Eye For An Eye by Chianna
Chapter 7
For a fraction of a moment, Nick looked positively flummoxed.
"Leave you here? Have you lost what little sense you have through that new hole in your head?"
"This is just… great. Why don't… you talk just… bit louder, Nick? If the moonlight…isn't adequate to get his sights... on us, he can just aim…aim at wherever he hears your… bellowing."
Nick proceeded to go over Heath's injuries. The blood on his brother's head was matted in his hair. The boy was soaked from the rain, so it was hard to tell how old the injuries were. From the darkly ominous stain on his shirt and running down his pant leg, Nick feared that Heath had been shot some time ago. He worried at the weakness in his brother's voice and the shortness of his breath. But he smiled to think that there was enough sass in his fair-haired brother to give him a hard time.
Heath struggled to raise his head and grabbed a fistful of his brother's shirt. "Told me… he wanted to see you sweat…"
"He can do that any time I'm mending the fence on the south pasture. Why the hell would he shoot you?"
"Said he wanted to see you watch…"
"Dammit, Heath. Watch what? You're not making any sense. This is gonna have to wait until we get you to your room and your nice warm bed."
"Nick," Heath ground out at almost a shout in his frustration to finish what he needed to say. He regretted it immediately, as the effort played havoc with his busted rib. Gasping from the sharp pain, Heath stiffened.
Nick was now truly fearful for his brother's life. Heath's head tilted back and his mouth opened like he needed to take a deep breath. Instead, he panted small sips of air that didn't seem adequate for a bird.
Roving his hands over the younger man's chest, Nick felt impotent to relieve whatever strain was preventing his brothers breathing. "Heath, boy. Try to relax. Slow down and breathe deep for me…" He couldn't keep the desperate pleading from his voice as he added, "please Heath. Just try."
Almost imperceptively at first, Heath's body started to relax. After a few moments more, his breathing, though still labored, seemed to ease a bit. Nick let out his own breath when he realized that he had held it as his brother struggled to draw in what his oxygen-starved body desperately needed.
"Hurts… Nick."
"Your shoulder?"
"Ribs… think some broke."
"Heath, you hurt any where else?" Nick tried to make the question sound light, but inwardly he was picturing how he was going to dismember the bastard that did this to his youngest brother.
Heath could sense his brother's anger and frustration and did the only thing he knew would help. "Fell off my horse." He paused for a moment for effect and to part his lips in a small crooked smile. "Twice…but you tell anyone… and I'll swear you're a lying yella… dawg."
Nick could see through Heath's ploy to ease his big brother's mind. Why not make him think it worked. Gently smoothing the hair from his brother's forehead, he replied with false levity. "Anyone getting one look at you right now would call me a liar if I said that you'd only fallen twice."
Forgotten for a moment, Heath's concern for his brother came crowding back into his thoughts. "Need to be careful… Didn't think he wanted to kill you… till he started talking funny and… gagged me to prevent warnin' you. 'Sides, you have to stay in one piece, cause… don't feel up to draggin' your big… hairy carcass all the way home."
Nick felt his chest swell with the love he felt for this found treasure he now called his brother. "Well then, for your sake, I'll just have to stay in one piece. Haven't heard a peep, so I think it's about time we took this party out on the road."
For a moment, Nick wasn't sure where he could get hold on his brother that would not cause him pain. Realizing it was almost impossible, he slid his left arm under his brother's back and helped him to a sitting position. They both paused, awaiting a shot that did not come.
Now in a better position, Nick was able to grasp his brother around his waist and drag him to his feet. His greatest fear was preventing any movement that would cause a broken rib to drive itself into a fragile lung. Nick's first impulse was to get Heath on a horse and fly from the area, hell bent for leather. Instead, they would have to pick their way carefully. If the horse stumbled, his brother's life could be forfeit. Nick steered his brother's stumbling steps toward Coco.
"Charger's over there…Nick."
"Charger's had a long day, Heath. Let's give him a rest."
"…can ride."
"Sure 'ya can… right until you fall off again. Would that be the third or fourth time?"
Heath's head was resting on his chest, but Nick was sure that he heard Heath mumble something that should not be said aloud in polite company.
Nick added without being able to hide the note of concern in his voice, "Think you can make it up here on Coco, Heath?"
"Ain't a horse that can't be rode…"
Nick was worried, Heath's voice was slurring almost drunkenly. "Not asking you if you can ride. Anyway, don't finish that thought. You'll jinx us."
"Juss give me a hand."
Heath put his good hand on the pommel but couldn't raise his right foot into the stirrup. Nick gently took his foot and placed it in the metal loop. Even with a boost up, Heath was barely able to swing his right leg over the horse. The effort took its toll. Heath's head bent low and he started taking those short, shallow breaths that so concerned his brother earlier.
"Easy, Heath. Deep and easy for me."
Nick swung himself easily onto Coco's back. Gathering the reins, he turned the horse slowly down the path. Heath gave a short whistle and Charger followed them apace. There really was no choice. He would have liked to stay off the path and under what little cover the trees afforded. But Heath needed a smoother ride that could only be found on the well-worn path. Nick could feel the itch of an anticipated bullet between his shoulder blades.
They had almost ridden half a mile when they heard a shot – and then another in rapid succession. Nick flinched. But there was no impact to either himself or Heath.
Then both brothers heard laughter followed by the echoing sound of just a handful of words that trailed behind them. "Eye for an eye, boys. But in my time, not yours."
TBC…The phrase that Heath started and didn't finish has a few different ways it can be said, but here's I've heard it put in my neck of the woods: "Ain't a horse that can't be rode, ain't a cowpoke can't be throwed."