Chapter 2

Nick and Eugene came in the door about ten minutes after Jarrod and Heath went into the dining room. Both men were dirty, worn, exhausted, but unhurt. Thank God, unhurt.

Victoria met them in the foyer. "How is everything? Were the other ranches attacked?"

Nick shook his head. "No, we got the better of them at Sample's place, but Sample was killed and so was Harry."

Victoria nodded. "Jarrod told us. He and Heath went to town, to court, and Jarrod got temporary restraining orders. There'll be a hearing on the injunctions next week."

"Jarrod's all right?" Eugene asked.

Right on his heels, before Victoria or Audra could answer, Nick said, "Heath? Is that boy shill here?"

"Yes, he's here," Victoria said. "He got Jarrod into town and back and they're both eating lunch in the dining room."

"I want him out of here, Mother," Nick said.

Victoria held a finger up to him. "You just wait a minute, Nick Barkley. We are a family and this is a family decision, and you need to know how much Heath helped your brother today. He got him home safe se we could take care of him, and he got him to court and back so he could get those restraining orders."

"And he didn't have to do any of that, Nick," Audra said. "He didn't have to stand up with you at Sample's farm."

Nick got a dark look in his eyes. "I get the feeling you all have already decided the question and that lying boy stays."

"He's not lying," Victoria said sharply.

"You believe that tale of his?!"

"Keep your voice down. Yes, I believe it."

"Mother, you're being taken in by a stranger who just says he's Tom Barkley's son and wants a piece of what you and Father and the rest of us have built with sweat and effort!"

"He stood with you today, and he didn't have to. He took care of your brother and helped him get restraining orders, and he didn't have to. He was ready to walk out of our lives this morning until I talked with him, and then he stood up with you and Jarrod and Eugene and it could have cost him his life and he didn't have to!"

Nick knew when his mother got that fierce look in her eyes that he was going to have to back off, but he did not intend to back off all the way. "I wanna talk to that kid. I have a lot more doubts and I won't let him make any claims to this ranch until he convinces ME that he's entitled to it and he's willing to work to earn it."

"He's in the dining room having lunch with Jarrod," Victoria said. "When we all have gotten some food into us, we'll sit down and talk. But know this. That boy is a son of my husband. I know it as well as I know you are."

"Mother," Nick said very quietly, "you'd take in a boy who might be – MIGHT be – the son of your cheating husband – "

Victoria slapped Nick across the face before he could finish his thought, and Nick closed his eyes, held his cheek and shut up. "What went on between my husband and me is none of your business. You need not protect me from whatever he might have done decades ago. We will all talk this out, but if I can have another son of my husband with me – even if he's not one I gave birth to – I'm inclined to welcome the gift. BELIEVE that, Nick. Believe it!"

Jarrod and Heath had come in from the dining room and heard Nick and Victoria's last exchange. Nick spotted them when he finishing rubbing his face and opened his eyes. Nick's eyes bored into Heath's.

Then, without a word, Nick went upstairs to clean up and change clothes.

Eugene had stood silently while his mother and brother argued, but now he was there in the foyer, the last one whose opinion hadn't been heard. But Eugene was young and did not know what to think yet. Without a word, he followed Nick upstairs.

Victoria heaved a sigh and finally noticed that Jarrod and Heath were there.

"Shall I go talk to him?" Jarrod asked.

"No," Victoria said. "He needs to let things stew."

Heath said, "If it's all right with you, I could stand to tend to my horse. He's carried me a long way today. I can take care of your horse, too, if you want, Jarrod."

"Ciego will take care of both of them, Heath," Jarrod said.

"I'd still rather tend to my own," Heath said. "The old boy's kind of used to me settling him down. And I need to clean up and change my clothes, too."

Victoria nodded. "But please don't leave, Heath. Please."

He'd been here only 24 hours or so, but Heath could not deny anything to that woman, to those eyes. He nodded and said, "I won't."

And he went out the front door.

XXXXXXX

Nick stripped off his dirty clothes and sank into a hot bath. It never felt so good – but he was still feeling angry about that boy downstairs. How dare he come in here and demand anything, much less a part of this business and this ranch? He had no right, despite anything he might have done at the Sample farm or in court with Jarrod.

And how dare his mother and older brother side with that kid? Victoria and Jarrod carried most of the weight around here when it came to big decisions, business and family. They was no way Nick could go up against them and win, even if Eugene and Audra decided to go with him. Victoria and Jarrod carried too much clout.

And that was what burned Nick up the most – that they would take a position against him and he could do nothing about it, despite the fact that HE was the one left in charge of this ranch. HE was the one who had worked and sweated year after year beside his father, building this place into the thriving business it was, the thriving family they were. HE was the one who had struggled to keep it going after his father was killed, and now this KID was coming in and claiming part of it when he'd put no effort into it at all. And Victoria and Jarrod were going to let him have it!

Nick stayed in the bath a lot longer than he normally would have, simply because he did not want to talk to his mother or older brother today. He did not want to hear anything they had to say.

Somebody finally knocked on the door. "Go away!" Nick yelled.

Eugene came in. "You've been in here a long time. Can I get to this bath anytime today?"

"Depends," Nick said. "Where do you stand in all this, kid?"

Eugene closed the door and came around to sit on a stool, facing Nick who was still submerged in the dirty water. "Depends," he said right back.

"You been talking to Jarrod too much," Nick said. "You sound like a mealy-mouthed lawyer."

"I just haven't heard all sides yet."

"Okay, then you sound like a mealy-mouthed judge."

"Nick – Heath did come to help us today. He did make sure Jarrod got to court to get those restraining orders – "

"Restraining orders. Fat lot of good pieces of paper are gonna be."

"They have the force of law, Nick."

"Oh, yeah? Who's gonna enforce that law? Harry Lyman is dead and he died helping the other side, if you remember. We have no sheriff in Stockton right now. The railroad can hire more goons and come after those farmers by tomorrow morning."

"Even so – Heath helped us out today and he didn't have to. We'd already given him the boot."

"So what?"

"So he's already proved he'll fight as hard as we will for this ranch and for this family! Don't we owe him at least a chance to talk to us?"

"He had his chance last night."

Eugene got up with a huff and left, slamming the door behind him. Nick held his breath and went under the water, and stayed there as long as he could.

Eugene went downstairs, still in his dirty clothes, which earned him a stern eye from his mother in the foyer. Audra remained in the living room with Jarrod – they decided to opt out of this coming argument, at least for now.

"Eugene, change your clothes," Victoria said.

"I can't get Nick out of the tub," Eugene said.

"Then clean up without a bath and change into clean clothes!" Victoria ordered.

Gene heaved a frustrated sigh. Is everybody in this family completely pig-headed? he thought but knew better than to say. What he did say was, "Nick needs a chance to be heard on this, too, Mother."

"Nick is a hurt bull, charging around blindly at whatever is in his way," Victoria said.

Jarrod finally couldn't hold his peace. He came in from the living room. "But Gene's right. We at least need to hear him out, and if it comes to it, we need to let him and Heath yell it out at the top of their lungs."

"I suppose somebody ought to go out to the stable to make sure that Heath is still around," Victoria said.

"I'll go," Gene said.

His mother and brother looked surprised, and wary.

"I haven't talked to him hardly at all," Eugene said, "but I have a say in this, too, don't I?"

No one could deny that. "Go see if he's there, and bring him back in if he'll come," Victoria said.

Eugene nodded and headed out the door.

Victoria looked at Jarrod. "Would you go see if you can get Nick out of the bathtub?"

Jarrod smiled a little and headed upstairs.