I rose early the next morning and managed to give the boys a good breakfast. I made biscuits with the wild berry jelly I had made eggs and sliced ham, with the ever necessary staple, coffee.

It was music to my ears to hear the banter between the three boys. It took me back again to the times when the Express was running. Nick and Heath had headed out first thing this morning to look over my horse herd and Jarrod had headed into Strawberry to get supplies.

It was late afternoon; I was sweeping the porch when I heard horses coming down the lane. Looking up I saw Jarrod, with two pack horses stop in front of the porch.

"Mrs. Roberts. I figured that with all these extra mouths to feed you would need some extra supplies," said Jarrod with a smile that would melt your heart. And those blue eyes: this Barkley could charm the socks off of a snake.

"Don't take it like its charity ma'am, because we men can eat," smiled Jarrod, as he began to unload the horses.

"Truth be told, I could use the help. My garden hasn't produced enough with the lack of rain. " I said to ease his mind a bit.

"By the way, I met up with friend yours. Man by the name of Matt Simmons." I stopped unloading the food supply.

"Simmons is no friend of mine. He and his wife own the hotel. I don't trust the pair of them. He has been tryin to get me off this place since word came of Henry's death. I wouldn't sell then and I'm sure not selling now!"

Heath had walked up at the last statement, "Selling to whom?"

"A man in town, Matt Simmons," said Jarrod. We watched the change that came over Heath. He stiffened at the mention of Simmons' name and his eyes filled with hate, though when he spoke I couldn't hear any trace of it in his voice.

"They're still around?" he asked.

"Do you know them?" asked Jarrod. Heath nodded, but didn't explain. He turned quickly and headed towards the barn. It wasn't much later that Heath led out the bay horse saddled; he vaulted into the saddle and headed down the lane towards Strawberry.

Without thinking Nick muttered, "More of that boy's past, snipping at his heels."

I turned to him, "You knew about Strawberry?"

"We know just what Heath has told us and that is damn little," said Nick as he toed the dirt with his boot.

Jarrod stepped in, "Maybe you can tell us something of Heath's past here in Strawberry, Mrs. Roberts?"

They both looked hopeful. I sighed - they had a right to know, to help Heath and yet they needed to hear it from him, not me. But my desire to help them all out overruled my mind.

"What I know is about his time here, and bits are pieces of information that I picked up while in town over the years. You boys had better come inside and I'll fix some coffee." I said as I held the door open to allow them entry.

The Barkleys knew that Heath had been born in Strawberry and that his mama lay buried in the small weed infested cemetery on the other side of town. But it was his life here they knew nothing about. So I began with the Simmons family.

"Matt and Martha Simmons are Heath's uncle and aunt." Both men where shocked into silence.

"I didn't know all of Heath's life here in Strawberry. Henry and I had arrived a year before the Pony express started. There had been times when the boy went into town for us only to return with fresh cuts and bruises. I would doctor the hurts that he would let me see, he kept a lot hidden even from Henry."

I told them of Hannah and Rachael. When asked if they still lived nearby, I nodded.

"Hannah lives in Heath's old house. He gave it to her when he left after his mother had passed on." I hesitated on the next part and both men noticed.

"What about Rachael?" Jarrod asked.

I sighed, "She is dead. It is rumored that the Simmons killed her, but there is no proof. They found her body in one of the abandoned mines, looked like she had fallen through one of the mine's air shafts."

"Why did ya say it's rumored the Simmons killed her? How'd she fall?" Nick asked as he stood with his arms crossed by the window that looked down the lane.

"I really don't know. Just that it is whispered around town that she knew something that could put them both away for a long time."

Jarrod had been nursing a cup of coffee, while I had told them of what I knew. He raised his dark head and fixed those blue eyes on me.

"What did she know?" he asked.

I shrugged my shoulders, "Boys, this is where I draw the line. Heath has been pulling a heavy load for some years; I think it best that he is the one who unloads it."

"Like that is going to be easy." said Nick as he moved from the window to stand behind one of the empty chairs. He dropped his arms and leaned on the back of the chair.

"We won't have to ask him, Nick, he will come and ask us." replied Jarrod as a memory from long ago ran through his mind.