Morbid, Heath, very morbid. The only outcome worth contemplating was the one where he came home after tracking down this stalker and turning him – or his body – over to the authorities. Then he would have all the time in the world to grovel for forgiveness from his beloved and, more importantly, safe family.
The only one he as not so sure of was Nick. It was almost too good to be true that Nick offered to take Charger out to the fenced pasture. The fact that he even offered meant that Nick had no inkling of what his younger brother planned for tonight. He would be madder than a wet hen when he found out that he had not only been snookered but also volunteered to be an unwitting accomplice. He'd thought about leaving a note, but decided that Nick's anger might be better in the long run. If he felt betrayed, maybe he'd think twice about chasing after the one who had caused it. Mother, Audra and Jarrod would be bad enough, but hurting Nick this way was hard.
It was for Nick's own good, right?
In his heart, Heath new that the stalker's brand of hate would not be assuaged by just killing him. If Nick fulfilled the man's desire to watch his brother die, Heath was fairly sure that he would have company at the pearly gates in short order. He could live with – and even die with his brother's hatred – if it would guarantee that Nick would live to take care of the family that he had grown to love so much.
Heath didn't think they'd understand how a thirsty man could feel about the first drink of water after a 24-year drought. He loved his mama dearly. But in his first twenty-four years of life he had no idea what it would be like to have brothers and a sister. To be needed. To have someone who believed you, supported you, defended you as unconditionally as they loved you. And of his new family Nick had grown to become his staunchest ally, most devoted protector and dearest friend. Losing Nick – Heath couldn't even think beyond that point – it was simply not conceivable. He would have given anything to spend the day on the range with Nick, working and laughing side by side one more day. But Nick took Charger to the pasture and headed out from there for a day of working the ranch. Closing his eyes to the thought, he tried to swallow down the lump that had formed in his throat.
Noticing the look of pain that crossed Heath's face, Audra put down her needlepoint and moved over to Heath. Touching his shoulder, she inquired with concern, "Heath, are you in pain? Can I help?"
"Naw, sis. Just a bit stiff." I love you.
"Can I get you anything?"
"No sweetheart, Jus' think I'll take a walk around the house and work out a couple of the kinks before I hit the sack." Be safe and take care of the others for me – maybe someday help them to understand with your gentle heart.
"If Nick was here, he wouldn't be too thrilled about you walking out there alone."
"Alone? I'll get a chance to say howdy to the hands unlucky enough to be left watching the house while everyone went to town tonight."
"Oh Heath, I wish Jarrod and Nick had stayed home tonight."
"Come on Audra, Nick needed to get away from here and have some fun. Why he left me with the prettiest nursemaid. Plus, Nick's bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired."
Shaking her head at him like a schoolmarm thirty years older than her twenty years, Audra brought over a throw and walked over to Heath and draped it over his shoulders.
"Fine. Then at least take this blanket. It's getting chilly."
Heath grumbled good-naturedly as he walked out of the house. After greeting the hands keeping an eye on the ranch and chatting amicably for a while, Heath made his circuit of the house. In the shadows of his bedroom balcony, Heath rolled up the blanket, which would serve as a bedroll, and hid it behind the trellis. Avoiding the bare patch on the vine – Heath smiled. Soon the roll was snuggly hidden in the gap between the wall and trellis. It joined the canteen and saddlebags that he had dropped behind the trellis from the balcony on the previous night.
When he came back into the house, he stopped to kiss Audra goodnight. Then Heath stopped by mother's room where she had retired early with a good book, she thought he came to kiss her goodnight. Instead he kissed her goodbye. For a moment, Heath thought that mother had to know what he intended as she scanned his face so intently. She gave him a hug and Heath couldn't help holding on to the embrace a moment longer than was prudent.
"Night mother."
"Do you need anything?" At the brief shake of his head, Victoria added, "Sleep well then, son."
Heath went down the hallway and closed the door quietly behind him and went to bed.
Two hours later, Heath heard the tromping of booted feet trying to sneak up the stairs. They were home early, he thought.
He was not surprised when he heard the soft creak of his door as it opened.
In the darkness, Nick could just make out the outline of his brother as he slept soundly on his side. Safe, asleep in bed, Nick thought. Just needed to make sure.
More softly than anyone would give Nick credit for, he whispered, "Sleep well, little brother." With hardly a sound, Nick slipped back out of the room and Heath heard Nick as he entered his own room and prepared for bed.
Goodbye, big brother, he thought with more than a few regrets.
An hour later, Heath slipped down the back stairs. Picking up the provisions he had hidden behind the trellis and concealed behind the woodpile, he walked to the pasture -where Charger was waiting for him.
TBC…