice Audra in the shadows coming towards the stables.

Having changed into slacks after dinner and believing she waited long enough to sneak out and go search for Heath, Audra halted at the stable's entrance when she spotted her brothers as they began to lead their horses out. "Where are you going?"

"To find Heath," Jarrod said.

Audra smiled with relief, but her can-do streak asserted itself. "I'm coming too."

"No, you are not! Go back inside," Nick boomed.

Her dander up at being dismissed so abruptly, Audra's hands landed on her hips as she spoke with defiance, "Yes, I am. You can't stop me."

Nick halted long enough to give her a stern glare. "I can and I will … I'm not about to risk your life."

Audra gaped at him. "What?"

Jarrod put a placating hand on Audra's shoulder. "Please. You can help by tending Gal … she is agitated and will be calmed under your care. Heath would appreciate it."

Her eyes naturally sought out Gal, and concern heightened, finding the restless Modoc here but not Heath. Then, at Nick's urgent, "Giddy up," Audra turned and discovered her brothers used the distraction to mount up and gallop into the night.

Vexed by their action, she huffed and went to Gal. Digging for the ever-present sugar cube in her pocket, she whispered, "Hello, girl," as Gal shied away. "Want a treat?" She held out her hand and waited until the gentle horse nibbled at her palm before Audra's other hand stroked Gal's mane. She continued talking in a calming tone, and soon Gal settled enough that she could loosen the cinch on Heath's saddle. That's when she discovered the discolored splotches on the horn and seat.

Her annoyance with Nick and Jarrod evaporated as she comprehended why they didn't want her to come—they had no idea what they'd find out there and didn't want her exposed to something terrible. "Oh, please … please find Heath alive."

Relaxing on the edge of his bed with a tin cup of coffee, Barrett scanned the other hands, who were in various stages of undress as they prepared for an early night. Tomorrow they would be up before dawn to locate more new calves that required branding, and things would be back as they should be. No more base-born, dirty, lowlife interloper trying to give him … them … orders as if he were as good as the real Barkleys.

It stuck in his craw the way Mrs. Barkley forced that backwoods colt on Nick. Women could be so feeble-minded and swayed by hucksters and snake oil peddlers if the package was handsome. Yes, the blond piece of trash could turn a woman's head, but looks didn't make a man. Heath was just a dead man's dirt … a blowby the great Thomas Barkley refused to claim.

A grin touched Barrett's face, recalling how Nick set Heath in his place time and again in the past months. The men all took their cue from Nick on how to treat the worthless upstart. The boss would be pleased when he didn't have to waste more effort driving off the boy.

If things worked as Barrett planned, he would be taking over from McColl in a few years. He'd be the one giving orders as Nick's righthand man. His thoughts halted as the door swung open and the current foreman entered.

Picking the first man with boots on, Duke said, "Wagner, need you to fetch the doctor from the Meyerson's farm."

Exhausted and sore from being thrown from his horse earlier today, Chad Wagner groaned but set his cup down and rose as he asked, "Who be hurtin bad enough for a doc?"

"Might be Heath. Gal came in riderless, and there's blood on the saddle. Nick and Jarrod are off to locate him."

Chad nodded and groaned with his next step. He didn't much care for the newest Barkley, but he'd seen Heath ride, and for his horse to come in without him … well, something awful must've happened.

Barrett stood, his mind quickly working out that if on the off-chance Heath still lived, which he doubted, the whoreson might say something. To cover his hide, he must appear concerned but delay the arrival of Dr. Merar. "Chad, you took a bad fall today. I'll go get the doctor."

Grateful for the reprieve, Chad touched his forehead with two fingers in a mock salute as he said, "Much obliged." As their foreman and Barrett exited, Chad moaned as he resumed his seat, wondering why Barrett would make such an offer.

His fellow cowhand hated Heath with a passion and took every opportunity to make him look bad in Nick's eyes. He even witnessed Barrett sabotaging work Heath completed and then bringing Nick over to complain about the shoddy quality of Heath's efforts. Chad realized he should've said something to the boss, but he wasn't one to rock the boat, and he was still new to the ranch … so he didn't need to make enemies.

Wishing for a full moon to illuminate their path but thankful for the light the multitude of stars provided, Nick kept his eyes peeled in front of him, hoping to locate a lump in the road. He still didn't know what drove him in this direction, but his course was set, and his gut told him not to deviate.

He was also grateful his big brother rode in silence beside him. He could always count on family to be there when he needed them most. And deep in his heart, Nick recognized he might need Jarrod tonight … more than he ever had in the past.

Since Father died, he relied on Pappy to keep him corralled and on the straight path. Though when the others, particularly Jarrod continued to badger him for the last four months about accepting Heath into the family, he often bucked and stridently fought against acknowledging Heath's lineage. Although the rest of the family readily welcomed Heath, Nick just couldn't. Doing so would be admitting his father made an unforgivable mistake, which would undermine his whole image of Thomas Barkley, what the man stood for, and the honor he instilled in him.

Until now, he had kept himself too busy and exhausted to think much on the subject, but this quiet starlit ride, in search of Heath, gave Nick time to reflect. The blond cowboy was the spitting image of a younger Tom, and he sat the saddle with the same aplomb. Scary how sometimes he watched Heath racing after a stray on Gal and thought he was viewing his father.

With only the clip-clop of the horses' hooves in dirt breaking the silence of the night, for the first time, Nick truly heard many of his mother's soft entreaties. Mother, the one most wronged by Father, found a way not only to forgive the transgression but to wholeheartedly embrace Heath—to the point of viewing him not only as Tom's son but as one of hers too. She also only expressed kind words for Leah and appreciation for her care of both Tom and Heath.

The image of Mother standing in the parlor last month after one of his loud rants about Heath came to mind. Mother's eyes filled with tears as she said, 'Leah was a rare woman to have raised such a fine man as Heath with no support. We are indebted to her for taking such loving care of your father's son. Many lesser women would blame the child for their circumstances … but the way Heath talks about his mother, she took responsibility for her choices and loved that boy with all her heart. And that is exactly what I plan to do too.

'None of this is Heath's fault … he became a Barkley the moment he was conceived, regardless of when he discovered who fathered him. Living here, with us, his family is Heath's birthright … one I will not allow you to deny him.' Then Mother challenged him with a question, 'Have you ever thought about this from Heath's perspective?'

And that was the crux of Nick's problem … he didn't want to see it from Heath's view. Ever since the night he accosted Heath and they had a knock-down, drag-out fight in the barn before he dragged Heath into the house yelling for Jarrod, he never once thought of Heath's feelings … only what it meant to him and his family.

Oh, he was well aware Heath held no affinity for Thomas Barkley, blamed the man for his mother's hard life and early death, though Heath still expected his birthright—part of this ranch Father built. Logically, Nick understood where Heath's indignant anger came from … but it was the antithesis of his feelings for Father, which is one of the main reasons why he kept Heath at arm's distance.

It worked well for him … right up until tonight when he got gut-punched upon seeing the blood on Heath's saddle. The tingling sense of dread snaked through him again, making him shiver. Death was near … too near. Nick spurred Coco into a gallop despite the low light. He would risk hitting a hole because something deep and abiding called to his soul telling him time was of the essence.

How and when he ended up in the dirt again, Heath couldn't recall. At the limit of his endurance, accepting his fate as the cold cloaked his body, numbing his pain, he stared up at the vast expanse of the Milky Way. He gave thanks to the Lord for the few months he spent with his family and the beauty of viewing the starry night sky one last time.

Then, too weak and parched to speak, Heath said his farewells in his mind.

Silas, I enjoyed our morning chats in the kitchen over fresh biscuits and hot coffee. You made me feel at home in so many ways.

Mrs. Barkley, thank you for your gracious acceptance of me, though it must've caused you heartache to see the result of your husband's betrayal of his vows to you on a daily basis. I'm sorry for any and all pain I brought into your life.

Eugene, I enjoyed playing chess with you a couple of times. I know you'll achieve your dreams … don't ever let someone tell you that you can't.

Jarrod, I appreciated your wise counsel, even if it didn't seem like I was listening. Thanks for allowing me access to your library. Boy howdy, there is sure a lot to learn from those books. I especially liked reading Homer's Odyssey. Perhaps because Odysseus' ten-year struggle to return home spoke to me on some level as I tried to make a home here.

Audra, little sister with golden hair and sparkling eyes. I'm sorry I can't say goodbye in person. You, I will miss most. Please don't cry for me … I'll be with my mama. Take care of Gal for me … and don't feed her too much sugar.

Nick, … if only we had more time. There is so much I could've learned from you … and you from me. We could've been what each other was looking for … what we each needed. You a partner to run the ranch … and me, well, the big brother who would have my back in any situation.

Heath inhaled a shallow breath through his nose as his lashes slowly lowered. I'm so tired, Mama. I'm coming home …