"What do you mean?" Asked a dumbfound Fred Madden.
"I mean that a street urchin entered my shop hoping to steal something but I was able to throw him out. He said that he wanted to buy some licorice, but I'm sure he wanted to check my shop for money. Adding to that I saw your fiancée talking to him. You must talk with her, when you give a finger to the likes of them, next they pretend the whole arm. Now sheriff I hope will do something about this problem, good afternoon."
Fred didn't reply, he didn't have time. He was well aware that Mrs. Olsen was one of the busybodies of Stockton, maybe some poor drifter had entered her shop. 'When I see Mary I will ask her, I want to hear her side of truth'.
After few minutes he was delighted to see Mary enter his office, behind her he was able to see a small child about six or seven years old.
"Mary what a nice surprise, you know I was thinking about you."
"Fred, this little friend of mine needs your help."
When Heath came in Fred's line of sight the sheriff was totally shocked. 'it can't be…he's the spitting image of...' but his thoughts were interrupted by Heath's plea.
"I's sorry sheriff but I didn't mean to, I didn't steal anything..."
"Heath, I brought you here because Fred is my fiancée and he will help you, as I said before he had planned to go to the Barkley ranch to welcome his friend Tom and you can hitch a ride." Said Mary hoping that Fred would catch her hint.
"Sure...I'm planning to see my old friend Tom..." Was all Fred was able to say. "Mary where did you meet him?"
"In front of Mrs. Olsen's shop. That woman is a really mean old biddy, she threw out Heath from her shop. How can she treat a child in that way."
'So he's the dangerous element, it's funny to see the different side of a coin,' he thought. "Mary, please do me a favor, can you go to Howard and ask him to come here? He told me yesterday that he wanted to welcome Tom too." He said continuing the path Mary had started; one quick look at Heath bruised face and his right arm had told him that a visit from doc was in need as soon they reached the ranch. He wondered how Tom would react, but he was sure he would welcome the little boy with open arms and blame himself about Heath's condition.
"Heath do you know Tom Barkley?" asked Fred trying to get more information.
"No sir, I ain't meet him, but I have a letter from my mama, he's a friend of hers, I will work for him...I hope."
"Why your mama ain't here with you?"
"She died two years ago."
"And why are coming only now, did you stay with your papa?" He inquired knowing already the answer.
"I have no papa, I'm a bastard, I stayed with my uncle...I found the letter recent."
He wanted to ask more about his bruises and his arm, but his old friend Howard Merar entered tailed by Mary.
"Fred it's all set, my buggy is outside, if you want you can hitch your horse behind." The doctor said. A few minutes ago, Mary had entered his office and explained why he was needed in Fred's office and her suspicions about Heath's parentage. One quick look at the boy and he was sure that he was Tom's son. He reasoned that he could be around six or seven but looking at the state of his clothes he wasn't sure of his guess. 'For sure he needs to eat more, maybe he's only small for his age and I want to check those nasty bruises and arm as soon as we arrived at Tom's and I fear there's more under that shirt.'
"Ready to go Heath?" asked Fred.
"Yes and thank you for you kindness...you didn't have to."
"Fred, I need to check the kid's homework, see you later."
The two men and Heath bid their farewell to the lovely school teacher and headed toward the buggy. They drove several minutes in silence.
Both men were in deep in thought on the way to the Barkley mansion, both of them were pretty sure about Tom relationship with Heath. They knew that Tom wasn't aware that he had an illegitimate son. Right now Victoria and the children weren't home, she was visiting her brother and she wouldn't be back for at least two weeks, so Tom had plenty of time to prepare himself for Victoria's reaction and they were sure would spend some cold nights as soon as Victoria knew about his relationship with Heath's mother.
"So, Heath what happened to your arm?"
"Nothing, it was my fault." He replied for sure he didn't want to let Mr. Barkley's friend that he was good for nothing and not smart enough to avoid some falling rocks.
"You know we have known Tom since we were kids, and I traveled with him all the way from Boston several years ago."
"Yes and after I left the army I decided to join my two old friends." Added Fred.
"You were a soldier? Did you fight with Injuns?" asked Heath, with awe.
"Yep, and I fought with Mexican as well during the war."
"When I'm older I wanna be a soldier," stated Heath.
"A little bit early to decide, are you? You are kid after all."
"I ain't a kid, I's eight." said Heath he didn't know why everyone thought that he was still a kid.
Both of them were shocked for sure the boy didn't looked eight, Howard had some suspicions on the reason but he preferred to wait to inquire about it. For the rest of the trip they both tried to get more information from the boy but he was tight-lipped, he politely replied to their questions with the barest information.
As they entered the main gate, Heath was flabbergasted he had never seen such a big building.
"Pretty big, isn't it? Tom finished it last. I prefer the old house but Tom wanted something grand."
They stopped in front of the door and Fred knocked at the door, a black servant opened it.
"Hello Silas I reckon Tom is at home?" Asked the sheriff.
Silas was seldom shocked in his life, but this barefoot boy in front of him was the exact copy of the boy in the photo on the mantle in the parlor. Heath didn't notice his shocked expression, for he was so in awe of the house and its surroundings, but both Fred and Howard did notice.
"He could pass for his twin." Said Howard, at last.
"Yes…" replied Silas, without thinking, "oh, I's sorry, Mr. Barkley right now is in the study with Duke McCall, he should be finished in a few minutes, please come in."
Heath stopped at the entrance, unsure what to do.
"What are you waiting for?" asked gently Fred.
"I's can enter?" asked Heath unsurely.
"Yes, why not?"
"But I'm...I mean I might get dirt around."
"Now Heath, come in, I'm pretty sure Tom wouldn't care for some dust, after all, it's a working ranch as he keeps on saying, he will be happy to meet you."
"If you say so." He replied unsure, he slowly entered paying attention to not touch anything. He observed every single detail; the large stairway leading upstairs, the big chandelier and the big bowl filled with fresh fruit in the center of a big round table in front of him.
He heard some voices coming nearer.
"Tom, I will start to check the northern pasture for strays."
"It's all set then. See you tomorrow morning. You know this week in Sacramento seemed to last forever…all those politician, sometimes I'm wondering about their priorities..."
"So am I."
On his way out Duke politely greeted the sheriff and the doctor and stared at the little boy, 'he looks familiar, I'm wondering what he's doing here.' He thought on his way out.
Tom was just behind his foreman and at first he noticed only Fred and Howard.
"Fred, Howard what a nice..." he didn't finish his sentence; here in front of him there was a boy who was twin of his little brother Nick when he was around seven.
"Oh my God, its not possible..." he managed to say.
"Tom this little fellow has something for you." said a smirking Fred.
'It's impossible I was with Leah nine years ago, he's too young to be my…'
"Mr. Barkley nice to meet you, my name is Heath Thomson...are you all right?" he politely asked when he noticed Mr. Barkley who had paled.
"Fine…I'm fine...sorry...how old are you?" He stammered.
"I's eight and I have a letter for you. You are mama's friend, I've got a picture of you with her." Said Heath while giving to Tom the letter.
It was only thanks to Fred's quick reflex that Tom didn't fall to the floor.
"I think congratulations are in order." He murmured in Tom's ear.
With trembling hands, Tom received the letter and looked at the small boy in front of him who was without a doubt his son.