I hope the length of the post makes up for the delay. Thanks for your patience and as always your wonderful reviews: ace, lynne, Puppersx2, Rosie, western fan, Anne, Wolfsgangsq9, squints, Sue, Shanilka & Crazy.  You're welcome to hang out at my bunkhouse anytime.

Chianna

Chapter 12

Victoria went into Heath's room as Jarrod took some last minute instructions in the hall before the doctor departed to return tomorrow. Jarrod, recognizing his error, amended mentally - today. Doc Merar would be back today. It was such a trivial bit of knowledge, but it was firm, real and reliable. A lawyer's world was about grasping, arranging and communicating facts and Jarrod drew comfort from even the most simple when the fact of his brother's survival was, as yet, not as certain. Bidding the doctor a brisk farewell, Jarrod entered the room with a firm conviction that he would do everything in his power to insure that Heath's membership in his beloved family remained in good standing.

When Jarrod entered the room, he noted that his mother had already taken up a cloth and was gently drawing its cool moistness across his brother's chest. Heath lay very still in the bed, the large white bandage covering the bullet wound anchored by a white swath of cotton strips across his chest. Silas bustled into the room, a small tray with a bowl whose aroma announced beef broth, cradled in his arms. Placing the tray on the bedside table, Silas looked at Victoria, the question uppermost in all their minds, very clear in his eyes.

Victoria's perception was not impaired by lack of sleep. "He's doing as well as can be expected, Silas. I almost hate to wake him, to give him the broth…"

To their surprise, Heath responded, though his eyes never quite opened. "Jus' resting my eyes… bit mother."

Jarrod smiled, "Sounds more like you're playing possum, brother Heath. Time to have some broth."

"Feels like time to go to sleep."

Victoria's voice was firm as she interrupted. "You've been running a fever for, God only knows how long, Heath. The doctor said that you need fluids, so fluids you are going to have young man."

Bowing to the inevitable, the blond tried to sit up, using his good arm as leverage, before Jarrod could stop him. The folly of his actions were immediately telegraphed to his brain by the bolts of pain originating from parts of his body too numerous to catalog. The one that ultimately stopped Heath in his tracks was the band of hurt which tightened around his chest and cut off his next breath.

Jarrod lurched to his feet, frustrated yet again, by his brother's stubborn streak that he feared originated from twenty-four years of not having someone to lean on like the family that now surrounded him. After two years, Jarrod thought with some frustration, the boy should know by now. But instead of scolding, Jarrod set his jaw and reached under his brother's arms and pulled him to a sitting position, while Victoria propped pillows behind him.

Instead Victoria did the scolding as she watched her youngest son deal with the pain and get his breathing under control.

"Heath Barkley, I swear if you pull a stunt like that again…"

"Won't…learn't my lesson." Beads of sweat covered his face and torso, though from exertion or fever, Jarrod was not quite sure. Now in position, Jarrod sat on the bed next to Heath and dipped a spoon into the bowl and held it up for his brother to sip. The lawyer could tell from the way Heath closed his eyes as he swallowed that the food didn't set well with a stomach that had gone for two days without nourishment.

Victoria, also noticed Heath's unease and entreated, "Breath slowly, Heath. You're stomach needs time to adjust to having food in it again." Heath barely nodded. He paled as he fought his belly's urge to expel what now seemed unfamiliar. Like this, Heath was able to take only three more tablespoons before his eyelids started to droop. Jarrod could tell that his mother was not satisfied but Heath was too exhausted to continue for now. The injured man fell into a fitful sleep.

Twice more they woke the sick man up to give him broth. But instead of strengthening, Heath seemed to be slipping further away from them. At 5 am when they woke him for the last time, there was no recognition in Heath's eyes. They did not need to touch Heath's forehead to know that his temperature had risen in the wee hours of the morning. Victoria and Jarrod could feel the heat radiate from their loved one on the bed. Heath seemed to now be unable to follow the simple instruction to swallow, so Jarrod massaged his brother's throat to generate the reflex. But it was all for naught. Within fifteen minutes, Heath had started to choke and gag. Moments later, the paltry contents of his stomach were emptied into a basin that Victoria held and Jarrod laid the exhausted Heath back down onto the pillows.

Jarrod paced the room in frustration as his mother's feelings of helplessness turned to silent tears that coursed down Victoria's face without her notice.

Victoria heard a soft moan and noticed that Heath had begun shivering in earnest. He opened his eyes and turned to her.

"S…sso cold, m..mmo…ther."

Jarrod turned urgently to the armoire and took out two blankets. Spreading them over Heath, Jarrod brought them up to his brother's chin.

Nick chose this moment to poke his head into the room. Obviously hastily dressed, Nick was still barefoot and his hair stuck out in half-hazard spikes, showing that it had yet to be tamed by a comb.

"How's he doing, Mother?"

"Not well, Nick, not well at all."

Jarrod's red-rimmed eyes looked up to his brother. "Looks like I'm going to make a trip into town and get the doctor."

"I can go Jarrod."

"No you don't, Nick. You are the honored guest at the party we're throwing when the doctor arrives. I'll not risk one hair on your head your head as I might loose two brothers and not just one. How can you forget that there is someone out there that wants revenge on you?"

"Fine. Then what's keeping you?"

"Only the questions of one of my brothers, Nick, old boy." Turning to his mother, Jarrod assured, "I'll be back here before you know it, Mother. Once we get enough of Nick's blood into Heath, he'll be too stubborn to be sick."

"Hurry Jarrod, and take care. Nick and Heath may not have been the only Barkley's that have inspired that man's revenge."

Jarrod flashed an over-bright smile and quipped, "Never you worry lovely lady. Nick, you take care of our little brother and make sure that Mother gets some rest."

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Nick managed to practically manhandle his mother out of Heath's room but he knew that the real cinch to getting his mother to rest was that he promised that he would wake her up the moment that Dr. Merar arrived. Before settling in to sit in one of the chairs next to his brother, Nick had thought with relief that Heath seemed better. He was still and the pain that they could not yet medicate did not seem to disturb his sleep anymore. Instead, as he looked closer, Nick realized that Heath looked as pale as a winter snowfall and his breathing had become very shallow.

Nick took Heath's hand in his. It was cool and dry. Either the fever had broken or Heath's body did not have the energy to even put up the fight to burn out the infection that, until last night, had taken such a hold on him. Audra sat on a chair by the window. Nick was certain that she was keeping a watchful eye for their older brother, the sampler that she was working on, barely touched on her lap.

There was so much that he wanted to say to Heath, but the dark cowboy was worried that his little sister might get more worried or think that Nick was giving up on saving Heath if he spoke hi thoughts out loud. So he simply held Heath's hand and occasionally gave it a gentle squeeze – each one having a very subtle meaning that only the heart can translate – "I'm glad you brawled your way into my life, " "I can't imagine my world and this family without you," "I need you, Heath Barkley"

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Audra jumped up and held her hand over her eyes to shield them from the early morning sun. "Nick! It's Jarrod and he has the doctor with him. Thank God."

"Go wake up Mother, I promised we would."

Audra nodded and as she passed Heath's bed, she said softly, "Hang on Heath. I know that you're going to get better soon, big brother."

From your lips to God's ears, Nick thought. Soon he heard the murmurings of the ladies of the family talking and the front door opening and Jarrod calling for Silas. Within moments, the doctor was walking into the room with his older brother and Silas with a bowl of hot water and soap. Nick mentally cringed as he saw the grimness of the doctor's features harden on his face as he checked Heath's pulse, heartbeat and respiration.

Victoria entered the room and it was obvious that she too could also see the doctor's concern.

"You were right to get me, Jarrod. Heath needs the transfusion immediately." Concisely the doctor communicated his needs to the others. A chair and ottoman for Nick to put his feet up on since the room did not have a second bed, boil his instruments and the length of rubber tubing, wash Heath's arm in the area where he would be transfused.

Everyone bustled around Nick, seeing to the needs of the procedure that was about to occur. Nick simply stayed at his brother's side, and everyone, by simultaneous unspoken communication, seemed to agree.

Finally the room was prepared and Nick took a seat, his left arm rested on the chair where the doctor swabbed it down with alcohol and inserted the needle and then affixed a similar one to Heath. Attached to the tubing was a small metal tube and plunger. As the doctor manipulated the plunger, the life-giving blood passed from one brother and into the next.

"Jarrod, I need you to keep count of the plunger stokes out loud so that I can monitor Heath's respiration and heartbeat."

The room was silent except for the Jarrod's voice as he droned out the numbers. After the third time the doctor listened to Heath's heart through his stethoscope, he straightened up with a smile. Nick, sensing a change in the room, glanced over at his brother. Heath's complexion had warmed from the frighteningly waxy white it was all morning.

"Heath's heart beat is slowing back down to a normal rhythm. The fever may come back, but I am going to leave you with some willow bark tea that tastes like hell, but should keep a fever down if it comes back." Doctor Merar turned so that his instructions would encompass everyone in the room.

"Nick, you are heading to your room to have breakfast in bed."

Nick's head snapped up and his mouth opened to voice the complaint that was already obvious in his stormy hazel eyes.

"Did I mention that these instructions are non-negotiable?"

Nick's mouth shut with a snap, but he still looked sulky. Jarrod was sure that they would be hearing about the fact that 'this is a working ranch any second,' but obviously the doctor knew his brother better than Jarrod originally thought. His appeal was the one thing that would ensure that nick would follow orders.

"Nick, though I think that we've taken care of all your brothers bleeding, if he does have internal injuries that we have not yet identified, Heath might need a second transfusion, if I have to do surgery."

Victoria made a soft involuntary gasp.

"Now this is just insurance Victoria. I truly believe that what the boy needs now is to stay still, rest and get plenty of fluids. But I want Nick to eat well and rest up. Keeping my options open –that's all I want. Not to mention that I'd rather not come out to your ranch again later on to sew up Nick's stubborn head, because he passed out.

"I feel just fine, Doc." And to prove it Nick lurched up to his feel. Luckily, Jarrod was well experienced with his brother's sheer contrariness. When Nick's hand went to his head and his knees started to buckle, his older brother was already strategically positioned to lower him safely back into the chair.

The doctor chuckled and remarked, "How would you put it, Jarrod? Ah, yes! I rest my case."

Nick's jaw set in stubborn lines, but looking over at his mother's determined face, it was obvious he'd lost this battle before it had even started.

"Victoria, I'm leaving you with a bottle of laudanum. Without wrapping his ribs, he'll need something for the pain and also something that will keep him still to give them time to mend. I don't foresee him needing it regularly for more than a few days. After that he can take it as needed for the pain. You can give him his first dose after he awakens – I expect sometime this afternoon. Make sure he gets something into his stomach first – and often."

Victoria replied, "Never fear, Doctor. You have just enlisted four of most dedicated nursing assistants you could find in the valley."

Nick stood a bit more slowly and Jarrod walked him to his room. Silas went down to the kitchen to make breakfast. There would likely be more than one tray going upstairs. Audra and Victoria stayed with Heath.

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After lunch, the ladies retired for a nap and Nick and Jarrod took over. Jarrod brought some briefs to read and had them spread near the foot of the bed. Nick sat in the bedside chair, or rather napped, which was fine with Jarrod. Engrossed in a particularly intricate property dispute case in San Francisco, Jarrod was not immediately aware of Heath's return to consciousness until he heard him say, "Must've been laying still…for too long to get mistaken for… lawyer's desk."

Jarrod's head snapped up and met bleary blue eyes trying to focus on the lawyer sitting hunched over the foot of the bed.

With the barest nod of his head, Heath motioned toward Nick.

Understanding the implicit question, Jarrod explained, "You were doing rather poorly this morning Heath so the doctor decided that you needed a transfusion. We knew that Nick seems to have the right vintage, so to speak, for your needs. So of course he volunteered. He's just a bit tired but the doctor said he'd be fit for ranch duty by tomorrow."

"I'm fit now, dammit. If someone would just…listen." Nick smiled sheepishly as the effect of his complaint was ruined the untimely interruption of a jaw-popping yawn.

Heath smiled, but the yawn was catching and he followed suit soon after and started to let his heavy eyelids droop once again into sleep.

Tired of being bossed around, Nick did what came naturally. "Oh, no you don't boy! You're having some soup if I have to sit on your chest and ladle it into you. Then, doctor's orders, you are gonna take a little laudanum and have yourself a nice long healing-like sleep."

Heath's eyes fluttered open, "I'm not…hungry and don't need …none of your laudanum. Just need 'ta sleep."

"Heath Barkley, you will have the soup and laudanum." Victoria said definitively as she entered the room. Nick looked smug for a moment until she added. "We can't have Nick's stubborn blood in you overrule you're innate commonsense, son."

"Bring on the soup… Mother. I'll need 'ta be strong to resist all that…pigheadedness."

Jarrod couldn't hold back at that and let loose a bark of laughter. Nick grumbled good-naturedly and said something about telling Silas that Heath was awake. Soon Nick appeared with Silas who had a tray fixed up with soup and tea and a couple slices of buttered toast.

Jarrod and Nick worked together to help Heath sit up. Even as careful as they were, the shoulder and rib injuries made themselves known with a vengeance, almost robbing him of any appetite. With a few slow breaths, Heath tried to master the pain with limited success. The soup and tea went down better this time, but Heath's stomach rebelled at more than a bite of the toast. Nick prodded and harassed the blond to finish his tea and then pulled out the bottle of laudanum. Heath could not get comfortable and almost welcomed the medicine with only a token complaint. Settling him as comfortably as possible, Heath couldn't help a groan of pain as his abused shoulder rested on the bed again. Jarrod and Nick looked at each other from opposite sides of their brother's bed in concern.

"Oh for cryin' out loud." Heath said weakly. "Lookin' at your two long faces is gonna give me nightmares. I'm feeling better already. Maybe you better have a steak ready for me when I wake up." Heath's voice was getting more remote as his body started to surrender once again to the medication and sheer exhaustion.

"Sure, Mr. I-can't-eat-that-toast. You'll be lucky if mother lets you have poached eggs, " remarked a mock annoyed big brother Nick.

"Poached eggs?" Heath murmured. "Hope mother doesn't let Audra make them. Now that's a nightmare…"

Jarrod and Nick looked once again over their sleeping brother's bed to share an amused smile.

"I think I finally believe Silas, brother Nick. He's gonna be fine, just fine!"

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The family took shifts, feeding their brother and keeping him comfortable through the night. Everyone got more rest as the cares of the previous 24 hours started to melt away as Heath seemed to be recovering to everyone's satisfaction.

In the morning, Nick felt confident enough to check in and have breakfast with his brother. Heath felt well enough to razz his brother about lollygagging with a broke-down cowboy while this here workin' ranch was waiting for his attention. Nick couldn't wipe the smile off his face as he headed to the corral. No one had seen or heard anything suspicious in the last couple of days. Maybe the guy that attacked Heath was just some random nutcase. The boy had as much a talent for attracting these types as he had for being a magnet for trouble.

As he approached the corral, he noticed that some of the hands were laughing with a stranger. Nick nodded to McCall, who quickly made introductions, explaining that they had met the man in town playing poker. From the general air of congeniality with the bunch, Nick assumed that the stranger had not cleaned out all of his hands.

"So how can I help you here, mister?" Nick added, "We've fallen behind and are going to have to put in a couple of hard days to catch up."

"That's what I heard from your men here, Mr. Barkley. Hear, too, that you have a top hand that is stove up and I thought I'd come to see if there is an opening for a wrangler until he gets back on his feet."

Nicks' head tilted in thought as he contemplated the man before him. "That hand is my brother Heath, and he pulls a lot of weight around here. We have a bunch of green horses that need breaking being delivered from Fresno today. If you think you're up to it - you have a job."

"Why Mr. Barkley, breakin' horses is right up my alley. If'n that's a job you're offerin', than I'll be accepting."

"McCall, take him to the bunkhouse, sign him on and get him settled." Turning back to the new wrangler, Nick asked, "What did you say your name was again?"

"Rawlston, Mr. Barkley. Lance Rawlston."

TBC…