"Please stop, Uncle, you're hurting me...please." Heath whimpered.
After several minutes the brutal beating ended.
"I think you have learned your lesson, for now. Go to bed. Tomorrow you'll have to get up early and go to the mine."
Heath's room was a closet with a small cot, one stool for his pants and
shirts and nothing more. He had some books before but his uncle sold them.
Heath lay down in the cot and cried, after all he was only an eight-year-old
kid. He hated his uncle and wanted to run away but he was too young, maybe
in a year or two. He fell asleep and began to dream of horses and ice cream.
Dawn came too early; he woke up and limped to the mine entrance. He was still sore from the beating but he had to go to work or his punishment would be even worse than the last one. He didn't like the mine, the place was dark and when he placed the charges he had to squirm through narrow passages.
In the following days he worked at the mine and when he finished his work there he had to rush to the stables. As usual all the money he earned went into his uncle's pockets.
Sometimes Heath daydreamed about his mother and what his life would be like now if she hadn't died. When he had spare time he visited his Aunt Rachel and Hannah. During those visits both women gave him their love and a sensation of family, even if for only a few hours. In the evening he helped his uncle at the hotel scrubbing floors and stairs, with occasional beatings when he was too slow. He was always hungry since Matthew Simmons didn't give him much food and sometimes Heath was forced, by his hunger, to rummage in the garbage for leftovers.
It was a rainy afternoon when the Barkleys rode into Strawberry; Heath was working in the mine when they arrived. They left their horses at the stable and headed to the hotel.
It made Matthew Simmons a happy man to finally have some guests pay in advance and rent four rooms. As soon as they were settled they met in Tom's room.
"So where do we start?" Jim asked.
"Leah had two close friends here, Hannah and Rachel, we can ask Simmons where to locate them. He didn't seem to recognize me, probably because he was drunk when we met nine years ago." It was dinnertime when the four men entered the saloon of the hotel. They ate in silence until Mr. Simmons sat down to carry on some small talk.
"So, what's your business here in Strawberry?"
"Personal but maybe you can help. Do you know a Mrs. Rachel Caufield or Ms.
Hannah James?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"As I stated a moment ago, it's something personal."
"I know them, they live right here in Strawberry. Tomorrow I'll show you where they live."
"Thank you."
"You know, your face is familiar. I'm sure we've already met."
"Who knows?"
The trip to Strawberry had been very weary. They had rode for four days in the rain and even Jarrod was looking forward to a warm, soft bed so they retired to their rooms.
Heath had been caring for the horses at the stable and he was hungry since he hadn't had any breakfast or lunch. The new horses were magnificent and he wondered to whom they belonged. After doing his chores at the stable he hurried to the hotel and was welcomed by a slap.
"You're late, go and scrub the stairs."
"But I'm hungry."
"You can eat later."
Slowly and feeling dizzy, Heath took the bucket and started to scrub the stairs. He had worked all day but he knew that if he didn't finish his chores his uncle would beat him again, he still carried the marks from the previous beating. An hour later he finished and quietly walked to the kitchen where he found some bread and cold stew waiting on the table, he was still hungry even after finishing his dinner. He saw some bread and pieces of meat in the garbage can so he took them. Exhausted he fell asleep on the stairs.
Theodore Barkley couldn't sleep so he decided to take a walk. After an hour he headed back to the hotel, as he approached the stairs he heard a noise.
"Who's there?"
"Sorry I disturbed you, Sir, I didn't mean to." A childish and seemingly frightened voice replied.
"Come here, son, you don't have to worry."
As soon as Heath came into the light the older Barkley gasped. In front of him he saw a living copy of Jim when he was eight. He observed the boy more closely, he was very skinny and pale, his clothes were in tatters and he had a large bruise on his left cheek.
"What's your name?"
"Heath, sir."
"Isn't it awful late for you to be up?" He asked.
"I was working and just had my dinner."
"Looks like you're still eating." He said, pointing to the piece of meat Heath held in his hand. At these words Heath froze and the meat fell to the floor. He quickly recovered and retrieved the fallen food.
"Please don't tell my uncle I was eating the meat. He left some stew and bread but I was still hungry. I saw someone's leftovers and took them." He babbled out.
"Don't worry, Heath, don't worry..." He choked out and ran to his room.
He was outraged by the condition of the boy. He was sure the child was Tom's son and if, in a remote possibility, he weren't he decided to take care of Heath himself. He would take him to live at his house in Boston. For the first time since his wife's death he cried. He cried for the injustice of a world where a boy was forced to search for food in the garbage and to work all day long. He promised himself that he would do everything possible to give this boy a normal life.
The next morning Theodore Barkley felt blue.
"Father, are you all right?"
"No, Tom, I'm not. Last night I met the boy, he broke my heart. He's your son, I'm sure of it." He stopped talking as soon as he noticed Matthew Simmons; he glared at the man with hate.
"Well, folks, as soon as you're ready I'll show you where Rachel and Hannah live."
"Mr. Simmons, last night I met a young boy and I would like for him to show us where they live."
"You mean Heath? He's busy right now working in the mine. Everyone who lives here must earn his bread. You know I took him in as charity, I didn't want to see him in an orphanage since he's my sister's boy. He's just a bastard..." He never knew what hit him. Theodore Barkley's punch hit him with such force that it left his sons and grandson speechless.
"What in the devil?" The four men left Matthew on the floor with his unanswered question.
"Father, I wanted to hit that s.o.b.!"
"Sorry Tom, maybe next time. Let's ask around, someone can tell us where the two women live. Jarrod please go to the mine and ask for Heath.
After receiving directions Tom, Theodore and Jim arrived at Hannah's house;
Tom knocked and after few moments an old woman opened the door.
"Yes, may I...Mr. Tom, you're here! Why didn't you come before?"
"Hannah, is Rachel here?"
"Yes, sorry, we wanted to take care of Heath like we promised Leah but Mr.
Simmons..."
"Don't worry." They entered the little house and Tom introduced his father and brother to the two women.
"Mr. Barkley, why didn't you come earlier?"
"What do you mean?"
"Didn't you receive my letter?"
"No, Rachel, I didn't. I came here because three weeks ago my two older sons met Heath at the county fair. Several days ago they told me that he looked like my kid brother at his age, so..."
"I'm sure the Good Lord is protecting Heath. When Leah died I wrote you a letter in which I said you had a son..." The rest of her statement was blurred in Tom's mind. Heath was his son; he jumped from the chair and ran in the direction of the mine where he met Jarrod.
"Father, I just talked to the overseer, he told me that Heath is down placing a charge. He's my brother, isn't he?"
"Yes."
"Mr. Barkley what a pleasure."
"Why are you letting a little boy work in the mine?"
"Mr. Barkley I'm not the first and won't be the last. Heath is small enough to crawl into tight places. I pay his uncle well for his nephew's work."
"If something happens to Heath as God is my witness..."
"Why do you care about him? He's only a bastard."
"BECAUSE HE'S MY SON."
They all heard a rumble and after few minutes a small figure emerged from
the mine entrance. Heath froze when he saw the two men running toward him.
When they neared he recognized Jarrod, the nice guy he met at the fair.
"Heath, are you all right?" Asked the older man.
"Yes, why?" He backed off a little when the stranger came near.
"Heath, don't worry, I don't mean you any harm. You need to come with Jarrod and me to Hannah's house."
"But I can't go, my uncle..." He muttered.
"Don't worry, he won't hurt you anymore." Heath felt a strange bond to the man kneeled in front of him and he already knew and trusted Jarrod.
"Heath, don't worry, this is my father, Tom Barkley. He wants to talk with you."
Heath followed the two men. The way Mr. Barkley kept staring at him made him feel uneasy. Finally they reached Hannah's house which made Heath very happy. It had been a long time since he last visited Hannah and he hoped Rachel would be there as well. He was puzzled because he didn't know Jarrod's papa and he wondered about the reason why he was being so gentle to him.
"Hannah!" He said running inside the little house. He hugged the little woman and smiled.
"Heath, it's been a long time."
"Aunt Rachel! I'm so happy to see you. Mr. Barkley asked me to come but I don't know why."
"Heath, this is difficult for me to say." Tom said as he kneeled down to Heath's eye level.
"Nine years ago I was here, in Strawberry, and I met a wonderful woman...your mother. She fell in love with me and I with her. She knew I was married but we spent beautiful moments together..."
"You mean you are my father?" Heath asked in a weak voice.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you come get me?" Heath asked dryly.
"I didn't know that Leah had a child, I swear I really didn't know."
"And now, what are you gonna do?"
"I will take you to our home to be with your family. You already know Jarrod and Nick but you have a little sister, her name is Audra, and a little brother named Eugene."
Silence fell in the little home; Tom approached Heath and hugged him. He felt the boy stiffen but after few seconds he relaxed in his arms. The quiet was broken by the slam of the door as Matthew Simmons entered. He had received word that Heath's newfound father had reached him.
"You won't take Heath away from me! Come home, NOW!" Heath wriggled from Tom's arms and went to hide behind the stove.
"I don't want to come!"
"You will come with me. The judge placed you in my custody!"
"Sorry, but you are wrong. The moment Mr. Barkley stated that Heath is his natural son you lost any rights you had!"
"Who the hell are you?"
"Jim Barkley, my brother's lawyer."
"Okay, maybe you're right but I deserve some money. I kept Heath in my home, I fed him..."
"You have five seconds to leave or I swear to God that I will kill you." Tom said as he motioned for his gun.
Heath didn't hear this conversation because he was too afraid of his uncle.
When Tom found him, he was on the floor with his arms wrapped around his
legs, his chin resting on his knees and he was sobbing.
"Please, I don't want to go with my uncle." Tom took him from the ground and rocked him for several minutes.
"Don't worry, you are coming with me. Your uncle can't hurt you
anymore." He kept repeating.
After Heath calmed down he was introduced the other Barkleys.
"Hi! I'm your grandpa, come here and give me a big hug." At first Heath was hesitant but the large smile on Theodore's face erased any doubts he had, so he sprinted toward the open arms. That evening there wasn't a single dry eye in the little house.
It was clearly out of the question to spend another night in the hotel so the Barkleys decided to spend the night at Rachel's house. The next morning Jarrod prepared to go to the hotel to retrieve their belongings.
"I wanna go, too. I want my Mama's picture."
"Okay, you can go, but stick close to Jarrod." Heath reached for Jarrod's hand. He took his little brother's hand and smiled down. They left the house and for the first time Tom heard Heath's laughter.
When they reached the hotel Jarrod felt Heath's grip tighten. Heath led his big brother to his room and pulled two items from under the bed, an old photo and a broken wooden train. He placed them with some clothes in one bag and looked at Jarrod.
"I'm ready." He followed his brother and helped him collect the Barkleys' belongings. They were almost out of the hotel when Heath's uncle stopped them.
"Well, well, well, so my nephew is leaving without saying goodbye."
"Leave me alone." Heath babbled.
"Sure you want to go to their fancy house? That's fine but remember you are trash. Thomas Barkley doesn't want you, he's ashamed of you..."
"Don't you dare speak to my brother in such a manner. Come on Heath, this man doesn't deserve you." Heath looked at his uncle for the last time and for the first time in his life he didn't fear him.
Tom had wired Victoria with the latest news and hoped that his wife had been able to speak with Nick, sometimes his son was as stubborn as a mule.
"Jarrod, what should I call your father?" Heath asked on the way back to Rachel's house.
"Heath, he's OUR Father. The best thing would be to ask him yourself"
"Sir, may I call you Papa?" Heath asked as soon as he the entered the little
house.
"Heath, you are my son and it would make me very happy for you to call me Papa and remember I love you."
"Thanks...Papa." Heath said hesitantly.
"You're very welcome." Tom replied with a smile.
The farewells to Hannah and Rachel were full of tears. Heath was leaving the only family he had ever known and he was scared.
They rode for several hours and near sunset they halted and prepared for the night.
"Papa, how long does it take to reach your house?"
"Four days, but remember it's OUR house. Your sister, brothers and Victoria,
my wife, are waiting to meet you there."
"I don't like Nick, he yelled at me but he did buy me ice cream afterwards.
Papa, can I have ice cream at home? I liked it and I wanna eat it again."
"Sure, whatever you want."
"Really? Even apple pie? Mama always baked one for Christmas."
Tom didn't reply to this last question, he simply hugged Heath and gave him all his love. The four days passed quickly. It was near noon when they reached the ranch.
"Papa, that's where you live? It's the biggest house I've ever seen."
"Yes, you will live there now, too."
As they reached the porch they were welcomed by the whole family, Nick ran to his father.
"I'm sorry for what I said to you." He simply said.
Nick walked to Heath and hugged him.
"Welcome home, little brother."
The End